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“Not a hobby. It’s a gift.”
A gift for your daughter? I wonder. He doesn’t have any photos of a daughter on his desk. And obviously, he doesn’t want to talk about it, which is why I change the subject. “I’ve exhausted my knowledge of the Tate family. I’ve only met Oliver. What are your other brothers like?”
He shifts in his seat and reaches to grab his can of V8 off the side table. “They’re all pretty different.” Something like a smile passes over his face for a brief moment, and there’s a protectiveness there, a glimpse of what he’s like as the big brother.
Then the mask returns.
I shrug. “Tell me a little about each of them. Go.”
“We have work to do. I’m reflecting.”
I roll my eyes. “You could crank out a short description of them in one minute, I bet. Unless you wanted to include yourself, too?”
Please include a description of yourself.
“Fine. Milo’s the youngest. He’s at Columbia University, like most of us were at one point. I think he’s finally chosen business as his major, which is a solid choice.”
“You say that because that was your major.”
“Well, what did you study in college?” he asks.
A bubble of a laugh comes up, unbidden. “You probably don’t want to know.”
“It’s on your resume, right? But I can’t remember exactly . . .”
His eyelids hover low, and I squirm in my seat.
“Theater History. I would have stayed in college forever if I could have.”
He’s trying to cover his smile with a cough. “Theater History, huh?”
“I studied what I love. Plain and simple. Ethan and my parents thought it was a little irresponsible, but I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.” I lift my chin. It’s okay. I’m an experienced defender of my life choices. And I don’t have to explain myself to anyone, so I stop there. “Besides, you’re stalling. You still have a few brothers to go.”
“Then the one just older than Milo is Alec. He works here at the resort running our guest programs. He’s dating a woman named Oakley, who’s an athletic trainer. But she’s studying to be a physical therapist. Then there’s Gabriel, and he lives in Denver and works for our father’s company.”
“Is he married?”
Sebastian blanches. “Why do you ask?”
“Just curious! Just making small talk.”
In truth, this Tate family has me all tied up in knots. Why didn’t Ethan ever say anything about how intriguing they are?
“No, he’s not married,” Sebastian says.
“Okay. Go on.”
He moistens his lips. “Henry works in security. He’s the third son. He’s not around much because work keeps him busy.” His expression hardens.
“Ishemarried?”
Sebastian stares at me as if he’s trying to decipher just how much he should tell me. “No, but he was once. He has a daughter named Navie.”
His gaze flicks to the dollhouse, almost too quickly for me to notice. But I do.
“Tell me about your mother. She must be amazing to have raised six boys.”
I can’t read his expression, but it’s a cross between surprise and a slate over his face. His phone rings.
