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“Yeah, yeah, you’re right,” Dillon grumbled. “And yeah. I’ve never cared what anyone else thinks. Until now. I care what Lily thinks. I don’t want to fuck this up, Dad. ”
Adam put his hand on Dillon’s shoulder. “You won’t, son. Lily seems like such a sweet girl. It’s obvious she cares a lot about you and Seth and Michael. She has a heart of gold, but she’s been beaten down by life. It’s up to you to bring her back up and get her back on her feet. How better to do that than to offer her something she needs more than anything else in the world? Your love. ”
Dillon blew out his breath. “I really hate it when you’re right. It’s even worse when you make so goddamn much sense. ”
Adam chuckled. “It infuriates your mother too. Not that I get to be right too often around her, mind you. ”
“You and the dads taught me a lot growing up,” Dillon said quietly. “If I can be half the man you and the dads are, I know we can make this work. I couldn’t have asked for a better childhood. I don’t know if I’ve told you lately, but I love you, Dad. I wouldn’t change a thing about our family. ”
Adam swallowed, and his eyes glittered suspiciously as he hauled Dillon into a huge bear hug. He slapped Dillon on the back.
“We better stop this mushy shit before the others find us. You know they’d never let us live it down. ”
Dillon cracked a grin. “Thanks, Dad. For giving me perspective, I guess. And you’re right. There’s not a damn good reason in the world to wait when I know what’s in my heart. ”
He started to turn to head back to find the others when his dad reached out to grab his arm.
“Dillon, I know me and Ryan and Ethan give you a hard time about what a little shit you were when you were young, but I want you to know something. I knew you were special from the day you were born. You scared the ever-loving crap out of us and gave your mother all kinds of trouble during the delivery. And from that day forward, you were never easy.
“But I could never be prouder of you. You grew up strong and independent with a firm set of values, and you are fiercely loyal. You have an unwavering sense of justice, and I’ve always known that when you love, you’d love with all your heart and give unreservedly of yourself. Of all my children, I’ve always known that you were the steadiest. I love you, son. ”
“Well goddamn, Dad. If you make me cry, I’m going to kick your ass. ”
Adam laughed and then shoved Dillon toward the door. “Let’s go find your brothers and see when we can wrap this up for the day. I have a sudden urge to go find your mother and tell her how much I love her. ”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Knock, knock!”
Lily turned from the pile of art supplies she was organizing to see Holly standing in the doorway of Dillon’s office. Even the cat picked her head up in greeting but then quickly curled into a tighter ball on the floor beside Lily before closing her eyes again.
“Hey!” Lily said with a broad smile.
“I hope I’m not interrupting,” Holly said.
“No, of course not. Come on in. If you can find your way around the mess. ”
Holly picked her way around a few boxes and came to stand beside Lily. “With the guys all over at Michael’s sorting out construction details, I thought you could use some help and some company. ”
It was all Lily could do not to squeeze the other woman to death. “Thank you. Just the company is nice. ”
“I see Dillon went a little overboard,” Holly said with a laugh.
Lily gave a rueful nod. “Yeah, it’s all great stuff, though. I’ve just been going through and drooling over it all. I didn’t expect him to do this. He’s crazy!”
Holly laughed. “You’ll find that Dillon does nothing in half measures. Have you eaten? If you want to take a break, I noticed that Dillon left lunch in the fridge. Even I can handle warming something up in the oven. ”
Lily checked the clock on Dillon’s desk, and her eyes widened. It was already past two. “Yeah, I could eat. I’ve been lost in my own little world here. ”
“Come on then. We’ll tackle the oven together, and I promise not to burn Dillon’s kitchen down. ”
Lily laughed and followed Holly out of the office and into the kitchen.
“Sit, sit,” Holly urged. “I want to be able to say I was able to prepare my daughter-in-law at least one meal. It’ll give me bragging rights the next time my husbands make a smartass crack about my cooking. ”
The casual way she said daughter-in-law jolted Lily. She froze in the process of getting onto the barstool and stared at the other woman, but Holly continued on as if what she’d said was the most natural thing in the world.
Holly turned at that moment and a frown creased her brow. “What’s wrong?”
Lily eased onto the barstool and looked down at her hands for a moment.
Holly turned the oven on and stuck the casserole dish inside and then walked over to stand across the bar from Lily.
“Lily, what is it?”
“You said daughter-in-law,” she croaked.
Holly’s face softened and then she smiled gently as she leaned on the countertop.
“I know I’m getting way ahead of myself, but I know my boys. I know their fathers. When they love, they love passionately. With their whole heart. Up to now, no one has captured that heart. Until you. ”
Lily swallowed as her chest tightened and emotion crowded in so full and heavy. She didn’t even know what to say.
Holly reached across the bar and laid her hands over Lily’s. “I’m going to ask you something that’s none of my business, and feel free to say so. I know how my boys feel about you. But how do you feel about them?”
Lily glanced up to see worry and concern in Holly’s eyes. But also understanding. It was that understanding that prompted Lily to be completely honest even as the idea of saying aloud all that was in her heart terrified her.
“I love them,” she whispered. “Is that stupid? I mean, three men?”
“No, honey,” Holly said gently. “It’s not stupid, but then look who you’re talking to. ”
Lily laughed as she realized just how dumb of a question it truly had been.
“Oh God, Holly. I’m so terrified. I feel like I’m on the edge of a cliff with one foot in the air about to tip right over the edge. ”
Holly walked around the bar and slid onto the barstool next to Lily. She wrapped her arm around Lily’s shoulders and squeezed.
“I might be the only woman in the world who knows exactly how you’re feeling. ”
“My heart tells me I love them, but my mind asks how it’s possible to love three very different people at the same time. ”
“The heart has an endless capacity for love,” Holly said. “As a woman you love your family, your children—especially your children—your friends, and you love your husband or lover. Who’s to say you can’t love three men with all your heart and soul? I mean, really, who makes the rules?”
“Seth told me he loved me,” Lily blurted.
