There was a knowing hint in Garrett’s eyes as he raised his glass towards us. “Come. Join. Drink. Don’t tell your mother, Mason.”

Mason chuckled as he took the offered drink. “Thanks, Mr. Brickshire—”

He scoffed. “You know to call me Garrett by now, Mason.”

“Garrett.” Mason nodded and leaned against the counter behind me. He didn’t touch me, but I still felt his body heat.

“Sam, do you want—” He started to say, but a body picked me up in the air the next instant and I was swung around the room. Logan held me tight and buried his head into my neck as he laughed.

I couldn’t hide my own smile when he lowered me back to the ground.

“Man, I’ve missed you, sis.” Logan stepped back but kept a hand on my arm when he saw I was a little shaky.

The room felt dizzy for a moment. My cheeks were bright red now, and I ducked my head down. “You too, Logan.” I shook my head to clear the swirling room. “I think I need some food in me.”

Mason chuckled in a low voice. “Too bad you didn’t come last night.”

“Yeah,” Logan laughed. “We had a six course meal.” He whistled underneath his breath. “Mom went all out. I’m sure it had nothing to do with dad’s upcoming nuptials.”

“Nah. Not at all.” The sarcasm was thick in Mason’s voice. “Or when she was buttering us up for information about your mom, Sam.”

Garrett gave out a hearty laugh. “That sounds like Helen.”

“Speaking of nuptials,” Logan started when we sat around the table. He was beside me as Mason and Garrett were across. “When are you and our mom getting hitched?”

Garrett had been lifting his glass for a sip, but paused at the question and his eyebrows arched high. “Hmmm?”

“You heard the question.” Logan threw an arm on the back of my seat and lounged back. Both brothers looked relaxed but waiting. That was when I knew they’d been ready for this meeting and there was an agenda behind their carefree attitudes. My gut told me they were anything except carefree.

I settled into my seat and got ready for the show. It was like old times.

CHAPTER FIVE

Logan seemed ready to pounce, but Mason beat him to it. “Are you still married?” His gaze was steady and there was no emotion on his face. He was stone cold.

Garrett seemed to hesitate as he swung his gaze around the group and then leaned his elbows on the table. “Uh. Okay. That’s a fair question.”

“Mom said you guys were engaged. She hasn’t said anything since. That’s not like her.” He never blinked. “That makes me think you’re still married and she was bluffing in that hotel room to piss off our dad and Analise.”

Logan tipped his head back. The hyena laugh came out again. “He thinks you’re not getting a divorce.”

“Are you waiting until our mom gets tired of you and you’ll go back to your wife? Did you tell her you’re not sure when to set the date? Or did you tell her your wife is contesting the divorce settlement?”

Garrett choked out a laugh. “I can’t believe the two of you. You have some nerve—”

Mason sat forward as well. “You’re jerking our mom around. We’re guys. We know what you’re doing.”

“And what are you doing with my daughter?” Garrett was stiff in his seat now. His jaw was clenched as his hands were forcibly together in his lap. He tried to stare Mason down.

Tried.

“I’m not jerking her around.”

“You’re having sex with her.”

“It’s none of your business,” Mason clipped out.

My heart should’ve been pounding. My palms should’ve been sweaty, but there was no panic. I felt no anxiety. As I sat there and the questioning turned towards me, I felt safe. Protected. I knew Mason would shelter me, already had in fact.

“Samantha?” Garrett prompted. “Don’t you think I have a right to be concerned? Mason’s never had a girlfriend, from what his mother’s told me—”

Logan jumped in, “Yes, he has—”

“—when I was stupid.” Mason grinned at his brother, whose smirk widened. “But I’m not stupid now. I picked the right girl, and it’s none of your business what I do with my girlfriend. I treat her right. She knows that—”

“I’m her father.” His voice raised a notch and a fisted hand came down on the table. It wasn’t hard, but the promise was there.

Mason never reacted. He started to look close to being bored. “By blood. You gave her a bucket of condoms. That promotes your fatherhood? That promotes friendship. You’re trying to be her friend.”

I glanced down. I hadn’t realized he’d found the tub. Then again, he didn’t miss much.

Garrett cleared his throat. His eyes started to twitch, but he pulled the collar of his shirt away from his neck as he took a few breaths. “Look,” his voice was strained, trying to be calm. “I have concerns for Samantha. She’s my kid. She’s the reason I’m out here—”

“The only reason?” Logan had started to tap the table with a finger. He’d grown intense with the conversation, and I knew he wasn’t aware of my presence beside him anymore.

Mason met my gaze and shifted his eyes to his brother. I gave him a small nod and touched Logan’s leg softly. He jerked to me and blinked a few times before he saw me again. Then he gave me a rueful grin.