Brothers of Paradise Series

I give him a nod and leave his office, closing the door firmly behind me. For a few long moments, all I can do is take deep breaths before a giant smile breaks across my face.

There’s a text waiting for me when I come out of the family house. Actually, there’s several.

I open Hayden’s first. Sorry about this morning. Come join us at the marina this afternoon, when we get back?

I smile and type a quick response. I’ll be there when you get back! And please ignore my family. It’s still just us, Hayden. You and me.

Because that’s all that matters in the end-love, and friendship, and family. And Hayden feels like the perfect combination of all three to me.

I love him. I always have, and I never stopped, not even in the long years spent apart. Years where we both missed each other, all because of misunderstandings and meddling. And perhaps… perhaps it’s time I told him that.

I nearly make it all the way to the marina before history repeats itself.

Hayden

Rhys takes command of the boat the second we hit the open water.

Parker looks at me with a rueful grin, but neither of us object as Rhys barks out orders. He knows Frida just as well as we do, and despite the years he’s spent away, sailing is in his blood.

I understand the need to connect with it-to return to the sea. So Parker, a six-time state champion, doesn’t object to his big brother’s domineering. Neither do I, despite the fact that I’ve been a lieutenant in the Navy for years.

Parker grins at me, nodding to where Rhys is turning the winch to release the spinnaker. “He sure as hell wasted no time.”

“He rarely does.”

“He’s also in one hell of a temper. Nearly bit my head off when I asked him if he’d arrived yesterday or this morning.”

Damn. “Yeah, we had a bit of an argument earlier.”

Parker nods, and there’s sympathy in his eyes-sympathy I don’t deserve. “About you pulling a disappearing act on us? Yeah. Rhys isn’t quick to forgive, you know, but he’ll come around.”

“You weren’t angry at me when I returned,” I say, knowing I’m going to have to tell Parker about Lily. It’s only a matter of time until Rhys says something, and judging by his clenched jaw, it’s not going to be in complimentary terms.

Parker shrugs. “Look, man, I’m sure you had your reasons. Was I angry at you? Yeah. You didn’t even say goodbye, Hay.”

“I know.”

“But look…” he says, and there’s more depth than I’m used to seeing on his face. His eyes are dark with earnestness. “I get it. Your situation was different from ours. It fucking sucks, but it’s the truth. I’m not going to blame you for that.”

“Thanks.”

“You could’ve called every now and then, though.”

“I should’ve, man. I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted,” he says, putting a hand on my shoulder. For a second, it feels like we’re sixteen again, side by side at the back of Frida. It’s easy to imagine Henry and his father at the front of the boat, Lily lounging on deck somewhere, Rhys reading a book next to her.

I take a deep breath. Getting this right might be the most important thing in my life. Michael Marchand’s approval means absolutely nothing to me-but his sons’ approval does. More than that, it means a lot to Lily, despite her insistence to the contrary.

Besides, I’m not overly keen on being tossed overboard.

“There’s something else, though.”

“Oh?” Parker leans against the railing and holds on to one of the beams.

“Yeah. Lily and I are dating. We never meant to keep it from you, but we wanted privacy.” I meet his blue eyes, wide now in surprise. “I hope you can understand, man.”

Parker blinks at me a few times. “Dating? Like, you’re together, together?”

“Yes, we are.”

“Wow.” He shakes his head, and I let my hand drop from his shoulder. “I never knew.”This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

“I didn’t mean to go behind your back.”

Parker shakes his head again. It’s in disbelief, but so far, there’s no anger on his face. “And I thought she didn’t like you.”

“She didn’t, for a while,” I say truthfully. “She was angry at me for leaving.”

“I literally had no idea.”

I nod, glancing to where Rhys is standing at the front of the boat. He has his back turned to us, but I can see the tension in his shoulders. It’s clear his younger brother isn’t having the same reaction.

Parker follows my gaze. “Rhys didn’t take the news well.”

“No.”

“Well, he’s always been thorny. Ignore him. He’ll come around.”

“You think?”

“Absolutely.” A wide grin splits Parker’s tanned face. “You’re family in more ways than one now.”

“You’re okay with this?”

“Okay? Fuck, man, there’s no one I’d rather see my baby sister with.”

For a moment, all I can do is stare at him. It’s the absolute last response I was expecting. Parker, despite his usual smiles and laughs, has always been protective of Lily. He’d nearly been as bad as Rhys, despite teasing her when they were children.

He sees my confusion and breaks into laughter.

“What, you think you were good enough to be one of my best friends, but not good enough to date my sister? Get your head out of your ass, Hay.”

I can’t help the surprised laugh that slips out of me. “Mind telling your brother that?”

“Rhys will come around,” Parker says. “Damn. I’ll have to tell Turner to stop mooning around after her.”

My hand instinctively tightens around the railing. I know she doesn’t have any interest in him, but the familiar feeling of envy at his name and status is hard to ignore.