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  I can feel Dylan’s eyes on me, but this time, I refuse to look in his direction. Cassie shrugs like she doesn’t understand me at all, so I ask her, “Do you have a boy you’re interested in?”

  I can’t avoid Dylan’s eyes when I ask this question; his gaze is boring through me. “She’s only fourteen.”

  Cassie looks over at him, “I could have a boyfriend if I want. I’m not that young, Dylan.”

  “Okay. Just remember, there’s no rush to find one. Enjoy being single while you can because relationships take a lot of time and effort. And if you become a cheerleader, that’s going to be taking up a lot of your time outside of your school work. So don’t stress yourself.” I know now that mentioning her cheerleading dream can shut down a topic.

  I don’t bother asking Luke again. He is going to take time and patience, and I have decided to leave him alone for this visit, but then Michael, who clearly doesn’t think I’ve spent enough time on this topic, has to ask, “You didn’t ask Dylan if he has a girlfriend.” I’m hoping for a Kansas tornado to come through about this time. I’m not quite sure how to get out of this situation, but I can’t just sit here.

  My eyes lock with Dylan’s briefly, and then I say to Michael, “That is something that I will address with Dylan in private.”

  Luke laughs, but it isn’t a friendly laugh, it’s bitter. Then he looks over at Dylan. “You hear that Dylan, she wants to talk about who you’re putting it to in private.”

  Dylan’s face stays unemotional as if he is trying to stay calm, and I curse myself as I feel my cheeks heat up. I cannot let this kid get to me, but before I can reply Luke goes on, “Well I can answer that for you right now. Dylan doesn’t do relationships, so don’t get your hopes up. If anything he would just be interested in one quick bang and then be done with you like all of the other girls, and there have been many of those.”

  Dylan’s face turns furious, and he growls at Luke, “What the hell is your problem?”

  Luke is unaffected and just shrugs his shoulders and acts casual, “What, I'm just open and honest. I mean we did share a room for a few years, and then there was the one time that I stayed with you in Oklahoma. That blond that came out of your room wearing nothing but your shirt was hot. And if I’m not mistaken there were two others, in that one week. Trust me, that little apartment you and Jax had did not have sound-proof walls.”

  “Luke, that was five damn years ago. How can you remember any of that shit?”

  This conversation is getting out of hand, and Dylan looks like he might strangle Luke. “Okay, guys. I have other appointments I need to get to.” I look over at Dylan. “I just need to talk to you for a quick minute, and then I’ll be out of your hair.”

  He nods and through his clenched jaw says, “You guys go to your rooms or something.”

  They all stand, and Michael looks over at me, “It was nice to meet you, Brooke.”

  I smile at him, “It was very nice to meet you all, and I will see you next week.”

  I hear Luke mumble, “I can’t wait,” as he heads down the hallway toward his room.

  Gabby doesn’t say a word and just follows closely behind him. Cassie leans in and surprises me with a quick hug, “See you next week!”

  “Bye, Cassie.” She and Michael leave the room, and Dylan and I stay seated at the table.

  Dylan stays quiet so I jump right in, “Okay, so just a couple of things…”

  Before I can finish Dylan sits up straight, “Hold on, don’t I get to ask you a few questions first?”

  A devilish smile spreads across his face, and I can’t help squirming in my seat. I can tell by the way he is looking at me he’s messing with me. I clear my throat and stay strong, “Of course. Anything you want to ask. Go ahead.”

  He smiles, amused. “You sure about that?”

  I nod trying to seem confident, but something tells me he sees right through it. “Yes, I told you I’m an open book. I have nothing to hide.” Not exactly true, there are a lot of things in my past I would like to keep there.

  He leans forward slightly in his chair, “Why social work? I mean its common knowledge, the pay is shit, its long hours and its thankless work, so why did you pick it?”

  Oh thank God, it’s not about my love life. I can’t process talking about dating and sex with this man, “I want to help people, families especially, and to make a difference.”

  “Uh huh, but there has to be a personal aspect to it right?”

  I don’t want to go into my past experiences with the system. I’ve seen my fair share of case workers, and some have been awful. “I just want to do a little good in this world.”

  He rubs the stubble on his strong, square jaw, clearly not satisfied with my answer, but he moves on, “And the boyfriend. Did you part as friends, or was that bullshit for Cassie’s benefit?”

  “We did. It wasn’t that big of a deal. People drift apart.”

  “So you didn’t love him then?”

  “What? Why do you say that?”

  “I mean if you love someone don’t you fight to stay together?”

  That is surprising. It’s pretty obvious to me that Dylan is the love them and leave them type, and here he is talking about fighting for love. What the hell is that about? “If it’s the right person you fight. He wasn’t. He is a great guy who helped me grow up and focus on my career and then we both just got busy.”

  “So what does he do?”

  “He’s a lawyer. And law school and passing the Bar are not easy tasks, so he was busy all of the time too. Can we please go over a couple of things now?”

  I sound like a whiny girl, but I need to stop talking about my relationships with Dylan.

  He nods graciously, “Alright, what do we need to talk about?”

  I let out a breath of relief and bring up the most pressing issue first, “Is Gabby just shy or is she not talking to any of you either?”

  “She hasn’t said a word since the accident.”

  It is hard to hide my concern, but before I can ask anything else he adds, “We are working on it.”

  I can tell this is a sensitive subject, so I tread lightly, “Okay, how?”

  That irritates him, “She’s in therapy. Gabby, Michael, and Cassie are.”

  “Luke isn’t?”

  “No, I gave him a choice, and he didn’t want to.”

  I have to ask, “Okay, and do the kids have bedtimes and curfews in place?”

  He grits his teeth, “I’ve been taking it easy on them. They’ve been through hell the last two weeks.”

  “I understand that, but children need structure.”

  He immediately gets defensive, “Oh really? How many children do you have?”

  “There have been several studies to prove that fact, Dylan. It’s important that routines remain as close to normal as possible.”

  He opens his mouth to say something, but something in him changes, and he simply sighs, “Fine. I will make sure they are all home and in bed by a certain time, anything else?”

  “Just one more thing today, I do have to ask about your relationship status.”

  His face goes back to angry. Wow, the peace between us didn’t last long, “Really, you are going to ask me about my sex life? How the hell is that any of your business?”

  I try to keep my face impassive, “Trust me, I wish it weren't, but having several women, that you have no serious intentions toward, being around the kids could have a huge impact on their lives. It clearly made an impression on Luke, and like you said, that was five years ago.”

  He stands up from the table, the vein in his neck popping out a little, and he looks furious, “Don’t you dare judge me. You don’t get to tell me who I can and cannot fuck.”

  Oh, boy, I’ve definitely touched a nerve. I take a deep breath. He’s a large man, but I don’t feel threatened by him. Something tells me he won’t hurt me, but it’s time to try my best to calm him down. “You are an adult, Dylan, and you can sleep with whoever you want to.
But I would suggest that if you aren’t in a serious, committed relationship that you don’t bring them around the children. It gives off the wrong impression of what a healthy relationship is like and will only confuse them seeing as how they already know what commitment is from your parents.”

  He continues to stand, his body is still, “I know that.”

  I stand slowly, “Okay, great. So are Tuesday afternoons okay with you for a standing appointment, at let’s say four? That way when the kids go back to school everyone should be home.”

  He nods, “That works.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you guys next Tuesday then.”

  He walks with me to the door and lets me outside. I walk out to my car and start it. I stay there for a minute, trying to collect my thoughts.

  This is going to be a challenge. Thank God for Michael and Cassie.

  Chapter 5

  Dylan

  After the first home visit, everyone stayed out of each other’s way for the rest of the evening. I ordered dinner, and then the kids went to bed. At least, I think they did. Shit, maybe Brooke is right, and they do need some structure in their lives. I’m beginning to realize just how much I need to learn. I’ve been thinking a lot about Brooke’s visit. How she wants me to trust her.

  I admit that shit is hard considering my dealings with social services, not to mention the judge. I wonder what she would think about my short criminal career, not to mention the rest of my past. I’m the first to admit that I was no choir boy. Rebellion became my way of life, anything to defy my father’s constant control over me. If it were something I knew would piss him off, then it became my number one mission. But what the hell, I was a kid.

  The problem is now I see Lucas heading in that direction. I would give my left nut to find out about his relationship with our father, but that kind of communication just isn’t open yet. From listening to the kids talk, a lot of their pain is focused on losing Sylvia. As much hell as I gave her and my dad, she turned out to be an excellent parent.

  Jax walks into the house as I’m just sitting down on the large couch in the living room. He goes into the kitchen, grabs two beers and walks over to me, handing me one. His smug grin tells me he knows the answer to his next question already, “How’d the first home visit go?”

  I take a drink of the cold beer and say with sarcasm, “Fantastic.”

  He laughs and sits at the other end of the couch, “I figured it would go over well, I know you love when people are in your business.”

  “Yeah, it’s fucking awesome. I mean not only did they do a full background check and pull my credit report, but the social worker also had the fucking nerve to tell me not to have any chicks over.” Not that that’s a problem because I don’t bring women home.

  He chuckles again, “And that’s a problem how? Did you happen to tell her you haven’t gotten laid since you’ve been here?”

  “I’ve been busy, and no I didn’t tell her that. It’s none of her fucking business, and I told her that.” And I can’t even explain to myself why it pissed me off for Luke to point out my history. It shouldn’t, but damn if doesn’t.

  “Man, you better play nice.”

  I raise my eyebrow in his direction, “Are you telling me to play nice with a woman who could potentially take away my brothers and sisters?”

  He nods, “Yep, you want these kids then you have to play the game. That’s your forte anyway. I’m sure if you put your mind to it you could charm the panties right off of the uptight bitch. I mean hell from the way you described her I’m sure she’s desperate for a man’s attention.”

  I thought about Brooke’s beautiful face, her large, intense eyes, and perfect full dark pink lips. She was uptight and a huge pain in the ass, but there was no way she was desperate for a man, she probably had every asshole she had ever met falling all over themselves for her. That fact really shouldn’t bother me as much as it does. “Yeah, I’m not interested in her panties or anything else. She’s just an inconvenience, another hurdle I have to jump over.” The problem is, I’m looking for her next inconvenience.

  “So how did the kids handle her?”

  “The three little ones were fine. Luke was a shithead.”

  “Not surprising, that little fucker needs an attitude change.”

  I instantly feel defensive of Luke, “He’s been through hell, man.”

  “I know that, but letting him act like an asshole isn’t doing him any favors. He’s got to deal with his anger.”

  I turn to Jackson. We have been friends for seven years, and not once had I ever heard him talk about feelings or emotions of any sort. This situation was making him soft, “Are you fucking with me? Do you hear yourself?”

  He shakes his head, “That kid has a lot of anger, and if you don’t want to lose all of them you’re going to have to rein him in. He’s like a ticking time bomb. You can pretend all day long that it’s because he’s had it bad the last couple of weeks or whatever, but his shit goes deeper than that. If it’s got anything to do with you being gone the last three years, you’ve got to do something to fix that shit. I know you care about these kids, and you would be devastated if they were taken away.”

  Shit. I hate how well he knows me. “You sound like the social worker. She told me I need to give the kids structure.”

  “Well no shit, Sherlock. Everyone knows kids need structure. When you were a teenager were you allowed to stay out until one in the morning?”

  I don’t say a word, and he just sits there with a smug look on his face. I return the smug look, “No I wasn’t allowed, but damn if I didn’t.”

  “And right there should wake you the fuck up when it comes to Luke. All you have to do is remember what you were doing at 16.” He gives me a second to let that sink in before he hits me with the next item on ‘Dylan’s neglected responsibility list.’ “Okay, so on to the next thing, when did you fuck Joy?”

  Son of a bitch! Would this day just fucking end already? “Why do you think I fucked Joy?”

  His eyes roll, clearly irritated, “I know you did. I picked it up the tenth time she asked me how you were and when you are coming back when I went home.”

  Dammit, Joy. “It was a mistake, just one time.”

  “Well, I figured it was a one-time event, asshole, why did you do it? After all of the lectures you gave the guys at the garage. Never fuck a client, never fuck a co-worker. And then you do just that!”

  “I know, okay. It was a rough day, and it just happened. The next day we were here. So, no harm, no foul. It’s not happening again.”

  “Yeah, well you need to call her and get that shit straight with her if we plan on keeping her as an employee. She’s a good fit down there, and I don’t have the patience to go down there, hire someone new, and train them. We’ve got too much to do up here with opening a new place. Call her and let her down easy. A lawsuit is the last thing you need right now.”

  I look at Jax; there’s worry in his eyes, so instead of arguing with him I give in, “Fine, I’ll call her soon.”

  “Tonight.”

  “It’s late; I’ll call her tomorrow.”

  “Okay, one last thing.”

  I groan, “What?”

  “You sound like a fucking whiney kid, this one’s good, relax.”

  He tosses me some papers with a lot of facts and figures and what looks like a land map. “What is this?”

  “It’s for our new garage; it’s the perfect area. It hasn’t been over developed yet, but it’s growing in downtown Kansas City.”

  I scroll through the pages and feel the stubble on my chin. “Jax, it looks like a great location, but I don’t know if I have it in me right now. You know how much work goes into starting a garage.”

  “Yeah I do, that’s why I’m here. All you have to do is go with me to the bank with the proposal I have written. They will jump on the opportunity. Then I’ll bring in assholes to interview for jobs; you interview them. We get some clients, and boom we are in business.” />
  I shake my head; Jax always makes things sound easier than they are. “I just don’t have a lot of time.”

  “The kids start school in like two weeks right? Then you’ll have some free time. Seriously, man, running things in Oklahoma from here is fine, but I need something else to do. This market is perfect. We are right in the middle of the US, and there are plenty of rich pricks around here just looking for someone to help them spend their money. But there’s one thing I want to add up here that we never did in Oklahoma. I want to open up a scouting service for our clients. We always talked about it. They tell us what kind of car or bike they want, and we find it. Just think of the contacts we can make. And that shit will only bring in more clients and more money.”

  “Okay, okay, fuck, I’m in.” The car scouting business has always been something I wanted to do. If he’s all in this time, there’s no way I’m not in too.

  He grins, he already knew I would be. “Alright, now get your beauty sleep. We need you looking your best.”

  “Fuck you. So, when do we head home to get my bike and car? I’d like to get it done this week. I can also pack up my clothes and shit while I’m down there.”

  “Yeah, this week is good. Aren’t you bringing your truck up?”

  “I don’t know how to bring it all at once. You’ll have to pull the bike trailer behind your truck while I drive the car.”

  “Have you forgotten Luke? He could easily drive the car or truck up. That boy would eat that shit up. You can let everyone know about your move when you pack up your office, and maybe let Joy down then too.”

  “Alright, good point. I’ll talk to him about it tomorrow. And I’m letting Joy down while I’m here. I don’t need any of that begging drama to ruin the trip. I’ll let her know the score, so she doesn’t expect anything when she sees me.”

  “Please, just be fucking nice, man.” I flip his ass off as he walks out of the room. I lay down on the couch, and my thoughts drift to Brooke. I wonder what she would think about us opening a new shop. I hate that my first thought is her. I shouldn’t give a fuck about what she thinks, but I can’t help but think how pleased she would be. And when she sees that Jax and I can build a successful business, there’s no way she wouldn’t think I deserve the kids. I drift off to sleep with the picture of her smile firmly planted in my dreams.