Lucky Break (Lucky 3)

Thomas wouldn’t let Hank get sidetracked. “If I’m so interested in Clara and Thomas, why are you the only one spying?”

“Because someone has to, and I fill you in as soon as I see something worth reporting! Come on. Admit you’re as interested in these two getting together as I am.”

Thomas hated it when he couldn’t argue with his brother’s reasoning. Thank goodness, it wasn’t often that Hank was right.

Thomas leaned back in his seat, arms folded across his chest. “Of course I’m interested. I want Edward healthy so we can be a family again, and these baby steps he’s taking with Clara will help lead him back to us, too.”

“Aha!” Hank picked up a fork and waved it at him.

“But that doesn’t mean I’d invade their privacy to do it.”

“Stick-in-the-mud.” His lips turned down in a classic Hank-pout.

Thomas shook his head, suppressing a grin. He’d already decided not to respond.

Suddenly the ringing of Hank’s cell phone broke the silence. The loud song called attention to their booth, and as Hank fumbled to find his phone, the song continued its seemingly never-ending chorus.

“Why didn’t you put that thing on silent?” Thomas hissed.

“Because I don’t know how.” Hank finally found the phone and flipped it open, ending the serenade. “Talk to me,” he said, again in a too loud whisper.

“Who is it?” Thomas asked.

Hank put up a hand, telling Thomas to wait, his concentration on the call. He listened, nodding until he finally said, “Holy cow!”

“What?”

Hank ignored him. “Yep, he’s with me. I’ll let him know and we’ll call you when we get home.” He disconnected and placed the phone on the table. “I knew I shoulda brought my shotgun.”

“For the last time, what is wrong?” Thomas asked.

“That was Derek and you’ll never believe why he called.” Hank met Thomas’s gaze. “That lunatic Elizabeth Perkins escaped!”

Thomas blinked, certain he’d heard wrong. And if he hadn’t, how was such a thing possible?

He leaned closer to Hank. “Do you think we should tell Edward, so he hears it from family first and not from some stranger?”

“No need to tell me anything, I overheard everything,” a deep, familiar male voice said.

Thomas cringed.

Edward stood by their table, Clara beside him. “Odd choice in restaurants for you two, isn’t it?”

“When did you notice us?” Thomas asked, mortified.

“When ‘Old McDonald’ rang on the phone.”

Thomas shot Hank a deadly look before turning his attention back to Edward. His brother looked neat. He was dressed in a pair of pressed pants and a clean button-down shirt. No tie. Hair freshly trimmed and combed, the same as his beard. He looked fantastic. Like the brother he’d almost forgotten he’d ever had, Thomas thought, and barely refrained from complimenting him. He didn’t want to embarrass Edward, especially in front of Clara, who stood patiently while the three men talked.

“I just wanted to be close by in case you needed me,” Hank said in an attempt to defend his actions. “Isn’t that right, Thomas?”

Thomas clenched his jaw tight. Hank was covering, but Thomas had promised himself he wouldn’t deceive his brother. Not by omission or by lying to himself, either.

He gripped the napkin in his lap. “I came to keep an eye on him.” Thomas jerked his thumb toward Hank. “But to be even more truthful, I also feel like I have a vested interest in whether you two end up together.” The admission didn’t come easily, but Thomas was pleased with himself for making it.

“Why?” Clara asked, clearly appalled. “I wouldn’t date you even if Edward were foolish enough to end things between us.” She placed her hand on Edward’s shoulder. “Not ever.”

Thomas admired her spunk and unnecessary defense of his brother. He should have realized the potential for misunderstanding. “What I meant was that if Edward could work toward a resolution with you, maybe you will make peace with me next.” He steeled himself for his brother’s verbal punch, but to Thomas’s shock and relief, Edward’s face seemed to soften.