Samantha laughed lightly as she gave Jackson an impish look. “Sorry and no offense, but that’s just not possible.”
Jackson chuckled, looking completely at ease with the women. “No offense taken.”
Sarah shook her head and chimed in as the peacemaker. “You two look identical, so I’d say you’re equally handsome.”
“Is the graduation girl finally here?” Clay’s voice boomed from the kitchen area right before he walked into the living room. “Can’t start the party without the guest of honor—”
His steps slowed, as did Mason’s and Levi’s, who’d been following Clay. All three men stopped and stared at Jackson, and the sudden strain in the room was nearly tangible. The silence was deafening.
What the hell was wrong with these guys? Annoyed with their behavior, Tara spoke up. “Don’t be rude, boys,” she said through gritted teeth, trying to sound pleasant when she was suddenly feeling very protective of Jackson. “Say hello to my guest.”
Samantha gave Clay a pointed look, while Katrina jabbed Mason in the side with her elbow hard enough for him to grunt from the impact. The glare he aimed at Katrina didn’t seem to faze his wife one bit. She was one of the few people who didn’t put up with Mason’s shit and could put him in his place.
Levi finally stepped forward, his demeanor reserved as he offered his hand to Jackson. “Good to see you.” His tone, at least, was cordial.
“Likewise.” The two men shook hands, followed by Clay and Mason, who were just as guarded with their acknowledgment.
Good God. There was no way Tara was going to spend the afternoon and evening with all this tension between the guys. Whatever their issue with Jackson, she was determined to find out. Starting right now.
“Samantha, would you mind taking Jackson out on the deck, get him a beer or something to drink while I talk to these guys?” Tara asked as she hitched her thumb toward the three brothers.
The other woman nodded in understanding. “Absolutely. Come on, Jackson. We want to know all about you.”
Samantha, Katrina, and Sarah were more than happy to usher him outside and keep him busy with questions.
“At least someone has the right idea,” Tara muttered irritably as she turned toward the men left behind. “You three. In the kitchen. Now.”
She marched past them and didn’t miss Mason’s smart-mouthed, mocking comment, “Geez, bossy much?” Oh, he had no idea how bossy she was about to become.
Clay’s kitchen was huge and spacious, completely renovated with state-of-the-art appliances and yards of counter space to cater to Samantha’s love of baking. Evidence of her baking passion was set out on the counter—delicious cupcakes, fancy cookies, and decadent pastries. If Tara didn’t have business to take care of, she would have beelined it straight to Samantha’s desserts and indulged.
Once the four of them were all in the kitchen, she spun around to face them as they stood in a semicircle in front of her. “What the hell is going on with you three?” she asked, finally unleashing her frustration. “You’re acting like complete jerks around Jackson and he doesn’t deserve it.”
“Learning about Jackson and the circumstances of his adoption hasn’t been easy to digest,” Clay said quietly as he moved toward the sink so he could look out the window to the deck and watch the girls and Jackson.
“And you think it’s been a piece of cake for him?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “So you’re going to punish him for something your drug-addicted mother did?”
“We’re not trying to punish him,” Levi said, shifting on his feet while Mason stood next to his brother with an obstinate frown on his face.
“It sure as hell feels that way.” Her tone was haughty, and she didn’t care. “You’ve ignored him since he came to the bar to meet you three last week.”
Clay’s gaze was riveted to whatever was going on outside, and he spoke over his shoulder. “We were going to contact him this week and see if he wanted to come by the bar and talk,” he said, the slightest hint of guilt infusing his voice.
“Better late than never, I suppose,” she said sarcastically. “Just keep in mind that there are three of you and one of him. You three have each other, but who does he have?”
“He has a family,” Mason said abruptly. “That’s what Jackson has. We three are the only family we’ve ever had, and it’s not easy to let a virtual stranger in.”
“That’s the problem with the three of you.” Her voice rose angrily as she encompassed all of them with a wild wave of her hand. “You have no idea what his life has been like, how he grew up and how he was treated and what kind of family he had. Are you judging him based on the suit he wore the first time he met you guys? Do you think that defines the man he is and somehow makes him impervious to a shitty childhood? Maybe he had it just as tough as you guys did.”
Clay briefly looked away from the window, his gaze narrowed on Tara. “Why does it sound like you know all about his family and childhood?”
She ignored the slight accusation she heard in his voice. “Because maybe I’ve taken the time to talk to him. To get to know him. Something the three of you should have been doing.”
“Jesus, you’re so defensive,” Mason muttered testily. “What’s going on with you and him, anyway?”
Tara’s heart suddenly beat a whole lot faster, because she knew what she was about to reveal was going to start another heated debate. “I should say that it’s none of your damn business, but I have nothing to hide.” She lifted her chin adamantly. “Jackson and I are dating.”
“Dating?” Levi echoed, dumbfounded by her admission.