His Temporary Assistant

A knock sounded at the door before our mom popped in her coiffed head. “There is literally no sound I love more than my boys laughing together. I hope I’m not interrupting.”

“Of course not.” I rose and waved her over, kissing her cheek and accepting her hug.

Was I imagining things or was her embrace a little tighter than normal? Could’ve been mother’s intuition or maybe she wasn’t as happy with her arrangement with my father as he claimed.

Frowning at the assorted desk paraphernalia scattered on the floor, she went over to hug Dex as well. He held onto her as he gestured to me. “Your eldest son is in love. You should start planning the wedding.”

I’d picked that unfortunate moment to take my last sip of coffee—and ended up spitting it out over the vest that Ryan had chosen for me that morning.

Our mother let out a tinkling laugh. “So, your pretty assistant sealed the deal already? Is she out selecting her bouquet? I was hoping to see her today. There’s a tarot festival in Turnbull in a few weeks, and I was wondering if she’d like to attend with me. Maybe we could make it a threeway.” She tapped her chin.

Dex shook his head. “Don’t use that word with other people, Mom. It doesn’t mean what you think it does.”

“Like you know what I think, you big oaf.” She reached up to twist his ear while he laughed.

I sank into my chair and rolled over to the garbage can to unbutton my jacket and squeeze out my tie. At least I hadn’t made too much of a mess. “I thought I moved fast. You two have me married, for God’s sake.”

“Oh, you’re moving fast? You admit it?”

“I’m not moving at all right now. She’s gone.”

“Gone?” our mother echoed, exchanging a glance with Dex. “How can you marry her if she’s not present?”

“That is a quandary. Except we aren’t getting married yet.”

“Did you hear that yet? I heard a yet.”

“Record it on your phone,” our mother suggested. “That way, when he does his Frosty the Lawyer thing, we’ll have proof he has warm feelings for her.”

I rolled my eyes. Frosty the Lawyer was a nickname I hadn’t heard in years. I hadn’t missed it either.

“Try sizzling. You see all that?” Dex pointed at the scattered pens and papers on the floor. “He was having a mantrum when I came in here. He almost tossed his computer.”

“Enjoying yourselves?” I asked mildly, settling my still damp tie back into place. I patted my vest and figured I might as well wear my coffee after the day I’d had.

“Hugely.” My brother circled his arm around our mom’s shoulders. “I almost hate to leave and break up the party, but I have a prior engagement.”

“Blond, brunette or redhead?”

“Speaking of threeways…” He ducked when our mother gave him a stern look.

I had to laugh as I stood. “Can you meet Bishop

and I at Lonegan’s Sunday evening?”

“Sure. Time to wine and dine?”

“Or get stupidly drunk. We’ll see how it goes.”

“If you need a designated driver, I’ll come get you,” my mother said, making Dex pat her on the head as if she was a slightly dotty senior citizen. She was not amused.

“Of course. Or maybe you’ll come and drink us under the table. Though last time we couldn’t get you down off the bar.”

She flushed and adjusted the big flower choker around her neck. “Oh, stop. I got down.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. Clearly, I needed to spend more time with my family—even if it would be an education I might not be ready for.

Now was as good a time as any to start.