painted toenails. He’s just doing a good job of pretending not to.”
“Yeah,” Storm chimed in, grinning. “And he’s been brooding ever since Delaney mentioned at breakfast this morning
that Tara is moving to Atlanta to finish up her residency at a hospital here. The fact that she’ll be in such close proximity has Thorn sweating. The heat is on and he doesn’t like it at all.”
A short while later Dare and Shelly had a talk with their son.
“It’s almost time for us to leave for our cruise, AJ. We want you on your best behavior with Grandma and Grandpa
Westmoreland.”
“All right.” AJ looked at his father with bright eyes. “Dad, Uncle Chase and Uncle Storm said all of us are going fishing when you get back.”
Dare smiled. He had news for his brothers. If they thought for one minute that he would prefer spending a weekend with them rather than somewhere in bed with his wife, they had another thought coming. “Oh, they did, did they?”
“Yes.”
He nodded as he glanced over at his brothers who were
talking to Tara—all of them except for Thorn. He also noted the Westmoreland cousins—brothers Jared, Durango,
Spencer, Ian and Reggie—were standing in the group as well. The only one missing was Quade, and because of his covert activities for the government, there was no telling
where that particular Westmoreland was or what he was
doing at any given moment. “We’ll talk about it when I get back,” Dare said absently to AJ, wondering at the same
time just where Thorn had gone off to. Although he didn’t
see him, he would bet any amount of money that he was
somewhere close by with his eyes on Tara.
Dare shrugged. He was glad Tara was Thorn’s challenge
and not his. He then returned his full attention to his son. “When school is out for the holidays, your mom and I are thinking about taking you to Disney World.”
“Wow!”
Dare chuckled. “I take it you’d like that?”
“Yes, I’d love it. I’ve been to Disneyland before but not Disney World and I’ve been wanting to go there.”
“Good.” Dare pulled Shelly into his arms after checking his watch. It was time for them to leave for the airport. They
would be flying to Miami to board the cruise ship to St.
Thomas. “And keep an eye on your uncles, AJ, while I’m
gone. They have a tendency to get a little rowdy when I’m not here to keep them in line.”
AJ laughed. “Sure, Dad.”
Dare clutched AJ’s shoulder and pulled him closer. “Thanks. I knew that I could count on you.”
He breathed in deeply as he gathered his family close. With Shelly on one side and AJ on the other, he felt intensely
happy on this day, his wedding day, and hoped that each of his brothers and cousins would one day find this same
happiness. It was well worth all the time and effort he had
put into it.