Page 56 (1/1)

The light went on in his brother’s blue-gray eyes Oh, yeah, the bastard knehat the real problem was "Ashley? The pretty blonde with the curves? That’s his daughter?"

"Yep Not that you waited to know ht, then dumped her"

Dalton threw his hands up "Slon, dude Ashley and I met at the tavern and hit it off I never pro-term"

"Funny, ’cause she thinks you did Unless her idea of long-terot into her pants"

Dalton crossed his arms "Why are you so obsessed with my sex life? I like women Women like me When I take one to bed, she knows exactly what the deal is, and most of the time comes back for more Ashley and I met at the tavern, hit it off, and went back to her place I told her I’d call but didn’t say when Hoas I supposed to know her father would get involved? Besides, that’s unprofessional Get another inspector"

Cal ground his teeth "There is no one else Zachbut wood and women, you’d know to keep your damn hands off anyone related to my business!"

"Our business Pierce Brothers My personal life has nothing to do ork"

"Oh, yes it does When it affects this project and causes problems with our deadline, your personal life is very et Zach back out here pronto and make him feel better about this situation, we’ll lose teeks, which we can’t afford God, when are you gonna grow up, Dalton?"

Fury leaped into his brother’s eyes Like a pissed-off stallion, he practically reared up and snarled, getting in his face "When I’m treated like a partner and not some annoyance When I’m finally respected and asked questions rather than told by a fucking drill sergeant when s instead of to the bar after work"

"You don’t think I want that?" Cal tunneled his fingers through his hair and held on to his temper "Dude, that’s oing to be a tea with real estate, and you’re taking on odd jobs to work on cabinets, and I’ this house that we only have fourif this house isn’t done I’ve been waiting for you to step up, but if I keep waiting, hell’s not just gonna freeze over, it’s gonna turn into the Arctic!"

Dalton began to pace the woodshed, his body vibrating with tension "We’ll lose everything, Cal! Not you--us I may not want to be here, but this is Mom’s co you to treatalone, I don’t know if you’re truly capable of letting us help anylowered "What are you talking about?"

"Tristan and I both tried a bunch of times to be on the site You tie hi, then double-check everything he does When Morgan and I decide on aspects of the cabinetry, you want to sign off on it first We kno to build, Cal Instead, you depleted your tea errands to suppliers a co lecture about being a fa each other, but you’re still a one- "Bull You like to pick and choose what parts of this company you want to be involved in I’lared "Tristan and I can also grow this coet it Maybe you’ll never get it Or maybe you’re just exactly like Dad"

Cal stiffened The hurt cut as nasty as a paper cut, except through his heart rather than flesh Never He’d die before he became another Christian Pierce Coldness replaced the hurt until he was able to gaze back at his brother in co disappointment to Moh Cal Everyone knew Dalton had been Mom’s favorite She’d doted on the baby of the family, especially since Christian treated Dalton like a screwup It was as if they’d been a tea each other fros to leave Christian on that fateful day she was killed haunted the with Mom, like his foundation cracked and could never be repaired He’d stuck around for Cal’s engagement, but when Cal discovered his brother’s betrayal, Dalton had quickly left along with Tristan In one swoop, Cal had lost his mother, fiancée, and two brothers

Dao another round with his brother Why couldn’t he find that bond they’d had when they were young? When each of thehts were spent sharing dreams and secrets His brothers had been his world, his safety net, the only thing that ers, and he hated every second of it

"Dalton, I’aze "Yeah, you did Whatever Mo back You want me to be your trained seal for the next few months and build your house? Fine Just tell ood boy But don’t pretend we’re so we’re not Don’t pretend we mean more to you than the company, or that you want us to stay Because we both know the truth"