Chapter 49

LeavingCrispy in her carrier and the windows cracked, Kayla led the way from the parking lot to the large residence the family called the Friary in honor of its original Franciscan monk residents.

Soon after purchasing the behemoth, the Blackwells sank a significant amount of money into its renovation, creating large suites for each family member as well as guest rooms. The property also included a gorgeous chapel, an office building called the Annex, several renovated cabins that were erected when the property was owned by a church camp, and a number of outbuildings. Surrounding the living space was nearly a thousand acres of forested land, also under restoration, and a state-of-the-art security system.

Kayla stepped onto the expansive front stoop at the same time one of the ten-foot-tall front doors opened, revealing Zeke. His eyes shifted from Ash to her before he wrapped her in a warm hug.

“Hello, Trouble.”

No questions, no raised eyebrows about her presence, not even an annoyed tone, considering their accidental meeting yesterday.

“Sorry to barge in on y’all,” she said, stepping away.

“You’re welcome anytime.” He nodded toward the interior where a bevy of excited voices could be heard. “Liv and the other ladies will be happy to see you.” Niceties done, he focused his considerable attention on his brother, who’d remained below on the pathway. “Ash.”

“Zeke.”

She wondered how long they would’ve stayed that way if Zeke hadn’t realized she’d failed to take his hint.

He tried again. “We won’t be long.”

“If you think I’m going to leave the two of you alone, you’ve learned absolutely nothing about me in the past two years.”

“Your balls still intact?” Ash asked from the sidewalk.

“Yeah, no thanks to you.”

Ash directed his next words to Kayla. “Last time we spoke, he was certain Liv would make him a eunuch for spilling the baby beans.”

“We agreed not to share the news until the end of her first trimester.”

“Smart, but hard,” Kayla said, “especially for first-timers.”

“Did you announce it to everyone yet?” Ash asked.

“Just tonight.” The hard edge around Zeke’s jaw softened. “Can’t you tell?”

Another wave of excited chatter rushed through the open door.

When the two men fell into another staring contest, Kayla sighed and waved Ash forward.

He hesitated a moment, then joined them on the stoop.

“Zeke,” she said, “Ash is sorry he figured out your secret and against his will told me what was up with my BFF.”

Both men opened their mouths to protest. She held up a hand. “I’m sorry I pushed him into telling me, but his hedging made my mind go to the worst possible scenarios.” She lasered in on the soon-to-be-father. “Your brother did me a kindness. Now accept his apology.”

A muscle in Zeke’s jaw flexed. “I understand your dilemma now, bro.”

“Ash,” she turned to the equally headstrong man to her right, “Zeke is sorry he didn’t trust his wife to be strong enough to hear distressing news about her best friend and sent you on a fool’s errand.”

Zeke fired up like an over-pressurized boiler. “Mom and Aunt Joan were worried about you, and I rightfully kept my pregnant wife out of the mess.”

“Rightfully?” Kayla said in her best musing voice. “Did it not occur to you that if Liv had approached me she would have known straightaway the truth of the situation? Instead, you sent someone who knew me only as a so-called blood-sucking lobbyist.”

Zeke glanced at Ash as if searching for support, only to find his brother smiling. Ash stuffed his hands into his front pockets and rocked back on his heels, enjoying the show.

“If Liv had come to me, you would never have given away your secret and Ash wouldn’t have had to tell me, and your balls would never have been in jeopardy.”

Rather than pop a cork, Zeke blinked twice, slowly, as if he were trying to identify an alien species. “Does this mean you didn’t pay-to-play?”

A gurgle started low in her stomach. One look at Ash, and the laughter erupted into her throat and burst passed her lips.

Ash joined in until they both had tears in their eyes. Zeke glared at them, but even tightening his lips into a thin line couldn’t halt his amusement.

“If you’re not a felonious lobbyist,” Zeke said, “what the hell is going on with the Irish artifact?”

“She connected a board member, Dee Rhodes, with her mother, Jillian Krowne, who’s the actual owner of the artifact,” Ash interjected, surprising her.

“You knew?”

He winked. “I’m a trained investigator, remember?”

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me this yesterday?” Zeke asked.

“Did you give me a chance, brother?”

Zeke’s thumb tapped against his thigh several times before he lifted a brow and trained dark eyes on her. “Your mother’s artifact? Not sure a prosecutor would buy into that bit of hairsplitting.”

Kayla shrugged. “The day of the craft fair, I’d intended to ask Dee for her support, but she offered it before I could even open my mouth to present my pitch. There was no reason for me to dangle the artifact in front of her.”

Kayla left out the fact that she was prepared to do whatever it took, even put her career in jeopardy, to prevent Engel County’s ill-thought-out policies from spilling over the county line and affecting her godson.

“If anything,” Ash said, “the board member took the opportunity to volunteer her support in the hope Kayla would offer a solution to her son’s grand opening dilemma.”

“She knew about your collection?” Zeke asked.

“Of course. I host many parties at my Asheville residence, where I display samples of my, and some of my mother’s, collection. Dee—the entire board—has attended at one time or another.”

She glanced between the brothers. “It’s common knowledge that I have a soft spot for museums. Asheville has the makings of being a cultural mecca. Having a natural history museum would be a wonderful boon for the city.” She crossed her arms. “I would’ve put her into contact with my mother, regardless of upcoming agenda items, but I had no way of knowing if Mom would part with it.”

“Your mom doesn’t have the same patron of the arts mentality?” Ash asked.

“As generous as she is, she’s notoriously hesitant to loan out her pieces to museums.”

“Why?” Ash asked.

“I don’t know. But for reasons I’m not sure even she understands, she prefers to keep her collectibles in the family’s possession.”

Zeke blew out a breath, then placed his hand on her shoulder. “My apologies.”

“For not believing Liv was strong enough?”

He shook his head. “I am who I am. I can’t—I won’t apologize for protecting those I love. Though I will give your perspective more thought.” His big hand squeezed, and she might have heard a bone snap. “I’m sorry for not having more faith in you. You’ve been a good friend to this family—and me. You’ve been there for us without hesitation and with a shocking amount of enthusiasm.” He flicked a glance at Ash before returning his gaze to her. “I should have spoken to you myself.”

Her throat tried to close on her. She had to swallow several times in order to eke out a single word. She clasped a hand over Zeke’s extended arm and twined her fingers with Ash’s. “Are we good?”

Ash and Zeke looked at each other. Neither said a word.

“For now?” she amended, knowing their injuries ran much deeper than this one issue.

“For now,” Ash agreed, clamping a hand on his brother’s shoulder.

Zeke nodded, then mimicked his brother’s action.

Kayla smiled. It was a start.