Chapter 23

"Rory and I decided that red is your favorite color," Maura said as he pulled the red straw fedora out of her bag.

Zeke chuckled and took the hat. "It is."

"I thought you would need it to keep you covered while on the island since you decided to go all bald a few months ago."

Zeke nodded.

Maura smiled happy that he liked her gift. Zeke was one of those people who were so hard to buy for. Knowing that he had a rough time after his father had been killed. Money had been tight. So, once Zeke started making money, he never hesitated to buy what he wanted. He had what he wanted mostly.

"Did you and Conner have some good work time?"

He hesitated. "Yeah."

She frowned and stopped going through her bags. She studied him and could tell that something had happened. "What?"

Rory glanced at her then at Zeke. "Yeah, what? I picked up on that too."

"I got irritated with him and yelled at him."

Maura didn't say anything for a long time. Her fear was that her brother had found out about them. It wasn't that she was ashamed of what she was doing, but she didn't need a lecture about it. Of course, if Conner knew about it, he would probably be sitting here waiting for her when she got home.

"And, what happened?"

He shrugged. "We worked it out. It wasn't anything important."

"It wasn't that important but it's bothering you?"

He glanced at Rory, then back at her. "Just some issues at the office, stuff we have to work out. You know your brother is a pain in the ass. Once he decides on something, he's tenacious."

That wasn't the whole truth, but she knew better than to push Zeke. He might call Conner hard headed, but Zeke was just as bad. If he decided to hide things from her, there would be no budging him. Maura decided a call to Jillian was in order. She'd know what was going on with the partners.

"Yeah," she said, grabbing up her bags. "I bought some of that pineapple stuff and I am going to put the rest of this away. I want to hit the beach for a little bit. I'm going to change and if anyone wants to come along, come on."

Zeke nodded. "Be up in a minute, love."

She gave them both a quick kiss and hurried up the stairs. Once she was in the room, she started thinking how everything had changed in just one day. One simple day and they were acting like this was normal. Okay, so not really normal, but it was if the three of them had been together for years.

Her phone chimed Jillian's ringer and she picked it up immediately. "Hey, Jillian."

"So, did you have fun this morning?"

She laughed and sat on the bed. "This morning, yesterday afternoon…I'm sure tonight."

"Slut."

Knowing she was joking with her, Maura chuckled. "You would know from experience."

"Really, how is it going?"

"Okay. Rory and I went shopping and I'm going to hit the beach here in a bit. Wanna tell me what went on over there between my brother and Zeke?"

"Nothing much. Zeke was irritated with your brother over stuff."

She sighed. "Just tell me what it was. I know it isn't about what's going on here because Conner would have been here waiting for me."

"Or he would have picked you up at the Swap Meet."

She covered her face with her free hand. "Oh, God, you're right." She dropped her hand. "And quit trying to change the subject."

Jillian sighed. "Apparently Zeke was upset about the way your brother treats you."

"He treats me fine."

"Yeah, well, I wasn't here, but that was what the argument, or I should say disagreement was about."

"Ah."

"And speaking of your brother here he is."

Before she could tell Jillian she didn't want to talk to her brother—mainly because she was afraid that he would figure out what was going on with Zeke and Rory—his voice filtered over the phone.

"Hey, Maura. I was wondering if you had time for lunch tomorrow?"

She frowned. Again, he wasn't acting like himself. Conner didn't plan lunch dates unless it was official work.

"Did we have some work to do? I was planning on goofing off all week."

"No. Is there anything wrong with me wanting to have lunch with my sister?"

She shook her head, and then realized she was on the phone. Brilliant, Maura. "Nope. You don't normally do things like this."

There was a pause. "Good lord, all I wanted to do was have lunch and show you the new offices. Why does everyone think I have ulterior motives for everything?"

He sounded so exasperated that she had to bite back the giggle tickling her throat. "I'm sorry. I will be happy to have lunch with you."

"I will pick you up at ten."

Then he was gone. She sighed. Conner was changing but he still needed to learn how not to order her to a social type of thing.

Jillian came back on the phone. "And, now you know sort of what went on. I have a feeling that Zeke told Conner he needed to spend time with you as a brother."

She frowned. "Why would he do that? Does he hate me?"

Jillian chuckled. "Stop. You know both of them love you."

"Please tell me you're coming."

"Nope. It's all Dillon blood tomorrow. I'm going to work in silence for the first time in over a week."

"Okay. We do need to get out together though."

"Will do. We'll hit the town in a day or two. Be nice to your brother tomorrow and don't be too bad."

Maura was smiling when she clicked off the phone. She should go right downstairs, but she needed a second to herself. They guys were so damned overwhelming at times. She watched the people on the beach in the distance as she thought about both of them. Zeke was always going to have a special place in her heart. Maura had realized long ago that Zeke was probably the love of her life. It was a shame that there were so many things in their way.

Now though, Rory was worming his way into her heart. Sadly, he wasn't even trying. Only one day and she was getting tangled up with him. The way he acted sometimes…she had thought he was a prick. Now, though, she had a feeling that he did it as self-preservation. She was sure there was an ooey gooey center to him.

She shook her head and decided to get back to emptying her bags. Wishing for more than this week would be a huge mistake.