"He won't take it well. He has little respect for the Hayeses."

Jack felt Riley stiffen beside him, and Riley's hand felt hot entwined with Jack's, his fingers flexing.

"He holds nothing against them," Jack said calmly, although that was perhaps a small exaggeration. Neither of the brothers hated the Hayeses family in general in the truest sense of the word; they just hated what had happened to their dad and how he had let the more prominent Texas family tear down almost everything they owned.

"It won't be easy," she said, nodding. "But for what it is worth, Riley Hayes, I love my brothers, and the kind of men they are. They won't make your life miserable for the sins of your father." Jack smiled, dropping Riley's hand and leaning down for a kiss from his sister.

"When did you get so wise, Elizabeth Ann?"

"About the same time you and Josh told me the tooth fairy took teeth even if they hadn't fallen out, Jackson Robert." They chuckled quietly, and Jack touched his fingers to Elizabeth's stomach, feeling the soft roundness of it. He wanted to scoop her up and protect her forever.

"I'm guessing we have stuff to do now," he whispered low in her ear, indicating her belly.

Beth grimaced. "Hospitals and stuff," she replied just as softly, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

"Tell me when, and I'll take you."

"I will, though Steve said he's gonna come to every one with me." She gave that secret smile only Jack had ever seen, the affection she had for her friend Steve shining in her eyes.

Jack dropped a small kiss on his sister's nose and stood, stretching tall. Then he reached for Riley's hand, anything to keep the charade alive. They said their goodbyes, and after leaving with another hug from his mom, he handed out the address for his older brother, knowing that this was going to be the hard one.

Chapter 10

Riley sat back in the car, massaging the hand Jack had held. He was quietly shocked at how natural it had seemed for Jack to bask in the approval of his mom and sister. He wondered if his mom would even care, or if his brother would have anything but derision for what he had done. And whether his dad was actually going to let him leave the building alive when he revealed his latest life decision.

Surely they had something in common, this Riley and this Jack. They both had older brothers, so Jack must know what it felt like to be bullied and bossed around and treated like the lesser man.

"So your brother? Is he a bit of an idiot as well? Do you argue a lot?"

"Josh?" Jack looked at him in frowning surprise. "Hell, no. Why would we?"

"Your sister said…" Riley's voice trailed off.

"Oh. Yeah, well, he won't understand why I married you. You. A Hayes."

"Because?" Stupid question but best to get it out there.

"Usual shit I guess." Jack shrugged. "But no, Josh and I —and Beth— we're close. Always have been. After our dad died, we got closer. Josh is living and working away, but that makes no difference. He's married, got two kids," he added awkwardly.

"Same as Jeff."

"His wife, Anna, and his kids, Logan and Lea. they're a good family."

"He's a lawyer, right?" Riley remembered something Jim had said in their final meeting for the contract, something about how he knew Josh would have a fit if and when he read some of the clauses.

Jack smiled proudly. "Yep, worked his way through college and law school, and is at a law firm in Fort Worth. Does a lot of pro bono work. Doesn't make a lot, but enough to support his family and do good with his skills and his education. Anna was his childhood sweetheart."

"Aaah, the American dream." Riley tried to keep the cynicism out of his voice "Two point four kids, the picket fence, the station wagon and the dog." Jack glared but didn't answer, and Riley subsided into silence, watching the pastures of the D pass by until they reached the main road and turned left, away from the D and away from the city.

* * * *

When they reached the outskirts of Fort Worth, the chauffeur took a sharp right and stopped at a cluster of single story buildings, each distinctive in shape as if a small child had mixed and matched Lego pieces into a colorful huddle. Jack jumped out of the car, and walked up to the one with the sign proclaiming Selkirk & Unwin, Attorneys-at-Law, waiting until Riley caught up. He opened the door and walked into a small reception area, Riley on his heels.

Jack paused. His brother's office door was open. Josh's back was to him, the phone cradled between his neck and chin, and a folder was open in his hands. "Okay, I have instruction that, on this occasion, we will settle, but it's gonna be for the full amount… Not if I have anything to say in the matter… I don't care how big they are… My client will sign off on that…. Agreed."

He placed the phone and the folder on the table and sighed, pushing hands through his hair. It was longer and darker than his brother's, but the reflection in the glass-fronted bookcase in front of him told Riley Josh's jaw had the same stubborn jut. Riley tensed in anticipation of an upcoming confrontation.

"Hey," Jack said loudly. Josh jumped and turned, hand flailing and smacking Jack on the arm.

"Shit, J," he spluttered, blinking as he took in not only his brother, but also Riley behind him. He frowned, looking back at his brother cautiously. "What's wrong?"

"I wanted to introduce you to someone," Jack started, and Josh glanced past Riley, as if expecting a third person to appear.

"I know him," Josh said warily. "We've met before."

Riley extended his hand, and Josh took it in a firm grip. "Josh," he said carefully.

"Hayes," Josh replied, just as carefully.

Jack put out a hand to grasp at Riley's. "Actually," he began, "it's Campbell-Hayes."

Josh didn't even blink. "Riley," he said evenly. "Would you please give us a moment?"

Riley nodded, and the moment he walked out of the room and closed the door behind him, the shouting started. He tried not to listen, but that was impossible, given that two pairs of healthy lungs were doing the yelling. He also wanted to be inside, where he should be, if only for appearance's sake.

"He's not even gay for fuck's sake!"

"Josh—"

"Have you seen the papers? He's got a different woman every freaking night!"

"He's bi, Josh."

"And he's settled on you, the son of his dad's enemy?"

"He hasn't settled; we're in love!"

"Love. You love him? Jesus, J!"

"What? A gay man can't fall in love?"

"Jack, that has nothing to do with it! He's a Hayes, for fuck's sake! Don't you remember what they did to Dad? Falsifying records, lying about land purchases, buying his way out and leaving Dad in the cold? Don't you remember some of the shit Gerald did to Mom?"

Riley had heard enough. He opened the door to see the two brothers in an angry face-off.

"As I answered your sister, Josh, I'm not my father," was all he said. He waited until Josh visibly relaxed. "Your brother and I… We're happy. We want to make this work. Do we have your support?"

Josh closed his eyes briefly, but not quick enough for Riley to miss the battle that warred in them. He finally opened them again and nodded, pulling his younger brother in for a hug. "Shit. I'm happy if you are, kid. If you're really happy?"