Page 118 of Love Deep

A month later

Juniper

As I hang up the phone, I’m pretty sure I’m about to explode. I pull up in front of the house Riley and I have lived her entire life and Fisher comes out onto the deck to meet me. My stomach still lifts every time I see him for the first time. I wonder how long that will last? A lifetime maybe.

He grins as I get out of my car. A car Fisher has tried to convince me to replace at least three times in the last week. As I keep telling him, there’s nothing wrong with the car so long as it keeps going. He says he wants to ensure Riley and I are safe. I’ve never felt safer than with Fisher in my life.

“Hey,” I call out as I get out of the car.

He jogs down the stairs to meet me. He’s watching Riley as I wanted to have a long day in the studio.

“I have news,” I say, beaming at him.

He cups my face and presses his lips to mine with a sigh, like all’s well in Fisher’s world now that I’m back home. I know that feeling. It’s exactly the one I feel when he kisses me.

“That’s a coincidence,” he says. “Because I have news too. You go first.”

Fisher’s news is always more exciting than mine. He managed to secure a plot of land just on the outskirts oftown to build our new home. He’s already secured some of the permissions I never thought he would. Plus his news from New York usually involves someone I’ve seen on page six. My news is big to me, but will be small fry compared to whatever Fisher’s going to tell me.

I shake my head. “You first.”

He pulls in a breath. “I spoke to Gerry today. Turns out he’s now a fully paid-up member of the Colorado Club.”

My eyes go wide. “He is?” I don’t want to pry, but I can’t decide if that’s weird or not. Gerry’s been obsessed with Fisher over the years and now their relationship is in new territory. Does he think this is a good thing?

“Yeah. I just got an email from him. He said he thought it would be good to spend some time together when he’s here next—which is the week after next.”

“Wow,” I say. “How do you feel about that?”

We wander back to the porch. “I feel good. I think. I know it’s just biology, but we’re half brothers. I think he wants that to mean something.”

I don’t say anything, but I’m still salty about the way Gerry’s handled himself. Fisher didn’t deserve any of the things Gerry’s done to him over the years. Fisher’s got broad shoulders, but I don’t know how you can move forward with someone who’s acted the way he has. I take a seat so we can have this conversation in private.

“And also, he told me that Re Records hasn’t signed The Homecoming Kings.”

“Oh,” I say, taking in his expression. “Did you know that?”

“I’d heard that negotiations had been tricky.”

“So you think Gerry didn’t sign them because he stole them from you and he wants to have a better relationshipwith you or did he not sign them because they couldn’t make a deal.”

“He says it’s the first reason. But either way, if he was still trying to stick it to me, he would have signed them whatever the deal.”

“You going to try and get them back?”

He shakes his head. “I don’t need them. They should go to a big label and see how that works out for them. Maybe it’s what they need. But I’m not holding on to musicians who want to go elsewhere. Whatever the reason.”

“So you and Gerry are going to grab dinner or something?” I ask.

“I guess. I can show him the land where we’re building the house. Take him to Pizza Meet Ya. Get him to sample the wings at Grizzly’s.”

I laugh. “It always comes down to the wings.”

“Every time,” he agrees. “So tell me your news.”

I can’t hold back my grin. “I sold the blue painting.”

Fisher jumps to his feet. “Really? Already? Is that even up in Grace’s gallery?”