Page 77 of Skin Game
Shay carefully tucked the bill into his wallet. “I’ll be in the other room calling a friend of a friend.” He whistled as he walked away.
“I’m not sure I want to know who Shay’s friends are,” muttered Gabe.
“Best not to ask,” agreed Claribel with a doting smile.
Casey made a displeased grumble sound and pulled his phone out of his pocket to check the screen.
“It’s Mickie again. I never got back to him.”
“And who is this Mickie person?” Claribel asked. “Not a hookup, I hope. I’ve been planning Gabriel’s wedding. I’d like to see all my boys happy and settled.”
Before Casey literally forgot to breathe or Claribel started speculating out loud about throuples—fine, Gabe had no issue with throuples, but three just wasn’t his magic number—Gabe said, “Not a hookup, Casey’s brother, Mickie.”
“Brother! Why didn’t you say so? Invite him over. We’ll have plenty of food for everyone. Shay called the pizza place and put in an order before you got here.” She smiled at Etienne, who had brought in a platter of croissants. “And these will tide us all over till they arrive.”
Gabe glanced at Casey. “I’m not sure Mickie is ready for prime time.”
Casey stared back at him, then looked down at his screen again. Shaking his head, he typed something and pressed Send.
“I guess we’ll find out.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
CASEY – FRIDAY — LUNCH
Casey’d been anxiously listening for the knock at the front door, and when he walked down the hallway to answer it, he did his best to keep his emotions in check. Every time Casey saw his brother without plexiglass between them his heart clenched. He didn’t know if it’d ever go away.
“Hey, brother,” Mickie greeted him. His smile reached his eyes, which made Casey hopeful. Behind him stood Pedro, looking as nervous as Casey felt.
“Hey, Mickie, you look good. You too, Pedro.” He was impressed that Pedro had accepted the invitation and then realized that neither of them had met Claribel.
“Thanks for inviting Pedro. I hope it’s okay with everyone else that he came with.”
“Of course it’s okay,” Casey assured him. It was. If Mickie was happy, Casey was happy.
Mickie looked good, really good. They were half siblings, and the resemblance between them was strong, but Casey’d always felt his older brother was the better looking Lundin. Mickie’s auburn hair was darker, and he was also broader, probably from spending hours upon hours in the prison’s gym. Today, Caseynoticed the dark circles under his eyes had faded, and even though the days were still cold, wet, and too short, he had some color to his skin. Casey couldn’t wait to take him on a few of his favorite hikes.
“Incoming hug,” Mickie said. “I can’t believe you’re in your thirties and I still have to say this.”
Shaking his head but also smiling, Casey leaned in so his brother could wrap him in a lung-crushing bear hug. Casey was taller than Mickie these days, but he still felt like the little brother when Mickie hugged him. It was a good feeling.
“I missed your hugs,” Casey admitted.
What the hell, Casey thought, pulling Pedro in for a hug as well. He wanted Mickie to be happy, and it looked like Pedro was part of the equation needed for that result.
“Thanks for coming.” Damn, could he sound any more awkward? Probably not. “Fair warning,” he said quietly, “Gabe’s family is… different.”
Mickie grinned and slapped him on the back. “But a good different, right?”
“Quit lingering in the hall and bring your brother to meet me,” Claribel called out imperiously.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. There’s still time for you to escape.” Casey gestured toward the front door.
Chuckling, Mickie and Pedro shook their heads, so Casey led them down the hall and back into the large farmhouse-style kitchen. “We’re in for the long haul. The good, the bad, the just plain weird.”
Mickie’s happiness meant everything to him. He liked Pedro a lot—except when he and Gabe flirted, which was second nature for both men and harmless. Even Casey, who could be oblivious when it came to love and relationships and attraction, knew Gabe was his and his alone.
Which was actually pretty crazy in itself and caused a pleasant tingle in the center of his chest when he thought about Gabebeing a permanent part of his life. Even if it meant hanging on for dear life when Gabe got a wild hair. Casey definitely planned on hanging on.