Page 47 of The Devil’s Detail (The Greystone Family: Greystone Brothers #2)

Jackson

One of the most sublime looking men on this planet just walked out of my office. After telling me he loves me. Is in love with me. And I just told him I love him, but that I’m not going to… can’t be with him.

I’ve officially lost my marbles.

I sink down onto my couch and don’t move for about an hour.

Finally, I dial Evie. “Carter’s been,” I state. My tone is as flat as Kell's Ferrari on a bad day.

I hear her gasp. “Were you nice, Jackson? Did you let him down gently?”

“He told me he loves me. Has fallen for me. Is still in love with me.” I sound like a robot. Words spoken, but no feeling or understanding.

“Ohh, Jackson.” I can hear her tears down the phone. She’s sniffling at me. “Did you tell him you love him?”

I nod, but of course she can’t hear a nod. So I whisper, “Yes.”

She gasps. Then silence.

“Are you seeing him again?”

“I’m going to Ireland in an hour. He’s going to Italy tomorrow to film,” I answer, fully nondescript.

“That’s not what I asked and you know it.”

I grin despite myself. There was never any getting off the hook. The moment I dialled, I knew that.

I let out a big sigh. “I don’t know. It’s the trust, Evie. He didn’t trust himself or me enough to come clean. Thought I’d run, or tell him to fuck off out of my life.”

“And would you have?”

“We’ll never know now, will we. He never afforded me that luxury of making a decision. I can only make it on the facts now. And the fact is he fucking lied. And only came clean ‘cos he had to. If he’d have not gotten that part, he’d never have said.”

“You don’t know that. He may have told you.

Like you said, we’ll never know now.” She’s as crafty as Jonno in calling you on your shit.

“You can’t have it both ways. Slag him off and hold it against him for not doing something, and you taking credit for something you may or may not have done.

Think you’ll have to call that a draw.” She’s arguing rationally now. Lovely.

“Look, go to Ireland, be with Jonno and the family there. Stay for a while. I’d rather you stay there for Christmas, with him.

” She pauses. “I can’t go see the baby. The doctor’s told me today I can’t travel.

I’m going to have to have my babies here in LA.

” Her voice wobbles a bit, and I don’t know if it’s to do with not being able to go see little Shay, or the worry over her own health.

“What the fuck? Why did you let me ramble on? I’m staying here. Is something wrong?” She must hear the panic in my voice.

“No, nothing serious. My blood pressure is up a bit, and they don’t want to risk it. Tarron’s upset we’re not going to Scotland for New Year, but it’s only one year. We’ll go next year.”

“How’s Kell?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

She sighs. “You can imagine. Every time I turn around, he’s a step behind me.

With a worried look on his face. Look, stop fussing about me.

I’m fine. I’ve got the best medical care money can buy.

I’ve even booked myself into a suite at a hospital.

Kell keeps going and checking the distances.

Timing it. He intends to go every hour of every day, so he knows the traffic conditions the lot.

” She starts to laugh. “Go see Jonno. FaceTime me every day. I can’t wait to hold my new nephew.

He looks beautiful. Dark like Jonno. With a cupid bow in his lips. Gorgeous.”

“I will. I’ll give myself a bit of a timeout. Again. Seems to be the go-to for dating Carter.”

“Well, if it’s right, he’ll wait.”

“He said he will.”

“He’s a smart man then.”

Ireland is giving me all sorts of déjà vu. But it’s all totally worth it when I spot my youngest brother and his newborn son. Seamus Peter O’Clery Greystone, ‘Shay’ for short. I cry. Tears are rolling as my brother waves his son’s little arm at me.

Jumping out of the car before it’s even fully stopped, Baz, my driver, shouts at my recklessness. But I can’t wait to hug my brother and nephew.

“Whoa, Jackson, he’s not going anywhere.

” I pull Jonno in for a massive hug, but carefully avoid squashing the little bundle of love he’s holding.

“Hey, little Shay, meet your Uncle Jackson.” He tips the boy towards me, and I look down into the darkest brown eyes I have ever seen.

They’re nearly black, with little flecks of gold in them.

“Jonno,” I breathe out. “Hey, little one. It’s great to meet you. Aren’t you a Greystone.” I take the boy from him and kiss his head. “I thought Evie’s kids were spectacular, but he’s amazing. He looks like you, except for his mouth. That must be Aoife.” I grin.

“Yeah, and his hair has a bit more red in it than ours. We’re caramel, he’s definitely red tinged.”

“He’ll be fiery then. Like his mummy. How is she?” I ask him, totally hogging the baby. I can see he’s itching to take him back from me. “You can’t have him back, He’s mine for my duration. You can have him back then.”

“You won’t be saying that when I wake you in the night to take him. And Aoife is having a nap before feed time starts again.”

“Well, it will be same as it is at home at the minute. Rio won’t sleep unless she’s laid on someone. She loves the contact. Your fault, according to Kell. And Evie said you had her with you every night here.”

We hear a laugh, and Aoife appears from the front of the house. Tall, red hair, a total firecracker. Well she certainly set fire to Jonno.

“He did, Jackson. And I spoke to Evie, she was definitely blaming him. But he looked fantastic doing it.”

Jonno looks as smug as fuck. I go and kiss the woman who has given me another nephew. And tamed my wayward brother.

“Another boy. I can’t wait for Evie to have the twins so we have another girl. These boys will need keeping in check.” I’m pulling faces at little Shay, but he’s totally oblivious, snoozing all wrapped up in his blankets. He starts to stir, moving his tiny body from side to side.

“He’s a creature of habit already,” Aoife informs me. “You can set your clock by him. Your mum said Jonno was the same.”

Of course Ma and Pa have been over already to see the new family, totally falling in love with Shay.

“Yep, it was just later he went AWOL.” Jonno just grins at me, playfully pulling Aoife in for a hug, kissing her forehead.

“She loves my waywardness. Come on in and meet everyone. Although it probably feels like you only just left.” He laughs, as I nod.

We fall into a routine, and I’m pulled into the Shay circus.

Everything revolves around the boy. As it should.

There are loads of hands around to help, and I can already see that Shay will be like the twins and Rio, never alone.

Although, to be fair—as Jude reminds me during our daily calls—it was the same for James, and then Bucky.

They were never alone, someone always picking them up.

Hugging and kissing them. Even now, in their twenties, it’s still the same. And it will be for this lot.

Jonno, the baby, and I are all sitting in the library.

The fire is burning in the grate and the skies are darkening, and it’s hardly four pm.

We’ve just passed the shortest day, headed full steam down to Christmas.

My phone rings and Ash’s name is on the screen.

I flick the screen to Jonno, and he raises his eyebrows in question.

I answer, telling him he’s on speaker.

“It’s Carter, I’m worried about him.” Jonno and I look at each other.

“Is it a security matter?” I ask. “We’re not in charge of his welfare, Ash. That’s Freddie’s job.” Jonno smirks at that.

“Well, it’s just Christmas in a few days, and he’s not doing it.”

“What? Christmas?” I clarify.

“Yeah. He’s opting out, he says. He doesn’t do Christmas.

And today he told me it’s because his mum died between Christmas and New Year.

Filming stops for a few days and I've got the family out here. I don’t want to leave him home alone.

Can you send someone? Otherwise I won’t take my holidays,” Ash says firmly. I look at Jonno who shrugs.

“Okay, I’ll sort someone. Is he at the chalet on his own?”

“Yes. I’ve got a whole load of family next door. But when I say next door, it’s a ten minute trek through the snow. And it’s fucking freezing here.”

“You’re in the mountains, in winter. What did you expect?” Jonno goads him. “Put a jumper on, Ash,” he banters. “Stop getting naked with the wife in the hot tub.”

“No fucking chance. The kids are knackered with all the skiing. It’s great.

They’re in bed by eight. Spark out.” He’s laughing.

“But seriously, Jax, send someone. I don’t want to have to tie our star client to the back of a sledge and pull him to my house to stop him from sitting on his own in the dark. ”

“Fucking movie stars,” I joke. “I’ll sort someone. Think Baz could do with a winter adventure? He’s not happy in Ireland. He doesn’t drink, and everyone here thinks he’s weird.”

“Yeah, I can imagine. They’ll be upset the whiskey sales are down. That can’t catch on. Not in your family anyway, Jonno.”

“It’s all about the profit. You know it, Ash,” Jonno quips back as he takes Shay out of his crib at the side of us. He can’t leave the boy alone.

“Well, let me know the details. And I’ll warn Carter someone is coming. If he doesn’t like it, he can take it up with you, eh, Jackson.” Crafty bastard, I hear the laugh in his voice.

“Totally,” I deadpan, as Jonno is also grinning like a Cheshire cat.

To be honest, I’ve not heard from Carter as much as I thought I would have.

But based on what Ash has said, they are working long hours on set.

Cold, hard days, as most of the scenes are outside.

And Carter likes to be involved. Although, he’s barred from skiing for pleasure, in case he gets injured.

Ash said he’s sitting sulking on a Ski-doo.

Aoife comes in to feed the baby, plops down on the settee, and gets set up.

She’s a bit more awkward than Evie, but then my sister has had three kids in under three years.

The next two will make five kids in under four years.

I suppose that's what happens when you have twins twice. Jonno sits with a totally rapt expression on his face. I can’t help smiling at him. He’d feed the baby himself if he could.

“So are you going to go?” Jonno turns his attention to me.

I look at him in total confusion. “Go where? I’m here for Christmas. Evie’ll throttle me if I leave you ‘alone’.”

He laughs. “I’m not alone. I’ve got Aoife and Shay, and, for my sins, all the O'Clery's. Marshall’s coming over. Have you heard? Landing tomorrow, as Jude’s off to LA.

Mum’s been crying, she only has Jake, Sofia, and the Dicksons.

She’s not going to cope with so few people.

I told her to enjoy it, as once Evie gets back with the hordes of kids, she’ll be inundated. ”

Aoife is taking me in. “Is it Carter Maywood? I saw him on the entertainment news, in a bar in Italy. Singing.” She looks like that is the crime of the century. “Loads of skiers. All off their heads. It looked like good fun, though,” she wistfully finishes off.

“Would you rather be there? Drunk in a bar? Or here with him and me?” Jonno asks her as he tilts his head at their son, looking put out at the comment.

“Christ, here, of course. Although I would love a whiskey. But sacrifices have to be made for the people you love. So I’ll wait.” She looks lovingly at her baby boy.

“I’ll taste test for you,” Jonno adds in helpfully. As if he’s doing her a favour.

“Digging yourself a bigger hole, Jonno. And no, why should I? I’ll send Baz. I don’t really need him here, but he insists on coming with me.” I grin at them both.

“I think you should go, too,” Jonno says seriously.

“I said he could call me, which he hasn't. Not that I’d go fucking running to him.”

“Don’t be like that, Jackson. He’s on your mind. I see you, brother. I know he is. And the fact you’re put out he hasn’t called much. But when he did, you were cold. I’ll bet he thinks you’re going to sack him off for good.”

“I wasn’t cold.” My voice is getting louder, and when the baby squirms I pipe down and hiss at Jonno, “I wasn’t cold.”

“You were. I heard you on the call. Aloof Jackson is back.” He sighs.

“Just go, Jackson. I know you want to. I’ll make the decision for you.

Go to Italy. Claim that man. He wants you, you want to be with him.

Why are you waiting? What for? Him to totally submit to you.

You don’t even like that. Not your thing. ”

Aoife’s eyes widen, and I put my hands up in an apology for her husband. Jonno just grins.

“Won’t it be giving in, though. I mean, he did lie, and he might again.” I sound unsure, but I’m not sure if I am. So I must be.

“Do you trust you?”

I screw my face up at him. “What sort of a question is that?”

“Do you trust you? It’s an easy question to answer.”

“Of course,” I say, as if he’s lost his mind.

“Then why not go. If he pisses you off, leave. Join the skiers. Get drunk in the mountains. Join Ash and the kids. You trust yourself to make the right call. So make it.”

I look at him in contemplation. He is right. I do trust myself. I am in charge of my own life. I make the rules. So what if anyone looking on thinks it’s not right. I decide if it is. And no one from my family is judging either way. They want me to be happy, full stop.

“You don’t mind if I go?” I ask them both.

“I’ll miss you, I always do. But it won’t be long before we’re all back together. Or I’m there. You know it. Aoife knows she’ll have to put up with you all. And she’s already seen how crazy Kitten is. We’ve got the wedding in the summer. So, not long before you’re back anyway.”

“Right then. Looks like Baz is going to the mountains after all. At least he can go ski, away from the bars. Do you think I’ll get a flight?” I suddenly start to focus on getting there, my brain flustered, as I pivot to Carter, and he becomes my destination.

Jonno looks at me like I’m deranged. “We've got a plane. You’ve got people all over the world. Arrange for someone to get you and drop you off. Get there for Christmas Eve night. Make some good memories for Carter. By the sounds of his normal Christmas ones, they’re shit.”

I look at the man, who, up to four months ago, was cold, detached, and calculated in every action—including romantic ones. Now he’s telling me to ‘go make some happy memories.’

I stand and cross the room and kiss my sister-in-law on the top of her head. “Whatever it is you’ve done with my brother, I applaud you. Never thought I’d hear him coaching me in romantic moves.” I smirk at Jonno.

She flashes a secretive grin. But Jonno is on a roll now. “No secret, brother. I’m in love. And so are you. So get with the programme and go get your man.”