Page 123 of Beautiful Exile

I gaped at him. “I’ve been trying to get you to take this for the past thirty minutes, and you just cave when Nora tells you to?”

Linc grinned at me. “She’s got the mom tone. You can’t fight that.”

“Dang straight,” Nora said, lifting the painting from Linc’s lap. “I’ll just put this somewhere it won’t get…damaged. And, Lolli, we need to have another talk about the appropriateness of yourgifts.”

“Dang it,” Lolli whispered. “I knew I should’ve waited until she wasn’t looking.”

“Gotta work on the slyness,” Kye told her.

“Always trying to harsh my buzz,” she muttered.

Linc looked at me, amusement in his hazel eyes. “I love your family.”

The warmth of those words swirled around me. I was glad we could give Linc some of what he’d missed growing up. He deserved that and so much more. But all I could think was that the more we all had, the more we had to lose.

45

ARDEN

As darkness set in,the boys got to work in the kitchen, cleaning all the dishes Nora and Rhodes had dirtied. It had always been that way with the Colsons. Whoever cooked never cleaned, and everyone pitched in to do their part.

Nora patted Linc’s hand as she moved around the small space, tidying what didn’t need to be tidied because she was never one to sit still. “You feeling better?”

“How could I not be after a meal like that one?” he asked, smiling at her with such warmth.

Nora beamed at him. “Nothing like a good meal to cure what ails you.”

“Would’ve cured you better if you had some of my poppy tea with it,” Lolli harumphed.

“What did I tell you about making that?” Trace asked, annoyance in his tone as he strode into the room.

“Daddy!” Keely yelled, leaping to her feet and charging at Trace.

He caught her on the fly, his face lighting in the way it only did for his daughter. “How’s my Keely girl?”

“Good, but I missed ya. Luca and I did a puzzle and then went and helped feed Stardust and Whiskey. Supergran made Mr. Linc a diamond dick stick, and Grams didn’t like it. Can Luca and I have a sleepover? He has to go back to Seattle tomorrow, and I’m gonna miss him.”

Trace balanced her on his hip, his jaw going tight. “You’ve certainly had quite the afternoon.”

Kye held up both hands. “I’m not responsible for the diamond dick stick, just so you know. That was all Rho.”

Rhodes glared at him. “Traitor.”

Trace pinned her with a stare that was a mixture of sheriff and big brother all wrapped into one. “Thanks for that.”

She sent an exaggerated grimace in his direction. “It just popped out.”

Lolli let out a huff. “There is nothing wrong with discussing the human anatomy. Or expressing through the medium of thousands of glittering gemstones. And maybe you’d be a little less grumpy if you used your dick stick a little more.”

“Lolli!” half the room shouted.

“Jesus,” Trace muttered. “I give up.”

Sutton chuckled. “We’d be happy to have Keely for a slumber party. The bunk beds are all set up in Luca’s room.”

“Pleeeeeease, Daddy?” Keely begged.

Trace studied her for a moment and then caved. “All right.”

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