Page 89 of Captured By the Billionaire Cowboy
What was happening?Had they always been able to see beyond his carefully constructed image?
“You’ve been helping people for years.” Quinn pushed up his sleeves. “Remember that time my portfolio tanked after I invested in a bad stock? I should have lost a ton, yet somehow the account actually gained value.”
“We couldn’t figure it out,” Spencer said, “until we realized you added a few stocks.”
“Listen, guys–”
“Please don’t deny it,” Quinn said quietly. “You’re the only other person who had access to the account. And it’s not just financial help. Remember when you had that big trip planned to Houston to meet with a breeder? Just before you were supposed to go, I got the flu. You cancelled the trip so you could care for me.”
How did they know about that? He may have concealed the truth from them, but he would not outright lie. When his little brother got sick, nothing else mattered. “I was worried,” he admitted.
“You stayed by my side and made me eat that disgusting medicine four times a day.” Quinn made a face. “And in case you’re wondering, I fed it to the potted plant when you weren’t looking.”
Naturally.“I wondered why the fern grew so much that month.”
Quinn grinned, but he soon sobered. “You lost that contract. It cost you thousands of dollars.”
Yes, it had. He’d brooded about it for weeks, but he never regretted staying to care for his brother. Their mother was gone, and their father couldn’t be bothered by his sons. Rowan couldn’t let Quinn be alone.
He opened his mouth to downplay what he had done, and why he had done it, but stopped. Quinn and Spencer were simply being honest with him.
Maybe it was time he did the same.
“I made the only decision I could.” He looked out the window, to where the totality of darkness lightened with the promise of a new dawn. He didn’t even think about his next words or what they revealed. “I am grateful for the life I’ve been given. I’ve never had to worry about money, a place to live or finding a job. I automatically had all that.”
“So did we.” Quinn came up behind him. “But with all that Father gave us, he didn’t give us what we needed most of all.” The word remained unspoken, but each felt its silent echo.
Love.
It was worth a thousand times the thousands of dollars they possessed, infinitely more than the money, the business, everything.
Yet what their father hadn’t bestowed, they had for each other. He loved them, just as they loved him. For once, he allowed himself to feel the emotions, to bring down the wallshe’d constructed around his heart, to face his truths. And there were so many:
Fury at the man who raised him.
Love for the brothers who’d always been there for him.
Affection for Frank, the horses, his friends and family.
And Ciara?
Pure Love.
Rowan cleared his throat, preparing for panic at the realization of his vulnerability. Only instead of fear, freedom beckoned, stronger than ever before. He breathed out slowly, as a massive weight lifted from his soul. He knew what he wanted.
Marriage. Family.Children.
And he could see all of it in Ciara’s eyes.
“You aren’t alone.” Spencer’s words brought him back to the present, back to the brothers who’d never given up on him. “We’re not children anymore, and we’re here for you.”
“We may joke around, or give you a rough time, but we’re brothers first, and that stands for something.” Quinn squeezed his shoulder. “We love you, man.”
Rowan stood frozen, as relationships were redefined, as a new reality rose. His brothers were strong and independent men, yet they weren’t afraid to share their emotions.
Could he do the same?
“Father wasn’t there for you guys…” He looked down, forced his eyes back up. They deserved his full regard. “For any of us. I tried to make up for it by taking care of you.”
