Page 5 of A Love So Sweet
“Hi, Dad.”
“It’s good to see you, son.” His father drew Savannah into his arms. “Sweetie, did you have a nice afternoon with your big brother?”
“Yes. I always do.”
The way Savannah’s eyes lit up when they walked out to the backyard to greet three of their brothers told Treat of her adoration for each of them. He hoped that never changed, but had Savannah known how he’d looked at Max that morning at the resort that adoration would have quickly withered away.
Savannah headed for Josh, who was grilling at the other end of the yard, a few feet from where Dane was busy texting. Rex was walking toward Treat. Rex worked on the ranch with his father, and his muscular physique was proof of the rigorous physical labor he endured. Like their brother Dane, who spent his days trying to save the lives of sharks, Rex sported a year-round tan.
Rex hesitated for just a second before saying, “Treat, glad to have you back, man.”
“How’s he holding up?” Treat shifted his eyes to his father. His father was sixty-five years old and still strong as an ox, but that didn’t keep Treat from worrying about him. Since their mother had died when Treat was at an age when every kid believes their parents will live forever, he counted every day with his father as a blessing.
“He’s good.” Rex ran an assessing eye over Treat. “You okay?”
Treat was close to all his siblings, but each relationship was different. Rex was three years Treat’s junior, and as such, the competitiveness Treat felt with Dane, who was just a year and a half younger, had never been present in his relationship with Rex. But Rex carried a chip on his shoulder about the family business and was careful not to get too close to Treat.
“Yeah. I needed a break. Got a little burnt out.” Treat watched Rex’s eyes narrow. He knew his brother wasn’t buying his excuse, but he wasn’t ready to expose his feelings for Max just yet. He’d come here thinking he’d escape his feelings, but now they were in full force. He should be focusing on his family, when all he wanted to do was call her.
“Yeah? You sure?”
“Of course,” Treat assured him. “I’m fine. Really.”
“Can we have him back now, Rex?” Dane asked with a grin. He was three inches shorter than Treat and every bit as dark and handsome, the only difference being Dane’s eyes always seemed to dance with optimism, while Treat’s often appeared more serious, contemplative.
Rex feigned a punch to Dane’s gut as he walked past.
Dane embraced Treat and said, “You should have seen the girl I was with last night.”
Treat laughed at their running joke. In reality, Dane was more likely to be chasing big fish than bedding women. “I already had her mother,” Treat joked, but this time their old joke tasted wrong as it rolled off his tongue. He glanced at his father, whose dark eyes had harbored the pain of missing his wife for countless years, and he once again felt the draw of wanting to experience the love his parents had shared—the draw that he’d begun to recognize when he’d met Max.
Dane pulled away, laughing. “You always were the king.”
Treat went to the stone barbecue pit, where Josh was tending to steaks and baked potatoes, and put an arm around his shoulder. He was the leanest and least aggressive of the Braden crew. With a love of fashion since the day he could pick out his own clothes, Josh lived in New York City, was a designer to the stars, and owned several high-end fashion boutiques.
“I hear you’re wiping Vera Wang off the map.” Treat was proud of his brother’s accomplishments.
He shook his head. “One day.”
“One day you’ll let that humble nonsense go and boast about your success. Got a girlfriend yet?” Josh had always been tight-lipped about his female conquests, even about the heart-quaking crush he’d had on their childhood friend Riley Banks when he was younger—the crush that everyone knew about but that Josh thought he’d hidden.
“Haven’t you read the gossip magazines? Apparently I’m going out with three different women.”
“Sounds like you’re having fun, then. Where’s Hugh?” Hugh was their youngest brother and the biggest risk taker of them all. He was supremely self-centered, which at times rubbed Treat the wrong way, and his career as a race-car driver was a testament to the way he lived his life, indulging in fast cars and even faster women.
Josh shrugged. “Race, maybe? Steaks are ready.”
Treat took off his jacket and carried the platter of steaks Josh handed him to the table. His father had one arm around Savannah and the other around Dane as they went to sit down. Man, he’d missed these guys. Treat spent most of his time traveling and living out of a suitcase. He didn’t usually mind his lifestyle. In fact, there had been a time when it was all he wanted. But lately he’d found himself contemplating a more settled life.
He set the platter of steaks in the center of the table alongside the salad, wine, beer, vegetables, and three types of sliced bread—typical Braden fare. Most family gatherings were centered around a barbecue of some sort.
“You started without me?” Hugh barged into the yard with his arms open and a grin on his face. His thick, wind-tossed hair gave him a youthful appearance. “Treat, you’ve graced us with your presence after all.”
“Good to see you too, Hugh.” Treat stood and wrapped an arm around him.
Hugh sat down and was the first to help himself to a steak from the platter, snagging the largest one.
Treat shook his head. “So, Dad, are you ever going to let me pay for that stone patio you keep talking about?”
