Call You Mine (The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers #4) - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,19
them cared much after our brother Carter died.
Seriously, what was my father thinking when he decided to draw up a will where he shoved us all in this town for eighteen months?
Some days I want to dig into Dad’s past to see if I can find something significant that will clue me in. Others, I just think he was fucking with us.
“You could’ve been a professional chef,” Blaire says, grabbing a tortilla chip and dipping it into the guacamole. “Was your grandma the one who taught you how to cook?”
I nod. It wasn’t, but I let them think that. It was actually G’s mom. My grandmother was adorable—a saint—but she didn’t have the patience to teach anything.
“I wish someone had taught Henry how to cook,” Sophia complains about her husband. “Dad is trying, but he’s a slow learner.”
We all laugh at him.
Henry is used to having maids, nannies, and every service at his disposal. My grandparents worked hard to teach me that I had to clean after myself, among other things.
While in college, G, the guys, and I took turns cooking, cleaning, and shopping.
I still do everything for myself. Well, unless I’m on tour. During concerts we have roadies carrying our instruments, bringing the food, and sometimes driving me around.
If I could avoid it, I would. According to my manager, I have to have a crew. They are necessary. Lang just likes to have everything done for him. Since he has the support of our PR, I just let it happen.
“It’s only September,” Henry reminds me. “With that attitude, I doubt you’ll last the next twelve months around here.”
“In two months, I’m getting the fuck out of here,” I say, baiting him.
There’s a part in Dad’s will where he allows us to leave town after we’ve been here for six months. In order to do that, we have to contact Jerome Parrish, the one who handles our father’s estate, and ask for permission to leave. We have thirty days that can be used all at once or however we want. I don’t plan to use them unless it is necessary. If I want to get out—I just do it.
“I might take the thirty days and keep you guessing if I’ll return.”
“You do that, fucker, and I’ll hunt you down,” Vance threatens me. “I swear if any of you bail, I’ll kill you.”
“See, he speaks,” I say to no one in particular.
Everyone complains that Vance is always quiet and brooding. Obviously, they don’t take the time to have a conversation with him. He and I aren’t tight, but we get along. I still like to taunt him as I do with everyone else. I’m judicious that way.
“You just need to piss him off.”
“Which is why he’s always talking to you, isn’t it?” Blaire, Hayes’s wife, rolls her eyes. “Just when I think you guys have matured, you prove me wrong.”
I grin at her while searching for the salt. “I like to keep the excitement around this house.”
Vance’s glare should scare me. It scares everyone—but me. If necessary, I could take him. Yes, he has some kick-ass training, but I do too. I wish he had accepted to join The Organization. When I indirectly offered him an opportunity to work with us, he declined. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s hoping to go back to his friends. I hope not. If he does, we’ll have a problem.
Of my five brothers, my favorite is still Mills. We’ve been hanging out for a long time, so it makes sense that we’re the closest. After him, it comes to Hayes, the doctor who isn’t that bad. He’s just clueless, but fun to hang out with.
Pierce might be the next one. I’m still trying to understand him. He’s more fucked up than I thought. His marriage is the weirdest thing I’ve ever witnessed in my life. I think we all just want to shove him and Leyla in a room and say, “Don’t come out until you fuck away your issues.”
Henry is another clusterfuck. He’s getting better since he has a wife who keeps him in line.
Everyone in this house treats me like I’m still the baby of the family. They are also afraid that I’m going to leave town because I can’t be contained.
News flash. I leave whenever the fuck I want.
“I mean it, Beacon,” Vance repeats. “You better not do something stupid.”
I lift the spatula and my free hand in surrender. “I wouldn’t dare to piss you off.”