am not his woman,” I blurted out, instantly wishing I could take it back.
A flash of hurt crossed Holt’s face, but he quickly smoothed it over. “She’s her own woman.”
Everyone around the table relaxed as if they’d braced themselves for a fight between us.
“No. She’s yours. Even if she doesn’t know it yet.” Marlow took a healthy swig of wine and stared at both of us unapologetically.
“How many glasses have you had? Cause you’re veering into territory that isn’t your business,” Holt said as if he barely had control of his temper.
His sister snorted. “Please. There’s no such thing as privacy in this family.”
“Then why don’t we talk about Jack?”
“Holt.” Andrew gave him a look to shut his mouth.
Marlow pushed up from the table, her chair scraping as she did. “You’re an asshole.”
She stormed toward the bathroom.
“Should I go check on her?” Trish asked.
“No. I will.” Patrick bolted from the chair and followed the same path as Marlow.
“You crossed a line,” Mr. Dixon said, leveling Holt with a look.
“She keeps it all bottled in. Like if she doesn’t talk about it, nothing happened.” Holt straightened in his chair, his tone defensive.
“That’s her choice.”
“She’s my sister. I’m not gonna sit here and let her keep rotting from the inside out,” he said through his teeth. “That would make me an asshole.”
“She’s still hurting. You know that.” Andrew took Trish’s hand as if he needed the support.
“Yeah, and I can’t stand it. I lived with her a few weeks, remember? I’ve cried more in my life than she has, but I heard her every night. So if you two want to keep skirting the issue, fine. But I can’t keep watching my big sister slowly die.” Holt glanced around behind us. “What does it take to get a drink around here?”
He shoved out of his chair and went straight to the bar.
“You’re all right,” I said, the two Dixon men blinking at me with the same surprise I felt. I should stay out of this, yet I couldn’t help myself.
“I agree.” Trish backed me up, and I gave her a grateful smile.
“This isn’t the time or place to dredge it up,” Mr. Dixon said with a sigh. He looked toward the restrooms and clenched his fist around the stem of his wine glass. “It kills me to see my little girl hurting.”
“Wonder where she learned to keep it all in?” There was no malice in Holt’s tone as he dropped back into his seat.
He slid a glass of red wine toward me and took a long pull from his beer.
“If she doesn’t come back soon, we’re all gonna have to go get her out of that bathroom,” Andrew said, looking like he was ready to do just that.
“Here she comes.” Trish pointed her head behind me.
Neither Marlow nor Patrick appeared particularly happy as they returned to the table. She plunked back down in her seat and gave us all a glare to keep our mouths shut. Everyone except Holt. She refused to look at him.
“This wasn’t the place to bring him up,” Holt said.
The look she fired at him was nothing short of lethal. “Then why are you doing it again?”
“Because I love you.”
She fisted her napkin in her lap, her pain palpable. “I love you too.” The words were spoken through gritted teeth, but the truth was in them.
“How’s the makeup line going?” Mr. Dixon leaned forward and looked at me.
I shifted in my seat, surprised and pleased by his interest in me. I’d always felt invisible with my own family. We’d been lucky if we sat down at the holidays. Both of my parents had high-ranking government jobs and that was all they cared about. I'd have given anything for this kind of attention.
“Pretty good. I’m still learning, trying to find my footing.”
“The women at Paths can’t get enough. And I can’t keep the lip gloss in stock on my truck.” Trish beamed at me.
“Have you formed a company yet?” Patrick popped a piece of a garlic knot into his mouth. “I know a good lawyer to set you up.” He winked at me.
“I thought that was a Dixon move.” I winked back.
He shrugged. “Guess it is.”
My breath caught at the implication. I wasn’t a Dixon. And neither was he.
“No, I haven’t even thought of it. It’s just a hobby,” I brushed off.
“Don’t do that.” Holt gripped my thigh.
“What?”
“Diminish your business. Maybe it’s small now, but you’re going places.” His expression was so open and honest, I had to look