Page 37 of Turning Up the Heat

“Don’t worry, baby, you’re my favorite,” Lila assured him, putting her arm around his waist.

Quin handed Gemma a glass of white wine and took his place next to Celia. She couldn’t believe that her brothers had both found amazing women. She was overjoyed for them. Seeing them all together, as a family, made her smile.

Her father cleared his throat. “I would like to raise a toast,” he started. “To my children. I’m so proud to be here with you and my future daughters-in-law. Lila and Celia, I see how happy you’ve made my sons. I just know my dear Liza would be thrilled to be with us all here.”

The room fell silent, and Gemma knew that just as she was, her brothers and father were all remembering her departed mother. “She’s definitely missed,” she whispered. They all nodded in agreement. She looked around the room. Her brothers had found love. She was happy for them, but it was something she didn’t have. The closest she had was Tom, and she wanted him there with her, by her side.

“To Lila and Reid.” Her father got her attention, raising his glass. “Congratulations on your engagement. May you find happiness together like I once had.” Everyone smiled. Her parents had had an incredible relationship, and it was one she could only hope to model in her own life.

“To Lila and Reid,” they all toasted.

“Gemstone, look at your brothers. Did you ever think you’d see the day?”

“Honestly, no.”

“And I know you’ll find that kind of love someday.”

Gemma drank her wine and nodded. “Yeah, you never know. Who can say, really? Stranger things have happened, right?” She tried to laugh it off. When she turned away from her father, she saw that both Lila and Celia had their eyes on her. They knew her secret, even if her brothers and father did not.

After dinner, the night carried on. The drinks flowed and the voices and laughter got louder, and Gemma took a moment to slip outside. She took a seat at the porch swing and looked out onto Reid’s backyard. There was a slight winter chill in the air, and she tugged her sweater tighter around her. Of course, Tom would laugh at her for being cold. She sighed, missing him. Things between them had sure developed over such a short time. But she was still so conflicted.

She heard the back door open and looked over her shoulder and saw it was her father. He joined her on the swing, putting his arm around her. She snuggled into his side.

“What’s wrong, Gemstone?” he asked her.

She thought about lying, but she couldn’t do that. She sighed. “That toast you gave. I think I have fallen in love.”

Her father looked down at her, surprised. He smiled. “Is that right? Well, why isn’t he here? Are you embarrassed of your family?”

“Reid and Quin? Yeah, sometimes.”

“Who is this man? Why didn’t you bring him?”

“I didn’t bring him because of who he is.”

“You know, with our family, everyone is invited. Who could he be? Is he an ex-con?” he asked, nudging her, teasing. “Because if he is, depending on the crime, we could probably overlook it.”

She smiled. “He isn’t a convict, Dad. But he might still be one of the few people not welcome in this family. He might be something worse.” She braced herself. “He’s a Cain.”

“Cain,” he said. “As in...?”

She nodded. “One and the same. It’s John’s son, Tom.”

She waited for his angry outburst. But instead he nodded sagely. “I see,” he said, his voice soft. “I take it you haven’t told your brothers.”

“Not a chance,” she said, shaking her head. “They would be so angry. They wouldn’t understand.”

“Most likely,” her father agreed. “And you love him?”

She thought about that. “I think I do. He’s not what you think—he’s a good man.”

“Then that’s good enough for me. If you love him, then you should be with him. I loved your mother dearly.”

“I know you did.”

“If I could have one more day with her, there’s no way I would spend a second away from her. Life is too short to be unhappy.” He pulled her closer into his side. “Did I ever tell you that your grandfather—your mother’s father—didn’t want me to marry Liza?”

“No. You never did.”

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