Page 52 of Twins for the Silver Foxes

I rolled onto my back,bringing her with me. “Megan has always been this way. She blows in like a hurricane, throws a tantrum, then storms out again.” We’d witnessed it time after time. It always left Arthur wrecked. We’d need to head down soon and try to pull him from his funk. Hannah’s presence had the potential to change things. He’d never reacted to a woman the way he did with her. He’d always been careful, but he opened up to Hannah. We all did.

“That’s sad.”Her sorrow pulled me back to the conversation. Hannah traced a line down the center of my chest. Her stomach growled long and low. “Is there anything we can do?”

I loved her concern and her willingness to jump into any situation to try and make it better. “Let’s start by getting you something to eat. We’ll plot over pancakes and bacon.”

Her stomach rumbled again,and she wiggled her way over my legs to the edge of the bed. “I’m going to shower first, then see if Liddy wants to join us.”

“We’ll go downthe back hallway in case Megan and Arthur are still going after each other.” Honestly, it would be a surprise, but I’d seen stranger things happen. I checked the time. “She’ll be tormenting him, making him feel guilty for not finding a way to fix his marriage to her mom.”

Hannah stopped mid-step,the robe halfway around her body. It draped down one arm, the belt looping easily over her stomachand leaving her breasts exposed. “You’re kidding.” When I remained quiet, she padded over to the bed and sat down on the edge. “Scott, please tell me you’re joking.”

I sat up with a groan.“I can’t.” Standing, I knocked the robe to the floor, swept her into my arms, and carried her to the bathroom.

“I have legs.They work and everything,” She kicked them for emphasis, reminding me of our first time together by the pool. It lightened the dark mood that had crept into the room with Megan’s sudden appearance and brought a smile to both mine and Ryland’s faces.

“Your legs need a break.”I carried her into the shower and sat us both down on the bench, grinning at her frown. “No sex. I promise we’ll only shower and then go find food. After that, Arthur will need us.”

Hannah twisted in my grip.“Should we go to him first?”

“Not yet.”Ryland turned on the water and gathered up the soap and a soft cloth. He lathered up Hannah’s back and down her arms. “Give him an hour or so.”

“Why?”Hannah asked questions the same way Liddy did, with a wide-eyed wonder and curiosity that demanded answers. “He’s hurting. Maybe I can help.”

“He mayor may not let you.” I took the shampoo and worked it into her hair. “Arthur is private with his emotions. He’s let you in, but this is a sensitive subject for him.” I had to tell her the whole truth or she’d run out of here and be in Arthur’s office in a blink. “He’ll be ashamed, Hannah. And when Arthur is ashamed, he lashes out. Give him a chance to pull himself together, then we’ll all go.”

“The wayhe acted when he found out you were Henry’s daughter is a close example,” Ryland said as he knelt and washed her front, his touch lingering over her stomach. “Close, but not the same. Ramp it up about ten times and that’s how he’ll be now.”

Hannah blinked, locked eyes with Ryland, and gripped my hand in both of hers. “That’s awful. We have to do something. If I can’t talk to Arthur, maybe I can talk to Megan, explain things.”

“You’re betteroff trying to tell a building it can be an airplane.” Ryland softened his tone when Hannah made a soft noise of protest. “I want it to be different, I really do, but this is normal for Arthur.”

I thumbed awaythe trickle of tears. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Welcome to your first holiday season at the crazy house.”

28

HANNAH

Scott was definitely not joking when he said Megan’s appearances came with an incredible amount of drama and angst. I ran my thumb back and forth over the edge of the napkin and tried to keep my facial expressions under control.

“So what does this mean for my inheritance?” Megan shot a look around the table. “Since you’re sleeping with your friends and,” she waved a hand in my direction “the hired help.”

“That’s enough.” Scott pointed a finger at Megan. “Arthur might let you talk that way to him, but you’ll have some damned respect for Hannah or you can leave this table.”

“Scott, it’s fine.” I had every intention of fighting my own battles, even when they put me up against Arthur’s firstborn. I’d managed to corner him in his office a few hours after Megan’s initial arrival and discovered that he’d convinced her to stay. She’d made no promises about how long, but I hoped for his sake that she made it through the holidays. “Your inheritance is not at risk, Megan.”

“She’s right.” Arthur’s face held enough calmness to float a submarine. And it was all fake. He hid his feelings well, but I saw through his facade.

“What then?” Megan crossed her arms and sat back. “This new baby isn’t going to replace me? You’ve clearly found a new family.”

Hurt blazed across his expression, his eyes going dim. The hand holding his napkin fisted tight enough that the skin on his knuckles turned white. I looked to Scott and Ryland for help. I’d said what I could but it wasn’t my place to interfere more than I already had. My words were not going to reassure Megan. Her father’s unconditional love was the only thing that might salvage their relationship. I opened my mouth but snapped it shut again without a word. The last thing I wanted to do was cross a boundary that I shouldn’t.

He’d not looked at me, not even once since Megan arrived. Even when I spoke to him in his office earlier, he’d looked through me in that same dispassionate way that broke my heart. I could almost understand why his ex-wife thought him emotionless and uncaring. She’d refused to look deep enough to see the hurt.

“You are part of my family, Megan. You always have been. It does not matter how you feel about me, what angry barbs you throw my way, you will always be my daughter.” Slow and quiet, Arthur slammed his words into the shield Megan threw around herself. She had a lot of her father in her in the way she held herself, the standoffish demeanor being particularly cruel.

Megan scoffed but the sound lost its potency when the tip of her nose reddened and she gave a sudden sniff like she was trying to force back tears.

Arthur set his fork down. “You’re as much my daughter now as the day you were born, which was one of the best days of mylife. I would not consider you less than that simply because your mother and I parted ways.”

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