Page 13 of Trick's Trap

“Oh shit, I’m sorry.” Trick pushed the papers away. His chest tightened, the way it always did when he let one of his siblings down.

His mind couldn’t focus on work. “I got a little behind,” he said, dropping his pen on the desk. “I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night. Won’t happen again.”

Liam twitched his slacks up and sat down. “Patrick, this isn’t healthy.”

Uh-oh. His brother had done the pant thingandused his full name.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m not feeling up to a lecture right now.”

Liam scowled. “Well, that’s too bad cause you’re getting one anyway…I know you were at Chao’s all last night. And when you were in Miami last week, you hit every casino in town—all the illegal ones.”

He sighed. “I’m a grown man, Liam. I can go to a casino if I want. It’s not like I lost any money.”

“I know you didn’t lose money. I almost wish you had. But you didn’t play at all. You were searching for Tahlia, and you and I both know she’s dea—gone.”

He shook his head. “Even you can’t say it. And until you can, I’m not going to believe it.”

Liam’s eyes filled with sympathy, but he was too stubborn an ass to let it go. “You can’t go on like this, Trick. I hate being painted as the bad guy because I’m realistic. Peyton is hardly speaking to me as it is. She won’t even let me near Maia—as if I would ever say or do anything to hurt Calen’s wife. But you two can’t keep this up. Even that ass Ethan agrees with me. You need to get on with your life.”

Liam leaned back, rubbing his face with one hand. “Don’t get me wrong. I feel bad about what happened to Tahlia. If I could get my hands on the people who hurt her, I would strangle them with my bare hands, if only for Maia’s sake. That being said, I can understand her need to keep the investigation open. Tahlia was a good friend of hers. But you only met the girl once.Onceand look at you.” He waved his hand over him. “You’re a huge mess.”

Trick glanced down at himself. His suit was rumpled, and he desperately needed a shave. His tongue also felt like it had a film of nasty mold over it. “So I’ll take a shower. It’s not a big deal. I just…”

Pursing his lip, he struggled to find the words. It was difficult with his mind so muddled. “Have you ever felt an instant connection with someone? Not like finding them attractive, although Ididwant Tahlia from the start.”

He broke off and rubbed his face. “I’m not sure how to explain this. It was…as if I’d been permanently distracted, always thinking about the future. My mind was always on what wasnextand not on what was in front of me. And then Tahlia was there, kicking my ass at cards. For the first time in forever, I felt…awake. I was totally in the present with her. Does that make any sense?”

Liam didn’t say anything.

Trick exhaled. “I know I sound like a crazy person.”

“No, I get what you mean.”

“Really? You’ve felt that?”

“All the time.”

Trick let his disbelief show on his face. “With who?

He hoped Liam didn’t mean Charlotte, the woman he’d been seeing on and off for the last few months.

“Never mind who.” Liam glanced at his watch, waving his question away. “Should I tell Calen you’re not going to make it tonight?”

“Tonight? What’s on tonight?”

This time, Liam openly scowled. “It’s the opening ofEolande, Calen’s new restaurant at the Caislean New York. He flew in that celebrity chef Kari Jones to cook tonight—the one who won that television contest. Everyone is coming. Even Maia, although she hasn’t been feeling well.”

He wrinkled his nose. “I thought that was on Friday.”

“Trick, itisFriday.” Liam snorted. He ran a rough hand through his hair. “Maybe you shouldn’t go. I swear Calen would thank me for locking you in your room tonight—every time Maia sees you, she gets worked up all over again. Ever since you told everyone about Tahlia’s gambling, she’s been running around trying to find out more, just like you. That’s not good in her condition.”

Her what? Trick frowned. “Did I miss something? Is she pregnant again?”

Liam lifted one shoulder. “They haven’t said anything yet, but she’s been sick a lot and she stopped drinking coffee and wine, so I’m pretty sure she’s expecting.”

Damn, his brother noticed everything. Trick had attended all the brunches and dinners with the McLachlan family Liam had, but he hadn’t picked up on those details. And his sister Maggie hadn’t mentioned anything either.

Well, Liam notices almost everything.His brother’s single blind spot was how Peyton felt about him. Given the way things were going, Trick counted that as a blessing.

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