Page 43 of Laying His Claim
Finn must have known him very well, because he answered Justin’s unspoken question. “He didn’t want to call you, Justin, because he knows you have your hands full with Jalissa’s recovery and taking care of Seb. It’s not that he wanted my advice over yours.”
That was news to him. “It’s no big deal. You and dad are closer than he and I are,” he confessed. Maybe it was the intimate family setting, and the good wine that had loosened his tongue. But he knew his brother well enough, and trusted him well enough, to feel that he was finally able to say something.
Finn dropped his jovial demeanor and took a step closer, resting an arm on Justin’s. “I know it looks like Dad turns to me first, and I know he was grooming me to take over the business, but that’s just because he thinks, as a man of honor, that the business should go to the elder. It’s not because he trusts you less. Dad loves and trusts us both equally—”
“I know,” he said thickly. “I just always felt I needed to prove myself to him.”
“I think you have. You’re successful. You’re happy. You have a beautiful, talented fiancée and a wonderful son. And, more and more, you’ve become their rock.” Finn paused, as if deep in thought, and then said, “You probably don’t feel this way, but you were always the lucky one. Dad came into my life after years of my wondering where my dad was. And when he married Mom, I finally did. But you… you, Justin, were blessed. You’ve always had a father. You never had to suffer through those empty years like I did.”
The emotion was thick - maybe a bit too thick - and all the two men could do was embrace each other awkwardly, then return to the table, smiling. As they lingered for another half hour or so, exclaiming in delight over the platter of brandy-infused profiteroles that Jalissa sent out to them, Justin felt lighter than he had in a long time. He loved his brother deeply, but there had always been this underlying sense of competition for their father’s love and respect. Finding out that Finn had also gone through his own doubts and uncertainties as he was growing up made him feel a bit more secure that the playing field was level.
In time, the other two couples said their goodbyes. Seb was spending the night at Kaiya’s, with TJ as a playmate and an excellent babysitter, so there was no urgency to go home. “I’ll just wait on the chef,” he said to the others. “Maybe she’ll need a lift home.”
“Maybe she’ll reward you with a cookie,” Kaiya joked, giving him a tight hug.
“I certainly hope so,” he answered fervently.
The crowd of diners finally thinned out, as workers briskly began to clear up. Now that the music was off, and in the absence of chatter, he could hear the clatter in the kitchen and knew they were busy cleaning up and putting everything away for tomorrow.
Jalissa emerged, flushed, hot, and happy. As she removed her toque, her braids spilled out, framing her gorgeous face. He grabbed her up and spun her around. “You were amazing!”
“You think so?”
“Of course. If I’m not careful, you’ll put a belly on me.”
She patted him lightly on his granite abs. “I hope not!”
They walked companionably outside, into a surprisingly warm evening, heading toward the car. As he held the door open for her to slide inside, he couldn’t resist adding, “You know I’m mad at you, right?”
Her face turned to his, as if she was half wondering if he was serious. “Why?”
“I’m still not sure how I feel about you doing such a good job working for the competition!”
Jalissa laughed out loud at the absurdity of that idea. “Oh, I’m sure of your family restaurants will survive the threat of little old me.” She threw him a sly sidelong look. “Plus, I didn’t want anyone to say I was sleeping with the boss to get want I want.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he leered at her like a wolf. “Sleeping with the boss will get you everywhere!”
They chuckled, holding hands as he sped off, taking the scenic route off the main highway, past a wide expanse of lake that glittered with the reflections of the skyscrapers and highway lights on the far side.
“Beautiful,” she breathed, staring out the window.
“Want to stop?”
“What?”
Without waiting for an answer, Justin spun the wheel until the SUV rumbled off the paved road and onto the grassy shoulder, mere meters from the pebbly beach. “This is as good a place as any for what I have in mind,” he announced.
“What do you have in mind?”
“This.” He reached into his breast pocket and withdrew a long, slender jewelry box, offering it to her. “This is just a small token to let you know how proud I am of how far you’ve come.”
Eyes bright, she opened the box to reveal a slender white gold tennis bracelet, studded with red jasper. Her favorite color. “Oh, thank you.”
Just the idea that he’d put that smile on her face made him warm all over. She proffered her slender wrist for him to clasp it on for her, but instead, he popped the box into the glove compartment. “Not yet,” he said. “I have another idea.”
Disappointment gave way to a puzzled look. “You have?”
He pointed at the silent, glittering lake with his chin. “It’s a warm night…”
