Big Easy Temptation (The Perfect Gentlemen #3)(41)

Mad scowled, his face turning beet red. “That is so untrue. In the old days, that would lead to a duel, sir. In fact, I think it should now. You have impugned my manhood. My dick is like the Energizer Bunny. Except more manly. And bigger. And without ears. The point is, I got stamina. And technique.”

Gus snorted and shook her head. “I’ll never tell. Well, not until I need the cash and then I’ve got notes for a book that will shock everyone. I’m going to get some breakfast. I seem to have worked up an appetite. Ta-ta, dearies.”

Mad pointed her way. “See. She worked up an appetite because I’m awesome.”

And humble. Dax hauled back and punched him right on the nose. Not enough to actually break the fucker, but Mad would feel it for a while.

“Shit!” Mad hunched over, covering his nose. His shoulders shook, but he stood up again and started laughing. “Okay. I probably deserved that.”

The burst of anger had left Dax’s system. He still had unresolved feelings but none of that was Mad’s fault—or anyone else’s. “Just keep it to yourself. I don’t want to hear you bragging about bagging my sister.”

Mad shook his head. “Never. Ever. Seriously, I’m more scared of Gus than I am you. She’s mean. Like seriously mean. And I won’t see her anymore if it really bugs you. I like Gus. There’s nothing serious there, but she’s cool.”

“That’s Gus’s business,” Dax allowed. He looked down, but suddenly he didn’t need the Scotch anymore. “And I think I’ll join her for breakfast. I worked up an appetite, too.”

“So you bagged NCIS last night. Nice.”

“I’m going to punch you again.”

“Let me rephrase. I’m very happy that you were finally able to profess all your man feelings to the lovely and proper NCIS special agent in a physical fashion. Should I have brought glitter so we could throw it around and show the world how happy and shiny you are now?”

“Fuck you, Mad.” But he said it with a laugh.

“I’m really happy for you, man. We’re going to lose you the way we lost . . .” Mad frowned suddenly. “Sorry. I was going to say Zack. It’s hard to believe Joy is dead.”

“Yeah. I don’t know how Zack deals with it.” If he lost Holland . . .

“Zack buries himself in work. He works from the minute he gets up until way past time any sane person would go to bed. I’m worried about him.”

“Really?”

“What? I can worry. I know I’m an irresponsible party boy, but I care about my friends. You guys . . . you’re my real family. My parents didn’t give a shit. I felt more comfortable here and at Gabe’s penthouse than I ever did at home. I’m living in the place where my dad kept his mistresses. I can redo the fucker all I like, but it’s not home. This is a real home. No matter what your dad did, at least he gave you love inside these four walls.”

“You were listening?”

“It was hard to avoid overhearing as I was being slowly digested by three hundred pounds of brocade. I think you’re doing the right thing. Gabe and I have been looking into it. Well, Gabe has been looking into it while I play solitaire, but he’s certain something’s going on. Do you ever find it odd that Joy died and your father was killed six weeks later?”

“Joy was killed by someone who was trying to assassinate Zack. I don’t see the connection.”

“That’s the funny thing about connections, isn’t it? You don’t always see them at first. I just have to wonder what the odds are that you and Zack would lose immediate family so close together.” Mad shook his head as if clearing it. “But don’t listen to me. My brain is twelve kinds of fucked-up at this time of the morning. Come on. Let’s eat something. Gabe uncovered some stuff about the investigation. He’s got some leads we can follow.”

“Sure. I think my drinking is done for now.”

Mad waggled his brows and picked up the Scotch. “Thank god. I thought you would drink it all. Come to Papa. And don’t sweat the stuff with your dad. God knows mine was far worse. I shudder to think of all the damage that man did. It’s certainly not my place to clean it all up. But I will help with yours.” Mad frowned as he stared at the gaping doors. “Don’t let the curtains kill me this time.”

Dax followed Mad in. No matter what happened, he had his family. And Holland. She belonged to him now. Just because his parents had struggled didn’t mean he and Holland would. They would be honest and open with each other. They would not make the same mistakes.

No way. No how.





SEVEN




Holland swept her finger across the screen to accept the call. Dax. Her guy. She was becoming that chick who grinned way too much and lost IQ points when her boyfriend walked into a room. Even her coworkers had started to rib her about it. She was more relaxed, definitely happier, and all because she had Captain Awesome in her bed—not to mention on her couch and over the dining room table. Over the last few weeks they’d pretty much made love on every surface of her apartment. And the night they’d had dinner at his mother’s place, he’d snuck her up into his old bedroom for a quickie. Not that they’d fooled anyone. His friends and Gus had been relentless in their teasing. And Judith Spencer had simply smiled and patted Holland’s hand and told her how happy she was.