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Ethan shot forward, all his scales arcing up. “No. I forbid it.”
“You forbid it?” Beau’s lip curled. “What are you, the career police? Well, thanks bro, for your support.” He slammed the laptop shut and hightailed for the door.
Ethan’s eyes sparked. “Where the fuck are you going now?”
“Well, it’s obvious you don’t want to see any more, so I won’t waste any more fucking time showing it to you,” Beau hissed from between his fangs.
“Oh boys, please stop fighting!” Cressida wailed. But Beau had already stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Cressida’s face crumpled. “We were having such a lovely evening, and now look what you’ve done.”
His mom’s golden eyes swam with tears.
Oh gods, now he’d upset her too.
“You should know better, Ethan.” She pushed back her chair and flew out the door after Beau.
Which left only Min.
And she obviously thought he was a complete bastard too.
Ethan got up and paced around the table, feeling Min’s gaze trained on him. Every scale on his back sensed her disappointment in him. And that was almost the hardest cut of all.
Finally, he ground to a halt. “Well, what are you thinking?”
Min sighed. “I think Beau a very talented artist, and he has a great concept. I think you should have given him time to explain, not just jumped down his throat.”
Ethan growled an expletive in dragonish and did another turn of the table.
“You think I’m too strict with him, don’t you?” He pivoted and fixed her with a bright blue stare.
“Yes, Ethan, I do.” She came over and gazed up at him solemnly, her hands curling around his upper arms. “And I understand why. You’re worried. He went off the rails after your dad died, and you’re scared it will happen again. I know you’re coming from a place of caring. But… remember what you told me about your piano playing the other day, how your father brushed your talent aside?”
He’d confided this to Min in a moment of vulnerability after they’d made love and now he felt a ridiculous lump in his throat. Fuck. He’d be bawling like a chickling in a moment.
“I put that behind me.” He fisted his hands at his sides. “I knuckled down, got on with what really mattered. Running the company.”
“If you put it all behind you, why have you bought a grand piano, which you play for a couple of hours every day?”
He gulped hard, his eyes stinging now. “It’s a hobby.”
“No, Ethan, it’s a passion. It makes you feel alive. And maybe this is more than a hobby for Beau. Maybe this is his passion.” Ethan couldn’t answer, because he knew everything she was saying was true.
“What if you let Beau do what he loves? Stop trying to be the disciplinary big brother. Wouldn’t that take a weight off both of you? Wouldn’t it be better to get along with each other rather than fight?”
He looked at her, his heart wanting to soften. His approach to date hadn’t worked, that was patently obvious. If he continued down this path, he’d burn every bridge he’d built with Beau this past month.
Min stepped closer and continued, stroking his chest with her palms. “I desperately wanted a brother or sister, but with no mom, that wasn’t ever going to happen. It’s hard for me to see you guys having a family and pulling it apart for no reason.”
“There is a reason.” He couldn’t keep the bitterness out of his voice. “You weren’t here when Beau was out every night getting into trouble, driving mom crazy with worry, pulling me out of meetings to go get him from the police station.”
“But that’s in the past, Ethan. It’s not happening now. He’s got a great group of supportive friends; his concept for this game and the execution are brilliant. And above all, he’s an incredibly talented, dedicated artist. Surely you should be rejoicing in the fact that he’s found his direction in life?”
Oh gods, she was right. So right. And suddenly it felt like a rock had been lifted off his shoulders.
“Ah Min.” He sighed, pulling her against his chest. She nuzzled into him, and his wings enveloped them both in a cocoon. “How come you’re so wise?”
“I’m not.” She smiled up at him. “But I do think I know what will work for Beau—and maybe for both of you. And that will make your mom very happy.”
She lifted her head and they kissed.
