Page 66 of Blown

“I’m sure they’d love to hear,” Ryan said.

Nally sped out of the office again, past Rebecca, who was still on the phone, and out into the front hall. He was happy for Rhys and Early, really, he was, their engagement just made him feel?—

“Hey! Nally, can you hold the door?” Bax asked struggling with Macy in one arm and her buggy in the other as Nally approached them.

“I’ve got it,” Nally said, hurrying to help.

Bax and Nick must have taken the kids out for a walk in the autumn sunshine. They were struggling to get the buggies and kids back into the house now, but Nally holding the door helped. Once everything was taken care of, Nick and Bax sent each other adoring smiles, then stole a kiss.

“There,” Nick said. “All’s well that ends well.”

Nally wanted to sigh. Everyone in the family was in love and happy except for him.

“I’m on my way out to the hot shop,” he told the two of them, pretending that he didn’t feel so profoundly alone, “but the news just came through that Hélène Rénard has been found out for all her stealing and lying.”

“That’s wonderful,” Bax said, then immediately had to deal with Macy squirming to get down from his hold. “I want to hear all the details. Later.”

Nally laughed. “Understood. I’m just going to tell Rafe and Jake now.”

He left the house and hurried along the path to the hot shop. Hawthorne House really did look beautiful in the autumn. The leaves were putting on an amazing show above him and the fall flowers that lined the borders and gardens were in full bloom. It felt like the perfect accent to the good news of the day.

When he reached the hot shop, it was clear immediately that Rafe and Jake had already heard the good news. The two of them looked like they were on cloud nine as they checked through their phones.

Those phones were forgotten just as Nally stepped into the workshop and Rafe and Jake threw their arms wide, then came together in a big, messy, victory kiss. Nally had to stand there and watch them suck each other’s faces until they ran out of breath.

“This is amazing,” Rafe said, kissed Jake again, then repeated, “Absolutely amazing.”

“So you heard?” Nally said, taking the risk of interrupting by walking forward.

Jake and Rafe broke apart, but they kept one arm around the other.

“Hélène has been brought to justice,” Jake said.

“And Jake just got notification that he’s been approved for the second round of the Global Talent visa,” Rafe added.

“That’s excellent,” Nally said, genuinely happy for him. “What’s next?”

Jake huffed a laugh. “More paperwork and another administration fee. But it looks like I’ll probably get the visa.”

“And if that fails, we’ll apply for a spousal visa,” Rafe said, beaming at him. “I’d like to see the Home Office deny you that now.”

They fell into each other’s arms again, and Nally had to stand there and watch their love on display. It wasn’t a bad thing, really. It was just that everyone in the entire family was so deeplyin love, and there he was, single and not necessarily happy about it. He could hook up with someone anytime he wanted, but even though he was still young, hook-ups were losing their excitement. He wanted the real deal.

“Does everyone else know?” Rafe asked, breaking away from Jake and asking Nally.

“Most everyone,” Nally said.

“Then this calls for a celebration,” Jake said. “Maybe Bax can even come up with some sort of Pagan ceremony of gratitude for all of us.”

Rafe laughed. “I’m sure he could. I couldn’t imagine things ending on a better note than this.”

“Neither could I,” Jake said.

Nally wanted to add something, but all he could do was stand there and feel happy for his family but sad for himself. Something was missing from his life, and he wasn’t sure how to go about finding it. Maybe he’d have to ask Hawthorne House’s ghosts.