Page 13 of Trick or Tease

Tension crackled between the two brothers, suddenly feeling like we’d made a terrible mistake. Garrett seemed more upset about going home than about getting pranked by his brother. The man was as confusing as he was hot, and he was definitely hot, looking tasty in that suit.

The years had been kind to him. Too bad his jaw was set in that stubborn line I remembered from when he’d made up his mind about something. Billy’s easy grin was starting to look forced around the edges.

“Come on, man,” Billy said, his voice losing some of its earlier lightness. “Mom and Dad are officially retiring. It’s a big deal.”

“I told you I can’t make it,” Garrett replied, his tone clipped and professional. “I’ve got work.”

“You always have work.”

I shifted uncomfortably, wishing I could disappear behind one of the concrete pillars. Lucy caught my eye and grimaced, clearly thinking the same thing. We should have stayed in the truck.

But even as awkwardness crawled up my spine, I couldn’t stop staring at Garrett. Shit. The lanky farm boy I remembered had filled out into something that belonged on a magazine cover. His dark hair was perfectly styled, not a strand out of place despite whatever he’d been doing all day. His suit probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. The boy who used to show up to help with hay bales in torn jeans and work boots had transformed into someone I barely recognized.

Someone who made my heart do stupid things just by existing.

“Look,” Garrett said, running a hand through that perfect hair, “I appreciate you driving all the way down here, but⁠—”

“But nothing,” Billy interrupted. “You’ve missed the last three Christmases, Garrett. Three. Mom cried after you called to cancel last year.”

Garrett’s expression faltered just for a second. There was the boy I used to know, the one who couldn’t stand disappointing anyone. But then his professional mask slipped back into place.

“That’s not fair,” he said quietly.

“Neither is abandoning your family,” Billy shot back.

They used to be inseparable, despite their age difference. Billy had worshiped his big brother, followed him everywhere until Garrett got too cool for a tagalong.

“I didn’t abandon anyone,” Garrett said. “I built a career. I have responsibilities here.”

“Responsibilities?” Billy laughed, but there was no humor in it. “What about your responsibilities to us? To the family?”

“I told you I’m too busy to make it home for a party,” Garrett said.

“It’s just for a couple days. The world won’t end if you step away for a couple days. You’re not that important.”

I knew I had to step in before this got completely out of hand. The echo of their voices was bouncing off the concrete walls. The last thing we needed was to attract attention.

“Okay, that’s enough,” I said, moving between them with my hands raised. “You’re both causing a scene. This is a public parking garage, not the back forty where you can duke it out like you’re twelve years old again.”

Both brothers looked at me like they’d forgotten Lucy and I were even there. Typical.

“You need to talk to each other like adults,” I continued, giving them both my sternest look. “Whatever issues you have about the retirement party, we can discuss later. But right now, you’re acting like children.”

Billy opened his mouth to argue, but I cut him off with a sharp look. “Later, Billy.”

Before either of them could respond, footsteps echoed through the garage. A security guard rounded the corner, his hand resting on his radio. He was older, probably in his sixties, with the kind of tired expression that said he’d seen everything.

“Everything okay here, Mr. Hogan?” the guard asked, his eyes scanning our little group.

I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. Of course they knew Garrett by name. Of course we looked like trouble. Garrett in his nice suit and us looking like the hillbillies that got lost in the big city.

“Yeah, everything’s fine, Marcus,” Garrett said, his voice instantly shifting back to that polished, professional tone. “This is my dumbass brother and some friends from home.”

Marcus nodded once and headed back in the direction he came from.

“Look, I’m sorry you guys came all this way,” Garrett said. “Let me take you idiots out to dinner. I’m sure you must be hungry after that drive.”

“I’m not driving around this shithole,” Billy muttered. “It’s Mad Max out there.”