Cazeron stuck out his lip. He didn’t say anything right away. After a minute, he looked at Brock. “This wasn’t Tristan’s fault. Was it, Daddy?”
Everyone laughed.
“No, slugger,” Brock said. “Tristan didn’t have anything to do with this one.”
* * * *
The kids had just been tucked into bed when the doorbell rang. Brock didn’t take a second to look outside. He didn’t need to guess who was on the other side of the door.
Greeting their guest, he said, “I see you’re planning to stay awhile.”
“If you think this is a lot of luggage, you ought to check the back of the truck. There’s plenty more out there.”
“Planning on moving here, are ya?”
“No,” Mitch replied. “But I may stay a few weeks. We won’t start the renovations until next month.”
“Renovations?” Rory asked, entering the foyer and glancing at the clock. “By the way, what took you so long? I sort of figured you’d beat us here.”
Mitch laughed. “So you aren’t disappointed?”
“Hell no,” Brock replied, grabbing one of his bags and swinging it over his shoulder. “We fully expected to see you.”
“So much for the element of surprise.”
“Actually,” Brock said, pointing upstairs, “Trixie is in the bath. Why don’t we play a little trick on her?”
“What do you have in mind?” Mitch asked, following him up the stairs.
“Give Rory the keys to the truck so he can pull that piece of junk over to the barnyard. You come with me.”
Tossing Rory his keys, he said, “Be careful now. I’d hate to find another dent on the bumper.”
Rory laughed and left the house. Brock showed him to the guest room.
“So I can’t stay in the master suite, too?”
“Sure you can,” Brock replied. “After tonight it’s fine, but I want to surprise Trixie.”
“How?”
“Pay attention,” Brock said, plotting and planning as he relayed his ideas. “We’re about to give Trixie the surprise of her life.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
“So anyway,” Trixie drawled into the phone, acknowledging her men by waving her fingers in their direction. “I spoke to Daddy Kane before I called you. Cash was in violation of his probation. He’s on his way to prison again. It’s where he belongs. Evidently, Daddy Kane received word right after we came home. Brock has been cleared.”
“I knew he would be,” Ansley said.
“Yeah, well, Lord knows we don’t need any more drama.”
“You are Miss Drama, big sister.” The line filled with laughter. “I’m glad everything worked out.”
“Me too,” Trixie said, glancing at her guys. “Brock and Rory are ready for bed. They just came in here with that look on their faces.”
“That look is what got you pregos again,” Ansley drawled. “And they can wait. I’m not done with you. We need to talk about this thing with Kimberly.”
“I’m not in that,” Trixie told her. “I refuse to team up against her when she’s heard enough from Daddy Kane. She’s a big girl, Ansley. Let her make her own decisions.”
“Jason Neely is an ass!”
“He may be the biggest prick on this planet, but she’s tried to live without him and she’s far more miserable without him than she is with him. We can’t choose who our siblings love.”
“Don’t I know it,” Ansley teased. “Put me on speakerphone.”
“Lord, you’re so immature.”
“This coming from the woman who ran away from Cow Camp when she didn’t get her way? Oh please. Hurry, I want Rory and Brock to hear this.”
Trixie set the phone on the bed and hit option one. “Okay, what is it?”
“Well, it’s just that you are so right about not being able to choose who our sisters love. I mean, good God, look at you, girl. You chose two of the most possessive men in the universe. And Brock? Whew. Who could live with his high-handed attitude?”
Trixie winked at Brock.
“And Rory? Lord have mercy, Rory? He’s a quiet church mouse but don’t get him pissed off. He’d tell the devil to go to hell.”
Trixie laughed. “Are you done aggravating my men, little sister?”
“I guess so,” she said flippantly.
“Good,” Brock said. “For that, I’m calling Tristan and telling him to spank that prissy ass.”
“He has a paddle in hand now,” she teased.
“Tell him to leave blisters,” Rory said.
“A few of them,” Brock added.