Page 57 of Rough Fantasy

“Okay. Rory and I went shopping and I’m going to hit the beach here in a bit. Wanna tell me what went on over there between my brother and Zeke?”

“Nothing much. Zeke was irritated with your brother over stuff.”

She sighed. “Just tell me what it was. I know it isn’t about what’s going on here because Conner would have been here waiting for me.”

“Or he would have picked you up at the Swap Meet.”

She covered her face with her free hand. “Oh, God, you’re right.” She dropped her hand. “And quit trying to change the subject.”

Jillian sighed. “Apparently Zeke was upset about the way your brother treats you.”

“He treats me fine.”

“Yeah, well, I wasn’t here, but that was what the argument, or I should say disagreement was about.”

“Ah.”

“And speaking of your brother here he is.”

Before she could tell Jillian she didn’t want to talk to her brother—mainly because she was afraid that he would figure out what was going on with Zeke and Rory—his voice filtered over the phone.

“Hey, Maura. I was wondering if you had time for lunch tomorrow?”

She frowned. Again, he wasn’t acting like himself. Conner didn’t plan lunch dates unless it was official work.

“Did we have some work to do? I was planning on goofing off all week.”

“No. Is there anything wrong with me wanting to have lunch with my sister?”

She shook her head, and then realized she was on the phone. Brilliant, Maura. “Nope. You don’t normally do things like this.”

There was a pause. “Good lord, all I wanted to do was have lunch and show you the new offices. Why does everyone think I have ulterior motives for everything?”

He sounded so exasperated that she had to bite back the giggle tickling her throat. “I’m sorry. I will be happy to have lunch with you.”

“I will pick you up at ten.”

Then he was gone. She sighed. Conner was changing but he still needed to learn how not to order her to a social type of thing.

Jillian came back on the phone. “And, now you know sort of what went on. I have a feeling that Zeke told Conner he needed to spend time with you as a brother.”

She frowned. “Why would he do that? Does he hate me?”

Jillian chuckled. “Stop. You know both of them love you.”

“Please tell me you’re coming.”

“Nope. It’s all Dillon blood tomorrow. I’m going to work in silence for the first time in over a week.”

“Okay. We do need to get out together though.”

“Will do. We’ll hit the town in a day or two. Be nice to your brother tomorrow and don’t be too bad.”

Maura was smiling when she clicked off the phone. She should go right downstairs, but she needed a second to herself. They guys were so damned overwhelming at times. She watched the people on the beach in the distance as she thought about both of them. Zeke was always going to have a special place in her heart. Maura had realized long ago that Zeke was probably the love of her life. It was a shame that there were so many things in their way.

Now though, Rory was worming his way into her heart. Sadly, he wasn’t even trying. Only one day and she was getting tangled up with him. The way he acted sometimes…she had thought he was a prick. Now, though, she had a feeling that he did it as self-preservation. She was sure there was an ooey gooey center to him.

She shook her head and decided to get back to emptying her bags. Wishing for more than this week would be a huge mistake.