Chapter 3

Chapter 3

A

USTIN

I’m really glad I decided to stay here. I've already been more productive today, work-wise, than I have been in weeks. This house always has my inspiration flowing. I've always thought of this as home, but I have never really stayed here longer than it took to decide my next stop in life. It's been my layover point, safety net, and safe haven, since I graduated high school. Maybe this time, staying here in Nashville with my brother, is my next stop.

I'm working in the dining room today, which has great views of the amazing pool area and is far enough away that if Dallas decided to watch TV, it won't distract me. Though to be fair, Dallas is always considerate of me. When I'm working, he will watch TV in his room, rather than chance distracting me. I'm not sure what he's up to today, but he's been in and out of the house.

We had a great time yesterday taking the house tour, but I was up all night, thinking of the few minutes I spent in Dallas's arms. It was like instinct for him, when I felt that chill run through me, he was right there to comfort me. On the way home, we rode with the top down again and talked about some other places to visit. He even pulled over and let me drive the last few miles home. That was a close second to the highlight of the day.

I smile to myself, as I stretch and take in the space around me. This dining room is so comfortable, and it doesn’t feel cold, like many in the large houses around here. One of the walls in this room is exposed brick. The reclaimed wood dining room table is large enough to sit twenty, if you put in the leaves, but they always keep them out, so it can sit ten right now. The table has matching wood chairs on one side, and on the other side, along the wall with the windows to the backyard, is a bench seat attached with pillows. It looks more like a long window seat than a dining room table bench.

The pillows are all done in gray and creams and pair good with the brick wall. It's homey and relaxing. Remove the pillows and add some fancy place settings, and you have a very formal space. The decorator the guys used knew her stuff.

I didn't sleep as well last night, as I did the first night pressed against Dallas. I try not to admit that to myself, because the reality is hard to handle. It isn't the first time we have fallen asleep together. I have crawled into his bed a few times, when the storms get too bad, or I've had a bad dream, but we never cuddled like that. We always stuck to our sides of the bed.

I push it all out of my mind and work on this brand kit for a lingerie boutique. They need a logo and a brand design of colors and fonts. From there, I will help design her website and social media graphics. I love her stuff and am having a lot of fun mixing the leather and lace theme she wants to go with.

I'm so into my work I don't hear Landon walking in, until he's right in front of me.

"How you have always been able to block us out so intently and work, I’ll never know," Landon says.

I jump up and hug him, as my brother gives me my favorite bear hug. He isn't a hugger by nature, and I haven't seen anyone else get bear hugs from him, but I love them. They make me feel safe and always pull me out of a bad mood.

"I missed you so much," I whisper.

"Me too." He squeezes me again, before pulling away. "Where's your stuff? Do you need any help?" He asks.

He looks around, like he expects all my stuff to be piled nearby. His dark brown hair that matches mine is longer than the last time I saw him with a slight curl to it. His gray eyes land back on me.

"No, Dallas brought it all up from my car yesterday, and I unpacked most of it last night. Landon?" I ask hesitantly.

"Yeah?"

"I think I want to stay here a bit, not just pass through," I tell him, not sure if he will like his little sister here, cramping his style.

"I'd like that. I always hope you’ll stay, when you visit, but I never want to pressure you."

Just like that, the decision is made.

I nod. "Done then. How was your trip?"

"Good, let me go get a shower and unpack, and we can talk, while I make dinner." He says.

The best thing about my brother is that he loves to cook just as much as I do. It relaxes him, and if you try to stop him from cooking, he gets upset. So, while normally I would tell him to go sit down, because he just got in, I'll cook. He wouldn't like that. So, I learned to stop fighting him over the years.

I turn to my computer and save what I've been working on and check my email to make sure everything can wait until tomorrow.

I'm closing my laptop, when my brother comes into the kitchen in his sweatpants and a t-shirt. His hair is slightly a mess and still damp from the shower. He and Dallas are about the same height, but Dallas works out more, so he has a bit more bulk to him than my brother.

Doesn't matter though, they both get girls throwing themselves at them. While Dallas has taken advantage of that fame, my brother hasn't really. He doesn't do flings, which seems to make him only more wanted by his female fans.

I walk into the kitchen, and before we even start talking, Landon wraps his hands around my waist and lifts me, setting me on the counter between the stove and the fridge. This has become our thing. I sit on the counter, while he cooks, and we talk. He doesn't want me helping, but he wants this time to catch up and just bond, his words not mine. It’s also the perfect spot to sneak food and taste test, as he cooks.

"So, anyone special in your life?" I joke. This is always the first question I ask, when we have our cooking time like this.

He laughs. "We’re getting ready to go on tour, so it wouldn't be fair to her, apparently." His square jaw ticks, as he grits his teeth.

Her.

Oh, shit. My brother has his eye on someone. I can't remember the last time he was serious about a girl. Wait, yes, I can. It was that Shelia girl, who used him for her fifteen minutes of fame. I got my nice little revenge on her, spreading some rumors about her being pregnant and trying to stick my brother with the baby. I laughed, Landon got mad, we fought and didn't talk for a week, and then we got over it. Dallas thought it was funny, at least. No one has really heard from her since.

"Who is she?" I press.

"I don't want to ruin it, but yes, there is someone. I’ve asked her out. She said no, because of the tour. I think she has a problem with me being a rock star. So, I’m going to wait, until after the tour and try again." He sighs.

They’re getting ready to go on tour again soon, and I'm looking forward to having the house to myself and some space to clear my head, even if the tour is just a small one up the east coast.

"What if she’s dating someone else by then?" I push.

"Then, it wasn't meant to be. Now, tell me what happened with Branden."

I go over everything I told Dallas last night. When Landon starts laughing, I throw one of the nuts from the trail mix I was snacking on at him, which only makes him laugh harder.

"I think you dodged a bullet. I don't know of any sane guy who proposes after three months of a causal relationship." He says.

"Exactly! I mean, the sex wasn't even that good, he was just there." I joke at the same time Dallas walks into the kitchen and sits on a barstool at the island.

"Some conversation you have going on here." He says, but he's used to our weird talks. Nothing is off limits with my brother and me. We’re the only family we have left, so we each play mom and dad to each other, and we decided long ago no secrets and nothing out of bounds.

Nothing can drive us apart.

This is why my brother is my best friend, and why this place always feels like home.

"What? Sex is a topic you’re very familiar with." I joke around, but something flashes over Dallas's face, but it's gone just as fast. I think I must have imagined it.

"So, what’s for dinner?" Dallas changes the subject.

"Chicken Parmesan. Austin's favorite to welcome her home. She has decided to stay here, instead of moving on, and I couldn't be happier." Landon says, his face beaming.

"I agree, the house is just better, when you're here. And Landon cooks better food for you." Dallas jokes, as he gets up to set the table. My legs are in front of the silverware drawer, so he makes this big dramatic show of lifting my legs onto his shoulder, so they are out of his way to get in the drawer.

I have to brace myself, so I don't fall, because I can't stop laughing. Once he has what he needs, he puts my legs back down and pinches my hip.

"Besides, I like you in the kitchen here with Landon. It makes this place feel like home." He says and moves to the small table in the kitchen that seats four. We eat here, when it's just us.

"I agree," my brother says, unaware of the slight touch Dallas gave me on my hip. That is new. He normally just jokes, like picking my legs up, but the touch on my hip felt more intimate. It sent shock waves up and down my back. I'm just overthinking this, right?

"Alright, let's eat!" Landon says, as he takes the food to the table, and Dallas comes over to help me off the counter.

"Man, a girl jumps from the counter once, sprains her ankle, and she never lives it down." I huff with a smile on my face. I love how protective these two are of me, even if it can get a tad bit annoying.

I sit across from my brother with Dallas between us, as Landon starts talking about his trip.

He's setting up a charity to raise money for music scholarships and to help keep music programs in schools. He’s hoping to expand it in a few years to open up spaces, where kids can come in and practice, and even use the instruments there that they can't afford to buy on their own.

"I'm really proud of you, and I know Mom and Dad would be, too." We don't bring our parents up much. Not because they were bad parents, they were the best parents. When they died in that car accident, it devastated us both. Dallas was our rock through it all. It just hurts to talk about them still, but we do it, because we refuse to forget them.

I know it’s still painful for Landon too, because his eyes mist over, and he leans back in his chair, looking at the ceiling. This is when Dallas glances at me and smiles. He turns back to his food, before my brother catches him.

We talk more about the charity and the work he has been doing, and I catch Dallas looking at me more and more, and so does my brother. When it happens the third time, my brother kicks Dallas under the table and doesn't even try to hide it.

I roll my eyes and change the subject. "This is really good, Landon. Thank you for making it. I was missing your cooking."

"Consider it an incentive to stay this time." He says.

"Done," I laugh.

"So, you know we have this tour coming up, right?" Landon asks.

"Yeah, I may be on your mailing list." I shrug.

"Well, what do you think of coming with us and singing a few songs?" Landon asks.

Wait, what?