“What do you mean?”
Haley’s pain-filled words tore at Brielle’s heart.
“I’m not exactly in the same class as Crew — as you. I’m not too stupid to realize that. I enjoy him, and he’s been wonderful to me, but this is a summer thing, nothing more. We’re just having fun,” she trailed off.
Brielle studied her, wanting to know this woman’s secrets, wanting to know what had happened in her life that had filled her with so much insecurity.
Guilt consumed her as she thought back to all those years she’d been nothing but a rotten little brat. She’d taken everything she’d been given for granted — the best education, the best clothes, a new car for her sixteenth birthday, everything she’d ever wanted. How shallow she’d been. What a waste of life.
Here was a woman who’d obviously had so much less, yet she was proud and strong and doing it on her own. Brielle had a feeling the two of them would be close friends, and she herself would be the one to gain by the friendship.
“Haley, you should know that love doesn’t care about your rank in life. It doesn’t care where you went to school, or if you can play the piano. Love is magical and honest and it will find you whether you want it to or not. Don’t give up on yourself, because it’s pretty obvious to me that my brother thinks you’re about the classiest girl out there.”
“I…uh…” Haley couldn’t speak.
“I adore my brother. He and my other three brothers always spoiled me rotten — quite rotten, I’m afraid, but that’s a story for another time. I just wanted to meet the woman he’s obviously fallen in love with.”
Brielle beamed to see Haley’s mouth drop open. If nothing else, she’d gotten the wheels in Haley’s head spinning. Sometimes men were big buffoons who just didn’t know how to express themselves, and women had to take matters into their own hands. In fact, she knew of one particular man in Montana who could benefit from hearing her thoughts.
“I won’t keep you any longer, Haley, but I really do hope to see you tonight at dinner. It’s been a real pleasure speaking with you.” With that, Brielle got up and left the flustered woman alone. Haley had a lot to think about, and Brielle was hoping for a winter wedding.
There was nothing like snow-covered ground when two people joined their lives together. The new bride and groom were literally forging a new path for themselves from the moment they stepped from the warmth of the church and made their way home — their footprints marking their progress in the pure white snow.
Yes, despite a few bumps in her own road, Brielle was a romantic. It was grand to be herself again and even grander to have her family back, all close-knit and full of love.
Smiling giddily to herself as she made her way toward her room, she didn’t even notice the men stopping in their tracks to gaze at her. She knew she was attractive — she wasn’t stupid —but she had no idea of the full power she possessed.
Chapter Twenty-Three
OK, she was in love. Hopelessly, irrevocably and forever in love. Haley’s heart glowed with warmth as she watched the three men sip on their scotch and fill the room with cigar smoke and raucous laughter. They were a riot and she couldn’t get enough of them.
“That’s four of a kind. I win!” Haley pulled the pile of Skittles candies toward herself. She’d more or less cleaned them out.
“I think you’ve been cheating, young lady,” Joseph said with a mock pout as he put down his lowly two pair.
“You, my kind sir, are being a poor loser,” she taunted.
“If only I wasn’t so in love with my Katherine, I’d fight my new nephew for your affections.”
“I could fight Katherine for you,” Haley said with a wink, loving the soft pink glow in his cheeks.
“Ah, young lady, you do know how to make an old man feel young.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
The men had been at the resort for a week, and she sought them out regularly when Crew was busy running his resort. The potential buyers were there, and they’d made an official offer. It looked as if her time in paradise was nearly at its end.
She would miss this place beyond expression, but at least she’d have amazing memories to take home with her. The steamy nights with Crew, and this precious week with his father and his new uncles. It was as if she was getting a taste of what a normal family was like and oh how she longed for such.
What a story, a beautiful story — triplets reunited after more than sixty years. And a few days was all it had taken for them to bond. Haley was delighted that both Joseph and George were happily married men, and she simply didn’t understand how Crew’s father could be single.
Richard was suave and adventurous, and had a devilish attitude. She could certainly see where Crew had inherited not only his good looks, but also his casual but polished manners. She was in over her head with this Anderson/Storm family.
And when she didn’t get to see any of them anymore…?
“I’ve always said a woman who can gamble is a force to be reckoned with. We are leaving in two days, but I expect you to come and visit us, young lady,” George said as he looked her in the eye.
Haley didn’t want to ruin the mood.
“I think you only want to earn back your candy. You keep trying, but you just can’t beat me,” she joked as she lifted a few brightly colored pieces and slid them into her mouth.
“You quit trying to change the subject,” Joseph pointedly replied, not fooled by her tactics. “You’ve yet to tell me you’ll be there for Thanksgiving. It’s only a couple months away and I like a lot of pretty ladies sitting around my table.”
“I will come if I can,” she said without elaboration. She so wanted to say she’d be there, but she had to remember that this wasn’t her family. She was simply borrowing them for a very short time.
“Yes, Haley, I want you to be there, as well. You have brought a sparkle to my ornery son’s eyes that I haven’t seen in years. You’re good for him,” Richard said. He was the quietest of the three brothers, but that didn’t dim his power in the least.
“That’s because I give him so much trouble. Now, if you want to run away with me, we can find a deserted island and hide away forever,” she added with a wink, making Richard blush.
“Oh, if I were thirty years younger, I’d throw you over my shoulder and take you to paradise any time,” he said with a laugh; Joseph and George joined in.