Family Ties — читать онлайн бесплатно полностью

They’ve earned it.”

“Thank you… Harold.”

He nodded at the unspoken “sir.”

Even Anne smiled at my delivery. She gave me a slight nod and then took a sip of whiskey. “Mmm, that’s nice.”

I glanced at Harold again and raised my glass.

We drank at the same time, and I made sure to lower my glass a fraction of a second before he did. He didn’t miss the gesture. He even smiled.

Christy drew our attention as she drained her glass and set it on the table.

Then she uncorked the bottle and poured herself another healthy splash.

“Oh, Harold,” Anne said with an affectionate laugh, “she’s your daughter.”

We returned to the kitchen after we finished the cake and drinks. Danny and Sabrina were there, along with two other men. They stood as soon as Harold entered the room. Habit, I decided.

“Paul,” Harold said, “this is my son Rich.”

“Paul Hughes.” I extended my hand.

“Rich Carmichael.” He took it and squeezed. His grip didn’t let up.

He was strong, but so was I, and I matched him until our knuckles turned white from the effort.

I studied him as we vied for top dog. He was shorter than his father and brothers, and wider as well, with dark hair and his father’s baby blue eyes.

The rest of him was hard and angular, the first Carmichael I’d met who wasn’t Hollywood good-looking. He wasn’t ugly, but his expression didn’t do him any favors.

I stepped in and clasped my left hand over his. I bore down hard and stared him in the eye.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.

“Likewise.” He squeezed back, and I felt bones grind.

Harold seemed content to watch the whole thing, but Anne cleared her

“Paul,” she said, “this is Rich’s friend, Terry.” She waited several heartbeats and then said, “Boys…?”

Neither of us were willing to let go first.

She cleared her throat again, louder. “Boys!”

Rich released first. Or maybe I did. It was too close to call, and we both knew it.

I gave him a steady, unapologetic look before I turned to the other man like nothing had happened.

“Terry Aguilar.” His handshake was firm and mercifully brief.

I dropped my hand to my side and flexed my fingers to get the blood flowing again. Rich saw and abruptly stopped doing the same thing. Part of me wanted to laugh, but the rest of me was too preoccupied trying to get my heart rate and breathing under control.

“Well, that was interesting,” Danny said.