Eye of the Beholder by Dana Marie Bell Read Free Book Online Page A

her.
    What are you hiding from me?

    Travis sat in the back of Logan’s SUV and wondered how to bring up what he was sure would be a painful subject. He’d managed to keep Jamie and Jeff from questioning him further, a difficult job considering their cramped quarters and Jeff’s stubborn refusal to allow a subject to die a graceful death. When he was ready to tell his story he only wanted to do it once, and while both Jamie and Jeff had earned the right to sit in on that discussion he needed everyone there for it. He’d managed to avoid the topic for four days now, but he was rapidly running out of time.
    Morgan and Magnus Grimm—the twin half-brothers of Jamie, Jeff and Jordan—and Val had just returned from a job Travis had sent them on. The Grimms were working cases to pick up the slack left by Travis, Jeff and Jordan not being in the office. Considering everything that had happened they’d been more than happy to put in some overtime for him while he made sure their family was safe. Now that the case they’d been gone on was solved to everyone’s satisfaction the men were back, and it was time to come clean to all of them. They were planning on meeting for lunch at the Tait-Saeter condo, something Travis was looking forward to with equal amounts of dread and longing. Finally he’d be able to claim the woman who’d stolen his heart, no barriers or lies between them. He only hoped she could handle what he had to say.
    Logan got lucky and managed to find a parking spot just shy of the corner of Ninth Street and Passyunk Avenue. They stepped out of the Lexus and breathed deep, inhaling the scents of the best cheesesteaks in the city.
    “Pat’s,” Logan sighed, heading for his favorite eatery.
    “Geno’s, you heathen.” Kir planted both feet firmly on the pavement and refused to move, no matter how hard Logan tugged on his arm.
    Logan scowled. “Do you want to wait in the car while I get the food, or do you want to come with me?”
    “I’ll come with you as far as Geno’s window.”
    Travis, watching the frown growing on Jordan’s face, waited for the inevitable explosion. It wasn’t long in coming.
    “Oh, my God. Sometimes you two are friggin’ morons.” Jordan stepped out of the back seat of the SUV, looking tired and cranky. The Philly accent was strong, whether from aggravation or exhaustion Travis couldn’t tell. She planted her hands on her hips and stared both of her lovers down, bristling with bad temper. “You—” She pointed at Logan, “—go to Pats. You—” She pointed at Travis, startling him. “—Go to Geno’s. Jeff, Morgan and Magnus and I’ll take one wit’. Jamie, Kir and everyone else will have one wit’out, and the Wonder Twins want peppers. Oh, and Uncle Val likes provolone.”
    “Wonder Twins?” Travis nearly choked trying not to laugh. It was the first time he’d heard Jordan refer to Jeff and Jamie as the Wonder Twins. From the look on her face if he did laugh she’d inflict major bodily harm on his person.
    She ignored him. “Each of you get one for each of us, as well as yourselves. We’ll have a steak-off. You—” She pointed at a surprised Kir, “—get your ass back in the truck and guard mine so Logan doesn’t have an aneurysm. Now move. I don’t like cold cheesesteaks.” She hurled herself back into the SUV and sat with her arms crossed, glaring out the front window.
    The men stared at one another and shrugged. Logan and Travis headed for Pat’s while Kir settled into the back seat with Jordan, snuggling her close and kissing the side of her neck. They’d hit Geno’s on the way back to the car.
    “Who decided the little dictator should come with us again?” Logan shoved his hands into his back pockets, looking bored. Travis wasn’t fooled, though. Logan was on point, wary of every person who walked by the SUV. He kept an eye on it at all times, his eyes moving between the customers, the car and any possible threats.
    “Jamie.” She’d sent