More Than You Know by Jennifer Gracen Read Free Book Online Page B

his brother’s glass, then placed the bottle back on the small table beside him. “I sent him an e-mail last week inviting him to the hotel opening. He also declined.”
    â€œReally?” Tess looked genuinely surprised. “I’m . . . I’m sorry. It’s a big deal for you. I hoped maybe Pierce would—”
    â€œApparently not.” Dane shrugged. “He’s playing that week, can’t get off. It’s cool.” He wasn’t going to let on that he’d actually suffered a twinge of disappointment when he’d gotten Pierce’s response. He was proud of his younger brother. Pierce was a wild child, but he was also a semifamous soccer star in Europe, for Chrissake. That was a major achievement, which almost offset the bad-boy behavior. But he kept Dane at arm’s length, like he did everyone, except for Tess.
    Pierce had left home at eighteen and never looked back. Dane didn’t blame him. After the divorce, their mother had been driven out of their lives, and the relationship between Pierce and their father was horrendous. If it weren’t for Tess, whom Pierce practically worshipped, he’d probably never come back to the States—as it was, he only returned home for Christmas, and that was it.
    But Dane had always tried to stay in contact with his younger brother. Things like texting and e-mail made it easier; they could keep in touch without having to actually talk. And Dane tried. Hell, when Tess had asked Dane to come with her to London for the 2012 Olympics, he’d gone gladly, looking to have a good time. But Pierce had shocked him; he’d gone with them to at least one sporting event every day, and had dinner with them almost every night. It had been an amazing two weeks, and the most time the brothers had spent together as adults. Dane hoped they’d maybe turned a corner, where Pierce would be more open to him . . . but apparently not.
    â€œIt bothers you,” Tess murmured, her gaze on Dane unrelenting. “You were hoping he’d come, weren’t you?”
    â€œI didn’t think he would,” Dane said earnestly. “I just wanted him to know he was invited. That he was welcome.”
    â€œAnd as usual, he tossed your olive branch back at you,” Charles said. “Why are you surprised? Pierce has an attitude problem, always has. He doesn’t care if—”
    â€œKnock it off, Charles,” Tess warned. “I can call him, Dane. I can tell him—”
    â€œNope. Not necessary, Tesstastic. Like Charles said, Pierce is a big boy. And so am I. It’s fine.” Dane stretched his long legs out in front of him and eased back in his seat. “Come on, we’re enjoying a beautiful sunset here. Breathe in that salty air. Look at the trees. Drink more wine. It’s all good.”
    The three of them sat in silence for a minute, taking in the late spring evening. The quiet was interrupted by a series of sharp barks from inside the house.
    â€œShe probably needs to go,” Tess said, rising from her chair. “I’ll be right back.”
    When she disappeared through the sliding glass doors into the house, Dane turned to Charles and said, “Opinion.”
    â€œShoot,” Charles said.
    â€œThe woman I hired to sing in my lounge.” Julia Shay appeared in Dane’s mind, sultry and gorgeous. “I did a basic background check, employment history, she has no police record, all that. But not a personal check. Think I need to?”
    â€œDo you think you need to?”
    â€œNo. My gut says she’s fine. But it also says she’s got a history of serious personal shit.”
    â€œWho doesn’t?” Charles said with a humorless chuckle.
    â€œTrue. The way I see it,” Dane continued, “her record’s clean. Her personal life is none of my business if it never affects her while she’s working. Leave it alone. Agree?”
    â€œAgree,”