good with computers. We might be able to find something for you to do.”
Willie didn’t have clearance, so Michael couldn’t risk his own by putting his brother to work on any of the sensitive stuff. But if they needed basic searches...
“Nah.” Video controller already in hand, Willie said, “I’m going to sit right here and beat your ass.” And then, still looking at the huge screen in front of him, he said, “It’s about the only way I’m ever going to beat you at this thing.”
Probably. Michael hoped so, anyway. Big brothers had to have some edges. But it was Friday night. And Willie had really come through.
“You want to invite Ron over?” he asked. He couldn’t tolerate most of Willie’s friends. But Ron had been around since kindergarten. He’d been a part of their family almost as long as Willie had.
“You saying I can?”
Why not? The kid had to know he was trusted so he’d start to trust himself.
Michael nodded. “Just Ron, though,” he couldn’t help adding.
“I know.” Willie grimaced. “I’m on house arrest.”
“You are not on house arrest.” Well, not technically. Willie was free to come and go. He just couldn’t take his truck without asking Michael for the keys. And he had to report in during school hours until he graduated. To get him graduated.
He wasn’t a prisoner. He wasn’t a danger to anyone but himself in terms of sabotaging his own success. He wasn’t a thug.
But if the kid felt like he had to stay at Michael’s house any time he wasn’t at school, then maybe that wasn’t a bad thing.
“You know I’m going to be calling,” Michael said.
“Yep.” The teenager successfully completed the level he was on. Stared toward the screen while the next one booted. Michael wished it’d be cool to tell his kid brother that he loved him.
Wished he could be certain that Willie would believe him.
Maybe it would happen. Someday.
Shrugging off the thought, and any others that might distract him, he grabbed his keys and went to work.
* * *
WITH THE SURF roaring gently in her ears, Kacey shivered. She was going to have to head back. But she really wanted to speak with Michael while she was out on the beach.
Illogical, probably.
But the beach...the ocean and waves and horizon...they’d saved her from herself. They held her answers.
Or held her in loving arms while she found them within herself.
She was being dramatic. Fanciful. Just like Lacey always said.
And yet, truth was, she drew strength from the ocean. Felt more capable when she was standing at its shore.
Darkness fell before eight in Santa Raquel in March. She couldn’t really expect Michael to call so early. He’d be with Willie for another couple of hours. At least.
Thinking she’d head back to her car, maybe just sit there for a while, or take a drive and come back, she turned around.
The walk had done her good.
She had her answers.
She was not sexually attracted to Michael. She couldn’t be.
He was a gorgeous man. She was human. And noticed his allure. But the feelings of friendship were so much stronger they wiped out everything else.