Free A Rare Gift by Jaci Burton

bar thing.”
    “We can handle it,” Brody said.
    “You say that now. Wait until you have to write the check. It’s the holiday season. People like to drink.”
    “You like to drink, too, you lush,” Brody teased. “Will I have to throw you over my shoulder and drive you home again this year?”
    Tori glared at him. “That was one stinkin’ year. And I had just turned twenty-one. It’s never happened since so I’d appreciate it if you’d never mention it again.”
    Wyatt’s lips twitched.
    “I saw that, Wyatt,” Tori said, as if she had eyes in the back of her head. “Don’t you dare smile.”
    “I don’t smile. You know that. I’m the bad-tempered one.”
    Tori swiveled in her chair, narrowed her gaze at him. “You’re almost in a good mood. What the hell is wrong with you?”
    Ethan rolled his chair closer to Wyatt, inspecting him like he had ticks or something. “There is something different about you. What’s up?”
    “I know what it is.” Brody leaned back and crossed his arms. “He’s getting laid.”
    “What?” Tori’s eyes widened. “How come I don’t know about this?”
    “You mean I know something you don’t? What the hell, Tor? You having an off week?”
    “Shut up, Brody.” Tori narrowed her gaze on Wyatt. “What’s going on?”
    Shit. He knew he should have gone straight to the day care center this morning and bugged out of this meeting. “Nothing’s going on, and if it was it would be none of your business.”
    “So he is getting laid.” Ethan grinned. “Who is it?”
    “Oh. I know who it is,” Tori said. “And why she hasn’t said anything to me is a subject I’ll be taking up with her very soon.”
    “Who is it?” Brody asked.
    Tori didn’t say anything, just gave Wyatt a knowing smile.
    “Oh,” Ethan said. “It’s Calliope Andrews.”
    Wyatt winced.
    “Wow. Keeping it in the family, aren’t you?” Brody asked.
    “Shut up, Brody,” Tori said. “This is none of our business. Let’s move on with the meeting.”
    “Hey, you started it. Now we’re going to take the ball and run like hell.” Ethan nudged him with an elbow. “So…is one sister—”
    Wyatt shot Ethan a look. “Don’t go there. I mean it, Ethan.”
    Ethan kicked his chair back and raised his hands. “Hey, I was joking with you.”
    Brody leaned toward Tori. “A little sensitive, isn’t he?”
    “I’m not fucking deaf, you idiot.”
    “I mean it, Brody,” Tori said. “You need to leave this alone. This is Wyatt and Calliope’s business. Not ours.”
    Ethan shrugged. “Who am I going to tell? Besides Riley, of course. And she’s out of town.”
    “It’s not a big deal.”
    “Do you like her?” Brody asked.
    Tori stared at him. He knew Tori and Calliope were friends. He’d have to be careful what he said. “Again, none of your business.”
    He knew this was going to be a problem, that once word got out he was seeing his ex-wife’s sister people would start talking. He could trust his brothers and Tori…but other people? He didn’t want to deal with the gossip. The talk after the divorce had been bad. And since he hadn’t bothered to say anything, people had made up their own minds about what had happened between him and Cassandra. None of it had been true.
    People could think whatever the hell they wanted to think, but he didn’t want them talking shit about Calliope. It was best they didn’t know about the two of them.
    If he was smart he’d put an end to it now before things got out of hand, before people found out.
    They finished the meeting and Wyatt grabbed his stuff.
    Brody stopped him.
    “Hey.”
    He turned to his brother. “What?”
    “You know we were teasing you in there. If you want to see Calliope, that’s your business.”
    Wyatt nodded.
    “If anyone’s entitled to a life and some fun, Wyatt, it’s you. And if that’s with Calliope, then go for it.”
    “It’s not that simple. She’s Cassandra’s sister.”
    “So? If she’s the one you