Free Barely Breathing by Lacey Thorn Page A

apartment.
    “Well, there’s my older brother Gil.”
    “My dad spoke of him. Gil married Jack’s daughter, Moira,
right? They have a daughter?”
    He grinned. His brother would have a coronary if he knew
someone had put a file together on him and his girls. He nodded. “Yeah. Abigail
Rose. We all call her Abby. She’s beautiful, just like her mother. I think
you’ll like Moira. She’s pretty fantastic.” Anyone who could put up with and
even love his demanding older brother was a saint in Griff’s opinion.
    “Then there’s my brother Doug.” Hmmmm… How did he explain
the relationship between Doug, Damon and Cass? His brother didn’t exactly have
a conventional life.
    “Is he married?”
    “I’m surprised you didn’t put a file together on him.” It
sure would have made this conversation easier. He laughed when she blushed. Did
she have any idea just how beautiful she was?
    “Doug has a different kind of relationship.”
    “Is he gay?”
    Griff couldn’t help the laugh that rolled out. If he had a
nickel for every time someone asked that! He knew Doug and Damon were used to
it. Hell, even Cass laughed about it.
    “No. He’s in a committed ménage relationship.”
    “Ménage?” His cock pulsed at the interest in her eyes. But
was quickly followed by a fuck no . He wasn’t sharing. Ever. And didn’t
that just throw him! He wasn’t really the possessive type. Honor. She just did
things to him, made him feel things.
    “Yeah. He’s legally married to Moira’s best friend, Cass.
But they had a separate ceremony where she pledged marriage to Doug’s best
friend, Damon.” He shrugged his shoulders. “It seems to work for them. Damon
even had his last name legally changed to Daniels.”
    “So do your brother and Damon? You know?”
    Griff shuddered. “No. Not that I’m aware of. And, no, I’ve
never asked.”
    She laughed and rubbed the back of her hand along his thigh.
A few inches higher and she’d find his perpetual boner. At least when he was
around her.
    “You’re such a guy. I bet if Doug was married to two women,
you’d be all questions.”
    He grinned. He might. But chances were he’d just accept it
and move on. If it made his brother happy, he was happy.
    “Any kids?”
    “Cass had twin boys a month before Abby was born.”
    “Twins! Wow, I bet that took some getting used to.”
    “Yeah, the boys are a handful.”
    “So do they know who the dad is?”
    He knew what she meant. Hell, everyone in town who was aware
of the threesome wondered. “It doesn’t matter. They both are.”
    He was surprised when she nodded her head, easily accepting
it. “Makes sense.”
    And with those words he felt a tiny squeeze in his heart.
There was just something about her.
    “And you have a sister too?” She formed it as a question but
she’d put a file together on him. If she didn’t know the specifics of his
family, he was pretty sure she knew all the basics.
    “Katie. She married Ben Marcum. They have a son, Michael
Thomas, but they call him Mikey.”
    Michael had been named for Mick Daniels. Griff’s heart ached
sometimes just thinking about his dad. Mick had been so full of life. And he’d
loved kids. He had four grandkids now. Those kids were missing out by not
having Mick to hold them and spoil them.
    “And your mom is remarried.”
    “Yes.” His voice was clipped and he blew out a breath. He
wasn’t angry. He wasn’t.
    “Why does it make you mad?”
    “I’m not mad.”
    She snorted and he glanced over to see her giving him a look
that screamed liar .
    “Yeah, you are. But I don’t get it. Why wouldn’t you want to
see your mom married and happy?”
    “It’s not that. Of course, I want my mom happy.”
    “But why can’t she be happy as your mom?”
    Bingo. Someone finally got it.
    “You can’t be that selfish.”
    So maybe she didn’t get it. He wasn’t selfish. He shook his
head but she nodded hers.
    “Yes, you are. Why should your mom’s life end with