Free Priceless by Sherryl Woods

and ketchup all over it,” Ben retorted, then caught sight of the bag in Mack’s hand. “You brought food. I take back every mean thingI said to you, if that’s lunch for me. I had an idea when I woke up this morning and skipped breakfast to come straight out here.”
    Mack glanced at the canvas. As Ben had said, he was no expert, but this didn’t look like his brother’s usual style. “How’s the idea working out?” he inquired carefully.
    “Not quite the way I envisioned it,” Ben admitted. “Now hand over the food. If one of those sandwiches is roast beef, it’s mine.”
    “Which is why I got two roast beef,” Mack said. “I’m tired of you stealing mine.”
    Ben chuckled. “Took you long enough to catch on. Did you get orange soda?”
    Mack regarded him innocently. “I thought you liked grape.”
    “Very funny. Hand it over.”
    “Damn, but you’re greedy. What happened to the whole starving artist thing?”
    “I was never a starving artist. I can thank our parents for that. I’m famished. There’s a difference.” Ben took a bite out of the thick roast beef, lettuce and tomato sandwich and sighed with obvious pleasure. “Nothing on earth better than a fresh tomato in midsummer.”
    “Unless it’s corn on the cob,” Mack countered, falling into the familiar debate. “Dripping with butter.”
    “Or summer squash cooked with onion and browned.”
    Mack regarded his brother wistfully. “Do you suppose we could plant an idea in Destiny’s head and get her to cook all our favorites this Sunday?”
    “You mean, could I plant the idea in her head?” Ben guessed.
    “You are the one she loves best,” Mack pointed out,drawing a sour look. Ben refused to admit that their aunt was partial to him, and Destiny would deny it with her dying breath. “Besides, she thinks you don’t eat enough. She’d have pity on you. It would just take one little word.”
    Ben regarded him curiously. “Since when has the cat got your tongue? Nothing’s ever stopped you from pleading with our aunt to fix you something special.”
    “Truthfully, I’m trying to avoid Destiny these days,” Mack said casually.
    “Won’t that make eating all these goodies you want a bit tricky?”
    “I was kinda hoping you’d pack up some leftovers and bring ’em to me,” Mack admitted.
    Ben chuckled. “Don’t tell me. She’s found a woman for you. What’s wrong with Destiny’s selection? Does she have buckteeth and wear glasses? Or is she simply not up to a ten on the Mack-o-meter for beauty?”
    “I am not that shallow,” Mack protested. “And there’s nothing wrong with the woman. Nothing at all.”
    Ben studied him quietly. “I see,” he said slowly, fighting a grin. “In other words, Destiny got it just right and you’re running scared.”
    “Go suck an egg,” Mack suggested mildly.
    “Want to talk about it?”
    “Nope.”
    “But panic is what brought you flying out here bearing gifts,” Ben surmised.
    “Can’t a guy go visit his brother without getting cross-examined about ulterior motives?”
    “Sure, but since you haven’t been here in weeks, you’ll have to excuse me for being a little suspicious.”
    Mack frowned at him. “We could talk about your social life.”
    Ben’s expression immediately shut down. “No, we couldn’t,” he said tightly.
    Mack instantly felt guilty for turning the tables on Ben. “I’m sorry. I was only teasing, but I should know better. The wound’s still too raw, isn’t it?”
    “Drop it,” Ben said, his tone angry, his eyes dull.
    Mack regarded his brother helplessly. “Maybe I shouldn’t. Maybe it would help if we all made you talk about it.”
    “Graciela’s dead, dammit! What’s to talk about?” Ben all but shouted in a fierce tone rarely used by Mack’s soft-spoken brother. “Why the hell doesn’t anyone get that?”
    Mack barely resisted the urge to go to his brother, but Ben wouldn’t appreciate any gesture of sympathy. Ben still blamed