Free A Dog and a Diamond by Rachael Johns Page B

family?”
    He glanced at her with those big soulful sea-green eyes. “101?”
    â€œYou know, a quick course in everything I need to know.”
    â€œAh.” His smile widened and she wasn’t sure it was because of what she’d said or thinking about his family. “Okay. Well, I’m the oldest—but you already know me.”
    Not as well as she wanted to, but she pushed that thought aside because this was a fake date and everything.
    He continued. “Next is Lachlan. He’s divorced but has two kids. Hallie lives with her mother in California and Hamish lives with Lachlan and my mom.”
    Chelsea frowned. “They took a child each in the split?”
    â€œIt’s complicated. Hamish has cerebral palsy and his mom couldn’t handle that he wasn’t perfect. It put a great strain on the marriage and when they split, she only wanted to take Hallie with her.”
    â€œThat’s awful.” Her eyes watered as she spoke, her heart aching for that poor little boy. She knew all too well how it felt not to be wanted, especially by a mom who should love you unconditionally.
    â€œYeah, I know. It turns out not all moms have that maternal love-your-child-no-matter-what thing built in.”
    â€œNo, they don’t.” Chelsea hoped he didn’t hear the bitterness in her tone. “Lachlan sounds like a good guy though.”
    â€œHe is. The best...and an amazing chef too. You haven’t eaten until you’ve tasted one of his creations.” Callum cleared his throat. “Then there’s Blair—he’s our head distiller and makes whiskey almost as good as our dad did. Then again, he did learn from the best.”
    â€œIs Blair married?”
    â€œDivorced,” Callum said. “Only his split was much more amicable. And no kids involved, which I guess helps.”
    â€œHmm.”
    â€œWhat about you?” he asked. “Do you have many siblings?”
    â€œNope. None.” Although she’d always wished differently. Watching endless episodes of The Brady Bunch when she was little had made her crave a big warm family of her own. Or rather, a warm, loving family—she had enough aunts and uncles and cousins, just none who wanted her. “Who’s next?”
    â€œThat’d be Owen, although he’s been called Mac since high school. You’ve probably heard of him.”
    She hadn’t until the last few days when she’d been Googling the hell out of his family. “The soccer player?”
    â€œThat’s the one. After kicking that own goal against Brazil in the Centennial Copa, which stopped the US making the finals, he’s a bit of a mess at the moment. Mom should be putting her energies into worrying about him more than me.”
    â€œIs he going to return to soccer?”
    Callum shrugged one shoulder. “Who knows? He doesn’t want to talk about that, or anything else come to think of it, with any of us. He might not even show up today. Surely, you’d rather talk about something more interesting than my dysfunctional brothers.”
    She laughed. “Don’t you have sisters too?”
    He didn’t ask how she knew—she guessed he just assumed that everyone knew the McKinnels, which was probably true if you were a local. “Yes, Annabel and Sophie. And they are gorgeous. But don’t tell them I told you, or I will have to kill you.”
    â€œI bet you’re one of those really protective big brothers, aren’t you?” she said, trying not to grin from ear to ear. Callum loved his mom, his sisters and her dog... She was heading into danger territory and needed to get a grip.
    â€œMuffin, stop licking my ear. I can’t see the road.”
    Chastised, Muffin desisted, slumping down and falling promptly asleep across the gearbox and the two of their laps. Chelsea absentmindedly fondled his fur, wishing it was just Callum she was spending the day with. In