Free Paying Their Piper with Passion and Love [Loving in Silver 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Lynn Stark Page A

several children a short time before, she could almost understand their reticence.
    “I can’t believe I have a brother.” She felt her mouth turn down as she looked out the window. They were nearly out of the old section, moving to the section where the mall was located. There were the usual businesses, but it was extremely limited. No one could say there was anything trashy about Silver. “It would have been nice to know.”
    “It’s taken me a long time to convince him to talk to you. His mother died a few months after your last visit here. Mink is a very private person. He’s also very quiet.”
    “Did his mother contact my father while we were here?”
    “Actually, they ran into one another downtown at the bakery. Mink was with her and it didn’t take your father long to figure out whose child he was. You and he look so much alike it’s remarkable.”
    “Really?”
    Piper was becoming more and more curious about this newly acquired half-brother of hers. She was also getting very excited about meeting him. The excitement was tempered by the knowledge that Colt had to talk Mink into meeting her. It wasn’t a very good beginning. Still, he was her brother and she wanted to meet him.
    Smiling, her thoughts positive, Piper settled back into the seat for what was the final moments of their trip through town. Though it couldn’t exactly be called rundown, the apartment building could definitely use a sprucing up, she thought as Colt parked between two older model cars.
    “Come on, darling.” Colt had gotten out and walked around to open the door for her. And she sat there, suddenly terrified. “Mink’s a sweetheart. I think he’s just as afraid to meet you are you are to meet him.”
    Taking a deep breath Piper got out of the car and walked beside Colt into the apartment building. Her brother’s apartment was on the second floor. They walked down a length of greasy, stained carpet. There was an odor she couldn’t identify. And there was noise. A lot of it. Obviously the walls were rather thin.
    They stopped at apartment 2G and Colt knocked. The sound echoed in her heart and she moved nervously beside the tall man. It took a moment before the door opened and when it did she could swear she was looking at herself, but only a masculine version. Their gazes went over one another, examining, taking everything in as they stood there.
    “May we come in?” Colt asked smoothly.
    Mink nodded, backing away so they could walk past him. They entered a living room that was a small rectangle with one large window at the end. It was spotlessly clean and she was relieved the smells outside were not inside her brother’s apartment. There was a warm, homey feel to the place. The furniture was worn, and not expensive, but it was clean and well cared for.
    “Mink, this is Piper. I’m afraid she’s still a little shocked. I only just told her about you as we came over.”
    Gray eyes moved from Piper, to Colt, then back to her. “Hi, Piper. Please sit down.”
    But Piper couldn’t sit down. Completely on impulse, and out of character, she threw herself against her brother and hugged him as hard as she could. “Hello, Mink! I’m very glad to meet you. I’m very sorry our father is a jerk.” She released him slightly so she could pet his chest. He was several inches taller than she was. He was also sweetly handsome. Not pretty, but not very masculine in appearance. Maybe that was because he was wearing eyeliner and lip gloss. His artificially-lightened hair was gelled and pushed up into something resembling a rooster’s comb. It suited him perfectly. She smiled. “I love your hair. Do you think we can be friends? I’d really like that. I promise I’m nothing like my father. You can ask Colt.”
    Mink blinked a couple of times but he didn’t speak. Suddenly feeling terribly self-conscious she stepped back.
    A grimace twisted her mouth. “Sorry. I’m nervous, I guess. I usually don’t talk so much.” Stepping