Page 74 of Her Brother's Billionaire Best Friend
“You’re right,” I said, avoiding his gaze as I strode up to the house. “I don’t have to talk about it.”
“But I was hoping you could,” said David, as he followed me in a hurry up the porch steps.
“No way.” I knew why David was asking me like this—he had his suspicions. But as much as I might be willing to accept the possibility that Lucien wasn’t who he said he was, I wasn’t about to let myself think it had anything to do with Kyle. “This is way out of line, David. It’s one thing to speculate. It’s another to go up to Lucien’s house on false pretenses and get the door-code. That’s the last time I spy for you. You can do your own dirty work from now on.”
“But you said it yourself. If Lucien does suspect something, he trusts you enough to talk to you.”
“I don’t know that for sure,” I said. “But I do know one thing. I don’t want to get mixed up with Lucien any more than I already am. In a month or so, he’ll be going back to New York for the winter. And then I can relax.”
“What is it with you two?” Kyle’s voice suddenly came from behind.
I looked behind at the top of the staircase and watched my son descend slowly.
I turned to David. “I thought you said you were picking him up later.”
“I didn’t know how long I’d be,” said David. “I dropped him off here right before I went to get you.”
“Don’t talk about me like I’m not here, Mom,” Kyle said.
“I’m sorry, sweetie,” I sighed. “I thought…Uncle David and I were just at Lucien’s.”
“Being mean to him again, I guess.” Kyle came down the stairs, limping in his cast, and leaned against the balustrade.
“We weren’t being mean. David was just picking me up.”
Kyle rolled his eyes. “I get it. Because you were late.”
“I didn’t know where your mom was,” David quickly made eye contact with me. We’d both worked out that I was going to stay late tonight so that David would have an excuse to come and get me.
“How did you know where to go, then?” Kyle frowned.
“Kyle… It’s nothing to worry about. It’s just—”
“It’s just that you two both hate Lucien for some reason.”
“I beg your pardon?” I was growing angry. How could my own kid talk this way to me?
“Lucien rescued me. And he was nice to me. He’s been nice to all of us. So what do you mean, ‘you can’t get mixed up with him’ anymore?”
I clenched my fist. Kyle had heard me.
“Kyle,” I said soothingly. “There’s a lot I wish I could tell you. Now, I know you get along with Lucien, but—”
“But David doesn’t like him,” interrupted Kyle. “So neither do you.”
“It’s not that I don’t like him, buddy—” protested David.
“So why were you so rude to him at the Festival? Mom wants to spend time with him. I wanted to spend time with him too. It was just you. And now Mom’s taken your side, and—”
“I haven’t taken anyone’s side,” I frowned. “I’m just supporting David. He’s my brother. And he’s family.”
“Family,” snorted Kyle. “Family sure means a lot to you Mom. I hadn’t met my family until like, two months ago.”
“That’s enough, young man!” I snapped. “You can go back up to your room. And you know what? I think we were too lenient the first time. Until that cast comes off, you can consider yourself grounded.”
“FINE!” yelled Kyle. “Not like I even want to be in this stupid town, anyway.”
He limped up the stairs. It was pitiful, and I wanted to help him. But even as I rushed up the stairs and reached out to grab his arm, Kyle swatted my hand away.