“Warm blooded, incredible personality, huge dick, I’m just the gift that keeps on giving.” I did a full three-sixty. “So, is there where we’re going to build our houses?”
“It’s just one of the options,” Wilder said.
“Wild thought here because it’s closer to the stables for you.”
I looked around and nodded. “I like it. Do we have enough room for both houses here, though?”
Nash shrugged. “Depends how big you want them. It wouldn’t give you much of a yard but then we live on a ranch, so…”
“I think my biggest problem would be having to hear Wilder hooking up with different women all the time.”
“How close do you think these houses are going to be?” Wilder cried. “How loud do you think I am when I’m having sex?”
“Too fucking loud. I heard you when we went on vacation to Cabo. To name just several occasions.”
“The alternative is one of you here and one over on the east side of the house, adjacent to the lavender farm. I’ve already checked with Shane and Felicia, and they don’t have a problem with that.” Shane used to manage our lavender farm, until we found out that Mom had signed it over to him before she died. A fact Dad had kept secret.
“That someone being me, seeing as Gun will prefer to be near the stables.” Wilder took a couple of paces back and looked around. While he looked I considered the options. Having him close by might feel less of a change than living in the house. The idea of feeling alone with only the horses close by didn’t worry me, though. “I also quite like the idea of being near the southpasture. I’ll think about it as either would give us both more outside space,” my youngest brother finally said.
“There is an alternative,” Nash said, his eyes creased like he was scared to say it.
“What?” I asked.
“We build for us and you both stay in the house.”
“Do you want to do that?” Wilder frowned. “The kids have their rooms and Lily just redecorated and furnished all that shit of Dad’s out.”
Our dad had refurbished the main house a few years back, with money he stole from us, and filled it with all kinds of garish furniture. Thanks to Lily it was finally looking more like a family home again.
Nash rubbed the back of his neck. “Can’t say as I want to, but Lila pointed out that I didn’t even ask if that was what either of you wanted to do.”
“Not me,” Wilder offered, holding up a hand. “I’m looking forward to a brand new bachelor pad.”
“Got to be honest, I agree with Wild.” I looked over to the stables, in perfect view of where I imagined my porch to be. “I like this spot. Happy to have Wild alongside me but I also think more outside space would be great.” Liking the idea of an herb garden and maybe some raised beds to grow some roses like Mom used to like to do. There was a soreness in my throat and lungs as I thought about her. It had been almost two decades since she’d been killed in a car accident, but I still missed her, still remembered the gentle touch of her hand on my head. Sometimes I was sure I could also remember her smell, but who knew. I’d been nine years of age and devastated by her death. We all had, except for Dad maybe. He’d played the grieving widower, but we found out a couple of years back he’d been having an affair for years and Mom had started divorce proceedings when she died.
“Okay, we build two separate houses,” Nash said, slapping his hands together. “One here and one adjacent to the lavender farm.”
We all shook on it and as soon as we had a small fire was lit in my belly. As much as I loved us all living together, it was an exciting prospect.
“I’ll contact the contractor,” Nash told us as he started to walk away, when Wilder stopped him.
“What the fuck is that?” he asked, grabbing Nash.
He and I turned to look and at our boundary line, about half a mile in the distance, a convoy of trucks could be seen.
“That can’t be the developer’s.” I looked to Nash who was taking his phone out of his jacket pocket. “They can’t have all the right permits yet, can they?”
“No idea.” He tapped at his screen and then held the phone to his ear. “I’m calling Calvin.”
“Want to reconsider where you build your house?” Wilder asked, moving up alongside me.
“No, he doesn’t,” Nash snapped, “because those fuckers will not be building there if I have my way.”
I looked at the convoy of trucks, thinking about the kids’ camp plans. “That meadow would have been perfect for teaching the kids about local wildlife. Part of what makes this land special is how untouched it is. The weasels are there.”
“Exactly,” Nash agreed. “And think about the noise from construction. How are you supposed to work with skittish horses when they’re blasting and drilling next door?”
If I knew my brother he’d move heaven and earth to stop them. I just hoped it didn’t put paid to our other plans, because Cassidy’s plan for the kid’s camp had me more excited than I thought possible. It was exactly the kind of program this land was meant for, not concrete and machinery.