Caught in the Act (The Davenports) (20 page)

Brody hurt for her. That abuse of power was the reason he kept his paternity secret.

“Life sucks sometimes,” Cat said wistfully. She once again tucked herself against him, one finger moving in tiny circles on his chest.

“It does,” he agreed.

And sometimes it was pretty darned good. He tilted her chin up. “This is more than sex, Cat. You know that, right?”

She silently nodded.

“I’m not exactly sure
what
it is. And we don’t have to define it yet. But if we’re going to do this, you have to be on the same page as me. It’s more than sex.”

He was surprised at the lack of hesitation in her eyes.

“I agree. It’s more. And we both probably knew that before we started. And no, I don’t know what it is either. But I want to find out. It could be something good.”

It was as if the garage no longer existed and he was staring directly at the sun. The day was glorious. This was going to be okay.

“I have a brother,” he blurted out.

He held his breath as shock ricocheted through her eyes.

“That’s who I was talking to on the deck yesterday morning. He called because he was . . .
worried
about me.” Which wasn’t a complete lie, but he would work up to the true reason for the call. “He knew you were up here. That I once loved you.” Brody tightened his fingers around her thighs as she simply watched him, not saying a word, and fear began to fill him. It kept him from immediately sharing Thomas’s name. “He’d been watching the news,” Brody explained as if she wouldn’t understand why Thomas might have been worried.

“You never told me you had a brother.” She finally spoke. It came out as a question, but also as if it hurt that he hadn’t shared that information before.

“I didn’t know about him then. He’s two years younger than me. I met him and my father, both, when I was sixteen.”

“So he’s not your mother’s son?”

No, he’s Arthur Harrison’s.

Brody held his breath instead of speaking. That had been it, the perfect opportunity.

And he hadn’t been able to do it.

How in the hell was he supposed to tell Cat that he was the son of the family trying to destroy hers while he had her naked in his lap? He’d planned this poorly.

“Let’s put our clothes on,” he suggested. His words seemed to let her know that his father was a difficult topic. Off the table for the moment. She nodded and climbed out of the car.

“Tell me about your brother, then. Are you close?”

“No,” he said wryly. He reached for his pants. “I once wanted to be, but he’s . . .” He paused, trying to figure out how best to describe it. He lifted his hips to pull up his pants and watched Cat as she stepped into her panties. “He’s not like me,” he finally said.

“How so?”

In every way that mattered. “We want different things.”

“And that makes it wrong?”

With a first and last name he could explain why it made it wrong. But he was a coward.

He hoisted himself to the side panel of the car and swung his feet over. “It makes it
difficult
.”

She grew quiet, as if contemplating what “difficult” might mean. She had her tiny scrap of a bra on now, and the car stood between them. He wanted her back in his arms.

When she spoke again, all that came out was a soft, “Hmmm.”

He shoved his arms through his shirtsleeves. “What?”

“I guess that means you weren’t out there talking to a reporter yesterday morning.”

He paused. “That’s not what you really thought?”

Because if it was, they had even more issues than he’d believed.

She gave an apologetic shrug. “Not really. But with everything coming out lately, I get nervous. Especially when people leave the room to keep me from hearing.”

“I left the room because I was mad at you.” And to keep her from hearing.

“I know. Circumstances just have a way of making me question things I’d otherwise trust.”

“And you trust in us?” He stopped all movements to watch her closely.

Blue eyes carefully studied his from the other side of the car. The look lasted longer than he would have liked given that particular question, but in the end she gave a small nod. He blew out a breath of relief.

“I trust in us,” she stated.

“Good. Don’t question us. We’re
good.”

“I know. That’s why I didn’t go home yesterday.”

Her soft words placed a large lump in his chest.

“Cat. I have to tell you something.”

She nodded encouragingly.

“My brother . . . he’s—”

The phone inside her pursed chimed loudly in the quiet garage, and Brody groaned with frustration. Good God, the number of times they’d been interrupted by her family was ridiculous. He gripped the side of the car. “Ignore it,” he pleaded.

“I—”

“They can wait. I need to tell you something. Something important.”

“Okay.” Her eyes darted to the small purse lying on the front seat of the car. “I thought it might be my kids,” she mumbled.

Damn.
She was right, it could be her kids.

And he didn’t want to be that person.

He stood straight and waved a hand at her purse. “See if it’s your kids,” he conceded.

She hesitantly dug into her bag, and he sagged in exhaustion. Unburdening himself was not an easy task.

The instant her eyes locked on the screen, Brody knew their conversation would have to wait. She had an
ohmygod
look about her. “Who is it?”

“My brother.”

He scowled. Her brother was not an
ohmygod
thing. He’d called her every day this week.

“My
older
brother,” she stressed.

Ah.

She’d explained that she and JP had been trying to get in touch with their older brother for a while. She hadn’t told him why, but he’d sensed she had a good reason.

Probably more secrets.

Which he did not want to know about.

He held up his car keys and motioned for her to take her seminude body into his house. “I’ll go for doughnuts,” he said. They’d have to put off
their
talk until he got back.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

B
ENNETT,
” C
AT SAID
in a rush as the call connected.

“Squirt,” Bennett teased.

Emotion flooded her. Finally, she’d reached her brother. “You are one hard person to contact. I called you back yesterday but it went straight to voice mail.”

“Yeah, sorry. I got pulled into some things. Thought I’d try again this morning before the same happens again. I take it what’s going on in the news is why you’ve wanted to talk to me?” her brother drawled out. For someone who’d lived the past twenty years outside of Georgia, he certainly still sounded like a Southern boy.

“Not quite,” she stalled.

“You mean there’s more?”

She sank into a chair at the kitchen table. “Where are you? Can you take a few days’ leave? Catch a flight to the States?”

“I’m in the States.”

“Then come up here. I’m in Maine.”

“Hon. I know where you are. You’ve been on the news almost as much as our mother.” He chuckled lightly, the sound easy and familiar. His laugh had a way of taking her back to her teenage years. He’d teased her mercilessly as a kid. Always poking at her. Laughing when he got her riled up.

She missed him.

“So you’re an actress now?” She could hear the smile in his voice.

She blushed. “No. I’m just having some fun. I was in the drama club in high school.”

“I remember.” He’d been away in the army by then, but they’d kept in close contact those first few years. “You were pretty good, if I recall the stories correctly. Sounds like you still are.”

“I’m not bad,” she admitted. And then she remembered why he’d called. “But that’s not why I need to talk to you. The press is ruthless lately. All over the place, looking for a story.”

“Doesn’t appear they have to look very hard.” Bennett’s tone turned somber. “Sounds like Dad had some issues. How long have you known about this?”

“A couple weeks,” she said. “JP found out last summer.”

“And Thomas Harrison is the one getting the pleasure of sharing it with the world.” His tone was dry.

“You know him?”

“I’ve met him. Along with his father.”

“I take it you didn’t care for them?”

There was an odd pause before Bennett answered. “Arthur’s a piece of work, that’s for sure. Thomas is a replica. The way they’re running this campaign doesn’t surprise me. What about the kid?”

“Daniel?” she asked.

“Is that his name? No one has said.”

“Yeah. Daniel.” She couldn’t help but imagine Lexi alone, scared, and pregnant at the age of seventeen. With hush money as her only comfort. “His mother’s name is Lexi Dougard. She was seventeen when she volunteered on Dad’s campaign. From what JP says, she’s gone off the grid now. She never wanted Daniel to be exposed as a Davenport, and she doesn’t intend to come up for air anytime soon.”

“Can’t say as I blame her,” Bennett muttered.

They both fell silent, each in their own thoughts, and Cat pictured Daniel in her mind. JP had shown her a picture when he’d told her about him. Dark hair, vibrant blue eyes. The child looked like a Davenport. He looked like JP.

She ached with the thought that she had a brother out there she didn’t know. May never know. All because her father and mother had hidden him from the world.

“What in the hell was Dad thinking?” Bennett spoke once again.

“I know. It’s a mess. Our parents . . .” She closed her eyes as she thought about her own secrets. She wasn’t one to judge. “They’ve done some things, that’s for sure. And I’m terrified the Harrisons won’t stop.” She paused again. She didn’t want to have to tell him over the phone. “There’s more, Bennett.”

“Something big?”

“Yes.” The word shook.

“And, what? It involves me? Or do you just want me there to stand by Mom?”

It broke her heart to think about telling her own brother that he was actually her half brother. “Come see me,” she pleaded. She rattled off the address of her rental. “It involves you.”

“Can’t you just tell me over the phone, Squirt?”

“I want to see you. It’s been years. Tyler doesn’t even know you.”

“Is he there with you?”

“The kids will be up next weekend. Vega is flying to Florida to get them tomorrow, then they’ll stay with her and JP in Atlanta for the week. We’d
all
love to see you.”

She pictured Bennett pacing in whatever room he was calling from. He’d paced as a kid any time he’d had a decision to make. Big or small, it hadn’t mattered. He’d paced over joining the army. He’d paced over which girl to take to senior prom. The memories made Cat smile.

“And you won’t tell me what this big secret is unless I come there?”

“I’d rather not,” she hedged.

A sigh sounded through the phone. “I’m not making promises, Cat. I’ll try.” The heaviness of his voice worried her. “But it’ll take some time.”

She heard people in the background, and Bennett said something, but not into the phone. When he returned, he was all business. “I’ve got to go.”

And just like that, her spirits sank. She wanted more time with her brother.

“Please try,” she begged. “I miss you.”

“I miss you too, Squirt.”

Cat sat there all by herself after the phone was silent, thinking about how few times she’d seen her brother since he’d left home at eighteen. And wondering if there was a hidden reason for that. Could he already have an idea about his paternity? Surely not. But he was the oldest. It was possible he knew even more secrets than she and JP did.

Nothing would surprise her at this point.

She put the phone down, realizing that Brody had taken off with her purse still in the car, so she rose from the table and headed for his shower. He would be back soon. With doughnuts.

She wanted to be ready to appropriately thank him when he returned.

Twenty minutes later, Cat dropped onto the couch in Brody’s family room, once again taking in the disarray of books and papers. She’d hopped into the shower before pulling on one of his button-downs, and now sat waiting for her kids to call.

And trying to decide if she should clean up the room.

She settled on no.

There was no need to stress over something so insignificant as scattered books. Instead, she’d be totally frivolous. She grabbed a bottle of polish she’d brought over earlier in the week and propped her bare feet on the coffee table. She even kicked a book onto the floor that was in her way.

It was more of a gentle slide and tip off the side of the table, but she had used her foot. The delighted feeling the action produced made her laugh out loud. Brody was rubbing off on her.

She’d just started on her right foot when her cell rang. Her kids. The best part of her day.

“Hey, sweet girl.”

Tyler giggled on the other end of the phone. “We tricked you! I called you today.”

Cat laughed. “I hear that. Did you dial the phone yourself or did your sister do it?”

Tyler chortled this time. His full-belly laugh making her happy. “Becca did it for me,” he announced amid more giggles.

“Hi, Mom,” Becca spoke up. “I’m on grandma’s other phone so we can talk to you together.”

“Perfect,” Cat purred. “The best two people in the world, talking to me at the same time.”

Cat could picture both kids preening with the praise.

They settled into their normal morning routine. Tyler mostly making noises as he “zoomed” whatever toy he had in his hand, and Becca rattling nonstop about their plans for the day. It would be their last full day in Florida, so it needed to be special.

“Grandma says we can’t go to the ’quarium today like we planned,” Becca informed her as if stating something of high importance, “so she’s gonna take us to the park.”

Irritation ate at Cat. Not because her in-laws wouldn’t be taking the kids to the aquarium, but because they
couldn’t
. Cat had discussed the plans with the Carltons the day before. The three of them had decided something a little less public might be wiser.

But it pissed her off that her kids had to miss their trip to the aquarium with their grandparents because Cat’s father had cheated on her mother with a volunteer. That was exactly the kind of thing she didn’t want to infiltrate her kids’ lives.

“The park will be fun,” Cat said. She made sure she sounded excited.

“But we did the park already.” This came from Tyler. His sad little voice broke her heart.

“I’ll bet you’re looking forward to spending time with Uncle JP and Aunt Vega.” Change subjects. That would help.

“I am,” Becca chimed in. “Aunt Vega’s gonna buy me new shoes.”

“Ugh,” Tyler moaned. “Girl stuff. Me and Uncle P are gonna do somethin’ for boys.”

Cat laughed at her kids. She missed them so much. “And the week after that you’re all coming up here to see me.”

“Yes!” both kids shouted.

A beep signaled call-waiting and Cat glanced at the screen thinking it might be Brody.

It was her mother. She ignored it and continued talking. The kids told her all about the two sand castles they’d built the day before. But unfortunately, the ocean had swept them away before pictures could be taken.

Cat finished with her toes and leaned back on the couch as she listened to her kids.

Her feet remained propped on the coffee table, she had on Brody’s shirt, and her man was bringing her doughnuts. What could be better than that?

Her phone beeped again.

She ignored it again.

But she did eye the television. A sense of déjà vu had suddenly come over her. Yesterday morning had started out with her phone ringing off the hook, too.

The beeping stopped, then started once again. Dread settled in her gut.

“Let me call you back, sweetheart,” Cat interrupted when Becca took a breath. Cat told them both that she loved them and hung up.

Her phone rang in her hand.

“Turn on your television.” Her mother didn’t bother with pleasantries.

“What do you want?” Cat did not want to talk to her mother. Or do anything she said.

“The news, Catherine. Turn it on. Now.”

Anger was pushed aside for the moment as recognition set in, and cold fear whipped down Cat’s spine. Her mother wasn’t merely commanding. Her voice was frantic. It was . . .
desperate
.

That was different.

Without further delay, Cat searched for the remote but was unable to find it. She stood in the middle of the room and turned in a full circle, her gaze hitting every surface, wondering if the blasted thing was tucked under one of the many books on the floor. That was the reason to keep a clean room. So the remote could be found when your mother was yelling at you.

“Is it on?” her mother snapped out.

“I’m looking,” Cat snapped back as she gave up her search and went to her knees to fumble directly with the buttons on the television. “Which station?”

“Probably all of them.” Her mother’s reply was short and brittle. The anger seemed over the top.

But then Cat saw it. She sighed.

A picture of her and Brody was on the screen from last night. They’d been caught holding hands at the playhouse.

“I forgot to tell you,” she said sarcastically. “Brody and I are back together.”

Her mother was reacting about the way Cat had expected.

The screen changed to show more pictures. Her high in Brody’s arms right before he deposited her into his car. Them kissing the first night she’d been in the play. Several others.

But none of them was what her attention zoomed in on.

The caption printed across the bottom had Cat rising to her feet.

The reporter’s words seemed to run together, making Cat unable to understand anything being said, but it didn’t matter. She didn’t need to hear the words. The important part was staring at her from the bottom.

A Harrison and a Davenport . . . are they this century’s Romeo and Juliet?

What?

She walked backward, away from the TV, until the edge of the coffee table pushed into her calf. She sank to the top. More books tumbled to the floor, along with her nail polish. Brody was a . . .

She blinked and read the caption again, forcing her eyes to go slower. To make sure she understood what she was reading.