The Hideaway (Lavender Shores Book 5) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Epilogue - Part One

  Epilogue - Part Two

  The Hideaway

  Dedication

  About The Hideaway

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Family Trees & Lavender Shores Maps

  Family Trees & Maps

  About the Author

  Author Note

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Rosalind Abel

  The Hideaway

  Rosalind Abel

  Wings of Ink Publications, LLC

  Contents

  The Hideaway

  Dedication

  About The Hideaway

  Prologue

  1. One

  2. Two

  3. Three

  4. Four

  5. Five

  6. Six

  7. Seven

  8. Eight

  9. Nine

  10. Ten

  11. Eleven

  12. Twelve

  13. Thirteen

  14. Fourteen

  15. Fifteen

  16. Sixteen

  17. Seventeen

  18. Eighteen

  19. Nineteen

  20. Twenty

  21. Twenty-One

  22. Twenty-Two

  Epilogue - Part One

  Epilogue - Part Two

  Family Trees & Lavender Shores Maps

  Family Trees & Maps

  About the Author

  Author Note

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Rosalind Abel

  The Hideaway

  Rosalind Abel

  Copyright © 2017 by Rosalind Abel

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover Designer: AngstyG - AngstyG.com

  Main Editor: Desi Chapman

  2nd Editor: Cristina Manole

  3rd Editor: Corrine Harris

  Family Trees & Map Design: Ron Perry - rperrydesign.com

  Visit Rosalind’s Webpage: RosalindAbel.com

  Visit Lavender Shores: LavenderShores.com

  Created with Vellum

  for Janie Beaton

  who is my partner in crime

  and holds my feet to the flame

  About The Hideaway

  Lavender Shores’s resident tattoo artist, Connor Clark, looks the part—six foot six, musclebound, and covered in ink—and most definitely doesn’t blend in. Grafted into the Bryant family as a teenager to escape his abusive father, the Bryants saved his life, but Connor has never truly felt a part of the founding family royalty. And if his heart’s desire were revealed, it would betray everything the Bryants have done for him.

  Micah Bryant was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He’s always had everything he ever wanted—save the one he desires most. Even moving to New York City for a few years didn’t dampen his passion. Not that Micah had expected it to. He’s known his destiny since he was nine years old, the moment it had walked through his door.

  After years of longing, years of secrets and stolen moments of passion and love, Connor weakens enough to allow the town to see how he feels, and let the Bryants know his love for Micah is anything but brotherly. But no sooner had the decision been made than Connor’s biological family returns and shatters it all. Still, Micah holds on to the belief that their romance was written in the stars, but maybe he’d been wrong all those years.

  Prologue

  Connor

  Three Days Before Christmas

  or

  Seventeen Months Ago

  Baa baa black sheep. As I watched the members of my family mingle and make last-minute food preparations, I quite literally heard that stupid sheep bleating in my ears. I gave my head a sharp shake and adjusted the moniker, a nineteen-year-old memory replaying as clear as if it had happened yesterday.

  A few weeks after I’d moved in with the Bryants, I’d referred to myself as the black sheep. Patrick Bryant had scolded me, saying that such a phrase might be offensive. He suggested I call myself the goat or the stallion of the family if I insisted on feeling different. Of course, Regina had rolled her eyes at her husband’s California sensibilities, and with her Texas twang she labeled me the pygmy goat of the family, since they were cuter. Never mind that at thirteen I was already taller than all the adults in the family.

  So, baa baa pygmy goat it was. Nevertheless, the bleating was the same.

  After nearly twenty years, I suppose not only should pygmy goat come to my mind quicker than a black sheep, but the issue itself should have been vanquished. I’d belonged to the Bryant family much longer than I had to those who gave me life. The Bryants and the Kellys, for that matter. Just two big loving families rolled into one. And yet, there I stood, leaning against the kitchen counter, watching all their lovely faces, listening to their heartfelt laughter and chatter, and I couldn’t help but feel… other.

  A shoulder bashed into my bicep, and I glanced down. Although my older brother was nearly six foot tall, I still loved to give him shit. “Careful, Gilbert, haven’t you learned to pick on someone your own size?”

  He glowered playfully up at me. “We both know even though you’re freakishly huge, you’re about as vicious as a newborn lamb.”

  Interesting word choice. I nudged him back, hard enough to make him adjust his footing. “Oh, I don’t know, after watching all the fights you got into during high school, I picked up a thing or two. I know exactly what to use against you.”

  Gilbert chuckled and rolled his eyes, then called out to our oldest sister. “Hey, Hayley, you wanna come talk to Connor? Think you might need to lay down the law. He’s wanting to start a rumble at your baby shower.”

  Hayley was talking to Gilbert’s twin, Lacy, and they both turned to look at us, one of Hayley’s hands resting on her distended belly. “Could be interesting. All three of my other baby showers were fairly tame.”

  Lacy winked. “If you decide to really go for Gilbert, please let me know. I’ve not been able to get a good punch in since we were in middle school. I’d appreciate it if you hold him down for me.”

  With that, Gilbert lunged after his twin. She let out a yelp and tore off toward the kitchen, Gilbert close on her heels, as if they were kids again instead of in their midthirties.

  “Good God, you two, stop horse playing in the house.” Our father’s reprimanding voice filtered into the kitchen, proving we all truly were still only children to our parents. Hayley chuckled, grinned at me, and then was swept up into a conversation with Andrew and Joel, which was appropriate, since she was the surrogate for their baby.

  At the same moment a new voice caused me to freeze. “I leave town for two weeks and the entire family falls apart.”

  I looked over, and even though he was the baby of the family, Micah was the closest to my height—only three inches less than my six foot six—so I was nearly able to directly meet his cornflower-blue eyes. “You made it back. I wondered if you were going to be late and miss it.” He’d shaved. The last
time I saw him, he’d been almost scruffy. I made no comment on that.

  “Yep, just drove into town. My flight was delayed, but not too badly. Which is good. I don’t know who would kill me quickest if I missed this particular baby shower. Not that it would be okay to miss any baby shower, I suppose.” His eyes narrowed, always seeing more than I wanted him to. “You okay?”

  I bypassed the question. “How was New York? Were you able to wrap up the recording?”

  Micah didn’t press the issue, which I appreciated. “Sure did. Early, actually. I spent the last couple of days being a tourist. It’s been long enough since I lived in the city that it was fun again. Saw a show on Broadway, went out to the bars. San Francisco might be gay central, but the New York clubs are so much better.”

  Though Micah’s tone was benign, I knew what he was doing. I had no doubt what kind of clubs he went to. And good for him.

  Really. Good for him.

  His moment of hesitation would’ve been unnoticeable to anyone else, and when he didn’t get a response, he changed topics. “So I hear Lamont is bringing a guy tonight.”

  I wasn’t sure if I was relieved by the topic change or not. “Yep, that’s the rumor.”

  Micah nodded and smiled genuinely. “Good. It’s about time. I hope he’s happy. He deserves to be loved probably more than anyone I’ve ever met.” Again, he looked at me knowingly. I didn’t have to wonder about his meaning.

  Two could play that game. “Did they talk you into moving back? Offer you a high-rise corner apartment looking over Central Park or something?”

  “Offered me one in Chelsea.” He shrugged. “You’d think they’d know me better. If they wanted to make it enticing, they should’ve found something on Broadway, preferably less than a hundred yards from the TKTS booth.”

  “Give me your agent’s number. I’ll whisper in his ear.”

  Micah scowled but looked uncertain about whether I was teasing or being mean.

  I honestly wasn’t sure how I’d intended it. Either way, I wished they’d make him an offer he couldn’t refuse. At least part of me did.

  He started to say something, but Robert Kelly’s voice cut in from the other room. “Everyone, come out to the living room! Come meet the newest member of the family!”

  Robert had a way of breaking the tension in any situation, and this time was no different. Micah laughed and shook his head. “Whoever Lamont brought home with him, hopefully they have balls of steel. Only Robert would introduce his son’s new boyfriend as the newest member of the family.”

  I bugged my eyes out at him. “Really? Have you not met our mother?”

  “Good point.” He snorted out another laugh. “Actually, I’m pretty sure that’s how she introduced Walden the first time Gilbert brought him home.”

  “Yeah, and then promptly displayed Gilbert’s and Lacy’s naked baby pictures.”

  Another laugh. “Oh God! That would be the best kind of Christmas present if Robert brings down all of Lamont’s naked pictures. You know it’s got to happen.”

  “For Lamont's sake, let’s hope not. He’s not as unflappable as Gilbert.”

  We followed the rest of the family into the living room, and watched as Lamont introduced his new boyfriend, Tyler, to everyone. I was impressed and glad for Lamont. Tyler was movie-star good-looking, although, he seemed somewhat familiar, for some reason. Within a few minutes, we made our way up to the new couple. I couldn’t imagine how Tyler was feeling, meeting the entire family in one fell swoop. At least when I entered the family, I’d already known everyone.

  Lamont smiled at us, looking more nervous than happy. “Hey, guys, good to see you.” He gave us both hugs and then gestured toward each of us. “These are two more of the Bryant brothers. Connor and Micah. Guys, this is Tyler Dixon.”

  For the next half hour, things returned to normal, everyone caught up in chatting excitedly about Lamont’s surprise relationship, about finding out the sex of the baby later on, about Christmas in a few days, and then we were eating. We walked past massive amounts of food set up buffet style. With so many of us, there was no attempt to eat at the table, and everyone just spread out around the house in various clusters.

  These events were common enough; our families always found one reason or another to get together and celebrate. I loved them. Both the people and the events. They were my family, in many ways my salvation. And though I knew Gilbert often felt like he’d struggled to fit in due to his demons, he was wrong. Just watching him and his husband talking to Micah was all the proof in the world. All of them were light and happy and beautiful. There I was, a giant among them, brooding, tattooed, and looking more like a thug than a true member of one of the fancy founding families of Lavender Shores. When Gilbert’s playful tone turned to a heated teasing of Micah’s sexual escapades during his time in New York, I’d had my fill.

  If it hadn’t been a baby shower, I would’ve headed out. Given some excuse and gone home to my small apartment above the tattoo parlor. But I couldn’t do that, not to Hayley. Not to Andrew and Joel either. At least not before they announced whether we were going to have a boy or a girl added to our families. I started to step outside to light up, but the chill December night seemed lonely. And I knew Mom hated seeing me smoke. Instead I wandered to the bathroom upstairs of the Kelly mansion. Less chance of being interrupted. I just needed five minutes alone. Maybe ten.

  I shut the door behind me, turned the lock, and flicked on the light. It was too bright, but even the bathroom lights had dimmer switches. Of course they did. The same was true in my parents’ house as well. Even though it was one more reminder of how I was the black sheep—the pygmy goat—I adjusted the setting, grateful for the luxury, the soft light soothing and fitting my mood. I didn’t bother to use the restroom, but walked over to the window and pulled aside the sheer drapes to look out over the town. Each house was outlined in Christmas lights, the streetlamps wrapped in twinkling red and green. With Christmas music wafting up from downstairs, I could almost believe I’d stumbled into some Hallmark holiday special. I suppose I had. A long, long time ago. What was Lavender Shores if not some version of a Hallmark movie? That wasn’t me, never had been. I was more a late-night drama, one with TV ratings, warning of language, violence, and adult situations. I was a person from the real world who had fallen into the rabbit hole and landed in a fantasy cartoon.

  For fuck’s sake. Could I be more morose? And really, the evening was about happiness, about a new baby coming into our family. And here I was feeling sorry for myself when I had absolutely nothing to feel sorry for. Hadn’t I been given the world? I needed to act like it. To be grateful.

  A soft click behind me made me turn around.

  After shutting the door, Micah twisted the lock and grinned at me.

  My pulse increased. I needed to move—cross the room, throw open the door, and get my ass downstairs. “I thought I locked the door.”

  Micah held up a coin. “One little twist. These bathroom locks are nothing more than show.” He walked toward me.

  Still, I couldn’t move. “What if I’d been using the restroom? You should’ve knocked.”

  He rolled his eyes. “I grew up with you and Gilbert making every kind of noise from the bathroom. Pretty sure I can handle anything you’re doing in here at this point.”

  Despite my nerves and the tingle of… fear… I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re disgusting.”

  “Nope.” He shook his head, his smile teasing, though there was heat in his eyes. “Disgusting was sharing the bathroom with me when I was ten. At least I was well prepared for what puberty was going to sound like.”

  He was less than a yard away when my feet finally listened to my brain’s directives. I started to move around him. “I should get back downstairs. I’m sure they’re close to announcing if we’re going to be uncles or aunts.”

  Micah sidestepped, blocking my path. Though he chuckled, he slipped his hand into the waistband of my jeans. “Pretty sure we�
��re going to be uncles no matter if it’s a boy or a girl.”

  “Right. Of course. I was just….” Unable to think, and once again unable to move. After a couple of seconds, I realized the heavy breathing in my ears was coming from me. I glanced down at Micah’s firm grip on my pants and then met his gaze. “Don’t. Please.”

  Micah stepped closer, and I moved backward until my back bumped against the windowsill. He didn’t release his hold and used my error to come nearer. Close enough that his body pressed lightly against mine, enough that I could feel the hardness of him against my thigh, and certainly close enough that he could feel my body’s response to him. “Come on, Connor. Quit pretending.”

  I shook my head, told myself to step away, but again, my body wasn’t listening. “Not here, Micah. For fuck sake, not here. We’re in the Kelly house. Our sister is about to announce whether she’s carrying a boy or a girl. Not. Here.”

  He hesitated but didn’t look away, didn’t give up even a centimeter of his advantage. “Not here?” Still keeping a tight hold on my jeans, he ran his other hand over my thigh, pausing as he came to my full-blown erection, then traveled up my stomach and over my chest. “Where then? You haven’t been willing to meet me anywhere in over a year. So, if not here, where?”

  And goddammit if I didn’t let him get to me. “Like it matters. What about all the men in New York? How many were there over the past two weeks?”