Sam rolled out from under the car and sat on the creeper. “I got home in time to say goodbye. Dad told me that you were all my responsibility now.”
“You never told me that.” Brady lifted a hammer that had been around the farm longer than he had.
“You didn’t need to know.” Sam rested his arms on his knees.
Brady let his gaze roam over the old car that he used to want so badly. He’d begged Sam to let him ride in it. Eventually, Sam had caved and took him around the back roads. It had been like flying. “I have to go back to New York. A situation has come up at work.”
“You don’t owe me any explanation.” Sam’s voice was gruff.
“Actually, I owe you an apology. I ran out on you and Luke, and when you didn’t try to reach out, I thought you were telling me to stay away. I didn’t mean for things to end up like this. I should have been here with you.”
Sam stood. “I wished I could trade places with you. That you would be the one stuck on the farm with no escape, while I was the one living the good life somewhere far away.
“There’s no need to apologize, Brady. I wanted you here, but I wanted you to have a better life outside of Tawnee Valley. To make something out of yourself and make our parents proud.”
“They’d be proud of you, Sam.” Brady took in a deep breath inhaling the smell of old oil and grease and that slight hint of dirt. Things that would always make him think of his dad and Sam. “Why didn’t you tell me about all this?”
“Because you were angry and hurt when you left. Because I was angry and hurt that you were leaving. I didn’t know how to make it okay after everything that had been said. You were better off without me.”
“I’ve never been better off without you, Sam. If anything, I should have let you know that. I want to work on this. I want to be part of this family again. I want what Mom would have wanted, us three brothers together.” He held out his hand to Sam. “Do you think that’s possible?”
“I hope so.” Sam took his hand and jerked him into a quick one-armed hug.
“I’ll try to come back soon.” This time Brady meant it. He would schedule it months in advance if he had to, but he would make sure that he had time to visit Tawnee Valley. He had one last stop before leaving town. One last chance to convince Maggie to come with him.
Brady knocked on Maggie’s door. He wanted to talk to Maggie alone.
The door opened and there she was. His mood lightened at the sight of her.
“Amber’s not due home for another thirty minutes from Penny’s.” Maggie had that stubborn tilt to her jaw, but now it made him want to smile. “If you are here for the internet—”
He stepped closer and kissed her. Her hands went to his shoulders as if she was going to push him away, but instead he felt her fingers grip tight to his shirt. He could spend days kissing Maggie and never get his fill. Thirty minutes suddenly didn’t seem like enough time.
Gently he guided her into the house with his body, because he was damned if he was going to stop kissing her if this was all he was going to get for a while. He closed the door with a kick. Like a starved man presented with food, he couldn’t help himself when it came to Maggie. She filled a need he hadn’t realized he had.
Her tongue lightly stroked his. Heat surged in his system. No other woman had this effect on him. Scary as it was, he didn’t want to leave her behind. If that took marrying her, he would do it. Whatever she needed to feel comfortable.
He lifted his lips from hers and touched her forehead with his. Their heavy breaths mingled in the small entryway. She clung to his shirt. He held her like a desperate man, hoping to never let go.
“Reconsider, Maggie.” He wanted to beg, to grovel, to worship her until she couldn’t think straight.
Her hazel eyes met his. The green sparkled in the light while the brown around her pupils pulled him into their depths. A touch of wistfulness filled her eyes. Her smile tugged at the little piece of hope he had left.
“You are persistent.”
“When I want something? Yes.” He didn’t step back. Wanted her to remember what it felt like to be with him. She said she loved him, but he was reluctant to use that as a bargaining chip.
“Why don’t we go inside and talk this through? We should be able to find a manageable solution.” Maggie pressed lightly against his shoulders.
He released her for the moment. “Manageable solution?”
She shrugged and took a seat at the dining room table, patting the chair next to her.
Time was against him in this negotiation. Maybe he should pull out all his big cards right away. He took the seat.
“I know you want us to move with you to New York.” She held up her hand to stop him from talking. “This town is the only home Amber and I have ever known. You aren’t asking us to move across the town but to another dimension.”
He raised his eyebrow. “Dimension?”
“I’ve been there. I’ve seen all those people so driven to get to the next spot that they are as likely to mow you down as go around you. That style might suit you, Brady. But it’s not who Amber and I are.” She folded her hands together on the table. “It’s not who I want Amber to become.”
“You would get used to it. We would be together. Isn’t that what family is about?” A low blow, but time was running short.
“Family is about finding what is best for everyone,” Maggie said softly.
“My being employed—isn’t that what’s best?” Brady stood. Energy bounced through his body, making it impossible to sit still. He paced the carpeted floor. “What I do for a living isn’t something I can do anywhere. I have to be in New York to be effective at my job. We don’t have to live in Manhattan. We could move to a suburb.”
“It’s not just the city. You are asking us to give up what we have here. You aren’t the only one who works. The furniture store lets me work flexible hours with Amber’s schedule. I have friends who love me. A community that looks out for us. You can’t offer that to us.” Maggie remained surprisingly calm.
Didn’t she realize what this meant? Didn’t she realize his plans now included her? What would make her change her mind? “Isn’t that what family is for? Isn’t that what love is about?”
Her expression clouded over as she stood. “You have no right to tell me about love.”
“Show me. Teach me what I need to know.” Brady didn’t want to leave like this. He wanted her to come with him.
She shook her head and backed away. “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because it isn’t something you learn.” She hugged herself and leaned against the wall. “I wish I could help you, but you have to find it on your own.”
Brady moved in front of her and caressed her cheek. “Maggie, I have to leave. Today. I don’t want to go until I have your promise that you will consider the possibility of moving. Of making our family whole.”
“More promises?” Her eyes filled with tears. “What about your promise of time?”
“It’s unavoidable. My career is hanging on this project. I have to fix it.” Brady dropped his hand. A few days away from work and the whole project depended on one meeting. He couldn’t lose everything.