Falling for the Wingman (The Kelly Brothers, Book 3) by Crista McHugh Page A

“Sorry, Mom, just been busy with things.”
    “I’m just glad you’re safe and back home. And speaking of home, will you be coming to Adam’s wedding in a few weeks?”
    “I’ve already contacted my new CO at Hill and asked for the weekend off.”
    “Wonderful! I can’t wait to see all my boys together again.”
    He stretched out and leaned back in the swing. “Speaking of Adam, has he told you what happened when I came home?”
    “No,” his mother said in a careful voice that revealed her lie. “Care to tell me?”
    “Not really.” Besides, it sounded like she already knew most of the details. “What I’d really like to know is why you didn’t like Kourtney when you met her last year.”
    “Caleb, I really don’t think—”
    “Mom, I want the truth. Don’t hold anything back.”
    A pause filled the line. “I know you were crazy about her.”
    “I was, but now I’m starting to see a different side to her, and I value your opinion.”
    Another pause, followed by a sigh. “I’m not surprised she left you, Caleb. She was probably the most self-absorbed person I’ve ever met, and I got the distinct impression she was more interested in what our family could do for her than she was in you. For example, she asked if I could pass on a photo of her to Gideon’s manager to see if it would get her an audition in Hollywood. And the whole time I was there, she kept saying how she hoped you’d be reassigned to Nellis so she could enjoy the nightlife in Las Vegas. I can only imagine how disappointed she was when you got Hill instead.”
    He let his mother’s assessment sink in. So far, it matched what Alex had let slip out. “Then you’ll be happy to know she left me while I was deployed. In fact, she’ll be marrying someone else in a few days.”
    “Yes, but Adam told me you’re in her hometown to win her back. Are you sure you still want her?”
    He rubbed the side of his face. Sunday, he would’ve said yes in a heartbeat. But now, after spending so much time with Alex and discovering the explosive chemistry between them, he was left wondering the same thing. “I’m supposed to have a chance to talk to her today. Maybe after that, I’ll have a better idea what happened.”
    “As you wish.” Which was his mother’s way of saying that she thought he was making a huge mistake. “I don’t suppose you’ll have to time to come up to Chicago on your way to Utah?”
    “We’ll see.” If everything blew up in his face this afternoon, he’d have a few days on his hands.
    “Okay, sweetie.”
    “Mom, I’m not three anymore. You don’t have to call me ‘sweetie.’”
    “Nonsense. You’re all still little boys to me.”
    A new wave of nausea threatened to overtake him. “I need to get going. I promised Alex I’d meet her at the garage before heading over to Kourtney’s mom’s house.”
    “Alex?” Her voice rose a bit higher with curiosity. “Who’s that?”
    Adam’s question about taking Alex home to meet Mom echoed through his mind. “Maybe you’ll find out.”
    That is, if I haven’t royally fucked things up with her.
    “It’s not nice to tease your mother, Caleb.”
    “Good-bye, Mom.”
    “Bye, sweetie.” She drawled out the last word as though it were payback for not telling her about Alex.
    He ended the call and finished his coffee, wondering what else Kourtney had said to his mother when they met last year.
    Remember the emails. Just ask her about them, and go from there. If she meant what she said in them…
    Crap. Was it too much to hope Kourtney was lying?
    ****
    Alex was bent over the engine of a late-model Town Car when Caleb arrived at the garage. She was so focused on her work, she didn’t notice him, but Jermaine gave him a friendly wave from the interior of the car.
    “All right, I think we’ve got it.” Alex straightened and wiped her hands on a rag. A few damp curls had slipped out from under her bandana to frame her face, and a streak of grease on her jaw