His Convenient Husband: Innamorati, Book 1 by J. L. Langley Page B

always had. At first, it was just a brotherly kind of love like he felt for AJ, but now it was different. The realization shook Tucker to the core. He’d wanted Micah ever since the first night Micah had given himself to Tucker. He’d tried to convince himself he’d never gotten close to anyone because of what he watched his dad go through when his mom left, but it was a lie. No one had measured up to Micah, even when Micah had been too young. But he wasn’t now.
    “This is bullshit, Tucker. We both know you’ve no need for this”—waving his arms, Duncan motioned around the room—“place. You pretending to be a fag is a waste of your time. I’m the oldest. The ranch should go to me. When’s the last time you were even here?”
    “None of your fuckin’ business who any of us sleep with,” AJ mumbled.
    Micah pinched AJ’s thigh as he stood and placed the last of the pens back in the penholder. “Quit antagonizing,” he whispered.
    Ignoring them both, Tucker dropped his feet and sat straight. “Duncan, when was the last time you were here? Don’t pretend to know anything about me. I’m only going to tell you this one more time. You’d better cease with the name-calling. If anyone has a right to be upset over this, it’s my dad, not you. The ranch is mine now and that is that. I’ll do with it as I see fit. Micah and this ranch are none of your business. So I suggest you pack your bags and be out of here within the hour.”
    Tucker stood. Glancing at AJ, Tucker jerked his head toward the door. He needed to think, somewhere away from Micah, and he had a feeling if he didn’t get AJ away from their uncle, Tucker was going to end up replacing office furniture. “Goodbye. You’re welcome to take a few mementos, but you’ll clear them with my dad first.” He walked around the desk and motioned for AJ to follow.
    “Nice speech, big brother.” AJ slapped him on the back as they reached the back door.
    Tucker tried to smile, but with all that was on his mind it fell short. “Thanks.” He’d missed his family something fierce. He should have been here all this time instead of in Dallas. Sure, he’d made a name for himself and a lot of money too, but family was what mattered. It was a damn shame it took his granddad dying to drive the point home.
    They headed out toward the corral, walking side by side. It was a companionable silence, one Tucker and AJ, and Micah too for that matter, always shared. Tucker had missed this time with his brother as much as he’d missed the time with Micah. Damn it. He was a selfish bastard, but he wanted Micah permanently. Tucker regretted leaving the way he did, even if it was for the best at the time.
    “Think he regrets it?”
    “What?” Tucker glanced at his brother. What was AJ, a mind reader now?
    AJ stared out into the west pasture, his brow furrowed, looking a little worried. “Duncan. You think he regrets hightailing it outta here with our egg donor? Think he misses his family?”
    Tucker shrugged. “Don’t know. Maybe. I doubt it. But he burned his bridges. He was a fool. Did he really think he could make a relationship work with her? Hell, he should’ve known what she was like when she cast Dad and us aside so easily.” He suspected the only thing Duncan regretted was going bankrupt.
    “Yeah, what kind of man falls for a woman who’d leave her children? Don’t know what he has against Micah, but it’s pissing me off.” They arrived at the corral fence, and AJ leaned his arms against the top rail and put his booted foot on the bottom. “Speaking of the brat, what’s up with you and Micah?”
    “I wish I knew.” Tucker mimicked AJ’s pose, staring out at a calf and its mother.
    “He looks better. He’s been running himself ragged. Don’t know what we’d have done without him. I hate doing the books. Dad sucks at it and well, Micah hates it too, but he’s good at it. Problem is Granddad’s hospital bills nearly did us in. Did you know Micah