Read Online Daring Dylan (The Billionaire Brotherhood Book 2) by Jacie Floyd - Free Book Online

from the fifties
wear on television.
    “Gracie
shouldn’t have left you on your own,” she said. “I was planning to bring
something home for you to eat.”
    “I don’t
want to be any trouble.” His gaze shifted toward Gracie, and she rolled her
eyes.
    “Left on
your own?” Clayton lowered his voice after Gracie elbowed him in the ribs.
“Tell me he’s not staying with you.”
    “I can’t.”
She rested her elbow on the table and her chin on her hand. “He is staying with us.”
    “That’s
just great.” Clayton’s lobster pliers hit his plate with a clank. “Why didn’t
you tell me?”
    “There
hasn’t been time. You just got here.”
    “Perhaps we
should wait and discuss it later, dear.” Mrs. Lattimer looked around at the
curious onlookers and nodded pleasant greetings.
    A taut
silence commanded the table as Jake appeared with Dylan’s food. “I’ll wager
you’ll not have a better lobster dinner anywhere on the coast. I’m proud you
chose Lulu’s for your first meal in town—not counting the donuts and coffee you
bought this morning, of course. Melvin at the Stop’n’Shop bragged all over town
about you being in there even before your taillights disappeared around the
corner from his place. Har-har-har.” Jake slapped Dylan’s shoulder and
transferred his attention to Clayton. “And this is a fine day for you, too,
isn’t it? Seeing you two boys together like this reminds me of when Matthew and
Arthur came in here all those years ago. They were about the same age the two
of you are now.”
    Dylan’s
stomach churned. The detective and Lawrence had warned him that the locals all
supported Clayton’s claim, but Dylan hadn’t realized how galling it would be to
have the tale shoved in his face. Nothing could have made him more determined
to disprove it, but a vocal denial in Lulu’s Lobster Pot seemed likely to add
to the scandal rather than squash it.
    Silence
followed Jake’s pronouncement. While Dylan pressed his lips together to hold
back his thoughts, the tension around them skyrocketed.
    “I’m sure
you’ll understand,” Gracie spoke up, “if neither of them cares to comment on
the subject.”
    “Yes, yes,
of course.” Jake pressed a sausage-sized finger to his lips. “But if you boys
don’t mind, I’d like to get a picture of the two of you to put on the wall of
fame beside your father’s and uncle’s.” He pulled a cell phone from his pocket.
The townspeople gasped audibly at Jake’s brass. The action stunned even Gracie
into speechlessness.
    “Not tonight,
Jake,” Mrs. Lattimer said sternly. “Let them eat in peace, please.”
    “I’m
finished here, anyway.” Clayton lurched to his feet. “Are you coming with me,
Gracie, or staying with him ?” He
jerked his chin at Dylan.
    “If David
will make sure Gran gets home...” Gracie looked to the older doctor for
confirmation.
    “She can
ride with me.” Dylan smiled benignly, eager to rile his supposed half-brother a
bit further.
    “Don’t
worry, Gracie,” Mrs. Lattimer said. “Someone will make sure I get home safely.”
    Gracie removed
her plastic bib and came to her feet. Her napkin slid from her lap to the
floor. When she leaned down to pick it up, her shoulder jostled the table, and
her plate skittered toward a glass of water. The glass wobbled and Gracie,
Dylan, and Clayton all reached for it.
    “Whoa
there,” Dylan said.
    “I’ll get
it,” Clayton said.
    “Aah!”
Gracie squeaked as three hands collided, and water splashed down her front.
    Wet T-shirt time all over again .
    “Oh, dear.”
She dabbed at the ribbed cotton with one of the napkins thrust her way. “At
least it was water and not butter. Come on, Clay, let’s go before I get up
close and personal with David’s cherry cobbler.” She stopped and gave her
stepfather a peck on the cheek. “Take care. I’ll call you tomorrow. See you
later, Gran. Dylan, enjoy your lobster.”
    “I’ll be
along shortly, Gracie,” Mrs. Lattimer