Secrets Of The A-List Complete Collection, Episodes 1-12. Cat Schield

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      “Hey, sorry. I thought you might be Elana or one of the staff.”

      Rafe lifted his chin and nodded. “Late, I take it.”

      Thom chuckled. “Would she have it any other way?” He came fully into the room.

      “Drink?” Rafe asked before crossing to the bar. He lifted a bottle of tequila and checked the level.

      He probably shouldn’t drink on an empty stomach. “Sure, why not?”

      Rafe poured for them both then handed Thom a shot glass. He lifted his own. “To Dad.”

      “To Harrison.”

      They tossed back the content of their glasses and simultaneously ahhed.

      “Good stuff,” Thom said over the slow warmth that spread in his belly.

      “Only the best for the Marshalls,” Rafe said, his tone a mixture of scorn and sadness to Thom’s ears.

      Thom studied Rafe’s pensive expression. “How is your father? Any progress?” he asked gently, instantly regretting his question when he saw the shadow of pain pass across Rafe’s face.

      Rafe lowered his head, blew out a breath. “Not good. I suppose we should be grateful that he hasn’t deteriorated. But no change.”

      Thom covered the space that separated them and clasped Rafe’s shoulder, the wiry power of his body vibrating beneath Thom’s fingertips. “I’m so sorry, Rafe. He’s going to pull through. You have to have faith. Miracles happen every day.”

      Rafe nodded, moved away and fixed himself another drink. “It’s going to take a miracle. Seconds?”

      “No. I’m good.”

      “How are the wedding plans coming along?”

      Thom heaved a sigh. “That’s part of the reason Elana and I are getting together today. She’s been distant...even talking about postponing the wedding.”

      “Understandable, with Dad’s accident.”

      Thom shook his head, frowned. “No, the change in her started even before the accident,” he said, hoping Rafe might have some insight into what was going on with his sister. “I keep feeling like she is going to call the whole thing off.” He couldn’t let that happen. He needed this.

      “Hmm, well, you know Elana. She can’t keep her mind on one thing longer than a minute. The accident with Dad has us all in a bad place. Elana only needs one thing to spin her in another direction, but I’m sure everything will be fine.”

      “I hope you’re right. On second thought, maybe I will take another drink.”

      “Help yourself. Mi casa, su casa. Besides, you’re going to be a full-fledged member of the family. You have to be up to tossing them back with the rest of us. Helps make the rough edges nice and fuzzy.”

      Thom came to stand beside Rafe. Their shoulders brushed as Thom reached for the tequila. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He refilled his glass.

      Rafe turned and leaned his hip against the bar. His gaze settled on Thom’s face. “How’s the real estate biz?” he asked.

      Thom shrugged. “Being ushered into a family real estate business...a little different from doing your own thing.”

      “Nice to do what you love. Be who you are.”

      As heir to his father’s high-end real estate enterprise, Scott and Associates Inc. Thom knew image was everything. Thom’s father, Sam, prided himself on creating the illusion of exclusivity, from the polished appearance of his tailored suits to his expensive haircuts, designer jewelry and driving the right car. He passed those sensibilities onto his son. His mother, always at Sam’s side, was the beauty and charm of the business.

      Thom’s father made it clear that having a beautiful wife on his arm was part of a man’s success, part of the package. Equally important was the Marshall name and reputation and all the bells and whistles and contacts that came with it. His parents were fully on the marriage bandwagon. He couldn’t disappoint them.

      Rafe folded his arms across his chest. “Hmm, always tough to step out there, break the mold.” He shifted his stance. “Especially when the shadow of expectation is so high.”

      Thom blinked away the gamut of thoughts running through his head. He slowly nodded. “How do you handle it...the expectation? I mean, I know it couldn’t have been easy, with your parents being who they are and growing up in the spotlight.”

      Rafe gave a slight shrug. “It was a part of life, all we knew. But it wasn’t always easy—at least not for me.” He took a breath and looked off into the distance as he spoke. “Luc was the firstborn. Never got in trouble, the mediator. He always had the right girlfriend, the right clothes.” He snorted a laugh. “Luc always had a plan. I think he knew what he wanted from the moment he was born.” He finished off his drink and set down the glass. “Me, on the other hand...” He slowly shook his head. “I don’t know. I always felt like I never fit in, never lived up to my father’s expectations of what his son should be.”

      “Why?” Thom asked. “You’re a success in your own right, just like Luc.”

      Rafe looked him in the eye. “Let’s not fool ourselves. We both know why, Thom.” Rafe pushed up from his reclining positon against the bar. He moved away. “So, uh what do you think about the Fixer?” He turned to face Thom.

      Thom was completely caught off guard. He’d never expected that he would be asked about the inner workings of the family. He’d always been a silent observer. He slid his hands into his pockets. “Wow.” He shook his head. “Tell you the truth, from the little I overheard, it’s like something out of a made-for-television movie. I mean, some unknown person behind the scenes pulling strings.”

      “Yeah, all very cloak-and-dagger.” He angled his head to the side. “Could be you.”

      Thom’s eyes widened, then he burst out laughing. “You’ve got to be kidding. Me?”

      “Hey, why not you? You’re always around, been around for years.” Rafe gave a nonchalant shrug. “Anyway, I gotta run.” He clapped Thom on the shoulder. “Hopefully my sister will show up at some point.”

      “At some point,” Thom murmured, still off center by Rafe’s question. Did he or anyone in the family really think it could be him?

      Rafe strode toward the door then stopped. “Hey,” he said and pointed a finger at Thom. “I haven’t forgotten your promise to beat me at tennis. As soon as things settle down, we’re on.”

      “You got it. Just say when,” Thom called out to Rafe’s retreating back. Him, the Fixer? If only. There was plenty in his life that needed fixing.

      Thom drew in a breath and stared at the doorway. Snippets of his conversation with Rafe replayed in his head. It was true what Rafe had said about how being who you truly were was hard—especially when you’d rather СКАЧАТЬ