The Proposal & Solid Soul - Brenda Jackson [109]
Kylie raised a brow. “Tisdale? As in Tisdale who owns a number of car dealerships around town? As well as those two restaurants?”
“Yes, the dealerships belong to her father and the restaurants to her uncle. Same family.”
“Why do you think Ms. Tisdale and your brother aren’t compatible?”
“Because they aren’t.”
“He evidently thinks they are.”
“Remember you’re the one who thinks too much. In this case, I don’t believe Bas is thinking at all. But I have all the faith in the world that he’ll come to his senses before doing something stupid.”
Kylie frowned. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“Quite.” After a brief moment he said, “But only because I know my brothers, and Bas in particular. All through his life he’s been known as the ‘not so stainless Steele.’”
“Meaning?”
Chance frowned at the memories. “He was considered the black sheep of the family because he used to get into so much trouble. I guess you can say he went through quite a rebellious stage while growing up. You name it, he probably did it. It was a good thing my father was good friends with Sheriff Blandford, since Bas had a penchant for straying to the wrong side of the law. Most of the time it wasn’t him but the crowd he hung out with. But you know what they say about guilt by association.”
Yes, she knew. “So when did his future change for the better?”
“When he was about twenty. He dropped out of college after deciding he wanted to see the world. He was gone for a year without us knowing where he was most of the time. All we know is that when he returned he had a new outlook on life. He went back to college, graduated with honors and then came to work at the Steele Corporation, starting from the bottom. He was determined to learn everything he could. Now he’s a vital asset to the company. I depend on him to keep me in the know and to put out small fires.”
“What about the other two?”
“Morgan is Morgan. He has this thing about finding the perfect woman and until he does he won’t settle for less. Then there’s Donovan, who thinks he was born to have fun. He’s serious enough while at work but otherwise there’s really never a serious moment with him. My mother predicts he’ll probably be the one who lives the longest because he enjoys life too much to get stressed about anything.”
“Does that also mean he’s having too much fun to settle down and get married?”
“So he claims. He just hasn’t met the one woman to tame his game.”
“Quite an interesting bunch.”
“Yes, they didn’t refer to us as ‘Forged of Steele’ for nothing.”
Kylie lifted a brow. “‘Forged of Steele’?”
“Yes. We were known for our endurance. We thought we could outlast anything.”
She decided not to ask their endurance in what. “The possibility that Marcus might be a chip off the old block now has me worried. Should I be?”
Chance chuckled. “No, he’s a good kid.”
“Yes, I noticed and I’m appreciative of that. I was prepared not to like him, you know.”
“Yeah, I know, and it was likewise with me and Tiffany. But I like her. You did a good job raising her, Kylie.”
“So did you with Marcus.”
“Thanks.”
Kylie stretched and then stood. “Well, I think I’m going to call it a night.”
“Already?”
“It’s probably close to two in the morning, Chance, and I still have to take a shower. That checker game you played with the kids lasted quite a while.”
“Only because your daughter didn’t know how to play. I’ve never heard of such a thing. That’s un-American.”
“Well, I hate to tell you but her mother doesn’t know how to play checkers, either.”
“Then I guess I’ll add that to my list of all the other things I intend to teach you.”
“Don’t do me any favors.”
“Trust me. It will be for my benefit as well as for yours. The more you know and understand, the better off we’ll both be.”
Kylie knew they weren’t talking about checkers but about the intricacies involving a male and female.
But was she willing to learn?
CHANCE LAY IN BED AND could only stare up at the ceiling as he heard the shower going, imagining Kylie, naked and standing beneath a full spray