Daring Dylan (The Billionaire Brotherhood Book 2) Read Free

nearly exploded from his mouth, but he hauled it back in. Although
Natalie had been trying to fix him up for years, it was unlike Linc to
interfere. They must like this girl, and clearly, Dylan wasn’t having any luck
finding the right woman on his own. He sighed and slouched lower. “Let me know
when she gets here.”
    His
brother-in-law reached around Natalie to pound Dylan’s shoulder. “You won’t
regret it.”
    “If I do,
I’ll make sure you do, too,” he warned. “Don’t prepare the pre-nup just yet.
I’m only agreeing to meet her, that’s all.”
    Following
an elbow to the ribs and a speaking look from Natalie, Linc backed off with
raised hands. “I understand.”
    She
snuggled closer to her husband and turned to Dylan. “Why do you think Lawrence
wants to see us after the will’s read today?”
    “Maybe he
intends to advise us on investments or tax issues.”
    “You’re the
financial whiz kid. He’s more likely to ask for your advice.” She rested her
crossed arms on her tummy and studied him. “You know more than you’re saying,
don’t you? Tell me.”
    “Go ahead,”
Linc urged. “You know she won’t let up until you do.”
    “Mother
warned me that Karen Hammonds—”
    “Dad’s
publicist, before he died,” Natalie explained to Linc.
    “—has
penned an exposé of life on the campaign trail with Dad. You know how
protective Mom was of his reputation.”
    “That
witch!” Natalie bit out. “Who cares what she has to say after all this time?
Anything she knows about Dad is more than twenty years old and probably a lie.”
    “If there
was any dirty laundry lurking around out there, someone would have aired it a
long time ago. So Lawrence’s request to meet with us may not have anything to
do with Karen.” Noting the circles under his sister’s eyes, he wished he hadn’t
speculated. “How are you holding up? If you want to skip out on this
appointment today, just say so. I can handle it alone. Or Lawrence will wait,
if we ask him to.”
    She crossed
her eyes at him. “Dylan, I’m pregnant, not incapacitated.”
    Sympathy
would fail beneath her hormonally rampant mood swings, but he gave it a shot.
“Yesterday’s funeral has worn us all down, especially after the strain of
Mother’s illness. Pregnancy must increase the pressure.”
    Natalie
pursed her lips. “Actually, the pregnancy soothes me, the way being with Josh
does. It makes me feel a special bond with Mom and Dad. And kind of proud to
know that I’m extending their legacy.” Tears welled. “Does that sound like the
ultimate conceit?”
    “Not at
all, love.” Linc gave her his handkerchief along with a reassuring
squeeze.   “It’s sweet.”
    And just like
that, Dylan felt that pang again. The one he’d felt a lot lately. The one that
made him feel isolated and alone.

    Elegant as
a maestro, Lawrence Sutton arranged himself behind the Louis XIV desk that now
belonged to Natalie—along with the rest of Margaret Bradford’s New Haven
estate. Natalie and Linc sat opposite the attorney in matching Chippendale
chairs. Too tense to sit, Dylan hovered behind them.
    All of the
will’s bequeaths and legacies had been announced earlier. No big surprises, but
now Dylan geared himself up for whatever bombshell Lawrence had saved just for
them.
    “I can’t
tell you how sorry I am about your mother’s death.” He removed his reading
glasses and pinched the bridge of his aristocratic nose. “I served her
interests to the best of my abilities and pledge to do the same for both of
you, as long as you require my services.”
    “Thank
you,” Natalie said. “Mother appreciated your loyalty, and so do we.”
    The old man
steepled his fingers together and drew a deep breath. “There are two final
pieces of business your mother wanted me to share with you in private. One of
them is regarding a holding she left for Dylan.”
    “What else
is there?” For tax purposes, she’d divvied up most of her personal property
years