The Ballerina's Stand Read Free Page A

fender.
    â€œNo. He’s as tight-lipped as usual. But Wyatt’s right. He’s up to something.” They climbed into the sun-heated cab of the truck. “He’s heading to LA next week. Wants to discuss the details then.”
    â€œHow’s he gonna do that? He can barely move.” Chet drove toward Wyatt’s place.
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œWyatt won’t like it that you’re meeting him again.”
    â€œI don’t recall being accountable to my brother, not since I turned eighteen.” Jason met Chet’s gaze, holding it until the older man looked away.
    â€œIt’s your skin.”
    They turned into the yard of the ranch, which was a hive of activity. All the siblings were leaving today. Everyone was packing up their things, filling vehicles. Tara was taking Jason to the airport, so he hastily grabbed his bags and slung them in the back of her car.
    â€œWhat did Pal want?” Wyatt asked, coming around the front of Addie’s truck.
    â€œHe wasn’t specific, unfortunately.”
    â€œSo you’re not going to work for him.” It wasn’t a question.
    â€œHaven’t decided yet. He said he’s coming out to LA. We’ll talk then.”
    â€œYou cannot work for that man!” Addie’s voice carried over the car’s roof.
    â€œLike hell,” Wyatt barked in the same instant.
    Jason’s hackles rose. “Addie, Wyatt, back off.” He slammed the trunk. “I’m not a child. He’ll come to the office, I’ll deal with him there. End of story.”
    â€œI don’t trust him.”
    Jason laughed. “If you knew most of my clients, you wouldn’t trust them, either.” He thought of the business partners who inhabited the corner offices and the upper floors. Wasn’t much trust there, either. They were as cold-blooded as Pal. He turned to face his older brother, purposefully changing the subject. “It’s been a good visit. You tell the others your news?”
    Wyatt shook his head. “Emily doesn’t want to say anything yet. She’s—”
    â€œNo problem.” Jason smiled. “But you’d better tell them all at once. Word gets around in this family like wildfire.”
    â€œYeah.” Wyatt looked over at Emily, a smile tugging on his lips. Jason knew that look, that silent communication from when they’d been kids. “Hey, everyone.”
    Emily obviously knew her new husband, too. Her eyebrows lifted as she shrugged and smiled, walking toward Wyatt. “You want to? Now?” she whispered.
    â€œYeah.” He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her against his side. “We have news.” A gasp waved around the group gathered between the cars.
    â€œWe got married!” Emily practically burst with the words. Jason laughed. Neither one of them had really wanted to keep this secret. And he was relieved to find the attention focused elsewhere. Now he didn’t have to explain his business with Pal.
    This was a much better way to end this visit.
    Â 

CHAPTER TWO
    G ROWING UP IN T EXAS , Jason’s experience with dancing involved square dances, country bars and prom—oh, and those not-to-be-forgotten weddings. Since moving to LA, his horizons hadn’t broadened much. Hours behind his desk, busting his ass to make partner, kept him busy.
    Seated now in a private box at Glendale’s Alex Theatre, watching the Los Angeles Ballet with Pal Haymaker, he felt strange. Jason glanced sideways at the old man. How the hell had they gotten here?
    After he’d seen Pal that morning following DJ’s wedding, Jason would have laid money down that the old guy wouldn’t be able to make the trip. But that had been several days ago, and here he was. Cleaned up, in a custom-tailored suit, Pal looked every bit as out of place as Jason felt.
    The lights dimmed, and the old guy pushed to the edge of his seat. The oxygen tubing