Aaron was baffled by his half-brother's bubbly fiancée. Gray didn't seem the type to tolerate such a personality for more than a couple of dates. He was even more surprised that Gray had invited him and Keeley to his apartment. Keeley had been there once, and Aaron a few times during the renovations, but Gray had never reciprocated their hospitality.
As Keeley prepared her signature marshmallow brownies, Aaron paced the kitchen, agitated. He didn't want to go. Socializing was exhausting, especially with people he disliked. He'd much rather spend his Saturday evening playing video games with Nathan, who was home for once. All his other plans had fallen through, and even his parents weren't available.
"I guess I'll have to endure this 'love fest' if I want to do anything tonight," he grumbled. "Noah's gotten sickeningly mushy since he started dating Violet."
Aaron wasn't sure that was true. He hadn't seen them much since they'd moved in together. What was wrong with a man openly expressing his love, anyway?
He supposed Nathan, still young and uninterested in relationships, preferred large groups of friends to dates. That was fine with Aaron; less relationship drama was preferable. Kaleb's recent breakup had been difficult to witness.
"If the 'love fest' becomes unbearable, we can invent an emergency and leave early," Aaron suggested hopefully.
Keeley smacked his shoulder. "Be nice. Aren't you at all curious about Mandy?"
"Not particularly. If she makes him happy, good for him. If she keeps him too busy for dinner, good for me."
Nathan raised an eyebrow. Oops. Aaron had been too blunt. Only Violet knew their relationship with Gray; the other siblings hadn't paid much attention to him at Thanksgiving, preoccupied with Jeremy.
"Who are you having dinner with again?" Nathan asked.
"One of your dad's acquaintances," Keeley replied, frosting the brownies. "He recently got engaged and is introducing us to his fiancée. He came to our house for Thanksgiving."
"Oh, right. Isn't he a little old to be getting married?"
Keeley shrugged. "No one's too old, Nate. Some people marry in their eighties. Love knows no age."
Neither of them believed love was involved. Keeley was curious; Aaron didn't care. Let Gray marry someone interested in his money; he was a grown man.
Once the brownies were frosted, Keeley wrapped them in foil, kissed Nathan's cheek, and told him to say hello to Violet and Noah. He mumbled a response but smiled. No matter your age, parental affection is always appreciated.
"Do I look alright?" Keeley asked.
It was a rhetorical question. Aaron always complimented her. "If 'alright' means 'stunning'," he replied.
She looked stunning in her dark wash jeans, navy blue peacoat, and low-heeled boots, diamond earrings complementing her bare face and tinted lip balm. He was continually amazed by her effortless style—dressed up, down, or in pajamas—she always looked beautiful. He especially loved her messy morning look; it was a reminder she was his forever. Only their children shared that view.
Keeley beamed and pulled him toward the elevator.
At Gray's building, the doorman took them to the penthouse. Aaron expected a young supermodel type—Gray was rich and handsome enough for a trophy wife—but Mandy Applegate was a pretty, understated woman in her late thirties or early forties. Her hair was in loose curls; she wore a teal sweater and jeans, pearl earrings, and a simple engagement ring.
Keeley's eyebrows rose. This woman seemed too normal for Gray, known for his high standards.
Mandy greeted them with enthusiastic hugs. "It's so good to see you! Come in! Dinner's almost ready."
Keeley set down the brownies as Gray entered. "Your famous brownies! It's been too long."
He was casually dressed in a steel-gray sweater, mirroring Mandy's attire. Usually, he wore designer suits. Had she tamed him? Aaron knew some friends thought the same about him and Keeley, and he fought back a frown. Perhaps Gray was more like him than he thought.
The final paragraph, "Sёarch* The nôvelFire.net website", is irrelevant and has been omitted.