“Maybe we should give them the benefit of the doubt,” Brandon Ferguson said breaking the silence.

His siblings all looked at him in disbelief.

“And I have a horse I want to show you who flies,” Aaron, the second oldest, said.

There was no mistaking the disbelief in his tone. Brandon glanced at David, the oldest, when he grunted in response. The two—Aaron and David—looked at each other and rolled their eyes. He could imagine what David was thinking.

There goes Brandon the peacemaker looking for the best in people. He didn’t care it was his way. Yes, he looked for the best in people but if it wasn’t there or if business was involved, he could be cutthroat as needed. In this case, since it affected all of them, what those across the room had planned would require them all to be not only smart but react quickly. He just wanted to make sure what they thought was be planned was actually true. If it was then he would do everything to defeat those across the room.

“We really shouldn’t be plotting against our parents,” Carter, the youngest, said.

Brandon agreed with him if they weren’t plotting against them first. David looked at Carter with shock on his face.

Carter smirked then laughed. “Who am I kidding, I’m going to enjoy outwitting the parentals. Let’s get them.”

David chuckled. Brandon rolled his eyes. Carter was the most competitive of them all and he knew it was all about the win to him. Carter met his gaze with jewel green eyes so much like his own and winked. Brandon pushed his shoulder against his. Carter retaliated. He grinned then focused back on the rest of his siblings. Stephen and Robert hadn’t said anything but Brandon knew they were waiting to see what happened first before they made a decision what to do. It was that way with his siblings, none of them would just blindly follow—they made their own choices. Brandon glanced at his parents and wondered what they could have been thinking. They should know it was an insult to think they would just roll over and go along.

“You know them bringing the Andersons is pulling out the big guns.” David was staring at their parents standing with Joseph Anderson and his wife as well as his brother George and his wife.

The elder Andersons were close friends with their parents. From the stories they told, Brandon had heard plenty about how they had both built their empires centered around their passions. In the case of his family, it was horses and ranching. They all knew running a billion-dollar operation wasn’t easy. He smiled as he thought of the times his dad teased about that was why he had so many children—so they could help them run the business. His mom usually countered it was so they could retire while they were young enough to appreciate all the hard work while their kids did the work. He was paraphrasing what he had heard from them so many times. They all knew it was a lie. His parents loved each other and, by extension, wanted a large family which was even more to love.

“We should have figured something was up when they retired last year and started spending so much time visiting Mercer Island and their good friends, the Andersons.” David imitated the exact way their parents had said such a thing.

“We should have kept them in Texas,” a woman said in a melodious voice behind David.

“Yeah, we should have known they were trying to marry us off,” another woman said mockingly. “Them throwing this party and inviting the elder Andersons and many of the happy pairings they somehow got matched up only cemented that is their plan. Run, run for your bachelor lives.” 

David turned his head to their sisters. “Joke if you want, but you better be prepared. Your bachelorettehoods are in danger.”

“We’re not worried. They’ll want to marry you off first, big brother.” Delia, who had spoke first grinned.

“Why is it you call me that when it suits you?” David retorted. “Other times you say we are the same age since we’re twins.”

“You were born a few minutes earlier than I.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Because in these sort of moments it suits me. And am I glad you were. Since you will be the first on the radar to marry off.”

“Exactly. You know how much Dad likes things in a certain order. Davey here gets that from him.” Katherine added with a smirk. “So no worries boys, we’re safe until they marry off Mister Order and Control here.” She linked arms with David.

Delia did the same on the other side. “And since we all know he won’t give up control long enough to let something like love mess with his carefully thought out five year plan, we’re good.”

At that, Brandon realized they were right. They were off the hook. He glanced at his siblings and they all grinned.

“It’s ten years.” David lifted an eyebrow.

They all laughed. Brandon didn’t know about the rest of them, but he for one was really happy they were focused on David. It gave them all a chance to figure out how to get away from the matchmaking plans.

“It’s Mom,” David suddenly said. “She’s the one who is orchestrating all of this.”

Brandon frowned staring at him then glanced toward their parents standing across the room with Joseph and George. He frowned then thought about it then looked back at David. He smiled even more relieved than before.

“This is going to be a breeze for you.” Brandon lifted slightly on his heels then settled back. “You can outwit Mom. Dad, now, he would have been tougher. Not saying you couldn’t but…well, it would have been entertaining to watch as Immovable Object Senior went up against Immovable Object Junior.”

He smiled wider as David glared at him. He knew that David at a time like this wouldn’t appreciate the joke about him being named after their dad.

“Are you all insane?” He shook his head. “I’d rather go up against Dad.”

“Why?” Aaron asked.

David stared. Brandon wondered what he was getting at. He looked between the two of them.

Aaron continued his scrutiny then swore and rubbed his finger along the bridge of his nose. “He’s right. If it’s Mom planning this, we’re so screwed.”

Uneasy filled Brandon. There was no stopping their mom when she came up with one of her harebrained schemes. It was eerie how accurate the woman was with her off the wall plans.

I’m suddenly very afraid

“I’m suddenly very afraid,” Stephen said seemingly echoing his thought.

At his words, Brandon knew they were screwed. Nothing shook Stephen.

“Me too.” Robert sounded grim.

Brandon wondered if he could book a one-way ticket anywhere but here.

“Maybe getting married isn’t so bad,” Carter said.

Brandon reached for him but Aaron who was also close smacked him lightly across the back of the head.

“Sorry.” Carter rubbed the back of his head. “I panicked for a moment.”

Brandon could relate. He wondered what they would be able to do up against their mom. 

“You do know challenging Mom is a bad idea,” Delia said cautiously.

He focused on Delia and David, who she seemed to be talking too. He knew he missed something but not what.

“Yes.” David turned to Delia and smiled. “But it’s gonna be fun. You know Mom, she hates losing. At least with her focused on me we know who her target is. If I hadn’t given her one, we’d have no idea who was in her sights.”

“True,” Aaron said. “With her way it could be anyone. And since some of us were already panicking, we would have had a weak link. If one of us falls, it would give her renewed purpose to get the rest.”

“Hey, it was just a moment.” Carter protested. “I’m strong. I won’t give in to their matchmaking.”

They all snorted.  Carter flipped them off. They all chuckled then sobered and then focused on David.

“So what are you going to do?” Katherine asked.

“Find something sweet,” David replied. “Need to feed the sweet tooth.”

They laughed. David was known for his sweet tooth and the lengths he would go to get something he wanted.

“Not about that,” Delia said. “About Mom.”

“Nothing. She can try to match me up but I know something she doesn’t.”

“What?”

“I plan to get married.” David paused then smiled. “Someday. In my own time and by my own choice. And according to my ten-year plan, she is many years too early.” He pivoted on his heels and strode away.

“You do know not everything goes by a plan,” Stephen called.

“Then I adjust to suit and come up with another plan,” David retorted. “You outmaneuver obstacles by planning smart.”

David didn’t slow his stride.

“He really needs to loosen up some,” Brandon said.

Their teasing was accurate. David was uptight and very particular in how he did things. Brandon couldn’t wait for the day he met someone he couldn’t plan for. He smiled at that. As his siblings spoke around him Brandon didn’t really hear what they were saying. He watched David as he crossed the room. He observed as David spoke to a few of the guests as he passed. Then David paused by Lucas Anderson. Brandon was too far away to hear what they said but he saw the teasing between them. Knowing his brother and Lucas they were messing with each other. 

I wonder if anyone would notice if I did a happy dance. Brandon snorted as he thought of the reactions of his siblings standing around him. But he really felt like dancing in relief. He thought of his older brother David being in the sights of his mom. He thought of getting involved but knew his Mom wouldn’t change her mind. He looked at her and she was talking and laughing with the Andersons. She looked at him and smiled widely.

Oh, oh I know that look. Brandon decided David would be better to approach. They would call it him trying to be the peacemaker again but he had to try.

“I’ll be back,” he said then strode the direction David went.

Along the way he was stopped by friends, neighbors and family. He took a moment with each with his sights on the doorway David had gone through to the kitchen that was closest to the ballroom. He stepped around his cousin and was almost to the door when instinct made him turn. The woman who was to his left stumbled and he caught her. She laughed a sultry sound and pushed back her cascading curls from her sienna face.

“Thanks,” she said.

At the sound of her voice he stilled. The one word was simple but he felt like he had been hit over the head. She lifted her head and his breath stalled when he met amused pale grey eyes. She was gorgeous and from what he could tell she didn’t have any of that gunk women used on their face.

“Sorry about stumbling into you. These damn shoes are torture. I must have lost my mind even wearing them.” She shifted slightly and gripped his arm. She stepped out of her shoes then held them out. “Here. They are killer on the toes too.”

Brandon accepted them confused at the woman. The rich red dress hugged her frame showing off all he lush curves. The woman smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks, sweetie.”

The woman glanced at her now bare feet. “Now I need to find shoes. Gotta find my sister.”

She turned and hurried away. Brandon took a step but she was already out of view.

“What the hell just happened?” He blinked sure he had imagined it.

Glancing at her shoes he realized he hadn’t. He continued on to where he was headed originally. At the door he looked where she had disappeared to and saw a woman. He took a step but then realized she had short hair and was in different clothing. Disappointed he opened the door and stepped inside. His brother was standing in the open door across the room.

“What are you doing here?”

“I–“ Brandon rubbed his hand down the back of his head. “don’t know what the hell just happened. This woman…she…I don’t even know how to describe her or what happened.”

David narrowed his eyes. “Was she wearing socks with neon orange books on them?”

“What? No.” Brandon had no idea what he was referring too. He smiled a soft grin. “Heels that according to her were torture and she had lost her mind even wearing them. Then she gave them to me.” Brandon held up the shoes.

David frowned. He studied David. He didn’t look like himself. If he had to think of a word—he looked befuddled. Brandon grinned. He looked like he felt.

“Come on and tell me about it.” David went back into the room.

Brandon followed and closed the door behind him. David sat and Brandon sat on the chair on the other side of table. He reached for the pastry. David grabbed the napkin with the sweets and glared.

“Mine.”

“Chill.” Brandon laughed putting up his hands.

“Don’t get between me and my sweets.” David laughed. 

“I wasn’t thinking. I should know better.” Noticing something on table Brandon reached again then held up a paper. “What’s this? A n—“

David took it from him. He observed as David read it then a grin curled his lips.

“What is it?”

David looked at him. “A woman. One who…”

“Made you discombobulated,” Brandon said softly. “Yeah I know the feeling. Tell me about yours and I’ll tell you about mine.”

“Deal. You first.” David slid the card into the pocket of his shirt.

Brandon leaned back in the chair then started his short story.

I didn’t even get her name.

 

* * * * *

 

Weeks later Brandon followed his brother into a building. He had no idea why they were here. As they entered the back door he heard, someone speaking.

“No name here either. I didn’t get chance to give him a way to get in touch with me. I’m—“ The woman’s eyes widened then she smirked. “—about to get his name.”

The woman rose and came toward him. Brandon put his hand over his heart and wondered if he was dreaming. The woman he had been thinking of, the one he had looked for at the party after his talk with his brother and couldn’t find her, was coming toward him.

“It’s you,” the woman said softly those pale grey eyes intent.

“And you.”

She glanced at his brother then him.

“Related?”

“My brother.”

“See you, Chel,” the woman called.

The woman who at the counter lifted a hand in return to the gesture from the one before him. She grabbed his hand and pulled him after her. Brandon went willingly.

“What’s your name?”

“Erica.”

“Mine’s Brandon.”

“Nice name.”

Outside she continued then suddenly stopped. “Wait.” The woman looked at him and let go his hand. “I know why you are familiar.” Her tone was cold. “You’re a Ferguson. I know your mom. Nice seeing ya.”

The woman headed off. Brandon stood there confused by her abrupt departure.

“Hey.”

Brandon glanced back at the woman in the doorway. “Yes.”

He noted his brother was just behind her but didn’t think she knew. 

“She doesn’t like rich entitled men.” The woman studied him. “And you look so much like that right now. Tell her that you don’t ever plan on getting married. And show her that you’re not just all about yourself.”

“But what if I want to get married in future?” Brandon asked. “And how do you know I’m not all just about myself.”

“Look…”

“Brandon,” he said as he came closer.

“Brandon,” the woman muttered.

He didn’t think she wanted him to really hear although he did.

“Yeah, Erica is so gonna kill me for this.” She lifted her voice. “Lie that you don’t ever want to get married. Lie your butt off. And after meeting your mom and dad well I’m thinking since they are good folks and if they raised you right then so are you. Now go get her.”

Brandon jogged over to her. She took a step back and went still as she seemed to realize his brother was behind her. 

Brandon stopped before her and grinned. “I suck at lying so won’t even try. But the rest I can do. Thanks.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

David growled. Brandon stifled a chuckle.

The woman pushed at Brandon. “Go get her.” Then she grabbed his tie and pulled him close. “You hurt her and I will gut you then leave you for Hallie to finish the job. She’s not as nice as me.”  She smiled widely.

“Yes, ma’am.” He winked then looked over her shoulder. “She’s a handful.”

David nodded in agreement. The woman went for his tie again. Brandon stepped back and chuckled before turning and heading after Erica. 

 

***

 

I refuse to look back. Erica Lauer continued on. She heard Michelle saying something but not what. She went around the corner then stopped. Placing her hand over her chest she rubbed it and refused to think of what she was experiencing was disappointment. The first man she met in a long time who piqued her interest had to be rich and one of the sons of her biggest donors for her center.

“There you are,” Brandon said.

Erica started. She hadn’t heard or seen him approach. She studied him. Earlier she could tell he and the other man were related. The slight five o’clock shadow gave him a rakish air. His black hair made his green eyes even more pronounced. The man had such an almost innocent look about him it made her wonder if there was a little mischief in him. He smiled and the twinkle in his gaze answered that. Brandon might look innocent but that look was all devil. The pale grey suit and black tie made him so damn sexy.

“Why do you have to be so cute?”

Brandon grinned wider. “I like hearing that. Thought I would need to convince you to go out with me.”

“It’ll take more than you being cute for that.” She pushed pass him.

Brandon met her step for step. He didn’t say a word just walked with her. I won’t say anything. I won’t say anything. She repeated to herself. They were almost to her center when she knew she wouldn’t be able to hold out.

“What?”

“I didn’t say anything,” Brandon said.

“You are thinking something.”

“Just wondering why you are being cowardly.”

He insulted her so matter-a-factly she almost missed it. Erica stopped and he did too. She counted then counted again. It didn’t help.

“It’s really a bad idea for you to be standing next to me.”

“Why?” he asked, cheerfully.

She looked at him. “I can’t decide if I want to deck you for insulting me or kiss you for being brave enough to.”

Brandon smiled. “I vote for the latter.”

What am I going to do with him?