“Thanks for letting us invade your home,” I said. “Again.”

“Anytime,” he said. “You still having your annual New Year’s party?”

“Absolutely,” I said. “You’re coming, right?”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Blane replied.

“I’ll go round up the boys,” I told Kade. “Would you mind starting the car?” He’d already taken the kids’ haul out earlier. God forbid we’d get up in the morning and there was some toy we’d left at Blane’s.

“Sure,” he said.

“I can get the little one for you,” Branna offered, setting her wine aside.

“Thanks,” I said. “That would be great.”

It didn’t take me too long to get the boys bundled up, and I sent them in to tell Mona thank you before she left for home as well. I was passing by the den when I heard Kade and Blane talking. I would’ve kept going, but I heard my name, so I stopped.

It had been a long time since I’d eavesdropped on one of their conversations, and I felt a niggle of guilt as I did so, but that didn’t make me step away from the door.

“. . . still in love with Kathleen?” Kade asked.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Blane said. “That ended a long time ago.”

“Yeah, it ended,” Kade said, “but I don’t think that did a damn thing to change how you feel. I’m your brother, and I know you.”

My eyes widened. What was Kade talking about? Surely, Blane had moved on—it had been years, after all. He’d dated other women after Kade and I had married, and he’d been with Branna.

“Christ, Kade, you think now is a good time to talk about this? On Christmas?”

“What, should I fly to DC and make an appointment with your secretary?” Kade’s sarcasm was thick. “Just answer the question.”

* * *

Blane stared at his brother, who gazed unflinchingly back at him.

Well, this was awkward. Blane should have known that he wouldn’t be able to fool Kade. Not that he’d tried. They hadn’t had a frank discussion about Kat in years, though why Kade would pick tonight of all nights to bring it up was a mystery.

“What do you want me to say, Kade?” Blane asked, lifting his arms in exasperation before they dropped back to his sides. “That I’m still in love with your wife?”

“Are you?”

Kade didn’t look angry. He looked . . . pained. As though he already knew the answer and was just waiting for Blane to say it out loud.

Blane didn’t want to hurt Kade, but neither did he want to lie. “A part of me is always going to be in love with her,” he said at last, his voice quiet. “She changed me, changed both of us, and you know I’d do anything for her.

“But that doesn’t mean I’m not living my life or that I begrudge what you and she have,” Blane continued. “I’m glad you have a family, that you’re alive and happy. I’m not pining away for the past.”

And that was all quite true. Mostly. Did Blane lie awake in the dead of night and wonder what might have been? Sometimes. But no one needed to know that except him.

“I know Kathleen loves you,” Kade said, and Blane’s heart gave a lurch even though logically he knew Kade meant it in a way that didn’t warrant the brief hope that had flared in Blane. “She always has and she always will. I came to terms with that a long time ago.”

“So what’s your point?” Blane asked. There were about a thousand and one other things he’d rather suffer through a heart-to-heart with Kade about than this.

“Are you being fair to Branna?” Kade asked.

Ah. Branna. She’d been there when he’d lost Kathleen, and Blane had been there for her when she’d realized that she and Kade weren’t ever going to happen.

“Branna is very special to me,” Blane said.

“Are you going to marry her?”

Blane took a deep breath. “Besides the fact that it’s none of your business, no, we have no plans to get married.” How to explain their relationship? “Branna’s a friend, Kade. We’ve been . . . good for each other. And that’s all you need to know.”

Kade nodded. “Fine. I don’t wanna know the details.” He pushed a hand through his hair. “I guess my point, and I do have one, is that . . . we’re family. Me. You. Kathleen. And nothing’s going to change that.”

Their eyes met and Blane was suddenly glad that his brother hadn’t taken Kat away from Indy. He could have. Kade could have put as much distance as he wanted between Blane and Kathleen, but he hadn’t. He’d allowed Blane to be a part of all their lives—Kathleen’s, Kade’s, and their kids’.

A look of mutual understanding passed between them. The past was a long time ago, but it felt good to clear the air. If Kade, who avoided talking about his feelings even more than Blane did, brought it up, it must have been bothering him.

The door suddenly swung open and the boys came barreling into the room, looking for their dad. Beyond the door stood Kat. Blane’s gaze fell on her. She was staring at him, her expression stark, as though she’d overheard every word he and Kade had said . . .

Shit.

“Here you go!” Branna said, stepping up to Kat with Lana in her arms and jerking Kat’s attention from Blane.

Lana was rubbing her fists against her eyes and yawning, all bundled up in her coat and shoes. She looked like a doll-sized version of Kat, with her reddish blonde curls, blue eyes, and little red lips. When she saw her mom, she held her arms out. There was a familiar twist in Blane’s gut at this, but his face showed nothing.

“All right, you monsters,” Kade said, corralling the boys. “Outside with you. The chariot awaits. No pushing, no shoving, no running. No activity that will result in wet clothes or crying.”

Blane shook his head. His little brother—a father now, and a good one at that. Kade had turned his life around.

He followed Kade out into the hallway, watching as Kade took Lana from Kat and then headed outside after Kane and Teddy, who were already ignoring his edicts and hurling snowballs at each other with ungloved hands.

“It was good to see you again,” Kat said politely, giving Branna a hug. Branna allowed the gesture, murmuring, “You too.” Blane was glad they’d buried the hatchet a while back. He doubted they’d ever be close, but at least they didn’t fight anymore. Branna glanced at him as she passed by and Blane brushed her hand with his.

“I’ll be there in a moment,” he said with a small smile. She nodded before heading back into the library, leaving Blane alone with Kat.

Blane reached into the nearby closet for Kat’s coat, which he’d gotten as a gift for her last Christmas. He held it open for her to put on, and she obediently slipped her arms into the sleeves. Blane reached inside the collar, lifting her long hair from underneath. His fingers grazed the back of her neck.

Kat was looking up at him when she turned around, but Blane focused on doing up the fastenings on her coat. She was so little, even after having three children. Blane had deliberated for a long time as to which coat would keep her warm enough through an Indiana winter. The wool and cashmere blend he’d finally settled on was a good choice.

“I’m glad Branna’s here,” Kat said quietly.

Blane didn’t answer. He didn’t want to talk about or dwell on the past. It was enough to just be around Kat. His fingers moved slow and deliberately, easily slipping the loops one-by-one over the fastenings.

“I . . . don’t like to think of you by yourself.”

Blane finished doing up the last loop and lifted his gaze to hers. Yes, she’d overheard all right. She looked sad, and Blane couldn’t bear to see that in her eyes.

“I’m content, Kat,” he assured her, lifting a hand to cup her soft cheek. “You’ve given Kade so much—a life he never would have had without you. You saved my brother. If I didn’t already love you, I would for that. Things have a way of . . . working out.”

Kat’s expression eased and Blane folded her into a hug, savoring the fleeting moment when she was in his arms. They stayed like that until that twinge inside him said any longer would be unwise, then he let her go.

“Don’t worry about me,” he said, squeezing her hand. He smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “Though I won’t pretend I don’t like it when you do.”

Her lips lifted in an answering smile. “I always worry about you,” she admitted.

“I’m fine,” Blane said easily, dismissing her concern though a part of him was pleased. “You’d better go. Your husband’s going to think you forgot about him.”

Kat nodded and took a step toward the door, then turned back to him. Rising on her toes she pressed her lips to his in a quick kiss, then another. Her palm cupped his jaw as she looked into his eyes.

“You’re a good man,” she whispered, her blue gaze intent on his.

Blane was too stunned to say or do anything, and a moment later she was pulling open the front door and hurrying to the waiting car. He stood in the doorway and watched as the SUV pulled away from the house, heading into the falling snow as they drove down the road.

Blane’s lips tingled from her touch, her words echoing in his mind.

A good man.

Blane knew his life would have turned out much differently had he not met Kathleen. No doubt he’d be married to Kandi by now, miserable, possibly following in his father’s footsteps and cheating on his wife, living for his ambitions and neck-deep in whatever illegal and unethical machinations his uncle would have trapped him in. It was because of Kat and the changes she’d wrought in him and in his life that Blane could still claim he had honor and integrity.

A good man, she’d said.

Blane smiled. Yes, he’d take that.

Closing the door against the snow and the cold, he headed back down the hall, to the warmth of the library, and the woman who awaited him there.

* * *

By the time we got home the boys were barely conscious for us to wrestle them into their pajamas and tuck them into bed. Lana was out like a light as I tugged her tights and dress off, pulling on her footed pajamas. I kissed the top of her head, then settled her into the crib on her tummy. She immediately drew her knees up underneath her, sticking her bottom in the air and wedging her fist in her mouth.

Finally, it was still and silent in the house and I went in search of my husband.

I found Kade sitting in the living room, gazing past the brightly lit Christmas tree to the large picture windows beyond. Big, fat snowflakes were falling, adding to the snow already on the ground.

“That’s beautiful,” I sighed, standing next to him. He pulled me down to sit on his lap and I rested my head on his shoulder. Together, we watched the snow fall. It was like a scene out of a fairy tale, and it got me thinking of how we’d gotten here from where we’d begun. Our fairy tale, mine and Kade’s, had been filled with betrayals and blood, villains and victims. But love had flourished, too, and trust, which in the end had overcome all the rest.

“I wouldn’t change anything,” I said after a while. “You know, if I had it to do over again.” I glanced up at him. “Would you?”

Kade’s hand moved to tangle in my hair, the strands slipping through his fingers.

“No,” he said at last. “Somehow, even with all the mistakes I made, I got the girl. So no, I wouldn’t change anything.”

His words brought Blane to mind again. He’d said he was content, but maybe he’d just sought to reassure me. Kade would know the truth.

“Do you think he’s happy?” I asked. I didn’t have to specify who I meant. We both knew.

Kade took a deep breath, his brow furrowing slightly as he thought. “I think,” he said slowly, “that Blane’s life . . . is exactly what he wants it to be.”

Suddenly, I realized just how understanding Kade had been over the years, sharing me and our family with Blane. He had never protested or so much as hinted that he had any problem with Blane being around me or the kids. It was a testament of Kade’s love for Blane, and for me.

“I love you,” I said, reaching up to brush a lock of his dark hair from his forehead.

His smirk remained as he raised an eyebrow. “I know.”

Then he kissed me, the taste of him and the feel of his lips against mine pushing away thoughts of everyone and everything else. His hands cupped my jaw as he cradled me in his arms, my fingers undoing the buttons of his shirt to press against the warm skin underneath.

Kade suddenly stood and my legs automatically locked around his waist. His hands cupped my rear, supporting my weight as he climbed the stairs to our bedroom, and he made love to me on Christmas night while our babies slept in their beds and the snow fell outside.