Her Lucky Love (3 page)

Brayden shook his head and walked into Eddie’s, the town watering hole where he’d said he meet two of his brothers, Jackson and Tyler. Though the Coopers weren’t fans of the place, as they’d rather hang out and drink at Jackson’s, the old Cooper place where he’s grown up, sometimes variety was a necessary evil.

According to his brothers, his current routine was a little too stale for their tastes.

Going out to a bar was apparently the way to end that.

Sure it was.

Jackson and Tyler were already in a booth in the back, away from prying eyes. Well, as away as they could get. Considering they were Coopers, they were fodder for town gossip no matter how hard they all tried to stay out of the spotlight.

Considering all that had happened these past few months, they really hadn’t tried all that hard. His youngest brother, Matt, had been a ghost haunting the old Marlow place for eleven years, yet no one had known about it until he found a way to break the curse. Matt’s wife, Jordan, was a witch, and she’d had to deal with the stigma of being different in a small town.

His brother Justin was one of Santa’s executives. Yeah, that Santa. And Justin’s other half, Rina, was a freaking elf from the North Pole. Tyler was a cupid while his soon-to-be-wife, Abby, was a harpy.

Yes, their world was a little bit weird, and the town knew some of it and guessed about the rest of it. There was no hiding from them. None at all.

But, they tried, so Brayden made his way to the back booth and slid in beside Tyler since Jackson liked his space more than anyone he’d ever met. Considering his brother lived in a sprawling home by himself, he took that need to the core.

“It’s about time you got here,” Tyler drawled as he took a sip of his beer. “Thought you’d flake out on us.”

“I don’t flake,” Brayden said as he signaled Eddie, the bartender and owner, for a beer. There was no use telling the man what kind he wanted. He’d get what Eddie felt like drawing from the tap, as it was in some small towns.

“No, you’re the reliable one,” Jackson said as he narrowed his eyes.

Damn brother, always knowing what was on his mind.

Yes, Brayden was the reliable one. The one that did everything for everybody without wanting a thank you. He’d always been that way. Even as a kid he’d help out when needed. Not that his brothers were jerks or anything. The Coopers always helped out when needed, but Brayden seemed to be the one needed most.

But, he didn’t have a choice.

It was his penance.

After all he was the lucky one…right?

Absentmindedly, he traced the coin on a leather strap around his neck, feeling the magic warm and spark under his touch.

Jackson scowled and tilted his head. “You gonna tell us what that coin is any time soon? You’ve had the thing for years and haven’t spilled the beans.”

Tyler nodded and elbowed him in the gut as Eddie brought over his beer. Brayden gave him a quick nod and took a sip. Nice, crisp with a little bit of hops to make it tingle. Perfect. Eddie knew what the hell he was doing. That’s why he and his brothers never fought over what to drink. Eddie always had it right.

“Stop thinking about your damn beer and tell us what the hell is going on,” Tyler said as he looked over his shoulder.

Brayden sighed and did the same. The place was pretty empty, and they were alone at least for the moment so whatever they said would be private for now.

“I don’t feel like talking,” Brayden said and took another sip. Maybe if he just kept drinking, they’d leave him alone. He’d kept his secret for longer than Tyler or Matt had kept theirs. He didn’t feel like sharing it now, even though he knew the weight of secrets pushed down on them all. Time moved forward, and new people were entering their tight-knit group, changing the dynamics beyond a mere brotherhood.

“You don’t have a choice right now,” Jackson said smoothly, and then he took another sip. “You see, we know you’ve been hiding something, but we’ve let you keep it secret since you don’t seem to be in pain. However, things are changing. Ever since Greg died, you’ve been acting differently. Like you’re waiting on something that could actually happen now, instead of watching from the sidelines.”

Brayden held back a wince at the bastard’s name, even though Jackson wasn’t that far off.

“That brings us to the second reason we’re here,” Tyler said. “All of this comes back to Allison, and we’re going to talk about that. Deal?”

“Since when did we become a group of women who talk about our feelings?” Brayden asked.

“Since always, you ass. We talk more than most, so get over yourself,” Jackson scolded.

Brayden drained the last of his beer and signaled to cut himself off. He needed to drive later, and he didn’t need to drown himself in liquid courage.

“Where do you want me to start?” Brayden asked, resigned.

“How about with the coin around your neck? Come on. We’ve been asking for years; you’ve been avoiding for years. Based on everything that’s been happening in the past few months, it’s time to spill. What are we in for here?” Tyler asked.

“It’s my lucky coin.”

Jackson blinked. “And? That really doesn’t tell us anything. Plenty of people have lucky coins, yet yours seems different. And considering this is Holiday, where all things holiday and paranormal seem to be collected, and the fact we’re Coopers and can’t seem to get away from the blasted things, that can’t just be a lucky coin.”

The anger and bitterness when Jackson talked about holidays and paranormals surprised Brayden. Considering Jackson wasn’t a fan of change, it made sense that he hadn’t liked how their family had been turned upside down in recent months.

“I’m a lucky man,” Brayden explained. At his brothers’ stares, he continued, “I’ve always been lucky. At least since I was five and I found the end of a rainbow.”

Tyler and Jackson’s eyes widened, and Brayden chuckled.

“Yes, an actual rainbow.”

“But, you can’t find the end of one,” Jackson said. “Rainbows are just refracted light like a prism. The position changes as you change your position. That’s the whole point of your eyes and perception.”

Brayden loved when his dentist and science-driven brother got technical.

“Sometimes, Jacks, the science of it all gets skewed when magic enters the fray.”

Jackson cursed. “This is why I miss things the way they were.”

Tyler frowned. “I don’t, not really. It’s because of magic that I got Abigail and Matt got Jordan and Justin got Rina. I don’t think I could give up the magic in exchange for losing any of that. Not even a little bit.”

Jackson rolled his eyes. “If you all had been meant to get together, then you would have. Magic shouldn’t have been a part of it. That’s beside the point. Ignore me and my old man crankiness.”

“Always do,” Tyler said. “So, Brayden, you found the end of a rainbow. And you say you’re lucky…so are you a leprechaun?”

Any other time and place, or any other family, that question would either have been a joke or one that would have landed any one of them in the loony bin, but not in Holiday, not anymore.

“No, but I met one.”

“So, what did he look like? I know elves aren’t short little people, but what about him?” Tyler asked, excitement on his voice.

Who knew his tough sheriff brother would be so excited about all this?

“He looked like a cranky old man hording his pot of gold. He told me that only a lucky few are destined to find the end of a rainbow. And, because I was special, I got a coin that would prove me lucky.”

“You know, any other time, that old man would seem a bit creepy,” Jackson said. “I mean, an old man drawing in a little boy with a promise of trinkets?”

“Way to make it gross, you idiot,” Brayden said and threw a peanut at him.

“What? I wouldn’t want my kids finding old men in fields or wherever the hell you were.”

“Oh shut the fuck up,” Brayden said and ground his teeth.

“I still have no idea why people think you’re the nice one,” Tyler said.

“Because I
am
fucking nice. Now are you going to let me finish my story? Or are we going to let Jackson taint a memory for me?”

“I’m just telling you the truth,” Jackson answered. “But, do continue.”

“Thank you,” Brayden said shortly. “He gave me a coin because he said it was my destiny.”

Jackson rolled his eyes, and Tyler chucked.

“Sorry,” Tyler said. “I’m just laughing at our idiot brother who’s so opposed to magic that it’s going to be funny as hell when it happens to him.”

“Who said it will?” Jackson asked, anger lacing in his tone.

“Because we’re Coopers, and that’s what happens,” Brayden explained. “Now can I finish my fucking story, or are we just going to harp on Jackson some more? Because if it’s the latter, I’ll just go home. I didn’t want to share my story anyway, but it seemed like the right time.  It’s looking like I was wrong, considering you two don’t seem ready. Maybe I’ll just tell Matt and Justin.”

Tyler held up his hands. “No, sorry. We’ll behave. And we’ll tell Matt and Justin for you later. That way you don’t have to tell the story again. We would have just called Matt and Justin to join us, but they’re out with the girls on a double date.”

“You just want to hear it first so you’ll win or whatever.”

“Damn straight.” Tyler smiled and drained the last of his beer.

“So despite the fact that he said
destiny
, I still took the coin because it looked cool. Then the next day, I won spelling bingo and a new bike.”

Tyler’s eyes widened. “I remember you telling me the story of how you won. Considering I wasn’t even born yet when you got the coin, that’s kind of cool.”

“I was two grades higher than you and jealous as hell that you won. Was it because of luck then?” Jackson asked.

“Well, that and skill. But, the luck started then. Ever since, I’ve won things, been lucky in my deals, had another sense of what to do with my life, where to put my stocks, and other things. I mean, luck doesn’t mean good, you know? It could also be bad, so I had to weigh my options. Yeah, people think the definition of luck is a good thing, but there’s such a thing as bad luck. So bad that it can roll on top of itself and never let go. So far, I’ve been lucky in the good sense.”

He knocked on the wooden table then traced his coin again, a habit of his that he’d kept from his brothers most of his life.

“Bray, that’s awesome,” Tyler said in awe. “I just always thought you were good at what you do. And, yeah, luck came to mind, but not the magical kind.

“Well, sure. That’s why I have everything I could ever want, right? I have the nice house, a business I love, money rolling in from my investments, and so much more. I’m lucky.”

His voice sounded hollow even to his own ears.

“Then why do you sound like you don’t have the one thing you want?” Tyler asked, his gaze too knowing.

“This brings us to Allison,” Jackson said, and Brayden flinched.

“I’m not going to talk about her.”

“At least your acknowledging the fact that there’s a subject having to do with her,” Tyler said. “I mean, come on, you’ve been dancing around and evading that subject for ten years.”

Brayden started. They’d known that long?

“Yes, we’ve known that long,” Jackson said. “And no, you didn’t say what you thought aloud, but it’s written all over your face.”

“I don’t want to talk about her, okay?”

“Why don’t you just ask her out?” Tyler asked.

“Because I can’t, don’t you get that? She doesn’t need me.” As soon as he voiced the words, he cursed.

He hadn’t meant to reveal all that, and now from the stares of his brothers, he wasn’t getting off easy.

Crap.

“So you know you have feelings for her?” Jackson asked.

Brayden rolled his eyes. “Are you fucking kidding me? How stupid do you think I am? Of course I know. I know you all thought I’d just been in my own little world and hadn’t known what my feelings were, but I knew. I’ve always known. But, they’re my feelings. Not yours. So stay out of it, okay? Ally doesn’t need me in her life any more than I already am. Don’t mess with it.”

He got up and left some cash on the table, leaving his brothers staring at him with looks of astonishment on their faces.

Well, they’d asked after all.

They’d just have to deal with the consequences.

He got in his truck and made it back to his place, a sprawling hillside home with six bedrooms, waiting for a family.

One he was pretty sure he’d never have.

An image of Lacy, Aiden, and Cameron playing in the halls, their laughter echoing like some long-forgotten dream passed over his mind, and Brayden closed his eyes, trying to block out the picture that would never come to pass.

He could only imagine putting the kids to bed then slowing stripping down Allison to nothing but skin, tasting each inch and loving her like no man ever would.

A dream, nothing more.

He hadn’t consciously built the place for her and the kids, but he’d done it just the same.

And it was all for nothing.

Because of the coin, he had everything in the world. A home, a job, a dream…everything…

Everything but the one thing that could make him whole.

He had everything in the world but Allison, and that was the problem.

He felt content about life, yet he also felt empty.

He had all the money in the world, yet no one to share it with.

He had no one to talk about his day with.

No one to share his dreams with.

No matter how much money he gave away, making sure others could live and find happiness, he always made more, and it just make him sicker.

There were other things more important than money, even more important than a home and dreams.

There was that one thing he couldn’t have, and he couldn’t even help her realize she could have more. She didn’t take charity beyond what she needed. She was more independent than most because she’d had to be.

All his luck in the world hadn’t been able to protect her when she needed him most.

Brayden didn’t deserve Allison.

He knew that.

Now he just had his empty house to give him comfort because all the luck in the world couldn’t bring Allison to him.