Too Long: Hayes Brothers Book 6

MY MOTHER HUMILIATED or embarrassed me in front of people on many, many occasions, but not once has her acid-dripping disdain made me feel as bad as when she spoke to Colt.

Comparing him to an abandoned animal, like I’m only with him out of pity…

I know her well enough to read between the lines. She wasn’t just saying Colt’s a phase, that he’s a project I’ve taken on to kill time. No, she dug deeper, ridiculing his social status, and accentuating the financial gap.

He’s well-off. Owns a beautiful house. The cars I saw in his garage, the watch, his clothes—all expensive. If I were to venture a guess, I’d say he’s worth at least five million, but in my mothers’ eyes millions are spare change.

Dad’s fortune is worth over thirty-five billion dollars. Anyone who’s not part of the ten-digit elite doesn’t matter.

Grant is an unfortunate exception because his life’s mission is to hit ten digits. He’s twenty-four, already worth nine, so ten is just a matter of time. He’s also a huge ass-kisser and has made a considerable effort to get into my mother’s good graces over the years.

I look toward the bow of Serenity where Dad’s engrossed in conversation with Colt and my brother, Ben.

The happiness I felt when Colt agreed to spend the week with me, so I could avoid Grant, now withers away. I’m anything but happy. I’m disappointed. Mostly in myself. Focused on making sure I would be fine, I didn’t consider what would happen to Colt.

I’ve not known him long, but it’s clear as day that he’s a good person. Despite the brazen arrogance he radiates, despite the controlling, dominating aura, he’s good inside. It was clear when he was talking about his family during the flight. The fondness in his voice when he mentioned his nephews, placing a particular focus on the twin chaos generators, as he calls Conor’s sons… yeah, he’s a good person.

And he doesn’t deserve any shit from my mother no matter how well he can take it.

I wish I’d never asked him to come. It’s only day two and I’m already wondering how to send him home, away from this shitshow. My mother’s behavior will scare him off, we’ll never have that date he promised, and I like him too much to let Mom ruin this for me.

She stands at the bar, her shoulders squared, a phone to her ear, her other hand flying about as she gesticulates, showing off her exasperation in case anyone hasn’t noticed. I bet she’s ordering the concierge to restock her minibar. Or maybe she’s venting to her best friend who broke her hip the other day and couldn’t make the cruise.

What. A. Pity.

“Ignore her,” my brother says, taking Colt’s empty seat.

Other than Amara chatting to her maid of honor at the far end of the table, no one else is seated. Most of the guests are lounging on comfy couches or indulging in a morning swim on the third deck while they wait for the first task.

“She’s about as easy to ignore as a buzzing fly at three in the morning,” I mumble, finishing my coffee.

Maybe I should follow my mother’s lead and order a glass of red… Drowning my foul mood in a bottle of Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac sounds tempting but getting drunk at half past nine in the morning while my mother lingers nearby is a recipe for disaster.

Benjamin chuckles. “She may be infuriating, but she does have your best interests at heart, sis.”

“I’ve never heard her speak that way to Amara.”

“That’s different. Amara’s only job is looking pretty, acting classy, and cooking my babies in her oven. There’s much more expected of your husband than there ever will be of my wife.”

I scrunch up my nose. “Age of equality my ass.”

“Equality? Not in our section of society. Like I said, just ignore Mom’s digs. Colt seems immune. Where did you even find him? Last time I heard, you were single.”

“Couldn’t resist my charm,” Colt says, appearing beside us, with a fresh cup of coffee for me. He’s so… attentive. So perceptive. I could get used to being treated like a princess. “Will you be okay here for twenty minutes? Your dad wants me to put him in touch with Nico.”

“I’ll be fine, just make sure you’re back before ten. Amara won’t be happy if you’re late for the game.”

“It won’t take long.” He drops a kiss on my head, nods at my brother, then marches away, meeting my father at the elevator. They’re probably heading to the conference room on the lower level. There’s also a movie theater, casino, and nightclub equipped with three poles down there.

My brother’s engagement celebration—for lack of a better word—will not take place down there, so it’s all closed for the week, but the bachelor party is bound to get out of control. Benjamin’s already announced he wants to sail to Cuba for a wild night.

“I like him,” he says watching my father and Colt step into the all-glass elevator. “He’s smart.”

“He is. Not that you spent any time with him to notice.”

“Yeah, but Dad’s keeping him close. That’s enough of a hint.”

True. My dad has a knack for reading people. He doesn’t surround himself with those who don’t represent something he values, and he values intelligence above all. Might be the reason he’s never been keen on Grant.

You’d think making the kind of money Grant makes requires intelligence, but the truth is, Grant is simply a great piggyback rider. He climbs the ladder on the coattails of others, mimicking their strategic decisions.

“Come on, sis,” Ben pleads, nodding at Amara like he’s inviting me to spend time with her. “I know she’s not your favorite person, but… make an effort, okay? For me. Get to know her. She’ll be part of this family soon enough. It’d be nice if you got along.”

“It’s not that I don’t like her, Ben. I just think you’re rushing into this marriage to please Mom. I worry that you’ll meet the right girl one day and regret this.”

He shrugs, dismissing my words with a wave. He’s heard it all multiple times before, sat through countless similar conversations, and never once complained about my older-sister routine so I guess I should shut up and go with the flow.