Then again, he’d also made his own choices. He worked with Jennifer forhis own career to prosper, so he had no right to judge. Tablet in hand, he sat back on the couch opposite his brother. “Look, I know you stole some of Cosimo’s DNA when you put his bottle in your pocket.”
Anthony emptied his glass but otherwise didn’t move. “He’s my son. It’s not stealing.”
Matt set the tablet aside. He lived with the family motto, and expected it of his siblingsin return. Without question. “I can’t have Ashley’s name involved in anything.”
Anthony shrugged as he sat back in his seat, completely confident. “I’ll ensure your girlfriend isn’t named directly but her mother will be able to figure out how I got the ammunition for my custody claim.”
He hadn’t thought farther than allowing Anthony to see Cosimo. Now there was nothing he could doto help her, short of demanding that Anthony give the bottle back. He couldn’t do it—Jennifer had no right to keep Cosimo from Anthony. He glanced up at the ceiling and summoned their father’s way of speaking as he said, “I need Ashley insulated from anything you might do.”
Anthony stood and fixed his pants like he was done with the conversation. “I’ll send her a check. Combined with themoney Peter paid her, she shouldn’t need to work, ever again.”
Money wasn’t the same. Today Matt had hurt her. Not on purpose but he’d hurt the one woman who’d gotten under his unflappable skin. He couldn’t explain that so he told his brother as he waved for him to join him in the dining area, “Our father said Morgans don’t fight Morgans publicly. I didn’t even know I was a Morgan whenlearning that lesson which is why I started my career as a Marshall.”
The moment they entered, he saw everything Ashley had made for him was waiting for them to eat.
He’d never before questioned why his life was always ordered. Anthony carried the wine bottle and his empty glass. He sat and said, “Yet we’re here and we’re family.”
Matt circled back and grabbed his full glass.Those few seconds helped him clear this mind and calm his pulse so it quit pounding.
Matt met his brother’s brown eyes as he took the seat opposite him and folded his hands on the table. “Yes, but Ashley is mine, and what happened here cannot go public.”
“Are you telling me I can’t sue for my own son?” Anthony’s eyebrow rose.
“I’m telling you that Ashley and I are not involvedin your paternity suit.” Matt spoke firmly but then breathed in. He wasn’t being kind, and Anthony understood how to be a Morgan too. “So let’s eat.”
They both ate. Matt’s mouth woke up from the spices of Ashley’s food.
At his sister’s house, he’d devoured this chicken and vegetable plate countless times.
Maybe the flavor in his mouth was love.
Her words haunted him,even if he didn’t believe in love. Love complicated his life and he was better off focusing on the one thing he could control… his career.
As he looked down, his plate was empty—he’d eaten it all.
Matt picked up his wine and sipped. Anthony finished his plate, clearly enjoying his dinner. When he was done, Anthony motioned for them to get up. “Let’s return to the living room. Thereis one more thing I should tell you.”
Interesting. The conversation about Ashley and the upcoming legal fight his brother intended to have was done or at least he thought so. In the living room, Anthony picked up the tablet and used his phone to send something else. Matt sat,, still holding his wine glass. “What?”
“Ashley is in love with you.” Anthony motioned for him to press arecording button on the file.
Matt didn’t touch it but instead said, “Just tell me what this is.”
Anthony shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. “I have Jennifer’s dressing room bugged.”
No. Matt’s contract and his job had always been first in his mind but then he shook that thought off. That was why he approached Ashley at first. And then he kissed her but it wasn’t always related,was it? He wasn’t completely shallow and selfish.
Spying on a woman was a bit much.
Matt didn’t want to be involved with any of that. His face was warm as he shook his head and said, “I don’t want to know this.”
Anthony reached across his seat and pressed play on the tablet. A second later he heard Ashley and Jennifer.
“So I got the job?”
“Yeah, I put you through enough and I’m sorry for the whole surrogacy thing.”
Good. Jennifer shouldn’t have used Ashley, but then Ashley said,“I made a lot of money so I can’t hate you for it.”
