Catch Me If You Can Read Online Free Page B

have a proposition for you,” Tag said abruptly. Time to move forward. “And Zanna, too, I suppose, since it will affect her as well.”
    Other than leaning his chair back on two legs, Jace didn’t react to the sudden change in topic. They’d all become adept at rolling with the punches at a very early age, with nary an outward sign of reaction. “Is this what you wanted to talk to me about last night?”
    Tag nodded. “I’ve been going over all of the papers, trying to figure out the best way to settl e the estate.” He rested his weight on his elbows, cradling his mug. “You’re just starting out here in town, teaching P.E., coaching the high school basketball team.”
    “We hope. Remember, the meeting isn’t till later today.”
    Tag waved his hand. “Formality. They’re lucky to have you and they know it. With your college playing history and the fact that you’re a hometown boy? You’re a shoo-in.”
    Jace didn’t bother to argue the point. “Go on.”
    “Zan is also starting up the business with her mom, so you two have a lot going on, but it’s all just beginning.” Tag took a steadying breath, not realizing until just then how much he hoped Jace would agree with this plan he’d worked out. He might not have a personal desire to stay connected to this place, but he did respect the history attached to it. And he’d like to think that the four young men who’d had a place in it, no matter how brief, had to count for something, too. “So, I happen to own this big old house with absolutely no in tendons of living in it.” He rubbed his thumbs on the mug, uncomfortable with the flash of sentimentality, unwilling to label it as such. He was merely being practical.
    Jace’s eyes widened. “You want me and Zan to move in? Here?” He blew out a sigh, then rocked his chair forward so the legs hit the floor with a loud thump. “I don’t know, TJ.,” he said, using the nickname Tag heard so rarely, as only his brothers and those in Highland Springs used it. Kept things less confusing growing up, with him and his father having the same name. Still, it felt kind of nice hearing it again.
    Jace looked around the room, and Tag wondered what memories it held for him. He’d already been gone by the time Jace was a teenager.
    “It’s been hard enough bunking out here the past couple of weeks. I’m not sure—”
    “The thing is,” Tag broke in, wanting—no, needin g —to have this said. “ I don’t want to sell it. Not because I’m attached to it, but because our ancestors are. This house, well, this land anyway, along with our third of the Hollow property, is a legacy to all the Morgans before us.”
    “Such as they were,” Jace said with a wry smile.
    Tag matched his brother’s expression. “Yes, well, wastrels and bastards though some of them may have been, it’s the unbroken chain I’m most interested in keeping intact.” He leaned forward. “I dig up history for a living. And while I’m in no hurry to relive my own, I’m not in any rush to sell it off, either.” He pushed on, not letting J ace speak. “I could give a shit about the house. Raze it to the ground if you want, build a new one, for the two of you. In fact, maybe that’s exactly what you should do. Say what you will about the old man, but he knew how to make money. And as I have no need for it, you might as well use it to start over here.” He thought briefly about the documents wai ti ng for his signature, the ones that could continue funneling some of th at private stash overseas. If he were so inclined. He didn’t want to think about that at the moment. Family came first. The Hollow came second. Everything else was a distant third. A castle and caretaker an ocean away felt pretty distant to him at the moment.
    “I don’t know, man.” Jace gripped his mug, then shoved it away, once again looking around the room. “It’s not just the house. The whole property has history. Some of it mine.”
    “Not all of it