'Tis the Season Read Online Free

Beautiful, fiery, exciting Vanessa, a model and a socialite. They’d met at a party on Martha’s Vineyard. The affair had been quick and hot; he’d proposed; they’d married . . . and it had been a fucking disaster.
    They were completely wrong for each other. While she loved the money, the settled married life was not for her. She was bored. She hated company functions and family expectations. Then the unexpected pregnancy, a honeymoon baby on the way. Vanessa hated being pregnant; she’d felt fat and her hormones had been out of whack . . . They had argued all the time. But she had Ava, then Thomas. By the third pregnancy, sex was all they had left, since they barely spoke. Myles wasn’t even a year old when Vanessa had said she’d had enough. By the time Myles was eighteen months old, she’d taken her hefty settlement and moved across the country to California, leaving Charles alone with three tiny children and a severe case of wounded pride. Disaster.
    Tonight, at the party, he’d seen Dane with Julia, laughing together and enjoying themselves. They seemed to always be laughing, always touching, and always having fun. Dane had already been that way, lighthearted and loving life, but since finding Julia, his glow had only magnified. Charles often thought that Dane was like the sun—a huge radiant presence, pulling whoever was near into his orbit of warmth and light. And his wife was a force to be reckoned with on her own. Combined, they were incredible. Loving Julia, and being loved by her, had only enriched Dane’s already charmed, full life, and made him happier than Charles had ever seen him. Charles was glad for him . . . and secretly envied that just a little. Hell, more than a little.
    Charles toasted his brother, lifting his glass before taking another sip.
    And Pierce. The churlish black sheep of the family had returned home over a year ago to lick his wounds. The youngest had screwed up his life enough to force him to quit a successful soccer career in England. But his siblings had brought him back into the fold, trying to help him, make him feel supported. All their relationships with him had improved. However, it was Abby who’d made the biggest difference. The small-town, straight-talking teacher saw through his fronts, didn’t put up with his bullshit, and adored him beyond measure. Pierce, in turn, was totally devoted to her. They were so different, but so right together. Charles wouldn’t be surprised if they were engaged soon.
    He’d even overheard Pierce just that night telling Tess how he wanted a bunch of kids who would all take after their smart, gorgeous mother, something Charles had never thought he’d hear from the formerly notorious womanizer. Pierce had bought into a New York professional soccer franchise, and coached local kids simply because he wanted to. It was heartening to see how Pierce had completely turned his life around, buoyed by the love of a good woman.
    Charles raised another toast to another brother, then drank deeply.
    Tess, his sister, was the best woman he’d ever known. And, sadly, was as alone as he was, also by choice. Burned by love, she’d pretty much sworn off men and buried herself in her work and her painting. Charles didn’t even have a hobby like painting, no outlet for the steam he swallowed all the time. He supposed that was why he went to the gym and took boxing classes. Hitting the bag, and sparring with his coach, felt good. It let off some steam . . . but not nearly enough. Definitely not on nights like this.
    Charles’s head was a little woozy; he suspected if he stood, he might wobble. Who cared? He hadn’t gone on a bender in a very long time. He was feeling lonesome, feeling sorry for himself, feeling angry, feeling . . . Dammit, he didn’t want to feel anything. If he did, if he let himself indulge in all the things he choked back and repressed every day, it might all come to