She stared straight ahead, looking as comfortable as he felt right at that moment. It wasn’t just the animosity between them, Dylan could handle that, it was this other tension, that could only be termed as sexual.

“Hey, Pip.”

Dylan turned to find three men and a red-haired woman who had some serious curves. The first two men he thought he recognized simply because they had a family resemblance. Jack and Luke Trainer, Joe’s younger siblings.

“Dylan Howard, meet Luke and Jack Trainer, Fin Hudson, and my best girl, Maggie Winter.”

Manners it seemed were important to Piper Trainer, because he knew she’d not wanted to perform the introductions.

They shook his hands.

“Mary Howard’s son?” It was Jack Trainer who added two and two. The scowl on his face was familiar too.

“I am.”

Fin whistled. “Let me buy you a beer.”

“I respect my mother,” Dylan felt he had to say. He didn’t much like her, but he did respect her for raising three kids and providing them with food and shelter. Any love in the household had been supplied by his father and sisters.

“As you should,” Fin added. “But we don’t have to.”

This drew a reluctant laugh from the Trainers. What the hell had his mother done to this family? He had a feeling he would never get all the details.

“Hey, sorry, man. I know your mom’s actions aren’t yours, but it just threw me for a minute there.”

Dylan accepted the slap on his shoulder from the youngest Trainer.

“How’s Charlie doing?” Jack asked. “She was at school with me.”

“She lives in Dallas, works in investment banking.”

“Remember she was good at painting in school,” Jack said.

She was, and his mother had refused to let her pursue her dream. Dylan remembered that too.

“And Ava, you seen her yet?” Luke Trainer asked.

“Yes, she was leaving as I was arriving.”

“Be strange staying in your old room after that long.” Joe had returned. “So if you need some space the bunks are free above the stables if you want one.”

“Joe—”

“Joe—”

The Trainer brothers both spoke at once, and while Joe’s glare said he didn’t like their behavior, Dylan understood it.

“You were raised better than that,” Joe said softly, making his brothers squirm before he looked back to Dylan. “You want that bed, it’s yours.”

“I’ll pass, but thanks.”

“Maggie Winter.”

The redhead stepped forward and stuck out her hand. Dylan took it, glad to break the tension. The relaxing drink he’d hoped to get had been far from it.

“Don’t mind them, they love their brother, as do we all, but none of us are responsible for our parents’ behavior.”

Her words had Jack and Luke looking down at their beers. Piper, however, was still looking like she wanted to do him bodily harm.