Everything happened so fast.

One moment he was alone with Mary, the late afternoon sun illuminating her wavy golden hair, her hand within reaching distance. The next, people surrounded them and another man had his arm around Mary's waist.

And everyone acted like that was perfectly natural. 

It wasn't.

Emily at least, was on his side. After hugging her sister, she'd pulled Simon into an embrace. "I had no choice; didn't know they were coming." Her voice was low, like her words were an admission of guilt.

"Who is that?" He eyed the man holding on to Mary as if he let go, she might fly away. Or choose to leave him. Simon wanted her to choose to leave the newcomer. But she didn't. Instead, she grabbed on to his arms as he swung her around. Deep down in Simon's chest, the sight sliced at his heart.

The tall man looked familiar, like he'd seen him before. Emily made the connection. "That's Hunter. He served with Finn."

A memory laced with envy rose to the surface, watching Mary in the arms of this man as they danced at Emily and Finn's wedding. Had Mary been seeing him all this time? While they were having picnics and playing house, had Mary been hiding her relationship with this handsome stranger?

Relationship? No. Mary would never be in a relationship with a military man. Her father would hate that, the military not being in the right status structure for Phillip Montgomery. He hadn't exactly been a fan of Finn at first, but he'd come around. Was it the same for this man?

"What would we do without you Simon?" Emily saying his name brought him to the present.

He tried not to look at Hunter, the arm around Mary, but failed. He shifted his gaze to Mary, searching her face for some explanation of what was going on. Wanting her to say she wasn't with this man. "You tell me."

And out of nowhere, he was shaking the other man's hand, being introduced as Finn's brother. Hunter Locklear's handshake was firm and when Simon let go, Hunter's arm went right back to resting around Mary's waist. Simon dropped his eyes to his own empty palms.

Emily took his hand and pulled him forward. "Finn'll be back any moment. Come inside, I know he wants to see you." A numbness settled over Simon, and he followed willingly, not knowing what else to do.

Once out of earshot, Emily filled him in. "Dad introduced Mary to Hunter, and he's been encouraging her to—" Emily hesitated like she didn't want to say the word.

"Date him?" Simon offered.

Beside him, Emily sighed. "Yes. Hunter has a brilliant political career ahead of him and Dad thinks he could go all the way."

"All the way?"

"To the white house."

Simon swallowed. There was no way he could compete with the potential next president of the United States. The prestige, the influence, the power Mary would have. He could see her now, in a pill box hat and matching purse, negotiating a peace treaty while solving world hunger. She'd be good at the role of First Lady. She may have been born for it.

Emily tugged on his sleeve. "Don't think like that."

Shaking his head, Simon groaned. "I didn't know. What chance do I have?"

Emily pushed him onto a stool by the kitchen island and placed both hands on his shoulder. "Every chance." She dipped her head and tried to catch his eye. "If you want it."

He met her grey irises. "I want it."

"Good."

Voices in the hall interrupted Emily's pep talk. Hunter laughed at something Phillip Montgomery said as they entered the kitchen. Simon's insides clenched. He didn't know Mr. Montgomery well, the two hadn't shared more than a few "How's the weather?" small talk conversations. Simon certainly never made the man laugh.

"Where's Mary?" Emily opened a cupboard and pulled out tall glasses and a pitcher.

The smile fell from her father's face. "She's upstairs changing into something more appropriate."

His words bit at Simon. Mary looked beautiful and, more importantly, relaxed in the simple sundress they'd purchased this morning. New York suddenly seemed a lifetime away, more like a dream than the reality it had been only hours ago. The Mary he knew and loved was most likely being stuffed away, to be replaced by the perfectly pink persona everyone expected from her.

The back door opened, and all eyes turned to Finn as he walked in. His brother blinked and his mouth made an o shape. Emily crossed the room to him, and he slipped an arm around his wife, kissing her on the cheek. "We have guests."

"I see that." Finn's eyes assessed the men and when landing on his ex-military buddy, Simon watched them light up. "Hunter." The two men embraced, doing that odd hug thing Finn did whenever Max came home from a mission and Finn relaxed. Simon tried not to wince, not needing the reminder that he was the outside man in this situation. As children, he and his brother had been as thick as thieves, one conspiring to distract their mother as the other snatched piping hot raspberry tarts off the tray in the kitchen. That all ended the day Finn left for basic training.

The gap between them widened not only with distance, but with experience. Finn had a relationship with his military brothers Simon could never come close to having, a bond forged in foreign lands in life and death situations. Watching Finn laugh with ease in the presence of Hunter dug at the deep hole in Simon's heart where the pained relationship he had with his brother lived. Would Finn ever look at him like that again?

"What brings you here?" Finn let go of Hunter.

"Came to see Mary."

A pain stabbed at Simon's chest. Hunter had everything. Brother to Finn, accepted as Mary's... what boyfriend. It was all too much. Simon stood. "I think I should go."

His brother abandoned his friend, moved to Simon's side, and put his arm around him. "Don't you want to stay for dinner?" Shock left Simon speechless. Finn's warm hand squeezed Simon's shoulder and his head tilted toward the next room. "C'mon, I have a new scotch I want to try."

Simon blinked; not sure he'd heard the words correctly. Finn wanted to have a drink with him? He glanced around the room, found Hunter and Phillip uninterested and Emily encouraging him. Finn looked at his brother expectantly. Another squeeze on the shoulder and Simon felt the lump in his throat shift. "Okay."

Finn grinned. "Good." Then he turned to Hunter and Phillip. "Gentlemen, care to join?" Disappointment dampened Simon's lifting spirits.

Until Hunter shook his head. "I promised to help Emily make the salad."

"Me too." Phillip added.

"Maybe I should pitch in?" Torn between helping Emily and taking his brother up on his offer, Simon didn't know what to do.

"Em's got plenty of help." Finn nudged Simon toward the study. "Call us when you want me to put the barbeque on."

Once in the study, Finn closed the door, strode to the liquor cabinet, and took out two crystal tumblers. "Hunter doesn't drink."

Simon blinked. Had Finn chosen to spend time with him over this army buddy? Hope and warmth spread in his chest. "Why not?"

Finn grunted, and Simon knew Finn wouldn't answer. Another trait his brother picked up in the military, keeping other people's secrets. "Is he... a good guy?" Simon winced at his own question. Like people could be defined as good and bad. Where would Finn rate him on that scale?

The lid of the emerald green bottle bearing a gold label popped as Finn twisted it and poured a dark amber liquid into the glasses. "The best."

Although he suspected this would be the answer to his question, the declaration made his head hurt and Simon rubbed his temple to try to relieve the pressure. Mary deserved nothing but the best.

"I always wanted him on my missions. He's honest, loyal and does the right thing when its needed." Each quality of Hunter felt like a punch to the gut to Simon. This man was the brother Finn wanted, instead of the lying, disloyal one who betrayed him. Simon began to regret accepting this offer for a drink. He stood his ground, he deserved this punishment for what he'd done.

"And completely wrong for Mary," Finn continued.

The scotch caught in Simon's throat, and he coughed, trying to breathe. "What?" He cleared his throat again. "That's not fair. Mary's made mistakes, yes, and she has her flaws—" Finn huffed, and Simon stood to meet his brother eye to eye. "—but she deserves to be happy. If Hunter cares about her and she him, its none of our business."

Simon clamped his mouth shut, turned his back on his brother, and stared into the empty fireplace. What was he doing trying to convince his brother the woman he loved should be with another man?

Behind him, Finn's voice was flat. "I'm not going to argue with you over what Mary does or doesn't deserve." His brother joined him before the fireplace, swirling his drink in his hand as he addressed the mantlepiece. "I simply know my friend. He's infatuated as most are with Mary when they first meet her." Finn nudged Simon's elbow with his. "Sooner or later, she drives them all away. Except one."

His brother's words took a minute to sink in, Simon too busy trying to determine how his brother knew how many potential men Mary had been with over the years. The last two words echoed in the room. "One?"

Finn sighed. "I'm not blind. I tried to be, but my wife insists I open my eyes. You and Mary..." Out of the corner of his eye, Simon watched Finn down the remainder of his drink. "There's something going on there. Has been for a long time."

What could he do but nod? Somehow, Simon didn't think Finn would appreciate a declaration of love for Mary. The fact his brother calmly brought up this topic at all was already a massive conciliation. Simon didn't want to break the thin slice of trust Finn offered.

"Not gonna lie, I wish it wasn't so." Simon moved to react, not sure what he would say, defend or apologize, but Finn held up a hand. "But I'd be the last person to deny anyone a chance at happiness, especially a love that has stood the test of time."

It was Simon's turn to drain his glass, the smoky liquid burnt as it slid down his throat. "That obvious, is it?"

Finn placed a hand on his shoulder. "Not to me. Luckily I have Emily."

Simon nodded. "I don't think I have Mary though."

"Didn't you two spend last night together? In New York?"

"Yes, but as soon as we got here, she acted like nothing happened between us." When everything had. Everything that mattered. He might not have a shining political future ahead of him, but Simon knew he could make Mary happy. Had made her happy.

"Maybe she was surprised. None of us were expecting Phillip and Hunter to show up here. Not the perfect situation, having the man you're dating meet the man you're..." Finn didn't finish the sentence.

"Sleeping with."

"Right." Finn turned the empty glass in his hand. "Where is she now?"

"Upstairs. Changing." The word dripped with meaning.

"Hmm... why don't you have a chat with her? I'll hang out here in the study for a bit, buy you some time."

Simon stared at his brother. "You'd do that?"

Finn kicked the hearth of the fireplace, the rubber of his running shoe bouncing against the marble. "Anything for my big bro."

Over the years, Simon had wanted to hug his brother but always held back because of the invisible wall built of distance and deception between them. Now, in this room, Simon didn't hold back, pulling his brother into an embrace and squeezing him.

Finn stiffened at first, then relaxed and clapped him on the back. "You don't have much time. Go."

With one more squeeze, Simon let go, walked across the room, and opened the door to the hallway. A thank you and a smile on his lips.

The smile dropped as Mary's laughter filtered down the hallway. 

Finn trailing behind him, Simon followed the sound into the kitchen. Before him stood Mary, her wavy hair from this morning pulled into a tight knot on the top of her head, her simple sundress replaced with a pink silk cage that clung to her torso and Simon wondered how she could breathe in the thing. Mary turned to him and bright pink lipstick stained her unsmiling lips.