It was after dinner that the twins suggested going for a swim. When Angel mentioned they didn’t have suits Hunter told her that he’d stocked the pool house with suits to fit her and her brothers. When Angel exited the pool house ten minutes after all the men had changed three of the men stopped and stared in fascination. Garrett had seen her before in a bikini but lord she was a work of art. Hunter noticed their preoccupation and cleared his throat loudly before all three of them visibly shook themselves back to reality. They all watched as she went to the diving board and performed a flawless dive into the water.
It was at this point Kaleb said “Oh, Angel, I forgot to tell you I entered some of my photos into a contest. They want to publish one of them.” Angel congratulated him and then the other shoe dropped as Kaleb said, “It’s the picture of you in the surf in the Maldives.” Angel wasn’t thrilled about her photo being published but this was her brother, she wouldn’t tell him no. She asked, “Which one, you had about twenty?” turns out it was the one of her coming up out of the surf with breaking waves behind her. She had to admit it was a very, beautiful picture, and it was unbelievably sexy. Not that she was conceited but the lighting and the timing he’d taken it was pure genius. Ethan himself was trying to picture the described image; shoot if it was published, he was making sure he got a copy.
The rest of the night and the next week flew by as they prepared for the fundraiser. It was going to be a black tie, event so everyone had to dress up. Angel’s brothers were looking sharp in their new designer tuxes. Angel was wearing a black evening dress that reached the floor it was slightly off the shoulders and in an A-line, it had cap sleeves with an empire bodice it was incredibly beautiful and with it she wore her grandmother Belle’s diamonds. Her necklace, bracelet, and earrings. The evening went off without a hitch, thanks to Damon’s sister and all her planning, she’d done such a wonderful job. The funds raised tonight would put it in the green for a long time to come.
When they opened their doors next week and welcome their first long care rehab patient it would be well worth all that went into it. They had therapist on staff, doctors on staff, and enough nursing staff to get anything done. Not all of those coming would need physical therapy, some would need emotional therapy. Some were so traumatized that conventional therapy hadn’t helped, and this non-conventional therapy was their last option.
Everyone had been thoroughly screened before being allowed entrance. Even the juveniles from the juvenile detention center who were coming had been thoroughly screened. These kids would be working with the injured horses, maybe if they saw someone or something as abused as they had been they could form a connection. One connection could save a life.
The grand opening went off without a hitch from that point on Meredith and Kyle was busy. Angel had made sure enough staff was hired that the two could be with their boys every evening for dinner. Meanwhile Angel had put a lot of thought into the vacation to Paris; they would be going for a week. Her grandmother who had since moved home wanted to come along. It had been, awhile since she’d been to Paris. Angel made both of her brothers read and listen to French language CD’s. With their memory they should be able to remember what the words were. Angel herself had learned French years ago while in school in California. She spoke it fluently, but as a refresher she herself read the books and listened to the CD’s. The flight to Paris would take just over ten hours so they would be leaving seven in the evening and the pilots were flying them to New York, refueling and then to Paris, France. Hopefully if they were lucky, they would sleep thru the majority, of the flight. Kaleb was nearly jumping out of his skin excited to be going to Paris.
She had their itinerary planned out they would visit the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, Disney Land Paris, The Palace of Versailles, Champs-Elysees, amongst other places. She’d hired them a tour guide who would be taking them to the places of importance.
They started their days in the hotel gym then ate breakfast together as a family with her grandmother, before heading out with their tour guide. The only off books place they visited that wasn’t on their guides list was the gallery showing Liam Montgomery’s photos. She could tell that just seeing the images touched her brothers. They were studying the images closely when the gallery owner came over and said, “He was a very good photographer, did you know of him?” Angel answered for the boys saying, “He was their father.” If she’d hit the little man, he couldn’t have been more shocked. He looked the boys over closely and must have come to, the conclusion they resembled their father, which was the truth because he said “I was not aware that Mr. Montgomery had any children. We have been making the payments for the use of the artwork into his estate.” Angel nodded and replied, “We know that money is in trust for the boys once they turn 21.” The man nodded and said, “Oui I understand.” Angel nodded toward Kaleb and said, “He picked up on his father’s talent; he is already an outstanding photographer.” The man stared at Kaleb hard and asked, “You have some of his photographs?” as if he doubted her word. Angel nodded because she had brought a small portfolio of eight by tens of Kaleb’s work. The gallery owner began to flip through the photos all with a nervous Kaleb looking on and when he was done said point blank “These images, they are really good. For your age, your use of light and angles is far advanced. If you ever want to show any of your work, I would be honored to display it.” Because the man had made Kaleb’s day, the rest of the day was a blur of sights and people. The next few days were just as much of a blur; they went from place to place and enjoyed spending time together as a family. On their last day in Paris her grandmother put her foot down; there would be no more tours. You didn’t come to Paris just to sight see, you come to shop. Angel, Jackson and Kaleb had never seen so many purchases in their lives. Her grandmother insisted on buying them all new wardrobe’s that were for the current season. And her grandmother knew how to shop and get exactly what each of them would want. The clothing styles they’d want but in a name brand that cost ten times what they’d normally pay. It was astounding, their driver for the day had already returned to the hotel once with packages which were to be delivered to their rooms. And he was just getting back when her grandmother handed him even more. She didn’t see how her grandmother could possibly buy anymore but she proved her wrong. They had shoes, clothing, and accessories for every occasion. It was surreal for sure, it was like walking into someone and being royalty the minute they entered the stores, Angel and her brothers were swept away into a sea of clothing.
Her grandmother had to buy three new luggage sets to put everything in. It was crazy; they would for sure be sleeping on the return flight that much Angel knew. They had barely taken off when they were all out like a light.
When they arrived back at the Houston airport it was early morning. Grant and his men met them there. Grant arched a brow at the new luggage, it was a good thing they’d brought two vehicles. Devon and Brandon would be taking her grandmother back home, and Grant and the others would be driving them home. It was so good to see her house again, to be home, while Paris had been amazing being in her own home again was where she belonged, and she was glad to be there. With Maria and Katherine’s help she got all their clothing put away. It seemed they’d be starting their college days in style.
The boys would be driving themselves to school, and she’d be following them every day. She didn’t have to worry much since Devon would be with Kaleb and Trey would be with Jackson all the time. They would stay back but they would be there. Their classes would begin the next day, they all three would be taking an orientation class together, but the rest of their classes were different. Her Father, Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents were pitching in to keep everything going while the three were in school.
The next morning after their exercise and family breakfast the three headed to their vehicles and to school. They weren’t the only ones heading to school Kevin was leaving with Louisa at the same time. Angel wore dark wash skinny jeans, calf high dress boots that zipped up the side and tank top that was tucked into the waist of her jean with a shirt that hung off her shoulder over it. The shirt just reached her midriff it was one of the newer styles, she pulled her hair up in a high ponytail.
When they arrived at the campus, she was glad to see that there were a few other nice cars, but the three parked together at the same time drew curious looks. When Angel climbed from her truck, she got a lot of raised eyebrows. When her brothers and their bodyguards did, people began to whisper; she linked arms with her brothers and headed to their class. Devon and Trey following behind them. Angel was delayed in the hall talking to the Dean, while her brothers grabbed seats for them. When Kaleb was approached by one of the guys in the class who said, “Hey man, who’s that hottie who was on your arm?” Jackson smirked and said, “Our sister.” The boy said seriously “You’re kidding?Hey man can you hook me up?” it was Angel who answered for her brothers as she took her seat and said evenly “Not in this lifetime.”
Their day went pretty much that direction, girls asked her about her brothers at which point she told them her brothers were only sixteen. And boys asked about her and her brother’s shot them down. Around eleven Cody called and said something had happened to Storm and he was rushing him to the vet. Angel went in search of her brothers, when she entered their Calculus class, their professor was droning on, when he saw her, he said “Young lady this is a closed class.” Angel responded, “I’m here to get my brothers.” To which the teacher interrupted saying “This is a serious class, if they miss something I can’t guarantee they will be able to catch up.” Angel glanced at the problem he was painstakingly writing on the board and said “First off, you should change your formula it’s incorrect. It should go like this.” And she proceeded to correct him. And then answered the problem in rapid succession. The professor was staring at her in stunned disbelief as he said, “This is a senior level calculus problem how could you possibly know the answer to that?” Jackson had reached her at this point and grabbed the chalk and began to shorten the problem considerably and turned to the professor and said, “Same way I know that.” The professor walked them out into the corridor and asked, “How is it you’re in beginners Calculus and your clearly far more advanced.” Angel briefly explained to him about their childhoods and their IQ. The professor was beyond amazed, and then he asked what the emergency was. Which took five minutes to explain. The professor looked confused as he said “You’re sixteen and nineteen yr. old business owners, with IQ’s that are nearly uncharitable, and you’re going to college?” Angel nodded, they excused themselves and left,
Trey and Devon were going to be driving the boys since they were upset. The twin horses were their babies. When they made it to the clinic, they learned somehow Storm had gotten colic; it was why he was so sick. The vet was optimistic though, Storm was a fighter. They were able to make sure he’d be okay and then return to campus.
They had stopped on the way and picked up dinners from Luke’s on their way to the campus. They were sitting at the picnic tables eating their lunch when one of the guys from one of the boy’s classes came over.
He asked Jackson “I heard you had to get out of Professor Kings class for an emergency, someone said your girlfriend here put him in his place.” Angel laughed and said, “Is the rumor mill often so wrong?” when the guy looked up at her she could tell he clearly hadn’t expected her to speak. He replied, “You saying you didn’t do the professors job for him?” Angel replied “Actually, I was doing Doctorate level calculus on his board, not beginners so thereby I wasn’t showing up a tenured professor I was correcting a textbooks mistake.
Now why don’t you explain why you came over here questioning my brothers?” the boy looked shocked as he said “Brothers? I thought you were their girlfriend.” Kaleb broke in saying “She’s our sister, now what did you want?” the boy said, “Let me introduce myself, I am Ian McDonough, I figured if your girl here was as smart as everyone says and your brother here too, maybe we could help each other out and make some money here.” At their arched brows he continued “Everyone needs a little bit of money right? I mean college isn’t cheap, so you do a few papers here and there and homework assignments and make a little extra cash.”
By this time Angel was laughing, Jackson and Kaleb were smiling as she said, “You see that Hummer out there, and the Camaro and GTO near it?” when he nodded, she asked “How much you figure they run?” Thinking he was going to get what he wanted Ian answered saying “I am sure you could make enough to afford one.” Angel shook her head and looked at Devon who was rolling his eyes as she said, “I already own all three.” When his eyes grew huge she said, “I bought those two cars for my brothers for their birthdays, but they’re still in my name. The hummer is mine. I don’t need extra money I mean, look around you. We’re eating take out from Luke’s Roadhouse Grill, I’m sure being a native here you know how much a meal from there runs?”
Ian had stiffened as he said, “Your one of those yuppie rich girls who thinks she’s better than everyone else.” Before Angel could answer she heard a voice say “Angel?” When she turned around, she saw Jada’s little sister Amanda, Angel said “Hey Amanda you remember my brothers?” When Amanda nodded, she asked “What are you guys doing on campus?” She listened as Angel told her they were taking classes at the University now. Amanda asked “How’s Jada doing out at your ranch? Grandpa wants to come down and see your setup soon.” Angel replied “She’s awesome as always.
Damon was just in town he was at the fundraiser for the center.” Amanda smiled warmly and replied, “I know I saw him, I talked to Kyle too, I’ve been volunteering out at the center in my free time.” She glanced at Ian who was openly glaring now and asked Angel “Why is Ian so angry with you?” Angel laughed and said, “I think he called me a yuppie rich girl who thinks she’s better than everyone else.”
Amanda looked stunned as she turned to Ian and asked, “Do you have any idea who they are?” When Ian just shrugged she said, coolly “Meet Angel Denae McDaniel’s and her brothers Jackson Montgomery, and Kaleb Montgomery.” As if their names alone could conjure up people who wanted to talk to them it did just that. Ian was suddenly mister nice guy. And the people standing around then were introducing themselves and trying to be friendly.