“No.”

“It sounded like a slam.”

Cole dropped the roll to his plate, regretting his choice of words. “I didn’t mean that. I meant, a man needs his own land.”

“Kyle?” Katie tried again. “Cole?”

“You saying all these years I haven’t had my own land.”

That threw Cole. “Of course not.”

“There you go.”

“What about your kids?”

Kyle clenched his jaw but remained silent.

Cole hoped that meant his brother was running low on arguments. “You need to build a legacy for your kids.” He rushed on. “You need to leave them something. If you won’t think of yourself, think about your children.”

Sydney’s hand touched Cole’s thigh. His muscle immediately convulsed and he shot her a stunned look.

“Let’s move on,” said Kyle, a steely thread to his voice.

Cole looked back at his brother. “Let’s agree to go to Dallas and talk to the lawyers.”

Sydney’s fingernails tightened, jolting Cole’s nervous system.

What the hell was she doing?

“It’s not just you anymore,” Cole said to Kyle. “You have a family-”

Sydney pinched him. It actually hurt.

He swung his gaze back to her, but caught Katie’s expression on the way.

He stopped.

He stared at his sister-in-law’s white lips. “Katie?”

Kyle pulled back his chair as Katie started to tremble.

Katie stood and Kyle rose with her.

“What?” Cole jumped up. “What’s wrong?”

Katie gave a little shake of her head and waved away their concern. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine,” said Cole.

She placed her hand on Kyle’s arm. “I’m really okay. I’m just going to get a glass of water.”

Kyle put an arm around her shoulders and gave her a little squeeze. “You sure?” he whispered.

She nodded. “Really. The less fuss, the better. I’ll be right back.”

Kyle watched her disappear into the kitchen.

Cole raked a hand through his hair, trying to sift through the turn of events. “I’m sorry,” he said. “What the heck…”