“Your bedroom,” Kade said. “Nothing outlandish, but there’s a good store around here called Fred Meyer, kind of a one-stop everything sort of place. Freddie’s was Wal-Mart before there was a Wal-Mart. They’ll have what we need so that you can personalize the room, make it have a few more touches of you around there.”
I nodded and started washing, glad that Kade was nearby. Even though we weren’t naked or making love, it was the little things that left me happy, like the way his shoulder would rub against mine while we worked. When the last knife was washed and the last spoon put away, I turned and gave Kade a kiss, wrapping my arms around his neck. “So what do you think Derek will want to talk about?”
“I suspect he’s been asked to run for office,” Kade said, “and has finally accepted the invitation. Knowing him, it’ll be something big too, not like the Laguna City Council. If it was just that, he’d have emailed us.”
“Well, let’s find out,” I replied, wiping my hands on the tail of my t-shirt and looking down. “Think I look plain enough for a casual Saturday?”
“Yes, but you’ll need to get dressed up for tonight,” Kade said, giving me no more hints. “If I’m in love with the most beautiful woman in the entire country, then in at least the little way I can, I’m going to show off my luck.”
“Considering I want to do the exact same thing, we can be each other’s arm candy perhaps, although not as much as I want.”
Kade’s smoldering look told me everything I needed to know on that, and I went over to the phone to dial up Derek’s number. Putting it on speaker, the two of us sat down on the couch, holding hands as we waited. Mom picked up. “Hello?”
“Hi, Mom, it’s me and Kade,” I said, rolling around in my mouth the good feeling of speaking to my mother without years of misplaced bitterness involved. “How are you doing?”
“Oh, honey, it’s great to hear your voice!” Mom said, practically bubbly.
I had to laugh, it felt so good to hear Mom happy and not worried about me calling. “Come on, Mom, we talked only a few days ago, remember? I ended up bawling and crying over the phone while saying I was sorry?”
“And if you keep reminding me, you’re going to have me bawling over the phone this time too,” Mom said.
Kade chuckled and spoke up. “So Layla, where’s Dad anyway?”
“Just a moment, guys, I’ll go get him. By the way, you guys should video call us every now and then so I at least get to see you. Video calls are so easy nowadays, you know. Even old women like me can figure it out.”
“Layla, you’re hardly old, you’re still in the prime, remember?”
There was something secret in Mom’s chuckle as she left the phone, calling Derek in the background. “There’s something else going on here, that’s for sure.”
Kade shook his head, and we waited for Mom and Derek’s return by rearranging ourselves on the couch, me snuggling against Kade’s side and him draping an arm around my shoulders. “This is why we can’t do video calls,” I whispered as we waited. “I can barely keep my hands off you through the day as it is.”
“Control, Princess. Control,” Kade whispered back. “It’s the most important part of both our training.”
“Yes, Kade,” I whispered in reply, just in time as we heard people coming back toward the phone.
“Kade, Alix, how are you doing?” Derek asked, coming on the line. “Kade treating you well up there, Alix?”
“He’s been amazing, Derek,” I said, grinning at Kade. “Seriously, I’ve been enjoying every minute up here. You know what your son did the other day?”
“Besides probably putting you to work in his office? Knowing him, let’s see . . . filing paperwork?”
I laughed, Kade melodramatically groaning loud enough for everyone to hear, and I shook my head. “No, actually he’s helping me a lot with the whole going to college thing. He’s already got me some study guides, and his staff has been very helpful in offering assistance. He’s got a good team up here.”
“I’m being overly praised, Dad,” Kade said, his voice laughing and teasing. “Actually, my first night I bent Alix over and spanked her for being such a spoiled brat for so long.”
My jaw dropped at Kade’s words, his eyes twinkling as he said them. I was just about to ask him silently what the hell he was doing when I heard Mom and Derek both laughing on the other end of the line. My gape of amazement turned into a half frown of consternation, and I stuck my tongue out at Kade. “If you need to punish me for that, you can do it later,” I whispered in his ear, “but you deserve it for scaring me like that.”
When the laughter stopped, Mom came back on. “I’m glad that it sounds like you two are getting along so well, Derek and I were worried about it. But we’ve got some big news for you.”
“State or Washington?” Kade asked. “I figured you’d want to jump in with both feet into the deep end of the pool, Dad.”
“Actually, that’s only half of it,” Derek said. “But let’s get that out of the way. Yes, I’ve been asked to run for the House, actually. The Congressman for the 48th District is going to make a Senate run, and so the local Republicans asked me to step in for them.”
“Republicans, huh Derek?” I said. “I didn’t see you as a member of the GOP.”
“I’ve been a member of the party since Reagan was President, just independent in my votes,” Derek said. “This part of Orange County has gone red for the past two decades. Although a California Republican is a lot like a Mississippi Democrat, we play the middle a lot of the time.”
I shrugged, not really worrying about it. “You’re a good man, Derek, whatever party you decide to run with. So when are you making the announcement?”
“That was part of why we wanted to talk to you two,” Mom said. “The party would like to make an announcement within a month, to capitalize on the momentum the primary debates have caused on the national scene. They think that if they wait too long, they’ll not get the traction that they want, and there’s a chance that they could lose the seat to a Democrat challenger.”
“You know I’m not overly worried on which party is in charge, Dad,” Kade said. “Hell, if anything, I’m kind of Libertarian.”
“I know, son, but I was hoping, if you two could find the time, you’d come down in two weeks for a press conference. The party thinks that since I’m divorced, it will play better with the whole family values crowd if I have you guys here with me for the announcement. I’m not saying you have to speak.”
I looked at Kade, who nodded. “Sure, Layla. Send us an email of the details. I think we’ll be flying in instead of driving. I think one marathon road trip a month is enough for me. So what else are you two waiting to tell us?”
There was a heavy pause on the other end of the line, and Kade and I looked at each other for a long time before shrugging. Finally, Derek came on the line again. “Well, as you know, Layla and I, we’re kind of youthful for people our age.”
“Dad, if you’re trying in your uncomfortable way to say that you two have sex, I’ve kind of assumed that for a while now, and most likely Alix has had the same assumption,” Kade replied with a laugh. If Derek only knew what his son and stepdaughter were up to. “And?”
“Well . . . “ Layla said, “Long story short: Alix, Kade . . . congratulations. You’re going to have a baby sibling.”
I stared at the phone, shocked. I could feel Kade next to me, and from the reaction of his body, he was as surprised as I was, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the phone. “Guys?”
“Y—yeah, we’re here, Dad,” Kade said, taking his arm from around me to lean forward, his elbows resting on his thighs. “Just that’s a hell of a bomb to drop into a conversation. I mean, I’m happy for you guys, but holy shit. Talk about unexpected.”
“You should have listened to the conversation your father and I had when I found out,” Layla said. “I know it’s going to be difficult, but we’re going to get the best prenatal care.”
&nbs
p; I shook my head and chastised myself. Mom wasn’t looking for acceptance, she was looking for support and love from the daughter who hadn’t given her enough of either in a very long time. I leaned forward, next to Kade, and took his hand. “Mom, I’m so happy for you two, and I know that you and Derek are going to make great parents. You both did a great job with the two of us, okay? Together, you’re going to turn out a child that’s going to blow the two of us away. Just, you have to give me a second to wrap my head around all the consequences. So are you hoping for a girl or a boy?”
“Well, that’s where Derek and I are in disagreement,” Mom said. “He wants a girl, since he had a boy. I’m wanting a boy since I already have the perfect daughter.”
Tears prickled the corners of my eyes at Mom’s compliment, and I blinked hard to prevent them from spilling down my cheeks. “I’m not perfect, Mom. I screwed up too much of the past sixteen years for me to be perfect. But I hope I can be a good daughter, and I guess a good older sister.”
“I know she will,” Kade said next to me. “And I know we both are looking forward to coming down and celebrating with you both. Send me the details, guys, and we’ll be there.”
The rest of the phone call wrapped up quickly, and afterwards Kade and I sat back, both of us still shocked. I looked at him, and I swore his face probably wore the same slightly dazed expression I knew I had. “Uhm . . . wow.”
Kade nodded. “That about sums it up.”
“As if that doesn’t make our family situation weirder,” I said, sitting back and laughing. “Step-siblings, with a shared half sibling now. Holy hell.”
Kade grew quiet, sitting forward again with his hands dangling between his knees. “Is it too much for you?”
I grew serious, and knew there was only one answer that I needed to give. Getting off the couch, I slid in front of Kade on my knees, taking his hands and kissing them. “No, Kade, My Kade.”
He studied me for a minute, then reached up and stroked a lock of my hair out of my face. “You scare me, Alix. You know that?”
“Why?” I asked, staying where I was. Kneeling before him filled me with a sense of purpose, of calm and of peace. Where else would I want to be?
“Because you’re challenging the control I’ve built of myself. These feelings are coming on so fast, I feel like I’m completely out of control.”
I knelt there, holding his hands, looking into the tortured eyes of the man I loved. I understood what Rita had told me, there was untapped, unspoken of power and danger inside his soul, caused by what I didn’t know, but I knew one thing. “I’ll be here for you, Kade. I’ll be strong enough to soothe the demon inside you. I’ll be your strength if you need it.”
“And I’ll be yours,” Kade said, looking into my eyes. “My Princess.”
We stayed there, holding each other’s hands, until the pins and needles in my calves became too much to bear. Kade saw the pain in my eyes as I shifted slightly, and shook his head. Placing his hands under my armpits, he carefully lifted me in his arms and set me on the sofa. “Come on, let’s get some circulation back in those legs, and then we have shopping to do. Then we’ve got evening plans.”
“May I ask what?” I said, sighing as warmth crept back down my legs and I wiggled my toes. “You seem excited about it.”
“OMSI’s IMAX screen is doing a special tonight, Phantom of the Opera. It’s a program they do called Broadway on Screen, full surround sound. I’ve always wanted to go, now I’ve got a perfectly good reason to.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
Chapter 20
Kade
The Delta 737 banked and aligned itself with the runway, touching down exactly five minutes late for our arrival. Next to me in her first class seat, Alix looked both anxious and excited to be back in Southern California.
“You okay?”
Alix shrugged, then looked down, where we were holding hands. The first class cabin was nearly totally empty on the early flight, and I’d deemed it an acceptable risk. “It’ll be the first time I’ve seen Mom since the apology.”
“I know,” I said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “But on the other hand, you’ll have plenty to distract you. You have to sign the papers to have the agent put your place up for rent, get your keys for someone to drive your car up to Portland, all of that.”
“And pack some more,” Alix replied. She leaned in and whispered in my ear. “I’ve got a few outfits I’d love to show you. It pays to be a model, you know.”
I smirked and sat back. “Ah, it’s good to be the King.”
We let go of our hands as the plane stopped and a stewardess came around. She gave me a look I’ve been familiar with for years, and it was funny to see Alix’s contained yet still defensive reaction.
“Slut,” she whispered under her breath, and I had to laugh. “What?”
“You know what,” I said. The light overhead went off and the bell dinged, and I undid my seatbelt, standing up. “Come on, let’s go see Dad and Layla.”
As we walked through the airport toward the baggage claim area, Alix looked over at me. “With the new baby, do you think Derek would mind if I started calling him Dad?”
“I think he’d take it as an honor. He knows how you felt about Paris Nova.”
Alix shuddered and nearly spit on the floor at the mention of her birth father. “Yeah, don’t remind me. Damn, was I screwed up on that one. I’m glad you straightened me out.”
“Don’t say anything, he thinks you figured it out on your own,” I informed her. “He was adamant that I respect Layla’s wishes.”
We got to baggage claim, and I looked for the one bag we’d checked, a suit of mine since I didn’t have any at the Laguna house. Alix had plenty of clothes, both at her house and at Dad’s, so she didn’t need any. Instead, she got to fidget while I waited for my bag. “Where are they?”
I pointed, seeing Dad and Layla just outside the security barrier, and any concern Alix may have had about awkwardness with seeing her mother again evaporated. Instead, Alix nearly sprinted across the gap between them, shouldering the door aside to embrace her mother. I was about a minute behind, my suit bag in my hand, and they were still hugging, the sound of twin muffled sobs coming from the two nearly six-foot-tall women. Dad had a gleam in his eye, and he quickly sniffled it away to shake my hand. “Kade, it’s good to see you, son.”
I set my bag down on the ground to embrace my father, hugging him tightly before letting him go so that we could turn to the two women we loved. Alix and Layla both turned to look at us, smiling with a bit of embarrassment. “Sorry,” Layla said, “must be the hormones.”
“There’s no reason for you to be embarrassed, Layla,” Dad said. “Alix, you either. It’s just the greatest thing I’ve ever seen that you two are reconciled.”
“It’s a good feeling,” Alix said.
After all the hugs were exchanged, Dad took us to his car, where I stuffed myself in the back seat, reminding myself why I liked driving instead. The Los Angeles area freeways always suck during the daytime, and it’s even worse when you’re sitting in the backseat, even when the backseat belongs to your father’s Jaguar XJ. At least as we drove, Dad explained what the day would be like. “I know you have some business to do while you’re down here, Alix, but if you can be back at the Laguna house by four that would be best,” Dad informed us from up front. “There is a local PAC that is putting on this whole gig, and they’re sending some people over around then. Probably nothing you aren’t used to, but they want to do the whole dolling us up. Makeup artists, hair stylists, the whole nine so that I supposedly look Congressional or something.”
“What’s the primary looking like, Dad?” I asked, and Dad grinned.
“Not bad at all. The Congressman is giving me his blessing at the event, so most of the establishment is falling into line behind me. There’s one other guy running in the primary, but he’s been doing it for the past five election cycles and never gets close. He’s a decent enough gu
y. We’ve done speaking events together and I’ve talked to him, but he just can’t seem to get a campaign staff behind him that’s worth a damn.
When we got to the house, Alix went inside with Layla while I helped Dad park the car. “You really don’t mind running Alix over to her house to get her car and everything?” Dad asked, surprised. “I mean, I trust you with the Jag, but I would have been happy taking Alix over myself.”
“It’s no problem, Dad. I’ve gotten used to it over the past few weeks,” I said honestly. “And you’re right in what you said before, she’s an amazing person, with the fact that she wants to go to college, giving up the modeling money for a while, and most of all, how hard she’s worked since getting to Portland.”
Dad gave me a look then, like he saw something in my face, and he shut the garage door. “Son, are you okay with Alix living with you?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Like I said, she’s done a great job since coming to Portland.”
Dad nodded and glanced at the door to the house. “Yes, but you’re talking less like the tolerant yet frustrated stepbrother I’ve come to know for the past five years, and more like someone who has a crush on Alix. I don’t want to cross lines, but are you okay, Kade?”
I stepped back and nodded. “I’m fine. Alix is just a remarkable young woman, you’ve said it yourself.”
Dad’s eyes narrowed, but he nodded before tossing me the keys. “Okay. Just be careful, Kade. You know what that sort of scandal could do to your career.”
“And yours?” I asked, instantly regretting it. “Sorry, Dad.”
Dad shook his head and came around, patting me on the shoulder. “Son, I’m sorry.”
Alix came out of the house, a huge grin on her face. “Hey guys, guess what?”
“What?” I asked at the same time as Dad.
“I’ve maybe already got a buyer for my car!” she said. “You know that other model I’ve worked with, Karla?”
“The Australian girl,” I said, thinking back to the voice I’d heard over the phone. “Yes, I remember her.”
Dirty Little Secrets: A Stepbrother Romance Page 15
