Laughing, Izzy watched Luke try to get his breath back. “That was evil.”
“But it felt so good.” Jason continued flipping the chops.
Izzy inhaled deeply. “Mmmm, why does meat on a barbie always smell so much better than regular cooking?”
“No idea, it just does. Hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving.”
“Wait until you’ve tasted my fried onions.”
“You like cooking?” she asked with interest.
“Depends. I can cook a mean roast, fry a mean barbie, and mash a mean spud.”
“Wow. I do desserts really well.” She patted her belly. “As you can tell.”
Amused, Jason glanced at her belly.
All of a sudden a flush rose in her cheeks. “Um…not that I eat a lot of it.”
He was taken aback at her sudden awkwardness, her hand falling by her side. “Hey.” Shifting closer, he placed his hand on her back. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Iz. One minute you’re laughing, the next you’re not. What?”
“Really, it’s nothing.” She smiled brightly. Too brightly. “So, how much work did you get done on the house today?”
“Not as much work as it is to get you to be honest with me.”
She sighed. “Jason…”
“You want to know the real me, I want to know the real you.”
He thought she wasn’t going to tell him, but then she shrugged, folded her arms. “It’s stupid.”
“Let me be the judge of that.”
“I just didn’t want you to think that I’m the way I am because of what I eat.”
Jason looked down at her blankly. “Huh?”
“I’m not exactly Twiggy, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“Yeah. Still not registering.”
“I made a crack about eating desserts. I just…” Cheeks flaming, Izzy rolled her eyes. “I’m fat. I know it. You know it. I just didn’t want you to think I was serious about eating a lot of desserts.”
He stared at her. “Are you kidding me?”
“No.” She looked sideways at him. “Do I look like I’m kidding?”
Jason shook his head. “Izzy, you’re curvy. I like you just the way you are.”
“Aw, that’s sweet of you to say.”
“I mean it. Do you really think I’m that shallow that I’d only go for what society perceives is ideal? I did that, I’d be getting fake pecs inserted.”
That got a smile from her. “You have great pecs.”
“Not as great as Aaron’s. I’m lean. I have issues. I put my foot in my mouth. A lot.”
Turning fully, she smiled up at him. “You’re so sweet.”
“Sweet?” He snorted. “Nothing sweet about me. I just know what’s important. And you, baby, are important.” Then, not caring who saw, he leaned down to kiss her gently on the lips.
“Mmmm.”
Lifting his head, he winked down at her. “And I’ll show you later just how much I love your curves.”
“And you think you’re not perfect,” she whispered.
“No one’s perfect, Iz, but you come pretty damned close.”
Her blush this time was one of happiness, but before she could say anything Lora and Jim appeared beside Jason.
“Raincheck,” Izzy whispered.
“Raincheck,” he agreed. Straightening, he turned to face his mother and Jim, managed to put a smile on his dial as he shook the big, meaty hand Jim held out. “Glad you could make it.”
“Thanks for asking me.”
“I think Mum did that.” Jason felt Izzy give him a subtle nudge in the ankle. “You’re welcome.”
Jim looked down at Lora. “I know family is important to Lora, so it’s important to me.”
His mother smiled so widely it was a wonder she didn’t eat her own ears. Jason felt itchy between his shoulder blades, rolled his shoulders, and managed to smile at his mother. It was a wonder his face didn’t crack.
“Let’s get you a drink.” Lora started to lead Jim away. “What’ll it be?”
“I’m driving. Got anything non-alcoholic?”
Good planning. Jason placed the steaks into one of the big trays at the side of the BBQ. That sounded promising. The last thing his mother needed was to be with a violent or irresponsible drunk.
“About all Jason does have around here,” Luke drawled from where he now stood beside Uncle Harris.
“Good boy.” Jim nodded approvingly.
Over his shoulder, Jason cast the big man’s back a glare.
“Hey.” Izzy touched his arm. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” He swung his attention back to the steaks.
“Do you really dislike Jim that much?”
“It’s not dislike.” He grabbed the bowl of sliced onions, tipped them onto the hot plate. A loud sizzle went upward while he used the tongs to spread the vegetable out to cook evenly. Becoming aware of the silence at his side, and very aware of Izzy’s gaze, he finally muttered, “Out with it, then.”
“Oh, I don’t want to push you,” she said brightly.
As if he didn’t know what she was doing. His eyes narrowed.
She started humming, reached out to snag a little bit of juicy, crispy fat off one of the steaks. Jason smacked her hand lightly with the tongs. Still humming, she popped the juicy tid-bit into her mouth and chewed happily.
“Later, Missy,” he growled.
“Oh my, so masterful.” Beguilingly, she leaned into him. “Going to share, Master?”
Unable to stay annoyed, even though she hadn’t been the cause of it, he frowned at her. “Don’t try and suck up to me now. You’ve done your dash.”
Smiling sweetly, she rubbed her cheek against his arm.
Shaking his head, Jason glanced up to see his Uncle watching him with approval. Okay, from his Uncle he could handle approval, but he sure as shit didn’t need it from his mother’s boyfriend. Though it would, he thought, switching his gaze to where Lora and Jim stood, make her happy.
The thought had his attention dropping back to the onions sizzling deliciously on the hot plate. Why couldn’t he just be happy for her? Why did he feel such animosity towards Jim?
“Your head’s going to explode in a minute,” Izzy commented.
He didn’t pretend not to know what she was referring to. “I’ll try to stop it from landing on the food.”
“Very considerate of you, honey, but I like your head where it is - on your shoulders and in one piece.”
He sighed.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me. We don’t have to share everything. It’s cool.” Soothingly, Izzy rubbed the small of his back. “Can I help in any other way?”
The sensation of that small palm on his back, the genuine concern on her face, warmed him. He looked down at her, her nearness calming, his tension seeping away enough to make him relax. “You’re helping by just being here.”
Those light green eyes crinkled at the corners in amusement. “Good to know.”
“You could call me master again, that’d make me feel really good.”
“You have to earn that.” And then she swatted him heartily on the bum.
Startled, he fumbled the tongs, nearly dropping them, managing to catch them just in time. He also couldn’t miss his cousins’ laughter, a tinge of red climbing into his cheeks. No way was he going to look, but he knew for certain that pair of bastards hadn’t missed her action or his reaction. Hell, he also couldn’t help the warmth that tingled down low when he saw the mischief in her sparkling eyes.
“Oops.” Izzy bit her lip. “Did I overstep a mark?”
“Overstep?” He quirked a brow at her. “Is that what you call that massive leap?”
“Massive leap?”
“You can look innocent as all hell, baby, but you are going to pay for that smack later.”
“Ooohh.” Daringly, she leaned forward to whisper, “Are you into punishment?”
Punishment? He nearly swallowed
his tongue. Where did that come from?
She batted her eyelashes at him. “You want me to spank you later?”
“Spank - hells bells, Izzy, what are you into?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” She purred.
Jason’s eyes narrowed again. Going by the glint in her eyes, she was enjoying herself way too much over his surprise. Time to teach this teasing little minx that he wasn’t that stupid or gullible.
Holding the tongs in front of her nose, he lowered his voice to a gravely tone. “Now you listen to me, little girl. If anyone is going to give punishment here it’ll be me, and the only one getting punished will be you.”
“Is that so, big boy?” she replied pertly.
“Yeah, little girl.”
“Don’t promise what you can’t give, big boy.”
“Oh, I never promise what I can’t give,” he shot back. “And that’s a promise, little girl.”
“All right you kids.” Uncle Harris stepped up beside Jason, making both Jason and Izzy jump, startled. Grabbing the tongs from his nephew’s hand, he gestured to the tray of meat. “While you two squabble like the kids you are, the chops are blistering and the onions are burning.”
His face might have been stern but Jason recognised the humour in his uncle’s tranquil eyes. Picking up the tray of steaks, he winked at Izzy. “She started it.”
“And I’m finishing it.” Uncle Harris piled the chops into the other tray and handed it to Izzy. “You two get to the table. We’re famished while you two feed other’s appetites. Now shoo.”
That had Izzy blushing, but she cast Jason a laughing look.
As they walked over to the long wooden table, Jason growled softly for her ears alone, “My family won’t be around forever.”
“Try not to get too upset about not having their back-up to save you,” Izzy replied cheerfully.
Thoroughly enjoying himself, he shot back, “You’ll keep.”
“Keep what?” Practically salivating, Luke looked at the meat in the trays. “Keep us waiting? I’m starving, man, give me that steak.”
“You just mind your manners.” Lora smacked his hand as he reached for the meat.
He snatched it back with a wounded expression. “I’m so hungry my stomach’s eating my backbone.”
“That’s because you haven’t been wormed.” Jason sat down, Izzy taking the chair beside him.
“I don’t have worms,” Luke returned indignantly.
“Boys, that’s hardly the kind of conversation for the tab-” Lora began.
“You scrabble in the dirt all day, God knows what you’ve caught.” Jason poured himself a glass of cold coffee from the big jug in the centre of the table after offering it to Izzy.
“Hey, it’s not like I’m sniffing at dog po-”
“Here.” Uncle Harris shoved the plate of onions under Luke’s nose, effectively cutting off the rest of what was obviously an unsavoury sentence. “Put something in your mouth that’ll taste better than the cake of soap I’ll use.”
Completely unabashed, Luke took the plate. “Thanks, Dad. You understand me like no one else does.”
“My cross to bear.” Uncle Harris sat down at the head of the table.
About to take a sip of the coffee, Jason’s grip on the glass tightened when he noticed his mother stand behind the chair on the opposite side of the table to Luke. Ever since they’d arrived at his uncle’s that cold, rainy night six years ago, his mother had sat at one end of the kitchen table, his uncle at the other end, the boys each side, but now she gave up the position she’d normally have sat in deference to Jim. She did it automatically, not seeming to even notice.
Luke noticed, his gaze flicking from Jim to Lora to Jason. Uncle Harris serenely handed Izzy the bowl of macaroni salad she’d brought over as her contribution, and Aaron cut a bread roll in half. But Jason was under no illusion; the family had noticed and were waiting to see how he’d react.
He didn’t react well. His jaw tightened, his biceps bunched, yet he kept his seat. Damn it, it wasn’t his place to kick up a stink, to embarrass his mother by pointing out what she’d done. It was her decision, but God, it went against his every grain. She had every right to sit at the head of the table, no man had a right to usurp her position.
Jim stood behind the chair at the head of the table and drew it out.
Jason ground his teeth, felt Izzy’s hand come to rest on his thigh and squeeze gently in unspoken support.
“There you go, sweetie.” Jim gestured to the chair.
The biggest smile he’d ever seen lit up his mother’s face. With a gracious tilt of her head she moved around and sat down as though she’d fully intended to sit there all along.
Not knowing what to think, so prepared for Jim to claim the spot, Jason watched, glass forgotten in his hand as Jim seated his mother, making sure she was comfortable before taking the chair opposite Luke.
“Well, now.” Beaming, Jim looked the table over. “Spread fit for a man. I’m starved.”
Lora handed him the tray of chops.
Lowering it, Jim waited for her.
Jason watched his mother have first pick of anything she handed to Jim. He watched intently, gauging Jim’s eyes, his demeanour, the way he did it all.
Nothing appeared contrived. As though it came second nature to the big man, he automatically made sure she was settled with everything she needed before dishing up his own food.
Glancing at Jason, Luke raised his eyebrows questioningly.
Jason relaxed, nodded slightly. Luke nodded back, the barest movement. Expression sedate, Aaron’s gaze flicked up to pin Jason to the spot. Uncle Harris smiled slightly, passed the bread basket full of rolls to Izzy. They’d noticed.
Jason had noticed even more keenly. His father had been the best at pretending how good he was, how nice to his family, until he’d become too brutal to really care, especially once his sons grew old enough to leave school and come out from under the notice of social services. Jason knew the signs.
Jim didn’t have those signs. No red flags, no warning signals. The big brute was genuine.
It didn’t mean Jason had to like him, but it meant he could relax a little.
Until Jim took Lora’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Jason busied himself taking several mouthfuls of cold coffee, placing the glass down on the table and reaching for the chops. He glanced at Izzy, saw her plate was full, and proceeded to fill his own with food.
The conversation turned general - work, holidays, everyday things. Izzy charmed the family with her relaxed, happy manner. Jim proved to have a real sense of humour, his belly laugh guffawing out into the late afternoon air.
Uncle Harris attended to Arnie, finely cutting up some steak and chop, placing it on a paper plate and situating it beside his chair where Arnie waited patiently with his whiskers quivering. Once he’d polished off everything, the Siamese wandered onto the veranda, plopped down in the chair previously occupied by Aaron, and went to sleep.
Uncle Harris entertained them all by regaling the antics of Aaron, Blue and Luke’s colourful childhood. In turn, Izzy told them about her childhood, but Jason noticed she didn’t divulge much of her adult years. Briefly she touched on her mother’s illness and death but then quickly turned the conversation to Jim, who responded by sharing some of his fighting stories from back in his youth. The man had had dreams of championships but never found it. Instead of giving up and becoming bitter, he’d found contentment in life. He actually liked being a delivery man, out and about on the streets, meeting all walks of life.
“Simplicity has its own rewards,” he said.
Uncle Harris agreed.
Letting the conversation wash over him, Jason wondered about Izzy’s past. Life wasn’t as easy as she made out or she’d not have issues with that man. He certainly hadn’t forgotten her tears over a photo and letter, hadn’t forgotten how angry she’d been with that bloke who’d turned up. Who was he? Jason hadn’t seen him around since that mornin
g, and Izzy hadn’t shown any signs of being upset since the photo episode. So who the hell was he and what did he have to do with her?
Maybe he should ask Aaron to do a background search.
No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than he cursed inwardly. Hell, that would be wrong on so many levels. Invasive. If she’d done that to him, he’d be livid. Besides, it didn’t show trust, did it? Relationships were built on mutual trust and respect. He’d just have to wait, see what happened, hope she’d grow to trust him enough to confide in him. Hope? Hell, he’d work on getting her to know how trustworthy he was.
And meanwhile, if that bloke showed up bothering her, Jason would be there to sort him out.
~*~
The night was quiet. Everyone had left, the food and dishes had been cleared away, the BBQ scrubbed clean, wooden chairs neatly pushed in under the wooden table. Arnie snoozed on the sofa in Jason’s lounge.
A glass of iced water in each hand, Jason stood in the kitchen doorway gazing at Izzy out on the back veranda. The light spilling from the kitchen provided just enough light to see by, but not enough to chase the shadows away.
It was in those shadows she stood, the heels of her hands braced on the railing as she looked out over his yard and breathed in deeply of the night air. The night couldn’t hide her completely, her silhouette blending in with the shadows yet standing apart.
Definitely the night was kinder to his yard. His goal was to finish the house first, then tackle the outside.
The night neither detracted from nor enhanced Izzy. She just was, standing there with the cool breeze stirring the stray tendrils of sandy hair that had escaped the high, jaunty ponytail. The pale blue jumper she wore skimmed lush curves to drape over a sweetly heart-shaped bottom. Soft navy slacks covered those rounded thighs. A pair of leopard print ballet flats was on her feet.
God, she was beautiful in her own sweet, sweet, damned sweet way. Not classically beautiful, not entrancingly beautiful, but Izzy beautiful. Beautiful to him.
His heart picked up a little, his blood just a little thicker as he stepped out onto the veranda, moved nearer, the security screen swinging silently shut, the faint click of the latch catching her attention.
Turning her head, she smiled at him. “This was a fantastic afternoon. Thank you so much for inviting me.”
Promises Page 15
