Dirty Silver (The Dirty Suburbs Book 7)

by Cassie-Ann L. Miller

  "So, how did you and Raph end up hooking up anyway?" At her question, the broccoli tumbles out of my hands, into the sink. She gives me a fleeting glance. “Still a klutz in the kitchen, huh?” she titters. “You take it from your momma.” She returns to the conversation. “How did you and Raph meet up? We were surprised that he brought you home.”

  That’s when I realize that – thank god – she didn’t mean ‘hook up’ in the sexual sense ‘cause with my mom, you never know.

  With my back to her, I shrug a shoulder, trying to look casual. "Ran into him at an event in New York and he offered a ride back here."

  "New York?" she asks brightly. "I thought you were shooting for Vogue in Paris?"

  "Got cancelled," I tell her simply.

  I hear the disappointment in her voice. "Oh honey, I'm so sorry. You must have felt so let down."

  "It happens," I say, continuing to give her curt answers.

  My mother cuts the peeled potatoes into cubes and dumps them into a pot of boiling water. She turns to look at me, excitement in her blue eyes. "So, where are you off to next? Did you book that safari photo shoot in Ghana? Or will you go back to Australia? You said they love you down there."

  Telling the truth is going to suck but I can't bear to heap another lie on the stack that I've been building over the past little while. I give my mother a measured smile. "I won't be modeling anymore, mom."

  Her movements stall and her brows furrow with confusion. "What do you mean?"

  "Apparently, I'm past my prime. I'm having a hard time booking jobs and all that traveling is really expensive."

  “Oh honey…” Sympathy covers her features.

  She’s so beautiful. Even with her new eccentric spiky red haircut. She has twinkling blue eyes and a genuine smile that could light up a whole building. She’s in her mid-forties and people still mistake us for sisters. In twenty years, I hope to look half as good as she does.

  "Well maybe you can get into acting?” she suggests. “That would suit you."

  Maybe it would but all I can think about these days is my dream of selling jewelry. Raph and I have been talking about it, throwing ideas around. He's serious about helping me and he’s full of good business advice. I'm so excited.

  "I'm not ready to jump into acting at this point. Maybe sometime in the future. I need to take a breather right now."

  "So you're just not going to do anything?" There's that judgmental stare I was trying to avoid. Of course my mother doesn’t understand. She’s so deeply committed to her career. She’s never understood people who don’t feel the same way about their work.

  "The break is temporary, mom. In a few months, I'll be doing something new."

  My overly-confident tone doesn't seem to reassure her. My parents have always seen me as a flake, a drifter. Someone who doesn't get shit done. Deep down, I feel the need to prove them wrong. Unfortunately, showing my mother that I can be a mature, responsible adult will have to wait because today, I’ve got to utter words I never thought I’d have to say.

  "I was actually hoping I could move back here for a while." My beautiful condo overlooking the river, I have to give that up.

  My mom looks at me with narrowed eyes. “What? Are you planning renovations on your condo?”

  “I’m selling the condo. I can’t afford it anymore.” Admitting that splits my heart in two.

  Her worried expression deepens. "Eva, are you all right?" She knows how much I love my freedom and my apartment. She knows that if I'm asking to move back home, something must be wrong.

  I put my head down and focus on the vegetables sitting on the cutting board. "I just need to decompress a bit and save some money."

  She plants a fist on her waist and props a hip against the sink. "I feel like there's something you're not telling me."

  No shit!

  "Look, mom – I'm not ready to talk about it yet, okay?” I shout much louder than I should. “If moving in here is a problem, I'll ask Prescott if I can stay with him and Annaleigh.”

  She looks annoyed now. "Evangeline Brooks, watch your tone. And of course you can move in here if you need to."

  “Sorry…” I drop my volume. "And thank you." Both relief and trepidation move through me. I'm glad that I have somewhere to stay but my parents can be hella overbearing. I guess that's the price I'll have to pay to keep a roof over my head for the foreseeable future. "Can we change the subject now?"

  With a sigh, she turns back to her food prep. "Okay." She's silent for a while and then her mood seems to lift. "Oh I'm so happy that Raph is in town! He never takes a break from that business of his. Never comes to visit anymore."

  Welp! The topic of discussion has just gotten even more awkward.

  She sighs, looking over at me. "And isn't he handsome? He's like a fine wine. Better with time."

  I pop a carrot slice into my mouth and crunch loudly as an excuse to not have to engage in this conversation.

  My mother eyes me sharply. "Would you close your mouth while you chew?" she scolds.

  I mumble an apology.

  Looking out beyond the kitchen window to the flower garden outside, she muses happily. "Think I'm gonna try setting him up with Suzie from the Political Science department. You know the one?" Oh god...My mom’s playing matchmaker and my boyfriend is the unwilling victim. I watch as her lips curl to one side. "Only thing is she might be a bit young for him. She's only 32. Ten years difference. Do you think that's too big of an age gap?" She watches me expectantly.

  No, mom - I don't think it's too big of an age gap but I do think you ought to keep your Suzie away from my man before I hurt her.

  "I'm pretty sure that Mr. Silver can find his own dates, mom," I grunt.

  She chuffs. "That man has notoriously bad taste in women. Do you remember Diane? She was a train wreck," she says then lowers her voice to a gossipy tone. "And she was so selfish. Do you know that she refused to suck his dick? A man like Raph deserves to get his dick sucked. Regularly."

  With that, my mouthful of half-chewed carrot goes down the wrong way and I hunch forward, trying to hack it up out of my windpipe.

  "Honey, you okay?" I hear the concern in her voice as her fist comes down firmly in the center of my back.

  "Mom –" cough-cough. “– I really don't want to talk about Mr. Silver's sex life with you." Cough-cough. I straighten up, wiping water away from my eyes.

  My mother smirks, amused by my discomfort. "A real woman knows it takes a mean blow job to keep her man." She tosses me a wink and I somehow, by the grace of god, manage not to imagine my parents engaged in fellatio.

  At their goddamned tantric yoga retreat.

  On the bright side, I guess I'm a real woman, at least by my mother's standards because my oral skills are on point! Raphael would attest to it. Take that, mom.

  “Anyway, don’t tell anyone about that,” she laughs, “because your dad wasn’t supposed to tell me.”

  Just then, the doorbell rings and when I glance out the side window, I see Prescott parking his car across the street.

  Oh thank god!

  I excuse myself and rush off to answer the front door. Annaleigh stands there with a smirk on her face. "Let me guess what we're having for dinner," she whispers.

  I laugh. My sister-in-law isn't a fan of the meatloaf, either.

  "I'm so fucking glad your here," I whisper back, gesturing with my eyes toward the kitchen.

  She chuffs. "You and your secret lover having dinner with your parents? I wouldn't miss it!"

  Rolling my eyes, I grab her by the arm and yank her into the house just as Prescott steps onto the walkway. "Shut up and come peel some carrots, you little whore." I drag her toward the kitchen.

  Chapter 26

  Raphael

  I follow eagerly after Brooks as he leads me down the hall toward the kitchen and dining area. I haven’t seen Eva all day and I’m aching to get my hands on her. This dinner is going to be the ultimate test in willpower and self-restraint. I want to ki
ss her until her lips are tender and swollen but I have to keep my mouth and my tongue to myself.

  Because Bob and Laurie Brooks have no idea I’m fucking their daughter.

  I’m not just fucking her. I’m falling for her. Hard. I live for her sweet midnight kisses and her conversation over breakfast. I love hearing her talk about her dreams. I hold her when she tells me about her insecurities. This is way more than I bargained for when I swooped into the auction less than two weeks ago and carried her out of there, caveman-style.

  Walking through the Brooks family home, watching the pictures of a growing Eva on the wall, I’m reminded that what I have with her is not conventional. I was there when she was precocious child, a rebellious teenager. I saw her go through that skateboard-loving, eyebrow-pierced, stick-on tattoo phase. People would frown up this. Her parents would frown upon this.

  I try to tune back in to Brooks’ babbling as we step into the kitchen where his family is busy preparing the meal. Annaleigh is setting out the silverware under Prescott’s watchful eye as Laurie arranges lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers on a platter. And Eva…

  I lose my breath watching my Eva set dishes on the dinner table. She’s wearing a floral shift dress with little cap sleeves that hits her right at the knees. It hugs her body like it was painted onto her skin, made just for her. My gaze goes to the bracelet on her delicate wrist, a grouping of pearls and gold beads twisted around each other. When our eyes meet, her cheeks go red and she looks away, slipping a lock of golden hair behind her ear. I look away too, not wanting anyone to notice the lust pulsing through me at the mere sight of her.

  “Raph!” Laurie sets down the vegetables and wipes her hands on her apron as she approaches me. “So, glad you could make it, honey.”

  “Thanks for having me.” We share a quick hug before I shake hands with Prescott and Annaleigh.

  I look to Eva, wondering how to greet her. She makes the decision for me. “Hey, Mr. Silver,” she says as she hastily brushes by me and grabs the salad from the kitchen counter.

  “Hello Evangeline,” I say with equal nonchalance. I quickly turn and address her mother. “Do you need a hand with anything?” Bob and Prescott are already seated at the table sipping on scotch like kings waiting to be served.

  Laurie shoos me off. “No. Go sit. You’re a guest. The ladies have got this.”

  Prescott stretches a glass of scotch out to me. “Here, have a drink.”

  I take it with a grateful smile and drop into a random seat at the table. Eva and Annaleigh set the string beans, steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes down as Laurie approaches with the main course. Her played-out meatloaf.

  Oh joy!

  Still, I take on the role of the gracious guest, rubbing my hands together and complimenting her on how good the meal smells. Annaleigh seats herself next to Prescott, and with Brooks sitting at one end of the table, Laurie takes her seat at the other. That leaves one seat for Evangeline, right next to me.

  My body warms up, having her so near. But even when my fingers brush hers as I’m passing her the beans, the platonic smile stays on my face. Even when her knee accidentally brushes my leg, I remain neutral. And she does, too.

  I try to stay engaged in the conversation – first, Bob giving Prescott misguided golfing tips, then Laurie imposing her unsolicited pregnancy advice on Annaleigh. But inevitably, the conversation eventually turns to me and my plans for the immediate future.

  “So, how long are you staying in town?” Bob asks me, pulling on the fabric of his ridiculous plaid bow tie.

  I instantly feel Eva’s body language tense up beside me. She’s asked me to stay for a while, at least until our ‘contract’ is over. She loves belonging to me. She loves giving herself to me over and over until her body is sore and spent and her pussy can’t handle another thrust, her lips can’t handle another kiss. She loves it as much as I do.

  “I’m thinking of sticking around for the next 21 days or so. Give or take,” I tell them easily and I glance over just in time to see her little smile. Yes, I’ll put work on hold, I’ll put my life on hold. I’ll stay here in Reyfield with Eva for the next three weeks. We’ll figure out the rest after that.

  Bob’s facial expression doesn’t conceal his surprise. “Oh really?” he asks between bites. “What does a city-dweller like you plan on doing out here in the suburbs for that long?”

  I shrug a shoulder. “I need some time to decompress. The past week has been a bit overwhelming. I need some time away.”

  Laurie points her fork in her husband’s direction. “Don’t worry. He’ll be bored and on a flight back to New York by the end of the week.” They laugh together.

  I smile at her. In the past that may have been true. But this time, I have a reason to stick around. “Nah – I’ll find ways to keep myself occupied.” I hope I’ve managed to keep the innuendo out of my voice. When Eva starts choking on her salad right next to me, I know that I’ve failed.

  Concern bounds into my chest when I turn to her and find her red, eyes watering up as she coughs. “Are you okay, Kitten?” I ask, rubbing circles into her back with one hand and cupping her cheek with the other. I hand her my water glass and she sucks down half of it in a second, flat. She finally shrugs my hand off of her spine once she’s fully recovered.

  I look up and the entire table has eyes on us.

  Ah shit!

  I quickly draw my hand into my lap as Eva wipes her eyes with a linen napkin. Laurie gives me a long hard look before shaking the suspicious thoughts out of her head. “Well, if you run out of ideas, give me a call because Eva will need a hand moving her stuff back here. Bob has a bad back and Prescott’s up to his eyeballs at the law firm.”

  Bob’s forehead furrows at his daughter. “Eva’s moving back here?” he asks into the air.

  She speaks up quickly. “It’s just for a few months. I won’t be modeling anymore. I need a little while to get back on my feet.”

  Annaleigh gasps at her friend’s announcement but Bob only shakes his head in disappointment, his mouth pulling into a flat line.

  I direct my attention back to Laurie. “I’d be glad to help Evangeline with her moving.” My heart swells with protectiveness. I know that if her family had any idea just how badly she fucked up, they’d probably turn on her completely. Judgmental fucks! But I’ve got her back. I want to make sure that she knows that.

  She steals a peek at me. “Thanks, Raph,” she says softly, adoringly.

  Another uneasy silence passes over the table. She’s never called me that in front of her family. She’s always been polite and formal when addressing me, even when she was being an out-of-control brat.

  When she notices her slip-up, she goes completely red. “I mean, Mr. Silver.”

  Laurie speaks up in a loaded tone. “I was telling Eva earlier that I should introduce you to my friend, Suzie, from work. You two would make the cutest couple. And since you’ll be in town for a while, you’ll have the time to take her out on a few dates.”

  I resist the urge to roll my eyes at Laurie’s suggestion – make that, command. She’s an amazing woman, but she’s incredibly bossy and I won’t have her telling me how to run my love life. I need to nip this shit in the bud immediately before it goes too far. “Thanks for the offer, Laurie, but I started seeing someone shortly before coming to Reyfield. I’m off the market.”

  Her eyes go bright. “Really?” she asks sceptically. “Is it anyone we know?”

  “Not at all. It’s no one you know.” That’s the truth. Eva’s parents know nothing about the woman that she is. They still see her as a child. They refuse to open their eyes to the person that she’s becoming.

  Annaleigh hocks her throat awkwardly. “I’m going to clear out the dinner dishes to make room for desert,” she announces. Prescott rubs her small baby bump and gives her a concerned look but she waves him off.

  Eva jumps out of her seat, grabbing an empty plate. “I’ll help you!” She’s obviously grateful that her best friend
has so astutely come to the rescue.

  The two of them gather up some dishes and carry them over to the sink, busying themselves with emptying them into the garbage and loading them into the dishwasher.

  Laurie gives me one last suspicious look before she heads over to the fridge for the sloppy, store-bought cheesecake.

  Chapter 27

  Raphael

  Bob paces back and forth on the back patio with a glass of scotch dangling between his fingers. I lean against the banister with one hand deep in my pocket and the other gripping my own drink.

  Dinner was tense as fuck although Bob Brooks is so self-involved and socially-inept that he probably didn’t even notice. All he cares about is how much Eva’s move back home will mess with his newly reinvigorated sex life.