by Abbi Glines
Willow
“He’s not here,” Marcus hissed glaring straight ahead as we sat parked behind an expensive little Mercedes outside his parents house. It was just as big as I had pictured in my head. The pale yellow color of the house was set off by large white hurricane shutters. It was beach front and the main part of the house started on the second floor. The bottom was all garage. Which made sense for the Mercedes King of the Gulf Coast to have a large garage. The wide staircase was intimidating as it led up to two large front doors.
Marcus let out an angry growl and opened his door. Something was bothering him but I was almost afraid to ask. Instead of walking around to get my door he slammed his door shut and stood glaring up at those large glass paned doors as if he wanted to rip them off their hinges. As quietly as I could, I opened my door and made my way around the front of his truck. Maybe he was having second thoughts. I knew he was back home due to family issues. But this was much more intense than I’d expected from the perfect family I pictured him to have. Especially after meeting his bubbly sweet gorgeous sister. He jerked his head toward me when I stopped beside him and the angry scowl melted and he frowned.
“I’m sorry Low. I didn’t mean to leave you just sitting in there.”
I squeezed his arm, “It’s okay. I actually know how to open a car door.”
My teasing only brought a hint of a smile to his troubled face.
“My dad was supposed to be here. He’s not.”
Okay. Missing family meals must really rank high on the shit list around here.
“Mom was expecting him. She was excited,” he let out a sigh and reached down to clasp my hand in his.
“If she seems odd or upset just overlook it. Nothing that happens tonight has anything to do with your presence. Everything is really screwed up right now.”
“Trust me, I wrote the book on screwed up families. I can handle it.”
Marcus brought my hand to his mouth and kissed it.
“Let’s go see what we’re in for tonight,” he muttered and we headed up those massive stairs.
Marcus doesn’t knock. We walk right in. I guess he still thinks of this as his home. Must be nice. I have to knock at Tawny’s. The door is normally locked up tight anyway and I haven’t been given a key.
“Hello,” Marcus called out as he closed the door behind us. Amanda immediately appeared, stepping out of a room up ahead. Her smile falters and I can tell she is forcing it. I’ve done that enough to know it when I see it.
“Manda,” Marcus replied in a cautious tone, “everything good?”
She shrugged and her gaze flickered to me then back to him. They need a moment. I could tell by the pleading in her eyes.
“Could you point me to the restroom?” I asked Marcus interrupting their silent conversation.
“Yeah, of course,” he pointed to a door straight ahead and to the left, “Just use the powder room.”
The powder room? What the crap is a powder room?
“Okay”
Once inside, I sighed and sagged against the wall. Jeez the tension in this place was thick. I was in the way. Marcus wanting me here was sweet but now I think he made a mistake. Amanda obviously needed him and he’s saddled with me. And I know nothing. It bothers me some that he hasn’t opened up to me but then I haven’t opened up to him either about my family issues. No matter what is going on in this family it can’t be worse than what my sister has done. My family issues are not the kind you share, ever. I needed to kill some time and give them a chance to talk privately.
Looking around the small room I noticed the sink wasn’t a normal sink. It was a fancy cracked glass bowl that sits on top of a marble stand. The faucet looked like a copper spout from a pump. Turning the water on I was instantly fascinated with the way it worked. Smiling at my childlike fascination with a bathroom sink I turned the water off and turn my attention to the rest of the room. There’s no bath tub or shower. A toilet sat on the other side of me and a chandelier hung from the tall ceiling. Who the heck puts a chandelier in a tiny room with nothing but a toilet and a sink. A knock at the door startled me.
“Low, you okay?” Marcus’s voice sounded concerned.
I reached and opened the door then grabbed his arm to pull him inside with me. His shocked expression made me want to laugh out loud but I didn’t. The worry lines across his forehead tell me he has too much on his mind for fun and games.
“What,” he asked as I close the door behind him. Turning I gaze up at his beautiful green eyes. God he is gorgeous.
“I’m giving you a chance to talk to Amanda alone. She seemed upset,” I explained.
He let out a frustrated sigh and nodded.
“I’m sorry about all this,” he began and I put my finger over his mouth to stop him.
“Hush. I know you’re having family problems and your dad not showing up has caused a major hitch in making things better. If my being here makes everyone uncomfortable because they feel as if they have to act happy and as if nothing is wrong I need to leave. I can call,” Marcus grabbed my finger gently and shook his head.
“No. You aren’t calling,” he pauses, “anyone. You’re staying here with me. I need you here Low. I’m sorry it’s all gone to shit but I need you here. Please stay with me.”
The pleading look in his eyes was my undoing. Of course I would stay with him. I closed the small distance between us and stood up on my tiptoes to kiss him chastely before nodding.
“Then let’s go do this.”
He grinned for the first time since we’d drove up.
As we walked out of the powder room, Amanda was standing there waiting for us with an amused smirk on her face.
“Did ya need to go in there and help her out Marcus?” She asked with a teasing lilt to her voice.
“Shut up Manda,” he replied and slipped his arm around my back. She winked at me before turning around to lead us to the dinning room. The table was huge and covered in food. They really did family dinners up right around here. A tall elegant woman walked out of the kitchen. Her blond hair was almost white. Maybe platinum would be the best way to describe it. It was cut in a short pageboy style that suited her classic appearance. Her slender figure reminded me of Amanda. The white apron tied around her waist was so white it looked as if it had never been used. Underneath the apron she had on what appeared to be a black halter dress complete with black pumps on her feet. When you look at her one word comes to mind, rich.
“Marcus,” she beamed at the sight of her son.
“Mama, this is Willow,” his hand tightened on my waist, “Low, this is my mom, Margaret.”
Margaret set the basket of bread down on the table and made her way to me smiling brightly. A little too brightly. The pain in her eyes is impossible to mask.
“It’s so nice to meet you Willow. I’ve heard so much about you and you’re just as beautiful as Marcus promised you were.”
“ It’s a pleasure to meet you too. Thank you so much for inviting me to dinner.” Her smile appeared to relax and become more genuine.
“I’m thrilled you came. Marcus never brings girls to dinner. Your presence is very welcome.”
“Can I help you with anything Mama?”
He called her Mama. How freaking cute was that?
“No honey, you and Willow have a seat. Amanda is bringing the pitcher of tea and then we’ll be ready.”
Marcus pulled out a chair for me and I sat down while he pushed it back in. Then he walked over and did the same thing for his mother. “Here you go,” he said, smiling down at her. The love in her eyes as she gazed at him was unmistakable. Marcus was very well loved. No matter what his family issues were, his mother and his sister adored him. But then, how could they not.
Chapter Eighteen
Marcus
My mother prattled on about the upcoming Sea Breeze Seafood Festival and the charity event she was heading up. Willow was perfect. She acted interested in my mother’s pointless chatter and even kept the conversa
tion going with questions about the event. Amanda caught my attention twice. She was very happy with Willow. Right now having my mother preoccupied was the best thing and Willow was doing a fantastic job. It took all my will power not to lean down and kiss her senseless. When Willow asked if there was anything she could do to help, my mother’s face lit up like the Fourth of July. Relief at seeing a real smile on her face made it easier to swallow my food. The sick knot in my stomach at the devastation shining in her eyes when we’d arrived had felt like a lead weight in my stomach. But with each smile Willow brought out of her I could eat more easily and relax. Amanda’s tense posture had also eased. By the end of the meal I’d given up all pretenses of not being as fascinated with Willow as my mother was. I openly stared at her, drinking in her smooth skin, silky hair that curled over her shoulders and those expressive eyes of hers. The light pink color in her cheeks told me she knew I was ogling her.
“I’d love to help out. I’ll have Marcus text you my number. Then you can let me know when you need me.”
She was going to spend time helping my mom. Damn I was so far gone at this point I’d do anything she asked of me.
“Marcus, honey?” My mother’s voice broke into my thoughts and I jerked my gaze off Willow and turned to focus on my mother.
“Yes?”
She chuckled and seemed very pleased. Tonight hadn’t been a bust after all. Willow had saved the day.
“Can you help me get the caramel cake and dessert plates please?”
Nodding I stood up and Amanda covered her laughter with a napkin. I had a feeling Mom had called my name more than once before I’d heard her. Both my mother and my sister were way too easily amused.
I followed my mother into the kitchen and the moment we were safely hidden from the dining room she spun around and hugged me tightly.
“Oh honey she’s perfect. I love her. She’s gorgeous and smart and you’re just so smitten with her. It does my heart so good to see you like this. And she’s local. I’d always worried you’d meet some girl off at college and move away from me. This is perfect. I can’t wait to introduce her to the ladies at the club when she comes to help me with the decorations for our booth at the festival.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at my mother’s enthusiasm. My father’s no show was completely forgotten.
“She’s special. I told you that.”
“Yes she’s definitely special. I adore her.”
“I adore her too, Mama.”
Willow had worked the past two nights and she’d spent all day yesterday at her sister’s keeping Larissa. I was having withdrawals. Tonight I needed her all to myself. We’d have a moonlight picnic on the beach. A little dancing under the stars, and then I was going to make love to her. It was time. I wanted to sleep in a bed with her at night, holding her all night. This couch stuff sucked. But before I dealt with all that I had to meet with my father. He’d called me twice and left messages which I’d deleted without listening to. This morning my mother had called me for him. She begged me to go see him. She hated having us at odds with each other which baffled me because he had shattered her world. The woman was just so damn forgiving.
I pulled into his dealership in Seabreeze. Dad was always at this one. He only visited his other dealerships. This was his home base and largest lot. Taking a deep breath I stepped out of the truck and headed for the front doors. The curly red hair that belonged to the secretary he supposedly had fired was the first thing I noticed. Scowling at her as I walked passed caused her smile to falter, and for the first time in my life I wanted to hurt a woman. I didn’t ask if he was in his office. Talking to the whore who had broken up my family wasn’t on my to do list today.
Dad glanced up as I stalked into his office.
“Marcus,” he looked surprised.
“Mom asked me to come. I’m here. You got ten minutes.”
Frowning he nodded and motioned for me to sit down. I considered refusing and standing up so I could glare down at him the entire time but decided it may be safer if I was seated. That way if I lunged for him he’d have time to duck. Clearing his throat my father loosened his tie and rested both elbows on the desk leaning forward.
“I know my not showing up for the family dinner upset you.”
I let out a hard laugh, “No dad, the fact that slut is still working for you when you told Mom you’d fired her is what has me furious at the moment.”
His mouth formed a tight line and I could see my comment about his paid for toy bothered him.
“Let’s leave her out of this, shall we. There are things you don’t know and until you’re my age and have walked in my shoes then you’ll never understand.”
A red haze settled over my vision.
“Your mother and I have been living as roommates for so long Marcus. She was wrapped up in her world and I was busy with work making it possible for her to live the charmed life she’s lived. Making it possible for Amanda to have everything she desires. And I’d have done the same for you had you let me. Your refusal to let me help you with anything bothers me. You’re my son. I want you to have the best. I can supply the best. But you’ve fought me every step of the way. That isn’t the point,” he waved his hand as if swatting those words away. “Your mother and I no longer make each other happy. Our marriage was over long before I moved on. I need affection---”
“Stop,” I snarled standing up. I couldn’t listen to this anymore.
“I.Don’t. Care. About. Your. Needs.” I bit out each word with as much venom in my voice as I could manage. “I only care about the woman who dedicated her life to making a home for me and Amanda. Making a home for you. Nothing she did warranted you running off and fucking a girl half your age. Do you really think she loves you? Really? That’s stupid and pathetic. She wants your money, you stupid ass wipe.”
Dad shot out of his chair, slamming it against the wall behind him. “I will not listen to you call me names. You are my son. I deserve more respect than that.”
A sickened angry laugh bubbled out of me and I shook my head. “Any respect I may have held for you was killed the moment you betrayed my mother.”
I didn’t wait for a response. I jerked open his door and slammed it in my wake needing to let some of my fury loose before I exploded. Customers and salesmen jumped and spun around to stare at the spectacle I was causing. I hoped they all left without buying a damn thing. Slicing my heated gaze through the showroom I found the girl responsible for all this. She was watching me with a shocked almost fearful expression. I wanted to hurt her. Slam her against a wall and scream at her. But I couldn’t. So I settled for words.
“Suck him dry while you can because you won’t be young forever. He’ll leave you one day too. For someone younger. A zebra doesn’t change his stripes and I can assure you there is nothing about you that’s special. You’re just a young piece of ass.”
Her jaw dropped open at my words and I heard gasp from others who’d heard me. Good. My father would think twice before he called and requested I meet with him again.
Storming out of the dealership I turned my truck toward Live Bay. It was early but I needed a beer. No, I needed a damn shot of whiskey. Several shots of whiskey.
Willow
“Hey Low,” Preston’s voice startled me and I spun around to find him standing behind me with his hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans, frowning.
“Preston, hello.”
He glanced around the almost empty restaurant. It was time for me to get off and I’d called Marcus but he hadn’t answered. I was getting ready to start walking. Calling Cage was out of the question. Maybe Marcus sent Preston. I sure hoped so. I was exhausted and walking was the last thing I wanted to do.
“You about done here?” he asked bringing his attention back to me.
“Yep, I was just about to leave. Did Marcus send you to get me?”
Preston’s frown deepened, “Well, not exactly. He’s next door at the bar.”
He was? Why hadn’t he
answered my calls? “Okay,” I replied waiting for more of an explanation.
Preston sighed, “He’s trashed. Like drunk off his ass, doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing, trashed.”
Alarmed, I untied my apron and threw it in the dirty basket and started for the door. Preston followed me.
“Before you see him like this you should know he met with his dad today and it was brutal. He went directly to the bar and he’s been there ever since. He’s got a lot of family issues right now and all the pressure is on him to keep his mom and sister from falling apart. Don’t be mad at him. Just, understand okay.”
The pleading tone in Preston’s voice scared me. I mentally prepared myself for the worst as I opened the door to the bar and stepped inside, scanning the crowd for my drunk boyfriend.
“Rock has him. I called Rock first. Ginger, the bartender tonight called me and I called Rock. He came with me.”
I found Rock first and he was sitting at a booth off to the side away from the dance floor and he was alone. I made a beeline for Rock. His eyes met mine and I could see the apologetic expression before he even spoke. My heart was racing in my chest. Where was he? Surely Rock wouldn’t let him leave? Drive drunk?
“Where?” I asked the minute I got to his booth.
Rock pointed his mug toward the dance floor. Spinning around I immediately found him.
He was dancing with Jess and she was humping his leg while he held onto her hips and grinned like he was having the time of his life. Furious, I stalked out to the dance floor. That bitch had pushed me too far. I didn’t care whose cousin she was. I’d had it. Marcus was mine. Bloodshot green eyes met mine as I stopped behind Jess. Grabbing her shoulder I jerked her back with all the strength I could muster. Stumbling back I heard her shocked squeal.
“Baby,” Marcus slurred reaching for me. “My Low’s here,” his garbled words were muffled as he pulled me against him burying his head in my neck.
