Chaos

by Barbara Huffert

  “Thanks for the thought, Shane,” Kiley blushed as she kissed his cheek. “Jordan’s right, you never have to knock here. And if you do happen to walk in on something then you’ll just have to turn around and walk right back out. I’m sure it’ll happen eventually so I promise not to be embarrassed if you’re not.”

  “No wonder you love this girl, Jordan.” Shane grinned at the two of them. “You’ll be more convincing, Kiley, when you can say that without blushing.”

  “I don’t know. She’s awfully beautiful when she blushes. I hope she never outgrows that.” Jordan faced her, standing next to Shane.

  “All right now, knock it off.” Kiley giggled as she moved into Jordan’s arms and hid her face.

  Jordan and Shane’s eyes met over her head, exchanging a look that said all there was to be said. “We’re done now, sweet.” Jordan tipped her face for a kiss. “Coffee, Shane? Brett should be back soon. He’s putting in a bid on that house he looked at when you were here with him.”

  They settled in to visit while they waited, talking comfortably about everything and anything. Shane noticed the way both Jordan and Kiley unconsciously touched each other when they were within reach. He decided the two were unbelievably sweet together and obviously happy. When Brett returned the conversation turned to Alyssa.

  “You’re sure she got there without any trouble?” Kiley frowned.

  “She said everything was fine last time I talked to her,” Shane told them all about her staying with Murray.

  “Sounds kind of like her sticking with the Kid,” Brett observed.

  “Not exactly,” Shane countered. “The Kid was with her to make sure she didn’t do anything they didn’t want her to. Staying with Murray will protect both of them.”

  “Who’s the Kid?” Kiley asked.

  “Just a kid the gang made her stay with when she was taking those pictures. You know the one with the dyed hair and really pale skin? The one whose eyes seemed to see right through you in that book of hers?” Brett wished he hadn’t brought him up.

  “Oh. Yeah.” Kiley thought she knew who he was talking about as Shane’s face went carefully blank. “Does she know how long she’ll be there yet?”

  “It’s only been a few days, Kiley.” Shane shrugged. “They haven’t even had any rain yet, let alone a tornado. I’m sure she’ll be back as soon as she has what she needs.”

  “I still can’t believe she’s leaving her studio all these weeks. She’s probably frantic that someone will break in while she’s gone.” Kiley was thinking out loud.

  “I’m checking on it for her,” Shane mentioned as he pulled out the album that Alyssa had asked him to bring to them. “She gave me this because she wasn’t comfortable leaving it there. The original photo card is in this envelope and the only other copies were already delivered to the people in them. You should have heard Mr. Samuels when he saw that picture of his wife. He was truly pleased.”

  “You went with her?” Jordan raised an eyebrow at his brother.

  “You didn’t think I would?” Shane returned his gaze steadily.

  “I’m surprised she let you.” He shrugged.

  “Like she had a choice once she told us what she was up to.” Brett chuckled. “Jesse thought he was going to have to tail her. It was so much easier when you explained why it would be better for you to go with her, Shane.”

  Jordan and Kiley were busy looking through the album but Jordan saw the look that Shane flashed Brett anyway. “This is great,” he declared. “I hate to think that we have to destroy it.”

  “Are you sure, Jordan?” Kiley asked softly. “I understand why we should but I wish we didn’t.”

  “You’re out of the city now.” Shane offered.

  “I know. Why don’t we lock it in the safe for a few days and think about it?” Jordan wanted his wife to smile again and was quickly rewarded as Kiley went to put the album away. “God, I love that woman!”

  “Really? I never would have guessed that, would you, Brett?” Shane teased.

  “No. I mean, if you ignore the way they look at each other and touch each other all the time, those constant kisses wouldn’t give away a thing.” Brett laughed with them. “Not that I can blame you, Jordan. That is quite a wife you picked out.”

  “I know. I must be the luckiest guy in the world.”

  “Lucky how?” Kiley asked as she came back, draping her arms over her husband’s shoulders from her spot behind his chair.

  “Lucky because the most spectacular woman in the universe loves me.” Jordan leaned his head back against her.

  “Then I must be just as lucky,” she decided as she bestowed a kiss on his forehead.

  Jordan surprised her as he pulled her onto his lap and kissed her thoroughly. When he heard Brett complaining to Shane that they’d been like that since he got there the night before, Jordan waved them out of the room without releasing Kiley.

  In the gatehouse, Brett asked more about Shane’s conversations with Alyssa. After Shane answered, he asked, “So how bad is the inquisition going to be?”

  Brett laughed. “I don’t think there is going to be one for now. As you suspect, Jordan knows there’s something going on. We went to the station yesterday for a meeting and had a chance to talk privately along the way. He saw you, ah, dancing with Alyssa at their reception. I may as well tell you that he picked right up on the fact that you were both here last weekend. He asked then if he should be worried and which one of you he should worry about.”

  “What did you tell him?” Shane couldn’t remember Brett mentioning either one of them but, at the time, he was paying more attention to Alyssa.

  “Not much, really. Just that we all hung out together with Jesse while they were away.” At Shane’s look of disbelief, Brett amended his answer. “Okay, I might have added that the two of you seem to be getting along fairly well at the moment. I told him that you were actually talking instead of yelling most of the time and that I hadn’t had to intervene since before the wedding.”

  “I dread this. I don’t want to lie to them but I’m not at all sure how Campini feels about me. I don’t think she hates me anymore but I really can’t tell beyond that. She gets so angry over absolutely nothing. I just don’t know what she’s thinking most of the time.”

  “Shane, I hate to have to say this to you again but you are such a clueless ass!”

  “Gee thanks, Brett. And here I thought confiding in someone who I’ve known forever and considered closer than a friend would make me feel better.”

  “Don’t get touchy. I’m saying this as your other little brother. I thought that, as someone who you know loves you, I could be completely honest and blunt when needed. You can’t seriously doubt that Alyssa loves you, can you? Sure, she’s scared but so are you. You’re both fighting it for your own reasons but I’m positive you’ll work through it. You and Jordan are a lot alike, Shane. If you decide she’s your future, then you’ll make it happen.”

  “I wish I shared your confidence,” Shane sighed miserably.

  “When has Shane, the invincible superhero, ever lacked in confidence?”

  Shane managed to laugh. “Often but I guess I used to hide it better. I think I’m making progress with the Kid.” He told Brett of their recent exchange.

  “Are you serious, you’d really take him and leave if he asked you to?” Brett was stunned.

  “In a heartbeat.” Shane didn’t hesitate. “I know this started because Campini told him to call me but it’s not about her anymore. Somewhere along the line, I realized that he was getting to me more than I was getting to him. In some ways, he is so independent and aloof. In others, he’s an obnoxious kid, just like you and Jordan were. He’s very smart too. I’m sure he hasn’t been to school in a year or more but there’s nothing lacking in his mind. He’s clever enough to fit in with the others but he hasn’t lost himself yet. I was afraid I’d chased him off by pushing too hard but he called back so maybe there’s still a chance.”

  “Give
him some time. From what Alyssa said, his life was pretty bleak and going from bad to worse. She shows up out of nowhere and gives him real friendship with no strings attached and leads him to you. If my guess is correct, you talk to him like a person, without judging him. You offer him hope. You dangle the kind of life I bet he’s only dreamed about and say you’re willing to change your whole existence to include him. He’s got to be waiting for the bottom to fall out, for the catch. He’ll realize that you’re not a phony, out to screw him even worse than he already has been.”

  “I know it has to be damn near impossible for him to trust anyone, let alone a cop but I have the feeling that he’s running out of time. He isn’t going to stay the Kid forever. Some new boy is going to come along and push him out of his spot as the youngest and he’s going to be forced to prove his worth. He has to ask for my help before then. If not, he’ll have to choose between killing or being killed and then there won’t be anything I can do.”

  “Have you said exactly that to him?”

  “More than once and that’s when he usually hangs up on me.”

  “But he’s heard you so you have him thinking about it. Have you told Alyssa that you offered him a home?”

  “No. I don’t want to get her hopes up. And I’m not sure that both of them aren’t going to think that I’m using one to get the other.”

  “You told him how you feel about her?” This was getting very interesting.

  “He asked and I’m not going to lie to him.”

  “Damn, Shane, I’m impressed. I bet no one has given him that much respect, ever. No wonder he’s suspicious of you.”

  “Yeah, well, he has a long way to go on the respect front. You should have heard the things he asked about me and Campini. I had to give him a little lecture about how not to refer to a lady.”

  “I wish I could have heard that one! I bet you haven’t changed it all that much since you gave it to Jordan and me. I bet we were about the same age as he is when we spied on you making out on the porch.”

  “You’re right. No wonder the Kid reminds me of you two.” Shane shook his head. “He was much cruder than you were.”

  “Jordan and I never lived on the streets.”

  “Thank God. I’m sure you would have taken over if you had.” They both laughed. “Tell me about the station. How’s the staff taking the transition?”

  “As well as we could have hoped for. So far, only one person has left and she wasn’t really doing anything other than sleeping with the former owner. A few others are taking a wait-and-see attitude. There are some that we won’t discourage when they say they want to leave. The rest seem gung-ho in a reserved sort of way. You know Jordan. Once he gets talking, there’s no stopping him. He has a way of making everyone believe what he’s saying.”

  “As do you,” Shane reminded him.

  “Not like Jordan does. Hey, I know I’m good. I can sell anything, myself included but I know I’m doing it. Jordan just talks and it happens. Kiley was there Thursday, when we held our big meeting with everyone because Jordan wanted to present us as a unified group. He was stressing how we intended to operate with an open-door policy and brought her into the statement by explaining that she may not be actively involved in the day-to-day operation of the station but she would be thoroughly in tune with everything that was going on. She assured everyone that she was just as approachable as either of us was in case someone would feel more comfortable speaking with a woman. I’m not sure which one of them was prouder but they were both beaming. They’re just as overwhelming in public as they are at home. I looked around and I bet everyone in the room could feel the emotions swirling around them. That’s when the former owner’s girl left, by the way. She took one look at me and when I shook my head no to her she stomped out. Jordan went on to tell them how we planned on being more than fair with them but also expected a fair amount of work in exchange. All in all, I’d say it was a good start.”

  “I never doubted that it would be. When does he do his first broadcast? I already checked and I can pick up the station at home. I want to make sure I listen to his debut.” Imagine, his kid brother, a financial wizard, giving up all the power that came with the money to host an overnight radio talk show. It would be the most popular thing around in no time, especially with Brett promoting it.

  “Next Wednesday. We’ve already started airing the spots introducing him. You’ll have to be sure to catch them.”

  “Good?”

  “Great, I must admit, even if I did write them myself.” Brett looked so pleased.

  “That would mean absolutely incredible and perfectly on the mark for what you want them to say. Come on, Brett. You’re talking to me, remember? I already know how talented you are so there’s no need for modesty. Have I said how proud you guys make me?”

  “Yes but let’s wait and see how our ratings are doing in a few months when the newness wears off. We still have plenty of opportunity to blow this in ways none of us has begun to imagine.”

  “But you won’t. As I’ve said before, all you two have to do is come up with a plan and you’ll find a way to make it work. Why would this be any different? Especially since you’re in it together this time. You both put extensive work into this and are more than prepared.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Shane. It still affects me when you get all big brotherly on me.”

  “Hey, I’m only speaking the truth. Tell me about your house?”

  “Want to take a walk and see it? I think it’s great, much better than the one in the city.” Brett was as excited as a little boy with a new toy. “I’ll call the realtor and ask if she can meet us so I can show you the inside.”

  Shane had to laugh. “Sure, why not?” He knew Jordan and Kiley would be tied up with each other so he might as well see the house that Brett was so eager to show him.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “He’s great!” Alyssa exclaimed without any greeting, knowing Shane would be up, listening to his brother’s first broadcast.

  “Of course he is but how can you pick him up? I know AM signals carry pretty far at night but I didn’t think theirs was that strong.” Shane couldn’t believe how pleased he was to hear her voice.

  “It’s not. Jesse gave me something Wyatt made. It’s kind of like a phone but it only picks up Jordan’s station. I can set it to record and play it back later or I can listen live or I can do both. It’s so cool to be able to hear him. I can’t believe how many calls he’s getting.”

  “You shouldn’t be so surprised. Brett’s been promoting him for weeks. I can’t believe he ever has any open lines.”

  “It’s a good thing he spent so much time introducing himself at the beginning. That voice of his must be making the female listeners drool. If he hadn’t made it clear that he was a happily married man, I bet he’d be getting all sorts of propositions.”

  “I suspect he’s going to get them anyway but don’t waste a second worrying about that. My brother is entirely devoted to your cousin. There is no way anyone is going to usurp her position as the love of his life.” Shane wondered if she’d replaced him yet.

  “Don’t be an ass, McKade. I know he and Kiles are forever. Jeez, I can’t believe you even said that.”

  “Hey, you’re the one who said other women will be drooling over him. Are you one of them?” What a stupid thing to say! What was wrong with him, letting her antagonize him on the phone?

  “Go to hell, McKade!” She sounded furious.

  “Wait, Pix, I’m sorry. You know I didn’t mean that. Not that this is an acceptable excuse for me being a jerk but it’s been a horrible week. Forgive me? Please?” He realized he was holding his breath, willing her not to hang up on him.

  “It’s not an excuse but I’ll let it slide, just this once. I should have known better than to call you. I wanted to talk to someone who I knew would be listening. I guess next time I’ll call Brett.”

  “I really am sorry, my queen. I am truly pleased that you picked
me first and if you are willing to spare a minute, I’d like to talk a little.” Shane hoped he sounded humble.

  “Oh all right.” She laughed, filling him with relief.

  “How’s your trip? See any destruction yet?”

  “Not much. I got a few passable shots of a small tornado but, fortunately, it was in the middle of nowhere. All it did was uproot a small stand of trees. I don’t think that will be enough to discourage the amateurs. It’s awful, in a way. I ride along every day for hours, hoping to run into a storm so I can get this assignment over with but wishing even more strongly that I waste the whole summer and not get a single shot.”

  “I understand. I’ve been having similar thoughts. I want you to find the mother of all storms so you can get back where you belong but, at the same time, hope you never see what a bad tornado can do.”

  “By back where I belong, where did you mean exactly?” Alyssa couldn’t seem to resist flirting a little.

  “Why, here with me, of course. In my arms, naked in my bed, with me indulging your every whim. Where else could I possibly mean, Pix?”

  “What, no career woman yet, McKade?”

  “I haven’t even bothered to look, Campini. You know I’m still hung up on you.” For the rest of my life and then some, was what he wanted to add. “How could I consider having someone else with me when all I want is you?”

  “You are still so full of shit,” she chuckled, not believing his words. “You’re picking me up at the airport so, unless you go bald and lose all those firm muscles that I enjoy so much, you don’t have to feed me all those lines between now and then.”

  “What, a guy can’t remind a sexy babe that he’s still here, wanting her, waiting for her to return?” Shane knew she thought he was just teasing. “I miss you. Even more than I expected to. I’m already looking forward to seeing you again and you’re nowhere near ready to come home. I just don’t want you to forget me.”