by T. M. Cromer
He shook his head slightly to clear it. In the short window of time he’d known her, he became obsessed. It took effort, but he dragged his gaze away to look at the girl on the bed. It startled him to find Kaley staring back. A calculating gleam entered her eyes, and he could almost see the wheels turning in her brain. He fought a smile. Sending her a quick wink, he straightened and walked farther into the room, telling himself he’d be better to run, not walk, in the opposite direction as fast as he could.
“Who’s up for pizza?” he asked instead.
Five hands went up.
Since Kaley had elected to ride back home with her uncle, it afforded Gabriel the opportunity to talk to Margaret about her daughter’s attack.
“I’m not sure she was lying, Margaret.”
For the span of five beats, she said nothing, then she sighed and shook her head. “I don’t know what to believe. She thinks she’s an adult but acts like a kid half the time, and she has yet to prove herself trustworthy.”
“There was a quality to her voice and expression…” He was unable to define what he’d witnessed. “Like I said, I don’t believe she was lying. In my line of work, I see plenty of liars.”
“Do you suppose I should have the police come investigate?”
Gabriel debated telling her he’d already had his brothers check out her house. On one hand, he didn’t want it to appear he’d crossed a line. There were plenty of females who would get up in arms about assumptions of that nature. On the other, being a single mother, she might appreciate the fact someone was looking out for her.
“It’s strictly up to you. However, when Kaley told us she thought she saw someone, I went ahead and spoke to Grey. Our other brother, Gordon, has a friend who knows something about security. They checked out your place and could find nothing.”
“Why would Kaley make something like that up?” Her voice shook, and it didn’t take a genius to understand she was upset.
“I don’t know that she did.” Gabriel was going on pure instinct, and his gut screamed something about this whole situation was off. “But it begs the question, if someone was in your house, who was it, and how the hell did they get in and out with no one being the wiser?”
“I have a neighbor who owns a local security company. Maybe I should ask him to put in an alarm?”
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea. It would probably make you feel safer. Also, it could help keep your wild child from sneaking out at night.”
His teasing grin faded when he heard her gasp and saw her sickly shade.
Vomit was his kryptonite. If she yakked, he would be yakking right next to her in sympathy. Perhaps he should refrain from teasing about her kid in the future if this was the type of reaction he was going to get.
Gabriel eased onto the road’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
“You’ll tell me if you are going to be sick?”
The sharp tone of his voice brought her head around to stare. He wasn’t a freak about his car interior. Lest she think he was, he confessed to a weak stomach where vomit was concerned.
She giggled.
“You think it’s funny?” he demanded with mock outrage.
“Don’t have any children,” she said. “The first time one regurgitates his or her food on you, you’ll lose it.”
Gabriel put on a display of dry heaving.
Her burst of laughter was lovely to hear, and he basked in the sound.
“I promise you, I was never going to vomit on the precious interior of your Lexus.”
“You looked pretty green there.”
“It was the idea of Kaley sneaking out. Or rather the thought of going through it two more times with Scotty and Aaron.” Her eyes flared wide and she grimaced.
“Valid point and reaction, I’d say.” He eased onto the road, and his smile stayed in place the entire ride to their street.
Their arrival home coincided with the pizza delivery.
“Ah, perfect timing. I think I could eat a whole pie by myself.”
“Seriously? You can eat a whole pizza?” When he acknowledged he could, Margaret snorted her disgust. “Awesome. I eat one damned slice and gain five pounds. I hate people like you.”
“We all have our cross to bear.”
“Pfft! Bite me.”
“Oh, Margaret. Don’t toss out a phrase of that nature unless you want me to take you up on it.”
* * *
Margie sucked in a breath and almost choked. With one simple suggestive remark, the air around them became sexually charged. It didn’t matter she hadn’t had her morning shower and now smelled like hospital antiseptic; Gabriel seemed to find her attractive. Maybe he hadn’t gotten laid in a while.
She snuck a sideways glance his way. Yeah, no. The man had never suffered a dry spell in the entirety of his life. Men who looked like Gabriel James could have their pick of women whenever and wherever they wanted. All he had to do was snap his fingers at some unsuspecting female and she’d drop her panties on the spot. Margie included.
She hadn’t realized her quick glance morphed into an all-out stare, but he returned her look with an open, honest interest. The heat radiating from his silvery gaze seared her.
Oh, damn.
Right when Margie was sure she’d give in to the impulse to drag him across the console and suction-cup her mouth to his, a hand slapped against the driver’s side window.
They jumped like guilty teens.
The brother Margie had yet to meet peered through the window. He had a shit-eating grin on a face meant to grace a magazine cover. Gabriel’s good looks brought to mind the powerful gods from Greek folklore, but this man, with his perfectly chiseled features, sparkling almond-shaped eyes, and wind tossed dark hair, brought to mind the Prince of Darkness himself. Those blue-gray eyes lit with an unholy light as he took delight in his prank. He had a seductive quality any woman would fall for. Well, any woman but Margie. She only had eyes for the man sitting next to her.
Gabriel powered down the window. “What is it, Grey?” he bit out.
Margie clamped down on her lip. It was flattering to think he was irate at the interruption.
Grey’s dark brows shot up to his hairline as he looked first at Gabriel then to her. Containing her laughter was impossible. Growing up a Holt, she knew all about family dynamics and hijinks. If she didn’t miss her guess, Grey was just about to have serious fun at his expense.
A loud smack against her window elicited her bloodcurdling scream. Really, she didn’t know she had it in her to make such an ear-splitting noise, but her nerves were still shot from the idea someone might’ve been in her house.
Her brother, James, lurked on the other side of the door, grinning like the tool he was.
“Asshole!” She’d been unaware of blurting it aloud until all three men laughed. “Not funny, you jerks.” Margie whipped open the door, only missing her brother’s man parts by a mere inch.
“Hey!” James cupped himself. “I’m the only Holt with family jewels. Careful.”
She flipped him the bird over her shoulder.
Gabriel’s “She’s incredible” drifted to her and eased a smidgeon of her irritation. She looked back in time to see him narrowly miss his own brother’s privates.
“Jesus, Gabe. Watch it!” Grey cried out. “Oh, and you’re welcome for the pizza!”
Gabriel, not to be outdone by Margie, threw up both middle fingers and ate up the distance between them. Grinning, she took the hand he offered and entered the house.
As she rounded the corner of the foyer, she stopped in her tracks, wishing they’d gone anywhere else. The quantity of family was daunting, and chaos ruled.
Gabriel’s grumpy brother, the one who’d thrown Kaley in the pool, was going out of his way to be solicitous to her, handing her pizza and soda where she reclined on the chaise. If he wasn’t careful, Kaley would make him her servant for life.
His relieved expression when she and Gabriel ente
red almost made her laugh. With a brisk nod, he exited out the back door.
“I think your brother is happy to be off nurse duty.”
Gabriel laughed. “Gordie is the poster boy for disappearing acts.”
Margie’s sister Annie sat at the kitchen island and stared intently at Kaley. A deep frown marred her otherwise smooth forehead. Whatever emotions she was picking up on had to be heavy.
Margie’s curiosity on the matter would have to wait to be appeased. Right now, she needed to confer with her family where they gathered around Sammy in the kitchen.
Margie whirled around, blocking Gabriel from fully entering the house. “Um, would you mind…” She gave a half-hearted nod back the way they’d come. “I have family stuff about to go down, and I don’t—”
He stared at her for a long moment; his eyes seeming to miss nothing. “I can go if you’d like.”
His steady gaze made Margie fidgety. She wanted to tell him not to look too closely, because there was nothing worthwhile to see.
“It’s not that you aren’t welcome, I… my sister…” She shrugged. What could she say? She wanted him—a complete stranger—to stay and offer her comfort, but to embroil him in the crazy was asking too much of him.
“Keep your secrets, Margaret.” Gabriel tucked a strand of her wayward hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to finish our coffee. When things are settled, how about a rain check?”
She gave him a non-committal half smile.
His lips twisted, and he nodded. “I’ll go until you’ve had a chance to settle things a bit. If you need to talk later, my door is open.”
As Margie regretfully watched him leave, eyes locked on his jean-clad butt, she overheard Sammy say, “Someone was in here with her.”
The blood in Margie’s veins turned to ice. Essentially, her daughter had been in serious danger, while she lounged on the deck, ogling her neighbor. Stricken with guilt, she rushed to Kaley’s side.
“I believe you.” She squatted and rubbed a hand along Kaley’s calf. “I’m so sorry for—”
“You only believe me because Aunt Sammy saw what happened.”
“Kaley, you’re not being fair to your mom.” Sammy’s stern words came from behind Margie.
She whirled to scowl at her. “I don’t need you to defend me to my child.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Sammy’s blue eyes, normally so bright and happy, held resentment. “No matter what I do, it isn’t good enough. I show up at the hospital in support, I try to have your back, but what do I get in return? Not a damned thing.”
“Here we go again. Poor Sammy—always so misunderstood. Maybe if you’d have called first instead of reacting, I’d have saved you a trip to the hospital. And as for having my back, I can talk to my own child. Did you ever think I’m tired of you trying to tell me how to raise my children? You can barely manage your own life, and yet you are constantly trying to tell everyone else how to behave.”
“That’s rich, coming from you, Margie. You order everyone about constantly. If you aren’t micro-managing someone else’s life, you aren’t happy.”
“It’s called a schedule. I have four people I’m responsible for. Five, if you count the fact I have to always consider Scott’s social life. But yes, let’s twist this back around on me. You do what you want without any consideration for anyone else, and you’re teaching my daughter to do the same. Did you know she’s been skipping school? It’s not acceptable.”
“Whatever. I’m done. When you can learn to be a civil human being, give me a call.”
“Don’t hold your breath.”
Sammy pivoted on her heel and stormed out through the garage door, followed closely by Michael.
The silence in the room was painful.
Expressions ranged from shock to outrage to disappointment.
Gabriel, who stood in the entrance with the door halfway open and Grey at his back, gave her a look of quiet understanding and concern. Was it wrong she wanted to run to him and sob out all her frustrations? She drudged up a tight smile instead.
Drawing on the last vestiges of her strength, she said, “Well, since I’ve ruined the mood for everyone and embarrassed myself in front of virtual strangers, I think I’ll leave you all to salvage what you can of lunch. I apologize for any ugliness. Please, stay as long as you’d like.” She bussed a kiss on Kaley’s cheek only to have her daughter wipe it away.
Nine years she’d put up with attitude because she left her no good husband. Nine years of blame by Scott and the children. Only nine more to go until Aaron was off to college. Then she could think about herself.
Tired to her very soul, Margie beelined for the sanctuary of her room.
Her mother intersected her. “Margaret…”
She held up a hand. “Not now, Mom. Please? I know I’ve behaved badly. I’m tired and stressed. I promise I’ll apologize to Sammy later when she’s had time to calm down. Do you mind staying to keep an eye on Kaley? I really need to get a shower and lie down.”
“Of course, dear. Get some rest. We’ll talk later.”
Her mom must’ve seen her exhaustion, because she hugged her tight. Margie closed her lids, accepting the much-needed comfort. Even disappointed in her children’s behavior, Violet Holt was caring and generous.
The perfect role model.
Maybe her kids wouldn’t be such little shits if Margie could channel the Zen like her mother.
Remembering her manners, she drummed up a lukewarm smile for Gabriel and Grey. “Thanks, guys. I appreciate everything you’ve done for us today. Please let me know if I can ever repay you for all your many kindnesses.” She looked from brother to brother and back again. “Who do I owe for the pizzas?”
“They’re on me,” Gabriel said kindly, crossing to her. “Go get some rest. I’ll help clean up here.”
“But you were leaving. I—”
“No buts, Margaret. You’ve had a traumatic experience. Let someone take care of you for a few minutes, okay? I don’t expect it happens often.”
Understatement of the year.
She stretched on her tiptoes to drop a light kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Gabriel.”
Chapter 5
One thing Gabriel was sure of as he watched Margaret weave her way toward her bedroom: Margaret Holt had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Yes, she’d been reactive, but it only took one glance to see she was barely holding it together. For as tough as she pretended to be, below the surface lurked a fragile quality. Maybe that’s why he’d turned around and come back. Leaving her when she seemed so troubled didn’t sit well with him.
Gordie would call it his “do-gooder complex.”
“Well, I never thought I’d see the day.” Grey chuckled and lowered his voice. “The great Gabriel James has been felled like the mighty oak.”
“Suck it.” Gabriel moved to the kitchen to get cleaning supplies to remove the last of the blood from the tile.
James Holt blocked his path.
At six-foot-four, there weren’t many men who stood as tall as Gabriel, and Margaret’s brother was no exception, standing roughly four inches shorter. However, the guy possessed a larger-than-life presence and he was hard to ignore. With shoulders befitting a linebacker and an impressive display of bulging biceps.
James focused to the left over Gabriel’s shoulder.
Gabriel turned to see who was behind him.
No one.
James’s hyper-focused intensity caused the hairs on the back of Gabriel’s neck to lift. A compressed smile teased the other man’s lips, as if he was fighting not to laugh.
“Care to share the joke?” Gabriel moved around him to forage under the sink.
“Joke?”
“You seem to find something funny, but there’s only the two of us in the room.”
“Ah.” There was a wealth of meaning in the one syllable, but Gabriel was damned if he could figure it out. “Yeah, no joke. I…uh, I was thinking about Opal, and ho
w much I enjoyed her company.”
He twisted to meet James’s amused stare. “You knew my aunt?”
“You could say that.” The statement was cloaked in mystery, as if he knew something others didn’t.
James cocked his head to the side as if listening, then he rolled his eyes.
Had Gabriel not been watching him closely, he would have missed the barely discernible nod. Again, he looked behind him.
“Why do I have the feeling you’re communicating with someone who isn’t here?” The startled look on James’s face brought with it a feeling of unease for Gabriel. “Are you communicating with someone who isn’t here?” The sensation of cold fingers danced along Gabriel’s spine, and he shivered.
“That would be ridiculous now, wouldn’t it?”
He formed his next words carefully to appear open-minded. “I’m a lawyer. I deal with facts and the here and now. But I’m also aware not everything can be explained.”
“True enough.” James grinned. His resemblance to Margaret was much more pronounced. “I have a message from your aunt. There’s a false bottom in the last drawer on the left of her old bedroom dresser. Apparently, you marked it as a garage-sale item? She said it’s important you find what’s hidden there.”
James laughed at Gabriel’s dumbfounded expression, gave him a jaunty salute, and grabbed the bucket of cleaning solution. As he exited the kitchen, he said, “I’ve got the tile. You’re on dish duty.”
What the actual fuck? Gabriel suppressed his desire to dash home to verify James’s weird statement—but just barely. With one last wary glance around the room, he turned on the faucet to fill the sink.
The impromptu pizza party broke apart, and Gabriel couldn’t say he was sorry. The day had been exceedingly long, and it was only three p.m. He was replacing the kitchen can liner when he noticed Kaley had joined him.
