Phoenix: Book One of The Stardust Series

by Autumn Reed

  Knox’s jaw clenched and his scowl was deeper than I’d ever seen it. “You’re right. Unlike our father, I actually care what happens to you.”

  Theo hung his head. After a few moments, he quietly said, “I know, and I’m sorry. But I really wish you would start treating me like an equal. This is important to me.”

  Knox ran a hand through his hair and glanced back at me. “Can we talk about this later? Haley doesn’t need to witness our family drama.”

  Theo laughed darkly. “She’s living with us. She might as well get used to it.”

  Uncomfortable, I sat there quietly. I didn’t know anything about their family, but clearly there was more to the story than two brothers living together.

  Theo turned around and looked at me, his face unusually stoic. “You’ll find out eventually, so I’ll give you the CliffsNotes version now. Our dad has been out of the picture since we were young. Mom couldn’t cope and was pretty much absent until she died. So, we’ve been taking care of ourselves for a long time. And, Knox likes to think that just because he’s older, he’s in charge.” Theo turned back toward the front and stared out the windshield.

  Knox tapped his hand on the steering wheel angrily. “Damn it, Theo. What is your problem? Do you really think this is the right time to get into all of that?” He gave me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, Haley. Ignore him.”

  As awkward as the moment was, I found myself wanting to make sense of their family dynamics. It was clear that Knox was serious about his role as the protective older brother. And though Theo appeared to love and respect Knox, he was pushing back against Knox’s self-imposed authority.

  I probably should have stayed silent, but I couldn’t help myself. “I’m sorry about your parents, but I’m also kind of jealous. You two are really lucky to have each other, to have someone that you can always count on.”

  Theo sighed. “You’re right; we are lucky. Not just because we have each other, but because we have the team as well. It’s like we make up our own little island of misfit orphans.” He grinned, and I relaxed a little.

  Ignoring his Rudolph reference for the moment, I asked, “Orphans? Does that mean that all of the guys on the team have parents who have died?” It occurred to me that as attached as I was feeling to Theo, Knox, Ethan, and Chase, I barely knew anything about their personal lives.

  Knox responded, “Technically, no. But all of our parents have either died or deserted us in one way or another. That’s why we are so close; despite our different backgrounds and personalities, our friendships were built on common ground.” He paused and looked at me through the mirror. “Maybe now you can understand why it was so important to us to bring you to Santa Cruz and watch out for you.”

  Knox’s green eyes burned into me, and I experienced a moment of clarity. The guys weren’t helping me just because they felt responsible or guilty. They all had something significant in common with me and maybe even identified with me better than I ever imagined.

  Turning off highway seventeen, we headed toward Saratoga. Not long after, we passed through a gated entrance, easily clearing the security booth before reaching a large fountain with lush ornamental landscaping. Theo said, “We’re almost there.”

  As we drove further into the neighborhood, my jaw dropped. Enormous houses in all different styles were nestled in amongst the rolling hills. I tried to reassure myself that perhaps Jackson’s uncle’s house would be one of the smaller ones. “Does Jackson live here with his uncle?”

  Knox replied, “Not since he finished college. Now he lives in a little bungalow right on the beach in Santa Cruz. It’s perfect for surfing.”

  A minute or two later my conjectures were firmly put to rest when Knox pulled up to a large and elegant house. When he parked behind Chase’s car, I gulped. Would it be obvious that I really didn’t belong here? Theo grabbed my canvas bag and his own duffle and opened my door. “Come on, Haley!” He smiled.

  Considering I didn’t really have any other choice, I silently followed Knox and Theo up the wide pathway toward the house. The landscaping was simple but pristine, mostly hedges and grass. The clean design of the landscaping complemented the large, two-story home. It reminded me of French chateaus I had seen in books at the library, complete with a beige stone facade, evenly-spaced tall windows, and a slate gray roof. Each of the upstairs windows were French doors with metal railings, and a large walk-out balcony was centered above the enormous front door.

  Apart from the metal railing of the upper balconies, the front door was one of the most ornamental and decorative items on the house. As we approached the threshold, I admired the iron scrollwork design that covered the glass center of the arched doorway. I expected Knox to knock or ring the doorbell. Instead, he flipped a lid, revealing a small keypad into which he quickly entered a code, and then placed his thumb on a screen. My eyebrows raised so high I wasn’t sure there was any space left on my forehead for them to go. If I hadn’t already been wondering what exactly Jackson’s uncle did for a living, I sure was now.

  Entering the house, I was somewhat surprised that no one was there to greet us, but Theo and Knox seemed familiar with the home. Knox headed toward the back of the house, and I followed Theo up a nearby staircase, not sure what else to do.

  I quickly surveyed the home as we traveled to an unknown destination within. Walking across beautiful tile floors, we passed large metal and crystal chandeliers, and upholstered furniture, curtains, and rugs in a variety of textures. Much like the exterior, the interior color palette was varying shades of gray and cream with live plants and flower arrangements sprinkled throughout. There was a definite air of luxury, but the overall effect was one of simplicity and understated elegance.

  Theo stopped in front of a door on the upstairs hallway and opened it for me, revealing a bedroom. Nothing seemed very personal; it was clearly a guest bedroom. I assumed we were just ditching our stuff before heading back downstairs.

  Theo set my bag on the bench at the foot of the bed. “Here you go, Haley. Since you didn’t wear your swimsuit over, you can change in here or the attached bathroom. I’ll be downstairs.”

  Curling my hair around my finger, I tried to remain calm, but I wanted to beg Theo to stay behind and wait for me. Don’t be ridiculous, Haley. He smiled warmly, and I felt like he was trying to reassure me, so I nodded.

  When he closed the door softly behind him, I glanced around. The late afternoon sun filtered through light and airy linen curtains, casting a warm glow about the room. The large bed had a headboard upholstered in dark gray and was covered in plush layers of beautiful bedding. A wood dresser that was both long and tall was topped with large lamps and decorative items. With a sense of slight disbelief at my beautiful surroundings, I leaned forward to smell the small arrangement of pink peonies.

  Having seen glimpses of the house and now this guest room, I tried to think what it reminded me of. I felt a feel of smug sense of satisfaction when the answer came to me. There was a catalog we used to get that was as big as a phone book, always with a large “RH” on the cover. We could never figure out how they decided to include our address in their mailing list, having never purchased anything from the store. But, I loved poring over its glossy pages.

  Knowing I really couldn’t stall any longer, I sighed, pulling items out of my tote, including a new swimsuit. A few days ago, several swimsuits had appeared on my bed, and I picked two to keep but brought my favorite today.

  I removed my clothes and stepped into the navy one-piece, shifting and pulling it up over my hips and torso. After moving my long hair to one side, I tied the slick fabric in a bow to create the halter-neck. I loved the retro feel of the suit thanks to the ruching on the front, twisted bust, and boyshorts cut of the bottom. I shook my head at Theo’s uncanny knack for picking clothes for me; somehow I felt covered yet sexy.

  I threw on a cover-up before pulling my hair into a high ponytail. A few tendrils hung around my face, refusing to stay back. Finally grabbing a b
ook and placing my sunglasses on my head, I took a deep breath and opened the door. Theo said he would be downstairs, but who else was here? Jackson? Ethan? I wasn’t sure who I was most anxious to see or not see.

  I descended the stairs slowly, keeping an ear out for the others while continuing to admire the design of the home. Assuming the pool was located at the back of the house, I headed in that direction. When I heard Knox’s voice, I relaxed slightly and felt brave enough to pop my head around the corner to investigate.

  Knox was sitting on a bar stool in the kitchen talking to a man whom I’d never seen before. The stranger was facing mostly away from me with one hip leaning against the counter, his stance confident yet relaxed. He was wearing what must have been an expensive suit in deep blue with a white dress shirt, open at the neck.

  Knox spotted me and said, “Hey, Haley. Come meet Liam.” Wishing I could dodge behind the wall, I knew it was too late.

  Liam turned around and immediately started toward me. “Haley, we meet at last.” Surprised by the sound of a light British accent rolling off his tongue, I stood frozen. He stopped a short distance away from me and looked me up and down, his intent unmistakable. “Well you’re bloody gorgeous, aren’t you?” Glancing back at Knox, he said, “Now I can see why you’ve been hiding her at the loft.”

  My cheeks immediately began to burn, making my discomfort obvious. While Theo and Ethan made statements now and then that were moderately flirtatious, they had nothing on Liam. Something about the bold look in his eyes mixed with the smooth tone of his voice made his words seem anything but innocent. While I might have been getting used to hanging out with the other guys, Liam was a completely new creature, and I had no idea what to do with him.

  He held out his hand and I placed mine in his, expecting a simple handshake. Instead, he slowly drew my hand up to his lips and placed a light kiss on the back of my hand. “I am Liam Carlyle. It is lovely to meet you.” I didn’t know whether to be impressed or repelled. Movies and novels taught me that a kiss on the hand was the swoon-worthy act of a gentleman. But, I was fighting a laugh, because it just seemed so over-the-top and cheesy. Is he always like this?

  Nevertheless, I couldn’t deny that he was incredibly attractive. Like the rest of the guys on the team, he could pass for a model or even a movie star. He was about the same height as Knox but much slimmer. His expertly tailored suit fit him perfectly, showing off his trim physique. Combined with his height and the elegant way he carried himself, he looked like he owned the place; there was an air of insouciance about him.

  He had dark brown hair that was cut short and styled to perfection. With prominent cheekbones and a rather deep dimple in his chin, his otherwise smooth face was a study of lines and angles. And when he smiled, I couldn’t help but be dazzled by his brilliant white teeth.

  Realizing that I’d been standing there staring at him, I finally said, “The guys mentioned you, but I didn’t realize you were British. Unless the accent is fake,” I added with a grin.

  Liam laughed, his entire face lighting up as he smiled. For the first time, I noticed the unusual color of his eyes. They were gray but seemed to change colors from one moment to the next.

  “We’re going to hit it off, I can already tell.” He walked back to Knox and said, “I like her.”

  Knox watched both of us with a warm look in his eyes. “I know.”

  Jumping In

  As I lounged by the pool, I couldn’t get over my lush surroundings. The back of Jackson’s uncle’s house was even more beautiful than the front, thanks in no small part to the pool and landscaping. A covered outdoor patio, attached to the house, flowed seamlessly into the tiled patio and flawless green lawn surrounding the pool.

  The lounge chair beneath me almost felt too nice to be outdoor furniture. Caressing the plush fabric of the cushion, I admired the large rectangular pool that stretched tantalizingly before me. With its simple design and clear blue water, it was perfect for swimming laps. I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply and soaking in the warmth of the sun. Apart from the faint scent of chlorine, the air smelled clean and pure.

  Opening my eyes, I marveled at how expansive, and yet sheltered, the space felt. A border of shrubs and beautiful white hydrangeas outlined segments of the pool and lawn before the yard faded into a larger, more natural wooded area. With trees all around and no other houses in sight, it was quite the serene oasis.

  A book sat open on my lap, but it was more for cover than for reading. Theo and Chase were already in the pool swimming laps, and I had successfully avoided their attempts to lure me in thus far. The only people who had seen me in a swimsuit were Jessica and my dad, and the thought of shedding my cover-up in front of the guys was making me more than a little anxious.

  As I watched Theo and Chase swimming, I was impressed by their skills. However, it was clear that Chase was the superior swimmer, and I understood why swimming was his chosen sport. He was expertly performing the breaststroke, and the way his limbs elegantly sliced through the water was hypnotizing.

  The sound of the patio door sliding open caught my attention, and I glanced over my shoulder, expecting Knox and Liam. Instead, Ethan appeared in a pair of horizontally-striped swim trunks, a towel draped over one shoulder. My heart started beating wildly, and I quickly turned away to keep from gawking at his incredible musculature. Please don’t come over here, please don’t come over here.

  Luckily, Theo caught Ethan’s attention by hopping out of the pool and heading straight toward him. He grabbed Ethan’s towel and threw it on a nearby chair. “Haley gets a pass for now, but you don’t, so get your butt in the pool.”

  Ethan followed Theo to the edge of the pool but hesitated for a moment, looking over at me. Thankful for the sunglasses hiding my eyes, I kept my head down but watched him out of the corner of my eye. He started to say something, but before he had the chance, Theo pushed him in the pool. Once he broke through the surface of the water, he initiated a splash war against Theo and had Chase in the middle within seconds.

  I watched, amused by their playfulness and relieved that I managed to avoid a conversation with Ethan for a while longer. I intended to finally confront him about the phone call sometime tonight but wanted to wait until I could talk to him alone.

  For now, I let myself enjoy the moment. Constantly in motion, their muscles flexing and the sun highlighting their bodies, the water streamed off them, and the effect was breathtaking. Had the fire been a portal to an alternate Abercrombie-&-Fitch-catalog universe?

  By the time Liam and Knox came outside a few minutes later, the guys had called a truce. As Liam walked by, he held out a hand, palm up. “Oh, Haley. Do please join us.”

  I shook my head and smiled as I held up my book. Liam wasn’t backing down easily though. “Seriously? Surely even the incomparable Mr. Darcy can’t compete with the five of us?” Was he mocking my reading selection? Pride and Prejudice was a classic, with a cult following that even went so far as to include a zombie parody.

  Affecting my best English accent and serious manner, I replied. “My dear Mr. Carlyle, I must respectfully decline your request.” He laughed before walking off and glanced back at me once more before diving effortlessly into the pool.

  Theo swam to the edge of the pool near my lounge chair. “Please, Haley. We need you to make our numbers even for basketball.”

  I rolled my eyes behind my sunglasses but held my ground. “I’m sure I would hurt, not help, whichever team I was on. I’ve never even played basketball.”

  Theo glared. “Oh please; we both know you can easily pick it up. Don’t make me come out and get you.” He flicked water playfully in my direction. “You know I will.”

  Realizing that I wasn’t going to get away with staying dry forever, I finally gave in and set my book down on the chair. As I stood up and prepared to remove my cover-up, I felt like time was standing still. I took a few deep breaths and gave myself a quick pep talk. Chill, Haley, you can do this. It’s just a bathing suit.
Refusing to make eye contact with anyone, I slowly slipped the cover-up over my head before placing it and my sunglasses on the lounge chair.

  At first there was complete silence from the direction of the pool, but then I heard Ethan’s deep voice mutter, “Damn,” his tone sounding a bit awed. Knowing that I had to face them at some point, I turned to the guys and slowly walked to the pool steps.

  Theo beamed up at me. “I hoped you would pick that one; it looks amazing on you.” I ducked my head to hide my blush and concentrated on entering the pool without tripping or doing something else equally embarrassing. The water felt cool and refreshing, and I sighed at the pleasure of it washing over my warm skin.

  Next, I heard Liam say, “You picked out that suit? Why couldn’t you have bought her a bikini?” Uncomfortable and slightly annoyed, I looked up to see Knox smack Liam on the back of the head, making all the other guys laugh.

  While I paddled around, Theo said, “Okay, let’s pick teams.”

  Theo opened his mouth again to speak, but Knox butted in. “Yes, let’s. Ethan and I will pick.” He paused for half a second. “I’ll go first. Haley.” Knox’s tone was friendly, but there was a definite undercurrent of authority. Even though I knew it was a pity pick, I felt relieved that I wasn’t chosen last.

  Ethan groaned but didn’t protest. “Fine, I’ll take Chase.” It suddenly struck me why Ethan looked different; he wasn’t wearing his glasses. I had a hard time deciding whether he looked better with or without them.

  Knox quickly said, “Theo,” before Ethan said, “Come on, Liam.”

  Theo and Chase hopped out of the pool, dripping water as their bare feet pattered across the patio tile, returning with two basketball goals and a ball. While they set up the goals, Ethan quickly went over the rules. “Okay, no traveling, aka swimming, beyond one-quarter length of the pool at one time with the ball. You can’t take the ball out of the pool. Blocking is allowed, but you can’t push someone under water and hold them there. Once a team scores, we meet at the center and start again. Any violation means a free throw. Got it?”