by Jen Talty
“That’s just across the Vermont border.”
“It was still too far away. My first job was in New York City, but was lucky they encouraged remote locations, so I came back here to make the family happy.”
“My family is basically the same, only we’re all first responders.” He followed the directions she’d given him, basically knowing the area as his ex-girlfriend didn’t live too far away. Actually, just three streets over from where she said her parents lived. Not that he’d ever been to his ex’s house. He often wondered, during their eight-month relationship if she’d been embarrassed either by his lower-middle-class status.
Or just him.
“We don’t gravitate to any one job. We’ve got doctors, lawyers, hedge fund managers, business professionals, and a few professors tossed in for good measure.”
He turned onto a long private driveway. The gate had been opened for the Porsche that had pulled in ahead of him. Large, green bushes dotted the road. The front yard was the size of a small park. In the distance, a white house with black shutters that looked more like a country club than home, filled the sky.
“You grew up here?”
She nodded. “I probably should have warned you, but my family has just a smidgen of money.” She held up her hand, pinching her thumb and forefinger together.
“Mind if I ask what your parents do?” The closer he got to her childhood home, the faster his heart beat. He wanted to do a quick U-Turn and haul ass. He should have considered the address when she’d given him the chance to back out. He didn’t do rich folk well. Lydia had tried to ‘educate’ him on the finer things in life. He would always prefer a good longneck to a fancy bottle of wine. Not that he didn’t like wine, he did. But he preferred not to spend more than a twenty on a single bottle.
“My dad is a heart surgeon, specializing in heart transplants and my mom is a criminal lawyer.”
“Wow, that’s impressive.”
“Hard shoes to fill, so when I went into technology, I thought my parents were going to flip.”
“And what do your siblings do?”
“Everyone followed in Dad’s footsteps and became some sort of doctor, except my one sister who is closest to me in age. She went to law school, but married a doctor, who by the way, is my ex-boyfriend.”
He gripped the steering wheel, whipping his head in Charlotte’s direction. “What did you say?”
“You heard…WATCH OUT!”
He slammed on the breaks, nearly hitting the expensive sports car in front of him as they approached the front of the circular driveway, and valet parking.
“I’d rather self-park,” he muttered, clearing the cobwebs from his brain as he slid from his truck, reluctantly leaving the keys in the ignition. If she just said what he thought she’d said, then she was his friend from the internet and that was just weird.
But cool.
However, he wasn’t sure how she’d take finding out he was who’d she’d been chatting with.
He let out a long breath. “Sorry, you threw me with the whole ex thing.”
“Did I, really?” she asked with her head cocked and a slight grin.
If he didn’t know better, he’d think she knew he was sexyfirefighter. But if she did, he thought she would have said something between the time they’d left their duplex and now.
“I can’t imagine having to see my ex in that situation all the time. Kudos to you.”
“Thanks, but I love my sister and want her to be happy. Besides, I’m used to it by now. It’s been three years,” she said as she stepped from the truck with the help of a parking attendant. “It’s a non-issue at this point.”
He didn’t buy it. “Is this the sister that’s pregnant?” He laced his fingers with hers, feeling the electric spark the moment their skin touched. He knew he’d have to tell her who he was, but better in private versus a public family gathering.
“Same one.”
“You mentioned we’re celebrating a cousin who just got engaged as well. I figure I should know who that is so it doesn’t seem like I’m clueless about your family.”
“Her name is Lydia. Lydia Rosedale and she’s—”
He yanked his hand away with a quick jerk. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Life had tossed some interesting twists of fate his way, but this had to be one of the cruelest.
“You know her?”
“I used to be in love with her,” he admitted.
Charlotte’s bourbon eyes widened, then narrowed into tiny questioning slits. “You’re the Gavin Nash she used to date? She told me about you and how overwhelming you could be. I can’t believe I didn’t put it together when you told me that on-li...”
“Is that how she tells it? She doesn’t mention that she told me she no longer loved me and was going back to her rich boyfriend three weeks after I’d been burned and nearly died, AngelaBennett? Did she tell you that?” He bit down on his tongue, stopping himself from making matters worse. It wasn’t Charlotte’s fault that her cousin had kicked him when he’d been down, but to be brought to a family party where her engagement was front and center was more than his normally easy going self could tolerate.
“No, she never mentioned anything about your accident. She only said that you…”
He let the long pause linger for a moment before responding, which didn’t ease the tension growing in the warm air. “That I what?”
“Do you really want me to say it?”
He snagged two glasses of champagne some idiot offered, chugging one. The bubbles tickled his throat as the liquid slid down his esophagus. He coughed and gagged.
She patted his back a couple of times.
Then he downed the second glass. “Yes. I do.”
“That you were her ‘wild oats’ before settling down.”
He dropped the fancy plastic cup on the tray and snagged another one. He held it out to Charlotte.
“No thanks, I’m good.”
“Suit yourself.” He downed that one, ignoring the fizz that shot to his nose. “I’ll take one more.”
“You should slow down.”
“Really? I think I deserve to get rip roaring drunk considering I’m about to see the woman who ripped my heart from my chest and wiped her feet on it, all the while grappling with the idea that the woman I’m currently dating is also the woman I just started chatting with online, and she knew it.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. I didn’t know until this morning when I saw your tattoo on your back.” She took him by the hand, guiding him through a sea of people, around the side of the house…no mansion, that looked more like a posh resort. “I didn’t say anything because, well, I don’t know why. I guess I wanted to have fun with it being anonymous a little while longer.”
“You had to know I’d figure it out the second you mentioned your sister’s situation, which you only told me online.”
“Are you really mad at me over the online shit, or are you still hung up on Lydia?”
“I’m not hung up on her, but if I had known all this shit, I would have taken that out you gave me.”
She stopped dead in her tracks, right in front of the gate to a large pool and at least 40 people mingling about the concrete deck. “Put the drink down, have a tall glass of water, and in about an hour you can leave if you want.”
He hated being called on his bluff. No fucking way would he leave, especially when he could potentially fuck with Lydia. He tossed back the champagne, coughing as soon as the glass left his lips. “How close are you to your cousin?”
“We used to be really close, but she knew about my sister and my ex and didn’t tell me, so that put a damper on our relationship, not to mention I didn’t like how she handled the situation with you, even though I knew nothing other than she used you while she strung along Alan.”
“You seem to know enough.” He scanned the party, looking for a petite girl with medium length blonde hair. It took only a minute before he found Lydia, draped over some tall dude in a dress
shirt and slacks. Who the fuck wore that to a pool party?
“Want to have a little fun with both of our ex’s?” He looped an arm over Charlotte’s shoulders.
She tilted her head.
He smiled before leaning in and pressing his lips against hers a little more harshly than planned. He blamed it on the alcohol that had already gone to his head.
“What do you have in mind, my sexy firefighter?”
Chapter Six
Charlotte shouldn’t encourage Gavin to mess with Lydia and her fiancé on any level but considering her cousin had dumped her ‘boy toy’ right after risking his life to save a small boy, it seemed only fitting.
“Let’s give them something to talk about.” He rammed his tongue deep in her mouth, swirling harshly. He held her so tight she thought he could easily break her ribs.
She braced herself against his shoulders, trying to push her body from his, but by the way his tongue found every crevice in her mouth, her only hope to catch her breath was to relax into his embrace and roll with it.
Digging her fingers into his muscles, she raised up on tiptoe, matching his feverish strokes. The chatter in the background quickly turned to hushed whispers. She let the moan building within her, swim to her throat before passing from her mouth to his. He responded with a deep groan that rattled her chest.
“Charlotte,” a woman’s voice said with a soft, delicate tone.
Oh boy. Her mother hated it when anyone kissed in public, but this went beyond a kiss.
Sucking face would be a better descriptor.
She pressed her palm against Gavin’s chest. He took the hit and broke the kiss off, staring down at her with bruised lips and lust filled eyes.
“Are you going to introduce me to your friend?” her mother asked with a smile way too wide for comfort.
“Mom, I’d like you to meet Gavin Nash.” Charlotte took a step back, her heart pounding as Gavin wiped his lips and his cheeks flushed red. “Gavin, this is my mom, Rosie Harper.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Harper.” Gavin stuck his hand out, taking her mothers in a delicate shake. “Thanks for having me.”
Her mother eyed Gavin up and down as if he were on display at a candy store.
“I’m glad my daughter brought you around. How long have you been dating?”
“There’s my baby girl,” her father’s voice boomed across the yard. He took her in his arms and twirled her around like a small child. “I heard you brought a young man, is that true?”
“It is,” her mother said with a wild grin. “Ned, dear, meet Gavin.”
Her father set her feet on the ground, and took a step back to size up her date. “And what is it you do, young man?”
“Dad, do we have to start with the third degree?”
“I’m a firefighter,” Gavin said, pride glistening from every syllable.
“Noble profession,” her father said.
“May I ask if that’s where the scars came from?” Her mother had never been known for being subtle about anything.
“Mom, that’s not—”
Gavin rested his hand on the small of Charlotte’s back, drawing her close. “It’s okay and yes. I was injured on the job.”
Her mother reached out, resting her hand on Gavin’s shoulder. “I’m sorry that happened to you. Thank you for your service.”
Gavin nodded.
Charlotte leaned into him, looping her arm around his waist as she glanced around the party at all the usual suspects. Lydia had inched closer, leaning against the bar just inside the pool gate. Her fiancé, Alan, stood behind her, glaring at Gavin.
“Can I get you a beer? Wine? Something stronger?” her father asked.
“A water for now, please. I loaded up on the sparkling stuff when we got here,” Gavin admitted.
“So, tell me…” Her father slapped his hand over Gavin’s shoulder. “Where did you and my daughter met?’
“We’re neighbors, Dad.”
“I want to know how long they’ve been dating.” Her mother motioned toward a table near the bar. “I’m guessing sort of new, considering the passionate kiss I just witnessed, but not so new because you seem very comfortable with each other.”
Gavin coughed as he pulled out a chair, offering the seat to Charlotte.
Her stomach flipping and flopping as she remembered the delicious assault on her mouth, wishing her sister, Jasmine, and her husband, Ralph had seen the overt display.
“It’s still new, Mom.” Charlotte couldn’t say it was their second date because that would open a can of worms, which might be worse than being so accepting. “A few weeks.”
“Young love.” Her father waved a hand in the air. “I’ll be right back with some drinks.”
Gavin had maneuvered his chair close to hers, keeping his arm protectively around her shoulders. Based on the close proximity of Lydia, Charlotte couldn’t help but wonder if it was all a show.
Including the kiss.
Of course, it was. Not a single thing since they stepped from his truck had been real. It had all been about proving they were both okay in regard to their ex’s.
“Let me help you with those.” Gavin leaned in, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before standing and following her father toward the bar.
Where Lydia sat.
Wonderful. What the hell had she gotten herself into?
“Have you seen your sister?” her mother asked in a low whisper.
“No, Mom. I haven’t. And before you ask, I haven’t spoken to her either.”
Her mother leaned back, pursing her lips. “When are you going to really forgive her?”
It wasn’t that Charlotte hadn’t forgiven Jasmine for her indiscretion or Ralph for cheating on her, because if Charlotte were being completely honest with herself, not only had she been relieved to end things with Ralph, but things had been bad for a few months. She didn’t love Ralph the way he deserved and obviously, he hadn’t truly loved her. In the end, everyone was better off.
It didn’t make the sting any less painful.
The problem with her sister was that she’d betrayed the sister-code. Jasmine shouldn’t have let things go as far as they did with Ralph and not tell Charlotte about it. Or at the very least, let Charlotte know how much Jasmine cared for Ralph.
Just because Jasmine had been carrying a torch before Charlotte had even gone out on a date with Ralph, didn’t make it okay.
“It’s not about forgiving her for falling in love with Ralph, or wanting to have a life with him. It’s about not trusting our sisterhood and going behind my back. I’d been talking to her for weeks about my problems with Ralph and the entire time, she’d been having an affair with him.”
“It wasn’t an affair.”
She certainly didn’t want to get into a discussion with her mother about the fact that Jasmine had slept with Ralph while still technically involved with her. Charlotte hoped her mother never heard the ugly truth.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m over Ralph and in time, my relationship with Jasmine will continue to get better and better.” Charlotte would be lying if it didn’t bother her a little bit as to how quickly they’d gotten pregnant. Not that she was anywhere near being ready to have children back then, or even now, which had been part of the problem. Ralph was all about kids and having them right away and having a half dozen.
Charlotte wanted maybe two or three, but she had no desire to start in her twenties, when she’d been dating Ralph.
“Please, make an effort to spend some time with her tonight. Maybe having Gavin with you could ease some of the tension.”
Charlotte wanted to remind her mother that the friction between her and her sister had more to do with her sister’s guilt than anything else, but Jasmine had always been the good girl, so why blow her cover now that she was actually settled and happy. “I will. I promise.” She patted her mother’s hand, glancing over her shoulder.
Gavin stood at the bar with her father, chatting with her two older brothe
rs, while Alan continued to scowl in his direction. Unfortunately, Lydia sashayed across the patio, eyes set on Charlotte.
“Hi Aunt Rosie,” Lydia said, smiling, showing off her glow-in-the-dark white teeth. Her breasts stood at attention a little higher than what looked normal. “You look lovely this evening.”
“So, do you,” Charlotte’s mother said with a nod. “So glad you and Alan finally set a date.”
“We’ can’t wait.” Lydia pulled back the seat that had been occupied by Gavin. “Do you mind if Charlotte and I have a minute? I have something I need to ask her.”
“I bet I know what that is.” Her mother stood with an all-knowing smile and glided toward the bar like she could float across the air.
Charlotte swallowed. She could only imagine what Lydia wanted to talk about.
“It’s been a while,” Lydia said, leaning back in the chair, folding her arms across her chest. “Our mothers are expecting me to ask you to be a bridesmaid.”
“Is that your way of asking me?” Charlotte couldn’t believe how much Lydia had changed over the last few years. She’d gone from being a sweet, down to earth young woman, to a selfish, self-centered lady who only thought about herself.
“I won’t hurt my mother by not asking, so yes.”
“Are you implying I’d hurt mine?”
“Is that a no? Or a yes?”
Charlotte laughed. “I’m going to say no and when I tell my mother how you left Gavin practically dying in the hospital after saving the life of a little boy, she’ll understand, especially when my plus one is Gavin.”
Lydia narrowed her eyes. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Really? You didn’t string him along? Use him to get a final fling out of your system and then leave him when he needed you most because you couldn’t deal with the realities of life?”
“You really have no idea what you’re talking about.” Lydia stood, pressing her knuckles against the table. “I’d stay away from Gavin. He’s not who you think he is.”
The daylight slowly turned to dusk. Gavin sat in a lounge chair by the pool, nursing a cold longneck, staring at Charlotte, who chatted with her very pregnant sister. The party had dwindled down to Charlotte’s immediate family and a few lingering relatives, including Lydia, who made her way across the deck.
