by Lane,Lena
“Nope. From what I heard, he ate the whole thing in two days.” He let out a gruff laugh.
“Damn, that must have been some good cheesecake.” She smiled at him.
Nodding somberly, he said, “It was.”
“What was her name?” She asked, still looking at the portrait, taking in every detail.
“Susanne. Though my dad called her Suzi-Q.”
Smiling, Sarah refocused her attention on the smaller pictures on the mantle and found what she’d been looking for, pictures of a young Scott. As she’d expected, he’d been a very attractive young man, a trait he clearly shared with the rest of his family. “Did your parents make a deal with the devil for the gorgeous gene?” Sarah asked, still looking at the photos. “Because no family should be this beautiful.”
He just chuckled.
“I’m serious” She focused on a framed shot of Scott at about the age of twenty. He’d been sitting on a couch with a book but was staring at the camera with what could only be called a smoldering look. The male version of a duck face? “You were… dare I say it?” Picking up the picture to show it to him, she said with a smirk, “Pretty.” Putting it back, she said, “This level of attractiveness should be illegal. Especially concentrated in one family.”
Scott came to stand behind her and rubbed her arms. “You got your share, Sarah.” A second later, he corrected himself. “More than your share, because you are stunningly beautiful.” He placed a kiss on her bare shoulder and then stepped back. “C’mon, there’s more to see.” He headed toward the stairs leading to the second floor.
Surprised at the compliment, Sarah stood rooted for a second. He’d complimented her before, but Sarah wasn’t quite used to being flattered. She wasn’t stunning, as he’d called her, she was a plain Jane with boring brown hair and boring brown eyes. She wouldn’t call herself ugly, but there was nothing outstanding about her features. She wasn’t as thin as some nor as fat as others; she did have some curves on her so she tried to watch her weight and stay healthy. But stunning? Stunning was just not an appropriate term for her.
“Did you change your mind?” He called from the first step, casually leaning over the railing.
“Coming,” she replied as she went.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The Men
They reached the top landing and heard laughter coming from behind them. Sarah turned, surprised. It seemed the man cave in this house was on the second floor. Through closed French doors, she could see a game room set up with a pool table, a card table, a large-screen television, several leather couches, and a small bar in the corner. Today, it served as the hiding place for those who didn’t want to deal with the summer heat. Of the four men there, Dave’s father, Tom, was the only one she recognized.
Scott opened the door and Sarah hesitantly followed. “Maybe we shouldn’t bother them,” she whispered as four sets of male eyes landed on them.
“The party is outside,” Scott told the group as they stopped just inside the doorway.
“Then go back to it,” one of them replied, sparing a quick look up from the pool table, “but leave the girl. She’s good to break up this sausage fest.” He winked at her and her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. Luckily, she didn’t think he saw as he immediately returned to the pool table to hit the cue ball.
For an older guy, probably in his late fifties, he looked really good. His broad shoulders filled the black T-shirt nicely, and the muscles on his arms were clearly defined. When he straightened up to watch as the two balls he’d just hit rolled in opposite directions, she got a good look at his angular face and his graying blond hair, which was cropped short. He grinned as both balls dropped into pockets, and Sarah now knew where Scott got his gorgeous smile. Scott’s father was a very handsome man. Thank you for keeping those genes in the genepool.
“Now look what you did, Sean,” Tom called out from the table where he was playing cards with Sammy, whom she immediately recognized from the picture downstairs. “You’ve embarrassed her.” Her face flushed again at the reminder. To Sarah, he said, “Why don’t you come sit with Sammy and me? We have better manners.” He patted the empty chair beside him. “And are far less vulgar.” Those last words were thrown at Sean with a scowl.
Saying nothing, Sammy leaned back in his chair and took a drink from his can of soda. He draped his arm over the back of his chair and just watched her from across the room. Sarah got the impression that Sammy was not nearly as outgoing as his brother. Without thinking, she stepped closer to Scott.
“Thank you, Tom,” she said apologetically, focusing on the man who’d shared his gentle traits with his son, “but Scott is giving me the grand tour.”
“Well, you can’t leave without proper introductions to the rest of us.” Once again, it was Sean who spoke. He placed the pool stick on the table before he walked around to stand in front of her. He was taller than his son, and Sarah had to tilt her head back to see his face. Scott stepped aside to give him some room as they shook hands. “Sean,” he said by means of introductions.
“Wow,” Sarah said absentmindedly, looking up, “what are you, six feet?” She shook his hand, still shocked by his height.
“Six-three.” He grinned again. His sky-blue eyes crinkled in the corners and Sarah got an image of what Scott would look like in twenty or so years.
“Nice.” She was still in awe at his height, eleven full inches taller than she was.
Sean placed his arm around Sarah’s shoulders, guiding her toward a man who stood by the pool table. “Here is Dave’s brother Jamie, the black sheep.” He looked at her and smiled that mischievous smile that apparently ran in the family. “He’s a musician and a DJ.” Leaning down, he whispered loudly, “No brains for anything else.” His snark earned him a punch to the arm from the man he’d just insulted. Unaffected by the strike, Sean continued, “No brains, but plenty of brawn.”
“I tried the piano once,” Sarah said to Jamie. Almost apologetically, she continued, “I’m in real estate now.”
He replied with a laugh. “Pleasure.”
Moving on, they walked over to Tom and Sam’s table, Scott following behind. Sammy was still leaning back, arm over the back of his chair, the T-shirt pulled tight against his broad shoulders and chest. His long hair and goatee gave him a dark vibe. This man seemed far more dangerous than his light-hearted brother. Sarah was hesitant to meet him, even more so when he stood up to tower over her. He was clearly as tall as his father and far broader, his muscles straining beneath the black T-shirt. This man was not a desk jockey.
“This is Sammy, my favorite youngest son.”
“Hey,” Sarah mumbled. He shook her hand without a reply and simply raised his chin in greeting. A man of few words. She was okay with that.
“Uh-huh,” Scott said from behind them, drawing their attention. She turned to see him cross his arms. With an irked expression on his face and a raised eyebrow, he sent his father a playfully disgruntled look.
“What?” Sean said, turning to face him. “He’s my favorite youngest and you’re my favorite eldest, of course.” To Sarah, he said in another loud whisper, “He’s so sensitive, that one. Be careful you don’t hurt his feelings.” She caught his exaggerated eye roll and couldn’t help but laugh lightly.
“All right,” Scott said, “you’ve made the rounds and everyone’s been introduced.” He gently pulled at Sarah’s hands, tugging her away from his father. “I’d like to finish the rounds before Dave starts looking for her.”
“Why would Dave start looking for her?” Sean looked at them both, squinting curiously.
“Because she’s here with him,” Scott told him, his tone indicating that this was obvious.
Sean raised an eyebrow and tilted his head a bit toward them. “Why are you with Dave’s date, Scotty?” He looked pointedly at their hands, which were still clutched together.
Immediately, Sarah stepped back and released Scott’s hand, trying to will the flush from staining her
cheeks and failing.
“I’m just showing her around, Dad.” Scott grabbed her hand again and they headed for the door.
“Yeah,” Sean said to their backs, “make sure that’s all you do.”
Sarah couldn’t turn around, she was so embarrassed. More so because if Sean knew the whole story… Well, she couldn’t even imagine what he’d say. She told herself that she and Dave were just dating. There was no commitment, implied or otherwise. Still, the little voice in her head wouldn’t be quiet. People don’t take casual dates to meet their family.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Her Family
Oblivious to her thoughts, Scott asked, “Is your family as crazy as mine?” He shook his head as he led them away from the man cave.
This subject was not one that she liked to discuss. It’d been a long time since she’d thought about her family. Perhaps if she explained what had happened quickly, he’d let the subject go and she wouldn’t need to relive it again. “Well,” she hesitated, “not really, but it helps that I only have a brother who lives out in California. My parents have both passed.”
“I’m very sorry.” He stopped walking to look at her.
“Nah, don’t be. It’s been quite a number of years.” Her face took on a dreamy look as she contemplated the past. She’d let it all out now and put it to rest. “My dad died from cancer when I was eighteen. It was painfully hard to watch him become sick, watch him go through chemo.” She shook her head thinking about it, reliving the nightmare. “Before he got sick, he was such a bright, vibrant man, always on the go. And then there was nothing left of him but skin and bones.” She started walking down the hallway again, an unconscious attempt to put distance between herself and the memory. “I’ve never said this aloud to anyone,” she looked at Scott and whispered, “but toward the end, I wished he’d just go. I couldn’t stand to see him like that anymore, always in pain. His heart was beating but he wasn’t living anymore. I wouldn’t wish that type of existence on anyone.”
“I’m so sorry,” he said again.
Sarah’s lips rose a bit, a broken semblance of a smile. “Like I said, it’s been quite a number of years.” She shrugged. “And he’s not in pain anymore.” She turned and walked backward a few steps. “Besides, I like to think that he’s playing cards with Elvis right now.” A real smile split her face.
Scott emulated her grin and followed her. “Dare I ask about your mom?”
She signed and spun around again to walk in step beside him. “My mother went very quickly, just over a year after my dad. A heart attack.” She pursed her mouth in thought. “As hard as it was, it was much easier to take. One minute she was fine; the next, she was gone. I don’t know what she felt, but I pray the pain was minimal.” They’d reached the middle of the hallway and she stopped, looking around. There was a large window that overlooked the backyard and she was drawn to it. The light of the setting sun had turned the sky into a gorgeous palette of color, bright purples and oranges. “Either way, she’s having lunch with Marilyn Monroe, I think.”
They’d both crossed their arms and were leaning against the windowsill, looking out. At that last comment, he frowned at her. “You don’t think they’re together? Wherever they are?”
Sarah gave him another broken smile. “Um… They were not the most loving couple,” she said simply. That was putting it mildly. During her childhood, she’d never seen them do anything more than avoid each other, assuming they weren’t arguing or throwing things. It was best when they were doing their own thing, as far from each other as possible. They even worked opposite shifts. “When I was very young, I once asked my mother how they met and why they got married, expecting a fairy tale story. Boy, was I disappointed. Not at all full of romance like I was hoping. The short version? They were pushed into it.”
“That’s terrible.” He turned and leaned a hip against the wall. “What about your brother? Is he as warm and fuzzy as mine?”
A short laugh escaped from her as she thought of Sammy. There were a number of words Sarah would use to describe the man she’d just met but warm and fuzzy were not on that list. Cold and distant, maybe. “Ah, no.” She pressed her lips together to keep herself from making some unpleasant comment about Scott’s brother. “I can’t say Chris is anything like Sammy.” She turned to face him. “Chris is a chatterbox. He’s very charismatic, everyone loves him,” she said affectionately.
“And why is he in California, leaving his only sibling by herself?” She heard a hint of disapproval in his voice.
“I’m not by myself,” Sarah said quickly in defense of her brother. “I have Jackie.”
“Who is Jackie?” He asked.
“Jackie is my roommate and has been my best friend for more years than I can remember,” she told him. “Chris moved out there for work.” Absently, she looked back out of the window. “He asked me to go with him but I like it here. So I decided to stay.” It was something that had bothered her, every day since he’d left a couple of years ago. She felt guilty for not going with him. They only had each other, and she should have gone, too. But she liked it here. She liked the four seasons, she liked the community, and she especially liked the less hectic traffic a person would find here. She remembered the horror of driving there when she visited and shook her head. Still, the guilt nagged at her. He was alone out there, and though he always said everything was fine when they talked or visited, she worried about him. Every day.
Pulling her out of her inner conflict, Scott asked, “Should we continue with the tour?” When she nodded, he said, “There are four bedrooms total here. The master, down the hall, is the biggest of the four, of course. When Mom and Dad first bought it, there was no bathroom up here, but dad put two in because mom didn’t want to go downstairs all the time.” He walked to the first bathroom and leaned against the doorsill. “I guess bringing two wet boys up the stairs wasn’t fun.” He winked.
The bathroom was simple; it contained the essentials but not the high-end features she would’ve expected. “So the three kids shared this one while your parents took the master?”
“Well, no.” Scott answered as he looked over her head. Sarah heard someone approaching them from behind. “Sharon got this bathroom, Mom and Dad got the master bath and Sam and I had to fight over the bathroom downstairs.” He smirked and crossed his arms. With a raised eyebrow, he dared the newcomer to refute the charges.
Sarah turned to find Sharon walking down the hall toward them with an indulgent smile, nonchalantly stirring her drink with a straw. Casually dressed in a formfitting top and jean capris, she looked as beautiful now as she had earlier in her bikini. “You two needed more space.” She shrugged. “I was doing you a favor.” To Sarah, she said, “It’s all in how you spin it, sweetie.”
“The bathroom downstairs is the smallest,” Scott countered, still looking at his sister.
“Yes, but you burned energy running down the stairs to get there.” She rolled her eyes and waved her hand in dismissal. “Besides, I did share this one. You two used it all the time.” She sipped her drink through the straw.
Sarah was trying hard not to laugh. Growing up, she’d never experienced sibling bickering. Their parents had done enough fighting for all of them, and Chris was too busy watching out for his baby sister to squabble with her. Although Sarah had witnessed kids arguing when their parents brought them to look at houses, she hadn’t imagined it was something they never outgrew. Enjoying the show, she leaned back against the wall to watch.
To Sarah, Scott said, “Yes, we used it when, but only she wasn’t home, or when she was sleeping.” He turned to Sharon for his next words, “Because she was constantly in there, for hours.” It was his turn to roll his eyes.
“Listen,” Sharon said sharply, a hand on her hip, “we girls have a lot of stuff that we need to do. Do you think this gorgeousness happens naturally?!” Holding her drink out, she used her free hand to draw attention to her face and body. “This is a lot of hard work, thank you ve
ry much.”
Ignoring his sister, Scott grabbed Sarah’s hand somewhat forcefully and pulled her down the hallway. “Let’s continue.”
“Hey, wait a minute.” Sharon was not going to be ignored. She stormed down the hallway and weaved her way around them to block their path to the master bedroom, her drink spilling a little. “I came to find you for a reason.”
“Whatever.” Putting his hands on Sarah’s arms, Scott gently but deliberately guided her around Sharon, following a step behind.
As she passed her, Sarah saw Sharon’s lips tighten and her eyes narrow in anger before an evil glint entered them. Continuing to follow them down the hall, Sharon grabbed an ice cube from her glass and dropped it down the back of Scott’s shirt, just as he was about to open one of the bedroom doors.
“Ha!” Scott spun around, pulling at it. “Damn it, Shae!” Immediately, he pulled his shirt up, and let the ice cube fall to the floor. “You’re going to pay for that.”
While the two siblings bickered like ten-year-olds, Sarah enjoyed the view of Scott’s rippled abs and a tight core that had been momentarily exposed for her viewing pleasure. The skin beckoned her to touch it and she almost reached out, but Sharon’s laugh diverted her attention.
Pure satisfaction filled Sharon’s eyes, and her delight at Scott’s anger was very clear. Also clear was her lack of fear. Whatever the payback for her audacity would be, she wasn’t afraid. Sharon danced away from her brother’s attempt to grab her while trying to keep her drink steady. She scrambled down the hallway, calling over her shoulder, “Sarah’s clothes are in my old room.” Her laughter filled the hallway in her wake.
Scott’s eyes had narrowed to slits of anger that mirrored Sharon’s from a minute ago. Sarah expected Scott to run after her, but he didn’t. Instead, he turned to her, saying, “Oh, she is going to pay dearly for that.” Already, a sly smile was crossing his face. “C’mon.” He opened the door to one of the bedrooms.
