by Kathi Barton
“You must try this, Shelton. I know you’re not a big fan of sweets either, but this is divine.” Dad took a small piece and moaned at the flavor too. “I’m going to make us both a cup of hot cocoa. I know it’s warm out, but this will be a treat for us. Amy? What would you like to drink? I have tea if you wish.”
“Tea will be fine.” She glanced at her dad, then looked at him when he said her name. “I wanted to tell you I was sorry for the things I did and said to you. I was crude and cruel, and I’m sorry for it. My temper isn’t all that stable when I’m feeling backed into a corner. Since I’d put myself in it, I should have been less bitchy to you.”
“I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry as well. I’ve been a terrible father and a worse kind of person for the way I treated you. I’m not blaming your mother or Phoenix, but in dealing with them, I found it easier just to give in to their whiney ways.” Amy told him it was all right. “No, it isn’t. I should have put my foot down more, especially when it came to them getting their way. I’m profoundly sorry for that. I feel as if I lost a great deal more than I ever gained from the other two. I’d like for you—if you would, please—to move in here. I know your job takes you away at times. So if you’d use this house as your base, I’d love to have you around. To get to know you more than I deserve to.”
By the time they finished having breakfast, they were on better terms. Amy had to stop herself a couple of times from telling him some of the things she’d been forced to endure living here as a child. But all in all, it was a wonderful way to start her day.
“I have a few things I need to wash up before I can move here.” Lulu told her she’d do the washing. “I know how to do my laundry. You’d be surprised at how much I do for myself now.”
“I’m betting you can. But I want to do this. You’re my charge, no matter how old you are.”
After accepting her offer of doing her laundry, Amy went out to her car to get her bags. She’d been planning to move in with Booker for a couple of days, but he’d understand if she decided to stay with her dad.
“Let me help you with that.” Surprised or startled, she was still standing there with her mouth open when North took the oversized duffle away from her. “Anything else? It’s not that far, so I should be able to take it in without dropping anything.”
“I can do that.” He turned and left her standing there. Reaching into the car, she pulled out her camera bags, as well as the tripod she’d had since she’d been sixteen. Once in the house, she saw North shaking hands with Dad and Lulu. “I met North and his dad yesterday when I went to see Booker. You remember him, don’t you, Lulu?”
“I do. Nice young man. Despite having that witch of a mother.” She eyed North a little before continuing. “I never cared for your mother, young man. She was a terrible person and not a good person to be around. I’m sorry if that isn’t what you expected to hear.”
“It’s exactly what I feel, so I’m glad we’re on the same page with that.” He hugged Lulu, who seemed as shocked as she’d been when he showed up this morning. “My dad and I are trying to make amends. All of my cousins, with the exception of Mars, are dealing with a lot of horrific things our mothers were up to.”
“Holly Wilkerson. She was your aunt.” North’s face brightened up at the mention of Holly. “Now, there was a wonderful person. When I fell a few years ago and broke my ankle, she rallied up some help for me, so this family was well cared for. I don’t think anyone even noticed I was gone for nearly two months. Things went so well.”
“I think I might have noticed you missing. It was in March three years ago, correct?” She nodded at her dad and smiled at him. “It was the corn cakes that tipped me off. They were good, don’t get me wrong there, but they certainly weren’t yours. Yours are so sweet and soft; it’s almost a shame to put any kind of dressing on them.”
“Oh, go on with you.” Dad winked at her and North as Lulu sorted out her wash. “My goodness, child. Do they have stores where you’re at? These clothes look like you’re in threads. Why don’t you buy you some more while you’re home? Goodness. Look at this sweater.”
Amy took the sweater from Lulu and held it to her chest. It was Dad who spoke next, her heart breaking with the words that spilled from his mouth in the telling of the origin of the sweater.
“That was my dad’s sweater.” Amy nodded. “He wore it most of the later part of his life, I think. I know he loved it. Amy got it for him when she turned sixteen. Every time I visited him, he’d tell me how she’d saved up her money and bought him the ugliest sweater ever made. I think that was another reason he treasured it so much. My mom hated it. So did Fran and Phoenix, now that I think on it.”
“I asked him what he wanted that year. I had some money then working at the local photoshop. When he told me he wanted the most godawful sweater I could find, I thought he was joking. Until I saw this one hanging in the window at the local Good Will.” Dad told her that he’d cherished it and her. “He left it to me, in his will. He told me that whenever I thought of him, I should hunt it down and put it on. It’s worked for me every time I’m lonely.”
For some reason she couldn’t put her finger on when North pulled her into his arms; she clung to him, sobbing. It was a comforting hug, something she’d missed so much since her grandda had passed away.
When she collected herself, looking up at North, she thanked him for holding her upright. When he started to lower his head to hers, she backed away from him. Not sure where her feelings were at the moment, Amy took off to the front of the house. Anyplace to get her act together. Because kissing him, she thought, would be a total mistake.
“Are you all right?” She turned to look at North. He’d followed her? What kind of person did that? “Are you all right, Amy? I’m sorry if I took you off guard with holding you then wanting to kiss you, but— Actually, I have no excuse.”
“Excuse me?” He laughed, and that tweaked her temper a little. “Listen here, buddy. If I had wanted a kiss from you, I would have taken it. I’m not some debutante that has to have a man on their arm, or they’re not complete. You’ll soon learn that I’m not just tits and ass. I’m a person who has a mind of her own.”
“No, I can see that you’re not some debutante. Nor are you all…what did you call it? Oh yes, tits and ass. You have a nice set of both of them, by the way. I did notice that you do have a brain as well. You’d have to have a good one to be as famous as you are.” He took a step toward her, his face showing her how amused he was. “I looked you up last night when I got home. It took me a while to find out who you were. A. Jay Hamilton was as close as I could get to finding some of your amazing work. Why the name change?”
“Again, the tits and ass problem.” She took a step back when he was only inches from her. “Why are you crowding me? I don’t like to be backed into a corner, North. It makes me crazy, and I tend to say things I wouldn’t normally say to someone.”
“Never would I think you’d be a person that would be comfortable with being backed into anything. I’d very much like to kiss you. If you’d not mind.” Her head was nodding, but in her heart, she was telling him no. “Thank goodness. I have no idea what I would have done if you’d said no.”
The touch of his lips to hers was beautiful—not a word she would have normally used to describe a kiss. However, it was just a touch. When he did kiss her, holding her body to his, wrapping his arms around her tightly, Amy decided this man had had more than enough practice. It was almost like an art form.
His breath was sweet, minty almost. North’s lips were tender yet strong, and when he used his tongue to open her mouth, Amy held onto him. The feeling of soaring through the sky, having rainbows dance along her spine, was too much and not nearly enough at the same time.
Then his tongue moved along hers, and her body exploded in sensations. Her skin tingled where he touched her. Amy was warmed by his breath, heated by his body,
and when he rocked into her, his cock made her moan when he touched off something inside her that no one had ever touched before.
Tearing her mouth from his, she stood there in front of him with her head on his chest. His breaths were as rapid and as harsh as hers. Looking down his body, Amy could see the outline of his cock as it strained against the fabric of his jeans. North raised her chin up so she could look into his eyes.
“I didn’t expect that.” She nodded, not sure what to say to a man who’d awakened her entire being. “As much as I’d like to take this a few steps further, I think I’m rushing you along, and I don’t want you to think that. I only meant for it to be a kiss. A way to taste you.”
“I think you accomplished that. I mean, you were diving into my mouth like you were digging for gold.” He laughed, and she smiled at him. “In the event you’ve not figured it out yet, I don’t have a filter between my brain and mouth. By the time something spews from my mouth, my brain is too late in trying to clean it up. I’m a mess right now. Would you please take me out to dinner?”
“Yes.” She asked him what he was agreeing to. “All of you. I was, I think, digging for something in your mouth. Perhaps the sassiness of you. The filter thing. I’ve noticed that as well. But I’m fine with that. I wish, as an attorney, I could be more like that with my clients. I’d love to take you out to dinner. But if we stand here much longer—this close, I mean—I’m going to try and figure out a way to see those famous ass and tits of yours.”
She was giggling when he backed away from her. Amy couldn’t remember any time in her life that she’d giggled. She supposed it was the way he’d made her feel—like a pretty girl with her first crush. Her dad cleared his throat when he entered the room.
“I wasn’t snooping.” North told him it was all right. They were getting to know each other. “I saw that. I’m sorry, but I overheard you were going to dinner together. I’d like for you to be careful, the two of you. Phoenix is on her way here. The people at the hotel are keeping tabs on them for me. I just wanted you two to be on the lookout for my soon to be ex-wife and my other daughter.”
“Would you like it if I stayed here until she’s gone, Mr. Hamilton? I have nothing else planned for the day if you need me.” Dad looked so relieved at the question that he had to sit down. North went to him and asked him if he was all right. “If you’re afraid of her, I can have one or two of my cousins come here too. Or you could sic Amy on her. I think she could handle her just fine.”
“I’m not a child anymore. I think I can take her.” She was playfully showing off her nonexistent bicep muscles. It had the desired effect, and her dad laughed. “What is she coming here for? I mean, did they give you a hint of her reasons?”
“No. Just that she asked the front desk if she could charge a limo service to bring her here. I’ve made sure the hotel is well aware of what I’m paying for while they’re there. Nothing but the room. No extras.” Amy thought that was too generous, but didn’t comment. North seemed to know what she was thinking and winked at her. “If you’d not mind hanging around, simply for another person to hear her demands, I’d appreciate it. My biggest fear is that she’ll hurt Amy.”
“You don’t have to worry about Amy, Mr. Hamilton. She’ll never get to touch her while I’m around.” North looked at her and seemed to have realized what he said. “I’m sure that Amy will agree with me that Phoenix has no power over her any longer.”
It occurred to her that he’d meant more than he actually said about him taking care that she wasn’t hurt. But almost as soon as she was ready to make him explain himself, the doorknob rattled like someone was trying to ensure it was in good working order. Amy said she’d get it.
Pulling open the door, Amy looked at her sister. It took Phoenix several seconds to remember who she was. It didn’t make her any happier, Amy thought, for her to be in the house and she wasn’t.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Amy said it was her home too. “Oh, so you remembered you lived here, did you? Don’t get too comfortable, Amy. Mom and I will be back before you get too settled in. Where’s Dad?”
She knew North had come up behind her because Phoenix sucked in her cheeks and puckered her lips. All Amy could think of was how much she looked like a dead salmon. Her cheeks and nose were so red from the walk here. Also, her hair had been blown around a little too much, and she could see her roots.
“Who are you?” The cat from Alice came to mind when Phoenix spoke. Amy started laughing before she could stop herself. North smiled at her, but she couldn’t tell him where her thoughts had taken off to. “Amy, what the hell is wrong with you? Besides the usual. Get out of my way so I can come in and meet Daddy’s new friend.”
“He’s my friend, not ‘Daddy’s.’ Why do you call him that? Daddy makes you sound like you’re six years old and need a long nap. I’ve heard you call him that when you’re out together. I’m sure everyone in town knows you’re pushing forty. Wait. You are forty. As of last month. Don’t you think it’s about time you called him Dad, like a grown up?” She could see she was pushing buttons on her sister. So when Dad came to the door, North took her hand and moved them both out of the way. “I was having fun.” Amy put out her lower lip and felt stupid doing it.
“So was I when I was kissing you. But we can’t have all the fun in one day.” He kissed her on the nose before he turned to her dad. “Mr. Hamilton? Would you like for me to explain your rules to your daughter? Or have you done that already?”
~*~
Shelton watched the young man with his daughter. He liked North and thought he’d be good for Amy. But right now, he was dealing with Phoenix, and Shelton thought he was doing a bang up job of it too.
Amy moved into the living room, and he followed her. There were still things he wanted to talk to her about. Shelton knew today wasn’t the day to do it, but he still sat on the couch opposite her. When the door shut in the front of the house, he wasn’t surprised to hear the lock engage too.
“I was bluffing there, Mr. Hamilton. You do have a list of rules you gave them when you kicked them out of this home?” Shelton said he’d not thought of them, nor had his attorney mentioned them. “I’d tell him to get on that if I were you. I’ve told her a few of them you should demand that he have on the list—one of them being that they’re no longer welcome in this house. Also, I’d add that they’re no longer welcome on any property you own. At any point between now and when they figure out what I’ve done, they haven’t any idea that they can move back into your home because you never set that rule for them. It’s not a biggie. Most never think about it. But if they do, then you’ll be screwed. Once they’re inside, it’ll be a bitch getting them out again. I’m assuming you’ve changed all the locks?”
“Yesterday, I had a man come out and do it.” Shelton asked what else he’d have on the list. “In fact, I’m thinking I should hire you to take care of this for me. If you would. Tayler is getting ready to retire, and it would be good for both of us to have someone there willing to take over for him.”
“I’ve just quit my job in the city. I didn’t care for working for a larger firm anymore. If you want me to run point on this, I can certainly help you out with things.” North looked at Amy. “I’d like to see you on a personal level, Amy. So if you have any objections to me working with your dad on this, I won’t.”
Shelton looked at his daughter. It was, he’d bet, the first time she’d ever been rendered speechless. When she spoke, however, he knew this was her backed in a corner self. Someone he thought should be out more often.
“Why should I care if you’re working for my dad? I mean, you’re both grown men and should be able to— You’d have to be careful, I guess. Phoenix is— I mean, you shouldn’t assume that you want to have a relationship with me yet.” Her face turned a nice pink, she was so flustered. “You do whatever you want. I’m going to go in the kitchen and talk to Lulu.”
“She’s a hellcat, isn’t she?” Sadly, he told North, he didn’t know her all that well. “I want to get to know her. Very much so. Anything and everything she’ll share with me. I have no idea what it is that draws me to her—perhaps insanity—but I find myself aggravating her enough to see her temper show. Isn’t that the stupidest thing you’ve ever heard?”
“No. I think it’s funny, but not stupid. You like her, don’t you?” North nodded and sat down across from him. “I’d like to ask you what your intentions for her are, but I don’t think I have that right. We’ve not been on the best of terms. No, that’s not right. We’ve not had an opportunity to know each other. That’s my fault completely. However, if she’ll allow it, I’d really like to get to know both her and you.”
“She brings out the silliness in me. I don’t know why, but it’s been fun tangling with her off and on. Amy does speak her mind, doesn’t she?” Shelton told him he’d noticed that as well. “All right, sir. I want to make a list of things you should talk to your attorney about. I’d not switch attorneys in the middle of whatever is going on here. Your wife could get in a few jabs I might not be aware of that was in any kind of contract you have with her. I’m assuming you had a prenup signed?”
“Yes. There wouldn’t have been a wedding without it. She was pregnant with Phoenix when we married. I know that both the girls are mine. When they were born, I took care to find that out. I have several other contracts with Fran. One of them is that if she is caught having an affair by any means, then she isn’t to get anything from the estate. Phoenix has something like that as well. Now that I think on it, I don’t think I’ve ever given it to Amy. Not that it matters—I’ve not been responsible for her since she was six years old. My youngest is a very resourceful girl, I’m come to realize.”
