Like One of the Family

by Kimberly Van Meter

  “Everyone snores at some point in their sleep pattern. Even you, sugar bird,” he said on a yawn. Before she could refute that statement, he tucked her against him, fitting snugly against her backside as if he were made to fit there.

  “I don’t like to snuggle,” she said, fighting a yawn herself. “Snuggling is so…personal and clingy,” she added, her eyelids feeling weighted by cement. Heath’s body felt so good pressed against hers. It was as if she’d never truly known how wonderful the feel of another human being could be.

  “Me, neither,” Heath mumbled, clearly almost dropping off into Slumber Land. “Stop talking. The morning comes early.” And then, right when she was almost asleep herself, she heard him say, “You smell so good…like fresh pineapple and coconut cookies.”

  And for some reason, she found herself burrowing deeper into Heath’s embrace, blissfully content.

  Maybe just this once, they could snuggle. It wasn’t as if they were going to make a habit of it. And since she was only allowing just this once, she could admit, it felt…really…good.

  * * *

  HEATH AWOKE BEFORE LORA, the sun barely cresting the horizon. He’d always been an early riser and that habit had stuck into adulthood. Propped on his elbow, he watched Lora sleep, taking in every subtle difference in her skin, every mole, every freckle. He never thought in a million years he’d be lucky enough to be lying next to Lora one day.

  He knew it was too early to tell her how he truly felt, how he’d always felt about her. She’d run away so fast, the sparks from her tennis shoes striking the pavement might start a fire. Honestly, he didn’t know if she’d ever be ready to hear that from him. Lora had some truly messed up philosophies when it came to love. He knew her views stemmed from her father’s abandonment and her mother’s subsequent death, but if anyone was going to be messed up in that department, he ought to be, because he hadn’t been given a single good lesson in how to be a loving partner.

  “This is why I don’t like sleepovers,” she murmured sleepily, reluctantly opening her eyes to glance blearily at Heath. “Please stop staring. It’s weird.”

  “You’re so damn gorgeous,” he said, his tone implying he wasn’t pleased with the fact, which in part was true. Perhaps if she’d been less stunning, he wouldn’t have been hooked so early. But age had only matured her beauty into something unnaturally perfect—at least in his eyes. If only he could tell her that. “And I hate to break it to you but you snore. Quite loudly, in fact.”

  At that she lifted her head to give him a hard stare. “I do not.”

  “Do so. I have the evidence of it on my cell phone.”

  She frowned. “You’re lying.”

  “Maybe. But it made you wonder, which means you know that you do, in fact, snore.”

  She rolled her eyes and turned away. “It’s too early for this. Wake me up when there’s coffee.”

  He grinned. He knew of a better wake-up call. He nuzzled the back of her neck, nipping at the soft, sweet skin. She sighed, giving him better access, a silent invitation for more. And he was more than willing to oblige.

  * * *

  AFTERWARD, AGAINST HER better judgment, Heath convinced Lora to shower with him—to save time, of course—and while he was taking an inordinate amount of time to soap her breasts, she laughed and swatted him away with her washcloth. “I think they’re clean,” she said, shaking her head. “What is it with men and boobs?”

  “They’re patently awesome,” he answered as if that ought to be obvious. “If I had breasts, I’d touch them all day.” He pretended to cup two sizable imaginary breasts on his chest and affected a blissful expression as he squeezed. “Oh, yeah. I’d never get anything done. It would just be me and my boobs. That’s why men don’t have them. God knew it would be disastrous.”

  Lora couldn’t help herself and laughed out loud. “You know you’re a nut, right?”

  “I’ve heard rumors, but I don’t believe everything I hear. The grapevine is notoriously unreliable when it comes to acquiring accurate intel.”

  “Oh, is that so?” she murmured, glancing up at him with a smile. “And what else have you heard that’s untrue?”

  He pretended to search his memory then said, “Well, there was this rumor that you were difficult to get along with but I’ve found—” he drew her closer to nip at her neck softly, eliciting shivers on the sensitive skin “—that all one needs to loosen up the formidable Lora Bell is the right touch.”

  “Such as?”

  “This.” His hands slid around her backside to firmly cup her ass. “And this,” he said huskily, as he nuzzled her neck at the junction of her collarbone. He ground himself against her until she gasped and her knees felt weak. “And definitely this.”

  She smiled, letting her head fall back. Something sweet blossomed inside her as she allowed the sheer pleasure of being in Heath’s arms override the niggling sense that told her they shouldn’t be doing this. There were plenty of good, sensible reasons why carrying on with Heath was ill-advised but she greedily enjoyed what felt like a stolen moment amidst a backdrop of chaos while she still could.

  As Heath pressed her against the shower wall, pleasure cascaded down her body as he did wondrously wicked things to her. She threaded her fingers through his thick head of hair and closed her eyes, wishing they could shut out everything else that got in the way of this sweet feeling. Had she ever felt so able to let go of it all, to allow someone else to get close enough to see her truly vulnerable? The easy answer was no. She didn’t want anyone that close to her but somehow Heath had managed to breach that wall and she felt somewhat lost as she clung to him.

  She shuddered her release and sagged against Heath, almost sobbing as wave after wave of toe-curling pleasure rolled through her. She couldn’t do this. It was more than she could handle, more than she could assimilate into her life. Heath was not the kind of man who would defer to her like the other men she’d been with. He wouldn’t quietly stand in the background. Where did Heath fit in her life? Unhappily, she realized, she didn’t know.

  After a long minute, Heath sensed something had changed and he peered at her. “What’s wrong?” he asked, worried.

  How did she put into words an emotion she didn’t understand? She shook her head and Heath assumed her worry was for Pops. “It’s going to be okay. We have to stay positive.”

  She nodded, preferring to allow Heath believe Pops had been her focal point of worry. Of course, she was worried about Pops so it wasn’t entirely a lie. “I don’t know what I’ll do if anything happens to him,” she murmured.

  “That’s why we’re going to think positively,” he reminded her, kissing her forehead lightly.

  Lora flashed a brief smile and then turned to finish washing up. The day had already progressed further than she’d realized while lost in Heath’s embrace and it was time to face reality.

  * * *

  LILAH TIPTOED INTO LINDY’S room and crawled into bed with her twin. She wrapped her arms around her, her heart filling with joy to have Lindy home again, even if the circumstances weren’t optimal.

  It was true what they said about twins and how they often felt like one half of the same person. Even though they were fraternal, Lilah felt a physical ache each time Lindy left home, and since she’d relocated to Los Angeles, Lilah had seen less and less of her. It was almost more than she could bear, but she didn’t want Lindy to feel obligated to stay on her account. She ought to be able to handle a little separation, but sometimes Lilah wondered if there was something wrong with her.

  Lilah knew she wasn’t unattractive, but stacked against her sisters she felt like a pale, wilting wallflower, ready for the compost heap. A counselor had once told her she suffered from low self-esteem but that hadn’t really resonated with Lilah. Perhaps a little, but not enough to hang her hat on the rea
son why she seemed the shyest of the Bell sisters, preferring the quiet solitude of a lonely beach to the crowds of the marketplace. Of course, that was another reason why Lilah knew Los Angeles would eat her alive if she tried to follow her wild and crazy twin into the world of acting. Oh, the very idea. Ludicrous, really.

  But she really wished she’d stumble upon her niche, her place in life. Lora was the go-getter, the overachiever workaholic; Lindy was the drop-dead gorgeous, charismatic artist; and then there was Lilah, who was borderline socially phobic, a bit uncoordinated, with a singing voice only a mother could tolerate, and of course negligible talent in any other field or discipline.

  “You’re such a ridiculously early riser,” Lindy mumbled as if irritated, but she broke into a sleepy grin to hug Lilah.

  “I tried not to wake you up,” Lilah said, settling beside her sister. “But it is almost seven o’clock and I figured you’d want to shower and get ready before we hit the ferry to St. Thomas.”

  Lindy yawned. “My own little travel manager. You’re so sweet. Did you happen to bring a little coffeepot with you?”

  “Sorry,” Lilah said. “But if you get your butt out of bed, we can get a fresh smoothie down in the plaza.”

  Lindy sighed and rolled over, her arm flung over her eyes to block the sun. “Sis, a smoothie is so not the same as a cup of coffee, but because I love you, I’ll forgive you this time.” Lindy pulled herself out of the bed and slid on some loose linen pants and a pullover, then jammed a baseball cap on her head. “Ready.”

  Lilah grinned and they headed for the Jeep. “So tell me about your glamorous life in Hollywood,” she said as they drove the short distance, her gaze scanning for an available parking spot. Parking was sparse and you had to get creative. Fender benders were common and most times if you happened to accidentally rub someone else’s fender with your own, it was no big deal.

  Lindy shrugged, yawning again, still not quite awake. “Nothing to tell. Same as anything else. It’s not like I rub elbows with Steven Spielberg. The pace is faster, there are more people everywhere and the game is played best by those who have fast and flexible morals and ethics.”

  “And where do you fall on that barometer?” Lilah asked, a little apprehensive. She didn’t like to think of her sister selling her soul just to get famous.

  Lindy rolled her head to stare at Lilah. “Where do you think? I’m not exactly famous yet, am I? Besides, I already told you, I lost out on a national commercial because I wouldn’t suck off the casting director. The man was a pig and besides, who wants to be known as ‘that tampon girl’?”

  Lilah nodded, but she knew Lindy was still smarting over losing that gig. She may not have wanted to be known as the tampon girl but she sure would like to be known as something. A hunger burned inside Lindy that Lilah had never understood. “You know what Grams used to say when something didn’t work out our way. The universe was just making room for what was coming next. Maybe you didn’t get that gig because you’re not meant to be a commercial actress, but rather a movie actress.”

  Lindy smiled. “I love you. You always know what to say to make me feel better, even if it’s total crap.” Her smile faded. “But what if I’m not meant to be anything? Maybe I suffer from delusions of grandeur and everyone but me can see that I’m simply a mildly pretty girl with mediocre talent.”

  “You and I both know you are the one who got all the talent. If anyone has something to cry about in that department, it’s me. I haven’t quite figured out what I’m good at other than screwing up.”

  Lindy’s expression softened in concern, not liking Lilah’s admission at all. Lilah wished she hadn’t said anything. She didn’t want Lindy’s pity. “Why would you think that?” Lindy asked.

  “Because it’s true.”

  “No, it’s not. Did Lora put that into your head?”

  “I didn’t need Lora to put anything in my head. I realized it myself. But it’s okay. I’m not losing sleep over it. It is what it is. Let’s talk about something else. We got all serious all of a sudden and I have had enough of serious for the time being. Okay?”

  Lindy plainly wanted to dispute Lilah’s claim some more but she acquiesced for the moment, returning to their previous conversation. “Oh, I met one of those reality television guys…you know the ones who do nothing but talk about doing laundry, banging girls and tanning.”

  Lilah gave her a blank look. She never watched television. “Sorry. Not well versed in pop culture. Was he nice, whoever this man was?”

  “I guess. He was more interested in sleeping with me than getting to know me and I didn’t care enough to sleep with him.”

  Lilah wrinkled her nose in distaste. “What happened to that guy you were seeing…that film director?”

  “Independent film director,” Lindy corrected with a snort of disgust. “Which I discovered roughly translates to no budget, gorilla shooting and, not that I’m a snob or anything, but having money helps smooth out the rough spots if you know what I mean.”

  Lilah didn’t but she nodded anyway. “So what happened to him?”

  Lindy waved away her question. “Nothing. He’s likely right where I left him—with his pants down around his ankles, begging me not to leave.”

  “You caught him cheating on you?” Lilah couldn’t imagine anyone being so stupid as to be unfaithful to Lindy, but Hollywood was a different world, one she plainly didn’t understand. “That must’ve been awful.”

  “To be honest, I was relieved. I was ready to move on and he was so damn clingy. He fancied himself an artist and as he’d told me so many times artists need to express themselves. So I guess he felt the need to express himself in the bed of the actress in his latest B horror flick, Zombie Love, so more power to him.”

  “How can you be so blasé about it? I’d be devastated.”

  Lindy graced Lilah with a genuine smile. “And that’s why I love you, Li. You’re so pure of heart. I’m not as much. Frankly, I bore easily. And seeing as there are so many men to choose from in Los Angeles, I never feel the need to get too attached. So, don’t worry. I wasn’t hurt at all. If anything I was a bit irritated because he’d had the gall to screw her in the sheets I purchased. But whatever. I left them with him. That’s the beauty of Target. Plenty more sheets where they came from.”

  Lilah felt a pang of something sad for her sister. Maybe Lilah gave of herself too deeply but Lindy didn’t give anything of herself to the men in her bed. Lindy’s personal motto was Always Looking for the BBD—Bigger, Better Deal, and thus far she hadn’t deviated from that creed.

  Lindy and Lilah finished their smoothies and started to head back to Larimar when Lindy asked, “So, how long have Heath and Lora been sleeping together?”

  And Lilah nearly drove off the road.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  “HOLY SHIT, LI, WHAT the hell are you doing?” Lindy exclaimed, gripping the handrail as Lilah swerved and nearly sent them tumbling down the steep cliff below. “I didn’t come home to die, you know.”

  “I’m sorry,” Lilah said immediately, her face flushed as she righted the vehicle. “What are you talking about? Heath and Lora aren’t sleeping with each other. They can barely stand to be in the same room together.”

  “Li, they’re totally sleeping with each other. Angry sex can be some of the best there is.”

  Lilah stared at her sister, wondering if Lindy had fallen and jarred her brain. She shook her head. The idea was ridiculous. “No. You haven’t seen them around each other. Lora accused Heath of swindling Pops and putting Larimar in this position. I hardly consider that pillow talk.”

  Lindy laughed. “Okay, I could be wrong, but my sixth sense is going off like crazy. He’s so damn protective of her and we both know that Lora doesn’t need a champion. That woman chews nails for a midday snack. Why else
would Heath be so quick to defend her unless he was getting something on the side for it?”

  “Heath’s not like that.” Lilah glowered at her sister, annoyed that she would even suggest something so ungentleman-like in terms of Heath. “I think being around all those Hollyweird people has you seeing the worst in people even when it’s not there.”

  “Calm down, Li. I’m not attacking Heath or casting aspersions on his character but you’re blind if you can’t see the tension between those two. Besides, didn’t Heath have a thing for Lora back in the day? Crazy as it seemed.”

  “Yes, well, maybe,” Lilah amended. “I was never really sure, but I think he did. But that was a long time ago. And she was never really nice to him.”

  “God no, she was a royal witch to the poor guy. I always wondered why she was so damn mean, but I stopped trying to figure out Lora a long time ago. I have a hard enough time trying to figure out my own actions much less those of someone else.”

  “Are you still seeing that counselor?” Lilah ventured cautiously. It was a sensitive subject with Lindy, one that she didn’t share with many.

  “No, she was a kook…an expensive one at that,” Lindy said. “To paraphrase, she said I have daddy issues. Can you believe that? Do you see me hanging out with Hugh Hefner? I could, you know. I was invited to the Playboy mansion but declined. Now, wouldn’t you say that if I had ‘daddy issues’—” she bracketed the phrase with air quotes “—that I’d have jumped at the chance to hang out with that multimillion-dollar fossil?”

  Lilah’s head was spinning. “What is a daddy issue?”

  Lindy sighed. “She said that I was trying to resolve the issues created in the past by our father’s abandonment by acting out in the present. What a crock. Just because I don’t like to be tied down for any length of time and that I’m mildly attracted to slightly older men doesn’t mean I’m trying to rectify the actions of our deadbeat dad.”