he could crank up the barbecue. We chatted for a moment on recent current events; Steve liked to follow the World News religiously and felt it was his duty to then inform everyone else.
“Why don't you have a drink yet?” he demanded, looking about. “Where’s Jenna?”
“She's busy in the kitchen I think. It's okay, I can get my own.”
“Rubbish. Ah, here's Jared to the rescue.”
Jared was strolling my way, juice in one hand, glass of wine in the other, eyes glittering hotly as he took me in.
Henry trailed along behind carrying two beers. No doubt his purpose was to eavesdrop on all verbal (and non-verbal for that matter) exchanges and report back to Mac at the next available opportunity.
“I better get back before those steaks catch fire. Leave you kids to it,” Steve muttered distractedly as he made his way back from where he came, slapping Jared and Henry heartily on the back along the way and stopping every so often to chatter with the people milling about.
“Hey, baby,” Jared leaned over and planted a kiss on my cheek.
The gesture had my skin tingling where his lips touched me, and despite the insistent voice telling me to move away, my legs appeared unwilling to listen.
“Jared,” I replied.
He grinned, displaying his dimple. “Wine or juice?”
“Juice, please.”
I took it with a grateful sigh as I watched Steve’s retreating back. Jared sat the wine down, and Henry handed him the second beer.
“Thanks. I love your dad.”
I took a massive gulp of the nice icy cold drink, and my eyes found Jenna who now stood next to Steve at the barbecue, watching us with delight as she tittered something in Steve’s ear.
“I love your mum too.”
Jared put an arm around my shoulders comfortably and tucked me into his side. “You know they love you like a daughter.”
I did know this. Jenna made sure to inform me on a regular basis, but I appreciated the reassurance of his words.
I listened quietly as Jared and Henry chatted about his work and how busy they were lately when I heard a voice in my ear and felt a wall at my back.
“Hey, there’s my dancing partner.” Two well-muscled arms encircled my waist to give a quick squeeze.
“Travis!” I grinned delightedly as Jared frowned at the both of us.
Travis was almost a carbon copy of Jared only his green eyes were a little lighter, his hair a little shorter and more blond, and he was maybe an inch taller. Travis was at the White Demon last night for our show and after party. I loved to dance and the fact that Travis wasn’t bad at it, and rarely left the dance floor, meant we’d stuck close to each other for most of the party.
He came around to stand in our huddle.
“Jared was just telling us how well the business was going because you all seem so busy.”
“It is going well,” he said. “Jared and I are lucky enough to have a rare day off while Casey and Coby are stuck working, so let’s not talk shop.”
“Agreed,” said Jared. “In fact...” he grabbed my hand and yanked me away “...we’re going for a swim.”
“We are? But I didn’t bring swimmers.”
He changed direction. “This way then. Mac keeps a heap in her old room.”
He led me inside the house and up the stairs to Mac’s old room. I started to snoop about with great interest because Jenna had left their rooms intact after they’d all eventually moved out, giving the impression she was keeping them that way for future grandkids. Jared went straight to a drawer, yanked it open, and pulled out a pretty little yellow bikini.
“Here.” He walked over, interrupting my perusal of Mac’s hoard of historical romance novels. Who knew Mac had such a romantic side?
I took the bikini he held out and went to step away, but he effectively blocked me in.
Dammit. He still smelled really good.
My head tilted back to meet his eyes.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re keeping things from me?” he asked, his voice low and gentle. His face came close to mine,
“Why don't you have a drink yet?” he demanded, looking about. “Where’s Jenna?”
“She's busy in the kitchen I think. It's okay, I can get my own.”
“Rubbish. Ah, here's Jared to the rescue.”
Jared was strolling my way, juice in one hand, glass of wine in the other, eyes glittering hotly as he took me in.
Henry trailed along behind carrying two beers. No doubt his purpose was to eavesdrop on all verbal (and non-verbal for that matter) exchanges and report back to Mac at the next available opportunity.
“I better get back before those steaks catch fire. Leave you kids to it,” Steve muttered distractedly as he made his way back from where he came, slapping Jared and Henry heartily on the back along the way and stopping every so often to chatter with the people milling about.
“Hey, baby,” Jared leaned over and planted a kiss on my cheek.
The gesture had my skin tingling where his lips touched me, and despite the insistent voice telling me to move away, my legs appeared unwilling to listen.
“Jared,” I replied.
He grinned, displaying his dimple. “Wine or juice?”
“Juice, please.”
I took it with a grateful sigh as I watched Steve’s retreating back. Jared sat the wine down, and Henry handed him the second beer.
“Thanks. I love your dad.”
I took a massive gulp of the nice icy cold drink, and my eyes found Jenna who now stood next to Steve at the barbecue, watching us with delight as she tittered something in Steve’s ear.
“I love your mum too.”
Jared put an arm around my shoulders comfortably and tucked me into his side. “You know they love you like a daughter.”
I did know this. Jenna made sure to inform me on a regular basis, but I appreciated the reassurance of his words.
I listened quietly as Jared and Henry chatted about his work and how busy they were lately when I heard a voice in my ear and felt a wall at my back.
“Hey, there’s my dancing partner.” Two well-muscled arms encircled my waist to give a quick squeeze.
“Travis!” I grinned delightedly as Jared frowned at the both of us.
Travis was almost a carbon copy of Jared only his green eyes were a little lighter, his hair a little shorter and more blond, and he was maybe an inch taller. Travis was at the White Demon last night for our show and after party. I loved to dance and the fact that Travis wasn’t bad at it, and rarely left the dance floor, meant we’d stuck close to each other for most of the party.
He came around to stand in our huddle.
“Jared was just telling us how well the business was going because you all seem so busy.”
“It is going well,” he said. “Jared and I are lucky enough to have a rare day off while Casey and Coby are stuck working, so let’s not talk shop.”
“Agreed,” said Jared. “In fact...” he grabbed my hand and yanked me away “...we’re going for a swim.”
“We are? But I didn’t bring swimmers.”
He changed direction. “This way then. Mac keeps a heap in her old room.”
He led me inside the house and up the stairs to Mac’s old room. I started to snoop about with great interest because Jenna had left their rooms intact after they’d all eventually moved out, giving the impression she was keeping them that way for future grandkids. Jared went straight to a drawer, yanked it open, and pulled out a pretty little yellow bikini.
“Here.” He walked over, interrupting my perusal of Mac’s hoard of historical romance novels. Who knew Mac had such a romantic side?
I took the bikini he held out and went to step away, but he effectively blocked me in.
Dammit. He still smelled really good.
My head tilted back to meet his eyes.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re keeping things from me?” he asked, his voice low and gentle. His face came close to mine,
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