Last night had been great. The band had accepted Brooke immediately, as I knew they would, and she seemed to like them equally as much. She and Chris had seemed to hit it off; I couldn’t believe the jerk up and teased around with her like that as if trying to show me up. I will admit it, seeing him touching her did something to me, kind of made me see red. I’d heard that expression but never fully understood it until last night, standing in my own kitchen. I had already staked possession; if I had been honest with myself, I would have admitted that the stakes had been pounded into the ground long before he laid his hands on her. I had wanted her for myself from the very first moment I laid eyes on her. It’s funny how your heart knows that even before your brain fully catches up.

We were on our way to my parents’ house in Manhattan Beach. It was only a thirty-minute drive, but traffic was insane.

“Here we are.” I pulled into the driveway and watched as she looked out the window, taking it all in. The house I had grown up in was an expansive two-story with banks of windows to admire the surrounding beauty, and a large wrap-around porch, perfect for watching the sunrise or sunset. She slowly stepped out of the car and looked up at me nervously. I could tell she wasn’t ready to step inside just yet. “Hey, are you okay with this? Everyone is going to love you, you know that, right?”

“Well, that will help things, but don’t you worry that they will think there is something going on between us? I mean, by you bringing me here like this?”

“We can just hang out until you feel more comfortable.” I shuffled my feet restlessly, trying to think of something to ask her that might ease her discomfort. “Why don’t you tell me more about your childhood?”

She hesitated for a moment and then gave me a look as if saying ‘we’ve been through this one already.’ I could have kicked myself for letting that question slip. I had been so caught up in trying to make her comfortable that I didn’t think.

“Brooke, I’m sorry. You don’t have to answer that,” I murmured, reaching out a hand to caress her shoulder.

“No, it’s okay.” She sighed long and low before continuing. “Well, as I mentioned before, my dad ran out on us when I was eleven. Mom completely shut me out after he left, and taking care of me had never been her strong suit. I was alone most of the time. That’s another reason cooking became so important to me. Food became my best friend. I gained a lot of weight during that time…” Her voice trailed off, and she wrapped her arms around herself, trembling uncontrollably.

“I’m sorry if being here makes you uncomfortable. I just wanted you to meet my family and see what it’s like to have people who care about you and want you around.” I pulled her to me, cupping her head with my large hand, drawing her to my chest. I wished I could protect her from everything bad in the world. God knows she’d seen enough of it already. We continued walking in silence. At some point our fingers had meshed together, and she kept a firm grip on my hand. I stopped when we reached the edge of my mom’s prize rose bushes, pulling her into me again before lowering my lips to meet hers. Somehow this seemed like the right thing to do. Seconds before they touched, I pulled back, afraid of jumping the gun and screwing things up. The look on her face crushed me. She looked confused and suddenly very self-conscious.

* * *

BROOKE

He was about to kiss me. I didn’t even try to resist; I didn’t want to. I lifted my lips to meet his and waited with baited breath as he slowly lowered his head to me, lips parted slightly. I lifted myself up onto my tippy toes, trying to get closer, almost there. And then he was gone.

“Maybe we should go inside,” he huffed, running a hand through his hair before wrapping it protectively over mine.

“Mom,” he called out as we entered the foyer. From out of the kitchen came a tall, blond woman whose smile could light up a room. “Mom, I want you to meet Brooke.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Brooke. I’m Tracy.” She hugged me warmly, squeezing extra firm for good measure. For a brief moment I thought my ribs were going to crack. “Welcome to our home, dear. Please, make yourself comfortable. Are you thirsty?” She held out a hand to lead me into the adjoining room.

“Umm, sure.” I looked to Sebastian, uncertain about leaving the security he had provided since that day at the beach. He gave me a quick wink and a gentle nudge, mouthing for me to ‘go on’.

“So, Brooke, I hear you came out here for a job interview. Sebastian mentioned you are a chef. How exciting. I’m sure that is a job that keeps you on your toes. Tell me, have you ever met Gordon Ramsay?”

“No, I haven’t had that opportunity.” I giggled nervously. “Although it would be a nice perk.”

“Sebastian also mentioned what happened to you. I am so sorry about that. I'm so glad you are okay. I guess it was a good thing you met him that morning. It sounds like your paths were meant to cross.” Her smile was warm, and I found it very easy to talk with her.

“Well, I guess you could say he saved my life, in many ways.”

“Oh, I would love to hear all about your time here so far. Care to share?” She placed her elbows on the table and cupped her face. She had the same warm smile her son had been gifted with. I gathered from her demeanor that she was a very loving mother. This house had a cozy feeling to it, just like the temporary home I shared with Sebastian. After only a few minutes in her presence, I caught myself wishing I had grown up under her care. To say that I had grown up in a less than cozy environment was putting it mildly. Sure, my mother had done her best, but the day my father left us she became bitter and withdrawn. She cared for me in only the simplest of ways. I had food, shelter, and clothing. What I lacked was compassion, for she had none left to give.

“Well, you know that we met at the beach…” I told her everything, well, nearly everything. I told her the important things. The entire time I spoke, she never took her eyes off me, completely engrossed in what I was saying. She never appeared bored or like she couldn’t wait for me to finish. She just listened patiently, like a mother would. At least the way I always assumed a mother would. I finished my story and then waited nervously.

“It warms my heart to hear a story like that, to know that my boy was looking out for you. He always was such a kind child. In spite of everything he’s been through, he has managed to remain compassionate and loving.” She smiled and patted my hand thoughtfully. I wondered what she meant by that. What had he been through that I hadn’t heard about through the media? And did it really matter? I would be leaving soon.

A few minutes later, I met Thomas, Sebastian’s dad. He had the kindest face, round with laugh lines that surrounded his cheerful eyes. I liked him immediately.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, honey.” He hugged me and patted my back firmly. “Everyone should be arriving soon.” He turned and pulled a large platter of steaks out of the refrigerator. “Brooke, I hope you like beef.”

“I certainly do.” I smiled politely, leaning over to inspect the beautiful filets.

“Dad, Brooke is a chef, back in Michigan. A very talented chef.” He winked at me again. Every time he did that my legs went to rubber.

“Is that so? Well, darling, you might want to help me out at the grill. I’ve been known to overcook them a time or two.” Thomas smiled sheepishly.

“Overcook is too polite of a word, Thomas,” Tracy replied lovingly, then brought a hand up to her mouth and spoke out the other side of it to me, “They were dry as toast last time. Help him out, dear. We all deserve better.” I couldn’t hold back a giggle. I looked over to Sebastian, maybe for his approval, and he nodded slightly, letting me know it was good. I didn’t want to come into their home and take over; that wasn’t my style. In my time as a chef I have sat through numerous dinner parties and choked down bland or overcooked food. It is not my place to criticize. I am always grateful for the company. But today, I was asked for my help, so I was more than happy to oblige.

We were in the middle of cutting up assorted vegetables for the kabob skewers when everyone came in at once. Travis and Natalie brought in their adorable daughter, Olivia, who ducked behind her daddy’s legs when I bent down to say hello. She peeked around the side of his thigh, only showing part of one eye. When I gave her a small finger wave and a smile, she ducked back and then just as fast peeked back around, this time letting me see a full-on smile before hiding again. I stood up, knowing not to push my luck, and went back to chopping.

Sebastian picked up Olivia and brought her over to where I was standing.

“Olivia, I’d like for you to meet my new friend. This is Brooke. Can you say hi?” he encouraged her.

“Hello, Olivia, it’s nice to meet you.” The little girl tucked her face into his neck, doing her best to disappear.

“Oh, that’s right, I forgot. Olivia is too shy to meet new people.” He gave me a knowing wink.

“I not shy, uncle Bastin. I a big girl,” she insisted, now doing her best to prove that she was, in fact, grown up.

“Well then, can you say hello to Brooke?” he tried again.

“Hi, Book.” She held a small hand out to greet me. I held it between my first three fingers and shook it gently. After that, she scooted down his leg and ran after the cat, singing at the top of her lungs.

I laughed, admiring her playfulness, and turned to meet his sister, Nikki, and her fiancé, Ben. I stuck out my hand out to Nikki, and she pushed it aside, choosing instead to grab me in a full-on hug.

“It’s so nice to meet you finally. I’ve heard so much about you I feel like I know you already,” she gushed. I gave Sebastian a puzzled look, and he simply shrugged, giving me a shy smile. “I hope we have a chance to get together for some girl time before you head back home.”

“That would be fun,” I offered weakly, not sure what to think of all of this sudden attention. More hugs continued for a few moments before Sebastian, obviously reading my unspoken plea, rescued me yet again.

“All right, everyone, enough. I know she is sweet and you all want to keep squeezing her, but give her some room to breathe. She’ll be here all night,” he joked. “Besides, I think Dad is in desperate need of her knife skills back in the kitchen.” He looked at Thomas, who was at this very moment trying to cut onion wedges with a small paring knife.

“What?” Thomas looked up innocently, oblivious to the fact they were poking fun at him. I took up residence beside him, and together we knocked out the rest of the veg prep. Well, I did most of the work, but that was because I worked three times as fast. I put the finishing touches on the twice baked potato filling and made a mock piping bag out of wax paper—sometimes you have to improvise—then proceeded to pipe the filling into the potato shells before topping them with shredded cheese.

Thomas decided to throw in the towel and left the grilling up to me, which I totally did not mind. They were kind enough to welcome me into their home, cooking for them was the least I could do. It’s what I did every day when I was back in my home state. Standing in front of the grill made me think of work. I missed Donnie and the rest of the team. When I received the all clear for travel, I would be ready to resume my role in the kitchen. I made a mental note to call Donnie before I went to sleep.

Dinner was a huge success. The constant chatter at the table felt very relaxing, reminding me of the banter we shared in the restaurant kitchen. I took turns chatting with Tracy and Natalie. Nikki sat at the other end of the table, but made sure to throw random questions at me, shouting over her brothers. She asked if I liked being in California. Was I a fan of Paradox? Did I plan to get married and have kids? I felt myself getting warmer with each question, especially that last one, considering the thoughts I had in the middle of the night about her brother, who, at this very moment, sat directly across from me, watching as my face turned three shades of red.

“Stop badgering her, Nikki. You’re embarrassing her.” He winked. I rolled my eyes, and he simply shook his head and mouthed ‘you’re adorable.’ My jaw hung open; I had no reply. My insides, though, they had plenty to say, which was getting harder to ignore.

After dinner was cleared and dishes were being washed, Chris and Dek showed up, both carrying an instrument. They settled in, and before long, the guys were singing their music and a lot of other songs I knew. Even the rest of the family sang along, and soon I joined in, feeling less nervous with each song. When Sebastian started in on one of their new releases, I couldn’t help myself, I sang loudly along with him, forgetting about everyone around me. I loved that song. When he finished, he sat there quietly, just staring at me open-mouthed.

“You have an amazing voice, Brooke. You never told me you could sing.”

My face instantly flushed scarlet red, making him smile even more. “I didn’t realize I could. I just love that song,” I replied quietly.

“Well, it was lovely. You’ll have to sing with me again someday, when you’re ready.”

“Maybe.” I giggled. “I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.”

Later, everyone was sitting in the family room, and Thomas asked when we were going to serve dessert. Tracy got up and headed into the kitchen, and I joined her as she dished out cake and ice cream. I had just placed a plate before Thomas when Chris leapt over the coffee table and spun me around, making me very dizzy, and soon I was laughing like a small schoolgirl.

“Brooke! My long lost sister from another mother!” He tickled his hands over my ribs, not in a sexual way, but in more of a playful, brotherly fashion.

“I always wanted a brother.” I laughed and slapped at his roaming hands. When I caught Sebastian’s eye, he wasn’t laughing. He cocked his brow and scowled before heading to the kitchen.

“Okay, you two, break it up.” Natalie laughed. I went and sat down next to Nikki, who had watched everything with great interest.

“So, what are you and Sebastian going to do about your relationship after you go back home?” she asked, sounding innocent enough, but I somehow felt as if she was in protective sister mode.

“Oh, we’re not dating or anything,” I interjected, looking over at Sebastian, who had just re-entered the room. He hadn’t stopped staring at me since the scene with Chris.

“Do you want to take a walk outside?” he asked, leaning over the back of the sofa and placing his hands on my shoulders.

“Sure,” I replied quizzically before turning to Nikki, who looked satisfied at his request.

He led me out back, walking over to a small house that sat in the back corner of their lot. We walked inside, and I looked around, taking in my surroundings. The house was no bigger than your typical garden shed, but this one didn’t house plants; it was fully furnished and looked as if it were regularly used.

“This is cool,” I exclaimed, running my finger over the back of the small sofa just inside the door.

“Yeah, Mom uses this for when she does her writing.” I looked at him quizzically. “She writes for a local travel magazine.”

“Ah,” I nodded. “I really like your family; they are all very kind and funny. You must have had a great childhood.”

“Yeah, we did.” He smiled. “They like you too, you know. I’m glad you came with me.”

“Thank you for inviting me.” I moved and sat down on the sofa, waiting for him to get to the real reason he had asked me out here.

“Can I ask you something?” he began nervously.

“Sure, I guess.” I looked over and could tell something was bothering him.

“You don’t seem to have a problem with Chris putting his hands all over you. Do you like him or something? I mean, it’s okay if you do. I just need to know so I can back off, if that’s what you want.” His voice hitched a little as he finished that last sentence. He was jealous. I needed to clear up any confusion he had right away.

“No, Sebastian, I’m not interested in Chris, not like that. He’s a nice guy, but I think of him more like a big brother. I don’t know, something clicked between us right away, and I could tell we would get along.” I cocked my head and met his eyes. “So, it bothers you when he shows me affection?”

He shrugged, looking away embarrassed, before he returned his gaze to mine. This time there was no uncertainty in his eyes. “I just needed to know how you felt about him before I took this any further.”

“Where do you see this going?”

“I don’t know exactly.” He moved in front of me, placing a hand on either side of my head, staring deeply into my eyes. “All I know is that it’s taking every ounce of restraint I have not to kiss you right now.”

“You want to kiss me?” I gasped.

“More than anything.”

“Then what’s stopping you?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

“Because I’m afraid if I start, I’ll never be able to stop,” he replied hoarsely.

“Then don’t stop.”

He raised a hand to cup my face, while the other brushed back the hair from my eyes. I tilted my head, bringing my lips up to his, and our mouths met gingerly, skin brushing lightly together. A warm sensation spread throughout my body, and I shivered reflexively at his touch. A smile spread over his face, and I felt his lips turn up slightly, hearing a soft chuckle escape his throat. I inched toward him, curling a hand around the back of his neck, drawing him even closer. This time, I took the lead, planting both lips firmly against his, covering them completely. Both of his hands pressed gently against the side of each cheek, holding me in place, as he worked his lips slowly over mine, taking time to draw me in. The viper bites rubbed over my bottom lip, and a low moan escaped my throat, causing my lips to part, allowing his tongue to graze lightly across the front of my teeth. His mouth consumed me, breathing ceased to exist, and I didn’t care. If I were to perish now, here in his arms, with his lips against mine, I knew my life would be complete. In my line of work, I had tasted the finest foods and sampled the finest wines, but I could honestly say that I had never savored anything as sweet and satisfying as Sebastian Miles. I pulled back, and a smile slowly spread over both of our flushed faces.

“You’re cute when you blush too,” I murmured in his ear, as he leaned back against the sofa, pulling me with him. He groaned inwardly as I hovered over him, my hair spilling across his face. He tucked the errant strands behind my ear, and in the process his thumb brushed over my cheekbone.

“You are so beautiful, Brooke,” he whispered. I closed my eyes, leaning in to kiss him again. “If I had known that giving you a compliment would have garnered a kiss, I would have been tossing them out all week,” he chuckled softly.

“Just shut up and kiss me again.”