AFTER STRAIGHTENING UP FROM HER solitary dinner, Stephanie looked around the big, empty kitchen and sighed. She was going to have to find something to do now that her son-in-law had returned.
When Draegyn had come bursting into the house, she and Tori had been hunkered down at the dining room table mid-morning, addressing envelopes from a Christmas card list.
The joy that radiated off her daughter the second she heard her husband’s voice had tugged at Stephanie’s emotions. And Draegyn. Oh, my word. He looked like hell with a nasty dark bruise on his cheek and the remnants of a black eye, but the way he reacted when Victoria lumbered up from her seat had brought tears to her eyes. He’d hollered, “Where’s my wife?” as he exploded on the scene, tossing an overnight bag on the floor and rushing forward to scoop Tori into a bold embrace.
There hadn’t been a lot for her to do ever since. Without so much as a glance in her direction, the husband and wife had disappeared into their master suite with Tori berating Draegyn the whole way there for hiding his injuries from her. Stephanie had caught a glimpse of his face as her daughter rambled on and was surprised to see happiness in his expression. Bitching and sniping at each other was just what they did.
She didn’t realistically expect to see either of them again until the next day unless she stumbled upon Drae in the kitchen on a munchies run. Wanting to give them their privacy, she’d made use of the gym, visited with Carmen, and took Raven for a long walk. Dinner alone was no big deal, but she was starting to get restless. And bored.
Picking up her phone, she texted Meghan asking if she needed any help at the house—especially since Thanksgiving was the day after tomorrow. She got an answer right away with Meghan and Alex asking her to ride up to the Villa to share some chocolate chip cookies Ria had just baked. Seemed like an odd request but she wanted to get out of the house. So she slipped on a pair of boots, threw a shawl around her shoulders, whistled for the puppy to join her, and marched off into the driveway to board the Peach-Mobile for the short ride to the main house.
With her new best friend Raven by her side, they ambled along in the twilight, the silence of the desert at night broken only by the low whir of the cart.
Meghan met her at the door with a huge grin. She reached down and scratched Raven behind the ears as she took hold of Stephanie’s arm and led them into the house.
“Oh, my God, Stephanie. You’ll never guess! Carmen and Gus went to the movies in town. No, seriously!” she babbled on a high when Stephanie looked at her clearly doubtful. “He showed up right before dinner and mumbled something about superheroes. Next thing we know, he’s telling Carmen about some million-year-old comic book he has that’s a collector’s item. When she laughed and told him she liked the Iron Man movie, it was game on from there on out.”
“Well, it’s about damn time, don’t you think?” she remarked gleefully. “Did she make him squirm?”
“Fuck, no,” Meghan chuckled. “She practically tackled his ass the minute the offer was made—then whoosh—away they went.”
In the humongous kitchen, she found Alex puttering about looking every inch contented. He was becoming a walking advertisement for domesticated alpha. Just the right amount of swagger and a huge dollop of infatuation with the woman he so wisely convinced to marry him. The two were obnoxiously adorable.
“Alex, honey, tell Stephanie how funny Gus was.”
The Major shrugged off Meghan’s mirth with an eye roll as he leaned in to kiss Stephanie on the cheek. “Of course you women would find it funny that he’s been reduced to acting like a pussy.”
Stephanie couldn’t help but chuckle. “Honestly, Alex, tossing Carmen’s butt over his shoulder caveman style was only going to end with Gus’s balls in a brown paper bag. He had to make some sort of a move. Rather a pussy than a crotchety old lonely guy ‘cause he didn’t take a chance.”
“So, what’ll it be, Stephanie? Coffee, tea, hot cocoa, milk?” Meghan asked as she pointed to a large platter laden with super-sized chunky chocolate chip cookies. The damn things were so big they needed their own zip code.
“It’s such a beautiful night; we lit a fire outside on the terrace. Just tell me what your choice of beverage is and I’ll bring everything out when it’s ready. Darling,” she murmured to Alex, “get Stephanie settled.”
The terrace lit up with white twinkle lights along with thick candles in deep hurricane vases while a lovely fire roared to life in the massive outdoor fireplace. It was a perfect evening to enjoy being outside.
“Bet Tori’s glad that Drae is home, huh?” Alex commented as she settled comfortably onto a wide chaise.
“Thank you, Major,” Stephanie replied. When Alex glanced at her with a question in his eyes, she swiftly added, “For setting me straight about those two. You’re right. Draegyn loves Victoria and she’s so smitten with him, it’s hard to watch sometimes.”
“They’re good for each other. She’s the first woman to see past his nonsense, and he’s the only man I’ve ever seen come even slightly close to keeping that little virago daughter of yours in her place.”
“I’m glad I listened, Alex. I was so wrapped up in fearing that Draegyn couldn’t walk the walk that I completely missed the bigger picture.”
Alex reached out and grasped one of her hands. “Tori loves you so much, and since he’s never known what having a real mother feels like, he craves normalcy. He wants your approval, Mom.”
“He has it. A thousand times over.”
“Good. I’m glad. Drae’s a fine man, Stephanie. Despite the dubious reputation, he’s just a guy, like the rest of us mere mortals.”
The sound of something approaching brought their attention swinging to Meghan as she pushed a drink cart toward them. “Look who I found moping around,” she exclaimed. “I told Calder he could join us as long as he promises to demolish at least one of those basketball sized cookies.”
“Hey, Unc,” Alex called out as Stephanie jerked upright and tried to look unfazed by the appearance of the man she was trying so hard to avoid.
Waving a jerky hand at Alex, Calder hung his head and muttered, “Oh, uh hi. Um, Stephanie.”
Good Lord. Could this be any more uncomfortable, she wondered. She was suddenly as relaxed as a patient waiting to be wheeled into surgery, and he sounded like a man faced with a choice between her or being waterboarded. Not much of a choice, apparently.
“Calder,” she garbled like an idiot.
Luckily, Meghan saved the day by guiding her uncle-in-law to-be to the seat beside Alex while she plopped down next to Stephanie on the massive lounger. At least that took care of the nervous tension a strained seating arrangement would invite.
In fact, Alex and Meghan were so easy to be around and were such engaging hosts that the unexpected encounter went a thousand times smoother than she thought it would.
The conversation started off light, carefree, and silly as each of them critiqued the ginormous cookies with good humor. Calder had even light-heartedly teased her about her unusual choice of drinks. While he and the others opted for coffee, only Stephanie had gone with the undeniably winning combo of ice-cold milk with her cookie.
When he muttered, “Milk—it does a body good,” she didn’t know whether to laugh or smack the sly grin off his face. And then Alex and Meghan groaned in unison with Meghan leaning into Stephanie to gripe, “Men, right?”
When Alex let out an unrestrained bark of laughter and elbowed his uncle with a humorous shaking No of his head, even Stephanie had to lighten up. It was funny after all.
After that icebreaker, they sat on that terrace for hours with Calder and Alex regaling her and Meghan with hilarious stories about Alex’s childhood and all the geeky nonsense the two got into. Some of the tales were borderline inappropriate and some got damn close to being X-rated. Especially one particularly questionable tall tale which Drae was included in that involved hookers, surf groupies, a sack of peanuts, a case of booze, and a drunken nighttime mission to steal the seagull logo of a surf shop at the beach near where Calder had lived.
Eventually, the beverage of choice became brandy—the perfect accompaniment to a roaring fire and casual conversation.
Stephanie learned quite a lot about Calder through those stories. Like how at times in his life he’d been a lot wilder than the serious minded, self-controlled way he conducted himself now. And how his love of family had pretty much defined his adult life. He spoke lovingly and with tremendous pride and passion about Alex’s two sisters who he referred to as his little women.
“Angie’s coming soon, isn’t she?” he inquired of Meghan. “I know she’s excited and then some about helping with the wedding. Especially since event planning and marketing is sort of what she does.”
Oh. This was news to Stephanie. She’d been so focused on Tori, Draegyn, and the baby that sometimes she lost sight of the impending O’Brien ~ Marquez nuptials.
Meghan drew her legs up onto the chaise to get more comfortable and tucked her feet beneath her butt. It was charming the way her face lit up when talk turned to the wedding.
“I can’t wait for Angie to get here,” the bride-to-be chirped. “She’s staying home till after the holidays then once we’re waving to New Year’s in the rearview, she’s coming here to hang out until I leave for Boston.”
Alex grunted and took a hefty sip of the fragrant brandy. “I’m against that plan, by the way. Don’t understand why you have to spend two weeks away from me before the damn wedding.”
Stephanie, who thought her old friend looked adorable with his disgruntled boo-boo face, caught Calder smirking at his nephew from the corner of her eye, and choked off a giggly snort that threatened to shoot out of her mouth.
“Don’t you worry, Major,” Meghan cooed. “It’ll be worth the while, I promise you that.”
“Well, so you say,” he grumbled. “Although that sister of mine is a no good troublemaker, especially now, and I don’t trust her not to turn you off of marriage with her snarky outlook.”
“Especially now?” Stephanie questioned.
Calder turned deadly serious and said, “Broken engagement. Bit of a wild child as a result.”
“Oh, I see. Guess that’s as good a reason as any to go off the rails.”
“As if!” barked Alex. “She’s the one that called it a day. Told that wishy-washy fiancé of hers to take a hike, so I don’t get why she needs a rebellious phase to get over it.”
“I don’t know, darling,” Meghan giggled with a wink. “Angie’s what? Twenty-six, twenty-seven? I’ve got two currently single cousins and a younger brother who I should introduce her to.”
“Ummmm, I don’t think that will be necessary,” Calder interjected with a quick glance at his nephew.
The look they exchanged got Meghan’s curiosity piqued in a heartbeat. “Okay, you two. What in the hell was that about?”
“Parker,” they each said at the exact same time followed instantly by the two pointing at the other and yelling, “Jinx!”
“Parker? As in Parker Sullivan?” Meghan wheezed with incredulity. “What the heck does Parker have to do with your sister?”
“A lot,” Alex replied.
“Long story. Best left for another time,” Calder added.
Meghan sighed and turned to Stephanie. “Do you suppose he knows I’ll get the whole story out of him before his eyes close tonight?”
She grinned at the Major and sent him a saucy wink. “Oh, shugah, I’m thinking he’s counting on you trying!”
They cracked up laughing while the men smiled and held their drinks aloft in silent agreement.
So far, the talk had been all about the others. Calder and Alex when he was growing up. Meghan and the wedding. Stephanie should have been prepared to have the interrogation lamp turned on her, but still, when it did, she was startled.
“So, Stephanie…word around the barnyard is that you and Zephyr left a certain someone in the dust, the other morning,” Alex said with a glance at Calder. “Y’know, we tried to tell him you could handle the stallion, but I don’t think he was listening.”
She looked toward the man in question and bit back a smirk. “Well, that’s no surprise. He has been judging me rather harshly from day one. The possibility that I could hold my own atop an ornery mount was not on the list of character traits and skills he assigned to me.”
“Ouch,” Calder muttered.
Meghan laughed and nudged Stephanie. “He’s been slouching about here as though his dog just died. I’m taking that’s because you told him what what!”
“Aw, come on,” Calder griped. “I was not slouching about. Maybe I was busy thinking ‘bout stuff but I wasn’t…whatever you were implying.”
Alex and Meghan exchanged a swift look that set all the alarms ringing in Stephanie’s head. Oh, my God, she realized. Her mouth fell open at the lightning bolt of certainty that hit her broadside. They were setting them up for a clearing of the air. Genius move, if she said so herself.
“So, Ms. Bennett, now that we have Uncle Calder’s undivided attention, why don’t you give him the four-one-one on your background. I’d hate to see him publically humiliated again for being such a jackass…so let’s set him straight. Okay?”
Slick move Major, she thought—but Stephanie wasn’t quite ready to let Calder completely off the hook.
“Straight about which part? The part where you don’t judge people by what they do for a living or by outer appearance?” She looked harshly at Calder and sniped, “Y’know, you’re a blond, too. So maybe dial back the stereotype pageant hack you created in your head.”
“Oh, snap,” Meghan murmured. Alex shook his head in agreement.
“Or straight about the part where even poor little ol’ me takes care of her own shit, thank you very much, and have for more years than I remember. My husband died when Victoria was only ten. I’ve managed to raise a pretty awesome kid and create a career that allowed me to be both parents and provide a nice lifestyle for us. I think we did just fine, by the way.”
She knew a measure of hurt had been obvious in her delivery, but so what. He had passed her off as a piece of fluff and bother. Screw it. She wasn’t taking that lying down.
“Calder? Got anything to say?” Alex nudged.
Stephanie winced lightly. It wasn’t in her wheelhouse to be a bitch and act the shrew. She’d learned a long time ago to play nice at all costs because you really can catch more flies with sugar than with vinegar. She’d pretty much already said all of that to him the other night, but when Alex challenged her, she had to say something. Wanted the two lovebirds to understand that she had good reason for keeping her distance from Calder.
Why then was she silently praying that he would say the right thing? That he would act the gallant as she suspected Alex would and let his charming old-world manners rule the day. Jeez. She actually wanted him to care that he’d hurt her feelings.
Alex and Meghan let the moment unfold as it was meant to. They didn’t try to rush a response from Calder and didn’t pooh-pooh what Stephanie had shared. They were actually really smart about it and in doing so provided the perfect opportunity for tensions to ease.
Pulling his booted foot onto a knee, Calder sat back and regarded her with an embarrassed frown. The minute she felt his gaze, she did a quick inventory of how she looked. Stephanie tried convincing herself she would have reacted the same way for anyone. Lying to herself wasn’t her strong suit.
In the realm of casual, she was about as laid back and dressed down as she could go and still be who she was. Regular jeans. Chunky heeled ankle boots, a basic cream-colored sweater, and a long scarf wrapped several times about her neck. Her hair was down and loose and she was wearing no actual jewelry nor was she sporting much in the way of make-up. At that moment, she was as far from being a beauty queen as he was.
“It’s not every day I get handed my ass with such biting precision,” he jested; only the expression in his eyes suggested he knew how big a dick he’d been.
“Well, that’s a start,” Alex drawled. “Anything else?”
“Yeah,” Calder nodded. “I want to know why you ride like the wind, Ms. Bennett. I’m thinking that one answer will show me just how much I’ve been missing where you’re concerned.”
“Fair enough, fair enough,” their host murmured. Turning an amused eye her way Alex smirked and waved his hand. “After you…”
Oh shit. Why the hell not? It’s not like her past was a secret or that she had anything to be embarrassed about. And shoot, laying it all out there would level the field a bit.