Marnie instinctively tightened her grip on the handle as someone from behind tried to wrestle the bag from her grasp. She stopped reaching into the SUV for another luggage case, whirling around to see what the problem was.
A hundred watt smile and hazel green eyes stood face to face with her. Sandy brown hair was coiffed into soft curls that wrapped around the front of his forehead. He drowned in a thick oat‐colored sweater, but the sleeves were rolled up and a pair of gray slacks had been painted on him.
“Here, let me help you,” the baritone voice said.
He engulfed her hand with his own large one. She noted a lack of calluses as he gently coaxed the luggage from her tight grasp.
“Thank you,” she slowly released her grip, milking every second she had to enjoy the feel of his tender hands.
“Hand me another one.”
Marnie obliged by reaching into the SUV for another bag.
She grabbed the remaining two duffel bags and followed him toward the two‐story log cabin. Warm lights glowed from each story, promising warmth and comfort from the chilly Tahoe outdoors.
The cabin looked even larger on the inside than it had when Danny was driving up to it. Can lights bathed the wood floors in a warm glow. An oriental rug ran the length of a massive hallway, stopping inches from the front door.
“Danna, why do you have this girl lugging this stuff by herself?” The stranger asked, hauling the suitcases into the foyer.
“Pipe down. That's her job,” Danny said, walking down the staircase.
“Well, where I come from, we don't let ladies do men's work,” the hazel eyes swung around to look at Marnie.
“Marnie, meet my older and uglier brother Brian,” Danny said, slapping his brother on the back.
Marnie shook his hand, and he pulled her forward and kissed her hand while gazing into her eyes before releasing it. Marnie felt like swooning. She had never met a guy who laid it on this thick—or perhaps she was imagining it. She wasn't used to nice people, period.
Danny grabbed his suitcases and headed up the staircase. “Come on, Marnie, I'll show you where your room is.”
Marnie grabbed her solitary bag and followed.
“Wait, Danna, those were all your bags? I thought they were hers.” Brian pointed to Marnie. A chuckle escaped his lips. “You going to the Oscars after this or something?”
Danny ignored his brother and continued to make his way up the stairs. In the hallway, Marnie caught up to him.
“Why does he call you Danna?”
“No idea.” Danny shot her a look of disgust and continued lugging his three suitcases behind him.
“Here's your room.” He gave her a tight smile and continued the trek to his own.
Marnie opened the door to her room. Obviously decorated for a little girl, the walls were painted hot pink with soft pink sheer curtains hanging in the window. Stuffed animals lined the seat underneath the window ledge. A flowery comforter covered the four‐poster canopy bed. A white dresser and mirror combo were off to one wall, a large poster of Minnie Mouse, Princess Jasmine, and Cinderella clustered together on another. Marnie hung her clothes in the closet and headed downstairs.
Laughter guided her to the den, but she stopped to look at the family photos hanging on the wall in the hallway. A black and white photo caught her interest. Two boys with snorkeling gear were standing side by side. The blond one had his arm around the dark-haired boy. Both were soaked with water, their hair plastered to their foreheads. It looked like a bright sunny morning. The dark‐haired boy held the water hose. Water pumped out of the hose, suspended in time.
“That's me and Danna when I was ten and he was six,” Brian said from behind, in her ear.
She whirled around to gaze into his hazel eyes. He smiled at her, his eyes twinkling as if he knew a secret only he could share with her. She was dying to offer him a penny or two for his thoughts.
“Want some cider?” He handed her a steaming mug. “It's nice and warm. Should take the chill off.”
“Thank you.” She took a sip.
“Come on in here and meet everybody.”
As she entered, a slender woman rose from her seat. Thick black hair and smoky gray eyes suggested this was Danny's mother. “Oh, how nice to finally, meet you. Danny talks about you all the time. I'm Silló.” Danny's mother cupped Marnie's chin and kissed both cheeks before wrapping her in a stiff hug.
“Ma, she's not his girlfriend,” Brian warned.
“Huh?” Silló quickly released Marnie like a hot potato. “One always hopes you know. It's not like he's getting any younger. He barely brings anyone around, so naturally I assumed.” She shrugged her shoulders as if that settled the matter.
Marnie found a space on a brown, micro‐suede sofa across from Brian. She sipped her cider and tried hard not to burn holes in his head.
He was, in one word, beautiful. Not much taller than his brother, but where Danny was solid and muscled, Brian was stocky and thick. He'd gotten rid of the sweater. The muscles in his abs and pecs poked through his light, white cotton polo shirt. He wore his blond hair short and parted on the side. It was just enough hair for a girl to run her hands through. But would she get a chance?
Danny, Mickey, and two girls, stomped into the den laughing, and sat down on the sofa next to Brian.
“Marnie, this is my sister Beth,” Brian pointed to the brunette on Danny's lap, “and our resident spoiled apple, Lauren.”
The girls waved at Marnie, grinning ear to ear. To Marnie's surprise, Beth laid her head on Danny's chest. Clearly, no love was lost between Beth and Danny. She'd half‐expected there to be tense moments between the two.
Silló excused herself to check on the food arrangements. A few moments later she called for Beth and Lauren to assist her. With a sigh Lauren left Danny's lap and followed her sister out of the den.
Marnie clapped her hands and Mickey shuffled over to her, laying his head in her lap. She stroked his ears and then rolled her finger in a circular motion—her signal for him to turn around and sit. She'd discovered the dog picked up human communication like a sticker on wood and had worked with him on a few tricks.
He stretched his long spry body on the carpet. She leaned forward and buried her fingers deep inside the fur on his back and massaged the bundle of muscles piled together.
“That's nice.” Brian leaned over, watching her work.
“He gets very tense when he's cooped up in a kennel.”
“What do you charge? I wouldn't mind getting a massage,” Brian said.
Marnie chuckled and offered to give him a massage after she finished with Mickey.
After washing her hands, she returned to the living room. Brian had moved to sit on a stool.
“My hands are a little cold,” she warned. She came behind him and rested her fingers on his thick shoulders. As if proving her point, his body jerked and he let out a soft yelp.
Soon though, his shoulders drooped and she pressed her thumbs into his large muscles. She looked up, feeling Danny's eyes on her. He was deep in conversation with his aunt and uncle about the political state of America, but he stopped for a moment. The clean planes of his face had hardened. The skin around his square chin was tight, as if he were clenching his jaw. Marnie wondered if she had done something wrong. But then the moment passed and he turned back to his aunt, a smile pulling at his thin lips. She shook her head, deciding she'd read too much into the expression. Seeing as he rarely smiled unless cameras were on him, she didn't know him well enough to gauge when he was angry.
“Is that enough?” she asked Brian.
“Huh?” If it was possible, his baritone voice had thickened to a deeper octave, making her body warm to the rich note. “I think I fell asleep.”
Marnie took a seat on the sofa.
The front door crashed closed.
“Hellooo.” A fruity, feminine voiced boomed.
“We're in the den, “Danny said.
A tall, fair‐haired woman entered with a baby settled on her stomach. He was wrapped in a pouch that hung from her shoulders with straps wrapping around her waist.
“Is that Caden?” Danny asked.
The woman nodded and lifted him out of her pouch. “Would you like to hold him for a minute? I want to go talk with your mother.”
Danny cradled Caden in his arms.
“Auntie Jill, she's in the kitchen,” Brian said.
“Bertha, are you going to give me a hug or what?” Auntie Jill asked.
The younger woman chuckled as she hoisted herself off the sofa.
“How are you, sweetie?” Bertha asked. “Brian, come show us were Sillò has gone off to.”
Arms locked together the three of them left.
Danny's uncle stood up and tapped his son on the shoulder. “Come show me those videos you were talking about.”
The boy rolled his eyes and followed his father out of the room.
“Looks like we're playing babysitter,” Danny said.
Caden opened his mouth and wailed.
“Aw, you don't want to hang out with your cousin?” Danny bounced him on his knee, but that only made Caden wail louder.
To Marnie's chagrin, Danny decided to bring the baby over to where she sat.
“Would you like to hold him?”
“No.” She leaned away. “Babies don't like me.”
“I don't know. He seems pretty taken with you.”
Caden rested on Danny's knee. He had stopped crying and was sucking on his bottom lip as if deep in thought. He eyed Marnie with a quiet intensity, then leaning toward her he grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her forward.
Marnie cried out as she tried to wrench the hair from his vise-like grip.
“Oh, boy.” Slowly he pried the baby's fingers from her hair. “Caden, rule number one. Don't pull on a girl's hair. They hate that.”
Danny took Caden's arm and waved it at Marnie. “I'm soree,” He said in a baby voice. He kissed Caden on the cheek. “Tell her we can't help it when we see a pretty lady.”
Caden gave him a big smile. Danny sniffed and leaned back. “Whoa. Smells like changing time. Did she leave a bag?”
Her stomach swirled, and she bolted up, fearing she was going to be sick. Marnie spotted the bag and brought it to him.
“Where are you going?” Danny asked.
She'd made her way toward the foyer.
“I think I left some of my things in the car,” she lied.
“You're not gonna help us chwange?” Danny asked in a mock baby voice.
“I'll be right back.” She walked stiffly to the front door.
A cool mist greeted her outside, and smoke formed when she sighed.
How did it still have an effect on her after all these years? When would the longing stop? The ache in her heart subside? Her skin flushed at the thought of forgetting Danny and Caden with the help of a little heroin.
She slapped her cheek. She was not going down this road again. Seeing the chubby-cheeked Caden couldn't be her undoing. Not after she had three months under her belt. She slapped her cheek again, willing herself to forget the dizzy taste of heroin. To stop fantasizing about the comforting cocoon it could wrap her in. She slapped herself a few more times. The taste still lingered, but the desire to jump in the car and score didn't feel so immediate.
She returned to the den. Baby powder hung in the air, and her heart flipped, nearly bringing her to her knees. Danny was pulling the diaper tabs across the diaper when she walked up to him.
He glanced at her. “Something is fishy, Caden.” He tickled his nephew's feet as they kicked in the air. “Marnie returned just as we were finished.” He scooped his cousin up. “Here, hold him for a minute, will you?” He shoved him into her arms. She placed a hand on his bottom, but she misjudged the heft of him and was taken by surprise. He slid down her stomach, but she wrapped an arm around him and Danny placed a hand under his bottom until he was secure in her arms.
His hand rested over hers, sending a delicious tingle along her skin. “You got him?”
She nodded, embarrassed she had almost dropped him.
Caden laid his head against her chest and smacked a fist against her breast.
“Uh, oh, looks like he's hungry. There's nothing in those buddy. Let me go find momma.”
The rest of the evening went without a hitch. Marnie thought the women would cook, but the party was catered buffet‐style. Her skin flushed when she placed her homely pies next to the commercial superstars glistening under their domes.
“Mmm.” The hair on Marnie's arms stood on end at the sound of Brian's voice.
“Homemade pie. I'm going to tell everyone there's nuts in this so I can get a few slices.” He winked at her.
An hour later the dining room filled with cousins, aunts, and uncles. She kept to herself most of the night, but couldn't avoid getting dragged into a game of charades. Much to her surprise, Brian and Danny flipped a coin for who would partner with her. Brian won the toss, much to Danny's chagrin.
The rivalry continued into the evening. Brian also won the second toss over who would sit next to Marnie during dinner. Danny, being a good sport, pulled out both of their chairs and stood in line for Marnie on the buffet. She said a silent prayer that no one would see her blushing. Her mouth soon grew tired of smiling and laughing so hard. She'd never had this much fun before. If this was the way the weekend would go, it was going to be a piece of cake.
“Marnie,” Silló's voice carried across the room amid the sound of forks speaking to plates. “Where did you go to school?”
“She didn't,” Danny interjected.
Marnie placed the bun she was about to eat back on the saucer.
“University of Michigan.” Actually, it was Princeton, but the less anyone knew about her the better.
“Oh, I didn't know that,” Danny gave her a sheepish grin.
“What did you hire her for then, Danna? That's interview one‐oh‐one. You might have a sexual discrimination case on your hands if he admits he hired you for your looks alone,” Brian joked to Marnie.
She smiled a knowing smile at Danny. No one needed to know about their arrangement. Danny took her cue and went back to concentrating on his food.
Danny stepped into Beth's bedroom. She was sharing it with Lauren, so the room had lost its queen bed and gained two twin‐sized ones. Beth lay diagonally across the comforter. Lauren was still downstairs sharing horror stories about his awkward years with Marnie.
“What do you think?” Danny said.
“Hmm?” Beth looked up from her tablet.
“About Marnie?”
A frown wrinkled her young face.
He'd called her once she'd returned from her trip and confided in her about his plan to be Marnie's sponsor. Beth was the only one who knew, outside of himself and Marnie. Judging by the confused look on her face, he guessed she'd kept the secret.
“She's the one I was telling you about.”
Recognition and pleasure lit her face. “Right. Don't be mad, but I didn't really believe you at first. So, she's not just your assistant?”
“She's been working for me, and in exchange I've been providing a sober living environment.”
“Huh. That's awesome sauce.” She hopped off the bed and launched herself at his shoulders. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she gave him a hug.
“Don't let on that you know, okay? We agreed that we wouldn't tell anyone what we were doing.”
“Not even Robert?” Beth said as she released him.
He shook his head.
“You're not going on any talk shows about this?”
He shook his head.
“No press releases, radio interviews, or YouTube videos?” Beth ticked the media options off her fingers.
He placed his hands on her shoulders. “Nothing.”
She punched his arm. “What have you done with my exploitatious brother?”
He rolled his eyes and took a seat on the bed. “Don't you think you're being a little dramatic?”
“You'd sell our mother out if you thought it helped your public image. Look what you did to Dad.”
At that time he'd been at a low point in his life, desperate to claw his way out of the dark limelight his actions had placed him in.
Deep down he knew his father had only been lashing out from being fired as his manager. Without the association of his son, Hollywood and it's studio execs had no use for his father. Doors were slammed the minute Danny made the announcement they were severing business ties.
It was a family issue that shouldn't have gone public. But when his father did an article in People magazine about his son's off‐camera relationship with a certain director's wife, the gloves had come off. It didn't help that Danny had let people in his corner convince him that his father was out to ruin him.
He'd launched his own campaign that nearly got his father blacklisted from even low budget indie films. KOing his father had made him feel like a man.
It wasn't until he'd gotten rid of the negative peanut gallery that he realized what a chump he'd been. Thank God, Dad had eventually forgiven him.
“I would never sell Mom out.” If she only knew how many times he could have given into Robert's suggestions.
“Maybe not now. You seem different. Are you guys dating?”
“No.”
“Aww. She seems sweet.”
Sweet wasn't the word he'd use to describe Marnie. She was more like a feral cat—dangerous, but with an allure too beautiful to stay away from.