Chapter Nine

Sunday Dinner and Wedding Plans Gone Amuck

Running later than he’d planned because after giving Storm a bath, Gavin couldn’t tell who was wetter, Storm or Synn. She had to change before they left, and he took that opportunity to use a quick drying spell on his own clothes. How one little pup could drench two adults, he’d never know. Finally, he turned the truck into his parents’ driveway and stopped out front.

He opened the back door and unlatched the small used crate he’d borrowed from a friend last night to save his truck’s interior. Storm charged out. He held her back long enough to clip on her leash. She didn’t even look like the same pup from last night, all fluffy and smelling great. He put her on a patch of ground away from the mud puddles left from last night’s rain.

Synn reached over the back seat and snagged the bag of dog toys, then slid out of the front seat. Before her feet hit the ground, he was standing in front of her, caught her around the waist, and pulled her to him.

“I deserve a kiss for all the hard work getting your pup settled and bathed. Don’t you think?”

“Do I have a choice?” she teased and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Always have a choice.” He brought his mouth down on hers in a searing kiss. During the pup’s bath the inadvertent brush of her breasts over his back or side as he held the dog left him aroused. Even the bumpy ride to his parents’ house hadn’t diminished the feeling. Okay, the way her wet blouse clung to her curves and allowed that red bra she wore to show didn’t help either. He had to get this relationship back on course, or he was going to lose his mind. Didn’t women have needs too?

She molded to him as he kissed his way to the juncture of her neck, the tip of his tongue teased the hollow of her throat before he breathed a kiss there. She moaned when he returned to her mouth. Storm barked and bit down on her shoe. The sharp needle like puppy teeth cutting through her sock. She howled in surprise then anger. The spell was broken. Gavin cursed and looked down at the excited, happy pup wriggling all over and couldn’t find his mad.

Synn rubbed the side of her foot inside her shoe. “You little beast,” she said without heat. “I’ll take her around back and let her loose in the back yard to run off the puppy energy. Thought the bath would wear her down. Guess not.”

“Good guess. I’ll meet you in the house.” He tossed her a couple toys from the bag and walked to the house whistling a tune.

His da greeted him at the door. “Wondered if you were going to come in or bed her right in front of God and everyone.”

Gavin paused in the doorway, heat rising to his cheeks. He turned to look around and grinned. “I don’t see anyone, and God ’tis having a good laugh at my expense. I’m sure.”

“So things back on track with you two?” his da asked.

“Working on it. Still a ways to go, I fear. How’s Ma?”

“She’s in the kitchen cooking off her disappointment. She’ll be fine now that you and Synn are here.”

“That anxious to add a demon to the family?” Gavin teased.

Tim took off his hat and rubbed his head. “I don’t know where we went wrong with you kids. Hannah married a warlock without even letting us know until it was all over. Brandy is engaged to a vampire, and you’re chasing after a demon.” He turned around shaking his head, but the quivering in his shoulders betrayed his laughter. “What’s wrong with the gryphon lasses and lads?” he asked over his shoulder.

“Too tame.” He threw back his head and roared with laughter. “Wasn’t meant to be, Da. Our family needed a bit of diversity.”

“You and your sisters sure saw to that.”

“Hey, I’m not the only one to blame,” he shot back.

“You’re the one that’s here.” His dad grinned and slapped him on the back.

“Story of my life. I should have fled the country too,” he grumbled.

“Oh, you love it here, and you know it. ’Tis the girls that got the wanderlust like Mary.”

“You’re telling me. Synn is out back with Storm. She needed to run off some excess energy.”

“Storm or Synn?” Tim chuckled. “She can leave the pup out there if she wants. I repaired the hole in the fence this morning and checked the full length of the yard. It’s tight.”

“I’ll go tell her.” He walked through the house into the kitchen, kissed his ma’s cheek, and reached for the door just as Synn pushed it open. He took two steps back and grinned at her. “You don’t know how many times I waited for my sisters to do exactly what you did, only to scare the bejeebers out of them.”

“Oh, sorry I didn’t see you there. Hi Mary. Tim. What can I do to help?” She turned making sure the pup was still happy playing in the yard alone.

“She’ll be fine until she notices you’re missing. Then she’ll set up a howl.” He caught hold of her arm guiding her into the living area.

She gasped. Every flat surface was covered with pictures of wedding dresses, flower arrangements, wedding cakes, bridesmaids’ dresses, tuxes, and several bride magazines opened to marked pages and strewn over the floor. On the couch was a huge binder opened to wedding invitations, menus, and a pad with scribbling on the page.

“What happened in here? A wedding planner blow up? Is Brandy here?” Synn asked, surveying the chaos.

“No… Oh dear, Brandy’s wedding has to be postponed.” His ma bustled in wiping her hand on the dishcloth tucked in her apron. “Isn’t that a shame?”

“Doesn’t that give you more time to plan the wedding?” Synn tilted her head up at Mary.

“Yes and no. The designs and things may not be available by then. I can’t reserve or order dresses without Brandy’s approval. She is swamped at work and doesn’t return my calls promptly.” His ma held her hands on either side of her head. “Don’t know what to do.”

“Ma, Synn had a great idea—well not about the dress but the wedding.” He nudged Synn with his elbow. “Tell Ma about your New Year’s Eve idea.”

Red patches bloomed on her cheeks and spread down her neck. “It was only a thought. I’m sure Brandy has a date in mind. I wouldn’t want to interfere.”

“Tell me. At this point the winter solstice is out, so we’re open to anything.” His ma ran her fingers through her hair, arranging her disheveled curls in a more orderly fashion.

Synn blew out a breath. “The New Year’s Eve party you have planned for the pub could run into a reception for the wedding after midnight. If you could find people to work the party while the wedding is going on. It’s a family business after all. So it might not work.”

She sat quietly for a couple of beats, then a wide smile spread across her face. “That just might work. If Brandy and Stefan are agreeable. Thank you, dear. Now about the dress…”

“Can’t you video chat with her? Show her the dresses. You know her sizes. Right?”

“Video chat? What is that?” She looked from Synn to Gavin and to his da who just entered the room.

“You can use your phone to see Brandy and show her the dresses in the stores and let her decide.”

She stared at the phone on the coffee table. “How?”

Synn giggled. “Not that phone. A smart phone like this.” She held out her phone for Mary to see. “Or we could use my laptop computer to chat. Do you or Brandy have a dress picked out?”

“Sort of. But styles come and go…” Her eyes brightened. “We could go look at the dress together and show Brandy.”

“I don’t think that’d be a good idea. I have to look after Storm. She couldn’t stay in the crate all day while we were gone.” She glanced at the floor. “Not to mention, I’m not one of Brandy’s favorite people.”

“She is going to have to get over that,” he said in a determined tone.

His ma looked thoughtful for a couple beats.

“Ma, what are you thinking?” He narrowed his eyes, suspicion in his voice. He’d seen the look in his ma’s eye before, and usually nothing good came from it.

“Aye Mary, what’s on your mind?” His da glanced from red faced Synn to Gavin.

“Why couldn’t you and Gavin take turns watching the l’il pup for a few hours? Synn and me could see the dress, phone chat—”

“Video chat, Ma,” he corrected.

“Let Brandy see the dress and make sure the store can alter the dress when Brandy gets here, if need be. It would be such a big help,” she wheedled, her eyes blinking up at Tim.

He made an exaggerated effort to roll his eyes and glanced at his da. Yep, we’re stuck. “When did you have in mind to go?”

“As soon as I can cover Synn and my lunch shift. We’d be back by dinner. Katie won’t mind the extra hours, since the kids will be in school.”

Tim scrubbed his hand over his face and sent Gavin a covert glance.

Shit he’s going to cave. He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“Not Monday or Friday. Maybe Thursday?”

His ma pounced on it. “Thursday it is.” She peered at Synn who was staring wide-eyed switching her attention from him, his da, and back to his ma.

“I still don’t think this is a good idea.” She shook her head slowly.

“It’ll be fine, lass.” His ma patted her shoulder and took the phone from her. “How does this talk thing work? I’d like to tell Brandy our plans and see if she can be available. The five-hour time difference should work to our advantage. Don’t you think?” She beamed at Synn.

Shoulders slumped she sighed. “I guess so.”

“Let’s try.” She sidled over beside Synn, pushed the phone toward her.

The panic-stricken expression on Synn’s face smoothed to resignation as she reached for the phone.

“Ma, can’t this wait? What about dinner?” he asked.

“You and Da can handle it. We’ll only be a few minutes.”

A burbling, hissing sound was coming from the kitchen. Gavin sniffed. “What’s that?”

“Probably the sauce for the salmon, it was a bit full,” Mary commented. “You might want to check on the salmon too.” She paused, finger to her chin. “I put it on a while ago.”

He glanced at his da, and they both sprinted into the kitchen.

“’Tis a fine mess ya made of my Sunday.” Tim glowered at him. “Know what’s gonna happen. Brandy will be spiteful to Synn, your ma will ignore it for a while, then all hell will break loose. Someone will end up in tears, probably me Mary. Dinner will be ruined and… Our bloody day of rest blown to bloody hell.”

“Da, don’t be getting ahead of yourself. I’ll handle Synn, Ma, and Brandy. You take care of dinner, and everything will be fine.”

Tim crossed his arms over his chest. “Bollocks to that. Ruined I say.”

“Just watch dinner. Ma will be back to take over soon.” He walked out of the kitchen to hear Mary’s voice raised in frustration.

“Brandy, do you want a dress or not? Synn is only trying to help, ’cause I asked her to. Not butting in anywhere.” Mary brushed the back of her hand across her forehead. “You can always wait until you…” Mary had her hand on the phone frowning into the screen.

Synn locked eyes with Gavin, shoved the phone in his hand, and stormed out into the back yard, leaving the door wide open.

“Shit—Sis, take a breath. We’re only trying to help. Synn is here to stay. Get used to it.” I hope. He paused a beat for effect. “She can be a big help to Ma and you, if you’ll…”

Brandy disconnected the call. Right on cue. He bit the side of his cheek to keep from grinning. Predictable. He turned to see his ma blinking back tears.

“See what you did,” Mary cried. “She’ll go off and elope, and it’s all your fault. I won’t get to see any of my babies married.”

He cocked an eyebrow, patted his chest, then raised his hands in question. “What am I?”

She sniffled. “You don’t count.” She sucked in a breath looking chagrined. “Didn’t mean—you’re not a…”

Putting his arm around her shoulder, he hugged her tight. “Ma, listen. Brandy will think about it. Stefan will talk her down. Bet she’ll call back before the evening’s over. I know my sis.”

“What if she doesn’t?” She fisted one hand on her hip.

“I’ll cook Sunday dinner for the rest of the month. Wash the dishes too.”

“I heard that,” Da called from the kitchen.

Ma wiped her cheeks. “I’ll take that wager.” She bustled into the kitchen and squealed. “Tim what have you done?”

Gavin beat feet out the back door. Not winding up in the middle of that. He found Synn sitting on the porch swing with Storm in her lap, conversing in low tones with the pup. “Mind if I join you?”

“It’s your house.”

“Brandy will come around. I’m so sure of it, that I bet Ma fixing Sunday dinner the rest of the month and cleaning up too. Since you shoved the phone in my hand and stormed out, it’s your fault I wound up in that situation. Sooooo, you have to help in the off chance I’m wrong. Never happen—but giving you fair warning.” He grinned broadly.

Her eyes rounded. “Me. I didn’t do anything.” Storm leaned across Synn, gave Gavin’s face a wet sloppy lick, and jumped off her lap to pounce on a squeaky toy and drag it across the yard.

“Maybe you and me isn’t such a good idea. What if I bring harm to you or your family. That’s what Brandy thinks.”

“Life doesn’t hold guarantees. You grab hold, hang on for dear life, and hope all goes well. That’s all any of us can do.” He leaned over and kissed her lips. “You don’t get rid of me that easy.”

His ma pushed though the screen door of the house. “Gavin talk some sense into your da.” She wiped her hands on the towel at her waist and threw it down on the bench next to Synn staring expectantly at Gavin.

“What’s wrong now?” Gavin paused. “Or do I want to know?”