“Be here at five. Okay, Ginger?”
“Works for me. I’ll see you then. Oh, do you want me to bring anything?”
“No, of course not. Blake said he’s got everything covered. See you soon!”
Brandi stared at her phone. In an awful hurry to get rid of me, Marilyn. The oven clock read three-thirty. As she waited for the garage door to open, signaling the older kids were home from school, she busied herself with preparing their snacks. Blaze sat at the kitchen table with Dakota, teaching the little girl how to play Memory while Brandi tried her damnedest to ignore them. Well, at least him.
He had a permanent grin on his face every time he was with Dakota. His sexy-as-hell dimple lit up his face as the toddler made funny faces and said even funnier things. Dakota knew how to work her magic on the guy. Probably because she had no pretense about Blaze the way Brandi did. She poked Blaze on the nose, making him laugh. Brandi’s heart swelled at the sound of his chuckle and the way his eyes brightened when he grinned. If she didn’t know better, this intimate moment between the two of them would have her believing him to be a carefree, easy-going man who wasn’t afraid to love.
But her gut told her he wasn’t.
Something happened to him. She didn’t know what it was or if she would ever be privy enough to find out, but from the way he kept to himself around her, confirmed her suspicions that he was a man who lived with a suffered past. The way he went out of his way to avoid touching her, how he couldn’t quite give her direct answers when she asked about his work in Manhattan, she got the feeling he was hiding something. He definitely was avoiding having to discuss whatever bad shit he was part of in New York.
That morning he’d walked the grounds with a notepad and paper, making notes about which bushes and trees he wanted removed. Some he’d ripped out on his own, making a pile on the edge of the lawn he would presumably deal with later. He’d done that for over an hour and had then installed security cameras at the far end of the property along the fence that separated the guest house from the main house. She’d played with Dakota and spied on him through the windows out of the corner of her eye. She’d never actually witnessed a man do physical labor before and he looked wonderful doing it. She couldn’t help the giddy feeling that swept through her every time he bent over and tugged some shrubbery out of its spot. With his muscular stature, he’d made it look so simple. And his ass. She had to admit he had the nicest butt she’d ever seen. She’d gotten a nice long look at it and it was perfectly sculpted and perfectly perfect. She’d nearly died with want. Wanting to brush her hand over it, wanting to squeeze it tight and definitely wanting to pinch it.
His head snapped up and he caught her staring at him. His brilliant blue eyes were still smiling and she tried to ignore the tingling sensation low in her belly. She wanted to look away, but the truth was she couldn’t. He had her transfixed by his glistening eyes, his sensual mouth still open in a half-grin where she wished like hell she could touch him, trace her finger along his single dimple. His shield of armor was down and she enjoyed how it softened the creases in his forehead, making him appear less of a pit bull than he was. When his grin widened, his smile melted her. It was so unexpected she didn’t realize she was smiling back until the shouting of the kids coming through the garage door made her refocus on doling out their snacks.
“How was school, guys?” And of course, all at once the three of them answered.
“Fine.”
“Boring.”
“I got an A on my math test.”
“Good for you, Drew. Here’s your snack. Who has homework?”
“I have to finish my book report. Will you help me, Brandi?” Deanna asked.
“I have to practice spelling,” Dylan sighed.
“And I don’t have to do anything. Can I play with Blaze and Dakota?”
“Okay, one thing at a time. Dylan and Deanna get your snack and your drink and the three of us will sit in the dining room to work on homework. Blaze?” She looked up and found him sauntering over to the kitchen counter. Why must I get this quivering feeling when he comes into my space? He wore jeans today and a blue button-down collared shirt that hadn’t a single dirty mark on it from his earlier yard work. Since he wasn’t in a suit maybe he was getting used to the casual atmosphere around here. Or he too, realized how silly he’d look working in the yard with a suit on. No one did that regardless of what state they came from.
“Yes ma’am?” his drawl was honey. No! Salt - salt in an open wound. Was it hot in here? Was the A/C running? She needed to cool down. Her palms were sweaty, her knees suddenly felt like they might buckle under his gaze.
“You don’t have to call me ma’am,” she forced out of her mouth.
“What would you like me to call you?”
He was toying with her. Was this his style of flirting? The pit of her stomach deepened and she fought the urge to reach for a paper bag under the sink to help with the lightheadedness. He couldn’t possibly be flirting with her, could he? Most likely he saw her the same way her family saw her, which wasn’t much to look at even though a small part of her wanted him to find her attractive.
“Are you teasing me?”
He laughed, “Are you going to be okay? You look a little pale.”
“Yeah, Brandi, you look like you might faint,” said Drew, the oldest.
“No, I’m fine,” she lied. Pull yourself together. She took a deep breath and forced Blaze’s unforgettable grin from her mind. “Would you mind including Dylan in your game of Memory with Dakota? I’m going to take these two and go into the other room to work on spelling and a book report. Then, Diane should be home early today.”
“Come on, Dylan. Maybe you can beat Dakota at this game.”
“Blaze, guess what? My friend at school got the new Marvel action figure and he…”
Brandi couldn’t hear the rest of the conversation as she and the kids went into the other room to work on homework. Thankfully Diane would be here soon and she could happily get away from Blaze. The longer she was around him observing him with the kids - who’s company he seemed to enjoy much more than hers - and flashing his panty-dropping smile at her from across the room, the more she wanted him to…well, frankly to give her the hot sweaty sex she’d been fantasizing about lately. And that would only have her start believing he might be interested in her, too - looks and all. Tonight, she was more than happy to go to Marilyn’s house for dinner where she could put Blaze out of her mind for at least a little while.
He’d told his brother no. Absolutely he did not want to have dinner tonight. Knowing she would be there and after the way she’d made him feel earlier in the day – too much like he was a normal guy with no terrible past – he didn’t think he could stomach being around her tonight.
Then his brother’s sweet wife had called and had been able to convince him otherwise. He couldn’t say no to his sister-in-law. How could he? She was one of the kindest creatures he’d ever met. Her unconditional love and acceptance of all people was something he’d been amazed with from the moment he’d met her.
Here he was ten minutes till five, in the old town of Windsor pulling his Tahoe up to an empty space along the curb he’d found a half a block away from their house. Somehow, she was going to give him hell for showing up tonight but fucking tough. He shrugged to no one as he reached for his phone as it vibrated with an incoming call.
“Bryant.”
The Bluetooth picked it up over the SUV.
“Shell here. Calling for an update.”
Blaze leaned his head back against the leather seat and brushed his hand through his hair before answering him.
“Don’t have much of an update. Little hard when I’m with kids all day.” And Cleopatra, Queen of His Most Recent Hard-ons. “What have you learned?”
“Not much on our end. Global Electronics unveils their product in a few weeks. So far, all is quiet on that front. Dallas Kingston is scheduled to arrive in Denver a day before the unveiling.”
“Is that so? Coincidental?”
“Not sure, but we have our eyes open. Just wanted to give you a heads-up.”
“Thanks. I’ll do some more digging and see what I can find.”
“Fine. I’ll keep in touch.”
The line went dead and Blaze let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Dallas coming to Colorado was a surprise but he wouldn’t expect any less from the old man. Dallas was a fighter, a ruthless businessman who did what it took to get what he wanted. He owned a conglomerate of businesses, some of which, when searched through the government databases, didn’t appear to be a business of anything. His biggest businesses were in shipping containers, renting out private jets and owning real estate on Manhattan’s famed Fifth Avenue.
Putting aside the Kingstons, Blaze locked up his SUV and headed toward his brother’s house. Out of habit, he surveyed the neighborhood as he walked. A guy mowing his lawn, an older man getting his mail out of a centralized mailbox and the stunning redhead walking along the opposite side of the street, moving toward the same destination as he – completely oblivious to him. He was going to see her spit fireballs in just a few seconds when she realized he too was invited to dinner.
He snuck up behind her as she made her way to the front door, with her hand on the knob to pull it open, he latched on to her wrist.
“Allow me, please.”
“Fuck! You scared the shit out of me,” she screamed. “What are you doing here? I don’t need a bodyguard.”
“Sorry to burst your bubble. I’m not here for you.” He flashed her his most-charming smile.
Blake pushed open the screen door, “Come in guys. So glad you came, Brandi. What’s up, Bro?”
He acknowledged his twin with a fist bump and waltzed passed the feisty redhead.
“Blake! How could you invite him? I see him enough as it is already. He drives me crazy!”
Blaze couldn’t suppress his chuckle. Damn, she was something else. Marilyn stood on the far side of the room with her knowing smile as she rubbed her protruding stomach.
“Oh my God, Marilyn, you look like you’re ready to pop!”
“I am, give it a few weeks. I’m so glad you came.”
“There will be quite a bit of tension,” he glanced over his shoulder, “but it’s worth every minute,” he winked.
She laughed, “We’re excited you guys came. Ginger, you look fabulous. Love the skirt.”
Me too, he thought, as Brandi bent over in front of him, her firm ass was in line with his gaze as she hugged her friend.
“I’m barbequing brisket. Let’s go check it out,” Blake nudged him from behind.
Blaze followed his brother out the back door, firmly shutting it behind him.
“She is hell on wheels. I’d really like to spank that tight ass of hers.”
“I could see that look in your eyes. What’s the deal with you two?”
Blaze closed his eyes, images of Nadia filled his head. “Nothing.” He opened them and images of Brandi bending over in her skirt filled his mind. “Something. I don’t know! Do we have to talk about her?”
“Does she know about Nadia?”
Blaze looked insulted, “Hell no. And she isn’t going to. You better keep your mouth shut!”
“Not my place, man. Just asking. The way you two look at each other, makes me think there is more there than what meets the eye.”
“How long has this been on the grill?”
“All day. Are you going to stay here permanently?”
Blaze and Blake eyed each other over the brisket. The twins’ shared many of the same features: same brown hair, same eyebrow shape, a few beauty marks splattered over their face and neck, same muscular build and height. What they didn’t share was conversation. Since Blake and Marilyn had gotten married, he seemed to have no problem voicing his feelings and asking about everyone else’s. Blaze, on the other had, would rather die before he talked about what was going on in his mind.
“Is it time to eat?”
“You’re good at avoiding conversation.”
“I’m good at a lot of things.”
“You’re not good at barbequing.”
“Want to bet? I’d smoke your ass.”
“Yeah, I’ll take you up on it. Next weekend. Bring a grill. We’ll have a little contest.”
“Fine. I know I’ll win. Are you done?”
“Yeah. Let’s eat.”
Taking the brisket off the grill, the twins went back into the house. Of their own accord, his eyes immediately sought her out, much to his dismay. With the sun shining through the window, practically setting her hair on fire, his breath caught in his throat. She turned toward him, her turquoise eyes as clear as the sky. What a change. He was expecting daggers. She held his gaze and it was he who had to look away, not able to take her beauty any longer, before he went all cave man on her and did things to her he hadn’t done to any woman since Nadia.
The smoky smell of crisp brisket permeated the air as Blaze helped his brother slice the meat. It was blackened on the outside to a light crisp, and pink, not bloody, on the inside when Blake sliced it open. The heat escaped each time he made a cut and Blaze held off from snagging a piece. He transferred each slice onto a serving plate and decided he deserved a medal for his willpower alone.
“Let’s eat.”
“I’m starved,” Marilyn declared.
“Of course you are. Look at your belly. The baby is going to weigh at least ten pounds!”
“I don’t care what the baby weighs as long as it’s healthy.” Blake caressed Marilyn’s protruding belly as they stood by the table.
“I might care. Depends which way it comes out.”
“Would you stop rubbing her belly? Too much affection between you two, it makes me want to gag.”
Once the four of them sat down, Blaze spoke up, “I think it’s sexy.”
Silence.
What? Did no one here believe he had a heart? That he couldn’t possibly think a woman’s pregnancy could be sexy?
Brandi stared at him in obvious shock. Her eyebrows stayed frozen in place high on her forehead. The smoky smell of burning oak permeated the air as it drifted through the back screen door. His brother and Marilyn looked at one another and smiled the same way Nadia and he used to smile at each other. Fools in love. He knew the feeling. He didn’t like remembering it, but it was present in the crisp brisket, the homemade bread Marilyn had made and something – definitely not love, but a foolish feeling none-the-less – festered between him and Brandi as they sat across from one another.
He wasn’t a complete jackass. Only a jackass when he needed to be. He raised his eyebrows at Brandi mimicking her expression.
“What? You don’t think I can be nice?”
She took a swig of her beer and snorted, “Pretty effing surprised. And you’re never nice to me...so, yeah, I wouldn’t recognize the gesture coming from you.”
“I’m full of surprises.”
She rolled her eyes and looked at Blake, “Do poor women actually eat this up when he dishes it out?”
“It’s been known to work.”
“You guys are pathetic.”
Blaze watched Brandi as she stabbed a piece of meat with her fork and set it on her plate. He lifted his beer bottle to his lips, watching her all the while and he couldn’t help but believe that he’d somehow managed to move their relationship forward, perhaps a new step in the right direction. As the ice-cold brew poured down his throat, he questioned why he would want that or why he even cared.