CHAPTER TWENTY
EDDIE HANDED him the receipts from the previous day. Keir didn’t go under the hood much when working at the shop—his eyes scanned the bay to lock in on the huge delivery truck—but Haylan made sure he handled the paperwork.
One day this thing inside of him would disappear. One day. Please, God…
He stretched over the narrow desk to snap shut the blinds, effectively blocking his view to the rest of the world.
“Thanks, Eddie. You should get going, you don’t want to miss your party.” No shame in his grin, Keir stared at the burly employee.
“Taking my little girl to a birthday party with other screaming five-year-old girls is not my idea of a fun Friday night. See, this is why wives shouldn’t work.”
Keir clapped him on the back as he bulldozed the six-foot-three man out of the office. “And I want to be there when you tell that to your Sweetness Highness.” He laughed when Eddie grunted.
His “On the Road to Victory” played out, and he grabbed his cell from off the desk to see Haylan’s image staring at him. “Hey, ugly.”
“Hi, Quasimodo. You’re going to hate me.”
“Not the best way to start a conversation.” Keir organized bills so he could start them in order of importance.
“My windshield’s smashed. I won’t be available until noon tomorrow, so I need you to open the shop and stay until Eddie gets in.”
“Eight to eleven? I got plans.”
“I’m in a bind here.”
“Too bad.”
“It’s three hours of your life. What plans? Hanging with the guys?”
“No. Girl plans.”
“Kwewee got a—”
“Shut up.”
“Bring her over here in the afternoon, it’s time I met the woman who’s making you act all funny.”
“Hurt you. Bad. Intense pain.”
“Skye.” Haylan’s voiced trailed away from the phone. “Did you know Keir has a girlfriend? Yeah, that’s exactly what I told him.”
“Hart! Stop telling my business. Is Skye there?”
“She’s on the phone. She wants to meet your dream girl.”
“No. We’re just doing grilled steaks.”
“My place, twelve o’clock. I’ve got the ribs, Skye’s got the—what do you want to… Think again, Skye. Right, potato salad.”
“You think Myah can just change her plans?”
“Same food, different venue. Why—ooh, you were going to do something we shouldn’t know about.”
“Will you stop? And she has a kid.”
“Well, she’ll fit right in with the two of us. What’s she doing with you? But seriously, I need your truck to pick up the windshield, so you might as well come over and I’ll do it while you’re here.”
Keir scratched his head, cornered to adjust his plans for the amusement of his siblings. “If you do anything to make her or Dylan uncomfortable, I will torture the two of you for the rest of your lives.”
“Already there, Quasi. Okay. See you tomorrow, and thanks for opening the shop.” Haylan hung up.
Knocking the cell phone against his forehead, Keir groaned and shook his head. He didn’t like that he had to break the news to Myah after they’d discussed a quiet afternoon together.
Tense, he dialed her number, but silly him, he wore a smile before she even answered the call.
“Hey, handsome. Glad you called.”
Better than any greeting he could imagine. He leaned against the desk. “Yeah? What are you up to?”
“Housework, but wanted to thank you for this morning.”
“You already thanked me. I think we’re on IOU ninety-nine, did you know that?”
Her free-spirited laugh soothed his aggravation enough for him to really grin.
“You sound tired though, My. You didn’t rest?”
“No time. By the way, I forgot to remind you that you left your shirt here last night.”
His navy blue tee. No big deal.
“I hope this isn’t your favorite or anything.”
“Nah.”
“Good. Finders keepers.”
That meant his shirt would smell like Myah. “It’s my favorite shirt now.”
“Too late, it’s abandoned. Can’t have it back.”
“I don’t want it back.” He reveled in the silence. His thoughts wandered to other things he could accidently leave in her possession. His attention? Already there. His heart… Don’t get ahead of yourself.
“Thanks. It fits so well.”
She was..? His eyes flicked to the office door. “Are you wearing it now?”
“Why does that sound like a segue to a conversation we shouldn’t have?”
He chuckled. “Then don’t start nothin’ we can’t finish.” He doodled a design on the desk surface with his finger. “Uh, the reason I called. We may need to change our plans a bit. I’ve been invited to eat at my brother’s house tomorrow instead. If you don’t want to go, I’ll understand, but I hope we can do this together.”
“Sure, I’d love to. I hope Dylan and your niece get to know one another. But he still has a cold. I don’t want him to infect the Treasure clan.”
Keir laughed. “No worries. Neely’s sick, too. I think the weather is taking its toll on a lot of people.”
“Me included. Why aren’t you sniffling when you’re the one who runs around in short sleeves in zero-degree weather?”
“Treasure men don’t get sick, babe. Dylan can learn a thing or two about that.”
“Can’t wait. So what happened? Did your brother blackmail you into lunch? He knows I’m coming, right?”
“Yes, he and Skye twisted my arm. They’re all anxious to meet you.”
“Your sister’s family, too? You don’t think it’s too soon for families?”
He raised his eyebrows. Too soon for families? Sometimes he forgot they were still relatively new to each other. She and Dylan fit like they’d always been there. “It’s just an introduction. They’ll know who I’m talking about when I mention your name.”
“I guess. Ingrid wants to meet you, too.”
Oh. He understood her anxiety. The thought of meeting someone from her side came with a daunting reality. He’d be scrutinized, talked about. “So, are we in this?”
“We’re in this.”
“Good. I have to open the shop, but meet me at my place around eleven-thirty.”
“Sure. Hoo boy. Meeting your siblings. I need to rethink my entire wardrobe.”
Wear my shirt, babe. “Right. See you then.”
MYAH tried to recover from the brain-numbing moment earlier when Keir, face scrubbed squeaky clean from a shower, hair dripping around his ears and brow, opened his front door. He’d had on his usual attire: jeans, t-shirt, a dab of sexy; and flashed a smile. She’d held on to Dylan with one hand and Jolie’s leash with the other, frozen at the open front door as he bounded up the stairs for socks and shoes.
Partially recovered from that memory, she braced for the next sight before Haylan opened his front door. He had a beautiful home with a natural dark wood floor, leather furniture, and mocha walls. The old structure sat twenty minutes from Keir’s. They certainly loved the charm of these old-fashioned houses. She thought it hinted at something sturdy and constant in these young men.
Since Keir carried Dylan and his pup, Myah had nothing but raw steak and green salad as a buffer while she watched Haylan school his surprised features and welcome them in. He introduced himself and Neely hidden behind his leg; a delicate, wispy thing, pale skin and dark hair, and most likely a knockout when she grew older.
“And this is Skye,” Haylan finished as the woman rounded a corner down the hall.
If Myah hadn’t seen the family photos, she’d never peg tall, athletic Skye as the third sibling. Her dark hair with crimson highlights hung loose past her shoulders. Her grey eyes gleamed with brash appraisal and curiosity. She resembled their mother. Her energetic movements belied a six-month pregnancy. In maternity wear, Skye’s jeans and tank top covered by an off-the-shoulder tee almost matched Myah’s outfit, and she sighed relief at the wardrobe endorsement.
After a tour of the fine home, Myah stepped onto the back deck into the cool spring air. Keir already donned an apron which claimed Master Grill, and joked with a man seated at the patio picnic table. The stranger’s dark, curly hair and glasses made him look astute though fatherly to a toddler asleep on his lap.
With a smile and wave for a greeting, Skye introduced him as her husband. Myah guessed he was the stable, silent one compared to the spirited Skye. He had an Eastern look about him, Egyptian or Israeli; and two children, seven or eight years old, bounced around him in a confusing game of tag. His easy smile at their clatter and his tired countenance didn’t take away from his attentive, protective care of the toddler he swayed.
Dylan never experienced a doting male. Her heart pulled that he missed out on a wonderful opportunity.
Small, quiet Neely played with a doll like it was a ball, and squealed every once in a while at her playful older cousins. Her eyes strayed to the younger one, probably hoping he’d wake up soon to be her playmate.
Skye’s husband stooped to rub the injured leg of his flighty daughter, and Myah smiled. Though Neely held shyness in her eyes, all of the children seemed confident and secure. Myah attributed it to being raised in happy homes.
“Make yourself at home.” Skye passed on her way to the grill, carrying a sauce with a spicy aroma.
I am. Myah turned to head down to the yard when Jolie padded around the side of the house all energy and no brakes. Only it wasn’t Jolie. The Rottweiler—Ca de—whatever—skidded into Keir’s leg in an attempt to scuttle under him to reach the other puppy.
Keir set down the large spatula, bounced into Skye when he tripped over the canines, then sat beside his brother-in-law as they all chuckled at the clamor of events. Admiring the close-knit family interaction, Myah kept an eye on Dylan when he hurried to stand between Keir’s legs to watch the multi activities around him. He stared longingly at the three cousins engrossed in fun. He raised his eyes at Awan and Skye. His attention diverted to the animals as they scrapped vigorously, then he retreated into the cave Keir’s body provided perched on the edge of the bench.
Don’t freak out. Don’t freak out. She hadn’t stopped to consider there’d be more than one animal present despite Keir’s photos and family stories, but soon sighed relief to see she’d been right in her assessment. Ekko’s antics from two days ago hadn’t damaged Dylan’s budding courage, even in a diverse environment. Little by little, he inquisitively emerged from his cave no worse for wear.
Above his head, she caught Keir watching her with another miniscule, curious line of his lips. She smiled back right before Skye came to her side and accompanied her down the steps to inspect the large backyard and fire pit. They relaxed on the cushioned chairs by the small, crackling fire, and fell into embarrassing horror stories of children.
Since Haylan had long gone, she convinced Skye to let her help in the kitchen, and took Dylan inside while Keir returned to the grill.
She enjoyed the chaos and spontaneity of the pot luck dishes with the other young mother. Thanks to previous experience, she didn’t freak out when asked to prepare the nasty looking mush mess served as Jasper and Jolie’s gourmet meal.
An hour later, still stuffing her face, she joined the loud conversations as if she’d rallied with the group all her life. Could this be what Ingrid had in mind? If her family made Keir feel as at ease as this, she would love to get them together.
“Time for the photo album,” Skye announced when they settled the kids downstairs with an animated movie.
Skye and Awan promised the dirty score on Keir. Myah looked forward to it and freshened up in the bathroom before the carnage began. On the way to the family room, Keir and Haylan’s voices reached her ears.
“Come on. I just need to borrow it for the weekend. I’ll drive you to work and pick you up tomorrow night.”
Though intentionally immersed in American culture, she’d detected odd pitches and altered dialect when the siblings talked amongst themselves or got excited, like they were in their own Treasure family club. She smiled that there was a whole side to Keir she had yet to discover.
“Hart...”
Hart?
“…you’re pushing it. Can’t I take you around?”
“Too many things to do, brother. Pieces to pick up. And I’m not putting Neely on my chopper until she’s older. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t need to take her to her grandparents tonight and grab that part from Mark. He thought the part would be in this morning, but his cousin won’t get here until tomorrow. I didn’t expect to work on this all weekend.”
“Sometimes I think you do things like this to get me into a car.”
“Have done, not this time. A brick, K. Look. Right in the middle of—”
“I see.” Keir sounded miserable.
Myah entered the white and blue kitchen. He held the checkered curtain aside to gaze at the driveway at the side of the house. Haylan stood beside him, the two of them near identical in defeated postures.
“Did you happen to notice I’m with someone?”
“You drove separately. What’s up with that?”
“She’s taking Dylan to her sister’s after.”
“Even better. We can go to the park. Wes has a game on, everyone’s there.”
“Diolch. It really has been awhile since you’ve dated, huh?”
Myah smiled at his tease, and that Haylan rapped him in the side of the head with his knuckles. Keir slapped at his hand then cuffed him in the chest. Brotherly love flowed in their kerfuffle even with their backs turned. Shoving him, Haylan noticed her entrance, and she turned her smile on him.
“Hey.” Keir smacked his brother’s ribs on his way to meet her. “Got another surprise for you today. Haylan needs my truck for the weekend. Sorry. I would have liked to make sure you got on the highway okay.”
She shrugged. “I’ll drive you home.”
She didn’t understand the hesitancy and uncomfortable glance toward Haylan. His hands slipped into his back pockets and out again. His arms crossed then unfolded. Fists clenched before they found a home under his pits.
“Um.” His arms loosened to this side. “Sorry. Do you mind if I drive your car to my place?”
She slipped the tips of her fingers into his hair. His forehead had grown damp. Why did she always net the odd ones?
Seeing his Adam’s apple bounce as he swallowed, she ran her hand down the side of his neck. He hadn’t been on the local streets in a car in years, and he offered to climb into hers to stay with her for a little while. She’d give him the control he needed.
“That’s fine.”
Thank you, he mouthed. Then leaned to put a slow kiss on her forehead. At least he’d have the rest of the afternoon to get used to the idea of operating a small vehicle.
She patted him on the chest and left them in the kitchen. She detoured to the basement to check on the kids. Enraptured in a fantasy world, Dylan and Neely were each wrapped in the arms of one of the older kids, the baby brother between them. A bomb blast couldn’t move them. She returned to the family room and reported their status, and took a seat on the floor.
From behind, seated on the couch to view the televised basketball game , Skye passed a photo album. “We all have one with the same pictures. I use them to blackmail Eeny and Meeny for favors, so you might as well catch on early.”
Myah gladly took the book, anxious to see a little of Keir’s past. There were many of Skye in various sportswear, Haylan with an ordinary looking blonde—easily where Neely got her features, and Keir among friends. She flipped to a post-college Skye with a city lacrosse team brandishing a trophy.
Myah smiled but didn’t know what to say on several candid wedding snapshots of the tux-clad, partying Treasure men. Next, Keir wielding a tennis racquet.
“We haven’t been together long enough for you to rummage through bad photos.”
Myah grinned. He dropped to the cushion on the floor beside her and Haylan took the recliner.
Skye leaned in and jabbed a finger on a photograph. “This is Bad Girlfriend. Mum kept her in here to remind him never to find a bloodsucker like that again. Total princess.”
Behind her, she felt his arm swat his sister. “Time to take that out.” He reached for it but Myah fended him off.
A few more leaves in, she came across some shots of a young looking Keir, late teens/early twenties maybe; and so different, yet brandished that same perfect look. In one shot in particular, he and his brother stared off-camera at something that must have been fantastical. An excited Haylan stood with his arm about to encircle Keir’s neck, as if to snare him in a headlock. Keir was hunched over in an exuberant inaudible roar. The action shot captured their synergy and carefree fun.
Not to mention Keir’s hair! She gazed at the real deal and smiled. She wanted to tangle her fingers in the dark locks right then, but returned her attention to the photograph.
The sides and back of his head were shaved clean. A blue streak at least an inch thick—which she shuddered to think was needled into his scalp as another tattoo—raced down the right side. The long Mohawk was tamed with a rubber band into a ponytail reminiscent of the Beckham signature. Even his ear blazed with black studs and one small hoop.
“You like that look?” His nose tickled behind her ear and she playfully shrank from it.
She gazed at the warm brown eyes and pulled a one-sided smile. Impressions of the hidden treasure that he was warmed her from the core. “I could live with it.” She tapped her finger on the side headshot. “Tell me that’s not a tattoo.”
“That’s Skye’s handiwork. It rinsed off. You should have seen her Mohawk.”
Myah turned her horror on the woman who gasped, scandalized.
“Pesky little brothers, they’re such tattletales.” She struggled to her feet. “You don’t have a say in when they’re born, and you can’t send them back.” She held her womb and playfully waddled out of the room.
Myah flipped through the years of Keir’s life and ended on a shot of his parents. She ran a hand over their images, then turned to him. He chose that moment to press his face to her neck.
“Thanks for being here.” His lips felt soft.
She smiled and stroked the arm wrapped around her middle.” I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Her pleasant hug was interrupted by, not one, but two men clearing their throats.