By the time they reached the restaurant for dinner, Callie still hadn’t thrown up. She considered that a good sign and hoped the trend would continue.
Santiago had shown up right on time, looking handsome and just a little dangerous in black jeans and a black shirt. He’d escorted her to a sleek dark blue Mercedes convertible and they’d driven to a quiet neighborhood Italian restaurant. The decor was simple, the menu limited but he’d promised everything was delicious.
They’d each ordered a glass of wine and put the menus aside to peruse later. Callie looked around at the other patrons, all normal-looking people, laughing and talking.
“This is nice,” she said, trying to remember the last time she’d eaten in a restaurant where one sat down to order, then telling herself no good came from going there.
“The food is great. Malcolm and I discovered it when we were in college. We’re about three miles from the U.”
“The U?”
He grinned. “University of Washington. We call it the U, or U Dub. As in W. The area around the university is the U District.”
“I’m still finding my way around. You stayed here after college. You didn’t go back to where you grew up?”
“No. While I was in college, my mom lost her job. Malcolm helped her find work at his company. Luis, my youngest brother came with her. Paulo, the middle one, stayed in Yakima to finish high school.” He made a face. “Unsupervised, he got his girlfriend pregnant and they both showed up here in June of that year.”
“Yikes. That must have been a shock, but it worked out, didn’t it? She’s the one who’s about to graduate as a registered nurse, isn’t she?”
“That’s her. Have you met Paulo yet?”
“I don’t think so.” She smiled. “I’ve told you before—I don’t hang out with you management types.”
He reached across the table and took one of her hands in his. “Yet here we are.”
His touch was gentle and warm. When he moved his fingers across the back of her hand, she felt little jolts moving up her arm.
“I’m still not sure how I got here,” she admitted.
He leaned close and lowered his voice. “We drove.”
She laughed. “Thank you for clarifying.”
“Anytime.”
“Does your mom still work for the company?”
He shook his head. “She went to college herself and now manages a doctor’s office.”
Callie heard the pride in his voice. And the love. “Your family sounds wonderful.”
“I like ’em. Now what about you? You never met your father, right?”
“No. I knew nothing about him at all. My mom said they went out for a while and when she told him she was pregnant, he disappeared. Every now and then he sent money, but not often.” She thought about how her mother had worked so hard for the two of them.
“She never dated much that I knew about and never married. I don’t know if that’s because he broke her heart or she thought men weren’t worth the trouble. We always had each other.”
“What were you like as a kid?”
“Pretty normal. I broke a few rules, but nothing big. I stayed out late sometimes and she had to bug me to do my homework.”
Callie felt bad about that now. She should have tried harder, been there for her mom. She didn’t want to think about what had happened and she sure wasn’t going to tell Santiago—not until she had to. She knew once she did, all this was over and for now, she liked having dinner with a handsome man who held her hand and stared into her eyes.
“You didn’t go to college?” he asked.
Her senses went on alert as they treaded very close to dangerous ground. “No. It wasn’t really an option for me. I messed around for a while and then decided to move to Houston.”
Fortunately for her, their server returned and they ordered. When they were alone again, Santiago asked, “Favorite type of movie?”
She hoped she didn’t look as relieved as she felt at the change of subject. “It’s a tie. I love action movies and romantic comedies, and I love World War II movies, especially the old ones.”
He chuckled and reached for her hand again. “Unexpected. I’m with you on the action movies and I can sit through a romantic comedy if it gets me what I want.”
She stared at him in surprise. “That’s honest. So Sleepless in Seattle for sex? It’s good to know your price.”
His expression turned sheepish. “It’s not that much of a transaction and I phrased my statement badly. I’m willing to compromise and if it makes the lady happy to watch something like that, then I’m in.”
“Too late. You told the truth the first time. What else will you do for sex?”
He turned her hand over and traced the lines on her palm. “I don’t have a list. It’s more of what works at the moment. To be clear, it was always one woman at a time. I’ve never cheated and I work very hard not to lie.”
Somehow they’d gone from teasing to serious and she wasn’t exactly sure how they’d gotten there. Plus, having him stroke her hand the way he was made it hard for her to think. She felt as if someone had cranked up the temperature in the room. She was warm and slightly uncomfortable. Parts of her body had started to tingle in ways that weren’t normal. At least not for her.
If she gave herself a second to think, she would admit she was probably aroused. Not that she could be sure. Her last sexual experience had been when she was eighteen, and the quick coupling in the back of a car hadn’t offered much in the way of inspiration, at least not for her. Now that she thought about it, she wasn’t sure if they’d even used birth control and wasn’t she lucky not to have turned up pregnant?
“Callie?”
“Hmm?”
“What are you thinking? I lost you somewhere.”
“I was thinking that I was a really dumb kid in high school and I’m fortunate I didn’t end up pregnant.”
“You don’t like kids?”
“I love kids but no one should have a baby at eighteen.”
His expression tightened. Her stomach dropped and all the gooey, tingling feelings faded.
“You got someone pregnant in high school?” she asked, her tone sharper than she intended. Then she remembered. “Paulo and Hanna. Sorry. I didn’t mean...”
“I know what you meant and I agree. On the bright side, I have a niece and nephew I love.” He looked at her and smiled. “Emma is twelve and Noah is ten. They’re great kids and I hang out with them as much as I can.”
“You’re probably the perfect uncle.”
“I try to be. As for Paulo and Hanna—” He hesitated. “They’ve been fighting a lot lately and I don’t know what to do about it. I’m pretty sure the kids know, but I don’t want to bring it up in case I’m wrong, but if they do know, they should talk to someone.”
Here it was again, she thought. Him telling her way too much, too soon. What was it with this man that he felt so comfortable sharing intimate pieces of his soul?
“It’s not your rock,” she told him. “Or your problem or however you want to phrase it. It’s their marriage and their relationship. Be there for the kids and offer to listen but otherwise, it’s not up to you to do anything.”
One corner of his mouth turned up. “You sound like Luis, my youngest brother. He tells me I get too involved in everyone’s life. It’s that damned hero syndrome.”
“There are worse flaws to have.”
“You say that now,” he joked. “Just wait until I try to rescue you from something you don’t want to be rescued from.”
She doubted that would ever be a problem and wondered if she could trust herself enough to believe Santiago was what he seemed—a genuinely nice guy who was handsome, rich and sexy to boot. Then she sighed. No way, she thought sadly. There had to be a flaw. Her luck had never been that good.
* * *
But by the time dinner was over, Callie was no closer to figuring out Santiago’s fatal flaw. They talked easily through the entire meal, laughed at each other’s jokes and at least from her perspective, had a great time. It was still early when they left the restaurant. She was trying to figure out a way to extend the evening, when he said, “I want to show you something. Can you give me another hour before I take you home?”
“It depends on what the something is.”
He held open the passenger door of his car. “Nothing untoward. You have my word.”
She got in the car and waited until he joined her before saying, “Untoward? No one talks like that.”
“I know. It slipped out before I could stop myself. Before I know it I’ll be using words like perchance and hither.”
He drove through the city and into a quiet neighborhood. Callie had no idea where they were going. Not to his place—she believed him about nothing untoward. So where?
A few minutes later they turned into a driveway next to a regular-looking two-story house. Okay, she’d thought maybe a club or a bar or she wasn’t sure what.
“We’re visiting someone?” she asked cautiously.
He unfastened his seat belt and angled toward her. “I want you to meet my family. My mom, my brother and sister-in-law. I thought it would be nice.”
The words sank into her brain, swirled around, then made their meaning clear. Callie opened her mouth, realized she honest to God had nothing to say, closed it before shrieking.
“Are you insane? Your family? This is the first time we’ve gone out. I’ve been away from the whole boy-girl thing for a while now, but even I know you don’t ask some woman you’ve just met to meet your mother on a first date!”
She wanted to hit him, but figured it would be like hitting a rock. Painful and pointless. His mother? His mother! She was about to tell him to take her home when the front door opened and someone peered out.
Great. They’d been spotted. Now she had to go inside and pretend this wasn’t totally strange and uncomfortable.
“Why are you upset?” he asked.
“Because I am. Because I don’t need the pressure. Because there’s something wrong with you.”
His steady gaze never wavered. “I know it’s a first date, Callie, but this is the start of something important. I want to do things right and I want you to meet my family. Will you do that for me?”
No. No and no and no. Only she couldn’t say the word and the way he was looking at her made her feel, well, special. If it was a game, he was the master and she was no match for his skill level. His family, dammit. Why did it have to be family?
She unfastened her seat belt. “Sure. Let’s go.”
He gave her a smile that would have melted a frozen planet. She was still reveling in the beauty of it when he opened her door and helped her to her feet.
They made their way up the three stairs to the small porch. A slim, dark-haired woman stood just inside the family room. She looked to be in her forties, but considering how old Santiago was, Callie knew she had to be older. She was very attractive, with her son’s eyes.
“Finally,” she said with a smile and she greeted Callie. “Finally he brings a girl home. I banned them nearly ten years ago. Always a different one every other week. I forgot their names, they came and went so fast, so I told him no more until you’re serious. Until you find one who’s going to stick. I never thought I’d have to wait so long.” She hugged Callie. “I’m Enriqua and I’m so happy to meet you.”
Callie was still trying to absorb that mini info dump when she was introduced to Hanna and Paulo. They both shook her hand. Callie thought she recognized Paulo from work, but wasn’t sure.
“It’s nice to meet you all,” she murmured as they were ushered into the kitchen. She had a brief impression of modern appliances with traditional cabinetry before she was seated at a large farm table. Santiago sat across from her.
“Doing okay?” he asked quietly.
“I’m the first date you’ve brought home in ten years?”
She got the single shoulder raise in response.
She lowered her voice. “They obviously don’t know this is our first date.”
“They don’t need to know.”
She glared at him. “Later, I’m going to find something heavy and bash you over the head.”
He winked. “You can try...”
Callie groaned. She didn’t need him to be charming. What had he been thinking, bringing her here?
Enriqua handed her a plate with a large piece of chocolate cake. Hanna carried over coffee and mugs.
“Decaf,” she promised.
Paulo walked in with a bottle of brandy and several glasses. “Also decaf,” he said with a grin.
Everyone got cake and coffee and brandy and settled around the table. Santiago’s mother smiled at Callie.
“I understand you’re Malcolm’s half sister, through his father.”
“That’s right. It was a shock to me.”
“I can imagine. You never met Jerry?”
“No.”
“He was an interesting man. I only saw him a few times. He traveled a lot. Malcolm would know about him better than me.” Her expression softened. “Malcolm’s a good boy. So kind and generous.”
Callie was more caught up in someone referring to her brother as a boy than the other descriptors. She agreed with generous—he was that. As for kind, well, he was growing on her. Like the famous Seattle moss, she thought with a smile.
Callie asked Hanna about her kids. Both were at sleepovers but Callie was shown pictures, then conversation shifted to the start of baseball season and the different places Callie should visit now that she’d moved to the city. About an hour later, Santiago said they should go.
When they were back in his car, he asked, “Are you mad?”
“No. Confused, but not mad.”
“Why confused?”
“It’s been one date. One. Why on earth would you bring me home to meet your family? What if it doesn’t work out? What if I’m secretly an alien from another planet?”
He drove out of the quiet neighborhood and back toward her place. “You’re very fixated on this being our first date.”
“Because it is.”
“There’s something about you, Callie. I can’t explain it, but there is. This is different. That’s why I took you home. I wanted them to meet you, but I also wanted you to meet them. So you would know more about me.”
She leaned back in the seat and wondered what she was supposed to say to that. He was too perfect, she thought sadly, her eyes burning. Too everything any woman would want and when he found out the truth, he was going to run so far, she would never see him again.
“I’m not who you think,” she whispered, knowing she should tell him now and get it over with. Just spit it out and be done with it.
He turned into her driveway and parked in front of the house. “Is it the alien thing? Because I’m happy to represent the human species.” He angled toward her and touched her face. “I know you’re scared, Callie. I don’t know why, but I respect your feelings. We’ll work through it, I promise.”
She wanted to tell him he was wrong, that once he found out, everything would change. Before she could gather the courage to tell him the truth, he leaned in and kissed her.
His lips barely brushed hers before he straightened, but he might as well have branded her. She felt the heat all the way down to her toes. The sweet, gentle kiss got through to her far more than any tongue action would have.
He got out of the car and walked her to the door, then cupped her face in his hands and kissed her again. He lingered this time, for a single heartbeat, before drawing back.
“I want to see you again,” he told her. “Say yes.”
She shouldn’t. She couldn’t. She was setting them both up. It was only, how could she resist?
She put her hands on his chest, raised herself up on tiptoe, then kissed him before opening the door.
“Yes,” she whispered and closed the door behind her.
There would be a reckoning and it was going to be ugly. She was making a huge mistake handling things this way. But telling herself that didn’t seem to do any good. Which was a shame—she would think she’d already learned the price of consequences.
* * *
“You’re quiet. Are you nervous?” Delaney asked.
Malcolm considered the question. “No, more contemplative.” He glanced at her as he drove down the street. “I’m looking forward to meeting your dad, if that’s what you’re asking. If I looked uncomfortable it’s because I was thinking about the fact that my half sister is on a date with my best friend. That’s a level of weird I’m not used to.”
Delaney smiled. “At least you don’t have to worry about Callie meeting Santiago’s family. It’s a first date.”
“Good point.”
He wasn’t sure how he felt about his sister and best friend going out. On the one hand, he knew Santiago could take care of himself. On the other hand, he was less sure about Callie. Yes, she was an adult and she’d had experiences most people couldn’t begin to relate to, but had she dated much since getting out of prison? Should he have tried to talk to her?
He held in a groan at the thought. No way. That was not a conversation that would go well.
He followed Delaney’s directions and pulled up in front of a modest house on a street of similar homes. There were bikes on porches and not a BMW in sight.
“Anything I should know before we go in?” he asked.
“They’re going to totally adore you,” she told him.
“And you?”
She smiled. “I kind of adore you, too.”
Her words were like a jolt of electricity. They woke him up and got his attention in a big way. Things had happened so naturally with her, he hadn’t noticed that they’d gotten serious. Well, damn.
He poked around for regret or apprehension or any kind of worry and found only a happy sense of possibility.
“Delaney,” he began, then realized he had no idea what he was going to say. Or wanted to say. Or should say. “The adoration is returned,” he told her, taking the easy way out.
She laughed and got out of the car. Malcolm circled around to join her. As they walked up to the front door, he saw the ramp that would allow a wheelchair easy access.
She knocked once and then let them in. “We’re here,” she called.
“In the kitchen.”
She smiled. “Where else?” she asked in a low voice.
They walked down a short hallway and went through a larger-than-normal doorway into a comfortable kitchen. Malcolm had a brief impression of slightly lower than usual cabinets, new appliances and an older couple smiling at them.
Delaney’s father had her dark red hair and green eyes. He sat straight in his wheelchair, looking confident and in control. Beside him was a slight blonde woman with a warm smile.
“You must be Malcolm,” she said, holding out her hand as she approached. “I’m Beryl and this is Delaney’s father, Phil.”
The two men shook hands, then Phil invited him to join him in the family room. Malcolm followed the other man into an open, comfortable-looking room with a big TV, lots of windows and a brick fireplace. Malcolm would guess the house had been built in the 1950s when the city had been growing.
Malcolm took a seat on the sofa. Delaney appeared a few seconds later, a beer in each hand. She handed them each one before giving Malcolm a look of regret.
“Beryl needs my help in the kitchen,” she said. “Call if you need anything.”
“He’ll be fine,” Phil said easily.
Malcolm smiled. “I’ll be fine.”
When Delaney had left, Phil eyed him. “So, you’re dating my little girl.”
“I am.”
“Tell me about yourself.”
Malcolm thought about asking what the other man would like to know, then figured he could guess the basics.
“I’m single, never married. My family owns a company that offers mail-order food all over the country. We’ve been expanding into the international market, but slowly so we don’t screw up. I’m the third generation in the business. I have two half sisters.” He decided not to go into detail on that. There was no way to keep the story short.
Phil eyed him over his beer. “You’re what? Thirty-three or thirty-four. Why aren’t you married? In my day, you got married or people knew why.”
“I was engaged a few years back. She cheated and we broke up. I’ve been more careful since then.”
“Any convictions?”
Malcolm chuckled. “No. No arrests, either.”
Phil grinned. “All right then. She’s my little girl. I have to be sure.”
“I respect that.”
Delaney appeared with a plate of stuffed mushrooms and set them on the coffee table. She sat down next to Malcolm.
“Everything all right?” she asked anxiously.
“It’s fine,” he told her. “Your dad’s looking out for you. I like that.”
She groaned. “Dad, what did you say? Or ask? You weren’t inappropriate, were you?”
“It’s all good,” her father told her.
Beryl joined them and handed Delaney a glass of wine. She sat in the wing chair opposite the sofa and Phil moved his wheelchair next to her. The movements were familiar, Malcolm thought. Connected. They were obviously happy together.
“Delaney told you I was a cop?” Phil asked.
“Yes. She told me about the shooting, as well. I remember when it happened.”
“That was a dark time,” Beryl said with a sigh. “Phil in the hospital, my Tim taken from us.” She reached for Phil’s hand.
Malcolm felt Delaney tense, but she didn’t speak.
“It was so hard,” Beryl continued. “The funeral, the weeks of worry.” She smiled sadly at Delaney. “Tim and Delaney were only four weeks from their wedding. Everything had to be canceled. She donated her beautiful wedding dress to a young woman in Kansas who lost everything in a tornado. We still have the pictures from her wedding.”
She patted Phil’s hand. “Then he started to get better and we began to heal.” She looked at Delaney. “I think about Tim every day. I know you do, too. But he’d want us both to be happy.”
Delaney sipped her wine without speaking. Malcolm wondered what she was thinking. If she was half as uncomfortable as she looked, she was desperate for a change in topic.
“I understand you two are taking a cruise later this year,” Malcolm said. “Where to?”
Phil grinned. “It’s a first for both of us. I have the itinerary in my desk.”
“He doesn’t want to see that,” Beryl said with a laugh.
“I would like to very much,” Malcolm told her. “I’ve never been on a cruise.”
Phil went to get the information while Beryl excused herself to check on dinner. When they were alone, Delaney squeezed his hand.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“Anytime.”