Hanging Pawns (The Fate Series Book 2) (15 page)

“Because I want to hear you say it also,” she says back.

With a nod of their head, they agree, and the conversation goes back to normal.

“Joshua, to what do we owe your presence for Christmas this year? Your mother still…” She stops when Josh’s hand slices through the air near his neck.

“Uh huh… well, good for her.” She tries to sound excited.

His face turns and his body shakes in disgust.

I realize I know he has a sister and a brother… but I know nothing about his parents. He never speaks about them.

“Thank you for the meal, Madness. If no one minds I’m going to go lie down for a bit. Listening to Foxy Lady and Big D beep, beep back and forth the whole drive over makes me crave silence for a little while,” Josh says, picking up his plate as he stands.

“I am not even going to ask who Foxy Lady and Big D are… or what beeping is…” their mother says shaking her head in amazement.

“Mea, would you like me to show you to your room since I am heading that way anyway?” he asks.

Of course he knows where my room is… stalker.

Standing up, I grab my plate and he leads us to where the kitchen is. He takes the dishes, rinsing them off, and sticks them into the dishwasher. I can’t help but watch how comfortable he is here. Like it’s his own home.

“How often have you been here?” I lean against the counter.

“Enough, why?” He looks at me.

“You just seem at home here. What does your mom do? You never talk about her.” I dig a little deeper.

“She’s retired and lives on a good size chunk of land so it keeps her busy.” He smiles, taking my hand.

Why would that stop him from spending Christmas with her?

“I don’t want to talk about her. That’s a story for another time. Right now, let me show you to your room. You’ll never guess who your neighbor is.” He flashes his sexy smile at me.

With a wary eye, I let him lead me down the hall.

“One of the uncles?” I tease back.

“No, they all sleep on the other side of the house. This man is sexy and charming, with a hint of danger behind his eyes.” His voice drops, sending excitement through me.

Before I can catch myself, I burst into laughter, and he stops dead in the hallway.

“What is so funny?” he demands.

“You said danger,” I say through the laughter. “I am trying to picture you as dangerous,” I squeal. “You’re so cute and predictable. Dangerous isn’t something that would come to mind when I think of you,” I finish as I wipe tears from my eyes.

“Predictable? Madam, I assure you I am anything but predictable,” he says in a devious tone.

Rolling my eyes at him, I continue to walk through the hall.

“You’ll see.” His head dips down so his mouth is next to my ear, and he leans in close, pressing his chest against my back. A shiver breaks free through me when opens my door for me.

“Here is your room,” he announces and pushes gently against my back.

The large room is exquisite with its muted pink walls and gold trim work. In the center of the room is an enormous rich cherry four-poster bed that has steps next to it on either side to get up. The dressers and vanity are also cherry. I walk in, looking around in awe of the space. It’s too beautiful for a guest room.

“This isn’t Sidney’s room. Is it?” I make a face.

“No, hers is down the hall by her sisters,” Josh reassures me.

Oh good.

I walk through the room to a glass door that sits on the left side of the room, and I open it to see a stone tiled bathroom and a Jacuzzi tub centered on the wall that also has steps to get into it. Mounted above the tub in the wall behind glass is a TV. On the right side of the tub, set in the wall is a small fridge with wine glasses hanging on hooks above it. A large walk-in shower that’s big enough for a family of four sits in the opposite corner.

I can’t help but stand here for a few minutes and take it all in. This is something my parents would have off of their bedroom.

Not a guest room.

“Your linens are in that closet over there.” Josh points to a door on the opposite wall of the TV next to the shower.

“Is this all for me?” I breathe out.

“Well… that is unless you want company,” he says in another low tone, pulling me into his side.

Giving a slap against his chest, I stare into the room, debating on whether to take a shower or a bath.

“Well, if you don’t need help, I am going to lie down… in my room… which is over there... on the other side of that wall,” he says pointing at the wall on the other side of the room. “Don’t get lost or I might have to send out a search party of one,” he jokes, giving me a tap against my ass.

“Oh, I’m going to get lost. I can promise you that,” I giggle before I realize what it sounds like.

He opens his mouth to respond and my body excites with anticipation at what he could possibly say. Just as he goes to speak, he closes his mouth and shakes his head.

That’s it?

“Have I left you speechless?” I can’t help but tease. I’m not sure what’s come over me, but after my discussion with Madness I feel good.

I feel great actually.

After the accident, and the accusations of being a drunk driver, all I wanted to do was start over. I needed to get away from the press, from my mother, from everyone. I know that accident wasn’t my fault, but there’s so much I don’t remember.

“Dinner is usually around six. Don’t make me come in after you,” he warns again as he turns to leave.

“What if I’m not ready and I’m still in the tub… or the shower… since I can’t decide which I’m going to do first,” I continue to tease.

He opens the door without saying anything and walks out shutting it behind him, leaving me to my laughter.

He’s, as the girls call the McAllister’s, ‘all talk, no action’.

Running the bath water, I fill it up deep enough to turn on the jets and get in.

This is the most luxurious tub I have ever been in.

My head rests against the neck pillow and my mind wanders to when my mother had these installed in my sisters’ rooms. I always wished I had one, but I wouldn’t let her know that. She said they had earned it with their engagements, and I decided a tub wasn’t worth that much to me. After they got married and moved out I thought about sneaking into one of them when no one was home, but with my luck, she would find out.

Thoughts of Josh push her out of my mind.

“Stupid man,” I mutter flicking the water. “You couldn’t just let me fade into the background,” I sigh and then it dawns on me. He was the first person to ever see me for who I am. He looked past all my crazy faults and stayed with me despite them. His speech about the light being turned on replays in my head.

I sit up, covering my mouth.

“Mea Andrews, you are the stupidest woman in the world!” I scold myself for being too stubborn to see what was right in front of me the whole time.

It was love at first sight… I just didn’t know what true love felt like until him, but it is like a light being turned on.

“A single day is enough to make us a little larger.”

~ Paul Klee

“We were thinking about doing some Christmas shopping tomorrow. What do you think?” Molly asks me during dinner.

“I’m free,” I say with a carefree laugh.

Seriously, where do I have to go?

The girls’ family is at the other end of the table talking about the Gala that is coming up. This is the sort of thing that is right up my ex-mother’s alley, and Madness knows.

“Sidney will be out of town for Christmas and for the Gala,” Morgan says loud enough for everyone to hear.

I look at Simon, who clears his throat, gives a small nod, and then resumes pushing his food around. My heart aches for him, and I wonder if anyone else sees his pain. His eyes shoot up, catching mine. We sit silently staring at each other, our windows sharing our soul’s secrets that our brains don’t quite understand yet. I want to tell him, apologize, anything, but that would be a selfish act on my part because it won’t help him move on. It’s better he not know.

“Yes, we know. We have already spoke to her… opportunities and such,” their father mumbles.

Simon shakes his head at me slightly, and his body jerks in his usual manner when he hears something that’s a lie.

He knows she’s never coming back. 

We break contact when he grabs his dish, nods to Madness, who does the same back, and walks out without so much as a word to the rest of us.

“I’m starting to get the feeling I won’t be meeting your sister,” I whisper to Molly.

She gives a disappointed look and our side spends the rest of the meal silent. The absence of her clearly weighs on all of them, and I have to wonder, what kind of person can just turn her back on a family who loves her so much?

I consider the thought when Chase leans in to whisper something to Morgan.

These two know something they aren’t telling anyone.

When dinner is finished, we decide to call it a night since tomorrow is a full day.

“Would you like me to walk to back to your room… so you don’t get lost?” Josh extends his elbow toward me.

“Ever the gentleman, you are.” I smile back at him.

Stopping at my door, he begins to play with the frame.

“So are you going to bed?” he asks, making me laugh at how adorable he sounds.

“No, I’m going to read for a bit,” I say, watching his finger pick at the edge of the frame.

“Oh, good, I’ll get my book and be right over.” His eyes sparkle with delight.

No, no… I didn’t ask for a slumber party.

Rather than argue I open my door, race to get my pajamas and run into the bathroom to get changed before he comes back. I slowly open the door to inspect my room and see that it’s empty. Scurrying to the bed before he walks in, I quickly grab my book and glasses so I don’t have to get back up and jump in to cover myself. 

All I packed was my satin pajamas… I didn’t expect anyone to see me in them.

With a slight tap on the door, he opens it to step in then closes it behind him. He’s dressed only in long pajama bottoms. 

This is the first time I’ve ever seen him without a shirt on… and what a breathtaking sight he is!

Feeling my breath hitch as he gets closer, I’m suddenly nervous to have him in my bed with me.

“Can I get you anything before I lie down?” he asks, snapping me out of what was about to be a very dirty thought.

“Umm, water would be great. If you don’t mind,” I choke.

“I never mind for you, love.” He places his book on the bed before going to the bathroom to get a glass of water. He strides back in, his shoulders straight, and a look of deviousness on his face. Setting it on the nightstand next to me, he begins to whistle, walking over to the other side of the bed and slides under the covers.

“Happy reading, love.” He tips his book to me.

“Yup!” I say louder than I mean to. “You too!” I squeal out, trying to gain control over my voice.

How the hell am I supposed to read a romance novel like this?

After a little while, I spy him casually reading next to me.

Gah, how is he not reading the same sentence over and over? The poor guy in mine has had his hand stroking her nipple for the past…

I look at the clock.

HOUR!

I have read the same nipple tweaking sentence for an hour?

My finger ticks against the back of the book.

“Good story?” he asks.

Piss off.

“Oh, it’s… mmm hmm.” I tip the book back to him.

“Mmm hmm.” He nods and turns a freaking page!

I hate you so much, you smug reading jerk.

My eyes go back to the guy’s hand on her nipple, and I sigh.

Yeah it’s gonna be a long night for both of us, sister.