Resilient (2) (32 page)

“I’m glad you approve,
chér
.”
 

They both turned. Katrine knew this petite woman just had to be Millie. She was a little thick in the middle with short white hair framing slightly etched mocha skin. The cotton dress she wore had a simple floral pattern, shoes sensible. Her voice sounded strong and sure, with a warm Caribbean accent. That was a nice surprise. Xander never mentioned her accent.
 

Katrine walked right over to Millie and gave her the biggest, strongest hug she could, being mindful of her age. But this woman was sturdy, nothing frail about her.

“Well, to what do I owe a hug like that, I ask ya very much?” She chuckled and it vibrated her whole body. Katrine hugged harder and then pulled away.

“Ms. Millie, I’ve wanted to hug you for a long time, so I wanted to make it
 
good one.” Katrine smiled and squeezed her shoulders before stepping back.

“Ya hold on to this yon,
joli bebe
, ya hear me? And what about you, Sweets? Do ya have a hug for me or ya too good now?” The smile he gave Millie was warm and full of love. He bridged the space between them in two strides. He then wrapped his arms around her waist and picked her off the ground.

“Ooooh, lord, ya always was a naughty little thing.”

 
Katrine loved her instantly.

 
They sat at the island and listened to Millie tell stories of Xander growing up. She talked about her eight grandkids, too. One of her granddaughters was in medical school, but she was proud of each of them equally. This woman loved with her whole being. Katrine said a silent prayer of thanks for Millie being in Xander’s life.

She made them tea with lemon and served some delicious coconut cakes alongside. Katrine watched Xander eat his cake, with a smile on her face. She could just see him as a little boy, eating his dessert with gusto. When Millie kept calling Xander Sweets, she realized that it wasn’t a term of endearment, it was a nickname.

“Millie, why do you call him Sweets? Although I may have a few ideas.” She laughed, tucking a wisp of hair behind her ear.

“Oh, da boy was always in here after my desserts. It could have been eight in da mornin and this little thing with his huge green eyes looken up at me. I tell him, he just had ’iz breakfast. He can’t have a piece o’ pie. But I had to do it. No resisten this one.” She thumbed in his direction. “So I got to callin him Sweets. And ya know he is, so it stuck.”

When they left the kitchen two hours later, Katrine gave this warm, wonderful woman one last hug and whispered in her ear, “Thank you for taking care of him, Millie. Thank you so very much.”

Millie nodded and both of their eyes glistened with tears. Xander stood back and watched, with something akin to pride in his eyes. It made him happy to see two of his favorite women on this earth sharing a moment. Not that he had any doubts that Millie would love Katrine.
 

They made their way to the pool after crossing several hundred yards of lawn. The pool was large but a simple rectangular shape. What caught Katrine’s eye was the large cottage that served as the pool house.

“Xander, I find it frightening that your pool house is bigger than most people’s actual homes.”

“I know it seems big, but it also serves as a guest house. When people come in from the city, they’re usually reticent to make the long trip back late at night. So my parents wanted to make sure we had enough room for people to crash. We could stay out here if you prefer.”

“No, it’s okay, we have the third floor to ourselves. Your dad’s room is on the other side of the house and you grandfather is 90, how much could he really hear?” she teased. “Please tell me you had some epic ragers here.” He grinned a lop-sided grin that answered her question just as well as words would have. She found it amusing that at one time he puzzled her so, but now she could read his every facial expression.
 

She looked out at the clear water and then turned to him, snuggling into his body. “Well, your home is beautiful and Millie is wonderful. This weekend is off to a very good start.”
 

“That was the easy part. Save your judgment until after you’ve met my nutty mates… And my father.” She squeezed him. His friends would be fine—if he liked them, she would. She had a feeling that his father wasn’t as bad as he claimed. She hoped so, anyway…

Chapter 32

 
Xander was dressed casually in jeans and a fitted dark gray shirt. His hair was pleasingly disheveled because she was the one to make it that way. When he came out of the bathroom in only his jeans, she couldn’t help but do things to him. He was just that yummy.
 

She was wearing a short, but flowy black skirt with a vibrant teal shirt that gathered at the neck, leaving her arms bare. She wore her hair in a loose bun. Xander liked access to her shoulders. She opted for flats, hoping her shrimpage would disarm his friends. Katrine had no problem using her size to her advantage when she needed to.
 

Nervous energy hummed in her body. This whole weekend seemed strange to her. She never thought at this age she’d be meeting her boyfriend’s friends and family for the first time. It made her feel like she was twenty again, and not in a good way. Just thinking the word boyfriend gave her hives.

What the hell do I call him then?
 

Lover?…Gah! Hell no.
 

The man I’m seeing…lame.

 
Xander, just Xander.
 

Labels are for amateurs, anyway. Unless it’s husband. I like that title.
 

WTF?

“Katrine? What are you thinking about? About twenty different emotions crossed your face.”

“Nothing, just the usual.” She smiled. He placed a light hand on her back and held open the door.
 

The Black Duck was dark, so it took a few minutes for Katrine’s eyes to adjust. When they did she noticed the place was small and charming, the genuine charm that only seasoned pubs had. Xander said the food here was great and the house band was awesome, so Katrine was looking forward to the night. He whispered in her ear, “You look so beautiful, by the way.”
 

She loved that he added by the way. Like he hadn’t told her three other times in the last hour. She scanned the place, it was fairly crowded, but that was to be expected on a Friday evening. A hand shot up in greeting from the back corner of the bar. Xander noticed and snaked his arm around her waist. It was a “mine” type of move, and she loved it. Total turn on.

Mark me, caveman. Drag me by the hair back to your lair and fu—Focus, Katrine.

“Well, well, if it isn’t young Alexander Abbot. How good of you to grace us with your presence,” teased a slender blond guy wearing a very pink golf shirt. He was handsome, but way too clean cut for her taste. She liked her men with a little character to their faces. Like Xander, with his small moon-shaped scar by his left eyebrow or the fact that his upper lip was just slightly fuller than his bottom. This guy’s face was way too symmetrical with prominent cheek bones. He needed to be in an upscale catalog standing on a sailboat with a sweater tied around his neck.

“Pretty tough talk coming from someone wearing his sister’s shirt,” Xander shot back with a smirk.

“You’d know all about my sister’s shirts.” Katrine didn’t miss the not so subtle allusion to Xander’s former slutty ways.
 

“Behave, dick head… Hey, guys,” he said to his other buddies at the table. Katrine was relieved to see there were no wives or dates. She wanted to focus on getting to know Xander’s friends, not making small talk with the Buffys. Stereotype? Maybe. Truth? Likely.

“Katrine, this loud mouth here is Scott. And that’s Gabe and the svelte number over there is William.” He was referring to the fact that William was a little on the portly side. She elbowed Xander in the rib for that comment. William may have been fluffier than the others, but he was just as handsome. Gabe had a shaved head, not in an ‘I’m hard’, but in an ‘I’ve lost my hair’ kind of way. He had glasses, but they didn’t hide the kindness in his dark brown eyes.
 

They were all wearing golf shirts, so with her top notch detective skills, she figured they’d just come from the golf course. If guys up here were anything like the guys back home, they would have five or six drinks into them at this point.

“Hello. Nice to meet you all,” Katrine said with confidence. Nerves still there, but fading with each passing minute. After a beer they would be nonexistent.

She sat down. “By the way, I’m well aware of his man-whore days, so don’t waste your breath on my account.” They guys looked at Xander and started to laugh.

“Nice, I love a woman with spunk,” Scott said, eyeing her appreciatively. He gave her the heebies.
 

Speaking of man-whores…

 
She put her hand on Xander’s leg, letting him know it was okay. She didn’t want him beating up a friend because of her, especially a friend who seemed three sheets to the wind already.
 

She sipped her beer as they caught up, they hadn’t seen Xander since Christmas. Katrine was surprised that none of them lived in Manhattan, where they worked. They lived in Greenwich and took the commuter train into the city. Well, not Scott, he didn’t work anywhere. He was mildly amusing and single, shocker. Gabe and William were both married. Gabe had three year old twin girls and William had a five year old son. It was cute to hear guys talk about their kids. They both seemed like doting father’s. Bonus points.

“So you live in Texas?” Gabe asked.

“Yes, Dallas.”

“How are you not married? You’re way too hot to be single,” Scott added.

“I’m not single,” she said, nodding towards Xander. “And I was married. We got divorced almost two years ago. We have an eleven year old son.”

Scott looked at Xander. She knew that look. The she’s a divorced, single mom look. Katrine usually cursed her bladder, but right now she was thankful for the intrusion.

“Pardon me, guys. I need to use the ladies’ room.” She smiled and pushed her chair back. Xander squeezed her hand. He looked worried. She winked and walked away.

“Jesus, Scott. What the hell is wrong with you?” William spat.

“Sorry, Xander. He had about six beers on the course and two scotches on the turn,” Gabe explained. Well, at least he had an excuse. Xander had yet to speak. He was glaring at Scott. If looks could melt skin, Scott would be a meat-sicle.

“Man, I’m sorry. I’m just trying to figure it out. Usually you have a different girl every weekend. You’ve never brought a girl to meet us and when you do, she’s a divorced single mother who lives in a different state? It doesn’t make sense. Don’t get me wrong, she’s super hot. I’d wrap those legs around me in a heartbeat.” Forget meat-sicle, change that to a bloody seat his body once occupied.

Finally Xander spoke, his voice low and threatening. “Let me say this once. I don’t care about any of that. She is the one, not the one for now, but
the
fucking
one. And if you disrespect her or make any more sexual innuendos, if you make her feel uncomfortable in anyway, I-will-end-you.” He sat back in his chair and took a sip of his beer, cool and calm. Whether he meant physically or financially, the threat was heard and heeded. They were all old friends, but they knew better than to cross Xander.

Katrine came back to the table. The four were looking in opposite directions, silent. Scott looked a little pale. She looked at Xander and raised an eyebrow, he gave her a lazy smile. She wasn’t sure what had transpired, but she could take a guess.

“What? I leave the table and you boys have nothing to talk about? Come on, guys, I need stories. The more embarrassing and depraved, the better.” The grinning started with Gabe and William, then finally Scott. They had a few stories all right.
 

An hour later, a large plate of fish and chips had taken up residence in Katrine’s stomach. With three beers thrown into the mix, she was feeling quite content.

“Where do you put all of that food? You’re so tiny and I mean no disrespect in any way, shape, or form by that,” Scott said. She laughed. Xander must have threatened him something serious, because his attitude had done a 180.

“None taken. I love to eat, but I have to run my butt off, literally. Plus good genes, I guess.”

“She enjoys food like no one I’ve ever seen. She makes eating an event,” Xander said with affection.

“I think I might have scared him a few times, though. He’s used to women who consider a ketchup packet a calorie splurge.” The guys laughed.

“Do you have a sister?” Scott asked.

“Yes, but she’s nothing like me, and she’s not available. Sorry.”

Not even if my sister was Rosemary’s baby, buddy
…

The band started and they were great. Their play list was right up Katrine’s alley, which was very rare for cover bands. They started their set with a Kasabian tune and followed that up with ‘High and Dry’ by Radiohead. She was in heaven.

“You’ve
 
known almost every word of every song they’ve played. I’m surprised you like this kind of music,” William said between sets.

“Please tell me you’re not under the stereotypical delusion that Texans only listen to country music,” Katrine pleaded.

“Uh, well, don’t you?” William asked.

“No! I mean, some do, of course, but it’s not a prerequisite. I was a grunge loving, flannel wearer back in the day, if that gives you any idea. Still love grunge, as a matter of fact.”

“If you say you can play golf, you have officially become the woman of my dreams,” Gabe joked. “Um…next to my wife.”

“Sorry, William, it looks like you’re still alone in your Taylor Swift fixation,” Scott laughed. Everyone turned to look at William, disbelief on a few of the faces. “Sorry, buddy. I overheard Adrinana telling Lori about your thing for Taylor Swift at your last cookout.”

“It’s not a fixation. I enjoy her upbeat music…What? She’s very talented for a girl her age. She writes all her own songs.” Still not helping, but it was cute to see him defend himself.