Sing For Me (26 page)

The layer of dust cast a gloom over the mansion, making it seemed as if it, too, were in mourning.

She shook her head and headed toward the door.

Even before she was near the door, she could hear the lively racket within. With her luggage in hand, she cautiously pushed it open.

The moment she stepped in, all the clamor ceased. Everyone seemed to freeze in place, seemingly waiting for someone to react. That was until a shrill whistle woke everyone from their trance.

“You’re Kate Mitchell?”

She moved toward the crowd and cast a quick glance at the four men and the woman present.

“Yup,” she answered the man wearing a plain gray T-shirt that showed off his bulging muscles.

The same man let out a loud, boisterous laugh. “Well, Anne, you should start worrying now.” He got to his feet and reached over with a boyish grin. “I’m Ryan Faris.” Tilting his head to the left, he said, “That’s Joseph Hansen and Dan Riley.” Each smiled and waved when his name was mentioned. “The one sitting next to Ty is Joanne Riley.”

“I’m Ty’s fiancée,” Joanne said while scrutinizing Kate from head to toe.

Kate shook Ryan’s hand and nodded politely as she looked at the polished blonde sitting next to Tyler. Thick mascara lined her eyes and her nails glimmered with neon pink nail polish.

She couldn’t help conjuring up the image of a Barbie doll when looking at Joanne.

“You’re all here to help him move?” Kate took the chance to give everyone another glimpse. All the guys appeared tall, their lanky legs stretched out casually in front of them, and all of them seemed to be at ease.

All except Tyler.

His legs were stretched out like the rest, but his arms were folded, and he was staring into space as though he was afraid to look anywhere else.

A moment of silence descended as everyone turned to look at the single piece of luggage standing by the couch.

“I want to say yes, but it’ll be pretty obvious that we’re lying. So, here’s the truth: We’re here to see who Ty is going to be living with for the next year.” Ryan beamed another of his boy-next-door grin and winked.

Despite his hulking figure, his gregarious nature removed the threat of how his arm could easily crush her if he so wanted.

“Is that all you have? Looks like both of you travel light,” Joseph Hansen commented.

Kate turned to look at Joseph. If she hadn’t known that Tyler was the only child, she would’ve thought they were brothers. They shared the same dark brown hair, except his was cut much shorter, showing a clear, radiant face. He gave her a small pensive smile as though he, too, was contemplating her character.

“Actually, I still have a box of work stuff in my car. But other than that, this is all I brought.” Looking at Tyler, she said, “Your grandfather had a guest room prepared for me on those times I stayed over. Is it all right if I take the same room?”

“You can have the master bedroom,” Tyler answered.

“I’m more comfortable in the guest room. If there’s nothing else, I’ll put my stuff in the room and head out to work.”

Tyler gave no reaction.

She sighed but managed to catch herself before she rolled her eyes.

Silence meant consent.

She reached for her luggage, but Joseph Hansen rose and strode over.

“Let me.” Taking the handle, he waited for Kate to take the lead.

“I’ll get your box. Is your car locked?” Ryan asked.

“I’ll get it myself.” Kate made her way toward the door, but Ryan easily caught up with her.

Once they were out of earshot, Ryan smiled warmly. “Don’t get offended by Ty’s attitude. He’s always been like that, even with us.”

Quietly, Kate considered Ryan while he pulled the box out of the back seat. “May I ask how you got to know Tyler?”

Ryan grinned mischievously. “Why?”

“You guys seem to be on the opposite ends of the spectrum; character wise, that is.”

“So you noticed, huh? I have no idea how we actually became good friends. He’s kind of a weirdo,” Ryan teased. “We went to the same school. He was
really
good in basketball, and I think we just hung around him because he was so good. Then we sort of became friends.”

Kate shook her head and chuckled at his story. As they re-entered the house and headed up the stairs with Joseph, she could feel Tyler’s eyes on her. Still peeved with his words from the night before, she kept her eyes straight, refusing to turn back to him.

“Nice room,” Ryan said as he placed the box onto the dark brown desk.

“Yeah, it’s pretty decent,” Kate said as she scanned the familiar room. The white walls were matched with dark chocolate furniture, just as all the rooms were.

The large wardrobe took up the entire length of a wall while the queen-size bed and study desk leaned against another.

Kate loved the simplicity of the room. She never liked seeing clutter around, so this simple bedroom was perfect for her. There was also the one thing she did love about the house, the high ceiling that made the room feel so much more spacious.

Joseph twirled the luggage in his hand and asked, “Need any help unpacking?”

“No, I’m good.” Reaching into the box, she pulled out her laptop. “I’ll unpack tonight. I have to get to work.”

Joseph peered into the box filled with folders. “What do you do?”

“I own an interior design firm.” She strode out of the room with Joseph and Ryan following.

“Why are you still going to work? I heard you inherited quite a sum; I’m sure you can live off that,” Joseph said casually.

Kate paused and narrowed her eyes, studying Joseph, considering if his question was of curiosity or accusation. “I’m not here for the money if that’s what you’re asking.”

Joseph raised both his hands in peace. “I was merely stating a fact. It isn’t my money, so I don’t care who gets it.”

She turned and continued toward the stairs. “I’ve been very blessed to be able to do what I love,” Kate answered simply. “I get to turn houses into homes for my clients to live and create great memories in.”

“I think all of you should leave so we can settle down and rest,” Tyler said as he emerged at the top of the stairs.

“I thought we only need to leave by eight? You haven’t even given us a tour,” Ryan complained.

Tyler only glared at him.

“If you don’t want to, then Kate can give us a tour,” Joseph added.

“Get out of here.”

Kate pursed her lips to stop them from curling. Ryan wasn’t joking when he told her about Tyler’s attitude.

“It’s okay. They can stay if they want. I’m heading out to work anyway.” Kate took a step toward the stairs, but Tyler reached out, his hand firm on her arm.

“Stay,” he said softly, almost like a plea.

Both Joseph’s and Ryan’s eyes widened.

“Is there something you need?” Kate stared warily at Tyler.

Last night, he’d made it pretty clear he wanted nothing to do with her. What could he want with her now?

“We should go,” Joseph said.

Giving Tyler a pat on his back, both Ryan and Joseph made their way down the stairs.

“Stay for a while,” Tyler continued. “The house—”

“Ty!”

Kate jumped at the sudden scream. Tyler’s fiancée didn’t seem pleased with his decision to kick them out.

“One minute.” He plodded down the stairs.

She couldn’t hear what was going on, but there was some commotion until a door slammed shut.

Ryan, Joseph, and Dan made their way back to their cars while Joanne continued screaming at the door.

“Forget it. You know how he’s like. He isn’t going to open the door,” Ryan said.

Joanne’s shoulders slumped.

Dan glanced over at his sister while he made his way toward his car. Ryan was right, it was a losing battle. Joanne could stand there and shout until her voice turned hoarse and Tyler still wouldn’t bother about her.

Whenever Tyler chose to shut the world out, nobody ever got in.

Dan couldn’t help rolling his eyes. He never understood his sister’s obsession with Tyler. Since young, she had been the apple of his parents’ eyes and had grown up pampered. Though everyone who saw how Tyler treated Joanne thought he was mean to her, Dan couldn’t blame him.

Joanne was one clingy person who thought the world revolved around her.

“And you should stop telling everyone that he’s your fiancé.” Dan shook his head at the ludicrous statement she’d been making.

“He never denied it,” Joanne whined. “Silence means consent.”

Joseph and Ryan burst into laughter while Dan sighed heavily.

When Joseph finally managed to stop laughing, he said, “If you’re referring to anyone else, I can’t comment. But, Anne, we’re talking about Ty. He barely answers half our questions, much less your insanity.”

Ryan nodded. “Yeah. I don’t even want to ask how you decided that he wanted to upgrade your one-sided relationship to fiancé-fiancée level. Everyone here knows that the two of you aren’t even a couple.”

“Yes, we are. He’s been my boyfriend since we were young, and he’s never—not once—denied it,” she screeched.

Dan took a deep breath. “He just can’t be bothered with you.”

Dan had told her this countless times, but her skull was so thick that nothing ever got in.

All she had in her head were her stupid fantasies and make-believe world.

“Shut up. I won’t let any of you sow discord between Ty and me.”

“That’s the problem; there’s no Ty and you,” Ryan mumbled under his breath, but everyone heard him.

Dan felt Joanne staring at him, probably expecting him to put up some sort of defense for her. But it was difficult when he was on Ryan’s side. Voicing his opinion would only end up in an ugly shouting spectacle that he wasn’t interested in having.

Joanne didn’t have the ability to think logically, so any effort at reasoning would only be wasting his breath.

“Hey, Joe, you’re working the night shift, right? Since you’re dropping Ryan off, can you take Anne along? I have some work I need to rush.” Dan didn’t want to dump his idiotic sister on Joseph and Ryan, but he didn’t want to have Joanne in his car. Once they were on their own, she would probably start throwing her tantrums, accusing him of never being on her side.

After all these years, he was tired of having to entertain her whims.

At least Joseph would have Ryan in his car, and that would be enough to keep Joanne’s mouth shut.

Ryan was the one person in the group who had never allowed her to get away with anything. He loved teasing people, especially Joanne. He didn’t have a problem putting Joanne down and laughing at her stupidity. She used to try fighting Ryan with outbursts of tantrums, but it never worked on him, and she finally learned to shut her mouth around him.

Joseph scowled at Dan. “Yeah, I’m sure you do.”

Ryan turned to Joseph. “Guess we’re in for one hell of a miserable ride home.”

Joanne plodded toward Joseph’s car and got into the back seat without another word. Joseph directed another glare at Dan and mouthed the words ‘you owe me’ before getting into his car.

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