Snare (Falling Stars #3) (14 page)

My hand flies out, grabbing the screen. I glare up at him and clench my teeth together.

"Oh, can I?" I grit out quietly.

"Sid…"

"I have things to work on," I snap.

"You can work on stuff later. Let's get the suit you wore—"

"Stop," I shout, drawing his family's attention. Dropping my voice, I continue. "Stop bossing me around and telling me what to do. I don't like it and I have things to work on. You may think this," I wave to my computer, "is just a small business venture, but I've got a lot going on. I came up here to work things out, not waste time with you."

The minute the words leave my mouth, guilt coils in my stomach. What I've said is harsh, mean, and totally meant to push him away. And the look on his face confirms it.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

"Look, I didn't—"

"Don't worry about it," he growls, hands up in surrender. "I'll leave you alone."

His long legs carry him away with quick, angry strides. He reaches the door to the cabin, yanks the snowsuit from the hook near it, and slips it over his pants and shirt. Without looking back, he jerks the door open and slams it on his way out.

I close my laptop, put my elbows on top, and bury my face in my hands.

"Explain to me how the two of you have gone from being awfully comfortable with one another to acting like cold, angry strangers," Sherry inquires, her voice close.

I drag my hands down my face and look up, finding her standing a few feet from me.

"Sherry, I appreciate the concern," I say, not meaning it, "but I'll be out of everyone's hair tomorrow. So—"

"You're leaving tomorrow?" she asks, her voice flat. "Why the rush?"

She leans on the back of another chair, her arms crossed over her small waist.

"It's not a rush," I lie. "I have a flight to catch. Roundtrip tickets."

"I assumed you were leaving this weekend."

"It's not because of us, is it?" Ember asks, coming to stand next to her mother.

"No, of course not." I shake my head. "Like I said, my departure was scheduled before I even arrived."

Not a total lie. I did have a return date, but I totally pushed up to a sooner flight.

"Mom!" one of the boys shouts. "I can't find my boots."

"I'm coming," Ember yells, exiting our little gathering and going upstairs.

"Did he do something to hurt you?" Sherry's question surprises me.

I open my mouth to deny, but instead, a lump forms in my throat and I press my lips together.

Dropping her head, she sighs and rubs her arms.

"You two," she whispers and shakes her head.

"Us two what?" I choke out.

She brings her head up and her eyes lock with mine.

"I'm not sure about my son, but I'm pretty sure neither of you sees the connection you have," she says.

"No," I shake my head, "we really don't like each other much."

"You've been getting along quite well since I've been here," she counters.

"But that's because we called a truce for the week," I inform. "Obviously, the truce has gone as far as it can."

"That's crap," she snaps, flipping a hand in the air.

I open my mouth to protest, again, but she stops me.

"Yes, you two tease and taunt, but it's because of this easy, comfortable environment you have with each other. I mean, if you didn't like each other, you wouldn't spar back and forth like you do."

I furrow my brow at her. Apparently, she doesn't know arguing all the time is a big red flag for not liking each other.

"We barely know each other, aside from arguing about…well, about everything. And I'm sorry, but I don't subscribe to the 'he hit you because he likes you' bullshit."

"He hit you?" she blurts, eyes round and mouth tight.

"No, no, no," I assure, waving my hands, "I just mean the idea of a boy being mean to a girl, or vice versa, because they like each other."

I drop my hands.

She sucks her lips into her mouth and her shoulders shake. Soon, she releases her lips and starts laughing.

"Sidra, when has my son been mean to you?" she asks, amusement in her voice.

"He…" I start, but let the words die as I try to remember a moment when he was mean.

"That's what I—"

"He bosses me around," I quip, raising a brow.

"Ah, yes, I've seen some of that since we've been here," she agrees with a nod. "Do you feel it was done out of meanness or hatred?"

Damn you, Sherry Stone.

"No," I grumble, crossing my arms over my chest.

Instead of looking at her, I find a spot on the wall to focus on.

"I'm not exactly nice to him," I mumble, admitting my tendency to tease and insult.

"Oh, you put him in his place and tease him relentlessly," she laughs, "but I'm pretty sure he's quite okay with it."

"Yeah, that's healthy," I blurt.

"Sid, sometimes in life we meet people we instantly connect with. Even if you've just met them, you feel like you've known them your entire life. When you talk, things just click. When you reveal your crazy and quirks, they get it."

Memories of Xavier and me on the snowmobile, the snow fight, the fireside dinner, and getting drunk flip through my mind like a damn PowerPoint presentation. Then, his words from this morning resurface.
It's definitely my kind of crazy
.

"It's sort of like when you're on set with a new actor," she adds, pulling me out of my own thoughts.

"You fuck like you've been each other's lover since you lost your virginity," she continues. "It's what happened between Duncan and me. Now, we have three children, six grandchildren, and a sex life that still breaks headboards," she finishes with a nod and wink.

"Well…" I don't know whether to laugh or high-five her, "okay then."

Exhaling, Sherry walks toward me and kneels by my chair. Her hand comes up, cupping my face.

"There's sadness in you. I can see that. Xavier has it in him, too. I know why my son's sad, but I'm not sure about you." She gives a small smile. "I don't see that sadness in either of you when you are together."

Tears sting my eyes.

"It's not…" I begin to tell her how wrong she is about everything, but she sees through my shit.

It's only been a few days, but deep down, I know Xavier isn't just some guy. He isn't truly the bane of my existence, but someone who totally accepts my antics. And I appreciate that, but after this morning, it's too awkward. I need to put distance between him and I. Maybe then we can resume the friend route we got derailed from.

"Maybe we're better friends than anticipated," I whisper, "but it's nothing more than that."

I pull my face from her hand and she allows me.

"Trust me, the last thing I need is another man to deal with," I confess, clamping my mouth shut before I say more.

What is it with this family and making me talk?

"So, that's it," she murmurs, standing up. "That kind of pain lingers, Sidra."

I meet her eyes when she says my name.

"You need friends now more than ever. Don't give up and push one away."

She lifts her hand and presses it to the top of my head before walking away.

Chapter Eleven
Xavier

I step off the porch and swing my arm, punching a pile of snow stacked on the railing. The powder flies through the air like confetti. I walk through it, celebrating my stupidity.

Christ, did you think it would be that easy? Just walk up and start telling her what to do? I'm surprised she didn't punch me in the dick.

In the garage, I pull the covers off the girls' snowmobiles and run through the checks.

"What can we do to help, Uncle Xave?" Ian asks, bounding up to my side. I glance toward him, surprised I didn't hear the boys enter.

"Grab the gas cans and get them fueled up," I instruct, thumbing over my shoulder to the closet in the back.

"How are we riding?" Lyra asks, already climbing on her machine.

"Boys on one, you girls on the other," I say without room for argument.

They all must feel my frustration and anger because for once, I don't get any damn lip from them.

Fueled up and ready to go, I lead them out and into the snow.

Nate lets Ian take the first turn in the driver's seat and Cass does the same. Though, Lyra and Cass are no surprise. Both of them are smart, strong girls, but Cass has always been more at home letting Lyra run things.

I raise my arm in the air, use the forward motion hand signal, and we speed off into the woods.

After over two hours of riding and playing, we stop at one of the best tubing spots. It's flat, clear, and gets just the right amount of packed snow to pull someone on the large tube the boys brought along.

I watch Nate pull Ian and Lyra in a figure eight and their screams of laughter bring a smile to my face, but they don't take my mind from the sassy brunette back at the cabin.

Closing my eyes, I drop my chin to my chest.

I don't know why I can't get shit right with her. No matter how hard I try not to act like some controlling douchebag, I'm still pulling her along somewhere, telling her where to go and what to do, and she's totally fucking right—I cannot stay out of her personal space.

Granted, my entire family are the hugs instead of handshakes, sitting on the same side of the booth, and basically in your space kind of people. But, damn, it's impossible for me to keep any distance from her. Even now, I'm tempted to go back to the cabin and it's all because she's there.

I sigh and rub my face.
My beard needs to be trimmed.

"Dad?"

"Yeah, baby." Lifting my head, I meet Cass' soft brown eyes.

"Are you okay?" She shuffles her feet in the snow and bites her lip.

"Come here." I pat the spot next to me.

She complies, sitting to match me, our asses on the seat and both legs off one side.

"I'm good. Why'd you ask?"

I put my arm around her shoulders and pull her into my side.

"You seem mad." She shrugs. "And a bit sad."

"Nah," I lie. "I'm out with my girls. How could I be sad about that, huh?"

She shrugs again.

"You're happy with her," she says quietly.

"With who?"

"You wanna get on the tube next, Cass?" Lyra interrupts, charging through the snow and dropping to her knees in front of her sister.

She looks between her sister and me before asking, "What's wrong? Is it Mom?"

Panic fills her eyes.

"No, it's nothing," I assure her.

She visibly relaxes.

"Ly, don't you think Dad seems happier?" Cass redirects to her sister.

Lyra glances at me and holds my eyes, nodding.

"Yeah," she says, dropping her eyes to the snow. "She makes you happy, doesn't she?"

I furrow my brow and look back and forth between them, but neither of them will look at me.

"Girls, look at me," I demand.

They comply.

"What's going on?"

Cass licks her lips and opens her mouth, but Lyra's too impatient to wait for her sister.

"We know mom being sick makes you sad and us moving in with you hasn't been easy…" she hesitates, "you've been really, really stressed, and just…so sad."

"First of all, you moving in with me," I point to my chest, "doesn't make me sad or mad."

Neither of them look at me, and that won't do.

"Look at me, both of you."

Bringing their gaze back to my face, I continue shifting my eyes between them as I speak.

"Sure, we've had to get used to the change and I know leaving your school and friends has been pretty hard. All of that on top of your mom's health…yeah, it hasn't been easy, but that's only because I worry about you. You're my girls, the stars in my sky. I'm thrilled to wake up every day to you two."

Reaching out, I snag the dark purple snow coat, pull Lyra between my legs, and tighten my arm around Cass, hugging them both close to my chest.

"I love you, girls."

"We love you, too, Dad," they reply in unison.

Lyra is the first to pull out of the embrace.

Tilting my head, I press my cheek to Cass' knit hat.

"We get that, but…" She bites her bottom lip.

Cass pushes from my chest, drawing my attention away from Lyra.

"But, Sid…" she adds.

And it clicks. They're worried about me being with someone. They've met a girlfriend or two in the past, but none of them were ever more serious than meeting my kids a couple times. And knowing the girls love having Gil as their stepfather, they never had that parent reuniting dream. But they also have never come to the cabin to find me alone with a woman. It makes sense they would be a bit weirded out and worried.

"You're different with her," Cass continues, pulling me from my thoughts.

"There's nothing to worry about, girls," I assure with a grin. "Sid's just a friend, and—"

"She makes you happy again," Lyra blurts.

"Dad, you're…" Cass starts, and then looks to her sister for support.

"You're how you used to be," Lyra explains.

My brow furrows.
Am I so fucking different now?

Anger and guilt burn in my stomach at the thought of letting my girls down.

"It's like all the fun…" Lyra starts, and Cass finishes, "You got your happy back."

A sharp pang stabs at my chest.

"She's just a friend," I say quietly.

"Don't let her friend-zone you, Dad," Lyra says with a snort, pursing her lips.

Cass giggles and leans into my side.

Well, what the fuck do I say to that? And what the hell does my baby girl know about being friend-zoned?

They have no idea what Sid's been through, or what she's currently dealing with. Hell, I'm not completely sure. I only have a general idea supported by some pretty damn convincing evidence.

The physical attraction is far from a problem, her figure being one of the first things to catch my attention. A woman with curves is right up my alley. But that mouth of hers—fuck me. The first time she set her tongue loose, I wanted nothing more than to strip her down and fuck her so hard, she couldn't form one more insult.

The feisty hellcat she turns into with just a touch or word drives me to fucking insanity in the best possible ways. And this week, alone and comfortable with each other, it's like she's always been there. She just fits a space I didn't know was so empty. Hell, I didn't even realize it was there, but it is and it's fucking Sid-shaped.

I might have been happy to just get the Sid experience before, but now I've got a taste of her crazy and I'm afraid I want a lot more of it—of her. Something she isn't anywhere near ready to give anyone.

Nate and Ian drive up, park, and look the three of us over.

"Everything okay?" Nate asks, shoving his goggles on his head.

"Yeah," I say, giving a nod, "everything's pretty awesome."

I pull my goggles down over my eyes and clap my glove-covered hands together.

"Let's head back," I announce, throwing my left leg over the seat and starting up the snowmobile.

Instead of getting off, Cass situates herself against my back and wraps her arms around my waist. Lyra rushes to her machine, climbs on, and starts it up.

Once everyone's ready, we begin the trek back to the cabin, but we take the long way, racing around trees and through snow drifts. I need this time to clear my mind and to make sure my girls know they are my happy.

On arrival, I realize it's closer to dinner than lunch and the road to the cabin has been cleared. It's now passable for driving.

Inside the cabin, Em and Mom stand ready to help with suit removal. They also have food laid out.

The boys rush straight for the food while the girls choose to warm up by the fire first.

Instinctively, my eyes seek out Sid.

She's no longer where I left her hours ago. She's at the end of the dining room table with files open and papers fanned out.

Under the weight of my stare, her eyes meet mine over her laptop.

"Can you braid my hair?" Cass asks, walking up next to Sid, touching one finger to the dark braid around her head.

Sid breaks our connection and turns to my baby girl.

"Sure," she says, "after you eat, go grab a comb, bobby pins, and a hair tie."

"Okay," Cass responds, smiling so big, my heart melts.

A fucking Sid-shaped hole aching to close around her.

Movement behind Sid draws my eyes. Lyra stands there, silently gesturing.

She mouths the word 'friends' and makes a big X with her arms. Dropping them, she raises her brow, a silent question to make sure I got her.

I can't help it. I laugh out loud.
What the hell am I going to do with that girl?

Ignoring the way everyone's looking at me, I step into the kitchen for food.

"Stop moving," Lyra growls.

My stomach full, I sit in the overstuffed worn leather chair near the fire, nursing a beer. I watch Lyra hold the nail polish brush over her sister's foot. Her scrunched up face makes me smile. Fuck, the whole scene thrills me.

I can remember Maria doing their hair, painting fingernails, and doing makeup with them when they were little. For the past couple years, they haven't gotten this. Their mother has been too sick to do much except watch while they did girl shit together, and that was if she could stay awake.

"I can't help it," Cass says, giggling. "You keep touching my toes with your fingers."

"Well, you're messing up the design." Lyra shoves the brush back into the bottle of polish.

"What's it supposed to be?" Sid asks, looking down as she twists Cass' hair in an intricate weave around her head.

"A butterfly?" Cass says, more a question than an answer.

"It's a flower," Lyra exclaims.

"It looks like a purple vagina," Sid states, fingers still working through my daughter's hair.

"It does not," Lyra laughs out.

Cass bursts into giggles, adding, "It has glitter."

"Great, that makes it a purple stripper vagina," Sid mumbles, earning more laughter.

This time, the laughter includes my nephews, sister, and mother.

"Oh my gosh," Lyra gasps, "I can't believe you just said that."

Concern flashes on Sid's face and her eyes snap to my sister.

"Sorry," she says, "I'm not used to being around so many kids."

Em gives her a smile, which visibly relaxes Sid.

"It's fine. You didn't say anything worse than they already hear."

"Are you selling your business?" My mother's question draws all our attention.

Sid stiffens.

Mom stands, wine in hand, looking over the papers on the dining room table.

"Mom," Em exclaims.

"Jesus, Mom, that's her personal business," I yell, scowling at her nosey ass.

"What?" She looks up at us and shrugs. "They were just lying out," she defends, waving her hand over the mess. "I didn't go digging through the files."