Sweet but Sexy Boxed Set (56 page)

“
Yes mom,” they both offered.

Adam hunched over his plate with both elbows rested at his side. Allison snuck a peek at George and watched him push the food around with his fork. His usual lunch consisted of a diet soda, salad or a piece of fruit. In fact, her lunch had consisted of mainly the same due to the limited funds and lack of time to eat.

George caught her watching, smiled and shoved a piece of roast in his mouth.

After fifteen minutes of being hunched over a plate, Adam sat back, rubbed his belly and grunted in approval.
“Mmm. Good.”

“
What’s good?” A new voice asked from the kitchen door.

Almost in slow motion, Allison turned her head, sending her ponytail flying. Her eyes began their feast. Dark jeans sat low on a slim waste followed by a pale blue button-up shirt with a v of a white T-shirt winking at her. His teeth almost shined like a prince in a cartoon with a sparkle from the track lighting fixture dancing in his dark eyes. A hand ran through the slight curl in his brown hair, tousling the locks before they fell against his temples.

A gasp escaped her lips.

Ryan Johnson.

Chapter Two

“Allison? Is that you?” His voice danced along her skin. Her lashes fluttered as her name fell from his soft, plump lips.

He closed the distance between where she sat at the table and the doorway. Without allowing her a second to stand on her own, Ryan scooped her up from the chair into a hug.

Allison’s eyes eased shut as she breathed in deep. If her brother smelled like home, then Ryan smelled of sexy men and nasty thoughts.

Her arms didn
’t reach the wide circumference of his shoulders as his doubled around her waist lifting her from the floor. The pleasurable squeeze released a squeak. A memory from six years prior rushed her, causing heat to flood her cheeks. She wondered if he remembered. She’d never forget the simple gesture. A gesture she replayed for the past six years.

Sooner than she wanted, he set her down on her feet, releasing his hold on her body. She stumbled but regained her composure before anybody, she hoped, noticed. Warmth radiated from her face and she wondered if she looked feverish.

“Ryan. Ryan Johnson.” Allison stated. His name melted like chocolate in her mouth. In high school, she’d practiced greeting him in her mirror. Her gaze would linger a second after she’d say hello, revealing her intentions. Or whatever the latest Cosmopolitan magazine explained. A copy she snuck from her mother’s bedroom while she was out grocery shopping.

Despite all her preening in the mirror, she never practiced the goofy, long lost girl from high school red faced smile.

“It’s so good to see you.” Her hands itched to wrap around his body again.

“
Ryan. Man. Grab a plate before Mom’s food is all gone,” Adam offered between bites of his second helping. She wondered how long she and Ryan hugged.

“
I will, but first…I don’t think we’ve met.” He offered his hand to George.

Allison stared at Ryan. When she woke from another fantasy from high school, she noticed two sets of eyes turned her way. She blinked a few times and looked from face to face and back to Ryan
’s turned body.

“
Oh. That’s me. My bad,” she stammered. “Ryan, this is George. He’s my…”

“
Boyfriend from Chicago,” Adam chimed in. “They work together too. Blah, blah. Now grab a plate.” Her brother resumed his scarfing of beef and potatoes.

“
Well, George the boyfriend from Chicago and work, nice to meet you. I’m Ryan Johnson. An old friend from high school.” He glanced over his shoulder, offering Allison a wink.

The guys shook hands. Allison
’s eyes focused on George. A seventy-five watt smile remained plastered on his face when he greeted Ryan. George’s eyebrow twitched; a move she’d seen when an idea occurred to him. Instead of asking him in front of the guys, Allison stashed her question away.

They let their hands fall away allowing George to sit and Ryan to pass by Allison on his way to the stove. Their eyes met for a millisecond, but later when she
’d retell the story, she’d swear time stood still. Dark brown eyes held her gaze, melting her knees into a puddle of goo. She grabbed the back of her chair for support, pulling her eyes to the floor. When he passed, she pulled in a quiet deep breath of his sexy scent before she fell back into her chair. Suddenly, her mother’s food held little of her attention.

Once Ryan returned with his own plate, Allison decided she was done. She couldn
’t eat in front of him in her current state. She pushed back from the table, grabbed her brother’s empty plate along with hers and walked to the sink. “I’ll help you…dear,” George said, rising from his seat.

The couple was side-by-side at the sink. George grabbed the plates from Allison
’s hands and flipped the water faucet on. He leaned close to his friend’s ear and said, “Yummy.” Thankfully his words were covered by the rushing sound of hot water showering dirty plates.

“
Sshh.”

“
How come this is the first time I’m hearing that beautiful man’s name?”

“
There’s not much to tell,” Allison whispered. She pushed George with a hip bump, leaving room to open the dishwasher. Eyes burned the back of her neck as she placed each plate into the wire slots. With the silverware thoroughly rinsed and standing tall in their plastic basket, Allison gave up her busy charade, closed the appliance door and looked toward her gay pretend boyfriend. “Besides, now is not the time, dear.”

“
Hey, you two want to sit outside and have a few beers?” Adam asked. He nodded at the red cooler sitting by the back door.

“
Sure,” George answered. He wrapped an arm around Allison, pulled her close and whispered by her ear, “Beers on the back deck. This is so Midwestern.”

“
Smart ass.” She pulled from his hold, lifted the lid of the cooler, and plunged her hand into a mountain of icy water. Four amber colored beer bottles hung in her hands. Water dripped from the sides leaving a small drop on the tile floor. Allison could almost taste the light wheat flavor with a hint of orange. She wasn’t much of a beer drinker, usually passing up the carb drink for a glass of Shiraz or pinot. But when Allison was with her brother, he brought out the more casual side of her. Opting for wings, beers and belching as opposed to cheese, wine and polite conversation.

“
Come on.” Adam offered. “Let’s go outside and drink these before they get warm.” He held open the back door, allowing each member of their tiny party to pass.

Allison followed her brother. The chill in the air brought to mind fall nights sitting around a fire pit snuggled beneath blankets as the heat from the flames kissed her cheeks.

Adam and Allison picked a couple of chairs at the far end of the pool. Green plastic covered the pool water beneath. The lounge chairs were cool. She pulled her long sleeves around her hand and grabbed her beer, shielding her hand from the chill.

“
How was the drive in?” Adam asked. He tipped the dark colored bottle back, draining the liquid from within. He pulled a smaller cooler out from beneath his chair. Inside, bottles and cans rested in a bed of ice. Adam stuck his empty bottle within and grabbed out a fresh one.

“
Not too bad. It’s only about six hours and we left late enough to miss the morning rush.” Allison took another drink from her bottle and stared out across the covered pool. “We’ve had some good times out here.”

“
I was just thinking the same thing. Remember when we’d come back from a game or a party and we’d tell mom and dad we were just going to hang out by the pool alone? Only we weren’t that alone.” Adam chuckled and nodded toward his high school friend.

Allison dipped her head, hoping to hide the blush spreading across her cheeks. Memories of warm nights, cool water and exposed skin flooded her head. Those were the nights she
’d sneak off to her room, brush her hair, and practice smiling at herself while her brother, Ryan and Sarah splashed around in the pool. Once she’d return, she’d see Ryan emerging from the water, causing her to forget which smile made her look seductive.

Allison couldn
’t count the times she and Adam snuck boys and girls into their yard late in the night. The only problem was Allison fawned all over Ryan, waiting for him to notice her when Adam and Sarah made out in the pool. Neither were fond memories.

“
I’m sure mom and dad knew,” Allison said.

“
You think?”

“
Of course. I mean, I’d like to think they didn’t but come on. It wasn’t like we were quiet and I’m sure the neighbors said something.”

“
Hmm.”

“
What?” Allison asked before finishing off her beer. Her brother held out another before she set the empty bottle down.

“
I thought I had stealth ninja skills when it came to sneaking around and now, after all these years to find out I was just average. Well, I’m feeling a little sad.”

“
Ninja skills? You? Ha!” Allison yelped trying to imagine her brother dressed in all black, prowling around the house with his girlfriend following.

“
Don’t laugh. If I didn’t make it as an accountant, I was planning to enroll in a dojo somewhere to begin a life of karate.”

A spray of beer flew from Allison
’s lips before she let loose on a belly-rolling laugh. These were the moments she cherished with her brother. These were the times missing from her life in Chicago.

“
Man. I’ve really missed you Adam.”

“
Me too, sis.”

They stared at each other and smiled. In the shadows of the evening, his eyes were shaded, but she knew the depth of his brown eyes with flecks of gold. They mirrored hers unlike their sister Audrey, whose were hazel green.

“Well, I hate to eat, drink and run but I’ve got a busy day tomorrow. Sorry I can’t stay longer.” Ryan rose from his seat, drained his beer and handed the empty bottle to Adam. “Dude. We still on for tomorrow?”

“
Yeah, just come by whenever. I’ll be here.” The two guys shook and pulled each other into a guy back pat hug.

“
Will do.” Ryan turned to George. “George, it’s great to meet you. I’ll see you later.” Instead of a back pat, the guys shook.

Nervous energy danced along her skin. She set her beer on a side table, rubbed her damp palms along her jean-clad legs.

Ryan stepped in front of Allison, blocking her view of the other guys. He placed his hands on her arms, pulling her slightly to him. “It was really good seeing you again. We’ll have to talk more later.”

For the second time that night, a hug she dreamed about for six years ended too soon.

Chapter Three

She’d made the climb up the wooden staircase countless times. Yet, the weight of her current visit made the trip feel more like mountain climbing. The beers helped her mood but it wasn’t helping her get to her room any faster.

Down the hall on her right, she pushed open the newly painted door and stepped into her past. The purple duvet with embroidered butterflies spread across the bed. She flipped a switch, causing a small lamp on the nightstand to illuminate the bedroom. A cast of shadows stretched across the walls, which held more memories of her past. Allison glanced around her room. Bulletin boards chocked full of photos, doodles and paraphernalia from high school hung in neat rows. She tucked the white sheer curtains behind wrought iron holders adorning the double window along the far wall. Making her way back to the door, she ran a tentative finger along her dresser finding discarded ribbons, streamers and even her old pom-poms.

Allison pulled her suitcase in behind her and rolled it to the closet. Curiosity getting the better of her, she pushed aside the door, flipped the light switch and peeked inside. Hanging in neat rows were billowed fabrics in a rainbow of colors from every dance she ever attended. Visions of long nights dancing before discarding her shoes; after parties and morning after breakfasts at a diner downtown rushed back to her.

Her hand rested along the stream of fabrics, feeling the differences in each. Her mom hadn
’t changed a thing since she’d left for college.

Allison
’s lettermen’s jacket stared back at her from the closet, forcing her to remember more of her past. And Adam was a big part of her time in high school. He was her other half when they were younger. They shared friends, Friday nights and early mornings sneaking back into the house. In high school she knew Adam and Sarah would marry, have two point five kids and live within a short drive from their parents.

Allison stepped from the confines of the closet, turned the light off and shut away part of her past with a click. Four light yellow walls surrounded her. Pictures of growing up in Valley, a small suburb of St. Louis. A town cut off from the fast-paced city life by a river and two intersecting highways. Valley held onto a little town mentality but was close enough downtown to stay mainstream.

“Cute room, although, it’s not my thing.” George rested inside the doorway. A black suitcase at his side. He’d toned down his normal flamboyant phrases so far and wondered if he’d done the same with his wardrobe for the remainder of the week. Allison and George spent every day together and she became accustomed to seeing him in pristine pressed slacks, starch shirts and vibrant ties. When they went out for the occasional drink, he spiced things up with a loud print button up and skinny jeans. She wasn’t sure if his closet contained anything but nice clothes.

“
Looks like my mom hasn’t done much redecorating on this level of the house.”

She followed George
’s line of sight as he took in every inch of her room. She felt exposed when he pushed from his resting spot and began inspecting her décor closer. The only boy, besides her father, she’d allowed in her bedroom was Adam and he didn’t count.

His fingers glided over books and photo frames. He pulled a few dresser drawers open. When he paused and reached his hand into her top desk drawer, heat crawled along her neck. Her high school yearbook.

She flew across the beige carpet, causing a shock of static when she reached out and grabbed George’s arm.

“
Owe. What the hell?” He snapped the book to his chest. He switched it to his other hand and examined his injured appendage before raising a perfectly plucked brow at her.

“
Sorry but you can’t read that.” She grabbed for the book only to come up empty handed. George stretched his arms above his head forcing Allison to swat her hands at what he held. “George. Not fair. You’re like ten feet tall.” She jumped again forcing a grunt.

“
I wish. Try more like six five, six six tops.” With his feet planted firm to the floor and his arms raised, he held the book open as he began to read the first couple of pages.

“
Stop, please.” She begged.

“
What, are we not close enough to share pictures of you during your awkward adolescent years while you maneuvered high school in an ever changing female body?”

“
I’d like to know the answer to that question as well.”

Allison turned. Her father and grandmother waited to enter the bedroom. The petite woman wore a fuchsia dress, bringing out the darkness in her eyes, black heels and a white patent leather purse hung from her forearm.

“Grandma,” Allison stepped closer and pulled the woman into a hug. Her head rested above the elderly woman’s but neither seemed to mind. “And Daddy.” She pulled an arm free, reaching out to him. Her father had aged more than she expected. Over the course of a year, what started out as a few salt and pepper strands grew to his entire head. The lines around his eyes depended but his smile remained the same.

“
Did you just get in?” Her father placed a suitcase atop the purple bed. In his other arm, he carried a matching carry-on bag and two totes. Allison glanced at her lonely suitcase and wondered what her grandmother possibly needed for the week.

“
No.” Allison looked over her shoulder at George. He’d lowered his arms and from her vantage point, nothing appeared in his hands. “George and I arrived a bit ago. We ate and had a drink with Adam.”

“
And Ryan,” her fake boyfriend offered.

“
Oh, that Ryan is a nice fella. Polite, too.” Grandma Daughtry removed her purse, setting it on top of the bed along with her other pieces of luggage. “So, now tell me, young man.” She stepped up to George, forcing him to look down at her. “How much do you like our Allison? Personally, I think she’s cream cheese icing on a strawberry cake but I might be a little biased.”

George winked at Allison, whose face turned a light shade of pink. What was her problem, she wondered.
“Oh, I just adore this one.” He moved closer, wrapped a long arm around Allison’s shoulders and planted a kiss on her head.

She snuggled in close to George and offered a smile.
“Oh honey,” she patted his chest, feeling the firmness of his muscles beneath, “you say the sweetest things.”

“
Well, now that I’ve done my job, I’ll leave you lovely ladies to yourself.” Allison’s father leaned in, hugged his daughter to his chest and placed a kiss on her head. “Good night and I’ll see you tomorrow. George. I’ll show you to your room.”

“
Great, but I forgot tip money.” His megawatt smile lit up her room and Allison couldn’t help but replicate.

“
No worries. As long as you take care of my Alli, we are all squared away.”

George wrapped an arm around Allison and dipped his head closer to her face. He placed a soft kiss to her cheek before releasing her.
“I’ll see you in the morning, pumpkin.” He tapped her nose, grabbed his rolling suitcase and followed Mr. Daughtry from the bedroom. Tucked into his pants, Allison noticed a red and white book sticking out. As if he sensed her looking at him, George looked over his shoulder and winked again. “Allison, are you checking me out? I swear, Mr. Daughtry, I can’t take her anywhere.”

When the two men were out of sight, Allison
’s grandmother moved next to her. “I don’t blame you, dear. He does have a nice heinie.”

With wide eyes and her mouth hanging open, Allison looked over at her grandmother and stared.

The bed sagged a touch when her grandmother sat down. Her hands folded in her lap and she looked up at her granddaughter. “Close your mouth dear. It’s unlady like.”