Captured In Ink (Art of Love Series)

by McDonald, Donna

  Ellen held up a hand to stop the flow. “Too late for excuses boy,” she said sharply. “I will not be forgetting this anytime soon. You’re in big trouble, Shane.”

  “Shaney—you’re in trouble again?” Sara demanded from the doorway.

  Shane rolled his eyes and motioned to her to come over to him. Just what he needed, a third feisty female to fuss at him. “Come meet my mommy, Sara.”

  “Your mommy!” Sara said surprised, coming over and leaning against Shane who put a reassuring arm around her. Then she looked up at Shane and frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me your mommy was coming to meet us? I didn’t get to put on my princess dress.”

  Shane looked over at Reesa, who was keeping her back to him as she laughed and poured popcorn into the bowl. Obviously, Reesa wasn’t going to help him out—not that he blamed her. His mother had caught him off-guard tonight, as had pretty much everything he’d experienced since he’d spent that first night with Teresa Callahan.

  “I’m sorry, Princess Sara. I forgot,” Shane said quietly, trying to sound sorry, which was damn hard when he was merely exasperated.

  In his mind, forgetting to tell his mother about Reesa and the kids was not the crime of the century that all the females in this house were bent on making it out to be. Chelsea had detained him to put in her two cents for his mother’s surprise visit while Brian had snickered in the background.

  Sara snuck a look at the pretty blonde woman who was smiling at her and Shaney. She had blue eyes and smelled really good.

  “I think you forgot something else,” Sara whispered urgently, the thought coming to her so quickly and completely that it had to be true.

  “Really. What else did I forget?” Shane asked, keeping his own voice to a whisper.

  “Your mommy is the queen,” Sara whispered back.

  Shane chuckled and wished he could have captured the look of utter delight on his mother’s face. Maybe he’d draw it for her later.

  “I must be having another bad day, honey,” he said repentantly to Sara, fighting not to laugh hard when she reached up and patted his cheek with pity in her gaze.

  Sara stepped away from him and curtsied, bowing her head as she dipped down. “Welcome to our house, Queen. . .Queen. . .What’s her name, Shaney?”

  “Ellen,” Shane said quickly, not wanting to miss his cue again. “Queen Ellen.”

  This could be good, Shane decided, sneaking another look at his mother’s face as she took in Sara’s curtsey. Sara was winning his mother with her blonde cuteness, just as he’d figured she would. Of course, it was hard not to be charmed by the sassy minx.

  “Welcome to our house, Queen Melon,” Sara said haughtily, her voice serious and respectful.

  “Ellen,” Reesa and Shane corrected together.

  Ellen’s gaze jerked up from Sara’s curtsey to bounce between Shane to Reesa as they stared at each other, both embarrassed as they shook their heads. Her son was truly in love, she thought, just like Will had said. The knowledge made her giddy with relief, and Ellen threw back her head to laugh genuinely, the music of it startling everyone and making all eyes seek contact with hers.

  Ignoring their gazes, she quickly decided that it would not be very queen-like to laugh at Princess Sara frowning at the adults in the room, even when being a queen in this kingdom was going to suit her just fine. She smiled at the top of Sara’s head as she stood with fisted hands on her hips arguing with both Shane and Reesa over how to say Ellen’s name. It was an enjoyable show. Shane had caused her far more distress as a child than Michael ever had. Michael had been emotional, but Shane had been unpredictable—still was evidently. Maybe if things worked out for Shane dating the sharp-eyed Reesa Callahan, Ellen could finally retire the mother worry about her youngest son for good.

  That very appealing thought had her rising from her chair. Ellen knelt in a regal sweeping courtesy, holding Sara’s gaze the whole time.

  “Thank you for allowing me to visit your kingdom, Princess Sara. Could I meet the rest your family, Your Highness?”

  “Certainly, Queen Melon,” Sara said just as regally, walking over and holding out her hand.

  Ellen put her hand in Sara’s tiny one and lifted her gaze to Reesa, who nodded that it was okay. Ellen let Sara lead her to the living room, explaining about the kingdom as they walked.

  Reesa grabbed up the replenished bowl of popcorn off the counter and walked to Shane, who was still sitting at the table, staring at the doorway. There was actually a visible sheen of sweat on his brow. Reesa laughed at him without mercy.

  “Bring your mother’s drink when you come to the living room, you big coward. You owe Sara for the save she provided. Your ass was grass and your mother was going to mow the lawn. Now the movie is going to be downright boring compared to watching the Shane Reginald Larson is in big trouble reality show.”

  Shane snatched the bowl from Reesa’s hands and slung it on the table, sending popcorn bouncing, but fortunately not flying out as she squealed about his attack. He pulled her into his lap and held her still while he kissed her thoroughly, kissed her as he had wanted to do for days and hadn’t been able to do.

  By God, he’d earned kissing her tonight, Shane decided. His mother approved of her and the kids. That was the last hurdle as far as he was concerned. Nothing could stop him from marrying her now.

  Reesa struggled in Shane’s lap, resisting even as her tongue danced along his invading one with so much relief and need that she didn’t know how she could walk around wanting and not having him kiss her like this when he was near.

  The moment was saved from getting out of hand with Brian popping up in the doorway and rolling his eyes in mock disgust.

  “Sheesh—fine. You two stay in here and make out while I take the popcorn to the living room. Just don’t be giving Aunt Teresa a hicky, Shane. You know Queen Melon will not be happy if you do that, dude. Of course, my silence can be bought for the right price,” Brian said, snatching the popcorn bowl from the table and cleverly staying out of Shane’s reach as he did. The man had a hard punch when provoked.

  “Okay, that’s it. I’ve had enough of your snarky lip service, you little manipulator,” Shane declared, boosting Reesa off his lap and chasing after Brian, who ran away laughing, popcorn flying out into the floor all along his escape route.

  Reesa picked up her drink and sipped to calm her system, which was still racing from Shane kissing her. It was kind of alarming to find she was practically vibrating from just a couple seconds of manhandling.

  In the distance, she heard Princess Sara screaming something at the wrestling males in the living room about “not in my kingdom”. Her haughty, loud complaining was accompanied by sounds of rolling and bumping into furniture, punctuated by grunts and groans, along with an occasional masculine laugh of triumphant from Shane—or Brian. She just hoped they didn’t break anything with their man-up contest. God knew she couldn’t replace anything if they did.

  Sipping, Reesa listened a little more, hearing Brian’s laughter and Shane’s muttered low cursing despite Sara’s squeals.

  Chelsea was probably sitting on the back of the couch keeping clear, Reesa decided, not hearing her chiming in to the melee. Hopefully, the older girl had rescued what was left of the popcorn. There were only a couple bags left until she went shopping again.

  She took two steps toward the doorway and stopped. God only knew what Queen Melon with her perfect face and hair, not to mention expensive perfume, thought about the ruckus her wicked son and Brian were causing. As for Reesa, well she was just the popcorn making kitchen wench.

  Turning to go down the hall instead of to the living room, Reesa decided this was the perfect time for a long, very long bathroom break.

  Shane wasn’t the only coward who knew how to stall.

  Chapter 17

  On Monday, Shane dropped by his brother’s at seven in the morning because he had barely slept the night before for obsessively remembering what it had been like to kiss Reesa Sat
urday evening. He’d thought about it way too much, and it was the first time since he was a teenager that Shane had been unable to sleep because of wanting a woman.

  To keep what was left of his sanity, he’d finally gotten up at five, showered and shaved, but couldn’t settle his mind enough to work. At six-thirty, he had sent his brother a text to see if he was awake yet, desperately needing a distraction. Now Shane sat with his face over a freshly brewed cup of coffee at Michael’s house, inhaling its fragrance like it was a matter of life and death. It might just keep him occupied and sane until he could get his hands on the tiny woman he craved like a damned drug.

  Michael slid a couple slices of whole wheat toast under his brother’s bloodshot gaze and sat a jar of apple butter in front of the plate.

  “Eat. You look like you’re going to fall over,” he said, smiling at Shane’s tired face. “Didn’t you sleep at all last night?”

  “No. Guess I can’t sleep without her now,” Shane said, frowning. “It’s been a week—no, almost two since I was able to spend any time with her alone. Now I know why you coerced Carrie into marriage. Anything is better than the torture of wanting her when she isn’t around. At least if I was in the same house, I could sleep with her.”

  Michael laughed and walked back to the toaster, popping a couple pieces in for his wife, who would be heading down the hall any second now. He had Carrie’s shower time and dressing time down to a science because Carrie didn’t waste a moment getting ready and out the door now that she had the gallery.

  The thought hadn’t even finished forming in his brain before she appeared in the kitchen doorway, looking surprised to see her brother-in-law sitting at her breakfast table. Michael smiled as his wife’s questioning gaze met his, but all he did was hold up the toast to show her it was ready.

  “Good morning, stranger,” Carrie finally said, noticing Shane’s haggard face and frowning. “You don’t look so good. Been burning the midnight oil prepping for Friday?”

  Shane snorted. “No. I only have to defend the last one-third of the data. I can prep on the flight there and do fine. This miserable attitude is Reesa’s fault. We’ve been too busy to see each other.”

  Carrie laughed softly as she poured herself a cup of coffee and kissed her husband good morning. She carried her toast and coffee to the table to take a chair near Shane.

  “Well, looking for work is always a harrowing experience, not to mention time consuming. I’m sure Reesa will slow down once she gets her job situation worked out,” Carrie said, biting into her toast.

  “Are you hiring her?” Shane asked.

  Carrie nodded. “Yes. I think its going to work out. Reesa certainly gave me some good advice when we talked last week. I was able to move forward and get some of the money spent even before she begins. Do you know if she took the other job?”

  “Other job? What other job?” Shane asked, offended surprise making him drop his toast.

  Carrie shrugged, narrowing her eyes at Shane’s glare. “Whatever job it was that she was all dolled up for the day she came to see me,” she said, not really surprised Reesa wasn’t telling Shane, if he gave her the same disgruntled response. “I think Reesa said she had an interview with the place where she used to work.”

  “She can’t go back there,” Shane said firmly, dismissing it and figuring Carrie had to be wrong. “Her ex was her old boss—sort of—or at least he was one of them. Her relationship and her job there ended badly when she quit to take care of the kids.”

  Carrie took a cautious sip, studying Shane’s denial over the rim of her cup. “I think she did mention that, but she also said she had to do it. Seems like Reesa needs the money pretty badly, Shane.”

  Shane shook his head. “She can’t need to work that badly. I offered her fifty thousand dollars, and she wouldn’t take it.”

  Carrie stopped eating to look at Michael, seeing he was just as surprised at that information as she was. For a moment, she wondered if Shane was kidding. He was fond of practical jokes, especially at his brother’s expense, which now included Carrie more often than not. Only Shane didn’t look like he was joking, she thought, looking at Shane again. Her gaze swung back to her husband, who shrugged as he refilled his coffee cup.

  “You two can stop with the eyeball communication thing you’re doing,” Shane said harshly. “No—I haven’t lost my mind. It was the advance I received for my action figures deal. I don’t need it, but Reesa does. It’s at least half of what the court said she had to come up with to keep custody of all four kids.”

  Michael drew a surprised breath, both at his younger brother’s earning potential and the fact that Shane was ready to hand the whole sum over to Reesa. Not that he hadn’t pretty much done a similar financial thing with mortgaging the house for Carrie to buy the gallery, but Michael had worked long enough to know that prosperity ebbed and flowed liked everything else in life did. Certainly, he knew the risks.

  The gallery might fail, though he didn’t believe it would. If it did there would still be the mortgage to pay off again. Risk was his choice, and sure, he would do it again for his wife, but this was Shane. His brother was a man who drove a ten year old car and wouldn’t get a haircut or buy new jeans even though every pair he currently owned were ripped all to shreds. Shane was notoriously tight with his money.

  His willingness to give what he had to Reesa went a long way to convincing Michael that his younger brother was indeed in love with the woman.

  “Why won’t Reesa take your money if she needs it so bad?” Michael asked.

  “I don’t really know,” Shane said flatly, glaring at Michael for saying it out loud and making it more real. He had been trying not to dwell on Reesa’s refusal of his financial help so he could focus instead on what it was going to take to get her to change her mind. Shane could feel temper heating his face as he thought about how stubborn she was being, which was why he’d been trying so hard not to think about it.

  “If I understood Reesa’s reservations, I’d damn well be talking her into a damn different logic. Reesa can’t go back to where she used to work. That’s out of the question. Her ex would harass her every day, which would put him on my shit list. I don’t honestly think she’d date him again, but her situation would be impossible to tolerate. The man is condescending as hell.”

  He stared at his coffee cup, his mouth tight and his eyes dark remembering his confrontation with Brentwood Addison.

  “The kids don’t like him either. I had to run him off when I first started dating her. When I did, I told the kids then that his death could only be a last resort. That won’t take long if Reesa goes back to work for him,” Shane said tightly.

  “Don’t be talking crazy,” Carrie said, looking at her brother-in-law with a mixture of irritation and pity. “You’d never kill the man any more than Reesa could take your money right now, Shane. Where’s that rational mind of yours hiding these days? You need to accept Reesa has some pretty big things in her life to work out.”

  Carrie rose and carried her dishes to the sink.

  “Well, I don’t understand either. Why can’t she take Shane’s money?” Michael demanded, pulling his wife’s irritated gaze to him. “Needing help and not taking it—that’s craziness. If Reesa needs the money for the kids, she can’t afford to be prideful.”

  Carrie was shaking her head at her husband.

  “Reesa has known Shane for all of two months at best. Just because they have sex and the kids like him doesn’t mean they’re serious enough to talk about finances yet. Look at it from her point of view. He’s a lot younger, still in college, and doesn’t have a steady job, or at least not the kind she views as steady. He lives an artist’s life. That’s not very stable for most people. She’s an accountant, remember. Her standard of a stable income is probably stricter than most people’s.”

  “I received a fifty thousand advance for the action figure deal and will still get commission on future sales exceeding that amount. I also just got my largest
advance ever on my current novel and the job at the university is a done deal. I’m not even thirty and I’m already a damn money-earning machine. How the hell much steadier do I have to be?” Shane demanded, frowning at Carrie. “And Reesa and I do have a future. Damn it, I want to marry her. I’ve told her that several times.”

  Carrie walked to Shane and put a hand on his shoulder. “I realize that no matter how smart you are, when it comes to Reesa you’re just a guy like all other guys, so try to hear this over your screaming male ego. Handling the problems of your relationship is more complicated than replacing tires on your car. This isn’t just about money.”

  “Are saying I’m being sexist just because I want to help her?” Shane asked sarcastically.

  “No,” Carrie said, laughing at his agitation even while she pleaded with him to set down his offended pride and try to understand the woman he professed to be in love with.

  “Good—because I am not being sexist. I just want to help,” Shane said firmly, as Carrie dropped her hand from his shoulder and walked a short distance away.

  “Shane, if you want to understand her reasoning, you have to try and see this from her point of view. Reesa is a professional woman used to earning a healthy income. Her first recourse would always be to find work and earn the money she needs for herself. Taking such a large amount of cash from you, especially after knowing you for such a short period of time, would probably feel like taking it from a stranger. Frankly, if I could have talked the bank into a better rate on a loan, I would never have used the money Michael gave me, and we’ve known each other for years,” Carrie said firmly.

  “But why, Carrie? Michael is your husband. Why wouldn’t you want him to help you?” Shane asked, swiping at his hair.

  Carrie shrugged and sighed. “It’s about feeling right as much as it about taking risks. Would you take Reesa’s money if your financial positions were reversed? My guess is you’d not only say no, but hell no, as most men would. Well, independent women can have the same kind of personal pride. I can tell you I absolutely would never have taken Michael’s money if we weren’t married. I still get butterflies when I think about the fact that there’s a huge mortgage on the house now because of me and the gallery. If I fail, Michael will lose a huge investment.”