by Brea Viragh
“Great?” Kai finished for me. I hated the way he grinned. “I told you I was an invited guest. You didn’t want to believe me.”
“Have you two met already? I wanted to be the one to make the round of introductions.” Nolan’s face dropped in his signature pout. Designed to get him his way eleven times out of ten.
“And you were. I’ve never seen him before in my life. A positive stranger.” My hand went once more to Nolan’s shoulder, guiding him toward the kitchen. Hissing out a breath, I tried to find a way to smooth the situation before I lost control. I was going to have to deal with this. Immediately. “Let’s go help with food and you can catch me up on what’s been happening. I’m sure you have a ton of stories to tell,” I said. “I’ve been meaning to call you but time seems to get away from me. I’m a bad big sister.”
I shot a look back to Kai, willing him to keep his trap shut. His eyebrows floated higher. From our single evening together I knew the man to be contrary. He’d drop hints all night if only to be irritating.
My lips pursed like I’d sucked on a piece of two-week-old fruit. Then I noticed the blooming potted plant on the coffee table. The man had brought flowers, sure to win my mother’s approval. Ugh, God.
I swiveled back around to face Nolan. “So how have you been?”
“I have a lot to tell you.” Nolan rubbed his hands together and fixed me with a gaze. “A lot has been happening.”
I continued the small talk to keep Kai from making eye contact. “I can’t wait to hear.”
We stepped into the kitchen in time for Thessaly to wave her arms in the air in a classic shooing motion. “Go on into the dining room. I’ve got dinner coming out of the oven in three and your father is setting the plates. Make yourselves comfortable. The place settings are where I want them, so don’t even think about switching seats.”
I shook my head, knowing what was coming and wishing I’d paid attention to the signs. They were the size of billboards—how was I so blind? No one to impress, Thessaly had told me…yeah, right. I’d like to pretend to be surprised by the obvious set-up. Or be surprised by finding myself face to face with the man who’d spent a combined total of four hours inside my body. But I couldn’t pretend.
“Can someone die from embarrassment?” I muttered under my breath, following behind the two boys as we made our way into the dining room.
Gone was the rustic charm I’d seen when I’d first walked in the door. Mom had pulled out all the stops for our pre-holiday meal. Curran Quade, proud father-figure for the Quade clan, finished situating the forks and knives around each plate before taking his chair at the head of the table.
There was something to be said for being observant. I could have slipped out the door and avoided this mess if I’d paid better attention. I permitted myself a lean, pained smile and sent an air kiss winging to Curran.
“Hi Daddy.”
“Hi yourself. Sit.”
Now I understood where I’d gotten my brusqueness. It was genetic. Trying to focus on surviving dinner, I took my seat at the table, nonplussed when Kai slid next to me.
“Cozy,” he remarked, gesturing to the four inches separating our legs.
I ignored him and chose to focus on Nolan instead. “I want you to tell me all about the classes you’re taking.” Hands knotted in my lap while I struggled to keep my voice level. “I know you said Religions of China and Japan was kicking your ass but I don’t believe it. You’re a smart kid.”
His roommate. The thought circled, a shark scenting blood in the water. Oh God, they lived together. Kai and Nolan spent the majority of their time together and probably shared secrets faster than tween girls.
And I’d slept with him. I was a monster.
At once I ran my fingers through my hair to make order of the strands. Not like my appearance mattered; it definitely didn’t. Hardly anything mattered compared to the chaos I’d made of my life.
I’d assumed the holidays were bad before. Now I had a doozy to handle.
“I’m doing fine with classes. The ones I make it to, at least. Those morning classes come around too early, and there are days when I just stay in bed.” Nolan threw back his head and laughed. “College life is the life for me!”
Oh yeah, we were talking about something, weren’t we? Classes?
“I admit to binge-drinking a bit,” Nolan continued. “But don’t tell Mom!” His finger went to his lips in the universal sign to be quiet. My father joined him in a second round of chuckling. The sort of glue binding men together in their boys’ club.
Get your head screwed back on, I ordered myself. My hands dove beneath my thighs, hostages, when I wanted to bolt off the seat. “I wouldn’t dream of it,” I said weakly. A down-to-business look tightened my face, although I allowed only a hint of resentment to leak. I’d become the designated bearer of secrets.
“There’s so much I have to tell you! And thanks for being so cool about Kai coming with me.” Nolan reached across the table and took both my hands in his own, shooting me a wink. “I know it was a last-minute change. I didn’t think to ask you because you’re always cool about these things.”
Ah yes, the image I tried hard to maintain. The woman who had it all together. The older sister with nothing to lose. Kai’s nearness was starting to get to me and I tried to lean the opposite way, lest I appear too willing to be close. Personal space, invaded. It was bad enough that the tiny hairs on my arm stood to attention and pulled toward him like damn static cling.
I gave Nolan something between a nod and a head shake in return, my grin pasted on like a kindergartener’s craft project. “No problem. If you want to bring someone else into this circus, it’s your prerogative.”
Kai remained silent. Bully for him. I felt a wave of disgust at my actions. I hit too close to home on this one. My one-night stand was out of my dreams and into my life in a real way. Too real. I had no choice but to reconcile my actions, because like it or not, Kai and I were face-to-face. Guilt clashed horribly with nerves, churning and turning my insides into sour milk. Lord, what would Nolan think of me if he found out I’d shtupped his roommate?
He wasn’t going to find out.
“Oh, Kai’s up for it, no problem. He’s the kind of guy who rolls with the punches, am I right?” Nolan sent another wink to Kai. The boy must have a full bucket of winks ready to dole out. “Always the life of the party.”
Kai shrugged. “If you say so.”
This couldn’t be happening. This couldn’t be happening. Not in a million years would I have pictured this scene. It was no secret that our family dinners could be awkward. I had multiple theories why, none of which were applicable in this case. I stared at the wall, daggers shooting from my eyeballs. Everyone contentedly ignored me. Kai glanced toward my father and a crooked smile appeared. My heart leapt in response. I remembered that smile at three in the morning, when he touched me with casual intimacy and I hadn’t the desire to push him away.
I’d give anything to keep my distance. Instead, his clever fingers skimmed underneath the table and across my knee. The rapid pounding of my pulse took me by surprise and made me shiver. He traced a pattern and I felt the touch all the way through me while we waited for the turkey to arrive.
No question about it, I mused, making an effort to push him away, we were in for one screwed up evening. I wondered how Kai saw it. Was it the sheer coincidence of the situation that overwhelmed me? Karma? Kismet? Or was it something else?
Would it be wrong to crouch and hide?
The room was quiet. Waiting-for-bad-news quiet. Like any-moment-the-phone-would-ring-and-a-police-official-would-tell-of-a-murder quiet.
Nolan was the first to break the awkward silence, his feet weaving through the back chair legs. “Nell, you look…unusual. Been shopping at Ye Olde Dress Shoppe?”
I stuck my tongue out in atypical adult fashion. “You know damn well this isn’t mine.”
“I think it looks good on you,” Curran commented. “You’re a fashio
nable lady.”
“Tur-key!”
The singsong voice called out from the kitchen an instant before Thessaly waltzed around the corner. An earth-child version of June Cleaver, here to break the tension in an unforgiving setting.
Nolan groaned, slapping a hand against his forehead. “Please tell me this isn’t another tofu turkey. You promised me on the phone it would be the real deal this year. Although I still don’t see why you want to eat it tonight instead of tomorrow.”
Thessaly scowled. “It was animal flesh you wanted, and animal flesh you’ll get. I aim to please. You’re all barbarians. I have a special meal planned for tomorrow, wait and see. Tonight we harken back to our roots and the savage day the white men slaughtered their Native American brethren.”
“This is going to be a brilliant night, I can tell.” I reached for my water glass but it teetered on the table and I grabbed it tight. Ready to bless myself in the war against the demons and their agendas.
“I’m happy everyone could make it home for the holidays.” Thessaly sent a pointed look to my brother and me. “And we have the opportunity to add one more to our family! It’s a blessing.”
“Jeez, I wouldn’t go that far,” I told her with undeniable sarcasm.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but Thanksgiving is tomorrow, right?” Kai gestured toward the spread, dishes piled high in signature fashion. “I’ve never heard of eating turkey the day before.”
“Darling,” Thessaly answered, “this is our warm-up for the main event. A chance to reconnect under a familiar setting and…” She paused long enough to take a sip of water. Long enough for emphasis. “…get to know each other better.”
“Is it a Southern tradition?” he asked.
“It’s a Quade thing.” I didn’t have a better answer.
There were more dishes waiting for consumption, more lumpy potatoes and bland string beans. They weren’t really lumpy and bland, but the thought of anything dropping into my stomach had my appetite souring.
My mother broke the stillness with a careful clearing of her throat. “Now, how about we all enjoy a meal and try to find something to connect us while we fill our bellies?”
That was all my father needed to hear. A squat man with glasses and a penchant for anything cheesy, the macaroni and the low brow varieties, he gratefully dug into the mashed potatoes without hesitation.
My grin turned cocky when I swiveled to face Kai. He’d been strategically placed next to me at the table, across from Nolan and with my parents taking the two end seats. I caught myself twisting the band of my watch around and around my wrist. The metal dug into my skin. I was on the losing end of an emotional seesaw and if I didn’t make conversation with the man, my mother and brother would know something was wrong. My knee burned where he’d touched me.
“Kai, was it?” I began. “What kind of classes are you taking at the university? You look too old to still be in school.”
Score one for me.
His eyebrows lifted nearly to the ceiling. “I’m working toward my bachelor’s degree in software development.” The piercing look made me aware of the words that fell between the lines: You already know this. Angling toward me, he continued, “I may not look as fresh-faced as Nolan, but I’m old enough to handle myself.”
Grr. Point to Kai.
“Software sounds fascinating. Although isn’t the profession usually reserved for antisocial types lacking in people skills? Outcasts? Pariahs?” I tilted my head in an attempt to make the question less obtrusive. My volley. Despite the obvious gasp from my mother, I found the verbal back and forth entertaining. I decided amusing myself with off-color conversation was more important than keeping everyone happy. And would go a long way toward lowering suspicion.
“Wow, you’re pretty snarky today,” Nolan commented. “Must be the dress.”
“No, it’s fine. Software development is amazing. The feeling of creating something using nothing but your own ingenuity and pieces of code—” Kai’s hand landed hard on my thigh in an unbreakable grip, and I tried hard to push him away. “It’s exhilarating for us antisocial types.”
“Nell works at a hospital,” Thessaly supplied. “She’s a nurse.”
“I’m sure no one gives a good goddamn what I do for a living,” I muttered, still trying to dislodge the wayward appendage clamped to my thigh. Kai remained immovable, his fingers digging deep into my skin. The man was incorrigible, and before I could stop myself, a fire began to burn. Starting as a spark and moving up to full-fledged flames in no time.
Score two for Kai.
“You have to have a strong constitution to work in healthcare. A spine of steel,” Kai stated.
“You’re right!” Thessaly agreed. “Although it’s a waste for a woman of her gifts to file papers and draw blood samples for a living.”
“She breaks the mold. I can tell. I’m sure it’s much more exciting than working in an office cubicle.” Kai helped himself to a ladle of corn with his one free hand, added a buttery biscuit from the basket to his left. “I expect you come across a lot of different people and stories.”
“Not particularly.” It was rude to answer through gritted teeth. Rude to refuse the offer of food when presented. I did both with gusto.
Nolan drew the attention onto himself, stopping to pour gravy over his mashed potatoes. “Kai and I met during freshman orientation. I was nervous and he took me under his wing since he’s older than me.”
I swallowed an unladylike cackle. “Taught you how to flirt with all the young girls, I’m sure.”
And another point for me.
“I want everyone to save room for cream puffs!” Thessaly trilled. On my right, my mother stared at Kai, then Nolan, then back at Kai. Then she looked at me. “Curran made them this afternoon.”
My father nodded, his mouth full and his mind elsewhere. We’d be lucky to get a word out of him before dessert; it was hard to speak when Thessaly took control of the discussion.
“I’m sure we’ll all save room, Momma,” Nolan assured her.
“You better.” She stared at me in silence for what felt like a full minute.
I took a keen interest in cutting my squash into tiny pieces. “It’s as cold as a bitch out there, Nolan. I bet you and Kai are sorry you came here instead of staying south. Might have been better if you’d holed up somewhere else for Thanksgiving.”
Even Nolan noticed the change in my attitude. He was about to comment when Kai bowled over him. “I know I’m just a guest, but I’m happy to spend my holidays in such a caring home.” His fingers danced along my thigh. “There’s a lot of warmth here, I can tell.”
Biting my lip, I pushed back. “Why didn’t you go home to your own family?”
“Nell! You’re being rude!”
My eyes darkened. No matter how I fought against Kai, he continued his assault on my leg. Bit by bit, he moved the skirt of the dress aside to expose skin. Friction had electricity crackling along my thigh.
“I’m saying what’s on my mind. And he’s being cooperative.” I drummed my fingers on the table. Unable to stop his raid.
Nolan leaned forward, pointing with his fork. “Play nice or else.”
Thessaly wrung her hands together in a characteristic move. “I think we can do without your attitude and cynicism tonight, Nell.”
Unable to resist, Nolan caught my attention and motioned for me to move closer. “It’s going to be like the old days. When you got the bar of soap in your mouth.”
Sneering, I leaned back. “Try it and see what happens.”
“Isn’t she adorable?” Thessaly spoke to Kai, forcing a smile to her face while she raised her fork higher. “One of a kind.”
Kai nodded. “I can see that.” His face impassive, no one would have guessed at the foreplay going on beneath the table. “I’ve never met anyone like Nell before.”
I twitched. No way to fight him. His strength surpassed mine by a mile.
“She isn’t irritating or abrasive on p
urpose, Kai,” Nolan said with a conspirator’s whisper. “She comes by it naturally. Don’t take offense to anything she says. You’ll get used to her eventually.”
“It’s fine.” Kai picked up where he left off, using his one hand to eat and his other to keep me on my toes. Literally.
Feet hooked through the rungs of the chair, I fought against a wave of heat rising from my nether regions.
“This is going to be the best Thanksgiving yet,” I put in acerbically. “I can tell.”
Kai nodded. “I agree.”
Then his fingers found my center.
CHAPTER SIX
Bull’s-eye!
Good thing I was sitting down. I nearly jumped out of my chair the instant his finger came into contact with the goods. The howl of surprise I stifled in time; the sudden banshee screech would have turned all eyes on me.
My blood came to a low, dangerous boil as his forearm settled between my legs while he thumbed over my clit.
Cheeks beet-red, I glanced around the table in embarrassment. Thankfully no one seemed to notice my near-ejection from the chair. Kai’s index finger hooked…and it took all my strength to keep my eyes from crossing.
His face was easygoing and gave nothing away. I gripped the top of the table and turned to my brother.
“Nolan!” I kept my voice pleasant, cheerful, watched him finish a bite of potatoes. “I know you said you’ve been having a tough time going to classes. What else have you been doing? Keeping busy?”
“Nothing you want to hear about now.” Nolan snapped a snow pea between his teeth. He spared a look at Thessaly before continuing. “It’s the normal routine, classes and work and study. I’m happy to take a break from the grind but I’m not sure how long we’ll end up staying. There might be bad weather on the way.”
“You know how those weather reports are. If we get any rain I’d be surprised,” Curran said, swallowing hard.
“Oh, sure. Sure,” I finally answered on an exhale, casting my gaze down. Spirals of pleasure radiated from my woohoo. The man was a regular Magic Fingers. Part of me screamed to make him stop, to think about my decency, with my parents sitting only a couple of feet away, my brother closer. The rest of me felt like I’d inhaled helium, gone skydiving, reached for the clouds, despite the audience.