Opposite Attraction

by Bernadette Marie

  Cynthia stepped forward, gripped his shoulders, and planted a big, wet kiss on his lips.

  He smiled as she pulled away. "Well the last time you ate at my parents ' house it must have made a big impression on you. " He rested his hands on her hips to steady them both.

  "Let 's just say after the week I heard you had, I figured you needed a little " she lifted her shoulders and let them fall, "head start on your after dinner festivities. "

  Heat rose in his belly. Friends with benefits were wonderful. Even better, Cynthia knew that 's all they were.

  "C 'mon. " She grabbed hold of his hand yanked him through the door. "Come look at this faucet. "

  She pulled him into the kitchen. The contents from under the sink sat on the counter lined in rows. The doors exposing the underside of the sink were open and she had a flashlight ready for him.

  Curtis knelt down and tucked his head under the counter. He turned on the flash light and gave all the pipes a look over. "When does it leak? "

  "When I turn it on. " Which was what she proceeded to do and Curtis yelped, hitting his head on the drainpipe as he tried to hurry out of the confined space.

  "I 'm sorry. " She was stumbling over him trying to turn off the water. "I didn 't think. Oh, Curtis " She stood laughing as he surfaced, face, hair, and shirt soaked. She covered her mouth. "Oh, I 'm so sorry. "

  "Funny? "

  She shook her head, but the laughter still rolled. "No. Nope, not at all, " she said but the next round of laughter broke free.

  Curtis shook his head and leaned over the sink shaking the water from his hair. "You know what would really be funny? "

  "What? "

  "Seeing what you 'd look like all wet. " With that, he turned on the faucet, grabbed hold of the spray nozzle, and shot it in her direction.

  Cynthia screamed and batted at the water while Curtis laughed.

  When he turned off the water, she stood before him, her blouse clinging to the curves of her breasts, making the moment extremely seductive.

  "Damn it, Curtis. Now I 'm twice as wet as you. " She held her arms out as water dripped in the floor.

  "Oh, but paybacks are a bitch, honey. "

  She blew a wet, curl from her face. "Fix the damn sink and mop up the mess. I have to change. "

  "Are you sure? I 'm liking that white shirt you 've got on. "

  "You 're a pig. Give me your shirt and I 'll throw it in the dryer. "

  Curtis pulled off the designer T-shirt and tossed it at her. They were too good of friends for her to have made a move on him half-naked. She only shook her head and stormed off. He mopped up the floor with kitchen towels from the drawer and then got busy tightening the pipe he could see had come lose.

  Curtis brought his mother flowers, his father a six-pa1ck of Bud Light, and because Cynthia told him he had to, he also bought two bottles of champagne to toast the bride and groom. He thought they should pop for the champagne since they 'd made him get dressed up twice in two months in some over used monkey suit, but he did as she said.

  He pushed open the front door of his childhood home. The scents from the kitchen were enticing and the sound of some sporting event poured from the family room. It was hard not to kick off your shoes and run through the house, Curtis thought.

  His mother came from the kitchen wiping her hands on her apron. A huge smile crossed apricot painted lips.

  "Cynthia, " she called out, her German accent mixing with her Southern one. She leaned in and kissed both her cheeks. "It 's so nice to have you in our home again. "

  "Thank you, Mrs. Keller. " Cynthia handed his mother the flowers and she buried her face in them.

  "Thank you. "

  "They 're from Curtis, but his hands are full. " He slanted a look at her but accepted the kindness that she 'd made him sound heroic.

  Curtis handed his mother one of the bottles of champagne he carried. "I brought bubbly to celebrate the newlyweds. Or is it old-weds? "

  Cynthia took the other bottle from him then pushed past him and with an arm around his mother 's shoulders. He heard her ask what was for dinner as they disappeared into the kitchen. Curtis headed toward his father in the family room to share the beer he had brought.

  The door opened again and Carlos and his family flooded into the house. That was a wonderful sight. The kids kicked off their shoes. The boys piled onto the couch to watch the game on the TV while Clara headed straight for the kitchen already calling to her grandmother. Curtis watched as Carlos kissed his wife in the hallway and lingered a thoughtful look at her. Today she wore a hat he 'd seen once before. As a doctor he knew women sometimes took a while to become comfortable with the thin hair that grew back after cancer. Madeline was no different. She caught his eye and gave him a smile before turning toward the kitchen.

  Carlos stepped into the family room and slapped Curtis on the shoulder. "What 's the score? "

  "Dunno. Wasn 't paying attention. " Curtis looked back at the TV.

  Eduardo looked up. "Six. Two. " He looked back down at the phone in his hand as it vibrated.

  "Who you texting? " Curtis inched over the arm of his chair to look, but Eduardo pulled back the phone.

  "He has a new girlfriend. " Carlos 's other son, Christian scoffed trying to see the game.

  "Girlfriend? " Curtis exchanged glances with Carlos and then looked back toward Eduardo. "You 're much too young for a girlfriend. "

  "Oh, that 's not the impressive part, " Carlos sat down on the arm of the couch. "She 's a senior. He took her to prom. "

  "That 's right. " He did remember hearing about that. "Uncle Zach gave you a job to pay for it. "

  Eduardo shoved the phone in his back pocket. "Is my life everyone 's business? " He looked up at Carlos.

  "In this family it is. No one is spared. " Carlos winked at his him. "Take Uncle Curtis. He brought his safe date. "

  Curtis dropped his shoulders and stared at his brother. "My safe date? What the hell does that mean? "

  "Cynthia. She in the kitchen, right? "

  "So? "

  "So that hot French chick is staying with our sister and you bring the safe date. "

  Curtis could feel the heat in his cheeks as he watched the amusement danced in his brother 's eyes. "I have nothing to do with the French chick. "

  Carlos laughed as he stood. "

  No, I think she didn 't have anything to do with you. "

  He slapped him on the shoulder again and Curtis tensed as his brother walked toward the kitchen. Fifteen years ago he would have kicked his ass for such a comment. But Curtis was mature enough to know beating up someone 's father, right in front of them, wasn 't mature.

  So this was what they all thought? That the French chick didn 't want to have anything to do with him? He sulked back into his seat, why wouldn 't they think that? His own brother-in-la1w had to send for him when she 'd stranded him on the stupid yacht.

  Curtis balled his fists. Safe date. He let out a grunt which had Eduardo 's head shooting up. H

  e gave the kid a nod and stood from his seat. He wasn 't going to let Simone Pierpont get under his skin. So what if she was still in town and staying with Zach and Regan. She wasn 't there because he 'd been thinking of her excessively for the past two months. Nope, he couldn 't care less.

  He opened his hands and wiped his sweaty palms on his pant legs as he walked toward the kitchen. As he passed through the hallway the front door opened again. This time it was Regan who walked through with Tyler on her hip. The very sight brought a smile to Curtis 's lips. He walked straight to her and reached for the toddler who stretched his arms out toward him.

  "You look tired, " he said kissing his sister on the cheek.

  "I 've been sick all week. "

  He bounced Tyler on his hip. "Morning sickness? "

  "Why do they call it that? " She asked in a whisper as to not let her secret out, he knew. "I 'm sick all the damn time. Not just the morning. "

  "It 'll get better. "

 
Regan shook her head. "You talk like a doctor. You should have to feel this before you try to use your bedside manner. "

  He laughed, gave Tyler a squeeze with his arm, and looked back at the front door as Zach pulled open the screen. He gave Curtis a nod then stepped back as he let Simone step through.

  The look on his face said it all. Simone was the last person he 'd expected, or wanted, to see. She stepped into the house and swallowed the lump that had lodged in her throat. Awkward situations were something she was trained to overcome. As an heiress she was often expected to enter a room, smile, and own it. She saw no reason that this should be any different.

  Simone lifted her chin, locked her eyes on Curtis, and curved her lips into the seductive smile she 'd used on him months earlier.

  "Hello, Curtis. "

  His jaw tightened and he shifted his nephew against his shoulder. "Simone. You1 look nice. "

  She kept her eyes on him. This was something she 'd been trained to do. If she could pique his interest long enough she 'd have power over the conversation and he would be compelled to need her, and that was just what she wanted from him.

  The silence in the hallway had become strained and awkward. Zach pushed his way between them and took his son from his brother-in-law. "C 'mon, big man, let 's see what grandma has for you. "

  Regan followed her husband leaving Simone alone with the man she 'd come back to America for. The very man, who now looked at her and made her want to run in the other direction. Things were not as they were when she 'd left him that sunny morning. No, he hated her now.

  Curtis crossed his arms over his chest. "I didn 't know you 'd be coming tonight. " His voice dripped with disdain for her.

  She gave a slight tilt to her head, which she knew showed off her best side. "Zach thought it would be rude to leave me at home. "

  "Great. " Curtis turned to walk away.

  "Curtis. " She let his name float on the seductive air of her voice. He stopped and turned back to her. "I want to be friends. "

  "Sure. As long as you 're visiting we can be friends, " he said through gritted teeth.

  Simone pursed her lips. "I am not visiting. I will be living here now. "

  He stepped closer to her, his eyes narrowed defensively. "Living here? As in living with Zach? Here in Nashville? "

  She dropped her shoulders. "Yes. In my own place, but yes, that is what I mean. "

  He gave a slow, deep nod. "I 'm sure that makes him very happy to know you 'll be nearby. I 'll bet Benson, Benson, and Hart has a cushy penthouse apartment in some new building that will suite you just fine. "

  She watched him walk away from her. He didn 't care that she 'd come back to the states for good. He thought she was just some spoiled brat, which she couldn 't argue with.

  Clenching her fists into balls until her nails dug into her palms, she fought back tears that threatened to weaken her facade. Nothing was going the way she 'd hoped.

  Simone followed the1 sounds of the family to the kitchen. Emily and Clara chopped vegetables at the counter. Madeline stirred the sauce in the pot on the stove. Regan nursed Tyler at the table and shared a laugh with a strikingly beautiful blonde.

  Regan noticed her standing in the doorway. "Simone, this is Cynthia. " She nodded toward the woman next to her.

  Cynthia stood and Simone knew protocol. She walked toward her, head high, shoulders back, fake smile pressed on her lips. "Cynthia, it is a pleasure to meet you. "

  "Oh, you 're the French gal, " she said with enthusiasm and wide eyes the moment she 'd heard Simone 's voice. "Curtis told me ‘bout you. "

  She was surprised the woman was smiling. Curtis couldn 't have shared anything good about her. She 'd seen the look in his eyes when she walked in the door.

  Cynthia was obviously native to Nashville. Perhaps she was a neighbor he 'd grown up with. Someone who might have been at Carlos 's wedding, she hoped.

  Carlos and Curtis both walked through the door to the kitchen, each with a beer in their hand.

  Carlos stepped in behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her waist. He placed a kiss on her neck and Simone watched her lean back against him.

  "Whose winning the game? " Madeline asked on a sigh.

  "Dunno. Don 't care. " He kissed her again.

  Curtis didn 't say a word as he walked past Simone and stood behind Cynthia. He placed his hand on her waist and just as Carlos had done to his wife, and lingered kiss on her neck, just above her collar bone. Cynthia laughed and shrugged him off, but a sharp pain hit Simone in the chest. She knew what that felt like to have his lips pressed to her skin.

  Curtis pulled from his beer and nodded in Simone 's direction. "You two met? "

  Cynthia elbowed him in the gut. "Yes. At least your sister has some manners. "

  Regan propped Tyler up on her shoulder and patted his back. "Simone, come sit with us. "

  At that very moment she wasn 't sure she could. Her legs had stiffened and her stomach churned. She 'd be damned if she 'd show weakness in front of him, even if she did want to run to the bathroom and throw up the very little bit that she 'd been able to eat at lunch.

  With the grace she 'd been trained to have, she took a seat next to Regan.

  Tyler had quickly fallen asleep on his mother 's shoulder and Regan rubbed his back. "Simone, will you hold him? I need to fix my shirt. "

  There was no time to say no. Regan lifted him from her shoulder and handed the sleeping baby to Simone. The only option was to place him against her shoulder, just as Regan had done.

  Curtis knew Cynthia had felt him tense beside her, but she didn 't call him on it. Not yet. But he couldn 't help the feeling that had washed over him when Simone cradled Tyler to her shoulder. It was completely unnatural, but at the same time, there was a peace to her he 'd never seen. He wasn 't even sure she knew she 'd kissed the top of his head and closed her eyes.

  Clara dropped a spoon as she carried silverware to the table and that seemed to snap him from his lock on Simone, but not before she raised her eyes and caught his stare.

  Damn. What had that woman done to his heart?

  Regan stood from her seat. "Oh, Clara, let me help you. If this family gets any bigger we 'll have to rent a banquet hall. "

  Emily shook a finger in the air. "I have four grandkids and four children. I should have many more grandkids than I already do. "

  Curtis felt the heat on his back begin to rise. "I 'm going to step outside and get some air. " He looked down at Cynthia. "C 'mon. "

  The look she shot back at him said he 'd be due for a fight later, but she followed him out the back door.

  As soon as the door was closed she crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. "You 're sure bossy tonight. That little French things got you all giddy. "

  "That little French thing? God, you 're as bad as everyone else. " He raked his fingers through his hair.

  "What was with your reaction to her holding the baby? I 'd think you 're getting sentimental on me, Keller. "

  He didn 't like her tone. He didn 't like his reaction. There was always one way to fight a fire, with another fire.

  Curtis turned and gathered Cynthia 1in his arms and pressed his mouth to hers. When she 'd found her balance she wrapped her arms around him and accepted his heated kiss. He took it deeper, pushing her up against the railing of the porch.

  With his teeth he nipped at her bottom lip. His hands dug into her shirt pulling her closer to him.

  Finally, she put her hand on his chest and pushed back until their lips parted.

  Cynthia sucked in a deep breath. "Damn. She has you more riled up than I thought. "

  Curtis took a step back and shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. "What does that mean? I 'm kissing you, not her. "

  "Right. " Cynthia nodded, but her lips turned up in a grin. "Don 't think I didn 't have plans to keep you all night, but, honey, I 'm not where your heart is. "

  "She dumped me on a yacht in the middle of the
damn ocean. "

  This time she laughed. "And how many men can say that? "

  "How many men want to? "

  "Get over it. Something happened to make her leave you in the middle of nowhere. She 's here. Get to the bottom of it. "

  Perhaps that was the most sense he 'd heard out of anyone since the incident happened.

  He nodded. "I 'll do that. "

  "Good. Now can we go back inside and help with dinner? Unless you wanted to roll behind those bushes by the garage. "