Just a Little Bit Married

by Teresa Southwick

  “First of all the two situations are completely different.” When Linc opened his mouth to protest, Sam held up a hand to stop him. “Trust me. Think about it. You’ll figure out how they’re not the same. And second, listen to yourself. Do you know how stupid it sounds? You’re a good man.”

  “Easy for you to say.”

  “Probably. But just as easy for you to put your questions to rest. As far as I know you only saw him that one time, when he told you who he was.”

  “Just the once,” Linc confirmed. He hadn’t wanted anything to do with the guy.

  “So, reach out. Get to know him, what he’s like. Do it for yourself and let go of the ghosts.”

  Linc nodded. “I’ll think about it.”

  “Good. I expected you to tell me to go to hell,” Sam admitted.

  “Don’t think I didn’t consider that.” Linc smiled.

  There was a spark of the devil in his brother’s blue eyes when he said, “I’m looking forward to meeting Rose.”

  “Don’t tell me. You’re coming to dinner.”

  “Ellie invited me.” Sam shrugged.

  “Maybe she’ll come to her senses and uninvite you between now and then.”

  “Don’t count on it, bro.”

  If Linc counted on anything now it was his brothers and sister. After the big reveal ten years ago he’d thought of his siblings in terms of half, but that was about him, not them. He was the one with a different father but Sam was right. They had grown up together and Linc was glad Sam, Cal and Ellie were still in his life and treated him no differently. He was the one who’d changed and, again, it could be possible that Sam was right. Maybe it was time Linc faced the man who was responsible for ruining his life.

  But whatever he found out wouldn’t change the situation with Rose. He wouldn’t cross the line into personal territory and risk hurting her again. Somehow he had to find the strength to keep from kissing her a second time.

  Chapter Ten

  Rose was working in the McKnights’ home office and deeply involved in coming up with a decorating theme that would impress Linc. Since his negative critique of what she thought of as some of her best work, she really didn’t understand why he wanted to keep her on. Anyone else would have fired her. Since he didn’t, she was determined to wow him.

  He’d said he liked her place so that gave her a starting point, but nothing in it was expensive. Everything had come from thrift stores, antique shops and garage sales because her budget was thinner than a high-fashion supermodel. So she was going to decorate Linc’s condo the way she would have done her space if she’d had money.

  She completely lost track of everything and tuned out the distant sounds of doors closing and hushed voices. Then there was an unmistakable squeal of happiness from Ellie. Rose glanced at her phone and noted that it was closing in on dinnertime. She should probably come out of the cave. If she was being honest, burying herself in work could have been a coping mechanism, better known as hiding from Linc.

  The intense way he looked at her did funny things to her insides, not unlike the way he’d made her feel when she first knew him. Before he broke her heart. She was older and wiser now so why would this be happening to her again? If it was just Linc, she would stay put and not come out, but his sister was involved. Ellie and her husband had been nothing but incredibly gracious. They deserved friendliness in return.

  Rose shut down everything and walked into the kitchen. The usual suspects were there—Ellie with Leah in her arms. Alex and Linc. And then there was a very good-looking man she vaguely remembered from working at Hart Industries ten years ago.

  “Rose, there you are.” Ellie shifted a squirmy Leah onto her hip. “I thought we were going to have to send search-and-rescue to find you.”

  “Sorry. I got caught up in work.” She gave Linc a look that said it was all his fault and hoped he got the message. “It’s hard to deal with a client who doesn’t like anything.”

  “So, this is Rose.” The good-looking man studied her as if he’d never seen her before.

  “Guilty.” She figured he wouldn’t have noticed her ten years ago because a lot of people worked for the company and she was pretty far down the food chain. Her heart fluttered when she glanced at Linc and realized he’d noticed her.

  “I’m Sam Hart, brother of Ellie and Linc. Brother-in-law of Alex and uncle of Leah.”

  “Nice to meet you.” She shook his hand. “Rose Tucker, interior-design expert of Linc and annoying houseguest to the extraordinarily gracious Ellie and Alex.”

  “I wish Cal was here,” Ellie said. “It would be a family reunion.”

  “In case you’re not aware,” Sam said to Rose, “Calhoun Hart is our brother. He’s in the middle, between Linc and me.”

  “In charge of the energy research-and-development branch of Hart Industries,” his sister explained. “And it would take an act of God to pry him out of his office.”

  “Why?” She didn’t recall ever seeing the elusive Cal Hart when she’d been employed at Hart Industries.

  “He’s a notorious workaholic.” Sam slid his fingers into the pockets of his slacks. The long sleeves of his white dress shirt were rolled to midforearm and his red silk tie was loosened, giving him a carelessly dashing look. “I’m worried about him.”

  “Me, too,” his sister agreed.

  “Why?” Rose asked again.

  “He hasn’t taken a vacation in years. If ever,” Sam explained.

  “I’m thinking of holding a family intervention.” Ellie absently kissed her daughter’s soft cheek. “He’s going to burn out and that won’t be pretty.”

  “True.” Sam stared at his brother. “Look what happened to Linc. He’s exhibit A.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said. “There was nothing to see.”

  “Because you went all lone wolf and radio silent,” Sam retorted. “After the family secret was spilled you fell off the grid. For how long?”

  “Two years,” Ellie said.

  Linc took the beer his brother-in-law handed him. “I don’t suppose there’s any way the two of you are going to let this drop?”

  Sam looked at Ellie and they both said, “Not a chance.”

  “That’s what I thought. So,” he said, looking at the watch on his wrist, “how about I give you five minutes to rag on me. Get creative. Give it your best shot. Then we never have to speak of it again.”

  Rose watched brother and sister think that over. There was a part of her still wanting to see Linc suffer a little for what he’d done. “Is it just me, or does having permission to annoy him without mercy take all the fun out of it?”

  “Ah, so you’re piling on,” Linc said. “How about you, Alex? Feel free to sink to their level. I can take it.”

  His brother-in-law laughed. “Appreciate the invitation, but I’m handing out drinks. I’ll just line yours up, partner. You’re going to need them.”

  “Excellent,” Linc said.

  “It’s kind of a brilliant strategy when you think about it,” Rose said. “A time limit on teasing.”

  “Thank you.” Linc’s tone was a little smug.

  “I don’t think it was a compliment.” Sam studied his brother. “And who can blame your soon-to-be ex-wife. Yeah, Ellie told me you have the sensitivity of a water buffalo.”

  “I didn’t say that,” Ellie protested.

  “I filled in the blanks. Probably more efficiently than Linc handled the divorce.” There was a wicked, teasing look in the man’s eyes.

  Rose hadn’t been sure what to expect from this guy whose loyalty would be to his family, but he was not putting a serious spin on the situation. And bless him for taking the awkwardness out of it. The best way to deal with the elephant in the room was to confront it directly and make fun.r />
  “I think I like you, Sam Hart,” Rose said. “And yes, this time it will be a full-service dissolution of marriage.”

  “You might want to rethink the divorce, little brother.” The oldest Hart sibling had a thoughtful expression on his face. “Your wife is as smart as she is pretty. Has it ever occurred to her that she’s working for a complete idiot? We already knew that after his disappearance. I used to call him the missing Linc.”

  “Three minutes and counting,” Linc said after a glance at his watch.

  “Don’t you wonder how he kept Rose a secret from us at all?” Ellie asked.

  Sam took the beer Alex handed over. “If I met someone as pretty as Rose, I’d have kept her to myself, too.”

  “No one asked you,” Linc snapped.

  “Actually, Ellie did,” Sam pointed out.

  Ellie set down her daughter and the child toddled to the family room toybox. Obviously she was bored with this grown-up talk. Rose, on the other hand, was kind of liking the sibling interaction.

  Sam took a sip of his beer, then said, “I never knew you two were dating, never mind the quickie wedding.”

  “One minute left.” Linc met her gaze and there was an apology in his.

  “It’s interesting to watch the dynamic between all of you,” Rose said. “I’m an only child and would have given anything to have a big brother.”

  “Want mine?” Ellie set corn chips and guacamole on the kitchen island. “I just can’t believe I didn’t know Linc was serious enough about anyone to get married. Then he disappeared.”

  Rose understood the sentiment. After all, the love of her life left her with very little explanation. Now she had one and knew Linc had been betrayed in a more profound and basic way than any of them.

  “You know, since I found out what Linc was going through right after we got married, I’ve tried to put myself in his shoes. How would I feel if I found out the man I thought was my father...wasn’t.” Rose shrugged. “I can’t even imagine what I would do in that situation.”

  “Thank you, Rose.” Linc’s mouth turned up at the corners. “I appreciate you sticking up for me.”

  “It wasn’t for you,” she teased. “I’d have done the same for anyone.”

  “You’re sweeter to him than he deserves. She’s also right.” Ellie looked at Sam.

  “It pains me to say it, but he did have the right to get weird.” Sam grinned. “But he’s still our brother and we love him. That gives us the right to rag on him relentlessly. It’s our way of keeping him from turning into an eccentric recluse.”

  “So,” Linc said. “You’re picking on me out of love.”

  “Exactly,” Sam agreed.

  “I just got a warm fuzzy,” Linc said wryly.

  “Now that we’ve cleared it all up let me continue—”

  “Time is up.” Linc looked at Sam. “I think we’ve exhausted the subject. If you care nothing for me, just take pity on Rose. It’s entirely possible she doesn’t want to rehash this whole dark past.”

  “I agree,” Ellie chimed in.

  “You’re my baby sister,” Sam said. “We don’t have to do what you say.”

  “You do in my house. And I’ve got backup.” She smiled at her muscular husband.

  “Just call me the enforcer,” Alex said drily. He dipped a chip in the guacamole and ate it.

  Rose watched the siblings continue to banter and saw for herself the love and affection Linc had from his family. She sensed they’d teased him since childhood and were treating him no differently since learning they didn’t share a father.

  He was the one with the chip on his shoulder. And she felt a great deal of sympathy for him. The past really had a grip and wouldn’t let go. The empathy was far different from what she’d experienced when he’d shown up out of the blue at her door.

  Obviously knowing the facts of what happened had helped her to get to this place, but that wasn’t the only thing.

  She was afraid that hot kiss had started melting the ice around her heart.

  * * *

  The next morning Linc was showered, shaved and dressed. He stood in the bathroom he shared with Rose and stared hard at the door to her room. He needed coffee almost as much as he needed a woman and right now his odds of getting a cup of caffeine seemed the best. Something hot would be good after another cold shower. The thought of Rose in the bed just a few steps away never failed to make his body tight and tense. No way was he going to have her, so he headed downstairs and found the kitchen empty and the house unusually quiet.

  “Weird,” he said to himself.

  He was used to the sounds of his niece giggling, crying or squealing with delight over something wondrous to a child. Sometimes he heard his sister laughing in that certain way she did when her husband was getting frisky. They were happy family sounds, the kind that were unlikely to be heard in his condo.

  His biological father got marriage wrong three times and Linc had a failure on his own record. That was enough to keep him from another mistake. But staying here with Ellie and watching her so happy with her own family made him envious of being a Hart in name only.

  “Enough with the downer attitude.” He sighed. “And stop talking to yourself. The neighbors are starting to talk.”

  He walked directly to the coffeemaker, where he found a note from his sister. It read:

  Dear Linc,

  Alex and I had early appointments. Help yourself to anything. Coffee’s ready to go. Just turn it on. I’m confident you can handle that. If there’s nothing in my house to eat that appeals to you...starve. Or take Rose to the Harvest Café. It’s awesome. See you at dinner. Love, Your favorite sister.

  He turned on the coffeemaker and said, “Bless you, Ellie.”

  The machine started doing its thing and he heard the shower go on upstairs, telling him that his decorator would be ready for breakfast shortly. So, he checked out the contents of the refrigerator. Eggs, cheese, mushrooms and tomatoes would make an omelet. There was cut-up cantaloupe and English muffins. That all worked for him so he sliced the ingredients and readied pots, pans and utensils for cooking. The coffee was ready and he got out two mugs, then poured some of the hot black liquid in one of them and waited.

  Moments later Rose walked into the kitchen. What was it about this particular woman that hit him like a sucker punch to the gut every time he saw her? She had on a white T-shirt and worn jeans that were just tight enough to show off her curvy little body. It was enough to make a man break out in a cold sweat. Her shiny dark hair was carelessly pulled back into a ponytail with wisps caressing her face. If she had on makeup he couldn’t tell and it didn’t matter. She was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

  She glanced around and suddenly looked wary at the prospect of them being alone. “Where’s Ellie?”

  “Early appointment.” He held up the note. “We have been abandoned and must fend for ourselves.

  “Looks like she got everything ready.” Rose indicated the preparations underway.

  Linc nodded. “Oh, that. All me.”

  “You’re cooking?”

  “Don’t sound so surprised. I’ve got skills.”

  “That’s not breaking news,” she said. “But I wasn’t aware that cooking was one of them.”

  “There’s a lot about me you don’t know.”

  “You’re right about that.” Her full lips pulled tight for a moment.

  As soon as those words were out of his mouth he wanted them back. No one needed a reminder that their short marriage hadn’t given him time to find out what would have her laughing in that special way when he got playful. Or to learn all the particular places to touch her and make her cry out with pleasure. He wanted to now and had only himself to blame for that dead end. Time for damage control. He’d had plenty of exper
ience learning about that.

  “Coffee?” he asked.

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  “Coming right up.” He poured some into the second mug, then fixed it her way and set it in front of her on the island. “The breakfast menu is mushroom, tomato and cheese omelets. I hope that meets with your approval.”

  There was a vindictive expression in her eyes when she said, “I don’t know. I’m not lovin’ it. Cold and impersonal. No wow factor. No pop. Just not feelin’ it. Too mushroomy. A lot of roundness. And cheesy.”

  “Cute.” He couldn’t help smiling as he stared across the granite-topped counter. “Is it customary for you to punish a client when he or she doesn’t approve of your creative ideas?”

  “Of course not. That’s no way to do business. You’re the only one who gets that special treatment.”

  “Lucky me.” If he’d wanted an interior designer without personal baggage he’d have hired a perfect stranger. “So, are you hungry enough to take a chance that I won’t give you food poisoning?”

  “Normally I’m not a fan of living dangerously but I’ll make an exception. Mostly because it looks like you did a nice job cutting up those mushrooms without taking off a finger.”

  “Okay, then. Prepare to be amazed.”

  “With you I’m always prepared.”

  Linc was pretty sure she wasn’t referring to his culinary ability, but decided not to make an issue of it. There were hills to die on and this wasn’t one of them. All part of the penance package.

  It didn’t take long until the mushrooms and tomatoes were ready for the egg mixture and cheese. When the muffins were toasted and buttered, they filled plates, then sat at the circular oak table in the nook.

  Rose smiled when she looked at the table. “Did you tell Ellie this has too much roundness?”

  “Have you met my sister?” He shook his head. “No way.”

  She laughed and then took a bite of the eggs. “This is really good.”

  “I’m glad you like it.” He liked watching her enjoy it.

  They ate in silence for a few moments as he searched for a topic of discussion that wasn’t about food poisoning, severing fingers or anything else that could land him in deep doo-doo. “Thanks for having my back last night. I know you tried to stick up for me when Ellie and Sam were giving me a hard time.”