by Anna Albo
She padded down the hall to his bedroom overlooking the lake. She wondered what a place like this cost. Easily a million dollars. Maybe two. His neighbors were celebrities and other sports stars. Eddie once considered a place in Lake of the Woods but chose Muskoka instead. Country living wasn’t for him, and after a year he sold the place at a healthy profit. Allie remembered going out there once or twice as a kid, but her memory of it was spotty at best.
She walked to the window and took in the view. The calm water was interrupted by a passing motorboat. As it faded in the distance, the water lapped up against Will’s dock. She’d spent the day sunning herself and later out on the water on Will’s boat. She’d read and he’d fished. She could spend the summer this way if she didn’t have a job.
She slipped out of her clothes and into the vast tiled shower stall. Three people would have easily fit in it. She had wondered why someone would need such a large shower until Will showed her why. Her body tingled at the memory.
She was rinsing shampoo from her hair when she heard the glass door open.
“Mind if I join you?” Will asked.
“The more the merrier,” she said.
He stepped inside and slid his arms around her waist and grabbed both her butt cheeks, lightly squeezing.
“Why don’t we stay in the bedroom all night?” he said, kissing her lips. “When my family shows up, we won’t answer the door. We’ll leave a note telling them to stay at one of the nearby resorts.”
“That wouldn’t be nice,” she said, running her fingers up and down his toned chest.
“But it would be much more entertaining.”
Before he got too amorous, Allie gave him one last kiss and exited the shower. “We’ve got to get ready. They will be here in an hour.”
She tucked her long chestnut-colored hair in a messy bun, tendrils of hair shaping her face. Although she preferred the natural bronzed glow from all her time in the sun, she put on a little makeup and then pulled on a simple yellow sundress with blue, pink and orange flowers. As she touched up the last of her makeup, Will came up from behind her and put his strong arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder.
“I’m going to come out to St. Paul in July. I’ll stay a few weeks because I don’t think I can stay away until August for the charity golf tournament.”
“But you love it here,” she said, leaning into him.
“But I love spending time with you more.”
Her heart soared. She’d finally found a normal relationship with a man. The only caveat? He played for her uncle’s hockey team and that meant their relationship was forbidden. But as long as they stayed under the radar and away from prying eyes, all would be fine. Or so she hoped. “We’ll have the end of August until April. Don’t give up this place for me.”
“This place isn’t going anywhere.”
She put her hands over his. “You’re a keeper, Cavallo.”
He kissed her cheek and let her go. “I’ll be in the kitchen. I’ve got appetizers to warm up.”
Allie took one last look out at the lake. Two pelicans were floating on the water, minding their own business and taking in the beauty of their surroundings. Allie could get used to life like this.
RUTH CAVALLO STARED at Allie for a long time, a smile etched on her face. Allie withered under her gaze. She couldn’t figure out if Will’s stepmom liked her or not. Allie passed the antipasto platter that she’d so thoughtfully prepared. Ruth took a plate, napkin and a selection of olives, Italian meats and a generous helping of hot pickled eggplant.
Allie then thrust the platter in front of Will’s father. He grabbed a plate and napkin, some food, but didn’t make eye contact with Allie. He was too busy discussing the prospects of a garden on one side of Will’s property.
“We can plant tomatoes. It’s not too late. A whole section of them. Beans, too. The other side we can get in some onions and garlic.”
Will took a plate from Allie then scooped up an assortment of food. “And who would look after this garden? I’m in and out of here.”
“I’ll drive up with your mom. It’s not like I have anything better to do.”
“Let’s consider it for next year.”
Allie hit up Jason last. He was sitting on one of the loungers, his attention on his phone. Apparently, his female friend hadn’t made the trip and Jason didn’t seem happy about it. He tapped away and when Allie approached, she startled him. In many ways, he reminded her of her mother. Jumpy from the drugs and alcohol, unable to join or sustain conversations. Darting glances that couldn’t focus on anything for too long. Jason may not have been drunk, but he was high on something. She figured it was prescription pills, but whether they were prescribed, Allie didn’t know.
“Antipasto?” she asked.
“Nah. Not hungry.”
And the loss of appetite. Allie’s mom barely weighed a hundred pounds, and Jason, once robust and in top physical shape, was in serious risk of losing his jeans.
“It’s nice seeing you again,” she said.
“Yeah, you too,” he said, more engrossed in the happenings on his phone.
“Will is happy to have you here.”
He lowered his phone and stared at her with his dead dark brown eyes. “I doubt that.”
Allie doubted it too, but what else could she say? “I think he’s happy to have you all here. You’re his family.”
He rested his phone on one of his knobby knees. “I knew the second I saw you he would chase after you. Guess he caught you.”
Allie couldn’t tell if that was maliciousness in his voice. “We got to know each other before we started dating.”
“I know your situation, and I’m telling you right now that you’re playing with fire. You’ll ruin his life.”
Her mouth opened, but she shut it before he could get any more satisfaction. “I won’t ruin his life.”
Jason grunted. “One way or another, you will.” He got up. “Any beer around here?” he called out, loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Not unless you brought it,” Will said without even glancing over. “And I specifically said no booze.”
Jason picked up his phone again and Allie took her cue to move on. She set down the platter and Ruth moved in.
“So, dear, I don’t know much about you other than you’re the owner’s niece.”
Ruth stood a couple of inches shorter than Allie but still managed to intimidate her.
“What would you like to know?” Allie asked.
“Have you ever been married?”
“No.”
“I thought Will mentioned an ex-husband. Or maybe an ex-fiancé?”
Allie hid a smile. Ruth was doing a good job trying to pry information. “That would be a no to both.”
Ruth smiled. “Must have got that all mixed up.”
“Right.”
“No children?” she said, and sipped her iced tea.
“Nope. No dogs or cats either. I lead a boring life.”
Ruth giggled a little. “There is nothing boring about that,” she said, pleased with all Allie’s answers. No skeletons, Allie assumed.
“We’re eating,” Will called out, carrying in a tray of barbecued meat from outside.
They took their seats and the first few minutes were dominated by hockey talk, mostly from Will and his father. Jason spent his time pushing food around his plate but not eating much of it. Just like Allie’s mom. She’d always take more food than she intended to eat, take a few bites then declare that she was full. Eddie would get angry and tell her how much he hated that she wasted so much food, but Molly Stewart would take no heed, and the scene would repeat itself over and over again.
“So, what are you guys going to do when you get found out?” Jason said, half-chewed food flying out of his mouth as he spoke.
Allie recoiled, but tried to recover quickly. He was disgusting and she regretted comparing him to her mother.
“Excuse me?” Will said.
“You
heard me. What are you going to do?”
“Who says anyone is going to find out?”
“You can’t keep this quiet forever.”
Will’s dark gaze fell on his brother, but Jason didn’t look at him.
Weasel, Allie thought.
“Yeah, we can keep it quiet. It’s St. Paul. It’s not exactly Hollywood. No one is looking for a scandal. I think we can avoid the paparazzi.”
Jason shrugged. “Whatever.”
Allie could feel the tensions rising at the table. His parents did too, and Sal engaged Will again on the subject of hockey. Allie asked Ruth about her garden and no one else bothered to talk to Jason. As they finished up dinner, Allie did the dishes while Will served dessert. He’d put together a trifle with Allie’s help, if help could be called cutting up fruit. They all enjoyed a cup of coffee before Ruth and Sal called it an early night. Jason went to his room too, leaving Will and Allie alone.
“Want to sit out on the dock and enjoy this evening?” he asked.
“I’m all over it.”
He grasped her hand and they set out down the hill to the dock. Will had set up chairs there and they each took one. Some light dotted the landscape from other cottages, and Allie let out a contented sigh as she listened to the water gently lap up against the dock.
“This is perfection,” she said.
“Yeah, it’s heaven.”
Allie didn’t want to break the serenity of it all, but she couldn’t help herself. “About your brother, he seems so angry.”
Will grunted as he leaned back in his chair and stared up at the sky.
“I didn’t want him here but my parents insisted.”
Allie shifted her chair to face Will better. “What’s going on?”
“Where do I begin? Remember last year? When you met him? He was staying with me, trying to keep out of trouble. Well, trouble found him. We had it out and he stole my Rolex, some cash and a pair of cufflinks.”
“Oh.” Then it dawned on her. “When I gave you cufflinks for Christmas, you seemed a bit weird about it. Is that why?”
“Yeah. For a second I thought you knew, but I remembered that I’d never told you.”
“So he pawned your stuff for drugs?”
“Yup. I was so pissed. I didn’t care about the money and the cufflinks were no big deal, but the watch, that was special.”
“You never got it back?”
“Nope. By the time my dad found where he pawned it, they’d sold it.”
“That’s terrible. I’m sorry, Will.”
He reached out for her hand and she gave it to him. He squeezed it tightly. “It’s no big deal. I’m over it. I just didn’t want him here, but the problem is if they leave him behind, they have no idea what he’s going to do. They need to watch him at all times.”
“It’s like raising a kid all over again.”
“Precisely.”
“We’ll try and enjoy this visit. It will all work out fine.”
“I certainly hope so.”
The sequel to On the Rebound coming
November 2019.
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Also by Anna Albo
Boys of Winter
On the Rebound
Power Play (Coming Soon)
The Senator's Son
The Senator's Son
This Much Is True
Watch for more at Anna Albo’s site.
About the Author
Anna Albo was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She’s a prairie girl who loves the city.
From new adult to chick lit and everything in between, Anna writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction that makes people laugh and love.
She received an Advanced Degree in Political Studies from the University of Manitoba and the knowledge she gained there creeps up in her books along with the occasional historical reference. She is a history buff.
When Anna isn’t writing her latest book, she’s enjoying a cup of tea while attempting to create a culinary masterpiece.
She lives in Winnipeg with her partner Mike, their dog Rocco as well as their cats Joseph and Summer.
To get updates and information on new releases, sign up for my newletter by clicking on my website link.
Read more at Anna Albo’s site.