Chaos

by Barbara Huffert

  “Well,” she sounded breathy, “interesting as that is, I believe you were telling me about your day with Penny.”

  “Right.” Shane let her get the conversation back on track, now that he’d given her something to think about. “Let’s see. We got dishes, mats, a litter box and scoop, a variety of food and more toys than any one cat could ever need. Then we went to the first shelter. I couldn’t believe the number of animals they had. I’m going to suggest to Jordan that he bring up the importance of spaying and neutering on his show sometime. Anyway, even though there were limitless choices, Penny didn’t find the one cat she knew was meant to be hers. We tried the other shelter, which was just as overcrowded. After spending another hour going from cage to cage, holding and petting each cat and kitten, we finally found it. I think she was down to the second to last cage but there he was, a little black and white kitten who looks like he is wearing a mask. When Penny cuddled him, he started with this huge, rumbling purr that made her giggle uncontrollably. I was afraid she would scare him but he just purred louder.”

  “I bet she’s floating.”

  “I’d say so. They put him in a cardboard carrier so we could take him home and he kept poking his paw out of the holes like he was trying to reach her. I think she actually held on to it most of the way home.”

  “Does he have a name yet?”

  “Penny said his name was Purrkins as soon as we were in the car. She said he told her.”

  “And I suppose you heard him say that?”

  “Ah, no. I suspect I’m too old for him to talk to. You should have seen Max when she introduced them. I think he can understand him too.”

  “That must have been so cute.”

  “Yeah. I love the way kids think. They’re really amazing, the way they made the whole thing sound so logical.”

  “You’re such a softy, McKade.”

  “Well, I won’t tell if you don’t,” he teased. “I wish you’d been with us, Pix,” he said before he could stop himself.

  “You think I’d have the patience to wait around like that while she handled every cat in two shelters?” Alyssa tried to sound flip.

  Shane sighed, wishing he’d held his tongue. She wasn’t ready yet. “If you were carrying your camera and had captured the look on her face when he started to purr, I’m sure you would have found the day quite satisfactory.” He hoped his comment sounded as light as he’d intended.

  “Oh. Yeah, you’re right, although kids and kittens aren’t really my thing.” But maybe they could be. Alyssa was shocked by the comment she’d added in her mind. “So did you talk to Jordan since they took Bear?”

  “Friday, after they got home. He was quieter than usual but I expected that. He mentioned that your cousin is a remarkably strong woman so I think they’re leaning on each other.”

  “He has no idea what Kiley is capable of. She’s always been that way even though I never pointed it out to her. I just took advantage and used her support to get me through whatever was going on with me.”

  “Stop it, Pix. We’re not taking them for granted anymore, remember? We’re going to be open and honest and encourage their strengths and abilities, just like we promised after Brett showed us the lousy way we were treating them. No more guilt. Kiley wouldn’t want it any more than Jordan would want mine.”

  “I wonder why they’re both so willing to forget our past treatment and welcome us so completely into their lives now. I’m not so sure I’d be as forgiving.”

  “Oh I don’t know about that. Look at the way you’ve let me become part of your life. If you can ignore the fact that I’m a total ass then why shouldn’t they overlook our faults too?”

  “Got a point there, McKade. Hey, next time you talk to Jordan tell him everyone here loves his show. They’ve rigged the spare radios so we can all listen to it. One of the guys even called his sister and encouraged her to look into the college there. She’s apparently interested in the technical aspects as well as broadcasting. He thought she might be good enough for Jordan to let her intern at the station. I didn’t know if he was doing a production internship too but I thought it was worth her time to check.”

  “If there’s interest, then I’m sure my brother will create a program for it. You know how he is. I may be a cop, hoping to make the world a better place but he’s the one who’ll make a difference. Between his abilities, his money and his sense of community, he’ll find ways to make things happen that we haven’t even thought of yet.”

  “How is your job? Are you still as frustrated as you were before I left?”

  “Yes and no. I’m seriously considering leaving, as you already know but I haven’t given up completely yet.”

  “Have you seen the Kid?”

  “Only from a distance. He wasn’t alone so I didn’t get close to him.”

  “I wish…” She let her thought trail off.

  “Me too. I’m not ready to write him off though. There’s still a slight chance that he’ll walk away and ask for help.”

  “Do you really think so or are you just saying that for me?” Alyssa asked quietly.

  “Both,” he admitted. “I know you don’t want to hear this but, for now, I just have to wait. It’s up to him but I’ve shown him that I’m nearby if he needs me.”

  “I guess that’ll have to be enough for now. I can’t believe how much someone who I barley know affects me. It’s weird the way I find myself worrying about him.”

  “That’s because you’re just as soft as I am.”

  “Oh, please,” she exaggerated and he knew she was rolling her eyes. “I think I’d better go before it gets any deeper around here.”

  “All right, Pixie Queen.” Shane hated to hang up but knew not to push her. “You’re glad I called though, right?”

  She laughed. “Sure, if that makes you feel better. I’m sure we’ll speak again soon. Try not to get shot in the head.”

  “I’ll do my best. You stay out of Oz. See you in your dreams.” He cut the connection before she could respond.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “I’m so pleased you have time to join me for lunch today, Shane. Jordan wasn’t very thrilled with the idea of me in the city alone. He seems to have forgotten that I lived here on my own until he rescued me on Lyssa’s birthday.” Kiley followed him into her cousin’s studio.

  “I think that’s because he can’t remember his life before you. I take it he’s a little overprotective of you. I suspect he had quite a debate with himself over canceling his meeting so he could come with you.” Shane hadn’t been surprised when she had called, telling him that Alyssa said she had additional pictures of their wedding reception and wondered if he was available to get them for her. He was pleased by her invitation to escort her to lunch at Mr. Paul’s, the restaurant she had worked at before his brother swept her into his life.

  “He would have if I hadn’t insisted there was no need. After all, I’m here with you, so that hardly counts as being alone. I’m going to Mr. Paul’s, where I spent the last several years of my life. And I’m stopping to see Vera on my way home. It’s not like I’m stopping off to interview some of Lyssa’s gang members. He replaced my car, since even I had to admit that my old one wasn’t exactly reliable and gave me a cell phone in case I’m ever stranded.” Kiley grinned. “This is where I should also admit how wonderful all this makes me feel.”

  “Gee, I never would have guessed that,” Shane teased.

  “Hello, gorgeous,” Brett called as he came in after them. “I hope you don’t mind if I tag along. When I heard you were coming to town, I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to have lunch at Mr. Paul’s. I miss going there.”

  “In other words, Jordan asked you to come with us in case Shane was called away.” They could see by his expression that she was right. “It’s all right, Brett. I don’t mind. Dee says it’s not the same without you guys around all the time.”

  Shane chuckled. “Just think how bad he’ll be when you get pregnant.” />
  “I’m looking forward to it. I can’t wait. I’m going to be the most pampered, spoiled pregnant woman in the world and I bet I’ll love every minute of it.”

  “So he was serious when he said you were going to let nature take its course?” Shane hadn’t been at all surprised by Jordan’s announcement when they returned from their honeymoon.

  “Yep. We talked about it and both agree that we’ll start our family when our bodies decide it’s time to,” Kiley explained. “I understand why some people plan when their kids come but I’d rather be spontaneous. Jordan is already suggesting names to go along with Max.”

  “You’re going to be great parents,” Brett proclaimed.

  “And we’re going to be overindulgent uncles,” Shane added as he opened the door to Alyssa’s office.

  “Oh my!” Kiley gasped as she noticed the new photos Alyssa had hung since she had last been there. “I didn’t know she did that sort of thing.”

  Shane and Brett turned to see what she was looking at. There was a series in black and white of a couple. They were obviously nude although discreetly posed to just barely keep from displaying them entirely. Only the torsos were visible but it was easy to see that one of the subjects was male and the other was female.

  “Wow,” Kiley whispered.

  “Yeah,” Brett agreed, catching Shane’s eye with a questioning look. His artist’s eye knew instantly that the models were Shane and Alyssa, even if Kiley couldn’t see it.

  “Hmm,” Shane commented, busying himself with finding the album for Kiley. “Here you are.” He handed it to her, drawing her attention from the display. Was Campini nuts? What kind of game was she playing, sending her cousin in here with him where she might recognize the two of them? “Why don’t we look at it out here, where there’s room for all of us to see it?” He ushered them back into the main studio, locking the office door behind them.

  At the restaurant, Shane and Brett waited at the bar while Kiley visited in the kitchen before they ate. “Interesting shots,” Brett commented.

  “Yes,” Shane responded, knowing Brett would have a field day with this new twist.

  “Even more interesting is that she has them displayed in her private spot.”

  “If you say so.”

  “You’re clearly still working out.” When Shane declined to answer, Brett continued, “That scar on your shoulder is hard to miss, especially since I was mostly responsible for you getting it. It’s not likely that I’ll forget the way you climbed out onto that limb after I tossed Jordan’s favorite plane into a tree. I still say you should have let me get it. I was a lot smaller than you were then.”

  “And I still say there was no way I was going to let you try a stunt like that when I was supposed to be keeping an eye on you two. Mom would have skinned me alive if you had fallen out of a tree and landed on your head.”

  “As I recall, she wasn’t very happy when you landed on the trowel she left in her flower bed. I was afraid you were going to bleed to death when Jordan and I yanked you over and saw all the blood pouring out of where it stabbed you.”

  “At least it convinced you to stop trying to negotiate your planes through the branches like an obstacle course.”

  “Yeah, we probably should have listened to you when you told us that was going to happen. But back to what brought this up in the first place. How did she ever talk you into that?”

  “I have no idea. I was there, keeping her company and she insisted on taking my picture for Mom and Dad. She said I could destroy the pictures if I hated them. It was actually fun in a weird way.”

  “Wait, she sent one of those to your parents?”

  “No, of course not. They were from later on. She said she wanted to try some art shots. You should see some of the ones with our faces showing.”

  “Thank goodness she didn’t hang one of those. I really don’t think I want to be present when Kiley plays twenty questions with you. Jordan was bad enough.”

  “Did I ever thank you for helping out that day? It was a little odd, hearing you defend me.”

  “I only told him something he already knows. Shane, you’re as decent a guy as he is. You’d never do anything to deliberately hurt her. In fact, I think you might be even more protective of people you care about than he is. Just don’t expect the same when it’s Kiley’s turn. I doubt if it’ll take all that long for her to piece together what we’re all not saying. I’m surprised she hasn’t asked Jordan directly yet.”

  “I’m not so sure she doesn’t already know. Maybe she’s hoping something will come of it if she doesn’t try to push us toward each other.”

  “Maybe. Either way, she’ll be able to sense it the first time she sees you together once Alyssa gets back. Part of me hopes I’m there for her reaction even though I’m not getting involved.”

  “Getting involved with what?” Kiley asked as she returned.

  Neither man had realized she was back. Both hoped she had only heard the end of their discussion. “With Sadie’s niece,” Brett supplied.

  “Have I missed something?” she wondered as they moved to a table.

  “No, not really. I had dinner with Sadie a few times over the past month. Her niece, Andrea, is staying with her at the moment and I didn’t want to be rude so I invited her to join us. The last time, I caught her watching me with this goofy look on her face.”

  “Goofy look?” Shane chuckled.

  “Yeah, kind of dreamy or something. Anyway, once she knew I saw her, she avoided looking at me at all the rest of the evening. She scurried away when I dropped them at home instead of having coffee with us.”

  “Maybe she’s interested but too shy,” Kiley spoke from experience.

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Brett shrugged.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Shane asked.

  “Nothing, she’s fine, I guess. She’s just not my type so I don’t want to give her any ideas. I’m afraid if I’m nice to her she’ll take it for more than me being polite to the niece of a friend.”

  “So Andrea has a mind instead of big boobs and blonde hair?” Kiley teased.

  Brett acted shocked. “Kiley, if I didn’t know what a sweetheart you are, I’d be offended by that crack.”

  “Why? It’s true. I’ve never seen you with anyone who doesn’t look like she stepped right out of the Victoria’s Secret catalog. And none of the ones I’ve met have managed to string more than three words together at a time,” Kiley commented.

  “She has you pegged, Brett. I wouldn’t bother trying to argue,” Shane added. “I could make the same statement about all the women I’ve seen you with in the past five years. Not that there’s anything wrong with it if that’s what you like.”

  “Gee, I’m so glad I decided to humor Jordan and have lunch with you two.” Brett scowled.

  Kiley squeezed his arm. “Aw, Brett, don’t be upset. I didn’t mean any harm. I was only teasing you. I’m not being fair since I don’t really know any of those girls. I’m sure they’re all perfectly wonderful and I shouldn’t make assumptions just on the way they look.”

  “Stop apologizing, Kiley,” Shane insisted. “You were very accurate and Brett knows it. He’s just blustering because he doesn’t want you to think badly of him for going for looks more than personality.”

  “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with being attracted to beautiful women,” Brett objected.

  “Of course not, Brett,” Kiley tried to soothe him. “It’s nice of you to not lead Andrea on. Very sensitive of you.”

  “Thanks, I guess.” Brett let it drop, wondering if what they both said was true. He had never thought about it.

  Kiley sought to change the subject so she said, “I keep thinking about those pictures in Lyssa’s office.”

  Brett instantly latched on to the new topic as Shane tried not to squirm. “Pretty hot, weren’t they?”

  “See, that’s it. They are hot. Both models have great bodies. I wonder where she found them. But it’s not just that.
I don’t know how to say what I mean. They just looked natural, not posed, if that makes any sense.”

  “Kind of like the couple was very comfortable together and there was no awkwardness at them being naked together.” Brett understood what she was saying.

  “Yeah, that’s sort of it,” Kiley agreed. “I can’t imagine posing nude with a stranger.”

  “But you’d be comfortable if the man was Jordan.”

  “Yes, although there is no way I’d let someone take pictures of us like that.”

  “Not even your cousin?” Shane was curious. “I’m sure she’d be very professional if you wanted one of the two of you.”

  “I’m sure she would be but I know I wouldn’t be comfortable even with her seeing us naked together.”

  “Kiley, you’re not thinking of it as art. You’re seeing it as personal,” Brett pointed out.

  “It would be personal,” Kiley admitted. “It makes me wonder about those people.”

  “Wonder about what?” Shane asked, even though he knew he was in dangerous territory. How would she react when she realized the couple was Alyssa and him? The house Brett was buying had a pool. At some point he was sure they would all wind up there. Brett was right. The scar on his shoulder was very distinct and visible. She would surely recognize it eventually.

  “Well, I just wonder if there’s something between them. Are they as comfortable as they look together or are they just so professional that it doesn’t matter that they’re naked and posing for pictures? Maybe I’m just being silly. Models are like actors, right?”

  “Right,” Shane agreed, not able to look at Brett since he knew they were thinking the same things. “Why don’t you tell us about Jordan’s meeting? I know I suggested he do a show on animal awareness but I’m amazed at how quickly he’s doing it.”

  “It’s a good topic.” Kiley told them of the people Jordan was interviewing for his upcoming show inspired by Shane and Penny’s visit to the overcrowded animal shelters. Both men managed to avoid the previous topics that had made them uncomfortable for the rest of their visit.