Before he could yell at her, she rushed, ‘I apologize for my sister. She can be a little, um . . .’ Sasha searched for the right word. Pushy? Snobby? Imbecilic?
‘Charming,’ Prichard inserted. ‘All of our potential patrons are utterly charming. They have money and yet they’re conscious enough to care about human history. I can’t stress to you enough how important our patrons are, Miss Matthews. This project is in dire need of funding. I myself have had to attend these types of meetings.’
Sasha didn’t speak, as Prichard tried to make it sound like the whole arrangement was of his doing.
He continued, ‘The Richmond family are one of the museum’s biggest benefactors and, if they turn their attention to our project, we’ll be able to expand our staffing and equipment. Your sister is mistaken in the idea that they’ve already donated, but don’t correct her on it. That would be rude. They’re very generous to all the museums and can’t be expected to remember every charity they bless with their generosity. Oh!’ Prichard pointed into the air. ‘I’ll get you our pamphlets to take with you. And, I daresay, it’s good Mr Merchant is attending this gathering. His knowledge will certainly come in handy.’
Sasha flinched. Prichard’s meaning was not lost on her. He didn’t think she was smart enough to handle this on her own.
‘Hurry, hurry,’ Prichard shooed.
Sasha made her way back to the laboratory, a small feeling of disgust washing over her in light of Prichard’s ass-kissing greed. In her absence, Kevin had continued to work. He glanced up as she walked in, giving her a tiny smile.
‘Come on, I have to take you to lunch.’ Sasha reached under the table, grabbing her bag and coat.
‘Oh?’ Kevin chuckled, and added dryly, ‘Don’t make it sound so appealing.’
‘It’s not like that.’
‘You need me to help carry the order?’ he asked.
‘I need you to meet some of my family,’ Sasha explained, biting her lip. Nerves seized control of her stomach and she wasn’t sure she would manage to keep food down. She didn’t do this. She didn’t let guys meet her family. Why couldn’t she have just kept her mouth shut at Sunday dinner? Trust Kat to come up with some sort of crazy scheme to intrude into her life. She knew what was going to happen. Her sister would ask horribly embarrassing questions. And what if her mother was there? The thought of Beatrice and Kevin having a conversation scared the shit out of her. So what if Kevin appeared like he’d be cool with the eccentric matriarch of the Matthews clan?
‘Isn’t that a little, uh –’ Kevin ran his hand through his hair, glancing over to the twins before leaning closer. Whispering, he finished ‘– premature?’
‘My sister, she’s . . .’ Sasha weakly motioned to the door.
‘I think we all heard her,’ Kevin inserted.
‘She set up a meeting with her in-laws about the project and Dr Prichard wants us to go and—’ Sasha didn’t get a chance to finish the rambling thought.
‘Don’t keep them waiting, Miss Matthews, go,’ Prichard ordered from the door. To Kevin, he said, ‘I’m sure she filled you in. Here’s some information for you to . . .’
Sasha didn’t stay around to listen as she hurried to confront Kat before Kevin joined them. Snow fell in thick wet flakes from the dreary blue-gray sky and she automatically fastened the big buttons on her heavy wool-blend coat. The brightly diffused light hurt her eyes and she squinted as she searched the street for Kat. Finding a long black Richmond limousine halfway down the block, she trudged over the mushy, slosh-covered sidewalk. The sedan was big enough to fit eight passengers in the back.
The door opened and Kat poked her head out, frowning. ‘He’s coming, isn’t he?’
‘Please tell me this isn’t some elaborate scheme to meet the guy I’ve been complaining about,’ Sasha begged.
‘Would we do that to you?’ Kat asked, feigning shock.
Sasha’s chest tightened and she pressed her hand over her heart. Oh, no. ‘We?’
Zoe poked her head out of the car, leaning over Kat’s lap. A matching smirk lined both of her sisters’ mouths. Ryan leaned forwards to peer at Sasha. A grin spread over his face, partially hidden by the way his chin-length dark-brown hair fell over his features.
With a straight face and unconvincingly monotone, Zoe swore, ‘This isn’t just some elaborate scheme to meet the guy you’ve been complaining about.’
Ryan had the audacity to snort; suddenly chuckling so hard he had to hide his face by fading back into the darkened plush interior of the limo.
‘This isn’t funny,’ Sasha hissed, trying not to scream. ‘This is my work. You can’t just come here and interfere with my—’
‘Kevin!’ Kat lifted her arm, grinning. She pushed Zoe away and slid from the car. ‘Sasha has told us so much about you. We couldn’t wait to meet you.’
‘Kill me now,’ Sasha muttered. No one heard.
Sasha managed to turn around. He’d pulled the black skull cap over his head and wore the longer black wool coat with the dark-red scarf. The cut of the coat suited him, as it showed the breadth of his shoulders and slim tapering of his waist. She scratched at her forearm, absently rubbing the material over her tattoo as she looked at his hip.
‘Come in out of the cold,’ Kat insisted. ‘We’re a little full, so Sasha might have to sit on your lap.’
Sasha jolted as Kat bumped playfully into her arm, dragging her eyes away from Kevin’s hip. She hoped the look of stunned horror on her face could pass as apologetic. The uncomfortable stiffening of Kevin’s shoulders told her she’d failed. He cleared his throat. ‘Thank you. I’m sure we’ll manage.’
Kevin alternated his gaze from the faces surrounding him to the thick flakes splattering against the car’s tinted window. Kat had been joking about the crowdedness of the limousine. There was plenty of room and Sasha used it to her full advantage, making a point not to touch him even though they sat right next to each other. The plush black interior was edged with silver, attesting to the wealth of Kat Richmond’s in-laws. Long seats stretched opposite each other. Etched crystal glasses and a row of untouched liquor bottles filled a narrow bar. A drop-down flat screen with DVD player lay across the ceiling, in front of the closed screen between passengers and the driver.
The wintry air had flushed her cheeks and added a swollen effect to her lips, giving her a nice rosy hue. She didn’t wear a hat so the wind had tousled her hair. It reminded him of that morning, the way the dark locks splayed across his pillow as he thrust into her. He enjoyed the languid way her lashes swept halfway down her eyes when he made love to her.
As they drove, Kat introduced him. Zoe and her husband, Jackson, were next to Kat. Their brother-in-law, Ryan, sat on the opposite side of Sasha. Despite the rich setting of the car and the supposed wealth of half their party, he found himself relaxed with Sasha’s family. They were down-to-earth people, clearly not raised with the silver spoon shoved down their throats. Each carried themselves with their own distinct personality, which blended seamlessly into the group.
‘Glad to hear your project is going well. I, myself, never had a head for science or sitting still in a laboratory,’ Jackson allowed. The pleasant drawl of his Southern accent contrasted the hint of New York in Ryan’s. ‘I like moving around too much.’
‘I knew I’d never be into science the day they told us we had to dissect a frog. I was one of those kids who wanted to free the poor creatures,’ Ryan said. ‘To my shame, I didn’t.’
‘We’re hardly dissecting frogs,’ Kevin remarked. ‘Though it isn’t a dream job.’
‘What would be a dream job?’ Zoe inquired politely.
‘I’d . . .’ Kevin hesitated, glancing around at the interested eyes turned towards him. He didn’t talk about this sort of thing much. Maybe it was because he didn’t meet too many people who cared to hear about it. Sasha had been the first person he’d discussed it with and that had only been the night before. Thinking of the night before, he slid his gaze in her direction. ‘I’d much
rather be out in the field.’
‘What field?’ Kat asked. The woman seemed to have a permanent half-smile tattooed across her face. He could see her as the mischievous one out of the bunch.
‘Somewhere exotic. Belize, maybe. There are hundreds of underground Mayan ruins waiting to be explored.’ Kevin pulled at his scarf, twirling his finger around the tightly woven end. ‘I honestly don’t care so long as I get to be outside.’
‘Oh, Ryan,’ Kat sighed. ‘Could you imagine taking our equipment down there?’
‘They’re photographers,’ Sasha explained quietly.
‘I know,’ Kevin answered. She’d already told him.
‘You do?’ Kat asked, surprised. ‘How could you tell?’
‘Sasha mentioned it,’ Kevin said.
‘Oh.’ Kat laughed. ‘I thought you were going to be one of those super-spy guys who notice everything.’
‘You watch too much television,’ Ryan teased.
‘That’s only because I now own a television,’ Kat quipped.
‘She’s talked about us?’ Zoe’s eyes rounded in shock as they turned in Sasha’s direction. ‘Wow. That is something. I always figured you denied you had a family when it came to guys.’
‘How long have you two been dating?’ Ryan asked.
Sasha became rigid, hastening to answer, ‘Oh, we’re not together.’ She gave a nervous laugh. ‘I mean, we’re just lab partners.’
A wave of pain hit Kevin in the chest like his heart had just been ripped out and thrown into the icy cold street. He didn’t move, didn’t even think to correct her. He thought he saw something in her eyes as she’d looked at him that morning, but clearly he’d misplaced his hope.
Just lab partners. Study buddies. Someone to fuck when the mood struck.
He balled his hand into a fist. Anger and hurt warred inside him. But what could he say? He had no room to protest her statement. They didn’t have a commitment and she’d already told him she didn’t talk to her family about her love life. Part of him had hoped that he’d be special enough to break that cycle of secrecy.
‘My mistake,’ Ryan said.
Sasha kept her eyes steadily forwards, refusing to look at the man next to her. She waited for Kevin to contradict her denial of them. When he didn’t, she couldn’t help but feel disappointment when there should have only been relief.
In truth, she was unsure how to act and resented Kat for instigating this whole scene. She only really connected with Kevin the night before and didn’t know where they stood, or how she even felt about them, or if there was even a ‘them’. If she didn’t want her sisters poking into her long relationship with Trevor, she sure as hell didn’t want them butting into whatever she had with Kevin.
To hide her insecurities, Sasha turned her attention to something safer. ‘I wish spring would get here already and the snow would stop.’
‘The internship lets out for spring break in about a week. You could go somewhere warm,’ Kevin suggested.
‘Oh, can you, Sasha?’ Zoe asked. ‘I’d love to take another family trip.’
‘Mm, Bahamas,’ Kat moaned. ‘Sun. Sand. Heat.’
‘A cruise,’ Jackson suggested.
‘I’ve been dying to photograph the Gila Cliff Dwellings in New Mexico,’ Ryan inserted.
Kat chuckled. ‘We’re talking crisp ocean waters and sandy beaches.’
Ryan shrugged. ‘Deserts have sand. Oceans of the stuff.’
‘I can’t,’ Sasha said. ‘I’ve got too much work to do with my final project and we have to work on a presentation to officially complete the internship since it’s so short timewise.’
‘I won’t be here,’ Kevin said. ‘I’m going upstate.’
‘Oh?’ Sasha wished she could stop the small sound of disappointment, but it was too late.
‘It’s not exactly warm, but it could be a nice break,’ Zoe said, a mischievous look on her face. Sasha frowned. She’d expect such obvious meddling from Kat, not Zoe. ‘And you both need to work on your presentation.’
‘Kevin’s family is there,’ Sasha said. ‘I’m not intruding on a family thing. We’ll just work on it when he’s back.’
‘You’d be welcome,’ Kevin inserted. Sasha turned to him in surprise only to see a matching emotion in his eyes, like he was amazed he’d offered. He cleared his throat. ‘They own the Sawmill Pine Bed & Breakfast near Lake Champlain, so there are plenty of available rooms. If the B&B has overflow, my mother takes in guests and there are the separate cottage houses. They wouldn’t charge you and I planned on renting a car to drive up anyway.’
‘A free vacation?’ Ryan reiterated. ‘You can’t refuse that, Sasha.’
‘I don’t—’ Sasha mumbled.
‘We could have uninterrupted time to work on that presentation,’ Kevin interrupted. ‘Unless you have other plans?’
Did sitting at home eating ice cream and fudge cake in pyjamas count as a plan?
Sasha nodded, trying to act nonchalant about it. ‘OK. Sounds great. We’ll go upstate for spring break, but I’m paying for half the rental.’
‘If you insist,’ Kevin answered.
‘Oh, here we are,’ Kat announced as the limo slowed. ‘And don’t worry. Since I kidnapped you from work, I’m covering the check. Or should I say Mimi is? She’ll be so pleased I’m finally using my Richmond special allowances account for something.’
Kat didn’t wait for the driver as she opened the door. Cold air instantly swept into the car, cutting off conversation as the occupants adjusted their hats and coats. Sasha waited, letting the others go first. As she moved to step out, Jackson held out his hand to help her. She smiled at Zoe. Her sister had really found herself a true gentleman.
Kevin exited last, standing behind her on the snowy sidewalk. When she glanced at him, his face was turned up to read the restaurant’s sign. Fat snowflakes landed on his face, dusting his black skull cap and his wool coat. Reading the sign, he said, ‘Annika.’
‘I’ve heard they have great Scandinavian dishes here,’ Zoe put forth. ‘Mostly Swedish cuisine, if I recall. I’ve read about Chef Bengtsson in the New York Times.’
‘He’s a nice guy,’ Jackson said. ‘I’ll introduce you.’
‘You never told me you met him.’ Zoe took her husband’s arm.
‘It never came up.’ Jackson walked his wife inside. Ryan strolled after them.
Sasha grabbed Kat’s hand, gripping it tight to keep her from following. To Kevin, she said, ‘Would you mind going ahead? We’ll be right in.’
‘Sure.’ Kevin joined Ryan who held the door open. The two men walked in.
‘What?’ Kat asked, her face revealing she knew full well ‘what’.
Sasha let go of her sister’s hand, afraid if she didn’t she’d keep squeezing until Kat yelped in pain. The cold surroundings faded in light of her irritation. Her breath came out in white puffs as she demanded, ‘So, are we really going to meet Mimi about donating to the museum, or was this just your way of messing up my chance at completing the internship without completely being hated by the doctor in charge?’
‘Whoa, turn down the hostility,’ Kat said. ‘I can explain. Kind of.’
‘Of course I’m hostile,’ Sasha hissed. ‘Damn it, Kat. This is my life. If I don’t come back with some sort of giant donation, he’ll blame me. And I can’t exactly tell him my sister was bored and decided she wanted to embarrass me with the one guy who is quite literally probably fifty thousand times smarter than I am and who I can’t run away from.’
‘Hey, calm down, Sash. Take a breath.’ Kat tried to pat her arm.
Sasha jerked back. ‘What were you thinking?’
Kat sighed heavily. All pleasantness fell from her features as she answered truthfully, ‘That mom called us and said we had to interfere. She begged me to do something crafty to get you out. So Zoe came up with the dinner idea and I did a little research into your internship project, bought this rich-girl getup from one of the stores Mimi’s already trying to
get me to shop at, took the family limo and forced you out of hiding.’
‘I’m not hiding,’ Sasha pouted.
‘Mom said you weren’t coming to family dinner this Sunday,’ Kat said. ‘And that you seemed melancholy when she talked to you the other day.’
‘Because I’m busy and I just broke . . .’ Sasha stopped talking.
‘Omigod, are you saying Mom’s tea leaves were right?’ Kat’s eyes rounded. ‘You did just break up with someone and are about to throw away something great because you’re confused again? I mean, she gets it close, we all know that, but she’s right, right?’
‘I’d been seeing someone for –,’ Sasha hesitated ‘– a while. It’s over now and I don’t want you meddling.’
‘If I knew she was dead on, I wouldn’t have . . .’ Kat threw her arms around Sasha. ‘Honey, I’m so sorry for this. I thought you’d get a laugh out of it and an afternoon off. I didn’t know that this Kevin guy was actually a—’
‘He’s not anything,’ Sasha rushed.
‘Sasha, please don’t shut me out like this and please don’t take your anger at me out on that poor guy in there,’ Kat begged. ‘We can all tell you’re sleeping with him, or at least almost sleeping with him. You should have seen the look on his face when you said you were just his lab partner. He looked like he’d been slapped. Men who are just lab partners don’t get that look.’
Sasha frowned. ‘This is why I don’t tell you these things. You guys are always on my case about who I choose to date, and who I like, and how I behave towards them.’
‘I’m your sister and as such you’re duty bound to listen to me when I tell you you’re being an ass. And, Sash, sweetie, you’re being an ass. I’m not imagining that look I saw on Kevin’s face and I know you. I love you, but I know how you can be. Whether you want more or not with this guy, you need to be nicer and pay attention to the signals you’re giving him. You always over think things and ignore the obvious – like how we’re having this conversation while freezing our asses off.’
‘You could have just called and talked to me,’ Sasha said, pouting a little as she allowed Kat’s walk to prompt her own.
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