by Lisa Jordan
Maybe they could make a mad dash for the apartment without him catching them. But she wasn’t doing anything wrong. Not really.
She shut off the ignition and dropped her keys in her purse. Tossing a smile at the boys, she jerked her head toward the house. “Come on, guys. I’ll give you the fifty-cent tour.”
They scrambled out of the car, grabbed their backpacks and followed her to the porch. She reached her door about the same time as Alec’s opened and he stepped outside.
Dressed in khaki cargo shorts and a navy T-shirt, he nodded at her and flashed a quick smile. But the moment he caught sight of the boys, the smile disappeared under the weight of his puckered brows. Lines bracketed his thin lips.
Sarah smiled. “Hey, Alec. You remember Daniel and Toby, right? From the summer outreach program?”
Nodding, Alec thrust his hands in his pockets. “Boys.”
“Mr. Seaver.” Daniel lifted a hand in greeting.
“A word, Sarah?”
“Sure, no problem.” She turned and handed Daniel her set of keys. “Hey, guys, give us a minute, will you? Head upstairs and make yourselves at home. There are cold drinks in the fridge. I’ll order pizza as soon as I’m done talking with Alec.”
Daniel studied them a minute, then reached for the keys. Neither said a word as they took the stairs two at a time. Once they unlocked the door and let themselves inside, she steeled her spine and faced Alec. “What’s up?”
With his back pressed against the porch railing, he folded his arms over his chest and crossed his ankles. The intensity of his stare made her want to squirm, but she refused to be intimidated. The boys needed her today, and it was only temporary.
Sliding her sunglasses to the top of her head, she kept her tone casual, repeating, “You wanted a word?”
He nodded toward her closed door. “What are they doing here?”
“Their grandma fell off a chair and broke a hip. Daniel called me from the hospital, very upset.”
“So why are they here?”
“She’s their sole caregiver, so I brought them home with me. With her permission, of course. They’re tired, so they’re spending the night here to get some rest since I have stuff to do to prep for tomorrow’s cooking lesson.”
“No.”
“No, what?”
“No, the boys aren’t staying here.” Even though Alec didn’t raise his voice, the “my word is final” tone in his voice set her teeth on edge.
Pausing a second to school her tone, she shot him a direct look that showed she refused to back down. “Yes, they are. They have nowhere else to go. They’re minors.”
“What about CYS?”
She tossed her arms up. “Children and Youth? Seriously? Where’s your heart?”
Alec’s eyes narrowed. “Your lease states no one else is allowed to live here without prior permission from the landlord, which is me, in case you’ve forgotten.”
“Of course not, but you’re being a little ridiculous, don’t you think?”
“My house, my rules.”
“Wow, total high-school flashback. Have some compassion, Alec. It’s not like I tried to sneak them in or anything. Those boys have gone through a lot. They lost both parents in a car accident over Christmas and left everything they knew to move up here to Shelby Lake to live with their grandma. Nancy’s been working hard to help them adjust. They’re good kids. They’ve been a part of our church’s youth group since they’ve moved here. They need someone they can trust, and that’s me.”
She touched his arm. He tensed. Sarah dropped her hand to her side. “Listen, I know you dislike teenagers, but they are good boys, and it’s only for tonight. Tomorrow we’ll know more about what’s going on with Nancy. Then, if need be, I’ll stay at their place until she comes home. Or if it really stresses you out that much, I’ll grab a few things and then head back to their place tonight.”
Alec ground his jaw and looked over her shoulder. Even though he hadn’t changed positions, he remained totally wound. “I don’t like it.”
“I didn’t ask you to. They’re teenagers, Alec—not toddlers. They’re old enough not to cause any trouble. You didn’t seem to mind when Ella and Ava spent the night with me last weekend.”
“It’s not the same. Little kids like your nieces at least are still learning right from wrong. Teenagers choose right from wrong.”
“Daniel is a straight-A student. He bags groceries after school to save for college and to help his grandma. Toby is one of the sweetest kids I’ve met. Since they’ve moved here, they’ve come to trust me, and I won’t turn my back on them.”
Was it only a couple of days since Alec had hugged her after she’d helped his uncle? She’d really thought their relationship had turned a corner and the teens were growing on him. She was a fool for thinking he’d changed.
Instead, he was acting like a jerk.
With her head throbbing and stomach growling, she pushed past him.
Alec reached out and grabbed her elbow. “Sarah, wait.”
She stopped, but she didn’t turn around, needing a second to temper the words scalding her tongue.
After a moment, Alec pushed away from the railing and moved in front of her, holding up a hand. “Listen, I’m sorry—I overreacted.”
At least they agreed on something. “Ya think?”
He ignored her jab. “Do you know what it’s like to lose everything?”
“Yes, I do. Even though I haven’t experienced the tragedies you’ve endured, I do know the ache of having your life changed. I refuse to live life in a bubble, afraid of getting hurt again. I’m really sorry about what you’ve gone through, but you can’t paint all teenagers with the same brush. I lost my best friend in high school, but I still create friendships. I had my heart broken, but that doesn’t mean I’ve given up on getting married someday.”
Alec headed for his apartment. With his hand on the doorknob, he turned and gave her a long look. “Be careful. Don’t be too trusting. I’d hate for you to get hurt.”
She watched him disappear into his house. The man confused her, running hot and cold. Half the time he seemed as though he barely tolerated her presence, but then he said things like not wanting to see her get hurt. Didn’t he realize he was the one she needed to be careful around? The way her heart pounded and her stomach fluttered when he was around proved he had the potential to hurt her more than anyone else.
* * *
Flames shot through the grate, lapping the sizzling meat. Alec painted the chicken breasts with his homemade barbecue sauce. The rich honey-vinegar mixture made his mouth water and stomach growl.
He speared the chicken with more force than necessary and scowled when a chunk of meat fell between the grate into the coals. Great—he’d overcooked it. Within seconds flames devoured the piece, charring it beyond recognition. That’s how he felt—burned, charred and definitely scarred.
Shaking away the feeling of bleakness that had crept over him since his argument with Sarah last night, he carried the platter of poultry through the sliding glass patio door into the kitchen.
After spending the past fifteen minutes in the heat of the afternoon over a hot grill, the cool, air-conditioned room was welcome relief. He set the platter on the table and headed for the sink.
Gran stood at the stove, humming to herself. He recognized the melody as a hymn she sang often, one that talked of God’s love, rich and pure.
For as long as he could remember, she’d played the piano at the Shelby Lake Community Church. When he was a little kid, visiting during the summer, he’d sat beside her while she practiced on Saturday mornings. His feet swinging beneath the bench.
Gran would hum as her fingers played the notes. Before long, he was copying her movements. As he grew older, he was one of those odd kids who actually enjoyed
piano lessons. Then, in high school, he’d picked up the guitar.
As a child, he spent hours sitting on the floor in Gran and Granddad’s den leafing through their old hymnal collection. Granddad would patiently explain the history behind the lyrics and music.
Alec had thought Granddad knew everything. Nowadays, when he visited him in the nursing home, Granddad didn’t even know Alec’s name. He could blame the Alzheimer’s destroying his memory for that.
He washed and dried his hands, then ran a wet paper towel over his heated face. “Gran, why so much chicken? Expecting an army?”
The doorbell rang.
Gran stopped humming. “Get that, would you, honey?” She dropped a shucked ear of corn into a pot of boiling water.
Alec tossed the paper towel into the trash can and headed for the foyer. Opening the heavy oak door, he stared at Sarah, Daniel and Toby standing on the front porch.
He hadn’t seen them since yesterday. What were they doing here?
Sarah wore a green sundress that complemented her eyes and gave her skin a healthy glow. He scowled. He didn’t care what she wore or how she looked. Finding his voice, he asked, “May I help you?”
Sarah flashed him a bright smile as if her anger from yesterday had been a figment of his imagination. “You could let us in. We’ve been invited for dinner.”
Gran joined him, drying her hands on a dish towel. “Alec, who’s at the door?” Spying her guests, she edged in front of him and smiled. “Sarah. Boys. Come in, come in. Alec, where are your manners? Step back and give them some room.”
Alec jerked his head toward the kitchen. “Gran, may I talk to you a moment?”
Gran ignored his request and turned back to her guests, ushering them into the house. “Come in. No need to stand outside in this sweltering heat.”
“Thanks for having us.” Sarah lifted her nose. “Something smells great.”
As Sarah sauntered past, he caught a whiff of her perfume. He really had to stop paying attention to that.
Gran showed them to the living room. “Make yourselves comfortable. I’ll be right with you.”
As soon as Sarah and the boys were settled, Gran grabbed Alec by the arm and pulled him to the kitchen. Even though he was a good foot taller and outweighed her by at least fifty pounds, he felt six years old all over again.
Once the door swung closed behind them, Alec faced Gran. “You invited them for dinner?” At Gran’s nod, he continued. “Why didn’t you say something earlier?”
“Why does it matter?” Her voice remained calm, almost placating.
“It does to me.”
Gran’s eyes narrowed. “Give me a good reason why Sarah and those boys shouldn’t be here, and I’ll ask them to leave. Sarah has her hands full with the outreach program and all the work she’s been doing at Emmett’s. Now she’s helping out Nancy—who happens to be a friend, by the way—by caring for those boys. I figured inviting them to dinner was the least I could do. If you don’t care to eat with us, then you’re welcome to leave.”
He stared. “You’re kicking out your own grandson?”
Gran shook her head. “No, I’m giving you a choice. You’re always welcome here. If you want to stay for dinner, that’s fine, too, but you won’t be rude to my guests. Those boys are going through a tough time right now. Get to know them. You’ll see they’re nothing like Justin. Stop letting your past cloud your judgment, young man.”
Alec held up his hands. “Let’s not get into that again.”
Young man.
Those boys in the living room were young men. Not him. Not anymore. Haggard and worn-out, he felt every one of his thirty-two years. He spun around one of the kitchen chairs and straddled it. A dull ache thumped at his temples. He rubbed his forehead.
Gran moved behind him and placed her hands on his shoulders, squeezing gently. “You don’t have to like them being here, but you won’t be rude, either. You know, Alec, our family has had its share of tragedies, but we managed to get through them with God’s help. Maybe it’s time you asked Him for guidance.”
Alec snorted. “Ask God? Right. He’s not interested in me.”
The light in Gran’s eyes dimmed. “Oh, honey, that buried hostility will eat at you like a cancer if you don’t let it out. You need to talk to someone.”
“I’m fine.”
Gran sandwiched his hands between hers. Soft, wrinkled, age-spotted hands that had comforted him more times than he could remember. He shifted his gaze from her hands to her face. Her faded blue eyes stared back at him. If he’d expected to find sympathy, he would have been disappointed. She was one of the most compassionate people he knew, but at the moment she glared at him with the same no-nonsense look she gave him when he was in trouble.
“You’re not fine. Until you can admit that, you won’t heal or be able to move on with your life. It’s time for you to stop wallowing in self-pity and start living again. Now, I need to take care of my guests. You do as you see fit.” She left the kitchen and headed to the living room.
Gran’s reprimand stung. She didn’t know what she was talking about. So he’d quit going to church. Big deal. The hurt he saw in Gran’s eyes every time she invited him to go with her left him feeling smaller than a snail’s belly, but she didn’t understand.
God played favorites when it came to answering prayers. Apparently Alec hadn’t been on the A-list, and he wasn’t about to set himself up for disappointment again.
Hearing a sudden burst of laughter erupt behind the kitchen door, loneliness stole over him.
He dealt with people on a daily basis and prided himself on having the social skills to handle difficult clients. Daniel and Toby hadn’t done anything to earn his skepticism, and honestly, they were pretty decent kids. So why was he stalling in the kitchen?
He had two choices—grab something on the way home to eat by himself in front of the TV or man up and enjoy Gran’s cooking. His stomach grumbled again, solving the problem for him.
Taking a deep breath, he hefted the platter of chicken with one hand, a chilled bowl of pasta salad with another and turned to find Sarah standing in the kitchen doorway with her arms folded over her chest. “I’m sorry the invitation caught you by surprise.”
He swallowed a sigh. He didn’t want to go another round with her. His eyes scanned the counter. Where was his white flag? “No big deal.”
“Apparently it is if you’re hiding in the kitchen.” Her eyes held the same determined look he’d seen yesterday when she came to the boys’ defense. “Look, if it’s a problem, the boys and I will leave. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“Forget it. It’s fine.”
“The boys are stressed already, Alec. They don’t need your attitude. If you can’t say anything nice, then just—” She looked as if she wanted to tell him to keep his mouth shut, but she paused, drew a breath, clamped her lips and closed her eyes. Seconds later, she met his gaze with a calmer expression than she’d had moments ago and hugged a quiet breath. “Please don’t say anything at all.”
Before Alec could reply, the kitchen door flew open again and his sister, Chloe, burst into the room, her dark, wavy hair pulled back into a ponytail. “Hey, Alec, what’s taking you so long? We’re starving.” Seeing Sarah, she smiled and moved over to hug her. “Hey, Sarah. Great to see you. Charming my big brother, I see.”
Sarah returned the hug. “I doubt I’m qualified to do that. He’s teaching me to cook.”
Chloe’s eyes volleyed between the two of them, then she grinned. “I heard about that. He needs something interesting to shake up his dull life.”
“I’m right here. Stop talking about me like I’m not.” Why did he have this sudden need to explain himself? It wasn’t as though he was trying to impress anyone.
“Did I mention he’s a bit testy?”
>
Sarah smirked. “No need. I learned that on my own.”
Chloe shot Sarah a saucy wink as she reached for the platter of chicken still balanced on Alec’s palm. “I’ll carry this to the table so you two can finish the conversation you were having before I butted in. Word of warning, though—if you don’t hurry, I’m going to beg Gran to start without you.”
“You’re great at butting in. Tell Gran we’ll be out in a minute, Tink.”
Chloe stuck her tongue out at him. “Don’t call me that. You know I hate it.”
Amusement tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Exactly.”
She rolled her eyes and headed for the dining room, muttering under her breath. “Brothers.”
Alec thrust the bowl of pasta salad at Sarah. “Make yourself useful. Please,” he added as an afterthought.
“We’re not finished with this conversation.” She jerked the bowl out of his hands and grabbed the basket of rolls off the table.
Alec bit back the words that formed on his tongue and reached for the steaming corn. The food was going to be cold if they wasted more time. “For now, we are. I’m tired and hungry.”
And he needed time to suit up if they were going into battle again.
Chapter Seven
Alec didn’t want them here. His attitude couldn’t have been clearer. Maybe he felt they had intruded in his private life.
Sarah caught him glaring at her. Again. She glanced around the round oak dining room table, but Gran and Chloe seemed oblivious to the undercurrent of tension that flowed between Sarah and Alec like a live wire. If only she could ignore him.
To be fair, he wasn’t a complete grouch.
Remembering the smile while he teased his sister had Sarah wanting to see it again. The expression changed his entire face. Instead of growling like a grizzly, he seemed so...nice. His gruff features softened around Gran, too. His hang-up was with the boys being here. Perhaps her, too.
Shifting her thoughts away from Alec, Sarah tried to focus on Toby’s description of the fountain at Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh, but her attention zeroed in on Daniel.