“It’s my brother Will, he’s coming for an extended visit.” I take in a long breath. “He’s the problem child, always has been. My Mom asked if I’d look after him for a while.”
“Aren’t you the youngest?” His questioning was understandable. “You’re looking after your older brother who is, what-thirty something?”
“Mentally he’s a spoiled rotten eighteen-year-old, but yes he’s thirty-two.”
I watched a smile twitching at his lips. “What’s so funny?”
“It’s just I don’t know what it’s like to have a sibling, let alone sibling rivalry. I mean, my friends are my family.”
The waitress approaches with her brows raised high. “Ready?” As my menu lays on the table unopened.
“Caesar salad with chicken?” Her gaze drifts to Steel, who opens his menu. I wanted to wipe the drool from her chin; but pushed away the snarky thought.
“Steak, medium rare with mixed vegetables.” He continues, unfazed by her obvious assessment. “A side salad, and another round.” Holding up his beer as she winks at him.
I push the hint of jealously down and refocus on the subject at hand. “Why don’t you go with me Friday, I’m picking him up at the airport.” Then lean closer. “You’ve never been to my house.”
“I was never invited.”
“It was only a matter of time.” Sparks rush in then spread through my body, hell the thought of sharing my bed with him, a repeat performance of our first time. I burned for him, the need lingered, knowing I would be left unsatisfied tonight. One look and he would see the arousal churning.
“Of course, I’ll join you. It’s time I started to meet your family.” And before I could process that statement, our dinner was placed before us. “Looks great, dig in.” He encourages.
It wasn’t easy last night, the goodbye kiss literally curled my toes, every second, every touch magnified, being deprived of a night shared in bed together left us both needy. His voice was soft and silky as he whispered goodnight.
The new day brought new concerns, as the morning fog settled in, it’s dew weighing heavily upon the leaves, the cool breeze whispered as I cross the parking lot and walk through the doors of the FBI.
Andrew Quentin was out of the office and out of my mind. I’d live with being sucker punched, for now. Working side by side held less appeal than ever. I was wary of him as my superior and as a man, leaving his department was for the best, good riddance.
I spent the rest of last night moving boxes, and cleaning out the guest bedroom, which was a catch-all for things that didn’t have a place. Now it would be the home of my troublesome brother with the smart mouth.
The Reno-Tahoe International airport was small, as airports go. Will’s flight was on time as we weave our way through the crowd, Steels hand linked with mine. His easy laid-back mood would be put to the test in about ten minutes, as we waited by the luggage carousel. I considered warning him, but I wanted Steel to meet Will with impartial eyes. Make his own assessment, witnessing a cocktail of conceit, vanity, and selfishness. Why this idea fascinates me, obviously came from a place only stirred in will’s pompous presence. Growing up with three older brothers came with a price.
The airport monitors above changed from on time to arrived and the carousel began dumping luggage.
And only moments later, in walks Will in the sea of travelers, with his entirely too handsome face. His gaze finds mine and lights up, his bright smile causing the stranger to trip over her own two feet. Clueless Will approaches me with a warm embrace. “Nikki, it’s so good to see you.” Slightly rocking back and forth. “Thank you for rescuing me from Mom’s prison.”
Gently pushing him from his grip, my hands land firmly on his shoulders “You moved back home, with Mom and Dad?”
“Well, yeah.” He huffed. “Free room and board.” Shrugging it off as if I’m stupid for even asking.
“Where are my manors, Will this is Steel.” They shake hands. “We’re… together.” I say, unable to label our relationship prior to having any real conversation concerning our status, well besides his comical reference to Facebook: In a relationship.
“Cool.”
“Are you at least going to feed me?” He asks with his big blue puppy-dog eyes. “You do realize the only thing they serve on the plane, is a lousy bag of peanuts, and as far as nuts go, and I’m no connoisseur by any means, but peanuts are on the bottom of the list of nuts.”
A muffled snort comes from Steel standing behind me, then turn to see his smirky face. “He’s serious, you know.” I watch his brows rise in question. “That’s my brother, he can be…narcissistic.” I whisper.
Turning back to Will who just confiscated the last luggage cart from a little old lady, he waits eagerly for his belongings.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“What does it look like?”
“Like you just conned that poor old lady out of the last cart, and speaking of carts, why do you need one, how much luggage did you bring?” His gaze whips to mine, as if I’ve lost my mind. “Mom said I’d be staying though the holidays.” His head cocked causing the light brown curl resting playfully on his fore head to slide as well.
“I have a washer and dryer.” I cut in.
“I couldn’t ask you to launder my clothes, I’ll wait until I return home, Mom will do it.” His focus lands on a large duffle and swoops it up and into the cart in one swift motion.
“No, I’ll teach you, get over yourself, slick.” I watch his fingers run through his wavy locks, landing in a perfect mess. The woman standing next to him begging for a turn, this scene has played out my entire life growing up. His all-knowing cocky grin winks at the woman who practically melts in a puddle on the floor.
“So, Nikki,” Steel’s playfulness lands flat as my gaze burns holes in his retina. “This is your obnoxious brother, Will.” It wasn’t a question, more of an acknowledgement. I shrugged it off in lieu of an answer. Finally, Will’s cart is full as he struggles to keep up.
“Pick up the pace, will ya? I don’t have all day.”
“Okay, okay.” Will’s what the hell, expression is plastered all over his face.
“Here we are.” Steel clicks his car-fob as the car unlocks, lights up and the hatch automatically opens. I admit, good call on the SUV, as my Kardashian brother loads five pieces of luggage in the back, Steel assist as I climb in the front passenger side, and close the door.
Steel eases into the driver’s seat, as Will enters the back. And before Will’s insistent reminder I beat him to the punch. “Dinner’s in the oven.”
“Thanks sis.” As he turns his phone on and the sound of dozens of notifications ring out one after the other. I look over my shoulder in question.
“What? So, I’m popular.”
“Popular?” A new record, my sanity starting to slip in less than an hour. I turn to Steel, in search of normalcy.
“You’re a good sister.”
“Correction, I’m Mother Teresa.” I whisper.
By the time we reach my security gate, I hand Steel the card as he swipes it over the scanner.
“It’s the last house on the cul-de-sac.”
We walk across the stone pathway towards the front door, each carrying luggage as Steel grabs mine as I insert the key, step in disarming the security alarm. “Nice.” Steel says.
“Down the hall first door on the right.” As we all gather in my only guest room, I dump everything on the floor. “I need to check on dinner, Steel?”
“Okay, I get it.” The corner of his mouth turned upward. “He’s a handful.”
“He’s every woman’s fantasy, at least for one night. He fucked all my friends, leaving them in a puddle of tears, and crying on my shoulder.”
“Thanks for pointing that out, sis.” Will’s timely return doesn’t faze me.
“It’s the truth Will, you’re a jerk.”
“You’re not the first to tell me that, Nikki.”
“Why doesn’t
that surprise me.” I push my hands into two oven mitts and reach for the hot beef roast, potatoes, and carrots all simmering in a casserole dish. “Make yourself useful, set the table.”
Searching each cabinet, he has the table set quicker than I anticipated. “Steel, there’s wine or beer help yourself, I’ll have a white Chardonnay.”
We sit, our plates full, “You want to tell me about your little adventure?” Will’s gaze darts to mine his fork in midair.
“The theater?” He sobers when his gaze finds mine. “Boyish pranks.”
A bitter laugh escapes. “Boyish? You’re thirty-two.”
“Thirty-one.” He shrugs as if that makes a difference. “I’ll be thirty-two in December, you should really know this.”
“You better start talking, and fast.”
“It was harmless, a group of guys, a few drinks, and a bad idea. That’s all, I don’t expect you to understand.” His fork drops making a loud clanking sound. “Oh no, not you, no.” he says sharply. “You’re Miss Perfect, FBI agent. With the perfect house, the perfect job, and the perfect guy.” His head jerking in Steels direction.
“Keep me out of this, please.”
“On the contrary, slick. Nothing in my life is perfect.” My gaze drifts to Steel. “Present company excluded.”
“Oh, thanks...I think.”
“Rewind” Wills jazz hands are thrown up in defense. “I didn’t come here to argue, I came here because I hoped you’d guide me to the path I was meant to be on.”
Our gazes lock. “Don’t try to out-charm me, it won’t work on me.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
A promise of a new life, I was skeptical. Will’s endless cycle of shenanigans has only proven my cynical view. I won’t allow myself to be duped, like our Mother who sees Will through the rose-colored glasses of a loving parent, he was coddled his entire life, which only fueled his lack of responsibility.
“Have you thought about what you want to do Will?”
“I have.” His fork circles the food on his plate, and with a mouth full of food I hear. “I want to be a police man.” Unable to meet my questionable look.
“A cop?” His fiery gaze snaps up in a challenge. Common sense tells me he is too soft for a profession of this caliber. The training alone would kill him.
“I should have known.”
“No Will, it was unexpected that’s all.” This has gotten bad written all over it. Then it dawns on me, this was his chance to prove himself to our family, to the world and most importantly to himself. Steel picks up on it and beats me to the punch.
“Listen man, I have several friends, if you’d like me to introduce you Will. I’ll put in a good word for you.” Steel offers. Wills gaze shifts with a flicker of hope, as the two men share a moment.
“I’d like that. Thanks Steel.” He rises, gathering dishes and loading them as he came back for more. “If you don’t mind, it’s been a long trip I’m off to bed.”
“Of course.” I stand and catch him as he was passing, pulling him into a hug. Once he was out of ear shot both Steel and I clear the table and finish washing up.
“He’s some piece of work.” Steel whispers.”
“You’re telling me, he throws me back to the tender age of ten, he’s twelve and pretty boy lands on his feet every single time, and not by design but by pure damn luck.”
“He’ll have to tame that holier than thou behavior if he plans to make it through the academy, it’s brutal and only the exceptional hard-ass make it.”
“I have to admit, I’m happy he has focus, no matter the outcome.” Steel’s hands snake around my waist, the moments my hands land in the soapy water.
“And that sweet temper of yours.” His rugged voice throwing heat across my ear, a tingle races up my spine. His strong chest pressing against my back, when his hands find mine in the warm water, touching interlacing as one. Then pull away reaching for the towel close by. Drying our hands and turning me within his hold.
“I want to show you something.” The sparkle in his eyes turn dark and hooded.
“What’s on your mind?” I asked grinning.
“Take me to your bedroom.” Our damp hands connect as we cross the long hall to the last door stepping into my bedroom, dimmed by the nightstand lamps turned down low.
He pulls his shirt off, as I track his muscled chest, my hands running over his pectorals down to his ripped abdomen. Carved from stone, his body was a work of art. Yet, he covers both my hands in his one. “I like how you think, but first.” He turns, and there on his upper arm, still red and angry lay a newly tattooed ink on his flesh. He proudly reveals the meaning of each layer, a story unfolding before my eyes.
“Does it hurt?”
“Not anymore.”
“Good.” I pushed the door closed and the turned the lock.
Grace A Memory
He enters stoically his black suit, black tie fit his physique properly. His silver cufflinks glimmer as he adjusts his sleeves, tugging gently. His suit meticulous, his appearance powerful the tall lean lines noticeable as I gaze undetected.
His raven black hair slicked back, his square jaw lined with stubble, causing a slight rugged layer resting upon his professional persona. He searches the room indifferently. That is, until his cold cobalt blue eyes land on mine. He steels my breath as if it was his to take.
“Dr. Hawthorne Vane, meet our daughter, Grace Novak.” I hear my parents as they fade into the back ground, the man captures center stage. His poise, one that exudes a commanding presence, holds a silent power as I begin to stand. But the hairs on the back of my neck prickle at the site.
A witness to his eyes carefully awakening every part of my body, a touchless caress I won’t soon forget.
“Miss Novak.” His hand reaching for mine, once our palms touch a consuming bite of fear fluttering in my stomach appears and settles in places obscure and empty.
“Dr. Vane, so nice to make your acquaintance.” His touch slips away as each finger slide across my palm. He knows about secrets, and how to keep them. Somewhere dark inside me, I wanted to know his secrets too.
I generously receive an approving nod from my Father, acknowledging my triumph. Yet the words flow naturally, enticing me through the dense fog between myself and the world.
He takes his seat directly across the table he bows his head in lieu of a greeting. I was at his mercy, I couldn’t meet his gaze his allure unexplainable, I avoid his cold gaze that draws me in trapping me in his cage. Confused by repulsion and attraction both equally alarming.
He looks like a movie star, but cast as the villain. His raven hair slick and shining as I visually trace the outline of his mouth. His words flowing like liquid gold in fluent motion. I secretly observe, attempting to identify my reaction, rationalize my fascination. I can’t fathom a single logical explanation.
While I’m contemplating my new discovery, I hear the words spill from my Mothers lips before I can put a stop to them. I would have preferred her to vomit all over her hand embroidered table cloth.
“At the tender age of fifteen Grace’s unique poetry was extraordinary, she’s now a published author, it’s remarkable really. The top of her class graduating with honors.” My Mother beams, I flinch, and rest my palms against my forehead. My only desire is to disappear into black oblivion.
“Mother.”
The second I spoke his piercing gaze examines my every move, my skin’s on fire under unnecessary scrutiny. Stop. Then the inevitable. He speaks.
“May I ask what you’re currently reading, Grace?” He asks effortlessly, I contemplate a lie and quickly discard the idea.
“Paradise Lost by...”
“John Milton.” He answers for me. “Seventeenth century poetry.” A singular nod of approval is given. “The original ten books published 1667 are far superior, if you are truly interested in authenticity, read those. The new copies that followed are all tampered with revisions.
“You missed the entire point, it’s one of the greatest pieces of artistry in existence, I’ll admit you’re on point concerning the revisions, but authenticity remains intact.” My parents appear to be in shock, but there’s no comparison to my own bewildered outburst.
He stops, lingering for a moment. “Your dissection may be correct in comparing the theme. Yet, I stand firm, never attempt to dilute the arts, it’s as sinful as rewriting history.”
“Such as the Bible?” I release a hard breath watching as he fights a devilish grin.
“Grace.” My father is most likely shocked or embarrassed, at this point, I’m uncertain.
“How valiant, I’d expect nothing less.” He says. “Mr. and Mrs. Novak, I would be more than pleased to accept Grace in my summer internship as my assistant.”
Shockwaves fire at high velocity, His Assistant? The entire summer? I didn’t even know that was a thing.
“No.” Words escape me and go unnoticed. My summer plans all but ruined, I look forward to wallowing in sad depressing literature, the quiet, completely lost in the sound of nothing.
He clears his throat, I instantly detect a dark hint of danger shooting daggers across the table. Something deep within me stirs warning me of an impending threat. Yet I squirm in my chair with a foreign ache buried deep inside me.
“We would be honored, Dr. We believe Grace would benefit from your experience. We are going on a sabbatical, research actually. Our hope was for Grace to continue her education under the care of a mentor, grooming her skills. You come highly recommended, I understand you only accept one student per year.”
“All true, her assets are impressive” He says, his eyes fall on mine for the briefest of moments. Then return to my Fathers.
“Grace?” My Mother awaits, and I suddenly realize, I’ve been outmatched, in a single moment the power shifts then fades as his command over me ignites.
“I understand.” I lie.
“Wonderful.” He says. “We will need to arrange accommodations, I have living quarters at the Manor, on campus if needed.”
The full weight of their plan disclosed, my entire life planned in between a sip of wine. No one comes to my rescue. The fury simmering deep within, I find their revelation to be cruel and calculating, I’m now buried in a fog of rage.
Hard as Steel: Book four ( Surviving Series ) Page 8