When Love Comes Around

by Nikki Vale

  Speaking of beautiful, I can’t help but miss all the greenery of home when I’m living in some godforsaken desert more months out of the year than I care to remember. It’s the sound of the birds chirping – as they are right now – the wind blowing in the trees and the friendly, familiar faces of the people, that makes home…home. When I finally settle down, I’m definitely moving back here. Not only is my family here, but so is my heart.

  I wonder how Megan feels about staying in Cold Creek, California for the rest of her life. Whoa. Wait a minute. Where did that thought just come from?

  This thing with Megan will last the two weeks of winter break at best. We haven’t even done anything yet, and I’m already wondering where she’d like to settle down and start a family. Does she even want a family? Shit! There I go again.

  Picking up my speed, I begin to run, almost in a full out sprint. My legs are starting to ache, and a slow burn is clawing its way up my chest as I attempt to breathe, but I’ve accomplished my goal because now all my thoughts are focused on the pain and not some thick-hipped redhead.

  Deciding I’ve had enough after two and a half miles, I jog the last half mile back to Granny’s house to cool down. As I reach the front porch of the pale yellow house, I see the front door is cracked open. The screen door is closed, but I’m confident I didn’t leave the front door open like that. I immediately go on high alert, crouching down, and stepping lightly onto the first step. Before I take the second step up onto the porch, I hear a cacophony of women’s laughter coming from inside and I instantly relax.

  Ugh.

  The ‘bridal brigade’ is here. They probably walked here from Evie and Hunter’s house. Hunter bought a house for him, Evie, and my niece McKinley, right around the corner from Granny Mabel’s house. Literally.

  Pulling off my t-shirt, I use it to wipe the sweat from my face and chest before walking into the house. The living room is empty, but I hear chatter coming from the kitchen − everyone’s favorite place to congregate.

  When I walk into the room I’m relieved to see at least one masculine face among the sea of feminine beauty surrounding the kitchen table.

  “Thank God you’re here!” Brayden practically shouts. I laugh because I know his pain.

  “Oh Yeah? Try spending the whole day with the ‘bridal brigade,” I respond laughing.

  “I like that, the ‘bridal brigade.' Definitely fits.” No sooner have the words come out of his mouth when Megan socks him in the arm. “What the hell, Gingernut?”

  Everyone laughs at Brayden’s Irish slang term for a redhead. He and Megan have become friends of-a-sort since Brayden and Gina got back together. As a matter of fact, it seems like everyone gets along with Megan in spite of her abrasive ways, or maybe because of them. She’s definitely the most honest person you’ll ever meet, and fiercely loyal too.

  Brayden’s a closer friend to Hunter than he is to me, even though we all went to high school together. That didn’t keep Brayden from confiding in me about how he messed things up with Gina and how when she forgave him, Megan threatened his manhood with bodily harm if he ever hurt Gina again.

  “So what’s the plan for today?” I ask the room at large.

  “Well, first of all, your musty butt needs to take a shower before you do anything else,” Granny Mabel announces.

  Looking down at her in the chair next to where I’m standing, I lean down grabbing her into a hug attempting to get as much ‘must’ on her as possible before quickly releasing her and ducking out of the room before she can retaliate. I hear her fussing and everyone else laughing as I race up the stairs to safety and into the hallway bathroom to take a shower.

  Chapter Seven

  Megan

  I knew Trevor would have a nice body, but seeing it is completely different from imagining it. He’s a little slimmer than I usually like my men, but he’s all muscle. Trevor has more of a swimmer’s body, instead of a bodybuilder’s physique. He still looks strong and sexy as hell, with his rippled abs covered in chocolatey smooth skin. I chew on my lower lip as I daydream about him.

  I can’t wait to get a taste.

  “Megan. Hello, earth to Megan,” Evie says, snapping her fingers in front of my face. Damn, I must have zoned out for a second. Honing in on Evie and Gina’s faces, I see knowing looks on both of them − as if they know exactly what I was daydreaming about.

  “What?” I demand.

  “What’s the game plan for today?” Evie asks.

  After punching Brayden in the arm, I finally allowed my gaze to slide over to Trevor like I had wanted to do since he walked into the kitchen shirtless. I must have missed everything since then, including his exit, because he’s no longer in the room.

  “We’re going to head to a florist and then go to a few more shops looking for the bridesmaid dresses. I thought Brayden and Trevor could work out their bachelor party details or whatever else they want to do. Unless of course, they’d like to join us,” I say, looking pointedly at Brayden.

  I know he doesn’t want to hang out with us all day, but I’m being a brat putting him in the position to choose because I know that he’s so crazy in love with Gina he’d do anything to make her happy. Before he can respond Trevor pops up out of nowhere, jumps in, and saves him.

  “Oh no. We’ll find something to do. As a matter of fact, if you need us to do anything you don’t have time for, we’ll do it, but Brayden and I are parting ways with the ‘bridal brigade’. I love you all, but a man can only handle so much shopping.” Brayden sighs with relief and looks at Trevor with appreciation. I think they just became new best friends.

  Still, damp from his quick shower, wearing jeans and a red t-shirt, Trevor looks confident that he’s weaseled his way out of shopping with us girls. Lucky for him, I hadn’t planned on having the guys with us today anyway. Hell, if I’m being honest, I really hadn’t expected Trevor to tag along with us yesterday.

  “Fine,” I say in agreement.

  “When you all finish for the day, come back here and I’ll have meatloaf, mashed potatoes, peas and some homemade apple pie waiting for you,” Granny Mabel offers. Murmurs of happy agreement fill the kitchen.

  “I know you don’t have any wheels so I’ll drive.” I hear Brayden say to Trevor as we all file out of the kitchen.

  Feeling the gentle pressure of someone’s hand at the small of my back, I glance over my shoulder to see Trevor close behind me, so close, that I can feel his warm breath and smell the light, woodsy scent of his cologne.

  “You look pretty in pink,” he whispers.

  I glance down past my black skinny jeans, at my hot-pink high heels. Looking back up at him, I smile in response to his compliment. Grabbing my black pea coat from the coat rack by the front door. As I start to pull the jacket on over my teal top, Trevor takes it from my hands, holding it up for me to slip my arms into. I quickly slide my arms in the coat and pull it closed in the front, then turn to face him.

  “I’m quite capable of dressing myself,” I snap. He gives me a placating grin.

  “I know,” he calmly replies and places a quick kiss on my nose. I hear Evie and Gina giggle. Whirling around I storm out the front door marching – as well as any soldier in heels − toward my SUV parked around the corner at Evie’s house. Reaching the black SUV, I hop in the driver’s seat and wait for Gina and Evie to catch up.

  I’m mad at myself for letting Trevor get to me. When we made this impromptu bet at IHOP, I expected an all-consuming passion that would swiftly burn out, but Trevor is killing me with kindness. I don’t know how to deal with that. He’s pulling me out of my comfort zone, and I don’t like it. Or maybe…I’m afraid that I do like it – just a little too much.

  The front and back passenger side doors of the vehicle open simultaneously, cutting my sulking short.

  “Sooo. You and Trevor, huh?” Gina asks as she climbs in the backseat. Evie cautiously eyes me as she settles into the passenger’s seat. She knows I don’t like to be put on the spot.


  “It’s nothing. He just likes messing with me,” I explain, shrugging my shoulders with false nonchalance.

  “If you say so,” Gina replies, obviously not buying my excuse.

  “Where’s this florist we’re going to?” Evie asks, changing the topic.

  “It’s in Pleasant Hill. But here’s the thing, all these florists cost an arm and a leg, and you haven’t told me your budget yet,” I remind Evie. Keeping my eyes mostly on the road I glance over at Evie to see a sad look on her face. Twisting her hands in her lap, she sighs audibly.

  “Hunter and I can’t seem to come to an agreement on the amount,” she quietly admits.

  I should have known. Guys aren’t into the whole wedding thing the way women are – well, most women.

  “I’ll pitch in if Hunter won’t agree to what you want. I was planning on helping anyway,” I offer. Evie starts laughing.

  Frowning, I look at her in confusion.

  “What’s so damn funny?”

  “Hunter wants a big lavish wedding. He says he’s only getting married once and he doesn’t want me to regret not having the wedding of my dreams, so he intends to make that happen for me,” Evie says with a wistful smile.

  “Oh, I thought…”

  “It’s okay, Megan. I know what you thought, but Hunter isn’t like that. Ever since he came back into my life and we worked out our differences, everything has been great. I’ve never been so in love or felt so loved in my life,” she gushes.

  “I know what you mean,” Gina chimes in. “Brayden has been the perfect boyfriend these past few months.” Gina pauses. Looking in the rear view mirror, I see her clear blue eyes catch mine as she drums up the courage to say what’s on her mind. “I think I’m finally ready to move in with him.”

  Smiling at her reflection in reassurance I turn my eyes back onto the road ahead. I knew this day was coming. Brayden has wanted Gina to move with him from the moment he won her back, but she was afraid. I guess he finally succeeded in making her feel confident enough in their relationship to take that leap. Good for him. Gina has been a great roommate, and I’ll miss her, but I’m happy for her.

  “I’m so happy for you,” Evie tells her.

  “I am too,” I add. Then I put on a pout. “But who’s going to cook for me now?”

  “Looks like Trevor’s already stepping up to the plate. Didn’t he make you breakfast this morning?” Gina teases.

  “What? He’s already making you breakfast? When did this happen?” Evie asks in shock.

  “It’s not what you think,” I assure her. “Trevor showed up at our apartment this morning and made me and Jamie breakfast. Gina let him in before she left to check up on her bakery.”

  “Oh, I see. And how is the bakery, Gina?” Evie asks.

  They start talking about the progress of the new renovations on Gina’s bakery, ‘Sweet Something’s by Gina’, and I start quietly humming along to a song on the radio. Gina and I have already had this discussion, so I’m not missing anything.

  What I need to do is work on a game plan for Trevor. He may be the one who decides when we become intimate, but there isn’t any rule that says I can’t get the ball rolling by seducing him. I don’t know what he’s playing at with his sweet kisses and flattery, but I’m going to nip that shit in the bud. The sooner we get over this chemistry we have, the quicker I can move on. Besides, after the holidays, he’ll be shipped off to who-knows-where, and I’ll be up to my old shenanigans with a hot new guy to warm my bed at night, until I get tired of him and move on to the next.

  **********

  A little pink blur plows into me, wrapping its arms around my legs as soon as I walk in the front door of Granny Mabel’s house. It’s well after dinner time, and I’m tired and hungry.

  “Auntie Megan, Auntie Gina,” McKinley says, detaching herself from my legs and attaching to Gina’s for a brief moment in another leg-hug. “Mommy!” Evie scoops her five-year-old daughter up into her arms and kisses her cherub-like cheeks.

  “I missed you. Did you have fun at your friend Nattie’s?” Evie inquires.

  “Uh huh. Can I spend the night again?” McKinley pleads.

  “Maybe sometime next week, sweet pea. Where’s daddy?” Evie asks looking around.

  “Right here, Sunshine,” Hunter answers, walking out of the kitchen and into the living room. You can see the love in his gray eyes as he looks at Evelynn before giving her a tender kiss on the lips. Affection must be the norm in their house because McKinley doesn’t even bat an eye or make a comment about them being ‘gross’ like most kids her age would do.

  “Granny Mabel’s been waiting for you ladies to get here before she would let us eat. There’s not enough room at the kitchen table so she’s going to have us eat in the dining room,” Hunter informs us. The three of us start to head into the kitchen. “Stop right there. The men will be serving tonight. You three wash up and head into the dining room to be served.”

  “What?” Evie and Gina say in unison, astonishment written all over their faces.

  “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” Granny Mabel tells us as she heads out of the kitchen and into the dining room. “Ya’ll go wash up now and come let the men-folk cater to us.”

  Taking Granny Mabel’s advice Gina and Evie rush into the downstairs bathroom to wash their hands and I head to the kitchen sink. Trevor is in the kitchen, busy taking plates out of the cupboards, while Brayden gets the silverware. Hunter is transferring all the prepared food into serving dishes. All they need are some aprons, and they’ll look completely domesticated.

  “I’m glad you find this amusing,” Trevor comments, setting a stack of plates on the kitchen table. He must have caught the smile playing on my lips as I observed them at their separate tasks.

  Shrugging noncommittally I ask, “Whose idea was this anyway?”

  “It was a collaborative effort. We figured you three probably did a lot more work than we did today. Well, except maybe for Hunter, because he actually worked today, but he was happy to help too. So we decided to let you rest your feet while we serve dinner, especially Granny, since she did all the cooking.”

  “That’s really sweet of you guys,” I say seriously, but I see three raised eyebrows in response. “Seriously, I mean it.”

  They all nod and mutter to themselves as if they doubt my sincerity. Am I really such a bitch that when I say something nice, no one takes it at face value? Damn, that’s harsh. I don’t think I like that. Putting my head down I walk to the sink to wash my hands. Trevor comes up beside me and places a finger under my chin, lifting my head until my green eyes meet his light brown ones.

  “Don’t worry gingernut. I believe you,” he says, stealing Brayden’s nickname for me. Holding my breath, I turn towards him and pause. He looks like he’s going to kiss me, but then he drops his hand and turns back to the table to pick up the plates.

  Shrugging off my disappointment, I follow him to the dining room and take a seat next to Granny Mabel, who is sitting at the head of the table. There are seats open next to Gina and Evie, but I’m sure they want to sit next to their men during dinner.

  Trevor places a plate in front of every chair, and Brayden comes in behind him laying down the silverware. They both return to the kitchen, and all three men bring out a dish of food placing it in the center of the table.

  “Granny, if you would do us the honor of saying grace?” Trevor asks.

  “Lord thank you for this food that we’re about to receive for the nourishment of our bodies, in Jesus name we pray, Amen.”

  “Amen,” we all respond.

  Evelynn’s family is the family I never had growing up. I love my mother, and we have each other, but we never had this. Looking at Hunter’s smiling face, I know that he feels the same. He practically lived with Trevor and Evelynn at Granny Mabel’s house growing up. Like me, he came from a broken home. Unlike me, his mother was a drunk and pretty much left him to fend for himself. Granny Mabel took him in just like she di
d her own grandchildren when their father went to prison, and their mother became an unfit parent, a slave to drugs.

  Even though Gina came from a wealthy home, her family life was just as dysfunctional, with an overbearing father and a hateful step-mother. Under Granny Mabel’s roof, we all come together and feel like a real family. Loving and accepting of each other – at least, that’s how I feel. And although Brayden has had what we’d consider a ‘normal’ family life, he fits right into our little family just as well.

  Trevor takes the seat next to mine, with Gina on his other side and Brayden at the end of the table. Hunter cuts three pieces of meatloaf placing a piece in Evie’s, McKinley’s and then his own plate. Brayden does the same for Gina and himself. I watch in quiet amazement as Trevor follows suit slicing pieces for me, Granny Mabel, and himself. It’s as if the men had this all planned out while talking in the kitchen.

  It’s a little unsettling to know that I’ve been paired off with Trevor. It’s not marriage or anything, it’s just meatloaf. But still, I can’t help the lump from forming in the back of my throat.

  “You alright?” Trevor asks, searching my face. This man see’s way too much.

  “I’m fine,” I manage to say, placing a scoop of mashed potatoes on my plate. I jump when I feel Trevor’s hand on my thigh underneath the table, but he just gives me a light, reassuring squeeze, before letting go.

  Chapter Eight

  Trevor

  Megan is such a myriad of contradictions. She’s happy being surrounded by friends that feel more like family, but she’s scared to let me get close to her. I’m starting to think she actually craves the love and intimacy that she’s so afraid of. My plan to win her with affection just might be a mistake. In the end, one or both of us might end up getting burned. Unfortunately, I can’t change my tactics now. It’s a little too late. Besides, I like seeing her green eyes flash with emotion when I say or do something she doesn’t expect. I think she likes it too, even if she’ll never admit it.