His Sister's Return

by Mary Goldberger

  “So how did you know…” she began as Trystan stared down at her his eyes observing every little detail about her.

  “Your father told me you were in Tiers but suggested I talked to my aunt as he didn’t know exactly where,” Trystan confided. “I was fortunate enough to arrive before my aunt left to go wherever she was heading for as I didn’t have time to ask her.”

  He stepped back putting some space between then causing Alina to frown up at him confusion darkening her hazel eyes.

  He smiled at her the same way he smiled at her that night at the restaurant and Alina caught her breath as he held out his hand. “Hi, I’m Trystan Tyeson, Marla’s brother,” he said to her his voice low and rough.

  Alina’s eyes widened as she realized what he was doing and laughter shined in her eyes as she smiled at him a flush on her cheeks as she slid her smaller hand in the hand he held out to her. “Hi, I’m Alina Barks. I’m Sam’s younger sister,” she responded her heart pounding in her chest.

  Trystan stared at her his grip tightening over the hand he held as he told her in a low voice, “I would like to get to know you better, Miss Barks.”

  Alina’s eyes sparkled up at him as she said teasingly, “What would you like to know?”

  Trystan pondered that question for a second before he tugged her closer and lowered his head, “Everything” a second before he kissed her lightly.

  “You are forward,” Alina said breathlessly.

  “Only when I want something,” Trystan assured her his eyes deadly serious as he stared down in hers. “I have two weeks of vacation and I plan on spending them right here in Tiers with you.”

  Chapter 29

  Alina remembering those words the following day shook her head as she started making breakfast surprised when halfway done, she realized that she had made enough for two.

  “Well, really,” she stated shaking her head just as the doorbell sounded and she lowered the heat on the stove looking at the food with a frown before she headed for the door.

  “Good morning,” Trystan said as she opened the door and her eyes were wide with wonder as he stepped forward giving her a quick kiss before heading for the kitchen. “Something smells good.”

  Alina laughed after her initial shock disappeared closing the door behind him, and walked in the kitchen just as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

  “Just make yourself at home, Trystan,” she told him trying to be sarcastic but it came out teasing instead.

  “Thank you,” he said lifting the cup to her as if in a toast before he sat down at the table his eyes watching her over the top of it.

  “So what would you like to do today,” he asked after she sat down with two plates filled with their breakfast.

  Alina glanced over at him and he caught the look in her eyes as he picked up his fork. “Like I said last night, I am on two weeks’ vacation and I’m spending them here with you in Tiers. No work, no sister, no brother, no one to interrupt us as we get to know each other again.”

  “But…” Alina said a frown coming to her face as she fiddled with her fork.

  “Everything is going fine and the restaurant,” Trystan told her touching on what was bothering her, “is on schedule and should open in another two months at the least.”

  Alina smiled in relief as she picked up her fork and began to eat, and after she swallowed, she said, “Remember, you told me that when you began hiring you would let me know so I can apply.”

  Trystan nodded his head in agreement as he took a sip of his coffee before he told her, “And so you shall just as soon as the application process begins and no,” he said as he saw the look that crossed her face, “you won’t get any special treatment except for your experience and skills.”

  “Okay, Trystan” she said giving him a narrowed look before she smiled and continued eating.

  Trystan finished eating a smile playing around his mouth glad that he had told his mom to make the engagement party a family affair and a few close friends especially one in particular.

  “What was with that look, Trystan?” Alina asked pulling him from his thoughts, and he glanced over at her with a slightly bewildered look. “You looked as if you wanted to hit someone.”

  He stared at her seeing the wary look that had settled over her face, and he reached out grabbing her hand in a reassuring grip. “I was only thinking about someone who decided to interfere in my life,” he told her. “I promise you that I will never hurt.”

  “Unintentionally,” Alina supplied, and Trystan grimaced as he agreed with her.

  “Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee that won’t happen,” he assured her.

  “As long as we talk,” Alina said allowing her hand to squeeze his lightly, “then everything should be all right.”

  Trystan smiled wanting to pull her in his arms but remembering what he learned about Alina’s conversation with Bea, he decided to show Alina that he wanted more from her than several nights in her bed.

  “So,” he said going back to his breakfast, “what are your plans for today?”

  Alina scrunched her nose up at him which he found to be adorable and told him, “I don’t have any so I will let you decide what we should do.”

  “I think,” he said as he swallowed the last piece of his bacon before continued, “we should visit the maze again. I think this time we might end up getting a little lost.”

  Alina laughed shaking her head as she finished her own breakfast aware that Trystan still had a hold of her hand although neither mentioned it, or drew their hand away.

  After cleaning up from breakfast, and Alina running upstairs to get a light sweater as Trystan looked around, they headed out.

  “Do you think later, I can get a tour of your house,” he asked they drove away, and Alina winked at him.

  “If you are good, then anything is possible.”

  Trystan gave her wolfish grin as he grabbed her hand and pulled it up to his lips as he muttered, “Yes, ma’am” getting a giggle from Alina.

  The day was full of fun and laughter as true to his word, they went back to the maze where they indeed got lost as Trystan was too busy paying attention to Alina to watch where they were going.

  Alina laughed up at him when he admitted that, and she teased him as they eventually find their way out.

  He kissed her senseless when they finally stepped out before admitting in her ear, “I think next time we will take the other route.”

  Alina hit his chest with the palm of her hand as she stared up at him but her eyes were sparking as she admitted, “I can’t wait.”

  They left the maze with their arms wrapped around each other laughing and teasing each other, and anyone who saw them smiled at the couple.

  During lunch, Alina told Trystan, “I feel like a teenager again. Is that a bad thing?”

  Trystan smiled relaxing in his chair as he admitted, “No, because I know exactly how you feel.”

  Alina laughed at him as they finished their lunch and headed out to do shopping, or browsing, according to Alina.

  That night, Alina made dinner as they continued talking and bantering with each other. It was late when Alina finally walked Trystan to the door and he pulled her into his arms kissing her passionately although it was the only thing he did as he pulled away reluctantly with a hoarse ‘goodnight’ as Alina stared after him with passion-filled eyes.

  The rest of the week followed the same pattern as Trystan would arrive early to eat breakfast with Alina who made sure to make enough for two. Then they went out whether it was sightseeing or just to roam around the city talking and laughing.

  Trystan was shocked when Alina told him that she did well in school and although she had joined her friend when she started the restaurant business, she would’ve preferred just being a chef. He also learned that her first time had been with a young man she met in school and she hadn’t understood what the fuss was about until she met him.

  “You will,” Trystan had assured her causing her to blush althou
gh he didn’t follow up on his words at that time.

  Trystan told her about how his father died after he retired and Trystan took over the business. Alina had seen the sadness in his eyes and she couldn’t help reaching over to give him a hug as understanding went through her although she could sense Trystan’s father had loved him and Marla as much as their mother did.

  Each day they learned something new about each other as they went out on their excursions and Alina felt lighthearted for the first time in her life as she fell more in love with Trystan with each passing day.

  The week was drawing to a close when on Saturday evening, Trystan’s cell rung as they were cleaning up after dinner.

  Trystan frowned sharply as he pulled the phone out of his pocket and answered it giving Alina an apologetic look which she responded with a soft smile.

  “Yes, Trudy,” he said by way of greeting his frown deepening as he listened to what she was telling him. “Damn.”

  He ran a hand through his hair as his grey eyes settled on Alina who was moving around the kitchen cleaning up.

  “Yeah,” he said glancing down at his watch. “If I leave within the next ten minutes, I can get there by nine, nine-thirty at the latest. Can you call and see if we can reschedule the meeting for then?”

  Alina had turned at his words a frown working its way across her face as she remembered the last time he had a meeting that interfered in their plans.

  After he hung up the phone, he sighed and walked over drawing her into his arms. “I’m sorry, Alina. I didn’t want anything to interrupt our time together.”

  Alina was tense and then with her own sigh, she snuggled into his body as she told him, “You have a business to run, Trystan, and I understand that so go do what you have to do.”

  “I will be back as soon as I finish with this meeting,” he promised her kissing her sweetly foregoing passion for sincerity to reassure that he would come back.

  “All right,” she told him her eyes glittering up at him. “Let me know how it turns out when you return.”

  He kissed her again before she walked him to the door where he gave her a hug and another kiss. As he drove away, he watched her in the review mirror when it suddenly dawned on him.

  He dialed Alina’s cell with sure fingers and as she answered warily, he told her, “This is my private cell number that only a few people know. I will see you in a few days.”

  He hung up before he said more which he wanted to tell her in person, and a determined look hardened his face as he thought about something else he was going to do before he returned to her.

  Trudy looked up as Trystan entered the office a few hours later a scowl on his face and she grimaced as she muttered, “I’m sorry, Trystan, for interrupting your vacation.”

  Trystan shook his head but the look in his eyes told her that he wasn’t happy about the interruption and she chuckled getting a narrowed look for him as she glanced at the clock noting the time.

  “I’m sure that Alina understands,” she taunted, and a rueful smile came to his face before his eyes blazed with an emotion she never seen before and he winked at her as he disappeared in his office.

  “Where are we meeting?” Trystan asked her as she walked in his office with a cup of coffee for him as he sped through the file on his desk.

  He nodded his head in ‘thank you’ as she told him and his head snapped up with a heated look in his eyes before returned back to the file.

  “Go on home, Trudy,” he told her as he swallowed his coffee. “I think you’ve worked long enough for today. They could’ve called an early morning meeting for tomorrow.”

  Trudy grimaced as she told him dryly, “I tried but they were adamant about seeing you tonight.”

  A deep frown came to Trystan’s face as he sat back in his chair the coffee cup in his hand, but forgotten as he stared at the file.

  “I wonder why there was such an urgent request for a meeting,” Trystan muttered aloud. “Everything is going as planned and in a few months, the restaurant will be opened with no delays.”

  “It was mentioned that it had something to do with the ideas that you had included at the last meeting,” Trudy admitted getting a narrowed look from and interpreting it correctly she continued. “The last scheduled meeting not the recent one that was hastily called.”

  Trystan nodded his head eyes still on the file when suddenly a smirk came to his face as he shook his head and saying aloud, “They are talking about the ideas that Alina added when I discussed the restaurant with her.”

  Trudy’s eyes widened and then she started to laugh as she understood why he was so smug. “I was going to insist that I go with you, but if that’s the reason for this urgent meeting then I don’t think I’m needed it. I’m going home and I will see you again in another week hopefully.”

  Trystan chuckled giving her one of his rare smiles which caused her to shake her head and walk out straightening her desk before she left for the evening calling out, “Good luck.”

  Trystan, a few minutes later, walked out of the office the file in his hand and although he was dressed too casual for a business meeting, he brushed it off because they called him away from his vacation time so they could deal with his casual attire.

  He entered the restaurant that was selected five minutes later and although the hostess gave him the once-over in shock and a little more, he noticed, she didn’t say anything as she showed him to the table.

  “Trystan,” one man said as he politely thanked the young woman before pulling out a chair to seat down.

  “I’m not sure if my secretary told you or not, but I was out of town on vacation time,” he told them with ease as their server came over and as Trystan had already eaten, he only ordered coffee.

  Catching the astonished looks from the others around the table, he told them placing the file in front of him, “I’ve already eaten.”

  Harold Jacobs glanced over at him and noting the look in his eyes grimaced before he said, “We took you away again, didn’t we, Trystan?”

  Trystan glanced over at him and smiled as he stated with confidence, “Yes, but she understands the concept of business and that this time, it wasn’t because of someone else pulling the strings.”

  Harold laughed admitting, “Then you are damn lucky, Trystan.”

  A few others nodded their heads and Trystan had a feeling that they were thinking about their own wives, and he admitted with obvious emotion, “Very lucky.”

  The server came over with his coffee and his face became blank as he nodded his head, and then said as the server walked away, “So can we discuss why I was called here this evening?”

  He watched as the others looked at each other before they turned to Harold who sighed and said, “We saw some of the ideas that you added, and although we liked them, we were worried that maybe they won’t be successful…”

  Trystan’s eyes stayed on Harold as he outlined their worries as the others nodded their head eating the food that arrived a few minutes after Harold started talking which stopped him momentarily.

  “So you see, Trystan, we just wanted to go over them with you,” Harold concluded as he took a sip of the wine that he was poured.

  “They weren’t my ideas,” Trystan admitted immediately getting a frown from Harold and Trystan smiled slightly as he realized what the man was thinking. “Actually, those ideas came from Alina, Sam’s sister.”

  “Alina…” one person uttered in shock a look of disbelief crossing his face as anger started to enter his eyes.

  “You don’t mean…Alina Barks,” another suggested a note of awe in his voice.

  “The one and only,” Trystan said with pride reflected in his voice and eyes as the others stared at him in astonishment.

  “Well, hell,” Harold said sitting back suddenly his food forgotten for the moment.

  “If she was the one who gave you the ideas, then this was a waste of your time,” another muttered shaking his head before he glared at Trystan. “Although it wou
ld’ve be nice if you had informed us ahead of time.”

  At this remark, Trystan grimaced as he sat forward and told them, “To be slightly honest, I never knew that Alina was so well-known in this business until recently, and although she did give those ideas, I didn’t think that anyone would actually question them as they sounded reasonable and logical to me.”

  Everyone turned as one to Harold who flushed before he said without hesitation, “I thought that you had added them because of another source.”

  He was astonished when Trystan’s eyes went completely dark at the remark and Harold was sure that Trystan understood what he meant.

  “Is this the only reason for the urgent meeting?” Trystan concluded looking around the table and the others nodded their heads as they finished eating.

  “I would like to meet Alina,” Harold remarked getting a narrowed look from Trystan.

  “I’m having a party this weekend at my house,” Trystan said although his eyes never left Harold, and the man sensed a warning in them, “you are more than welcome to attend and you can meet her in person if you would like, Harold.”

  Harold nodded his head as suddenly it clicked and he started to laugh giving Trystan a knowing look as he commented, “So she is the one, huh?”

  Trystan nodded his head and added with a note of steel in his voice, “She is and I’m very possessive of the one I love.”

  “Does she know?” Harold taunted getting a cool smile from Trystan.

  “No, but I think she will understand it,” Trystan remarked raising his hand for the check. “She is the same way about me although she doesn’t realize it yet.”

  Harold laughed again and it crossed his mind briefly about charming this woman of Trystan’s when he remembered the look that Trystan gave him, and he mentally shuddered deciding that he didn’t want to chance getting Trystan angry.

  “So I will see you this weekend,” Trystan asked raising an eyebrow as the server walked away with the bill.

  “Yes,” Harold said getting a feeling that this party was going to be eventful.