by Anna Parsons
Evie and Shawna sat in the window seat, watching Sean and Matt argue over the doneness of a particular piece of meat. “How many times have we watched this scene play out over the years, Evie?”
Taking a sip of beer, Evie chuckled. “Let’s see. Once a week for the last four years…maybe two thousand times.” They both laughed. “Is Mattie outside with Dad?” Evie walked to the window seat to peer outside. Sean was the opposite of his petite wife. Standing at just over six feet, he had played basketball in college. His red hair was plastered to his head from standing over the grill. He was always smiling and his green eyes were always bright. Patients loved him and his easy manner. Matthew, who was five years older than Evie and had just finished a well-sought-after pediatric fellowship, stood as tall as their father. Both towered over Evie and Shawna. He kept his reddish-brown hair shorn close to his head. He was handsome and strong, just like Sean.
Evie watched Sean and Matt enter through the back door, and she motioned to her brother that they needed to take a walk.
After dinner, Matt and Evie took their usual trek up the steep steps past the second floor, through the attic, onto the widow’s walk. Sitting on the third floor, the Houston skyline shone clearly. This had been their sanctuary in their youth, a place all their own. Matt couldn’t allow his friends to know how much he valued and loved his little sister, who always seemed to be underfoot. She knew he cared but didn’t understand why he kept her away from his friends, until the first time he took her to the widow’s walk when she was about thirteen. Perched just above his bedroom window, which he purposefully left open, he brought Evie to the railing so that she could hear the discussion the three or four high school seniors were having. To her surprise, it had been about her. They spoke in vivid detail about the things they each wanted to do to her. Evie cried, cradled in her brother’s arms that night and many nights after. Tonight would be no different. Matthew was well aware of his sister’s submissive nature and had always taken on the role of her protector. Even through high school when Evie was all but tortured by other students who saw her as different, he was there to stand up for her. The popular jock with the weird sister, some felt sorry for him, but he never saw it as a chore. Instead, he was pleased that she counted on him. If high school was a mess for Evie, her love life was a disaster. This made the third bad breakup in as many years. Always picking the wrong man, Matthew thought. She lets them treat her like trash, and then they walk away, leaving her alone and humiliated. Damn.
“Tell me everything, sis,” he said as he sat on the bean bag he pulled from the attic. Matt’s strong personality and powerful presence made his dominance clear to anyone around him. He gained experience and honed his skills as a Dom during his travels and through admittance into some of the most exclusive clubs in the world.
Evie pulled her own seat onto the balcony. Matt watched as his sister took her seat and recounted, in gruesome detail, the events of Saturday night. She wiped away a couple of tears but kept her voice steady. “In the end, Dylan made sure I got home.” She finished her tale and looked up at Matt who had remained silent. He took a sip of his drink before speaking.
“I would expect nothing less of Dylan. I have heard that he is a gentleman. He would have recognized the line that Peter crossed, and the betrayal of the Dom-sub contract. Now, Peter is a different matter entirely.” Evie recognized the anger in Matt’s voice. Although the volume remained steady, the intensity of his speech was unmistakable. “Has he tried to contact you?”
“No, and I don’t expect him to. I don’t want him to,” Evie said quietly as she stared at the wood slats on the balcony. “Dylan was very good to me. Very good.” Evie smiled as she recollected.
“Ah, so you had a taste of the legendary Dylan Rankin?” Matt smiled at his sister, but it was only momentary. “I’ve heard that he enjoys subs for one night and one night only. He was in love with his wife. Still is. Rich as all get out, too. Mother an oil heiress and every time you mention the word ‘cooking’ you have to give his father a dime.” Matt saw his sister sigh. “I’m sorry, Evie. But you probably won’t hear from him again, either.”
“I know, Matt. He is totally out of my league on so many levels. Rest assured, brother, I know I don’t deserve someone like him,” she said, raising her eyes to meet his.
“You mistake my meaning, Evie.” He tipped his beer bottle toward her in a mock toast and smiled. “He doesn’t deserve you.”
Chapter 12:
A Very Rankin Sunday
Dylan entered the foyer of the Rankin home and was greeted first by Toby, the retriever, then by Harriet, the maid. “Evening, Mr. Dylan. Your parents are in the family room.”
“Thanks, Harry. Come on, Toby. Let’s get ‘em.” Even at thirty-five, Dylan was a kid at heart. He knew when to be serious, but when he was silly, he was very silly. He would be rolling around on the floor with Toby before the evening was over. “Mom. Dad.”
“Dylan, leave the dog alone,” his mother admonished. “He is almost fifteen years old. He lazes around like the hundred-year-old he is, and as soon as you come to the door, he forgets and starts prancing around like a pup.”
“Ah, let the boy have some fun.” Owen Rankin did not look his age, a very young sixty years old with a solid body and only a handful of grays in his dark hair. “Harry!” Owen yelled. “Dylan needs a drink.”
“I can get my own drink, Dad,” he said, giving Toby a final pat on the head before walking to the bar. “Damn, you are getting lazy in your retirement. What’s it been? A month? And already you’re a man of leisure.”
“Tell me about it,” Katherine broke in. “For the last thirty years, I have dreamed of having your father home with me in the evenings. Now that he is here, I find myself seeking alternative evening activities, and all he wants to do is sit and read.” Katherine winked at her son.
“Mom, there are some things a son just doesn’t need to know,” he said, holding up his hands to stop the conversation immediately.
“Don’t be fresh, Dylan. I was just saying that by day fifteen of having him home at night, we were starting to tire of each other. Now at day thirty-two, we are really getting on each other’s nerves.” Katherine smiled as she sipped her wine.
“Kate, you are the meanest woman I’ve ever met. She actually told me that I should think about returning to the restaurant.” Owen laughed. “I should take up night golf. That would really drive her crazy.” He walked to the bar to refresh his drink. Dylan loved the playful banter that was a hallmark of his parents’ marriage. He had enjoyed some of the same and wanted nothing more than to find that again. “How’s it going, son?”
“Things are going well. I actually think I met someone.” He paused to sip his drink and his mother jumped right in.
“Really? This is the first time you’ve mentioned meeting someone since…well, in a while.” Katherine took care not to mention Anne’s death. The whole family took the tragedy very hard.
“Exactly how do you ‘think’ you met someone? You either met her or you didn’t.” Owen finished making his drink and returned to his seat on one of the two armchairs facing the sofa that created the conversation area of the family room, not to be confused with the media room, or the music room, or the play room.
“I met her a while ago, so did you for that matter,” he said, gesturing to his mother. “We just didn’t realize we had so much in common until now.”
“I must know who it is.” Katherine sat on the edge of the chair that was the twin to the one in which his father sat, a sort of gray tweed.
“Evangeline Hope. She is…”
“The nurse from the clinic!” Katherine interrupted. “She is a delightful girl. Owen, you remember her.”
“No, I do not,” Owen said, sipping his vodka tonic.
“Of course you do. The nurse from the clinic,” his mother started.
“Damn, I am getting old. Now I’m hearing echoes.” Owen winked at his son, as Katherine swatted at his arm. “Of cou
rse, I remember her. I’d have to be blind, deaf, and dumb not to remember her. Unique look, that one. She had every man at the benefit hanging on her every word. That is when she could get a word in with that motor mouth JJ and your mother demanding donations from everyone in the room.”
“Owen, you make us sound like tax collectors,” Katherine mused. “Dylan, tell me everything.”
“Mother, I can’t tell you everything.” Dylan smiled as he sipped his Johnny Walker Blue. “Suffice it to say, she had a bad breakup and we were thrown together. She is fascinating.”
“Wait, wasn’t she dating a lawyer or something? I remember JJ telling me something about that. He didn’t seem overly fond of the man.” Katherine frowned a bit as she spoke.
“They broke up.” Dylan paused. “Yesterday.”
“Yesterday?” his parents asked in unison.
“Yes, yesterday. I know, I know.” Dylan raised his hand to stop their protest. “I have liked her. Truth is I have really liked her for a while. I just never had an opening until now.”
Katherine smiled at her son and moved to sit next to him on the gray sofa. “My son.” She placed her hand on his head, turning him to face her, gazing at him with her deep blue eyes. “You were blessed to have shared love with one special woman. Not many people can say that they have had what you and Anne had. To have it twice would be a miracle.”
“I know, mother,” he said, taking his mother’s hand in his. “What I had with Anne was a gift, and I believe that Evangeline Hope is a miracle. She is my Hope. I will do whatever it takes to win her heart.”
“Well said, son,” Owen chimed in. “You and Anne had something special. I am sorry it ended so soon. If you think you can have even half of that back, my heart soars for you.”
“It’ll be a challenge,” Dylan said thoughtfully. “She hardly knows me, and she’s been hurt. I have to earn her trust and hopefully her love.”
“You have our full support, as always. So, what’s the plan?” His mother stood ready for battle.
“Aw shit, Dylan,” Owen said, laughing. “The general is on the case. Might want to warn the girl.”
Dylan had to laugh himself. His parents were always on his side. Whatever the crazy endeavor or ludicrous idea, Owen and Katherine were there to back him up. In business, the three of them together had the Midas touch. Their investments flourished, and the coffers of their charitable foundation were ever full. In love, the Rankin parents and son had relationships that stood the test of time and man. Until Anne’s accident, which resulted in her paralysis, and the fire that ultimately took her life, the Rankins had avoided tragedy, and sorrow. Following Anne’s death, Dylan basically sealed himself in the Rankin house. He saw no one, and exited only to go to the club, where he sat in his office, watching the monitors. Recently, he watched Evie. When she was near, he felt a spark of energy and happiness, absent since the accident.
“I have no plan, Mother, but I can see your wheels turning.”
“You must invite her to the concert.” Katherine saw her son trying to recall what event he was supposed to remember. “Armand Vindinev is playing for us on the fifteenth. Surely, you didn’t forget.”
“Mom, I’m not sure if that’s Evangeline’s cup of tea,” he said with a shrug.
“Nonsense. You invite her,” she said, pointing her long finger at him. He took her hand in his once again. Unlike his father, his mother’s hair was a distinguished salt and pepper. Like him, his father preferred his women a bit rounder, and Katherine fit the bill. At just about five foot six, Katherine was considered a large woman. “Big-boned” was the term often used. Dylan and Owen saw her as healthy.
“I’ll ask, but don’t get your hopes up.”
“Let’s eat, shall we?” Owen rose when he saw Harry enter the room. The other two rose as well and walked toward the dining room.
Chapter 13:
Ready for Round 2?
Evie drove her old Nissan back to her apartment after saying her good-byes to the family after another Sunday get-together, which she never tired of. She yawned as she entered the elevator and hugged herself as she rode the seventeen stories. She recalled her brother’s words, “He enjoys subs for one night and one night only.” Evie hadn’t heard from him since he left her that morning. What do I expect? Stop acting like a silly school girl. It is what it is.
Her cell phone rang just as she entered her apartment. It was a number she did not recognize. “Hello,” she said as she dropped her keys in the dish by the door, and placed her purse on the table.
“Hello, Hope.” Dylan’s husky voice caused her to stop in her tracks.
“Hello, Dylan.”
“How was dinner with your parents?” He remembered that I was having dinner with my parents. Score!
“It was great, as always. Yours?” She remembered that I was having dinner with my parents. Yeah!
“That’s one of the reasons I am calling.” He paused. “My mother would like to invite you to the house next Friday. Some Russian violinist, Armand something is playing for a small group…”
“Armand Vindinev?” Evie exclaimed.
“Yeah, that’s him. You know him?” Dylan asked.
“Sure. I have a couple of his CDs. He is pretty awesome,” Evie said.
She is so surprising, he thought. “Anyhow, my parents invited him to play at our house…” He hesitated. “Would you like to come?”
“Love to.” Yes, seeing Armand Vindinev in person would be a real treat, but her real motivation was…“You’ll be there, right?”
She wants to see me. “Of course,” he said, his mind reeling. “I’ll pick you up. Does that work?”
“Absolutely. I look forward to it,” Evie said. “And thanks for getting my car home. I appreciate it.”
“No trouble at all. It doesn’t fit,” he said.
“What doesn’t fit?” Evie asked.
“The car. What is it, like ten years old?” She could tell he was teasing her.
“I’ll have you know that it was my first car. A gift from my parents. And no, it is not like ten years old! It’s like nine years and three months old.” She snorted as she laughed.
“Well, I think it is about time you invest in a new one.”
“Why? It runs just fine. Are you the type to throw things away when they get old, Mr. Rankin?” Evie walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge, surveying the contents for no particular reason.
“Of course not. When it turns twenty, I’ll buy it off your hands.” They both laughed. “Thank you for, well, it was a great night. Are you looking forward to the next one?” he asked, his voice steady but still not confident of the response.
“I am.”
“Good,” he said as Evie heard a knock on her door.
“Hold on, Dylan, there’s someone knocking at my door.” She opened the door to find Dylan with his cell phone to his ear. In one motion, he pocketed the phone and pulled Evie into his arms and into a deep kiss. She dropped her cell phone. The sound of it falling against the wood floor caused him to break the kiss.
“May I come in, Hope?” he asked, his lips only inches from hers.
“Please do,” she said as he entered and closed the door. He released her to bend down and retrieve her abandoned phone.
“It looks no worse for wear.” He handed it to her.
“I drop it a lot. It bounces.” She smiled up at him. “Can I get you a drink?”
“Sure. Scotch, if you have it.” They moved toward the kitchen, and he assumed his position at the bar. She retrieved the half-empty bottle of Johnny Walker Black and two glasses. She turned, blushing a bit as she recalled the last time they sat together at the bar, and the time before that. “Hold on,” he said and she stilled. “You drink Johnny Walker?”
“Sometimes.” She smiled. “Black label is my mom’s drink of choice. She says it is smoother than Blue Label. I prefer Boone’s Farm. I am out of that, so we’ll have to settle for this swill. Sorry.” She was being sarcastic as
she poured the twelve-year-old whiskey.
“Will you always amaze me, Hope?” he held up his glass as if to toast her.
“I hope not,” she said, smiling. She walked around the bar, admiring his solid form in his loose-fitting jeans and starched white shirt rolled up to mid arm. She took his hand to lead him to the sofa, but he wasn’t having it. He pulled her between his legs and trapped her between him and the bar. When he gently pressed his lips to hers, she couldn’t resist teasing his bottom lip with her tongue, tasting the sweetness of the liquor, causing him to rumble with approval.
“I believe you will,” he replied. Evie had to struggle to remember the conversation they were having before his lips touched hers. He moved from her lips, up her jawline, to the space below her ear, where he stayed, knowing by the way her body reacted and her pulse quickened that this was one of several erogenous points he found on her body. She sighed and leaned back, giving him more access to her. Without her even noticing, he had her Levi’s unbuttoned and the jeans and her panties around her ankles. He gently lifted her up, leaving her clothes and flip flips in a heap on the floor.
His lips returned to hers as he set her astraddle his thighs, placing her feet on the top rungs on either side of the stool. “Arms up,” he said and lifted her shirt from her in one fluid motion. “Are you on the pill, Hope?” She nodded. “Good,” he said, nipping at her lips. “I plan to be inside of you a lot, and I want to feel only you. I am healthy as a horse, and I would never do anything to jeopardize your health,” he said, staring at her, making sure she understood him clearly.
“I have never had sex without a condom…ever,” she said breathlessly. She recalled the extensive health questionnaire that her doctor had to complete before she entered Exxcess for the first time. She knew in her heart that she could trust him and she creamed in anticipation. He reached down between them, undoing his jeans to release his cock, which had been pressing against his fly, aching for her wet heat.