Coming In Hot

by Carmen Cook

  She’d made the decision while she was wrapped in Gavin’s arms. Knowing he would support whatever she decided had allowed her the freedom she hadn’t even realized she needed to think about what she wanted to do. There would be some loops to jump through, but the biggest one was going to be getting her parents to accept that she wasn’t going to medical school. Ever.

  Sliding her feet into the knee-high designer boots she’d purchased on a whim, she let out a sigh. The boots were impractical for the snow and ice that was sure to cover the ground this winter, but the large round buckle and the accented wool had called to her from the shop window and she’d just had to have them. Paired with some skinny jeans and a tunic-style sweater, she felt sexy and confident.

  Confident enough that her step didn’t falter at all as she loaded the pies and side dishes she’d made into the car. If luck was on her side, Chloe would have made it to the house early enough to head their mother off from making the turkey so the meal would actually be edible. That was one thing she hadn’t missed in her time away—her mother couldn’t cook to save her life.

  She’d just pulled the rental car out of her driveway when her phone rang. Hitting the Bluetooth, she answered. “Good, I caught you before you arrive at the House of Criticism.” Gwen’s voice boomed out of the car’s sound system.

  Regan laughed. “They’re not that bad.”

  “Yeah, they are,” Gwen argued, “but that’s not why I’m calling. Gavin told me you were going to tell them to back off.”

  Regan shook her head as she left Main Street and headed out of town. “I’m not sure what I’m going to say yet, but yeah. I’m going to tell them I’m not going to medical school.”

  “How do you think they’ll take it?”

  And wasn’t that the million-dollar question? “I don’t know,” she confessed. “I’d like to think they’ll be supportive, but they’ve had this in their minds for so long I think it’ll take them a while to get used to it.”

  “If things go to shit, you know you can come to my parents’ house, right? Since the kids are with Kathy, it’s just the eight of us—Bethany’s mom is here too—so we’ll be watching football and pigging out.”

  That was the way it’d always been. The McCabes had welcomed her and never expected anything in return. She felt her eyes well with tears. “Thanks, but if things go downhill, Chloe said she and Becca are going to pack up and head back to my place for some sister time. We’ll pig out on ice cream and frozen pizza.”

  Gwen let out a snort as the sound of an oven timer dinged nearby. “Like I’m going to let you eat pizza for Thanksgiving. If things start to get ugly, you call me. I’ll grab some food—Mom always makes a ton—and meet you at the house.”

  “You’re a good friend, Gwen. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “You’d do the same for me. And lucky for you, you’ll never have to be without me. Particularly if you and Gavin make a go of things.”

  Regan’s breath caught at the idea of being Gwen’s sister, for real. It wasn’t the reason to stay in a relationship, she knew that, but it was one more thing that Gavin could offer her. Another sister. Someone who understood her unlike anyone else. She was building the relationship with her sisters, but Gwen knew her deepest secrets.

  “One step at a time,” she said, more to herself.

  “Truer words,” Gwen replied. “In the meantime, are you going to have enough food? I just remembered about your mom’s cooking.”

  Regan bit back a smile. “I’ve made a pumpkin pie and a cranberry-apple galette, as well as some butternut squash risotto and a spinach salad. Chloe was getting up early this morning to head over to the house and put the turkey in the oven so Mom wouldn’t get a chance, and make the potatoes. With all of that there shouldn’t be too much left to ruin.”

  Gwen laughed. “I should head to your house and raid your leftovers than cook myself.”

  “You have a key,” Regan reminded her, as she turned onto her parents’ street. “You’re welcome to whatever is there.”

  “Like I’d take your food. But I’m going to insist you share your recipes before Christmas. That risotto sounds great.”

  Regan did laugh this time. “I don’t know, maybe I should keep it a secret. It’ll become the recipe that everyone wants me to bring.”

  “Be stingy with your awesome recipes, see if I care.”

  Pulling to a stop behind her sister’s Oldsmobile, which had new windows and tires but still looked like a rolling wreck, Regan put the car in park. “I’m here,” she told Gwen. “I better get inside before everything cools down and I have to fight Chloe for the oven.”

  “Call me when you leave,” Gwen instructed. “You may be hoarding your recipe, but I have some ice cream I’m willing to share if you need it.”

  Stepping out of the car, Regan opened the back door and pulled the dishes closer to her. She’d wrapped them in towels to catch any spills during the drive, but now they were awkward to carry. Maybe the boots were a bad idea.

  Deciding she’d have to make two trips, she settled on bringing in the pies first. She’d barely cleared the threshold when both Becca and Chloe met her. “You’re not going to want to stay,” Becca told her, her fists clenched.

  “Have they started in already?” Regan asked as she slipped her items onto the counter.

  “It’s worse than that,” Chloe bit out. “I was just about to call you.”

  “About what?”

  Both of her sisters stared at the entry into the dining room without answering. Dread started to inch its way into Regan’s confidence. “Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad,” she said, unwrapping the foil from the pies and setting them aside.

  She turned her head and felt her knees buckle.

  It was worse.

  “Todd.”

  “Hello, Regan.” He stood in the entryway calmly, like he had every right to be there. To be anywhere near her after she’d made her position clear, let alone in her parents’ house on a holiday. A holiday he’d always scorned while they were together. “Just a day for laziness and gluttony. We’d be better off working,” he’d said the one time she’d talked to him about coming home with her.

  “What are you doing here?” Her voice sounded strained to her ears, but it was all she could do to keep from shouting. She felt Chloe take a dish out of her hands, replacing it with a short juice glass that Regan recognized as containing a couple fingers of whiskey.

  Regan lifted the glass and took a gulp, relishing the burn of the amber liquid as it made its way down her throat. It gave her something to focus on rather than the man invading her peace.

  With his blond hair combed perfectly, his pressed slacks and lightweight sweater of blue setting off his eyes, he looked…comfortable. Assured. Handsome, but not in the rugged way Gavin was.

  “I,” Todd paused to clear his throat, “was invited. For dinner. I figured we could talk some more. Clear the air.”

  He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. No matter how casual his words, he wasn’t comfortable being in the kitchen with her. Not that it had kept him away.

  Invited? She knew her parents didn’t understand—or didn’t care to understand—why she’d left him, but this was too much. “No,” she said, her voice surprisingly calm. “I have nothing left to say to you.”

  A gasp sounded from behind Todd. “Regan, don’t be rude,” her mother admonished. “Todd has been part of this family for years and deserves to be heard out. He came all this way.”

  The ringing started in her ears as she stared at her mother. Her sisters moved in to stand on either side of her, Chloe with her arms crossed over her chest and Becca with her arm around Regan’s waist. They were lending her their strength, showing their support without saying a word, and for that, she couldn’t be more thankful. She wasn’t sure how she would ever be able to forgive her parents for this. “I have to go.”

  She hadn’t realized that she’d said the words aloud until Becca was gu
iding her out the door while Chloe stepped forward and blocked Todd and their mother from following her. The icy air slapped at her and she drew it in, letting it clear her mind.

  “I’m so sorry, Regan. He only arrived minutes before you did or we would have called you.”

  Regan smiled at Becca. “I know you would have.” She was numb, her chest feeling hollow. How could her parents have done this to her? Did they think so little of her that they would disregard her feelings so completely? Apparently. “I can’t be here,” she said, her voice low. “I don’t know if I can forgive them for this.”

  “I know. This,” Becca waved back toward the house, “was too much. Even for them. They’re trying so hard to make everything the way they want it, they can’t even see that they’re pushing us all away.”

  Regan paused next to her car. “Is this going to make things worse for you? They’re not going to tighten the leash even more, are they?”

  Becca gave a sad smile, “No, I’ll be fine. You’re not doing anything wrong and they know it, even if they don’t want to admit it.”

  Regan drove off, making it around the corner before she started shaking and the tears overflowed. She’d thought Todd’s betrayal was heartbreaking, but this was worse. Her parents were supposed to be in her corner, have her back. “Damn them,” she whispered, angrily wiping at her cheeks. All these years she’d through she was in control, strong because she was making do on her own. Now she realized that she’d just made it easier for them by never asking for help or support.

  No more. She stabbed the Bluetooth and pulled away from the curb and back onto the street, heading home. When the call connected, she didn’t wait for a greeting. “I need you.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Gavin slammed on the brakes and came to a stop in front of Regan’s little house. It was looking better than it had just a few weeks ago, with the dead tree limbs cut back and the paint fresh and new. The little house had been a labor of love for Regan, breathing fresh life into it while she was figuring out her next steps.

  He was angry with her parents, but not surprised. They had always been more concerned with their own agendas than anyone else’s. Sadly, that included their children. Well, maybe he was a little surprised that they’d invited her ex to Thanksgiving, especially after she’d sent him packing only a couple weeks before. He couldn’t imagine what would possess someone to do that, let alone to someone they loved. Regan’s voice had been clear and strong when she’d called, but he’d been able to hear the hurt under the anger.

  He’d grabbed his coat and was out the door before she’d finished telling him what happened. Gwen had clued in instantly that something was wrong and had begun making plates, their mom jumping in to help. The rest of his family wasn’t far behind him. He wasn’t sure if Regan would be up for a full-on McCabe invasion, but that’s what she was getting.

  At the sight of her little car rounding the corner, the band that had gripped his chest eased at the sight of her behind the wheel. She was okay. He was going to make sure of it.

  She parked and opened the door, sliding one leg followed by the other, encased in the sexiest boots he’d ever seen. His mouth went dry. This woman didn’t understand her own appeal. He pushed off the truck to meet her as she stepped the rest of the way out of the car. “You made good time,” she remarked, tugging her sweater down in a nervous gesture under her open coat.

  Cocking his head, he didn’t say anything about how fast he’d driven. He was just lucky Connor hadn’t seen him and given him a ticket. Once he was near her he opened his arms and she fell against him. “Thank you for coming,” she mumbled against his coat.

  “You don’t have to thank me,” he whispered, tugging her closer and rubbing her back. Her eyes were puffy and the tip of her nose red from her tears. Damn her parents.

  “I interrupted your family dinner,” she sniffed. “I didn’t even think about it until I saw you standing there. Your mother will never forgive me.”

  Gavin snorted. “My mother would never forgive you if she found out that you came home and sat here by yourself.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. None.” He saw his dad’s truck turn the corner and bit back a smile. “Besides, you didn’t think you could call one of us and not have all of us come, did you?”

  Regan’s mouth dropped open as she caught sight of his parents piling out of their own truck, arms full of foiled-wrapped turkey and all the trimmings. Before he knew what was happening his mother had elbowed him aside and wrapped Regan in her arms. “Gavin, go help your father with the rest of the meal. Regan, you come with me. I’m going to fix you one of my aunt Mary’s specialties.”

  Eyes wide, Regan looked between all of them. When she finally landed on him again he leaned in, right over his mother’s shoulder, and gave her a soft kiss. “I told you, you’re not alone. Not anymore.”

  She gave an inelegant sniff. “Thank you,” she whispered before pulling back and looking at his mom. “Thank you all for coming. I didn’t realize how much I was looking forward to today. To having a family dinner.”

  Gavin watched as his mom gave Regan another squeeze before hustling her into the house for what was sure to be one of the strongest bloody marys ever made. His own emotions clogged his throat. He wanted to slay all her dragons and make everything right for her. Hopefully, this would be a start.

  Gwen came up next to him and shoved a basket into his arms. “I called the others, too,” she told him, continuing through the door. He followed.

  “You’ve been busy.”

  “Well, Regan needs to be cheered up and we needed the muscle to keep you from going after her ex.”

  “I’m not going to go after him.”

  “Right. The second you make sure she’s safe and taken care of, you’re going to want to fix this for her. You can’t really take on her parents, but you can get rid of the competition.”

  Gavin rolled his eyes, unloading the various dishes from the basket and handing them to Gwen. “He’s not competition.”

  Gwen scoffed. “He had her for years. And he was a jackass, so she finally left. Now he’s here. What possible reason could he have for coming unless he was going to try to apologize again? To win her back? Wake up, Gavin. He’s competition, whether you want to believe it or not.”

  Gavin opened his mouth to argue, but his sister just talked over him like she had from the time they were small. “And once you realize it, you’re going to go all caveman and protect what’s yours.”

  He couldn’t argue with her there. It didn’t feel right standing back and doing nothing when Regan was hurting, but there was no need to call in their friends to keep him from doing anything stupid.

  He hoped.

  Before he could argue further the door opened and Mitchell stumbled in, his arms loaded with even more food, followed by Erin and her grandfather Jake, the current mayor of Sapphire Creek.

  The other member of the security team, Logan, brought up the end of the little parade, hauling a cooler. Gwen grabbed the food and led the way to the kitchen, which was quickly filling up with smells and sounds of the holiday. Bethany and Connor arrived next with their son and Bethany’s mother. “Hello dear,” she greeted Gavin, standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek after he’d taken her coat. “Aren’t you being a gentleman, swooping in to save the day.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked, hanging her coat in the now-overstuffed closet before leading the way to the back of the house where everyone was gathered.

  She gave him a tap on his arm. “Don’t be modest,” she told him. “Bethany told me about what happened when Regan showed up at her parents’ house and how you wanted everyone to come here to make sure she had a better holiday memory.”

  He should have thought of that. Damn it. She patted his arm again and smiled. “Don’t worry. That’s why you have friends,” she told him. “They will make sure Regan knows you thought of it.”

  “But I didn’t,” he whispered.

 
“You would have,” she said. “You’re a good boy and she deserves the best. Your friends will help you give it to her, whether you ask for their help or not.” With that, she abandoned him and walked into the dining room to greet everyone, accepting a glass of wine from Erin’s grandfather. The room had been transformed, with the table extended and loaded down with the food from three different houses.

  Regan caught Gavin’s eye and gave him a smile that had his chest swelling. Despite the start to the day, she was happy.

  And so was he.

  Regan couldn’t believe it. She’d left her parents’ house an hour ago, feeling alone, abandoned by the people who were supposed to stand by her. Now, she looked around the table and saw the love that surrounded her. She’d been looking for a sense of belonging, something to let her know she was on the right path. Seeing her friends here, at her table, filled her with the knowledge that no matter what happened, these were the people she wanted in her life.

  She was overwhelmed that they would give up their holidays to come to make hers better. Standing, she lifted the glass of wine Bethany had put in front of her. “I want to thank all of you for coming here today,” she began, not really sure how to express how much they all meant to her.

  “I came back to Sapphire Creek not sure what I wanted to do. It was a pit stop that was familiar and safe because of all of you, and having you all here to help me through today just proves that I made the right decision. You’ve welcomed me and encouraged me to look to myself to figure out what I needed.” She caught Gavin’s eyes and gave him a smile. “With your support and love, I’ve made a decision.”

  “I look forward to hearing it.”

  The voice wasn’t welcome.

  “Dad.” Her father’s face was flushed and his mouth set in a grim line. “What are you doing here?”