From the kitchen, Alice called, “You should be so lucky.”
Kelsie covered her mouth, her bright-eyed gaze full of laughter. Sawyer loved how happy she looked, but he couldn’t help wondering who that was for. She certainly hadn’t been so cheerful when she was alone with him.
Russell smiled at Kelsie, and Sawyer had to appreciate his old man’s lack of the obvious, blatant questions on which Crosby, Ethan, and Liam seemed to thrive. Sawyer might deserve it—he was typically the one pulling the punches—but Kelsie certainly didn’t. Although, if his brothers knew she shared their opinion of his sex life, no doubt they’d bond, and he didn’t like that thought. Not at all. As it was, she seemed to be looking a little too hard in the direction of the two youngest of the group. Hell, Ethan had already married once, and he was definitely a devoted, one-woman man. He was probably exactly the kind of guy she wanted.
“What do you do, Kelsie?” Russell asked, dragging Sawyer from his thoughts.
“Other than Sawyer,” Liam snickered.
“Liam Chase,” Alice warned. “Enough.”
But Kelsie was smiling. “I’m a digital strategist,” she said. “I advise firms on ways to maximize their online presence.”
Crosby nudged Estelle. “That’s right up Grady’s alley,” he said, referring to her brother, who, between his tech work for Fusion and likely position as future brother-in-law, was practically a fifth Chase. “Maybe we should introduce them.”
“Grady is a tech writer and computer expert,” Sawyer said darkly, even though he’d entertained the thought himself. But that was before. “This isn’t anywhere near his alley.”
“They both use computers,” Crosby said mildly.
“Who the hell doesn’t?” Sawyer snapped. Kelsie was oh-so-innocently eyeballing his fucking brothers, and now Crosby wanted to sic her on yet another guy?
But wasn’t that the point?
Sawyer was suddenly exceptionally glad Grady was out of town. Estelle had been trying to find him a woman apparently since birth, and the family was jumping on the Grady-Kelsie bandwagon a little too quickly for Sawyer’s taste. And it wasn’t like he could argue. He’d just said she was only a friend.
“Hey, Kelsie,” Sawyer said tersely. “My mom is an excellent cook. Maybe you could go to the kitchen with her and pick up a thing or two.”
Estelle’s jaw dropped, which kind of surprised Sawyer. He hadn’t realized she’d looked away from Crosby, although he could see why hearing her brother’s name linked to Kelsie’s would distract her. Glaring at Sawyer, she said, “You did not.”
“Did not what?” Sawyer met her challenge head-on. It wasn’t like he was going to tell the room, Oh, by the way, I’m supposed to make her some other guy’s wet dream come true, so she really needs to be less scary in the kitchen. He prayed Kelsie would get what he was saying, but her glare nearly matched Estelle’s, so he leaned close and whispered, “Consider it a much-needed lesson.”
Before she could respond, Estelle stood and snagged Kelsie by the elbow. “Let’s go help in the kitchen, and not because of what he just said.”
“Watch her close,” Sawyer called after them.
Estelle shot Sawyer a look of pure annoyance as she disappeared with Kelsie. His mom’s house had an open floor plan, but a couple of necessary kitchen elements provided a corner for some respite from the crowd. To that end, he was surprised his mom hadn’t by now turned the kitchen into a fortress, but she had a thing about keeping the whole family together, as if they didn’t see each other enough during the week.
“What the hell was that?” Liam asked.
Ethan, Sawyer noted, averted his eyes.
“She’s lives in my apartment building, and she has flat out refused to sleep with me. Any more questions?” The lie hung bitterly in the room, and he wasn’t sure anyone believed him. But he’d rather they question him than her, and what was more, he was not going to discuss his sex life in a group setting, let alone one that included his parents and his…upstairs neighbor.
“Yeah,” Crosby said. “I have a question. Why are you hanging out with her if she won’t sleep with you?”
Russell’s brow shot up.
“Must be the challenge,” Liam said.
“Boys,” Russell said. “Have some respect. At least for Kelsie.”
Sawyer barely heard him. Liam’s words hit a little too close to home. Fortunately, Ethan chose that moment to pop a brownie into his mouth. He chewed for a moment, his expression growing more wary by the second. Before too long, he stopped chewing altogether.
“Was this supposed to be eaten?” he finally asked, bewildered.
Sawyer tried not to laugh. He failed. It was a good thing Kelsie wasn’t there to see his brother’s face. He didn’t mind giving her a hard time, but that was his job to do. Not Crosby’s, not Ethan’s, and not Liam’s.
His.
For two more dates, anyway. Because he wasn’t what she needed, and the sooner they got this stupid dating game over with and ended things between them, the better.
For them both.
…
Kelsie studied the roomy, ultramodern kitchen teeming with scrumptious smells and friendly faces and felt miles from her apartment.
And confused. Sawyer had completely failed to mention that his brothers were equally insanely hot versions of himself, each with the same intense green eyes. One was clearly taken, but the other two might be available. Not that it mattered. Hi. You’re ripped and those eyes slay me, so if you’re free to accompany me to this wedding, we’ll just pretend that sex I had with your brother never happened.
Not. Awkward. At. All.
“I hope those boys didn’t bother you too much,” Alice said. As she spoke, she tended to food cooking on five of the six burners on her stove, and whatever was in the oven emanated a smell to die for. Just to the side of the cooktop, two pans of outrageously fluffy yeast rolls sat waiting for the oven.
No wonder Sawyer thought Kelsie was a disaster.
“After dealing with Sawyer all week,” she said, “it would take more than that to get to me.”
Alice returned a knowing smile. Already, Kelsie found her impossible not to like. She exuded warmth, making Kelsie feel at home despite being completely out of her element anywhere near a kitchen. She was outspoken and friendly and could clearly hold her own against her husband and four boys, and must have done so handily because she looked far too young to be their mother, not that there could be any doubt. She looked just like them.
“How did you and Sawyer meet?” Estelle asked.
At the question, Alice slowed whatever she was doing to the saucepan to a near standstill.
“We, uh, live in the same building. I had a plumbing emergency, and he helped me out.”
“Ironic,” Estelle said. “I met Crosby when I was apartment-sitting for my brother and the air conditioner quit. Actually it caught on fire, then quit.” She laughed. “I guess it’s a good thing these guys are handy.”
“Sawyer’s great with his hands,” Alice said, her voice full of a mother’s pride, potential double entendre apparently undetected.
Estelle snorted. “So we’ve heard.”
Alice paused a moment, then shook her head as she apparently caught the reference. “Oh, to be young again. Do you like to cook, Kelsie?”
Kelsie faltered, not just because she was a kitchen disaster, but because after fifteen minutes in the house—or at least five in the kitchen—she felt…accepted. And in some stupid little corner of her mind, she could see herself belonging there. The impossibility of that sent a pang through her. After sleeping with Sawyer, there was no way she’d actually hook up with one of his brothers, which meant this warm family moment would have to exist in her memory. She swallowed. “Not even close. I actually shouldn’t be anywhere near your kitchen.”
“All the more reason to be in it,” Alice said firmly. “How about you make the gravy?”
Kelsie took an actual step back. She’d seen en
ough Food Network holiday programming to know she should be even further from the gravy than she should the kitchen. “Isn’t the gravy the hardest part? And pretty much the most important?”
Alice smiled. “Which is why you start there. Although, to be honest, it’s not difficult at all.”
Kelsie and Estelle exchanged looks. Estelle’s was much closer to amusement than Kelsie suspected her own was, but it was clear there was no getting out of this gravy thing. “All right,” she said. “But you’re going to have to talk me through.”
Fifteen minutes later, Kelsie had produced the best gravy she’d ever tasted. It simmered on the stove, no idea how close it had come to a horrid existence, and she couldn’t help but smile. She felt a little…proud. “Sawyer is never going to believe I made this,” she said.
“Are you kidding me?” Estelle exclaimed. “He’s going to fall in love.”
Kelsie’s gaze jerked.
“With the gravy?” Estelle quickly added, her expression laced with alarm. “Only with the gravy.”
Kelsie stared blankly, a bit taken aback by her own reaction. Clearly, this had gotten out of hand. She couldn’t even take a joke, not that she’d ever been accused of having a sense of humor. She thrived on stress…but she hadn’t lately. She’d been having fun. She wasn’t sure what was more pathetic…that’d she had so thoroughly enjoyed the last week without realizing it, or that she was such a dud and a stress case that actually being able to relax made mental headlines.
Estelle, clearly having sensed Kelsie’s lack of breathing room, grabbed a stack of plates and nodded toward the tableware. “Give me a hand?”
Kelsie took the pile of utensils already folded into cloth napkins and followed Estelle to the table near the front of the house, diagonal from the corner occupied by the Chase men and a big-screen football game. “How long have you and Crosby been dating?”
Estelle blushed prettily. “Only a couple of months.”
Estelle’s answer genuinely surprised Kelsie. “I’d never guess you haven’t been a part of this family for years,” she said. “You’re so comfortable here.”
“That’s pretty much how it works with this family. Once you’re in, you’re in.” Estelle shot a look in the direction of the men. Sawyer, Ethan, and Liam had just stood and were headed for the back of the house, and Kelsie watched in appreciation, a little annoyed with herself when she realized she only had one brother in her sights. Estelle edged closer to Kelsie and spoke under her breath. “You know, you aren’t Sawyer’s usual type, and that’s absolutely a compliment. I mean, I can’t see your legs or your nipples.”
Kelsie nearly choked on a burst of barely restrained laughter. “That’s…horrible.”
“Not for you, it isn’t. He’s really a great guy. A little too into himself, but it’s not hard to see how he got that way. The women love him.”
Kelsie rolled her eyes. “So I’ve heard.”
“He just needs the right one,” Estelle said lightly.
“He needs to keep looking.”
Estelle rested her hand on the back of a chair. “So there’s really nothing between you?”
“Nothing like that.” Kelsie hesitated, not quite willing to admit she’d needed dating tips. “Nothing romantic.”
Wasn’t that the truth?
Estelle’s brow lifted. “That’s not shocking. From what I understand, romance isn’t a thing he does.”
“Maybe one day he’ll meet someone,” Kelsie said. “To be honest, I think he brought me here because I can’t cook.”
“Well, you just made a fantastic gravy, so he’s officially wrong.” Estelle paused, her brow quirked. “When did the two of you meet?”
“A week ago Friday. Why?”
“Because he literally hasn’t stepped foot in the bar since about a week ago Friday. Ethan and Liam were talking about that when Crosby and I got here.”
That funny little all things Sawyer wiggle shot through Kelsie’s chest. “This is noteworthy?”
“Nine days?” Estelle scoffed. “Are you kidding me? I’m surprised it’s not on TMZ.”
“Maybe he’s been hanging out somewhere else,” Kelsie said as she situated the silverware on the table beside the plates Estelle had placed.
Estelle shot her a knowing look. “He has. With you.”
“Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes,” Alice called. “Rolls are going in now.”
“The boys just went out back to check that spot on the roof,” Russell replied. He had his back to them, his attention fixed on the football game.
“Why don’t you tell them?” Estelle said to Kelsie. “Alice’s gardens are amazing, and that’s coming from a landscape architect. It’s definitely worth a trip back there.”
“Okay,” Kelsie said. “I’d love to see them.” Amazing wasn’t a typical factor in New York City backyards, when they even existed, but while her curiosity was piqued, she also hoped for a minute with Sawyer. He’d been a bit distant since they’d walked through the door, which was expected under the circumstances, but she missed having that sexy, miscreant smile trained on her.
“I think you’d love to see him,” Estelle said with a knowing look. “But the backyard is definitely worth a look. You should have seen it over the summer.”
“Maybe next year,” Kelsie said without thinking.
Ouch.
Estelle’s brow raised.
Kelsie walked away, blushing. She headed down the hall toward the back of the house, expecting to find Sawyer outside, but halfway down, she heard his voice. “Don’t even look at her, man.”
Her heart bloomed at the territorial edge to his voice.
“Her girlfriend potential is pegged at zero,” he continued in the same cocky tone that, seconds before, had given her a serious case of the warm and fuzzies. “Granted, she’s hot as hell, but not even that makes her worth your time.”
Stunned, Kelsie took a step back and felt for the reassuring presence of the wall. Hot tears pricked her eyes, but a couple of hard blinks took care of that.
It wasn’t like she expected more from him. It wasn’t like she wanted more. But she did want to be respected, damn it.
And damn him.
She straightened and returned to the family room long enough to swipe one of her brownies. She made enough noise walking back to Sawyer to warn him of her approach, lest he have any other opinions to spew, and found him with Liam and Ethan, both of whom had the decency to look a bit embarrassed. But not Sawyer. He looked, as ever, like the cat that ate the pathetic, trusting, hopeful canary, but she had something better for him.
“I brought you a brownie,” she said sweetly, then shoved it into his mouth. “Enjoy.”
Chapter Thirteen
If looks could kill, Sawyer would be toast. Burnt toast. He could only assume Kelsie had overheard him telling his brothers to back off by the fact that she’d tried to maim him with one of her brownies, but she’d refused to talk about it since.
That, or anything else.
Brownie incident aside, he hadn’t realized she was upset until the ride home. At his parents’ house, she’d seemed to have a good time and definitely had found a friend in Estelle, but she’d spared him few words. He just hadn’t realized how few until it was just the two of them and dead, utter silence.
When they entered the elevator of their apartment building, he hesitated over which button to push. “Want to hang out at my place?”
“No,” she said tersely. “I have some work to catch up on.”
“So I’m guessing you don’t want company?”
She glared. Which, if nothing else, made it clear he wasn’t her company of choice.
“Listen,” he said, pressing the buttons for his floor and hers. “What you heard—”
She sighed. “It’s fine. I get it. I appreciate you not telling them you were hired to make me dateable. Let’s just leave it at that, okay?”
He winced over the word “hired.” He wanted to argue or at least explain
why he’d said what he said, but she didn’t look amused. She looked…defeated.
“The gravy was good,” he said. “My mom said you were a natural.”
“Your mom gave me a whisk and told me to stir.”
The doors slid open on his floor. He stepped in front, blocking them. “I have faith in you. Why don’t you feed me tomorrow night? You know what they say about the way to a man’s heart.”
“What? That it’s through his rib cage?”
“Or, less violently, through his stomach.” He shifted uncomfortably. Why couldn’t he and she get on the same page? The only thing they seemed to get right was staying on the opposite sides of battle. That and sex. “Look,” he said. “I’m willing to try your cooking again. If that isn’t a leap of faith, I don’t know what is.”
“You’re not helping.” She sighed. “But okay, it’s your funeral. I’ll cook, and we’ll be one step closer to putting this behind us. Fantastic idea,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Tomorrow night. Seven?”
He cringed inwardly at her interpretation and again at the stark reality of what he’d just signed up for. As long as they had time to order takeout after, he’d be fine. But that didn’t seem to be the smartest reply, so he simply said, “I’ll be there.”
He eased back out of the way and watched her disappear behind the sliding doors. And he stood there for a long time. Long enough for the doors to pop back open when the car returned. He stepped out of the way and nodded a greeting to his neighbors, then stood there wondering if he should go upstairs and explain. He really wasn’t used to dealing with…feelings. And oddly enough, that made him feel empty inside.
His carefree life held one consequence he’d yet to consider: no one cared.
No one until Kelsie.
And he wasn’t sure what to do with that, so he went home.
Alone.
…
Kelsie sighed and pushed her ruined gravy to a cold burner at the back of the stove. She clicked off the heat and frowned. What had she been thinking? Ever since her sink turned into a geyser and landed her in the arms of a very wet, sexy downstairs neighbor, the question had become the story of her life. Now they were back where they’d started, full circle, because he had this idea that she’d learned enough in one afternoon with his mother to pull off that home-cooked meal she’d ruined the first time.
For Seven Nights Only (Chase Brothers) Page 12