by Marie Harte
With a forced smile, she made her way over to Grace and Beth. “Hey.”
“Hi.”
Beth nodded and smiled politely. “Hello, Del.”
“I’m gonna grab some food. Be right back.” With any luck, someone would nab her seat before she returned. Del took her time in the kitchen filling her plate, amused to see a gluten- and sugar-free section on the table for Vanessa. The thought reminded her of Mike’s wife, Lea, and her intolerance for good old meat.
Del took an extra helping of wings and grabbed a sugar-laden soda, then returned to the living room. To her relief, Vanessa had claimed the spot next to Grace.
When Vanessa saw her staring, she raised a brow in that arrogant way of hers. Even dressed down in sweatpants and a Say Yes to Organic T-shirt, her golden hair pulled back in a pristine ponytail, the woman looked like a model. “You got a problem with the pregnant lady taking your seat, Del?”
Robin shook her head. “She’s really milking this baby thing.”
“No kidding.” Kim frowned. “Del, you sit right next to me.”
“On the floor?” Del snorted. “Gee, Kim. Thanks for moving over.”
Robin chuckled. “Ain’t my woman sweet?”
The others laughed before buckling down into a discussion about Abby’s latest heartthrob, a Marine hero, and the female doctor who puts him in his place. At least Abby wrote about strong women. Del chanced a glance at Grace.
“Right, Del?” Abby asked loudly, frowning.
“What did I do?” She took a drink of soda, not intimidated in the slightest to be at the center of the group’s focus.
“You aren’t paying attention.”
“To meeee,” Maddie whined, and everyone laughed. “Sorry, Abs. You’re getting a little diva-ish.”
“Pot calling kettle. Hello,” Vanessa interjected.
“That’s not what I meant.” Abby scowled. “Del, put down the chicken wing and tell me what you thought of the book.”
Rena grinned. “I’d tell you, Abby, but then, I’m just a guest. Not a regular, like my cousin.”
Everyone glanced from her to Rena. Just like Del and J.T., the obvious skin color differences tended to throw people.
Not Vanessa, who dove right in with, “So what gives with you two? Adoption? Different dads? Moms? What?”
Abby turned red. “Vanessa.”
Beth sighed. “Really, Vanessa.”
Del and Rena cracked up, and Rena explained, “My mom and J.T’s mom were sisters. Technically we’re step-cousins, I guess. No actual blood relation.”
“Wish I could say the same.” Maddie pointed at Vanessa. “Vanessa’s mom and mine are sisters.”
The conversation flowed away from Del and Rena to bad baby names. It seemed Vanessa was an expert about what she refused to consider. Anything on the popular list had to go.
“Ahem.” Abby stood up. “Back to the book discussion? I’m serious. This is going to help me with my current project.”
“So why not tell us about that?” Del offered.
The wicked grin Abby sent her had her rethinking the idea. “Great idea, Del. My latest story revolves around a female mechanic and the man who broke her heart.”
“Oh hell.” She’d already dealt once with Abby’s research the last time they’d met at her shop. Apparently, Abby hadn’t changed her mind about her character’s profession. Wonderful.
Beth grinned, and Del saw the charm everyone else normally interacted with. “Go on, Abby.”
Abby paused, and Maddie elbowed her. “Yeah, Abs. Do tell.”
“Abby, please?” Rena begged with puppy dog eyes. No one could resist the eyes. Abby couldn’t either.
“Well, see, there’s this tough woman who’s really not that tough at all. She just seems tough.”
Everyone looked at Del, and she scowled. “This is not about me.”
Beth’s smile faded. Grace didn’t look too pleased either, but when everyone began talking about Mike, whom Abby had modeled the hero on, and dropped Del from the conversation, Del finally relaxed.
“Oh my gosh, Beth. Mike is so amazing,” Maddie gushed. “It’s hard to believe he’s been alone for so long.”
“I raised good boys,” Beth said with pride. And she had. Del wished she could dislike the woman more, but she had a nice family and a stamp of approval from Liam. Her father could be a horse’s ass, but he understood people. He liked what he knew of Beth McCauley. Too bad Beth seemed to hate Del.
“Well, Flynn’s my favorite.” Maddie beamed.
Abby shook her head and teased, “Brody is hands-down superior. No offense, guys.”
“Personally, I’m taken with James. And he’s taken with me,” Beth teased back.
Considering how unhappy the woman had been with James not so long ago, Del enjoyed knowing Beth had found her own happily-ever-after with her bear of a spouse.
Rena, damn her, would not shut up. “Abby, when is this book coming out?”
Abby shot Del a grin. “As soon as I can get Mike to give me an interview, I figure I can pound this book out in a few months. It’s due to release in the winter of next year.”
“I can’t wait.” Rena shot Del a smug look. “Tell me more about the hero.”
“Yes, he sounds awfully familiar,” Beth said dryly.
“He does, doesn’t he?” Grace added with a chuckle. “I don’t know Mike that well, but he’s been super nice to me.”
Super, Del wanted to repeat and shake her imaginary pom-poms, but didn’t. She felt enough like a moron as the inspiration for Abby’s book. Acknowledging jealousy that shouldn’t exist annoyed the crap out of her. Del didn’t do relationships or envy—not over men. So why this weirdness about Mike?
“He’s been nice to Noah,” Grace added.
“Who’s Noah?” Rena asked.
Vanessa answered, “Her son. He’s how old?”
“Seven, going on eight pretty soon.” Grace smiled. “He and Colin seem to get on really well. It’s so great to have friendly neighbors.”
Neighbors? She lived next to Beth, not Mike. Gah. Who cares? Not my problem.
Instead, Del concentrated on Abby’s discussion, which eventually circled back to her book club pick. Del added a little to the conversation. She’d read some of the story before her cousin had snatched the book out of her hands and refused to give it back. Even now the suck-up held it to Abby to sign.
Del glared. “You know, Rena, that’s my book.”
“Not anymore.” Rena clutched the signed copy to her chest. “Thanks, Abby. This is so great. You’ll sign my other ones?”
“Sure.” Abby grinned, no doubt basking in Rena’s obvious adulation. “See, Del? This is how you should act. Like you like me.”
Del rolled her eyes.
“I like you.” Grace laughed, a tinkling sound. “I’m sure Del is just teasing.”
Like Del needed Grace to make excuses for her. She opened her mouth to retort and saw the daggers Rena shot her. She clamped her lips shut, then took a deep breath before saying, “Abby knows I like her just fine.”
Abby frowned. “Of course I do. Del loves my work.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Del muttered, and Vanessa snickered.
Maddie coughed to hide her laughter. “Don’t worry about Abby, Del. It’s all Brody’s fault. He’s so in love with her it’s making her head swell.”
“Not sure that’s possible. It was already pretty big to begin with when I met her.” Del didn’t think she’d said that loud enough for anyone but Maddie to hear, but Vanessa laughed so hard she started coughing.
“Oh God. Now that was funny. Good one.”
Del sighed. “I need a beer.” She took the opportunity to dart into the kitchen to root around for a beer. She found one in the back of the fridge. No telling how old it was, but she didn’t care.
She pulled it out, uncapped it, and had taken a deep drag of it when Grace entered the kitchen. More awesomeness Del could have done without.
; Grace gave Del an overfriendly grin. “Hey, Del. I just wanted to say how great it was to see you again.”
“Ah, sure.”
“I wouldn’t put too much stock in Abby’s characters or anything. Not like she’s actually basing her lovers on you and Mike.” The too-bright smile warned Del to tread warily.
“O-kay?”
“Mike’s a single dad. Clearly he’s more concerned with his son than hooking up with anyone.”
“Clearly.” Those twelve hours of sex last week must have been an aberration.
“Well, you and he aren’t exactly the same type. You seem much tougher and more independent than a man like Mike would go for. I mean, you’re so strong. Your muscles are almost bigger than Mike’s.” She laughed as if teasing and daring Del to laugh with her.
Oh, Grace was good. Light and airy, nothing said that could be construed as really insulting. Just those little digs that would chip away at a woman with less self-esteem.
Behind Grace, Vanessa arrived to stand in the mouth of the kitchen, taking in the show.
To Del’s joy, Grace wasn’t done. “I’m sorry,” Grace said with a blush. Real or feigned? “I didn’t mean to imply you might be manly or gay or anything. I totally think you’re straight. If you were gay, that would be fine too though.”
So great to have Grace’s permission to be homosexual.
The gabby woman continued, “Your tattoos and muscles are totally feminine, at least, to me. You’re tough, but in a womanly way. I hear a lot of guys totally like tattoos on women nowadays.”
Three “totallys.” Del wanted to turn it into a drinking game, a sip for each one. She took another drink of beer, then deliberately wiped her mouth on the back of her colored forearm, playing up her differences to get the greatest effect. “Thanks, Grace. That means a lot, coming from you.”
Grace half-smiled, as if not sure what that meant.
“For the record, I have no problem with anything anyone thinks of me. I like me, and that’s all that matters.”
Grace frowned. “I like you too.”
Del snorted. “Sure you do. Look, I’m just fine with my appearance. You don’t have to tell me not to worry about Mike. He’ll be damn lucky to have me again.”
Grace’s lips flattened.
“But you try your best. He’s a stud in bed, by the way. And, honey, he ain’t all that nice, so don’t think batting your eyes and whimpering is gonna have him inside you with that monster cock any sooner.”
Grace gasped and fled, brushing by Vanessa. A moment later, Del heard the front door open and shut, then the silence in the other room that gradually filled with noise again.
“Too much?” she asked casually.
Vanessa grinned. “Not enough. What a little bitch.”
“Uh-huh.” Del stood there, not sure what to do now. Should she go? Stay? Track Grace down and punch her in the face just because it would feel good?
Vanessa watched her. “So are you going to nurse that thing in here all night or what?”
With a shrug, Del followed Vanessa back into the living room with her beer. “Did you follow Grace into the kitchen to save me?”
“No, to save her. Too bad I was too late.” But Vanessa didn’t look upset at all.
When Del sat back down, Beth looked from her to Vanessa. “What happened to Grace? She flew out of here without a word.”
Vanessa answered before Del could. “Ate something that didn’t agree with her, I guess. Sometimes you need to learn when to fight your battles. I mean, I don’t do gluten for a reason.”
“Oh.” Beth sighed. “I guess I should see if she’s all right, since we came together. Abby, thanks for having me.” Beth said her good-byes, polite even to Del, and left.
The moment the door closed, the group turned to Del.
“What?” She scowled. Why didn’t they look to big-mouthed Vanessa for answers?
Robin and Kim glanced at each other, then back at her. “What did you say to her?” Robin wanted to know.
“’Cause that woman had her claws out from the time you walked through the door,” Kim added.
“Even I saw it,” June agreed.
“Saw what?” Abby asked.
“God, Abby. Get a clue.” Maddie shook her head. “The woman was clearly jealous.”
“What did you say to her, cuz?” Rena asked, smirking. “’Cause if I know you, and I do, it wasn’t pretty.”
Vanessa chuckled. “Oh, it wasn’t. It was a thing of beauty.”
The room quieted.
“You can’t tell Beth,” Del blurted. “She already hates me.”
“Yep, she does,” Vanessa agreed.
“She does not,” Abby snapped.
“Vanessa.” Maddie shook her head. “She likes you, Del. Mostly.”
“So what did you say, Del?” Rena prodded.
Del was going to have a firm talk with her cousin when they got home. The girl did not know when to leave well enough alone.
Vanessa answered with amusement, “Basically, Grace called Del masculine, gay, and told her not to worry that Abby was in any way, shape, or form intimating that Del and Mike would be a good couple.”
“Really? That’s not very nice.” Abby frowned.
“Then Del took a manly swig of beer, wiped her mouth on the back of her arm—”
Rena groaned. “Del, really? I want to come back here.”
“You’re invited, Rena. Del too,” Abby said without hesitation.
Good to know at least Abby had her back. Del hadn’t missed her cousin’s glare.
Rena shook her head. “I’ll watch her more closely next time, Abby. I swear.”
“Oh, come on, Rena.” Del frowned. “The woman was baiting me. What was I supposed to do?”
“Exactly as you did.” Vanessa nodded. “So after Grace calls Del a man, Del answers back that she’s already had Mike once, and he’d be lucky to have her again.”
“You go, Del.” Robin held up a hand for a high-five.
Del groaned but leaned forward to slap it anyway.
“Then she added that Mike’s a stud in bed, and Grace being all wimpy isn’t—and I quote—‘gonna have him inside you with that monster cock any sooner.’”
Silence. Then Del got a standing ovation.
Even from Abby. “Oh wow. Can I use that line?”
Del laughed with them, but inside she wondered if she’d just shot herself in the foot. Because Grace would either narc her out to Beth, or Beth would find out Del was doing Mike and warn her son away as fast as she could spit. Despite being a lady, Beth McCauley could no doubt spit with the best of them. She had four strapping sons and that big-ass husband after all.
Somewhere, the death march sounded again, this time for Del’s sex life.
***
Beth hurried after Grace, not sure what had put a burr under her saddle. Except she did know. Beth slowed, not at all as clueless as her family would believe. Oh, she’d heard the others talk about Mike’s fixation on Del. Colin was already in love with the woman.
Despite Del’s odd dress and liberal use of jewelry all over the place, she’d been nothing but pleasant whenever she was around Beth. She treated Colin like a treasure, and for that alone Beth liked the guarded woman. However, when it came to Mike’s heart, Beth wouldn’t—couldn’t—go easy.
Besides feeling as if she’d lost her own child when Lea passed, Beth had been crushed to see Mike’s desolation during that difficult time. Of all her sons, she worried for him the most. He’d given up on love when he lost his precious Lea, and he hadn’t come out of his shell since. He helped everyone needing it. Always did for others and gave his son all the love he deserved. But Mike took nothing for himself.
She’d thought, perhaps, that Abby, with her likeness to Lea, might break his lonely streak. But he hadn’t been interested, and then Abby had lost her heart to Brody. Maddie and Vanessa might have been contenders, except Mike never looked at a woman as more than casual entertainment, and Flynn and
Cam had clearly staked their claims.
Poor Mike worried her.
Grace seemed ideal for her eldest, and Beth hurried after her. Grace was a mother, a dutiful daughter, both pretty and kind. Her son though… Noah could be a handful, but what son wasn’t at one time or another?
Beth had seen nothing shy of wonderful in the woman, and she had high hopes Mike might see the same. Except he seemed to have eyes only for Delilah Webster—Lea McCauley’s polar opposite.
“Grace. Oh Grace.” Beth hurried and caught Grace just as she neared the front step of Nadine’s walkway. “Honey, are you okay? You left pretty suddenly.”
Grace turned, spotted Beth, and a tear trickled down her cheek.
Alarmed, Beth caught her in her arms and lowered them both to the step to sit. “What’s wrong?”
Grace hurriedly wiped her eyes. Even crying, she seemed sweet. God, she reminded Beth of Lea with that look of injured purity. “I’m so sorry. I said some terrible things to Del, and I didn’t even mean to. Somehow I called her too manly or something, when I was only trying to make her feel better.” Grace looked so remorseful.
The poor thing. “Everyone makes mistakes. I’m sure she’d forgive you if you apologized.”
“I would, but I don’t want her to think I’m poking my nose where it doesn’t belong.” Grace sighed. “I had no idea she and Mike were an item.”
Beth frowned, not pleased to have her suspicions confirmed. “Oh?”
“Abby made it sound like she was modeling her characters off Del and Mike, and I thought Del might feel embarrassed about all the attention. Instead I put my foot in my mouth.”
Beth hugged her. “I’m sure Del can hold her own.” Could Liam’s girl not see she’d hurt Grace’s feelings? “Want me to talk to her?”
“I—probably not. I should apologize myself, shouldn’t I?”
“Don’t you worry a thing about it. I’m sure Del was just being Del.” Gruff and sarcastic, like her father, but not as soft. Odd to think of Liam as the easy Webster to deal with. “I’ll talk to her and Mike and get this sorted out.” She held up a hand. “But don’t worry. I’ll keep you out of it. I’ll just dig around as the concerned mother. I did see you storm out of book club.”