by Lily Harlem
Olivia was still working in the office—seemed she had lots to do today—and Harry had opted for air conditioning and a movie.
But Evan had a need to be alone and was grateful that no one expected anything of him for a while. He’d swim with the kids later. Perhaps take Cameron and Isobel for a ride out on their ponies if they wanted to, once the sun was lowering.
He closed his eyes, surprised by how tired he was. His emotions felt bruised and battered, as though finding the belt had beaten his nerves, if not his body.
His jaw tightened, and he had to consciously relax it. Harry had gotten rid of the damn thing. He hoped that would be the last of his father’s implements of punishment he’d find. He didn’t want to rack his brains for what else there could be. He’d taken enough memories on the chin for one day.
He began to drift off to sleep, his thoughts scattering. His breaths deepened, and the still, hot air blanketed him.
“Evan. Evan.”
His name was being called. In his dreams. Except it wasn’t his dreams, it was real. “Mmm…?”
“Evan, I am going to get the children from their school.”
He lifted his hat from his face. “No, I’ll go, Raul.”
“No, no, you rest.”
“But—”
“I have no paprika, none, I do not know what has happened to it. I must go to the shop.”
“I can pick you some up.” It didn’t seem fair that Raul do the trip twice in one day.
“No, no.” Raul held his hand in the air. “I know exactly which one I want and from which shop.”
“Oh, okay then.”
“Tomorrow you go on trek with sheep, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. They need moving east.”
“So rest today, tomorrow you will use up much energy.”
“Thanks, I’ll do that, Raul.” He relaxed back and placed his hat over his face again.
Soon he was floating off to sleep, enjoying the absolute slackening of his body after the tension. He was also thinking of Olivia and how she’d held his cock that morning and he’d promised they’d come back to the moment.
His dick stirred, blood rushing to it at the thought of being naked with Olivia, being inside her, feeling her come around his cock. Damn, he loved the way she clung to him, cried out, pulsed and writhed against him. He’d adored her from the first moment he’d seen her, loved her not long after that, and he was sure she was getting hotter with age. Being a mother, wife to five men, simply made her more of a woman and more beautiful.
A woman his heart beat for.
After a while, a kookaburra’s trill song disturbed him. He sat, glanced at the sky, and figured the children would soon be arriving home.
He wandered into the kitchen, sated his thirst, then mooched to the front of the house to watch the driveway. A swim was definitely next on the agenda, everyone would need to cool off.
Within a few minutes he spotted the dust trail the large car left behind on the driveway. Raul had scooped up their brood, along with the paprika, and was heading their way.
He smiled, anticipating seeing the children’s bright, happy faces. His were children who looked forward to getting home after a day at school rather than dreading it.
Leaning against a fence, he watched the car’s trail. He’d bet a dollar Cameron would demand to be thrown into the pool, fully dressed, because he was too impatient to go and put his swim trunks on.
Raul pulled to a halt, and when the engine silenced, the usual peace descended over the station, but only for a second, because then the car doors flew open, and Darius, Amal, Cameron, and Isabel tumbled out, dragging school bags and chattering loudly.
“Hey, kids.”
“Hi, Dad!” Darius and Amal called.
Isabel rushed to him. “Can we swim?”
“Of course. Go put your costume on.”
“I’m going in like this. I’m so hot.” Cameron sighed and sagged his shoulders.
“No, little man, go put your trunks on like your brothers and sisters.” He paused and looked around.
Raul got out and shut the driver’s door. He clicked the lock.
Evan straightened and crossed his arms. “Where’s Banna?”
“She’ll be here soon.”
“That wasn’t what I asked.”
Raul frowned.
“Where is she?” Evan asked again.
“She went for ice cream,” Raul said, his jaw tensed. “With her boyfriend.”
“What?” Evan’s heart stuttered. “Did she sneak off or something?”
“No.” Raul shook his head. “Of course not, she asked me.”
“And you said yes?” His jaw hung open. “Just like that, she went off with this guy…”
“Greg,” Raul said. “And Banna had called Olivia, checked it was okay. Olivia said yes.”
“But how is she getting home?”
“He drives. He’ll drop her off.”
Heat traveled over Evan’s neck that was nothing to do with the sun or the desert heat.
“Evan.” Olivia was at his side. She slipped her hand in his. “Banna is fifteen now, old enough to get an ice cream with a boy.”
“I think we should have discussed this, had a meeting. She’s so young, impressionable, too. It’s not like she’s a city girl, she’s not streetwise.”
“You said yourself this morning Greg was from good parents.” Olivia squeezed his fingers and set a kiss on his cheek. “Be cool, okay?”
He tried his best not to frown, but his brow creased anyway.
“I know you’ve had a crap day,” she said, “but the kids are home now. Come and swim, have a beer, relax.”
“No.” He shook his head. “I won’t relax. I’ll wait here, for this Greg guy to bring our daughter home.”
“Evan,” Olivia said.
“It’s best I’m alone,” he said. “Sorry, babe.”
“That’s okay.” She released his hand. “But we’ll be waiting for you.”
He nodded. Frustration warred with fear. What if something happened to Banna while she was with this boy? Evan loved her. She was their daughter. A precious soul they’d had the honor of having join their family.
He tugged the knife from his waistband. Spotted a tree about twenty feet away that he’d used as target practice as a teen, and spun the blade at it.
It hit, spot on, and he wandered over and retrieved it.
He repeated the action, hitting the small mark on the gnarly trunk each time. His aim hadn’t diminished despite his recent lack of practice.
He continued, the repetitive action soothing and the familiar knife an old friend.
Eventually, he spotted a car journeying along the mile-long driveway. Like Raul’s vehicle, it left a plume of red dust in its wake.
A mixture of relief and irritation swarmed through him.
He flung the knife again, sending it swirling through the air before it jabbed hard into the trunk with a satisfying thud.
He did that five more times then the old Jeep pulled to a halt next to their big car.
The door opened, and Banna got out, skirt still rolled up, and Greg—the boyfriend—did the same. He was tall; he looked older than her, his dark hair neat and his angular features reminding Evan of how his mother had been at the same age.
“Hey,” Banna said, grinning and throwing her school bag over her shoulder.
Evan managed a stiff smile. “Where did you go?”
“Er, we went for ice cream. Mom said it was okay.”
Greg came to a halt several paces behind Banna.
Evan tossed the knife into the air, the blade glinting as it spun, then caught it.
Banna’s lips twisted, the way they often did when she was thinking.
“I meant,” Evan directed at Greg, “where did you go for ice cream?”
“Er, to Alice’s Ices, sir.”
Evan nodded. “And you came straight back here?”
“Yes, sir.” Greg swallowed, his Adam’s ap
ple bobbing, and glanced at Banna.
Evan turned, threw the knife at the tree, hitting the mark again. “You sure about that?” He directed his attention at Greg.
“Yes, sir.” Greg’s eyes were wide as he looked from the tree to Evan. “Absolutely. I promised Raul that’s what we’d do.”
“It was just ice cream,” Banna said.
Evan’s jaw tightened. Ice cream with a lad older than her and with her skirt rolled up so high her panties would be visible if she bent over. And then alone, in his car…
“Banna, you’re home.” Harry curled his hand over Evan’s shoulder. “And who is this?”
Banna’s shoulders sagged, as though she was relieved to see Harry.
Evan hated himself for not being more welcoming, but he just hadn’t been able to help himself.
“This is Greg,” Banna said. “He took me for ice cream.”
“Did you have a nice time?”
“Yes, I had strawberry, my favorite.”
“That’s mine, too.” Harry squeezed Evan’s shoulder. “Nice to meet you, Greg. There’s a big pool out the back, all welcome.”
“Thanks.” Greg eyed Evan warily. “I don’t have my trunks.”
“I’m sure we can find you some.” Harry smiled.
Evan turned to Harry. What was he doing? They’d had their ice cream, time for Greg to head off. Go home.
“It’ll be fun,” Harry said. “To all get to know each other.” He raised his eyebrows as if daring Evan to argue.
Evan clamped his lips shut.
“Great. I’ll go and get changed,” Banna said.
She stepped away, but then turned and rushed up to Evan. She kissed his cheek. “It’s okay, Dad,” she whispered. “I promise.”
His heart melted. He only wanted her to be safe and happy. “Yeah, I know.” He smiled. “But not your new bikini okay, the one-piece.”
She rolled her eyes and turned to Harry. “But…?”
“Do as he says,” Harry said, “then we’ll all have a quiet life.”
She giggled. “Okay.”
Evan rolled out his shoulders then walked to the tree and plucked his knife from the trunk.
“Seriously?” Harry said when they were alone.
“You saw him. He’s older than her. He’s got a car, for crying out loud.”
“And she’ll be driving soon. Heck, she can drive the tractor as well as any of us.”
“But did you see her skirt? All rolled up—”
“I know you’ve had a shit day, buddy, but don’t take it out on Banna.”
“I’m not.” He paused, threw the knife again. On target. “Am I?”
“Yeah, a bit.” Harry shrugged. “We all want her to stay our little girl, be the only men in her life. But she’s growing into a young woman, we know that.”
“I thought you’d be the worst, Harry when she brought a boy home.”
“I’m not saying it’s easy.” He banged his chest. “But we have to accept the inevitable.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Daddy Evan. Daddy Harry.” Isabel hurtled around the corner wearing a sun protection pink t-shirt and shorts and with white streaks of cream on her cheeks and nose. “Come and swim with us.”
“At least we have a few years before this one has boyfriends.” Evan scooped her up and swung her around. “You love your daddies, right?”
She giggled, showing a missing top tooth. “Yes, I love my mommy and my daddies and my brothers and sister.”
“Life is good, right?” He pulled her into a hug.
“Yes. Very good.” She kissed him, a big smacker on the lips.
Evan laughed, knowing his face was now streaked in sun cream.
Isabel laughed, too, and wriggled to be put down. “Come and swim, now. I want you to throw me high so I make a big splash.”
“Okay, I will. Give me one minute to get changed. Harry will wait with you.”
Soon the pool was alive with laughter and splashing. Darius and Amal were daredevils on the big slides. Cameron had to be held back, he was simply too small for some of them.
Evan threw Isabel into the air and watched her land with a splash then surface.
Laughing, she wiped her face. “Again, again.”
He grinned. “Swim to me then.”
Banna sat on the side, her legs dangling in the water. Greg was in but had his arms looped onto the edging as he chatted quietly to her. Even though she wore her one-piece, it was bright red and teamed with shades and a baseball cap, she could have auditioned for Baywatch.
Harry sidled up to Evan with Cameron on his shoulders. He was frowning at Banna. “I’ll admit, it’s a shame we couldn’t insist she wore a t-shirt like these little guys.”
Evan huffed. “Yeah, I agree.”
“Kid’s grinning as though he’s won the damn lottery,” Harry muttered.
“Thought you were cool with it?”
“Maybe I was fooling myself.”
Evan’s jaw tightened. “God knows what he’s thinking about.”
“I know what I thought about at that age.” Harry downturned his mouth. “And it was pretty damn filthy.”
“Don’t,” Evan muttered. It didn’t bear thinking about.
“Perhaps I’ll go and break up their little party,” Harry said. “Put myself between them.”
“Good idea.”
“Drinks!” Olivia appeared holding a tray laden with plastic cups full of juice. “Come and get them.”
“Maybe in a minute then,” Harry muttered.
Raul wandered behind Olivia, shades on. He paused when he spotted Banna in her swimsuit and giggling with Greg. His jaw tightened.
“Oh, thanks,” Banna said, reaching for two drinks when Olivia lowered the tray.
“Thank you,” Greg said, his attention going to Raul who was staring at him.
“Look, look, there’s Mason.” Darius stood tall on the top of the highest slide and pointed into the distance. “And Lucas, they’re coming home.”
“Darius!” Olivia called sharply. “Do not let go of the rail when you’re up there.”
“Sorry, Mom.” He dropped down, then slid the length of the slide with an excited whoop.
“Throw me, throw me,” Isabel demanded.
“And me.” Cameron tapped Harry on the head. “Throw me.”
The game continued, as did Amal’s and Darius’s crazy sliding. Banna was giggling and sipping her drink, Greg clearly a guy who knew how to make a girl laugh.
Raul was sitting in the shade next to Olivia, his attention firmly on Greg and his arms folded.
So he’s not as cool with the situation as he made himself out to be.
Before long, Mason and Lucas appeared. Hot and dusty from a day out riding in heat, they wore Stetsons, chaps, and long-sleeved shirts; no sun cream could stop their Scottish skin burning in the Australian heat.
“Hey,” Mason said, grinning.
Lucas came up behind him, his expression neutral, as was so often the way.
“Hey.” Olivia smiled. “Want a drink?”
“Hell yeah.” Mason stooped, swept his lips over hers, then took a drink. He turned, the cup frozen halfway to his mouth. His gaze settled on Greg, and his eyes widened.
Lucas was standing, hands on hips, also staring at Greg.
“We have a visitor,” Raul said, gesturing. “Banna’s boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend.” Mason turned to Olivia. “You knew about this, hen?”
“Of course.” Olivia laughed. “This is Greg, he’s at the same school as Banna. They’ve been for ice cream.”
“How long have you had a boyfriend, Banna?” Mason asked.
“Well, I don’t know if…” She squirmed. “We’re just friends, really.”
Greg set down his drink and dipped his shoulders beneath the surface of the water, as though wishing he could slink away from the scrutiny.
“You know she’s a black belt, do you?” Mason said, then downed his drink in one fast gulp.
“Er yeah, she said about that.” Greg nodded, his eyes wide.
“Taught by us.” Mason gestured to himself then Lucas. “So she knows how to look after herself. And for the record, we’re both third dan. Do you know what that means? Do you?”
“That’s it.” Olivia stood. “Raul, Mason, Lucas, Harry, and Evan, come with me.”
Chapter Eight
“What?” Harry asked, glancing between Olivia and Evan. “Why?”
“Banna, you and Greg watch the little ones.” Olivia pointed between them. “Okay.”
“Yes, Mom.” Banna nodded.
Isabel and Cameron swam happily to their big sister, curious to meet the new person in their midst.
Once on the deck at the side of the house, Olivia rammed her hands on her hips.
Evan and Harry stood side by side and dripping. Raul pushed his shades to the top of his head. Mason and Lucas scowled from beneath their wide-brimmed hats.
“What the hell are you doing?” Olivia said.
“What?” Evan asked.
“You’re behaving terribly. Without manners.”
“Hen?” Mason said, eyes wide. “We just—”
“Don’t ‘hen’ me.” She jabbed him in the chest. “Our daughter has brought a friend home, and you’re all acting as though you want to murder him.”
“That’s not true.” Evan shrugged.
“Not true.” Olivia spun her attention to him. “So what was all the knife throwing out the front when he arrived? You wanted him to know you’re a good shot. You can hit a target?”
“Well I… I was just practicing.”
“Yeah, right.” She huffed. “And Mason, you want him to know you could beat him up with your little finger, is that what the karate information dump was about?”
Mason tugged off his hat and scraped his hand over his short hair. “It doesn’t hurt for him to know and—”
“What does hurt,” Olivia interrupted, “is for our children to see you all being rude to a guest and for our guest to be so damn uncomfortable.”
Harry glanced at Evan and downturned his mouth. He had a sheepish glint in his eye.
Damn, have we been that bad?
“And how is poor Banna going to feel when he never comes back, or says he won’t hang out with her anymore, because of her ridiculously overprotective fathers?”
“I’m sure it will not come to that.” Raul folded his arms.