Page 11

Eleven

T hree days until jump time. I needed to see Caiyan before I left present day for the land of pirates. I pulled out my phone and texted him.

We need to talk.

I stared at the screen. Nothing.

My battery read five percent. I huffed, plugged my phone into the charger, then got ready for linner at my parents’ house.

His reply came just as I applied the final coat of M.A.C. Brave Red lipstick.

We’ll talk and other things very soon.

I had an idea what the “other things” included. Heat flashed to my girlie parts. I texted back.

Before my jump on Tuesday.

Will do.

The man of mystery refused to give me a day or time. I knew better than to ask. He’d show up in the middle of the night, do all the things I liked, and make me forget the reason I needed to speak with him.

Not this time, buddy.

Ragina withholding sex from Darryl for a ring might work for me too. But I didn’t want a ring. I wanted information.

If Caiyan’s got a secret map, I’ll be the one withholding the booty until my questions are answered. I have self-discipline. I have willpower. I have grit and guts and moxie.

I hoped .

* * *

My parents house smelled of baked beans, chocolate cake, and smoked brisket.

“Jen, you…look cute.” Mom huffed between words, smashing the potato masher inside a large metal pot, her struggle for the perfect texture of potato salad evident in every breath. “That dress is much better than the boxy thing you wore to Durr’s wedding.” She glanced at my feet. “I. Love. The. Shoes.”

My salary from the WTF paid my rent, groceries, and car insurance. My paycheck from the chiropractic office paid for my shoes.

I’d worn my yellow sundress with little pink flowers to Sunday dinner. It was perfect for the ninety-degree Texas summer, and it had been on sale. The only problem was I couldn’t wear a bra with it. No matter, this hot-humid weather would prevent any surprise nipple erection. I added my new Kate Spade Citrus sandals with sweet lemon-shaped heels. They matched my dress perfectly.

I displayed a lemon heel for her. “What can I say? When life gives you lemons, you wear them.”

“What’s wrong with your life?” Mom asked, then her eyes went wide. “Oh my god, you’re pregnant.” Mom held the masher with a tight fist, waiting for the answer that would ruin her day.

“No, Mom. I’m not pregnant. Everything is fine. Can I help?”

The mashing resumed. “Sure. Set. The. Table.”

I turned toward the drawer filled with placemats, napkins, and mismatched napkin rings Mom had never used but claimed looked cute in the store.

She stopped mashing and spooned the container of potatoes into a bright blue bowl. “Your dad’s in the backyard manning the smoker. Eli and Melody and what’s his name are helping your dad.”

“His name is Pete.”

Mom wasn’t happy she’d spent months planning Melody’s perfect wedding only to have Melody run off to the justice of the peace and leave for the honeymoon two days early.

My mom would kill me if she found out I was the one who encouraged my sister to skip the country. Not directly, but our conversation did include the words, “It’s your wedding, do what you want.”

Mom paused over the bowl. “Where’s Gertrude?”

“She’s running late. Brodie FaceTimed from Australia. She’ll be here before we eat linner.” I gathered bright blue placemats and cloth napkins. Mom never used paper.

“Add two extra plates. Darryl’s coming with Ragina. Or should we add three?” Mom looked at me over a steamy pot of boiled eggs, eyebrows raised in question. Her face looked hopeful. The steam gave her perfectly applied makeup a dewy glow.

“Caiyan’s working.”

“Huh, he texted me he might be here.” She tapped an egg on the side of the bowl and began peeling off the shell.

Jeez. I headed toward the dining room. My mom knew more about Caiyan’s whereabouts than I did. This texting between my boyfriend and my mom creeped me out. “I’ll set a place, jest in case.” I laughed at how I mocked Caiyan’s accent. Like he’d show at family linner.

Ragina arrived a few minutes before Darryl. After greeting my mom, they went out back to visit with my siblings and Uncle J. My cousins always called my dad Uncle J even though he was their first cousin.

Go figure.

As I put the last of the silverware on the table, the warm scent of piney woods combined with hints of leather and cinnamon wafted around me. My hold on the dinner knife tightened.

“Ye dinnae need to grip the knife quite so firmly, Sunshine. I’m naugh going to harm ye.”

I turned, and he wrapped me in his arms, taking my mouth with his for a long, missed kiss. All while removing the knife I gripped in my hand.

“What are you doing here?”

“Ye told me ye needed to talk, and I was invited.”

“Speaking of that, this texting thing you’ve got going on with my mom? It’s a bit weird for me.”

“Do ye want me to stop?” He looked down at me with those green eyes that made me forget what I asked. “Would be a shame. She’s got some tasty recipes.”

“Since when do you cook?”

“They’re naugh for me. Nials hired a new cook. ’Tis his niece. She’s a sweet lass, but naugh so good in the kitchen. She’s obsessed with America, so I’m trying to help with some of yer mom’s suggestions for American dishes.”

Nials ran Caiyan’s family estate in Scotland. A pleasant older man with white hair and silent footsteps, he held a position I equated with Alfred from Batman.

“Fine. Can you at least let me know when you’ll show up at my family linner?” I added another place setting to the table.

“I texted ye.”

“You did?” I looked down at my dress. No pockets. I remembered my cell at home on the charging station next to my bed. “I forgot my phone.”

He kissed me again, and I forgot everything but the way his lips felt on mine, the way his arms held me warm and safe.

So much for moxie. We could talk later.

* * *

We gathered around the dinner table. My perfect older sister Melody, her husband Pete, Darryl, Eli, my mom, Ragina, me, and Caiyan all waited for Dad to bring in the smoked beast. Gertie still hadn’t shown up, and her place next to Caiyan sat empty.

The iced-to-perfection chocolate cake sat on the sideboard. My mouth watered looking at it. Eli spotted me eyeing the cake and winked at me as if to say, Your boyfriend’s here. If Darryl proposes, you’ve moved into the kill zone.

“Hey there, Sugarplum.” Dad walked toward me carrying a platter heaped high with meat. He wore an apron that read Kiss the Cook. His dark hair, turning gray at the temples, was shellacked in place with Consort hairspray, maintaining his not-a-single-hair-out-of-place style. He smelled like Stetson cologne, freshly laundered cotton, and grill grease.

“Son.” Dad nodded at Caiyan. Calling Caiyan son wasn’t a hopeful endearment on my dad’s part. He called every man under forty son .

“Sir.” Caiyan nodded at Dad. It was their mental handshake since my dad’s hands were full of brisket.

Dad put the plate of carved brisket in the center of the table. He ditched the apron and hot pads and returned to offer Caiyan a proper handshake and me a kiss on the cheek. He took his seat at the head, beaming at his BBQ creation like it was a new baby.

There was a fuss coming from under the table near cousin Darryl’s feet. “Awe, Dang. Tonto, I told ya, you can’t sit at the supper table.” Darryl’s pet Racoon jumped into his lap and poked his head up over the edge of the table. “He’s feelin’ a might left out seein’ as he always eats supper at the table.”

“Victory left one of the twins’ highchairs the last time they came over.” Mom pushed back her chair and walked to the hall closet.

Everyone sat dumbstruck. Mom never allowed pets at the table. She only allowed her own children at the table with strict rules, including freshly washed hands, no ballcaps, no swearing, no slouching, no slugging, no elbows on the table and, heaven forbid, no paper napkins.

She returned with a small plastic chair that clamped onto the table between Darryl and Eli. Tonto climbed into the chair, and she tied a little bib around his neck. Tonto tugged on the bib, made a hissing noise, and looked up at Darryl.

“You’re a guest,” Darryl warned the raccoon. Tonto unfolded the cloth napkin and placed it on his lap.

My dad leaned back in his chair. “This’d be the first time we’ve had coon at the table that’s not in some form of stew.”

Mom handed Tonto a small metal spoon and took her seat. Tonto hid the spoon in his fur and folded his claws in front of him.

“Bow your heads.” Dad held out his hands, and we all linked up. He was known for his lengthy blessings to the Lord. I bowed my head and closed my eyes. Caiyan’s fingers warmed my hand, and it felt good to hold hands with him.

During the prayer, I cracked open an eye at Darryl. If that jackass asked Ragina to marry him, I’d stab him with the meat fork.

Ragina sat to my right and was also peeking at Darryl. She rubbed her empty ring finger with her thumb. Eli cleared his throat across the table. He sent me a scowl, shook his head, and mouthed the word cake .

Did he honestly think Mom would withhold cake if I stabbed Darryl?

I glanced over at Caiyan and felt a rush of lust. His mouth curled into an evil smile. He usually blocked my ability to read him, but for a brief second, he opened himself up. The craving to do naughty things to me zinged up my arm, causing me to clamp my thighs together.

Caiyan vibrated with contained laughter. He was playing with me. I’d get him later. Right now, my sights were set on stopping Darryl.

Dad’s prayer was coming to the climax. The Amen was right around the corner. I could almost taste the tangy maple flavor of Mom’s homemade BBQ sauce. The front door banged open. Dad paused. Gertie rushed into the dining room.

“Sorry, I’m late.”

“You’re just in time, Gertiebug.” Dad smiled at her.

She slid into the seat next to him. “Thanks, Uncle J.”

My dad patted her hand. “I’ll start the prayer over.”

A unanimous groan followed from everyone except for my mother, who was too polite to complain, and Caiyan, who squeezed my hand, sending another round of testosterone-induced sexual desire in my direction with such intense force it gave me an orgasm.

* * *

After Mom served the cake, Darryl stood and clinked his beer bottle with the tines of his dessert fork. “I’ve got an announcement.”

“Not now. We just got to the cake.” I looked around. Everyone was staring at me. “Did I say that out loud?”

Mom’s head swiveled in my direction, and her tweezed brows knitted. “Darryl has something important to tell us. The cake can wait.” She spoke through clenched teeth.

Ragina straightened in her chair, and I slumped in mine. Caiyan chuckled at me.

“As you know, I’ve been thankful for y’all lettin’ me stay at the brick house rent-free.”

What the frig? I paid rent. That little fucker.

“My job at the bar has been gettin’ better, and I’m makin’ good money now.” He reached into his pocket. Crap, here it came—my own nightmare on engagement street.

Ragina licked her lips. Her left hand lifted off the table.

“I’m able to pay my fair share, and…” Darryl pulled out a set of keys. “I bought a new truck.”

“Cool, bro.” Pete gave Darryl a fist bump.

Ragina paused, her hand hovering in midair, eyes narrowed. “You bought a what?”

“You’ll love it, darlin’. It’s got four-wheel drive. And, Uncle J, it’s a Ford.”

My Dad nodded uneasily. Everyone stared at the unavoidable trainwreck that was about to happen. Ragina’s face went from ivory to rose to pink to flaming Cheet-o. She jerked her hand back. “You bought a truck?” It was more a statement than a question.

Cousin Darryl remained oblivious to what was happening in front of him. “Yep, brand new. Right off the lot.”

Caiyan pressed his lips together. He was amused.

“You bought a fuckin’ truck!” Ragina was standing now. She tossed her napkin on the table and marched out the front door.

Darryl stilled, deer in headlights. “Um, ’scuse me.” He followed the blazing path left by Ragina. Tonto scurried after him, barely making it out the door before it closed.

I forked into the cake.

The chocolate frosting was a creamy dream. The cake was moist, and the layer of fudge in the center… Oh my god. Almost as good as Caiyan’s addition to the prayer. “Mmmmm, Mom. This cake’s one of your best.”

Synchronized head nods rounded the table.

Mom situated her napkin in her lap. “Thank you.” She picked up her fork, took a bite, and eyed Eli and me. “You know, Darryl is younger than both of you.”

I froze—the fork midway to my mouth.

She turned her head away from me. “Don’t you think it’s high time you found a girlfriend, Eli?”

Good, she was going after Eli.

He toyed with the cake on his plate. “I’m dating Victory.”

Mom’s face lit up like a Las Vegas Hotel sign. “That’s won-der-ful.” Her fork clattered on her plate. She clasped her hands.

Crap! Eli left me in the wide open, defenseless. I hadn’t finished my cake.

Mom’s head robotted toward me. “What about the two of you?”

“We, um, are, um.” I shoved a forkful of cake into my mouth.

“We’re engaged.” Caiyan hung an arm around my shoulders.

I choked on the mouthful of creamy frosting that now felt like cement. My heart skipped a bunch of beats and I swallowed hard. “Yep. Engaged.”

“Oh,” Mom put her hand over her heart. “Engaged. Did you hear that, J.W.? They’re engaged.”

“I heard.” Dad studied me, and his lips turned up in a concerned smile.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Mom asked.

Gertie looked at me, not sure whether to be hurt or worried.

Caiyan raised an eyebrow as if to say, Ball’s in yer court .

“It’s a recent development.” I fiddled with my fork. “We didn’t want to steal Darryl’s thunder.”

“You’re going to love being married. It’s so wonderful.” My sister blinked gooey eyes at Pete. “Don’t we love it, sweetlips?”

Sweetlips bobbed his head, not breaking the rhythm of cake to mouth. He had chocolate smeared on his cheek and refused to make eye contact with anyone.

“Where’s the ring?” Mom eyed my naked ring finger.

Caiyan didn’t miss a beat. “Jen doesnae like surprises. She wanted to pick it oot. We’ve yet to make the trip to the jeweler.”

Eesh! Mom clicked her tongue at me like I was an irrational radical feminist for asking to pick out my ring. Which I did not.

“I can’t wait to see it.” She rushed over to Caiyan and threw her arms around him. “We’re so happy for you to join the family.”

Somehow, I stood on numb legs—my cake half-eaten on the plate. Mom hugged me. Dad hugged me. Melody and Pete hugged me. Gertie hugged me, Eli hugged me and whispered “sucker” in my ear.

“I’ll clear the plates.” Mom made swooshing motions with her hands, then scooped up my plate with my half-eaten chocolate cake. “The rest of you go out back and enjoy the misters on the patio. J.W., get that bottle of champagne out in the garage fridge. We need to celebrate.”

Oh boy.