Page 35

The next day Astrid was bobbing in her trainers on the pavement, waiting for the twins to pick her up.

She felt like a huge weight had been lifted.

She and Blake were in a better place. She’d learned that he believed his brother had left his heart in Ashbury Falls, which could only mean one thing: Sienna.

And today she would meet their mum, one of the last two sources on her list.

She was this close to getting all she needed for her article.

And this close to a serious twist in her karma tale, too.

Her phone buzzed.

Sissi

Hope dinner goes well! X

She gave a small smile.

Astrid

Me too, honey! X

More than you yet know…

She heard the roar of Blake’s 4x4 before she saw it rounding the corner, her smile impossible to contain as she waved.

‘Hey!’ she said, pulling open the passenger door and clocking the empty rear. ‘Where’s your brother?’

‘He’s… dealing with a situation.’

She cocked a brow. ‘A situation?’

‘You’ll see, but if you could avoid staring at him, that would be great.’

‘Staring?’ She gave a bemused smile as she slid into the seat, closed the door and buckled up. ‘You’re gonna have to explain…’

He gave a low chuckle. ‘And spoil the surprise? Hell no.’

Surprise? What on earth…

He pulled out into the traffic as her eager gaze drank him in. From his jeans to his charcoal tee, to the stubble-covered jaw and lips – lips she could taste and feel now if she were to put her mind to it.

‘So…’ she blurted, pressing her palms into her thighs and willing her body and mind to chill. Getting horny wasn’t part of today’s deal, today was about work and if she was extra lucky, more Sissi intel. ‘Is there anything I should know before I meet your mum?’

He cocked his head, the hum he gave vibrating through her overexcited core. ‘Good question…’

‘Like, I know I’m not to ask questions,’ she hurried to say, looking out the window to take in the bustling streets of New York – far safer, far less evocative – but his scent was still there.

A spicy thrill she couldn’t ignore. ‘And that’s cool.

’ She ran a finger through the neck of her red sweater, trying to ease her rapidly rising temp.

‘But I assume she knows who I am and what I’m working on? ’

‘She knows. Aiden explained the deal to her. She might be a little wary at first but just be yourself and she’ll soon warm to you like we have.’

Guilt warred with pleasure at his praise, the heat within the car now stifling even though the dash read a comfortable sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit.

‘Thanks for coming to get me,’ she said, keen to talk over her hyperactive brain and body. ‘And for yesterday. I really did enjoy our lesson.’

His mouth twitched up. ‘I did too.’

‘You mean that?’

‘Yes, Twinkle Toes. You should know by now that I don’t say anything I don’t mean. I like your company… when you’re not mistaking me for my bro that is.’

He shot her a look, his teasing smile firing straight to her clit. Shit.

‘And there’s that squeak again,’ he said with a chuckle.

‘I don’t squeak.’

‘Yes, you do. And when Mom brings out her infamous apple pie, I expect we’ll hear it again and again.’

If she was watching him devour it, it was a guaranteed cert. But in front of his family… oh no no no, that could not happen.

‘Apple pie, you say?’

‘Apple pie and homemade custard. You’ll be in food heaven.’

Food squeaking heaven, she groaned. Blakegasms, galore!

* * *

‘Astrid, it’s so wonderful to meet you!’

His mom was opening the door before they’d even reached the top step. Her blue eyes twinkling, her dark hair smoothed back into a bun, an apron protecting her woollen dress from cooking spills. She opened her arms wide and pulled Astrid in for a hug. So much for being wary…

‘It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Mrs Carter,’ Astrid said, returning her embrace and Blake’s heart gave a little jump at seeing these two women together. The two most important… and quit that thought!

‘ Call me Cynthia, please.’

‘Cynthia,’ Astrid beamed back. ‘These are for you.’ She reached into her bag and pulled out a box of chocolates. ‘Aiden said they were your favourite.’

‘Oh, how lovely! Thank you, dear. Though I hope you’ve got a pair of sunglasses in that bag of yours.’

‘Sunglasses?’ Blake said as he leaned in to give his mother a peck on the cheek.

‘Your brother’s hurting my eyes,’ she said as she closed the front door and ushered them through. ‘Why he does this to himself I have no idea.’

Blake pursed his lips – oh, this was too funny.

Astrid sent him a questioning look and he just shrugged.

‘I told you, it’s for the sponsors, Mom,’ came his brother’s grumbled response a second before he appeared, a blazing orange beacon amidst the muted colours of the hallway. Too funny!

‘Just say whatever you’re thinking and get it over with,’ Aiden said to a frozen Astrid. ‘Blake certainly had no qualms speaking his mind.’

Blake checked out Astrid’s face. ‘I told you not to stare.’

Her eyes were watering too.

‘It beats what you did,’ his brother said.

‘Why, what did he do?’ Mom pressed.

‘ He asked if I’d spent the morning bathing in Cheetos.’

Astrid erupted, the smallest of laughs before she pressed her fist to her lips. ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘Sorry?’ Blake said. ‘Why are you sorry? He’s the one who went OTT on the tan.’

‘For the millionth time, I didn’t! There’s something wrong with the stuff. It’s never done this before.’

‘I thought you were getting a remover?’

‘Turns out they don’t work instantly.’

Astrid squeaked; his mum did too.

‘It better bloody fade before the game tomorrow, or I’m going to get roasted alive.’

‘Ah don’t worry, bro, you can blind the opposition for us.’

They all erupted, Astrid howling as she clutched her middle, his mother too.

‘Funny, Blake,’ his brother muttered. ‘Very funny.’

‘Hey, just be grateful you don’t whiff of cheese too, bro.’ He gave Aiden’s shoulder a squeeze. ‘But speaking of aromas, something smells delicious, Mom…’

* * *

Blake should have quit while he was ahead.

Over the next couple of hours, he joined his brother in the dying corner, wishing the ground would open up and swallow him while his mother regaled Astrid with tales of their childhood… wholly unnecessary tales.

No one, and he meant no one , needed to know he sucked his thumb until he was four.

‘I get that Astrid needs a handle on our childhood, Mom, but can we steer away from shit like – sorry, stuff like…?’ He waved a hand, unwilling to repeat it.

And she beamed at him, looking younger than her years. ‘Nonsense. The embarrassing stuff is always the best.’

‘For you maybe.’

‘Your mum’s right,’ Astrid said, very much in her element and loving every word.

‘If you two are going to stick with this road, I’m going to clear the table for dessert.’

‘I’ll help!’ Astrid quickly volunteered.

‘Oh no, darling, you’re a guest,’ his mom said.

‘But I’d like to help. You’ve been so kind to welcome me into your home and the meal was delicious. It’s the least I can do…’

His mother reached out to rest her hand on Astrid’s arm. ‘You’re doing plenty already, my dear.’

He spied Astrid’s throat bob, a look passing between the two women that didn’t need words. ‘I hope so.’

Jesus. He was choked up. He didn’t get choked up. But knowing they were talking about him, looking out for him…

‘You’re gonna catch a bug, bro.’

He turned to find Aiden watching him and promptly snapped his mouth shut. But his brother had seen enough. Blake had felt enough. And that was a problem. A great big head-screwing problem.

And you honestly think it’s your head getting screwed?

Fuck, yes. No girl had found their way into his heart before, and he wasn’t about to let one now. Especially when she didn’t want him in return.

* * *

Astrid watched Blake leave, wondering what Aiden had said to make him dart off. She looked to the man in question, but he was giving nothing away. Other than a smugness.

Though a smugness in all that orange – oh my God, she couldn’t wait for the girls to see this.

She’d forgotten about the switcheroo with his tan, her memory of that morning dominated by that kiss.

But now she was seeing, and she was remembering, and she felt the smallest hit of triumph for Sissi. And maybe just a smidge of guilt.

But it had given everyone a hoot.

Everyone save for Aiden.

‘I’d best go and finish off the custard,’ Cynthia said, getting to her feet.

‘It’s okay, Mom, I can sort it.’

‘You think I’m going to entrust my special custard to you? You’ll add some weird je ne sais quoi to it.’

‘Would I dare?’

‘Yes!’

She was gone before Aiden could say another thing and as he turned that smug smile back on Astrid, she couldn’t hold the question in, ‘What did you say to Blake?’

He considered her for a long, tummy-squirming moment.

‘I don’t think it’s what I said, more what he was thinking all by himself.’

‘And what do?—’

‘Telling tales, bro?’

Astrid coloured as Blake returned to take up more of the dishes, and Aiden shot to his feet to help. She followed suit, hoping he wouldn’t call her out on it. And it gave her something to do that wasn’t listening to the nervous flutter in her tummy.

‘Would I dare?’ Aiden said, using the same response he’d thrown at his mum and catching Astrid’s eye with a smirk.

Oh, the guy was a tease. An absolute tease. He deserved to be florescent!

They all piled into the kitchen and Blake loaded the dishwasher while Aiden scooped coffee into a cafetière.

The kitchen was a homely delight. Cream walls, warm wood, the scent of vanilla and apple on the air.

A colourful array of flowers sat in the window, where she got a glimpse of the small backyard beyond, lovingly tended.

Much like the cork board against one wall which housed various pictures of the boys and a dozen press articles. Forever the proud mum and homemaker…

‘Could you pass me the jug for the custard, Astrid?’ Cynthia asked, gesturing to a floral ceramic boat on the wooden sideboard.