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Chapter Eleven
Marissa
The sun is starting to set, but this get-together is showing no signs of slowing down. We’re still gathered in the backyard, bellies full of delicious food and enjoying each other’s company. I can’t believe how much I’ve loved this evening. I’ve gotten to know a big part of the family I never knew, and can already feel the bonds being formed.
Even though Rhenn is on the opposite side of the yard, I’ve secretly kept one eye on him most of the night. In fact, every time I glance his way, I either catch him looking at me or he busts me checking him out. At first, I was embarrassed, but now? Now, I don’t care. Of course, he doesn’t either. Rhenn is clearly used to being ogled, and why wouldn’t he be? He is stunningly gorgeous for a man, with his bright blue eyes and extremely muscular physique. He probably makes nuns contemplate tossing away the habit.
And he can cook – or grill, actually. He wasn’t so coordinated in the kitchen, but the man was a wiz on the grill. Even with my anxiety at a peak, he handled the massive amount of chicken breasts with the ease of a master chef who has been doing it half his life.
Breasts. *giggle snorts* He’s obviously well versed in the way to handle those…
“What’s so funny?” my sister asks as she sits down beside me in the swing.
“Nothing,” I reply, covering up the blush that’s burning up my neck.
We’re quiet for a few seconds, both of us taking in the activity around the yard. Sawyer is playing catch with Max again, showing him how to scoop up the ball off the ground and fire it back before it even really touches his glove. Max’s eyes are alive with excitement in a way I’ve never seen before from my four-year-old nephew. He’s clearly eating up the attention and practice. Ever since Jensen and Ashley’s divorce, I’ve barely seen the little guy smile, let alone let go and have fun the way he is today.
Mom is visiting with Meghan and Nick and Brian and Cindy, while Emma and Orval have Samuel cornered over by the firepit. If the look on my poor brother’s face is any indication, I’d say he’s getting an earful of inappropriate comments, much like we all have throughout the afternoon. They’re definitely a not for the faint of heart – or in this case, my brother, Samuel.
My eyes seek him out once more. Rhenn is standing off by the firepit after just lighting the fire. He’s not engaging in any conversation, but mostly just sitting back and observing. Actually, he’s observing me. Our eyes connect once more from across the fire and I hate the way my heart skips a beat. I hate it because even if I wanted to act on this attraction I feel for him, I can’t. He’s leaving soon.
“You might want to close your mouth or everyone will see you drool.” Harper’s words break through the Rhenn-laced fog in my head. Her smile is all knowing and a bit smug, which only irritates me. Stupid sister. “You should just sleep with him and get it over with.”
“What?” I gape, my jaw surely hanging down to my chest.
“Oh, you heard me. Don’t be a ninny.”
“A ninny?”
“Yeah. A pansy, a baby, a pussy.”
“Don’t say that.” Again, cue the blush.
“What, pussy? That’s my favorite P-word. Besides, it’s not really a bad word anymore. Hell, I heard Uncle Orval use it about an hour ago,” Harper says, trying not to laugh.
“Gross.”
“Yeah, it was in the context you’d imagine too. I almost had to throw up,” she says, taking a drink from her beer. “Anyway, let’s talk about you sleeping with the hot electrician.”
“I’m not sleeping with him,” I defend.
“Not yet, but you should be.”
Exhaling deeply, I close my eyes. “I can’t, Harper. He’s leaving in a of couple weeks.”
“So?”
Turning her direction, I see she’s completely serious. “Did you hear what I said? I can’t just…sleep with him, Harper. He’s L-E-A-V-I-N-G soon.”
My sister turns in her seat and faces me. “You know, Riss, you can enjoy a little casual sex every now and then. Not all sex has to be in a relationship, despite what our parents taught us when we were thirteen.”
That makes me snort. “Yeah, and look how well that turned out,” I reply, referring to our cheating father.
“That must have fallen under the ‘do as I say and not as I do’ category,” Harper practically growls. Our lives were completely disrupted and shattered when his affair came out. Hell, he wasn’t even doing a good job at trying to hide it. You don’t take a woman half your age to a rival’s bed and breakfast in town; not when the bed and breakfast is owned by one of the town gossips.
I make a noise to let her know that I heard her. Talking about our dad and his lack of decorum when cheating on our mom isn’t an easy topic for any of us. Especially since he’s off touring the English countryside with his new bimbo wife. Not the one he cheated on Mom with, but the one he cheated on that young homewrecker with.
These are the days of our lives…
