Playful Hearts (A Rocky Harbor Novel Book 4) Page 17

  For the next two days Blake busied himself with work, running, checking on the obstacles, and more work. He’d never thought of himself as a computer guy, but the programming, designing, and engineering side of the business was quickly becoming his favorite part of the job, while Colton had found his niche in personal training.

  His sisters, and unfortunately Mackenzie as well, had bailed on Ladies Night because Lucy was doing her art night thing at Coast & Roast. Part of Blake wanted to crash that party, covering Mackenzie’s body with paint before washing her—them—off in the shower. Instead, he did the responsible thing and called his brother and broached the subject he’d been avoiding all week.

  “Beer?” Luke asked as he opened the door.

  “Sounds good.” They stopped in the kitchen to grab a couple bottles and headed out back to sit on the deck.

  They sat in silence, staring out at the darkening woods, quietly sipping from their bottles. Blake knew Luke wouldn’t pester, wouldn’t bring up the topic first. He was like that, a good listener. He knew when to wait, how to draw you out.

  “So. My niece.”

  “Yeah.”

  Luke wasn’t going to make it easy. He’d only offer the information Blake asked for. The question was, how much information did Blake want?

  “She’s fifteen? In high school?”

  “Yeah. Just finished her freshman year. Well, not in credits. She’s going to need to go to summer school.”

  “Here in Rocky Harbor?”

  “It’s too late to start summer school. We’ll enroll her in school in August, though.”

  “She happy about coming to live with you and Sage?”

  Luke snorted. “Happy isn’t a word I’d use to describe her.”

  “I don’t think it was a word Mom and Dad would have used when they first took us in either.”

  “True. I know I was skeptical that a family could really love me. That they’d want me to stay forever.”

  “You looking to keep Natalie forever?”

  “If that’s what she wants.”

  “And if she doesn’t?”

  “Only time will tell.”

  Blake finished his beer and picked at the label. “Does she know about me?”

  Luke nodded. “Told her yesterday. We didn’t want to blindside her, start off on the wrong foot, you know?”

  “How did she take it?”

  For the first time since coming outside, Luke turned and looked at Blake, giving him the infamous big brother stare down. One could never tell what was going on inside Luke Riley’s head. His demeanor was usually cool, calm, and collected, but inside that giant beast of a head of his there was usually some deep analytical thought.

  “She thinks you’re an asshole.”

  Blake snorted. “Who doesn’t?”

  “No.” Luke shook his head. “Like, serious shit. Alyssa didn’t paint a very nice picture of you.”

  “What the hell does Alyssa Snyder know about me? I haven’t seen her in over fifteen years. Not since we were kids.” Blake jumped out of his seat and paced the deck.

  “She’s toxic. She’s messed with her daughter’s head, fed her lies about you all, about her foster families. The state sees through her and won’t let her have custody of Natalie, but that doesn’t mean she’s stopped the lies. Or the torment.”

  “I’m familiar with it. Melinda used to do the same. Those break-ins I told you about a while ago?”

  “I put two and two together. I’m sorry Sage and I didn’t tell you about this earlier. We learned about Alyssa but didn’t think she’d make her way to Rocky Harbor so quickly.”

  “Where was she living? Where was Natalie?”

  “Natalie was in Rumford, and Alyssa’s exact whereabouts are never known. We know they’ve been in touch, which is how Natalie’s been brainwashed. She won’t say anything negative about her mom, though. According to her, everyone else is evil. Alyssa, for some reason, is a saint in her daughter’s eyes.”

  “Three hours away and in the middle of nowhere, yet she still finds her way to us.” Blake leaned against the railing, staring into the dark woods. “So is it a coincidence, or did you set out in search for my dear kin? I’m sure there are plenty of teens around here who need foster care.”

  Luke joined him, resting his elbows on the railing as well. “You’d mentioned Dawn and Cody once when we were teens. You were drunk and rambling about all sorts of shit.”

  “I’d say I remember that time, but there were quite a few.”

  “Yeah.” Luke sighed. “I should have come to you first. Asked you how you felt about it. It started out as a curious investigation. When I learned about Natalie, Sage and I couldn’t walk away.”

  “Did you find out anything about…”

  “Dawn is working on her PhD in New York and Cody’s been backpacking through Europe for over a year. He was in and out of trouble in his teens. Small thefts. Seems like he’s trying to discover himself, according to his last case manager.”

  “That’s good.” An unexpected release of tension left his shoulders. Cody and Dawn had been so young, so innocent. They didn’t deserve to grow up in a dysfunctional home. Maybe someday he’d look them up, but not until he had his own life squared away.

  “Sage and I shouldn’t have gone behind your back. I’m sorry, Blake.”

  “No, don’t be. I’m thankful for you and Sage. For whatever you can do for my…for Natalie.”

  “We’ll do our best.”

  “And if the shit gets to be too much, promise me you won’t sacrifice yourself or your marriage. She’s not your problem. If things get rough, I’ll step in. I’ll take her until she’s old enough to live on her own.” He straightened and looked Luke in the eyes, hoping his brother could see how serious his was about the offer.

  “I appreciate the gesture.” Luke placed a hand on Blake’s shoulder and squeezed. “We’re not sacrificing anything. This is what Sage and I want to do. Even if Natalie wasn’t related to you, we wouldn’t give up on her. That’s not what Mom or Dad would have done.”

  “You’re a better man than me, Luke. I couldn’t do it.”

  “And you don’t have to. It doesn’t make me better or you better. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Our contributions to society.”

  “Some more than others.”

  “True.”

  They stood in silence until the sun fully set and they couldn’t make out the shadows in the woods anymore.

  “So when do I get to meet my niece?”

  “Sunday barbecue at Mom’s.”

  “I’m manning the grill.”

  “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  ***

  Running through fire, climbing over barbed wire, crawling through thirty-foot long foxholes, taking dips in the arctic sea, and running twenty miles in between, even with a broken rib, didn’t scare him, but facing his niece terrified the shit out of him.

  After doing a load of laundry and nuking leftovers Rachael brought him, Blake stepped into his shower and thought about what he would even say to Natalie. According to his brother, she had a chip on her shoulder the size of Texas, and an attitude that topped Lucy’s when she first came to the family.

  Blake didn’t do long talks and serious shit. He lightened the mood, flirted, and ran. Not something he could do in this situation. He thought about turning to liquid courage to help him through, but being drunk at a family event would only have his mother after his ass, and would not set a very good first impression for his newly discovered relative.

  Hanging his head under the warm stream, he watched the water swirl around his toes as it made its way down the drain, washing away any decent ideas that came to him. Hell, he didn’t have a single decent idea.

  He shut off the water and grabbed a towel from the rack, remembering the long hair he’d discovered a month ago. Getting another sudden case of the chills, he padded to his room and tugged on sweats before triple checking all his windows and doors.

&n
bsp; And closets. And under the bed. Once the house was deemed clear and safe, he crashed on the couch and picked up the remote, channel surfing and finding nothing to watch.

  He didn’t know why he was so freaked out about tomorrow. It wasn’t like he was the one who would have to live with Natalie and learn how to care for a teenager. It was Luke and Sage who’d have to do some quick learning on their feet. Granted, they had the best mentor in Doreen.

  Only there was one other problem that could be even larger than a hormonal, depressed, angry teenager.

  Alyssa.

  Tonight would be Natalie’s first night at Luke and Sage’s. Would Alyssa be lurking in the shadows? Even if she was, Luke wouldn’t let her anywhere near Natalie or Sage.

  Blake didn’t think Alyssa would hunt down his siblings, but it gave him comfort knowing Rachael had Jake, and his sisters-in-law had his brothers. Lucy, however, was all alone in her apartment.

  He eyed his cell on the edge of the coffee table and picked it up, dialing his sister.

  “Dude. It’s nine o’clock on a Saturday. Why are you calling me? Mackenzie dump your ass already?”

  “Nice to talk to you too, Luce.”

  “I’m busy. What do you want?”

  “Never mind. You’re fine.” As if anyone could mess with the tough and arrogant Lucy Riley.

  “What gives?”

  “Am I catching you at a bad time or something?”

  “I’m painting.”

  “I’m impressed you answered the phone.”

  “I wasn’t going to.”

  In other words, she saw his name on caller ID and picked up out of worry. Blake turned off the TV and tossed the remote on the couch. “I’ll let you get back to your painting. Wouldn’t want to be responsible for a cranky artist.”

  “Sorry. I know this has to be tough on you. Seriously, need me to come over? Paint your nails or something?”

  Blake laughed. “I’m good. Thanks anyway.”

  “Nervous about tomorrow?”

  “Nah.”

  “Liar.”

  “Brat.”

  “Go see your woman. You’ll feel better.”

  “You’re my little sister. You shouldn’t be talking this way.”

  “Dude. You don’t even wanna know.”

  “You’re right. See you tomorrow. And Luce?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Go easy on her, okay?”

  “Hell no. I’m finally not going to be the worst one in the family. I’m psyched to have another messed-up misfit around.”

  “You’re twisted.”

  “And you love me.”

  “Yeah, I do. Go paint. Stay out of trouble. See you at noon.”

  “Go get laid.”

  Blake laughed as he disconnected the call and made his way to his bedroom. He was taking the early shift in the gym tomorrow and needed some sleep, not that it would come. Lying in bed, he picked up his cell and dialed Mackenzie.

  “Blake?” Her voice sounded soft and warm against his ear.

  “Did I wake you?”

  “No. Just getting in from visiting my parents.”

  “How’s your mom?”

  He heard water running and a slight echo, most likely from her bathroom. He pictured her naked in the shower. Blake squirmed with the visual.

  “She winksimen,” she said, sounding muffled.

  “What?”

  “Hanon. Ibrushingmyteef.” Blake listened carefully as heard her spit, gargle, and spit again. “Sorry about that. Trying to multi-task.”

  “Oh yeah? Now what are you doing?”

  “Taking my clothes off and getting ready for bed.”

  Blake moaned and banged the back of his head against the wall. “You’re killing me.” He could continue with an amazing hour of phone sex, but she sounded tired after spending all day working then visiting her mother. “What did you say before about your mom?”

  He listened to her small grunts and labored breathing as she moved around her room, most likely tossing back the covers and fluffing her pillows. “She thinks I’m ten. Talked about Miss Hall, my fifth grade teacher, and how I forgot to bring my spelling words home last week.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s better than when she’s in my teen years.”

  “I bet you were an honor student. You and Maggie were friends and I doubt she’s ever been a rebel, not even for even a day.”

  “True, but she stopped going to public school after…after her brother died. Mom didn’t care too much for my other high school friends.”

  “Tell me the worst thing you’ve ever done.”

  “Nuh-uh,” she laughed. “I’m a good girl, remember?”

  Blake wished he was next to her so he could tickle it out of her. Or kiss it out. Maybe get her to scream it out in ecstasy.

  “You tell me yours and I’ll tell you mine.”

  “Oh, we’re going to play that game, are we?”

  “Sweetheart, I have all sorts of games I want to play with you.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Mackenzie

  For some reason Mackenzie was uneasy. Not because she was having dinner with the Rileys. Again. She’d had dinner with them dozens of times before Blake had moved back to Rocky Harbor. The twitching in her stomach was for Blake. Her heart even stammered for a few beats when she pictured him meeting his niece for the first time.

  Whether he’d admit it or not, she could tell he was nervous. He’d want to appear cool and aloof and pretend the enormity of the situation didn’t mean too much to him.

  Right before he ended the call last night, Blake casually tossed out the invitation to the barbecue, and quickly sputtered something about Natalie being there. Mackenzie didn’t make a big deal about it and accepted the invite in as blasé a voice as he’d had when he invited her.

  Now, with Blake standing in her doorway, with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes and his hands tucked into his jean pockets while his feet practically tapped a hole in her floor, she just wanted to hug him tight and tell him it would all work out.

  “You look hot as always.” Blake assessed her with his eyes, yet they didn’t hold the usual devilish glint.

  “Thanks. Your ass looks good in those jeans. As always.” Mackenzie patted his butt as she walked past him down her stairs to the parking lot.

  “Right back at ya,” he said from behind.

  Keeping things fun and casual was all she could do. Besides, it wasn’t like they had the kind of relationship where they talked about feelings and crap. The last thing Blake would want to do was tell her what was going on inside his head.

  And she wouldn’t know how to react if he did. Probably tell him to take off his shirt or something. She didn’t do serious either. They were better off naked. Only they’d have to keep their clothes on at the barbecue.

  They drove in silence. Blake kept the music loud and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel with a nervous energy, not keeping beat with the music.

  When they reached his mother’s house, Mackenzie unbuckled and jumped out of the truck as Blake came around and closed her door for her.

  “What time do you think you’ll be able to bring me back home?”

  “Eager to leave already?”

  “Eager to get you naked.”

  The genuine smile and sparkle that she had yet to see filled his face…and her heart.

  “We can leave now if it’s going to be too hard for you to keep your hands to yourself.” Blake leaned in closer, trapping her between his body and the truck, and nodded toward the house behind them in the distance. “Or we can sneak off to Luke’s for a quickie.”

  “I’ll try to control myself. But your ass looks really, really good.” She wasn’t lying. It did. Two perfect globes that were meant to squeeze, to fill out a pair of Levis, to stare at.

  “You look at me like that all night and I’m not responsible for the things I do or say to you in front of others.”

  “Dually warned.” Mackenzie li
ghtly tapped his cheek with her hand and he stepped back, not wanting to display too much PDA in front of his family, she assumed. “Oh, crap. I forgot my brownies. They’re sitting on my counter.”

  Blake did that to her. Made her forget things.

  “Don’t worry about it. Between my mother and Rachael, I’m sure there’s enough food to feed all of Rocky Harbor.”

  “It’s rude to show up somewhere empty-handed.”

  “They expect that of me, so it’s fine.”

  “Well, not of me.”

  She may not be the best cook in the world, but she liked to contribute to potlucks and parties. Before she could ask Blake for the keys to his truck, she felt his body stiffen as he looked over her shoulder.

  Without thinking, she reached out and slipped her hand in his, giving him a gentle squeeze. Blake’s focus remained on the people she heard approaching from behind, heavy footsteps and a loud shuffling coming down the dirt driveway.

  “We don’t have to stay long, but I’d like us to be respectful and not simply eat and run,” Mackenzie heard Luke say. “No one is pressuring you to do or say anything.”

  “Except come to this stupid old person meal.”

  Blake’s normally laughing eyes narrowed and his foot did that tapping thing again. She didn’t know if her gentle stroking on his hand irritated or relaxed him, so she continued to watch and study his mannerisms.

  “She sounds just like Lucy,” Blake muttered under his breath.

  “Then she’ll fit in perfectly.” Mackenzie gave his hand one more squeeze before turning to face Luke, Sage, and Natalie.

  The girl was stunning. Deep chocolate eyes that mirrored Blake’s, and long, light brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. If the boys weren’t already crawling all over her, they’d be flocking pretty damn quick. She walked with an attitude and a scowl that could have starred in one of those bitchy cheerleader movies.

  Her shorts were too short for a fifteen-year-old and her perky teenage breasts spilled out of her tight tank top. Oh, Luke and Sage were going to have their hands full.

  When Natalie looked up and saw Blake her feet almost tripped, her scowl turning to shock before she regained the bitch face and continued with her act. She must have realized the resemblance in her uncle.