Authors: Vanessa Devereaux
“No, everything’s
under control,” said Sue.
“Can I get you a
beer?” asked Patrick.
“I’d love one,” said
Brock.
Kate took more chips
and
dip
and sat at the table as Patrick got Brock a
bottle of beer from the fridge, snapped off the top, and handed it to him.
Brock smiled. His
father would never allow anyone to drink out of the bottle. Everything always
had to be served in frosted monogrammed steins. He took a swig and swallowed.
Strangely enough, straight out of the bottle always tasted a hell
of a lot better.
Sue walked over to
the stove and turned off the oven.
“So Kate tells us you
bought Jimmy
Mctavish’s
old boat.”
She reached
for a pair of oven mitts.
“Yes, it’s had a few
problems but I think I’ve got everything under control.”
“So you’re going to start
a charter service?
asked
Patrick.
“Hope to, yes.”
Sue pulled out a
casserole dish and set it in the middle of the table. “If you two men want to
come and sit down we’re ready to eat.”
Brock pulled out a
chair and sat. He squeezed Kate’s knee.
“Hope you like tuna
noodle casserole?” asked Sue.
He was about to say
he’d never eaten it before but that would make him sound strange, and yes,
maybe even like a snob. “One of my favorites,” he said.
Patrick offered him
the bread basket, and he took a roll and placed it on his plate.
Sue served him up a
heap of casserole and a generous serving of green beans.
He looked around and
then at the food. He liked the homey feel of the place and once he’d taken his
first mouthful of the dish, he realized he was nearly thirty and had only now
fallen in love with tuna noodle casserole.
“Did I tell you that
Brock’s arranged for one of his friends to come and play piano at the
restaurant on Saturday night?” asked Kate.
“No you didn’t, but
that’s wonderful. People love listening to music while they eat.”
“The two of you
should come along,” said Brock.
“We’d love to but
we’ve got the Silverton boy’s wedding.”
“I didn’t know he was
getting married,” said Kate. She took another helping of casserole.
“Yes, he met a woman
with a little girl while he was out in
Bit of a whirlwind romance, I think,” said Sue.
“The best kind,” said
Brock. Kate looked at him; he winked and squeezed her knee again. He saw her
parents exchange glances at one another.
“How’s the food,
Brock?” asked Sue.
“It’s wonderful, best
tuna casserole I’ve ever eaten.”
“Kate, you’ll have to
bring him here again,” said Sue.
“Oh, I will.”
“Mr. Byrne, maybe
you’d like to come fishing on the boat sometime…that’s if you fish.”
“He loves it,” said
Sue.
“I will, but only if
you call me Patrick.”
Brock laughed. “I
think I can do that.”
“Okay, if everyone saves
enough room, I’ll remind you there’s also apple pie a la mode,” said Sue.
***
Kate and Brock
decided to let their dinner digest outside on the slider swing in her parents’
back yard. The sun was starting to go down, there was a gentle breeze, and
Brock used his left foot on the grass to swing them softly back and forth. He’d
had his arm on the back of the chair but let it slip around Kate’s shoulders.
She rested her head
on his chest. Through the kitchen window she noticed her parents peeping out at
them. She could tell without even asking that they liked Brock. And what wasn’t
to like? “I could fall asleep right here,” said Kate. She yawned.
Brock joined in. “Yeah,
maybe we could snuggle down and sleep under the stars.”
“My parents would
probably let us.”
“How would they feel
about us making love here, too?”
Kate slapped his leg.
“Don’t even think about it. My parents might be very liberal, but I don’t think
they’re that broad-minded.”
Brock laughed and
stroked her leg with the back of his hand. “How about a kiss?” he asked.
“Okay, but you know
what your kisses do to me.”
Brock leaned over and
put his mouth on hers.
She suddenly felt
like a teenager again, bringing home a guy she knew from school, introducing him
to her mom and dad. For the first time in ages she felt happy.
Brock pulled away,
and they rubbed noses.
Out of the corner of
her eye, Kate saw her parents smiling through the kitchen window.
“This seems like a
really nice neighborhood.”
“It is. My parents
have had the same neighbors since I was five. The boys in that house went to
school with my brother Pete. And the boy in that house was, and still is, my
brother
Sean’s best buddy. They were one another’s best men.
And my best friend lived two doors down, but she moved to
“You two need
something to drink or a blanket or anything?” her mom called out to them.
“We’re fine. I guess
we’re not being good company hanging out here without you guys.”
“We’ll be fine,
although we’d like you to join us for a game of Scrabble in a while.”
“You
up to that?”
Kate asked him.
“Of
course.”
“I should warn you
that my dad cheats and insists they are real words he comes up with because
he’s a retired English teacher.”
Brock laughed.
“Oh really?
Well, we’ll see about that.”
***
Mikey had been good
enough to rent a piano and had asked for it to be delivered Friday evening.
Brock moved it into the corner of the dining room. Saturday morning they
rearranged tables so there was a big enough space for couples to get up and
dance if they wanted. Oh yeah, they’d want to.
“Have you seen how
many reservations we have for tonight?” asked Kate. “The whole music thing is
obviously the key to getting the crowd in here. Well, of course they probably
think it’s the real Mike Lively. Maybe I should add something on the sign that
states it’s not.”
“No, I wouldn’t do
that. It will upset Mike, and you don’t want to do that when he’s going to all
this trouble for you.”
“No, I suppose not.
As long as we can’t get sued for false advertising...”
“Don’t worry, because
that’s not going to be a problem.” Brock turned away and smiled.
***
Kate heard Brock
talking to someone in the hallway and guessed the evening’s entertainment had
arrived. They had a full house and at least the extra money would help with the
cash flow problem, if only temporarily. She checked her hair in the mirror,
smacked her lips together, and then ran her hand down the front of her dress to
make sure all the creases were out.
She hadn’t worn this
black halter since…she had to stop thinking in terms of things she’d done with
David. He was moving on with his new life and she needed to do the same. After
all, she had Brock and the future seemed less depressing knowing he was part of
it.
Brock’s laughter
drifted up the stairs.
It was about time she
made an appearance and introduced herself to Mike Lively. And no, she wouldn’t
make any jokes about his name.
Kate made
her way
downstairs,
noticing Brock talking to a man
that looked a lot like the real Mike Lively.
Both men glanced her
way.
She looked at Mike.
Holy shit, it’s the real one
. She lost
her footing and tipped down the next step.
How the hell does he know a celebrity?
She landed on her butt with a huge
thud.
“Kate, you okay?”
shouted Brock.
Both Brock and Mike
ran up the stairs to her.
All Kate could do was
open her mouth and stare at the rock star in front of her.
He was in her
restaurant, and he was going to perform for
free
here tonight. She pinched herself and blinked several times.
I’m such an idiot, falling on my bottom in
front of someone famous, of all people.
“You okay?” asked
Brock again.
“I’m fine, just hurt
my
hiney
.”
Mike offered her his
hand.
She took it without
hesitation, and he helped her to her feet. Her legs were still shaking, though.
Why hadn’t Brock told her he really was
the
Mike Lively?
Mike continued to
hold her hand as he walked her safely down the remaining steps.
“Mikey, this is Kate,
Kate, Mikey.”
“I had no idea you
were the real guy…I mean…jeez. I don’t know what I mean.”
Falling on my ass and now babbling like a lunatic.
“It’s a pleasure to
meet you, and I’m looking forward to playing for your customers tonight. In
fact, Brock, why don’t you show me to the piano and I’ll get settled in and
play a few songs to warm up before the dinner crowd arrives. Kate, why don’t
you come along and tell me what sort of music you think I should play.”
Jenine walked by as
they entered the dining room and stopped in her tracks. Her bottom lip dropped.
“Oh my God, do you know who you are? You’re my biggest fan. I mean, I’m your
biggest fan.”
“I’m glad to hear
that.”
“He’s going to warm
up if you want to come listen,” said Brock.
Jenine handed Kate
the tray of salt and pepper shakers she’d been carrying and grabbed Mike’s arm
as she walked him over to the piano, talking non-stop. “You’ll have to tell me
if your last song really is about a girl you knew when you were in
kindergarten. I mean I don’t always believe everything I read.
Oh,
and how about….”
Brock looked at Kate
and then took the tray from her.
“Why didn’t you tell
me he’s the real deal? Half-decent voice, you said. Shit, the guy sings like a
chorus of angels.”
Mike began playing a
song while Jenine leaned across the piano at him, barely blinking.
“Thought I’d surprise
you,” said Brock.
“You did that all
right. How do the two of you know one another?”
“We both belong to
the same golf club, and I did him a favor. Covered for him when he was two-timing
a girl he was dating, so I figured he owed me big time.”
She raised her
eyebrows.
“Same golf club as a celebrity?”
“I think we should
chat later.”
“I think we should,”
said Kate.
“Come on; let’s go
listen to some music.”
***
Brock smiled when he
saw Kate’s face. Waiting time for a table tonight was two hours. That would
show her ex-husband what he was up against. Okay, Sunsets couldn’t have Mikey
perform every weekend but it would get people in here to try the great food and
then they’d be hooked, come back again, or even tell their friends to stop by,
too.
Kate stood by the
column at the back of the restaurant, swaying to the music. She looked drop-dead
gorgeous tonight. Her hair was clipped up in a bun with her bangs swept to one
side, both highlighting her wonderful, high cheekbones. The tanned shoulders,
those legs….
He strolled over to
her. “May I have this dance?” he whispered in her ear.
She turned around and
smiled.
He held out his hand.
She took it and he
led her onto the temporary dance floor.
He winked at Mikey
before he pulled her in close. Kate’s perfume tickled his nose, and he took a
couple of deep breaths as he glided her around. She always smelled so good.
He couldn’t help
himself, because she’d intoxicated him. He slipped his hand from her waist and
rested it on the right cheek of her cute little ass. Brock gave it a playful
pinch.
She pushed her belly
toward him, making his dick twitch and harden.
Look out, Kate.
Getting dangerous
.
Romantic
music, Kate inches from his body, her scent surrounding him…he might have to
make love to her right there and then. He kissed her. Not a quick peck but a
lingering one, forgetting they weren’t alone.
She ran her fingers
through the chest hair by his shirt collar. It tickled…also felt good.
He pulled away. They
looked into one another’s eyes. “I’m going to make love to you tonight like
never before,” he whispered.