Ruining Mr. Perfect (The McCauley Brothers) Page 13

  Having a six-year-old constantly underfoot, he understood the need for one’s own space.

  “Your call.” He shrugged. “But thanks for going with me tonight, Mom. It was fun.” He meant it.

  “Did you really like the movie?” she asked.

  “I hadn’t thought I’d like it, but I was pleasantly surprised.”

  She laughed at him as they exited the truck and walked to the door. “The look on your face was priceless when you let me decide on the picture. What a good son you are to take poor old Mom to a movie about rival doctors in love.” She smiled. “I wasn’t looking forward to tonight. I…” she drifted off as they approached the porch. A single white rose and a box of candy lay before the door.

  Mike stifled a smile. His father was acting like an ass, but he hadn’t forgotten today’s significance. Good one, Dad.

  His mother didn’t say anything when she stooped to pick up her presents.

  “Nice.” Mike waited, but still she said nothing. So he wasn’t prepared for her to toss the flower at him.

  “Give that to Vanessa from me when you get home. But screw him. I’m keeping the candy.” Then she gave him a peck on the cheek, unlocked the door, and slammed it shut behind her.

  He left, knowing his parents had a lot of work to do before things got back to normal. If they ever did. Mulling over failed love on the way home, he frowned to see an unfamiliar car sitting in his driveway. He parked next to it and got out, locking the truck before walking to the porch. Tugging at his stupid bow tie, he opened the front door to see Colin sleeping snugly next to…Delilah Webster? Glancing around for Cam and Vanessa, he was nonplussed when the woman held a finger to her lips to shush him. In his own house.

  He frowned at her as he crossed to the couch and bent to lift Colin in his arms. He carried the boy off to bed, tucking him in with a kiss. Eleven o’clock and the tiny tyrant had been sleeping in his pajamas on the couch next to a virtual stranger. Well, sure, Mike had bowled with the woman. Didn’t mean he knew anything more about her than that she’d once changed Abby’s tire and had thrown a decent game.

  He returned to see Del turning off the TV and straightening up. He couldn’t have said why, but something about her put his back up. She looked mean, sexy. Disturbing. The tats and piercings didn’t put him off, though they should have. She wasn’t his type at all. Mike liked soft, rounded women. Not muscular types who wore steel-toed boots and looked as if they could kick his ass. Yet her pale gray eyes, in contrast with that yellow hair in various shades and streaked with brown, mesmerized him. The one time he’d seen her, she’d seemed to wear a fuck-you attitude while daring him to get closer.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked, uncomfortably aware of how ungrateful he sounded. He cleared his throat and tried again. “I mean, I left Colin with Cam and Vanessa.”

  “Yeah, well, Romeo needed to romance his lady away from the kid.” She shrugged. “Abby asked me to fill in, and since I’m a sucker for a happy ending, I said yes.”

  “Abby?” What the hell did she have to do with this?

  “You know, the short one who looks shy but then won’t shut up once she starts talking? The one with the book club I’m now forced to attend?” She grinned, giving lie to the idea she did anything she didn’t want to.

  He started to respond when he saw a multitude of candy wrappers on the couch, cans of soda and chocolate Kisses scattered across the coffee table, and a large pizza box on the dining room table. “What the hell is all that?”

  “My people call it food. What do yours call it?”

  “Well, smart-ass, I call it unnecessary sugar that my kid shouldn’t have and a mess.” He stepped closer, feeling the need to take her down a peg. Not that he’d do anything to scare her. She had watched Colin, after all. But her aggressive approach needed a definite adjustment.

  Except Delilah Webster didn’t back away. The fool woman stepped closer and poked him in the chest. “Look, 007, me and the kid had a great time tonight. He didn’t give me any shit, and he didn’t pull any stunts. So credit me with some intelligence. I know how to handle a six-year-old.”

  “Oh? Have a lot of them working at the garage with you, do you?” 007, my ass. He hated that fucking bow tie. Only for his mother had he put the thing on. “Look. I get that you somehow think I owe you for watching him, but—”

  “You don’t owe me shit. I did a favor for Abby. Plain and simple.”

  “—the fact is,” he continued, “I’m the boy’s father. If I say he should eat green food, get to bed on time, and brush his teeth, then that’s my prerogative, isn’t it?”

  “Too bad about the stick up your ass. Doesn’t go too well with the penguin suit.” She poked him again.

  He noticed the ring of darker gray around her ice-gray irises. Wolf eyes. She sure the hell seemed like she wanted to gobble him up and spit him out.

  Unable to stop himself, he leaned close enough to feel her soft breath over his lips and growled, “Well, now, princess. You don’t like what I’m saying, feel free to let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.” On your fine ass, he thought but didn’t say. He hated himself for even thinking about her like that when she was so annoyingly attractive—annoying. Just annoying.

  Her glance wavered from his eyes to his mouth, and the small moment lingered in his brain and went straight to his cock. For half a heartbeat he thought she might bridge the distance between them and kiss him.

  “Whatever.” She stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest. “So I watched your kid. You’re welcome, by the way. Dickhead.”

  Aroused, frustrated, and angry about all of it, he removed his wallet from his back pocket. “What do I owe you for the babysitting?”

  She narrowed her eyes on his wallet before glaring through him. “How about you kiss my ass and we’ll call it a night?” She sneered and gave him a baleful once-over before stalking out of the house. To her credit, she didn’t slam the door. He heard the purr of an engine as she backed out of the drive, then she gunned it down the street.

  Mike ripped the bow tie off his neck and flung it to the floor. “Well, fuck.”

  ***

  Vanessa couldn’t stop smiling for an entire week. The people at work, all but Josh, gave her a wide berth, scared of her good mood. Her roommates continued to tease her about what getting laid could do for a girl’s disposition. Yet they were both much worse than Vanessa. Maddie still sang Flynn’s praises while Abby thought the sun rose and fell on Brody and his messy dog.

  She’d confided to Cameron that she liked Hyde now, but she refused to let the others know she’d come to appreciate the mongrel Abby sometimes brought to the house. And by mongrel, she meant the dog, not Brody.

  Grinning at her private joke, she checked her calendar and realized she had a date with Cameron at his mother’s the following night. Beth had taken to spending time with her sons and their fiancées individually. Cameron’s turn would be tomorrow, and she’d invited his girlfriend—Vanessa—as well.

  Still giddy about being Cameron’s girlfriend and not minding at all, she finished her run around the neighborhood, since Seattle had a dry evening for once, and returned to the house. Inside, Brody and Flynn sat arguing in the kitchen, loud enough to wake the neighbor.

  Of Maddie and Abby, she saw no sign.

  Enjoying her well-earned sweat from a hellacious five-mile run, she tugged her ponytail tighter and joined the testosterone in the kitchen.

  As soon as she entered, both men glanced up at her and grew quiet.

  “Seems to me like I only saw one pair of shoes by the front door,” she commented mildly.

  To her satisfaction, Brody’s face darkened but he hastened by her to take off his shoes.

  Flynn chuckled. “You’re good, no question. I can see how you have my little brother wrapped around your finger.”

  It annoyed her t
hat they never seemed to give Cameron the credit he deserved. “Oh? Because if I’m not mistaken, you dance to Maddie’s tune awfully easily. Didn’t she tie you up and shove a ball gag in your mouth not so long ago?” He turned a lovely red.

  Brody entered in time to overhear and laughed long and loud. “Jesus. She’s got you pegged.”

  “Please.” Flynn scowled. “You’re one to talk. Maddie told me it’s embarrassing. Abby says jump and you beg to know how high. Pussy.”

  “I’m a pussy? Yeah right. Didn’t you serenade your redhead for V-Day?” Brody scoffed.

  Flynn responded with another taunt.

  Pleased they’d turned on each other so easily, Vanessa hummed as she finished her water and then fixed herself a nice salad. After a moment of silence, she glanced up to see both men studying her. “What?”

  “You sure seem happy.” Brody smiled, all innocence. “Nice to see you not so, ah…”

  “Tense,” Flynn supplied.

  “Yeah, tense. Abby told me they’re working you ragged at the office.”

  “It’s tax season, but I like my job. And speaking of jobs… It’s kind of a chore to entertain you two after the long day I’ve had. Where are my roommates? Or did they finally annoy you into burying their bodies out back? I’m only asking because if you’re not careful, Hyde will dig them up and walk around with leg bones in that black hole of a mouth, outing you to the police before you can say boo.”

  They just stared at her, wide-eyed.

  She sat across from them at the kitchen table and munched on her salad. She’d gotten to like both men very much, appreciating their honesty and love for her extended family—Abby and Maddie. Roommates, sisters in heart, and despite Maddie’s overly dramatic aptitude for dealing with life, sadly, a genetic relation.

  “You really are one scary woman,” Brody said.

  She smiled. “Thanks. That means a lot coming from a man like you.”

  He frowned, but before she could add something else obnoxious, the front door opened to admit the chatter of excitable women.

  “Oh my gosh.” Maddie entered the kitchen, breathing hard. “Flynn, you are never going to believe this.”

  Vanessa frowned. “What happened?”

  Maddie and Abby glanced at each other before sitting down at the table with them. They placed a paper bag and a carton of coffee in the center.

  “Honey, what’s wrong?” Flynn asked. His voice turned gentle when he spoke with Maddie. The love was no act.

  Brody grabbed Abby’s hand and kissed the back of it. “Yeah. Spill. What’s up?”

  Abby cleared her throat. “We went to get coffee at your parents’ favorite place.” A pause. “We saw your dad there.”

  Vanessa studied her, and then she just knew. “Uh-oh.”

  Flynn frowned. “What?”

  “Flynn,” Maddie said softly. “Your dad was smiling and, well, flirting with Amelia. The woman behind the counter?”

  “She’s a barista…” Abby trailed off as Flynn swore, Brody sighed, and the guys seemed to deflate right in front of her.

  Vanessa decided she needed to lighten the mood in the kitchen. Because if her friends tried to interfere, she had no doubt they’d screw everything up. “Come on, guys. Would your dad really flirt, in public, in a place he knows his sons and future daughters-in-law frequent?”

  Flynn perked up. “Probably not.”

  “Unless he’s thinking with his dick,” Brody muttered. Abby socked him in the arm, and he rubbed it. “Ow. Sorry, but men can be assholes. You all know it.”

  “Yes,” Vanessa agreed. “But James is an intelligent man, correct? Maybe he was just being nice.” She gave her cousin the eye.

  It took her a minute, but Maddie nodded. “Oh. Right. You know, Abby, we might have misread the situation. If you think about it, he smiled at us too. He didn’t look guilty or anything. I think he would have if we’d caught him being overly friendly.”

  Abby frowned. “Really? Because—”

  Vanessa kicked her under the table and frowned.

  Abby glared at her but must have realized it best to keep quiet about the truth.

  “Now don’t you two feel better?” Vanessa emphasized to Flynn and Brody.

  Abby sighed. “Oh hell. I didn’t mean to stir gossip, guys. Forget I said anything. Now I’m not sure what I saw. I just miss him with your mom. I’m not used to seeing him around other women without Beth there beside him.”

  Brody pulled her into his lap. Vanessa hated herself for noticing, but damn, they really did look good together. Why the hell did she continue to discern these things? Now she was seeing hearts and romance all over the place.

  Had to be Cameron’s influence. Understanding this, the old Vanessa would have cut short their relationship and gotten some distance. But the new her liked the closeness of this group, and in particular, her association with Cameron. She missed his presence, even though she knew he’d had to cancel plans with her tonight due to a meeting with a new client she’d recommended to him.

  Determined to stop mooning over Cameron and help the man and his brothers, she changed the subject. “Now that that’s settled—”

  “It is?” Abby asked.

  “Why don’t you guys tell me what you had planned for tonight’s double date?”

  Flynn gave her an odd look, then shrugged. “Not much.” With a sly wink her way, he added, “Too bad genius boy is working or all six of us could have gone out together.”

  “Oh, what fun,” Brody drawled. “Gee, what could we have done? A wine tasting? Maybe an art show? I know. A poetry reading.”

  He and Flynn snickered, and she let them tease about Cameron’s taste in entertainment. She smiled to herself, knowing how she’d have spent the evening. Wrapped around her studly financier.

  “Excuse me.” Abby frowned. “How is a poetry reading a bad thing?”

  Maddie glanced at her own fingers. “I don’t know about you guys, but I wouldn’t mind going to get my nails done. We have some time before that movie you wanted to see later.”

  “Oh hell.” Flynn groaned. “Maddie, you don’t take your fiancé with you to paint your nails.”

  “That’s too bad.” She made a sad face. “Because there’s this lingerie place a few doors down, and I thought we could swing by after and pick out a few—”

  “I’m in. Let’s go.” Brody stood with Abby in his arms and darted down the hallway.

  Abby laughed and ordered him to put her down.

  “So easy,” Maddie snickered, and Flynn grinned with her.

  “Isn’t he?”

  “I meant you.” She rolled her eyes and said to Vanessa, “It’s like once you divert the blood flow from the big head to the little head, they can’t focus.”

  “Nothing little about my heads, Maddie.” Flynn leered.

  “Ew. Get out of here, you sexed-up pervs.” Vanessa shooed them out of the kitchen, mentally congratulating herself for lightening the mood.

  Then she resolved to get down and dirty and figure out once and for all why Beth and James were on the outs. It was the least she could do for Cameron, a man she was coming to appreciate more than was healthy…for them both.

  Chapter 11

  Sitting next to her boyfriend, Vanessa wiped her mouth with the cloth napkin Beth had laid out. Like Cameron, his mother had set the table with candles and a bouquet of flowers. But the feel at her dinner was less about romance and more about class. Vanessa could see where Cameron had inherited his fine taste and ability to act with dignity and decorum.

  “Beth, this chicken is wonderful.” She smiled.

  Beth beamed. “It’s one of my favorite recipes. You should have Cam cook it for you sometime.”

  “He’s quite the chef,” she agreed. “I, sadly, can barely boil water.”

  “No kidding,” Cam mut
tered. At her glare, he smiled widely. “Yet your presence is all I need to sweeten the meal.”

  “Gimme a break.”

  Beth laughed. “That was bad, Cam. Just a bit over the top.”

  “Hey, Mom. Cut me some slack. I’m trying.” He winked at Vanessa. His openness about their relationship in front of his mother made her feel special. They’d been in each other’s pockets all week long, and she had yet to be tired of him.

  She kept waiting for him to annoy her, or for her to freeze him out. But the sex continued to get hotter, and their time together more exciting and enjoyable. It baffled her. She’d never lasted this long with any man before. To top that off, technically, she’d known Cam for an entire year. Still, they remained friends.

  “Let me get started on the dishes,” Beth said with a smile and left the table with a few plates.

  Cam’s cell phone rang. He frowned and took it from his pocket, then sighed. “Sorry. I need to take this. It’s Hope.”

  Vanessa nodded. She liked that he wanted to bring his cousin into the business. “I’ll help your mom in the kitchen.”

  He answered, “Hey, Hope.” Then he kissed Vanessa on the cheek and left the dining room to go into the living area, where she heard him ask, “So what’s this about the lock?”

  Vanessa joined Beth in the kitchen. “You are one heck of a cook.” She put a hand on Beth’s shoulder.

  The woman’s hands lay buried in the soapy water. “Thank you, Vanessa. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

  “I like you, Beth. So I’m just going to ask. What the hell happened with you and your husband?”

  Beth blinked. “I, uh, what’s that?”

  “Everyone’s dancing around it. There’s a rumor James has a thing for some chick at the coffee shop.” Bluntness was Vanessa’s most effective tool. “And you act like either a whipped puppy or a mute statue whenever anyone brings up his name. So what’s up?”

  “Whipped puppy?”

  “Hey, I call ’em like I see ’em. If he screwed around on you, why are you taking it lying down? Go get a makeover, get a date, and live a little.”