Chapter 7
CHAPTER
SEVEN
Rob
“You’ve got yourself a great place,” Anne said.
She’d inspected the house in far more detail than even I had. I’d promised Lindsay we’d get ice cream, and we’d just gotten back now, eating it directly out of the carton with plastic spoons. We were sitting on the couch demolishing our dessert as Anne gave me her opinion on everything.
“Thanks. It was the closest I found to you,” I commented between bites.
“You’re a good brother,” Anne said.
That was debatable. I should have realized something was off with Walter way before he left her and Lindsay—at least known more, done more to protect her better. But I couldn’t change any of that now. What I was going to do was concentrate all my efforts on doing my very best for her going forward.
“When are you unpacking the rest of the boxes?”
“I’m going to start later tonight.” Not that I wanted to, but it needed to get done at some point. When I’d moved to LA, I had stuff sitting around in boxes for weeks. I hadn’t wanted the movers to open the boxes because I didn’t like strangers touching my things.
Anne put her hands on her hips, surveying the room.
“Well, Lindsay, what do you say? Should we stay a little longer so I can help Uncle Rob? He might live out of boxes for a month otherwise.”
And that wasn’t too far off from the truth.
“Yes!” Lindsay exclaimed. Done with her ice cream, she was playing with a set of small figurines.
Rising to her feet, Anne inspected the stack of boxes. “Let’s start with your kitchen boxes.”
I’d forgotten that my sister was far more organized than I was.
“By the way, I think I sort of know your neighbor,” Anne said.
“How?”
“I knew the name Winchester rang a bell. From the Winchesters behind the Ballroom Galas. I googled her, and she’s one those Winchesters.”
I knew Anne received invitations for each one of the events. They were quite the charity and did excellent work.
“Did you go to any?” I asked.
“No, but I send a check with my RSVP every time. They’re good people, the Winchesters. At least, that’s what I hear. They put all that money they raise to great use.”
“That’s good to know. When’s the next event?”
Anne grinned. “Why, eager to see your neighbor in an evening gown?”
“Very cute, sis. No—well, maybe, but I’d like to make a donation.”
And yeah, I’d like to see Skye wearing one of those extravagant dresses… and then have the privilege of taking it off.
“Well, not until September. They’re taking a break in the summer.”
We talked about some other things but mainly focused on the boxes after that.
“I was thinking of going for a week to visit Mom, Dad, and Pops. Lindsay is psyched. What do you think, want to come? The south of France would do you good.”
I shook my head. “Just took over here, and I don’t think it would be a good idea to take time off already. I’m just getting into it. And I think the employees are just getting used to me.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“By the way, doesn’t this place remind you of the old house Grandpa had in France?”
“Hmm… the limestone looks familiar. God, remember how much fun we had? And that swing in the backyard, I loved it so much.”
“We had a lot of fun.”
Anne tilted her head, a smile playing on her lips. “I wonder what the team would say if they knew you’re such a sentimental guy. It would undermine your reputation of being a hard-ass, right?”
“I think my reputation’s safe,” I replied, stone-faced.
She laughed. “Oh, Rob. Well, your style works for you, so there is nothing else to say.”
The next morning, I saw Skye sorting through her mail on her way back to her house while I was having breakfast. I walked out right away, joining her.
“Hi,” I said.
“Good morning.”
Something was off. Her tone was cold.
“Skye, what’s wrong?”
“Did your guests have a good time?”
“Yeah.” Why would she be pissed about that?
“Liked the house?” There was fire in her eyes, despite the glacial tone. Was she gearing up for a fight? How odd.
“My sister’s happy I live closer to her now. They helped me open some boxes too, after we took Lindsay out and got some ice cream.”
Skye straightened up, looking directly at me now and not her mail. “Oh. That was your sister?”
“Yes. Wait a second. Who did you think she was?”
Skye shook her head. “Never mind.”
I did mind. I moved closer, until she could no longer ignore me.
“Skye, who did you think they were?”
“I don’t know. The girl looked like both of you, so…”
“So you thought I was just flirting with my neighbor before my wife and kid arrived?” That had to be what she thought.
I was pissed, but the urge to protect her overwhelmed me more.
In my experience, when people expected the worst, it was because they’d encountered the worst. “For the record, they are my sister and niece.”
“I’m sorry, I just… I felt so bad last evening, you know. Thinking that I was…. I’d never do that. Get in the midst of a family.”
Despite all the pep talks I’d given myself, I wanted this woman, plain and simple.
I needed her. I decided right then and there that I was going to get to know Skye better.
She looked like just the thought of getting involved with another woman’s man made her feel sick.
I regretted the misunderstanding, but I also liked that it had given me this insight into her personality.
“As I said, never mind,” she mumbled.
I could let it drop, but I wouldn’t let this opportunity slide by me.
“The way I see it, you owe me dinner,” I said, stepping a bit closer. I barely kept from reaching out. I needed to touch her.
She laughed. “What?”
“You thought the worst about me. Dinner will fix it.”
“How?” She looked half confused, half amused about my statement.
“You’ll see. And because I don’t want to invite myself over, and I’m not sure how good your cooking skills are, I’ll make us dinner.”
“My cooking skills are just fine, thank you very much.”
“Good to know. We can have the second dinner at your place if the first doesn’t fix things.” I kept my eyes trained on her, right until she averted her gaze. That need to reach out and make physical contact almost overpowered me, but I was still hanging in there. Barely. I couldn’t even explain it.
“What things?”
“You’ll see.”
She laughed again, crossing her arms over her chest. “What was that about not inviting yourself over?”
“That was before you told me you’re a good cook.”
She was wearing a sleeveless white dress. I couldn’t hold back any longer and touched her shoulder, drawing the backs of my fingers down to her elbow. She shuddered but instinctively leaned in to me. She was close to agreeing, but something held her back. She was fighting this with all she had.
“I don’t know. I’ll be in Manhattan until late this evening,” she murmured.
“I thought your family looked after the store on Sundays?”
“They do, but I’m meeting a supplier. It was the only day we both had time.”
“I’m adaptable. I’m going into the city too for a few meetings. We can eat later. You won’t deny your neighbor a ‘welcome to the neighborhood’ dinner, will you?”
“Fine, dinner it is.” She nodded, licking her lips. That gesture spurred a primal need inside me. I just wanted to throw her over my shoulder and take her inside. Instead, I took a step back.
Being in close quarters with her and not kissing her was going to be impossible.