Chapter 13
Amber calledVal as soon as she got home. “I’ve got a carton of Rocky Road and Red Hots.” It was time for the big guns. It was almost embarrassing how turned on she still was from that brief, electrified moment with Theo on the stairs tonight. The man had only touched her neck of all places, and she was still shivery and tingling, her nipples hard points that she wanted to rub against him.
Desire wasn’t new to her. She had a healthy sexual appetite and no shame when it came to indulging in it, although finding the right man proved harder. Living in a small town meant that she had to be judicious with whom she slept with because if it went south, she’d most likely be serving him beers at the pub. Well, she would have before she was fired.
Over the years, she’d had casual hookups, mostly men from surrounding towns looking for something casual and fun, but inevitably things got deeper than she was comfortable with and she always, always bailed.
Relationships were not her thing. She had accepted that a long time ago, but it had left some ornery men in her wake that hadn’t always been as understanding. All the more reason to keep things casual, but even so it had been a long time and she had pent up desire lighting up her body until she felt like it would only take one tiny fuse to set her off.
Which was why she had to stay firmly on the professional side with her boss. It wouldn’t do at all to have to face Theo at their Monday morning meetings after doing all of the dirty, debauched things she wanted to do to him.
It just wasn’t smart to sleep with your boss, even she knew that, and she wasn’t known for making great life choices. But the attraction was hard to ignore, and even harder to cover up her response to him walking around in his immaculate suit and tie, looking like a present she could unwrap and savor.
She needed a distraction.
“Be right there,” Val said, and twenty seconds later, Val padded across the hall in her bare feet. Now, they were nestled on Amber’s couch, a box fan humming on the coffee table in front of them, eating ice cream and candy on a Friday night. In other words, pure bliss.
“No Holly tonight?” Amber asked.
“Nah,” Val said, dumping a handful of candy in her palm. “My mom’s got the night off. They’re having a Twilight marathon.” She looked over. “Stop eating all the marshmallows.”
“Make me,” Amber mumbled with her mouth full. “You didn’t want to join them?” It was rare that Sandy had a night off from her serving job.
Val snorted. “Twilight? Please. Bella’s an emotional wreck who can’t live without a man. I told my mom not to let Holly watch it, but no one listens to me. ”
Amber dug around in the carton for another marshmallow and handed it to Val. “Speaking of messy romance, how’s it going with Dylan? Did you decide about the ball?”
“I said I’d go with him.” Val mumbled around a mouthful of candy.
“You’re going to the ball with him?” Amber tried very hard not to show her glee. “This is perfect!” Briefly, she thought back to her own ball, but she pushed the thought away. Val wasn’t going to have a repeat of that. She’d make sure of it.
“Really? Was your ball that memorable?”
“God, no. But now I get to live vicariously through you.”
“Hmm,” Val said skeptically. “Like that show Dance Moms?”
“No,” Amber laughed. “I promise not to be that weird. Besides, you’re way smarter than I was at seventeen. I was stupid and vulnerable at the same time, but I learned my lesson. Now I just stick to stupid.” She crossed her eyes until Val cracked a reluctant smile.
Val flopped back down onto the couch. “I don”t have anything to wear.”
Amber clapped her hands together and looked up at the ceiling. “I was made for this moment.”
“Nothing weird.”
“I”m offended. I don”t wear weird things. Come with me, child.” She held out her hand and dragged Val to her bedroom where she opened her closet with a flourish. “You”ve come to the right person.”
”You”re so totally weird.”
An hour later, the contents of Amber”s closet were strewn around her room, and Val was admiring herself in a black dress in front of the mirror. Amber had tried for some color, but Val shot everything down until Amber pulled out a black vintage 1950s dress with a white Peter Pan collar. The bodice was slim fitting, flaring out to a knee length A-line skirt with a slim black belt around the waist.
“This feels very me,” Val said, turning in front of the mirror.
”It really does,” Amber said. She tried to rein in her excitement, but the dress was made for Val. A little bit funky, a little bit classic, Amber could guarantee no one else would have the same dress on. Amber had convinced her to pull her hair back away from her face, and she was reminded again how lovely Val was when she wasn”t putting off her don’t-look-at-me-or-I’ll-kill-you vibe. A surge of pride and protectiveness took her by surprise.
”You”re welcome to borrow it.”
”Maybe I will,” Val said casually, but Amber noticed how, when she took it off, she hung it carefully over her arm. She paused at the door of the apartment. ”Thanks,” she said casually.
”You”re welcome,” Amber said just as nonchalantly. A huge grin broke over her face when the door closed behind Val. Well, that was a successful night. She could never go back to her own disaster of a ball, but maybe she could help Val make some happier memories.
When she got into bed later, she reflectively checked her phone on the nightstand. No messages. She had only let herself check a few times during the night, because every time she thought about Theo sharing a box seat with Pippa at the theater, she felt a surge of jealousy that didn’t make sense. Theo could date anyone he wanted, of course. Successful, leggy brunettes that had actual careers were his type and she knew it well after seeing him with a new one on his arm frequently over the years.
And still, she tortured herself by checking the time again. It was still early enough that the two of them probably went out for a drink at some fancy cocktail bar. She thought about Theo’s warm hand helping Pippa into the car and walking her up to her apartment like the gentleman he was. Pippa’s AC probably wasn’t broken, and she wouldn’t be embarrassed to invite him up. Her life was calm and orderly, and Amber would bet she’d never been fired for dancing on a bar.
Jealousy, longing, and pent-up desire battled inside her until she finally forced herself to pick up her new romance novel. Fictional boyfriends were so much better. Mostly. There was just that one way they didn’t quite measure up. Ugh. Just as she was falling asleep, the phone buzzed.
Theo
Did you hijack my T-shirt for the dog’s crate?
Amber
Depends. Was it your favorite or can the dog and I have a tug-of-war with it?
Theo
Expendable.
Amber
Then yes. :) Dogs like to have their human’s scent nearby...unless you want Puddin’ to sleep with you?
Theo
Not a chance in hell.
Amber
Why not? Pippa doesn’t like sharing the bed?
Theo
Pippa’s not here.
Amber
Good. You need your sleep.
Theo
I never sleep.
Amber
Why not?
Theo
I don’t know. I just haven’t been able to for a while now.
Amber
Puddin’ would make an excellent bed companion.
Theo
Feel free to reclaim her.
She fell asleep with a smile on her face.
Amber raisedher hand to knock on Allie and Davis’s front door, but it swung open before she made contact.
“Hey, Aunt Amber. Come on in,” Sammy said, leading her into the foyer. “We’re hanging out in the living room until dinner’s ready.”
She followed him, noticing how much taller Sammy had grown in recent years. He was almost as tall as she was, reaching that stage of adolescence of long, gangly limbs that would one day grow into a tall, handsome, kind young man. Last year he had stopped playing baseball and took up guitar instead. It turned out the kid was a natural and was rarely without his pick and guitar now.
Geez. What was wrong with her today? She was never this sentimental. She swallowed the lump in her throat and pasted on a smile. Sunday dinner was no time to get teary. The aunts were all here, not to mention her mother. They were like sharks, searching out a hint of emotion and going for the kill.
Soon, Amber would be sharing about that almost-kiss she had shared with her boss and the confusing mix of emotions that had been swirling in her ever since.
But she didn’t want to think about Theo today. It was the weekend, and she already thought about him entirely too much during the week.
A cacophony of noise from the kitchen and living room greeted her, and Amber thought back briefly to how much life could change. When Allie was married to her first husband and living in New York City, she had lived in a luxury penthouse that felt like a silent, modern chrome museum whenever Amber came to visit.
The house Amber walked into now shared nothing in common. The Henderson home was warm and welcoming to all, including the people they had picked up along the way. Amber walked past the toys, stepping over Walter, their golden retriever, who was sleeping in the middle of it all as usual. She waved to Val and Holly.
She had dragged them along to Sunday dinners about a year ago. The Hart family had embraced the sisters and taken them under their wing immediately, despite Val’s death glares. The aunts could handle teenage angst and more.
“Hey, guys,” Amber said to the living room full of people. Claire, Davis’s daughter from his first marriage, had Savvie sitting on the couch with her feet on the coffee table and was painting her toenails. Ben and Sammy were sitting next to Holly on the couch, with Xbox controllers in their hands. Every time Sammy looked at Holly, red color flooded his cheeks, and Holly giggled.
“Pretty colors, Savvie. Did you pick those?”
“Wainbow,” Savvie said happily, wiggling her tiny foot.
“I see that. Very nice,” Amber leaned down to kiss Claire’s head. She gave Ben an affectionate noogie and smiled at Val.
“Hey Amber,” Davis said from the chair by the fireplace. He held Tessa in his lap, her sleeping body nestled against his broad chest.
A wave of warmth and maybe even a little longing washed over her at the sight. Sometimes, in her more honest moments, Amber could admit that being a mother would be a dream come true. Allie and Davis did parenthood so seamlessly that she wondered sometimes what it would be like to have a little one look at her with unconditional love and trust.
Life wouldn’t be so lonely, for one. For someone who kept herself surrounded by people, in her more intuitive moments, she knew she was lonely. She had her family and Val, and Sandy, and Holly, and her regulars at the pub of course, but that wasn’t quite the same as having a family of her own.
And then she remembered her track record with anything that mattered in her life. The idea was beautiful, but the reality was that she would probably mess up motherhood like everything else in her life.
“Hey,” she said to Davis. She took a seat on the couch next to him. “A little late for a nap, isn’t it?”
Davis gently stroked Tessa’s silky curls away from her face. “She’s been tired today.”
“Poor baby,” Amber said. “Want me to hold her for you?” She was itching to hold the sweet little bundle of Tessa. It wasn’t often the twins were still long enough to cuddle.
Davis grinned crookedly, his warm brown eyes crinkling, and she was reminded that her sister had married a stone-cold stud. “Coward,” he said mildly. Who was annoying.
Amber crossed her arms. “What? No. I’m just being selfless.” She peeked behind her to see if anyone in the kitchen had heard them. “And be quiet,” she hissed. “You’ll wake the baby.”
“You’re probably off the hook. They’re all distracted by Val’s news.”
“Good,” she said with feeling. She looked at Val on the other end of the couch. “What news?”
“They found out about Dylan asking me to the Midsummer Night ball.” Val rolled her eyes. “Aunt Giulia wants to do the flowers, and Aunt Sophia wants Cap to have a talk with Dylan before we leave.”
“Maybe you could bring him to Sunday dinner,” Amber said.
“That’s a good idea.” Davis nodded. “We’d all like to meet him.”
”Never. Not gonna happen,” Val said, looking through the kitchen doorway just as Sophia and Giulia were fighting over a wooden spoon. Sauce splattered on their aprons, and the two women bent over laughing.
”Oh, I don”t know. I think it”s pretty special what we have here,” Amber said.
Val crossed her arms and looked disgusted as they watched, but a minute later, she looked over at Amber and said, ”Yeah, maybe.”
“This is good timing,” Amber said. “So, they don’t care about my new job?”
“Amber, you made it. I heard you were fired again.” Aunt Sophia peeked around the corner and fixed her with the eyes. The ones that could make grown men squirm.
”That”s old news, Auntie. Amber’s got a new job now,” Lily said from behind her. She was drying her hands on a dish towel.
”Well, don”t go messing this one up too,” huffed Aunt Sophia. “Come into the kitchen so we can see you.”
“Good luck,” Davis murmured. Amber stuck her tongue out and followed the women into the kitchen like she was lining up for a firing squad. Same difference.
”I don”t know why you don”t work at our floral shop, honey. I can”t think of anything better than arranging flowers. We know plenty of men we could introduce you to while you’re there,” Aunt Giulia was saying from the stove.
Yep. No, thanks.
”Thank you, Aunt Giulia,” Amber said. “I’m all set, though. My job at the mayor’s office is going well.” Let’s hope she hadn’t messed that up with that sizzling hot encounter on Theo’s stairs.
”I talked to Cap, by the way. He told us all about the night you were fired. Really, Amber, you know the pub is a family establishment,” Sophia chided.
”What”s it like working for the mayor?” Aunt Rosa asked, and Amber threw her a grateful look. Aunt Rosa was a sweetheart. She winked and grated more Parmesan cheese into the salad.
“I schedule a lot of meetings for him. Other than that, not a whole lot. I’m trying to get him to visit some more fun places to connect with a younger crowd.” Amber settled herself on a stool by the island.
“Oh, yeah? The carnival is coming up. Everybody’s there. You could put the mayor in the dunk tank. I bet that would be a huge hit,” Allie said from the sink. “Is it hot in here?” She waved a dish towel in front of her face.
The idea wasn’t without some merit. She envisioned people throwing things at him and getting him dunked. Theo, bare chested in a water tank, would earn some definite votes. Now she was just feeling horny. She could admit it.
“Or what about the outdoor movie night up at the school? Everybody goes to that,” Allie said.
”I”ll try my best. It”s not like I haven”t been mentioning it to him.”
An hour later, they were all crowded around Allie’s oversized farm table, stuffed to the brim with meatballs and spaghetti, Amber sat back in her chair and looked around at her family.
”Here, have some more,” Rosa said, giving Davis another helping.
”I don”t know if I could eat another bite—okay, thank you,” he said, accepting the plate but not eating.
Allie smiled at him affectionately. Amber noticed her full plate.
”Why aren”t you eating? Are you pregnant again?”
”Oh God, no,” Allie blanched. ”I just haven”t been feeling very well today.”
Davis rubbed her back. “Tessa seems a little off too.”
“Tell us more about your job with the mayor, Amber,” Aunt Sophia said from the other end of the table. She squinted down the table. “I hope you”re not dressing like that at the office.”
”Like what?” Amber knew her family loved her. Being surrounded by so many smart, sarcastic, and clever women had buoyed her spirits and comforted her throughout her entire life, even if they were a little overzealous sometimes.
”Like that. Your boobs are hanging out, and your skirt”s too short. What is that anyway that you”re wearing?”
Amber held out the skimpy sundress. “But it has pockets. See?”
While they chatted around the table, Amber studied her mother. As the youngest of her sisters, Annette was the most solemn. She sat at the head of the table, listening and observing the dynamics with a sharp eye. It was hard not to draw parallels between their lives.
When their father left, Annette had transformed her pain into a silent, stoic force that drove her to go back to school and change her life on her own terms. It was hard to believe they were even related if you just looked at how they handled adversity.
But one thing she had in common with her mother was her relationship with men. As far as Amber knew, Annette had never had another serious relationship after their father. Like her mother, men were simply something she enjoyed and kept at a safe distance.
”Amber,” Annette said quietly. Everyone at the table, even the little ones, looked up. “Congratulations on your new job.”
“Thanks, Mom.” How was it that her mother could still make her squirm? “I’ll try not to mess this one up.”
Annette sipped her pinot. “Keep that in mind and see that you don’t underestimate yourself.”