Enticing Interlude (Tempest #2) (7 page)

The sneaky bastard was using my son to get me to go out with him.

Suddenly what I could and wouldn’t allow started to be less defined, and it didn’t take psychic ability to know that spelled trouble for me.

“How’s Dad?” I asked my sister.

Avery held up a finger finishing the humungous bite of Japa Dog she’d just stuffed inside her mouth. A dribble of cheese escaped and dripped down her chin.

I handed her a napkin and pointed out the location of the drip. My sister was crazy about Japa Dog’s cheese stuffed hot dogs. Marcus, not so much. It was an unspoken understanding between the two of us that whenever we had an opportunity to meet for lunch we headed for the street corner vendor so she could get her fix.

“He’s better I think.” Our father had been living with Marcus’ parents out on their Vancouver Island water buffalo farm since we’d discovered that he was suffering from end stage liver failure.

Avery looked away, staring out at the crowded sidewalk. We were seated at one of the indoor tables in the glass enclosed lobby of First Bank. The Kitsilano neighborhood we looked out upon was known for its patio restaurants and eclectic one of a kind shops, but we’d chosen to eat inside because even with a ball cap and sunglasses my sister was too famous to escape notice out on the street. “The last setback he had while we were in Atlanta really scared me. I’m afraid he might not make it to his scheduled transplant date.”

“He will. He’ll be alright. Traveling to New York was just too much for him. He’s promised to take it easy from here on out.” My eyes settled on hers. “I’ve got some good news I think will cheer you up.”

“What?” She crumpled up the napkin, placing it on the metal mesh table top along with the empty cardboard hot dog holder, and leaned forward expectantly.

“You’re looking at the new lead singer of Tempest,” I announced proudly.

One auburn brow went up, skeptically. “I thought you were doing studio stuff with Lace.” Her lips puckered on Lace’s name as if she’d tasted something sour. The animosity between the two of them definitely went both ways, though I really didn’t get where it was coming from on my sister’s side. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Jus.” She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “After all you were the one who warned me to stay away from them before the first stop of the tour.”

“That’s different and you know it, Sis. It was your reputation I was mainly worried about.” I scowled back at her. “I’d have thought you would be happy for me.”

“I
am
happy for you.” I saw the remorse in her eyes even before she apologized. “I just don’t want you to get into trouble. Drugs and alcohol are a big player with them. You just got your life back together.”

“I understand that. I’ll be on my guard, but I can’t live in a bubble forever. There’ll always be temptation.”

“And then there’s Lace.” Her eyes went to the table. “Trouble seems to follow that woman wherever she goes.”

“That’s not fair, Avery.” The displeasure in my tone brought her gaze back up to mine. “That same case could be made about me.” An ill-advised affair with a woman engaged to a mobster, leaving the witness protection program, and so forth, and so on. I leaned forward, elbows on the table. “You really should take the time to get to know her.”

“I have…”

I cut her off. “When you’re not reprimanding her.”

Her lips flattened.

“Listen, she’s had a rough life, Avery. It’s not like you to be so close-minded about someone. Give her a chance is all I’m saying. I think you might warm up to her.”

“I don’t know about that. She doesn’t seem like a very stable person. The tabloids say she’s sleeping with War and Bryan both, playing one off the other.”

“You know as well as anyone that there’s rarely an ounce of truth to those stories.”

“Yeah.” She arched a brow. “What’d she tell you?”

It was my turn to look away. “She doesn’t talk about it.” When I turned back, she was watching me with concern filled eyes.

“Oh, Justin. Tell me you’re not hung up on her too.”

“No. Absolutely not,” I answered. “She’s just a good friend.”

“Good.” She looked and sounded relieved. “I’ve got more than enough stress right now with Dad and the transplant coming up, Mary pressuring me to finish a solo album, and Marcus wanting to set a date.” Her apologetic eyes met mine. “Forgive me for being overprotective?”

“Sure,” I replied easily. After all I was the exact same way when it came to her. “What do you mean about Marcus? You mean a wedding date?”

“Yeah.” Her cheeks turned pink. “He wants to get married before the summer tour with Tempest.”

“Wow. I mean, I knew this was coming, but…” I covered her hand with my own, “You’re right. You do have a lot going on. Sorry to add one more thing to the list, but I’m really stoked about this chance. If I could describe better how it felt being with Tempest in the studio today, you’d understand.” I let out a long breath. “Everything just clicked. It was incredible. I really think I’m going to be as good for them as they will be for me, you know?”

She looked at me for a long moment. “Yeah. I think I do know actually. That’s how I felt the first time I played with BS.”

“Just jump, kiddo.”

Pensive as he stood along the edge of the indoor pool deck, Carter shook his wet head. “I can’t, Mommy,” he said adamantly, his chin down to his chest and his gaze on his bare feet. “I’m too scared,” he admitted a moment later on a soft whisper.

I waded through the warm water and reached out to tap on his cute chubby toes. “C’mon,” I coaxed. “You can do it.” Carter swam really well, but for some reason he’d always been afraid to dive.

I’d brought him down to the pool as a treat after a long and exhausting day for both of us. After the tryout, I’d interviewed at a nearby coffee house and then enrolled him in kindergarten at Lord Roberts, an IB accredited school just a couple of blocks away. I really wanted him to attend there, but when we moved out, it would be tough to find affordable housing in the area. The list of lodging in this area of downtown started at expensive and moved up from there.

Carter’s lip jutted out. “Why couldn’t we go out with Miss Lace and Tempest to celebrate?”

“Because they’re going to a bar and that’s not a good place for either of us. I already told you that though. Stop stalling. You can do this.” I moved backward, the heavy chlorination making my eyes water a bit. “I’ll be right here to get you.”

“I can’t.” He sounded so defeated it hurt my heart. “I’m sorry, Mommy.”

“It’s ok, kiddo. No big deal. You’ll get it. How about feet first instead?”

His chin lifted and a big smile spread across his round face right before he launched himself into the pool. I turned my head to avoid the splash. He surfaced easily by himself and swam right to me. Living in Florida, I’d insisted on swim lessons as soon as he could walk. Not that he minded. He loved being in the water as much as I did.

I told him to flip over to practice his floating. His adorable little rounded tummy lifted as he went buoyant. After counting to sixty out loud, I reached out and tugged him into my arms. In the pool he was light enough for me to lift easily, but he was growing so fast that those days were numbered.

“Where are they?” I pretended to look for gills and then started tickling him. “I know you have them. Only a fish could swim and float as well as you do.”

He laughed and wrapped his arms around my neck and gave me a wet kiss on my cheek. “I love you, Mommy.”

“I love you, too, kiddo. So much.” I closed my eyes and squeezed him tight. When I opened them, I saw
him
on the far edge of the pool deck.

“Hey.” My voice came out sounding a lot gruffer than usual. Watching Bridget and her son just now and overhearing that last affectionate exchange had hit me hard, resonating someplace deep inside. Their powerful bond would surely tug on even the most jaded of heartstrings. And my heart might be a little calloused, but it was far from hardened. In fact, I was almost as big a romantic as my sister. I just didn’t wear my emotions on my sleeve.