SLOW HANDS

“Are you guys going to the season opener?” she asked.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Peter said.

“I have a favor to ask then.”

Both brothers looked curiously at her.

“I’m bringing a client and I’d like to keep my relationship with Bryce on the down low.”

Curiosity gleamed in their eyes. She knew they wanted to ask, but when she didn’t volunteer her reasons why, they didn’t pursue the matter.

“Okay. Not a problem,” Peter finally said. “Anything for you”

“Are you three going to stand out there all day or are you coming in to eat?”

Their father’s voice boomed from the front porch, and they all turned to see him leaning against the doorframe, impatience evident in his stance.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Chloe grinned. “We better go in before your dad starts muttering threats,”she said playfully.

Peter ruffled her hair then tucked his arm over her neck so he had her in a headlock. He started toward the house, dragging her with him.

When they got to the porch, she laughingly stumbled from Peter’s hold and gave their father a quick hug. Darrell Collins was always very nice to her and loved her like a daughter. The first time he met her, he had thought she and Bryce were a couple, and the disappointment on his face when they told him that they weren’t had been hilarious. He squeezed her and dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

“Been a while since I saw you, kiddo. How have you been?” he asked.

Chloe smiled at him, “I’m fine” she replied. “And I’m sorry about that. Work has been taking a lot of my time”

Darrell Collins gave her another squeeze. “I understand dear. It’s been the same with Peter, but I’m happy you are all here”

“Where’s Bryce ?” she asked.

“Where he always is whenever he comes over . Parked in front of the big screen, watching baseball.”

Chloe slipped past Darrell while he greeted his sons and entered the house. When she got to the living room, she saw Bryce sprawled in the recliner, remote in hand as he flipped through footage of past baseball games.

“Hey, Bryce,” she called.

He looked up, his eyes warming in welcome. As he got up, he smiled broadly at her then held out his arms. She hugged him then made a show of feeling his ribs.

“They don’t feed you in training camp?” she asked.

He laughed. “You know damn well that all I ever do is eat. I think my tapeworms have tapeworms.”

She glanced back to make sure they were still alone and then lowered her voice.

“Are you going to hang around later or do you have to be somewhere?”

His eyes narrowed, and he lost the smile. “Well, I have to meet up with someone later, but why do you ask?”

“I need to talk to you about something…. I have a favor to ask, and I’d rather not get into it in front of everyone.”

Bryce frowned now. “Is everything okay, Chloe? You in some kind of trouble? Do I need to kill anyone?”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re too valuable to go to prison. Besides, you’d just have Edward do it anyway.”

Bryce smirked. “The pretty boy would be popular in prison.”

“You’re a sick puppy. And no, nothing’s wrong. Promise. Just want to run something by you that could be beneficial to us both.”

“Okay, if you’re going to be all mysterious on me. I guess I can wait until later. I’d like to know where you are staying for now. I would invite you to mine but the maid quit on me last week and it’s not a pretty sight. You do have food, right?” Bryce said.

She shook her head. “Yes, I have food, and yes, we can go to my place…. My friend, Susan’s place actually. We went to high school together and she offered me her place to stay since she is not even in town. It’s way better than renting a place or staying at a hotel…. For God’s sake, Bryce, how hard is it to pick up after yourself? Or if you can’t do that, at least pick up the phone and get another maid service?”

“I’ve sort of been blackballed,” he mumbled. “I have to find an agency where my reputation hasn’t preceded me.”

“I feel so sorry for the woman you marry. She’ll be in ten kinds of hell.”

“You don’t have to worry because that’s not going to happen.”

“Sure. Okay. I believe you.” Chloe said sarcastically.

They both looked up when the others spilled into the living room. Bryce gave her arm a light squeeze and mouthed “later.”

“Food’ll be on the table in fifteen minutes,” Darrell announced.

Her mouth watered. She didn’t even know what Darrell had cooked. It didn’t matter. The man was a culinary genius. Lunch was a rambunctious affair. Bryce and his brothers bickered and joked endlessly while their father looked on indulgently. She’d missed all of them and wished she had a family like theirs.

After the table had been cleared, the argument started over what channel the television landed on. Bryce didn’t know anything but ESPN or the Food Network existed, Edward liked anything that was mindless, particularly if explosions were involved, and Peter liked to torment his brothers by forcing them to watch gardening shows.

Chloe just settled back to enjoy the sights and sounds of what she wished was her home. Darrell sat on the couch next to her and shook his head over his sons’ antics. Why didn’t she have this? She wondered. Or at least since she couldn’t have it, why couldn’t she at least find someone she wanted to start a family like this with? Hell thoughts drifted to Timothy. Hell, lately she was always thinking about him.

Peter rising from his chair shook her from her thoughts. She forced her fingers to relax and winced at the marks she’d left on her palms.

“Leaving already?” she asked him.

Peter pulled her up into a bear hug. “Yeah. I need to check on a job. I’ll see you at the season opener, though.”

She kissed his cheek and patted his shoulder affectionately. “Of course.”

She turned to Edward. “I guess you’ll be going, too, since you brought him over.”

“Yep. I have a date I’ve got to get ready for anyway.” Edward replied. “Gonna go shopping for something nice to wear”