A Woman Like You: Book Two (The Woman I Love Series 2) Read online

  “Mom, dad, this is Gage Ballant.” Lacy stood next to her partner as Gage shook both their hands.

  “Hello, it’s nice to meet you.” Gage greeted them anxiously. After a brief exchange, Lynn noticed Derek clinging to the blonde as he ducked his head away yet shifted his eyes to the older couple shyly.

  “Oh, my, he has grown.” Lynn raved. When she reached for him, Derek squirmed closer to Gage. The grandmother’s face could not veil her disappointment. “Okay then, why don’t we sit down and….. have you eaten yet?”

  Lacy grabbed her mother’s arm then whispered to her as they walked into the living room. “Give him a little time, he’ll open up.” Then she leaned down planting a quick kiss on her mother’s cheek.

  Lynn and Dan sat in the two easy chairs directly across from their company as Lacy, Gage and the kids settled on the couch. Before another word was spoken, an excited Nathan Lewis bounded in the room. “Hey, whose car’s outside?” Upon spotting his sister, Nathan immediately extended his arms. “Lacy, come here.”

  “Nate. I didn’t expect to see you here tonight.” Lacy stated, looking up at her slightly taller brother.

  Still holding her closely, he whispered. “I’ve moved back in. Didn’t mom tell you?”

  “No, she didn’t.” Lacy suspiciously eyed her mother.

  “After college I was going to get an apartment but…. well, mom’s always got food. You know how good she cooks.” He laughed, letting go of Lacy. “And, who do we have here?” Nate turned his attention to the rest of the group patiently waiting on the couch. “How’s my favorite fishing partner?”

  Dani crossed her arms stubbornly refusing to move from her seat. “Did you get me a birthday present?” She hurriedly threw a glance toward her grandfather. “He… wouldn’t say.”

  Nate cocked his hands on his hips. “Yes, I did. But, if I don’t get a hug pretty darn quick here, I guess it will have to stay hidden.”

  Never one to miss an opportunity, Dani flew off the couch. “Then I’m doing fine. Where is it?” Dani latched on to her favorite uncle.

  As Gage watched the scene unfold, she rose up with Derek still in her arms, sucking in a deep breath to steel her nerves upon meeting more of Lacy’s family. Having no family of her own before finding Lacy and the kids, Gage felt uneasy in this kind of domestic situation.

  “No, I’m not going to tell you.” Nate tapped his niece’s nose. “You’re welcome to search the place.”

  “Okay, I will. And, I’ll take Derek with me, too. So, I’m sure to find it before Friday.” Everyone in the family knew if something were to be found, Derek would be the one to do it. He had a natural instinct for recovering hidden articles. They were all well versed with the story of Derek finding the ‘battery holder’ that was actually a vibrator.

  “Nate, I’d like you to meet Gage.” Lacy said then turned to her partner. “This is my brother.”

  Gage shook Nate’s extended hand. “Hi.” The young man’s perplexed look solicited the all-important unasked question. “I’m a writer.” Gage offered, not sure what to say at this point. Lacy and Gage shared the identical thought. I can’t believe we didn’t discuss this.

  “Oh, you work together.” Nate surmised. “It’s great to meet you. I’d love to read something you wrote.” The young handsome man stood there oblivious to what everyone else in the room knew about Lacy and Gage’s relationship.

  Lacy shot a quick look to her mother for confirmation and when Lynn shrugged, she knew that the rest of the family was unaware of the situation.

  Sensing the uneasiness in the air, Gage shifted Derek around to meet his uncle. “Derek?” Even before she finished speaking his name, Derek vaulted into his uncle’s arms.

  “Come here, you little scallywag.” Nate tossed the young boy up in the air a couple of times causing him to giggle before wrapping strong arms around his nephew.

  Surprised by Derek’s outgoing reception toward his uncle, Gage glanced at Lacy. Leaning in closer, she whispered. “We haven’t seen my parents in a year, but Nate came out to see us a couple of months ago. He’d visit quite a lot when he could.”

  “So, how long you gonna be here?” Nate asked.

  Their mother jumped into the conversation. “At least through the weekend. Friday’s Dani’s birthday and I planned a family barbeque on Saturday.” Lynn looked at her daughter hopefully.

  “If you’ll have us, we’re planning to stay till next Tuesday.” Lacy pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Then I got a movie starting in few weeks and need to get back to LA.”

  “A week it is then.” Lynn’s words held just a tinge of disappointment about the short stay bringing with it an awkward cool front that permeated the room carrying a heavy weight of discomfort with no one knowing what to say next.

  After few long moments passed, Gage spoke up. “Why don’t I get the bags?”

  Nate handed Derek to his mother. Smiling brightly, he turned to the blonde. “I’ll help.”

  As they walked away, Gage and Nate heard Daniel tease his granddaughter while scratching the back of his head. “Now, where did I leave that present of yours?”

  Dani grabbed his big hand and pulled him from the room. “I bet it’s in the workshop. Come on.” The eight year old then grabbed for her brother’s tiny hand. “You’re coming with us.” Derek happily toddled along behind his sister.

  Leaving mother and daughter alone, Lynn explained. “I… only told your father. I didn’t know what you wanted me to say… you know, about…. it.”

  “It’s okay, mom. Quite frankly….” Lacy expelled a heavy sigh, nervously playing with the gold mariner necklace strung around her neck. It was the necklace Gage gave her at the lake in a declaration of love. “We have a couple of days before the whole family shows up. I’ll talk with Gage about it later.”

  “You love her, don’t you?” Lacy nodded. “It shows. We…. your father and I worry about you.”

  “I know.” Lacy hugged her mother ferociously. She needed to feel her childhood pillar of strength that always safely harbored her when she was younger. Noticing the latest book by Ballantine on the end table, Lacy picked it up.

  “Go ahead take it. I’ve read it already. I know it’s your favorite author.” Lynn offered.

  Lacy smiled. I have a new favorite author now.

  ************************

  Gage followed Nate up the stairs both carrying bags in each hand. “In here.” He motioned to one of the three bedroom doors in the hallway. “This is Lacy and Lisa’s old room.” Then he pointed further down the hallway. “I’m in there.”

  Gage caught the playful smile Nate offered her that held a smidgen of interest. If she didn’t know better, Gage would have deduced that the young man standing before her allowed a brief, but lascivious thought run through his head. The observant writer eyed the young man carefully. Taller than Lacy by at least two inches, he was quite handsome in a charming way with sparklingly sky blue eyes and short ash blonde hair. “How old are you anyway?”

  “Twenty-three. But, I’m very mature for my age. Ask Lacy.” Nate crunched his eyebrows together. “On second thought, don’t. To her, I’m still her baby brother.”

  After they deposited the bags on the bed, the two bellhops were on their way for the rest of the luggage. Nate offered to take the remaining bags upstairs so Gage wandered back in the living room just in time to hear Dani proclaim to the world excitedly. “I found one of them.” Holding the present high in the air away from Derek who, true to his nature, was the one to discovery it under the workbench in their grandfather’s garage that doubled for a workshop.

  “But, you can’t…..” Her grandfather started.

  And Dani continued. “Open it till Friday….” Dropping her voice, she finished her sentence. “Unless I find a way to convince you.” The mischievous smirk on her face told everyone in the room that the little girl’s mind was scheming profusely.

  The long drive and late evening brought a loud yawn from the littlest m
ember of the group as he wobbled toward his hero, yanking at her jeans. “Jage.”

  Dropping down to retrieve him, Gage lifted him up in her arms then brushed back a bit of his short dark hair. His eyelids desperately tried to stay open struggling against sleep, yet losing ground with each passing moment.

  “It’s getting late. Maybe we should…” Lacy let her words plummet in quite understanding.

  “Of course, you’ve been on the road all day.” Lynn was about to continue after taking another breath, but stopped abruptly when a thought dawned on her like a bolt of lightning then she said absent-mindedly. “Where are you all going to sleep?”

  Lacy suggested. “I was thinking my old room unless Nate…..”

  “No, no. Nate’s in the boy’s old room upstairs.” The fifty-five year old mother pondered desperately at the tentative predicament. “We do have Denny’s old room in the basement.”

  “Honey, that’s slowly over the years filled with junk I could never get you to throw away.” Dan countered.

  Lynn shot her husband an annoyed look. “Maybe we could…”

  “Mom, we’ll be fine in my old bedroom.” Lacy assured her though she didn’t miss the questioning and slightly uncomfortable look her mother and father shared and neither did Gage.

  “It might be better if I got a hotel room.” Gage offered although it was the last thing on her mind. With that statement, she received a shocked look from her partner. Back peddling fast, Gage tried to make up for her mistake. “I’m sure the room in the basement would be fine.”

  As a dark cloud loomed surrounding the sleeping arrangements, Dani piped up offering a simple sunny solution to a problem that didn’t exist for her. “What’s the big deal? We’ll stay in mom’s old room. We sleep together all the time.” She didn’t understand the perplexing looks pasted on the rest of their faces.

  Dani’s statement left Lacy’s parents a bit stunned so much so that they didn’t hear the telephone ring. So, in another weak attempt Gage once again stated. “The basement room will be fine really.”

  Before either Lynn or Dan could reply, Lacy boldly stated. “No.” Pulling Gage closer, she capped the discussion. “We’re staying in my room. All of us.”

  That finalized, Nate reappeared. “Mom, Lisa’s on the phone.” He walked further in the room as his mother passed him.

  “Lacy, Gage, I’ll see you in the morning then.” Lynn smiled reassuringly to her oldest girl in quiet acceptance of her daughter’s decision then she nodded to her husband with a silent command to follow.

  Dan leaned in, kissing his daughter then grandchildren before he obediently followed his wife out the door. “Goodnight.”

  “What was that all about?” Nate asked suspiciously.

  Lacy ignored him. “Lisa’s on the phone, huh? Is she still having trouble with her boyfriend?”

  “Same old same old.” Nate knew Gage was uninformed about his sister’s troubles so he attempted to fill her in. “He’s a loser if you ask me. A real jerk. Of course, nobody’s good enough for my sisters.” Nate missed that he was now treading dangerously in shark-infested waters since he didn’t see the exasperated look on Lacy’s face.

  Lacy knew Nate was actually referring to her soon to be ex-husband, David, but Gage could easily misinterpret his words to mean her so the older sibling cut her brother’s forth-coming dissertation short. “Gage, could you take the kids up to bed for me? I’d like to talk with my brother.”

  “Sure.” Gage gathered the children and off they went to bed.

  Immensely concerned about his sister’s sudden sullen demeanor and thinking he’d said too much regarding their family, Nate offered an apology. “Sorry, I didn’t know you didn’t want Gage to know about family stuff. I figured you two were good friends and….”

  Lacy assured her brother. “We are. Very good friends. Nate, Gage is my best friend.” The older sibling wrapped her hand around his arm leading him out the door and up the stairs. “We’re very close, you see.”

  Clasping his hand over hers as they reached to top of the stairs, he smiled and cocked his head slightly. “I’m glad because she’s kinda cute and I do like blondes.”

  Shocked, Lacy stared open-mouthed at her brother.

  “Hey, you know I’ve always liked older women.” Nate waggled his eyebrows.

  Nate ventured deeper down the hallway to his sister’s door when Lacy swung her brother back around. “Nate.” The older sibling’s voice brooked no misunderstanding. “She’s mine.”

  Astonished, Nate swallowed hard at his sister’s very possessive news. Pursed lips slowly broke into a smile that spread across his face, which eased his sister’s mind. “Well, at least, we get to keep her in the family.” Retracting his bid for the blonde, Nate pulled his sister further down the hall. “So, David’s out of the picture. Bout time.”

  Chapter Three

  When Dani woke the next morning, the first thing she observed was her mother staring intently at the oldest and youngest occupants. “Do you think they’re ever gonna be early risers like us mom?”

  Shaking her head lovingly at Gage and Derek as they slept peacefully, Lacy said. “No.”

  “Good. Then we can have some alone time.” Dani advocated. Concerned about her daughter’s statement, Lacy reached over stroking Dani’s smooth cheek as her daughter further explained. “Yeah, I thought we could talk about some girl stuff. Like letting me get my ears pierced.”

  “Dani!” It was a subject mother and daughter volleyed back and forth for a year now ever since the young girl’s father said off-handedly that it was up to Dani to decide what she wanted to do.

  “Mooooom.” The young girl whined. “Please.”

  “I don’t even have my ears pierced.” Lacy argued although she wasn’t completely opposed to the idea. Lacy wanted her daughter to wait a few more years before deciding on the matter like her mother allowed her when she turned thirteen.

  “I know.” She cocked her head to the side. “And, don’t you think that’s weird?” Dani ended the quest upon seeing the irritated look her mother was giving her. “Okay, we’ll talk about other girl stuff.” Nodding at the sleeping dual, Dani continued. “They don’t like it when we do.”

  A small chuckle escaped before Lacy affirmed her daughter’s statement. “No, they certainly don’t pay attention, do they?” Then an idea popped in her head bringing with it a playful smirk.

  Obviously on the same wavelength as her mother, Dani suggested. “Tickle fight?”

  A smile of approval sprung up on her mother’s face. But, before Dani initiated the fray, Lacy stopped her. “Dani, this time you’re on my side…. we girls have to stick together.” Lacy offered her hand in a high five, which Dani slapped in return before she pounced on Gage.

  In no time at all, Gage was under attack by the three predators, tickling her mercilessly. Even Derek who generally sided with his hero laughed happily as his tiny little fingers found refuge in a particularly sensitive spot behind Gage’s ear. “Derek, you’re supposed to be on my side.” Gage’s counterfeit protest only caused the young boy to giggle harder.

  “You can’t get up.” Dani taunted.

  For the first time ever in the many tickle fights they shared, Gage was on the bottom and she was having none of it. “Oh, yes, I can.” Garnering her last bit of energy, Gage pushed up.

  “Mom!” Dani yelled.

  Gage’s ascent was promptly deflated when Lacy straddled her partner, securing her in place.

  Dani couldn’t resist the predicament Gage was in. “Thought you could get up.”

  Her face flushed and feeling exhausted upon being assaulted by the trio, Gage pushed her hands through the multiple limbs coming to rest on Lacy’s thighs. Gage ran her hands teasingly up Lacy’s bare legs to her hips, echoing in her partner a shiver that erupted in a loud scream.

  It was that same shrieking scream that stopped Lynn stone cold in the hallway as she passed her daughter’s door, which was slightly ajar. Rushing in Lacy�
�s bedroom, the scene that played out before Lynn’s eyes locked on her daughter saddled on top of Gage with her grandchildren situated on either side of the blonde.

  Shocked and relieved at the same time, Lynn’s face ran the gamut of emotions, letting out a loud gasp of her own. Gage’s head popped up at the same time Lacy and the kids turned toward the door. With one hand over her mouth, Lynn apologized. “Sorry, I thought….” Stumbling desperately to string together a simple explanation, she continued. “I… I don’t know what I thought. Never mind.”

  Lacy caught up with her mom before she rushed out the door. “Mom?” The younger woman walked her mother out into the hallway. “We were just playing.”

  “Honey, you don’t have to explain… really.” Lynn took a deep breath to regain her composure. “I heard a scream and…..”

  Lacy sucked in a deep breath herself in attempt to steady her balance. All of a sudden, she felt weak and sick to her stomach.

  Lynn watched as her daughter’s face paled. “Come on.” Leading her daughter to the bathroom. They made it just in time for Lacy to relieve her empty stomach then drop to the edge of the bathtub. Her mother promptly wet a washcloth applying it to Lacy’s face. “You okay?”

  “Yes, I’m fine.” Fingering the gold necklace around her neck, Lacy closed her eyes taking several calming breaths. “Really. I got dizzy there for a moment.” Her mother’s arched eyebrow insisted on more information. “Guess I didn’t eat as much as I should have yesterday.”

  “Mmmmm hmmm.” Lynn was unconvinced.

  “You know, I don’t eat when I travel.” Lacy’s vain endeavor didn’t persuade either one of them. “Mom, we need to talk.”

  ************************

  When Lacy returned to her room, Gage was helping Derek get dressed while Dani was ready to go. Crossing the room to her partner, the dark haired woman gave Gage a quick kiss then Lacy draped her arm across the other woman’s shoulder pulling her in for a hug. “Sweetheart, will you get the kids breakfast? I’d like to talk with my mom…. about us.”