A Matter of Honesty (10 page)

mode.

“How good a friend is she?”

Steve closed his eyes. “Well, that remains to be seen, but let‘s just say good

enough that I want you guys to meet her.”

“What‘s her name?”

Steve hesitated, wondering what his mother‘s reaction was going to be to the

information he was about to reveal. “It‘s Lauryn, Mom.”

He sat still, waiting patiently for his mother‘s outburst, but it didn‘t come. This

wasn‘t the response he‘d expected in the least. “Did you hear me, Mom?”

“Yes I did, son. Now, you know I don‘t like to jump to conclusions but I have to

assume you mean your new housekeeper and Hannah‘s sitter?”

“Yes, Mom, your assumption would be correct.”

“And how long has this been going on?”

Steve exhaled slowly. “It‘s very recent. And before you ask, I didn‘t plan on this

happening.”

Kathleen laughed. “I‘m sure you didn‘t, but if you‘re okay with it, so am I.

Believe me when I say I‘m happy for you. I haven‘t seen you show any interest in a

woman for years. Tina really did a number on you.”

“Yeah, Mom, I know, but she‘s out of the picture now. I‘m ready to move on.

However, I warn you, Lauryn is very shy.”

“Well, if she‘s around us long enough that will change.”

Steve laughed. “Don‘t plan the wedding just yet, Mother.”

Kathleen made a sound of protest. “I won‘t. I‘m just happy you‘re dating again.”

“Yes, well, we‘re both new to this, so make sure you tell the gang to be on their

best behavior, although I‘m not sure that‘s worth much.”

“I promise you I will make sure everyone is on their best behavior. But just

promise you‘ll be careful on your way down here. No tornados have touched down in

Stillwater but there are still plenty in the area. Make sure you listen to the weather

updates the entire trip.”

Steve smiled. No matter how grown he was, his mother would still worry about

him in a way only a mother could. “I promise to check the weather before we leave

and check it periodically on the way. I need to get going now, but I love you and I‘ll

talk to you later.”

“Love you too, Steve. Give Hannah a kiss for me.”

“I will, Mom. Tell Dad I said hello.”

“Will do.”

Steve chuckled. His family was something else. Strange in many ways, but he

loved them dearly and he knew life would be dull—boring—without them. He looked

up as he heard Hannah laugh. She had been doing a lot more of it since Lauryn had

come to live with them. He was glad because he loved nothing more than having his

little girl happy.

Lauryn also seemed to be happier as well. Even if nothing happened between

the two of them he wanted to make sure she stayed that way as well. Hopefully, she

would get a kick out of his family, maybe adopt them as hers. Reaching the doorway

of the playroom, he saw Lauryn and Hannah rolling on the floor together wrestling

playfully. They both looked up in surprise when he spoke.

“Is there room for one more?”

Hannah giggled and nodded. “Yes, Daddy. Come and join us.”

Lauryn shook her head.

“Steve, no.”

Instead of heeding her warning he walked slowly toward them. Lauryn shook

her head again and his smile broadened. When he reached them Lauryn began to

scoot back, but he reached out and grabbed her ankle as he lowered himself to the

floor. A loud shriek escaped her as Steve flattened himself out over her and began an

assault on her ribs. She began to laugh uncontrollably while trying to push him off

and Hannah joined in. Lauryn was strong, but not strong enough, so he won the

battle. The last thought that went through his mind before she fell into another fit of

laughter was he could definitely get used to coming home to this.

Lauryn knelt down and picked Hannah up, loving the feel of her small arms

going around her neck. She turned as she heard Steve‘s footsteps on the stairs.

“Are you ready?”

Her breath caught in her throat. It didn‘t seem possible, but every time she saw

him he seemed to become more handsome, and so sexy. They had both taken extreme

care not to be alone with each other for too long. The explosive session they had

experienced the morning he came in and caught her cooling down after her workout

had been enough to let them know they had to be careful. She had even gone to the

extent of getting up a little earlier so she would be in the shower when he was

downstairs.

But it was going to be impossible to stay apart this weekend. She had a feeling

it was going to be a very eventful family reunion. She blinked as he called her name

again, blushing when she realized she had gone off on a tangent in her mind.

“Where are your bags?”

“By the couch.”

Steve picked them up. When he turned around he stopped dead in his tracks.

She looked down at herself then back at him.

“Is something wrong?”

He studied her for a few more moments then shook his head. “Nothing at all.”

Lauryn looked down at her outfit again, trying to figure out what it was. She

couldn‘t find anything off with the powder pink T-shirt and khaki shorts she wore.

She took Hannah outside to the SUV and buckled her into the child seat. Hannah was

completely secure when Steve joined them. A short time later they were on the road.

It hardly seemed like any time had passed before Steve pulled up to his family‘s

land. It was a rustic rock ranch home. It was so stunning on the outside she couldn‘t

wait to see the inside.

Then again, when she spotted all the other cars parked in the yard, she wasn‘t

so sure. Lauryn looked over at Steve. “This house is beautiful.”

“Wait until you see the inside. It looks like my cousins and sister are already

here.”

An older couple stepped out onto the porch. As soon as Hannah‘s feet hit the

ground she took off running to greet them. Lauryn was able to gather they were

Steve‘s parents by Hannah‘s excited shouts. Steve took Lauryn‘s hand in his and led

her up to the house. She tried not to let it show how much his touch affected her.

When they reached the porch, Hannah was in her grandmother‘s arms. Lauryn

did her best to fight back her nerves. This was the first time she had ever met a man‘s

parents, yet their warm expressions reassured her.

“Mom, Dad, this is Lauryn. Lauryn, this is my mom and dad.”

Lauryn held out her hand to Steve‘s mom. “It‘s nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs.

Mitchell.”

Kathleen shifted Hannah on her hip, ignored Lauryn‘s hand and pulled her into

a tight embrace instead. “We don‘t shake hands out this way dear. And call me

Kathleen. It‘s nice to meet you.”

Lauryn turned to look at Steve‘s father. “A pleasure to meet you as well, Mr.

Mitchell.”

She received another warm embrace. “A pleasure to meet you, too, Lauryn. Call

me Alan.”

Lauryn nodded. She could already tell where Steve got his easygoing

personality and his looks. He was a carbon copy of his father. They were the same

height. Alan‘s eyes were a darker shade of green than Steve‘s and his once-brown hair

was mostly gray.

She smiled at his parents. “Steve has told me a lot about all of you.”

Alan chuckled. “I hope it was all good.”

“Don‘t go fishing for compliments, Dad. You won‘t find any.” He looked at

Lauryn. “I‘m going to get our bags and take them upstairs.”

Kathleen led her into the house. “Come on in. Let me show you around and

introduce you to everyone.”

The four men spread out between the couch, sofa and recliners looked up as the

two women walked in. But Lauryn was busy looking around, not really noticing the

men, until her attention was pulled from her inquisitiveness to a brown haired man

who let out a wolf whistle as he stood up. “Well, who‘s this pretty lady?”

Her skin heated as she held out her hand. “I‘m Lauryn, and you are?”

He grasped her hand in his. “I‘m Dean.”

He pointed at the three other guys as he introduced them. “Nathan, Daniel, and

Will.”

Lauryn smiled at the mention of Will‘s name. This was the man Steve‘s sister

was dating. Sabrina seemed not only to have excellent decorating taste but good taste

when it came to men as well.

Steve came in. When he saw the guys, he put the bags down and engulfed them

one by one in a bear hug. The men were close, it was obvious. Kathleen appeared by

her side with a smile, distracting Lauryn from Steve. “Why don‘t I show you to your

room while Steve and the guys catch up?”

They headed up the stairs. “I didn‘t know if you wanted to share a room with

Steve or not, so I gave you your own, but the rooms are connected by the bathroom.”

Lauryn couldn‘t hide her surprise at the statement. Her cheeks flushed and the

nervousness that had begun to dissipate roared to life again. “We don‘t stay in the

same room at home,” she replied, hating the shakiness in her voice.

Kathleen gave her an amused grin. “Technically, you won‘t be sharing a room

here either. So don‘t worry.”

Kathleen set Steve‘s suitcase inside his room before moving on to show her to

her room. Lauryn gasped when Kathleen opened the door. “This is a lovely room.”

Kathleen smiled. “Thank you. My husband and I had this house built from the

ground up. I like the rustic style. It‘s what we went for.”

“Well, it‘s very charming. Your entire home is.”

“I‘m glad you like it, dear. I‘ll leave you to unpack. When you‘re done come join

us downstairs. We‘ll go horseback riding, then have lunch.”

Kathleen left the room and Lauryn began to unpack. She had packed for every

possible occasion to be prepared for whatever could happen. After the unpredictable

life she had had, she did her best to control the things she could. A knock sounded on

the door.

“Come in.”

Hannah came bouncing through the door. “Lauryn, Lauryn, you have to hurry

up and come downstairs. Everyone is here and they are dying to meet you.” Hannah

danced from one foot to the other. A look of consternation appeared on her face.

“They say you‘re the first woman Daddy has brought here in a while.”

Panic flared through her at Hannah‘s innocent babbling. If one thing made her

feel flustered, it was being the center of attention. Being secluded as she had while

growing up she was more comfortable in one-on-one situations. As an afterthought

Hannah padded: “What does that mean?”

Lauryn smiled at Hannah‘s innocence. She loved the precious little girl. But she

was still distraught at the thought of being under the scrutiny of Steve‘s family.

She leaned down to scoop Hannah up. “I‘m not sure what it means, but I bet

we‘ll find out shortly.”

Lauryn paused to check her reflection. The outfit looked good on her and even

though it was casual it would still make a good first impression, although she could

make a wardrobe change if it would make her appear more sophisticated. But a few of

his family members downstairs had already seen her. She didn‘t know what they

would think of her if she came downstairs in a new outfit. The last thing she wanted

to do was come across as strange.

She carried Hannah downstairs. The conversation dwindled as every eye in the

room turned to look at her. Steve got up and walked over to her, pulling her forward,

closer to the eyes that seemed to examine with the intensity of a well-trained

physician. Lauryn blushed at their direct stares and scrutiny.

“Everyone, this is Lauryn.”

There was a chorus of hellos. He then went down the line introducing her to

his family members. “It‘s nice to meet all of you.”

Steve must have heard the nervousness in her voice: he placed both his hands

on her shoulder and pulled her close to him. Her back met his hard front, distracting

her. He took it a step further, placing a kiss on the ticklish part of her neck, causing

her to shiver and pull away. His touch served as the distraction she needed.

“I‘ve made my family promise to be on their best behavior. I informed them

you‘ll let me know if they aren‘t.”

Her eyes widened at his words but he forged along as though he hadn‘t said

anything out of the ordinary.

“We were just planning a horseback riding trip before lunch. Are you

interested in going?”

“Sure, but I‘ve never been horseback riding before.”

Gail let out an exclamation of joy. “Yes! Now I‘m not the only greenhorn around

here anymore.”

Her husband, Steve‘s cousin Dean, leaned over and gave her a reassuring kiss on

her forehead. “You do fine, sweetheart, once you get on the horse.”

There were a few snickers as everyone filed out of the house. Steve scooped up

Hannah and reached for Lauryn‘s hand as they walked over to where the horses were

waiting. He led her over to a brown mare. “This is Princess. She‘s going to be your

horse for today. She‘s gentle and familiar with the terrain.” Steve rubbed the horse‘s

neck. “Even if you get lost, she won‘t. She won‘t stray off the path, even if you give the

wrong command. Now come around to this side.”

He put Hannah down and showed Lauryn how to mount the house. Lauryn

surprised herself when she did it on the first attempt. It brought a sound of protest