Captured In Ink (Art of Love Series) (28 page)

“Ellen Cannon,” Ellen said, taking Reesa’s hand and acknowledging the confident handshake of a woman whose grip said she was not going to let much disrupt the peace in her own household.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Reesa asked. “I think I have some red wine.”

“I’d love some, but I can’t have it. I drove myself. Maybe a soft drink?” Ellen asked.

“Sure. Cola or non?” Reesa asked, heading to the cabinet for a glass, and then to the refrigerator for ice and soda.

“Cola’s fine,” Ellen said, looking around at the tidy, homey space.

“I guess Shane got lost on the way to the kitchen with us,” Reesa said dryly, looking in the doorway, but seeing no cowardly, blonde giants.

So, she thought, the big, hairy Viking throwback was afraid of his mommy. Wow. Just wow. What a weenie.
Ellen Cannon seemed pretty nice to her.

“Shane is delaying to give himself time to formulate his excuses. He damn well knows he’s in big trouble for leaving his father and Jessica to tell me about you and the children. I’m sure he’s hiding out in the living room building a psychological defense that the mother-phobic Dr. Freud would be proud of,” Ellen said bitterly, softening her statement by smiling when Reesa snorted and laughed. “Not that I’m going to buy that nonsense. I’d kill him, but I’ve invested too heavily in his education. After he gets his doctorate next week, I’ll reassess—unless you want to point out some value in keeping his cowardly ass alive.”

Reesa thought her respectful smile was going to crack her face.

“Well, let me think,” Reesa said as seriously as she could, making herself a soda and bringing both glasses to the table while she thought carefully about what to say. “So far I’ve discovered Shane is not very handy around the house when something breaks, but he
is
friends with a fairly good contractor.”

“Don’t be too hasty to put Joseph in the plus column,” Ellen said wisely, sipping her drink and watching the smiling woman over the rim. “Shane’s best friend comes with his own brand of trouble. He and Shane have been inseparable since middle school, and in trouble pretty much that same amount of time.”

That set Reesa to chuckling. Her impression of Joe had been pretty much on target then, she decided.

“Okay—Joe goes in the minus column. Let me think. Oh I know—Shane’s good at carrying heavy things. And I just found out recently that he gives a good foot massage. Puts me to sleep every time,” Reesa said, acting proud of herself for thinking of something positive she could say to Shane’s mother other than that the boy she had raised was the most mega talented, open minded man she’d ever let into her bed.

Ellen snorted at Reesa’s reply. “Hardly seems worth feeding him for those few things. Is that all?” she asked dryly, baiting the younger woman whom she could see was being careful with her.

She smiled as Reesa laughed again. Great sense of humor and quite pleasant, Ellen decided. And the woman was quite beautiful with those sharp, green eyes glowing like emeralds when she was thinking hard.

“No, that’s not all. You’re really going to make me spill my guts about him, aren’t you?” Reesa asked.

Ellen nodded and laughed back.

“Your son is definitely not a boy scout, but he’s patient with the kids, has a great sense of humor, and probably the most positive outlook on life of any male alive,” Reesa recited, “which is why I let him hang around even though he’s seven years younger than me. I’ve dated my fair share of men, and Shane’s probably the best one I’ve ever known.”

Ellen sighed, satisfied at last. “He gets that positive attitude from Will,” she explained gently, softened by Reesa’s declarations and the woman’s complete sincerity in offering the praise. “And honey, I’m a lot more than seven years older than my husband, so I will not be saying anything about my son dating a slightly older woman. The hypocrisy would be a family joke long after they buried me.”

“So what kind of concerns do you have about us dating?” Reesa asked directly, taking the opportunity to ask when it was offered, but still put her gaze on her hands as she waited for Ellen to answer. However brave and confrontational nature had made her, Reesa still wasn’t ready for open censure about Shane.

Hearing shuffling footsteps in the kitchen doorway, Reesa and Ellen both looked up to see a red-faced Shane standing there staring at them with an empty bowl clasped in a death grip.

“Movie intermission,” he said, brandishing the bowl. “We need more popcorn.”

“Come talk to your mother while I make some,” Reesa said sharply, rising and patting her chair, then pointed at him and it again when he didn’t move.

Sighing, Shane walked over and sat down facing his mother. Seeing no seething anger in her expression nor evidence of an impending crying jag, he risked looking at Reesa who was stretching to retrieve the popcorn from the second cabinet shelf. The sight of her body stretched and straining had him sighing with a longing to go stand behind her and help until she wanted a lot more than popcorn.

When Shane heard his mother laugh, his gaze swung guiltily back to her.

“So what have you got to say to me,
Shane Reginald Larson
,” Ellen demanded, leaving his full name hanging in the air. She didn’t have to ask how serious he was about Reesa Callahan. His feelings for the woman were on his face. Just like his father, her youngest son was an open book to anyone who knew how to read him.

“
Reginald?”
Reesa repeated, laughing loud enough to be heard even over the microwave running. “Reginald Larson
—
I’m definitely writing that one down for future reference.”

“Just so you know
Teresa Ann,
I really hate my middle name too,” Shane told Reesa.

“Too bad,” Reesa said, unsympathetic to his pleading gaze. She opted to let her sarcasm show how displeased she was with him for letting her face his mother alone. “How can you hate a name that suits you so well, Reggie?”

Shane turned back to his mother, frowning at Reesa’s teasing. “Mom, I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you I was seriously dating someone, and I’m sorry you had to find out from Dad. I meant to tell you about Reesa and the kids. I just haven’t slowed down and made time. I was trying to finish my latest novel and schedule the dissertation defense...”

Ellen held up a hand to stop the flow. “Too late for excuses boy,” she said sharply. “I will not be forgetting this anytime soon. You’re in big trouble, Shane.”

“
Shaney—you’re in trouble again
?” Sara demanded from the doorway.

Shane rolled his eyes and motioned to her to come over to him. Just what he needed, a third feisty female to fuss at him. “Come meet my mommy, Sara.”

“
Your mommy!
” Sara said surprised, coming over and leaning against Shane who put a reassuring arm around her. Then she looked up at Shane and frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me your mommy was coming to meet us? I didn’t get to put on my princess dress
.
”

Shane looked over at Reesa, who was keeping her back to him as she laughed and poured popcorn into the bowl. Obviously, Reesa wasn’t going to help him out—not that he blamed her. His mother had caught him off-guard tonight, as had pretty much everything he’d experienced since he’d spent that first night with Teresa Callahan.

“I’m sorry, Princess Sara. I forgot,” Shane said quietly, trying to sound sorry, which was damn hard when he was merely exasperated.

In his mind, forgetting to tell his mother about Reesa and the kids was not the crime of the century that all the females in this house were bent on making it out to be. Chelsea had detained him to put in her two cents for his mother’s surprise visit while Brian had snickered in the background.

Sara snuck a look at the pretty blonde woman who was smiling at her and Shaney. She had blue eyes and smelled really good.

“
I think you forgot something else
,” Sara whispered urgently, the thought coming to her so quickly and completely that it had to be true.

“Really. What else did I forget?” Shane asked, keeping his own voice to a whisper.

“Your mommy is the
queen
,” Sara whispered back.

Shane chuckled and wished he could have captured the look of utter delight on his mother’s face. Maybe he’d draw it for her later.

“I must be having another bad day, honey,” he said repentantly to Sara, fighting not to laugh hard when she reached up and patted his cheek with pity in her gaze.

Sara stepped away from him and curtsied, bowing her head as she dipped down. “Welcome to our house, Queen. . .Queen. . .
What’s her name, Shaney
?”

“Ellen,” Shane said quickly, not wanting to miss his cue again. “
Queen Ellen
.”

This could be good, Shane decided, sneaking another look at his mother’s face as she took in Sara’s curtsey. Sara was winning his mother with her blonde cuteness, just as he’d figured she would. Of course, it was hard not to be charmed by the sassy minx.

“
Welcome to our house,
Queen Melon
,” Sara said haughtily, her voice serious and respectful.

“
Ellen
,” Reesa and Shane corrected together.

Ellen’s gaze jerked up from Sara’s curtsey to bounce between Shane to Reesa as they stared at each other, both embarrassed as they shook their heads. Her son was truly in love, she thought, just like Will had said. The knowledge made her giddy with relief, and Ellen threw back her head to laugh genuinely, the music of it startling everyone and making all eyes seek contact with hers.

Ignoring their gazes, she quickly decided that it would not be very queen-like to laugh at Princess Sara frowning at the adults in the room, even when being a queen in this kingdom was going to suit her just fine. She smiled at the top of Sara’s head as she stood with fisted hands on her hips arguing with both Shane and Reesa over how to say Ellen’s name. It was an enjoyable show. Shane had caused her far more distress as a child than Michael ever had. Michael had been emotional, but Shane had been unpredictable—still was evidently. Maybe if things worked out for Shane dating the sharp-eyed Reesa Callahan, Ellen could finally retire the mother worry about her youngest son for good.

That very appealing thought had her rising from her chair. Ellen knelt in a regal sweeping courtesy, holding Sara’s gaze the whole time.

“
Thank you for allowing me to visit your kingdom, Princess Sara. Could I meet the rest your family, Your Highness?
”

“
Certainly, Queen Melon
,” Sara said just as regally, walking over and holding out her hand.

Ellen put her hand in Sara’s tiny one and lifted her gaze to Reesa, who nodded that it was okay. Ellen let Sara lead her to the living room, explaining about the kingdom as they walked.

Reesa grabbed up the replenished bowl of popcorn off the counter and walked to Shane, who was still sitting at the table, staring at the doorway. There was actually a visible sheen of sweat on his brow. Reesa laughed at him without mercy.

“Bring your mother’s drink when you come to the living room, you big coward. You owe Sara for the save she provided. Your ass was grass and your mother was going to mow the lawn. Now the movie is going to be downright boring compared to watching the
Shane Reginald Larson is in big trouble
reality show.”

Shane snatched the bowl from Reesa’s hands and slung it on the table, sending popcorn bouncing, but fortunately not flying out as she squealed about his attack. He pulled her into his lap and held her still while he kissed her thoroughly, kissed her as he had wanted to do for days and hadn’t been able to do.

By God, he’d
earned
kissing her tonight, Shane decided. His mother approved of her and the kids. That was the last hurdle as far as he was concerned. Nothing could stop him from marrying her now.

Reesa struggled in Shane’s lap, resisting even as her tongue danced along his invading one with so much relief and need that she didn’t know how she could walk around wanting and not having him kiss her like this when he was near.

The moment was saved from getting out of hand with Brian popping up in the doorway and rolling his eyes in mock disgust.

“Sheesh—fine. You two stay in here and make out while I take the popcorn to the living room. Just don’t be giving Aunt Teresa a hicky, Shane. You know
Queen Melon
will not be happy if you do that, dude. Of course, my silence
can
be bought for the right price,” Brian said, snatching the popcorn bowl from the table and cleverly staying out of Shane’s reach as he did. The man had a hard punch when provoked.

“Okay, that’s it. I’ve had enough of your snarky lip service, you little manipulator,” Shane declared, boosting Reesa off his lap and chasing after Brian, who ran away laughing, popcorn flying out into the floor all along his escape route.

Reesa picked up her drink and sipped to calm her system, which was still racing from Shane kissing her. It was kind of alarming to find she was practically vibrating from just a couple seconds of manhandling.