Catch Me (The Winters Family Series: Book 1) (9 page)

Isabel let out a laugh, and pulled away slowly.  She then went up on her tip toes and kissed him lightly.  "Who me?" Smiling, "think about what you would want for dinner."  She touched his face, then smiled and headed out.

Drew stood in the doorway of Isabel's cottage as she headed out for work.  He bent his head and shook it slightly, silently laughing.  Isabel had turned his world upside down.  She completely came out of nowhere and now she was always on his mind.  He closed and locked her door, and walked over to his cottage.

He opened the door, stopped in the doorway and looked around.  Something was missing? Isabel, her presence, her laughter, her.  For so long Drew had tried to connect with someone. Instead, the women he usually met only cared about his looks, or that he was a firefighter.  To find someone who seemed to care about more than all that felt amazing.  He sat down on his recliner, leaned back, and just enjoyed the moment.

There was a muffled, off in the distant sound, and he startled awake.  He had fallen asleep, now his phone was ringing.  He looked at the caller ID and smiled.  "Hey, Beautiful!"

Isabel just sighed, then smiled, "You sound like I may have woke you up?"

"Just dozed off for a bit.  Is it dinner time yet?"

"No, no, not yet.  How about seven at The Clambake?"

"Sounds perfect!  I will see you soon."

He was standing at his kitchen counter moving a coffee mug back and forth in each hand.  He was thinking since he was meeting her parents this weekend,  the following weekend his family would be together.  Maybe Isabel would join him for the family dinner.

Once a month Drew's family made a point to all got together.  One brother lived in L.A, and only made it to the family dinners a few times a year.  The rest of his family, which included his two brothers and his mom and dad, were always there.

He sat down on a stool by the kitchen counter, and decided he should call his mom. His mom, Connie, was kind but a bit abrupt.  On the third ring his mom answered.

"Well it's about time you called your mom.  How is my boy?"

Drew just sighed, "Hi Mom, sorry, I have been a little busy.  How are you and Dad doing?"

"Too busy to call your Mom?"

Drew rolled his eyes, "Mom.  I am here now, okay?  I want to ask you something."

"I am sorry, I just miss hearing your voice.  Anything dear, what do you need?"

"Well, I have met someone, someone who I think you will really like, and I was hoping it would be okay to bring her to dinner next weekend?"

Connie let out a squeal of delight, "What? Who is this lucky lady?  Where did you meet her?  What is..."

"Mom, stop." Drew was laughing.  Then he began telling her all about Isabel.

Shawna had her arm looped with Isabel as they walked out of the station.  Drew was leaning against his Jeep looking all gorgeous and manly.

Shawna took in the sight of Drew and started fanning herself.  "Oh my goodness.  Seriously, this is your handsome man?  He is more like drop-dead gorgeous, honey."

Isabel just smiled, and in a dreamy voice, "yeah, he is, isn't he?"

Shawna looked at her friend and giggled.  When they reached Drew, Shawna extended her hand for a greeting.  "Hi there, I'm Shawna.  It is nice to finally meet the guy that causes my Isabel to go speechless."  With her hand covering her mouth so that Isabel couldn't see, and in a loud whisper, "and honey, Isabel is NEVER... EVER... speechless."

Drew just laughed, straightened up and shook Shawna's hand.  He then leaned into Isabel and kissed her lightly on her mouth.  "Speechless, huh?  I would think that's not good for a reporter."

Isabel looked at Shawna, "Whatever!"  Then pointed at Drew, "and you be good!"

They all just laughed, and piled into Drew's jeep.

The Clambake was a little dive bar not far from the station.  It served amazing clam chowder, and the best steamed oysters on this side of the Mississippi.

Shawna was half looking at the menu, and half looking at Isabel and Drew.  She loved seeing her friend look so happy.  It had been a tough few months for Isabel, since moving away from her family.

Shawna looked up, then looked at Drew, "Okay, you both decide to go on a spur of the moment dinner date.  Do you care if Isabel wears sweats and a tee?  Or do you require her to look more casual, because you never know who you will run into?"

Drew smiled, "That's easy.  She could go wearing her pajamas for all I care.  I think she looks beautiful in just about anything.  I would be going to dinner to be with her.  Not everyone else."

Shawna just sighed, "Do they make clones of you?  Or wait, do you have any single brothers?"

Drew raised his eyebrows and one corner of his mouth smiled, "I have three single brothers."

Isabel looked excited, "Oh my gosh, can you imagine if you hit it off with one of his brothers!"

Shawna raised her hands and made a T for timeout.  "Let's meet first, then we will see from there.  Goodness, girl!"

Drew put his arm around Isabel and pulled her in, then looking at Isabel, "You can decide which brother next weekend.  My Mom would love for you to come to the monthly family dinner."

Isabel smiled, then looked down, "I hope they like me."

Drew brushed a strand of hair away from her eye, "They will. trust me!"

After dinner, Drew took Isabel and Shawna back to the station, went home and straightened up his cottage a bit.  When he was finished, he grabbed a beer and sat on the porch.

Isabel pulled up about 10:30.  She smiled when she saw Drew and quickly walked towards him.

Drew opened his arms, "Hi, Baby!"

Isabel sat on his lap and snuggled into him, "I could get used to this."

"Me too.  You hungry?  Want to throw on some sweats and go get dinner?"

Isabel nudged him with her elbow and laughed, "Are you mocking Shawna?"

"Not at all.  I thought that question was completely fair."

Isabel laughed, kissed Drew lightly, "I think we should eat here and maybe crash early, so we can get ready for my parents."

"Love it."  Drew wrapped his arms tightly around Isabel, then rose carrying her to her cottage.

Isabel was peppering him with light kisses.  Once they reached her cottage, he let her down.  She then fisted her hands in his shirt, pulled him towards her, and passionately kissed him.

Drew stumbled forward laughing just before Isabel took claim on his mouth.  "Or we could just wait on dinner for now."

There was a loud ringing sound and it wouldn't stop.  Isabel moaned, then woke with a start.  "Shit, shit, shit."  She stumbled from the bed as Drew tried to reach for her.  "My phone, silly."

Drew came awake suddenly, "What?  Oh crap, sorry."  Then laughing, "where is your phone?"

The ringing was muffled, but definitely coming from the bedroom.  When Isabel finally located it, it had started ringing again.  Stuffed between a pillow and Drew's jeans, Isabel reached for it just in time.  "Hi, Mom, sorry.  You and Dad okay?"

Camille let out a sigh, "I started to get worried, honey.  Why didn't you answer?"

"My phone got wedged between two pillows."

"Oh! Well, your dad and I are about 30 minutes away.  Would you like us to pick up some lunch for all of us?"

Isabel whirled around and slammed into a wall, which was actually Drew's rock hard chest.  "Ump."  Looking up, and almost laughing.  "Lunch?"

Drew mouthed silently, "sure."

"That would be great, Mom, we both eat just about anything."

At that declaration, Drew raised an eyebrow.  Isabel backpedaled, "well not anything, but we are not picky."

Camille had no idea why Isabel was stammering, "um, okay dear, we will grab something near your place.  See you soon, Izzy."

Isabel hung up and thunked the phone against her forehead.  Drew laughed, then moved in to give Isabel an encouraging hug.  "Eat anything, huh?"

"Not one word Mister Make-My-Legs-Quiver-and-Mess-With-My-Brain-All-Night-Long!"

Drew continued to laugh as he carefully pushed her towards the door to the bathroom.  "Let's shower, then pick up a little before they arrive."

About 45 minutes later they heard tires on gravel.  They looked at each other, smiled, and Isabel gave him a passionate kiss, then pulled away quickly.

Drew just looked at her, "tease."

Isabel let out a laugh and walked to her door.  Her parents were slowly getting out of their car.  Isabel felt a moment of nervousness, followed by excitement.  She missed her parents so much.  Camille always had a smile on her face.  She was just starting to look her age.  She had streaks of gray throughout her hair.  She was about the same height as Isabel, but tall and slender.  Isabel knew she didn't receive her mom's skinny gene, that was for sure.

Her dad, Jack, was always happy just like Camille, they were perfect for each other.  He was a few years older, and was all gray, and showing his age more and more.  They were exactly what Isabel wanted, a beautiful marriage filled with happiness, and to be not afraid to go after what they wanted in life.

Isabel and Drew were leaning against the railing of the porch.  Drew moved himself away from the railing and made his way down the steps.  When Camille started to walk up the steps, Drew put his arm out to help her up.

Camille just chuckled, "Sweetie, I may look old, but I promise I can handle steps- BUT since your offering, I won't say no."

When Camille was on the porch, Isabel threw herself into her mom's waiting arms.  "Oh, my baby, how we have missed you!"

Jack had reached the porch landing, "Missed her?  We feel lost without our girl around."  He then took Isabel into his warm embrace.

"Mom, Dad, I want you to met Drew.  He is a local firefighter here in Wilmington and lives next door in that cottage."

Jack looked sharply at Drew, "Next door?  Are you behaving yourself?"

Drew looked stunned, "um... y-yes, Sir."

Laughing, Isabel said, "Dad, stop. You're going to freak him out."  She then looked at Drew, "this is a ritual of my Dads', to torture all the men I date."

Jack just looked innocently at Isabel, "It worked, didn't it?  Who was that boy you went to prom with?  Or that numbskull who forgot the meaning of 'curfew?'"

Camille put an arm around her husband, softly laughing, "Curtis and Evan, and I have a feeling this man is nothing like them.  It is wonderful to finally meet you, Drew.  I have heard so much about you."

Drew had calmed a bit, and smiled, "it's nice to meet you as well, Mrs. Sloane."

"Oh please, dear, call me Camille."

"Yes.  Camille.  Did you have a safe trip?"

Camille looked at Isabel, then at Drew, and just smiled.  "We did have a nice trip.  We enjoyed a little sightseeing along the way." She reached up to Isabel's cheek, "why is your face all scratched?"

Jack grabbed Camille's hand, "Really, Camille?" As his eyes looked to her, then to Drew's face, and his five o'clock shadow.

"Ohhhhhh, well nevermind that."  Winking at Drew, she then turned to head down the steps. "Let's get lunch, I am starving."

Drew looked at Isabel, who looked just as stunned as he was.  "Wow, you weren't kidding about speaking before thinking." Laughing, he headed down the steps to help unload the car.  He had a feeling this weekend was going to be very interesting.

After Isabel's parents had settled into her cottage.  They all decided to go on a drive around the city.  Drew had pointed out different landmarks, and historical sites.  Since he was from the area, he also enjoyed sharing fun stories from his childhood.  They had a wonderful time, but Camille decided she was tired of being in a car.

When they arrived back at the cottages, Isabel headed to Drew's cottage.  She had packed an overnight bag the night before, and left it at Drew's place.  She was standing in his bathroom naked of course, freshening up.  Drew walked in and just about tripped over his own feet. Isabel let out a full belly laugh, "Walk much?"

Leaning his body up against the door frame.  Stifling a laugh, "What are you doing?  Your mom could walk right in."

"Um, Baby, she has seen me naked before."

"So she knows about your problem?"

Turning to face him, "What problem?"

He straightened, then walked to her, standing just an inch from her, their bodies just barely touching, "Your extreme dislike of clothes."

"I don't dislike clothes.  I just find this more comfortable, is all."  Her body was heating up at the direct contact.  She wrapped her arms around the back of his neck.  Then she leaned in and kissed him.  "Besides, you seem to like my problem." Then she fisted her hands in his hair and brought his mouth to hers.  Breaking from the kiss, "Or would you rather I wear my sushi pajamas?"