Lucky Break (11 page)

Even if she wasn't.

I just don't want them thinking we're seriously involved.
Her words sliced through him, but what had he expected? He'd known she wasn't interested in anything long-term or permanent. And if he was honest with himself, neither was he.

He just didn't like her dismissing their relationship as if it meant nothing.

“We're so glad you could make it,” Thomas said, interrupting his thoughts.

Jason held Lauren's chair as she settled into her seat before he sat down beside her.

“I appreciate the invitation,” Lauren said, her voice neutral.

Careful.

She obviously didn't trust the reason for this meal, but Jason wasn't worried. Inviting someone over then insulting them wasn't the Corwin way.

Which led to his own curiosity. “So to what do we owe the pleasure?” Jason asked.

Derek, seated next to Gabrielle, stretched his arm over the back of her chair. “Good question. I was wondering the same thing myself.”

“Thomas has an announcement.” Hank's eyes gleamed at the prospect of his brother's news.

“Uh-oh,” Gabrielle said, placing her napkin in her lap.

Though everyone already had food on their plates, no one was interested in their meal.

All eyes were on Thomas.

“I have a plan to get Clara and Edward together for good,” Jason's father said, explaining the reason for this gathering.

“They're already living in the same house,” Derek said. “I'm not sure we're ever going to see much more than that. I think we should be grateful Uncle Edward's made such big strides in such a short time and not mess with his head.”

Jason shot his cousin a grateful glance. “I agree.”

“Nonsense,” Hank said, running a hand through his wiry, unkempt hair. “Tell 'em your plan. I bet they'll change their minds.”

“I doubt it,” Jason muttered.

“Don't be such a naysayer, son. I'm going to remind my brother what it's like to feel jealous by showing an interest in Clara. He'll be so determined not to let me near his woman, he'll naturally step up and admit his feelings.” Thomas spoke with pride in his voice. “Clara will surely say she never had any interest in me and then I will gallantly step aside, leaving Edward and Clara to live happily ever after.”

“Assuming the curse doesn't bite 'em in the ass,” Hank said. “But you two seem to be doing all
right.” He gestured toward Derek and Gabrielle. “And Amber and Mike seem to be holding their own, so I think it's worth a shot for my brother, too.” He nodded, then picked up his knife and fork and dug into his food, as if the matter were settled.

Far from it, Jason thought, but before he could say so, he realized Lauren had stiffened at the mention of the curse.

Jason placed a reassuring hand on her thigh beneath the table. Stupid move, he realized, when her body heat shot directly into his palm and through him, settling like a heavy missile in his lap.

He ignored the physical reaction, concentrating instead on his father, uncle and their harebrained scheme. “Has it dawned on either of you that Edward may not be able to handle that kind of pushing?”

“I was going to call it meddling,” Derek muttered.

“Of course he can handle it, that's what his medication's for,” Hank said, waving his fork as he spoke.

Jason wasn't ready to touch his food. Not until they'd settled this discussion. “I take it no one's told either of you what happened at Lauren's house a few days ago?”

Thomas and Hank looked at each other, clearly confused.

Lauren glanced at her plate, steeling herself. She knew Jason's explanation would only lead to
another awkward discussion of the curse and she gripped her napkin in her lap, waiting for this conversation to end.

“Uncle Edward found out I was working for Lauren, fixing up the old Perkins mansion, and he flipped out.” As Jason spoke, he reached out once more. This time he grasped Lauren's hand, obviously realizing how uncomfortable she was.

She appreciated the gesture, but it didn't change the fact that she was an intruder here and this discussion only served to remind her of that fact.

“I'm not surprised your choice of jobs is a shock for him.” Thomas looked at Lauren. “My brother doesn't deal well with the curse,” he explained, suddenly focused on her.

Lauren raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Do you?” she asked Jason's father, curious as to how the rest of the family felt.

He straightened his tie. “I've accepted the curse and its repercussions. I don't let it rule my life, nor do I worry about it much.” He let his gaze slide from hers.

Liar, she thought, though she felt no anger at Jason's father. She'd always known about the wedge between the two families. As a teenager, she'd been content to push boundaries and disobey family rules and expectations. As an adult, she saw
clearly how other people could be affected by her actions. Corwins and Perkinses were not meant to be together. Another reason to keep her emotions in check with Jason this time around.

“My take is a little different,” Gabrielle chimed in. “I think anyone born in the twentieth century has to realize that free choice plays a role in everyone's lives.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she spoke. “There's no doubt this family's had its share of tragedy, but much of it can be traced to poor judgment and the expectation of problems.”

Hank let out a groan. “My daughter-in-law likes to think there's no such thing as a curse, just like your grandma used to think the town of Perkins could be ruled by it.” He pointed to Lauren with his fork, then continued to eat.

He seemed to be the only one with an appetite. At his words, Lauren lost hers completely.

“Uncle Hank!”

“Dad!”

Jason and Derek yelled at the older man at the same time.

“Relax!” Hank continued to wield his fork as a tool for discussion. “I just want to know what the young lady thinks, that's all.” Once again he ran a hand through his already messy hair.

“It's rude,” Jason said, his hand squeezing tighter around Lauren's.

Hank frowned. “She asked what we thought. I'm just returning the favor. And considering she's a Perkins, I think it's a legitimate question.” He eased back in his seat, annoyed at being reprimanded.

Lauren had rarely experienced family dinners as a child, so this entire situation seemed surreal. Adding the curse to the conversation merely increased her discomfort.

Her own family could define the word
dysfunction,
so she didn't want to judge the Corwins. But that didn't mean she needed to sit here and feel isolated and attacked.

She slowly placed her napkin on the table and looked at Hank Corwin head-on. “I'm not sure why I was included in this family gathering and I'm definitely not comfortable,” she said, opting for honesty. “But since you asked, I'll tell you what I think.”

Jason pushed his chair back and stood. “No you won't. This isn't an inquisition. You're a guest. We came to hear my father's so-called plan for his brother. We heard it. Now we can leave if this line of conversation is going to continue.” He glared at his uncle.

Lauren shook her head, tugging his hand, urging him to sit. “It's fine. I want to clear the air.”

If the Corwins couldn't accept her, so be it. It wasn't as though she was staying in this town for long anyway.

Gabrielle pushed her plate forward. “Jason's right. This is ridiculous. You were invited because you're a friend of Jason's and you're new in town. Derek and I thought we'd be welcoming you.
Not
interrogating you,” she said pointedly.

Gabrielle was genuine and warm and Lauren relaxed, realizing this generation of Corwins at least didn't hold a grudge. She couldn't say as much for the older one, and though she knew she shouldn't care, she did. Because one of the men still watching her uneasily was Jason's father.

Lauren met Gabrielle's warm gaze, finding it easier to focus on the welcoming members of this family. “I appreciate what you're trying to do. And I understand the curse is something that exists—in theory for some, in reality for others. But as for me, I don't believe in it.”

“Well, I suppose everyone's entitled to their opinion,” Hank muttered.

“That's very generous of you, Dad,” Derek said, scowling. “I'm also glad you're here, Lauren. And I wouldn't worry about Uncle Edward's reaction. If he has a setback, then he hasn't come as far as we'd hoped. But no one is to blame.”

“And no one's harebrained scheme is going to push him into Clara's open arms,” Jason said.

Thomas stared at his plate, then mumbled something Lauren couldn't hear.

“Excuse me?” Jason asked. Obviously he couldn't understand his father, either.

“I said I'll take Edward's reaction into consideration before I decide what to do.”

He'd probably said something more colorful than that, Lauren thought.

“Good. Now can we put these subjects to rest and enjoy our meal?” Jason asked.

“As long as you know I'm going to do everything I can do for my brother,” Thomas said, stubborn as ever.

“Does that include picking up the pieces for Clara after Edward retreats so far into himself no one can get him back?” Jason's voice was brittle and angry.

“Low blow, son. That's not at all what I had in mind. I'll do what I need to do.” With that pronouncement, Thomas picked up his knife and fork and dug into his food with gusto.

Hank joined him.

Lauren had a hunch neither she nor Jason, Derek or Gabrielle tasted their food. The prospect of how Thomas's actions would affect Edward lay on everyone's mind.

 

J
ASON WALKED
Lauren to her front door, frustrated and angry at his father and uncle. The evening hadn't gone well and Jason blamed himself. He'd thought that to keep Lauren comfortable, no one would broach the subject of the curse. He'd miscalculated and she'd paid the price.

He leaned his shoulder against the door and looked at her. “I'm sorry about tonight. If I'd known they couldn't behave, I never would have suggested we go there for dinner.”

Lauren's cheeks flushed pink. From the cold or embarrassment? She shrugged, her shoulders as stiff as they'd been for most of the meal.

“It's not your fault. I shouldn't have agreed to go. Your father and your uncle are too much a part of my grandmother's generation to accept me with open arms. I really like Derek and Gabrielle though.”

He relaxed a little, realizing she was more rational about things than he'd been. “I'm glad. Derek's been through a lot and even he believed in the stupid curse for a while, but he has Gabrielle to set him straight now. He's happy and I'm glad.”

She pulled the key from her jacket pocket.

Taking the hint, he stepped away from the door and she inserted the key in the lock. “Well, thank you for a nice evening,” she said, her voice neutral.

Her emotional walls were up.

He didn't blame her, but he wasn't about to allow her to keep those barriers high.

“Which part was nice exactly? The part where my uncle grilled you?” he asked, unable to control his sarcasm as he positioned himself in front of her, preventing her from pushing the door open and slipping inside. “Or was it the part when we made love earlier? Was that just
nice?”

He reached out and grabbed her forearm, intentionally baiting her, wanting to see some reaction beyond that cool facade she'd erected. She obviously intended to leave him at the front door, but he wasn't going without a fight.

From the moment he'd extended an invitation to his father's, she'd drawn a not-so-invisible line meant to remind him they weren't seriously involved.

“I don't know what you want to hear.”

He pulled her close and covered her lips with his, kissing her hard until her mouth softened and she willingly let him in. Winding her hands around his neck, she urged him close, telling him with her body everything she'd been unable or unwilling to admit. His pulse pounded and adrenaline surged through his veins, desire and the urge to conquer stronger than anything he'd experienced before, including the rush before or right after a race.

He wanted her to know they weren't through.
To remind her
she
didn't want them to be over just yet. Even if he did intend to respect her need for time alone.

Having made his point, he gently lowered her arms until she faced him, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps.

“Why did you stop?” There was a yearning in her eyes he found difficult to deny.

Reaching out, he traced his finger over her damp lips. “I'll see you in the morning,” he said gruffly, surprised he could formulate a coherent thought, given the way his body protested their separation.