Teasing Trent (The Alexanders) (16 page)

“You’re right. I’ve always been the one who took care of her and now it’s like…” Matt crossed his arms and glared at the floor.

“Like someone’s taking your place?” she suggested gently.

“I’m being an ass.”

“You’re being human. You’re only an ass if you don’t go apologize so that your sister can stop worrying about you.”

“You’re right.” He looked at Jackson. “I meant what I said about your wall. I’ll fix it tomorrow.” He punched him in the arm and then walked out.

Jackson watched him go and then turned back to her. He stared for so long that Ridley squirmed under his scrutiny. Was he annoyed that she’d butted into his conversation?
 

“I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“You didn’t. I’m just amazed. It’s not easy to convince Matt to see reason. I feel like I’m watching one of those nature shows when the guy talks to the angry crocodile and manages to tame it. How did you know what to say to him?”

“I’m no crocodile whisperer. Like I said, I get it. I love my sister but we’re very different and I know what it’s like to be the one who’s left behind.”

Jackson went still, a dark look passing over his features.
 

“I understand loss, too. Believe me,” he whispered.
 

When he looked up at her, Ridley swallowed. Hard. There was something in his eyes that reflected what she saw in the mirror every day. Sadness. Loneliness.
 

Longing.
 

It was almost too intense to witness so she looked away, breaking the spell.
 

“Still, I apologize. I should have just walked out when I realized you guys were having a private conversation. I’ve been told I’m too nosy.”

A tendril of warmth curled through her as their eyes met.
 

“I’m glad you didn’t. You managed to get him to admit something that I’ve been trying to force out of him since college. I owe you one.”

“I think saving me from death by grass stain more than makes up for it.”
 

They laughed together, the earlier tension in the room dissipating. Jackson was quiet for a moment, then clapped his hands together.
 

“I was actually on my way upstairs to get you. Come join the party. I want you to meet the rest of the gang.”

He led her from the family room, through the kitchen and out the glass doors to the patio. Ridley stopped short when she saw all of the people milling around the backyard.
 

“Whoa! This is a lot of people. I thought you were just having a family barbecue?”

“My family does this every year and I swear every year my family gets bigger and bigger. You invite a few people who invite a few people. You know how it is.”

“Not really.” Ridley stepped out onto the patio behind him and they were immediately surrounded.
 

She hung back, in awe of his easy confidence, as he hugged a few people and slapped a couple of the guys on the back. He seemed oblivious to the way the women looked at him, with hungry stares and flirtatious smiles. Jackson reached back and grabbed her hand, pulling her to his side. Her heart sped up.
 

It doesn’t mean anything, he’s just being nice so you don’t get lost in the crowd,
she thought.
Still, she couldn’t deny the feel of his large hand around hers was a thrill.
 

Several of the girls looked at Ridley critically before dismissing her and turning back to Jackson. Apparently they didn’t find her to be a threat.

It took all her willpower not to throw her arms around him and say, “He’s mine, back off biyatches!” just to see the looks on their faces. She doubted Jackson would share the humor though, so she refrained.

Jackson pulled her closer until she stood right under his arm. “Ridley, I want to introduce my oldest brother, Bennett.”
 

A ruggedly handsome man with light brown skin shook her hand vigorously. “Nice to meet you, Ridley. I hope you’re feeling better.”

She blushed furiously as everyone looked at her speculatively. “I am, much better.” She glanced up at Jackson. He seemed to understand her discomfort because he quickly turned to someone else.

“And these are the other members of our usual group, Trent Townsend and Mara Simmons. Mara is Matt’s twin sister.”
 

He addressed Mara directly. “You should have seen her talking to Matt earlier. He actually listened to her. It was amazing.”

Embarrassed at the praise, Ridley shook hands with them both, surprised when Mara pulled her into a quick hug.
 

“Thanks for talking Matt down. He just came back from overseas and he hasn’t been himself lately. I don’t think he’s adjusting to civilian life so well.”
 

Mara looked over at Trent who hugged her close to his side and kissed the tip of her nose.

Ridley swallowed back a sudden stab of envy. With just one look, she could sense the bond between them. She’d always wondered what it would be like to have that kind of connection with someone.

“Well, let’s get something to eat. I went a little overboard on the grill.” Jackson tugged her toward the long picnic tables set up in the middle of the lawn.
 

The two boys she remembered from earlier that morning ran up. The smallest one didn’t wait to be picked up, just latched on to Jackson’s pant leg and started climbing like he was scaling a wall. “Daddy, we want ice cream!”

Jackson scooped him up and held him cuddled in the crook of his arm. “Not yet, little man. Let’s get some food first.”

Ridley’s heart slammed against her chest. It shouldn’t be so hot that he was such a devoted father. She busied herself by picking up a paper plate and filling it with potato chips. He’d kissed her last night, but that didn’t mean he was single. For all she knew his ex-wife or girlfriend could be at the party, too. Jackson wasn’t the kind of man any sane woman would let get away, especially if they had a family.
 

She pushed down a pang of regret and focused on the food. The last time she’d liked a guy he’d ended up dead, so it was probably better if she kept her thoughts off romance. Her time was going to be occupied, in near future, just trying to stay out of harm’s way.
 

She put a hot dog on a bun and bit into it angrily.
 

“So, your real name is actually Ridley?” Matt appeared on her left and she jumped.

“Oh, hi. Yeah, I changed it years ago.”
 

“I’m surprised you didn’t just use your real name. It’s so distinctive. Although I can understand not liking it. The only people who call me Matthew are my mother and people who want to get punched in the face. And don’t even get Mara started on her name.”

“What? Mara is perfect. Short, feminine and easy to pronounce.”
 

“It’s actually
Marina
. My parents love to sail.” Matt rolled his eyes. “So, why do you look like
you
want to punch a wall now?” Matt grabbed a paper plate. “Or like you want to punch Jackson. What did he do?”

She choked down the last piece of her food. “Nothing. So, how old are Jackson’s kids?” She didn’t look at him as she asked, just put another hot dog on her plate and picked up the ketchup bottle.

Matt raised an eyebrow when she squeezed too hard and ketchup squirted all over the table. “What’s up with all this love in the air? I need to watch my back before I get hit with an arrow.”

“What? I didn’t say… I was just wondering.”

Matt looked at her from the corner of his eye. “You were just wondering where their mother is? Normally I’d make you work for it, but I like you. So, I’ll just tell you straight out that you might not want to go there. Jackson is a great guy but ever since his wife died, he hasn’t been the same.”

Ridley looked back at Jackson and the two kids clinging to him. “Oh, no. I had no idea. When they said they didn’t have a mom, I assumed it was due to divorce or something. Was it recent?”

“It was about three years ago. Jase had just been born. I don’t even think the boys remember her. Jackson doesn’t like talking about it, so he usually lets people assume he’s divorced. I’m only telling you this so you’ll understand why I’m warning you. You seem like a nice girl and I’d hate to see you get your heart broken.”

Jackson looked up then and their eyes met.

I understand loss, too. Believe me.

“Don’t worry about me. Jackson is just being nice since we’re neighbors. My heart is in no danger.”
 

But even as she said it she knew it was a lie.
 

Chapter Eight

JACKSON BOBBED HIS head to the beat of the music, pretending that he was having a good time. His other brother, Elliott, had finally shown up and taken over his usual party position as makeshift DJ. He’d hooked his laptop computer up to a pair of monster-size speakers and put on a huge pair of earphones. Anti-social as a rule, he preferred presiding over the music so he didn’t have to dance or talk to anyone. Or rather, deal with people who walked up and tried to talk to him.
 

Luckily Jackson had been able to grab him before he’d gotten busy to ask him to find out a little more about Ridley’s friend, David. If anyone could get to the bottom of a mystery, it was Elliott.
 

Bennett was on the other side of the yard keeping an eye on the boys while they played. Nicholas was near them flirting with a pretty blonde in a miniskirt. The girls were dancing, the guys were watching and there was plenty of food. On all accounts, it was a successful party.

Other than the fact that he couldn’t keep his eyes off his temporary houseguest.

“As the host of this party you should probably smile every once in a while. Act like you’re having fun.” Mara appeared at his left elbow, looking like a Sofia Vergara clone in her crisp, white shorts and tank top.
 

“I am having fun. Especially now that you’re here.” He winked at her. Flirting with Mara was a time-honored tradition in their group, partially because she was naturally playful, and partially because it pissed off Matt so much. He frowned as he thought of the fist-sized hole in his living room wall.
 

As if she sensed the direction of his thoughts, Mara frowned, too. “I’m worried about Matt. Will you talk to him?”

“Of course. Ridley was able to calm him earlier, so I think he’s okay now. But hopefully I can get him to talk to me before he puts his fist through anything else.”
 

She nodded quickly and then surprised him by throwing her arms around his neck. He had to switch his beer to his left hand to keep from dropping it. When she pulled back, her eyes were slightly shiny.

Please god, don’t start crying.
 

“Sorry. I’m fine. Don’t get that panicked look.” She swiped under her eyes. “It’s just been a hard transition with him coming back from Iraq. Then there’s the thing with Trent.” She flushed slightly and averted her eyes.

All joking aside, he’d never taken flirting with Mara seriously, so he couldn’t deny that the idea of her and Trent as a couple was just…
weird
. As beautiful as she was, it would feel too much like hitting on his own sister, if he’d had one. Plus, if he was honest, she really wasn’t his type. Cynthia had been quiet, more into playing the piano and singing to the boys than socializing. As wild and outgoing as he appeared to his friends, he connected better with quiet, introverted women.
 

Women like Ridley.

“Jackson, there you are,” a voice called out.
 

He turned and then groaned.
 

What the hell is she doing here?

Alana, inappropriately dressed as usual, in some sort of clingy, white silk dress, picked her way across the lawn on her needle-thin heels.
 

Mara turned as well and then glared at him. “Please tell me you’re not still seeing her?”

Alana reached them before he could answer. Her gaze settled on Mara. “Oh hello, Mona. It’s been ages.”
 

Mara didn’t even bother responding, just turned and walked off.
 

“What are you doing here, Alana?”
 

He didn’t bother with pleasantries. If her past behavior was anything to go on, she only showed up when she wanted something. It was just a matter of getting her to admit what it was.

“I remembered you used to have your little party every year for Memorial Day. I just took a chance and decided to swing by.” She glanced around, a look of disgust passing over her face when she took in the tables lined with picnic food. “I don’t know
why
you don’t get this catered.”

“You remembering the date doesn't explain why you're here. We broke up a year ago.”
 

“We broke up ten months ago. I think we were a little rash,” Alana huffed. She smoothed a non-existent wrinkle out of her dress. It wasn’t like her to be fidgety or self-conscious, so the movement was telling.

“You slept with my assistant.” It was strange how saying it out loud wasn’t as difficult as it had been just a few months ago. She seemed alarmed at his blunt statement but covered it quickly with a cajoling expression.

“I did not sleep with him. That was a misunderstanding.” She tried to reach for his arm but he stepped back.
 

“I don’t think I misunderstood you bent over his desk. Not that it matters because I’m seeing someone else now.” The lie jumped, unbidden, from his mouth.
 

Shit.
 

“You are? Who? It’s that Mona girl, isn’t it? She always had a thing for you.” Alana crossed her arms.

“It’s not Mara. It’s no one you know.” He really wasn’t trying to hurt her feelings but maybe thinking he had a girlfriend would finally convince her that it was over between them. Nothing else he’d tried had gotten the point across.
 

“Look, I’m sorry for the way things ended between us but I’ve moved on and I suggest you do the same.” Happy that for once he had the last word, he turned to walk away and then stopped dead in his tracks.