Page 121 of Fierce-Zander

“I can’t either,” Lori said. “I believe I might have bought one of those bottles for Scott’s birthday. But Dennis has a fondness for it now. It’s like nothing ever changed on my end for gifts.”

Lori hadn’t even said that as a joke, but rather a fact.

Just plain odd.

“Ice or straight up?” Dennis asked.

He looked at the bottle that was pulled out. “Straight up is good.”

Once their glasses were poured, they moved to the back of the house away from the formal sitting room that held the liquor cabinet.

“I’ll get our wine,” Lori said. “It’s a little early for me to have wine, but it’s nice to let loose some.”

It was three in the afternoon. He wasn’t sure why she thought that was early, but he didn’t say anything. He barely held hissnort in when Regan turned her head and crossed her eyes at him.

Once Regan had her wine in her hand, she took a healthy sip. “You said you were going away for the holidays. Any place warm or exciting?”

“I’ve got a business trip to go to in Wisconsin,” Dennis said. “Lori and I decided to extend the stay for a few more days.”

“My father loves cheese,” Regan said, turning to look at him.

Might explain why someone would want to stay in Wisconsin in the winter without knowing anyone.

“I do love it,” Dennis said. “We’ve got a few tours lined up at plants to see how it’s made and aged.”

“You’ve always talked about that, Dad,” she said.

“That was my Christmas gift to your father,” Lori said. “Three tours for the three days we are there. Both of my girls are going to their in-laws for the holidays this year too so it was perfect.”

“Are you going to spend Christmas with your mother?” Dennis asked Regan. “Since you didn’t see her for Thanksgiving either?”

“She ended up going out of town for Thanksgiving,” she said. “And you know Mom is more about Christmas Eve. I’m sure I’ll hear from her soon.”

“I hope your brother will come to town to see us,” Dennis said.

“You just said you won’t be here,” she said.

“If he at least visits with your mother,” Lori said. “Then it’s almost the same thing. Dennis will feel better knowing that someone has seen him.”

“I talk to Kellen weekly. I told you he’s fine.”

Zander put his hand out on Regan’s shoulder. For someone who always remained in control, he could see she wanted to lose it when it came to her brother or even talking to her parents about her brother.

“We know,” Dennis said. “But it’s not the same thing. Maybe someday if you have children you’ll understand.”

“Do you want to have children?” Lori asked Zander.

He’d had the glass of liquor to his lips and all but coughed when the question was asked of him.

Two months of dating seemed a little early to be asking a question that he and Regan hadn’t even discussed.

“That’s a premature conversation,” she said. “You know we haven’t dated long.”

“I know,” Lori said. “But it’s important to be on the same page with those things so that there are no letdowns.”

“Letdowns?” she asked. “Did you have that with Scott? And did you with Mom?”

Zander was surprised she put it out there like that to them.

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