Page 94 of Calamity Rayne Knocked Up

“Or crowded.”

Tyler couldn’t believe how many people were here when I explained our strangeThanksgiving with him. It felt more like a business retreat than a family holiday at times.

Hale’s laughter carried up the steps with the sound of his footfalls and I frowned, because it didn’t sound like he was alone.

“Incoming,” I warned just as the front door opened.

Hale entered with Xander and Barrett on his tail. I adjusted my blanket for privacy. Not that I cared how Barrett saw me, but Xander was an outsider.

“Hey, Tyler!” Barrett greeted, crossing the room to shake Ty’s hand. “Good to see you.”

“You too.” Tyler looked up at Xander and cleared his throat. “Hi. I’m Tyler, Rayne’s friend.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Xander, Rayne’s current chosen adversary.”

Tyler laughed in a strangely enchanted way. “I haven’t heard Rayne mention you before.”

I waved away his words. “He’s new and unimportant.”

“Ouch.” Xander placed a hand on his chest and feigned pain. “And here I thought we were making progress.”

I popped a fry in my mouth. “What wouldgive you that idea?”

He shrugged and rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “After the game today, I was walking back to the house, having a peaceful moment of reflection, and I said,God, does she hate me?Then I heard the faintest echo of a woman—and, you know, she even sounded like you.”

My mouth snapped shut. What was he getting at? My gaze drifted to Hale and back to Xander. “You’re lying.”

He held up his hand like a Boy Scout. “God’s honest truth. I said,God, give me a sign. Does Rayne hate me?Then I heard the echoing reply cryoutyes, yes, yes.So I asked,God, will she ever grow to like me?And I heard the same reply,yes, yes, yes.”

My eyes widened. That was the last time I did it with Hale outdoors. “I hate you.”

“See, I know that. But I’ve seen signs from above that it won’t always be that way between us…Rayne.”

Barrett cleared his throat, and Tyler gaped at me. “Ray, did you and Hale get busy in the woods?”

“No,” I lied. “Not according to Clinton’s definition.” I scowled at Xander.

“Come on, Barrett, I’ll get you that suit jacket,” Hale said, leaving us there with intrusiveXander. I had never met a man with worse timing.

“So, where are you from, Xander?”

“Brookline, Massachusetts.”

Tyler raised a brow. “Where the Kennedys are from?”

Xander grinned, impressed by Ty’s trivial recall. “Correct. Not a lot of people know that.”

“I went through a minor obsession with the Kennedys.”

He laughed. “Then you’ll get a kick out of this. My great grandparents came from Wexford.”

“No way!” When I looked at Tyler confused, he explained, “JFK’s paternal lineage comes from Wexford, Ireland.”

This was why I had a hard time imagining him dating a woman. What straight man knew stuff like that?

“As a matter of fact,” Xander continued, “my mom’s parents and the eldest Kennedys used to play bridge together.”

I frowned. “I thought you didn’t have family.”

---