Page 25 of Not Quite Perfect

Theo scowled as he vigorously shook the silver cocktail shaker near the side of his head while Alex moved to my side. While my mom and Richard were focused on each other, he leaned over and whispered in my ear, “He’s out back.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He rolled his eyes. “Sure, you don’t.”

“Would you two quit saying that?” I whisper-yelled in frustration.

He chuckled. Sometimes it was like we were teenagers all over again. I should have been annoyed, but because I loved my brother, instead of punching him in the arm like I wanted to, I forced out a smile.

As soon as I felt it morph from a fake one into a genuine one, Alex winked. “You know we love you.” And then he sauntered across the room to flick a sleeping Drew on the back of the head. “Get up lazy. Everyone’s here.”

Drew flinched and bolted upright, scrubbing his eyes with his fists. “I must have fallen asleep. Damn.” When he was fully awake, he looked my way. “Hey sis! Long time no see.” He pushed up off the couch and took a few steps when he halted mid-stride.

The hairs stood up on the back of my neck.

“Oh, hello Professor Carstairs. I didn’t see you come in.”

David.

“Hi Drew,” came a low, rumbly voice at my side.

A low, rumbly voice that did things to me. Wicked, completely inappropriate for family gathering things.

I swallowed down my lust and looked away, straight at Theo who was making kissy faces at me.

“Hello, Victoria.”

I turned to face David, and his eyes danced as he actively fought a burgeoning smile.

“Hey, David. How’ve you been?”

He brushed his palm over his mouth in an attempt to hide his widening grin. “Good. Yourself?”

“Oh! I’ve been great. Really good. Very busy, you know. Lots of crime to report on. Too many bad guys; not enough good guys.” I heard my voice rising with each subsequent sentence and the incoherent nonsense that was spilling from my lips, but I was powerless to stop it.

Alex eventually took pity on me. “They’ve gone into the kitchen. You can quit while you’re behind.”

I crossed one arm over my middle, resting my elbow in my upturned palm, and covered my mouth with my other hand. “I knew this wouldn’t work,” I muttered from behind my fingers.

David reached out and pushed a lock of my hair behind my ear, smiling down at me. “If it’s any consolation, they’re too caught up in each other to notice anything about us. We could have started kissing and I don’t think they would have noticed.”

“Please don’t,” Alex said from across the room. “That’s my baby sister, and her kissing some dude is not something I want to witness.”

“I’m hardly a baby.” And yet, my tone indicated otherwise. It seemed the two oldest Witherspoons could reduce me to a five-year-old with barely a crosseyed glance.

Alex strolled over to us and tweaked my nose. “Even when we’re in our eighties, you’re still going to be my baby sister.” He raised serious eyes to David. “Which is something you would do well to remember. I protect what’s mine.”

I let out an exasperated sigh. “Do you want to piss on my leg too for good measure? Mark your territory?”

“It’s okay,” David replied, setting his hands to my shoulders. “It’s good you have family looking out for you.”

“Speaking of looking out …” Drew interjected. “Mom’s coming this way.”

In a flash, David dropped his hands away.

“Ah, good. Drew’s awake. Come on you lot. It’s time for dinner.” She turned to make her way back to the kitchen, calling out, “I made your favorite: turkey tetrazzini.” She stepped over the threshold, the heavy wooden door swinging wildly behind her.

Theo groaned and Alex grimaced. “Someone needs to tell her.”

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