Page 21 of Not Just a Trick Play

“Amelia’s into music,” Yvonne announces.

I bob my head in agreement. “I’m planning to check out some of the live performance venues. But I do have a few touristthings I’d like to see. The Imagine mosaic by John Lennon in Central Park is high on the list.”

“Ah, in Strawberry Fields.” Approval is evident in Jeanine’s tone.

“If you want to explore the park further, there’s Bethesda Fountain and Belvedere Castle, and the zoo, of course. Though I’m a little conflicted about all those confined creatures in captivity.” Yvonne frowns.

“I don’t think you need to go to the zoo for that,” I mutter under my breath. “You can find all sorts of things caged up in this city…”

Jake blithely says, “Some things are just meant to be free.”

A frazzled looking woman emerges from behind the swing door. “Mom, how many teaspoons of ground ginger in your lasagna sauce again?”

“Two.” Jeanine beckons her closer, “Carla, come meet Amelia.”

I’m introduced to another sister, her hair’s the same shade as the rest of them but cut in a slick bob. She’s in a short dress with an apron reading, “I’m not arguing, I’m just explaining why I’m right.”

“Amelia, any dietary restrictions?” Jeanine asks, as if my joining them for supper is a given.

“Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly stay,” I interject. “I already had something to eat earlier.” Except at the mention of food, I’m starving again, and my stomach chooses that moment to rumble, exposing me as a liar.

“Your sneaker’s in the wash,” Yvonne reminds me. Oh yes, and there’s that hostage situation.

As if that decides things, Jake gets to his feet. “I’ll set another place at the table.”

I could still Cinderella out of here… I sneak a look at him. Probably the right thing to do if I want to steer clear of PrinceCharming. My gaze flits to Yvonne. I don’t think my odd attraction to her brother would endear me to her. But…it would be rude to refuse.

“Actually, honey, would you mind grabbing the gray box from your room? It’s on top of the cabinet and I couldn’t reach it.”

“Sure,” Jake responds easily, exiting through another doorway, this one flanked by a battalion of bats.

Carla returns to the kitchen, presumably to handle the ginger issue.

With the wild-haired doll still in her hands, Jeanine stands and walks over to the mantle, nestling it between two silver-framed photos before stepping back to inspect her work. She motions me over. “Think it looks ready to capture the souls of unsuspecting visitors?”

I join her, peering at the arrangement. While I’m not an expert, I’d say it has promise.

Jake comes back with a box, his forearms bulging with the effort, and sets it down on the coffee table, then leans against the hearth as his mum dives into it, rummaging through a Pandora’s Box of ghouls and goblins.

I watch in morbid fascination as she extracts plastic pumpkins, a bucket of slime and a mobile made of Barbie heads with their hair shorn which she thrusts it in my direction. I gingerly take it, trying not to fixate on their painted, long-lashed judgment.

When a stuffed rat makes an appearance, Luna snatches it right out of her hands and dashes out, Yvonne hot on her heels. Jeanine keeps digging, unbothered, until she finds some black, gauzy fabric, holding it up with a triumphant “Ah-ha.”

She turns to Jake. “Honey, would you please drape this over the chandelier?”

He takes it from her outstretched fingers and surveys the light fixture. When he reaches up, the back of his sweater stretches, making the muscles along his spine ripple and bulge, and I follow them down to the sliver of tanned skin that peeks above the waistband of his dark jeans—and below it a rather scrumptious arse that’s just as enticing covered up. I swallow.

Maybe I’ve somehow imprinted on him because he’s the first man I’ve met in the city. Or only the second one I’ve ever seen naked. Or it could just be he is yummy. Objectively speaking, of course.

I tear my eyes off Jake’s bottom, but not before he turns and catches me looking. He grins knowingly. A dimple I’d not noticed previously flashes on his left cheek. Bubbles fizz through my bloodstream. Fine, so he’s not entirely troll-like. But that’s as much as I’m willing to admit.

CHAPTER TEN

JAKE

A crash erupts,and Mom lets out a sigh. “I better check on Carla.”

“Can I help?” Amelia asks.

---