Page 32 of Handsome
His mother's smile brightened, and she asked, “And Cyrus is treating you well?”
I nodded. I wished I’d been born into a family who checked on me and called and cared. Cyrus was lucky, and I said, “He’s a perfect gentleman.”
“Well, you can call me if he gets out of line.”
I laughed. The mother of trillionaires and married to a powerful man wasn’t exactly on my speed dial, but still I said, “You’re sweet.”
She and her husband glanced at each other and then she said, “And thank you for helping take care of our grandson. We’re buying him gifts.”
Joshua was luckier than I ever imagined. He’d belong in a family. I nodded and said, “I’m sure he’ll love whatever you choose for him.”
Cyrus waved and said, “'Night, Maman. 'Night Pedar.”
I glanced behind us and saw the sun was still up. I tilted my head and, as he logged off, said, “Evening is just beginning.”
He stood and beckoned for me to join him as he replied, “Habit. Are you ready to eat?”
We walked over to the crib, and I closed the blinds that instantly made his small side room completely dark, as I said, “He’s sleeping again.”
He turned on a night-light and whispered, “It will just be the two of us, then.”
My lips tingled for the taste of his. He brushed against my arm and then guided me to where we danced earlier.
Now there was a small table set up for two, and a view of the ocean all around us. All we had to do was step forward to leave the shade and be on the sundeck.
My heart pounded. Once again, he’d done something lovely for me. I avoided his gaze and asked, “We’re eating here? I’m not dressed properly.”
“You’re perfect as you are.”
I met his gaze and said, “Doubtful.”
Then I noticed a small digital frame in the corner of the room, tucked on a side table next to a chair that would be temptingly comfortable for reading while enjoying the sunshine without getting any direct sun exposure.
I went over and picked up the digital frame. Twelve men together. I showed it to him and asked, “Are these all your brothers?”
He glanced at it and seemed wistful, though maybe I read the gleam in his eyes all wrong when he said, “It was last summer in this photo, right before two of my brothers fell in love and now are soon to be married.”
Big events change families. But when I was here, with him, it was like I had a home—which was crazy. So I ignored the feeling and asked him, “Which ones?”
He pointed to a man in the middle. “This is Arman. He’s engaged to Maddie, a woman he’s been in love with since they were teenagers.”
And probably caused Maddie a lot of hand-wringing. Cyrus was handsome, and seemed so stable, I had to ask, “What took him so long?”
“She married another man.”
I internally cringed. I was wrong. Thankfully I hadn't said anything stupid or derogatory about his brother.
I cupped his face and said, “I can’t imagine any man replacing you, and you two look alike.”
He gazed at me so intensely, I swear he was about to kiss me. My skin buzzed from his nearness, but then he said, “And this is Joel. He married Kendal, who he met while visiting Tennessee.”
He pointed to the man in the middle right next to Arman. I then glanced at Cyrus near the back and noticed how he stood next to Warren. The family was clearly close. I asked, “How long did they date before the wedding?”
He winked and said, “Oh they eloped right away, though the family wedding is scheduled early this summer.”
I rocked on my feet and didn’t bother to pretend to look at the picture as I said, “You and Warren are standing next to each other.”
Servers put plates on the table.
