Page 41 of Beat of Love
Turn around. Leave.
It opened seconds later to reveal Preston. He had met Brandy-Lyn’s son a couple of weeks ago when he’d found the teenager drooling over his new Ducati Multistrada.
The boy’s eyes widened in surprise. “Hey, Mr. Lawson.” He stood aside. “Come in.”
The small hallway opened into a spacious, double-volume room with an oversized navy U-shaped sectional facing a wide TV above the stone fireplace. To the left, a kitchen stretched along the wall, divided by a long cooking island. The air smelled of popcorn and butter.
Warm. Homey. Far too inviting.
“Hey, Mr. Lawson!”
Rafferty blinked at thegreenface peering over the sectional. “Olivia?”
The girl laughed and jumped to her knees. “It’s beauty night!” she yelled and draped her upper body over the back of the couch, her ponytail swishing from side to side.
Amelia, also sporting a green face and ponytail, moved out from behind the kitchen island, a bowl of popcorn in each hand. “Hi, Raff.”
“Mimi!” Olivia straightened and peered at her sister, the green mask crinkling over her forehead. “Why are you calling Mr. LawsonRaff?”
“Because he said I could.”
“Cool.” Olivia aimed a blinding smile at him. “CanIcall you Raff?”
“Sure.”
“Preston, too?”
“Welcome to my estrogen infused world,” Preston muttered.
Rafferty couldn’t help his spurt of laughter. “I hear you, bud.”
Amelia walked past him, the bottom of her loose cotton pants dragging on the floor. It reminded him of the reason he came here. “How’s your leg, Mimi?”
“Mom blistered Dad when she heard what happened,” Preston supplied.
Olivia scowled. “Heapologized, Preston.”
Preston snorted. “After he acted like a dick.”
“Cut it out,” Amelia snapped, shoving a bowl of popcorn at her sister before answering Rafferty. “My leg is okay. Mom used her magic horse liniment.” The smile she offered was weak. Rafferty figured her leg might be healing, but her battered soul would take some time.
Speaking of Brandy-Lyn … “Where’s your mom?”
“Soaking in the tub.”
His mind blanked.
A crystal-clear image of Brandy-Lyn lying in a bath formed. Russet hair tied up in a messy bun. Water lapping at her skin. Her naked lush body—
A bump on his arm jerked him from his fantasy. “Raff?”
He shook his head, the vision still teasing him. “Huh?”
Get back on track, Trick.
Brandy-Lyn’s unavailable. Verboten.
Always was. And always will be.
