Gus’s shitty attitude was not something I had wanted to bother my uncle with. Thomas must have picked up on the fact that I did not appreciate the mention of our meeting. He changed topics and asked Viktor how he was feeling. Viktor put on the kind of false bravado he used around everyone, including me. He announced he was practically back to normal. I did not contradict him.
The flowers would wilt if left to sit on the table indefinitely so I filled a tall glass with water and relocated the bouquet. The balloon, still tied to the stems, bobbed over the yellow daisy heads.
“So how’s the training coming along?” Viktor asked. “Do you still need to put in all that time in physical therapy?”
“It is what it is,” Thomas said but something in his voice seemed to tighten and he flexed his hand. His right hand. The one I’d noticed the other day because it bore visible traces of scarring.
And then I remembered.
Viktor had told me a story some time back. I couldn’t remember when but it was sometime last year.
A promising young baseball player had been brutally attacked in his own home. The news had upset Viktor. The injuries were severe enough to cast doubt on the guy’s athletic future. His pitching hand had been crushed, his knee shattered. A shame, Viktor had told me as he frowned into his dinner. He was fond of the kid, had watched him train for years.
Viktor knew many of the young ball players who trained at Dream Fields and he was friendly with everyone so there had been no reason for me to connect the dots. I’d never spoken to anyone at Dream Fields other than Dalton Tremaine. And I had never asked any questions about the stricken player because there was little chance the name was one I’d be familiar with.
“Gracie.” Viktor was saying my name and I became aware that I was now standing in front of the coffee table and staring too hard at Thomas.
“I’m sorry,” I said and backed up a few feet.
Thomas watched me, his eyes drifting over my ‘I’m Nicer Than My Face Looks’ t-shirt. “For what?”
I ignored the question and asked one of my own. “Would you like a glass of water?”
He nodded. “Sure, that would be great.”
“Ice or no ice?”
“Ice. Please.”
There were no clean glasses. I’d forgotten to run the dishwasher last night. A plastic souvenir tumbler from the Renaissance Festival would have to do. Viktor loved the Renaissance Festival. He dressed up as a court jester and went every year.
Thomas accepted the cup with gratitude, as if I’d just labored over a six course meal. Whoever raised him had instilled a fine set of manners. I had a fleeting thought about what it would be like to get naked with him, if his politeness would remain intact.
“May I please stick my enormous throbbing cock inside of you now?”
This weird thought shouldn’t have gotten me all kinds of hot and bothered but it did. Now that I’d pictured him naked I had trouble keeping my face neutral. Hopefully Thomas did not read minds. I crossed my arms over my chest and perched on the arm of the sofa.
Thomas casually sipped his water and nodded in my direction. “Do you have plans tonight, Gracie?”
“She doesn’t,” Viktor answered before I could open my mouth.
He earned a glare for that. He smiled in return.
I cleared my throat. “Since I was the one who was asked, I’d like to answer.”
Thomas waited.
Seconds passed.
I could have invented plans, interesting plans, exotic plans. But I was curious about why he was asking so I opted for the truth.
“I was going to mop the floors and finish reading the latest book in my favorite vampire romance series.”
Thomas was interested. “My aunt writes those.”
“Your aunt writes what?”
“Vampire romance. And werewolf romance and, ah, I forget what else.” He shrugged. “She’s written a lot of books.”
“Really?” I couldn’t help but be impressed. I was a sucker for love stories about swoon worthy heroes who didn’t exist in reality. “Wait, did you say your last name is Gentry?”
It had to be a coincidence. There was no way he could possibly be connected to my favorite author. Although I knew she lived here in the valley...
“Yeah. My aunt’s name is Saylor Gentry. Have you read any of her books?”
I blushed. “All of them. I love her stories.”
He was delighted with this news. “Then that’s perfect. She’ll be there tonight. You can meet her.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was just getting to that.” He set the cup down on the table and stood. “I’m due to attend a family party in an hour and if your Uncle Viktor can spare you, I’d really like you to come with me.”
I did not know what I had expected him to say. But an invitation to meet his family was not one of the possibilities that crossed my mind.
“Why in the hell would you invite me?” I wasn’t trying to be obnoxious. I honestly wanted to know. I doubted Thomas was hard up for dating prospects. I also couldn’t quite believe that my bad attitude, sagging ponytail and frayed cutoffs were all that tempting.
Thomas took the question in stride with a shrug. “Because there will be way more food than anyone can eat and because Gentry family parties are always fun.” He grinned. “And because you already refused a lunch date so I thought I’d make a better offer.”
Viktor cut in. “You refused a lunch date? With Thomas?” He looked positively crestfallen. He couldn’t imagine why any girl in her right mind wouldn’t leap at the chance to follow Thomas anywhere.
“Viktor, I was actually working at the time.”
“That’s true,” Thomas agreed. “But you’re not working tonight, right?”
Viktor answered before I could. “Yeah, Gracie. You’re not working tonight.”
The look I threw to my uncle was meant to be incredulous. I got the feeling if he was up to the task of physically shoving me into Thomas’s lap then he would. But Viktor was busy admiring our guest. He took no notice of my expression.
Thomas was undeterred. “Do you like barbecue? My dad has crowned himself the king of charred red meat. My mom has hired a catering company but there’s no stopping my dad and his brothers from challenging each other to a grilling duel.”
I looked at the floor. “I really appreciate the gesture but I don’t think I should go.”
“How come?”
“Because I can’t just show up at a family party when I’m not expected.”
“Why not?”
I was beginning to wonder if this incredibly good looking, absurdly well-mannered boy might actually be a little thickheaded.
“Because it’s rude! Your family has no idea who I am.”
Thomas gave that idea some thought. I watched as he pulled out his phone and pressed a few buttons. The sound of a ringing phone indicated he’d turned the speaker on and just as I opened my mouth to voice a question there was a click and a woman’s cheerful voice said, “How’s my baby?”
Thomas grinned. “I’m good, Mom.”
“You’d better not be calling to tell me you’re not coming tonight.”
“Not at all. I’m just calling to make sure it’s okay if I bring a last minute date.”