“I’m sure he loves you.”
“Oh, he does. I know that. We just don’t have the ease that I have with my other three children. I regret that.”
“Not all children are close to their parents in the same way,” I say.
Like I have a clue what I’m talking about. I don’t even know my father, and I have no siblings. I know absolutely nothing about this subject.
“I know. Believe me, I know.” She takes another sip of iced tea. “Dale’s a good man, though. Strong and intelligent. Brilliant, even, and so creative. I’m sure Diana told you.”
I nod. She did, but I already know all this based on my twenty-four hours with him.
“Don’t let him get to you. He can come across as…abrasive.”
Try ice cold.
And hotter than hot in the next moment.
“Anyway, on to a different subject. I don’t want to overwhelm you, but we’re having the whole family over tonight for a barbecue to celebrate Diana’s internship. Since she and Brianna are both leaving tomorrow, it’s the only time.”
“The whole family?”
“Except for Donny. It’s a five-hour drive from Denver, and he can’t get here on such short notice.”
“That’s still…” I count on my fingers.
“Twenty people, including you. And that’s not counting significant others. Gina and Henry are both in relationships, and I think Bradley’s dating a new girl. Angie might be dating someone as well.”
“Wow,” I say. “Gina and Ava belong to Ryan, right?”
“Yes. Ryan and his wife, Ruby. Bradley and Brock are Joe and Melanie’s, and Henry, David, and the twins, Angie and Sage, are Marjorie and Bryce’s.” She smiles. “Don’t worry. We won’t quiz you on any of it.”
What the heck? If I’m staying here for three months, I guess I better get to know the family. Sure a far cry from just my mom and me.
Nothing like getting thrown in with the sharks.
Except these are nice people. They’ll all be nice to me. All but one.
The one I want to be close to the most.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Dale
My refrigerator is now stocked—with more than I need, thanks to my sister—and tonight is a big shindig at the main house to wish Diana well on her internship. A bon voyage kind of thing.
Ashley will be there, of course, but in the sea of my family, I’ll probably hardly see her. Of course, that may not be a good thing. My brother, the chick-magnet, won’t be there, thank God, but my cousins will be. Brock is nearly as big a womanizer as Donny, and David’s a close third. They’re both slightly younger than Ashley, but that won’t matter.
Not cool.
And…it’s a pool party. Our huge pool is behind a fence over to the right in our large back yard. While the hot tub is close to the house, we get to the pool via a cobblestone walkway.
Pool means Ashley in a bikini.
God…
I’ll make myself as scarce as I can. I’m not much into swimming. I can do the basics, but I’d rather be walking or running. Better yet, out in my vineyards under the stars—away from all the commotion.
And tonight, there will be commotion. A lot of it. When all the Steels get together, watch out.
I’m not sure how to prepare for the evening. Maybe I’ll feign an illness and beg out of it.
But that’s not fair to Diana.
I’m ready to escape with Penny to the vineyards for a few hours when someone pounds on my front door.
“Coming!” I yell.
I open the door and—
“Hey, bro!” My brother barrels inside.
“Donny? I thought you couldn’t make it.”
“What? And disappoint my sis?”
“How’d you get here so fast?”
“One of the senior partners has a small plane and was flying out this weekend. I bribed him with the best peaches on the western slope, and here I am. I’ll just drive back with Dee tomorrow.”
“That’s a good idea. She shouldn’t be driving alone, anyway.”
“She’s twenty-five years old, Dale, and it’s only a five-hour drive.”
I chuckle. He’s right. He’s never babied our sisters the way Dad and I do. Just another way Dad and I are a lot alike.
My brother looks like his normal self—dark-blond hair cut short as opposed to my mass of long hair. Jeans and a button-down. We resemble each other quite a bit through the nose and mouth. I’m slightly taller, but he’s no slouch at six-one.
He’s a good guy, Donny. But do I want him anywhere near Ashley tonight? Big hell, no.
He’ll be all over her like sweat on a pig, and when he takes a break, Brock or Dave will swoop in.
Attractive and available women don’t stand a chance when the Steel men are together.
Normally I don’t give a flying fuck.
And right now, I really hate that I do.
Playing sick is looking better and better.
But this party is for my sister, who I adore.
So I’ll be there.
Under duress, but I’ll be there.
My cousin Brock wears a Speedo. A white Speedo against his tanned skin, as if he’s in some dumbass cologne commercial. And yeah, he has the body for it.