Second Chance Family - Cindy Kirk Page 0,53
show up, that is.” Cole’s eyes were dark and unreadable in the dim light. “But any money he earned went for booze and cigarettes and gambling, in that order. Having food in the house for two kids who weren’t even his wasn’t a necessity for him.”
“Oh, Cole. I’m so sorry. I—”
“Don’t.” He reached over and took her hand. “I didn’t tell you about my past to garner sympathy, only so you would understand.”
His hand was warm and testosterone wafted off him in waves. Meg could have sat there all night, holding his hand, looking into his eyes, but all too soon he pulled his fingers away and sat back.
“I’d like us to get to know each other better.” He dipped an apple slice into the fruit dip but didn’t immediately bring it to his mouth. “To do that we have to be honest.”
Meg experienced a jolt of déjà vu. Hadn’t they already had this discussion? Yes, she was positive they had. “You’re right. The better things are between us, the better it will be for Charlie.”
Cole placed the uneaten apple slice back on his plate and turned slightly to face her. “It’s not Charlie I’m thinking of....”
The air turned heavy with longing and Meg found herself drowning in the blue of his eyes. She reached out her hand and his warm fingers closed around hers again. This time she had the feeling he wasn’t going to let go. Which suited her fine.
“Cole,” Meg began, not sure what she meant to say. But it didn’t matter because one of the two cell phones on the coffee table chose that moment to go off.
She heaved a resigned sigh and met Cole’s gaze.
“Is that yours?” she asked. “Or mine?”
A sheepish look crossed his face. “I’m not sure.”
It hadn’t taken them long to realize that not only did they possess the same smart phone—great minds obviously think alike and all that—but each phone had been programmed with the same basic ringtone. While he’d promised to change his, his response told her that task was still on his “to-do” list.
Regardless, the jarring ring had shattered the moment. Cole glanced at the display screen then handed the phone to her. “Your phone. Your brother.”
She took the cell from his hands and shot him an apologetic look. “It’s Zac. I really need to take this.”
“Of course,” he said. “Do you want privacy?”
“Not at all. Stay right where you are.” She clicked on the call. After several seconds of “can you hear me now?” the connection finally improved.
“It didn’t even sound like you,” Zac said. “I thought at first I’d reached some guy.”
“Well, my voice may be a bit low but no one has mistaken me for a man before,” Meg said with a smile. “Happy almost-Christmas, Zac. How are things with you?”
“I’ve been better.” For the first time, Meg picked up on the strain in her brother’s voice.
“What’s wrong, honey?” she asked, falling back into that “mother” role with him. She had no idea whether he would share what was troubling him or skirt around the issue, but at least she had to try.
Growing up, Zac had been a closed book. It had been very difficult for her to “read” him. Yet, for the strain to be audible, whatever was going on must be serious. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Cole look up from the newspaper he’d picked up and was pretending to read.
“I’m with Elisabeth’s family for Christmas,” he said. “That’s what’s wrong.”
A shower of static drowned out the rest of his words. “Zac. I can’t hear you. Call me back on the landline.”
Meg quickly rattled off Cole’s home number before the call was lost.
Cole lifted a brow. “Bad connection?”
Meg blew out a frustrated breath. “What else is new?”
She wondered if Zac would call back. It wouldn’t surprise her if he didn’t, but seconds later, the cordless phone rang.
“Sorry ’bout that,” Meg said in lieu of a greeting when she picked up the handset.
“No need to apologize to me. I used to live in Jackson Hole,” Zac reminded her in that brash manner she always associated with him. “I know all about the crappy cell reception in the mountains.”
“Okay,” Meg said with a laugh. “Apology retracted. Now, who’s Elisabeth? And what are you doing spending the holidays with her family?”
“Elisabeth—Lissa—is my girlfriend,” Zac said. “We’ve been together for a while now.”
“It must be serious.” As far as Meg remembered, this was the first time Zac had ever given her the name of