Unexpected Adventures Read online

  I nervously eye her, then Denise, then Shaun. He winks before taking my hand, practically pulling me toward the stage. “Let’s go, hot shot. We can do this.”

  I chug my beer, handing off the empty bottle to an unknown woman in passing. Yeah, I think, we can do this. If only Sylvia could see me now.

  We step onto the platform as I see Denise typing on the laptop. Obviously, she’s choosing our song, so this’ll be a nice surprise. She backs away, joining Sherri and Jim in the crowd. So much for accompanying me in that duet… she’s going to pass that one off to Shaun.

  I stand still, close to Shaun’s side as the music begins. It takes only a moment to recognize the song. Question is, will Shaun?

  Yes, yes he will. He pleasantly surprises me as he begins to sing Kenny Rogers’s lines from “Islands in the Stream”. So, we’re going old school with this song choice. It’s obvious he’s done this before as he doesn’t even need to look at the TVs for help. His gaze is locked on me. But I break his stare and nervously scan the crowd.

  Wrong move.

  The entire room is watching our performance, swaying, many mouthing the words as well. Okay, maybe this won’t be so bad after all. But as soon as it’s my turn to join in, my gut clenches, my skin prickles, and I feel a little dizzy. I begin to sing, barely audibly, yet no one seems to mind. The music is going strong and Shaun slips his hand into mine, offering comfort and fortitude. My voice grows stronger, and before I know it, I’m belting it out like a pro alongside my handsome partner.

  As the song ends, Shaun smiles at me before leaning in to kiss my cheek and whisper, “See, we did it.”

  I smile in return. “Yes, we did.” I try to make my way off the stage, only to have Denise block me.

  “You’re still up.” She grins, taking Shaun’s arm and pushing him towards his sister. Before I can protest, more music starts, and Denise remains at my side. Again, I recognize the song right away.

  Do I love music? Yes, I do. From 40’s swing through today’s hits, there’s not much I won’t listen to.

  It’s “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys––the Inferno version, with Nicki Minaj––which Denise does flawlessly despite being more than a bit tipsy. At one point during the song, my vision connects with Shaun, and sees what I think is admiration reflecting on his face. It boosts me even more. By the time the song ends, everyone’s clapping, yelling for more.

  Do I feel elated? Sure. Am I ready to give them more? Not on your life. My insides are quaking, my mouth feels pasty, and my hands, along with a few other places, are damp from sweat.

  We make our way down, joining our group of Shaun, Sherri, Jeff, and Jim. Shaun hands me a bottle of water, while Jim hands Denise a blended margarita.

  “Thanks,” I say to Shaun.

  “Denise was absolutely correct. You were terrific!” Sherri compliments. “You can grace our stage any time.”

  “Thanks.” I blush. “But that was plenty.”

  “See,” Denise goads, hugging me from the side.

  “Why were you doubting your skills?” Shaun asks. “You were great.”

  “Thanks. You weren’t so bad yourself.” I’m barely able to lift my hand without it shaking. My nerves are so frazzled as the adrenaline is still rushing through me. “You’ve obviously done that before.”

  He grins. “Yes. I don’t think I’ve been to one of her parties that does not include karaoke.”

  “It’s her secret passion, her dream,” Jeff speaks up. “Singing on stage in front of Blake Shelton and Adam Levine for The Voice.”

  My eyes perk up in surprise and delight. “Right?!” I squeal before I have a chance to rein it in. I quickly drop my head as Shaun grins at me, raising his eyebrows, knowing I just gave away one of my secrets too. I manage to drain the water bottle and turn to Denise. “What about a duet from you and Jim?”

  Denise giggles as Jim shakes his head before saying, “Oh, I’m afraid this guy is no match for anyone here. Trust me, you don’t want to experience any attempt of mine at singing.”

  “Unfortunately, true,” Denise adds. “We’ll leave him to his expertise in his executive role.”

  “I’ll second that,” Sherri says, raising her drink. “Sorry, boss.”

  “It’s quite all right.”

  He seems like such a nice guy, I think to myself. Humble, yet confident. And to see everyone mixing and mingling with one another… Google must be a great place to work.

  I look at Denise as she’s watching Jim, thinking, there’s more to that story. She’s trying hard to keep a distance, but the look in her eyes when she watches him... Longing? Wanting? Or is it just professional admiration?

  Nope. It’s definitely more than professional admiration as I watch Jim place his hand at the small of her back before leaning in to whisper something in Denise’s ear. She blushes deeply before touching her hand to his chest again. Intimately, I might add. No one else around seems to bat an eye at their behavior.

  I don’t get much further in my thoughts about my sister when I’m startled by Shaun whispering to me, his hand gently touching my lower back. “Can I get you something more than water?”

  His voice is enticing, tickling more than my ear canal. But I think I need to keep my wits about me, so I shake my head no. “Thank you, though.”

  He nods and straightens, remaining close by my side, his arm around my waist.

  How did this begin to feel so comfortable, so fast? I smile to myself.

  Denise must notice because she gives me a wink. If the lights were any brighter, she’d see the rose in my cheeks and the nervous delight in my eyes.

  “Well, if no one else wants to display their singing skills,” Sherri begins. “Why don’t we go into another room and wind it down a bit? I think Sarah can handle the karaoke from here.”

  It’s then I notice a petite blond at the laptop, preparing a selection for a gentleman on the stage. “Who’s Sarah?” I ask as we begin to file out of the room.

  “She’s our house sitter,” Sherri answers. “It so happens Jeff and I are going to be taking off tomorrow for a quick business trip of his, so I invited her over.”

  “Oh.” I look up at Shaun to gauge his reaction, knowing he came to visit his sister, just as I did.

  He shrugs his shoulders, giving me an ‘oh well’ smile. But Sherri is quick to soothe him.

  “Sorry, little brother. This trip came up at the last minute, and it’s important I accompany Jeff for a few days. I promise to be back soon to spend time with you. And even though you’re staying here and perfectly capable of taking care of the house, you don’t need to worry about a thing. Sarah will be here to do her duties, as well as take care of my babies. Your only responsibility is yourself, and I’m ordering you to relax and have fun.”

  “Yes, ma’am, Mrs. Jet-setter.” He tries again to shrug it off.

  “I’ll hold her to that promise, Shaun,” Jeff adds.

  “Abby and I can keep him occupied, can’t we, Abbs?”

  “Sure.”

  “Shaun knows the area well,” Sherri begins. “There’s no lack of things to do. Or, you can just spend all your time hanging out here, taking advantage of the pool and enjoying some relaxation.”

  “Whatever works for the ladies,” Shaun says. “After all, this is Abby’s first visit here with her sister.”

  “Oh, we’ll get plenty of sister-time in,” Denise adds as she breaks away from Jim to stand by my side.

  My head volleys to and fro, from Sherri to Shaun to Denise. “I’m just along for the ride.”

  Denise––who I’ve now dubbed Ms. Giggles, because she’s doing it more than I ever realized she was capable of––guides me behind Sherri as we’re led into another, quieter room. At least it seems quiet at first, until I hear a series of click-click-clicks and excited whimpers. It’s then I notice a small mob of fur balls, all eagerly making their way toward everyone.

  Five tiny dogs, two of which are twin terriers, rush to our feet. They congregate around
their momma, Sherri, who bends down to greet them, and I can’t help but smile broadly. They are the cutest dang things I’ve ever seen, and I automatically descend to their level to get a better look at them.

  “Go ahead,” Sherri starts. “They love attention.”

  I reach out to one of the dogs, which looks like a Pomeranian mix. She brings her little legs up as if dancing and begins turning in a circle. Another similar looking dog, this one being pure white, follows suit.

  “Those two always try to out-do one another,” Denise says. “That’s Gypsy, the black one. And that’s Mysty, with a ‘Y’, the white one. They’re two rescues, along with this one.” I see Denise holding a long-haired Dachshund. “Greta. A little beauty.”

  As I’m being entertained by Gypsy and Mysty, laughing like a little girl, I happen to look up and notice Shaun grinning at me. It makes me smile even more before returning my attention to the performers. I reach out to pet each of the dogs, giving them praise for their antics.

  “And these two are Eva and Ginger,” Sherri supplies, holding her twins. She’s lavished with kisses from her babies.

  “They’re all so adorable. I love them!” More excited yaps have us all laughing. I scoop up the two dancers and make my way further into the room.

  It’s more of an enclosed patio with a wall of glass that looks out onto the night. There’s dim lighting, which creates a calming atmosphere. A few comfortable chairs and a loveseat fill one area, while a semi-circular, cushioned bench lines the wall beneath the glass. Sherri and Jeff take the loveseat, while Denise and I sit at the windows. That leaves Shaun and Jim to take the chairs.

  As we get comfortable, and the dogs begin to settle, easy conversation flows.

  “So where are you off to tomorrow?” Shaun asks of his sister.

  “Seattle, for a banquet with Jeff’s bosses.”

  “It’s a business merger that’s been in the works for a while, and they finally made the deal,” Jeff added.

  “More like Jeff made the deal,” Sherri praised. “He’s going to become third partner in Newsome Aviation.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Denise beams.

  “Congratulations, Jeff,” Shaun adds.

  Jeff humbly waves it off. “Yes, well, thank you. It’s an exciting venture.”

  “One that will benefit us as well,” Jim adds. “They’re going to be exclusive carriers for Google Corporate.”

  I sit back and watch the dynamics of the group, feeling completely out of my element amongst these corporate smarties. Not saying I’m jealous, because their success is great for them, but it makes me feel a bit inadequate to say the least. So, I just continue to play with the dogs. At least I can relate to them.

  “Well, enough shop talk,” Sherri says. “Oh, one last thing in case I didn’t say it earlier. Congratulations to Denise on her promotion.” Everyone joins in on the congrats. “Now, not to down-play that, but let’s talk about Abby.”

  My surprised expression is evident. “Uh, let’s not.” I chuckle.

  “Oh, come on, Abbs, let everyone get to know you,” Denise whines.

  “Well, there’s not much to know, really. I don’t have a degree of any kind. I’m certainly not a pilot. I’m twenty-eight and I’ve never even been on an airplane.”

  That one always gets ‘em. Their shocked expressions are priceless.

  “You’ve never been on a plane?” Shaun asks.

  “No,” I sheepishly reply. “I’ve never had a need to fly. I’ve never been anywhere I couldn’t drive to.”

  “It’s true,” Denise adds. “My big sis is so sheltered,” she teases.

  “Tell us about your profession?” Sherri asks.

  I nearly snort, thinking my profession is non-existent. “Well, I guess you could consider me a sitter of sorts.”

  “Oh, she’s more than that,” Denise says, as if defending me. “She’s a terrific caregiver.”

  “Denise says you’re with an organization called Visiting Angels.”

  “That’s right. It’s a national organization that provides living assisted duties to individuals.”

  “Tell them about Sylvia,” Denise blurts out. “She’s a character, from what Abby says.”

  A warm smile crosses my face just thinking about Sylvia. “She’s a character, all right, and my main client. She’s a widow, and still a sparkplug at seventy-six.”

  “She’s been trying to convince Abby to break out of her comfort zone. Wants her to skydive! I think she should go up with Shaun.”

  “But he doesn’t skydive,” I weakly protest.

  “Well, paragliding is close enough, and probably safer, seeing as you’ll be strapped to an experienced person.”

  I notice Shaun smiling, trying not to laugh, I’m sure. His smile is infectious and I find myself smiling right back at him.

  “If anyone can make you feel safe under a chute, it’s Shaun,” Sherri adds. “I love paragliding. I have yet to try skydiving. I’d rather be in the plane with my hubby.”

  Jeff chuckles. “Heaven forbid she should ever need to bail on me.”

  “Speaking of bailing,” Sherri says. “We should probably get some sleep. We’ve got an early start in the morning.” She begins to rise, putting the twins down on the floor. “Abby, I’m sorry our evening together was cut short, but I look forward to another visit with you.”

  “Thank you so much. It’s been great meeting you. And thank you for having me.”

  “You’re most welcome. I know it’s late, so if you and Denise want to spend the night, I can get you set up in a guest room.”

  I look to my sister for an answer. And I think I have it when she tries stifling a yawn. “Oh, sorry,” she sighs. “If you’re okay with that, Abbs, let’s just make it easy on ourselves and stay the night. We’ll get a start on our time together tomorrow.”

  “Sounds just fine.”

  “Good,” Sherri says. “Denise, I’ll put some things in the silver room, which I know you’re familiar with. Make yourselves at home.”

  “Thank you, Sherri,” Denise answers. “And if I’m not up in the morning to say farewell, which I know I won’t be, you and Jeff have a safe trip.”

  “We will. And I’ll have her back in no time,” Jeff says. As the couple say their good nights and exit the room, five little fur balls wiggle and waddle after them.

  Jim takes the opportunity to stand, offering his hand to my sis. “Why don’t I say good night as well. Walk with me?”

  “I’d love to. Abby, be back in a bit.”

  I watch Denise as she puts her hand in Jim’s, and I continue to follow their movement as they also exit the room, leaving me and Shaun alone.

  Shaun’s voice startles me. “Those two seem close. Are they in a relationship?”

  “Exactly what I’d like to know. It would appear so, huh?”

  “Ah, so big sis doesn’t have the details?”

  I look at him, trying not to scowl. Not that I’m mad at him for his remark, but thinking his statement is true. And that stings a little. Denise and I have always confided in one another about our lives.

  Well, mostly…

  “I’m sorry. That sounded juvenile. I’m…”

  “No, it’s okay.” My voice sounds faint as I try to keep the hurt out of it.

  Shaun comes to sit by my side on the window bench. “Hey, I’m sure she knows what she’s doing. Jim is a good guy.”

  “He’d better be, if he’s going to hook up with my baby sister.”

  Shaun laughs. He reaches out, trailing his finger along my jaw. His touch is like a feather’s caress, light and delicate. It tickles as much as it entices. I can’t help but lean into his hand, seeking more of him. He reaches my chin, tipping it up so that our lips are only a whisper away from one another. “Protective big sister,” he says before his lips meet mine.

  Mmm... What were we talking about?

  Chapter Five

  What starts off as a tentative kiss quickly evolves into a storm. I can’t
keep my hands from seeking him out as I place one around his shoulder and the other in his hair. I feel his hands at my waist, pulling me closer to him.

  What is it about this man? He makes me lose myself—emboldens me so I don’t even know who I am.

  As our tongues battle with each other, our bodies press closer until our chests are touching. His hands find their way under my blouse and my skin catches fire. He runs his hands up my back, hitting the sensitive spots that make me arch even closer to him, if that is possible. I protest slightly as his mouth pulls away from mine, only to sigh as his lips tease my ear lobe, suckling. This is when I get my earlier question answered: his facial stubble tickles my cheek, sending more sparks through my system.

  “God, that feels so good.”

  “This is nothing compared to how good I want to make you feel,” he says in a husky voice.

  He continues to lavish my ear, my neck, back to my mouth. His hands continue their exploration and make their way around to my front. I gasp as I feel them brush the underside of my breasts. I’m so startled I pull away, breaking our contact.

  “I’m sorry,” I lamely say.

  “No, I’m sorry. Too much, too fast. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “No, you didn’t scare me.” I bite my lip as I watch him raise an eyebrow in question. “Not much.”

  He softly chuckles, kissing my forehead. “What is it about you, Abby Carter?”

  “I could say the same about you. I did say the same about you. In my head.”

  Before either of us can say more, Denise reappears in the doorway. I don’t even pretend to worry that she sees me like this with Shaun. As I look from her, back to Shaun, I smile and say, “Guess this is good night.”

  “Guess so.”

  “I can give you two some privacy,” Denise says.

  “I’m ready for bed,” I blurt out. And blush beyond belief. “I mean, I’m ready to say good night and get some sleep.”

  Shaun moves to stand, bringing me with him. He kisses my cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Okay,” I respond. I watch him walk toward the doorway where he says good night to Denise before he disappears out of sight.