Last First Kiss (49 page)

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Red walked over to meet his parents, who were talking animatedly with Carrie.

“
Speaking of the red-haired, blue-eyed devil, here he is,” Carrie said. “We were just saying how cute you were when I babysat for you.”

“
And I was your favorite, right?”

“
You’re still my favorite, but what’s the matter? You look like you just lost your best friend, and what the hell is that on your cheek?”

Red raised his hand self consciously to the side of his face. “It’s nothing, Mom. I’m looking for a dance partner,” he said, trying to change the subject. Too late, apparently, because once his mother got a good look at his face, there was no way around her.

“
Son!” Vivienne McAllister exclaimed. “What did you do to make a woman slap you that hard? Didn’t I raise a gentleman?”

Red stared down at the tiny woman who’d raised him and his siblings with a firm hand. Her naturally blonde hair was now lightly high-lighted to hide the few gray hairs she had. It was cut in a very becoming short and sassy style. Her crystal blue eyes were clear and sharp and her skin was still smooth for a sixty-four year old woman. She was fit, healthy, and blessed with good metabolism, maybe weighing ten pounds over the weight she was on her wedding day. Vivienne Broussard McAllister was a beautiful woman, and when she was anywhere near her husband, Pete, anyone could tell they were still in love.

“
It’s not what you’re thinking, mom,” Red commented. “Do you remember when I got kicked out of Jackson’s first wedding?”

“
Vaguely,” she said, glaring suspiciously at him through eyes that had narrowed to slits.

“
Well, the main reason was here today. He’s the jerk that Jackson’s fiancé chose to take my place as best man. He slept with her when I wouldn’t, and payback’s hell.”

“
Oh, Red, what did you do?” Vivienne groaned.

Annie walked up to the group and joined the conversation. “Take it easy on him, Mom. He was defending my honor.”

“
How’s that?” asked a tall, older looking version of Red. Pete McAllister was sixty-eight years old and also still quite fit. He was well over six feet tall, with big, broad shoulders, and a barrel chest. He had a head full of dark red hair, peppered with silver, with a mustache and trimmed goatee to match. His blue eyes, normally sparkling with laughter, now flashed with anger, hinting at the damage he would do to anyone who tried to harm a hair on the head of his youngest daughter.

“
I went to the stables to check out the animals. That jack ass, Tanner, must have followed me out there,” Annie explained. “When I turned around he was there and the next thing I knew he was pawing at me. I slapped him and called him a jerk. Red came running in, hit him in the jaw then punched him in the nose. It was beautiful!”

Red threw an arm around his baby sister. “Thanks sis, it’s nice to have a cheering section.”

“
I’m still confused,” Vivienne commented. “Did someone slap you, or not?”

“
I’m getting to that, Mom. You see, Tanner is engaged to Tiffany LeBlanc, the surgeon who saved Jackson’s leg.”

“
Yes, I met her. She’s a lovely girl,” Vivienne said.

Red told his parents how Tanner had only told Tiffany what had happened fifteen years ago, but didn’t bother to mention what he’d tried with Annie.”

“
But you told her, right?” Annie asked.

He gave the group of onlookers a shrug. “I didn’t want to be the one to hurt her. I let her think I hit him because of the other incident. She slapped me for the two dances I got out of her before I told her where to find Tanner. Turns out she was a little...upset...with me,” he said, fidgeting under his mother’s accusing glare.

“
Honestly, you men and your fists. Can’t you settle anything without fighting?” she asked.

Pete grunted.“Don’t listen to your mother, Scott. As far as I’m concerned, you could have broken a rib or two along with the nose; really give him something to think about next time he wants to go poking where he shouldn’t.”

“
Pete! Carrie, you tell him how foolish they’re being.”

Red intercepted a covert glance from Carrie before she turned to his mother.

“
Sorry Vivi, I have to side with the guys. When Jackson was still in surgery, Tanner tried to play touchy, feely with Giselle. A few broken ribs would have served him right.”

Red grinned at his old babysitter. “Yeah, but if I cause him to miss any surgeries, he could sue me.”

Carrie sucked in her breath. “You’re right, of course.”

Vivienne turned to Red. “He tried something with Giselle while poor Jackson was in surgery?”

Red nodded at his mom. “I had to step between them. Giselle called him the pretty boy type you can never trust.”

“
Oh...I know that type.” Vivienne gazed up at her husband and smiled. “Your father saved me from marrying someone like that.” She touched Pete’s face tenderly and he leaned over to give her a kiss.

Annie rolled her eyes. “Stop that, for God’s sake!”

Red gaped in disbelief at his sister. “Are you ever going to accept that you weren’t the product of a virgin birth? For crying out loud, you’re the last of eight children, Annie. They
did
it
, okay? You should be thankful our parents still show affection for each other.”

“
Must they
do
it
in public? It’s embarrassing,” she hissed.

“
Infant,” Red pushed playfully at her.

“
Bully,” she shot back, shoving him.

“
Was I a bully when I rescued you from Tanner?”

”
I didn’t need rescuing. I’d already slapped him once; if he’d tried anything else I would have kicked him in the bal…”

“
Enough!” Vivienne interjected.
“
Surely
you two can find a better topic of conversation.”

“
Yes ma’am,” Red mumbled, knowing better than to argue with her. He caught Carrie’s look of amusement before she pointed at something behind him.

“
There’s my husband,” she said, waving him over. “It’s been awhile since your parents have seen him.”

“
It has,” Vivi admitted, “but we hear your mother sing his praises often. Elaine adores him.”

“
Elaine spoils him,” Carrie snorted, “like he didn’t get enough of
that
all his life, as the baby boy of the family.”

“
Is he still good to you?” Vivienne asked.

Carrie gazed fondly at her approaching husband. “He’s very good to me. He’s a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather.”

“
Must be talking about me,” Sam said as he walked up.

“
Yes, and how my mother spoils you rotten,” Carrie said.

“
Yep,” Sam admitted, “and I’d be a fool to turn it down.”

Pete McAllister emitted a hearty chuckle. “I understand completely. Good to see you, Sam,” he said, gripping Sam’s extended hand in a firm shake..

Vivienne looked at Carrie’s husband. “I can see how happy you’ve made Carrie for the last fifteen years, so, I guess I forgive you for taking her away from Gardiner.”

“
Thank you, ma’am. I appreciate that. She’s the reason I’ve been so happy for the last fifteen years, too.” He smiled down at his wife as she touched his face lovingly.

Red nudged his sister. “Hey Annie, I bet Carrie and Sam still
do it
, too.”

Annie looked at her brother in disgust. “Oh, you are such an ass!” She stormed off as the group dissolved into laughter. Before she got too far, she stopped and turned. “Hey Red!”

As soon as Red saw the smirk on her face, he squeezed his eyes shut and waited for the axe to fall.

“
Did you ask Mom to start planning your wedding yet? It’s only a matter of time, now.”

He watched his imp of a sister spin about and dart off, cackling like a hen. Feeling the older couples’ stares boring into him, he raised his hands and gave them all an adamant shake of his head. “I swear! Annie doesn’t know what the hell she’s talking about!” He turned on his heel and hauled his butt out of there before either of the two salivating women could fire any questions at him.

Coming January 2012

About the Author

Photo by Joan Granger

Of Simple Memories Photography

Lori Leger lives in Southwest Louisiana with her husband, Michael, and one pet, an outside cat named Matou (French for male tom), who showed up on their doorstep two years ago. Though they enjoy having the house to themselves, they also enjoy frequent visits from their five children and ten grandchildren…with one more on the way. She’s been employed as a computer drafter in road design industry for nearly eighteen years at the time of this publication. She began writing nearly four years ago and hopes to have her entire six book series online by this time next year. She has many more new ideas waiting in the wings to give her something to write for years to come.

Lori adores hearing from her readers by email or snail mail.

Lori Leger

P.O. Box 641

Kinder, La. 70648

[email protected]

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