Recipe For Seduction (A Madewood Brothers Novel) (Entangled Brazen) (8 page)

Neil growled and made a rude gesture. The sex tape was still a sore subject. And he hated when they used his nickname. It had been given to him because, being the oldest, he tended to act like he was boss. But despite his hatred of it, it really was the perfect nickname with the way Neil strode around, always on top of the world.

“Everyone has access to a damn camera.” Neil angrily flipped over a few strips of bacon sizzling on the flat-top.

“True.” Mark frowned. “Hell, even kids have cameras on their cell phones. One more reason Veronica is so done with raising—
Ouch!”
He brought his thumb up to his mouth and sucked on a drop of blood. “Why did you give me the hard job?”

Neil joined Jack in a hearty laugh. But Finn’s ears had perked up. He needed more information.

“Veronica’s done? With what?”

Mark fiddled with the wrapping of a Band-Aid he removed from the first aid kit hanging by the door. “With raising kids. She’s been looking forward to the rug rats moving out and beginning their own lives, so she can finally start hers. She says she’s done a damn good job with them, and now it’s time to enjoy being a single businesswoman again. No more kids for her.”

Finn raised his head slowly from where he’d been concentrating on the burner. “What do you mean no more kids?”

This was…a new development.

“She’s done with children. She doesn’t want any more kids.” Mark returned the kit to its place by the door. “Makes sense. She’s spent her entire twenties taking care of Cal and Ali when she should have been dating and drinking, doing every stupid thing she could think of.”

Finn stared at his best friend in shock. Wow.
Talk about being oblivious.
Finn had no idea about this monumental change of heart in the woman he was about to plunge into a relationship with.

Or…not so much a relationship. That word had never come up. She’d told him she wanted to practice fucking—and, well, it all made sense now. Because she knew very well how he felt about a family of his own. He wanted one more than anything else in the world.

Now that the smell of bacon had infused the kitchen, it made Finn’s stomach growl harder, and more frequently. But his hunger was no longer the most pressing issue.

This new development just meant no matter what transpired between them in the bedroom, their…sexcapades…would never, not in a million years, turn into something more. And not just because she was his best friend’s little sister and therefore off-limits. But because apparently it would never work. They were clearly on two different paths.

According to Mark. But what the hell did he know? Cal’s separation anxiety was so transparent. And he just didn’t see it.

No. This just didn’t make sense. Finn
knew
Veronica wanted a family of her own. He knew, because she’d told him. She’d dreamed of the family she’d never had, just as he did. Raising two teenagers couldn’t have changed her outlook so significantly.

Could it?

“I don’t believe that,” he told Mark, and shook his head. “She’ll change her mind. You’ll see.”

“You sure?” Mark questioned.

Finn was positive. Even if she had changed her mind, Finn would have to change it back.

Not for him. But for Veronica. He wouldn’t let her give up on her childhood dream. Or the joy of holding her own child in her arms. Siblings were great—the best. But having a baby of your own…that had to be the greatest feeling in the world.

…

“It’s so beautiful here. Even nicer in the fall.” Ali twirled around with her arms out and took a deep breath.

Veronica had never seen her sister so happy. She wasn’t a scared little girl anymore. She was well on her way to becoming a young woman—already was a young woman. And Veronica took credit for that. It was easy raising a girl. She knew exactly how her sister felt, what demons plagued her, even what advice to give. She had taught Ali everything she wished she’d known when she was a teenager. And her strategy had worked out well.

Cal, on the other hand… He was a mystery.

They had parked in front of the university’s residence building where Ali was going to live. The gray brick was covered with ivy. People rushed around. First-years radiated excitement, with bright smiles on their faces. But there were a lot of sad-looking parents.

Mark and Cal unloaded the trunk, piling Ali’s suitcases and boxes on the curb. Ali didn’t help. She merely stood, taking in her surroundings, watching over everything.

“Maybe I should rethink my decision.” Cal’s voice caught Veronica’s attention. She watched as he contorted his body, keeping his eyes pinned to a random blond girl’s behind. “Seems like university might be fun, after all.”

The girl smiled over her shoulder and Cal straightened, flashing a goofy grin. Was it really that simple? Even an eighteen-year-old girl knew how to seduce a guy with a simple smile. Maybe Veronica should be taking lessons from her.

Mark clapped him on the shoulder. “Too late. You’re a working man now.”

Cal was quick to wiggle away from his embrace, and Mark frowned. He was trying. Even Veronica could see Mark was really trying to fix whatever had been broken between him and Cal. Too bad he had no idea what it was.

When all of Ali’s things were out of the car, Mark parked in the lot, then joined them. They carried Ali’s things to room 409, weaving between running teenagers and yelling parents. Everything was painted white. The floors, the walls, the ceiling. Remembering wryly back to the first time she had visited Mark in his dorm so many years ago, Veronica surveyed the teenagers and wondered which of them would be the first to puke.

“Al, do you think you could take a bag?” Cal whined from the back of the group.

Ali gripped her map and admission papers. “I’m busy.”

Cal cursed under his breath and grunted as he readjusted the two backpacks he held in one hand.

When they got to her room, her roommate, Lily Chamberlain, had already claimed the right side. The two girls chatted and giggled together for the first time. It looked like a good match had been made. Lily’s parents, a middle-aged couple from the Hamilton area, smiled sweetly at them while Cal sat on the bed fiddling with his cell phone and ignoring everyone.

The room held two beds and two desks. The far wall was all window. Two tall dressers sat on either side of the door, and they each had a bulletin board above their bed. The walls in the rooms were also stark white. It had zero personality, like all university residence halls. Ali and Lily would have to make the room their own.

Veronica helped make the bed with the pink-and-white duvet they had purchased together at the beginning of the summer. It matched Ali’s favorite fuzzy pink throw pillow. When her room was somewhat settled, and Lily and her parents had left them alone, the four of them stood in a circle. Despite the many days they had spent together over the summer, over the last eight years, it just hadn’t been enough.

As Veronica watched her little family, her throat tightened and her chest grew heavy. This was the last time the family would be whole for a few months. That thought nearly triggered the waterworks she had been holding at bay all afternoon.

“I guess we should get going,” Mark said. “We have a long drive.”

They didn’t. London was only two hours away. But it was going to seem like a thousand miles.

Mark kissed the top of Ali’s head and whispered in her ear. A tiny smile curved the corner of her lip.

When Mark had stepped aside, Veronica wasted no time. She engulfed her sister in a huge hug, tears falling down her cheeks. As she held her in her arms, the world around them spun away. That kid had grounded her—both kids had given her a sense of love she had never expected to feel before they became a family. And because of that, her heart was now breaking. How could she ever have wanted them to leave?

With a kiss to Ali’s temple, she choked out the words, “I love you.”

Ali hugged her tighter. “I love you, too, Ronnie.”

She refused to pull away, whispering into Ali’s hair. “Be careful. And study hard. I’m only a phone call away. Anything you need.”

“I know.”

Ali wiggled out of her embrace. Too soon. But Veronica let her go. She had to. It was time.

She huddled with Mark by the door while Cal kicked his foot at the beige carpet.

“I wish you were staying with me,” Ali said. A look of sadness fell over her face. A more intense longing even than when she’d hugged Veronica and Mark.

For the first time, Veronica felt like an outsider. The bond between the two kids had never been more apparent. It reminded her of her own relationship with Mark.

“Maybe next year,” Cal whispered. He shoved his hands in his pockets and finally peered at his sister. “Look, don’t go crazy just because you no longer have the warden watching over you.”

“Hey.” Veronica’s head snapped up. “I’m nothing like a warden. An uptight correctional officer, maybe, but not a warden.”

Mark squeezed her closer and kissed the top of her head with a chuckle.

But she couldn’t manage a laugh. This was awful. This feeling inside. She was happy she would only have to do it maybe once more with Cal. She didn’t think she could handle having to say good-bye to another child. Her baby had grown up and spread her wings. Because this was Ali’s entry into the real world. She may return for a few months every year and visit on holidays, but she might never come back permanently. And that left an achy feeling, a heartsick feeling in the pit of Veronica’s stomach, despite wanting so desperately to have her life back.

Cal continued to lecture his sister. “Remember, guys are only trying to screw you.” This time he stood straight, believing strongly in his words. “I don’t care what they tell you, I don’t care how nice you think they are. All we think about is our dick.” He pointed down at his own. “And where we can stick it.”

“
Eww
,” Ali said, her face curling up in disgust. “Nice mental picture.”

Thank heavens. If she thought boy bits were disgusting, it meant she was still a virgin. Which meant she’d be studying instead of letting a boy manipulate her into drinking too much and doing things she shouldn’t be. Veronica celebrated, but on the inside.

“I’m serious, geek.” Cal grabbed Ali’s arms and steadied her.

They were witnessing the protective older brother routine. Veronica had experienced it before with Mark, but Cal’s intensity and determination to make Ali listen was surprising. He was usually so noncommittal with his words. Everything was a joke. But not this time.

“Keep your pants on, because if I find out one of these pricks hurt you I will hunt him down. Do you understand me?”

Ali nodded and lifted her hand to brush his floppy hair away from his face. They had been through so much together before showing up on Veronica’s doorstep.

“I love you, Cal. You’ll come and visit, right?”

Cal smiled wide. “You know it. Someone’s gotta teach these geeks how to party.”

Ali laughed and hugged him tight, tears falling down her cheeks. In a surprisingly gentle move, Cal ran his hand down her hair.

Mark cleared his throat. “We should get going.”

Veronica looked over at her older brother. His face had flushed red and his eyes were bloodshot. He was doing his best to hold back the tears. Wow. He’d only cried a handful of times in his life.

“Bye, family.” Ali clasped her hands in front of her, excitement and fear dancing in her eyes. But despite conflicting emotions, there was no question she knew she was exactly where she belonged.

“Have fun,” Mark said as he walked out the door.

“Not too much fun,” Cal yelled on his way out.

Veronica didn’t say a word as she took in the image of her little sister, all grown up, ready to start this new chapter in her life.

Her own battle of excitement and fear waged inside her and Veronica wondered if this was also her moment to start a new chapter in hers.

Chapter Six

At the knock, Veronica waited five beats before she opened the front door. She didn’t want to seem too eager, even though she’d been sitting on her staircase for the last thirty minutes waiting for Finn to arrive.

Two days had gone by at an exceptional snail’s pace, but
the night
had finally arrived.

Cal was at work, and Mark, well, he’d mumbled something about not coming home at all before loping out the door a few hours earlier.

Tonight was the night she would put her research to the test. Tonight she would finally have Finn O’Reilly the way she had always dreamed. Naked. And whispering her name.

She checked herself in the hall mirror and smoothed down the front of her silver blouse, pulling down the ends to maximize the effect of the thick belt that wrapped around her waist. She smoothed down her hair and pursed her lips. Madison had stopped by and taken control of her pre-date beauty preparations, making Veronica virtually unrecognizable. But she had to admit, she loved what she saw.

She opened the door and cocked her hip, trying her best to mimic the sexy stance Madison had spent half an hour trying to get across.

Her breath caught at the sight of Finn filling up the entire doorway. To her pleasure, his mouth gaped just a tiny bit when she opened the door. But as good as she’d thought she looked when she had quadruple-checked herself in the mirror, he was a total knockout.

She’d always had a preference for him in his chef’s coat, but tonight, dressed in dark jeans and white running shoes, he was skirting the edge of badass. His T-shirt peeked out from the vee of his button-down shirt, which he probably put on to “dress up” for her. But he could have shown up in a garbage bag and she would have found him just as smokin’ hot.

“You are—” He didn’t finish his sentence, but the hard breath he released and the way his eyes took in every inch of her body spoke volumes.

Point Veronica
. Madison had done the job.

“So, my ambition to seduce you with just one look worked?”

“Half a look.” He brought his hand up to his chest. “I’m just noticing those boots.”

Her pulse quickened when the muscles in his jaw rippled and tightened. She coaxed him inside with a wave. “Come in.”

“Thanks.” He stepped over the threshold, his hard body brushing past her as he entered her home. She closed the door, but without turning aside her gaze. His backside was far too sexy to ignore.

“I guess being in charge has its perks. Cal working on your night off, and all.” She knew she was playing coy. Even though she had been the one to demand he rearrange his schedule to accommodate their…game?

He moved closer and her breath caught. “I’m not going to lie and say I haven’t been looking forward to this. More than I should. And I will do whatever it takes to go through with our deal. Even if it means working Cal into the ground.”

She chuckled. “I have no problem with that. He needs…something.” Her problems with Cal hadn’t improved any, now that Ali had gone off to school. Veronica wasn’t expecting miracles.

“How about we forget it all for tonight?” He checked his watch. “At least for the next seven hours.”

It sounded like heaven.

“Come with me, Mr. O’Reilly. I have a scrumptious dinner waiting for you.”

Before she turned, he grabbed her hand. Heat, fast and steady, overwhelmed her. His eyes gave away his hunger, but it wasn’t for whatever she had cooking in the kitchen.

She cleared her throat and guided him, hand in hand, to her kitchen.

“It smells good in here.” He stopped in the doorway. “You know, I’ve never had a woman cook for me before.”

She continued to the stove. “If I didn’t already know you, I’d probably be too scared to. But considering you’ve eaten my glue-like macaroni and cheese since you were thirteen, it can’t get much worse, right?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” He crossed his arms over his chest and made a face. “Those shrimp are pretty overcooked.”

“What?” Sweat broke out across her body. She searched the counter for a pair of tongs. Damn utensils, they suddenly all looked the same. Finally, she grabbed a fork and pierced a shrimp, lifting it up for inspection.

“That’s impossible. I followed the recipe.” She picked up the printout. She’d found it on one of the more popular internet foodie sites. “It says to cook them for twelve minutes.”

She knew he’d moved closer when the warmth of his body surrounded her. The heat from the stove was nothing compared to his.

“Twelve minutes?” He snorted. “Let me see that.” He grabbed the recipe from her hand.

“I followed the directions,” she insisted. Shit! Was she whining?
Get a grip, Veronica.
She cleared her throat and lowered her voice. “The recipe said twelve minutes a side.”

She’d really wanted to impress him, even if only a little. But the only thing impressive about her was her outfit—and she hadn’t even coordinated that on her own.

He gave a hearty, sexy laugh. “Take a closer look at the recipe.” He held it up and pointed to the twelve. The longer she peered at it, the more her stomach turned with embarrassment.

She flicked at the paper, and the number one flew to the kitchen floor. She cursed under her breath. “
Two
minutes a side.”

Way ahead of her, Finn turned off the gas and pulled the pan off the burner.

She’d
known
this kitchen was a waste. Even the appliances laughed at her every time she touched them.

She groaned. “What am I supposed to do now? I’ve got scampi but no shrimp.”

He shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. We can just order in.”

“No!” She turned and grabbed the edges of the counter. “I wanted to cook for you.”

After a long pause, he finally spoke. “I think you should just stick with stripping. Clearly it’s your niche.”

She blinked, then a laugh burst out of her. He’d always known just what to say to make her feel better. Even when she screwed up, and in the most stupid ways, he’d always had the ability to make her feel steady. Or when the world was spinning out of control. Like when she had been taken away from everything she’d known and sent to live with strangers…he was the one who had talked her into giving it a try. On that day, he’d promised he would visit her. And he had, with her brother and Cole in tow, even when they weren’t supposed to leave the confines of their group home.

“How do you always know exactly the right thing to say?”

He shrugged. “I don’t. I just…say whatever comes to mind.”

He didn’t give himself enough credit. He did know. And it wasn’t whatever came to mind. She’d seen him in action. With other foster kids, with his staff, with the kids in the program. He had a knack for taking people under his wing and showing them how to shine. That’s what made him special. How could he not know that?

“So, I’ve ruined dinner. What do you want to do?”

He walked by her on his way to the fridge. When he opened the door, he leaned against the edge, his perfect, hard ass on display, just begging for her to touch.

“Seriously, you have children living with you, and this is the barest fridge I’ve ever seen.”

She shrugged. “The freezer’s full.”

He shook his head and smiled. “Cream cheese and carrots.” He stared into the fridge for a minute. She knew the wheels were turning.

He headed to the pantry and rooted around, pulling out flour, sugar, and cinnamon. “How about we eat dessert first?”

She licked her lips. “Yes, please.”

He helped clean up the counter from her disastrous mess, then gathered all of the ingredients he needed. “Do you have a cake pan?”

She stood silent. She had no idea.

He laughed. “Can you look for one?”

She searched in the cupboard next to the stove and squealed from below as if she’d just won the million-dollar jackpot. “I found one!” She pulled out a nonstick cake pan still in the wrapping. Who knew?

When she placed it triumphantly on the counter, he shook his head with a smile. “What? I don’t bake. Sue me.”

“Come over here.” His simple command sent a shiver down her spine. “We’re going to make a carrot cake.”

“Oh, yum.”

As he finished measuring out all the ingredients, she did as she was directed, grating the carrots. Then he got busy using his biceps to whisk sugar, eggs, and milk in a bowl.

“Add in the dry ingredients,” he directed.

She picked up the bowl of flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon, and dumped half the bowl into his. A puff of white dust swirled around them.

He pulled away his bowl. “A little slower.”

“This seems pretty complicated for a cake.”

As he continued to stir together the ingredients, she tossed the overcooked shrimp into the garbage with a huff of regret and embarrassment. What a waste.

“That’s how we learn.”

She turned. “Hmm?”

“Making mistakes with our cooking. It’s how we learn.”

“Yes, but I was just thinking about all of the kids we used to know who didn’t even have a piece of bread to eat, and here I am throwing out perfectly good food because of my own stupidity.”

He stopped stirring and gazed over at her. “Do you think we’ll ever get over the guilt?”

She placed the dirty pan into the sink. “I don’t know. It would be nice.”

He nodded. “Cole flew off the handle yesterday because one of the kids in the program was stabbed trying to steal food.”

Her stomach tightened with a feeling of déjà vu. Cole used to have to steal food. Sometimes it was the only way he could eat.

“He called an emergency meeting of the foundation and demanded we open a boys and girls club.”

“Is that something you can do?”

Finn let out a heavy breath and his shoulders sank into his body. “I don’t know. It’s being considered. I just don’t know if I agree. At least not yet.”

“You don’t agree?” She gave a laugh of surprise. “A new position for you.”

He dropped the whisk into the bowl and turned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

She turned to face him and rested her hip against the island. “You never have an opinion. Finn Go-With-The-Flow O’Reilly, that’s you.”

He shrugged. “I don’t like making waves.”

“You think I don’t know what goes on in that beautiful mind of yours.” She knew exactly why he didn’t want to make waves. After living with Vivian Madewood for years, even after becoming a man, he woke up every day with the fear that Vivian would one day tell him she was done and move on. Veronica walked closer and placed her hand on his cheek. “Sweet Finn. Always more concerned about other peoples’ feelings than your own.”

He stood silent for a moment, then spoke, his eyes never leaving hers. “I don’t need fancy foundations or monstrous facilities to make a contribution. I don’t need any of that.”

He returned to his carrot cake. “I’m content making my own contribution in my own quiet way. Helping a few kids at a time in the program. Bringing happiness to peoples’ lives through food and cooking.”

She loved Cole. Had grown to love Jack and Neil. But seeing the way all three of them made this wonderful man feel inadequate just wasn’t right. He didn’t say so. Would never say so. But she could see it in the little-boy vulnerability that sneaked across his face when he thought no one was looking.

She walked over and leaned into him. “You’re the rock, the control factor, the constant to your brothers’ ever-changing moods and grand ideas.” How dare they think he was any less important, any less successful than they were, just because he didn’t boast about it? In her eyes, he was the most amazing man who ever lived. He needed to realize that. “It’s time you stopped playing the dutiful son and brother. Just do what you want to do.”

He was contemplating her words, she could tell. He swallowed hard; his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. “Jack is the award-winning philanthropist. Neil is the lauded visionary. Cole is the idealistic activist. Who am I if not the dutiful one?”

“You’re an excellent chef. And an amazing mentor to all those kids you teach. What could be better than that?”

He grunted, but she could see that her words made him stand a little taller. “Maybe I should become a licensed mediator. Who else is going to make sure my brothers don’t kill each other?”

They exchanged wry smiles. It seemed they’d both hit a personal standstill. She craved to be more than a boring mother figure, and he wanted to break free of being his brothers’ keeper.

Good grief. An existential crisis was not exactly what she had expected to encounter this evening. Dinner. A little sex, maybe. Okay, a lot of sex. But definitely not a heart-to-heart.

She liked it. They had always been able to talk to each other growing up. Damn, she’d missed him these past years.

They steered away from the conversation long enough to finish making the cake. Their last task was pouring the batter into the clean pan he had rubbed all over with butter.

She loved watching him cook. So sure of himself. So confident that everything he touched was in his control. A shiver ran up her spine as her body shifted gears. Would he touch her in the same way? With the same confidence and control?

“You’ve got a little something—” He interrupted her sensual thoughts with a swipe of his finger against her cheek. It was covered with flour when he pulled his hand away.

She rubbed at her skin, but it only made him laugh. He pulled a tea towel off the oven handle and wiped her cheek. When he was satisfied, he grabbed her hand and gently wiped away her messy fingers with the rough fibers of the towel. His touch ignited a fire deep inside her. As he trailed his finger along her forearm, excitement built, sharp and tingly in her stomach.

More and more her lips parted, the longer he kept their bodies in contact. She swiped her tongue across her bottom lip. She tasted dry flour and saw desire clouding his eyes.