Blake's Pursuit (Scanguards Vampires, #11)(29)

He looked over his shoulder. “Yeah, but I’m growing.” He ripped the refrigerator door open.

Ursula rolled her eyes. “Can’t argue with that, can I?” She smiled at Lilo. “So, you’re visiting Blake. He didn’t mention that he was expecting anybody.”

“Oh, uh, it was very last minute. I, uh…”

Ursula made a dismissive hand movement. “Don’t worry. I’m not prying. I just wanted to drop off Sebastian. He likes hanging out with these hoodlums here.”

“Ursula, you shouldn’t call us hoodlums,” Adam said in a strict tone. “We’re very well behaved.”

“With a father like Zane, who wouldn’t be?” She winked at the boys, then turned back to Lilo. “Don’t tell me you got roped into watching them.”

“No, Wesley is here while Blake is at the office.”

Ursula’s eyebrows snapped together. “At this time of day?”

Lilo tossed her a surprised look. It was afternoon. Why would she find it strange that Blake was at the office?

“I mean,” Ursula added hastily, “I thought he was on the night shift.”

“Oh, yeah, he is, but we’re looking for my friend. Hannah. She disappeared. That’s why I’m here. I flew in from Omaha yesterday, and Blake is helping me find her.”

“Ah, I see. I didn’t realize you were a client. Well, your case is in the best hands.” She looked at her wrist watch. “I’d better go. I have some shopping to do. I’ll be back in a few hours to pick Sebastian up.”

A howl of disappointment came from Sebastian, who turned a pleading look at his mother. “I thought I could spend the night. They are.” He pointed to Nicholas and Adam.

“Yes, because they somehow managed to convince their parents to go to New Orleans without them.”

Nicholas snickered. “It was a stroke of genius to suggest to Mom that this could be like a second honeymoon for her and Dad.”

Ursula turned her eyes to the ceiling. “How manipulative.” Then she looked back at her son. “How about I pick you up at midnight?” She opened the door and stepped through.

Surprised, Lilo followed her. “How old is Sebastian?”

“Twelve. Why?”

“At his age, I was lucky to be allowed to stay up till nine.”

Ursula shrugged. “It’s the school holidays. I’m much stricter when he has to go to school. But he’s a boy with lots of energy, and he needs to hang out with his friends. He’s an only child, you know.”

At the front door, Ursula stopped. “I hope you find your friend.”

“That’s very kind of you to say.”

A moment later, the door fell shut behind Blake’s sister-in-law. For a while, Lilo just stood there, lost in her own thoughts. She’d only just met Blake, but she practically knew his entire family already: Rose, his cousin, Ursula, his sister-in-law, and Sebastian, his nephew. Not to speak of his friends and colleagues and their kids. Her last boyfriend had taken several months before reluctantly introducing her to his brother, and by the time he was ready to introduce her to his mother, Lilo had been ready to break up with him.

Surprised at the direction her thoughts had taken, she shook her head. One kiss didn’t make a boyfriend. It was best that she be realistic about that and concentrate on what was important: finding Hannah.

A loud noise interrupted her thoughts. It originated in the kitchen, where, judging by the shrieks, the slamming of doors and drawers, and the three boys talking over each other, something was getting out of hand.





16


Lilo pushed the door to the kitchen open and stepped into chaos. Nicholas was shouting at the two younger boys as they fought over the half-gallon carton of orange juice.

“There’s enough for both of you!” Nicholas ground out. “You idiots!”

Instantly both boys glared at him.

“You’re the idiot!” Adam let out.

Nicholas suddenly growled like an animal. “Don’t talk to me like that!” He lunged at his brother.

“Stop it!” Lilo screamed, rushing toward them.

All heads turned to her, and several things happened at once. Nicholas crashed into Adam, and Adam released his hold on the orange juice, knocking his elbow into Sebastian’s stomach. Sebastian gasped, and also let go of the carton, his hand instinctively flying to his stomach to protect himself.

The carton tipped over, and the orange liquid spilled over the counter, soaking everything on it.

“Oh shit!” Adam cursed in a tiny voice, his eyes darting to the counter.

But Lilo was already rushing toward it, trying to save what could be saved. She was too late: Hannah’s appointment book sat in a puddle of orange juice, its padded cover soaking up the liquid, the decorative dried flowers dissolving into a gooey mess.

“Oh no!” she cried out.

“Sorry,” Sebastian said, stepping away from the counter to let her pass. Then he pointed his finger at Adam and Nicholas. “But those two started it.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” she said to the boy. Reprimanding him wouldn’t help now that the proverbial milk was spilled. Instead, she quickly reached for a kitchen towel and lifted the appointment book up, wrapping it in the towel and soaking up as much of the liquid as she could, hoping the pages weren’t ruined.