Hope's Chance(38)

She never looked in my direction and it was a good thing, because if my eyes found hers they would know the truth immediately. This was a dangerous game. We were playing with fire.

“We have some news and it involves the both of you. How about we leave everything here. I want to make us all a big family breakfast and tell you all what is going on.” Buffy suggested.

“Can I get a shower while you cook?” Hope blurted out.

“I can help you cook sis.” I offered.

Buffy grabbed my arm and pulled me into the kitchen, while Mark started carrying the luggage into the laundry room.

“So how was your weekend little brother?” She asked as she started pulling out things from cabinets and the refrigerator.

“It was fine. I just hung around here and worked on the roof for a while. What about you? How was your trip?”

She smiled cheek to cheek again. “It was fabulous, but we can talk about it when we are all together.”

“Okay, should I be nervous?” I leaned across the counter. “Are you kicking me out? Hiring a new carpenter? Am I working too slow?” I asked.

“Chance get a grip!” She laughed. “It has nothing to do with you, it just affects you indirectly. Stop assuming.”

I shrugged and made a cup of coffee while she began cooking. I noticed she was making French toast. It was something that my mother showed her how to do when we were kids. They made this vanilla cinnamon butter to go with it that made it taste even better. The smell filled my lungs, but it wasn’t breakfast that filled my mind. It was Hope.

I found myself watching the kitchen doorway, just waiting for her to come into the room. I heard the phone ring and Mark getting into a conversation with one of his clients about a new property. I started juggling, or attempting to juggle some oranges while I waited.

My sister rolled her eyes and motioned to a stack of plates and silverware. I rolled my eyes and dropped the fruit back in the basket. When I grabbed the plates she told me to set the outside table, so I headed out to the patio.

As I started to set the table, I got a whiff of Hopes shampoo and it took everything I had to not turn around and take her into my arms. She smelled delightful and I found myself missing her already even though we were standing just feet apart.

I turned to glance at her, but when I noticed she was doing the same, I turned away. “Get yourself together” I mumbled to myself.

Hope and I needed to be careful. We couldn’t act like we were involved and we couldn’t avoid each other. We had to be cordial without revealing our desire to be near each other. It was harder than we thought. When I looked at her, I wanted to melt into her eyes. She was breathtaking and her running shorts and tight shirt did more for me than it should have been doing.

“Good morning Chance.” Hope said loud enough that Buffy could hear.

“Hey Hope. What’s new? What did you do last night?” I asked praying she went along with the ruse.

“Nothing much, downloaded some new music to go running to today.” She announced, but as she approached the table she added. “I spent the weekend with my boyfriend and last night he made passionate love to me until I collapsed in his arms. It was amazing.”

I had to turn away from the house. Her face was red and I could tell she thought she was funny. “So what’s he like?” I asked as we sat at the table across from each other. We could hear Mark talking from in his office and Buffy was busy attending to the stove.

Hope played with her napkin, folding it in different directions. “He is kind, and considerate. He puts everyone else’s needs before his own. He has the biggest heart but tries to hid it away. And…I mindf*ck him every Chance I get.” She changed her voice when she said my name.

“Hope! Calm down please. Your making it difficult for me to stand.” I confessed pointing between my legs.

She giggled. “You are the one that asked. I can’t help it. In fact after last night and this morning, I wish we could just rip everything off of this table and bang like wild animals.”

I looked up at her in shock, but saw her winking at me. She immediately started laughing. We were caught off guard by Buffy bringing out two large trays of French toast and sausage, while Mark followed behind her with orange juice and coffee.

“What’s so funny out here?” Mark asked.

I froze, but Hope took over. “I was laughing at something that happened yesterday. Chance was climbing on a ladder while I was going running. He must have thought it was locked into place, but when he started climbing up it, it was collapsing. His face was priceless.”

They all began laughing, but I was in shock that my little princess had told a complete lie without breaking a sweat.

“Hope do you mind scooting next to Chance so that I can sit with your dad? We had such a fun weekend; I don’t think I am ready for it to end yet.” Buffy announced.

Hope stood up and headed in my direction. When she sat on the bench beside me her leg brushed against mine. Knowing her mood, she had probably done it intentionally. This was going to be a lot more difficult than I had imagined it in my head.

My sister broke my train of thought. “So we have something important to tell you. Mark why don’t you tell them.”

“As you both know I am crazy about this woman and after much consideration I have asked her to be my wife.” Mark confessed.

Hope was taking a drink of orange juice and immediately spit it out in front of her. It went over her plate and her face. I handed her some napkins. “Sorry, it went down the wrong hole I guess.” She said as she continued to clean up the mess.