Not Planning on You (Danvers #2)(34)
“Um, yeah, thanks. My coffee just went down the wrong way.”
Suzy saw Nick give Beth a strange look and he actually picked up a towel to wipe the floor up while Beth cleaned the counter. Maybe there was hope for these two after all.
Nick had made a breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast. Suzy grabbed a plate and started eating with gusto. She was excited, yet nervous about Gray’s impending arrival. His plane was landing around eleven tonight and Nick was going to pick him up at the airport and drop him at home. Beth was also going home that evening and Suzy was looking forward to having the house to herself for a few hours before Gray arrived. She’d enjoyed Beth and Nick, but having some alone time sounded great.
“Hey guys, I thought I could go to the office for a while today. I’m going back on Monday anyway so I might as well get my feet wet.” Even as she finished her sentence, both Nick and Beth were shaking their heads.
“I don’t think so, sis.”
“I agree with the princess,” Nick said. “There is no way I’m facing my brother and telling him you got hurt today because I let you go to work on the day of his return. Can you imagine how much damage a man with that much sexual frustration could do to a face like mine?”
Suzy gave a groan of disgust. “You guys are such wimps. Wait until I get this cast off, I plan to dedicate at least half of my time to torturing you.”
With a chuckle Nick said, “I thought you already started that.”
Suzy elbowed him in the ribs and grabbed his last piece of bacon, laughing at his protests. “Maybe I’ll just work from home again today. I must admit there is something pretty sweet about lying on the sofa while you’re handling business. Beth if you could pick up those files I needed this morning it would really be great. What’s your agenda today, Nick?”
“I’ve got a meeting with Jason this morning and some conference calls lined up for this afternoon. I’m going to head down to Charleston in the morning to check on a few things there at Mericom. The parental troops are also requiring a visit from at least one of their sons so I’m going to see them while I’m there. You’re gonna owe me because this will stop them from coming here for at least a few weeks.”
“Here,” Suzy squeaked. “Why would they come here?
Nick pushed his chair back from the table and gave her a wicked grin. “I don’t know, let’s see, maybe they’re a bit curious about the woman that both of their sons are shacking up with.” Holding his hand up to stall her, he continued, “I mean, I know it sounds more exciting than it actually is, but Mom is probably already picking out baby names for her first grandchild. My father is probably the only thing that has kept her from showing up so far, and trust me sweetheart, that won’t last much longer.”
“Ugh,” Suzy shuddered, “why can’t all parents be as uninvolved as ours. I couldn’t even explain this living arrangement to people that know me much less to your parents. Please say whatever you need to say to keep them away for a while. When Gray gets home, he can deal with it.”
Beth stood up and started clearing the table. “I’m going to get dressed and go to the office for those things that you need, sis. Can you be trusted here on your own for a few hours?”
“Uh yeah, Beth, I think I’ve got this one. Maybe you can pick us up some lunch on the way back. I’d kill for a hotdog. No onions though.”
Nick stood saying he needed to get ready as well, and Suzy was left to her own devices. She really hoped they would be gone soon, she didn’t want to admit that she’d developed a secret addiction to the Price is Right. She’d never live that down. She settled onto the couch and picked up her laptop from the coffee table. Beth and Nick came out a short time later dressed for the office.
Beth looked pretty in a floral dress with flats. Even though it was fall, the days were still warm. Suzy noticed a pink flush on her sister’s cheeks and vowed to lecture Nick when they were alone. She was tired of him upsetting Beth all of the time. She couldn’t figure out why these two couldn’t just get along. She gave them both a wave good-bye and settled back with her remote control. What’s next, soap operas? I’m home for less than three weeks and I already know the television schedule for every daytime show. Pathetic. Just pass me the box of bon-bons and put me out to pasture.
She smothered a curse as her cell phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number, which wasn’t unusual since several vendors had her telephone number. “Suzy Denton.” She was met on the other end of the line by continued silence. “Hello.” After several other attempts, there was still no reply so she ended the call. Great if someone had to interrupt my TV show, couldn’t it have at least been a heavy breather instead of a hang-up? The same thing happened to her twice more that morning until she finally shut her phone off in disgust. Apparently some kid had her number and was determined to call her all day.
~~~
Gray had been working non-stop since early in the morning to wrap things up in California. He’d managed to book an earlier flight on another airline. It was going to cost him several hundred dollars just to get home a couple of hours earlier, but it was money well spent. He stepped outside to call Nick to arrange for an earlier pick-up.
Nick answered the phone with his usual, “Hey bro, what’s up?”
“My flight is coming in around nine tonight; can you pick me up earlier than expected?”