Seal It With A Kiss (McClellan Trilogy) (8 page)

Luke was the first to arrive at Brock’s house for the monthly poker game with Sam arriving shortly afterward. Brock tossed them each a beer and told them to pull up a stool while he finished with the appetizers. Sam was the first to speak, “Have you gotten laid yet?”

Brock had been leaning down to get a cookie sheet and bumped his head on the counter at Sam’s question. “Ow! Damn it Sam. Why do you have to ask me something like that?”

Luke and Sam were both laughing. “Because that is what brothers do! So—have you?” Sam asked again.

“If it is any of your business, which by the way it’s not—no.”

“I think there is a prospect though from what Brooke was telling me.” Luke said.

“No shit? Who is she?” Sam asked.

“No one.” Brock offered.

“I don’t know about that. Brooke said that you have a really pretty detective working on the latest case with you.”

“So, that doesn’t mean anything.” Brock answered.

“She said you could cut the sexual tension with a knife. If nothing has happened yet, it won’t be long before it does.” Luke said laughing.

“Brooke needs to mind her own damn business.” Brock responded.

“She happened to like Detective…‌what was her name?” Luke began.

“Cavanaugh, Holly Cavanaugh.”

“There you go! She liked Holly. She thought she would be the one woman to put you in your place.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Brock growled back.

“Do you need to take something out of the oven? I think I smell something burning.” Sam said.

“Damn it! See what you have done?” Brock said as he was pulling the tray out of the oven.

Midway through the afternoon, Brock was getting antsy and he couldn’t concentrate on the game as his chips were dwindling to almost nothing and he still hadn’t brought up the topic of friends with benefits. He was torn—he just knew that his brothers would zero in on exactly who he was referring to if he asked.

“Brock!” Sam said as he slugged him in the arm.

“What?”

“It’s your turn, are you in or out? The bet is one dollar.”

“I’m out.” He said throwing his cards in the middle of the table. ‘
It’s now or never.’
he thought to himself. “So have any of you guys come across anyone who had a friends with benefits relationship?”

His question was met with silence as he watched Luke and Sam look at each other and back to him. Pete was the first to speak. “I’ve heard of it, but never had the pleasure of experiencing one. All the women I ever meet want the full blown relationship. You know, going out to dinner, dancing, movies, sleepovers, meeting the family—the whole ball of wax.”

Joe chimed in next. “It sounds like a dream gig to me, but I have never heard of anyone who was able to pull it off.”

“What do you mean ‘pull it off’?” Brock asked.

“Well, for one, it’s a pretty blurry line. What if one of you wants more out of the relationship? Someone is going to end up getting burned. I’m no expert here by any means, but I would never want to do that.”

“Are you considering that crap with Holly?” Luke asked.

“I was just asking—out of curiosity is all.” Brock answered.

“You are so full of crap bro. You are considering it or you wouldn’t have brought it up.” Sam accused.

“Are you going to deal the next hand or are we finished for today?” Brock asked.

Luke wasn’t going to let it drop. “You had better think long and hard on this bro, Holly sounds like a great gal and there is no way in hell that she would go for it anyway. Put that damn thought on the shelf. Why the hell wouldn’t you want to pursue a relationship with her anyway?”

“Yeah.” Sam chimed in. “I’ve never met this Holly, but jeez you’re thirty-two years old—not twenty and I thought you wanted to find someone to spend the rest of your life with—not this college kid crap with only wanting a tumble between the sheets.”

“She already agreed to it.” Brock blurted out.

“What?” Screamed Sam and Luke at the same time.

“Have you…‌?” Luke began before Brock interrupted him.

“No.”

“Don’t do it.” Sam suggested. “You really don’t want that bro.”

“Who the hell’s bright idea was it anyway?” Luke asked.

“Does it matter?” Brock responded.

“Hell yes!” Luke responded. “If she did, it’s one thing, but if it was you bro—well, you need your ass kicked.”

“I think our poker game is over. Everybody out!” Brock shouted as he pushed away from the table.

“Damn it Brock—this is just getting good!” Pete complained.

“Brock’s right—the game is over, you and Joe can leave.” Sam suggested.

“Everybody out
meant
everybody
out—including you and Luke.”

“We need to stick around and knock some sense into you bro.” Sam challenged.

“No, you both need to butt out. It’s none of your business.”

Laughing “That’s where you are wrong bud—you were the one who brought it up which means that you made it our business. Now let’s talk this over before you take that leap and can’t turn back from it.” Luke said.

“I’m done talking about it.”

“Liar—we know you too well. You brought it up because you’re having second thoughts about this new arrangement and you need someone to confirm that it’s a good decision.” Sam stated.

“That’s not true at all. This isn’t between the three of us—it’s between Holly and me. We are both consenting adults and that is what we agreed to.”

“We are telling you that you need to seriously think this through. Hell, if all you wanted was the sex, you should have kept your badge in your pocket at the Double Deuce and taken—what was her name? Oh yeah—Bridget. You should have taken Bridget up on her offer.”

“Go to hell!”

“Hit a nerve did I?” Sam asked.

“Sam is right—Brock, you really need to re-consider this arrangement. It’s not too late.” Luke offered.

“Are you two done? If so, there is the door—if not, I’m out of here.” Brock stated.

“Fine, we’ll leave, but you are making a huge mistake. We only want what is best for you—this isn’t it.” Sam said waving his arms.

Brock grabbed a bottle of beer out of the refrigerator and plopped down in his favorite recliner picking up the TV remote as he started flipping through the channels. Was he making a mistake? Friends with benefits sounded so appealing five days ago. Did he want to pursue a relationship with Holly? The answer was a resounding yes, but that wasn’t an option with Holly. She had been adamant that she wasn’t ready for another relationship. What the hell did he just get himself into? All of a sudden, friends with benefits didn’t sound so appealing anymore.

CHAPTER NINE

Holly arrived at work on Monday morning bright and early and apprehensive as to how the dynamic would be between herself and Brock. It didn’t take long to find out as he entered the office in a really foul mood. “Cavanaugh.”

“Detective McClellan.”

“What did you come up with on Friday—you never called me.” He stated.

“I’m sorry, I thought...”

“That’s your problem Cavanaugh, you think and you don’t act.”

“What the hell crawled up your ass?” She snarled back at him.

Staring at the whiteboard he asked again. “What did you come up with?”

Holly grabbed the files and walked out the door slamming it. “Figure it out yourself asshole.”

Brock closed his eyes and just stood there. “Fuck!” When he did open his eyes, he picked up the dry erase marker and threw it across the room. Next he picked up the eraser and was about to throw it too when Brooke said, “What did the marker and eraser do to you?”

Brock spun around to find that Luke, Sam and Brooke were standing in the doorway of his office. “What the hell do you all want?” He yelled.

“I for one, wanted to meet this Holly that has you all tied up in knots.” Sam said.

“She ain’t here.”

“That is pretty obvious.” Luke stated.

“Are you okay?” Brooke asked.

“I’m just dandy. Is there something I can help you all with? I am pretty busy here.”

Laughing, “Yeah we can see that! I think you have a few more markers to throw yet.” Sam offered.

Brock glared at him. “Ha ha very funny, now was there something the three of you needed?”

“Yes.” Brooke interjected. “I wanted to see if you were busy tonight.”

“No, I’m not. Did you need help with the baby’s room or something?”

“Good! I wanted to have you and Holly over for supper, and Luke and Sam wanted to meet her.”

“Oh hell no!” Brock clipped back at her.

Brooke was shocked at Brock’s response. “You just said you weren’t busy. Now, I don’t see why you can’t come over for supper. I expect you to be there at six o’clock—no excuses.”

“Fine.” He sulked, “I don’t know if you will be able to get Holly there though.”

Sam and Luke looked at each other before Sam said “What the hell did you do now?”

“What makes you think I did anything? Maybe this time it wasn’t me!” Brock said pointing to his chest.

“Oh, I can pretty damn well guarantee that it was you.” Luke stated.

“What makes you jump to that conclusion?” Brock asked.

“I’m not the detective in the family, but even I can see that Holly is nowhere around, and you were in the process of trashing your office. That bro, is all the evidence I need to know that
you
did something to cause her to not be here.” Luke explained.

“It’s none of your business, but I can see you’re not going to just let it go, so here it is. I wasn’t in the best of moods when I got here, and I may have been a little short with her, so she up and left. Are you happy now?”

“I’m really sorry Brock.” Brooke said as she touched him on the arm. “I still want you to come over tonight. You’ll still come—won’t you?”

Giving in to Brooke’s soothing tone, “How can I tell you no. What’s on the menu and what can I bring?”

“Fantastic! We are grilling out—burgers and brats, so if you want to bring some beer that would be great.” Brooke quickly added.

“I’ll be there, but you need to get those two out of here right now.” He said pointing to Sam and Luke.

On the way out, Brooke spotted Holly walking towards the bathroom, so she told Sam and Luke to wait for her in the car while she used the bathroom. “All I do anymore is go to the bathroom.” She said aloud.

Holly came out of the bathroom stall and was shocked to see Brooke standing there. “Brooke? Right?”

“Yes, Holly. I was waiting to speak with you.”

“Me? Why?”

“I enjoyed meeting you last week and I wanted to get to know you better. Would you like that?”

“Sure. I enjoyed meeting you as well, and I have to say that was the best peach cobbler I have ever eaten!”

“I am really happy to hear that Brock shared it with you.”

Laughing, “He didn’t exactly share it with me.”

“I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to explain that one.”

“It was nothing really. Was there something in particular that you needed to speak to me about? Holly asked.

“Like I said, I really liked you after meeting you last week and I do want to get to know you better, so I wanted to invite you over for supper tonight. Luke and I are grilling out and he also wanted to meet you.”

“I would love to come over for a cook out. I would also love to meet one of Detective McClellan’s brothers to see if they all have such glowing personalities.” Holly responded.

“That you will also have to explain to me later too—for now I need to get going. Here is our address. The grill will be hot at six.” She said handing a piece of paper to Holly.

“Can I bring something?” Holly offered.

“Sure, we are grilling hamburgers and brats. Bring something that will go with them.”

“Thank you Brooke, I will be there around six.”

Holly avoided Brock for the remainder of the day. There was no way she was going to be subjected to his foul mood and the way he had treated her earlier. She was actually looking forward to getting a glimpse of his brothers. Surely they weren’t as moody as Brock was.

She hurried home and threw together a pasta salad to take with her using her grandmother’s recipe. It was always a favorite at cookouts. It was a pretty balmy evening, so she put on a pair of shorts and a tank top foregoing the bra. Charlie kept winding himself through her legs and purring trying to get some attention. “Shoo, go lay down—I don’t have time tonight to pet you.” fell on deaf ears as Charlie continued to rub her ankles. “You are going to trip me. Now stop that!”

Brock was on his way over to Luke’s when his phone rang. “Detective McClellan.”

“Brock McClellan?”

“Yes. Who’s calling?”

“This is Taylor at the Wellcare Immediate Clinic.”

“Oh, hello.”

“I am calling you with your test results. Everything came back negative.”

“Thank you for calling.”

“Would you like to pick up your test results or would you prefer I mail them?”

“I am heading that way right now, I will pick them up.”

“Okay, we will see you shortly then.”

Holly arrived at Luke and Brooke’s house a little ahead of time. Before she could knock on the door, Brooke opened it and pulled her into a hug. “I’m so glad you are here!”

“Thanks. I’m a bit early, I hope that isn’t a problem.”

“No, are you kidding me? Come on in. Luke is in the backyard firing up the grill and Sam will be here shortly.”

“Oh, I didn’t know I would get to meet Sam too.”

“Is that a problem?” Brooke asked.

“No, not at all. I was looking forward to meeting Luke, so this is an even better surprise.”

“I do love surprises!” Brooke said as she could hardly contain the smile. “Come on, I will introduce you to Luke.”

Holly followed Brooke through the house and out the back patio door. “Luke! Look who’s here—it’s Holly. She is the detective that I told you I met last week.”

Luke wiped his hands on the front of his pants before extending a hand to Holly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. My wife has told me so much about you.”

Holly automatically shook the offered hand, and was shocked as she was yanked in close for a hug. “Oh my! I sure didn’t expect that! I am pleased to meet you too.”