“Oh, yeah…they just don’t get their kicks by defacing property. Stealing a tractor for a joy ride, bonfires, and beer parties. Deer hunting off season.”

Karen couldn’t imagine. “Did you hunt?”

“Been years. But yeah.”

“Did you like it?”

He turned off the main road and out of town toward the residential portion of Hilton. “Didn’t hate it. Might have enjoyed it more if I liked the taste of venison. My mom’s a good cook, but I never did like the gamey taste of deer.”

Karen smiled at a couple who stopped to watch them drive by. “Doesn’t taste like chicken?”

“Not even close.”

“Has to be better than snails.”

Michael made a heaving noise. They’d both tried escargot and both decided the French laughed at every American who ate the crap. “Stupid Americans. They’ll eat anything,” she said with her best French accent. They both laughed at the memory of their time in France.

There were several cars parked on the streets outside of the houses. Unlike homes in California, here there was sufficient space between the homes, and each one looked different from its neighbor. He slowed down in front of a two-story traditional with room in the drive for their rental. “You ready?” he asked.

Karen had never had a home to go home to. Although her heart rate had kicked up a notch as he put the car in park, there was an excitement to meeting the people with whom Michael grew up. Regardless of their not truly married status, Michael was a friend, and she couldn’t remember seeing a more genuine smile on his face in the past. That made her extremely happy.

“I’m ready. Are you ready?”

Michael no sooner twisted the key away from the ignition than the door to the house swung open and out poured a gaggle of people.

One step out of the car, and a young teenage girl ran to him with open arms. “Mikey!”

Here we go.

Zach held back and let his family welcome home the famous son. Hannah couldn’t hold in her enthusiasm as she jumped into Mike’s arms and he swung her around. Judy quickly followed while little Eli ran around their feet in his excitement. Eli couldn’t really know Mike all that much, except for the pictures and explanation that Mike was his uncle.

“Is that her?” Zach’s mom whispered to him as they stood on the porch and waited for the youngest girls to give Mike and Karen a chance to get out of the car.

“Yeah.”

“She doesn’t look like the pictures.”

He stared at her now. “No, she doesn’t.” She looks better in person.

As if Karen sensed their stares, she looked directly at him.

He stilled and the air around him charged.

“She’s hot,” Joe whispered behind him, jolting him out of his thoughts.

“Aren’t you married to my sister?”

Joe was Rena’s husband, and had been since they married right after high school. They adored each other.

“I’m not blind.”

His mom moved from her perch and the rest of them followed.

“Hey, Rena.” Mike hugged the oldest sister and tickled the baby’s chin. “She’s grown,” Mike said.

“Eighteen months next week.”

Rena stood back and gave their mom her turn. Mike pulled her into a hug and lifted her off the ground.

“I was starting to think you forgot about us,” Janice said.

“I’ve had a crazy year,” he told them. Then as if he realized for the first time that his wife stood by his side, he lifted his arm to Karen and invited her into the circle of their family.

“Mom, this is Karen. Karen, my mom, Janice.”

Karen smiled, her perfect teeth shining. “It’s a pleasure, Mrs. Gardner.”

“Oh, Janice. Please.” Zach could see wonder in Karen’s face when Janice pulled her into a hug.

The girls stood back and let Mike introduce his wife.

“We’re so excited you’re finally here.”

“Michael has had a very busy schedule this year. I’ve heard so much about all of you.”

“Where’s Dad?” Mike asked as he looked around.

“Closing up the shop,” Rena told him.

Zach felt Mike’s disappointment. Not that he should have expected anything different. Their father put work first. Almost before his family. It’s just the way it had always been.

“This is Joe, Rena’s husband,” Mike told Karen.

Karen was too close to do anything other than shake hands, which appeared awkward for her.

“And you know Zach.”

If watching her shake hands with Joe felt awkward, it had nothing on the open arms she presented to him. It was as if she knew they should be on a somewhat more familiar basis…and she was, but their brief hug did nothing other than remind him of the peach shampoo she used and the overall intensity he felt in her presence.

The desire to hold her, suck her in, made him hold on a fraction too long.

She stepped back and didn’t meet his gaze. Instead, she looked beyond him.

Zach twisted around and tried to focus.

He cleared his throat. “Mike, Karen…this is Tracey…my girlfriend.”

Chapter Seven

The entire time Karen sat among the Gardners, all she could see was the one person in the room who wasn’t related by blood or marriage.

Tracey walked around the home, occasionally placing her hand on Zach’s shoulder to gain his attention, but otherwise acting as if she belonged. She did, and would much longer than Karen.

Zach had yet to keep eye contact with her for more than a second. Neither of them had forgotten or misinterpreted what had happened in the driveway back in Beverly Hills. As much as Karen wanted to forget that moment, she couldn’t.

She had no right to feel misled by the fact that Zach had a girlfriend, considering she was the married one, but the feeling was there nonetheless.

Thank God, they hadn’t kissed. There would be no way she could have walked in the door with Michael if she could taste his brother on her lips.

The Gardner family home held a spacious living room complete with a fireplace, worn and comfortable sofas, and reclining chairs. Rena had put her daughter down for a nap in one of the upstairs bedrooms, while everyone else gathered in the living room. Karen had yet to see where she and Michael would be sleeping. She never made it past the living room before someone suggested she and Michael sit and allow the family to quiz them.

As Zach had told Karen, Hannah talked obsessively. “I can’t believe you’re finally here,” Hannah told them.