Family Secrets

Jess looked up at each of the faces.  Mick was so obviously in love with her mother that she hurt for him.  Colin on the other hand was looking down at Jess as though she might be dessert.  This was going to be fun. She smiled.

“Detective, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said as she shook Mick’s hand.

“Captain,” she said as she shook Colin’s hand.

Jess was five feet four inches tall and usually made up for it by wearing five inch high platform heels but tonight she was wearing shorts so she had on three inch high wedge sandals.  Colin was just over six feet tall making him about six inches taller that she was.  He was a good-looking guy and it was obvious from his demeanor that he was used to women swooning over his title, his muscles, and his looks.  Colin apparently hadn’t taken some things into consideration.  The obvious thing was that with Ben Bellini standing next to him Colin was nearly invisible. Not that Jess ever thought of Ben that way, just that she was stating the obvious.  Then Colin was unaware that Jess was used to Hollywood types, gorgeous men with HUGE egos.  Most importantly was that Jess Parker just didn’t swoon.  Ever. Well, maybe if it was written in a script. She turned to walk away.

“Jess, could I buy you a drink?”

She turned and smiled.  “Captain, it’s an open bar, but I can show you the way.”  As she’d thought earlier, this was going to be fun; after all, she liked a good game of cat and mouse especially since she was always the cat.

“Call me Colin,” he said as he followed her toward the kitchen.  Jess held up a tumbler and raised an eyebrow.  He opted for a Jack and Coke.  She added ice and a generous portion of Jack Daniels before adding a splash of Coke.  Let’s see how the man handles his liquor.  She filled a rocks glass with ice, added Diet Coke, and a splash of Jack for herself.  She handed him his glass and suggested that they go outside.

Meg and Jake had returned to the patio after seeing Lane’s new car and were sitting at the same table they’d occupied earlier.  Jess could have sat down with them, but it’s so much easier to play cat and mouse alone and since she was only home for a couple of days, this had to be a quick game anyway.

Inside, the party was winding down, and it seemed that Lane spent much of her time at the door accepting birthday wishes, shaking hands, hugging people, and kissing cheeks.  She looked around the house.  Ben was such a neat freak, and while the party guests were civilized, there’s always a mess after a party.  Jamie was already making the rounds picking up dirty glasses and plates and carrying them into the kitchen.  Lane wondered where the rest of the Parker clean-up crew was.  She was certain that the kids had promised to do the clean-up if Ben would provide the location.  She was also certain that Ben had hired a professional clean-up crew to come in Sunday and that, the kids would only have to do pick up duty.

“A fire captain.  That sounds like a really important job.”  Jess actually fluttered her eyelashes.  It was like bowling in a way, set ‘em up, knock ‘em down.  “You must have to be really smart and strong for that.”  Yes, she really did touch his bicep.  “Oooh, you must work out all of the time.”

Ben looked through the window overlooking the patio. He pulled out his phone and sent Jess a text.

Jess’s phone buzzed and she looked down.  “Ease up kitty, shoes if u r nice.” It wasn’t fair, Ben knew her weakness.  Okay, she’d play nice.  Besides, it was getting late.

“It’s too bad you got here so late. We’re having a little brunch tomorrow.  Maybe you could come by our house.”  She took Colin’s phone and put her number in it.  “You can text me if you want the address.”  She tossed her head drawing attention to her thick, carefully highlighted, blonde hair, which fell perfectly around her shoulders.  “I have clean-up duty.” She got up, and smiled.  The poor guy hadn’t said a word.  Dessert my ass, she thought as she sent Ben a text.

Ben looked at his phone.  “Loubouton Carlota.” He had no idea what they looked like, but he knew the heel would be over five inches, they’d be Italian, and they’d be expensive.  For years, he’d been using her shoe habit to bribe her. In fact as an a

Jake saw Jess get up.  “I guess it’s time to start with the clean-up.  We promised Ben.”  He stood up.  “This was nice,” he said.

Meg stood up too.  “I can help with clean-up.”  She smiled.  They walked around the patio picking up glasses and plates before heading into the kitchen.

Jamie was loading the dishwasher.  “Just put them on the counter. Mom invited Ben’s uncles to brunch tomorrow at home, so Ben and Mom are going to the store.  I’ll stay here and do dish duty.  I can text when I’m finished so you can come back for me.”

“You could probably drive Ben’s Navigator home.  He’ll be with Mom in her new car but he’ll want the SUV tomorrow.”

Jake and Meg made a sweep of the house and ran into Jess.

She looked at Jake and Meg and smiled.  “Meg, why don’t you join us tomorrow for brunch?”

Chapter 21

Sunday Brunch

Ben was glad that there was an all-night grocery nearby.  He only used fresh ingredients.  It wouldn’t be an Italian family Sunday brunch without handmade pasta and Bellini special sauce.

They were at the grocery when Ben’s cell rang.  “Bellini.  Sure, Bambino, you know where the keys are.  I’m going to be up half the night making pasta and sauce anyway.” Ben looked at Lane.  “Jamie is staying to do dish duty.  He’s going to drive the Navigator home when he’s finished.”

When they arrived at Lane’s house, Jake and Jess were already there.  Ben and the kids encouraged Lane to go to bed assuring her that they’d handle the cooking.  Ben said he’d crash for a while on the couch in the family room while the sauce simmered.  He was glad that when Lane remodeled the kitchen she’d put in a six burner gourmet cooking range.

“So, Jess, what’s with that guy you were talking to at the party,” Jake asked.

“He investigated mom’s car fire.  He’s a fire captain or something.”  She smiled at Ben.  “I invited him to brunch.” She raised her eyebrows.  “I might need more incentive tomorrow if he shows.”

Ben was up to his elbows in pasta dough.  “We’ll see.  I haven’t checked the price tag on the last negotiation yet.”

“I could do it as a favor, but then you’d owe me,” she said as she opened the fridge and got a bottle of water. “I’m going to bed.”

Ben shook his head as he laughed. “He might be a fire captain, but maybe he needs to learn not to play with fire since some fires are completely out of his league.”

Ben looked at Jake.  “Hey, will you call the Bambino and tell him to grab some sausages from the freezer.”

Ben had called Jamie Bambino - kid, since their first meeting.  Jamie was the youngest of the Parker kids; and for some reason, Jamie had attached himself to Ben like a magnet.  Jamie wasn’t sassy like Jess, or confident like Jake.  Jess often called Jamie the good kid.  Not that Jess or Jake ever did anything really wrong.  Jamie was just more quiet and introspective.

Jake made the call then looked at Ben.

“What do you think about Mom’s assistant?”

“In what respect, Jake?”

“You know, as a person, as a woman.”

“I’ve only met her a couple of times, Jake.  As a person, she seems nice.  Your mom likes her.  I trust that, you know?”  Ben smiled.  “As a woman? I can’t answer that one for you.  I know she has a kid, and I have to respect that she chose to have and keep the baby.  A lot of women have made a much different choice.  That tells me something about her. You think you’re interested in her?”