A tiny bit of "M." Nothing major but I like to be upfront. ;-)
Cal narrowed his eyes and frowned. "I am not putting paisley sheets on my bed."
Emily's grin didn't diminish. "How about the ones with the chili peppers?"
He turned to give Gillian a helpless look but she just stared back, lips twitching as she fought back a smile.
With grim resignation, but to the delight of both ladies, he found himself at the mall after dinner. He was usually a search, destroy and get the hell out kind of guy but naturally they weren't having it.
"Navy. Just find some navy ones with a decent thread count."
"You care about the thread count?" Gill's brows went up.
He suddenly looked a little sheepish. "They're softer with a higher thread count."
"BORING." His daughter declared but found something quickly. "This work?"
"Yeah. Fine. Let's go."
Gillian looked past Cal to catch Emily's eye. "Didn't you want to look in the print store? See if you could find something for your walls?"
"You're right! I almost forgot!"
Cal stared daggers at both of them but they ignored him. He let out a sigh, once again resigned to his fate as he trailed behind them, heading for the cashier.
Two hours later, they left the mall right at closing time. Lots of bedding, posters, and a large screen plasma t.v. which Cal had found a good deal on accompanied them home. He could have sworn that his credit card was slightly warm. He said as much and Emily just huffed. The insurance company had finally coughed up and she knew it.
"We could always go by the import store and see about some funky masks and statues." Emily made the suggestion but didn't expect much to come out of it. "Tomorrow, I mean."
Cal was quiet, a sense of melancholy pervading once again. He pushed it back, knowing that Em meant well. "Feels kind of like cheating when you buy stuff at those places." His collection had been established over years of travels. And then gone in a single night.
"I'm sorry dad." She knew him too well.
"It's fine luv. Just gives me an excuse to go back." He glanced over his shoulder. "And this time take you."
"Hmmm…that would be pretty cool."
"How do you feel about bugs?"
"Not very highly."
"Gonna have to modify things then."
"Sounds like it. You wouldn't want to be crawling around through jungles at your age anyway."
"Eh! None uh that!" The injured tone was a little too heavy.
Emily could see him smiling. That was good.
"Did you want to just drop me off on the way back?" Gillian had been enjoying the verbal tennis match but now turned to him, her hand reaching out, gently touching his arm before giving it a squeeze.
He didn't look at her and continued to concentrate on his driving. "Nope."
"Cal…"
"No, darlin'. You helped choose a lot of this stuff, so you get to help us with it." He turned and flashed her a quick grin in the dim light.
She knew he had ulterior motives but it was still early enough. Besides, she was enjoying herself, enjoying her time with Cal and Emily. She felt like she was part of their family. Of course they'd always treated her in that regard but now, it seemed more…official, for lack of a better word. Maybe she was making assumptions but it was almost like they both knew something she didn't, so they were making an even larger effort to include her.
"I guess I could hang out a little longer tonight."
"Now what would you do at home anyway?" Besides worry but he didn't add that in. "Couldn't be as much fun as staying with me...I mean, us."
"Most likely not." Her voice was matter of fact for Emily's sake but she shot him a sultry look.
He caught it and unconsciously swallowed.
She licked her lips, now careful to keep her gaze straight ahead.
"Full evening, eh?" His voice was slightly hoarse.
"You know guys, I am back here." Emily reminded them, amusement evident.
So much for subtly. Cal cleared his throat. "Quiet you."
Blushing, Gillian didn't comment, instead choosing to look out the window, the ghost of a smile reflecting back at her in the darkened glass.
(BREAK)
Gillian helped Emily with the placement of some of her chosen wall décor while Cal fixed up his bed. Crossing to the narrow staircase that led up to his daughter's attic room, he could hear laughter and bits of their conversation drifting down. Warmth flowed through him at the sound. It meant everything to him that the two most important people in his life were so close. He listened for a moment longer before turning and heading down to the living room.
The new television was in its box leaning against the wall. He'd mount it in the morning. Too much trouble tonight. Instead, he flopped on his new couch and stretched his feet out over the new coffee table. Everything was just too damned new. He could feel it as well as smell it. Some people found it exciting. He wasn't one of them.
Dark thoughts began to invade his mind as soon as he was settled. He tried to put up a mental retaining wall but they flowed over and around, as if it were nothing. This whole Russell thing wasn't going to go away. The man had his sights on Gillian and had every intention of getting her. The guy was obviously unstable. Sociopath? Seemed kind of emotional for that, but then again, it could easily be a show. That's what they did. They presented the proper face to get what they wanted. Master manipulators. Kind of like him. Oh, there's a lovely thought.
He could really use a drink. Shit. The house was currently dry. He'd have to rectify that later. Probably for the best at the moment though. Needed to keep a clear head. He wanted to contact the cops but there was nothing they could do right now. Tessler hadn't done a damned thing. Frustrating. It would have been better if the guy had attacked him earlier. Technically he was trespassing and all but it still would have at least brought the eyes of the law onto the man.
"What are you thinking? As if I couldn't guess." Gillian gracefully moved down the steps as Cal watched.
"Nothing much."
"Yeah right."
"How's Em's room coming?"
"Deflection."
"Your point?"
She let it go. For the moment. "I would have given my eye teeth for a room like that when I was a teenager." She crossed to the couch and lowered herself down, one leg automatically folding under her.
"Eye teeth, eh? Glad it didn't happen. I like you with all your teeth." He was staring at her mouth.
"Do you now?" She had positioned herself close to him, leg touching his.
"Uh huh." Cal stared at her, his face still but eyes darkening.
"I suppose there's something to be said for having all your teeth." Gillian smiled in demonstration and it was lovely.
He felt his breathing begin to shallow and his heart accelerate. Without thought, he leaned into her and pressed his mouth to hers tenderly. She made a tiny noise of surprise before pressing back and parting her lips. Her hands found there way into his hair and around the back of his neck while his arms wrapped around her back and waist to pull her even closer. The kiss quickly spiked to unreserved passion as tongues prodded and teeth collided. It was hot and wet and so very exciting. Somehow she wound up straddled across his lap, pressing down upon him, mussing his hair, all the while feeling his hands wander across her body. One stroked her hip and upper thigh while the other brazenly trailed across her right breast, stopping to gently cup it as his thumb rubbed circles over the suddenly erect nipple. A shudder ran through her as she heard him moan against her lips. Her fingers began to work the buttons of his shirt.
"Guys? I'm coming down. Giving fair warning. Don't want to walk into something that might scar me for life." Emily's voice was smug, almost like she'd already peaked.
Cal and Gill both froze for a moment before she scrambled off and away from him. He stared at her shocked, still breathing hard but managed a smile. One of his beautiful ones. It warmed his entire face and eyes and reminded her how handsome he could be when he wasn't being a pain in the ass.
They could both hear footsteps coming down. Very slowly at that. Good girl.
Reaching over, she rubbed a thumb over his lips to remove her lipstick while he still smiled. Her eyes traveled the length of his body before widening. She then handed him a throw pillow.