11. Family
"Gene?"
"Hmmm?"
Gene is lying on his back and Olivia on her side, her head resting on Gene's shoulder. She is drawing patterns on his bare chest. They've been relaxing in bed for a while, after taking a short nap, eating a little and then resuming their bedroom activities. Olivia is glad that Gene isn't in a hurry this time to get somewhere else and she thinks it's a good time for a little chat.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
Gene pulls the comforter up a little until it covers Olivia's bare shoulder and she kisses his nipple to thank him for keeping her warm. Then she asks him,
"Tell me more about your family and friends I'll be meeting?"
Gene turns his head to kiss her forehead and then starts telling her about his parents and two younger brothers, Frank and Blake. His father had amassed his fortune by working hard in his own biotech company and his mother had been the interior decorator for one of the offices.
"They met, hit it off and have been together ever since. 39 years and counting," Gene tells her proudly.
Olivia is mildly surprised. Somehow, with Gene's obvious issues with commitment, she had expected him to come from a broken home. But he assures her that his parents are still very happy together, as she will no doubt see for herself this weekend.
"So they've set a good example," Olivia remarks.
"Hmmm," Gene hums, nodding. "Dad never wanted another woman again after meeting mom."
"And before?"
Gene chuckles.
"You're trying to find out where I got my roving eye from?" he asks with a grin.
"I guess," Olivia says with a shrug, but she's far more interested than she wants to let on.
"I'm not really sure where I get it from. I know dad was popular with the ladies but he doesn't talk much about his time before mom. For me, when we all reached the dating age, I soon found out that when I was with one girl and I saw another one, I wanted to know how she kissed too. Needless to say that my first girlfriend didn't appreciate that."
"I bet."
"I tried to stick to one girlfriend in highschool you know. Because that's what was expected of me."
"But?"
Gene hesitates, and Olivia wonders if there isn't more to Gene's story after all.
"Lets just say that once I had sex with a few different women, I figured it would be a shame for me to pick only one," Gene says after a few moments.
The Detective in her wants to push a little harder because he's clearly leaving something out, but she hesitates. It's none of her business, she tells herself and so instead of prodding into Gene's inner psyche any further for now, she asks him,
"And your brothers?"
"Frank's the serious one of the three. Goes with being the middle child I guess. He's actually been engaged once but the woman bailed on him after five years. It's been a while but I think he's still recovering from that. He's been on a few dates since, but nothing too serious for now. Very boring."
Olivia laughs at Gene's last comment. Of course he would think his brother is boring for not getting laid.
"And Blake, is it? He's the youngest, right?" she asks.
"Yeah. He's our mother's pet. They had him when Frank and I were already in school so he's been spoiled rotten. We tease him with that of course but he can take it. Don't tell him I said it but he's actually a good guy."
"Not boring?" Olivia asks and Gene chuckles.
"Not as boring as Frank, if that's what you mean, but not nearly as exciting as yours truly."
Olivia giggles and pushes herself up on one elbow to look Gene in the eye.
"You're definitely exciting. And sweet."
Gene's eyes soften and he reaches up to caress her cheek.
"So are you."
"I've got my own issues," she tells him. It's not often that someone tells her she's sweet, after all.
"Who says I've got issues?" Gene retorts, as if her choice of words somehow contain a mild judgment of his lifestyle.
"I didn't say that," Olivia is quick to say, but his defensiveness actually tells her that there may be something there after all.
"You had better not. It's enough that my mother thinks I'm crazy for still not settling down."
"She probably wants grandkids by now," Olivia guesses and Gene rolls his eyes.
"Please don't bring that up when you meet her, alright? Let her focus on getting Frank a new bride-to-be so she'll leave me alone."
Olivia leans in to kiss Gene on the lips.
"I won't bring it up, promise," she mumbles against his lips, trying very hard to banish any thoughts of having kids from her mind.
Gene's hands begin to roam, one hand finding a breast while the other tangles in her hair.
"You're so fucking gorgeous," he tells her and she accepts the compliment without reading too much into it. There are millions of gorgeous women in the world and Gene doesn't want to pick just one, so she shouldn't let her mind go there. He is her escape from her hectic, oftentimes dark work life and she is one of several women who appreciate his body immensely. She doesn't know how many women he sees on and off exactly, and she doesn't want to know. When he pulls her in for another kiss, she closes her eyes and sinks into him once more. It's their third time of the night and she knows she will be sore in the morning but she doesn't care. She will carry it as a reminder that sex is supposed to be thrilling and satisfying, and not a weapon to be used against the defenseless.
…
It's Friday afternoon at last and Olivia is packed and ready to go when Gene arrives to pick her up for their trip to the Butler Estate on Long Island. Olivia grins when she sees the white limousine in front of her building. She should have known. The driver quickly puts her luggage in the trunk while Gene helps her into the spacious backseat of the limo. It's not her first limo ride with him but it's not something she is used to yet either. She wonders now if she's properly dressed to meet the Butlers and smooths out the skirt of her purple dress when the car begins to move.
"You look absolutely stunning," Gene tells her as if reading her mind and she smiles at him.
He looks great himself in his tuxedo, a black one this time with a crisp white shirt. He catches her taking him in and shrugs.
"Mom's orders," he tells her by way of explanation. "She's traditional that way."
Olivia tries to relax during the drive but can't help wondering about Mrs. Butler. Blake may be her favorite because he's the youngest, but Gene also seems to be trying to please her. She wonders if all three men are as handsome as Gene, and if they got their looks from their father.
When they arrive, Olivia forgets all her questions and just takes in her surroundings. The white mansion is stunning, a truly classical building, complete with huge pillars framing the stairs leading up to the entrance. There is a fountain in front of the main house, the driveway wrapping around it, and there is a secluded parking area to the side, surrounded by trees. Gene takes her hand as they walk up the stairs to the house and holds it when they walk inside to find his parents. Olivia looks behind her but she should have known that their luggage is already being attended to. They walk through the main hall and Olivia looks up to try and see where the stairs lead.
"Later," Gene tells her softly. "We have to greet the folks first."
Olivia wonders if this is what it feels like to meet the in-laws for the first time, because she's actually nervous. She wants them to like her so they won't bother Gene, she tells herself. Yes, that's it. He just asked her along to have a good time and get his mother off his back, and she gets to spend a long weekend in luxury and with good food and sex as a reward. She's made worse deals in her life.
Once they've crossed the main hall, Gene leads her through the large double doors underneath the stairs into a spacious room that is as wide as the entire main building and looks like a giant indoor veranda with an amazing view of the gardens.
Gene grips her hand a little tighter when he spots his parents and she wonders if he's a little nervous himself. But why would he be? Mr. Butler, in a spotless black tuxedo like his son, spots them and waves them over, nudging his wife to let her know they have arrived. Mrs. Butler's face lights up when she sees them and Olivia immediately registers how much these people love their son. Blake may be the spoiled one but she is certain that the other two brothers have never had a lack of love, judging by how happy the older couple is to see them.
Mr. Butler has white hair and a white, neatly trimmed beard and mustache, very much a distinguished gentleman. He clasps Gene's outstretched hand with both hands and shakes it. He has his father's eyes, Olivia thinks, just before Mrs. Butler addresses her.
"And what is your name, young lady? Gene here didn't bother to let us know who he was bringing."
"As usual," Mr. Butler adds with a wink that tells Olivia that it doesn't bother the older man one bit.
"Hank!" Mrs. Butler shushes her husband, but the man just keeps grinning.
Mrs. Butler rolls her eyes and Olivia likes how playful they are with each other.
"I'm Olivia, pleased to meet you," Olivia responds and Gene finally has to let go of her hand when Mrs. Butler reaches for both her hands with outstretched arms.
"A lovely name for a lovely lady. Welcome to our home, and please call me Anne."
Anne Butler squeezes her hands before letting go. She looks like a classy woman, her greyish blonde hair cut in a modern bob and wearing a layered black and brown dress that flows loosely around her body and ends about a foot above her ankles. She's in high heels and Olivia has no doubt that she can still walk in them like a queen.
They trade places then and Hank Butler greets Olivia cordially while Anne Butler hugs oldest child.
"She's beautiful," mother whispers to son and Gene smiles proudly when they break apart.
He knew Olivia would pass the first test with flying colors. Not that the Butlers only judge people on their appearance, but still, it's the first thing you see. But anyone can tell that Olivia isn't just beautiful on the outside, he thinks. She radiates kindness, even if she seems a little guarded now. He's seen her tough side when she's at work but he sees her softness most clearly when she sleeps. She must have been an adorable girl when she was little.
He realizes that he knows nothing at all about Olivia's life. He usually doesn't know a lot about the women he's with, only what they choose to divulge when they're out on the town with him. But Olivia hasn't told him a single thing about herself or her family. He doesn't know if she has siblings or even if her parents are still alive. It hits him that she knows more about him than he knows about her. And that's new. Gene Butler doesn't share. He only enjoys, and gives pleasure. It's intimate yet impersonal, with no risks of getting hurt.
"Gene?"
He snaps out of his thoughts and looks at Olivia, who is gesturing at the other guests that are enjoying drinks and a variety of hors 'd'oeuvres. His parents have already moved on to greet the next guests arriving.
"You wanna point out your brothers to me, and other people I should know?"
"Yes, of course," he says quickly, taking her hand once again. "Let's see if Frankie's here yet."
They walk through the huge glass sliding doors that lead outside. The back of the classical mansion is surprisingly modern and light, the main building materials being glass and white marble. They walk down the marble stairs that fan out into the lawn. The tables are arranged so that guests will automatically veer to the right towards the pool area and the outside bar, where a stage has been set up for a live band.
"Mother will want to show off her gardens before the weekend is over," Gene tells Olivia, gesturing to his left. "But we're going to party a little first."
He plucks two glasses of champagne off the tray of a waiter passing them and hands one to Olivia. They clink their glasses together but before they can even take a sip, they are interrupted by a loud "Genie!" from behind Olivia.
"Frankie!" Gene shouts back before the two brothers grab each other's right hand and bump their right shoulders together.
It only takes Frank a second to turn and check out his older brother's companion.
"And who do we have here?"
…
More soon!
A/N: I imagine Hank Butler to look somewhat like Sean Connery in Hunt For Red October and Anne Butler looks like Helen Mirren in my mind. Will post pictures with my Update Tweet :D
Meanwhile, your reviews are appreciated. The next chapter will have some more 'action' ;)