HOUSEWARMING
Alex, Jake, Cody, and Monica all stared at their fearless leader in utter disbelief. He wanted to invite them to his new house over the three-day weekend? He had even invited them to take a guest room and spend the night. Damn. What was wrong with this picture? The Boss was actually going to allow them to take a sneak peek into his private life, to allow them to enter his precious new domicile? The longer they thought about it, the more certain they were that Loralei was behind this little deal. Of course, they didn't doubt Donovan liked them, might even be fond of them, but they had never expected such an unexpected invitation. Donovan, in turn, was surprised when they all accepted the offer. When he made mention of Farron, Donovan paid close attention to the expressions on Alex and Jake's faces. Jake flinched the slightest bit, but Alex seemed unaffected. Perhaps this won't be a disaster after all, Donovan thought.
* * *
Loralei came home early from class. The day was warm and beautiful, and there was no way she wanted to stay inside. After picking up Rachel from Angie's [Donovan had yet to run background checks on their neighbor], she drove toward home. She decided that as soon as they arrived home, she and Rachel would become acquainted with nature for a change, her writing and studying could wait. Once Rachel was secure in the carry thingy Loralei called her 'papoose,' she walked out into the backyard and went prospecting in the little thatch of trees that made up the rear of their property. Property, she thought wonderingly. She had never thought she would associate that word with herself. She went through an opening between two trees and walked toward the little duck pond that she had fallen in love with the moment she visited the house for the first time. She burst into an uncontrollable giggling fit as her eyes identified the funky looking leaves of a poison oak plant. On their second day of occupancy, she and Donovan had gone for a little walk back here, and as to be expected, the walk had become a nice session of lovemaking. When they had gotten dressed and were headed back toward the house, Donovan had cried out an indignant 'oh shit.' He brought Loralei's attention to the poison oak, and she couldn't help but laugh until she cried. They had made love out on the grass, near a tree, and he was certain his bare ass had been planted firmly on the poison oak. Of course, both of them would probably break out, but the image of her husband scratching his ass sent her over the edge of sanity and into the land of the heehawing donkey. Donovan wasn't so thrilled. As it turned out, they had successfully skirted the poison oak. Just last night, Loralei had asked her husband if he wanted to take another walk in the woods, and his reply had been swift and deadly serious: hell no. He opted for the bathtub instead.
As she hiked up the papoose [her daughter was becoming heavier by the second], she saw that she was getting close to the residence of their neighbor. What was her name again? Mara? Dara? No, Kara, you idiot. Kara Everett. She had almost turned to walk toward the other end of their property until she saw the cool blonde in her backyard. Loralei noticed that her house was quite large as well, but was probably twice the size of hers and Donovan's. Our house is a fucking cathedral. What's hers like? The Taj Mahal? With Rachel gurgling 'mamamama,' Loralei changed direction and decided to approach the woman. After all, she had been sweet enough to welcome them to the neighborhood and had made them a beautiful gift basket. Perhaps she would invite Kara and her family to the party. The more the merrier.
"Hi," Loralei called as she approached the other woman, "I hope I'm not interrupting you."
Kara looked up with a smile. "I guess I deserve it for interrupting you," she said. "Really, I was just out here digging around in the garden."
"My husband and I are throwing a house warming party with a few of our mutual friends. You and yours are welcome to attend."
She tossed a stray lock of blonde hair off her forehead. "How thoughtful of you. I'd love to attend, but I'll be going stag, I suppose. I'm not married."
"Oh, okay," Loralei said, startled. She lived alone in her huge house? Damn. What a lonely existence. Then again, some folks tended to enjoy living alone. "Well, the invitation stands. Saturday night, seven until whenever my husband gets cranky."
"Sounds lovely."
As Loralei walked back toward her house, she wondered whom she could fix up with Kara. Cody? Hmmm. Farron? No way. Farron didn't necessarily like plain women. Although beautiful and cultured, Kara wasn't as flashy or as strong as the women her brother in-law normally fancied. Definitely Cody.
* * *
Before making his way toward home, Donovan dropped in on Farron. Since he had let go of his drug trafficking lifestyle, his brother lived modestly and plainly. Donovan wasn't sure where Farron had funneled his drug money, and he really didn't want to know. His relationship with Farron had improved tremendously over the last several months, and he really didn't want anything to interfere. He banged on Farron's door about ten times, and almost walked away until he heard movement within the apartment. Donovan was about to spit out a petulant 'it's about time,' but his voice died the moment he laid eyes on the person answering the door. It wasn't Farron, that was for damn sure. It was a tall woman with long blonde hair in an immodest stage of undress. She stared at him in shock. Apparently, his brother had failed to tell his lady friend that he had a twin. Slightly stunned and a bit embarrassed, she turned away and bolted toward the back of the apartment. What a greeting, he thought. Stupidly, Donovan stood at the door while the woman retrieved his brother. Donovan glanced down at his wristwatch. It's six and he's in bed, he thought. Then again, he was a horrid hypocrite. How often in the past week or so had he and Loralei lolled in bed all day? They had done that several times until they brought Rachel home.
After a few moments, Farron sauntered out of his bedroom dressed in a light blue silk robe. He glanced at Donovan at the door and then he turned toward the bedroom and asked the woman why she hadn't invited him in. "Frank, why are you still standing out there? Please, come in."
For a moment, Donovan wasn't sure he wanted to enter the room. His brother had apparently been in the middle of something. No wonder Alex had given him the boot. He entered the apartment and closed the door behind him. Farron had made himself comfortable at the tiny breakfast nook. Donovan saw one last glimpse of the woman before she closed the bedroom door. He hadn't realized how much of a playboy his brother was.
"So," Farron said with a smile, "what brings you back to downtown?"
"It's obvious you might be occupied this weekend, but I'll ask anyway. Loralei and I are having this weekend housewarming thing, and we have tons of space and a few extra bedrooms. If you're not involved with something else, you're welcome to come out. I don't think Loralei would mind if you brought your friend."
Farron laughed a little and glanced briefly at his closed bedroom door. "Ah. Heidi? No, she isn't exactly the housewarming party type. She's more along the lines of a rock club or something. I'd love to come. I think it would be a nice change of environment. Besides, I haven't really seen my niece that much in the past few weeks."
Donovan absently caressed the nape of his neck. It was time to bring up something awkward. "We've invited both Jake and Alex. Is that going to be a problem for you?"
A sardonic smile curled Farron's lips as his eyes lit up mischievously. "Alex and Jake, eh? That should be…interesting. Actually, my dear brother, I don't have a problem with either of them. Jake might still have a problem with me, but perhaps we can avoid each other. We could sleep at opposite ends of the house, no? Jake hasn't had much of a problem with me anyway, not lately, not since Alex and I mutually agreed not to see each other."
His words struck Donovan oddly. Loralei had mentioned almost the same thing. She had been evasive and wouldn't elaborate. Maybe Farron would. "Why would Jake not have an issue with you after you stopped seeing Alex?"
Farron chuckled. "Oh, Frank. Don't tell me you haven't noticed either?"
Oblivious, Donovan shook his head. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Farron."
"Apparently your wife failed to mention her motivation for inviting both Jake and Alex to spend the weekend together? She saw it, too. Your two agents seem to have deep feeling for each other, but they haven't really acted on it. I think Jake's feelings for Alex were what made him dislike me so, well that and what happened before your daughter was born."
Donovan literally gawped at his brother. What the hell was he talking about? "Farron, that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Jake and Alex are partners, professional partners, part of my team. Of course, they've had to go UC as a couple before, but they're not a couple."
Farron nodded as a way to acknowledge his brother's words. "Not yet, but they may very well be after this weekend. Ask your wife, she's Alex's friend. She knows."
* * *
That night, Donovan arrived home around eightish. He found his wife upstairs in one of the extra bedrooms. She had been using the one nearest the master bedroom as her 'office.' Tonight, she sat behind her computer banging away at the keyboard, likely working on another paper or book review for a class. He noticed that she had already made up the room for their 'guests.' He had instructed his team and Farron to bring comfortable sleeping bags, because he knew from experience that the hardwood floors weren't kind to the back. Loralei was so into her project that she hadn't heard him enter the room. His hands suddenly fell on her shoulders. He smiled a little as she cried out in surprise.
"Shit," she spat. "One of these days, Donovan, you're going to do that, and I'm going to take you out."
He laughed a little and kissed the top of her head. "Sorry my love, but I do enjoy hearing ugly words coming out of your beautiful mouth." He stared over her shoulder at the computer screen. "Delving Inside the Criminal Mind," he read. "Heavy topic, you should be able to write from personal experience."
"No shit," she said. Her heart was still larruping in her chest. "What took you so long to get home? Did you get stuck in traffic?"
"Nope," he said as his hands began to knead her shoulders. "I stopped by Farron's to tell him about this weekend. He said he would come, and that Alex and Jake's presence wouldn't be an issue."
She smiled a little. "Told you."
He laughed a little. "We're smug tonight, aren't we? Loralei, Farron said something fairly interesting tonight. Are you trying to put Jake and Alex together? He seems to think there's something going on between them, and he claims that you know this and you're working as some type of matchmaker. Is this true?"
"Uhhhhhhh, nope."
Her response was a bit too sudden for his liking. She had done this before, hadn't she? "Come on, Loralei, 'fess up, baby. You're caught in a trap and you can't walk out."
"Who are you? Elvis Presley? I don't know where Farron gets his information. I have nothing on my mind but spending time with some old friends. Nothing more," she said innocently.
He leaned over her, slipping his arms through hers. He gently pushed her hands off the keyboard and typed out 'bullshit.' She slapped his hands away as if they were annoying flies and typed 'you're a jerk.' He moved his hands back over the keyboard and typed 'and your point is?' She elbowed him in the ribs and he stepped back, caressing his hurt spot. She turned toward him and watched him closely.
"Your damn elbow is as sharp as a Ginsu knife," he complained good-naturedly. "Whatever your plan is, forget about it. You are quite the schemer."
She smiled. "I can agree with that. I do scheme." She raised her hands defensively. "I promise, I'll behave."
With a grin, he crossed his arms over his chest and watched her. "Will you? I doubt it."
He turned away and walked toward the door. Before he made his escape, Loralei sprang up from her chair and ran toward him. She literally jumped him from behind, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. It was Donovan's turn to gasp aloud. For a moment, he reeled forward, nearly spilling them both on the floor.
"What the hell are you doing," he asked through his laughter.
"I'm behaving myself," she said as she ran a hand through his hair, corkscrewing it.
"The hell you are. We could have taken a nose dive down the stairs," he said.
"Naw, not possible. I don't know what it is about this place, Frank, but it makes me feel horny twenty-four hours a day. What's say we wonder through the poison oak before dinner?"
"I don't think so. One close call is enough for me."
"Aw," she whined playfully. "I'd love to see you scratching your ass. I might even scratch it for you."
He shook his head. "This place not only makes you horny, but it's also driving you insane. I don't need poison oak for you to scratch up my ass, you know. There are other ways," he said as he began moving forward.
"Where are you taking me," she asked suspiciously.
He laughed and then bit his bottom lip. "Where do you think?"
"Okay, Frank. Fine. But when we're finished, you are mopping the damn floor."
* * *
On Friday night, Loralei had everything in order for the weekend guests. Cody, Jake, Alex, and Monica arrived at about the same time. Cody and Jake would share the room that housed Loralei's computer, and Alex and Monica would share the room just down the hall.
"This place is a freaking mansion," Cody exclaimed. "I'm tempted to slide down the banister. Do you think the boss would mind," he asked Loralei.
"Ha. All I can say is that you'd better try it out before he gets here. Honestly, I've thought of doing that myself," she said. "Want to take turns?"
"Take turns doing what," Donovan suddenly asked from behind.
Both Cody and Loralei turned toward him at the same time. They glanced at each other and in perfect unison said, "Nothing!"
Donovan shook his head and took hold of Loralei's arm. As everyone else settled in, he drew her away toward their bedroom. "I brought Farron along with me. Do they know he's coming?"
She nodded. "Taken care of, Boss," she said teasingly. "Actually, Jake said as long as Farron stays out of his way, he'll be fine. So, why don't you station your brother in the den?"
"Good idea. Remember, my love, no matchmaking."
Smiling, she crossed her fingers behind her back. "No matchmaking."
Shaking his head, he kissed her gently before going downstairs to help Farron get situated. Once he was out of earshot, she went to the room where Monica and Alex were arguing over who would sleep by the window.
"Psst. Alex, come here," Loralei whispered.
Sighing, Alex glanced at Monica. "We're doing a coin toss when I get back." She approached Loralei at the door. "What's up?"
She smiled wickedly. "Would you like to trade rooms with Cody?"
"Loralei, give it up," Alex spat exasperated. When she turned away from her friend, she noticed that Monica had taken it upon herself to lie out her sleeping bag right by the window. "Uh uh, girl, that will not work! Whip out a quarter, I call heads!"