Chapter 11


Fox lay on the sofa, where he had been since he got home, and watched the Real World/Road Rules challenge. He hadn't done much since he got back, but he kept meaning to look up a couple of old buddies of his.

Fox wondered who Ethan was talking to on the phone since it sounded like he had just been volunteered for something.

"Hey! Who are you talking to, and what are you getting me into? My services aren't cheap you know!"

Ethan rolled his eyes and finished his conversation with Kay. After hanging up he walked over to the couch and suddenly grabbed Fox in a head lock.

Fox grinned and immediately tried to get one up on his brother. Ethan pulled out old wrestling holds from his college days and tried to get Fox into them. He was a slippery little sucker, and as wormy as a fish. They fought and wrestled around until they wore themselves out.


The two brothers sat on the floor with their backs to the couch, breathing heavy.

Blood trickled down the side of Ethan's mouth, where Fox's elbow must have caught him.

Fox looked at him out of the corner of his eye. "Bleeding."

Ethan reached up and touched the corner of his mouth. He looked at the blood on his hand and then tongued the wound in his mouth. "It's nothing. Just a lucky hit."

Fox smirked, "Yeah, right. Don't worry I think you sat on my eye or something. It's going to be black."

They both chuckled. Ethan glanced at his watched and cursed. He stood up and straightened out his suit. "Don't forget, my sister may come by or call you and I want you to help her today."

Fox waved him off, "Okay, okay. You better go before you're late."

Ethan snorted, "Thanks, dear."

Fox flipped him the bird.

~~~~~~~~~~~~


Kay pulled up to the Crane mansion and stopped short. She didn't know why she was nervous, she had been here many times before.

It had to be that the mansion was just so huge, and forbidding looking. She shook her head, and continued on the rest of the way to the driveway.

Flipping down the visor, Kay checked her hair and makeup before getting out of her truck. She gripped her purse tightly and knocked briskly on the door. She was a little apprehensive about asking Ethan's brother to help her, when she had only met him once.


Phyllis, the maid, answered the door and directed Kay to the living room where Fox was. And there he was, the prodigal son returned. And boy was he a sight.

He lay on the couch, wearing khaki cargo shorts and a blue Abercrombie hat turned backwards. He golden chest was bare and Kay had trouble trying to keep her eyes on his face.

But then again, his face was just as fascinating. He was gorgeous, his face all planes and angles and strong jaw line. And his blue and black eyes. Wait, blue and black? Looking closer Kay discovered that he was sporting a fresh shiner under his right eye.

Finally she spoke, "So, Fox Crane. We meet again."


Fox jumped, for she had startled him. He frowned as he couldn't remember the last time someone had sneaked up on him.

He turned to the voice and was struck dumb. There she was.

The girl from the supermarket that he had been thinking about since he had seen her and she had left before telling him her name.