Drake wondered where Bella’s shelf was. Surely there had to be a spot with all things Bella. He headed into the kitchen to look for something to eat. As soon as he got to the refrigerator, he found Bella’s shrine. Damn, she was a cute kid.
He felt a smidgeon guilty for so easily dipping into his sister’s refrigerator. But for God’s sake, it was Trenda’s fridge, and he was hungry. He grinned when he found some ham. Then the Good Lord Above was shining down on him, because he found potato salad as well. He opened the Tupperware container and found it was made with mustard. It was the family recipe. Fine. Mom was screwed up and an accomplice to a madman, but boy nobody could beat her potato salad. He fixed himself a plate and ate standing up at the counter.
“No! I don’t wanna!” Bella yelled from down the hall. Well, so much for being shy and introverted. She had the Avery girl temper, Drake thought as he heard his niece.
A harried Trenda walked into the kitchen. When she saw Drake, her eyes sparkled.
“I made brownies for you yesterday.” She nodded to a tin foil covered plate.
“You’re the best sister in the world.”
“I know.”
“I don’t wanna go!” Bella repeated mutinously as she wriggled in her mother’s arms.
“That’s too bad. You’re going,” Trenda told her daughter.
Drake picked up the plate. “Where are your bags?”
“In the hallway.”
“Let’s transfer the car seat into my rental, and leave your car here. They don’t know what my rental looks like,” Drake explained.
“Where are we going?” Trenda asked.
“A friend of Evie’s has given us a chalet to use until all of this shit dies down.”
“You used a bad word,” Bella pointed at him.
At last, she didn’t seem afraid of him. “I’ll tell you what, I’ll give you a quarter every time I use a bad word. That way maybe I’ll stop saying them.”
Trenda bent down and whispered in her daughter’s ear.
Bella looked at him and said, “a dollar.”
Drake laughed. “Only if you call me by my name. What’s my name?”
Bella squirmed and looked up at her mother. Trenda gave Bella a reassuring nod. “Uncle Dwake.”
“Okay. Every time I say a swear, I owe you a dollar. It’s a deal.”
Her eyebrows narrowed. Then she held out her hand. Drake laughed again. He got out his wallet and gave the baby a dollar. He was in love.
Chapter Six
Evie, Aiden, and Piper were in front of the TV watching a chick flick and eating popcorn when he, Bella, and Trenda arrived. He smelled something heavenly wafting from the kitchen.
Bella cringed as soon as she saw Aiden and no amount of Irish charm seemed to help. All three of the Avery sisters expected it and hustled her into the kitchen.
“Do you know what’s up?” Aiden asked.
“Yeah, it’s my damned dad. He showed up and ransacked their house a few days ago. Apparently really tore it up in front of her. Scared the hell out of the little girl. Plus, she’s not used to men.”
“So, the father’s out of the picture?”
“Never was in the picture.”
“How is she coping with you?”
“I have to bribe her with dollars every time I swear. Kid seems to respond to cash.”
“Well who doesn’t.” Aiden laughed. “I hear I’m supposed to go pick up a kindergarten teacher?” he asked.
“Not tonight, but some night yeah. Only because we don’t have enough estrogen going on.”
“Kindergarten?”
“She’s tutoring Piper in calculus. Unless you can? Because I’m in over my head.”
“Nope, I can help on Shakespeare, but give me anything other than geometry, and I’m out of my league.”
“All of my sisters are smarter than me.”
“I heard that load of bullshit, Drake,” Trenda shouted from the kitchen. “If I hear you putting yourself down again, I’ll box your ears.”
“She sounds ferocious.” Aiden grinned in appreciation. Drake didn’t like his expression.
“Let’s be real clear, if the woman has the last name of Avery, she is off limits.”
“I heard that, Drake,” Evie shouted from the kitchen. She sauntered into the living room. “Don’t try to dictate my personal life. I’m not above hanging you upside down from a pole and playing tether ball with your nuts.”
Both men winced.
“I think you’ve just convinced Aiden why he won’t want to get involved with you,” Drake said wryly.
“If I cared to, I think I could give him enough reasons to get involved.” Evie threw him a saucy grin, then she walked back toward the kitchen.