Stranded(66)

Rafe knew he’d have to give her the entire story in order for her to understand the big picture. With a sigh, he started from the beginning, from the time they were children up until Rafe’s marriage and then when they met India. By the time he was finished, there were tears in Val’s eyes.

“Oh, you poor babies! I’m so sorry you two had to go through that. Some people shouldn’t be parents. I thought my sister and brother-in-law took the lousy parents award, but they might be tied with yours. It all makes sense why the three of you gravitated toward each other the way you did. Perhaps you recognized in each other a mutual pain that could only be healed by someone who understood true suffering. My niece has unfortunately suffered, as have the two of you.”

Rafe nodded. He hadn’t thought of it like that before. He supposed she was right. “Something like that. Listen, Val, we only have the intention of making her happy, and you have my word on that. I would rather cut my heart out than hurt her.”

“I second that. She means a lot to me as well, and I know it’s reciprocated.”

“India loves the two of you also. She’s been moping around the house since she’s been back, pining for you. Your lifestyle may not be easily accepted by others, so you may have some rough patches ahead because of narrow-minded people, but I wish you all the best. And let me tell you right now. If you do hurt my niece, you’ll have to answer to me. I may be small, but I’ll kick your asses.”

Rafe and Grant burst into simultaneous laugher.

The three of them were getting along like old friends, when Rafe heard the lock of the front door turning. He stood, knowing it was India and his heart began to beat faster. Even though he’d seen her earlier today, it seemed like a long time.

Grant’s face mirrored his anticipation.

India walked into the living room looking absolutely gorgeous. “I thought I saw your car outside, but I didn’t want to believe… I’m—”

Rafe held his arms open wide to her and she flung herself into them, bursting into sobs. Even a few hours was too much time to be away from the men she loved. She showered his face with kisses. “I missed you so much. So, so much.” India pulled away from him to give Grant the same treatment, pressing her lips over his laughing face.

Rafe moved behind her, pressing his body against her back. “We missed you too much, baby.”

Val coughed loudly, making her presence known. “Ahem, I’m standing here.”

India laughed. “I’m sorry, I was just so happy to see them.”

“But you just saw them today. Sheesh. Should I give you crazy kids some time alone?” Val rolled her eyes.

Rafe placed a kiss on the side of India’s neck. “That won’t be necessary. We only plan on staying long enough for India to pack so we can take her with us.” He gently turned India around to face him and pressed his lips against her in a swift, hard kiss. “And I don’t want any arguments out of you. You’re coming with us, and that’s that.”

She grinned “And what will you do if I don’t want to.”

His eyes narrowed. “I hope you’re joking because if you aren’t, I’m going to throw you over my shoulder and walk out of this house with you!”

India turned her head to look at Grant with a playful pout. “Would you let this big meanie do that to me?”

Grant nodded without hesitation. “Absolutely. I’d be right there behind him, giving your luscious backside a much needed smack for trying to thwart us.”

“Well, when put like that, I guess I’ll have to come with you then, but lucky for you, I had already planned on driving to Philly tonight.”

“You never mentioned this to me before you went to your parents’ house? When did you make that decision?” Val asked.

India pulled out of their holds. “Take a seat because you simply won’t believe this.”

Val sighed. “Nothing my sister does ceases to amaze me. What did she do this time?”

Once the four of them had taken a seat with Rafe and Grant on either side of India on the couch. She began her story, telling them of how she’d been tricked by her mother, who’d set up an interview with The Post. Rafe was glad he’d never met the Powers because he wanted to throttle both of them.

When India got to the part about Jack’s outburst, Val exclaimed, “Get outta here. You’ve got to be joking.”

India held up her right hand. “I swear to God. He outted himself and Steven. It suddenly makes sense why Steven wanted us to wait for sex until after we were married. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, but it always made me wonder why, because he didn’t strike me as the celibate type. Even when we were kissing, something seemed to be a bit off. Now I know he wasn’t interested in women, or maybe it was just me. Anyway, Steven was so angry, he called Jack a derogatory name, and then punched him square in the mouth.”