“Dave’s,” Cameron said with a hint of disapproval.
“Dave?”
She nodded, then peered up the staircase like she was worried their mother would catch them gossiping.
“Hot neighbour Dave. He’s been coming over to help with—everything. Mowing the grass, trimming her roses, you name it, Dave’s been doing it.”
Tanner might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he recognized a double entendre when he heard one.
“They’re banging?” he gasped in horror.
His sister shushed him, checked the stairs again, and then scowled at Lance when he snickered.
“Maybe. I don’t have any real evidence yet, but they went upstairs awhile ago supposedly to check out a curtain rod that needs fixing.”
“Oh, dear God in heaven! Please, oh please, tell me that’s not a euphemism,” Tanner begged his sister as he put his hands together in prayer.
“Shall I tell you about when he unjammed her gutters, or when he fixed her spit roaster?” Cameron asked with an exaggerated wink.
“Cameron!” Tanner groaned. “Stop! Stop, stop, stop! Dad’s barely in the ground! This is so fucking embarrassing!”
“You’ve got to face facts here, Tanner! Dad passed away three years ago. That’s twice as long as hot Dave’s wife has been gone.”
“He’s a widower?” Lance asked, this new twist in the story piquing his interest. Tanner’s family was a helluva lot more entertaining than he could have imagined. Better than reality TV. And they hadn’t even gotten to the dinner part yet!
“Yup, and he’s a rich one too. He owns a gorgeous cottage on Cape Cod and has a 40-foot yacht tied to his dock.”
“Jesus Christ.” Tanner glanced up the stairs, struck with nausea as a sudden image formed of his mother fucking on the staircase.
“I don’t think he had anything to do with this,” Cameron muttered shaking her head. “Satan maybe.”
Lance snorted, which made Lucy giggle. She didn’t really know why, but while she hung sideways from Lance’s shoulder, she was having too much fun to care.
“Isn’t this deal with Dave and your mother all for the greater good?” Lance asked, and both siblings turned to him with identical frowns. The similarity between them was uncanny as they stared daggers at him. “What’s the problem? She found a nice guy who fixes things around her house and can afford to pay for vacations in the Maldives. Sounds like he’s a keeper!” Lance felt he’d properly supported his claim, so why were they frowning so hard? What was their problem with this guy?
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m going to need you to wait in the truck,” Tanner said as he pointed at the front door.
Lance snorted and punched his shoulder, just as Louise and Dave came back down the stairs.
“Thanks again, Dave!” Louise turned to look over her shoulder to beam at him. “You’re a lifesaver, as usual!”
Dave laughed and gave her shoulder a quick squeeze. “The pleasure’s all mine, especially after you served up that fabulous peach cobbler last night!” They all witnessed the blatantly sexy wink he gave her.
“She made him peach cobbler?” Tanner hissed angrily in Cameron’s ear.
“Travesty,” she agreed, shaking her head and crossing her arms.
Lance fought hard not to laugh. No wonder Tanner was so quick-witted. Humour clearly ran in the family.
“Tanner!” Louise exclaimed, when she caught sight of him. She rushed over and threw her arms around him, squeezing tightly. He smiled and returned her embrace. He would never outgrow the need for her rib-crushing hugs.
“Hi, Mom!”
Louise pulled back to get a good look at him. She had a mother’s X-ray vision, making him feel as if she could see all the way to the very marrow in his bones.
“You look great, kiddo. So much better than—” she shook her head, and before he could fill in the blanks, she hugged him again. From his vantage point during the hug, he saw Dave’s approving smile.
Louise stepped back and reached for Dave’s arm to pull him towards her.
