A/N: Hello, lovely readers! Here's just a little treat for those who celebrated Thanksgiving (or didn't). The next bonus chapter will be posted around Christmas.
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Veronica:
How could I ask him to go and at the same time ask him not to go? Maybe I could ask him later when he looks less sexy.
I blew a raspberry with my lips.
Like that was ever going to happen. Levi, less sexy? Never with a capital 'N'!
Not when he was wearing black boxer briefs that left little to the imagination. I didn't have to imagine either. I could just as easily pull those down and take a nice, long peek.
"Did you say something, darling?"
Eyes up! "Hmmm what?"
Levi peered over his glasses. He totally caught me red-handed and dirty-minded! I cleared my throat and brought my eyes back to what I was reading: some hoighty-toighty Sweet Sixteen event details.
Levi snapped his book closed and set it aside. He reached for me, running the pads of his fingers along my spine. Then he blew warm breath from the small of my back to the nape of my neck.
How could I work with him around?
"You wanted to ask me something?"
"Hmmmm..." I hummed at the vibration of his voice behind my ear. "I didn't say anything."
"But, my love, you have that look."
"What look?" A look of want? Of fire-coated desire? I screwed my eyes shut when he pushed my bra strap off one shoulder and kissed the skin that was underneath it.
"All you have to do is ask me, my sweet, sweet love." He punctuated those words with flicks of his tongue along my neck.
"I didn't say I... Levi, you gotta stop or I... Please let me finish what I'm trying to say." I panted in between as Levi trailed those kisses down my back to one side of my ribs.
Then he stopped. Completely. And sat against the headboard, grinning at me.
"Why did you stop?" I protested.
He shrugged and cocked his head to one side. "You told me to."
I pouted. Levi tilted my chin up and leaned in for a quick kiss.
"Now, ask me." He sat back up, with that sexy smirk back on his face.
"I don't know what you're talking about". I glared at the paperwork before me.
"Veronica, you are a horrible liar." Levi added a chuckle.
I clicked my tongue. "What makes you think I'm lying?"
"One, you can't even look at me." I looked at him and narrowed my eyes to prove a point. Yet, he continued, "Two, your mother called me today."
I pushed off the mattress and sat on my haunches. My head swam from my quick change of position, but I shook it off. "She what?" I yelled.
"Relax, love, she just asked me if I'm going home for Thanksgiving with you."
That sneaky little she-devil! No wonder she had asked me so many questions this week.
"She thought it was time she meets the man schtooping her daughter. Those were her exact words, by the way." Levi's shoulders shook with laughter. I didn't doubt she used that word too.
Time for plan B. "You don't have to come. It's just a boring dinner with my mother and my sister. Nothing huge. Maggie might not even be there. For the last two years she's gone to June's for the Holidays." And to add the cherry on top, I crawled seductively (or whatever it was that Chase taught me) to him and straddled his lap.
"Oh, but she said everyone will be there this year and they're all eager to meet me." Damn Chase and her "seductive move lessons" which never worked! And dammit Mother!
"Or..." I trailed a finger from the hollow of his throat down to the center of his toned abs. "We can just forget all about it and stay here all weekend long." I peered at him from under my lashes, then I captured my bottom lip between my teeth.
His attention panned to that last bit. I let go of my lip and licked the centre of his closed lips. He moaned and tickled my tush.
"Nice try, you little nymph. We are going. Unless you're too embarrassed to introduce me to your family?"
"Embarrassed? No, not at all. I'd love for you to meet them, it's just..." Levi looked worried. "My mother is not the best cook."
His expression changed into something more relaxed. "I'm sure it will be fine. I told her I'll bring wine. I'll bring a case so we can gargle with it if it's thoroughly inedible."
I threw my head back, laughing at his joke. What he didn't know was how likely that was to happen. "Okay, fine, you can come."
"Hmmm, I love it when you say that." Levi nuzzled my neck.
"Pervert." I playfully slapped his naked chest, and tilted my head so he could access more sensitive areas. He produced sensations I dearly loved and craved.
"What are you bringing?" he asked against the apex of my shoulder and neck.
Now, that was the million-dollar question. Levi still had no idea of my lack of cooking skills. I meant zero. Nada. Zilch. I could eat them, I could serve them but I could not cook them.
"What I bring every year, Rice Krispie Squares with Reese's pieces."
He stopped nibbling on my earlobe and looked at me straight on. "What are those?"
I chuckled. "What do you mean what are those? What do you think?" He shrugged. Oh my god. "You don't know what Rice Krispie squares are!"
"I could take a wild guess that they're made out of rice."
"Not just rice, rice cereal. And butter and marshmallows. They're super good. I pretty much grew up eating those." Wrong! I did grow up eating those and only those. "I'll make extra to keep here for snacks."
"Alright. Sounds delish. Speaking of snacks..." His hands made their way up my back and underneath my bra clasp.
I swatted at his arms. "No. I have work to do. Go read your book." I reached for my paperwork and his book.
He took them from me and threw them on the floor. I gasped, hearing a thud and watching the paper scatter everywhere. I would have protested more but Levi showed me some other more pressing matters.
****
Levi:
To say Veronica was nervous would be an understatement. I reached over, grabbing her hands to stop her from wringing them. I was afraid that she would separate the joints from all her frustration. I'd had a hard enough time getting her into the car with me earlier. She had tried to come up with unbelievable excuses just so I would give up and tell her that we could stay.
Her last attempt had nearly worked too. When she had told me that she hadn't worn underwear, I had been tempted to skip this whole trip, but once I discovered that she had fibbed, the plan was back on.
"Why are you so anxious? It's just me. I love you no matter what happens tonight." I glanced away from the road to give her a quick look.
Her shoulders slouched forward as she sighed loudly. "I wish it was just that. It's not you that's the problem. And it's not Maggie. You'll take a liking to her for sure." She paused and worked her bottom lip between her teeth. "It's my mother."
I chuckled. Maybe I shouldn't have but it was all I could do at the moment. Her mother couldn't be as intolerable as mine. "She sounded lovely over the phone."
"Ha! Right. Because it wasn't freaky enough that she managed to track you down and force you to come for Thanksgiving dinner." I kept my eyes on the road, but I could feel the tension emanating from her as she spoke. "Don't you find that a little bit odd? I asked her how she did it and she only said 'I have my ways, dear'. I mean, come on!" Her hands detached from mine and flew in the air.
"I thought it was sweet. I would have met her eventually." I took one of her hands again and brought it to my lips. "Veronica, I am very serious about this relationship. I would have asked to meet your family sooner rather than later." Just as long as she didn't ask to meet mine.
She huffed out a heavy breath. "Fine. But you can't say that I didn't warn you. And you can't blame me for anything wrong that happens. Ever."
"I promise." I kissed her hand again and snickered against it. Looking over, I saw her pout and could not help but be just a tad nervous myself.
When we arrived at her childhood home, a portly woman dressed in plum taffeta waved at us from the porch. I kept my laughter in check as I lifted the trunk of the car.
"Oh my freaking lord," Veronica sighed beside me, gripping on me like she had talons. "What is she wearing?"
"Hallooooo!" The woman, who I knew was her mother (from the time I had observed them at a market in San Francisco), glided down the steps to us. She practically pushed her daughter aside just to get to me, and when she did, she hugged me so tight that I struggled to catch my breath.
Veronica's eyes widened. She swung herself towards her mother, and peeled her away from me. "Mom, you're choking him!"
I straightened as soon as she let me breathe.
She placed a hand over her chest and said, "Oops, sorry. I get a little bit excited sometimes."
"Not to worry. I'm still in one piece." Before I could retract that last statement, worried that I had offended her, she cackled.
"Oh, I like this one, Nica, he's funny. And so handsome too!" she expressed, then with her thumb and forefinger, she pinched my left cheek.
"Oh my god," I heard Veronica say. "Maggie! Help me out here!"
A tall girl with blond hair came bounding down the steps and swung an arm over their mother. "Mother, can't you wait till they get in the house at least? Hi, I'm Maggie, and you're Levi." She extended her hand.
"Pleasure." I shook her hand.
"Come bring your stuff inside." Maggie nodded towards the house.
"We don't have stuff. We only brought rice krispies and wine. They're in the car," Veronica told them.
"Well, not exactly." I was going to pay for this one. I gave her a crooked smile while I took a bag out of my trunk. "We're staying for the weekend."
Veronica's mouth gaped.
"Your Mum made me promise to keep it a secret." The look she gave me said enough. If I was the type to shake in my boots, I would have. My only concession was that Veronica was not the kind of girl who stayed angry for a long time.
Maggie whistled. "Oh boy, you're in deep shit now." She clapped my shoulder and shook her head. "Bad move, Levi, bad move. And here I thought you looked smart. I guess pretty doesn't always come with brains, even for guys."
Veronica huffed and turned on her heels. She stomped all the way to the opened door.
"Oh, don't you worry about her. She's just upset that it wasn't her idea in the first place," her mother assured me. "Come inside before the neighbors start snooping. Mrs Claremont across the street is a nosy little bi--"
"Mother!" Maggie interjected. She rolled her eyes and walked back into the house. Her mother followed, swinging her full skirt as she went.
I was left standing by the car with an overnight bag and wondering if Veronica had been right. A guy who looked about Maggie's age came and introduced himself. "June, Maggie's boyfriend. I hope you realize you're in for one hell of a weekend." He snickered. "Anything else I can help you with?"
"There's Rice Krispies treats in the car and a case of wine in the trunk."
"Nice! I'll grab the wine. Sweet ride," June said, whistling at my black Mercedes-Benz CL65.
"Yeah, thanks. Veronica wouldn't let me bring the convertible. She thought it was too flashy." It wasn't a complaint. I delighted in the fact that Veronica was slightly uncomfortable about my wealth. It just proved that she was indeed different from all the other women I'd dated. She hadn't asked about it at all, but sooner or later, it was a conversation that we would be having.
I looked around and felt surprisingly at peace. The living room had a floral couch, matching armchair, and a distressed coffee table. The overall decor told me that Veronica had had a hand in designing it. There were vintage pieces on a sideboard and lace curtains on the window.
But the smell emanating from inside was slightly off, fighting against the sweet aroma of lit vanilla candles. I coughed as I wafted a good dose of the scent. Then heard Veronica shriek. June and I looked at each other and followed the sound to the source.
Inside the bright kitchen, smoke came out of the opened oven door and the smell was more putrid than it was from the living room. I covered my mouth and dropped the bag on the floor and the tray of treats Veronica had made on the counter.
"I told you not to let her cook, Magz." Veronica was upset but after a while she was able to remain calm. She thrived on these situations.
Mrs Stewart sat on a nearby chair, fanning herself with the hem of her long skirt, and exposing something that I didn't need to see. So I averted my eyes towards Maggie, who looked ready to vomit, as she opened a window.
"I tried, Nica! You know how she gets." Maggie covered her mouth, eyes tearing up.
"I'm right here, you know. How was I supposed to know that the plastic has to be removed? It just said put it on a tray, heat up the oven and stick it in," their mother reasoned.
Growing up away from my family and taken care by nannies, I'd never had to experience this kind of tension within a family. Lawyers would have had to be involved in mine. I pulled the collar of my shirt over my mouth and grabbed a pair of oven mitts to help Veronica deal with the unidentifiable burnt blob.
Looking behind me, I saw June swiping at the tears that were flowing from his eyes. "Hey, can you get Maggie and their mom out of here? Open all windows too." He nodded and led the two women out of the kitchen.
"This is why I didn't want her to cook." Veronica continued to fan the smoke out of the oven with a floral apron.
"Here, let me take care of that." I reached over and grabbed the the ends of the tray. As hard as I could, the acrid smell of burnt plastic attacked my senses. If I didn't get the blob out of here, I would soon lose my breakfast. Although I bet the taste of bile in my mouth would be an improvement to whatever I was ready to throw out.
"Where's the bin?" Veronica had a blank look on her face, her eyes deviating from the tray I was holding. "The garbage, love. Where's the garbage?"
"Oh! Through there." She pointed behind me at a white door.
I went through it and found what I was looking for. After dumping the blob in it and the sealing the plastic by tying the end in a knot, I walked back into the kitchen. There wasn't anything we could do with the smell except let it air out.
"That was supposed to be dinner. Thank god we got here early. She could have burned down the whole house." I remained silent. "Now do you see why I was so nervous?" She propped a hand on her hip.
I sauntered to her, ditching the mitts on the counter. Snaking my hand around her waist, I pecked at her pressed lips. "I'm sure we can remedy this. All I need is a grocer."
"Tough luck. Nothing is open today."
"Nothing?"
"Haven't you been in America long enough to realize that?"
"Sorry, love, other people do the shopping for me most of the time."
Veronica pursed her lips. "Well, for us regular people, the stores close during National Holidays.
"Well then, I'll have to check what's in the fridge."
"Yeah, good luck with that. Let's hope Maggie remembered to do the shopping yesterday."
"Oh, ye of little faith." I gave her another quick kiss before checking to see how I could remedy the situation. All I could think of was if I could, it would earn me some major brownie points.
I grinned when I opened the fridge door to brownie points galore!
****
Veronica:
At that point I was ready to get in Levi's car and drive back to San Fran. If we were lucky, we could get there before night fell. Levi was adamant that he could save dinner, though. He was a fabulous cook, but I couldn't see how even he could perform a big enough miracle to pull it off.
I was also shocked that he had packed properly. It was quite a surprise when he told me that we were staying for the weekend in my mother's house, and I'd been worried that he might have thrown in whatever in the bag. I suspected he did it when I was in the shower (and he didn't join me). As I looked through the bag, I should have known not to doubt him. Could he be any more perfect?
I had pyjamas, matching undies, dresses, and jeans and a t-shirt, my face cream, toothbrush, and deodorant. The rest wasn't too worrisome as I wasn't a finicky person. I used whatever soap and shampoo were available, and Levi had always preferred me au naturel. No makeup needed.
His things were just as sparse. He did sleep in the nude but he'd brought a pair of shorts for those "just in case" moments. In the bag were his personal items, clothes for the weekend, his glasses, and a book. There was nothing sexier than a man who reads.
I was getting all our things out when Mother walked into my bedroom, with Maggie and June in tow. "You can't sleep in the same room."
I sent a "you can't be serious" look at Mom, who, by the way, was wearing a taffeta gown for some odd reason.
"Veronica, it's not setting a good example for your sister." She didn't have to explain. I knew why she said it.
"I doubt that. June and Magz have been together for a while." I shot the couple a look, and found Maggie blushing. I shouldn't assume things. "And besides, Levi is working so damn hard downstairs making sure we'll have dinner after your silly attempt of cooking a turkey. I am not making him sleep on that lumpy couch."
"You can sleep on the couch then," my Mother suggested.
I scoffed and was about to say something when Maggie put in, "Nica can sleep with me in my room. We'll have a sleepover just like old times, so Levi can have this bed." I sent her a look of gratitude.
My mother couldn't possibly think that was a horrible idea. She smiled brightly and took my and Maggie's hands and drew us in a tight hug. "It's so good to have you girls in the house again."
After unpacking our stuff and ensuring that the bed had clean sheets for Levi, I asked Maggie to setup the patio table with me. The smell from my mother's attempted dinner fought with better-smelling food that Levi was making in the kitchen. It would be a bit chilly outdoors, so I brought blankets for everyone. I would brave the cold before choking on the smell while eating.
I poked my head in the kitchen and found him bent over, watching the oven door. Hmmm-mmmm, it was hard not to stare at his sexy behind.
"Did you just come in here to ogle me?" He stood slowly and glanced over his shoulder, finding me beet red in the face from being caught in the act. Of course, I was ogling him.
I sauntered over to him, and said, "No I came here to do this." I gave his tush a squeeze. "And this." And placed a kiss on his lips.
There was nothing sexier than a man who read and cooked and kissed like it was the last day on earth.
His hands roved over my hips when we heard the kitchen door open.
"Oh my gawd!" a squeaky voice interrupted us.
Delaney was one of my sister's friends. I couldn't quite put a finger on this one. She was nothing like Maggie. She had her nails constantly painted, packed makeup on her face, showed a little too much cleavage and skin, and last time I'd heard, had dated half the guys in the football team. Delaney eyed Levi up and down like she was ready to lick him clean. Nuh-uh, not on my watch!
"What are you doing here, Delaney?" I refused to let go of Levi. I kept my hands on his jeans-clad behind, ready to say "mine" if she came closer.
Delaney slowly trailed her eyes on me, like she'd just found out I existed. "Maggie said your mom cooked, so my mom told be to bring you this. Brussels sprouts. Yech!" She lifted a bowl covered with plastic wrap.
Levi stretched out a hand and took it from her. "These are perfect." He lifted the cover and sniffed the bowl. "With bacon. Brussels sprouts are my favorite."
"Really?" Delaney's voice went up a bit higher. "Mine too!" She even batted her lashes. I swore I heard her say "yuck" just a moment ago.
"Thanks, Delaney, Maggie and June are out back." I stared at her until she got the point, and finally, she traipsed out of the kitchen.
"Neighbor?" Levi asked.
"No, Maggie's friend."
"Really?"
"See, you don't even know her and you find that odd. Maggie's very friendly and she's popular at school. But there is something about Delaney that I can't quite figure out." I tapped my finger on my lips. Levi pushed it away and kissed me.
"Dinner will be ready in ten minutes. It's not turkey, but I promise you that it's good."
"Sounds great. After that smell, I don't know if I will ever have turkey ever again." I gave him another kiss (and squeeze) before heading back to the patio.
****
Levi:
The last dinner I had with my family in France was when I had just turned eight. There was plenty of food, but it wasn't as nearly enjoyable as this. I'd tried my best with what I was given: eggs, milk, an uncanny amount of processed cheese, bread and vegetables.
Thankfully, they all seemed to like it. And nobody choked. With the blankets and cushions Veronica added, everyone was comfortable.
Veronica and Maggie cleaned up, while their mother changed into something less formal. June and I sat in the living room and watched his own football games on video. He didn't talk much, but when he did, it was only about football.
To my dismay, I found out that I wouldn't be sleeping in the same bed as Veronica. But we were at her mother's house and she had rules. It was odd for me to sleep without my love. I craved her warmth and the steady beating of her heart. And her kisses. And her touch.
I huffed a heavy breath. I had to stop thinking of her and what she could do to me or I'd be faced with more than a lack of sleep. Then I heard the creaking of the hardwood floors outside the pink and purple bedroom. I sat, pulling the sheets up to cover my bottom half when the door opened.
"Hi." Veronica quietly stepped into the room then closed the door behind her. She crawled into bed in that sexy way that drove me wild, with her butt in the air.
"What are you doing here? I thought you weren't allowed..." She didn't let me finish. She swooped in and kissed me with fervor and passion like it was our last time on earth.
"I can't sleep without you," she said after letting us breathe.
"Me neither."
Veronica curled beside me, took my arm and wrapped it over her, and intertwined our fingers. I nuzzled her neck before burrowing my nose in her hair. Our feet tangled under the sheets. I was warmed. Comforted. Loved.
Her breathing became steady. I inhaled her sweet scent as my eyes became heavy.
"Thanks for saving thanksgiving," she said in her sleepy voice.
"You're welcome," I said and smiled against her hair.
I never knew why Americans felt they had to stuff themselves silly every year like they did on Thanksgiving. But after tonight, having eaten dinner with Veronica and her family, I realized that it was about more than the food. It was about togetherness. It was about family and those they loved, a concept that was unfamiliar, so alien to me.
Although Veronica thought that I had saved Thanksgiving, what she didn't know was that she had saved me. And I would forever be grateful to her for that.