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Kate Steele Soul Familiar 2: Unpredictable - 56 -
of me to hold him to me this way and despite my stupid insecurities and selfishness, I
knew it was the right thing to do.
We got through the rest of our shower without further incident, dressed, and
headed downstairs. With my arm around his waist as we walked down the steps I ll
admit I was floating. All these tender emotions have a way of making a man mellow,
you know?
Both of us were hungry so Tyler peeled himself away from me and went on into
the kitchen to get dinner started. We d decided on homemade steak, cheese, and onion
hoagies and I went outside to find Bobby. Imagine my surprise when I saw Kent s car in
the driveway.
There was no sign of either him or Bobby, and I ll admit I started to panic a bit.
Damn, what if something had happened? How would we ever explain it to Kent?
Lengthening my stride, I rounded the house and headed for the backyard when I
spotted them. They were peacefully tucked into the glider I had set up under a big
maple tree. Dappled patterns of sunshine shone against the canopy that sheltered the
swing and the swing itself swayed gently back and forth.
Bobby had folded his legs up on the seat and it was Kent, by virtue of his long
legs spread out before him, who kept that slow rocking motion going. As I approached I
could hear the murmur of their voices.
So how do you like staying with your cousin? Kent asked.
Cousin?
Before he could answer, Bobby saw me advancing toward them and grinned.
Here he is now and I love staying with Cousin Alex. He and Tyler have both been
great. I m really enjoying myself.
I m glad to hear that, I told him, lifting an ironic brow. The little brat was
obviously enjoying himself. Hey, Kent. Good to see you. What brings you out this
way?
I ve got tickets for the firemen s annual picnic next weekend.
Firemen?
Kate Steele Soul Familiar 2: Unpredictable - 57 -
Yep, Kent said with a grin. In the spirit of brotherly cooperation between
county services, the sheriff s department volunteered to help sell tickets. I figured I
could unload a couple of them on you and Tyler.
I laughed. I guess we can help you out. Better make that three tickets since
we ve got company, I said, including Bobby.
Really? I get to go? Bobby was practically bouncing in his seat.
Sure.
Wow. Thanks, Alex.
You re welcome. Kent, you want to stay for supper? Tyler s cooking steak and
onions for hoagies. We have plenty. I saw Kent glance at Bobby a moment before he
answered.
Yeah, sounds good. Thanks.
Oh boy. I don t think it was my imagination that conjured up that gleam of
interest in Kent s eyes when he looked at Bobby, but oh well. After that conversation
we d had a couple of Wednesdays ago I wasn t too surprised. Bobby was definitely
worth looking at and his boyish charm was compelling. I guess it s not above the realm
of possibility that Kent should be attracted to him.
Dinner went well and was accident free. It was actually then that I noticed
something. Kent was having an effect on Bobby, and I don t mean just his libido. Once
he d realized that Tyler and I weren t going to mistreat him for his magical faux pas,
Bobby s natural personality came to the fore. He was lively and impish rather than
subdued. During the meal, the growing interest between him and Kent became more
and more apparent, and while Bobby s naturally bouncy personality surfaced, his
erratic powers became passive. I could actually feel them settle. It was like seeing the
ruff of an agitated dog smooth out and flatten as it calmed.
By the time dinner was over I wasn t sure who was smitten more, Kent or Bobby.
Tyler and I exchanged a few knowing looks. Even if those two didn t know what was
going on, we certainly did. It wasn t long though before I discovered that Kent, at least,
was well aware of the attraction. We d all undertaken some after-dinner chores. Tyler
Kate Steele Soul Familiar 2: Unpredictable - 58 -
and Bobby were cleaning up the kitchen while Kent and I were taking the garbage out
to bury in one of the garden plots and the trash out to burn.
While Kent did the honors with the trash, shoving it into the cinder-block
surrounded trash pit before lighting a match to it, I retrieved a shovel from the garden
shed. We met back at one of the flower beds and while I dug a hole, Kent started
throwing some questions my way. How long is Bobby staying with you?
I m not really sure, I answered, bending to lift a spade full of dirt and toss it
aside. It was sort of a spur of the moment visit with no set plans.
Um. He seems like a really sweet kid. How old is he?
I was glad the sun was setting. The dimmer light might have helped hide the
smile I was fighting. Believe it or not, he s actually almost Tyler s age, though he
doesn t look it. He s twenty-one. I knew this because I d already asked. For a soul
familiar he was practically an infant.
You re right, he doesn t look it. I d have said more like eighteen.
People in our family age extremely well.
That a fact? Hmm, well. Alex?
Yes? I dumped the garbage in the hole I d dug and shoveled the dirt over it.
I d like to& shit& I d like to ask Bobby out. You have any objections?
Okay, I couldn t help myself. I snickered.
You fucker, Kent cursed. I m trying to be considerate here.
Man, you don t have to ask for my permission. It s not like he s my daughter or
anything. Besides, this is the twenty-first century you know. Asking the parent s
permission went out of vogue a long, long time ago.
I realize that. The thick sarcasm in Kent s voice leeched away with his next
words. It s just& he seems to look up to you and you ve got this sort of big brother
vibe going when you interact with him. You know what we talked about a couple of
weeks ago. You know I ve never been with another guy, not that I m asking him out for
sex. It s just that I don t want you to think&
You re going to use him to experiment with.
Kate Steele Soul Familiar 2: Unpredictable - 59 -
Yeah.
I know you re not. Kent followed me to the garden shed where I put away the
shovel. It would take a pretty callous guy to do that to Bobby and you re not that kind
of person.
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