The Sweetest Scent Part 11

"Come on, Brad," Ricky said, pouting and whining. "It's Friday night!"

Bradley seemed ready to argue, but Bro put a quick stop to that. "Just what kind of practice do you have on a Friday night?"

Ricky blushed, managing to look all of five years old instead of seventeen. "I, um...." He glanced at Bradley, and Bro realized he was silently asking his twin's permission.

But the only emotion Bradley sported was pride. "Go ahead. You can tell him."

Ricky grinned, relieved. "Cooking cla.s.s, twice a week. I usually have it on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but the teacher, Ms. Mills, couldn't make it yesterday."

Bro was surprised; Bradley couldn't cook for s.h.i.t. "Wow. You can cook?"

Ricky laughed, his pitch a bit higher than his brother's. "Yeah. I'm way better than that lunkhead." He pointed at Bradley, who crossed his arms over his chest menacingly but rolled his eyes amusedly. "At least I'm better at something than his majesty, Bradley the Bold, the golden boy of-" Ricky ducked lightning fast when Bradley tried to swipe his head with the palm of his hand.

Bro laughed with the brothers. "So you're gonna play hooky tonight, is that it?" With a wink to Bradley, he said to Ricky, "That's gonna cost you."

Now Ricky appeared nervous, frowning. "What does that mean?"

Bro shrugged nonchalantly. "We could go back to my place-and you could cook for us. I'm tired of microwave dinners, candy, popcorn, and all that s.h.i.t. What do you say, dude?"

All of a sudden Ricky chuckled. "Is that all? I love to cook. Sure, it's a deal."

Pumping fists with the guy, Bro was glad he had asked, even though it had been an unethical sort of extortion. But Ricky seemed fine with it. So the three of them headed to the girls, who were staring at new shoes on display at a store window, practically drooling over some velvety-looking high heels Bro would love to see Lacey wear-in and out of bed.

Five minutes later they were driving toward the Waters-Sumner-Thompson loft.

As they parked and got out, three men came tumbling out of the apartment building front door. One was a gorgeous, tall blond with a few faint facial scars from a fire, and another was a big, bulky bald man with several fire-themed tattoos. The third man, a grizzly-bear-like barrel of a man, watched the other two laughing away while he shook his head in mock reproach. Him they had seen at the football field earlier, taking Roger away.

"Oh, hey, Bro," the cute blond called out and waved to him. The other two men did only the chin-lift greeting, trying to steady Jack's step, though he wasn't drunk, only eager.

"Hey Jack, Kev, Luke," Bro replied. "Off somewhere?"

"A couple of drinks at the local dive, and then we're off to shake this old booty on the dance floor," Jack shouted back, shimmying his hips like a professional dancer-a go-go dancer.

"Have a good time."

"Oh, we will." Jack winked wickedly, leaving no room for misunderstandings, and the bald muscle-bound G.o.d next to him laughed out loud with a deep, guttural, rumbling noise.

The three men were busy climbing into a huge SUV when Bro heard Ricky ask in a quiet voice filled with awe, "Who is that that?"

Bro followed Ricky's wide-eyed gaze to the bald, bulky man. "That's Luke Kennard, Jack's best friend. He's a fireman for FEMS." Jack Waters was Jordan's younger brother, a down-and-dirty party boy as well as an EMT. The quieter man with Jack and Luke was Kevin Thompson, Jack's boyfriend and Jordan's partner in the Force, a man they had seen before. Bro relayed this information to Ricky, too, but doubted he'd heard a word past "fireman."

"He's... amazing." Bro turned back to Ricky and saw his instantly smitten look, nothing short of rapture in his brown eyes, a fire Bro had seen reflected back in the mirror more than once when he thought about Lacey. Luke was definitely an eye-catcher, a brawny hunk with a bad-boy image, and his very essence exuded masculinity and raw s.e.x appeal.

Wondering if Bradley was okay with his twin crushing on a guy publicly, Bro took a cautious peek at his best friend-only to witness Bradley's half-worried, half-understanding gaze settle on his brother.

"You okay?" Bro whispered to his best friend, leaning closer.

Startled out his thoughts, Bradley blinked and then nodded. "Yeah, fine. I've known about his orientation for a while. Ricky hasn't dated a guy yet, not to my knowledge anyway, but he can handle himself. And that fireman? Hot!" Shrugging, he added, "Let's go inside."

Bro touched Ricky's arm. He had been watching with rapt attention as the SUV drove off and jumped at the contact. Then he looked sheepish, glancing at his big brother warily. Bro guessed he wasn't sure of his brother's reaction either, which told Bro Ricky didn't habitually show such blatant interest in guys, especially not in front of his straight big brother.

Bradley chuckled and yanked Ricky into a playful chokehold, tousling his hair. Ricky laughed, and the tension was broken.

"You know, as long as you don't start f.u.c.king a guy in front of me or in public, you gotta know I'm cool with this, you being who you are, ogling hot guys," Bradley chided his brother softly as he let go.

"I was scared. I didn't want you to think less of me for... um, ogling that guy." Ricky sounded embarra.s.sed.

"Like I ever could." Bradley winked, then grinned. "Now who's the lunkhead?"

"You are," Ricky shot back, twisted out of the hold, and ran for the front door of the building. Cussing, Bradley sprinted after him, spewing out loud threats of bodily harm if and when he caught the brat. More laughter followed. Audrey rolled her eyes and dashed after the twins.

Lacey giggled, slipping under Bro's arm, and they walked in too, though at a more leisurely pace.

Jordan and Sebastian greeted them inside the loft, but they soon went off toward their own bedroom, for which Bro was glad. He did love his big brother and his moody cop fiance, but this was a night to hang out with friends.

It took Ricky thirty seconds to rummage the kitchen for supplies and appliances, and then he started on teriyaki beef and noodles plus stovetop lasagna with such swift efficiency Bro found himself staring spellbound. The kid had moves and skill in the kitchen, absolutely. Still, regardless of his enthusiasm and talent, he didn't mind the girls helping him out.

Bro and Bradley went to sit on the couch overlooking the open kitchen, feeling useless yet somehow glad they didn't have to slice or dice anything, especially their fingers. Whatever finesse they had on the football field, it didn't extend to food preparation.

"How long's Ricky been into this?" Bro asked, curious.

Bradley smiled, his fond gaze aimed at his laughing brother in the kitchen. "Forever. When we get to college, he's going to be a home economics major, or whatever it's called these days."

"Wow. He's gonna get a lot of flak for that." Bro regretted saying it the moment the words left his lips. "Hey, man, I didn't mean-"

"I know." Bradley sighed. "I worry about him too. He's not girly, not like Lacey, and he can hold his own in a fight-"

"So can Lace," Bro reminded, grinning.

"Yeah." Bradley chuckled. "That girl of yours. She's a spitfire."

"Ricky's gonna do fine, too. He's gonna become a world famous chef, and everyone who's ever given him grief is gonna suck up to him to get even a whiff of what he's cooking."

Bradley's warm eyes landed on Bro. "You're such a romantic."

Bro growled. "I prefer idealist. Lacey's taught me to try and see the positive." He took a quick gander at his girlfriend chopping up an onion, chuckling, teary-eyed. "After everything that's gone down lately, I can at least try to count our blessings. Things could have gone a h.e.l.l of a lot worse."

Bradley watched him intently; Bro could sense the speculative gaze. "Have you and Lacey talked about colleges? You two don't exactly share the same interests...." It was a leading question, Bro thought, or was it even a question? No, it was more of a statement. Bro knew it was true: Bro was going to focus on football and whatever else came his way, but Lacey had her eye on music. And precious few colleges, if any, had programs for both. Especially since Lacey wasn't a beginner with the violin. She was on her way to the big leagues, to study under musical geniuses.

Where did that leave Bro and the two of them?

He shrugged, feigning casualness. "We'll see. There's still time."

"Uh-huh." Bradley's noncommittal noise reminded Bro they weren't that far from graduation day, less than two months. Most of the student body, those who wanted to advance scholastically anyway, had already been accepted to colleges based on their strengths and preferences. Bro had received scholarship offers from a few schools in the area, and he did not have much time left before he had to make a choice.

At that moment Bro had a horrible epiphany, a shocking realization that his path might diverge from Lacey's significantly. She might go to a college in another town, or another state, or halfway across the country, or even the world.

Suddenly, his breath caught in his throat, and fear kept it clogged up tight.

To divert away from those dreadful, painful images of a life without Lacey in it, Bro broached the subject from a different angle. "What about you, Brad? Or Audrey and Ricky?"

Bradley frowned, rubbing his cleft chin. "I knew before I got together with Audrey that, regardless of her choice, I'm going to the same college as Ricky. Gotta keep my eye on him. You and I have those football scholarship offers from some of the same schools, but there aren't many that focus on home ec as well."

"What'd you come up with?"

As he asked, Bro became aware that they had spoken about furthering their education only in broad terms, never this specifically. As their high school days drew to a close, he realized they were almost adults, with their own lives and goals, maybe far away from each other. His best friend, his girlfriend, his friends, his family.

Apprehension gave way to nearly full-blown panic. Not only about the loss of people he held dear, but stepping onto a path of responsible adulthood-when he still had no idea what he wanted to be when he grew up.

"Howard looks good," Bradley said, startling Bro back to reality. "It has a human ecology program that's close to home ec. Otherwise it would have to be out of state, maybe even somewhere I don't have a scholarship offer, which would make it tough on the folks with two of us in school at once. And for Ricky, this town is home, same as for me. I don't want him to have to choose between his family and his dreams just yet. He agreed to let me find out what place would fit."

Bro glanced over his shoulder at Ricky, Audrey, and Lacey preparing their meals in the kitchen, laughing and jesting, and was it just his imagination or was there a leek flying around the kitchen like a guided missile? "What about your your girl?" girl?"

"Ah-hah." Bradley grinned. "That's where it gets interesting. Audrey wants to go to law school."

"Really?" Bro's eyes widened in surprise. Audrey had a mouth on her and opinions up the wazoo, so maybe it wasn't that much of a surprise, come to think of it. "Like, political law?"

Bradley chuckled, casting an affectionate glance at his punk of a girlfriend. "Maybe both. I don't know the specifics. At first I thought she might have been joking, but...." He shrugged.

"Joke or not, why is that so freaking interesting?" Bro asked, baffled.

"'Cause she's been accepted in the pre-law program at Howard."

Understanding dawned on Bro immediately. "Oh, right. Then all three of you could go to the same college." Bro was awash with emotions, at the top envy and jealousy, and he hated feeling those things because it was looking less and less likely that he could do the same with Lacey. "That's great, man. If it all works out-I mean when when-it's all good."

"You've had an offer from Howard, too, right?" Bradley asked, and Bro saw the sympathy in his eyes. d.a.m.n him for knowing his best friend so well.

"Yeah. Among others." Bro looked down at his hands as he wrung them in his lap. G.o.d, why couldn't there be a college in the area with both a good football program and a highly rated music department? Why did all this grown-up bulls.h.i.t have to be such a rending experience, ripping everything familiar from him? His father had been distant, first, and then ill, and his mother.... They could write psychological treatises on her dysfunctions as a mom to two gay sons, one of them deaf to boot.

"Wait a second." Bradley seemed lost in thought, his brow furrowed. "I seem to recall there's a music program at Howard, too."

Bro's head popped up so fast he worried he might have whiplash. Hope stirred in him. Maybe Lacey wasn't lost to him after all.

He didn't get the chance to comment, however, for Ricky announced dinner was served in his worst imitation of a British butler.

Hungry, both Bradley and Bro jumped up on their feet and rushed to the dinner table the girls had set and filled to the limit. The delicious smells of beef, noodles, garlic, onions, cheese, basil, and cilantro whiffed their way. Bro's stomach grumbled as he sat down next to Lacey, giving her a kiss on the cheek for a lot of reasons.

"Mmm, smells nice," Jordan said as he walked past the table with his cell phone in his ear. He looked wistful, d.a.m.n near salivating, and Bro wasn't the only one chuckling. Muttering a few select curses about impudent kids, Jordan put on a jacket and left the loft. Must have been work related, or so Bro a.s.sumed.

For a while they ate, drank, and chatted idly, enjoying each other's company.

While Ricky, Bradley, and Audrey were busy arguing about the merits and problems of professional cooking shows and reality cook-offs, Bro leaned over Lacey and whispered in her ear, "Thanks for dinner, baby."

Lacey beamed. "I didn't really cook anything, just chopped up vegetables and boiled water. It's Ricky you should thank."

"I will," Bro promised, glancing at Ricky, who was obviously enjoying the debate with Audrey. Then he lowered his voice even more. "Listen, I've been thinking. I found out that there's a music program at Howard University. They've offered me a football scholarship too. Brad, Dree, and Ricky are all going, if Brad and Dree get accepted. We could all be together. What do you think?"

Was it Bro's imagination, or did Lacey look shocked, even sad? "Bro, I...," she started, but the sound of the front door sliding open fast and hard caught all their attention.

In the foyer, heading slowly toward the table, was a woman in her midforties. Her glossy black hair was mussed up from the night wind, and her brown overcoat made her look three sizes bigger than she actually was. Though he didn't know her, Bro thought there was something familiar about her features, bewildered by the instinctive notion.

Suddenly, Lacey's chair sc.r.a.ped the floor with a screech a she got up fast, shock evident in her eyes. "Aunt Valerie?"

The woman blinked, surprised. Her smile faded. Bro saw that she had been looking at Bradley somewhat hopefully. When she spoke, Bro knew why. "Lance...?"

Bro got up in hurry, his tone less than friendly. "Her name is Lacey." name is Lacey."

The strange woman looked hopelessly lost, and she didn't seem to know what to say. Lacey rounded the table and stopped in front of her. "Um... Aunt Valerie, these are my friends and family. Everyone, this is Valerie Adair, my mother's sister."

"Wait, back up." Bro's head was spinning. "I thought you had no other relatives besides Roger."

Lacey's lovely face crumpled as she clearly fought off tears. "Dad said my mother's family wanted nothing to do with us, and that's why we moved from Seattle to-"

"Oh, Lance, nothing could be further from the truth." Valerie placed her hands gently over Lacey's arms, squeezing a bit. "Roger forbade us...." She paused in midsentence, as if trying to figure out how to say what she knew. "After Lexie died...." She sniffled, wiping tears from her eyes. "After that Roger just took you. At first we gave him time to sort things out, but then.... We've been looking for you ever since." She turned to Jordan, who stood behind her. "Detective Waters found me due to the missing person's I had filed on you, Lance-oh, sorry, Lacey, is it?"

Lacey nodded, worrying her lower lip. "Yes, Lacey." She sounded timid, and Bro had to fight the urge to growl and shout that she had every right to be a Lacey if she didn't want to be a Lance. "Jordan found you?"

"Yes," Jordan replied quickly. "Once Roger was in the system, we started getting info from Seattle as we looked into the possibility he might have a criminal record there. Once alerted, Valerie found her way to the station here. I was on my way to pick her up when you all started to eat your dinner."

"I'm so glad I found you," Valerie said, embracing Lacey wholeheartedly.

Lacey was sobbing softly and hugging back. "Me too." Soon, though, she parted from her aunt. "How long can you stay? Where are you going to stay? Are you still working at the IRS?" Lacey had turned into a fount of questions, and she blushed when she realized this.

Valerie frowned, confused. "I don't, um... I mean, you have only been here in DC for a year or so. Seattle is where you come from. I've come to take you back home."

Bro's world, the one he had painstakingly built around himself, one family member at a time, shattered.

Chapter 11.

LACEY stood before the bathroom mirror, her eyes directed at the reflective surface but not seeing it. Mechanically, she washed her hands, but her thoughts were a million miles away. Well, roughly three thousand miles, anyway, across the whole continental US. stood before the bathroom mirror, her eyes directed at the reflective surface but not seeing it. Mechanically, she washed her hands, but her thoughts were a million miles away. Well, roughly three thousand miles, anyway, across the whole continental US.

Seattle. Once she had called it home. But then she had lost her mother, and what had been safe and familiar had become excruciatingly painful and dangerous. When Roger had packed up for DC, she had resisted at first, but it had turned out for the best in the end. Well, kind of.

Here in DC she had a new family who had taken her in without asking for anything in return and given her a new lease on life. And she had someone here who accepted, understood, and loved her beyond all comprehension.

Tears slipped down her cheeks as she thought of Bro.

He had sat so still on the sofa while Lacey and Valerie had talked. He had listened, but his blue eyes had a glaze over them. His handsome face had been blank, and it hurt Lacey to know she had brought that on.

Because she hadn't said no to Valerie right then and there.

Instead, Lacey had sat with her aunt, chatting about Seattle, her maternal family, the court case against Roger, and Valerie pet.i.tioning for temporary custody of Lacey. At that moment she had been glad she wasn't going to end up in foster care. She would soon be eighteen, which was the age of majority in DC, but for a few more months now, she still needed a legal guardian. If Valerie got custody, Lacey would be leaving for Seattle right after graduation.