Hidden Pleasures - Brenda Jackson [63]
Without taking his eyes off the road, he said, “You look great. I love that outfit, by the way.”
She smiled. “Thanks. Nikki and I went shopping yesterday and I bought it then.” She had introduced him to Nikki a few days ago. She had been helping her with packing up her mother’s things. She felt so very blessed having her best friend back in her life.
“So this is a weekly event for you and your brothers with your parents?” she asked.
“Yes. Just for our family. No outsiders.”
Brittany frowned. Then why had she gotten invited? She shrugged. Evidently Galen felt he would lack manners if he were to not include his houseguest. She felt bad knowing the only reason she’d been invited was because he’d felt compelled to bring her.
“What time do you fly out Saturday morning to return to Tampa?” he asked her.
“Eight.” She couldn’t help wondering if the reason he was asking was because he was eager for her to leave. Her heart ached at the thought.
“Well, here we are.”
Brittany glanced through the window and saw the huge house whose exterior was beautifully decorated for the holidays. It was twice the size of Galen’s home. “And this is the house you lived in as a child?” she couldn’t help asking.
“Yes. We moved in here when I was in the first grade. My parents knew they wanted a lot of children and went ahead and purchased a house that could accommodate a large family.”
Brittany nodded, thinking that made perfect sense.
Galen brought the car to a stop among several others and she said, “Looks like your brothers are here already.”
“Yes, it looks that way.”
She felt relieved. Over the last few days she’d gotten to know Galen’s brothers and truly liked them. She wouldn’t feel so out of place with them around. She could just imagine what Galen’s mother was going to think when she walked in with him.
“Ready?” Galen asked, glancing over at her.
She released a deep breath and said, “Yes, I’m ready.”
Brittany took a sip of her wine thinking it odd that Galen’s parents hadn’t asked how they met or how long they’d known each other. It seemed the moment she and Galen had walked in and all eyes turned to them, she’d felt a strange sort of connection to his mother. It was as if beneath all her outer beauty was a heart of gold. Someone beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. And Eden Tyson Steele was beautiful. She didn’t look as if she should be the mother of six sons. The woman didn’t look a day over forty, if that. And it was plain to see her husband simply adored her.
It was also plain to see that although Galen and his brothers had their mother’s eyes, the rest of their features belonged to Drew Steele. The man was tall, dark and definitely handsome, and Brittany could just imagine him being a devilish rogue in his day, capturing the hearts of many women but giving his heart to only one.
She’d asked Galen how his parents had met and he’d said his father owned a trucking company and was doing a run one night from Phoenix to California, filling in for a sick driver, when he came across Eden, who’d stowed away in the back of his truck at a truck stop, in an attempt to get away from an overbearing agent.
The moment Brittany had walked in with Galen, Eden had given her a smile that Brittany felt was truly genuine and the woman seemed pleased that Galen had brought her to dinner with him. Galen’s father was kind as well, and it was quite obvious that he loved and respected his sons and were proud of the men they’d become.
Brittany had never been around such a close-knit family.
“You okay?”
She glanced up at Galen and smiled. “Yes, I’m fine.”
He’d rarely left her side and when and if he had, one or all of his brothers had been right there. Except for the time his mother asked if she wanted to see how she had personally decorated the courtyard for the holidays.
Brittany had figured the woman had wanted to get her alone to grill her about her life and discovered that had not been the case. They had talked about fashion, movies and things women talk about when they get together. Brittany found herself talking comfortably,