patio overlooking an inground pool. Her parents were holding court with their granddaughters and grandson, Myles and Zabrina lay together on a webbed lounger by the pool and Griffin stood at the stove in the outdoor kitchen with an arm around Belinda’s waist. A long rectangular table with seating for twelve and a smaller table with half that amount were set up under a white tent.
Chandra stopped short, causing Preston to plow into her back; she saw someone she hadn’t expected to see. Sitting under an umbrella with Denise was Xavier Eaton. The last time she’d seen her cousin was days before he was to begin his tour of duty in Afghanistan.
“I’ll introduce you to everyone after I talk to someone,” she whispered to Preston.
Arms outstretched and grinning from ear to ear, she walked into Xavier’s embrace when he stood up. She found herself crushed against a rock-hard chest. “Welcome home, Captain Eaton.”
“It’s now Major Eaton. I’d pick you up, but I have a bum leg.”
Pulling back, Chandra saw that he was supporting himself with a cane. She hadn’t realized her cousin, dressed in civilian clothes and looking more like a male model than a professional soldier, had sustained an injury. She’d lost count of the number of women who’d asked her to introduce them to Xavier. He was always polite to them, while smoothly rejecting further advances. He had also earned the reputation of remaining friends with his former girlfriends.
What they didn’t know was that he had a mistress. Xavier Phillip Eaton ate, breathed and slept military. He’d attended military prep school, graduated and then enrolled at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. He continued his military education when he was accepted into the Marine Corps War College. After 9/11 he was deployed to Iraq. He completed one tour of duty before he was sent to Afghanistan.
“Is it serious?”
“It will heal.”
“That’s not what I asked, Xavier.”
Xavier leaned in closer. “If you’re asking if I’m going to be a cripple, then the answer is no.”
Narrowing her gaze, Chandra decided to drop the subject. Tiptoeing, she kissed his smooth cheek. “We’ll talk later.” Shifting slightly, Chandra beckoned Preston closer, reaching for his hand as he approached. “Preston,I’d like for you to meet my cousin, Xavier Eaton. Xavier, Preston Tucker.”
Xavier offered his hand. “Why does your name sound so familiar?”
Denise Eaton stood up, looping her arm around her brother’s waist. “That’s because he’s Preston Tucker, the playwright.”
Xavier pumped Preston’s hand vigorously. “I’m honored to meet you.” He gave him a rough embrace, while slapping him on the back with his free hand.
Chandra caught Denise’s look of expectation. “Preston, this is Xavier’s sister, Denise.”
Denise managed to disentangle herself from her brother, shyly extending her hand. Her large dark eyes shimmered like polished jet, while flyaway black curls took on a life of their own whenever she moved her head. A shaft of sunlight fell across her heart-shaped face, highlighting the yellow-orange undertones in her flawless brown face. She was a softer, prettier, feminine version of Xavier.
“Mr. Tucker. I’ve seen and read every play you’ve written.”
Preston took her hand, squeezing it gently. “Please, no Mr. Tucker. Call me Preston.”
Chandra didn’t know how, but she knew Preston was uncomfortable with his celebrity status. She rested a hand on his shoulder. “Now I’ll introduce you to my sister and brother-in-law.”
Preston fell in step with Chandra, feeling the heat of the eyes that followed him as he walked across the patio. “Is Griffin Rice your brother-in-law?”
Chandra stopped suddenly, staring at Preston as if he were a stranger. She’d wanted it to be a surprise, butapparently he’d turned the tables. “Yes, Griffin is my brother-in-law.”
Preston dipped his head, brushing a kiss on her
Chandra stopped short, causing Preston to plow into her back; she saw someone she hadn’t expected to see. Sitting under an umbrella with Denise was Xavier Eaton. The last time she’d seen her cousin was days before he was to begin his tour of duty in Afghanistan.
“I’ll introduce you to everyone after I talk to someone,” she whispered to Preston.
Arms outstretched and grinning from ear to ear, she walked into Xavier’s embrace when he stood up. She found herself crushed against a rock-hard chest. “Welcome home, Captain Eaton.”
“It’s now Major Eaton. I’d pick you up, but I have a bum leg.”
Pulling back, Chandra saw that he was supporting himself with a cane. She hadn’t realized her cousin, dressed in civilian clothes and looking more like a male model than a professional soldier, had sustained an injury. She’d lost count of the number of women who’d asked her to introduce them to Xavier. He was always polite to them, while smoothly rejecting further advances. He had also earned the reputation of remaining friends with his former girlfriends.
What they didn’t know was that he had a mistress. Xavier Phillip Eaton ate, breathed and slept military. He’d attended military prep school, graduated and then enrolled at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. He continued his military education when he was accepted into the Marine Corps War College. After 9/11 he was deployed to Iraq. He completed one tour of duty before he was sent to Afghanistan.
“Is it serious?”
“It will heal.”
“That’s not what I asked, Xavier.”
Xavier leaned in closer. “If you’re asking if I’m going to be a cripple, then the answer is no.”
Narrowing her gaze, Chandra decided to drop the subject. Tiptoeing, she kissed his smooth cheek. “We’ll talk later.” Shifting slightly, Chandra beckoned Preston closer, reaching for his hand as he approached. “Preston,I’d like for you to meet my cousin, Xavier Eaton. Xavier, Preston Tucker.”
Xavier offered his hand. “Why does your name sound so familiar?”
Denise Eaton stood up, looping her arm around her brother’s waist. “That’s because he’s Preston Tucker, the playwright.”
Xavier pumped Preston’s hand vigorously. “I’m honored to meet you.” He gave him a rough embrace, while slapping him on the back with his free hand.
Chandra caught Denise’s look of expectation. “Preston, this is Xavier’s sister, Denise.”
Denise managed to disentangle herself from her brother, shyly extending her hand. Her large dark eyes shimmered like polished jet, while flyaway black curls took on a life of their own whenever she moved her head. A shaft of sunlight fell across her heart-shaped face, highlighting the yellow-orange undertones in her flawless brown face. She was a softer, prettier, feminine version of Xavier.
“Mr. Tucker. I’ve seen and read every play you’ve written.”
Preston took her hand, squeezing it gently. “Please, no Mr. Tucker. Call me Preston.”
Chandra didn’t know how, but she knew Preston was uncomfortable with his celebrity status. She rested a hand on his shoulder. “Now I’ll introduce you to my sister and brother-in-law.”
Preston fell in step with Chandra, feeling the heat of the eyes that followed him as he walked across the patio. “Is Griffin Rice your brother-in-law?”
Chandra stopped suddenly, staring at Preston as if he were a stranger. She’d wanted it to be a surprise, butapparently he’d turned the tables. “Yes, Griffin is my brother-in-law.”
Preston dipped his head, brushing a kiss on her
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