Crockett's Seduction Read Free Page A

bunnies?”
    “So you wouldn’t bug me,” Crockett snapped. “And I wish I’d stayed hidden. I’m feeling very intruded upon.”
    Last’s eyes widened. “We were worried about you.”
    “Entirely unnecessary.” He’d just gotten tired and had decided to stretch out and rest his eyes. “How’d you find me up here?”
    Mason shrugged. “There’s all kinds of dirt on the floor from the attic door being opened. I don’t guess anybody’s been up here in ages. We really ought to clean it out.” Glancing around, he sighed. “When we have time.”
    “So, what did you paint?” Last said. “Mason thinks it’s a Picasso-style heart—”
    “Van Gogh,” Mason corrected.
    “I’m thinking the red tones are sexual,” Last said. “The curves are feminine and delicate, so it’s probably a woman’s fanny. It almost reminds me of Georgia O’Keeffe. You know how she revealed the sexual nature of women when she painted those petals.” Last scratched his head as he looked at his brother. “But you never think about sex when you’re holding a paintbrush. I probably just didn’t get your vision. Let me have another look.”
    “No!” Crockett hopped away with his overcritiqued treasure. Gently, he set it down where it could dry in peace. “Look, do you guys mind getting the hell out?”
    “No problem, Picasso,” Mason said. “But sinceit seems your creativity has fizzled for the moment, you think we could get you to come down for supper?”
    “Why not?” Crockett said, following them down the stairs. “I have nothing better to do than be harassed by my brothers.”
    “Excellent.” Mason headed into the kitchen, then sat at the table and tucked a napkin into his lap. “Helga cooked a wonderful meal.”
    He beamed, delighted that Mimi didn’t borrow the housekeeper so much now that Mimi lived in town. With a smaller place and with her daughter being older, things were going more smoothly for Mimi.
    Except for her cockamamy idea of running for sheriff, with Mason as deputy, an idea that Crockett knew Mason opposed. It was no job for a woman, Mason had said, especially a woman like Mimi.
    The brothers had rolled their eyes, ignoring Mason. Mimi would do whatever the heck Mimi wanted—and Mason would no doubt find himself neck-deep in Mimi-schemies.
    “It’s delicious, Helga,” Crockett said to the housekeeper. Actually, now that he was eating, he was glad his brothers had rescued him from his upstairs jail. He had gotten hungry. And now that he’d survived their mockery and realized they hadn’t made as much fun of his first attempt atpainting as he’d feared, he was feeling almost good about his dysfunctional family.
    And then the door opened and Valentine walked in with Olivia, Calhoun and the kids.
    “Ah, just in time for dinner,” Calhoun said, grinning as he helped his kids and Olivia onto the plank seats.
    Crockett stared, all his contentment shriveling. “I thought you were eating at your house.”
    “Yeah, but Helga called and said she’d made extra, and why didn’t we come on up? So here we are,” Calhoun said.
    Yes, here they were, Crockett thought, before remembering his manners. He stood and pushed the plank seat back a bit so Valentine could more comfortably seat herself. Beside him, of course, because the table was then balanced with an equal number of people on each side. Helga quickly handed out extra plates, but Crockett’s creativity and hunger left all at once, replaced by a different kind of need.
    He suddenly realized the delicate floral scent he smelled was coming from Valentine. He quickly drank some water. She looked at him, her smile somehow unsure, and he put the glass down.
    Across the table, Last watched them curiously. Minnie and Kenny ate happily, and Annette sat in her father’s lap, grinning as she dug her fingers into Last’s mashed potatoes.
    Tension spread through Crockett. He turned his attention back to the food he couldn’t eat.
    “In case you’re