Guilty Pleasures Read online

  Before he could respond yea or nay, the matriarch had overloaded the plate with chicken salad and thick slices of freshly baked sourdough bread. Lynn had been in their lives since he and Zachary had been six years old. She was a woman who firmly believed everything began and ended in her kitchen, always favoring her family with the foods they loved best. Cooking was her passion, and she did it well and often.

  Neither he nor Zachary had any memory of their birth mother. If it weren’t for the photographs his father kept hidden in a box in the bottom of his closet, they wouldn’t even know what she looked like. The boys had only been two years old when Carolyn Barrett had passed away from breast cancer. Everything after that was a blur—until Mama Lynn, who’d successfully turned their harried house into a home by way of her gas oven. Their stepmother had come in loving the twins as if they were her own. And with very little effort on her part, they had loved her back equally as hard.

  She was still fussing about Zachary, this time her comments directed at Alexander. “You and your brother really need to sit down and talk, Alexander. This foolishness needs to stop.”

  He opened his mouth to speak, but she interrupted, leaving him sucking air like a guppy.

  “You two love each other. And I don’t care what you say,” she said, fanning her hand at him. “We’re family so you need to fix this.”

  His father nodded in agreement. “Mama’s cooking dinner this Sunday for everyone. It’s been two weeks since Zachary got back home and we need to have a family get-together. You need to be here, son. You and your brother really need to talk. It’ll be a good time. You both can go sit down in your old bedroom and just air out your differences.”

  “I don’t want . . .” Alexander started.

  His father waved his index finger at him. “I don’t care. Enough is enough. You’ll do it because I said so. You might be grown but I’m still your father and you will do what I say. And I’m saying that this feud is done and finished so get it fixed.”

  Alexander shot his father a look, the gesture met with raised brows and a tightened jaw. He didn’t say anything else, knowing the effort would be futile. He was going to have to talk to his brother whether he wanted to or not.

  He shifted his gaze back to his meal. The salad was one of his favorites, Mama Lynn tossing thick chunks of roasted chicken with grapes and pecans. His stepmother made everything from scratch, even the mayonnaise that completed the salad on his plate. Focusing on the food was easier than focusing on the demands his parents were suddenly making.

  “What do you know about that pretty little girl?” Lynn suddenly asked, her eyes burrowing into him with curiosity. “The one that came from Thailand with Zachary.”

  He shook his head as thoughts of Sarai Montri flashed through his mind. “Not a thing,” he said after a moment of hesitation.

  The older woman blew a heavy sigh. “I just don’t understand why you boys never bring home any nice black girls. All the beautiful black women you two could have and you don’t seem interested unless they’re blond and blue-eyed.”

  “I have blue eyes,” Alexander said smugly.

  She cut her gaze in his direction. “And your point?”

  He shrugged. “I love black women and I’ve dated plenty of sisters. And you know that Zachary and I have both dated women of all races. We’re attracted to beautiful, intelligent women and we’ve never discriminated against any woman because of skin color.”

  “Well, maybe you should,” Mama Lynn quipped.

  His father laughed. “Woman, did you forget you’re biracial?” He reached for her hand, pointing to her very pale café au lait complexion.

  Lynn rolled her eyes. “We’re not talking about me. And my father being white doesn’t have anything to do with this. When people look at me they see a beautiful black woman and that’s how I see myself. I would like my sons to date and marry beautiful black women and give me beautiful grandbabies.”

  “Our boys are going to have beautiful babies no matter what their mamas look like,” Westley said with a slight snap of his head.

  Alexander laughed. “Why are we having this conversation?” he asked his father as Mama Lynn excused herself from the table and exited the room.

  “Because your mama hates being left out of anything and she wants information on your brother’s friend. I don’t know why she’s so worried though because I’d bet my last dollar that girl would make some pretty brown babies!”

  Alexander laughed again, the absurdity of the conversation suddenly lifting his spirit. “So would I!” he responded. “So would I!”

  Westley tapped his son on the back as he stood to refill his water glass. As the man sat back down, Alexander shifted forward in his seat. “I was talking to Dan and he said that you referred Zach’s friend. Did my brother ask you to do that?”

  The older man lifted his eyes to his son’s. “No,” he said his head waving from side to side. “She called and asked if I could recommend a gym. Yours was opening so it only made sense.”

  “She called you directly? So you knew about her?”

  There was a brief moment of pause as his father took another swig of his beverage and swallowed. He stole a quick glance toward the door before he answered. “Her mother and I were old friends. When your brother moved to Thailand I told him to make contact and he did. Sarai’s mother had passed but her father was really helpful to your brother. Referring her to Champs was just my way of returning the favor.”

  “What kind of friends . . . ?”

  “Let it go, son,” Westley snapped, eyeing Alexander with a stern stare. “And don’t mention it to Mama Lynn. I don’t want to hear her fussing about nothing. That was well before her time. Even before your mother. Just something that happened when I was a very young man in the service stationed overseas.”

  Alexander nodded his understanding, even more curious knowing his father and Sarai’s mother had once had a personal connection. He found himself hoping that he could bring the subject up again one day and get a little more information.

  The two men talked for another hour, Westley sharing his opinion on the state of the economy, the political climate, and his weariness with race relations around the world. He only briefly questioned Alexander’s future intentions regarding his business, offered advice on his lack of a dating life, and suggested his son think about them all taking a family trip once the newness of the gym had worn off and all the employees were settled in. Alexander had been grateful that his father didn’t mention his twin, or Sarai, again. Although the elder man knew those were the two topics Alexander didn’t have any desire to talk about, he’d already made his pronouncement about them fixing what was broke and didn’t feel a need to bring it up again.

  When Mama Lynn returned to the kitchen, she’d changed into a jogging suit, running shoes, and a clip-on ponytail that she’d pinned tightly atop her head. “We need to go, Daddy,” she admonished as she leaned to kiss Alexander’s cheek. “Lock the door if you leave before we get back, baby.”

  He nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Are you going to hang around for a while, son?” Westley asked as he rose from his seat and reached for his jacket.

  Alexander shrugged. “Probably not. I need to run a few errands myself, then I need to get back to the gym. I’ve got new clients coming in this evening.”

  His father nodded. “Well, I’m sure I’ll see you later. We can talk more then.”

  “Sounds like a plan, Pop.”

  Walking to the front door, Alexander watched as the couple fussed their way to the car, still bickering as the vehicle rolled out of the driveway. There was much love between them, and he often found himself hoping that he would one day discover what they had. When he was growing up, the two had been a glowing example of a healthy adult relationship for him and his brother to emulate.

  The house was suddenly too quiet, the sounds of a faucet dripping and the wall clock ticking the only noises to be heard. Even though he didn’t live there any
more, there was something about his parents being gone from the home that left Alexander feeling empty. It had been that way since his brother had moved to Thailand, leaving the three of them behind. Now that Zachary was back, Alexander couldn’t help but wonder if the feelings of loneliness he often felt would soon disappear.

  * * *

  Sarai had just finished the last of four employee-training sessions. For three straight hours, information had been thrown at the new hires, everyone learning everything they needed to perform the duties expected of them. With her final paperwork approved and her employee badge printed and laminated, she was official. Having already memorized the company’s mission statement, she was excited to finally get started, wanting to prove her worth.

  Since that first day, she’d only run into Alexander twice. Both times he’d ignored her completely, his dismissive demeanor actually hurting her feelings. Despite her efforts to draw him into conversation, he hadn’t been interested in talking to her, each time turning an about-face as he practically ran in the opposite direction. His behavior might have been comical if it didn’t have anything to do with her.

  “Your brother won’t talk to me,” she said as she ran on a treadmill alongside Zachary.

  He reduced his speed, slowing his full gallop to a slow jog. “Welcome to my world!”

  “He’s my employer. He should at least be able to speak to me. I didn’t do anything to him!”

  Zachary shrugged, indifference painting his expression. “He probably thinks I put you up to getting a job here.”

  “Well, if he talked to me he’d know that you didn’t have anything to do with me applying for a position. I just wanted to be able to work with the best in the industry and he’s managed to put together a stellar team for me to learn from.”

  “I wouldn’t worry about it. He’s just in his feelings right now. He’ll get over it.”

  “What does that mean? He’s in his feelings?”

  Zachary pushed the STOP button on the treadmill, coming to a complete halt. “He’s just being overly emotional. He’s always been that way since we were kids. I’d kill a bug and he’d want to give it a funeral and burial with the wailing and crying. I wasn’t that sensitive so kicking it into the dirt was okay with me.”

  Sarai shook her head. “You can be very cold sometimes. That is not a good thing when you are dealing with people. Especially family.”

  Zachary shrugged. “Yeah, whatever.” There was a lull in their conversation as he pondered her comment. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard what she said, all of his friends and family having admonished him at one time or another for the wall he put between himself and others. Especially Alexander. His twin had always been his conscience, that quiet voice over his shoulder, prodding him to do and be better. He sighed.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I really am trying to change.”

  Sarai stopped her own treadmill. “I know. Hopefully you and your brother will be better with each other soon.”

  “We’re all having dinner together on Sunday. We should be cooking with grease after that,” he said, his smile widening.

  “That’s a good thing. Spending time with your family will help you all heal.”

  “It will. And Mama Lynn is excited about getting to know you. She’s an incredible cook too so the food will be good. We’ll have a great time.”

  Anxiety suddenly flushed Sarai’s face. “Me? No! This should just be time for you and your family. I shouldn’t be included!”

  Zachary grinned. “You’re family too, Sarai. You’re my family. And I’ll talk to my brother about how he’s treating you. I’m sure he doesn’t mean it. That’s not how he is.”

  Doubt pierced her expression, not wholeheartedly convinced. “He might be a different man since you were married and left Boulder. You’ve been gone for a long time.”

  “Trust me. He’s not.”

  Sarai eyed him for a brief moment before turning toward the locker rooms. “I need to take a shower,” she said. “I’ll meet you after I’m done.”

  * * *

  Alexander was standing at the front reception desk when Sarai made her way to the lower lobby. He was joking with two members of his sales team when she entered the space. He watched as she looked quickly about, searching for someone who was nowhere to be found. Her reticence was notable as she slightly waved a hand in his direction before easing off to the side, wanting to avoid any unpleasant encounter between them. He couldn’t fault her for the distance since he’d not done much to make her feel welcome. He hadn’t wanted to talk to her, and she hadn’t forced the issue. He suddenly found himself feeling bad about his shoddy behavior.

  There had been no missing her arrival, everything about her presence seeming to tease his sensibilities. She was intoxicatingly beautiful, and there was no way to miss the attention she garnered. When she was near, people turned to look, and despite the interest, she seemed almost oblivious to it. She never gave him any sense that she cared or even noticed the obvious stares.

  She’d worked with two new clients and both had asked for her again, which was definitely a positive. People were impressed by her strength, amazed that so much power was packed in such a petite frame. In the gym, she was demanding, and clients seemed to like that too, the standards she set moving them to push past any limits they placed on themselves. She made friends easily, and others on the staff liked working with her. Dan had been right about her being a good fit for the organization. Alexander imagined she was a good fit wherever she went.

  He turned, his eyes skating back and forth in search of his brother. He knew that she was probably waiting for Zachary, having no other reason to be standing there by her lonesome. Despite the hostility that still plagued him, Alexander had stopped making an issue of his twin being there at the gym. His brother’s money was as good as anyone else’s, and since he’d actually purchased a lifetime pass for the privilege of being a member, there wasn’t much Alexander could do.

  The young woman who’d completed the transaction had been starstruck, not even questioning why the man would need to pay for the privilege of using his twin brother’s gymnasium. Despite his anger, the staff seemed completely unaware of the tension between them. For that, Alexander had been grateful. Despite what he was feeling, he really didn’t want the negativity to impact his employees or their performance. Bad business would not serve him well and publicly castigating his brother was seriously bad business.

  Taking another look around the room, Alexander excused himself from the conversation he was having and moved in the woman’s direction.

  “Sarai, hello,” Alexander said as he extended his hand to shake hers.

  She smiled sweetly. “It’s good to see you again, Mr. Barrett.”

  “Mr. Barrett is my father. Please, call me Alex. We’re practically family, right?” The question was smug, his top lip twitching with bitterness as he spat the words.

  “Alex it is, then,” she said with a slight nod, ignoring the tone.

  “So, how are you settling in to your position? You’re not having any problems that I need to be aware of, are you?”

  “No. I’m really enjoying myself. Everyone’s been very nice to me.”

  His mouth lifted in the slightest smile. “I’m glad to hear it. I’ve been preoccupied lately and I didn’t want you to think that I was avoiding you.”

  This time she smiled brightly. “But you were avoiding me,” she said as she crossed her arms over her chest. There was the hint of a challenge in the look she tossed him.

  He lifted his eyes to hers, meeting her gaze with one of his own. Amusement danced across her face.

  “I guess I was,” he said sheepishly, color tinting his cheeks a deep shade of embarrassed. “But you have to admit that our situation is a little unique. Things were just . . . well . . . they were awkward.”

  “I don’t agree,” she said softly. “But I do know that you and your brother are very much alike. He can be a big baby at times, too.”


  Alexander chuckled. “Baby! That’s cute!”

  She laughed with him. “Not so much cute coming from grown men.”

  “I’ll take that,” he said. “I probably have it coming.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  He nodded. “So can we agree to start over and I’ll promise to do better? Because despite my bad behavior I really am a pretty nice guy. Most people think so anyway.”

  There was a moment of pause as she reflected on his comment. Her eyes skated over his profile as she took in the wealth of him. The man was as pretty as his brother. Even more so as he possessed an air of maturity that Zachary often lacked. She found everything about him appealing. Her face glowed as she nodded in agreement. “I look forward to knowing that guy,” she said finally.

  “Hey, what’s up?” Zachary suddenly said, interjecting himself into their conversation. “What are you two up to?”

  Both gave the man a look as his gaze darted back and forth between them. Ignoring his brother, Alexander turned his attention back to Sarai. “I’m glad we cleared the air. You have a very good night and I look forward to talking with you again soon,” he said.

  She smiled back. “Good night, Alex,” she said.

  There was a moment of pause as if Alexander wanted to say something else, but he didn’t, instead turning an about-face and moving in the opposite direction.

  “What was . . . ?” Zachary started to question as Sarai suddenly held up her hand to stall his comment.

  Sarai took two steps after his brother, calling Alexander’s name.

  He turned, his eyes wide as she closed the gap between them, coming to a stop when they stood toe-to-toe. “Yes, Sarai?”

  “Are you still interested in our having dinner? I don’t have any plans tonight if you’re free,” she said, her expression eager.

  The lull in their conversation was thunderous as he stood staring at her, silence sweeping voluminously between them. Around him, everything continued like normal, no one else seeming to notice that time had shifted on its axis, leaving him stunned and unsettled. Alexander suddenly felt his head bobbing against his thick neck, the moment feeling surreal. “I am,” he said, his voice a loud whisper.