Lakeshore Legend: The McAdams Series (By The Lake Series Book 2) Read online

  They pushed each other down the hallway into the kitchen.

  Oh my gosh, Kate mouthed. “Did you know about this?” she hissed at her sister in a low tone, leaning toward her.

  Peyton shook her head. “No. I had no idea.” Was it serious? Were they a couple? How long had it been going on? All these questions jangled around in her head like one of those annoying bells hung on a business door to chime each customer’s entrance. Peyton couldn’t stand those bells. Peyton had no idea the seriousness of this situation, but it concerned her.

  Both their eyes fell on the plate of cookies and they knew exactly how that plate got there.

  “We should wait outside.”

  “Outside? That’s not weird, Kate,” she said sarcastically.

  “Cause that would be the weirdest thing to happen right now,” Kate hissed then laughed again.

  “Shut up!” Peyton grabbed her sister’s arm and dragged her into the modest living room. Her dad only had the bare necessities: leather sofa set, flat screen television and three-piece wood coffee table set. He wasn’t big on decorating but he’d kept all the pictures her mom had proudly displayed. Peyton had upgraded and added a few over the years...such as one of her niece Haylee’s birth and one of Rosemary’s arrival.

  The first floor formed a circle from the front foyer and staircase leading down a hall and into the kitchen then through the living room and back into the foyer. They hovered close to the doorway by the front door so they couldn’t see into the kitchen.

  “I just cleaned that dryer.” Peyton made a face at Kate.

  “I would clean it again before you use it,” Kate teased.

  Peyton playfully slapped her.

  “And, I would sanitize the table and counter tops. I mean for that ladies age, I’m shocked she climbed on the dryer. The kitchen table would be nothing in comparison.”

  Images! Images! “Stop it!”

  Kate smirked. “I can’t believe Dad still...you know.”

  Peyton held her hand up. “Gross Kate. What is wrong with you? I live here.”

  Peyton didn’t need to envision images of her father and Elaine doing anything of the sort, especially not even ten feet away from blissful reminiscence that had been stealing her dreams the last month. Now they were going to be spoiled by images of that laundry room. Good, you shouldn’t be dreaming about him anyway.

  “Bye Peyton. Bye Kate,” Elaine called from the kitchen. Their positions kept them out of sight and out of awkwardness.

  The sister’s shared an uncomfortable look. “Bye Elaine,” they replied in unison.

  The back door shut.

  A few seconds later their father, fully dressed looking a little shaken up, appeared in the living room entrance. He was running his hand through his wavy coarse brown hair peppered with grey.

  “Dad?” the girls questioned together.

  “Girls.” He looked uncomfortable. This was the first time since their mom passed away that there was another woman in their dad’s life and that was over fifteen years ago.

  Peyton would have been ecstatic for him if he’d chosen anyone else to fill in his lonely nights...or days.

  If it was serious Peyton could envision her future already: special occasions, Christmas, Easter, etc...being forced to dine and smile. It wouldn’t have been a dilemma if Peyton hadn’t played bath time with Elaine’s only son.

  And if the sex hadn’t been so damn amazing she might be able to get him out of her mind. I bet that’s what all the women say.

  “What’s going on between you two?” Peyton had to know how serious this was.

  “Elaine and I were um...just...well...”

  “Tapping?” Kate supplied.

  Peyton would have laughed out loud if it wasn’t Elaine he was tapping. Instead panic was filling up her chest, suffocating her and not allowing her to enjoy her sister’s teasing.

  How would she sit at a table across from Colt for an entire meal without picturing water droplets tracing down his biceps on every area she had touched? It sounded impossible!

  “It’s more than...” he paused although trying to think of another word but finally settling with, “tapping.”

  This is terrible news!

  Kate stifled her laughter trying to hold a serious face.

  Peyton nudged her with an elbow and sent her a glare before turning back to her already embarrassed father. “Don’t say tapping Dad. What do you mean it’s more?” she asked.

  “We’ve been seeing a lot of each other.”

  Oh no...they were dating! Like a couple. Seeing each other on a regular basis. Stop jumping to conclusions. One question at a time. “Like dating?”

  He nodded and for the first time a smile of relief pressed his face. “Yes, we are dating. I guess you would call her my girlfriend.”

  Noooo!

  “Long term girlfriend?” Peyton pushed.

  “Yes.”

  Peyton crossed her arms. “Like long term girlfriend attending all our family gatherings that kind of girlfriend?”

  Kate sent her a questioning look. “Is there another kind?” she asked.

  “I’m just clarifying Kate,” she snapped.

  “Yes.” Kent raised his voice, making it clear.

  Oh great! Oh, bloody hell beautiful man body I tapped in the shower and have been trying to avoid is now going to be thrown into my life and I will have to act oblivious by the mere sight of him. This was the worst news she’d had in months.

  “Seriously Dad, I do laundry in those machines,” Peyton said, needing to distract her mind to anything but Colt, even if it ended up back in that laundry room with their parents. It was better than the shower across the hall.

  “How did you even get her up there?” Kate inquired.

  Peyton lips curved upwards against her better judgement. “Kate honestly. It’s like I’m standing beside Abby.” Abby wasn’t afraid to say anything no matter the consequences, which was one reason she wasn’t good at maintaining a job and made the success of their business vital.

  Kent cleared his throat. “I’m going to leave now,” he said. “The mini stick is on the kitchen table, Kate and I will see you two in a bit at the beach for lunch.” Oh that darn mini stick was accountable for all these events.

  “Do you want a ride?” Kate offered.

  “I’m going to drive Elaine.”

  He had to make it public now? While Colt was in town? She needed more time...this wasn’t enough time!

  This was all that mini sticks fault and Peyton knew exactly why Kate was getting it, which in turn brought all the blame to Colt and his autograph.

  “Ohh,” Kate teased following their dad to the kitchen.

  Peyton lagged behind, considering what the next holiday was...Easter. Maybe she was going to get sick Easter weekend, that was if Colt was coming home that weekend.

  When they were back in Peyton’s car Kate said, “He’s driving her to the festivities. Like a date.” She flashed a smile. “That’s so sweet.”

  “I don’t think that’s sweet.” It slipped out.

  Kate looked at her surprised. “Why not?”

  Why not? It was as if Kate hadn’t been thrown into the disaster that occurred when their dad lost their mother? Wasn’t it obvious? Love destroyed people. Her dad, even though he was all googly-eyed for Elaine right now, spent the years since their mother’s death sad, missing her, longing for her and having a hard time living his life. That was what love did to people.

  Peyton didn’t dare share her opinion with Kate, who’d recently married the man she loved. They’d been torn apart for five years and that loss had destroyed Kate’s days without him. Another prime example. If Kate hadn’t given Marc her heart in the first place she wouldn’t have been so damn miserable all those years without him.

  Peyton wasn’t playing the love game. However, if her dad wanted to jump back on that unsteady wagon of doom, Peyton wasn’t going to stand in his way.

  Now Kate was waiting for an answer to her
big mouth. “I had sex with Colt.” She winced, waiting for her sister’s reaction.

  Kate didn’t reply right away, but Peyton could see her fingers had stopped tapping her cell phone screen.

  “Patterson?” she finally asked, doubt in her voice that she had the correct Colt. Why was it so unbelievable? Why does it matter if it is?

  Peyton nodded.

  “Colt Patterson?” There was still scepticism dripping from his name. Thanks Kate for making me feel like I’m not worth a douche bag who nails any woman he wants.

  Peyton sighed. “Yes, Colt Patterson. Pro hockey star, next door neighbour, Elaine Patterson’s son, Colt Patterson,” she clarified naming off every title for her debating sister.

  Kate was quiet for another moment taking the announced titles in. Then she squealed like Peyton had when Kate had agreed to open the shop with her. “When did this happen?”

  “Last month.”

  “And you didn’t tell me!”

  Peyton shook her head. Kate had been a little busy adapting to her new life and Peyton had been preoccupied building a business. Yeah, that’s the reason you didn’t tell her. It was more that she was horrified she was another puck he scored in the net.

  “I cannot believe you two...and I didn’t even notice you acting different...” She gasped then laughed. “You were watching him at the shop like a peeping tom.” She gasped again. “Looking for your Prince Charming. Awe...”

  Peyton was beginning to regret her decision to tell her sister. She didn’t want to get into...

  “Details,” Kate pried, and Peyton groaned inwardly. “How did this happen? When did this happen? Where did this happen? Oh, please don’t say on the dryer.”

  “Yuck. Gross. Katherine!”

  Kate laughed uncontrollably. “I’m sorry but there’s so much humour in this whole situation.” She threw her hands in the air.

  Peyton bit her lower lip trying to decide whether to add to her sister’s humour. What difference did it make now?

  Peyton grinned inwardly guessing she should stop being such a prude and find the humour with her sister, even if it wasn’t going to last. She knew the second she stepped out of the warmth of her vehicle the reality would slap its cold hand across her face and send panic down to her toes.

  Peyton cleared her throat to get her sister’s attention. “In the shower across the hall.”

  Kate gasped. “No way! This is like your teenage dream come true. Tell me everything.” She stretched out the last word until she was out of breath.

  That wouldn’t be awkward. “I’m not telling you everything.”

  Kate pouted. “Oh come on, at least give me the lead up. Like was he all handsomely flirtatious and sucked you into his tight snake grasp with those strapping man hands...”

  Peyton was shaking her head. It was absolutely nothing like that. But the sight of his strapping man hands popped into her head as they ran up her thigh...“You’re ridiculous,” she scoffed shifting her slouching, warming body straighter into an uneasy position in the seat to help her straying thoughts.

  “Are you kidding me right now? I get nothing?” Kate’s tone was only half kidding...she wanted details.

  “I accidently sprayed him with the outside hose while I was icing the rink in the backyard and he locked himself out of his mom’s house, so I offered to dry his clothes.”

  Kate gasped. “That damn laundry room again!” she squealed almost bouncing in her seat. She settled down and her stare was lost past the windshield. “Oh, I remember doing laundry in there when I was eighteen and Marc was over helping after all your girls were tucked away in your room and...”

  Peyton held her hand up. “No, no no! Don’t share that with me. You and Marc. Dad and Elaine...it’s too much in one day.”

  “And you and Colt Patterson!” she squealed his last name like she was sure many fans did.

  “Kate, get some control.”

  “I can’t. I remember you chasing him around and we were three years younger so he wouldn’t give you the time of day. He actually threw hockey pucks at you to get you off the property. Remember?”

  She did. “No.” She had thrown them right back at him. He had liked that as much as he liked her; not at all. “And it was just a one-time thing. Just like all the other women.”

  Kate sighed. “If you say so.”

  “I do say so. Look at his track record.”

  “I don’t follow that stuff. Sorry, I have a life.”

  “Oh, I have a life.”

  “A life with the memory of tapping Colt Patterson in your teenage home.” Tapping...what was with that word and her family?

  “This is the last time I tell you anything.”

  “Alright I’m done.” She calmly folded her hands across her lap. “So, have you talked to him since?” Done, huh?

  “Nope.”

  “Now Dad’s dating Elaine. That’s going to be super awkward.” She had no idea. “Or exciting.”

  “It’s not exciting.”

  Peyton was glad when the shop came into view because Kate seemed to remember her daughter was waiting for the darned mini stick and together they rushed across the road. Some of the family was waiting down the snow covered beach by the skating rink. Kent and Elaine were nowhere to be seen.

  “Holla sista’s!” Abby shouted, raising her leather and studded covered arms. She was a rebel at heart and black spilled out of her closet and dressed her like a shadow of the night. She also liked anything studded and was a regular customer at the local tattoo shop.

  Marc was holding Rosemary, a recently united family member who fit in as though she had never been absent. The small, curly brown-haired five-year-old had only come into their lives before the new year after Kate and Marc rekindled their love and secrets from their past brought the sweetness into their lives.

  “Hi Momma.” Rosemary had adapted quickly to Kate and Marc. Kate was mother material through to her deepest bone. Unlike herself, when their mother had passed away Kate had jumped in to raise them all while their father went on a constant MIA drinking binges and Gran had taken a leave of absence from their lives to sort out the loss of her daughter.

  Peyton was better at working. Babies and kids, although she had no problem with them, weren’t her thing. Just like love and romance. That’s why she was so annoyed Colt had been a popping into her thoughts like an unwanted two-dollar bill.

  Kate scooped Rosemary up for a hug and she giggled. “Hi Aunt Peyton.”

  “Hi Rosemary. Are you excited about the wagon ride?”

  Rosemary nodded. “I’m going to see Colt Patterson,” she said, excited. She proceeded to name off the team he was on the previous year and his playing position, goals and stats and lost Peyton in the process. Rosemary, the little hockey fan. Colt had even star-struck her niece. How annoying.

  Peyton kept her smile

  “Here’s the mini stick.” Kate pulled the wooden piece of doom out of her purse. “For Colt Patterson to sign.” She sent Peyton a wink.

  “You didn’t say that’s what it was for,” Peyton said. Although she’d already suspected.

  “I was a little distracted.” It had certainly been a distracting visit home Peyton couldn’t argue about that.

  “Well, I’m starving,” Abby announced. “Oh there’s Dad. Thank goodness!” She started waving to catch her dad’s attention. She stopped abruptly. “Why is he holding the neighbours hand?” Her tone was flat.

  Peyton and Kate laughed.

  “What did we miss?” Sydney, their middle-aged sister snuck up behind Peyton and gave her arm a squeeze.

  Peyton turned and smiled at her. Sydney was the odd one out when it came to the McAdams sibling’s good looks. Her stark contrasting natural blonde hair and light eyes were distinctly opposite to the two sets of twin’s dark brown hair and hazel eyes, although Abby’s visit with blonde hair in a box was frequent.

  “Don’t you want to know,” Peyton teased. “Hey Haylee.” She hugged her teenage niece, who w
as a replica of her mom except for the McAdams brown eyes. They both looked like beach girls with smiles of innocence.

  Haylee greeted the rest with her sweet, soft voice and a round of hugs. Haylee would be starting her first year of high school in the fall and, knowing the kind, gentle-hearted girl, Peyton worried she was going to get walked over. The McAdams sisters had gone to school and backed down to no one with their attitude and spunk. Haylee lacked all those qualities. Time would tell.

  “So what’s so funny?” Abby asked.

  “We are going to wait in the lineup.” Kate grabbed the sleeve of Marc’s wool jacket and pulled him away before Peyton poured out all the details of the last half hour, leaving out the x-rated version since Haylee was present. And definitely leaving out the Colt part.

  “You did not.” Sydney’s hands covered her shocked grin. “They were not.”

  “That’s so gross.” Abby’s young smooth skin was squished together disgusted. As she processed the information a big smile crossed her face. “But go Dad,” she cheered.

  “How long has this been going on?” Sydney inquired.

  Peyton shrugged. “We didn’t really talk about it.”

  “Look at them,” Abby fussed in her high pitch tone. “They have that sex glow.”

  “Abby!” Sydney scolded, making eye gestures towards her daughter.

  Abby waved her hand. “Oh please, at her age you were almost pregnant. Pretty sure she knows all about sex. Have you been on social media in her generation? It would be weird if she didn’t know.”

  “I can pretend I don’t know,” Haylee offered, sending her worried mom a grin. “I could do earmuffs.” She teased, placing her gloved hands over her ears.

  Sydney pulled her hands away. “It never worked anyway,” she said. “They’re coming this way.”

  Sydney waved them over.

  “I was thinking of making some new Mommy jokes.” Abby turned towards them.

  “Not appropriate,” Sydney said. She was the serious one in the family.

  “But they would be hilarious,” Abby protested, starting to run a couple off that got her a slap on the arm from Sydney.

  Peyton couldn’t help but grin as she turned towards Kent and Elaine. Did they have a glowing look about them? She couldn’t tell if it was Jack Frost nipping their faces or if they’d had another session before getting out of the car.