Summer Changes

chapter 6

Chapter Six

Chapter Six ****

The maid showed them to the living and gratefully left. From what she could see they were all males, divided into three groups, bickering rather low between themselves about what she didn’t care. She could sense the testosterom in the atmosphere, thinking this must be what’s it like walking into a guys locker room.

It took a few moments before a hush fell around the room as all appeared to notice that the two of them were standing there. The large open living room smelled of liquor and cigars. The french glass doors paretically open on the outer wall added to the dramatic theme, as lightning flashed on the distant horizon set against the dark storming ocean.

Hailey took in the many faces that littered the room and realized a startling fact, she had never seen any of them before in her life. Her grandmother was the only female in the place.

She suddenly felt very uncomfortable and slid subconsciously closer to Collin’s side, out of instinct.

He surprised her for the first time in a long while, by putting his hand in hers and squeezed it. The air in the room grew mysteriously tense when he did that or was it her imagination?

“Collin honey, you can leave now, it’s alright Ishailey will be fine,” her grandmom spoke crisply. This was a side of her grandmom she had never seen before and she was truly astonished. The woman that spoke to them was dressed in an expensive maroon silk dress and pearls. Her usually wind blown hair that sat under a straw hat was combed and tamed, swirled up in the back with a diamond black comb, revealing their family stone.

“No grandmom, I’m not leaving my sister alone in here until mom or dad show up.”

His voice carried a mature edge that she had never heard before. Collin then positioned himself in front of her like a shield. This was a new side of Collin she had never experienced before now, protective. She liked it and squeezed his hand to let him know.

“The boy can stay Olivia.” A deep rich voice that sounded like soft velvet on her ears cut in, before her grandmom could reply.

“It’s endearing to see such chivalry in today’s youth for one’s own sibling. It should be commemorated, not hindered. ”

Grandmom gave them one of her expressions, that said we’ll talk later, before turning and walking away to sit at dad’s large desk.

She seemed to be in her element at last, but ever watchful, yet why was she here if it was to be only males? The question dissolved for within the shadows of the far corner a figure emerged, the voice became a face. Hailey suddenly wish she was any where but there at that moment and she could feel Collin’s body stiffen. They weren’t laughing anymore.

The man was tall with a powerful physique that demanded your full attention, as he stood larger than life with chiseled features that looked very familiar to that of his Son, Kylier.

His blonde hair was cut just perfect every piece seemed to be in place. His dark suite was pressed with crisp lines, underneath the purest white shirt that was open at the neck revealing a stone, a familiar stone she had seen yesterday. The Sonoran sunrise Jasper stone sat on what she knew without a doubt was Kylier’s family stone.

His dark intense grey eyes held hers hypnotically, drawing her in to him in some weird way, possibly testing her strengths? Only she was made of stronger stuff than that and she stood her ground and stared him back. She tilted her chin a little giving a stubborn appearance. A slight movement in his eyes happened and he angled his head as if he was now recognizing that inner strength she had pulled up against him.