Uncivilized (Uncivilized 1)

"Honestly, Cara... give it a rest," Clint says.

Unsure of what to say, I go ahead and let the first thing that comes to mind out of my mouth. "What are these terms... niece, nephew, uncle?"

Randall gives a bark of a laugh and claps me on the shoulder. "My younger brother, Stanley Cannon, is Cara and Clint's father. So I'm called their uncle and they are called my niece and nephew."

"They're titles," Moira supplies, "to denote blood relations."

I nod my head with understanding. "Well, it's nice to meet you." I cut my gaze to Clint, who looks as happy as a puppy to have me there, and then over to Cara, who looks like she's undressing me with her eyes.

A quick glance over at Moira, and I see she hasn't failed to notice Cara's look. She's staring at her as if she wants to pull her hair out, and I smile internally. Now Moira understands perhaps what I was feeling when that guy Michael put his hands on her. Maybe I'll get to see two women fighting over me... although I wonder if I could get them to agree to do it naked. No clue why, but that idea appeals to me immensely.

"What would you like to drink?" Randall asks. "I've got a variety of wines and beer. Maybe some bourbon?"

"I'll pour," Clint says, walking over to a wooden bar filled with various bottles and glasses. "Cara... you want a glass of bourbon, right? And a vodka tonic for Uncle Randall. What about you, Moira?"

"I'll have a glass of white wine... I don't care what type."

Clint nods as he starts pouring liquids into various sized glasses. "What about you, Zach?"

"I'll try the bourbon too," I tell him, having no clue what that means.

I steal a quick glance at Moira and she gives me an encouraging smile, then leans in toward me. "I strongly suggest you only have one. It can sneak up on you."

I lean back toward her. "I need the fortitude to get through tonight."

She snickers at me, and I love that we are back to where we can joke with each other.

After Clint gets all the drinks poured, he hands them out to each of us. I take a sniff of the bourbon, and the scent is pleasing. Woodsy, smoky... slightly sweet.

"I'd like to make a toast," Randall says, "to welcome Zach home. I'm so happy to have him back where he belongs."

Cara and Clint call out, "Here, here," but Moira doesn't say a word. She knows I'm not happy with those words just uttered.

Everyone takes a sip of their drink, except me. I look directly at Randall. "I'm sorry, Randall. But this isn't my home and it never will be."

The warm smile slides off Randall's face, and he takes a step toward me. His eyes are sad. "I'm sorry, Zach. That was insensitive of me. I know you must be very angry with me right now, but I'm hoping you will forgive me and accept my friendship. I really only wanted to make sure you were okay and give you an opportunity to come here. If you don't want to stay, I'll arrange for you to return whenever you want. Until then, I hope you will let me share my memories of your parents with you, and you will at least have a good experience while you are here."

Man, that was good. So good in fact, I actually find myself warming up to the old man. I nod at him and make an attempt at a smile, but before I can say anything to him, Cara steps up to my side and loops her arm through mine. "Oh, poo. Zach is going to have such a fabulous time here that he's never going to want to leave. I'm going to make sure of it."

Cara then leans in and presses her body into my side. She's soft and she smells good, but I'd rather have Moira standing this close to me. Cara is beautiful and has a stunning body from what I can see, but she doesn't overwhelm me the way Moira does.

Nothing has ever overwhelmed me the way Moira does.

"Let's head in to dinner, shall we?" Randall says as he offers his arm to Moira. "Zach, you can escort Cara in, and I'll take the lovely Dr. Reed."

My hackles raise slightly to see Moira loop her arm through Randall's, but he does nothing more than give her a kindly pat on the hand. However, my gaze cuts over to Clint, who is walking in just behind, and his eyes are pinned on Moira's ass.

It makes me want to kill the motherfucker, but I know Moira wouldn't take kindly to it.

Cara leads me into a large dining room with a table that seats twenty-four by my quick count. Leading me to a chair near the end, she releases her hold on me. She stands there, staring at me, and I wonder what I'm supposed to do.

Shrugging my shoulders, I pull my chair out and sit down, then watch as Randall escorts Moira to the chair opposite of me, and pulls it out for her to sit in. Okay... so that's a custom I didn't know about. I look back up at Cara, but she's already pulling her own chair out to sit down beside me.

"In polite circles, Zach," Cara tells me primly, "a gentleman should pull out a chair for a lady."

Moira puts her hand over her mouth to hide a smile, and I can't help but say, "I've lived in a savage world for a long time, Miss Cannon. I don't belong in polite circles."

Randall guffaws over that and takes the seat at the very end, and just to my right, while Clint sits down next to Moira.

Immediately, servers come in and start placing plates with silver, domed lids over them before each of us. Once everyone has one, they all lift the lids in one coordinated move. I look down at my plate, not recognizing a damn thing.

"We're having roasted duck tonight with asparagus and fingerling potatoes," Randall says beside me and, as I look up at him, he must have seen the lack of recognition on my face. "But if you don't like it, I'm sure we can whip up something for you."

"I'm sure it's fine," I tell him because I'll eat anything. "It sure looks better than spider monkey."

Moira laughs, and Cara makes a choking sound. "You eat spider monkey?" she asks with disgust.

"And howler monkey," I tell her with a grin. "As well as snake, alligator, and grub worms."

She gasps and wrinkles her nose. "It sounds awful."

"It's actually pretty good," Moira says across the table, giving me a warm smile. "At least the alligator and monkey I tried were. I would have liked to have tried the snake... particularly the one Zach killed just before it was getting ready to take a nip at my ankle."

I laugh at the picture and nod. "That would have made you a mighty fine meal," I tell her, returning her smile, which is private between the two of us.

"Well, thank goodness for our creature comforts here," Cara says.

"Zach... what's been the hardest thing you've had to acclimate to here?" Clint asks curiously, as I start to cut into the duck. I place a bite in my mouth, and it's fucking delicious.

After I swallow, I tell him, "I miss the simplicity of my life back in Caraica."

"How so?" Randall asks.

"Well, everything here is about rules. You live in the land of the free, but you are governed by so many rules that it's hard to keep track of sometimes. For example, if I want to cross the street, I have to wait for the light to turn green. In Amazonia, I go where I want, when I want, without anyone telling me differently."

"Ah, but that rule about the green light is in place for your safety," Cara points out.

"Agreed," I tell her. "And I understand that well, but it's a product of having too many people and too much technology. Your life here is actually stunted to some degree because of that."

"You'll get used to it," Cara says dismissively.

I take another bite of my food, but then Moira pipes up. "I think what Zach is really saying, is that in Amazonia, he grew up with absolute freedom. He didn't have rules and boundaries to shape him, but led his life the way he wanted. When someone is given that amazing opportunity, I think the potential to become whatever you want is endless. Sometimes, simple is better."

I look across the table at Moira and am humbled at the way that she gets me. I first thought she would try to change me into something I'm not capable of but, instead, she celebrates my diversity from this life.

She appreciates it.

I give her a smile of thanks and return to my dinner.

The rest of the meal, I'm happy to let Cara and Clint do most of the talking. Randall has taken a backseat, refusing to overwhelm me, and I just listen to Cara prattle on about her latest shopping expedition, and Clint talk about some new sports car he just purchased. I get the feeling these two don't do much but spend their money.

"Oh, I have an idea," Cara says with a wide smile. "Clint and I will take Zach out on the boat tomorrow. It will be so much fun."

"Moira can come too, right?" I ask because I get the feeling that she was deliberately not invited.

"Absolutely," Clint says, shooting Moira a weird smile that sets me on edge. I notice Cara looks put out.

"Not tomorrow," Randall says. "I want to spend some time with Zach. He's only committed to two days here, and I want to be able to talk to him about his parents. I want to take him over to the house he lived in as a boy. But if he wants to stay, I think that sounds like a fine idea."

I turn my head in surprise to Randall. "My parents lived near here?"

Randall nods with a smile. "I actually bought their house when they went missing. It went into foreclosure, and I always hoped they'd come back. When I found out that you were alive, I went ahead and transferred the deed into your name. It belongs to you now, Zach."

I swallow hard, emotion overwhelming me. I've been remembering bits and pieces of that little house, but I never thought I'd get to see it again. Putting my utensils down, I wipe my mouth with my napkin. All so very civilized.