Under the Boardwalk (Costas Sisters 1)

Instead she tackled the more surprising revelation. “You said Costas family spa. Does that mean Dad’s willing to move away from the Addams family?” she asked hopefully.

“He will eventually,” Elena said with certainty. “He only holds on to it as security because the persona lets him forget he was sick during his treatment. It’s been a long time. He just needs the right prodding to let go. He’ll come around.”

Elena sounded so sure of herself that Ariana knew her mother would have her way. She glanced into the pot only to have herself smacked away by her mother’s hand.

“Leave it be,” Elena scolded her.

“What’s the main ingredient?”

“Other than fish oil?” Aunt Dee asked.

Ariana swallowed, attempting not to gag. “So that’s what the odor is.” She winced and decided once and for all not to try to look into the pot again. “I know I’m going to regret asking, but why?”

Elena glanced heavenward. “I’d think that was obvious. Have you ever seen a wrinkled fish?”

Ariana blinked. Only her mother would come up with such absurdity. “Only a scaly one,” she muttered. “Assuming you can even get anyone near this stuff given the odor, I think you’re going to have flaking problems.” She wrinkled her nose in distaste.

“She hasn’t added the scent yet,” Aunt Dee assured her.

Ariana doubted anything would cover the fishy smell, but decided to shut up now. “I’m a little surprised Spank wants to be anywhere near this stench.”

At the mention of her name, the monkey grinned.

“Well, there’s also Greek valerian in here.” Her mother placed a cover on the pot and lowered the dial to simmer. “Historically, it’s a scent that has been known to attract cats,” she said, as if that explained Spank’s attraction to the vile odor.

Ariana shook her head. “Do you mean valerian root?” She named an herbal remedy she’d once heard of.

Her mother laughed. “I think Greek valerian sounds so much more apropos for us, don’t you? Besides, that’s the correct name for what I purchased.”

“Whatever.” Ariana was through asking questions. Even if she did wonder what legal steps her mother planned or didn’t plan to take in order to market this new treatment. Once she eliminated the odor, that is. “Since the stove’s overloaded, I think I’ll go to Aunt Kassie’s for something to eat.”

But she’d be shocked if her sinus passages cleared and the odor in her nostrils disappeared enough for her to regain her appetite.

“Are you working tonight?” her mother asked.

When Ariana had told Elena the truth about her job at Damon’s, her mother had merely grinned and said, “Quinn will protect you.” Ariana had gritted her teeth and smiled.

Though Elena thought a man was the answer to life, Ariana had learned the hard way to rely on herself. Her first few months in Vermont had been lonely, and more than once she’d had to suppress the urge to run home to her family despite the chaos and insanity. But she’d been determined to carve out her own life and she had.

Her neighbor, Jill, had become a close friend, as had the younger professors at the college, while one of the older deans had practically adopted Ariana and they shared tea once a week. It was the staid, predictable, comfortable life she’d sought, but coming home showed her all she’d been missing, both good and bad.

And she was about to embark onto the bad, snooping around the casino in the hopes of finding her twin. As long as her mother was calm about her resolve to remain at Damon’s, Ariana didn’t care if trust in Quinn was the reason. Even if she didn’t trust him herself.

Though he’d never promised her anything, she was furious at him for disappointing her and even madder at herself for caring. Because she’d been starting to care about him. Because she still did. But the fact remained he didn’t trust her enough to confide the truth and so he’d put the wall between them.

She glanced around the pot-filled, cluttered kitchen and inhaled the awful smell. All were a reminder of the childhood embarrassments she’d been running from. Yet despite her resolve to keep her distance as well as her sanity, she couldn’t deny she loved her family as much as they loved her.

So she forced a smile for her mother’s sake. “Actually, I’m off tonight. I haven’t had time to visit with Aunt Kassie and the cousins since I’ve been back.” The more grounded side of the family, Ariana thought. Which, considering the Costas clan, wasn’t saying much.

Chapter Eight

Quinn dribbled the basketball around the old gym at the rec center and took a shot at the basket. The ball hit the rim and bounced off. Damn, his concentration was off, Quinn thought, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out why.

Only hours had passed since he’d had Ari in his hotel room—warm, willing, and all over him. She’d been so close to coming apart. Yet he hadn’t even had a chance to indulge in his deeper fantasies of sinking his fingers inside her warm, moist body and feeling her clench around him. He’d never been so affected by a woman in his goddamn life. She was all he could think about.