Taking the Heat (Jackson: Girls' Night Out 3)

Veronica looked back until she spotted Gabe and his father following.

“Veronica!” a familiar voice cried as they walked into the huge kitchen.

Naomi bounded across the tile and swept Veronica into yet another hug. “It’s so good to see you again!”

“Nice to see you, Naomi. You look great.”

“Oh, my God, my roots are a mess. Don’t even look. Claire is meditating but she should be down soon. It’s only her fourth meditation of the day,” she added with a roll of her eyes.

“Leave her alone,” Mary said. “It helps her chakras or something.”

“Sure, Mom.”

Gabe drew near and Veronica reached desperately out to clasp his hand before she got swept into a river of his relatives.

“Mary,” his dad said, “make her one of those cappuccinos.”

“I’m doing it right now.” Mary rushed over to the machine and started opening little latches and inserting tiny plastic cups of coffee grounds.

“You know,” his dad said, “Gabe’s never brought a girl home until now.”

Veronica shook her head frantically. “I’m just in town for a business trip.”

“Dad,” Gabe said hoarsely. “Please. Don’t.”

“It’s true!” Naomi cooed. “Look at his face. He’s blushing!”

He rubbed his face with both hands. “This is literally the worst idea I’ve ever had.”

His dad slapped him on the back. “Or the best, eh?”

“Mom...” Gabe took a deep breath. “Maybe hold off on the coffee for a bit. I’m going to show Veronica around.”

“Oh, take her up to the garden!” his mom suggested. “She’ll love it. It’s just like being in the country.”

“It’s not like being in the country,” Gabe muttered as he tugged Veronica toward a staircase. She happily followed. “My family doesn’t understand wide-open spaces,” he explained as they hit the stairs. “They find the idea of Wyoming vaguely sinister.”

“Oh, wait a few minutes!” Mary yelled. “Your sister is meditating!”

Gabe pulled Veronica faster up the stairs. “That was the stairway,” he said as they reached the top floor. “Hall bathroom,” he said, gesturing toward the first door before pulling her down the dark wood of the hallway. “My bedroom.” He tugged her inside. “With a door that locks.”

The door closed solidly behind her.

“Oh, my God,” she whispered.

“I know.”

“Your family is a TV family.”

He cringed. “Which TV family?”

“I don’t know. All of them at once?” She started laughing, then laughed so hard that she snorted. “I’m sorry,” she sobbed, covering her mouth to quiet the noise. “Your sister is meditating.”

Gabe fell back onto his bed and stared at the ceiling. “You were right about this being a terrible idea. They’re a bit much. Maybe.”

“Maybe,” she gasped, giving in to one last bout of hysteria before she got her laughter under control. “But, Gabe, honestly...they’re wonderful.”

He raised one eyebrow and glared at her.