2: Megara Sutton

I heard a door open and glanced up from the two patterns I was debating between. A stunning blonde followed Cagey’s twin inside and I had to take a moment to appreciate the beauty before me.

“I didn’t realize your sister was bringing an entourage,” my cousin Nique giggled. “Cute.”

Cute? First of all, Nique is getting married in six or so weeks, it was the whole reason we were in this room together! And secondly, the blonde was more than cute, she was exactly my type or would have been if not for the mini-me looking toddler lurking behind her as he clung to her leg. Not that I had anything against kids, more that her having one would likely reduce the odds of her being into me. A shame because she was incredibly gorgeous! “I’m not complaining…” Did I say that out loud? Must have, the hot blonde's neck twisted sharply in my direction. Finding me at the table with my sister and my cousin, I could see the appreciation fill her eyes for at least one of the three of us… and then those same eyes rolled back and she crumpled to the floor. I launched out of my seat and reached her in time to cushion the fall.

“Annie, Annie, Annie!” the young boy started screaming at her, over and over. He calls his mom Annie? He was tearing up and I was at a loss. Instead of breaking down alongside the kid, I focused more on easing myself and my lovely bundle to the floor where I laid her head in my lap and the others converged. The kid was shaking her shoulder and still yelling “Annie” at her. I've had clients pass out on me before and learned it was best to just wait them out at first. Her eyes fluttered open after a few minutes, revealing a gorgeous blue-violet color.

“Did I fall asleep?” she asked, confused.

“You fainted,” I corrected her softly.

“No, I must be sleeping because I know I've had this dream before…”

“Annie okay?”

“Oh my God, Kit!” She shot up and nearly clipped my chin in her rush. Dream? “You okay, buddy?”

“I good. You ’kay?”

She looked over her shoulder at me and smiled, “I really am…” Oh my God, that smile! I was in so much trouble! “Well, that was embarrassing…” she grumbled crankily as she averted her eyes.

“Did you eat today, Gretchen?” Cagey's mirror sounded more clinical than concerned. Also, Gretchen? I thought the kid called her Annie?

“Back off, Princess, my medical degree is still higher than yours.” Her sassiness only served to make her hotter in my eyes as if she needed the extra points… “For now anyway,” the last bit was mumbled and incredibly adorable.

“Nurse Tyrant,” Cagey snickered. “T’s still annoyed that Gretchen was the boss of her while recovering from her coma last summer.” My former crush-turned-close friend provided some additional insight though not nearly enough to satisfy my curiosity. I needed to know more about this woman, everything would be a great start! “Good to see you again,” Cagey offered her hand to Gretchen who seemed reluctant to take it. “Come on, I’ll show you where to put your stuff and introduce you to everyone.”

“I’m Meg,” I told her, not wanting her to run off before knowing my name.

“Yes, I’m well aware…” She… what? So did she pass out because of some extreme fangirl moment? Damn, I was hoping to get to know her as me and not just the name I’d made for myself! To be fair, I wanted her to know all of me, but there wasn’t going to be enough time, was here? I had to leave for Renata in the morning…

While I was daydreaming, Gretchen/Annie accepted Cagey's hand and pulled her upright. The two lovely women were standing side by side and nearly of the same height, another box ticked. I love taller women and if she was the same as Cagey that gave her a few inches over me. “So you know our Meg…”

“Know of, actually," Gretchen corrected softly as she offered me her hands. “Never thought I'd ever actually have the opportunity to meet you…” Her eyes fluttered half-closed and I latched on to her, accepting her offer of assistance. Letting go of her once I was upright was not something that appealed to me, so I only did it halfway. With one hand still holding hers, I lead to the planning table of doom.

“Now that you have, let me introduce you to the rest of the girls. I suppose I should probably start with the bride, Nique.” My lovely Scottish pixie of a relative waved at us. "My cousin is getting married at the end of August and we're working out all of those pesky last-minute details while her lovely lady is out shopping with her stepsister. Goodness knows how long that will take… How long are you staying in Anders?" Yeah, stealthy, I know… I had to know how long I would have to convince this lovely stranger to play with me. I really wanted this one… I work on beautiful women every day, but none have ever affected me this way. It's been an insanely long time since I felt a pull like this. Damn, something told me I wouldn't be meeting anyone like her again, possibly ever.

“Ahem,” Kitty Cat cleared her throat, looking entirely too amused, likely at my expense.

“My baby sister, Kitty Cat,” I stuck my tongue out at the nuisance.

“Mal, actually. She and Thor are the only clowns who call me that,” she rose to the bait as intended.

“Thor?” Gretchen arched an eyebrow as she delivered her question.

“My hotness,” Cagey claimed her man and I didn't blame her, Josh was very pretty to look at, even though he did nothing for me personally.

“Yes, you are, but who is Thor?” I think she was teasing, but the stab of unwelcome jealousy was no joking matter. Sure, I'd had my own crush on her for years, but she wasn't even a blip on my radar after Gretchen walked into this room tonight.

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“Her boyfriend Josh bears an eerie resemblance to the God of Thunder and calls me KitKat because he’s obsessed with naming younger sister types after candy bars. This is their apartment, by the way.” Baby sister was not helping me regain my composure, instead, I carried on with the introductions.

“Eva's over in the corner feeding Erin, they should be done soon.” I paused, bracing myself. “I'm going to say it's safe to assume you're Gretchen, so who is this little guy?”

“I her kit!” He answered for himself.

“Kit?” Did he just say kid wrong? Or his name is actually Kit?

“My nephew, Declan. Also known as Kit as he is the youngest member of the Fox family,” she clarified and ruffled his curls affectionately. “I'm taking him to his dad in Renfells tomorrow.” He's not hers? She isn't a mother? She looks so effortlessly natural with him though! More importantly, I needed to reevaluate that look she gave me earlier…

“Isn't Renfells just outside of Renata?” Nique inquired far too innocently.

Gretchen smiled broadly as she answered, unaware of the trap my cousin was setting. “It is, I'm hoping to go there after I get Kit settled in with my brother.”

“So who is Annie, other than one of my roommates?” Little sis came through with a helpful question.

“Annie Gretch!” The little guy pointed at her and the name made sense. “Pssst, Annie, your earring goed up-inside yours nose again…” Gretchen's hand went to her nose, covering it before I could determine what the kid was saying.

“Kit, we don't--”

“Is okay here doh! Lotsa deese ladies has face jewelry!”

“Nurse Evil is pierced?” Cagey cackled gleefully. “Show us.”

“I already offered that, you weren't interested,” she retorted, leaving me somewhere between curious and jealous, it wasn't anything I was used to feeling. Instead of over-analyzing, I swooped in to save the blushing lady from further embarrassment.

“I'm guessing the little one is referring to a septum ring, Cagey, not something a girl can casually pull out, so back off, okay?”

“Maybe, but you’ve gotta stop calling me that!” Her sweet moan of surrender had me grinning, finally having won a round tonight.

“Hoping to go to Renata after Renfells?” Nique pulled the original topic back up and it didn't take me long to catch on as to why. Bless Nique and her meticulous and observant self!

“Hmmm? Oh right, it's all hinging on whether it not my brother pulled through for me and got my ticket as he said he would.” She shrugged helplessly and I felt for her. I would hate having so much in someone else’s hands. Fortunately, I had a solution, if she was willing to take me up on it...

“Ticket? You want to go to the Con?” I asked, wanting to ensure I understood correctly. There wasn't much else in Renata, it was why they liked to throw it there. People came for the convention alone and since it wasn't exceptionally convenient or cheap, it kept the guest list more… dedicated. I nearly missed Gretchen's shy nod, but once I caught it, I grinned at the way the fates were smiling upon me.

“She can have my pass,” Nique generously offered. “I really should stay here and finish up these last-minute details.” She splayed her hand over the mess on the table. Though she had until the end of summer, my cousin wasn’t the type to leave such an important event to chance.

“I-I-I couldn't possibly!” Gretchen tried to deny Nique, but she had no idea who she was up against. I stood back and watched the master work.

“Please?!” Nique begged prettily, using a look I've never in my life been able to deny her. I prayed Gretchen also lacked the immunity and would take her up on her offer. “I didn't actually want to go, I was just keeping Meg company-- oh, but you'd still be driving there alone, wouldn't you, Cos?”

I love my cousin! "How are you getting to Renfells?" I asked Gretchen, following Nique's very helpful opening. I mentally calculated the available space in my van even though I knew full well that there would be more than enough room for both the gorgeous blonde and her little guy.

“The car we rented to get here from the airport.” Gretchen shrugged and I went for it.

“There's plenty of room in mine if you want to save yourself the expense. I don't mind taking a detour…” I silently willed her to accept my offer. “No rental, free admission to the con, all you gotta do is keep me company for the drive each way, what do you say?”

“You don't even know us, why would you--”

“You're a friend of Cagey and her sister.” I evaded without actually lying.

“Would you please stop calling me that?” Ana moaned at me again, guaranteeing that I would never give up using her modeling name.

“Never! So anyway, you wouldn't be here if you weren't liked or trusted.” I shrugged, feigning indifference I didn't actually feel. Please say yes! I not only trusted my friends' judgment, but Nique's rapid acceptance had to be taken into consideration!

“I, umm--”

“Where's mine Alexsy?” Mellie had arrived, effectively disrupting everything, as was her way. “You's not mines Alexsy, you too big!” Mellie stared down Gretchen's Kit before dismissing the boy and moving on. “Not-Ana, can I please has my baby now?” It was the politest I've ever heard her speak to Tahlia. With both Josh and Mellie home, it was pretty safe to assume wedding planning was over for tonight.

“Wow T, I think that’s the nicest she’s ever been to you,” Ana teased her twin while barely restraining her laughter.

Mellie turned her sour little face on her second or third favorite person in the room and explained her position. “She has mines baby Alexsy! She won’t share if I not nice and I hasn’t seen him in six-ever!”

“Valid point,” Tahlia cut in. “Hop on up Mellie, there’s space between me and Eva for you.” Tahlia patted the seat beside her and waited for Mellie to get comfortable before a\handing her son over to the tiny tyrant who ran this house, despite not actually living here.

Snuggling Alexei close to her, she peered distastefully at Erin. Kit ambled over to investigate what had Mellie so upset. “Your baby has no hairs. Still! Erin needs hairs like Alexsy!” Erin’s lack of hair hilariously bothered Mellie to no end.

Patiently, Eva responded with cool, calm, logic. “It’s probably just tryin’ to decide what color it wants to be, sweetie. Not everyone comes out with as much hair as baby Alex.” Eva ruffled the infant’s thick auburn hair for only a second before Mellie snatched him away.

“Alexsy is mines!”

“Everyone knows that, Mellie.” The big guy rolled his eyes at his half-sister. “Just as most of us remember you being bald until you were two, give Erin a break, brat.”

“Weird,” Kit declared before wandering off.

“Hi, I'm Josh, that's Mellie,” Josh introduced the pair of them and I followed suit on Gretchen’s behalf.

“This is Gretchen and Kit,” I supplied helpfully and Josh's mouth quirked in amusement.

“So you're the nurse who grabbed my woman's ass in the hospital last summer?” Gretchen's cheeks pinkened and Josh laughed heartily. "Can't really blame you,” he agreed magnanimously before meandering over to Cagey where he lovingly wrapped his arms around her waist. Leaving his hands to dangle very close to her (yes!) very fine ass. Wait, Gretchen did… oh yes, there is definitely a chance of something happening here… I turned my attention back to the gorgeous stranger, far confident this time.

“So… carpool?”