Loving Siblings: Aidan & Dionne Read online

  As the game resumed, the Arcadia Aces were fighting hard to retrieve the ball from Romero. He was so fast, zigzagging through the maze of Arcadia Aces legs with dangerous ease that it looked as if no one could stop him. It was as if he had four legs as quick as he was, but when he finally handed off the ball just yards away from the Arcadia Aces’ goal, he made the classic mistake all overconfident players make—not taking the kick himself. Instead, he passed it to his fellow Brazilian team mate, Mendes, but Mendes never got it.

  Stan defended, and shot forward. Then he kicked the ball through the wall of black, red, and white bodies where the wall parted just in time for Aidan to throw out his chest, catching and stopping the ball before letting it drop, and with a swift pivot, blocked a Blazer defender from snatching it away. He kicked it forward and chased it down as the hands of time ticked mercilessly away . . .

  Aidan van Nuys might be six feet four, and his long legs were normally an advantage, but five foot six Mendes was a human rocket. With unbelievable speed, Mendes shot over the field, but Aidan was smart enough to keep the ball close to his cleats. Mendes tried to take the ball, but using rapid footwork and his athletic bulk, Aidan maintained possession.

  All of a sudden, multiple players were on him. It looked as if he was having a hard time, but with quick, energetic footwork, his cleats were able to keep the ball from being taken. Now he used his skill and the advantage of his broad back to snap around, using cleats to make quick chops down and around the ball, blocking feet from snatching the ball away.

  Then he showed a real fancy move, holding four attackers at bay with arms wide and back to them. He suddenly broke away, and shot forward with so much unexpected energy that the Beach Blazers’ goalie was stunned when the ball whizzed past him!

  Dumbfounded, the goalie could only watch as the ball hit the back of the net just before a deafening cheer roared up from the bleachers. Seconds later, the bell rang signaling the end of the game . . . and Aidan van Nuys could close off a high school soccer career as a legend.

  “That was a Cruijf Turn!” Elian Romero cried awestruck.

  Aidan grinned from a sweaty face, his black locks falling haphazardly over his flat forehead. ”Damn. I think you’re right, Romero. It was,” he chuckled. “My Dad taught me. Been training to do it since I was four.” He grinned when he saw respect flicker in both of the Brazilians players’ eyes before he winked, turned, and sprinted back to his team as pretty girls flooded the field with happy skips.

  “What did I miss, Dee?” a tall, tawny-haired young man asked Dionne van Nuys as he made his way to her.

  She’d been staring pensively at the field and discovered she had to tear her gaze away with effort!. Her pouty lips were drawn down at the corners having witnessed three beauties throwing themselves at her victorious younger brother.

  She looked up to see Helmut holding a bag of soft pretzels for the hungry kids around her.

  “What?”

  “What did I miss?” Helmut asked again.

  She smiled. “Only everything, Helly,” she answered with soft laughter, but then her normally gentle, golden-brown eyes suddenly looked stern at the boisterous children grabbing for the bag of pretzels. “Try to be civil you guys! You’re about to take Helmut’s hand off.”

  They instantly quieted. No matter how unruly they were, they were always respectful toward their oldest sister. That’s the kind of authority she had. It was the kind that made you feel if you disappointed her you’d do her irreparable damage!

  “Sorry Helmut,” the children apologized in unison.

  He frowned a bit uncomfortably as Dionne smiled up at him.

  “Aidan did a Cruijf!” a blond, somewhat nerdy boy said enthusiastically. He was proud of his big brother. Obsessively so.

  “A what, Brian?” Helmut asked, confused.

  “A Cruijf Turn,” Dionne said.

  “Cruijf turn, Dee? Don’t get it.” Helmut looked more confused.

  “Johan Cruijf is the legendary soccer player from The Netherlands,” she said. “He was famous for his technique that could hold back any number of defenders from taking the ball when he had possession. Aidan’s scored the winning goal, and the championship, for the Arcadia Aces using the Cruijf Turn. It’s really very hard to do because it takes an enormous amount of energy. This is their fourth championship in a row.”

  “He was so rad,” a russet brown haired boy said, looking awestruck.

  “What did you say, Scott? Rad? Oh. Okay. I get it. Cool, right?” Helmut asked as he looked down into Dionne’s pretty, smiling face as she shook her head.

  “Oh Helly . . .” she laughed softly, touched he was so blissfully clueless at times. She rose and slipped arms around his waist, looking up at him. “Sometimes I wonder if you even know you’re in 1986.”

  “Did you see it, Helmoot?” Arnold van Nuys asked excitedly, his Dutch-Indonesian accent coming through strongly. “Aidan did the Cruijf.” He huffed proudly, chest out. “Did you know Cruijf is a legend in Europe? Like Pelé. That legendary. I taught my son the Cruijf. He’s very talented.”

  “Arnold! Enough now.” Betty van Nuys laughed. “We know you are proud of Aidan. But can you stop boasting for a few minutes? The coach wants to talk to you. Now go, and leave Dionne and Helly alone,” she said with a mild reprimand in her tone. “I need to see the little girl’s room. Coming, Gina? Genna?” she said as she took the hands of the redheaded twins.

  “They’re so proud of him it’s almost embarrassing,” Dionne said with a warm smile.

  “Yes. I’ve noticed,” Helmut returned with an uncomfortable smile.

  “Can you blame them? I mean, Aidan’s the perfect son. He never gets into trouble. Never did drugs. Never drinks. He’s very athletic, and a straight A student who is destined for higher education—”

  “—Yes,” Helmut cut in. “I know all of that, too.”

  His tone made her look curiously up into his handsome face, as he slipped his arms around her, having a nice perch for his arms on her somewhat wide hips.

  Seeing her blinking big eyes up at him, he smiled, and bent his head to touch the tip of his broad nose against the tip of her pert one, and she giggled.

  “I’m sorry, Dee. Sometimes I can’t help feeling a little jealous the way you talk about your little brother.”

  “Oomm...” she cooed as she rested slender hands against his lean cheeks, making him smile as their foreheads touched, “I didn’t know my little Helly was jealous—” A loud thud at Helmut’s back made her abruptly stop.

  She watched as his head snapped back and the wind was knocked out of him. She gasped and stepped back just when he dropped to his knees on the grass, pressing his hands in his back, and his handsome face was wrung in pain.

  “Helly!!” Dionne cried as she dropped to her knees beside him. She immediately checked his back where his fingers were pressing before she snapped up her angry face just as her younger brother came sprinting over with a sheepish grin. “Aidan? Did you do this?!”

  “I’m sorry Dionne. It was an accident,” he said, looking remorseful. “I shouldn’t have been showing off for the girls. I got a little careless when I made the kick.” He bent and swept the ball up, but paused as looked into Helmut Kraus’ red face. “Sorry, Helgut. No hard feelings, right?” He grinned and winked.

  “Uh, um . . . no,” he got out a little breathlessly. “Of course not. It was an accident. But my name is Helmut,” he added as he accepted the offered dark, lean hand to help him up. He was tugged to his feet, smiling at Arcadia’s favorite son who returned a bland, lopsided smirk.

  Tossing up the ball with a spin, Aidan watched as his sister stepped to her boyfriend. A tic appeared in his cheek as she gently touched Helmut’s face with a concerned frown marring her brow. The act made her pretty skirt rise a little, exposing her long ivory legs from mid-thigh down, but it also emphasized her lush, round behind.

  Aidan’s gaze lowered before it slowly rose up her legs, her thighs, and finally h
er perky ass where it seemed to linger. Then his gaze met her boyfriend’s, seeing him watching him with narrowed eyes. Aidan merely smiled.

  “Are you sure you’re all right, Helly? Are you sure you’re not dizzy, Honey?” she asked, but before he could answer, her younger brother spoke up.

  “He’s a big boy. Don’t need to baby him, Dionne,” he drawled. He looked down through lashes at his upset sister who frowned back disapprovingly. “Right, Helget?”

  “Oh, well I guess I’m fine, Dee, but I really don’t mind a little attention. What sane guy would, right?” he grinned less confidently at Dionne’s obnoxious younger brother whose lips merely twitched. Helmut cleared his through and added, “And it’s Hel—”

  “—Aren’t you going to congratulate me, Sis?” Aidan cut in, dismissing him. “This is a really big win for me. It makes it four years in a row, something that hasn’t happened in the history of Arcadia High, and it is my last game as a high schooler. I guess you can say I’m a man today, huh?”

  “Congratulations, Aidan,” she sighed. “You know I’m proud of you. I’m always proud of you.” She shook her head at him.

  He smiled with a look in his eye he hoped she’d see for once, but she’d already returned her attention to her boyfriend.

  “Come on, Helly. Let’s get a cold pack on that bump. I’m sure Mom brought one with us in the cooler.”

  Then she led him away, leaving her younger brother standing as he watched them while absently tossing and catching the ball.

  “You did that on purpose.”

  Aidan arched a black brow and looked down at one of his younger brothers. It was Nathaniel, one of the many other adopted children in the van Nuys’ home. He was looking up at him with much too wise brown eyes from under surprisingly platinum blond hair.

  “Did what on purpose, Nate?” Aidan grinned with head back, looking down at his usually quiet little brother.

  “Kick the ball at Dee’s boyfriend. You don’t like him, do you?”

  “Whatever gave you that idea?” Aidan chuckled, and although Nathaniel’s mouth opened to answer, their father stopped him as he called him over. Aidan grinned and motioned with his head for Nathaniel to follow. “Come on, Nate. Dad’s callin’.”

  He let the ball roll off his fingers into his little brother’s hands as they crossed the field. Nathanial was so gleeful for this prize that he’d already forgotten what he wanted to say. He smiled up at his big brother, but noticed he was looking off into the distance, so he turned his blond head, and followed his gaze.

  In the distance, he saw his big sister Dionne and her boyfriend walking away. She had her arm around his waist as headed for the exit to leave the field. She was clearly mothering him, doting on him as she always did, and Nathaniel looked back up at his older brother noticing the hard line of his jaw.

  Feeling Nathaniel’s eyes on him, Aidan quickly produced a smile, ruffled his little brother’s platinum locks, and motioned with his head. “Come on. Beat you to Dad!” he said with a bright, knee-melting smile before he sprinted off, and Nathaniel followed, laughing

  “Not fair!” Nathaniel cried. “You didn’t give me a head start like you always do!”

  **~~**

  Chapter Three: A Spark of Hope

  Aidan was the last one in the locker room. He was the last to finish since he’d been talking with a scout who wanted to recruit him for Loma Linda University. What he offered was tempting although far from perfect.

  He’d get a full scholarship, but he’d have no dorm room. He was expected to rent a studio apartment that, coincidentally, L.L.U. offered at reduced rates for students.

  Pass. He knew he could do much better.

  The locker room was eerily empty now. He was standing by his open locker with a white towel wrapped around his sinewy hips. It left his long, lean torso bare, showing the young body of a blossoming young man who’d been athletic all his life. There wasn’t an ounce of unnecessary fat anywhere. Just lots of lean, hard muscle.

  His black hair was glistening and tousled, and a towel was draped around his neck. He was busy applying the deodorant stick under his arm, frowning in deep thought. He looked very troubled and frustrated; his normally full, wide lips were now pulled into a thin, grim line.

  “Aidan?” an all too familiar voice echoed in the empty boy’s locker-room.

  He paused with tanned arm up and stick frozen under his armpit. He thought he was hearing things. But he finally turned his head when the distinct sound of lightly clicking heels echoed through the locker-room. Then he saw Dionne appear around the corner with a happy smile on her face for having found him—before she froze with eyes big in shock.

  She didn’t expect him to be half naked! He’d been in the showers for such a long time she was sure he’d at least be dressed by now. “Oh! I’m sorry,” she quickly apologized, and made to turn and hurry out of there.

  “No! It’s okay,” he quickly said. She stood with her back to him, hesitating, before she raised her head and looked over her shoulder, seeing him smile. “It’s all right, Dionne. I mean, hell! I’m wearing more than I do when I’m at swimming practice, right?”

  He purposely didn’t mention how naked he’d been that morning. He wasn’t sure if that was a good idea since she just might get all embarrassed and rush out of there just to hide her discomfort! And he really didn’t want her to go. He was unsure how she thought about what happened that morning since he hadn’t seen her before he left with Dad for the field that morning. He thought it was wise to play it safe. For now.

  Dionne, on the other hand, was deeply grateful her younger brother hadn’t mentioned that incident that morning. Perhaps he didn’t even know his lack of clothes that morning, and she’d be damned if she was going to bring it up! And he did give her an out, which she greedily took.

  The towel around his hips was at least ten times bigger than the black Speedos he normally wore to swimming practice, and geeze-Louise, she’d already seen him completely naked. Twice. But the second time, that particular morning, was more than she could actually handle because having seen her sexy younger brother naked was something she was sure she’d never forget.

  “You’re right,” she finally said, smiling uneasily as she turned to face at him. When his blue eyes softened on her, she went a little shy. “My reaction was a little silly.”

  “Not silly at all,” he said. “And,” he looked down, “I thought you’d taken off with Helgae—”

  “—Helmut,” she corrected with a lopsided smile.

  “Whatever,” he said. “But it’s . . . a nice surprise. You coming here to see me, I mean.” Then he frowned as he looked at her with what looked almost like . . . a glare. “You came here to see me, right?”

  “Of course I did? Who else?”

  “I don’t know,” he said with a shrug. “Shawn maybe?”

  “I saw him leaving,” she explained. “That’s how I knew you were still in here, and you weren’t with someone.”

  “With someone?” he looked genuinely confused.

  She almost laughed out loud since she darn well knew her younger brother wasn’t a recluse by any stretch of her wishful thinking imagination. She gave him a wry smile as her answer, but then she winced and quickly bent, lifting her right foot.

  “Are you okay?” he asked quickly, having seen the flash of pain on her face.

  “I don’t know,” she admitted, using the lockers for support as she slipped off her pretty chocolate pump before seating herself on the bench.

  “Did you hurt yourself?” he asked with genuine concern, stepping over the bench.

  She set her pump on the bench beside her, and leaned down to rub her toes. The knuckles had a mean red color. “I didn’t, but these pumps did. They’re pretty new.” She sighed. “I chose the wrong day to break them in. It’s so hot out and my feet always swell up with this weather. I shouldn’t have changed. I should be wearing tennis shoes like I planned this morning,” she sighed as she rubbed her toes. />
  Feeling guilty as hell—but not really sorry—for making her change clothes, and thus, footwear, Aidan suddenly lowered to his knee in front of her. Although he had no clue she was going to wear tennis shoes with that dress this morning, since she always walked barefoot around the house, he knew she always wore pumps with this dress.

  “I’m sorry, Dionne,” he said.

  She raised big, curious eyes, but then she looked surprised when he took her foot and set it on his hard thigh. She started a little when she felt the hard, toned muscles beneath the sole of her foot. Frowning quizzically, she slowly raised eyes to look at his bent, dark head, and then her curiosity vanished when she was distracted by the color of his hair.

  She never noticed it before, perhaps because he was six foot four these days and looking down on him was out of her reach now, but she admired just how deep black his hair really was. Of course it was blacker than usual because it was still damp, but it really was the blackest hair she’d ever seen. She silently admired how the lamp light made streaks of blue glimmer in his locks every time he moved.

  “What a nice surprise,” she said with a smile.

  He smiled up at her watching the golden twinkle in her eyes. “It’s the least I could do.”

  She had no clue what he meant, but she let it go. “Seriously, though, Aidan, shouldn’t you be getting dressed instead of playing pedicurist for your sister?” She teased, making him smile and his eyes go soft.

  His insides always turned to jelly when he heard her laughter, saw her smile, and touched her, even when he just thought about her. That was something that he’d been doing on a regular basis for the past, oh, nine years. Only now, the thoughts had become very sexual. Painfully so. But when she bestowed her full attention on him, smiling just for him, she floored him.

  Dionne made a tiny start, and blinked when his fingers knew exactly where to touch and rub. She uttered a rather sensual gasp, softly catching and holding her breath. Her lids closed a moment as his fingers worked her small foot with warm, truly skilled fingers.