Free Wild Things by Karin Kallmaker Page A

stretched out his long legs.
    Sydney's back was to us as she dropped ice cubes into glasses. "What would you like? I squeezed juice this morning."
    "What kind of juice," Eric asked suspiciously.
    "Strawberry-kiwi-lime with apple and grapes." Sydney laughed at the expression on Eric's face. "Okay, I cleaned out the fridge."
    "I'll have juice," I said. "It sounds great."
    "You're a wonderful guest," Sydney said, handing me a glass. "Actually, it's good. Here," she said to Eric. "You get sparkling water."
    I sipped the juice. "I can feel the vitamins already."
    "It has that effect on me, too." Sydney poured herself a glass and then settled gracefully in front of the fire on a large square pillow covered with petit point.
    "I bet Faith could stump you," Eric said.
    "Oh stop." Sydney pursed her lips at Eric and turned to me. "He's been trying to stump me on a quote for years. Other people do it all the time, but he's never managed," she said, with a wicked glance at him. Eric stuck his tongue out at her.
    "You must have an incredible memory," I said. I wondered why I had ever thought her cold.
    Her smile turned serious. "I think that alcohol reformatted my hard drive," she said, tapping her forehead. "I was unfit to practice even the most basic law for about two years and spent all my time read ing. And reading. And reading. It was how I got back to reality."
    "Reality leaves a lot to the imagination," I said.
    Sydney opened her mouth, and I could almost see the cerebral computer disks spinning. After a few moments, she said, "John Lennon."
    We smiled at each other, and I realized anew that her eyes were brown, but velvet where Eric's were crystal. She looked away, leaving me with an odd sensation in the pit of my stomach.
    Both Eric and Sydney were too polite to talk about topics I knew nothing about, but it was unavoidable. A failing elderly aunt was news to Eric, and Sydney hadn't yet heard about the birth of a second cousin.
    "Sorry, Faith," Eric said. "It must be boring."
    I shook my head. "No, really. But I must confess that I can't keep your family tree straight in my head."
    Sydney chuckled. "My grandmother, that's my father's mother, was married and widowed three times and had two children each marriage. My father was child number three and son number one. He has one brother, three half-sisters and a half-brother. All of them except my father have been married at least twice with kids from each marriage. I have trouble keeping it clear, and I've had years of practice. It makes our family holidays very, very large."
    Eric snorted. "As we are all going to experience this year. Mom wants to do the big holiday. She put out the word to the aunts and uncles about four months ago, and it looks like with a few exceptions everyone is going to come. She's guessing about a hundred adults and sixty-five kids for dinner."
    Wow, I said, before I could help myself. "I wouldn't want to be the one who brings the potato salad."
    They both burst out laughing, Sydney falling back on the pillow. All at once I realized how lovely the rest of her was. Her features were too pronounced to be pretty, but striking in combination. Her cashmere sweater outlined a lean figure, and I glanced down at my hands, thinking that her breasts would fill them.
    My heart stopped. For about five seconds I couldn't breathe. Sydney's laughter died and she wiped her eyes, then turned her head to look at me. I could breathe again. I wanted to breathe her in.
    Her eyes widened. "We're not laughing at you," she said rising up onto one elbow. "You hit the nail on the head, that's all."
    The firelight was dancing on her throat and mouth the way it had the night of Liz's party.
    Eric nudged me gently. "Are you okay, sweetie?"
    "I'm sorry," I managed to say. "I was floored by the idea of anyone being able to entertain that many people outside of a hotel in this day and age." I met women all the time. Until now only Renee had affected me this way. My pulse was hammering in