by J. P. Comeau
If I wasn’t Zane or Clint, I was nobody.
“Fuck him,” I murmured.
Smoke poured from my ears on the ride back to my place. And by the time I got up to my front door, I already had a plan in the works. I didn’t want to be here any longer. I needed some time away.
As far away as I could get.
“Kelly!”
I slammed the door behind me and marched toward her room.
“Kelly!” I roared.
She poked her head around the corner. “Hey. You okay? How did lunch go?”
“You want to go for a ride?”
She smiled. “Sure. Yeah. Where are we headed?”
“Anywhere our hearts desire. Pack an overnight bag, just in case. Two or three outfits should be enough.”
“Oh, surprise trips. I love these. I take them with Roxy all the time.”
“Get packed. We’ve got an hour before we need to catch our ride.”
17
Kelly
I furrowed my brow. “I thought you said we were going for a ride?”
Brenden opened his door. “This is our ride.”
“This is a jet.”
He offered me his hand. “My private jet, yes.”
I paused. “You have your own jet?”
“One of the first purchases I made for the company, especially once Zane got passionate about taking us international a few years back.”
I looked at his hand. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise. Come on.”
I slid my hand into his as someone started unloading my bag from the trunk. With his hand in mine, we boarded the plane, and the luxuriousness inside made my jaw drop to the floor. The plush carpet beneath my heels and the buttery leather seats waiting for us to sit down made me dizzy. But, it was the lavishness of the food and drinks I smelled that started my gut churning with need.
“Is that a bedroom back there?” I asked.
Brenden led me to our seats. “It is, yes. For the longer trips. But, we won’t be on the plane that long.”
I sat in the seat he ushered me to. “Noted.”
Brenden held my hand for the entire flight. We didn’t say a word, but it wasn’t as if the silence was uncomfortable. On the one hand, I wanted to ask him about how lunch went. But, on the other hand, I kind of already knew.
I just didn’t know if he wanted to talk about it or leave it in the past.
After taking a short catnap on Brenden’s shoulder, I woke up to him buckling me in. I lifted my head, and he smiled at me, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. I giggled as his fingertips trailed against my cheek. Warming me and enticing me, and making me wonder if we could steal a few moments in that back bedroom. But, before I could ask, the intercom came on.
And the captain started speaking.
“Good afternoon. We have arrived in San Diego. The city of sun, sand, and surrealism. Today’s high is 72, and the low tonight is a cool, chilly 42. We hope you enjoy your stay here in this fair city and thank you for trusting your flight to me and my team.”
I gasped. “San Diego?”
Brenden nodded. “I remember you saying one time that you loved it out here.”
“I don’t even remember saying that.”
“Is it true, though?”
I nodded slowly. “San Diego is one of my favorite places in the world.”
“Well, get ready for a few days of shopping, spa retreats, and so much food it’ll make your head spin.”
I smiled brightly. “We’re in San Diego!”
He kissed the top of my head. “Yes, beautiful. We are.”
We got off the plane and had our things stowed into the back of a black town car. But we didn’t go to the hotel first. Instead, Brenden instructed the driver to head to Prospect Street.
I gasped. “Brenden, look! Look, look, look!”
“I see that. You like that shop?”
“Oh, my gosh. They have the most brilliant gems and some of the most unique jewelry pieces I’ve ever seen. You need to check it out sometime.”
“Why don’t we go inside now?”
I looked over at him. “Because there’s somewhere else I want to go first. Driver?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Can you take us to that little Mexican hut down by the water?”
“Certainly.”
Brenden furrowed his brow. “A Mexican hut on the water?”
“Best fish tacos we’ll eat on the West Coast. Guaranteed.”
The food was fantastic. The sea breeze tickled my cheeks, and the smell of the ocean intoxicated me as fresh white fish was piled high onto crunchy, homemade taco shells. The vegetables and dips were organic. The Perrier water tasted better than what I had at home. Everything fell into place as Brenden’s feet nestled against mine underneath the rickety table.
Then, it was time to head to the hotel.
“So, where are we staying?” I asked.
“The Del,” he said.
I blinked. “The Del, in Coronado?”
He nodded. “That’s the one. And, I got us a suite with two separate bedrooms. You know, in case you didn’t feel comfortable sleeping in the same room.”
Thoughtfulness wasn’t a trait I would’ve ever assigned to Brenden. But, with each passing day, I saw a new side of him. A dedicated side. A passionate side. A caring side, and now a thoughtful side. I wondered what else our spontaneous trip might bring. I wondered what other surprises were in store for me.
My question was answered when we got up to the suite, though.
“Oh. My. God,” I said.
Brenden wrapped his arm around me. “You like it?”
I slowly walked over to the windows at the far end of the room, looking out over the ocean.
“Can we sleep with the windows open so we can hear it?” I asked.
He chuckled. “We can do whatever you want.”
I turned back toward the view. “I didn’t bring a bathing suit. I didn’t know I needed to pack one.”
“Well, there’s a shop downstairs. I’m sure we can find something that fits your body perfectly down there.”
I blushed. “Won’t that charge the bathing suit to the room, though?”
He shrugged. “So?”
I sighed. “I don’t want to take your money, Brenden.”
“And you’re not. It’s a bathing suit, Kelly. Forty bucks tops.”
“If you say so.”
The soft gray walls and the white crown molding and baseboards lent a soft palate of color to the bright blue and yellow accents. The microfiber furniture looked plush and ready to welcome my body, and the knotty pine wood used for furniture accents took my breath away. Each of the rooms had its own en-suite master bathroom with a jetted tub and a glass-encased shower. The accent pillows sparkled with blues and yellows, swirling with floral designs, and the king-sized beds called to my entire body.
I felt Brenden’s hand on the small of my back, though, and it pulled me back to the present.
“What do you say about hanging out around here tonight?” he asked.
I shrugged. “I’m okay with that. What would you like to do?”
“Well, this place has a hotel restaurant and bar. Plus, it’s got a tiki bar by the pool and three different hot tubs.”
“Oh, sounds nice.”
“Mhm. So, here’s what I’m thinking: we go snag you a bathing suit and enjoy some cocktails by the hot tub. We wait out the sun until it sets, then we come back up here, get dressed, and go enjoy the five-course meal the hotel restaurant offers.”
I giggled. “Sounds delightful.”
He held me close. “Great. I’ve been told that if you sit by the hot tub outside, you can watch the sun set over the ocean while sipping cocktails and enjoying the warmth pouring from the jets, without actually getting in.”
“Well, I’m getting in the hot tub. They’re so relaxing.”
He smiled. “Noted.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “You seem t
o be taking a lot of notes there, mister.”
He grinned. “Maybe I am. Does that bother you?”
“No. Doesn’t bother me. Just makes me wonder what you’ve got brewing in that mind of yours.”
He rubbed my back. “Look out towards the water.”
“What?”
He nodded. “Look.”
I scanned my eyes over the horizon before I saw what he was referencing. Black dots appeared before they got closer and closer, and I noticed what they were.
“Are those ships?” I asked.
He pulled me close. “Even better. Those are Navy ships in the distance, all moving in a line. There’s probably a cadence of some sort being called right now.”
I looked up at him. “How do you know all of this?”
He looked down at me. “Clint.”
“That’s right. He was a Navy SEAL.”
“Uh-huh. And if I’m guessing right, those are SEALs out there right now.”
“Wait, seriously?”
“Mhm. It’s called ‘hell week.’ Five intensive days of training, drilling, cadence-calling, and cuts before a new SEAL team is formed and ready for active duty. Clint told me during his hell week that he never got more than four hours of sleep.”
“A night?”
“Nope. Overall.”
My jaw dropped. “What!?”
His eyes turned back out towards the water. “Yep. Our military men and women go through literal hell to make sure we’re safe. To make sure we can prosper and be what we are. And while I don’t always agree with Clint, I’ll always respect him for what he’s done. Because I sure as hell could never do something like that.”
I placed my hand on his chest. “You’re a good brother, Brenden. And a good man. Don’t ever let someone tell you differently.”
I watched something crawl across his face before he sighed.
“I needed to hear that. Thank you.”
I laid my head against him. “Of course. Anytime.”
He drew in a curt breath. “So! Ready for that bathing suit? I’m thinking a nice stringed bikini with those little triangle nipple things.”
I shook my head. “You wish.”
“Trust me, I really do.”
And that’s when I figured it out. That’s when I realized it. Brenden wasn’t the kind of man we thought him to be at all. It was a facade for the type of man he had become because, for some reason, the man he had become wasn’t good enough for someone. I knew what that looked like, too, because I’d gone through it myself. With my own father. Though, I never really talked about that much.
Maybe I should at dinner.
Maybe if I talked about it at dinner, he’d talk about what was on his mind.
And the thought made me eager to skip right to the food.
18
Brenden
“And here’s your door, milady.”
Kelly giggled. “Milady, huh? You’re a proper drunk, aren’t you?”
I held up my finger. “Excuse me, miss. I am not drunk.”
She snorted with laughter as I leaned against the door in front of her room.
“I’m merely tipsy.”
She snickered. “Very tipsy, actually. That door is holding you up, okay?”
I nodded. “It’s treating my shoulder very well, yes. It’s the most action I’ve gotten in a while.”
“Oh, boo. I find that one hard to believe.”
I paused. “Why?”
She blinked. “Well, because you always have someone you’re interested in. Or, someone you’ve got on your arm. Or, in your bed.”
“I do?”
She nodded slowly. “Yeah, you do.”
“And you've noticed?”
“Everyone notices, Brenden.”
“But, you notice?”
I gazed into her eyes as she finally nodded at me.
“Yeah. I always notice,” Kelly said softly.
I’d been so smitten with her all night that all I wanted to do was kiss her. So, I did. I bent forward and captured her lips, tasting the red wine still on the tip of her tongue. Warmth trickled through my veins, and I felt my body gravitating toward her. I felt her hand slide softly against my cheek, cupping it as we stood there in front of her hotel room.
“Goodnight,” she whispered against my lips.
Then, she disappeared.
Leaving me wanting more of her as her words tumbled around in my head.
Yeah, I always notice.
Kelly’s words knocked around in my mind as I stumbled my way back to my own room. I got inside and threw the patio door open, allowing the sounds of the ocean to filter in. I stood there and sighed as the cool breeze wafted against my body. But, the entire time, I wished that it was Kelly floating against my body.
“That doesn’t make sense,” I murmured.
But, to my heart, it did.
“You’re in dangerous territory,” I whispered.
It didn’t stop me from thinking about her, though. It didn’t stop me from stripping down, crawling into bed, and wishing she were next to me. As I stared out over the water with my cheek pressed against the down pillow, I thought about our dinner. How wonderful it seemed, and how great our conversation flowed, and how easy it was to be around her.
But, I also couldn't shake the notion that there was something she wanted to mention.
You’re overthinking things, Brenden.
“Just need to sleep it off,” I murmured.
Yeah, I always notice.
“Fuck,” I groaned.
I flopped onto my back and let my eyes ease themselves closed. I felt the alcohol pulling me under, forcing me to get a good night’s sleep. It didn’t stop my want, though. No, no, my need.
I needed Kelly next to me.
I needed her in my arms.
I needed her against my body and my soul and my heart.
“You’ve got it bad, man,” I murmured, before sleep finally swallowed me whole.
Kelly
Me: Roxy, I got a problem. A big one. Call me?
I didn’t wait five minutes before my sister rang me on my phone while the sun rose over the ocean.
“Hey there,” I said groggily.
“Hey, girl. What’s up?”
“So, I’m with Brenden in San Diego, right? And we’re in this gorgeous oceanfront hotel, and we had this fabulous dinner with--.”
“You’re in San Diego?”
I paused. “Yeah. Didn’t I tell you?”
“Uh, no. You didn’t tell me you were going to San Diego with Brenden. When the hell did this happen!?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Yesterday? The day before? I’m still a bit hungover from last night.”
“Oh. My. God. Did you guys have drunk sex?”
I blinked. “No, we didn’t. That’s kind of my issue, though.”
“You wanted to have drunk sex, and he didn’t?”
“Not quite like that. But, I mean…”
She paused. “Oooooooh. Okay, I get it now.”
“I hope you do because I really don’t.”
“What’s holding you back from sleeping with Brenden?”
I rolled over. “I don’t know. Everything? Nothing? Myself?”
She giggled. “All good answers, sis. But, no. What's holding you back from sleeping with him is the idea that he’ll break your heart. Like he does with every other girl.”
I sat up. “Well, now that you’ve thrown it out there.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t play that game with me.”
I snickered. “I know, I know. I just--.”
“I mean, you’re married to the man right now, right?”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean--.”
“And you’re attracted to him, right?”
“I’ve always been, yeah.”
“And he’s attracted to you?”
I smiled softly. “He is, yes.”
“Then, get out of your own way, Kelly. Seriously. You’re always mucking things u
p for yourself. If you’re in San Diego in this fabulous hotel with a guy you have to be with for the next month or so anyway, why not have some fun with it?”
“What if it hurts to leave, though?”
“If this were your business, would you see the risk differently?”
I paused. “Well, yeah. Because my business isn’t going to leave me, Roxy.”
“Yeah. And for the next few weeks, Brenden isn’t going to leave you.”
“But, he will eventually, right?”
“Does that matter if you want him as badly as you do?”
I blinked. “Kind of.”
“Will the heartache kill you if you indulge and then don’t get what you want?”
I sighed. “No, it won’t.”
“Then, get out of your way and have some fun. Lord knows you deserve it. Allow yourself to take what you want, for once. Because if you’re going to succeed in any other part of your life, you have to learn to go for it, despite the risk.”
I flopped back down. “When the hell did you get so smart?”
She giggled. “Girl, I’ve always been smart. Fuck you.”
I smiled. “Love you, too.”
“All right, I’m gonna let you go. But, I want some juicy details filling my inbox by tonight. Got it?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
“Love you, bye!”
“Love you, too.”
I tossed my phone back to the bed and stared up at the ceiling. My sister had a point. A very good point, actually. And as I laid there, thinking about our conversation, I found myself becoming bolder.
“I can do this,” I said to myself.
Then, I slid out of bed.
I rushed into the bathroom and cleaned myself up a bit. I brushed my teeth and washed my face. I slid on a bit of lip gloss and fluffed out my hair. I reached for my robe and wrapped it around my naked body before I padded out of the room and across the hotel, aiming for Brenden’s door.
But, the second I got there, he swung it open.
And there he stood, naked as a bird.
“Mmm, morning,” he murmured.
He let out a massive yawn as my eyes fell down his body.
“What’s for break--uh oh.”
I slowly looked up at him. “Well. That’s a hell of a morning greeting.”