Returning Home: A Second Chance Homecoming (Return To Me Book 4)

by Parks, AL

  She squealed and threw her body against his, kissing him over every inch of his face. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said between kisses. “Can we pack right now?”

  “In a minute.” He pulled her back against his body and kissed her hard on the lips. “I think you should thank me a little while longer.” He slipped his tongue between her lips, and she melted against him.

  A lifetime of this? Yeah, it was worth the move.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  Griff stood in the wings of the news studio, his eyes trained on Rissa. From where he stood, he could see every move she made, every facial expression that fell across her beautiful face. If she needed him, she only had to give him a look and he would be there. Shutting shit down. Getting her the hell out of there.

  Her mother, Eve, was standing next to him. He could feel the nervous waves moving through her. She was scared for her daughter, and as weird as it sounded, that made him happy. He liked Eve. She was strong, stronger than he had anticipated. She was making up for not discovering the abuse her daughter had suffered as a child. Griff knew she blamed herself for the years Rissa had been molested by her father, but he had a hard time jumping on that bandwagon. He hadn’t known Brad for very long before his death, but the man had made Griff believe he was a model citizen and decent human being.

  That couldn’t have been farther from the truth.

  Women flitted around Rissa, fixing her make-up, checking the lighting. She looked uncomfortable as hell, but was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

  “She’s amazing,” Eve said. He nodded, never once taking his eyes off Riss.

  “She the most incredible woman I know. She inspires me to be a better man - to be the man she deserves, because she deserves only the best after all the shit she’s lived through.”

  He felt her arm loop through his. “She already has that man. I’ve never thanked you for everything you’ve done for her. She was always so strong, but so reserved. You’ve helped her become stronger, helped her to open up and let us in. I don’t think she could have made it this far without you. She certainly wouldn’t be sitting here - taking back control of her life - if you weren’t here to support her. Protect her. Everyone needs that one person who is a rock - the one they can always depend on to be there, and be strong. I have Jake. Clarissa has you. And I will never be able to express how thankful I am that you are there for her.”

  She took a deep breath and sighed. Griff squeezed her hand as it lay on his forearm. He wanted to thank her, but couldn’t get the words over the lump in his throat. It meant more to him than he had realized to have Eve’s blessing. After all, he and Rissa hadn’t known each other all that long before they fell in love and moved to Colorado.

  Now they lived in a house together, given to them by the only man Rissa considered her father, Jake. They were making plans for a future. Rissa was going to work closer to home so she could continue to build her career as one of the most amazingly talented photographers in the world. Yeah, he was probably biased, but he had heard others talk about her talent, and knew she was going to be huge someday.

  They were also talking about starting a new business in the sleepy little ski resort town. They had each sold shares of the business to Neal, giving him a forty percent interest in the business. They hired an office manager who would take of the administrative duties and the bookkeeping. Neal could concentrate on building bikes along side his newest employee, his son. Since the bike shop was in good hands, Griff wanted to take advantage of the ski season, and was planning on expanding his custom bike business to include coming up with an improved version of the snow mobile. Jake and been intrigued, and the two of them had started bouncing some ideas around.

  Now there was a man Griff could look up to and respect. Jake was the model of what Griff strived to be. He had battled Eve’s demons, defeated his own, and banished Brad and his own ex-wife from their lives. He fought death and beat it, losing his leg in the process. And through it all, he kept what was most important to him in clear view. His love for Eve. Their future was solid, and bright, and Griff wanted no less than that for he and Rissa.

  “We are a unique sort of family,” Eve said.

  He chuckled, and nodded. “That may be the understatement of the century.”

  Eve laughed softly. “You’re a part of that family now, you know. Jake and I couldn’t love you more if you were our own child. I hope you know that, and believe it. I know you didn’t have a traditional family growing up, which seems to be almost a prerequisite for this family. So, while your life may have been different from ours - we all have things in our past that we wish we could change. We can’t change the past, though, but we can learn from it. Make the future better. And while I don’t want to pressure you, I would like to welcome you to our misfit family.”

  He smiled, warmth flooding his body. It was a new feeling, and he tried to place it. A mother’s love. It had been given so rarely by his own mother. It was not the same as the love his grandmother had for him. But the love Eve was providing, it was warm and comforting and felt like a big hug. He leaned over, his eye never leaving the woman on stage, but managed to kiss Eve on the cheek.

  No words were needed. They both understood. Griff had what he had been searching for all his life. Acceptance and love. And it all started with a woman that he had once wished he had never met.

  How things can change when you close your eyes and let your heart see what is real.

  And what he felt for Rissa was as real as it could get.

  ***

  Clarissa glanced over to where Griff was standing in the wings. It was hard to see him, but she could see enough of him to know his was looking at her. And he wouldn’t look away. Not until she was safely back in his arms. She closed her eyes, and could almost feel them around her, protecting her, keeping her safe from the demons that were about to be let out of her mind. So much of what had happened with her father had been locked away. Brandi had revealed the basics, but no one knew the specifics. The things she had never allowed herself to remember. Memories that only came out in her nightmares.

  Now she was going to parade them out in the open. Hopefully, once they were out in the light, they would cease to exist, or lose some of their power over her. She was willing to find out. Not one more day would be spent living in shame. It should never have been her burden to bear. It should’ve been her father’s, but he got off easy.

  Brandi had thought by revealing the secret to the press, Clarissa would be devastated. Destroyed. Crawl in a hole never to be seen or heard from again.

  She was wrong.

  Clarissa was taking back her life. Taking back the narrative of the story that her father had scripted and performed without her consent. Brandi would not benefit from the horrors Clarissa had lived through, but she would suffer for her part in extending the pain and placing Clarissa in the position of defending herself. Talking about things she never wanted to discuss. Placing a tagline on her life that she would never be able to shake off. Molested by her father.

  Her mother had told her this wasn’t necessary, that she didn’t owe anyone an explanation. But Clarissa needed to clear the air, correct the misinformation Brandi had tried to put out there. It was the only way Clarissa could see to get past it, move on, and rebuild her life. She could do this. She was stronger now than she had ever been in her life.

  And it was all possible because she had the most amazing man at her side, guarding her heart, checking her back. She would never have to face anything alone again. Griff was a part of her life, a part that she couldn’t live without. He had forced his way in, made himself invaluable to her, and never once backed down or wanted out. It was the most amazing feeling, knowing that he was there for her. Would always be there for her, and that they could face the world together. Support each other. Love each other.

  Unconditionally.

  Brandi was forced to deal with her own issues. Apparently, she had fired her “butler” not long
after Clarissa had agreed to transfer the shares In East Coast Custom Bikes. Brandi believed it was only a matter of time until Griff would be hers. The butler was not thrilled with loosing his meal ticket, and decided to punish everyone involved. After it was clear that Griff was no longer an option, Brandi moved on to plan B, and consummated her relationship with Donald Ackerman. And so did the butler. Framing Griff for Brandi’s disappearance was all part of the plan. He knew Brandi would be found with another man and the charges would be dropped.

  Once Charlotte had been made aware of who her husband was sleeping with, she made sure everyone in Newport reviled the woman. Brandi was a virtual prisoner in that huge mansion. No one wanted to be associated with her, and even the hint of a whisper that anyone in Charlotte’s social circle was giving Brandi the time of day, would have resulted in being disinvited to all the best social events.

  Eve had made some phone calls to key people in Newport, and placed a bug in the District Attorney’s ear about how Brandi had attempted to coerce Clarissa into giving up her and Amber’s shares in Griff’s business to avoid the eventual revelation of sexual abuse. The DA had promised to have the police investigate and press charges, if warranted. Clarissa didn’t really care if Brandi was ever actually charged or tried for the offense. She just wanted her to feel the pain of immense scrutiny.

  There was also a civil suit to consider, but Clarissa wasn’t sure how she wanted to handle that, at the moment. At some point, she wanted to forget Brandi and Newport and all the pain associated with that place. She wanted to move on, live life, and be happy. Revisiting the past over the next few years as the case slowly progressed through the civil courts didn’t sound as if it would really be conducive to that end.

  “Ms. Beckett, are you ready?” Carol Monihan stood before her, a welcoming smile on her face.

  “Please, call me Clarissa. And yes…as ready as I will ever be, I guess.”

  The reporter took the seat opposite her. “I promise to make it as painless as possible. If you need to take a break, just let me know. We are not on a time schedule, since this is not live. Just relax and take a deep breath.” The make-up and wardrobe people descended upon the woman, and primped and shifted things around. When they left, she looked over at Clarissa and smiled. “Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Carol motioned to someone off set, and everything was silent.

  “Clarissa, can you tell me when your father first started abusing you?”

  Fear smacked her hard in the chest, sucking the air out of her lungs. She wanted to take a breath, but was paralyzed. Her eyes found Griff. He smiled at her, and placed his fingers against his lips, kissing her from across the studio. Giving her the strength and support she needed without saying a word.

  She inhaled deeply. The fear melted away. She sat up, squared her shoulders.

  She could do this.

  ***

  Clarissa sat on the couch staring at the large TV screen. Her laptop was on the coffee table in front of her, and she was going through the shots she had taken over the past week. She loved having the big screen to work off of, bringing the pictures she took almost to life. It also helped her see the imperfections that needed fixing, or areas that she could enhance through editing.

  The front door opened and closed behind her. “Well, that explains why you’re not answering your phone,” Griff said, standing behind the couch.

  “Sorry, babe. Were you calling me?” Her tone was distracted as she peered at a close up of a rock formation found not far from her new home.

  “No, you’re mother was, which is why she then called me and I had to explain that you turn the ringer off when you’re working so no one can disturb you.” He leaned over the back of the couch, his lips next to her ear. “Hello, baby,” he murmured.

  She turned her head and met his lips. “Hi.” She smiled at him, delving into his chocolate brown eyes that nearly made her melt into the couch cushions. He stood up and took his coat off, hanging it on a hook by the front door. “So, what did my mom want?”

  “To see if we were coming for dinner tonight. I told her I thought you were planning on working, that you needed to get caught up.”

  “Smart man.” She advanced to the next picture, and stared at the grove of aspens on the screen. She loved being close to her family again, but desperately wanted some time alone with Griff. “How was the trip to Denver? Did your grandmother get off okay?”

  Griff dropped onto the couch next to her and took a sip from the bottle of beer he had grabbed from the fridge on his way to the family room. “It was good. She got through security and texted me when she boarded the plane. I told her to call me when she got in.”

  Clarissa glanced over at him. “So, do you think she’ll move out here?”

  “Yeah, I think she might. She loves your mom. Mrs. Paxon being right next door was a big win, also. But, truth be told, I think she has a crush on Jake.”

  “Everyone has a crush on Jake.”

  He placed his beer on the table and cocked an eyebrow at her. “Excuse me?”

  “Not me, baby, everyone else. I only have eyes for you, “ Clarissa cooed.

  He leaned in and kissed her. “That was very cheesy.”

  “I know, but I’m hoping you’ll forgive me because you love me so much.” She placed her hands on his face and drew him in for another kiss. His hands went around her waist, grasping at her t-shirt. “Hey,” she said, pulling back slightly. “Do you hear that? It’s silence. The house is empty except for the two of us. Do you know what that means?”

  “We finally get to have couch sex?” He pushed her back so that she was lying on the thick, soft cushions.

  “Uh, huh.” He was looking into her eyes, a wide, happy grin across his face. God, she loved this man. He never failed to make her heart burst with just a simple smile that let her know he was all hers. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “You’re welcome, but it’s a bit premature. I haven’t gotten you off yet, baby.”

  She caressed the sides of his face. “No, thank you for…everything. For making me live again. For helping me fight my demons. For showing me what love really looks like, not some perversion of it. I owe my life - my happiness - to you.”

  Griff let his head drop a bit, lowering his eyes. “I’m the one who should be thanking you, Riss. I didn’t even realize I was missing out on life until you came into it. I thought I had a solid plan, stay in Newport forever, build up the bike business, be as happy as I could be doing those things. I never considered love, never wanted to share my life with anyone else. I didn’t think that was in the cards for me. You’ve given me more than love. You gave me a family. This, you and me. It’s life. It’s - “

  “Home,” She concluded. He embraced her, burying his head in the crook of her neck. It had always been there, in the back of her mind. The truth. They understood each other in a way no one else could. They wanted the same things, needed the same things, but for completely different reasons. It hadn’t mattered what side of town they had grown up on, or how much more money she had over him. The disappointment and pain they had experienced growing up had been the same. And they were overcoming it. Together.

  “Griff?”

  “Yeah, babe?”

  “Sex me, baby.” He lifted his head, peered into her eyes, and laughed. She smiled, letting the warmth between them fill her with hope and confidence and love. This was real, true, love.

  He ran his tongue over her lips. She sighed as fire ripped through her body and made a beeline for her core. The man knew how to turn her on in a hurry.

  “Your wish is my command,” he murmured before sliding his tongue to meet hers, deepening the kiss.

 

 

 
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