Just Breathe

by Rachel Brookes

  “I am so sorry, Sav; I didn’t know he was coming over,” Lucas said apologetically as he put his hand on my shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.

  I turned to him and sighed. “It’s fine, Lucas, you couldn’t have known.” I closed the door, knowing Tate wasn’t coming back any time soon and everything was completely screwed up.

  Lucas nervously handed me my coffee and I began pacing the floors of my living room. I was fidgeting as my mind raced with a billion reasons why I should go and search for Tate. He was engulfing my every thought these days. It didn’t matter whether he was being Frustrating Tate, Sweet Tate, Kiss Savannah Until She Explodes Tate or The Best Sex I’ve Ever Had Tate. The thought that he was Tanzi’s brother seemed to have escaped my mind. I slumped down into my couch and sipped my coffee. Lucas sat beside me and rubbed his hands over his face, clearing his throat.

  “You need to go and find him, Sav. You need to make him believe that nothing went on here. You need to say it over and over again. This doesn’t look good,” he confessed, gesturing his finger between the two of us. “The way he reacts every time he sees me near you shows that he has it bad for you. Go and talk to him.”

  I looked at Lucas in amazement. This guy had no reason to give me any advice about Tate, let alone stick around to chat about the guy who blatantly despised him. Lucas stood from the couch and grabbed his crumpled suit that was hanging over my couch.

  “Call me later, okay? Good luck, Sav. Knock him dead.” Lucas winked at me as he rushed out of my apartment leaving me in shock. He was an amazing guy.

  I snapped back to reality and rushed around my apartment like a woman possessed. I was now wide awake and desperate to get to Tate. He wasn’t answering my calls or responding to my texts. To be honest, if I had walked in on what he had, I’d probably be doing the same thing. I showered quickly and dressed in my favorite denim cutoff shorts and cami. There was no time for makeup today. I ran to the seventh floor, I didn’t bother with the lift.

  I tapped my foot anxiously as I waited at Tanzi and Tate’s door. I stepped back as the door swung open and Jack smirked at me. “Hey, gorgeous.”

  “Is Tate here?” I asked. I stood on my tiptoes to look over his shoulder for any sign of Tate.

  “No, he left about an hour ago. He said he was taking you out for the day. What’s with that? Don’t you two hate each other?” Jack started to laugh but stopped as soon as he saw my face drop. “Check the bar, he’s always there. Let me grab my keys, I’ll drive you there.”

  I stood in the doorway of Red Velvet as my eyes scanned the room for Tate. There was no sign of him. I rushed toward the bar that was closest to Tate’s office and stood silently. I could hear his voice floating through the air from behind the slightly ajar door.

  My fingertips pushed the door open and I sauntered in to find Tate hunched over his desk with his head in his hands. His eyes lifted quickly as he heard me enter his office uninvited.

  “Mom, I’ve got to go. I love you too,” Tate spoke softly. He cancelled the call and placed his phone on the mahogany desk that took up most of his office.

  “What do you want?” he asked as he stalked toward me.

  “I am here to explain. You kind of left in a hurry this morning.” The urge I had to touch him almost overcame me, but the way his face twisted at my words made me resist.

  “Well I didn’t want to interrupt yours and Lucas’ Sunday morning.”

  “You sound like you are jealous.” The look on his face answered my question, and I knew I had hit a raw nerve. “Before I left the bar last night I gave Lucas my keys, he was meant to be sleeping on your couch, but after what went down at the bar I didn’t think you’d want him there. You were the one I followed, Tate. It was your apartment I rushed to, it was your lips I kissed, it was you that I had…not Lucas.”

  He ran his hands through his hair as his eyes pierced mine. “So you and Lucas didn’t…”

  “No, he slept on the couch, I slept in my bed. I hardly slept because I was thinking of—” I dropped my eyes at my admission. I felt myself opening up way too fast to him. It made me nervous.

  I felt the air between us dissolve as he took a step toward me. His eyes studied my face for what seemed like eternity as if he was working out if I was telling the truth. He lowered his mouth to my ear and whispered. “I was thinking about you too. I wish you didn’t leave me though.” His breath on my skin, the closeness of his body and his words set my pulse alight. What was he doing to me?

  “Jack said you were taking me out today?”

  “Yep, I was coming to your apartment today so I could take you out for the day. It’s the least you could do seeing I got punched in the face for you last night,” he said wryly, not hiding his obnoxious smile.

  I rolled my eyes and felt the corners of my lips curving. “Is this the game we are playing now? Blackmail?”

  “If it gets you to come out with me than yes.”

  I looked at him as I considered his proposition. “Only if I can see the ocean and eat a cheeseburger.” I begged, putting on my best puppy dog eyes and pouting. Tate chuckled softly and nodded.

  “Well, this is going to be an easy first date and have I told you how much I like to hear you beg.” Raising his eyebrows, he walked to his desk and grabbed his wallet and keys from the top drawer.

  “Um, excuse me, who said anything about dating?”

  Placing his hands on his hips, he smirked. “So what, you just have incredibly hot sex like we did last night and don’t go on dates afterwards?”

  “Well, yeah,” I replied with a grin and cocked my brow.

  He scratched his chin and narrowed his eyes at me. “Hmmm, yeah, I do too. But I did rock your world; you’ve got to admit that.”

  “I’m pretty sure I don’t date arseholes.” I placed my hands on my hips and smirked, mimicking his movements.

  “Well, I’m pretty sure I don’t date teases.” He stood identical to me with a look of amusement plastered on his face.

  “You’re an arsehole, Tate Connors.” He laughed at me before grabbing my hand and pulling me out his office door to start our so-called first date.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Watching Los Angeles fly by from the passenger seat of Tate’s jeep made me feel like a giddy tourist. I had the windows open and my head poked out the window—I looked like an excited puppy hanging out the window. “Where are we going?” I asked happily, turning to face him.

  “We are going to one of my favorite places.”

  “Tell me where!”

  “No.”

  “What if I do this?” I pulled up the hem of my shorts to show more of my tanned thigh and uncrossed my legs in a bad attempt of seduction. Being in the front passenger seat was not working in my favor.

  “I am not telling you, so stop trying to flirt it out of me.”

  I sighed in defeat and sat back and enjoyed the ride. I propped my feet on the dash, listened to the radio and sang along to the songs I recognized while the sea breeze of the California coast floated through the car.

  The clock on the dash showed that it was almost midday and the sound of the loud growl of my stomach pierced through the silence of the car.

  “Hungry, are we?” Tate laughed and looked at me briefly, taking his eyes from the road.

  “Shut up! I didn’t have breakfast because someone had a hissy fit and I had to rush after him.” I turned in my seat giving him my smug smile.

  He moved his eyes off the road to look at me. “Touché.” He laughed, a smile lingering on his lips.

  The ocean was surrounding us and as I looked out the window, I floated off into my memories. Australia was thousands of miles away, but the ocean was the one thing that linked me to home. Soaking up the view of the Pacific Ocean brought on a case of homesickness. Even though I suffered my darkest days back home, I still had my best memories in Australia. Days of growing up by the beach, afternoons spent in the surf with my dad, fish and chips with my mum while we watched dad surf
, making sand castles and sand angels. The ocean and Mr. Davenport would always be my link to my parents.

  “You okay?” I jumped as Tate grabbed my hand and pulled me from my memories of home. I hadn’t noticed the car had stopped and now we were in a crowded car park. His face crumpled with worry as he watched me. I hadn’t realized that a tear had slowly slid down my cheek until I felt his thumb brush it away.

  “Yeah, I’m fine.” I opened the door and stepped out into the California sunshine and smiled.

  “You are such a closed book, Savannah. I meant what I said last night though. I know you said it was just one night, but I do want to be the one who puts you back together. I am stubborn, remember, and I usually get what I want.” I started to protest and he put his hands up in defeat. “Okay, okay. We aren’t talking about it.”

  “Welcome to Santa Monica Pier, Sav. Let’s go and get you a cheeseburger.” Tate grinned and nudged me with his shoulder. My stomach rumbled in anticipation.

  We made our way down the wooden boardwalk as my eyes darted feverishly around trying to absorb everything that Santa Monica Pier had to offer. We stopped to watch the street performers and laughed at people’s attempts to win prizes at the game stands. The beach was busy with people enjoying the California sun, the kids were laughing loudly and the crowds were thick. It was a perfect Sunday.

  “Tate, I need to eat, my stomach is about to eat itself,” I whined as I put the back of my hand on my forehead and faked that I was feeling faint.

  “You are such a drama queen,” he said and grabbed my hand tenderly. I stiffened.

  “I’m just holding your hand. Remember, you are paying me back for defending you. Holding hands is nothing compared to what I could ask from you.” Tate winked at me and I slapped him in the chest but kept my hand tightly enclosed in his.

  Five minutes later we were walking through the doors of Lachie’s Beachside Grill and the chatter of the other patrons could be heard from the sidewalk. We were greeted by a hostess who didn’t hide the fact that she was ogling Tate. I scowled at the woman as I scrutinized her clothing and over-plumped lips. Her clothes were three sizes too small for her. I watched wide-eyed as she blatantly undressed Tate with her eyes while a smirk never left her collagen-infested lips. Did she not see me standing here? I tightened my grip on Tate’s hand shocked that my protectiveness of whatever was happening between us came to life.

  Leaning down to my ear, he whispered, “Are you jealous?” He repeated the words I used when I questioned him about Lucas earlier. I rolled my eyes and dropped his hand in protest, which only amused him more.

  “A table for two,” Tate cooed at the gawking hostess, who was almost panting at him. I was half expecting her to rip off her clothes and beg him to take her right then and there. I watched in disbelief as Tate gave the woman a sickly sweet smile and a seductive wink.

  “Really? You did not just do that.” I glared at him before following the woman into Lachie’s, ignoring Tate’s laugh booming from behind me. He was such an arse.

  “I’ll get us drinks,” I heard him say behind me. I flipped him off in response.

  “You can take this table, miss; you and your brother can sit here.” She smirked at me as she looked me up and down; she was not hiding the look of disgust on her face.

  “I don’t know what happens in the U.S., but I definitely don’t go around holding hands with my brother in public,” I spat in annoyance, I could feel my veins pumping with anger and I swear my face felt like it was on fire.

  “My mistake. You’re kind of average, and well…” Was she serious?

  “He is not my brother,” I hissed at her. I dropped my eyes to stare absently at the menu in front of me. I was angry, hurt, pissed off and hungry. I was every man’s nightmare.

  Tate slid into the booth sitting opposite me, his eyes never leaving me. I was fuming.

  “So according to your new object of affection, we are brother and sister, and apparently, I’m not good enough for someone as gorgeous as you.” I ripped pieces of the napkin in front of me and chucked them in the glass of water in front of me.

  “She isn’t my object of affection. I just wanted us to get the best seat in the house,” Tate said softly, a genuine smile sweeping his face. I felt embarrassed for reacting the way I did as I looked at our perfect view. This really was the best seat in the house. Ahh, another victim had succumbed to the Tate Connors Effect.

  “And she has no clue. The truth is that I’m not good enough for you.” His eyes were looking at the menu and his words quiet but with intent. I watched him closely after he spoke, but he refused to look at me. His tendency to confuse me was something that legends were made of.

  We ordered our lunch—double cheeseburgers, fries and extra ketchup. My original order of chips and tomato sauce had caused the girl taking our order to look at me like I was an alien, and Tate’s reaction was heard throughout the restaurant in the way of his booming laughter.

  “Oh my god…that was the best thing I have ever had in my mouth.” I couldn’t hold back. I rubbed my full stomach with a satisfied grin on my lips and licked my fingers.

  Tate choked on his drink as he looked at me with wide eyes. “Really, Savannah? You didn’t just say that.”

  “What?” I asked.

  “Best thing you’ve ever had in your mouth?” he suggested and raised his eyebrow.

  “Get your mind out of the gutter. Best thing I’ve eaten.” I could feel my cheeks flushing. Why did he have the power to embarrass me so easily?

  “I can’t believe you ate all that.” Tate laughed as he looked at my empty plate. The look I shot him caused him to backpedal quickly. “I mean, I love that you ate all of it. I love a girl who can eat; it’s a lot better than having lunch with girls who survive on water and lettuce. I told you last night that you were perfect and you just proved my point.” I felt myself blush. Again.

  Shrugging my shoulders, I slid out of the booth and followed him to the counter. “Screw eating lettuce leaves when I can eat a cheeseburger like that.”

  Tate refused my money and paid for our lunch before stopping at the front of the restaurant where Miss Bitch Face 2013 was leaning against the wall with a cigarette hanging from her lips. He grabbed my hand and I didn’t flinch this time. He walked over to her and gave her one of his most charming and dazzling smiles.

  “This girl right here is clearly not my sister because I am constantly thinking of doing things to her that I would never do with my sister. I’m not into fucking my sister.” He gave the now gob smacked woman one last Tate Connors smirk as he maneuvered me out of the restaurant.

  Tate placed an arm around my shoulders as we continued walking along the pier. “Do you think she got the point?”

  “Are you thinking of having sex with me right now?” I hesitated as I narrowed my eyes at him and pulled my bottom lip between my teeth.

  “I would take anything from you right now, Sav. I’d hold your hand, I’d kiss you, I’d have sex with you or I’d just hang out with you. You are killing me, Savannah.”

  “You just never know,” I whispered as I played with his fingers that were interlocked with mine.

  “I’ll wait…or I’ll get into another fight and blackmail you into having sex with me again.”

  “How romantic.” I rolled my eyes at him as my body clenched at the thought.

  Our conversation ceased as soon as my eyes locked onto the world famous Ferris wheel. Throwing my head back, I looked up at it in glee.

  “I want to go on the Ferris wheel,” I shrieked, clapping my hands like a child.

  “Um, I don’t think I can. I don’t do heights well.”

  “How about if I help you?” I turned to face him to find his face pale and his eyes swimming with fear. I could see his hesitation as he looked between the Ferris wheel and me.

  I couldn’t fight the urge to kiss him any longer. Leaning in, I placed a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth, I heard him sigh against my lips as he placed his sha
king hands on my hips. My kisses on the side of his mouth were like his kryptonite.

  He pulled away and looked at me with pleading eyes. “If you promise I can kiss you with everything I have when we are at the top, I’ll go with you. But you’ve got to promise me.”

  “I promise, but this still doesn’t mean it’s a date.”

  “You’ll admit it’s a date before the end of the day.”

  Tate muttered obscenities under his breath as I dragged him toward the Ferris wheel, he was almost making it impossible. The moment we sat on the hard seat his body tensed beside me as panic swept through him. My ego soared as the ride attendant gave me a seductive smile as he closed the door near my leg, sweeping his hand not so subtly across my knee. Tate squeezed my hand protectively and glared at the ride attendant.

  “Now who’s jealous?” I whispered at him with a grin.

  With a swift jerk, the Ferris wheel began to move, slowly rising before stopping to allow other passengers on. Tate shifted closer to me and grabbed my hand tighter.

  “Are you okay?” I asked softly, and all he could do was nod, his eyes never leaving mine. I shifted in my seat so I was facing him, our knees touching, leaving no distance between us.

  “Just breathe,” I whispered, knowing how many time those two simple words had calmed me. “We’re nearly there.” I dropped one of his hands to cup his cheek, running my thumb over his bottom lip. His eyes were blazing into mine with no sign of breaking. It felt like we were on top of the world. There was nothing around us besides blue skies and the beating of our hearts. People often said that there comes a time in your life when you are at your most vulnerable and for Tate, this was it. He was doing this for me, for no other reason but me.

  We stopped with a jerk at the highest point. My eyes glanced over the edge to take in the breathtakingly beautiful sight. The glistening Pacific Ocean spread as far as my eyes could see. The coastline of Southern California was putting on a brilliant show for its newest resident.

  “I need you.” I barely heard Tate’s voice but his movements were clear.