by Aliyah Burke
“Understood.”
She pivoted to walk away and he cleared his throat, causing her to turn back. Grant hesitated for not much more than a second before took the chance, grabbed her close and hugged her. “I love you, little sister.” Then he let her go.
“You smell nice.”
He blinked, fully having expected a knee to the groin or a punch to the head. That sentence wasn’t at all what he thought would have been coming from her. “Thank you.”
Shai moved by and stopped, flicking her glance between the two of them. “What’s going on here?”
Tara jerked her thumb at him. “He smells nice.”
“And for this, we ignore how much he hurt her?” Shai crossed her arms.
“No, not ignore, sis, but reevaluate. Smell him.”
“No, I’m not smelling him. I’m going to pack some more boxes.” She walked away before he could hug her, too.
It was well past ten at night when he stood by the fireplace and watched as Eva hugged her family. Even her parents had come by and this was the final farewell. Tears flowed from everyone, even her father. Now it was just the sisters.
They stood together, arms around one another in a three-way hug. He couldn’t make out what they were whispering to but the words would be unknown to him even if he could hear them. The bond between them so powerful, it didn’t matter they weren’t of the same blood. He’d never seen a stronger or closer group of sisters.
In the back of his mind, he had trouble reconciling the fact he was taking her away from this. From them.
Just then, Eva lifted her head and speared him with those damnable blue eyes of hers. Through the tears, she smiled and he knew in that moment, all was okay with her. She didn’t have a problem leaving with him. Perhaps it would be better to say she wouldn’t be holding it against him later on down the road. The love in her gaze wasn’t anything he could miss.
Sure, she would miss them, and sure, times may be hard but they would face it together. He blew her a kiss and stepped back, allowing them the time and space they required to say their farewells. Grant had no desire to rush her, he would allow her to take all the time she needed. This was going to be hard for her. This family was so close.
He waited for her in the bedroom when she finally made her way there and wordlessly opened her arms for him to walk into them. Rubbing her back, he dropped a kiss on the top of her head.
“I’m going to miss them so much.”
“I know you are, sweetie, but it’s across the country, not the world. We’ll see them more than you think.”
She rubbed her eyes on his shirt and sniffed. “I hope so.”
Tipping up her face so he could see her eyes, he rubbed his thumb along the bottom of her lip. “What can I do?”
“Just hold me. I need you right now to just hold me.”
Grant scooped her up and carried her to the bed. A bed that in a few hours would be broken down and in a truck. Lying beside her, he allowed her to get as close as she wanted.
Eva slid her hands beneath the cotton of his shirt and ran her palms up his torso. Then she wedged her legs between his, burrowed a bit closer and sighed.
He locked his cock up in the ‘need to behave’ zone and threw away the key. She needed him to be there for her, not to get all randy and fuck her. Even so, he couldn’t help his physical response to her. He brushed his cheek against her hair, reveling in the softness. Arms tight around her, he closed his eyes and listened to her breathing. One of the most important sounds in the world to him.
“I love you,” she muttered before she fell asleep.
“Love you, too,” he said once her breathing had evened out and she’d fallen under the lure of the sandman.
It had been a busy day and after she’d been asleep for a while, he would go back and finish the rest of the packing that had yet to happen, allowing her to continue resting.
Epilogue
Arizona
Two years later
“Your wife is on the line, Dr. Harrison.”
He popped the final carrot stick into his mouth and jogged to the phone hanging on the wall. “Thanks, Cara.” He smiled at the blonde woman at the front desk.
Picking up the receiver, he said, “Hey, baby. Everything okay?”
“I’m fine. Sorry to bother you at work.” Eva’s sultry voice flowed out and around him.
“You could have called my cell phone, you know.”
“Don’t have the number memorized and your niece is chewing on my phone currently. I don’t think your sister is feeding her kid.”
Grant laughed. “Tired already?”
She muttered something he was sure he wasn’t supposed to hear. “This isn’t funny. Your sister didn’t say this child was like the Energizer bunny who refuses to nap or even slow down.”
“I know she appreciates you helping her out.”
“I love your sister. It’s her spawn I’m having issues with.”
“I don’t hear any screaming or crying.”
“I told you, she’s chewing on my phone. It’s when I try to take it away from her that the screaming and crying start.” A deep sigh. “Anyway, before I lost my only form of viable communication, I had a call from Tara. She wants us to come to Switzerland for the Christmas holiday.”
“Sounds like fun, but I hear a hesitation in your voice. What’s wrong? Don’t you think we can both get away at that time?”
“That’s not the issue.”
“Then what is?” He frowned and hooked his foot around a chair, dragging it closer to the phone.
“Well, that’s nearly nine months away.”
“Works well that way, given we’re in March.”
“Smart ass.”
“What’s going on, Eva?”
“How do you feel about dual citizenship?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not following. Are you planning on moving to Switzerland? Is this why you’re asking?”
“No. God, I suck at this. Okay, here we go. I’m due the twenty-seventh of December.”
“Due for what?”
Silence reigned.
His world shrank and he swore all he heard was the thudding of his own heart. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” He licked his lips more than once and did his best to build up some moisture within his mouth, which felt like a cotton field.
“Yes.” Her tone vibrated, light and unsure.
“And you’re telling me this while I’m here? Instead of at home with you?” The room spun. How the hell had she handled this, it had to have been a shock given her belief it wouldn’t be able to happen.
“I was there earlier. You were in surgery. I didn’t want someone else to spill it to you and I know you’re there overnight.”
“I’m going to be a daddy?” Fuck, his heart wouldn’t stop pounding, his hands were sweating and he really had this urge to bend at the waist and put his head between his knees, just to try to catch his breath. Regardless, that option may not work at all.
“Yes.”
“I’m coming home.” He had to be with her.
“No, work your shift. We’ll celebrate when you come home. But I have to figure out what to tell Tara.”
“How about this, we go earlier in the year. That way, you can still see, her but we don’t have to worry about you being close to term.” His heart pounded in his chest. Christ, I am going to be a father. Was it okay if he hyperventilated? His head swam with the news. He had to find out how much of a risk she was going to be and guarantee that he did everything to make sure that this baby was not miscarried, or that he lost her.
“I’ll let her know. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Yes, you will. You most definitely will.” He closed his eyes and got to his feet. “I love you, Eva.”
“I know you do, Grant. I love you, too.” She hung up the phone, leaving him with nothing more than the dial tone.
His smile nearly cracked his face as he replaced the receiver and stepp
ed away. Still a bit lightheaded, he replaced the chair and leaned against his locker.
“All good, Harrison?”
He cracked an eye to see fellow surgeon, Dalton Rogers standing there. “Fine. Wife just told me we’re expecting our first.”
The man’s dark face widened as his smile made his teeth shine bright against his skin. “Congratulations! That’s wonderful news. I’ve got five of the little rugrats. They’re each amazing.”
“Not sure if we’ll hit five, but I’m damn sure excited about this one.”
Dalton nodded. “It will only get better. Was that why she was here today?”
He cocked a brow at the man.
“You know my Lucinda works down in the lab.”
“That’s right. Okay, I have to go make rounds. Have a great night.”
“You, too, and again, congrats.”
Sliding on his white coat over his scrubs, Grant stepped out of the lounge area, full of joy and hope for the future. The night passed relatively quick, and as he drove home, he grew more and more antsy with each passing mile. One never knew about the human body. Being a doctor had taught him this. It was pronounced years ago that Eva would never be able to have children, but yet again, the human body surprised him. Or was it love that had done it? He beamed like an idiot while driving alone in his car, grinning hugely the entire way.
Daylight had yet to crest the horizon as he parked in the garage to their apartment building. He loved Arizona. Honestly, he’d been shocked when Eva had told him she didn’t have an issue moving all the way out here to be closer to his mom. She’d thrived while being out here. He watched her while being outdoors a lot more. She enjoyed the weather and loved the fact her winters were not spent bundled up, looking something akin to an Eskimo.
He climbed up to their apartment on the third floor and put his key in the lock, his smile still glued to his lips. Opening the door, he found the place still dark. He placed his keys on the end table, toed off his shoes and padded to the bedroom.
She lay there, sleeping on her side, one soft warm light the only illumination while it filled the air with subtle scents of lavender and light amber.
Grant perched on the edge of the bed and reached out a hand, stroking it down the side of her face.
Eva stirred and opened her eyes. “Hey,” she said with a smile.
He dipped his head and brushed his lips along hers. “Hey, yourself.”
She inched over and patted the mattress beside her.
Grant removed his clothing and slid beneath the sheets, wrapping her in his arms. With her body pressed tight to his, he groaned and smoothed his hands down her back, anchoring them together. He nipped the whorl of her ear and kissed her.
“How was work?”
“It was fine. I don’t want to talk about that.”
Her slender shoulders moved as she shrugged. Eva still didn’t look up at him, just kept her face against his chest. “Can we sleep a bit more?”
He inched his fingers down farther, along the curve of her ass, until he hit the back of her thigh. “You want to sleep?”
Her laughter pumped more life into his blood. His cock stiffened and throbbed.
“I could do with a few more hours. I was on the phone most of the night with family letting them know the news.” She curved her fingers around his cock. “However, I think there is something else I would be more than happy to do. I can sleep later. I have the day off.”
He bucked his hips, groaning again at the feel of his length moving along her palm. “So, then, we’re sleeping later?”
She inched down along his body. “Later,” she agreed, and replaced her hand with her mouth.
As her tongue swiped over the crown and head of his dick, he squeezed his eyes shut. God, he loved this woman. They would talk later about the baby. Right now, his thoughts were focused on one thing and one thing only.
Grant had what he needed, his wife and a baby on the way. A dream that strolled in along a beach had made his life complete. “Yes, I need you now, Sweet Eva.”
LET ME GO
Book two in
the Monroe Sisters series
Sometimes it’s all about facing your past…
Baron Andrew Coleman is tired of waiting. Five years and his wife is showing no signs of coming home. This time he comes for her.
Tara Monroe is living her dream and has no time to think of men, or the husband she has but doesn’t mention, to anyone. All that changes when he shows up at her office.
Pretty soon it will be an all-out war. Is she willing to give him, and them, another shot? Or should she throw in the towel and avoid dealing with the man who once stole her heart?
Dedication
To my very own amazing DH,
the one I know wouldn’t let me go.
Trademark Acknowledgements
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Mac: Apple Computer, Inc.
Fitbit: Fitbit, Inc.
Rogue: Nissan Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha TA Nissan Motor Co., Ltd
Subaru Outback: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha a/t/a Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.
Crown Vic: Ford Motor Company
Bluetooth: Bluetooth Sig, Inc.
Chapter One
Tara rubbed the back of her neck and sighed. Christ, I could be here for another six hours and not feel like I’ve made any progress.
She wanted to head home and crawl into bed, but she had work to finish and now a visitor. Someone who she would be fine shooting for the pain he had inflicted on her older sister.
The knock came and she set down the gold pen. “Come on in.”
“Don’t stay too long now, Ms. Monroe,” Marcus the security guard said.
She lifted her head and gave him a smile. “You know me, Marcus. Here until the job is done.”
As she sliced her gaze to the left of the kind man, ice formed in her veins, and while the smile on her face never slipped an inch, she had no doubt the warmth in her eyes had vanished.
Grant Harrison.
She and Marcus made some small talk before he left her alone in the room with Grant. Silence stretched between them and she would have been content to let it go on. However she truly longed for a hot bath, wine and bed.
“What are you doing here, Mr. Harrison?”
“Looking for your sister. She wasn’t at the hospital nor her place.”
And now that you want her, it’s pissing you off that you can’t find her.
Tara reclined in her chair, steepled her fingers and exhaled sharply with irritation. “Let me get this straight, make sure I have all the facts. You were supposed to come be with her over Christmas, yet instead of being a man about it, you ran out of the country and didn’t call her until after you’d landed in Uruguay. During which point there wasn’t really anything further for you to say, aside from how sorry you were.” She leaned forward, hands clasped on her smooth desktop, fingers laced. “What the hell makes you think I would help you find her and not have you thrown in jail?”
Can I just punch him in the face?
He drew back a slight bit, eyebrows converging and a slight concern in his expression. “Jail? For what?”
“Whatever charge I want to trump up on you.” She spread her hands over the desk. “You hurt my sister. Made her cry. I don’t like you.”
“I know what I did was wrong. May I sit?” He waited a few seconds before taking a chair, even though she never gave her agreement. “I was a pussy and I hid from my feelings. I want to explain this to her and move on.”
“You expected her to what? Just wait for you to come to your senses? In case you haven’t noticed, Doctor, my sister is a damn fine catch. It’s not like there aren’t other men who would be happy to have her in their life. Besides, she’s moved on from you.”
She had to give him credit—he didn’t flinch, not once, at her words. Perhaps she’d underestimated him.
&
nbsp; Tara didn’t let up. “In fact, for all I know, she’s in bed with someone right now, enjoying his—”
“I get it.” The words rolled from his mouth on a growl.
She smirked, enjoying his immense discomfort. “Do you? Really? She’s not going to take you back.”
“Yes.” The single word was uttered with a sharp undertone and his expression reminded her of someone who’d swallowed something foul. “I get your point. She could be with someone else.”
She reached for her gold pen and twirled it in her fingers before pointing it in his direction. “And happy. She could be happy. Don’t forget that. That is extremely important for you to remember. Her happiness.”
“I get it.” His tone got sharper and he frowned again. “Why won’t she take me back?”
She quirked an eyebrow, unfazed by his attitude and surliness. “Wanted to make sure you understood. I don’t like you, Grant. You hurt my sister. Had her believing in you and how you were going to treat her right. She had fallen in love with you and you, what did you do? You broke her heart. Now that would be enough of a reason, but there’s more.”
His head snapped up, hope alive in his gaze. “She loves me?”
She waved a hand. “I said she’d fallen in love with you, not that she still was in love with you. Not that it matters, she won’t allow you back in.”
“Where is she, Tara?”
“I’m sure you think that doctor tone will get you what you want and for some it may. Trouble is, I have a sister who’s a doctor, and I’m used to the tone. Plus, I have one who teaches for a living and she is a master at that no-nonsense tone, so stuff it away, you don’t intimidate me.”
His hands clenched into fists and he took several deep breaths. “I have no desire to intimidate you. I want to know where Eva is, so I can talk to her.”
This is actually fun. Tara leaned back and watched him. “I want you to understand the only reason I’m telling you anything about her is because I saw how hurt she was when you blew her off.”