Our Broken Love

by Terri Anne Browning

  “Me too!” Sophie told him. She was looking up at him with her hands on her little hips, eyeing him like she thought he was going to leave her out. “Me too!”

  My heart caught as I watched my daughter being scooped up by her father for the first time ever and swung around until she squealed. Rhys was laughing just as hard as she was when he finally put her on her feet with a kiss to her forehead. “Better?” he asked.

  “Are you positive you aren’t a giant?” she asked, sounding happy and a little in awe.

  “Positive, little bit.” He tugged on one of the pigtails Lilli had arranged her hair into. Sophie gave him a skeptical once-over before taking her place at the long table with Lilli where I had already set her plate of pancakes and scrambled eggs.

  After making sure both of the girls had what they needed, I finally fixed myself a plate and took my place at the table beside Matt and an empty chair. Linda, the temporary housekeeper, was moving around pouring glasses of orange juice or refreshing coffee and tea while everyone dug in.

  “Can I sit with you?”

  I lifted my head to find Rhys standing beside the empty chair. There were several others that he could have chosen. There was one beside Nina, who was directly across from me, or the one between Sophie and Cammi. I wondered if I could handle sitting so close to him after spending so much time with him the night before, but I just shrugged my shoulders. “Sure, I don’t bite.”

  “Lie.” He grinned and took his seat. His thigh brushed mine under the table, and I had to hold in the gasp at his hot, hard jean-covered thigh brushing against my bare one. “You look beautiful this morning,” he murmured. “I really like that dress.”

  “I-I… Um… Thank you?” I finally stammered out.

  There was something different about him this morning. He seemed more relaxed, happy, even. He’d never complimented me like that and certainly never in front of my aunt and the rest of the family. But no one was actually paying attention to us.

  “Must you use such language?” The hard question came from Ram, who was normally a quiet man who liked to observe rather than participate.

  I turned my head in his direction, knowing I had been so absorbed in Rhys that I had missed something important. Ram, sitting at the head of the table to my left, was glaring in Nina and Grayson’s direction.

  Nina was looking bored. There was an open bottle of wine in front of her, and her large wineglass was half full. I frowned, wondering when we had started having wine so early in the day. But that thought was quickly eclipsed by Ram’s next words.

  “There are children at this table who do not need to hear trash like that spilling from your mouth, young woman.” I watched his eyes flash and his nostrils flare. Oh hell, he was pissed.

  “Mommy, what’s a bitch?”

  My fork made a loud clattering sound as it hit my plate at the same time I felt Rhys tense beside me. My mouth opened and closed like a fish as I stared at my daughter. “Wh-what?” I turned my gaze on Nina, who only looked annoyed. “What did you say?” I demanded.

  “It doesn’t warrant repeating,” Matt informed me with disgust. “But you should know your daughter now has several more words to add to her vocabulary.”

  My glare turned to Grayson. “Really? Really!” I raised a brow at him. “You can’t see what she is like even after this?”

  “Erin…” he began, his cheeks turning ruddy with embarrassment and something else.

  I held up a hand to cut him off. “Did you know she’s friends with Cookie Webber?” I demanded. “That she sits back with the rest of that mean-girl flock and lets that little tart pretty much encourage Brandie Webber’s bullying of Lilli?” That shut him up. He sent Nina a hard look, then glanced at Lilli almost apologetically. “Are you so blind that this kind of treatment to your own niece will be let go as if it were a mere poor choice in judgment? She’s poison, Gray!”

  “Erin!” Grayson bit out. “That’s enough!”

  “No, it isn’t nearly enough! I used to look up to you. I thought you were one of the wisest guys I had ever met.” I shook my head, angry tears threatening. “Now I come home to find you a pansy, being led around by the ring in your nose by someone like her? You make me sick!”

  Rhys put his hand on my thigh underneath the table to offer me support. It calmed me a little, and my angry haze cleared enough to realize the entire room was quiet. I noticed Sophie giving me a questioning look. I didn’t normally scream or get emotional around her. But she didn’t look scared, more concerned for me.

  “I told you she was a bitch,” Nina told the man seated beside her.

  “Shut. Up,” Grayson bit out.

  Nina’s eyes grew large with surprise and anger. “What did you just say to me?”

  He turned his brown gaze on her, and I saw something I hadn’t been able to see before. Grayson was nowhere near as infatuated with Nina as we had all assumed. Right then, I was pretty sure he hated her. “You told me you were pregnant. That was the only reason I asked you to marry me. And now that you claim to have miscarried, I have been driving myself crazy, pushing my family away, because I felt guilty. Hell, I prayed it was all a bad dream. I blamed myself when you said that you lost my child because I thought that I had wished the baby away!”

  I blinked and shot a look at Christa’s face. She was white. Was she in shock? No, I quickly decided when she jumped to her feet and tossed her linen napkin down on the table. “She was pregnant?”

  Grayson shook his dirty-blond head. “I don’t think she really was. I found her birth control pills the other day. I wondered then, but I was still feeling guilty. She never once showed signs of a normal pregnant woman. I read all the books as soon as I found out I was going to be a father. Not one thing suggested she was pregnant. No bigger boobs, no morning sickness. Nothing.”

  Nina glared at him. “You’re completely right. I wasn’t. All I wanted was your money. And you gave me plenty of that.”

  “Not ever again,” Grayson promised her. “Leave now, Nina. Have your things out of my house before I get there, or I promise you, you’ll wish you never met me.”

  Nina huffed as she got to her feet and stormed out of the room. Moments later, the front door slammed shut, and then tires squealed outside as she drove away.

  Christa pulled Grayson into her arms, hugging the much bigger man as if he were still her little boy. “I am so sorry, baby. I had no idea. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Grayson let out a small sigh. “I was ashamed. It was just a one-night thing. To tell the truth, I don’t remember much of it anyway. I tried to pretend that it was a love match, but I hated the way you guys thought I was as dumb as Rhys.”

  “Hey!” Rhys grunted.

  “Shut up. You were,” Christa told him, but she was smiling. “So, it is over? No more Nina?”

  “No more Nina,” he promised. His gaze went to me, and I bit my lip. “Erin…”

  “I’m sorry too.” I glanced at my daughter, who was now more interested in her food than us, and grimaced. “When Sophie asked me that question, I went a little ballistic.”

  “Ah hell, Erin.” Grayson gave me that classic Bradshaw smile, and I knew all was forgiven. “You probably saved my life. Thanks for caring enough to yell at me.”

  “Anytime.” He laughed, and I relaxed back in my chair. “Now, can we please all sit down and eat? I’m starving.”

  “I guess this isn’t the time to tell y’all that Cammi and I are getting married, huh?”

  We all turned to look at Drew. Cammi, seated beside him, blushed prettily. Christa threw her hands around her middle son’s neck and kissed his cheek. “Congratulations, darling.” She grasped Cammi’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Welcome to the family, dear.”

  ten

  We never did get around to talking to Sophie that day. I was relieved when Rhys thought it would be too much for the five-year-old after so much excitement had already taken place that morning.

  We spent the rest of the day
celebrating Drew and Cammi’s announcement. And when dinner came around, we were still going strong. But Christa, Ram, and the girls seemed all partied out. It was Matt who suggested we move our good time to Carlo’s so we could have dinner together. I felt a little guilty for pawning Sophie off on Christa yet again, but she seemed more than happy to keep her.

  I dolled myself up and went with my three cousins, my friend, and my ex out to dinner. As we sat sipping champagne, I noticed Grayson seemed at ease, maybe even peaceful. I was glad Nina hadn’t destroyed him. It wouldn’t have been good for the other woman if she had. My aunt would have annihilated her.

  As it was Sunday, there wasn’t a big crowd at Carlo’s, and there were even a few couples dancing to some jazzy, romantic music in the middle of the room. Drew was with Cammi out there, dancing and whispering things in her ear that had her blushing and grinning. I sighed a little sadly at how he held my friend close—lovingly. I wanted that.

  “How about lunch tomorrow?” Matt asked from my right. “We haven’t had much time to catch up, and I seem to have tomorrow free.”

  I could sense he wanted to talk to me about something, so I accepted. “Sounds like a date.” I wrinkled my nose sassily at him. “I expect Chinese.”

  He groaned. “I hate Chinese.”

  “Too bad for you.” I grinned and reached for my wineglass, both of us knowing I was only teasing him. I had drunk way too much throughout the day, and I was feeling really mellow. Maybe I should have felt cautious with Rhys sitting close on my left, but I couldn’t have cared less right then.

  “Slave driver,” Matt grumbled, but he was smiling. “Do I have to say thank you?”

  My brow rose at his unusual question. “What the hell for?”

  “For taking care of something none of us seemed to be able to handle. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t come home when you did, Erin.”

  “It would have worked itself out eventually,” I assured him.

  “Probably would have been too late by then.” Matt tossed back the rest of his drink. “I’m really glad you came. We’ve all missed you around here. It’s been lonely.”

  I grasped his hand and gave it a little squeeze. “Sorry, buddy. I should have been a better friend and cousin.”

  He shook his dark blond head. “It goes both ways, sweetheart. I should have realized something was up with you before you left. Maybe if I had, then you would have stuck around. I’m sorry.”

  We shared a smile. “You know, I think I might be a little drunk,” Matt muttered. “Yeah, I am.” We laughed together because I was a little drunk too, and it seemed funny.

  “Wow.”

  I turned to frown at Rhys. “Wow, what?”

  He shook his head with a grin. “You are one giggly drunk. I didn’t expect that of you.”

  “What did you expect?” I put a little sass into my look.

  His blue eyes darkened to cobalt. “Something a lot different.”

  I looked away, trying to get my heart under control. Okay, I thought. Maybe being mellow wasn’t a good thing, after all. My guard was down, and he could so easily sneak in under my radar. I was emotionally unstable as it was, on top of being sexually frustrated.

  I got to my feet a little unsteadily. “I think it’s time for me to get home.” I turned to Matt, but I was going to be out of luck there. He was as unable to drive as I was. Maybe I should just call a cab.

  “Easy.” Rhys’s hand came out to steady me when I nearly tripped over my own chair. “Come on. I’ll drive you home, baby doll.”

  I tried to protest, but he didn’t give me much chance. I was outside and being put into his car before I could make my tongue form the right words. I glared at him as he got in behind the wheel and buckled his seat belt. “I don’t want to leave with you.”

  “Too late.” He grinned mischievously.

  All I could do was continue to glare as he backed out of the parking lot and drove through town. But at the base of the hill that led to my aunt’s house, he turned left instead. “Hey!”

  “Do you really think you should go home drunk? What would Chris think?” He sounded shocked that I would even think of offending my aunt with my drunken self. “What kind of example would you set for our daughter?”

  “I am not that drunk,” I muttered.

  “Glad to hear that,” he murmured in that deeply rich voice that made me shiver.

  “This is the way to your house!” I accused when I recognized the neighborhood.

  “To borrow a phrase from our daughter, duh!” He laughed in that sexy way he was so good at, and I was struck dumb for a minute as desire washed over me.

  Before I could recover, Rhys had pulled into his garage. When he turned off the car, I sat frozen. I knew if I went inside that house with him, I would end up in his bed. Part of me was already panting with anticipation. The other, more rational part of me was clawing at the inside of my skull in an attempt to snap me out of my daze so I could get the hell out of there.

  “Rhys,” I whispered his name, more scared right then and there than I had ever been when I was a virgin.

  His large hand caught my much smaller one. “Nothing is going to happen that you don’t want to happen. I swear to you.”

  “Yeah, about that.” I closed my eyes. “The problem is that I want it to happen. But I know I shouldn’t.”

  “Erin…”

  I opened my eyes at the imploring tone in his voice. When I met his dark blue gaze, I gasped at the intensity of his eyes. He smiled a little sadly. “I know I’ve made mistakes with you. That I have let you down in the past so badly that I couldn’t blame you if you decided to never let me back into your life. But I want the chance to prove to you I have changed. That, if you do give me another chance, I can make you happy.”

  Tears burned the backs of my eyes, and my throat stung with the force I had to use to keep my emotions in check. “Rhys…”

  “There are things I need to explain to you, baby doll.” He reached out and tangled his fingers in my hair, pulling me slowly toward him. “And I will. But right now, I think I might die if I don’t get to taste you again.”

  eleven

  My naked back hit the cool sheets, but it only heightened my arousal. My heart was racing, and my body was on fire with need for him. Rhys followed me down, kissing me breathless. My fingers were tangled in his blond curls, and I kissed him back, desperately wanting to be a part of him.

  Rhys ran his hands down my sides, his thumbs skimming the undersides of my breasts tenderly, making me shiver with a need so strong, so desperate that I thought I would weep from it. His lips left mine to trail down my throat, and I arched my back, encouraging him to travel lower to the two hard nubs that ached for his hot mouth.

  But he took his time.

  His tongue licked over the pulse throbbing at the base of my throat before his teeth sank into my favorite spot where my neck met my shoulder. I cried out his name, my nails scraping his scalp as I tighten my hold on his hair.

  His chuckle was low and sexy. “Someone is impatient.”

  “Someone hasn’t had any in nearly six years,” I moaned, not realizing I was telling him something vital.

  His head shot up. Passion-filled blue eyes darkened even more. “Six years?”

  “Rhys!” I cried out, thinking he was going to abandon me when I was on fire for him. “Kiss me again,” I commanded and pulled his head back down to meet my lips.

  Anything he meant to say was forgotten as he devoured my lips once more. His erection throbbed against my belly, and my legs fell apart more to encourage him. But instead of taking the hint, he kissed a path down my neck, across my left collarbone, and pulled my engorged nipple into his hot mouth.

  “Yes!” I screamed as his teeth nipped at me while his fingertips plucked at my right nipple.

  Lower, I was drenched with need, my clit begging for his attention. But he was still taking his time. Unable to stand the torturously slow pace, I pushed at his shou
lders.

  Rhys frowned down at me, and while he was still distracted, I took advantage and rolled us so that I was the one on top. “Erin.”

  I raised a brow. “Get your ass in gear, Rhys.”

  He grinned. “There you go being impatient again, baby doll.”

  “Shut up,” I ordered and bent to brush my lips across his. I nipped his full bottom lip roughly before licking the hurt away. When I moved to his jaw, he was growling low in his throat. My teeth sank into his earlobe, and he shuddered with pleasure.

  “Rhys…” I breathed into his ear. “Rhys, I want you inside of me. Now!”

  “Erin!” he groaned.

  “Don’t speak,” I whispered, licking the shell of his ear. “Just listen.” He shivered, and I smiled wickedly. “Are you listening, Rhys?” I loved saying his name, and he must have loved me saying it, because I was sure he grew even harder against my thigh. “I’m going to ride you hard and fast, Rhys. Grip my ass.” He grabbed me, and I had to grit my teeth to keep from crying out. “Now, I’m going to climb on board, big man.”

  As I slid down his long, pulsing length, we both cried out. He stretched me, and I saw stars for a few seconds before I sank to the hilt. I sat there for nearly a full minute, trying to catch my breath. My thighs were trembling, and my inner muscles were clenched hard around his cock.

  Slowly, I began to move. Rhys didn’t say a word as I set a slow pace at first. It was so good having him inside me I was having to fight not to come right away. But I wanted to make it last.

  His neck arched, and I knew he was fighting his own needs. I increased my pace, rocking back and forth. His grip tightened on my ass, and I threw my head back with each slide down. He was growing harder inside me, and I knew he was close.

  As my orgasm neared, I rode him harder, and he helped me. He practically lifted me up and pulled me down his engorged length. I screamed his name as I went over the edge. My whole body began to shake with the strength of my release, and I cried out over and over again as he only increased our pace.