ALittleTasteofHome

by AliyahBurke

  “Didn’t I already answer that at your place?”

  “Not enough.” Not nearly enough, my little Irish kitten. I want to know so much more about you. He looked at her. “Why did you come over?”

  “Because you challenged me.”

  “That’s it? That’s the only reason?” He continued to stare at her watching her every expression.

  “Maybe.”

  He chuckled. “Tell me about you. How did you and Allison meet?”

  “You want me to tell you about Allison?” Her tone didn’t really change, but he could hear an edge creep into it.

  “No. Don’t get upset, I want to know about you, but you are hedging so I am asking other questions.”

  “Don’t play with me. What do you want to know?”

  “The kitten has claws.”

  “Teeth, too. Why are you so interested in me?” Her emerald gaze still overlooked the endless ocean.

  “Why do you think?” Gavin put his gaze back on the ocean.

  “I don’t. Answer my question.”

  “Honestly, I’m still trying to figure that out myself.” He glanced at her as she suddenly spun around and walked off, dumping her coffee in a bin on her way past. “Where are you going?” I should have thought of something more romantic to say than I don’t know.

  “I need to think. I will meet you at the car.” She didn’t even turn around.

  Gavin had no idea what he had done wrong, but something upset her. Deciding that it would be best to give her some space, he followed at a distance. For the first time he noticed there was a droop in her shoulders as if they were carrying a heavy burden. She stood silently in the rain waiting for him to get to the car. He unlocked it from a distance so she could get in and she did so without a word. The ride back was tense. He still had no clue as to what was wrong, but it was something. She sat upright and kept her gaze averted from him.

  Chapter Eight

  At the house, she got out silently and walked toward the door. It was about seven and she noticed her vehicle was gone, which meant Allison was gone as well. Sanura opened the door and went in, leaving him to follow. After heading into her bedroom, she changed into something dry, then went to the kitchen and found a note from Allison telling her there was breakfast in the oven. With a quick check she turned on the oven and let the food heat up.

  Over the meal she noticed Gavin looked, really looked, hard at her. Her bruises had faded except for a shiner that made her look like she had just left the boxing ring.

  “What are you looking at?” Attitude was back in full force.

  “You,” he bit off.

  “Thanks for driving me.” She could tell he was upset now.

  “Whatever. I said I would look after you and I keep my word.”

  “Don’t do me any favors. I’m sure you have somewhere else to be.” As if reading her mind, his cell phone began to ring.

  He rose and picked it up from the table by the door where it lay next to his keys, as if he lived there. With an irritated tone he answered, “What?”

  Sanura began to clean up the remains of the breakfast as the man on the phone spoke in low pitch, so she only got part of it. Not that she wanted to listen. And then she left him alone to have some privacy.

  “Sanura? Where are you?”

  “In my room.” She stuck her head out. “What’s up?”

  He looked as if he couldn’t sense the stress that had been between them earlier. “I have to go. Emergency at work. Will you be alright?”

  “I’ll be fine. I’ll help you get your stuff ready. Then I will stay here until Allison gets back. Don’t worry, I’m fine.” She walked across the hall and began to load his stuff in his suitcase as he came in behind her.

  “My stuff? I can come back after. . .”

  “No. It has been almost a week, and I can’t take up any more of your time. I’ll be fine. Thanks for staying as long as you did.” Sanura refused to look at him, as if afraid he would be able to read the feelings on her face.

  “I am actually a nice guy. Just don’t spread it around.” He tipped her face up with one finger.

  That elicited a small smile from her. “It’ll be our secret. Here you go.” With the suitcase in one hand and his briefcase in the other, Sanura herded him down the hallway to the door.

  He picked up his keys and was escorted out the door with his suitcase. Sanura still had his briefcase in her hand as she walked him to his car. Opening the trunk, he put in his suitcase and she offered him his work in her outstretched hand. No denying the reluctance with which he took it. He stared at her. “Take care of yourself.”

  “I will. Thanks again, for everything. See ya ’round.”

  “Bye, Sanura.” One hand reached out and caressed her cheek before he backed away, leaving her feeling bereft and alone. He got in his car and she stood there watching as the engine whirred and drove him out of her life.

  Sanura went back in the house after his car vanished from view, and began to clean. Tomorrow she would go to work. She headed to her office, then began to straighten up. The room still smelled like Gavin’s aftershave.

  As she moved around the room she noticed her picture of Bryce had been turned around, as if Gavin hadn’t wanted to see it. With a sad smile she fixed it and spoke to the room, “I miss you, Bryce. Come home soon. I need some help.”

  Sanura was back doing the morning deliveries on Monday. When she went into the Dorgan firm break room, the fat pig himself was in there. Gavin was nowhere to be seen. Intentional or not, his slight hurt her more than she cared to admit and she built back up the wall around her heart he’d begun to get through.

  * * * *

  Gavin still ate at her restaurant every day. When he did see her, she was aloof. Not rude, but she didn’t act like the flirty woman he knew and remembered. She was still completely professional and wouldn’t ignore him, but her eyes had pain and a longing he couldn’t place when they looked at him.

  A couple Wednesdays later he stopped by after work and had dinner with Clint. Allison came to speak with him and Clint, but his eyes were on Sanura across the room. At the moment she was speaking to some sailors, laughing and joking. Smiling at them in ways he didn’t like.

  “How is she doing?” he asked Allison.

  “Back to her usual self. Thank you for helping out. I wouldn’t have been able to keep her from working without you. How about you? How are you doing?”

  “Working hard. Getting ready for mother’s bash tomorrow.”

  “Well, we are all ready. Don’t worry.”

  “Wasn’t. Not for a sec.” He slid his chair back and nodded to the two of them, “Excuse me for a moment.” Then he walked over in Sanura’s direction.

  As he approached he heard one of the young sailors ask her, “So will you be there tomorrow?”

  She laughed, “Absolutely. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I look forward to the festival every single year. I mean, what’s not to love?”

  The young man continued, “Will you stop by and see us?”

  “Definitely. You two take care and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Bye, Mac. Thanks for dinner.”

  “Night, sailors.” She waved them off as they headed out the door.

  “You’re going to the festival tomorrow?” Gavin asked, unable to not speak with her.

  She turned and her eyes flashed dangerously before she saw the people around them. With a fake smile that had more bared teeth than anything she answered, “Of course. I go every year. Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about your mother’s party.”

  “I wasn’t worried. How are you doing?”

  “Fine. Excuse me, I have work to do.”

  She walked off, leaving him wanting. Wanting what? Her? Her love? Everything she had to offer. Upon his return to the table he told Clint, “I’m going to the festival tomorrow.”

  “You? Since when do you care about that?”

  “Since I found out she was going, and since she is avoiding
me I am going to have to go where she does.”

  “I like her more and more.”

  “Meaning?”

  “I love it she doesn’t give you any more notice than anyone else. All the money in the world doesn’t mean squat to her.” Clint laughed as Gavin glared.

  * * * *

  It was early afternoon when Gavin spotted her. She was at one of the games cheering enthusiastically for Allison. Sanura’s darker skin offset perfectly against the white tank top and her jean shorts. She wore white sandals and her ponytail bounced in time with her clapping as she screamed along with the other spectators. When it was over and Allison, in her nice print dress and sandals, got her prize for coming in second he began to head over to her. Sanura’s hair tumbled down, having come loose of its containment, and she didn’t seem too interested in fixing it so, with a shake of her head, she made it all fall free and surround her face like a sultry vixen.

  It was a difficult walk for Gavin since there were many single women surrounding him, vying for his attention. After he had bent to speak to three of them to say “Leave me alone,” he noticed her gaze was on him. Another strike against him. Not exactly a glowing recommendation for her to believe he had feelings for her.

  The fair took place by the ocean so there were people in and out of the water. Allison and Sanura walked out on one of the piers. Gavin followed, still determined to talk to her. Waylaid again by more women, he put a scowl on his face and searched for Sanura. He caught sight of her as she spoke to two small children, one black and one white. She gave both of them her complete attention, as did Allison. Finally they ran to meet a man that looked frantic to find them. The man shook both women’s hands and smiled his gratitude.

  Gavin got closer. Not close enough. Through the crowd he heard her name being yelled.

  “Sanura! Sanura!”

  Gavin looked in the direction he thought it came from. There was a group of six men heading towards her and Allison. The men, all in jeans and t-shirts and tank tops that showed off their bodies, were waving. . Even Gavin had to admit they were a group of fine looking men, and he didn’t like them one bit.

  Sanura turned her head and found those that yelled her name. Even Gavin blinked from the brightness and joy of the smile that broke across her face at the sight.

  * * * *

  Hearing her name yelled, Sanura glanced over her shoulder to see if it had been her imagination when she heard her name. It hadn’t. Striding towards them was a group of men she had missed terribly. In the middle of the group was a man in black jeans, white tank top, cowboy boots and a baseball cap covering black hair that would be longer and more than a bit unruly.

  “Allison, he’s back!” That said, she sprinted off towards the men and launched herself at the man in the middle.

  Her arms wound familiarly around his neck as his found her waist and spun her around. “Bryce. When did you get back?”

  “Today, darlin’. We knew we’d find you here. Hello, Allison.”

  Allison’s cheeks grew rosy as she answered, “Hello, Bryce. Wonderful to see you again.”

  “And you.” He placed a kiss on Allison’s cheek.

  Sanura could feel the tension between them. She stepped out of his arms and received hugs from the rest of the handsome men there. “How long can you stay?”

  “Not long.” Bryce answered as his black gaze swung back to Sanura’s face. Mere seconds passed before his eyes changed from kind to dangerous. Lean fingers shot out and grabbed her face and he spoke in that lethal way of his, that got the message across like nothing else could. “Who the hell did this to you?”

  Her head was maneuvered from one side to the other as the group looked at her remaining bruise. It was very faint but there was enough so he found it. Damn him and his eagle eyes. “I’m fine, Bryce.”

  As if he knew that would be her answer, he turned to Allison. “What happened?”

  Sanura knew the entire story would come out now. Allison never could refuse to tell Bryce whatever he wanted to know.

  Allison’s lower lip trembled as she spoke to the man in front of her. “It was my fault. Pete kicked me out and so I went to stay with Mac. One night he came over and began to hit me. She came home and put herself in between us. She was in the hospital for observation. Mild concussion, dislocated shoulder and extensive bruising,” Allison blurted it out in a rush.

  “Did he hurt you?” There was an odd sense of concern in his voice as he directed his question to Allison. His gaze was on Allison but his fingers still gripped Sanura’s chin.

  “He only got me once before Mac was there.”

  Sanura jerked out of his hold. “I’m fine.” At the glare she received she spoke again, “I couldn’t let him hurt her or. . .” Sanura broke off at Allison’s look.

  “Or?” The muscle ticked in his jaw and he looked every inch the capable SEAL he was.

  “Or ruin the house.” It was lame but it was the only thing she could think of.

  “I’m going to kill him.” That statement was soundly echoed by the rest of the men.

  “Bryce. His ass is in jail. Don’t worry. Today is supposed to be fun. Please.”

  “Alright, Mac. Let’s go have some fun.” He brushed his knuckles over her cheek.

  * * * *

  The six guys and two women walked off together. Gavin saw red, a loud viscous red. Perhaps she had been playing him, like his mother warned. If that was the case, then why did it hurt so much? He had never wanted to hurt someone so much in his entire life. Sanura was his, maybe she didn’t realize it yet, but their souls were intertwined and he needed her as much as he needed the air to breathe. Unable to do anything less, he followed her at a discreet distance.

  * * * *

  “Who’s hungry?” Allison asked. Unanimous cheers went up from the men so they started for the concession stand that had what each person wanted.

  Bryce and Sanura were walking arm in arm, looking every bit the cozy couple. He slowed down and when Allison and the other men looked back at them he spoke, “Y’all go on ahead. I have to speak to Sanura. We’ll catch up.”

  Allison smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. Sanura believed no one else knew that. “Fine. Perfect. That way I don’t have to share these fine men with Sanura. Take y’all’s time.” With a jaunty wave, the remaining five SEALs headed off with Allison in the middle.

  Bryce steered himself and Sanura over to the rail so they were out of the main flow of traffic. Sanura shivered as her brain registered the “Gavin” scent. She chalked it up to having seen him earlier with those three hussies . . . women.

  “I’ve missed you, Bryce.”

  “Come here.” Bryce pulled her to his chest and she stayed there listening to the dub dub of his heart as it beat its steady rhythm.

  “I love you. You’re leaving again, aren’t you?”

  “I love you, too, and yes, I am, or rather we are.”

  “For how long?” Sanura stayed pressed close to him and kept her hands folded between their bodies. It was one of her favorite ways of being held, having the feeling of being completely enveloped in a pair of strong arms.

  “A long time.”

  Now she took a step back and met his obsidian gaze. “How long?”

  “Couple years.”

  Her heart was breaking. “Where?” Tears began to pool in her endless eyes.

  “Overseas.”

  “When do you leave?”

  “Couple days, no more ’n a week. After the rodeo.” He took a hold of her hands, covered them with his own large callused and comforting ones. A thought snuck up on Sanura, Bryce had that same reassuring feel in his hands as Gavin had when he held her, but where Gavin’s affected the rest of her body Bryce did not. “Sanura. I want you to come with me.”

  She gave a short bark of laughter, but there was very little humor in it as she pulled her hands free and waved them around. “And leave all this? I couldn’t.”

  “I’m serious.” He reached for her but Sanura
stepped back out of his reach and he read betrayal in her eyes before she managed to mask it.

  “So am I, Bryce. I can’t go.”

  “I don’t want to leave you alone.”

  “I’m a big girl. ”

  He tapped the remnant of her bruise and asked, “Really?”

  “Bryce. I love you. I always have, and I always will. But you can’t protect me forever. You have to let me grow up. I’m all grown up.”

  “I want you to come with me.” His words fell like the orders he was used to giving. Normally it would work, but not this time.

  “Temper down, SEAL man. Why are you doing this? We both know it’s not me you really want with you.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” His words suddenly developed a very dangerous edge.

  “Please,” she scoffed, not the least bit intimidated by his tone, “I ain’t stupid, Bryce. Just go ask her. Tell her you love her, let her tell you. Hell, the way you two have been dodging the subject so much it’s making me batty. You love her.” Sanura smacked him on the chest. “Don’t be giving me that look. We both know it. And I know she loves you. She has for the longest time. She’s not married, Bryce, not anymore. Go get her. Take her with you.”

  He stared at her in silence.

  “Bryce,” Sanura reached for and squeezed his hand, “you have always been there for me. Through everything, I love you. But the love we have is not the kind that makes your knees weak, or your heartbeat go all kittywampass. Not the kind you feel for Allison. We’re fam. Pete will get out, Bryce. And when he does, he will come after her again. I’m not strong enough to protect her and her baby.” His eyes grew large. “Yes, she’s pregnant. She can’t live through a beating like that. He could have killed her.”

  “You can’t live through that either. I should have been here to protect you.” His deep voice was full of shame.

  “Bryce, you protect the whole country. You taught me to take care of myself. We both know I have survived worse beatings. Allison is too fragile, too delicate. I love you, Bryce, but I don’t need you to protect me anymore. You gave me the strength to defend myself. Allison needs you and, regardless of how you want to try and play it, you need her. Fess up, big bro. You love her.” She nudged him with her shoulder.