Fumbled Hearts (A Tender Hearts Novel)

by Meagan Brandy

  I grin into her neck, squeeze her ass and bring her body flush against mine, letting her feel how hard she makes me. How much I want her.

  “What am I gonna do?” I whisper, running my nose up her neck to her ear. “I’m gonna feed you. Then fuck you.” When her breath hitches, I turn and walk out of her room. “Ten minutes, Kalani.”

  I bite my knuckles on my way out to keep from either running back in there or laughing at the sexually frustrated grunts she’s throwing around right now.

  Walking into Wicker with Kalani beside me feels different today.

  By the looks we’re getting from the others around, it’s different to them, too. I’ve never brought a girl in here. I’ve left with a fair share, but never showed up with one. And the fact that it’s the same one I left the party with the night before? Well, that’s bound to stir up some shit.

  She leans in to ask, “Is it just me or is the entire party here right now?”

  “Tradition.” Taking advantage of her closeness, I slide my arm across her back, and grip her hip.

  “Tradition,” she says flatly.

  I shrug, pull her a little closer, and kiss her hair. “The night after a player’s party, everyone comes to Wicker for breakfast. Or lunch, depending on how hard they went the night before.”

  “The players, as in the team, or...” she teases, a perfect brow raised.

  “Funny,” I quirk, kissing her hair again.

  I don’t miss the side glance she gives me after, but I also don’t acknowledge it either. She felt it, everyone saw it, mission accomplished.

  “You cool to grab a seat, man?” Ryan asks, juggling dishes in each hand.

  “Yeah, bro. We’re good.”

  He nods in appreciation. “Hi, Lolli!” he calls out as he rushes off.

  She smiles and waves.

  After a quick look around, I see a table of my teammates and head in their direction. Choosing a vacant booth that’s still in the mix - and not at all because Jarrod has a damn good view of us - I usher her in first, then take the seat next to her.

  She picks up her menu and looks it over while I take a few minutes to look her over.

  She’s wearing a pair of tight, light blue jeans with some pink Chuck Taylors, and a long-sleeved black top that dips down a bit in the middle. She threw her hair up in a cute, messy ball on top of her head and her face is perfect; not a trace of makeup and she still looks amazing. Beautiful.

  She turns, catching me looking at her, and sets her menu down.

  Unashamed I’ve been caught, I smile, and grab her hand. Lacing our fingers together, I lay our hands in my lap, and relax into the booth.

  She gives me a one-sided grin, and I swear to God, her cheeks turn a single shade brighter. Using my free hand, I run my knuckles over the soft pink that’s taken over. When her breath locks in her throat, my heart beats faster.

  She feels it. She must.

  Her lips are parted and she has a dazed look in her eyes, but it’s gone when a cup is set onto the table.

  “Sorry, guys,” Ryan apologizes, setting two waters in front of us. “It’s a madhouse in here.”

  “I’ll take a coffee today, Ryan,” Kalani tell him, covering her yawn with her sleeve.

  He grins at her, his hands planted in fists on the sides of his black apron. “Long night, Lolli?”

  I clear my throat to keep from laughing, while Kalani narrows her eyes at him playfully.

  “You were in the damn truck last night, weren’t you?”

  He laughs, taking a step back. “I was, but even if I wasn’t, it’s all I’ve heard about this morning.”

  “Oh, I don’t doubt it. Go get my coffee.” She rolls her eyes and pulls her hand from mine.

  He smiles and turns to me. “Coffee?”

  I nod, then snatch her hand back in mine, earning a half-hearted eyeroll from her. She lets me run my fingers over hers a few times before pulling them back again, opening her straw as an excuse for something to do.

  She smiles her thanks to the girl who sets our coffee and a bowl of creamers in front of us. We give her our order, then sit back, relax, and enjoy our warm drinks.

  When she leans her body into mine, I wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull her closer.

  “Thanks for earlier,” she says into her cup.

  Turning my head, I run my nose over the lobe of her ear. “Thanks for last night,” I whisper.

  She flicks her wrist to smack my shoulder, but I catch her hand and bring it to my lips. She shifts so her body’s facing mine and watches me run her knuckles along my lips before kissing them gently.

  As I lower her hand, her head tilts and she stares at me.

  “Okay.” Ryan shows up with our dishes and she quickly cuts her gaze out the window. “Two pancake platters.” He’s gone as quickly as he arrived.

  I push her plate in front of her, laughing when she lets out a whimsical sigh just looking at it.

  “I’m so hungry right now.” Stabbing a piece of scrambled eggs, she dips it into her syrup, then takes a slow, savoring bite.

  “Mmm…” Her eyes close and her head falls against the seat. “Soo goood,” she moans.

  My body comes to life watching her. Eyes closed, head still tilted, she licks her lips, moaning again when her tongue slides innocently over her now sugar-coated mouth, and all I can see is her under me - doing the exact damn thing.

  “Keep moaning like that,” I whisper, “and I may just take you out to my truck right quick.”

  Her wide eyes cut to me.

  I wink, and take a bite off my own plate.

  “Promise?” she purrs, laughing her sexy little ass off when I choke on my bacon.

  “You’re such a brat,” I shake my head, leaning over to kiss her hair again, loving that she tries to hide a smile in her coffee mug.

  Once Kalani’s done, she sits back and gazes at me.

  “What?” I smile, letting my hand rub across her jeans.

  “Tell me something, Handsome?”

  I nod, not missing how her crystal blue eyes have turned a shade darker.

  Never breaking eye contact, she reaches up and pulls my hat off my head. “You done?”

  “Not by a long shot.”

  “Good answer,” she smiles, lifting my hat to block our faces as she gently places her sweet, soft lips against mine in a kiss that leaves me desperate for more.

  She pulls back, laughing, placing my hat back on my head.

  “So, what are we doing today?” she asks as we stand.

  “I want to show you something on my parents’ property.” I reach over and grab her hand, tossing some cash on the table.

  “Okay.”

  The entire drive to my house, I keep her soft little hand in mine.

  Glancing at the dark-haired beauty in my passenger seat with her eyes closed, a small smile playing on her swollen lips, I know…something happened last night or today. Shit, maybe even a month ago, when she first invited me over for a movie. I guess it doesn’t really matter when it happened. All I know is, this girl next to me... I want to keep her here.

  Now to convince her that’s where she wants to be.

  With a smile on my face, I run up the side of the hill, only to slip in the mud when Nate wraps his arm around my waist.

  “Shit!” He tucks quickly, so he’s the one that hits the ground, and I land on top of him.

  Laughing hysterically, I drop my head to his stomach. “You okay?”

  He narrows his eyes at me and I laugh even harder, rolling onto my back next to him.

  “That was your fault.” He nudges me with his elbow, his voice light.

  “Oh.” I roll onto my stomach, propping myself upon my elbow. “I made it rain?”

  “You jinxed us.” He laughs, reaching up to brush dirt off my face.

  I roll my eyes. “Uh-huh.”

  He pulls my hair tie out, and my wet hair falls down my back. “Did you have fun today?” he asks, playing with a few strands.

 
; “I did.” I can’t help but smile down at him.

  Nate brought me to his house to show me the stream that runs along the back side of his property. The water stretches out about five feet and runs as far as you can see in both directions. Thick, tall trees stretch from beginning to end on the side that meets his family’s land. Some are raised higher as the hillsides lift into small mounds of fresh, feathery green grass.

  First, we tried to fish in the pond, but after a good two hours, didn’t catch jack shit, so we decided to take a hike instead, and it started pouring on us. So, here we lay, underneath a giant tree, attempting to stay out of the downpour.

  “I always liked the rain,” I tell him, looking out over the hillside.

  The wind’s blowing slightly, just enough for the limbs of the trees - some leafless, others full - to bounce around.

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. It’s a random escape, the rain.”

  “How so?” His fingers reach out and he pushes my wet hair over my shoulder, leaving his warm hand to rest there.

  “It comes and goes as it pleases, taking with it the remains of the days or hours before; washing away all traces of attendance, all the memories. Nothing is as powerful as the rain.”

  “Kinda like you?” he asks, a few moments later.

  My eyes slide back to his. He must see my confusion because he gives me a small smile before explaining.

  “I can see it, Kalani,” he says quietly, running his fingertips down my arm. “You battling with yourself. Sometimes you allow yourself to smile, a real one that makes your eyes shine, only to wash it away seconds later, leaving behind a blank space.” He gazes at me. “Like the rain.”

  I’m not sure how to react, so I just stare at him.

  My instincts tell me to get up and run, let the rain wash away the memory of today, like we just talked about. But something’s keeping me rooted on this hillside, and I have a sneaky suspicion it’s this mystery of a man-boy laying next to me.

  When I finally react to his words with a laugh, he releases a breath I didn’t realize he was holding, and reaches up to brush my hair behind my ear tenderly, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.

  Nate’s eyes pinch slightly, a small grimace on his lips. “You’re cold.” He misreads my body’s reaction for the first time. “Want me to call my dad, have him come back here on the ATV, and get us out of this mess?”

  I smile at him, reaching down to smooth out the worry lines that have taken over his forehead. Shifting so I’m sitting on my knees, I shake my head and his brows knit further.

  My hands grab the hem of my rain soaked shirt, and I pull it over my head, dropping it down next to me.

  Nate sits up instantly, and gently runs his hands up my ribs, across my back, until he has the clasps of my bra in his hand.

  His eyes find mine, his hand frozen in place.

  “What are you waiting for, Handsome?”

  He maneuvers us so his back is against the tree, then he grips me under my thighs, positioning me so I’m straddling him. His right hand comes up to case in my neck, while his left splays across my back, pulling me into him.

  Our mouths seal together in a heated kiss, making me desperate to be closer to him. I let my knees spread as far into the grass as my jeans will allow, bringing my center against his stomach.

  Right as my hands find the hem of his wet shirt, a throat clears from the other side of the tree.

  Nate’s head drops back, and he squeezes his eyes shut.

  “Hey, Dad.”

  Oh, fucking lovely.

  How did I not hear him coming? I swear, it’s like as soon as Nate’s around, all jaw-dropping and irresistible, all Nate-like, something in my head blocks out everything else.

  I’m not sure that’s normal.

  “Thought you and your…friend might need some help getting out of here.” He says the word ‘friend’ as if there should be a question mark after it.

  Nate’s eyes widen when I wink at him, and he watches in horror as I round the tree. In my bra and jeans.

  At least it’s a cute bra, though. Matches my Chucks.

  With my head held high, I reach out to shake Nate’s dad’s hand. “Mr. Monroe.”

  A smile twitches his lips as he holds a hand out to me. “Ms. Embers.”

  When my head pulls back, he laughs.

  “Oh, yes. I’ve heard all about you.”

  My scowl flies to Nate, who quickly shakes his head.

  His dad’s chuckle draws my attention back to him. “I’ve been married a very long time, so I know what that look means.” He grins and holy shit! He looks like an old, hot version of his son. “Rest assured, pretty one,” Oh, he’s smooth like him, too, “he hasn’t shared anything you’d be upset about. He’s at least that smart.” He winks.

  “Okay, Dad.” Nate grumbles, stepping around to stand directly in front of me.

  This only makes his dad’s smile grow into a full-blown grin that makes his dark eyes shine as they shift from me to Nate and back again.

  They stand there staring at each other for a good minute. Nate, with his eyes narrowed; Mr. Monroe, with a grin.

  “Uh…” The scowl and grin turn on me. “This whole silent brain to brawn thing is super cool and all,” both their brows jump, “but I’d much rather not be standing here in my bra.”

  Then I think about what I just said. “Well, not with Mr. Monroe here anyway.”

  Nate’s head drops to his chest while his dad does his best to cover his laugh with a fake cough.

  His dad walks over to the neon green ATV, and Nate grabs at the hem of his shirt.

  My eyes watch the show.

  His shirt is wet. Soaked, really, so I’m not surprised to see the remnants of water left behind when he peels it from his skin, giving me a nice and slow look at his no-need-to-flex-I’m-that-damn-good abs. As he pulls it over his head, a tiny drop of water makes its way down the center of his chest.

  I hadn’t realized I moved until his hand closes over my wrist.

  My eyes fly to his, finding them dark and dilated, with a hint of laughter.

  His dad does nothing to hold in his laugh this time.

  Nate releases my hand and pulls his freezing shirt over my head. Instantly, it works like a cold shower would.

  He sees the defiance in my eyes and narrows his. “Leave that on,” he scowls, bending down to grab mine off the ground.

  “I’ll leave it on.” I step out from under the semi-safety of the tree, and am instantly drenched with more rain. “Not because you told me to, so don’t get excited, but because I’m riding in the middle and it’d be weird if I didn’t.”

  “I can’t wait to get her to the house,” his dad grins, his arms crossed over his chest.

  Nate grumbles something under his breath then walks to the ATV.

  When his dad fires up the toy, Nate’s hand splays across my stomach and his thighs press more firmly into my backside.

  “No funny business, Monroe,” I snap.

  “Never,” they say in unison, both letting out deep, rich laughs before we’re on the move.

  Men.

  It only takes a minute or tow, then we’re pulling in front of the off-side garage, where his dad kills the engine.

  Nate steps off, offering a hand to me as he does, grumbling when I smack it away and hop off myself.

  “Ready?” His dad rubs his hands together in what appears to be excitement.

  “Might as well get it over with,” Nate mumbles, ushering me forward.

  As I make my way up the front steps, I watch my fingers run across the worn, white wood, allowing them to travel up the post a few inches. Once I hit the top step, my eyes lock onto the swing.

  The blanket Nate had laid across the bottom is still there, spread out across the seat. I can’t help but wonder if we were the last two to sit there; if the blanket’s imperfect placement with lumps and creases are from our bodies; from us simply sitting, living.

  Despite the sodden
clothes I’m wearing, warmth radiates through me in a way I’m not familiar with.

  “Hey.” Nate’s coarse hand skims across my cheek soothingly.

  Reluctantly, my eyes pull from the swing to his.

  He tucks my wet hair behind my ear, earning a grin from me.

  I answer the question his eyes are asking. “I’m good, Handsome.”

  He nods, but makes no move to release me.

  “Nate…” his dad says quietly, almost hesitant, like he’s interrupting something he shouldn’t.

  Nate tilts his head toward the doorway where his dad stands. “Ready?”

  I nod, unable to take my eyes off Nate.

  He drops his hand from my face and we walk through the front door.

  “Honey,” his dad calls out.

  “Oh!” a sweet voice responds. “Did you get to see her? Was she as pretty as he said?”

  I turn to Nate with an eyebrow raised.

  He smirks.

  “Well?” she yells out when no one answers. “Did you?”

  Then a beautiful woman in her late forties comes around the corner, wearing a hot pink apron that reads ‘Property of Ian Monroe’ proudly.

  Her hair is dark, like Nate’s, and lays at her shoulders, but her eyes are lighter than his, more caramel.

  “Oh shit!” she says, then her hand flies to her mouth. “Sorry.”

  I laugh and walk further into the house, waving a hand at her. “Hi.”

  “Wow.” She looks me over from head to toe. “I can’t even imagine what you look like normally-”

  “Here we go...” I hear Nate say from behind me, while his dad steps up next to his wife, laughing.

  Suddenly her shoulders slump, and her husband laughs even harder, placing a kiss to her hair as if reading her mind. “I want to be young and perfect and in love.”

  My eyes grow wide, and my body freezes.

  “Ma! No.” Nate grabs my hand and forces me to move toward the stairs. “Talk to your wife, Pops,” he yells as his foot hits the first stair. “We’ll be down in a bit.”

  “Wait, what!” I start to protest. I may not care about others’ opinions of me, but I’m not a disrespectful bitch.

  “Go on,” his mom calls out and my eyes fly to her.

  She winks at me.