Here With Me: A Best Friend's Brother stand-alone romance.

by Tia Louise

  “I can’t wait to try this Grand Marnier sorbet.” My eyes are wide with excitement. “It all looks so good…”

  Ultimately, we decide on the risotto for me and the juniper rubbed venison loin for him. We share a bottle of Pinot Noir with dinner, and I think it’s probably the nicest meal I’ve ever had.

  Leaning back with my glass of wine, I feel warm and satisfied. I feel like I’ve done what I set out to do six months ago when I left home with a broken heart.

  “What are you thinking about right now?” I glance up to see Link’s blue eyes studying me intently.

  “I came to Dallas with my tail between my legs. I’m going home a success.”

  “Why was your tail between your legs?” He leans forward, resting his forearms on the white tablecloth.

  “Just… you know. I was in a rut. I had my degree, but I wasn’t using it.” I’m not planning to get into my personal life with him.

  “You made your friend’s website and your own… and your mom’s.”

  “Does that really count?” I squint an eye at him, smiling.

  He grins and looks down. “They worked for me.”

  “You’ve been very generous helping me get started. I want you to know how much I appreciate the referrals.”

  “I was glad to do it.” He swirls the wine in his glass. “Are you returning to Harristown for good?”

  Tilting my head to the side, I consider this. “I think so.”

  “Why?”

  That makes me laugh. “It’s my home, and I miss my mom, my family, friends…”

  “Someone in particular?”

  Blinking up, our eyes meet again. “I don’t think so. Not anymore at least.”

  “He’s a fool.” It’s a bit of a growl as he sits back.

  “He is not.” I’m defensive at first. Then I make myself stop. “But he is stubborn as a mule.”

  My Grand Marnier sorbet comes out, and I widen my eyes. “Want a taste?” Dipping a spoon in the velvety dessert, I groan as I eat it.

  Amusement relaxes his features. “I can’t imagine any man not treating you like a queen.”

  His words make my stomach feel squirmy. “He treated me the way I let him treat me.”

  It’s what Mrs. Irene told me, Men will rise to whatever level you demand. I’m beginning to think she’s right.

  “If he doesn’t work out, you know where to find me.”

  The waiter brings us our check and I do my best to split it. Lincoln acts like I’ve sprouted an additional head. When it’s all settled, he escorts me out to my waiting Lyft.

  Stopping before I enter, I step forward into his hug and give him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Link.”

  “For dinner? You’re very welcome.”

  “For showing me what I’m worth.”

  His warm arm clasps my elbow. “I’ll be here.”

  William is pouty Saturday afternoon as I load my suitcase into my waiting Prius. “Is six months long enough? Are you sure you’re not rushing back too soon?”

  “I don’t know.” I hug him again. “I’m going back to my own place, my own office… I’m different now… And I miss my family.”

  He cups my cheeks. “I’m so proud of you. You came here and worked your ass off. You really made a name for yourself.”

  My eyes heat, and I hug him one last time. “I’m going to miss you so much.” Stepping back, I get into my waiting car. “But you said you’re coming to visit me soon. Right? To help with my interiors?”

  He waves, nodding. “Tell me when that Little Mermaid show is over. I’ll come after that.”

  “You’ll come for Christmas.”

  His lips purse, and I turn my car toward the Interstate for the two hour drive back to Harristown. It’s really a pretty easy drive due east, and Ma’s waiting for me when I pull up in front of my new apartment. She’s been meeting me every time I come into town to paint, decorate, clean.

  I hop out smiling. I love having my own place so much. “Hey again!” I give her a long hug. “Ahh… I’m so glad to be here for good.”

  Unlocking the door, we enter arm in arm.

  “I don’t know why you can’t live at home. You’re not married.” She stops in the middle of my living room holding a potted plant.

  “Ma! We’ve talked about this.” I’m unpacking my suitcase. “I’m not a child anymore. I need my own space.”

  “You have your own space at the house. Now I’m all alone. What if I have a heart attack and die, and no one knows and the neighbor’s dog eats me?”

  “Jesus!”

  “Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain, Melinda.” Her tone is weepy.

  “Then stop being so freakin morbid.” I cross living room to kiss her cheek, give her a hug. “I’ll be over all the time. I’ll have dinner… and did you notice this place has no washer or dryer? I’ll do laundry…”

  A tap on the door draws our attention. The front door slowly opens.

  “Who’s there?” Ma goes to investigate and breaks into happy cries. “Sawyer! I didn’t know you were back in town. It’s so good to see you. You look so good!”

  My heart stops in my chest. It legit stops. My knees tremble, and I’m having difficulty calming my breath.

  Sawyer stands in the entrance of my new apartment in dark jeans and a black shirt with a Sherpa-lined denim jacket on top. He looks fresh off the farm gorgeous. His hazel-green eyes focus on mine, and the muscle in his square jaw moves. His hair is perfect.

  “Don’t you agree Mindy doesn’t need this place?” Ma huffs across the room to where I’m trying to get my heart started again.

  “Hey, Mindy.” His voice is different. I’ve heard it so many times. I’ve heard it in my dreams, but never this way, confident and possessive. It’s fucking sexy as hell, and I feel the little hairs rise on my arms.

  “Hi, Sawyer.” My voice is quiet, and the way he looks at me lights up my entire body.

  “Noel said you went to Dallas.”

  “She did.” Ma stalks to a box in the kitchen and takes out plastic serving utensils. “I thought I’d have to bribe her to come home. Talk to her, Sawyer. She always listens to you. Tell her she needs to move home.”

  His gaze doesn’t waver, and I have to blink away. I go to a box sitting on my coffee table and take out some books I’ve never read, stacking them on the empty shelves.

  “I think it’s time for her to decide what she wants.” He turns to my mom. “Mindy’s a grown woman now.”

  Emotion flashes from my stomach to my cheeks. I didn’t expect to feel this way hearing him say those words. It’s like things between us have moved to a different level. Blinking fast, I do my best to summon the strong independence, the fierceness I cultivated the last six months. I am a grown woman now. And he’s a grown man.

  “Thank you.” Clearing my throat, I manage to sound less like a flustered girl. “I like having my own place.”

  Ma returns to the living room, putting her hands on her hips. “I’ve got to get home and start dinner. I’m making enough for both of us.” She points at me. Her expression melts into an adoring smile when she turns to my guest. ”You come and have dinner with us one night, okay?”

  He leans down and gives my mom a warm hug. “I’ll be there any time you’ll have me.”

  “Such a good boy.” She grins and pats his cheek gently. “We can do it next week.”

  She gives me a pointed look before she heads out the door. I close it behind her, letting out a frustrated noise. “That woman, I swear.”

  Now I’m standing with my back to the door, and Sawyer is in the middle of my living room looking like the best thing I’ve seen in half a year. It’s late, and the string lights I put over the curtains create a magical effect… I could step forward, reach out my hand, and…

  Stop.

  I’m not going there.

  “So you’re back from Nashville?” I turn and go to the kitchen. I can’t decide if I should start a pot of coffee or just open a bottle of w
ine.

  “Yeah, what a coincidence. I got in this morning, and Noel said you were moving back this weekend.”

  “Funny. Are you… okay?”

  His expression relaxes, and he actually smiles. “I am. I’ve spent the last six months in pretty intense therapy, a lot of shit I didn’t even know existed. I’ve started meditating. It’s weird. I used to hate getting up at six a.m. I mean hate.” He emphasizes the word. “Now I don’t mind it so much.”

  Hesitating in the kitchen I’m struck first by how many words he just said about nothing in particular. “That’s… wow.”

  This man I love, this man I’ve known all my life, is standing in my living room telling me how he feels. I’m like Charlie winning one of Willie Wonka’s golden tickets. I’m inside the chocolate factory, and he’s telling me how everything works.

  Then he smiles. “You’re so different now. You’re as beautiful as ever, but I can tell. You’re more confident.”

  Energy filters through my body with every heartbeat, but I hone in on his statement. “Yes, I am.”

  Mrs. Irene said the day you put your head on the pillow knowing you don’t need him… I’m not his baby girl anymore, but I’m not sure I don’t need him. It’s a different need now.

  It’s a choice.

  Turning to another box, I open the lid and pull out a painting. My breath catches at the sight, and I want to shove the canvass back inside. It’s too late. He sees it.

  “What’s that?” Closing the space between us, he turns it over so he can see the painting.

  Nights when I couldn’t sleep, I’d paint, and one night when I was angry with him, I started this portrait of a square-jawed Superman. Only, instead of the blue and red Superman outfit, this guy is in a clown costume. His features are so clearly Sawyer’s, I feel my shoulders rise.

  “It’s nothing. Art therapy.” I push the canvas back in the box. “Working out my aggressions.”

  “I’d like to take you out, Mindy.” His voice is warm, and his hand covers my wrist. “I’d like us to try again. For real.”

  “No.”

  The word pops out of my mouth so fast, I didn’t even have a chance to think about it.

  His smile fades a bit. “No?”

  “It’s not a good time for me.” I take a deep breath doing my best to catch up with my brain. “I mean, I think I need to get on my feet here first.”

  I hate saying these words. My heart longs for him. It reaches for him like an invisible cord stretching through my aching chest, pulling my lungs along with it.

  But my brain says no.

  A really fast no, in fact.

  “Whatever you need.” He exhales slowly, and I see how much he’s changed.

  Lifting my chin, I meet his eyes. His face is so relaxed, his expression so calm. I want to know what has happened to him.

  “I don’t have all the answers, Min, but I know this is not how our story ends.” With a squeeze to my wrist, he goes to the door and leaves.

  I collapse onto the couch with my face in my hands. I need to see Mrs. Irene.

  28

  Sawyer

  Seeing Mindy again is like standing on the top of a mountain and looking out over the ocean. My chest fills with emotions, desire, longing. My eyes drink her in, long dark hair, cute curves in sweats and a long-sleeved gray tee. I want to run my fingers through her hair. I want to lift her off her feet and cover her lips with mine. I want to sit with her and hear everything that has happened to her while we’ve been apart. I want to hear what she’s done, how she’s gotten her business as successful as she has.

  I want to show her how much I’ve changed.

  When Noel said she’d texted that she was at her apartment, I dropped everything to go and find her. I wanted to tell her I’m not stuck in my own head anymore. I’m better now, a better man.

  I guess it didn’t occur to me she’d say no.

  I’m such a fool. Of course she said no. The last time we were together, she told me she loved me. I told her I didn’t want to hear it. Hell, I told her to go to Dallas.

  Now, my mind is at work, figuring out how I can fix this. She’s so valuable to me. She always has been, and doing the work to get well has helped me understand. She gives me peace. My life doesn’t make sense without her in it. She keeps me focused. Taron says she was my reason to fight, and now that I’ve won the fight, I want to share my life with her.

  I’ve got to figure out how to win her back.

  Time and work.

  And I’d throw in hope.

  Hope is at the forefront of my mind today, stopping at the Burgers-n-Suds for lunch before heading to Mindy’s new office. I’m sure she’s hungry, and I know she’s still unpacking. Noel told me she was planning to drive over and help her this evening.

  Her office is in a strip mall on the service road next to the Interstate, which I don’t particularly like. Harristown isn’t a dangerous place, but any kind of riff-raff can cruise in off the Interstate—and cruise right out again.

  My protective instinct surges to life, but it has to take a back seat. Mindy’s excited about this, and I need to be encouraging.

  Music greets me as I step through the door. It’s a song I recognize about strong women or something. Single ladies. Stepping around the corner, I freeze in my tracks.

  Mindy’s adorable in a red plaid shirt tied at her waist, and light jeans that stop in the middle of her calves. Her hair is up in a ponytail, and she’s holding a book in each hand over her head, shaking her ass as she sings along.

  “Put your hands up!” She spins around and opens her eyes then screams and throws one of the books at me.

  “Hey!” I jump out of the way just in time. “I come in peace!”

  “Sawyer!” Her empty hand goes to her chest, and she’s breathing fast. “You scared the shit out of me.”

  “Sorry.” I can’t stop a laugh. She’s so damn cute. “I was enjoying the show.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I brought lunch.” I drop the bag of burgers and fries on the desk. “Noel said you were still unpacking, so I figured I’d help out.”

  Her green eyes go from the bag to me, and she puts the book she’s still holding on her desk. “That’s really thoughtful. Thank you.”

  “You should probably lock the door if you’re not expecting anyone.”

  “Don’t want to scare away the customers.”

  I glance towards the parking lot. “Is this a walk-in type of place?”

  “Are you my dad?” Her voice is sassy, and I hold up a hand.

  “Forget I said anything.”

  Reaching in the bag, she pulls out the food and spreads it on the counter top. She pops a fry in her mouth and leans on her elbows. “Want to see the place?”

  I grab a fry and nod. “Sure. Give me the grand tour.”

  “Here it is.” She steps back spreading out her hands then takes another fry. “Waiting area there, although you’re right. It’s not like a salon or a doctor’s office. I don’t really get walk-in business.”

  “It’s very professional.”

  It’s a four-hundred-square-foot space with a desk in the back. A large Apple computer sits on top, and the walls are covered in her Peach Festival posters and a picture of Noel with Dove in the peach orchard.

  “That’s cute.”

  “It’s from her website. A few of the guys in Dallas liked the personal touch, so I figured it made a good centerpiece.” She starts toward the back of the room, and I hesitate, not sure if I should follow. “Back here is the storage closet.”

  I can’t see past her down the narrow hallway, but I hear the clink of her pulling the light on. “I put all my old boxes back here until I can break them down…”

  Roaring is in my ears, and I can’t follow her. My stomach churns, and I brace my palm against the wall, doing my best to calm my breathing. Mindy is far away, inside the dusty room I can’t approach.

  You can control this. I hear Dr. Curtis in my
mind.

  Closing my eyes, I remember all the work we did, the progress we made. Anger tries to surge in my chest. I hate that I still feel this weak and powerless, but I don’t let the anger win. I think about Mindy.

  Safety.

  Calm.

  “It’s just some old shelves and the previous tenant left a bunch of painting supplies.” She jerks the light off and closes the door, giving it a hard yank. “The door sticks.”

  She rejoins me in the office, and I focus on her words. “Old paint supplies? Anything you can use?”

  “No, it’s just some old rags and brush cleaner, that type if thing. I need to get rid of it.”

  “I’ll help you.” It’s the best I can offer. I need fresh air and light, so I go to the glass doors, glancing at the empty parking lot. “Any neighbors?”

  “Not yet. Jeff said they were talking to a packaging company about moving in at the end of the month, so maybe a UPS store?”

  My head starts to clear as I study her surroundings, and I don’t care for her working in this remote location all alone. “Do you keep late hours?”

  “Not really. I do most of my brainstorming at home.”

  When I turn back, I see she’s picking up the book she threw at me. It has the title Branding Basics, and I get an idea.

  “You know, I was thinking… We should probably do something like that for the orchard.”

  Her brow furrows, and she slides the book into a stack on the shelf behind her desk. “Something like what?”

  “A logo… a website.” I point to the posters on her walls. “All the things you do here. You can do them for us.”

  “But why?” She looks at me confused, and I chuckle.

  “Is this how you attract new business?”

  “I’m sorry.” She rubs her fingers across her forehead. “I just… LaGrange Orchard has been around for decades. Everybody knows who you are.”

  “Not everybody. We’re always competing with new growers, and there’s Georgia…”