Two Hard

by Amy Brent

  The brothers said their goodbyes slowly before leaving, as James immediately brought up a real dinner. They caught a cab to the original choice and found it to be much less crowded, finding a table in the corner right away. They ordered a couple of beers while they waited for their plates as James took a close look at his brother. “You seemed a little stunned back there, Deacon. Everything okay?”

  How did he tell his brother that she was the most gorgeous woman that he’d ever seen? How could he really make it clear how much it had thrown him off completely?

  “She just looked so sad. Do you really think she’s going to be okay?” Deacon asked James, watching him shrug.

  “Lisa seemed to think so.” He tore into the roll, buttering it before he took a huge bite. “That sandwich was a joke.”

  “I think the big plate of meat that you ordered will take care of your poor starving tummy, James.” Deacon told him sarcastically as he sipped the cold beer thoughtfully. “What time is the job tomorrow?”

  They moved onto work over the course of the late meal and headed home after as Deacon lost himself to thoughts of Rowan. His gut told him that something was wrong and hurting her from the look in her beautiful eyes, making him wonder what. It made him want to fix her, to rescue her. Old habits never die.

  He tried to go to sleep early to be ready for the next day of set up but found himself to be too restless to sleep. Deacon made a pot of coffee before he showered, drinking two cups before he even left the house. Taking the Range Rover, Deacon met his brother at the new Sports Center that had just been built in the middle of downtown. When he passed Rowan’s college of employment, he looked over at the stoplight as he wondered again how she was doing. Deacon found a parking spot in the back and took the last sip of coffee that was in his travel cup with a sigh.

  They did a walk-through of the large warehouse that featured basketball courts, a rock climbing wall, a racquetball court and a small gym area. The brothers decided to wire all of the eye level windows, including offices as well as all of the doors to the building. There was a lot of equipment to protect and in some cases, steal. They started at opposite sides as Deacon focused on the job and tuned out everything else except for the rock music playing over the speakers. It was a tedious job with his perfectionist tendencies and he leaned his head back after an hour to stretch the sore muscles before glancing around to see what James was up to. They’d been communicating via text with small questions and some clarification and he rolled his eyes when he saw his brother talking to one of the female staff members. His eyes wandered to the front desk, seeing a familiar face as Rowan leaned forward to talk to someone, deep in conversation. Deacon watched her for a moment, seeing her nod with relief as she took something back from the guy and headed towards him with a gym bag in her hand. She still looked a little distracted, dropping her gaze to the ground as she walked along the cement walkway with a deep frown on her face.

  Rowan glanced up to see him a couple of feet away and recognition flashed in her eyes. “Oh…I met you last night, right?”

  “Yes, you did. How are you feeling?” Deacon asked her, watching as she smiled nervously.

  “Much better. I ended up with the day off and thought I’d try a small workout.” Rowan told him, tucking some of her soft curls behind her ear as he let his eyes roam over her body for a moment. She was curvy and bigger than some men preferred, but perfect to Deacon. In the sunlight shining through the windows, her skin was a softer tone than the night before, resembling a cup of black coffee with a hint of creamer swirled inside. Her eyes were a brighter green with hints of hazel and taking in his greedy gaze with a challenging look. “Do you like what you see?”

  “I’m sorry, Rowan, but you’re beautiful. I can’t help it and I mean no disrespect.” He apologized to her sincerely as she nodded and let a smile cross over her full lips.

  “I can tell that just from the look in your eyes. Some guys…” She let her voice drift off as she met his gaze again. “What are you doing here?”

  “Installing their new alarm system with my brother.” Deacon nodded to James across the room, just ending his conversation as he looked over at them curiously. “That’s my job.”

  “That’s it? You seem to be military or something to me. My dad was in the Army so I get used to seeing the signs.” She eyed his hair slowly as she laughed softly, watching him shrug.

  “I was in the Navy. A Seal.” She frowned and nodded as he saw sympathy cross her face, assuring her that it wasn’t a serious injury. “I…hopefully I’ll be done in a few hours. Would you like to have dinner with me?”

  Shock passed over her face as she seemed to think about it for few moments. “Really?” There was doubt in her eyes as he nodded and Rowan pressed her lips together. “Sure. Why not?”

  “Oh. Okay.” He’d expected her to tell him no with a polite thank you added on and Deacon struggled to regain his composure as something surged through his veins. “Can I have your number just in case you leave before I see you here again? I’ll pick you up later.” She asked him for his phone shyly, making him dig in the pocket of his worn jeans to hand it to her. She searched the screen for a moment with furrowed brows before she smiled and entered something into it. “There you go…Deacon, was it? Deacon and James.” She recalled as he nodded, impressed. “You both seemed so concerned for me and you came all the way there with me when you could’ve stayed behind for supper.”

  “It was nothing.” Deacon assured her again as she smiled and looked past him.

  “I’m going to head in but I look forward to hearing from you later.” Rowan told him, her voice low as she gazed into his eyes. She walked on down towards the gym as he forced his gaze not to watch her ass as she moved away, getting back to work instead. James texted him to ask what that was all about, making Deacon shake his head.

  They finished the job within three hours, an hour and a half after Rowan left with a nervous smile for him. James helped carry some bags to the cars, looking over at Deacon. “That was Rowan, wasn’t it? From the hospital?”

  “It was. She seems to be doing better.” Deacon replied, following James to the van he used for work.

  “And?” James pressed, making Deacon pause for a moment as his brother unlocked the doors with a press of a button.

  “Damn it. You know me too well.” Deacon pulled the heavy door open, setting the bags down before he looked at James. “I asked her to have dinner with me tonight.”

  “Really?” James looked at him in disbelief as Deacon frowned. “I thought you sounded nervous around her last night but wow…dinner?” Deacon nodded as James whistled softly. “She was beautiful, man. It looks like she’s going through something to me, so don’t make this a rescue project. Okay Deacon?”

  “That’s not what this is, James. I just want to get to know her.” Deacon told him, grabbing his keys from his pocket.

  “Have a good time tonight.” James told him, both of them smiling as they headed to their cars. Deacon called her from his driver seat, fascinated by the soft drawl in her voice as they agreed for him to pick her up at six’s clock. Rowan gave him her address and they hung up, Deacon starting the car with a trembling hand.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Deacon showered when he arrived home, cursing the lack of sleep that caused him to miss his own workout that morning. He dressed in black slacks and a button up blue shirt, adding a tie that complimented both at the end. Slipping his feet into some Docs and tying them, Deacon took a look in the mirror. Hopefully, she’d like it. He headed out in the Range Rover to pick her up, pulling up to a cute little cottage in an older neighborhood. Rowan clearly loved gardening, judging from the flowers and trees he passed on the way to the small wrap around porch that boasted more plants.

  Deacon knocked softly on the door, taking in the stained glass in different colors that made up a circular pattern in the white wood as he waited. The door opened slowly after he heard a chain and lock disengaged and Rowan peered out curiously. �
�Hello.”

  “Evening, Rowan. This is a nice place you have.” Deacon told her, watching her deep pink lips curve into a beautiful smile. They matched the dark shadow that brought out her eyes just enough to make them smolder.

  “Thanks. I inherited it from my Grams.” Rowan told him, opening the door wider so that he could come in. The house was painted in vibrant colors with artwork hanging on the walls of a large oblong living room that boasted a large fireplace with what looked like the original brick. It was very feminine and warm and he looked at the talent of the paintings with a curious gaze.

  “These are yours.” He stated more than asked, seeing her in the dashes of dark and light color over the canvas.

  “They are. Hence the teaching art, since I don’t want to depend entirely on sales.” Rowan admitted softly as he looked over at her.

  “They’re beautiful. You’re beautiful.” Tonight she was dressed in a long gray dress that hung loose on her body with a plum shawl pulled over her shoulders, her hair loose around her shoulders. “You’re very talented.”

  “Thank you.” He loved that her skin was light enough to see the pink that flushed her cheeks. They had already agreed on a nearby Cajun place for dinner and they made their way out to his car, where he opened the door for her and made sure that she was safely inside before walking to his side. There was a tangy scent of citrus with a hint of pear on her skin, making him hungry for more than dinner as he opened his door. Deacon started the car and pulled away from her house, trying not to breathe her in too hard as he drove to Bayou. He was pleased to see that in her heels, Rowan was close to his height when he opened her door again to let her out. He led her inside with the hand on the small of her back, letting the hostess know that he had a reservation. They were seated along the back wall at a cozy table as Rowan smiled at him and sipped the water that was immediately set down before them.

  Rowan selected lemonade to drink, making Deacon second guess his choice of beer and switch to iced tea quickly as she gave him a long look. “I just don’t drink.” She explained, her face falling for a moment as he nodded.

  “I’m driving you tonight so I shouldn’t either.” They ordered the mussels and fried green tomatoes for appetizers before Rowan explained that her grandmother was originally from Louisiana as was her mother. She’d cooked this kind of food a lot, teaching Rowan and her sister Lily the recipes once she’d moved to help her daughter once Rowan’s father had died from cancer when she was ten. Her love for her Gram was shimmering in her eyes as she spoke, mixed with sadness as she wiped at her eye slowly.

  “This is great,” Deacon told her as he tried a mussel, pitching up on the strong hints of garlic. She chose a slice of tomato, taking a small bite with her fork as she smiled at him. For dinner, he chose the NY strip and she the seafood creole as he sipped his tea slowly. They shared bites of their meals across the table, both moaning with the taste as he felt himself harden under the table against all of his willpower. This woman was getting under her skin, despite the hint of mystery that surrounded her.

  They left after a couple of hours of light conversation and great food, standing on the sidewalk for a moment as she breathed in the cool air. He watched her lean her head back and smile, wanting nothing more than to pull her into his arms. Rowan looked up at him, her eyes wide as their eyes locked and held. “Would you like to take a walk with me?” Deacon indicated the sidewalk that boasted coffee shops and other places to eat, with a lot of people wandering around to shop before the stores closed.

  “Sure.” He knew now that her accent was from the time they’d lived in Louisiana before her father had gotten a transfer with the Army to Washington D.C.

  They turned to the right and he reached for her hand automatically as their feet started to move together. They browsed some stores before it got to be too late and had some coffee before she reluctantly told him that she had an early class the following day.

  Deacon drove her home, walking her to her door where she gazed up into his eyes with a hint of fear. “I had a great time.”

  “I did as well.” He replied, stroking a piece of her hair back slowly. “Can I see you again?”

  “I’d like that.” Rowan replied, moving up as she lifted her hands to his shoulders before she pressed her lips to his. Deacon groaned at the hot feel of her parted lips and the spices from their dinner that made his own mouth tingle all over again. She pulled back and joined her hands behind his neck. “There’s a part of me that knows I have no business doing this with you but I can’t help it.” She kissed him again, welcoming his tongue into her mouth as she met it with her own.

  After several kisses and few words, Deacon forced himself to step back. He couldn’t move this fast with her, though he wasn’t sure exactly why. He reminded himself that he wasn’t that guy to take advantage of her on their first date and that she wasn’t anything like the girls he’d had casual flings with over the years. “I’ll call you tomorrow, Rowan.”

  She nodded and pushed her door open, looking back at him again with longing in her eyes before she closed the door. He walked out to the car, fighting the urge to turn around and knock on the door again as he got inside and started the engine. Deacon drove home, feeling a desire that had been dormant for a long time as well as the strong urge to protect her from something that he couldn’t pinpoint. He reminded himself that it was a protective feeling and not one that wanted to repair her, as James had suggested earlier. She didn’t need to be fixed though there were things that were troubling her. She’d pulled through something and retained a part of who she was, something that encompassed her whole living room when he was there.

  It was addictive and he knew that he wanted more, sleeping restlessly again as he tossed and turned.

  He didn’t ignore the alarm this time and got up to work out and run before heading to the office for the day. Deacon needed the release.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  James was working at the computer of their shared studio that they used as an office, since their work was typically done at the place their customers lived or worked. He sipped his coffee and looked up as Deacon walked into the room to take a seat at his own computer. “How was it?” His brother’s voice was light and curious as Deacon looked over at him.

  “Nice. She’s a great girl. We had dinner at this Cajun place.” Deacon replied casually, logging on. “How was your night?”

  “I went out with a new girl. Paula.” James told him, making Deacon shoot a look across the room quickly. “It was impulsive. We were talking on Match and it just happened.”

  “It’s okay to just be on your own for a while.” Deacon told him, seeing the sadness in his brother’s eyes.

  “That’s just it. I don’t have kids and when she left, I was alone. I am just trying to get a feel for things out there, D. It’s been seven years.” James had wanted kids while Susan had always pushed it aside, telling him the following year she’d be ready.

  She never had been.

  “I know. Just be careful.” Deacon told him softly, feeling his brother’s eyes on him.

  “Should I be warning you about that?” James asked him, making Deacon shrug.

  “I’m not sure yet.”

  They spoke with customers, old and new, scheduling appointments throughout the day as they grinned at each other. Business was really picking up, hopefully for James and not the benefit of Susan.

  They grabbed lunch at a place nearby, ordering roast beef sandwiches and sodas to eat outside. James dug right in and Deacon knew that he didn’t cook too much now that he was alone. Their mother had been an amazing cook and spoiled the boys, though they’d both tried their hand at a few dishes. They were quiet as they ate, comfortable enough with each other that they didn’t always need to talk. They had covered a lot in their few words at work.

  “I heard that Sue’s pregnant.” James dropped the bomb after he’d finished his lunch, eyes filled with pain as Deacon stared at him. “He’s not just a coworker…he’s a
partner.”

  “Shit. I’m sorry, J.” There was a lot that he could say, like telling him that he had plenty of time to have kids or that he was better off without her. While they were both true, it wasn’t what James needed to hear right now.

  “It hurts, a lot. I just need to get past it and try to rebuild my life.” James told him, sighing as he took a sip from his cup.

  “You’ll do it. Day by day.” That was what James had told him when he returned to D.C. to stay after losing everything. “I’m here for you.”

  “I know.” They ended the hour lunch and headed back to work, spending the afternoon planning installs and equipment. They always gave an estimate based on what the customer needed and finalized it just prior to the job being done.

  The guys headed out at five, with Deacon knowing that James was going to take some time alone to work through everything. He’d let her keep their house for now, moving out to a condo near Deacon so he wouldn’t be reminded of her every day. Deacon watched him drive away, heading to his own house as he considered calling Rowan. She’d been on his mind all day and he wanted to hear her voice, wanted to see her.

  He wanted to taste her lips again.

  He ended up calling her an hour after he arrived home, spending some time outside with the dog before he dialed her number. She picked up after four rings and he heard some music in the background as he strained to hear her voice. “Rowan?”

  “Deacon…hello. Let me turn this down.” He heard the music get louder and then softer before she returned. “I was just in the studio working something out.”

  “Are you okay?” He asked her carefully, listening closely to her tone.

  “Yes. For the most part, I am. I was just in the mood to paint. Sometimes that happens after I teach all day.” Rowan replied slowly, making him lean forward in his chair. “How are you tonight?”