“What’s wrong?” she asked, coming up behind me. She wrapped her arms around my waist and pressed her cheek against my back. “It’s just like old times, isn’t it? Having the family back here?”
I smiled as I turned to face her. “It’s even better than I remember.”
As much as I’d loved this place when we bought it, I loved it even more now that we were back here together. Everything seemed better, sweeter. Maybe because I appreciated her so much more than I had before we separated. I knew I would never make the mistake of taking her or our marriage for granted again.
“They look like they’re having fun,” she said, giggling as she spotted my brothers and our sons tearing through our bay on jet skis. A few of them had taken the boat out to see if they could catch a few fish, but the rest were behaving badly, making as much noise as possible and disturbing the neighbors. The teens should have been the worst offenders, but sadly, my brothers were much worse than my sons.
“We should have asked them to come up in the morning,” I muttered. “It would have been nice to have a little alone time with you tonight.”
She laughed, stepping in front of me so she could watch their shenanigans out the window. “Alone? Come on, when was the last time we had any real alone time?”
That night at my place came to mind. “We have to make more time for that,” I said, wrapping my arms around her waist as I set my chin on her shoulder. “Just the two of us. The boys are old enough to be on their own now.” I hadn’t heard any more complaints from Brittany’s father, so I assumed that was a good sign.
“I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving them alone for the weekend,” she said, “if that’s what you’re suggesting. I think they’re still a little too young for that. Maybe next year.”
I loved that she was thinking that far into the future. It meant that she could imagine us doing things together again as a couple, instead of just as a family. “It won’t be long before they start looking at colleges, you know.”
She groaned. “Don’t remind me. I can’t even stand to think about that.”
I knew the empty nest would hit Mac hard. Her whole life had revolved around being a mom ever since Zane was born. “At least you’ll have the bakery to distract you. How’s that going, by the way?”
Though we hadn’t been able to spend much time together this week, we had spoken on the phone every night. She was working with the contractors who were going to be doing the renovation for her and had given me daily progress reports.
“Great. Mom’s testing some more recipes, so we should be able to finalize the menu soon.” She linked her fingers through mine. “And I’m working with the web designer and graphic designer. We should have something to send to the printer by next week.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
“You’ve already done so much. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to thank you.”
I’d set her up with a business line of credit, using the equity in our home. That was the only way she would agree to it, since she flat-out refused my offer of financial help. I was able to sell her on this strategy since the house was half hers; it didn’t feel like a loan or charity, as she put it.
“You don’t have to thank me for anything, baby. I’m just grateful that you’re figuring out what’ll make you happy.”
She turned to face me. “You know, I think that was part of the problem. I wasn’t happy with myself, so how could I be happy with you, right?”
“What do you mean?” There was no way I would let her accept responsibility for mistakes I’d made. If being apart from her taught me one thing, it was that I hadn’t been the loving, attentive husband she deserved.
“I wasn’t happy with my weight or my lack of direction in life. I had no purpose. You and the boys were the only reason I had to get out of bed some mornings.” She stroked my face with a smile when I frowned. “Not that you guys weren’t reason enough, but I needed to feel good about myself again, to find something that I could take pride in. This business is giving me that. I know we haven’t even opened our doors yet and there’s still a chance we could fail but—”
I silenced her with a kiss. “You’re not going to fail. Trust me.”
“Thank you for believing in me,” she said, rolling forward on her toes to kiss me again. “And thank you for suggesting my mother take part in this with me. It’s given her a new lease on life too.”
“I’m glad.” I grinned. “Now that my two favorite girls are happy, I’m happy.”
She stared at me so long, I was almost afraid to ask what she was thinking. “I didn’t know if we could ever regain what we’d lost, Ryker. I mean, when I asked you to move out, I wasn’t even sure I was in love with you anymore. I knew I still loved you and always would because you were the father of my children, but I didn’t know whether we could ever recapture that passion we used to have.”
It killed me to hear she’d fallen out of love with me, not that I could claim to be surprised. Our relationship had flatlined the last year. There was no other way to describe it.
“But I have fallen in love with you all over again. Even more importantly, I love you more now than I ever have.”
“I feel the same way,” I said, holding her close. “I didn’t even think it was possible to love you more than I did after our kids were born. I thought you’d already given me the ultimate gift. But I was wrong. Giving me a second chance to be your husband has been the ultimate gift.”
“We’re stronger than we’ve ever been,” she said, linking her hands with mine. “You feel that way too, don’t you?”
“Of course, I do.”
“Good.” She smiled. “Because I want to ask you something.”
“What’s that?”
Linking her arms around my neck, her eyes shining with un-shed tears, she whispered, “Will you move back home? Please?”
I’d been waiting and praying for this question, but I never expected it this weekend. “Are you serious?” I asked, picking her up and spinning her around. “Yes. Of course I’ll move back home, baby.”
“I love you,” she said, giggling as I buried my face in her neck, tickling her with my whiskers.
“I love you too, sweetheart.”
“I hate to break this up,” Nex said, from the doorway. “But could we grab a few more towels?”
I scowled at him, noting the wet tracks on the slate tile floor. “You could have used the one in your hand to dry off better, dumb ass.”
“Oh, leave him alone,” Mac said, slapping my chest. “I’ll get those towels, Nex.”
“Thanks.” He grabbed her hand as she walked past, drawing her in for a quick kiss on the cheek.
I knew he flirted with Mac to piss me off, and normally it would have worked, but today I was too happy to let anything or anyone bring me down. Even my annoying kid brother. I was moving back home and that was the only thing that mattered.
When Mac ran upstairs, Nex said, “So, why the smile?”
“Do I have to have a reason to smile?” I asked, crossing the kitchen to get us a couple of beers from the fridge.
I’d had an outdoor kitchen complete with bar, built-in bar, and fridge installed outside, so I knew they’d probably all had their fair share of alcohol by now, but Mac just gave me the best reason to celebrate.
“Let me have it. What did that girl do to make you so goddamn happy?”
I slid a longneck across the solid countertop, watching him twist the cap off before I did the same. “She asked me to move back home.” Saying it aloud only made my grin spread until I felt like my face would split in two.
“Goddamn,” Nex said, raising his bottle. “That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time.”
Mac yelled in to tell us she was going to take the towels outside, and I waited until I heard her close the door behind her before I allowed Nex to tap his bottle against mine. “I don’t have to tell you how long I’ve been waiting for this, man. For a while there, I started to lose hop
e.”
“I had no doubt you guys would figure things out,” Nex said, tipping his bottle back. “You and Mac were meant to be together. You can’t just give up on that.”
I was surprised to hear Nex, who claimed he didn’t believe in love, philosophizing about relationships. “Then why were you trying to fix me up with someone else?”
“To remind you how shitty the dating scene can be.”
I clutched my chest and stumbled back dramatically. “Wait a minute. Did I just hear you imply that you’re tired of dating?”
He sneered before wrapping a beach towel around his neck. “I know. I never thought I’d hear myself say that either.”
“What happened?” I knew something or someone was behind his change of heart.
“You remember that waitress we had at Downlow the other night, Jaci?”
“The cute little blonde?” She wasn’t easy to forget, even for a married man whose wife was the only woman he would ever want. “Sure, I remember her. Why?”
“I’ve been back there every night since, trying to get her to take me seriously.”
“And…?”
“She claims she’s not interested in dating anyone right now. Says she just started college and wants to have a little fun before she finds a boyfriend.”
“And that doesn’t sit well with you?” The irony wasn’t lost on me. It was usually Nex giving women the “I’m not ready” speech. Seems he was finally learning how it felt to be on the receiving end of that tired old line.
“She’s out partying every goddamn night with her friends when she’s not working at that hole.” He scowled. “It’s not right. A girl who looks like that could get herself in a hell of a lot of trouble, drinking too much, partying with the wrong crowd, hanging out in biker bars…”
“From what I saw, she could handle herself just fine.” I’d watched her a bit that night, having the same concern Nex did about our rowdy friends and acquaintances giving her a hard time, but she seemed a lot tougher than she looked. “What’s her story anyways?”
“She moved here from Arizona for school. The only family she has is her mama, who’s apparently a real tough old broad.”
“Huh. Sounds a lot like our mom, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah.” Nex sat on the edge of the distressed leather bar stool at the counter. “Apparently, her old man died when she was a baby and she doesn’t have any other siblings, so her mama has been pretty overprotective.”
“Interesting.” I couldn’t remember the last time my brother had taken the time to learn so much about a woman’s life story.
“And she’s taking advantage of her freedom now that she has it ’cause she’s been on a short leash for so long.”
“Makes sense.” I grinned. “You were a hell-raiser yourself in college.” I’d busted my butt to help him through college and I was the first one to lecture him when I felt his grades were slipping because he liked to party too much.
“Yeah, but this is different.” He drained half the bottle before wiping his mouth and slamming it down on the counter.
“Why’s it different?”
“Working in a dive like that, partying like a rock star, and looking like a centerfold? It’s a recipe for disaster and you know it.”
I couldn’t deny that if she were my daughter, I’d be concerned. “How old is she?”
“Twenty-three. She couldn’t go to college straight away ’cause she had to save some money first.”
That told me she was probably too responsible to blow her chances of getting an education. “Where does she live?”
“She and a few girlfriends rent an old house not far from the bar.”
“Ugh. Bad area for four young girls living alone.”
“Tell me about it,” he said, obviously sensing my concern. “I told her she’d be smarter to live on campus, where security is tighter, but she’s not interested in hearing my opinions. She said she got enough of that from her mama.”
I could tell there was something different about this girl. It wasn’t like Nex to expend precious energy worrying about a girl’s safety. “Then maybe you just need to back off.”
“She’s here all by herself,” he said, glaring at the beer bottle. “She doesn’t have anyone to look out for her.”
“So, what? You’re her self-appointed bodyguard?”
“Maybe,” he muttered, cursing as he made his way out of the kitchen, still clutching his beer bottle. “What the hell’s it to ya?”
Watching him leave, it struck me, my little brother finally seemed to care about someone beyond his family. I only hoped his desire to protect her didn’t backfire. The last thing a girl getting her first taste of freedom would want was a man intent on setting a whole new set of rules for her to follow.
***
Long after everyone else had gone to sleep, Mac and I lay in bed, making plans for the future. We’d shared our good news with everyone at dinner, and they were all thrilled for us, especially Zane and Cole, who couldn’t wait to have me back home.
“Since we’re so busy with work during the week, maybe we should wait until next weekend for you to move back in?” Mac suggested.
I didn’t want to wait, but I knew she was right. We were both too busy with work during the week for it to be feasible. “Sounds like a plan. Maybe I’ll take Zane and Cole home with me on Friday night and get them to help me pack up my stuff.”
“Perfect,” she said, tucking the duvet under her chin as she snuggled deeper into my arms.
She was naked, since we’d already made love once, and I wanted her again. “You sure this is what you want, right?” The last thing I wanted was to pressure her.
“Of course I’m sure.” She looked at me over her shoulder. “I wouldn’t have asked you unless I was. Why? You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”
I laughed. “Girl, are you high or what? How can you even ask me that?”
“Good.”
I thought about the surprise that would be waiting for Zane when he arrived at my place on Friday. Seb promised me he’d have the car finished by then and would deliver it to my house. The timing was perfect since Zane was scheduled to take his driver’s test next week. This would give him the opportunity to take the car out with his driving instructor and get comfortable with it before the test.
“Zane’s driving instruction going well?” I was dying to tell her about the surprise I had lined up for our son, but I knew when she saw her dad’s car restored, it would be as big of a thrill for her as it would be for our son.
“Yeah.” She sighed. “I’m so nervous about him getting his license though. I know how much he wants it, and a few of his friends are already driving, but I just can’t help feeling anxious about it.”
“That goes with the territory, baby. He’s moving on to a new phase in his life. Sure, it’s gonna be scary. But Zane is a good kid. He’ll be responsible.”
“I know. You’re right.” She twisted my wedding band around my finger. “I know he wants a car of his own right away, but I’ve been thinking about it some more. Maybe we should hold off on that for a while to make sure he’s really ready for the responsibility.”
“Uh.” I remembered being his age and how much I’d wanted my own set of wheels. It never occurred to me to make Zane wait for a car. “Let’s just play it by ear, see what happens.”
I had to believe that when Mac saw her dad’s car and how much Zane loved it, she would feel differently.
Chapter Nineteen
Ryker
I’d sneaked away from work on Friday afternoon to meet Seb at my place. I wanted to hide the car in the garage so I could surprise Zane with it. But I was the one surprised when I turned the corner and spotted it.
I knew my brother was a genius when it came to car restoration, but he really outdid himself. And I knew why. This one was personal. He knew how much it would mean to Zane, not to mention Mac and me to see her father’s dream realized.
“Wow,” I said, whistl
ing softly as I hopped out of my truck and walked across the driveway to shake my brother’s hand. “I don’t even know what to say. I knew it would look good, but this is…” I walked around the car, shaking my head in disbelief. It was black, the new paint gleaming and off-setting the shiny chrome. Leaning in the open window, I saw that the leather upholstery had been replaced and the dashboard, once missing parts and wearing a layer of dust, was now complete and pristine.
“You like?” he asked, chuckling as he rocked back on his heels. “I had one of my guys drive it over, but I wanted to be here to see the look on your face when you saw it.”
“I have to admit, I didn’t think you’d be able to get it done on time.” Running one of the most sought-after car restoration companies in the country meant clients often had to wait months for Seb and his team to work on their vehicle.
“My word is my bond, you know that.”
I was so proud of Sebastian. He’d loved working on cars as a teen, and instead of getting mixed up with petty crime, as so many in our old neighborhood had, he’d gotten a job as an apprentice mechanic, learning everything he could before venturing out on his own. That’s when his interest in classic cars became an obsession that would evolve into a multi-million dollar empire.
“I do know that.” I smiled at him over the hood of the car. “Mac is gonna be blown away when she sees this, man. Her father would have loved it.”
“I’d just wish I’d been able to take this on when Bill was still alive. It would have been nice if he could have enjoyed it.”
Seb, like the rest of us, loved and respected Bill. “Yeah, I know what you mean.” I tipped my head back, looking up at the cloudless blue sky. “But I’d like to think he’s looking down on us, smiling right now.”
Seb grinned, pushing his aviator sunglasses back on his head to reveal blue eyes the same shade as mine. “Since when did you become such a philosopher?”
“Since I started to put things into perspective, realizing what’s really important in life.”
Ryker (Steele Brothers #1) Page 19