Taking Chances: A Donnelley Brother's Novel

by Carbonneau, Alannah

  Tipping his head to the side, he asked. “How did I do that?”

  “Yesterday, you shoved your crotch in my face.”

  “I seem to remember you on your knees, shoving your face into my crotch. Now, don’t go thinking I’m complaining because I ain’t, but I figured I’d set the record straight before you go spreading rumors.” He leaned in an inch and I felt my body stiffen. “Don’t forget, we have witnesses.”

  My mouth dropped. “I was picking up my credit card!”

  He shrugged. “You don’t need an excuse, honey.”

  I glared. “Ruin my coffee time once more, Collin, I dare you!”

  He smirked. “And today?”

  “I was planning on getting a coffee on my way back from getting an itinerary. You crushed that plan.”

  His gaze darkened. “I really am sorry, Hadley.”

  I forced a smile. “I’m going to go inside now. See you around, Collin.”

  He didn’t reply, but I felt his green eyes on my body until I escaped the heated prism of his gaze behind the heavy oak door of the cabin.

  As I leaned against the door, I realized I’d been holding my breath.

  ***

  After coming back from my run, I dressed in a pair of jean shorts and a flowing white tank top that allowed for the warm days breeze to seep through the fabric. Beneath my clothes, I wore my white bikini bathing suit. Today, I planned on finding the water that was rumored to be so close to my little cabin. I had a date with the sound of river waves tumbling over a rocky riverbed.

  Snapping an elastic in place around my wrist, I decided to start the day with my long hair down. I wasn’t really one to wear it up if I could avoid it. I had a lot of hair and wearing it up was often irritating. It was heavy, but I couldn’t convince myself to cut it. My long hair was my cloak when I needed it. I didn’t often feel the need for my cloak, but when I did, I liked having it and I knew it was something I would never part with. Plus, I’d always been more attracted to women with long hair. There was just something feminine about it.

  Walking from the small bedroom, I was startled by the sound of heavy knocking on the door of my cabin. For a moment, I stiffened as I pondered the time. It wasn’t even past 8:00 a.m. and someone was seriously banging at my door? Seriously?

  Feeling slightly irritated and a little disgruntled, I padded from the hall toward the door of my cabin. Unlocking it, I swung it open and my heart kicked in my chest.

  “Hi?” A question sounded on the end of my word as I stared up at Collin. Was he really here? Was I dreaming? I mean, if I was dreaming it really wouldn’t surprise me - I had been dreaming about him the past two nights.

  He held a coffee cup toward me and I recognized the paper cup as one from the cafeteria. He grinned, “Coffee time truce?”

  Unconsciously, my lips spread into a smile. I reached out for the coffee and he watched me take a sip of the bitter black liquid. Just the way I liked it. I sighed, letting my eyes flutter closed to momentarily appreciate the caffeine.

  When I finally opened my eyes, I breathed my reply. “Truce.”

  Collin blinked down at me as though stunned, before he shifted and cleared his throat. “Uh.” He ran a hand through the mess of his wild sun-kissed hair. “You busy today?”

  “Yes.” I said without pause and his brows rose in question I immediately answered. “I have a date.”

  “Oh.” He replied stiffly. “With?”

  “The river.” I announced matter of fact and the tenseness in his green eyes vanished. “If I can find it.”

  “Definitely my kind of girl.” He nodded appraisingly through his teasing reply.

  “Ha. Ha.” My tone was dry. “We confirmed yesterday, that I’m very much not your type, or don’t you remember?”

  “About that river...” he avoided my question and I let it pass. It was rhetorical, after all. “I’m leading a rafting tour at eleven. Wondered if maybe you’d be interested in tagging along?”

  Hell to the freaking yes! Did I ever want to tag along!

  I decided to play it cool, hoping he couldn’t see through my burning excitement. “Oh, you mean I don’t have to enroll.”

  He laughed, clearly my struggle to restrain my excitement was unsuccessful. “I’ll make a spot for you.”

  I smiled, unable to help myself. “Okay then.”

  He raised a brow. “Okay?”

  “I’ll come. Where do we meet?”

  “Uh, you want to come with me now?” He thumbed over his shoulder and I peeked around his wide frame to see a mini vehicular device. I recognized it as a quad. I’d never ridden on an ATV before. Being that I was raised in the city, as a city girl, the whole rough-necking country thing wasn’t something I’d encountered on a regular basis - or even really at all.

  I looked back to the man waiting for my reply with curious eyes and shifted. Taking a slow sip of my coffee, I shook my head. “It’s not even 8:00 a.m. I’ll just meet you, uh, wherever you want me to meet you.”

  He rubbed his chin as he studied me closely for a moment. Then he chuckled. “You’ve never ridden on a quad before, have you?”

  “Nope.”

  “Hadley.” I heard excitement fringe my name in his tone. “You’ll love it. I promise.”

  “No.” I shook my head and stepped a small step back inside my cabin. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  “You’re scared.” He stated matter of fact and I felt my spine stiffen.

  Oh, hell no. He was so not accusing me of being afraid of that mini, roofless, danger-mobile. Even if it was sort of true.

  “I’m not afraid of it.” I argued. “I just don’t see the point of going out now with you when the tour starts at eleven.”

  “I can show you around a little before and then you can help me set up.” He returned without missing a beat. The man was seriously persistent.

  “I don’t know.”

  Sensing my weakening resolve, he added. “I’m trying to be friendly. This isn’t something I’m used to with women. Throw me a bone, Had.”

  I was smiling until he used that sentence - until he called me Had. Flinching at the nickname Michael had forever used for me, my mind wandered.

  ...Michael was bent over my bed, tossing my clothing into my purple suitcase with speed and thoughtlessness that made me wonder if he was drinking.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, stepping slowly into my bedroom.

  My brother didn’t waver from his task as he replied. “You’re late, Had.”

  “I didn’t know I was supposed to be on time.” I replied, still confused as I gazed at my very messy, very unorganized suitcase. “Am I going somewhere, Mike?”

  “Yep.” He nodded, standing back to appraise my suitcase. Then, he turned to appraise me. “You want to take a quick shower?” He glanced down at his watch. “We need to leave here in twenty minutes.”

  I scoffed. “We need to leave here in twenty minutes for what?”

  Mike grinned and his blue eyes twinkled with mischief as he shook his head. Bending down, he zipped my suitcase and walked past me to my door. “Be in the truck in twenty, Hadley. I don’t want to have to leave you behind.”

  “Behind from what?” I demanded, frustration fringing my tone as he chuckled and disappeared into the hall.

  For about twenty seconds I thought about forcing him to leave me behind. And then I raced to the shower, stripping from my sweaty workout clothes as I ran.

  Twenty minutes later, I was sitting in the passenger seat of my big brothers truck and we were driving to only God and Mike knew where. If I knew my brother, even my parent’s wouldn’t be briefed of his plans before they were too in motion to stop. That’s just who Michael was. He was wild, unstoppable, and so wonderfully and irritatingly adventurous. He really, truly, was a force to be reckoned.

  “Where are we going?”

  “On a trip.”

  “I figured. You packed me a suitcase.”

  He beamed. “You’ll see when
we get there.”

  “Michael!”

  “Hadley!” He mimicked my tone and I huffed as I settled back into the seat.

  Under my breath, I mumbled. “You’re irritating.”

  “You’re boring.” He mumbled in reply.

  I punched his shoulder. “Am not! I do things!”

  “Apart from working out, spending time with Mom and Dad, and reading - what do you do, Had?”

  I sputtered. “I...” I shook my head at him. “I like my life!”

  He laughed, but didn’t reply. It was no question he’d won this round, but there would be others, I assured myself confidently. I would win a round with Mike if it were the last thing I did!

  Mike pulled the truck into a parking stall - at the airport! I didn’t have time to get over my shock as Mike pulled our suitcases from the back seat of the truck before walking to my side. “Come on, Had.”

  “Where?” I shook my head, fumbling with my seatbelt. “Where are we going?”

  “Somewhere with Pina Coladas.”

  “Uh...”

  “Mom and Dad don’t know yet.”

  “Mmmm.” I mumbled again, not quite knowing what to do in reaction to this news. Mike was pretty unpredictable - but this was by far his most extreme adventure yet.

  “I’m not old enough for Vegas.” I finally announced and he chuckled.

  “But you’d pass for legal in Mexico!”

  I glared. “I am legal!” And I really was. I’d just turned nineteen a couple months ago. My legs worked to follow Mike as he walked quickly toward the airport. “We’re really going to Mexico?”

  “Yep. Booked it two weeks ago!”

  “You’re insane.”

  “Naw.” He shook his head and said over his shoulder. “I just appreciate life, Had.”

  “Mom and Dad are going to kill us.”

  “No they won’t.”

  I froze. “I don’t think we should do this.”

  Mike stopped to plead with me. His blue eyes were dimming as my poisonous uncertainty infected his crazed happiness. “Come on, Had. Throw me a bone and get on the plane. You need to learn to live - do crazy shit every now and again.”

  “I don’t have my passport.”

  “I’ve got it.”

  Of course he did. “Okay.” I smiled through my nerves. “Okay. Let’s do this.”

  “Yes!” Michael’s cheer echoed in the airport and I blushed furiously.

  That was the best trip I had ever had in my life. It was carefree, fun, adventurous and unforgettable. I may have been forced to go commando throughout the entire trip because I’d foolishly entrusted my big brother to pack everything I needed, but as he’d remembered the most important thing of all - swimsuits - I’d had an amazing time on the beach and at the pool, sipping Pina Coladas...

  Chapter 7

  “Hadley?” Collin’s deep, concerned voice broke through the fog of my mind and my memory fluttered away as the present reclaimed precedence over my mind and body. I blinked. “Hadley?” He moved his hand to my shoulder where he squeezed it. “You’re pale. We don’t have to take the quad if you’re really uncomfortable...”

  I cut him off as Michael’s words echoed through my mind. You need to learn to live - do crazy shit every now and again.

  “No, I want to. I want to take the quad.” My voice was firm with determination as I continued. “Do I need to bring anything?”

  Collin shifted uncertainly. “Are you sure, Hadley?”

  I nodded, trying to look convincing. “Please, I’m sure.”

  “Okay.” He lifted his chin. “You’ll need a swimsuit. I don’t suppose you’ve got a wetsuit or shoes?”

  “I’m already wearing my swimsuit. And no, I don’t have a wetsuit or shoes.”

  “You can borrow a suit from the rental shed before we go. It won’t be a rough ride. We’ll be entering the river on a class two as this is a beginners class so the likelihood of you falling out of the raft or getting too wet is pretty minimal.”

  “Are we ready to go yet?”

  He smirked and rubbed the back of his neck. I watched one of his golden brows rise slightly as he asked point-blank. “Have you finished your coffee?”

  Momentarily stunned, I glanced down at my still full cup of coffee. “Uh...” I pursed my lips. “No, why?”

  “I’m not ruining another of your coffee times, beautiful. You’ve forewarned me that if I come between you and your caffeine shot, that this friends thing...” he waved his finger in the space between us. “Won’t work. I’m not planning on screwing with your coffee time.”

  Feeling a laugh bubble in my throat, I nodded and slipped beside him through the door of my cabin, out onto the porch. “You’re a quick learner.”

  “When what I’m learning matters, I tend to pay attention.”

  My cheeks heated and I sat in one of the chairs, looking out over the mass of beautiful green land. I tried not to read anything into his words, but it was so difficult when what he said made my blood feel warm as it moved in pulsing throbs through my veins. “It’s really something out here.”

  “Yeah?” He lowered himself into the chair beside me. “Where are you from?”

  “Toronto.” I replied.

  He chuckled. “A city girl. That’s why Logan harassed you.”

  I raised a brow. “What do you mean?”

  “You told me Logan interrogated you when you first arrived. Being that you’re from the city - and a big city - definitely explains it.”

  “Right.” I hummed dryly. “Because that makes a load of sense.”

  “Drink your coffee, beautiful.”

  I tried not to take his little endearment to heart, but he’d called me beautiful twice in the last few minutes and it was getting really difficult to ignore this man. I mean, is there any woman on this earth who would be immune to Collin Donnelley’s charms?

  I tried not to think about it too much as I worked to finish my coffee. I’d never in my life had to work to finish my morning coffee, but with this man beside me, all I wanted to do was jump up from my chair and begin our day’s adventure. I wanted to do exactly what Mike would want me to do - I wanted to live my life. And not just exist - I wanted to really live.

  Finishing my coffee, I glanced to the side at Collin. “Alright, I’m finished. Are you ready?”

  He waved his empty cup at me. “Been finished a while now. Was waitin’ on you.”

  I snatched his empty cup. “Be back.” I called as I dashed into the cabin to toss the cups into the trash.

  By the time I made my way back outside, Collin was standing near the ATV with an excited, but still uncertain grin on his face. I didn’t want him to be uncertain. There was so much about Collin that I felt, in a way, I needed. He reminded me of my brother in a sense. Not his looks, or his attitude necessarily, but it was more the zest with which he lived his life.

  I wasn’t adventurous - at least not naturally. Jumping from cliffs and hoping onto planes had never come instinctively to me. I’d always had Mike there to push me toward the experiences many simply seek out. I sensed that Collin would push me to live my life as Mike had and I desperately needed that. Because I knew that if I had it my way, I would lose myself in my books or within the four walls of a gym. Mike always said that was no way to live life.

  Maybe it was because he couldn’t live life anymore that I felt the need to suddenly live mine to the fullest - for my brother. I didn’t know, but I had a feeling - a feeling I couldn’t shake - that Collin was the man I was supposed to experience the entirety of life with. I didn’t know exactly what that meant as of yet. But I felt, so certain, that in time I would understand. Until then, I decided that all I had to do was live.

  “So uh,” I paused beside the quad to awkwardly toe the gravel beneath my flip-flop. “Do we get on, or what?”

  I watched his lips curl as he shifted his body onto the quad, starting the rumbling engine. “Climb on, beautiful.”

  My heart fluttered, although
I didn’t know if it was because of his calling me beautiful or because I was about to get on the mini danger-mobile, behind a very sexy man, I had dreamt about for the last two nights.

  Shaking the thought from my mind, I hooked my fingers around the grid-like contraption hanging over the back of the quad for leverage to keep myself from falling from the danger-mobile.

  Collin glanced over his shoulder at me. “A lot of people hold on that way, beautiful, but being that we don’t have helmets, and you’ve never ridden before, I’d prefer you hold onto me. I’ll drive easy, but I’d feel better knowing you’re still behind me without having to look after a bump.”

  “Oh.” I unwound my now stiff fingers from the plastic grid, moving my arms to circle his waist before landing on his very toned stomach. Oh, holy hell, my belly fluttered.

  Collin grunted as I sat stiffly behind him, careful not to touch any part of my body to his - apart from my hands where they rested against his very perfect abs. Suddenly, I felt his large hands clap against my thighs where he gripped my legs. I gasped audibly, my hands splaying over his stomach as he pulled me against his body, pressing my spread legs around his very firm thighs.

  After positioning me against him, he growled. “That’s how you hold onto a man, beautiful.”

  I squeaked, “Kay.”

  Collin didn’t say another word as he settled his large hands onto the quads handlebar. I could still feel the heat of where his hands had gripped my thighs - as though his hands had been imprinted there.

  Then, we were moving.

  The quad raced over the gravel road of the land I had yet to travel - because I had sensed it led to his house - and I hadn’t wanted to invade his obviously cherished privacy.

  Every bump the danger-mobile claimed on the road, my body inched closer and closer to Collin’s. My breasts were pressed so tight against his back that I was nearly certain he could feel the violent pulsing of my nervous heart against the muscles in his back. But I didn’t move away. Not only did I not want to move away, but I couldn’t. I liked it where I was - against his firm body.

  There was something about him, a strength I felt I suddenly lacked, that when in his presence, I felt I owned once again. It was beautiful to find something so needed within another human being; a human being who didn’t even realize all he was giving.