Worth the Wait

by Lori Foster

  For hours Brooklin curled up in the chair and listened. During one break, Mike-with-the-porn-mustache, but also beautiful green eyes, brought her a cola. In between songs, Kurt moved a stool out of the garage to the front of her seat so she could get more comfortable. Mike was a little more reserved than the others, maybe a few years younger, too, and very sweet.

  They were charming guys, very entertaining and loaded with talent.

  Lost in the enjoyment of their music, Brooklin forgot about the accident, her aching arm, the possible danger lurking in the unknown. The setting sun bled over the sky in vibrant colors as the air cooled a little. Crickets began to sing. Lights inside the garage sent long shadows over the lawn.

  Not until almost ten o’clock did they wrap it up, and when Nathan realized it was so late, he winced.

  “We’re bound to get a few complaints,” he said. “We’re supposed to be done by nine.”

  “I don’t understand why. I could have listened all night long.”

  “Bless your heart,” Stan said. “She’s a keeper, Nathan.”

  While Brooklin stammered over that, Nathan smiled at her as if in agreement.

  Keeper? She wasn’t a keeper—was she?

  In an obviously practiced routine, the men returned the instruments to the garage. Brooklin wandered in to look around, amazed at the highly organized and functional space. The refrigerator and bar looked new, but the sofa and two chairs were well-worn and comfortable. The painted floor gave the space a functional finish.

  “This is really nice,” she said. She especially liked how a large gazebo sat so close. On a hot afternoon, it’d provide shade and a little privacy.

  One by one, the men bade her farewell. Stan even pulled her in for a surprise hug. Near her ear, he whispered, “Nathan’s a keeper, too, just so you know.”

  Teasing him, she asked, “Did I really steal him away?”

  “I tried,” Stan admitted. “You never know until you ask, right? But even though, until now, he didn’t do much dating, he’s straight as an arrow. I forgave him because what we needed most was a singer for the band. Since Nathan joined in, it’s been a perfect fit. We’re lucky to have him.”

  She felt pretty lucky to have him, too.

  When they were finally alone, the sun completely gone and a bright moon in the sky, Nathan locked up the garage. The sudden lack of light added a quiet ambience to the area.

  The night air felt fresh and clean with a soft breeze that rustled the trees.

  She loved Clearbrook, everything about it. More and more she loved the attention from her hunky neighbor, too. Was it possible for her to start over in all ways?

  Or would the imminent threat do her in?

  Nathan took her arm and led her toward her house.

  Uncertain of his intent, Brooklin asked, “Are you sending me home?”

  “Yeah.” Far too serious, he stared down at her, then gently touched her cheek. “To get your toothbrush and whatever else you need to stay the night.”

  Oh, good. Because suddenly, more than anything, she wanted to stay with him.

  * * *

  They had talking to do, serious talking, but that could come after.

  Nathan wanted this time to be slower, more deliberate. He wanted to undress her, unveiling her little by little. He wanted to kiss every inch of her.

  He’d thought about little else lately.

  Once in his house, he locked the door, smiled at her, then scooped her over his shoulder.

  Surprised, she reared up, laughing. “What are you doing?”

  “Taking you to bed.” With one big hand opened wide on her backside, the other cupped around a sleek thigh, he went down the hall and into his room, flipped on the overhead light, then lowered her to her feet near the unmade bed. Before she could say anything, he was kissing her.

  He kept on kissing her as he stroked her breasts, her firm ass, her belly and between her thighs. When he finally stripped her shirt off over her head, she was frantic—and he loved it.

  The shirt, then her bra, landed on the floor at their feet. Neither of them cared. He managed to strip off his own shirt in between soft, sucking love bites to her throat, her shoulder, down to her breasts.

  Her nipples were taut and she arched up to his mouth. With his forearm beneath her ass, Nathan lifted her then leisurely drew on her, idly switching from one nipple to the other, his tongue rasping, his teeth gently tugging, until she groaned and whispered, “Nathan... I need you now.”

  Getting a little desperate himself, he lowered her to her back on the bed and stripped off her shorts and panties.

  Eyes heavy and lips parted, she trailed her own fingertips down her body from her breasts to her belly.

  Nathan growled, shucked off his jeans and came down beside her. Watching her, their gazes locked, he wedged his hand between her thighs. She was wet and hot, and as he fingered her, making them both hotter, he kissed her again.

  He couldn’t get enough of her mouth, of the sweet taste of her, but she was soon so close to a climax, her hips twisting against him and her breaths choppy, that he knew he’d lose it if he didn’t get inside her.

  After rolling on a condom, he came down over her. She wrapped her legs around him, urging him to her. “Nathan...”

  Her hair was spread out on the pillow, tangled around her face. Her breasts heaved. “You’re beautiful,” he said, needing to slow down but unable to stop touching her. He coasted a hand down to her slender waist, then her belly, savoring her warm, silky skin.

  She was his. One way or another, he’d make it true.

  Her heated golden gaze never wavered. Voice shaking, she whispered, “Now, Nathan. Please.”

  “I want to kiss you everywhere.”

  “No,” she whispered fast. “I can’t take it. Not now.” She squeezed her eyes shut as if regaining control, and when she opened them again, he saw so much in her gaze, it moved him. “I’ll enjoy that, later, I promise. And I want to kiss you, too.”

  Damn, he hurt. He knew it wouldn’t take much convincing on her part, not when the pulsing beat of need kept pounding through him.

  She touched his jaw. “Right now, I just want to be a part of you.”

  Since he wanted that, too, he nodded. “Later, though. I’ll hold you to that promise.” They’d have plenty of opportunities, he told himself.

  Hopefully a lifetime.

  Nathan opened her with his fingertips, then positioned himself against her, watching as his cock pressed into her body, seeing how her sex opened around him...

  Lost, he lowered himself to his elbows and began stroking deep.

  Groaning, Brooklin clutched at him, her head back, her body already shivering. Far too soon, she cried out as she came.

  He watched her, enthralled, until she quieted. Then he let himself go.

  Yeah, he loved her. No doubt about it. Whatever her secrets, no matter her past, he couldn’t deny the overwhelming emotion he felt for her.

  He was wondering if he should tell her or if a declaration would scare her away, when suddenly a shrill sound, slightly distant, penetrated the quiet.

  They both froze, alert. At first he assumed it was a siren and wondered why it didn’t sound familiar.

  Two seconds later, he realized the truth and the meaning of that sound fully registered.

  “Oh God,” Brooklin whispered, her eyes flaring with sudden fear. “Someone is breaking into my house!”

  Nathan rolled to his feet, jerked on his boxers, opened the nightstand drawer and retrieved his gun, then rushed from the room.

  Brooklin, hastily wrapped in the blanket, chased after him. “What are you doing?”

  Knowing it to be a rhetorical question, he didn’t slow. At the front door, he said, “Stay here. Lock up behind me.” He
silently closed the door behind him, heard the lock click into place, then took the porch steps in one leap. Pissed, beyond furious, he quietly circled her house, going around to the back first. The noise continued and one by one porch lights came on up and down the street.

  There was no one around.

  Whoever had set it off was long gone. Still, he searched, going two doors up, then backtracking.

  Not until sixty-year-old Mrs. Blankenship said, “Sheriff, you’re in your underwear!” did he remember that he wasn’t dressed.

  Her gaze, her husband’s gaze and half the damn neighborhood’s went over him as if they’d never seen a man in shorts before. His boxers were dark, thank God, and fitted like swimming trunks. Still, it was awkward as hell.

  Resisting the urge to cover himself with his hands—because one of his hands held his weapon—he addressed them all. “That’s an alarm you’re hearing. I’ll get it shut off in a minute. Someone has been stalking the neighborhood, attempting to break in. This was probably another attempt.” He didn’t specify that it was only Brooklin’s house bothered so far. “You all need to be careful, okay? And let me know if you see anything shady.”

  That, he knew, would garner him a dozen calls at least, because many of the denizens found everything to be shady.

  “Go on home now. It’s under control.”

  Reluctantly, people departed.

  He stood there, chewing on his anger, until he realized Brooklin was walking past. She’d dressed, her face was white beneath the moonlight, and her posture was resigned.

  Saying nothing, he fell into step beside her.

  Using her key, she went into the house and straight to the alarm. When she shut it off, the silence fell around them like a suffocating blanket.

  She kept her back to him and whispered, “I was accused of inappropriate conduct with a student.”

  Nathan stared at her. Hell, he hadn’t seen that coming. Still he waited, and when she said nothing else, he prompted her with “And?”

  “I didn’t do it.”

  “I know that.”

  She jerked around to face him, her expression so hopeful it nearly crushed him.

  “You would never hurt a kid. Not in any way.” Down to the marrow of his bones, he believed that. “Who accused you, and why?”

  Drawing in a shuddering breath, she groped for a kitchen chair and dropped into it. Tears welled in her eyes and choked her voice. “I’ve been so afraid.”

  “Of me judging you? Jumping to conclusions and believing the worst?” Damn, he felt a little choked, too. “That’s just foolish.” He pulled out his chair, drawing it close enough that their knees touched.

  With a shaky smile, she slapped away the tears, swallowed hard and looked him in the eye.

  15

  “TEACHERS HAD SENT a girl, Elle Ivers, to me several times for supposed accidents when they would notice bruises or cuts. I knew in my gut something was very wrong. She was quiet and reserved—not unlike many girls in high school. But Elle... I looked at her and I knew she was wounded. I just didn’t know what to do about it.”

  “You tried to get her to talk to you?”

  That Nathan wasn’t doubting her meant more than she ever could have asked for. She so desperately needed someone to believe in her, without the painful proof laid out, without the conclusion of the court as backup.

  “I tried a lot, but it’s a tricky thing. I couldn’t flat out ask her if someone was abusing her, if the bruises on her arms were caused deliberately instead of being from the many excuses she gave.” When Nathan took her hand, she squeezed hard, so glad for the human contact. “It’s a terrible thing to see someone being mistreated and not be able to do anything about it.”

  “I can’t imagine.”

  No, he couldn’t, because he was a doer, strong and capable. First in SWAT and now as a sheriff. He was amazing, and she didn’t want to lose him.

  Another deep breath helped give her voice strength. “When I found out Elle was dating Mike Muller, a top-notch jock, I wondered. He was so much bigger than her, obviously tough to play all the sports, strong in the way young men can be. I tried to watch them together, but if anything, he seemed extra protective of her.” Her gaze lifted to his. “Then one day Mike came to see me. He said he could only talk to me if I could promise it’d be private, that I wouldn’t tell anyone.”

  “A tough situation to be in.”

  “At the time, I didn’t even think about that. I just knew something was wrong and I wanted to help.” She stroked Nathan’s knuckles, the fine hair on the back of his large hand that entirely engulfed hers. “Mike told me that Elle’s father was abusing her. He didn’t know what to do. Elle had missed three days of school and didn’t answer when he called.”

  “Damn.”

  She nodded. “There’s a protocol we’re supposed to use, but Mike made me swear I wouldn’t contact children’s services. Elle was ashamed. The things her father did to her...she didn’t want the whole town to know.”

  Maybe because that was too painful to talk about, Nathan asked quietly, “You were helping Mike when someone got the wrong idea?”

  A close enough guess. “Not just anyone—Elle’s father.” Remembering left her shaken. “I confronted him. I left Mike and Elle out of it and just said that as the school nurse, I’d noticed things and I wanted to know how she’d gotten hurt so many times.”

  “That took guts.”

  “Honestly, I was so angry I could have beaten him to death.”

  Nathan smiled, a sad smile, and said, “I understand that.”

  “He was smug when he denied it, saying his daughter was just clumsy and I should mind my own business. Of course, I couldn’t.” The words came faster, as if she needed to rush to make Nathan believe her, rush before he had time to make terrible assumptions. “I worked hard to find a way to free Elle. Mike said she was afraid because she didn’t have anywhere else to go, and there were months of school left. Her father had her so cowed that she still didn’t want to confide in me, and she definitely didn’t want to report her dad. It took almost two weeks to finally convince her.” She closed her eyes. “And in that two weeks, I’d met with Mike several times, advising him, helping him find the right words to convince her and helping him plan for what to do.”

  Nathan waited, patience personified.

  “Without me knowing it, Elle’s father had skulked around and taken photos of me with Mike. Sitting in his car—not touching or anything, but just being with him was damning enough. There was one of us out back of the school, talking close so no one would overhear. Photos of us meeting on the side of the road.” She groaned at her own stupidity. “Those photos were sent to my school, and I was immediately let go while they investigated.”

  “Did you explain?”

  “I couldn’t. I’d given Mike my word. I was afraid if I told the truth, it’d get Elle in more trouble.” She pulled away from him and folded her hands in her lap. “I had a fiancé. Remember I told you that? Well, he was a biology teacher at the school, and he dumped me fast enough, too.” It almost made her sick to admit it. “He believed the worst. Before I could even explain, he ranted and told me I’d shamed him and made him look like a fool.”

  “He sounds like a fool.”

  She let that go. Thinking about Russell only got her riled. “The entire community condemned me—until Mike and Elle went to the police. He’d convinced her to tell the truth about her father.”

  “I like this Mike,” Nathan said.

  She nodded. “I do, too.” Her gaze jumped to his. “I mean—”

  “Shh. I’m not your idiot ex. You don’t need to explain.”

  Relief left her weak. “Thank you.”

  “Thank you for helping Elle, even though it nearly cost you everything. It was a heroic, selfles
s thing to do.”

  Did he really feel that way? She’d been reviled for so long it’d be a novel thing to be seen as a hero to someone other than Elle and Mike. “It took a long time,” she admitted, without going into the grueling day-to-day grind of the trial, “but finally Elle’s father was sentenced to ten years in jail.”

  “When was that?”

  “Only three years ago.”

  “You’ve been moving around since then?”

  “Yes. Few people would recognize me. But I get...restless. Sometimes it’s like it all comes back to me and I just need to get away.”

  Nathan curved a hand around her neck. “Not anymore, okay? Clearbrook is your home. You have friends here now.” He frowned a little. “You have me.”

  Brooklin started shaking all over. “Don’t say that yet. You have to know everything first.”

  “I’m still here, still listening.” He leaned in and pressed his mouth to hers in a brief, firm kiss. “But it won’t matter.”

  Best to finish it, she decided. “Before he was convicted, Elle’s father told me he’d kill me. He said I wouldn’t see him coming, but one day he’d be there and he’d make me pay. He was...graphic about what he’d do to me.” She shuddered. “What if he’s out of prison now? What if—”

  “Shh.” Nathan drew her into his lap and held her close. “Will you let me look into it?” He put a finger under her chin and tipped up her face. “Understand, Brooklin. Not because I need to see any facts. I trust you. But I can find out where he is, if he’s still in prison, when he’s likely to be let go if he is.”

  It would be such a relief to know for sure. “Yes, of course. I’ll give you all the information you need.”

  Nathan hugged her. “Whatever happened with Mike and Elle?”

  Because that was one of the few good memories, she smiled against his throat. “After Elle got her GED, they married and Mike took a job with his father’s company in Texas. Neither of them wanted to stay in Ohio, not after the trial. We exchange Christmas cards each year and they always include a little note, so I know that they’re still together and still happy. Last Christmas they said Mike is going to school part-time and will get his bachelor’s degree soon. Then he’ll be able to take a promotion in the company. Elle works from home.”