“It sounds so selfish when you put it like that.” Sydnee winced. “How can I blame a guy for something he did before I met him? It’s just … is he really going to give up a playboy lifestyle for me?” That was the main issue. She could realize those women were in the past, but what if she was just another conquest and as soon as he grew bored of her, he’d move on? How would she survive then?
“You’ll never know if you don’t give him the chance,” Maddie said.
Sydnee pursed her lips and nodded. She’d never thought of it like that. It was a risk she had to take if she wanted to be with a man as fabulous as Brooks. He deserved that chance, and about a hundred more kisses.
They all went down to the beach after breakfast and alternated between digging in the sand and swimming in the ocean.
She and Brooks were laying on chairs side by side, their hands dangling and clasped together. She sighed and looked out over the turquoise ocean. Ideal, yet Maddie admitted her life wasn’t perfect. Everyone had challenges no matter how fabulous or easy their life seemed.
Chalise and Izzy were digging and pouring sand into buckets while Maddie read a Jeanette Lewis novel. Sydnee loved the funky turquoise shoes the bride on the cover was wearing.
Now that Sydnee was paying attention, she could see a slight bulge on Maddie’s lower abdomen. How exciting to be expecting their first baby. Well, not really their first, but their first together. She loved how Zack and Maddie showered love on their children, and except for their different coloring—Chalise’s skin was much lighter than Izzy and Alex’s—she wouldn’t have guessed they were all adopted.
Zack had gone to lay the baby down for a nap, and everything was quiet and peaceful on the beach. Brooks squeezed Sydnee’s hand and gave her a lazy smile. She looked over his fit body, and her mouth went dry. Would Maddie notice if she leaned over and gave him a quick kiss?
A scream of injustice ripped through the air.
Izzy blinked her eyes rapidly, digging her fists into them, and her screams turned to sobs.
“What happened?” Maddie jumped from her lounge chair.
“I no know.” Chalise shrugged innocently, patting sand down and not looking at her sister.
“My eyes,” Izzy wailed.
Maddie hurried to her younger daughter, pulled her hands away, and gently wiped at her eyes with a towel. Brooks grabbed a water bottle, picked up the little girl, and laid her on his lounge chair. He poured water over her eyes. “Try to open them, love.”
Izzy cried harder at first, but as the sand was washed away, she calmed down. Brooks held her up, and she blinked, then smiled tremulously. “Thanks, Uncle Brooks.”
“All better now, sweetie?”
“Yes.” She wrapped her thin arms around his broad back and hugged him close.
Sydnee loved this tender moment. This was her favorite side of Brooks. Well, besides the kissing side.
“All right, little lady,” Maddie said sternly, giving Chalise a stare down only mothers could give. “How did sister get sand in her eyes?”
Chalise shrugged and threw a guilty glance at Izzy.
“We’ve talked about throwing sand,” Maddie said.
Chalise’s lower lip trembled. “I sorry, Momma. I sorry, Izzy.” A fat tear rolled down her cheek. “I didn’t mean to.”
Maddie sighed. “That’s what you said the last twenty times. Come on. Let’s go sit in time-out, then talk to Daddy.” She stood and took Chalise’s hand, leading her toward the stairs. She glanced back at them. “Are you okay with Izzy for a few minutes?”
“Of course,” Brooks said.
Izzy seemed content to sit on the lounge in Brooks’s arms. Not that Sydnee blamed her. He had that talent of drawing in women of every age.
“Thanks for coming a visit, Uncle Brooks.” Izzy laid her head on his chest. “I love you.”
Brooks held the little girl and glanced over at Sydnee. This wasn’t his usual flirtatious or smoldering glance. She could swear she could see into his soul. This little family affected him. He did want this. He just didn’t know it.
“I love you too, sweetheart.”
15
Brooks really enjoyed the relaxed day with his friends, and especially with Sydnee. He was pushing emotional boundaries here he hadn’t consciously realized he’d established. He was sure a psychiatrist could diagnose him with some kind of commitment issue syndrome, and they’d probably be right, but he had thrived on the single life and his empty flirtations. Until she came along. He looked across the dinner table where Sydnee was feeding Alex baby food while Maddie talked Chalise into eating her salad.
Zack caught his eye and grinned. Brooks returned the smile, but his eyes strayed back to Sydnee. Her exterior beauty had initially drawn him in, but she was so much more than that. Was he? She was an American social worker who worked full time in a Mexican orphanage for a ridiculously low salary, and she didn’t even speak fluent Spanish. How big of a heart did you have to have to do that?
He had this eerie feeling that when they got back to Cozumel, she would want him to come be with her at the orphanage, be with the children. He didn’t think he could handle those interactions. Would he try it for her? She turned and smiled at him. Her big blue eyes twinkled happily, and those lips were begging him to sample them again. Maybe he would try to get past his fears of seeing the emptiness in the children’s eyes. For her.
After dinner, Brooks and Sydnee cleaned up while Zack and Maddie got the children to bed. It was so …. mainstream, and so comfortable rubbing shoulders with her in the kitchen. He had a lot of employees who took good care of him, but Brooks still knew how to work and he didn’t mind doing dishes. If he did them with her.
The last pan was dried, and Brooks took Sydnee’s hand. “Walk with me?”
“Sure.”
They strolled out of the house, down the steps, and along the beautiful beach. The sun dropped down to the water, and Brooks stopped her when they were well away from the house. He tugged her against his chest and simply held her. She fit in his arms, her small frame completely encased.
She glanced up at him, and his gut tightened with apprehension. This beautiful spot. This beautiful woman. Is this how it happened to other men? They declared their devotion, and then they were lost? Was that even possible for him? An orphan? Unloved and deserted. How could he ever be worthy of someone as guileless and beautiful as Sydnee?
“Sydnee, I, you …” Brooks closed his eyes and tried again. “I’m beginning to think. I mean, to feel.” Wow. This wasn’t him at all to be fumbling his words with a woman, but this wasn’t just any woman.
Sydnee pressed her fingers to his lips. “Brooks. You’re making a mess of this.”
He gave a surprised laugh. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She ran her fingers along his jawline, then tangled them in his hair. “It’s okay. You don’t have to do some big declaration or figure it all out. We might get back to reality and it might not be real, you know?”
Brooks sucked in a breath too quickly. Not real?
“But then again, maybe it will be.” She shook her head. “Can we just slow it down and enjoy being together without trying to figure it all out right now?”
Brooks studied her. Was she scared? Or maybe … she didn’t want him like he wanted her. He wouldn’t blame her. He was an emotional mess who’d been deserted as a child and had never committed to any woman. How dare he hope to start a relationship with a solid, good, and thoughtful person like Sydnee?
“Brooks.” There was a warning note in her voice. She rubbed at the furrow between his brow. “Stop. You’re worrying too much. It’ll all work out.”
Brooks wasn’t so sure, but at least she was in his arms at this moment. He bent down and softly kissed her. “Are you sure?” He sounded like an uncertain wimp, but that’s what he was deep inside, so maybe it was time to reveal that to someone.
Sydnee stood on tiptoes and pressed harder into him, kissing him until he almost forgot his insecurit
ies. “No, but we can figure it out together.”
Together? He really liked the sound of that. He lifted her off her feet, and she matched him kiss for kiss.
“Brooks!” Zack’s voice came ringing from down the beach. “Maddie says to stop mac-daddying and come make her popcorn.”
Brooks released Sydnee from the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. “Maddie loves my popcorn. Lots of butter.” His breathing was so ragged he could hardly get the words out.
“Hmm.” She ran her hands along his neck and had him tingling from head to toe. “I think this entire family just likes to interrupt when we’re kissing.”
Brooks chuckled. “Zack and Maddie probably owe me. The past year I’ve done my share of interrupting them.”
“Well, let’s give them something to interrupt.” She stood on tiptoes and kissed him again.
16
The next day passed much too quickly. Sydnee hadn’t realized how badly she’d needed a vacation or how horribly she craved Brooks’s attention. She was like a woman who’d been denied chocolate and Diet Coke for years, and now she couldn’t get enough. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, the little family persisted with their horrific timing and Sydnee and Brooks rarely had a moment alone.
She wasn’t sure why she’d interrupted Brooks from whatever he was going to declare last night on the beach. What woman wouldn’t want a man like Brooks sharing his heart? Yet she didn’t know if either of them was ready for that. This weekend had been unreal. What if they got back to real life and things changed? Her heart wouldn’t be able to take it, especially if he made promises and then chose not to fulfill them.
The little ones were struggling with naps on Saturday afternoon, so Zack loaded everyone in the speedboat, and they cruised out into the ocean. Brooks and Zack pulled out a parasail and took turns going up. The colorful sail looked beautiful against the blue sky, and they both seemed to have a lot of fun. Brooks’s irresistible grin spread across his face as Zack slowed the boat and Brooks dipped into the water; then Zack slammed the throttle forward and Brooks soared upward again.
Sydnee realized Maddie probably wouldn’t go up because she was pregnant. Sydnee had told the men to go first so she could “watch the experts perform,” but now it was her turn. What now? She worried her lip between her teeth. Should she admit how terrified she was of heights?
Her stomach was in knots and her palms sweating as Brooks directed her toward the rear of the boat and started putting the harness on her. Even the touch of his warm palms couldn’t distract her from the terror rushing through her.
He tightened the straps and smiled at her. “All set?”
“I’m terrified of heights,” Sydnee spit out.
Brooks’s eyebrows arched up. “Oh, love, you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”
“She ready?” Zack called from the front of the boat.
“Shh,” Maddie hushed him, cradling Alex and Izzy. Chalise sprawled across one of the front benches.
“Give us a second,” Brooks said. He turned back to Sydnee and pivoted with her on the platform at the back of the boat so she was facing him and the open water and couldn’t see Zack or Maddie. “I’m serious. No one is going to be offended if you don’t go. Just say the word, and I’ll unhook you and we’ll have a pleasant boat ride through the ocean.”
Sydnee took a couple of breaths. Her brothers would’ve teased her and forced her to try this, telling her she’d love it when she did. She probably would, but Brooks’s understanding was so needed.
“Thank you!” She jumped into his arms. He caught her, but must’ve slipped on the wet deck. They toppled over into the water, the parachute falling on top of them. Sydnee gasped for air as the slick material covered their heads and pushed them under the water. She kicked madly with her legs and flailed her arms to get out from under the chute.
“What the—” she heard Zack exclaim.
The baby started crying.
Sydnee gasped for air but took in water. She started coughing, fear rushing in faster than the water.
Brooks pushed the parachute off of them and grabbed onto the platform, holding her out of the water. Zack grasped her hand and lifted her onto the deck with Brooks pushing from behind. She expelled the water from her lungs and immediately calmed down. Brooks easily lifted himself up, took one look at her, and started laughing.
“What was that all about?” Zack asked.
Sydnee joined in his laughter. The baby’s cries quieted, but Izzy woke up and was watching them with wide eyes.
“I have no idea,” Brooks said. He wrapped an arm around Sydnee’s shoulder. “Next time you attack me, maybe don’t do it with a parachute on your back.”
“I can’t control myself when you’re near.” Sydnee winked at him.
Brooks pumped his eyebrows. “I know, it’s a problem.”
Zack rolled his eyes and stomped away from them, picking up Izzy and carrying her to the captain’s chair. “When you two stop your sickening flirting, are we going to put her up in the parasail or not?”
Brooks sobered and looked at Sydnee. She nodded.
“You sure?” he asked.
“Yes. I want to try it.”
“Okay. It’s really gentle. If you get scared, make the cut symbol.” He drew his fingers across his neck. “We’ll bring you in.”
“Sounds good.” She squeezed his arm. “Thank you.”
Brooks nodded. “Anything for you, love.”
Sydnee smiled. Brooks straightened the sail, and before she knew it, the boat was in motion, the sail caught air, and she was floating. She really did enjoy the sensation and assumed Brooks had said something to Zack, because they didn’t take her up too high. It was a fun experience, but she was so caught up in thinking about how wonderful Brooks was, her mind didn’t have time to experience much else.
17
Sydnee didn’t want to go home Sunday morning, but she missed all of her little ones. Maddie and the children waved from the dock as Zack tossed ropes to Brooks; then they were motoring away.
Sydnee sat in the chair next to the captain’s seat. “It was a great weekend. Thank you, Brooks.”
“I knew you couldn’t resist the chance to be with me.” He reached over and took her hand.
“I had such a choice. Jerk tricking me into thinking it was a crazy singles party.”
“I may not have cleared up any misconceptions, but you came up with those assumptions on your own.” He squeezed her hand. “Has your opinion changed about the charming and oh-so-good-looking Brooks Hoffman?”
Even though his words were his usual sarcasm, his voice was cautious and optimistic, making it easy to read between the lines. He was very different from what she’d assumed, and she was falling hard and fast for him.
“If I say yes, what are you going to do?”
“Show you these lips are good for more than just witty banter.”
“You can’t kiss and steer the boat.” Her palms started sweating, and she bit her lip to hide a smile.
“Try me.” Brooks winked at her and pulled her toward him.
Sydnee went willingly. Standing between his legs, she realized she was in the same spot she’d been on the trip down, but she felt vastly different now. She was no longer cautious around him. Far from it. She’d seen the real Brooks this weekend, and she felt like she couldn’t get enough and hoped he felt the same.
He wrapped one arm around her waist and held on to the steering wheel with the other hand. Sydnee leaned down and brushed her lips over his.
“Glad to see you’ve finally become a Brooks fan.” He took his other hand off the wheel and pulled her against his body.
“You have no idea.” She kissed him hungrily, wondering if she could ever get enough of his touch. “What about steering the boat?” she panted out, much too affected by his touch.
“Are we far enough away that Zack won’t worry?”
She glanced out the back of the boat. The island was a pinpric
k in the distance. “Yes.”
Brooks jammed the boat into neutral. They drifted in the ocean as he captured her mouth with his, and she was soaring through a cloud of joy she’d never experienced.
It was quite a while later when Sydnee slid into the seat next to him, and Brooks put the boat back into gear. They rode in comfortable silence for a while, but Sydnee really wanted to know more about Brooks. The real Brooks.
“Will you tell me more about your adoptive father?” Sydnee asked as they cruised through the open ocean, blue stretching out on all sides.
Brooks smiled. “Mr. Hoffman was from England. Very prim and proper. Tea and crumpets and shields of honor and all that.”
“You never called him Dad or by his first name?”
The smile slid away. “Never. He wasn’t some warm and fuzzy father figure. He was my provider and my mentor. He saved my life, and then taught me all he knew.”
“How did he save your life?” Wow. That was sad. She thought of her daddy, who complimented and hugged her often.
Brooks’s forehead furrowed. “I lived on the streets of Oakland. Ran away from my third foster family when I was eight.”
“At eight you were on the streets?” Sydnee blinked, hoping she’d heard him wrong.
He nodded tersely.
“What happened to your parents?”
His lips tightened. “I don’t remember a dad. My mom deserted me when I was five. Dropped me off at kindergarten in the morning. Nobody came to pick me up at noon.” He shrugged like it didn’t matter, but it obviously did.
She squeezed his hand tighter. Her heart hurt for him. She could just picture a cute little Brooks with a backpack on, waiting at the school pickup with nobody coming. And waiting and waiting. Had the teachers hugged him, or had they just called the police and shipped him off to foster care? It brought tears to her eyes. “Oh, Brooks. I’m sorry.”
He waved that away, and she didn’t blame him. Her words were lame and empty, but what did you say to that? She had no clue how a mother could desert a five-year-old or how an eight-year-old could survive alone on the streets. At eight she’d been wrestling with her brothers and learning how to cook grits and being smothered with love by everyone around her.
Cozumel Escape (Destination Billionaire Romance) Page 9