His friends gave him nods, and one of them said, “We’re going over there, too. It’s one-one-one Ranger style hand-to-hand combat. Take out only.”
“Looks like we’re going, too,” he said and stared down into her eyes. Holy God, he looked like Conan. They shared the same dark blue eyes, but damn, with that beard and shoulder-length hair, he looked untamed and wild.
She grabbed her things and was able to hand over her guns and stuff for storage until the end of the day or when she was leaving. She took a long slug of water, and they all headed toward the indoor arena.
* * * *
Kernan was shocked. Why did her name sound familiar? He heard it before, he was sure of it. He stared at her, impressed not only with her performance on the no longer unbeatable obstacle course, but impressed with all of her, especially her perfect body. Holy shit was she built to please a man. Her breasts were full, and despite the hoodie she still wore, he could tell she was well endowed. Add in the black combat pants that hugged her ass and her toned thighs, and shit, she was the best-looking woman he had seen in a long time. A very fucking long time. Hell, he was staring at her while she was talking to his buddy Flex.
“Hey, Kernan, great job on the win over there with your team. That dick Mike had it coming. The pompous shithead,” Luther said to him and shook his hand. His buddies shook his hand and congratulated him, as well, but then walked closer to Brook and her friend. Those fucking guys came over to talk to him just to talk to Brook. What the fuck?
“Hey, Logan, great job on nabbing those four armed robbers the other night. Saw pictures of the patrol car. You were lucky,” Luther said to her and licked his lips as he stared at her.
“Thanks.”
That was it. He saw her on the news. She refused to get interviewed, but the sheriff praised her quick response and well-trained actions. The hostage was still in the hospital, and that was Rocky’s cousin from Gordon’s. He hadn’t been in there in months. More than likely, most of the guys around them would be heading there tonight after the events.
The crowd started to yell and clap as the next match started. Kernan made a move and got closer to Brook just as she started to unzip her hoodie and then take it off. When he saw her toned arms and the way the hem of the hoodie didn’t reach her waist, revealing tanned skin, he took a deep breath. She smelled incredible. Was that her perfume or her hair? As he glanced to the right, Luther was eying her over, and so was Mike from a few feet away.
They cheered for the guy, Dustin. Kernan knew him because he was in SWAT in Sussex. Even though they were in different departments, they did a lot of the training together at the training facility. Kernan moved up next to her as her friend started talking to Luther and flirting with him. Brook shook her head. He nudged Brook’s arm, and she looked at him. He caught her gaze.
“I thought I recognized you. You’re not into doing television interviews for the media, huh?” he asked her, and she looked a little surprised but then snorted.
“I hate that. A bunch of vultures looking to exploit victims, and they cornered me in the hospital. Let the woman heal up and let her family be with her.”
“I agree. They always seem to be after a good story. The Sheriff seemed impressed as he praised you.”
“He isn’t always praising me.”
“No? Why not?” he asked and stared at her gorgeous green eyes which were framed by thick eyelashes. The fact that she wore no makeup at all highlighted how stunning she was. Even her lips looked perfect.
“Well, that’s the third car of mine that kind of got messed up. I feel badly.”
“Seriously? What happened to the other two?” he asked, smirking at her. She nibbled her bottom lip and stared up at him. He had over a foot on her in height. He couldn’t stop staring at her and absorbing her features. She wasn’t a flirt, she wasn’t completely shy, she seemed tough, but also came off as kind, easy-going, and he liked that. He didn’t care for fragile women or whining ones complaining about manicures and getting their hair done. High maintenance wasn’t his thing, nor was a woman who didn’t take care of herself. This one was young. Maybe too young for him, but holy shit, he felt ready to fight for a chance with her, especially as Mike approached, placed a hand on her hip, and gave her a wink.
“Hey, congratulations on the course. That’s crazy shit. Think they went easy on you or what?” he asked.
“Oh, you mean like the guys who were matched up against you went easy on you? First loss in a couple years wasn’t it, Mike?” She gave it to him right back, and Kernan had to laugh. He looked away. She was definitely tough.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to insult you.”
“Then just leave it at congratulations. Also, they didn’t take it easy on me. Watch the video and maybe when you try it you can get a little further than you do every year.” She turned around and he exhaled, pressed closer to her, and whispered into her ear. Kernan couldn’t hear what he said, but Brook’s face went flush and she turned around and pushed him lightly. “In your dreams, Mike. The answer is no, not ever.”
She turned around, and Gloria grabbed Mike’s arm. “You looked incredible out there. Do you offer any private lessons?” Gloria asked, and Kernan watched Brook roll her eyes and then stare straight ahead. As Dustin won the match, she didn’t even react. Whatever Mike said to her pissed her off. He touched her hip, and she turned abruptly. “What did he say to you to piss you off?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. It doesn’t matter.”
“Want to go grab something to drink and eat?”
“I don’t think so.”
“We’re all heading over. Not much is going on for the next thirty minutes. What else did you enter into?”
“Nothing. I was just going to check out the new equipment and guns for law enforcement personnel, some of the clothing they have, and maybe the other events coming up in the next few months,” she said, and they started walking together along with a few of the troopers she knew and guys he knew.
“You know you’ll get an invite to compete in September with the best of the best in that course? They bring it up several notches for it.”
“I just wanted to do it to see if I could complete it.”
“Complete it? Honey, you kicked its ass,” Ben, one of the guys from his SWAT team, said to her, and they chuckled.
“It was fun. I guess it’ll be challenging to try it again with the pressure of competition,” she said and headed to the food stations. They gathered around at a few tables, pulling them together, and they all bullshitted about the event, about the competition, and who was full of themselves and a little about their jobs. By the time they were done, they all planned on meeting at Gordon’s.
“You’ll be there, won’t you, Brook?” Ben asked. The other guys looked like they waited on pins and needles for her to say yes, and it aggravated him.
“I’m attending a birthday party there tonight. It’s a private event on the dance floor in the back by the Tiki bar.”
“Ohh man, come on, you can’t join us for a drink?” one of the others asked.
They carried on, and sure enough, they got her to say she would come over and have a drink.
Chapter 4
Brook walked into Gordon’s carrying a small gift bag for Amelia. She could hear the music playing, and the place was super crowded tonight. Amelia greeted her hello with Watson, Dell, and Fogerty kissing her cheek as Casey, Melina, Emma, and Faith greeted her next.
“You look so good. We heard that the competition went awesome today. A bunch of the guys have been bragging about you,” Casey told her and winked.
“It was a great day,” she said.
“Hey, gorgeous, get over here. I heard about the competition. You established a new record. Way to go,” Rocky said to her and gave her a hug hello.
She held onto his shoulders, smiling. “How is your cousin doing?”
His smile faded a little. “She’s tough and will pull through. You look beautiful tonight. Let me buy you a
drink,” he said and kept his arm around her waist and turned her toward the bar. That was when she spotted Kernan and his friends.
“Logan!” they called and started hooting and hollering.
“Idiots,” Rocky said and shook his head, and she laughed but turned and waved. They were waving her over. She held up her finger.
“I promised them I would have a drink in between the party for Amelia. Everything looks so nice. Amelia is smiling from ear to ear, too,” she said and tapped her glass of wine against his mug of beer.
“They’re a great group of friends you have.” He looked past her with an annoyed expression. “Looks like you’ve gained some interest,” he said, and she glanced back that way, but then Faith and Melina came over and joined them.
“I need to get back to the Tiki bar. You ladies come over there and I’ll mix up something special for you,” he said, and they smiled.
“Thanks, Rocky,” Brook said.
“So, who is that guy with the beard and tattoos who can’t keep his eyes off of you?” Faith asked Brook.
She turned so that her back faced the bar and saw it was Kernan. She swallowed hard and quickly looked away.
“He was at the competition today and knows a bunch of the guys I do from the department. So, tell me about the plans for next weekend? Was Afina serious about the barbeque and pool party or what?” she asked them.
“Oh man was she serious. Zayn has some friends coming in from Texas. A bunch of military guys who will be staying in the hotel Emma arranged for them. I guess they all know one another,” Faith told her.
“Afina is helping Kai out. In fact, she wanted to talk to us about cooking and what to make for the party. Some of it will be catered, but you know Kai and Afina love the homemade stuff,” Melina added.
“Sounds good to me. I’ll make whatever she wants. In fact, I saw a recipe for pineapple slices dipped in Fireball liquor and brown sugar. You soak it overnight for like twenty-four hours and serve it just like that.”
“Make it,” Melina and Faith said at the same time, and the three of them started laughing.
“Let’s go talk to Afina and Kai about it,” Faith said, and as they started walking, Brook could feel the eyes on her. She knew a lot of these men. She didn’t really hang out here or in Sussex, either. Sometimes she would go to Corporal’s, but there were different people there. Different men, as well. Walking around all dressed up in a skirt, heels, and a sleeveless top, cut low and accentuating her breasts, she felt a little different. She wanted to look good, but she was also thinking about Kernan and that he was Conan’s brother. How did he not know about her? It kind of hurt that he didn’t. That Conan claimed to have wanted to introduce her to his brothers. She supposed it was another lie. A way of manipulating her into thinking he was committed. She exhaled and then felt the hand on her wrist stopping her.
“Hot damn, shooter, you clean up nice,” Dustin Gurrino said to her, and she chuckled.
“Hey, Dustin. What’s going on?” she asked and saw the bruising and cut by his eye. She quickly looked at Afina and Melina. “I’ll be there in a minute.” They nodded and Dustin checked them out.
“Was that from today?” she asked and pointed at his eye.
He reached up and then nodded, eying her over. “Yeah, it was pretty tough. I think I kind of underestimated the guy I was up against.”
“You think so?” she asked, considering it. “I thought he was very good, as well. A good matchup as far as bystander wise and giving a nice show.”
“A nice show? Shit, Brook, it was a struggle,” he said and seemed a bit insulted.
“It wasn’t meant as an insult. It’s just that a lot of times, and you’ve seen it before yourself, these guys get into the ring and one, two, three it’s done. That’s not competition, that’s a setup.”
“She’s right,” one of Dustin’s friends said. “When it gets really competitive, these guys start setting up fights against other people they know they can beat or even pay off.”
“I don’t know about that,” she said, looking at him like he was crazy, and then they guys started arguing. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to the party. Have a good time, and maybe I’ll see you later.”
“Come back for a drink,” Dustin said and winked at her, and she gave a wave and started to head toward the party. She had to walk along the side deck, and as she did she saw Kernan heading her way.
“Hey,” he said, joining her.
“How is it going?” she asked him.
“You look gorgeous,” he said in a low, hard tone that did a number to her insides. She didn’t quite get this. Why him? Why Conan’s brother?
“Thanks,” she said and looked away from him, prepared to continue along the side deck when he grabbed her hand. She turned, holding her hand out and away so that her wine glass didn’t fall or spill, and his other hand went to her hip. He looked lethal, forceful in his demeanor with those dark blue eyes, his rugged beard, and the scent of his cologne. All of it overwhelmed and disoriented her as she stared up into his eyes, still short even with the high heels.
“I don’t know what the hell it is, but I want you close. It’s pissing me off that these men are undressing you with their eyes and wanting you in their beds.”
“I doubt that very—”
He yanked her to him, pressing his lips to hers, shocking her. He drew her closer and plunged his tongue into her mouth. She used her free hand to press against his thick, hard chest of stone and pulled back. He released her lips and suckled against her neck and then over her shoulder and arm.
“Holy shit, Brook.”
She pushed away from him and nearly stumbled. He reached for her. “No. Shit, no, no, no. God damn it!” she exclaimed and took another step away. She tossed the contents of her wine glass out into the water and then exhaled and looked at him.
“Why did you do that? Why?” she asked with attitude, taking a step toward him. He licked his lips and stared at her body, held her gaze with hunger in his eyes matching what she felt throughout her body. He took a step toward her. She stepped back.
“The attraction is there. It’s fucking strong,” he said firmly, deeply, and with attitude like she was crazy to push him away. Was she? No, he was Conan’s brother. This wasn’t good at all.
She shook her head.
“No. There is no attraction.” She went to step away but he grabbed her hand and pulled her back into his arms. She nearly dropped the glass. He pulled her along with him and down the dock further away from the party and to the boats.
“You can’t tell me that you don’t feel what I feel? That when I just kissed you that you didn’t want more. Don’t fucking lie to me, Brook.” He stood there with his hands on his hips, and she was trying to catch her breath and get out of this. It was just like when she met Conan. It was instantaneous. No preamble, just fire, need, and holy shit, it was happening with his brother. She could not let this go any further. She couldn’t.
“Don’t kiss me like that again. It doesn’t matter what you feel. It can’t happen.”
“What? Are you fucking kidding me?”
She stared up at him, and he gripped her hip and pulled her close and kissed her again. He plunged his tongue into her mouth, and it felt so good. His hands were incredible, and he was rock solid and so powerful and sexy, and oh God, he was Conan’s brother. He lifted her thigh up against his thigh, and she nearly fell. He held her tighter, and she sensed the feeling of safety and security in his arms. He was a soldier and currently in SWAT.
Oh God, this is nuts. She started to pull back, and he smoothed his hand along her ass, squeezing her there. As he released her lips, he hugged her to him and inhaled against her hair and neck. She was trying to catch her breath. She had to tell him. She had to set him straight.
“You felt it then, right? It’s so fucking powerful. I just met you today, and it’s like I know you. I want you,” he said and stroked her ass, back, and hip, pressing kisses to her neck and should
er. She gripped onto his one shoulder and, at some point, dropped her wine glass. She used her palm to press against his chest and put some space between them.
“Kernan.” He stared down into her eyes, and it hurt to tell him nothing could come of this. “That can’t happen again.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Why the fuck not? Are you seeing someone? Have a boyfriend? What?” he asked.
She stared at him and her heart raced. She felt an ache in her stomach.
“I know your brother, Conan,” she said to him, and he tilted his head sideways, still squinting, not understanding. “I can’t get involved with you.” She went to walk past him, and he gripped her upper arm.
“You know Conan how?” he asked, all pissed off.
She swallowed hard. “He told me he told you and your brother about me at the time. I suppose that was just another lie of his.”
“What do you mean at the time?”
She yanked her arm free. “Okay, I’m just going to say it. Two years ago, Conan and I were dating. I caught him cheating on me and broke things off. So, you see, this can’t be happening.”
“Holy fuck, you? You’re the one who broke his heart? You wouldn’t take his calls or listen to his explanation.”
“He cheated on me. I caught him with his ex-girlfriend, and she was all over him with her hand down his pants and he was cupping her cheeks ready to kiss her. He also said he told you about me and obviously he didn’t tell you the truth, either.”
“Holy shit.” He stared at her.
“Like I said, Kernan, it was a mistake. Forget about it.” She walked away and heard him cursing. She wanted to cry, to run home and forget this night even happened. She actually felt the loss of Kernan’s touch, the protective sensation he provided her in his arms, and all that sexy, macho, military persona he had and emitted in his kisses and his touch.
As she rounded the corner, Rocky was there. She gasped, and he held onto her shoulders, looked past her, and she knew he saw Kernan.
Healing Hearts 7 Page 4