Say You're Mine: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Southport Love Stories Book 4)

by Sarah J. Brooks

  “Well, he’s doing a good job.” I winked at Rob, who grinned. I looked back at Will. “Rob never said how the two of you met. There’s got to be a good story in there somewhere if you’re hooking him with this amazing table in your restaurant.”

  I wasn’t imagining the look the two men shared. Things became strangely serious, and I swore Rob shook his head slightly. What was that about?

  “We met many, many years ago. I was going through a rough time—” he glanced at Rob again. “And Robbie helped me get through it. He was the one that convinced me to go to culinary school.” He put a hand on Robert’s shoulder. “This man has no idea what an effect he has on those around him. How his kindness literally changes lives.” Will cleared his throat as if he were overcome with emotion.

  I felt my chest tighten. Hearing someone say that about Rob, someone who had known him for so long, made me love him even more. I truly did love him. There was no denying it.

  “He is pretty incredible,” I agreed, staring at my boyfriend. My god, I could barely believe that’s what he was.

  My boyfriend.

  My gorgeous, amazing, kind boyfriend.

  “Stop it you two or my inflated ego will make it impossible to get through the door,” Rob teased, seeming slightly uncomfortable at the compliments.

  “Okay you two, enjoy your dinner. It was wonderful to meet you, Skylar.” Will briefly touched my shoulder, squeezing it. “And Will, let’s catch up soon.” There was another loaded look between them that I couldn’t read and then he was gone.

  “Why do I feel there’s a lot more to that story than Will said?” I asked after the waitress brought us four plates of entrees for us to sample.

  Robert made a point of looking at his rare steak, taking his time cutting it. “There’s not much else to say.” He was being evasive. I knew Robert well enough now to know when he didn’t want to talk about something.

  And that set off alarm bells again.

  We had been here once already, many months ago. I thought we were past this.

  Rob looked up at me, his face tender. “Sky, Will’s an old friend. There’s nothing else to know about it.” He slid his plate toward me. “You have to try this wagyu beef, it’s incredible.”

  I wanted to press him further. I wanted to dig and dig until I found the ugly truth my doubt swore was hidden there. But then I internally berated myself for looking for something that wasn’t there.

  Rob said there was nothing to know about his relationship with Will and I had to believe him. I couldn’t exist on second-guessing and mistrust. That’s not how healthy relationships were formed.

  Rob had opened up so much to me. I had to believe him.

  Because if he betrayed me, I knew I wouldn’t survive it.

  **

  “I’m so nervous,” I admitted in a whisper as we walked up the path to the residential facility where Robert’s brother Sam lived. It was a beautiful place that looked more like a country club than a residential home.

  “Don’t be. Sam is so excited to meet you. He’s going to go all out for your visit.” Rob led me through the main building where he was greeted by name by almost everyone we encountered. He had a smile for everyone, and it was obvious he was well regarded around Lakewood House.

  We walked through a glass mezzanine and turned down a quiet hallway. “This is a really nice place,” I said once we stopped outside a door at the far end.

  “It’s the nicest independent living facility for people with Downs Syndrome in the state. I couldn’t stomach the thought of Sam living in some of the other places out there. Mom and I did our research before we decided on Lakewood. Sam deserves only the best.” Robert knocked on the door in a random pattern. He gave me a sideways smile. “It’s my special knock so Sam knows it’s me.”

  “Gotcha.”

  The door swung open, and Robert was immediately engulfed in a hug. “Robbie! You’re here!”

  Robert hugged his brother with equal ferociousness. “I’m sorry it’s been so long, Sam. Things have been busy, but that’s no excuse.”

  I stood back watching them feeling all sorts of emotions I wasn’t quite expecting. This was real and pure love, and it was almost overwhelming to see. I had never experienced this kind of selfless purity in my own family.

  Sam let go of his brother then immediately turned to me. He gave me a big, toothy smile. He had the same dark eyes and floppy brown hair as Robert. “Are you Skylar?”

  I nodded. “That’s me.”

  Then it was my turn for a hug. Sam held me tight as if he had known me for years. “I’m so happy Robbie brought you. He told me all about you.”

  “Sammy, come on now, don’t embarrass me,” Robert joked.

  Sam let me go but kept his arm around me. “I won’t say how pretty you told me she was.” Sam laughed and I started laughing too. His exuberance was contagious. “Oops. I said it. Oh well.” He never stopped smiling, obviously so happy to have us here. “Jill’s inside. We’ve been making food all morning. I hope you like it.”

  “Wow, so I get to meet Jill and you get to meet Skylar. This is a big day,” Robert said as his brother led us inside.

  “Jill’s really excited to meet you guys.” Sam closed the door behind us. His room was actually an apartment—and a nice one too. It was an open floor plan with the living room and dining room combined and the kitchen off to the side separated by a counter with two stools. There was a hallway to the right and a balcony overlooking the facility’s gardens.

  “You have a beautiful apartment, Sam,” I told him.

  “Thank you. It’s the best place to live. I have so many friends here. And Jill lives in the next building, so we see each other all the time,” Sam said.

  “You put up the painting! It looks great there, Sam,” Rob commented, indicating a beautiful piece of abstract artwork hanging above the couch.

  “Bob helped me. He wants to know where you got it, he wants one too,” Sam told him, waving to a woman in the kitchen.

  “Bob’s the maintenance man for Lakewood. He helps Sam out a lot, he’s a good guy,” Rob explained quietly as Sam called out to Jill, who was hanging back shyly.

  “Jill, come meet my brother!” Sam called out, hurrying into the kitchen and all but dragging the woman out to the living room.

  “Robbie, this is Jill. She’s my girlfriend,” Sam announced proudly. He kissed the woman on her cheek, and she blushed but seemed pleased.

  “Hi. It’s nice to meet you,” she said softly.

  “Hi Jill, I’ve heard so much about you. Sam talks about you nonstop.” Rob gave her a sweet smile. “He also tells me you make the best club sandwich he’s ever had.”

  Jill puffed up with pride. “Diana in the kitchen says they’re better than hers.”

  “And they are too, Robbie. She made them for you guys. Are you hungry? The game’s about to start.” Sam was full of energy and I could only grin as he hurried Rob and me into the kitchen and handed us plates. “Come on, take a sandwich. There are chips too. And drinks. Jill and I went shopping yesterday and got your favorite soda.”

  “You got cherry Coke?” Robert made a big show of getting excited, running to the refrigerator, and pulling out the two-liter bottle.

  “There’s popcorn too, Sam. I put it in the pantry,” Jill said. Her voice was so quiet, but I could tell she was warming up to us.

  “Oh right! The popcorn!” Sam grabbed the giant bag. “Come on guys, the game’s about to start!”

  Rob put a sandwich on my plate and a pile of chips. “You go ahead and sit down. I’ll grab our drinks.”

  I went into the living room and sat down on the loveseat. Jill and Sam were on the other sofa and a basketball game was playing on the fifty-inch television set. Sam obviously liked to have the volume almost as high as it would go. I noticed he was wearing a 76ers jersey and even had a foam finger he was waving around proudly. “I love the 76ers. Do you, Skylar?” he asked me.

  “Be careful how you answer that,
Sky. Sam has thrown me out before for not saying they’re the best team in the NBA,” Rob warned, sitting down beside me.

  “I didn’t throw you out,” Sam argued. “But you were wrong. The Lakers aren’t the best. Did Robbie tell you that our dad took us to see the 76ers when we were kids?” Sam asked me.

  “No, he didn’t. That sounds like fun.” Rob settled his arm around me, squeezing me.

  “It was the best. We were right next to the court, weren’t we Robbie?” I liked Sam’s smile. It made me feel warm and happy just by being around him.

  “We were. And you got to touch the game ball, remember?” Rob added.

  “I did! Did I tell you about that, Jill?” Sam turned to his girlfriend in excitement.

  “You told me, Sam.” Jill rolled her eyes at me in woman solidarity. “You told me like ten times.” But she smiled at him in a way that meant it didn’t annoy her at all. They were very sweet together and clearly liked each other a lot.

  “We used to play basketball with Dad all the time, didn’t we Robbie?” Sam said. “Robbie was on the basketball team. I liked going to watch him play. I’d paint my face and make a sign. Mom would make her famous chicken alfredo after your game.”

  “It sounds like you guys had a lot of fun.” I leaned into Robert. “I like hearing all these stories.”

  “Oh, the game’s on!” Sam jumped to his feet, waving his foam finger. “Come on guys, you can do this!” Robert joined his brother and the two of them were hooting and hollering like they were there in person.

  After a few minutes, Robert pulled me to my feet. “Come on, Sky!” I grinned at Jill who had been coerced by Sam.

  “Shall we show ‘em how this is done, Jill?” I winked at her and she nodded vigorously.

  I put my arm around the smaller woman and we both started jumping up and down and yelling at the screen. I had no real idea what was going on, but we were having a great time. I shouted and booed along with Robert and Sam. At halftime, Sam and Jill went into the kitchen to get more snacks together. Robert pulled me close and kissed me. “Thank you for being so wonderful,” he whispered against my mouth. “I appreciate you treating him like he’s a person and not some dumb kid.” His eyes clouded and his mouth turned downwards.

  “Why would anyone act like that? Sam’s an adult. He’s not stupid just because he has a disability,” I said in disbelief.

  Robert’s eyes became bright, and he kissed me again. This time when he was finished, he pressed his forehead against mine and closed his eyes. “How did I survive before I met you?” he murmured, and I thought I was going to overflow with feelings I had never experienced before.

  “I’ve been asking myself the same thing,” I responded, knowing that I never wanted to be away from this man. Ever.

  Chapter Twelve

  Robert

  It seemed when things were flying high that fear of falling became paralyzing.

  I was happy. Happier than I could ever remember being. But I was terrified too. For the first time in my life, I felt trapped by the choices I made. About the direction my life had gone in.

  Dancing and stripping had once been freeing. It had provided me a means of taking care of my family. I felt powerful and wanted. I knew that the people who paid me to take off my clothes desired what I could give them. For those hours I showed my body, I became someone else, someone I never had the confidence to be in my usual world.

  I had always been proud of that side of myself.

  Now I wanted to forget that Robert Jenkins existed. Because every time I logged onto my website, every time I started a new session and took the money, I felt as if I were betraying Skylar. When I made excuses as to why I couldn’t see her—even though I desperately wanted to—I hated myself a little bit more. I never wanted to feel shame for what I chose to do, yet I did. Not for the act itself, but for the duplicity.

  The weekend in Philly had been a game-changer in our relationship. I knew that by opening my life to Skylar I was taking us to a whole new level. Introducing your girlfriend to the family was a huge step for anyone. Even more so for the guy who kept all segments of his life apart.

  I had been a little worried about how Skylar would take Sam. I loved Sam more than anything. He was my big brother. My best friend. He was a huge part of my heart. I knew Skylar would accept him, but I still feared that she would pity him—and in turn, pity me.

  I should have known better.

  She embraced Sam. She threw herself in with both feet. She accepted him without question and in turn he absolutely loved her. When we were getting ready to leave, I pulled my brother aside to talk with him privately. I always did a check-in to make sure things were okay with him, that people were being kind. I had spent my life looking out for him and that would never change.

  “You and Jill seem happy,” I said as I helped him clean up. Skylar and Jill were sitting in the living room. Skylar was showing Sam’s girlfriend pictures of graphics she had created. Jill was particularly interested in the advertising graphics Sky had done for a cat food company.

  “I love her, Robbie. I love her so much.” His dark eyes were big as he looked at me. “Do you love Sky?”

  I nodded. “I do, Sam. I really do.” It was easy to admit these things to Sam. I could tell him anything.

  “I really like her. She’s so nice. And pretty too. You should marry her. Then she could be my sister. Mom will like her too,” Sam assured me.

  I pulled him into a hug, never wanting to let go. I missed him so much and didn’t get to see him nearly enough. “I’m glad you like her. And I really like Jill. I like that she makes you smile so much,” I told him.

  And when we left, Sam gave Skylar a huge hug and told her he couldn’t wait to see her again.

  That only left Mom.

  But I knew that if Sam approved, then Mom would too. Dinner at her house on Saturday evening was great. Skylar was relaxed and when she offered to do the dishes, she firmly cemented her place in my mother’s heart.

  “She’s wonderful, Robbie,” Mom said quietly as Skylar took the dishes into the kitchen.

  “I know she is,” I agreed.

  “You’ve never brought a woman home to meet me before. You must be serious about her.” Mom got to her feet and gathered up a load of plates and cutlery to help Skylar.

  “I am, Mom. This is the real deal.” I could hear the confidence in my voice. I meant it. I had no doubts about Skylar Murphy. I could only hope she felt the same.

  Everything had been great. Skylar and I spent our last night in Philly wandering the streets with our arms tight around each other. We took in the sights we had both seen a hundred times before but somehow felt different seeing them together. And back in our suite at the Four Seasons, we made love all night long, neither of us wanting to sleep, neither of us wanting to miss a moment with each other.

  “I love you, Skylar,” I whispered into her hair after she had eventually fallen asleep. My body was curled tightly around her, her flesh pressed against mine. Her head was tucked beneath my chin. I didn’t want to move a muscle for fear of waking her. I kissed her temple. “I love you so much.”

  She didn’t hear me, which was just as well. I wasn’t sure she was ready to hear how deep my feelings went for her.

  Which made our parting once we were back in Southport so much harder.

  “Do you want to stay over? I’ve got to go pick up Edgar, but we could order a pizza, watch a movie?” she suggested as I walked her to her front door. I was already depressed at the thought of leaving her. Because I couldn’t stay.

  My phone had buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, already knowing what it would be. It was a message from a repeat client on my website. The one I called ‘Darling.’ She was asking for an hour session tonight. I didn’t want to do it. I wanted to stay with Skylar. But the money was too much to pass up.

  “I have a bunch of work to do on a case. Being gone all weekend has put me behind,” I had lied way too easily. She didn’t question me.
Why would she? She didn’t think I’d be dishonest. I had given her no reason to doubt me.

  I hated myself for it.

  So here I was, the music was thumping, and I was trying to find my way into this space I occupied so effortlessly before, and all I could think about was Skylar. Of how much I wanted to be with her at that very moment. Of how just twelve hours before I had her skin beneath me, my cock deep inside her.

  I missed her and I had only dropped her at home a couple of hours ago.

  I paused the music and turned to face the laptop screen where whoever “Darling” was watching me. “I’m sorry, just give me a minute.” I turned the camera off and went to get a drink of water.

  I had to get it together. I had never had a problem slipping into this alter ego before.

  I had never been in love like this before either.

  All I could think about was if Skylar knew what I was doing when I told her I couldn’t stay over. What would she say if she knew about this secret I kept? Would she understand? Would she be disgusted?

  My phone dinged and I saw a message coming through on my website. It was from ‘Darling’ asking if I was going to start soon.

  The person had paid 3,000 dollars for an hour-long dance. I had all my props ready. I planned to pull out all the stops. That was a lot of money for an hour of my time. I could do this.

  I went back to the laptop and turned the camera on. My face was blurred, the focus on my body. I started the music again, my hips starting to move. When I went to undo my pants, my hand froze. The image of Skylar unbuckling my belt last night after we got back to the hotel room clear in my mind. I closed my eyes and tried to stay in the moment. This process usually turned me on. I enjoyed it. This time I could only think about Skylar and how I wished she were the one I was dancing for.

  This wasn’t going to work. I couldn’t get my head in the game. I turned the music off again and typed out a quick message to ‘Darling.’

  I’m sorry, something has come up. I’ll refund you the money now.