“We all need a little R&R now and again. Well, I should be getting home. Happy holidays, Gayle. It was nice meeting you,” Brianna said, waving a hand as she turned to walk down the driveway. “I’ll see you later, Ry.”
“It was nice meeting you too,” Gayle called after her, tugging a little on Ryan’s arm.
A warm, willing, half-naked woman was trying to lure him inside, but Ryan couldn’t think past the woman trying to get away. “I just wanna make sure she gets home okay,” he said, hooking a thumb over his shoulder. “I shouldn’t be too long.”
“No problem,” Gayle said, placing a chaste kiss on his lips. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
That’s the part he dreaded. He jogged to catch up with Brianna, and when he finally fell into step beside her, he asked, “Hey, why didn’t you wait for me?”
She stuck her hands in the pockets of her jacket and pulled the cashmere scarf up to cover her mouth. “I’m not blind, Ry. I saw what she was wearing. I knew you’d take one look at her and forget all about me.”
She had no idea how wrong she was. Even a half-naked woman with lust in her eyes and a cocktail in her hand couldn’t compete with the soft curves Brianna hid under layers of winter wear. “My friends and family come first, you know that.”
She smiled as she linked her arm through his. “I know. That’s one of the things I love about you. No matter what, I can always count on you.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “Did I tell you that Jared called me yesterday? He wants me to go out with him on New Year’s Eve.”
Ryan tensed as she mentioned the man who had pursued Brianna for the past year. They dated casually, but Ryan could tell by the look in the other man’s eye whenever he saw them together that he wanted more, much more. Ryan hated him the first time he saw him at Brianna’s parents’ house, and that feeling only intensified as his own feelings for her began to evolve. “Did you tell him to go to hell?”
Brianna laughed. “Why would I do that? He’s my friend.”
“Friend with benefits?” Okay, where had that question come from? He had no right to ask, and she certainly wasn’t obligated to answer. If she was sleeping with someone else, he definitely didn’t want to know. “You know what? Forget I asked. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Since when have you been shy about asking whether I’m getting any action?” She laughed. “Hell, you’re the one who tells me that if a guy hasn’t tried to get me into bed by the fourth date, it’s because he’s gay. You can relax. Jared’s tried and succeeded. Are you happy now?”
Happy? He was supposed to be happy that she was sleeping with someone else? Was she insane? He stopped in his tracks and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Why the hell are you wastin’ your time with that guy? We both know he’s not good enough for you.”
Brianna raised her chin and looked him in the eye. “Who are you to tell me that? I like him. He likes me. We’re both single. If we want to have sex, we will.”
Ryan fisted his hands inside his pockets. He wanted to hit something, and he knew if Jared Ross were here now, it would be him. “We both know you’re not the kind of girl to engage in casual sex, Bri. It has to mean something for you to hit the sheets with some dude.”
“It does mean something to me. Jared’s a great guy. He’s important to me.”
Ryan felt the cold wrap around him, chilling him from the inside out. “How important?” If she told him she was falling in love with him, Ryan feared he may lose his breakfast all over the sidewalk.
“I don’t know yet.” She shrugged. “I guess time will tell, right?”
“That’s it. That’s all you’re gonna give me?” He threw his hands up in the air, knowing he was acting irrational, but not caring. “‘Time will tell?’ What the hell does that even mean? Time will tell if you’re in love with the guy… if you’re gonna marry him… have his babies? What the hell is time gonna tell exactly?”
She started walking down the street toward her apartment complex. “You must have had more to drink than I thought. You’re acting like a crazy person.”
He was crazy, about her. “Damn it, don’t walk away from me!” he shouted, jogging to catch up. “I’m not finished talkin’ about this.”
“Too bad. I am. From now on, consider Jared off-limits.”
She couldn’t do that. How was he supposed to know whether that loser was making inroads if she planned to keep him in the dark? “Bri,” he said, tugging on her coat sleeve. “Don’t do that. Don’t shut me out. You know how much I care about you. I just don’t wanna see you get hurt.”
She smiled as she stood on the toes of her high-heeled boots to press a kiss to his cheek. “You’re so sweet.” She patted her gloved hands against his chest. “But I don’t know who’s worse, you or my brothers. Y’all have to accept the fact that I’m not a little girl. You don’t have to protect me from the bullies on the playground anymore.”
If Aiden knew what he was thinking right now, Ryan would be the one who required protection. “I’m always gonna want to protect you,” he said, barely able to resist the lure of her full, glossy lips.
She always put flavored lip gloss on to protect her lips from the elements. She told him cherry was yummy, but when he jokingly pleaded for a taste, she pushed him away. Again.
“I know that.” She laid her head on his chest and his arms enfolded her. “You’re one of the best friends I’ve ever had, Ry. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I feel the same way.” He shifted, praying she wasn’t able to feel just how much he needed her.
Ryan walked back to his house, rehearsing his speech to the woman who was no doubt lying naked between his crisp sheets by now, primed and ready to pick up where they’d left off three months earlier.
There was no reason he shouldn’t sleep with Gayle, especially now that he knew Brianna was sleeping with that loser. But every time he took another woman to bed or even closed his eyes to indulge in a passionate kiss, he saw Brianna’s face. He wanted to caress her curves and sink into her hot, tight little body. He didn’t know how it happened. When did he decide he wanted his best friend to become his lover?
Before he had a chance to cross the threshold, the buxom redhead pressed a cold beer into his hands. The sun had barely crossed the horizon. He didn’t need a drink. He needed someone to help him understand what was happening to him.
“You look tired,” she said, sneaking in behind him to massage his shoulders after slipping his leather jacket off and hanging it on the wrought iron banister at the foot of the stairs. “I know just want you need before you turn in.”
He closed his eyes against the wave of sensation as she worked to loosen his tense muscles. “That feels great,” he said, grabbing her wrist. “But we need to talk.”
“Uh-oh,” she said, stepping in front of him. “You’re not mad that I just showed up, are you? You said I could stop by whenever I was in town.”
“I’m not mad.” He took her hand and led her up the few steps to the family room. His modern luxury townhome boasted too much space for a single guy, but it offered several spare bedrooms where his friends could sleep off the party.
He set the beer bottle down on the coffee table and tugged on her hand until she sat beside him.
“You and Brianna aren’t dating, are you?” When he didn’t respond right away, she said, “She didn’t seem bothered that I was here, so I just assumed…”
“No, we’re not.” Ryan couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a girlfriend. For years, women drifted in and out of his life. He never stopped to ponder why they never felt compelled to stay because he never wanted them to get too comfortable. But that was then, before he realized he was on the verge of losing the best thing that ever happened to him. He was smart enough to realize a good thing when he had it.
“But you’d like to be?”
Ryan had been told he had a convincing poker face, but apparently when it came to Brianna, he wore his emotions for all to see.
“What makes you say that?”
“A guy hasn’t looked at me the way you looked at her in a really long time…” She tucked her bare legs up under her. “But I haven’t forgotten what that’s like.”
The old Ryan would have been mesmerized by the long legs brushing up against his hand, but he couldn’t think past Brianna to even consider what Gayle was offering.
“But the way I see it, you have a problem, my friend.”
“Oh yeah, what’s that?”
“I saw you looking at her that way, but…”
As someone who made it a point to speak his mind, regardless of the fallout, he had little respect for people who were afraid to do the same. “But what? Just spit it out already.”
“She’s obviously not that into you.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I’m sorry if that’s not what you want to hear, but it’s pretty obvious. If she was, she would’ve taken one look at me, and the claws would’ve come out. That didn’t happen…”
Ryan didn’t want to accept the harsh truth, but Gayle was right. The fact that he hadn’t seen it himself only proved that he was delusional. “Means she just thinks of me as a friend.” It shouldn’t surprise him. He introduced Brianna to dozens of women over the years, and she was always sweet, never jealous or petty. Not once had she reacted the way he had when she mentioned Jared.
“I’m sorry if you’re disappointed,” Gayle said quietly. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
“No, it’s okay.” It wasn’t, but he didn’t intend to burden her with his problems. “Listen, I didn’t get any sleep last night, and I’m wiped out. Why don’t you take one of the guest rooms and we can grab a few hours of shut eye?” Not that he expected sleep to come easily with Brianna on his mind.
“Knowing what you know now, you still don’t want to…” She glanced down at the pink, lacy negligee and tried to pull the sheer robe closed. “Wow, this is really embarrassing.”
“Please, don’t be offended,” he said, resting a hand on her calf. He should have felt something. A gorgeous woman was offering herself to him, no strings attached, yet he felt… nothing. It scared him to think this may be what he had to look forward to if he couldn’t come to terms with his feelings for Brianna. “You’re a great girl. I’ve just got a lot goin’ on right now.”
“My sister and her family live nearby. I didn’t really feel like doing the whole Santa thing this morning, but I’m thinking that may not be such a bad idea, after all.”
“You don’t have to go, Gayle. I meant what I said. You’re more than welcome to stay.”
“Thanks, but I get the feeling you’d rather be alone.” He stood and she reached up to hug him. “I hope everything works out for you, Ryan. You’re one of the good guys.”
Chapter Nine
Alisa awoke to the unfamiliar sound of a baby crying. She smiled as she pulled up her T-shirt and positioned the baby at her breast. Stroking his soft cheek, she said a silent prayer of thanks that her dream came true last night. Her baby was born safe and healthy, surrounded by people who loved him. She couldn’t have asked for more.
“Good morning, beautiful,” Liam said, stepping into the room before closing the door behind him.
“Where were you?”
Liam lay down beside her on the bed, brushing the downy soft hair on the top of his son’s head. “I went home to pick up a few things. I thought you might like a change of clothes, and I knew the baby would need some of his things if we’re staying here tonight.”
“You don’t mind staying here, do you?”
“Of course not.” He kissed her lips tenderly before he said, “Whatever makes you happy, sweetheart. You know that.” He reached into his pocket and withdrew a small wrapped box.
“What’s that?”
“Your Christmas present.”
“Oh no, I left yours at home.” Alisa shifted the baby to the other breast and watched with satisfaction while he latched on.
“I have everything I need right here.” He nuzzled her neck, kissing the sensitive skin behind her ear.
Alisa knew it was going to be the longest six weeks of their lives as they waited for the green light to resume their normal activities. Even in her last trimester, she couldn’t resist the lure of the sexy man cozying up next to her. “Stop that,” she whispered. “You know it drives me crazy when you kiss me like that.”
Liam chuckled. “Just giving you something to think about.”
“Believe me, I’ll think of little else for the next forty-two days.” Alisa smirked when she saw she wasn’t the only one affected by his teasing.
“Oh, I think our son will command a fair share of your attention.”
Alisa settled the baby on her shoulder and patted his back. “Okay, I’m dying to know, what do you have there?”
Liam pulled the foil lid off the box and turned it over. A leather box tumbled to the mattress between them and he picked it up. “I had this made for you. I hope you like it.”
After all this time, Alisa couldn’t believe her husband still had doubts. Didn’t he know he already gave her everything she ever needed and more than she ever dared to hope for? “I’m sure I’ll love it. Now open the box, the suspense is killing me.”
Alisa gasped when he opened the box to reveal a large blue topaz surrounded by twenty quarter carat diamonds on a platinum chain. “Trey’s birthstone,” she whispered. She bit her trembling lip. “Oh, Liam, it’s gorgeous. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” He kissed her softly before pulling back to look her in the eye. “It’s crazy that no matter what I try to do or give you, I always seem to come up short.”
“What are you talking about?” Her husband had spoiled her with lavish gifts since the day they met, and despite her repeated protests, he insisted it gave him pleasure to treat her to nice things. “You’ve given me so much…”
“But I’ve realized something. No matter how big the diamond or expensive the car, it’s never going to be enough to show you how much you mean to me. That’s why I decided to do something to prove to you that I listen to every word you say and my goal…” He smiled and brushed away a tear sliding down her cheek. “Is to do whatever it takes to make you happy.”
“You’ve already made me so happy, you have no idea.”
Liam slid off the bed and walked to the door.
“Where are you going?”
“There’s someone waiting to see you.”
“Who is it?”
Liam opened the door and Alisa cried out, startling the baby nuzzling her neck. “Oh my God, Val!”
Val was her nanny growing up, but she was so much more than that. She was a member of their family for more years than Alisa had been alive. “I can’t believe you’re really here.” Well into her eighties, Val hadn’t made the trip back to Nashville in more than a decade.
Liam held Val’s hand as she made her way to Alisa’s bed and reached down to hug Alisa and her son. “I wouldn’t have missed this for anything in the world,” Val said, sniffling as she reached for a tissue. “When your husband offered to fly me here on his private jet, I couldn’t get to the airport fast enough.”
Val and her second husband, Terrance, had moved to Florida to be with his family many years ago, but they continued to travel with Trey and his entourage to support Sierra as she cared for Alisa.
“I can’t believe you did this,” Alisa said, looking up at Liam. “How did you know how much this would mean to me?”
Liam helped Val claim the seat at the side of the bed and placed a hand on her back. “Like I said, I listen. You’ve mentioned Valerie to me a hundred times. I knew how much having her here to meet our son would mean to you.”
Alisa couldn’t contain the steady stream of tears sliding down her cheeks. She wanted to blame the outburst on hormones, but she knew it was more than that. She had found a man who not only loved her, but seemed able to read her mind. “You’ll never know how much it means to me…” She looked from Liam to Val. “Thank you, bo
th of you.”
Liam smiled. “I’ll give you ladies some time to catch up.”
Valerie waited for Liam to close the door before she said, “That’s some man you have there, my dear.”
“I still don’t know what I did to deserve him.”
Val patted her hand. “I’m sure he asks himself what he did to deserve you.”
“How are you, Val? I mean, really?” Valerie had lost her husband three years ago after a long bout with Alzheimer’s. Since she didn’t have any family left, Alisa feared she may be lonely.
“I have my good days and my bad days.” She smiled. “But doesn’t everyone? That’s just a part of life, especially when you get to be my age.”
“I know you have friends in Florida, but…” Alisa and her parents had asked Valerie to return to Nashville numerous times, to no avail. “We miss you so much.”
“You’re the only family I’ve ever had,” she said, a tear leaving a trail on the deep-set wrinkles in her cheek. “I came to work for your mama and daddy after my George died, and being here with them filled the hole in my heart.”
Alisa set the baby down on the mattress beside her and propped a pillow beside him so she could take Val’s hand. “I can only imagine how difficult losing George and then Terrance was for you.” When Liam had his heart attack, Alisa had only known him a short time, but that didn’t minimize her fear of losing him. Now she was vigilant about making sure he ate a healthy diet, minimized his stress, and exercised every day. With twenty years between them, she knew she would have to face too many lonely years without him and the thought terrified her. She needed him, and their son needed his daddy.
“I thought I’d never get over losing George.” She gripped Alisa’s hand. “He was the love of my life. But then your parents took me in and I became a member of your family.” She reached behind her silver framed glasses to catch an errant tear with the corner of her tissue.
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