The Sterling Boys (The Sterling Shore Series #3)

by C. M. Owens

  "Somewhere out there, there's another group of guys who need their best friend to keep them out of trouble. The one who never judges and loves them unconditionally. And the girl who tells them like it is when they need to hear it most. That girl may not have the ability to afford what she needs."

  He turns back toward the crowd as I struggle to breathe.

  "That's why we did this. The five of us have been collecting contributors, orchestrating charities, and putting forth our own money for the past six years to get this up and operational. Now I want the girl who inspired it all to cut the ribbon."

  Words won't form in my mouth, and I can barely keep from crumbling to the ground. Kode actually has to start holding me up by pulling me to his side. Dane turns to me, grinning as he motions for me to join him.

  He's got to be kidding. I can't walk.

  He stifles a laugh when he sees my wobbly body, and he glides over to me to collect me from Kode's supportive hold. He moves me toward the ribbon as they bring out the ceremonial giant cutting scissors, and Dane hands them to me.

  "I declare this the opening of the Rainy Days Medical Facility," he says while looking down at me.

  My heart thuds in my ears, and Dane's smile becomes huge as he bends down. "Cut the ribbon, baby."

  All five of them come to stand around me as flashes from numerous cameras blind me from all sides. The familiar warmth of Dane's hand finds my back, and his other hand slides up my arm.

  I snip the ribbon, but the scissors drop the second the task is complete, and I throw myself into the group of awaiting arms, hugging them all and kissing their cheeks as my tears fall. Maverick sniffles and coughs when he tries to act unaffected, and Corbin discreetly wipes away a tear.

  I love my boys. But not the way I love Dane Sterling.

  After letting go of Dale, I turn to Dane and launch myself at him. He stumbles backwards, caught off guard by my near tackling embrace, and he chuckles as he kisses my forehead and holds me tight.

  "I can't believe you guys did this." I'm choked up and my words are all muffled, but they all grin and try not to get emotional themselves.

  "Well, I did it because I'm in love with you. Why these assholes did it, too, I don't know," Dane teases, taking me back to prom night when these five boys showed me what family really meant.

  Everyone snickers, even Kode, and like the family we are, we all walk inside together.

  Everything is perfect. From the marble floors, to the leather couches in the waiting room, to the state-of-the-art equipment, it's all so amazing. Dane walks me through each section of the enormous building, gives me details of all the volunteer doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and even street people who want to help.

  Every new room is more fascinating than the last, each new gadget is more complicated, and every breath he breathes leaves me more in love. If there wasn't a huge audience, I'd show him just how amazing I think he is.

  He's handled every single detail, and everything is... I can't believe they all did this.

  ***

  DANE

  Rain is laughing with Tria in the far corner of the waiting room inside the new clinic. I haven't been able to tear my eyes away from her since I got here. I'm ready to get out of here, and the second I'm sure Rain is ready, I'm taking her home for part two.

  "It's been a while since I've seen Rain this happy," Dale observes, sipping his champagne beside me.

  "She's still shocked and impressed by this place," I say with my dopey smile.

  Dale grins while we both stare at the beauty I love.

  "There's no doubt that she enjoys this, but she looks happy because she's with you. I hope you know what you're doing. I never want us to all be split up again. Rain's like my sister, and you're like my brother. And now things are good with her and Kode, too. I've missed our group."

  Rain's laughter floats to me, and my grin grows. "I've missed it, too. But right now, all I want to do is—"

  "Don't finish that sentence. I may love you like a brother, but I'll kick your ass if you share those sorts of details with me about Rain."

  I burst out laughing while shaking my head. "I was going to say that all I want to do is get Rain out of here and go home. I've got something to ask her."

  Dale sighs out in relief and visibly relaxes. Like I'd give any of them those sorts of details.

  Rain looks over at me, smiling when her eyes meet mine, and she crosses the floor to close the distance between us. Right before she reaches me, Lisa Marion from the Sterling Shore newspaper stops beside me, recorder in hand. I thought I already finished with her.

  "Can I ask where you came up with Rainy Days? It almost sounds a little... depressing."

  Rain comes to stand by my side, and I wrap my arm around her, letting the world see just how much I love her.

  "I named it after Rain. Her mother always loved rainy days because the rain always seemed to make everything better. When she had a daughter, she named her after the falling drops that always made her smile."

  Rains eyes tear up, and she looks up at me. "You remember that story?"

  I bend to brush a sweet, chaste kiss against her lips. "I remember everything you've ever told me."

  She starts to speak again, but Lisa interrupts.

  "Do you care if we do an interview with you? This story is a really big deal, and the paper wants to do a larger piece on it and you. They'll probably want to speak with your brother and cousins as well. And of course Ms. Noles, also."

  Rain nods absently, and I agree to do the interview. Lisa retreats when Rain pulls me down for a deeper kiss.

  "Let's get out of here," she whispers, and I lead the way hastily.

  Chapter 14

  DANE

  "You couldn't have been a virgin. You were so... good. At everything. How could you have been that good if you were a virgin?" Rain asks, kissing my bare chest as she traces the lines of the tattoo on my arm.

  "I was. Everything I did was pure instinct and what I'd heard the others talk about. It's not like I read a how-to-fuck manual. And I swear I was a virgin."

  She giggles while pushing her face into my chest, and I pull her bare body closer, not ready for our afterglow to end. Britt is with my mother tonight because she wants to take her shopping in the morning. That gives us all the privacy in the world.

  I spent the afternoon trying to track down Pete Mercer, and then watched Kode stomp his ass before unveiling the masterpiece I've dedicated six years to. Since we've been back, we've spent the entire night in bed, mostly talking. I hate this topic, but it was bound to come up at some point.

  "But all those rumors about you and those girls—"

  "Were just rumors. I turned down a lot of girls in high school. Not all of them were happy with that, and their pride was at stake. So... well, they'd claim it, and it was sort of hard for me to deny it without announcing to the whole damn school that I was a virgin."

  Her grin is beautiful as she looks up at me, craning her neck so that she can see my eyes.

  "So I was your first," she says simply, but I can tell she's loving this shit.

  "Yep. You popped my cherry the same night I popped yours."

  She laughs harder, as do I, and we just lie in each other's arms.

  "And this friendship with you and Tria was spontaneous. You did all of that to make me jealous?"

  I shrug, ignoring her haughty grin. "Little bit, yeah. But I also wanted you two to get closer. Especially after she explained things."

  She seems to accept that, and she grins bigger while staring at my book collection. I didn't mean to share that secret. I'm kicking my maid's ass for putting them on the shelves. I had them hidden under the bed for a reason.

  "I can't believe you've read all my books."

  I roll my eyes while groaning. "Some things should be kept a secret, damn it."

  She giggles and kisses my arm, running her lips over the tattoo this time. "I'm glad you read them, considering you're my inspiration for writing."r />
  My chest tightens, and I turn to face her. I'm her inspiration? This is the moment I've been waiting for.

  "Move in with me," I murmur quickly, trying not to get worried when she goes still in my arms.

  "What?"

  Taking deep, steadying breath, I put my body above hers, and press my weight on her just enough.

  "Move in with me. I know it's soon, but I think we've wasted enough time. We've barely spent any time apart in two months, and you know how much I love you... Move in with me."

  Slowly, her grin comes back, and she nods. "Okay. But you're telling the guys."

  My heart slams into my chest when she agrees that readily—no argument, no pro/con list necessary, and no questions. It gives me hope that when I ask her to marry me, she'll say yes.

  "So yes?" I ask, just because it all feels too easy.

  "Yes," she says with an adorable little lilt.

  I pull her to me and push my lips hard against hers as I drop back to the bed. She climbs on top of me, pressing her bare skin against mine with the promise that life is going to be amazing.

  Her breath comes out in a moaning exhale as she slides down on me, sheathing me tightly inside her, and I watch her hips rise and fall as she takes all the control. If anything has ever felt better, I can't remember it.

  My hands slide around her body slowly, worshiping her as though this is the only time I'll ever have her this way. Her slow, tantalizing rhythm quickens, and the torrid sounds grow louder and needier as we both climb.

  Rain's head drops back as she cries out, and my release is almost painful when it comes out too powerfully. She's still rocking her hips even as we both come down from our highs, but she finally collapses to my body, breathless and spent.

  "If I move in, will we ever get anything done?" she muses, laughing breathily as she rests her head against my chest.

  "Probably not, but I'm willing to live in bed if you are."

  She giggles, and I hold her to me. I've never been this happy in all my life.

  ***

  RAIN

  Two incredible days have passed since Dane asked me to move in. I'm surprised I didn't do something incredibly embarrassing like squeal or dance around like a fool.

  "Have you read Dane's interview?" Tria asks as she goes for a cup of coffee.

  It's weird how comfortable we've suddenly gotten with each other. Dane's explanation of their friendship squashed the last of my reservations about her.

  "They've already printed it? She just interviewed him yesterday morning," I murmur, reaching for the paper beside her.

  "I haven't read it yet, but Mom said there was a lot about you in it," she sings.

  My stomach flutters as I start flipping the pages, eager to find out what all he's said. When my eyes land on his interview, I almost go completely stiff with suspense.

  Most of the questions are directed toward the clinic and all of its awesomeness, but the longer the interview, the more personal it gets.

  Lisa: Is it true you're dating Rain Noles?

  Dane: Actually, we're living together now, so I consider it to be more serious than just dating.

  Yep. I love the hell out of him. I can picture her pouting when Dane squashed her with that answer. The girl was drooling all over him at the clinic opening.

  Lisa: Is it true the two of you dated but broke up in high school?

  Dane: No. Rain and I were only ever friends when we were kids. Now we're making up for lost time.

  Lisa: Is another one of Sterling Shore's sexiest bachelors about to be off the market for good?

  I'm almost too scared to read his answer. And I really want to go smack that bitch for this interrogation.

  Dane: I've been off the market since the day I met Rain Noles.

  I blame the shoddy craftsmanship of today's carpenters when I fall off the stool, because I refuse to admit that his answer shocked me that much.

  As I thud to the ground, causing a chain reaction of the other two stools to fall, Tria screeches and jumps to avoid getting slammed into. I curse the stupid stool before kicking it, and I grab the newspaper back.

  "What the hell just happened?" Tria gasps, grabbing her heart.

  I ignore her and continue reading.

  Lisa: So Dane Sterling has been tamed. She's a lucky girl. I never thought I'd see the day when you were saddled. But then again, Tag Masters beat you to it and even became a father.

  Dane: I was surprised by that, too, but Tag is an amazing dad and husband.

  Lisa: What about you? Any children on the horizon?

  I shouldn't read this. I haven't talked to Dane about my surgery yet, so no matter what his answer is... Well, I need to talk to him and stop reading.

  The things we should do and the things we actually do are always very different.

  Dane: I'd love nothing more than to have a houseful of children. That's actually something I've given a lot of thought to for the past few years.

  No dream on the face of the earth has ever died quicker than mine does in this moment. He doesn't just want children; he wants a houseful. He wants the ideal family that I can't give him.

  "Rain, what's wrong? You look sick," Tria prompts.

  I slide the paper over, unable to form words. He wants a houseful of children. His dream is a large family. Fate couldn't be crueler than it's being in this moment.

  Tria starts skimming the article and shaking her head, narrowing her eyes as she searches for the bomb that just decimated my world.

  "It all sounds good," she says, confused, her eyes still on the article as she continues to read. I don't respond, and when her face falls and pity washes over her eyes, I know I don't have to explain.

  She looks up, dropping the paper onto the counter, and then she gives me a sad effort at an encouraging smile.

  "Rain, he doesn't know. He would—"

  "Give up his chance to have children to be with me, and then resent me later on in life. Just like Edward did with Eleanor."

  "Rain, no. Dane would never be like Dad. Don't even think that. He loves you. You love him, Rain. You can't leave if you love him."

  I stare at my hands, gazing at them as though they have the answers to the universe. I woke up high on life, but as always, life has a way of stealing everything good from me.

  "Tria, I've loved Dane since I was thirteen. It took me eleven years to get him this way. As much as I want to stay, as much as I want to be here to love him... Well, I can't do this to him. My world fell away when they told me I couldn't have children. I can't watch Dane's face when he learns how truly fucked my body is. And I don't want him staying with me for all the wrong reasons. You don't understand. I'm not doing this because I don't love him, I've got to do this because I do love him."

  A tear falls from her eye, and she shakes her head. "No, Rain. It's stupid and it's not fair. You shouldn't have to give him up. You don't have to give him up."

  I fight hard to restrain my own tears. "It's not fair, but for a few weeks, I've had a love that most people never have in a lifetime. Maybe that was life's way of apologizing for all it has taken."

  I look away when a sob escapes me, and Tria's arms close around me as I cry. "Don't, Rain. Don't give him up."

  If I was a selfish person, I would keep him. I'd never let him go. But I'm not a selfish person. And I've gone through enough shit to be strong enough to let him go. It'll hurt like hell, and I'll need a lot of alcohol, but I'll get through it. Maybe.

  Chapter 15

  DANE

  "So... tomorrow?" Maverick asks slowly, possibly trying to see if I'm nervous enough to back out.

  "Yeah. She doesn't know about the party. It'll be the perfect birthday present, and then I'll propose to her in front of everyone."

  "That's a little risky, isn't it? What if she says no?"

  "She won't," I say with a confident smile.

  Rain means more to me than I even imagined she could. I've never woken up happier than I do every day that she's with me. No
one has ever loved me the way she does, and I never want to lose it.

  She came willingly when I wanted us to move in together, and I had to bump up the party schedule just so I could ask her to marry me. It's impossible not to ask her every time she gives me that look no one else ever gets to see. It's a look reserved for only me—to make me feel as though I could conquer the world.

  "Fine," Maverick groans as we roll up to my house. "Don't worry about making sure the party is ready. The guys and I will handle it—well, not Kode. He doesn't want to be around when you ask her to marry you. He's not mad, just... well, you understand."

  I nod slowly, pursing my lips as I stare at my house. I want to ask her to marry me right now. It'll be torture to wait one more day.

  "Tria and Rain have been getting closer. And we're already taking care of Pete. Think we should adopt her in?" Maverick asks unsurely, staring at Tria's car in the driveway.

  "I assumed we already had."

  "She's still skittish around us. I tried asking her to hang out with Corbin and me yesterday, and she turned white, like she was terrified."

  I laugh unintentionally, and Maverick looks at me expectantly.

  "Sorry," I say through my chuckles, "but it probably sounded like a setup to her. You'll just have to ease into a friendship with her."

  "Sounds like too much work. It's not like I'm dying to be friends with her. I just want to make Rain happy, so I thought it'd be good to extend a truce to her sister."

  "You sure you don't just want another wing woman to hook you up when you've burned bridges all over town?" I joke.

  "Dane, please. I'm a damn fine Sterling. I can still get any woman I want if I work at it. I just happen to tell the girls the truth about what they'll be getting instead of filling their heads with the bullshit some guys do."