Stay: Changing Tides, Book 1

by Candi Wall

  Abby just fit. That’s all there was to it.

  She stood with his mother and Gigi, along with a couple other wives and family members. Her smile was radiant in the soft glow of the lanterns hung for the party. His mother had already warned him that Abby was a keeper-type of woman, and he’d told her he’d realized that from the start. She’d wandered back to the gathering after telling him he better get to keeping her before someone else did.

  Brack took a long pull from his beer. He’d had two already, and he knew he’d better stop. But tonight was his night off. He had a ride home, thanks to Lawson, and he needed the break. Jonathon was out with Lynette and her family, and they’d drop him off within the hour. Not that he’d have him for long. His mother and father wanted him to come over for the night.

  A free night didn’t happen often, and he closed his eyes, letting himself relax into one of the reclining lawn chairs. Cold evening air had made it necessary to put on a sweatshirt hours before, and the chill would soon drive them all inside the station. But for now, he welcomed the crispness, inhaling deep.

  Laughter erupted from where Abby stood with the others, and he picked out her voice. She was asking for directions, and it only took a moment before he realized what Lawson was explaining.

  Standoff. A childhood game. One that had carried over into adulthood. And Lawson was trying to convince her to play. This could get interesting. Brack didn’t know if it was the beer or some devil-sent maggot in his brain, but when he heard her try to beg off, he found himself piping in, “Why not? You’re not scared of a little competition, are you?”

  He’d managed to keep quiet the entire evening, refusing the need to be close to her. And now he was crossing the parking lot in their direction. Damn it all.

  Her gaze met his with dubious challenge. “Of course not, Captain. I just didn’t want to break any more of your records. Lawson said you were the reigning champion.”

  “I am.”

  “Then I’m game.”

  Hoots and hollers erupted around them, but Brack couldn’t look away. She was pissed. No doubt about it. The question was why? He waited until Lawson had drawn a line on the grass with spray paint before waving her toward the lawn. “Ladies first.”

  Numbers were scribbled on paper and dropped in a fire helmet. Brack tried to watch the matches as they went but he couldn’t keep his eyes off Abby. She studied each match with intensity, asking Rand and Lawson different questions and even practicing a couple times with various others as the matches heated up. Each winner’s number was placed in a crude bracket Rand had drawn up. The new numbers drawn brought two people to the line, and when Jonathon showed up, his number was added into the mix.

  Abby’s number came up with Sam’s. She stepped up to the line and faced him. They put their hands up, palms together.

  “On the whistle,” Rand announced. “Remember, you can’t move your feet, Abby. First to lose their balance is out.”

  When the whistle blew, the two just stood there. Their hands moved slightly, testing each other’s reactions. Sam pulled his hands away quickly, and Abby tottered forward before catching her balance. Though Brack couldn’t be certain, he thought Sam might have gone easy on her. She laughed as they pushed and leaned, and when Abby jerked her hands away, Sam took a step over the line to solidify her first win.

  Her smile as she helped Sam up from his knees jerked through Brack with the strength of lightning. How was he supposed to pretend what they shared the other night never happened? She might be able to, but he couldn’t. Shit, all she had to do was smile and he was hard.

  Several more rounds passed before Brack’s number came up along with Jenna’s. Finishing off his beer, he faced his sister-in-law. He knew from experience that she was good, but there was no way he’d lose tonight. One way or another, he was going to meet up with Abby on this line.

  Jenna didn’t stand a chance and smiled her defeat gracefully less than two minutes later. Round after round passed. Abby held her own, and so did Lawson, Jonathon, and Rand. The last standings didn’t surprise any of them, barring Abby’s inclusion. For someone who’d never played, she’d done well.

  Jonathon was her next opponent, and it didn’t take long for him to throw her off-balance. Though Brack was bummed to have missed the chance to go against her, he was having too much fun to give it much thought. That and his fifth beer might have had something to do with it. Or was it the sixth?

  Abby settled back in her chair to watch the rest of the matches. She’d had so much fun that she couldn’t be too upset by losing. Jonathon had beaten her soundly and he held his own through two more matches, knocking Rand and Lawson out of the running.

  Brack’s number was called again, and Rand’s voice filled the area. “It’s father against son, David against Goliath, man against beast…”

  “Get to the point, son,” Merrit hollered good-naturedly. “We’re not getting any younger—or warmer.”

  “Brack and Jonathon.” Rand held his whistle up as they came to the line. “Winner takes all.”

  Brack handed his empty beer bottle to Rand and held his hands up to meet his son’s. They were the same size, both long and tanned. Brack’s hands bore the marks of age while Jonathon’s were trim and lithe from signing for so many years. They stood almost the same height and Abby wondered if the next two years of growth would put Jonathon at a height advantage.

  Abby stared at them and something inside her broke open. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she forced several breaths to ease the ache in her throat. She loved them. Both of them.

  She didn’t see the match, though she sat right there in front of them. She heard the laughter and encouraging yells, she even heard the cheers as someone won, but for the life of her, she didn’t know who.

  She loved them, and she didn’t want to.

  The thought swallowed her whole.

  She wasn’t sure how much time passed.

  “What’s eating you?”

  It was Brack. He dropped into the chair next to her, landing hard.

  “Nothing.” She closed her eyes and snuggled down into her sweatshirt. “Just tired.”

  She could feel the heat of his skin and breath as he leaned closer. “Did you see Jonathon kick my ass? How the hell did he get old enough for that? I was just changing his diapers yesterday.”

  That image drew a laugh out of her and she opened her eyes. He stared at her, his eyes somewhat glassy. “I think you’re drunk.”

  He pinched his fingers together. “Just a little.”

  She looked around. “Is everyone leaving?”

  He nodded. “Yep.”

  “You have a ride?” she asked, suddenly nervous.

  “You.”

  “Me?” she croaked. Great. Drunk men made for amorous company. “How’d that happen?”

  He shrugged. “I wanted to get you alone.”

  His honesty broke through the fog surrounding her. “Dare I ask why?”

  “Because I’ve had to share you all night.”

  Okay, so he wasn’t going to elaborate. That worked and didn’t at the same time. Shit. “Are you ready?”

  “I’ve been ready for hours.”

  Her heart was thrumming fast enough to punch out of her chest. She needed to get a grip, and quick. Glancing at the others remaining, she stood. “Let me go say goodbye.”

  He nodded with a yawn. “I’ll wait in the car. Already said goodbye to everyone.”

  Abby made the rounds and tried to help Gigi with some of the leftover food. “You just get him home and into bed. I’ll take care of this.”

  Had there been a double meaning in Gigi’s statement? Abby almost thought so by the gleam in her friend’s eyes. “Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Marla and Merrit had already left, and Lawson told her Jonathon had gone home with them for the night.

  She made her way to the car in a jumble of nerves. They’d be alone. It sat in darkness, parked at the edge of the lawn sheltered by trees. As she app
roached, she could make out Brack leaned back in her passenger seat, his knees scrunched up against the dashboard. Laughing she walked around to his side and opened the door. “You’d be more comfortable if you let me slide the seat back.”

  His arm draped over his eyes. “Do whatever you want, Abby, just turn off that light.”

  She reached across him and flipped off the interior light before sliding her hand between his legs to grab the handle. He chuckled. “You missed.”

  Jerking the handle upward, she shoved his seat back. “Don’t think so, Romeo.”

  “Romeo, huh?” His hand slid up to cup the back of her neck, pulling her down close. “Can Romeo have a kiss?”

  His lips were inches from hers and she brushed a quick kiss across his mouth. “There.”

  He shook his head. “Not good enough.”

  She kissed him again, with slightly more pressure. “Better?”

  He shook his head. “Not even close.”

  His other hand snaked out and wrapped around her waist, dragging her into the car across his lap. Before she could say a word, his lips found hers. There was no pretense, no clumsy drunken mauling. He kissed her hard and deep, igniting instant arousal in her belly. His hand caressed her bottom, pulling her closer onto his lap until she could feel the hard press of his erection against her hip.

  She pulled back, gasping for breath. “Brack, stop. We can’t do this.”

  “I think we proved the other night that we can. And good.” He nuzzled her neck, nipping and biting at her pulse before whispering against her skin. “This is what you wanted, right? Nothing beyond this?”

  His hand slid under her shirt, closing over her breast as his hips rocked against her. She was powerless against his touch and his whispered promise of what he would do to her.

  When his hand slid lower, dragging against the waist of her jeans she tried to shift away. “Brack, please.”

  “Please what, Abby?” His hand slid between her thighs. “Stop wanting you? Stop thinking about you?”

  His hand worked against her as he spoke, his lips pressed to her skin, hot and damp. “I tried, but I can’t do it. I want you. I don’t want to, but I do.”

  Her thoughts thrown back at her were enough to clear the fog of arousal he’d created. She pushed away, groaning as his hands reluctantly let her go. “I’ll get you home.”

  “Damn you, Abby.” But the statement held no heat. He nodded, closing his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

  “No apologies.” She wanted to cry. “Being a regret is bad enough. I just don’t want to be a drunken regret.”

  “I don’t regret a moment—”

  She closed his door before he could say more and prayed for strength as she walked around to the other side. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she eased into the car. “You don’t think you regret it now, but where has this sudden attraction been for the last few days? I’m all for no expectations, keeping it simple, but you haven’t even spoken to me.”

  “I know.” He slashed a hand through his hair. “I don’t know how to act around you.”

  She pulled out of the parking lot. “And all but ignoring me, then trying to get into my pants tonight is how you figured you should act?”

  “No.” He had the grace to flinch. “Hell, I don’t know. You’re the one who set the rules. How am I supposed to act? Should I walk over and kiss you when I want, or should I act like you’re a friend? Should I ask you out to dinner or keep what’s between us secret and slip into your bed when no one’s looking? You tell me, Abby. You’re the one with all the answers.”

  His irritation pissed her off. If it wasn’t so cold out, she might have dropped him at a curb and let him walk home. “I don’t have any answers, but I didn’t think you’d treat me like I had the plague. Maybe you were right. Maybe we shouldn’t have had sex. It only complicated an attraction we both enjoyed.”

  “And you don’t anymore?”

  She wanted to lie. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want you. But I’ll give it all up to go back to where we were.”

  “There’s no going back.” He pointed to a small road and she turned, pulling into his drive a moment later. He grabbed the door handle and sighed. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable tonight. I don’t know how to pretend I don’t want you every minute. I’ll work on—acting the way we did before. That’s the best I can offer.”

  “Thank you,” was all she could manage.

  “But you have to know…” He shifted to look at her, his fingers tracing over her cheek. “I want you to come in. I want you to stay for the night. I want you, period.”

  He climbed out and closed the door before she could say a word. She waited until he made it to his door, ignoring his questioning glance before she backed out of the drive. With a groan, she clutched the steering wheel.

  He wanted exactly what she wanted.

  Chapter Twelve

  Three days since she’d laid eyes on Brack freakin’ Elliot.

  Abby slid the last of her papers into a folder and placed them in her bag.

  Why the hell did she care?

  Maybe because she could barely sleep without thinking about him. But he’d done exactly what she’d told him to do. He’d walked away. No ties. No commitment.

  “You should be happy, idiot,” she mumbled.

  “What’s gotten you in such an uproar these last couple days?”

  Heat traveled across Abby’s cheeks, and she turned to face Gigi. “Sorry. I’m just out of sorts.”

  “I’d say.” Gigi handed her a travel mug and pointed toward the door. “You’re going to be late.”

  With a quick nod, Abby grabbed her bag and pulled it over her shoulder. “I know. Thanks, Gi.”

  She rushed out the door and headed for the front doors of the school. Today would be their first scrimmage, and the nervous anticipation had begun.

  The girls were waiting next to the bus when she exited the building. Jonathon stood off to one side with Lynette, and they both smiled as she approached.

  Lynette grabbed her backpack from the ground. “We’re all ready, Coach.”

  “Good.” Abby forced herself to look away from Jonathon. “Let’s get going then.”

  A quick glance revealed the question in his eyes, but she ignored it, not sure she could look at him when he reminded her so much of his father. She climbed on the bus and took the seat closest to the front before rummaging through her bag for the scorebook. At least it would make it look like she was focused on something, even if her mind refused to comply.

  Frustrated, she drew circles and intricate patterns over the paper. She shouldn’t expect or want any other reaction from Brack. The distance between them would make it easier to deal with her rattled emotions in the long run.

  She repeated the affirming thought over and over again, but it didn’t help. Maybe it was just better to cut and run now before her heart was any more invested. If she left now, she could save on the hurt, and Brack and Jonathon would never have to witness who her mother was and what she herself could someday become.

  It made sense. It was what she’d always done.

  But this time, it hurt. This time, a foolish part of her wished she didn’t have to go…

  When the bus rumbled over the speed bumps of the middle school parking lot, she sighed with relief. The bus door swung open, and the girls’ chatter erupted through her foggy inattention. At least the game would give her a slight reprieve from her thoughts.

  If the girls noticed her distraction they said nothing and quickly carried the gear to the field. Abby took a moment to center her thoughts. She closed her eyes, forcing Brack from her mind where he’d stayed for three nights like the traces of his scent on her pillows. Washing everything hadn’t helped either. The moment she’d settled down to sleep he’d been there, slipping her into nights and haunting her dreams.

  Now he’d taken over her daytime thoughts as well, and she was getting fed up with it. She stood up, nearly knocking Jonathon over in the
process. He stumbled back, his eyes registering his shock. Careful, slow signs worded his question. “Didn’t you hear me coming?”

  She shook her head and tried to put together the words and the signs she needed. “My mind was—elsewhere. Sorry.”

  He nodded, his gaze holding hers for a moment too long. She looked away when surprise arched his brows and a small grin turned his lips. He stared at her before walking away with a slight shake of his head.

  Not certain what conclusion he’d just come to, she decided she didn’t want to know. The boy had too much opinion for his own good anyway.

  Abby could barely contain her excitement. “Girls, that was one of the best games I’ve ever seen. Delli! You were awesome. Not a thing got past you.” The girl’s cheeks turned pink under the simple praise. “And Lynette. Three triples in a game has to be a record.”

  Lynette’s gaze shifted to where Jonathon stood. As if he sensed her watching, he turned with a smile. Abby cleared her throat, happy to see him looking so self-assured. “No practice tomorrow.”

  The girls chatted and hooted their agreement. While they gathered their gear, she called out, “Hey, if you’re not going on the bus with me, I need to see your parents or a note.”

  In a flurry of notes, parental pointing and chatter, the girls scattered. Abby counted the remaining girls who’d take the bus back to the school.

  “Puleeeease say you’re looking for me.”

  Without turning back to the deep voice, she sighed. “No, Rand. Sorry.”

  He stepped in front of her, his green eyes sparkling in the late evening sun. “Too bad.”

  Wind whipped across the field to tug at the thin layer of her pullover, and she shivered. “Why’s that?”

  Rand held out the jacket draped over his arm. “Cold?”

  “Freezing, actually.” She took the garment gratefully.

  “Good.” He tucked the collar closer around her neck. “Then a cup of coffee, maybe a nice dinner is just what you need.”

  “Rand—” Why couldn’t she like him? Well, she liked him, but not the way he wanted. “I don’t think so.”