Audra gave me a skeptical look. I stared at her defiantly for a few seconds before I sighed and let a small smile escape onto my lips.
“I am,” I insisted. “Even if it’s weird to be back, it’s good that I came.”
Laughter echoed up the stairs and I heard children running around in the living room. In a second, my mother would come and demand they all quiet down. This was a morning of sadness, after all. It wasn’t time for playing. Still, hearing them laugh helped make my words to Audra feel true.
“How’s Mom been?” Audra asked weakly. I glanced at her quickly, a warning in my eyes that made her quickly add, “I’m just asking.”
“It’s like I said, she’s been freaking out since I arrived yesterday. They both have.”
“No, I don’t mean about the funeral,” Audra said with a wave of her hand. “I mean about you.”
“She’s been fine,” I said evasively. “Shouldn’t we get going? I thought everyone was afraid of being late.”
Audra opened her mouth as if she were going to argue, but she soon thought better of it. She grabbed my purse from the dresser and handed it to me. After smoothing my hair and pinching my cheeks, she smiled at me in the way only a big sister can.
“Let’s do this,” she said. Her tone suggested we were going into battle and maybe we were. A Prewitt reunion, even one for a funeral, was always an interesting event.
“Do you feel sad?” I asked.
“I do,” Audra nodded. “Don’t you?”
“Not really,” I answered honestly.
“Monster,” Audra teased.
“Shut up, I hadn’t seen the man in ten years.”
“You’re going to hell,” Audra said, pretending to be serious.
“Fuck off,” I said, jabbing her in the ribs with my elbow.
“There’s that Piper Prewitt charm,” she cooed.
“I hate you.”
“You adore me.”
We stepped out into the hallway and I pulled the door closed behind me. My mother was standing at the foot of the stairs, her head tilted upward as if she were about to yell something to us.
“Oh,” she said, relaxing her neck. “You’re ready.”
“Yup,” I said as Audra led the way downstairs.
“Good, let’s go.”
Six
Piper
The funeral was large and loud. When we stepped inside the church, I immediately spotted ten cousins and four second cousins. They were all crammed in the middle of the aisle talking loudly and boisterously. If you didn’t know why we were all there, you would have thought someone was getting married not buried.
My mother led the way down the aisle, squeezing her way between relatives, stopping to say hello as she went. I kept my head down. Avoiding eye contact was the best way to get through this without someone…
“Piper?!” A voice yelled from a few feet away. Everyone in the vicinity immediately fell silent. “Piper! You came!”
I turned to see my cousin Melissa hurrying toward me. She engulfed me in a bone crushing hug before pulling away. She held onto my arms and looked me up and down.
“Ugh! You look gorgeous,” she said with venom in her voice. “I don’t know why I’m surprised, you always were the pretty one.”
“Thanks Mel,” I said softly. “You look great. How long has it been?”
“Six years!” she half-yelled. “Can you believe that?”
“No,” I shook my head and glanced around me. I caught Audra’s eye and tried to silently convey I needed help. She just laughed and made her way into a pew with the kids. I could have killed her.
“So, what have you been up to? Still in New York? How are things? Are you still a paralegal or something like that?”
“A lawyer,” I nodded. “Yeah, I’m still…”
“Oh no!” Melissa interrupted. “Looks like they’re about to start. We better sit.”
Melissa hurried away in a blur. I turned around and made my way over to Audra in a fog. When I sat down, I shoved my shoulder hard against hers.
“Ouch,” she snapped.
“I can’t believe you just left me with her!” I hissed under my breath.
“You looked like you were doing fine,” she chuckled.
“I hate you,” I told her again.
“You might want to be careful with your hatred today. I could be next, you now?” She gestured toward the casket at the front of the church.”
“Drama queen,” I mumbled.
***
At the funeral, I realized how sad I actually felt about my Uncle Jeff. It may have been a decade since I last saw him, but when the eulogies were read, I remembered everything I loved about him. It didn’t take long for me to start crying. Audra held my hand and all of our bickering was forgotten.
After everyone moved to the cemetery and we watched as Uncle Jeff was lowered into the ground, we piled into cars and drove through town toward Kellan’s pub. Uncle Jeff’s one request was an Irish wake and the Prewitts were nothing if not accommodating to the dead.
Kellan’s was decked out in pictures of Uncle Jeff. Every inch of bare wall was covered with his face. I shook my head and went straight for the bar. Grabbing two pints, I claimed a table with Audra and we raised our glasses to Uncle Jeff.
“He was a good uncle,” Audra said.
“He was a little pervy,” I reminded her.
“But good all the same,” she argued.
“Yeah,” I agreed sadly. “He was.”
“I know I already said it,” Audra began. “But I’m really glad you’re here, Pipe.”
“You’re just happy to have someone else around to incur Mom’s wrath,” I teased.
“I’m serious,” Audra said. She took a swig of her beer. “We miss you when you’re not around.”
“She’s right,” Jack, Audra’s husband, said as he pulled up a chair beside Audra.
“Where are the kids?” I asked with a nervous glance behind me.
“I set them up on the patio,” Jack said. “They’re good for a few hours.”
I nodded and took another swig of my beer. I had forgotten how good beer from Kellan’s tasted. I took another drink.
“Even Mom and Dad talk about it,” Audra continued. “Things just aren’t the same without you.”
“Is she drunk already?” I joked, looking at Jack.
“Nope,” Jack laughed. “Just sentimental. It happens when you turn thirty.”
Audra slapped Jack’s arm playfully and rolled her eyes.
“Fine,” she said. “I won’t gush over how much I miss my little sister or how badly Mom and Dad want her to move back. If it bothers you guys that much, I’ll just go check on the kids.”
“No,” I said quickly. “Audra, I’m sorry. We didn’t mean to make fun of you.”
“Yes, you did,” she snapped.
“I miss you guys, too,” I promised.
“Do you?” She asked seriously.
“Of course,” I laughed. “You’re my family.”
“Then why don’t you ever come home?” Audra demanded.
“Aud…” Jack warned.
“You know why,” I told her softly. “It’s hard for me. Being back here.”
“But it doesn’t have to be,” Audra insisted. “The more you come back, the easier it’ll become.”
“I don’t want it to be easy,” I said. “I like my life in New York.”
“Do you?” Audra’s skepticism annoyed me.
“Audra, don’t you remember how long I spent thinking up plans for my life? By the time I was fifteen I knew exactly what I wanted to do, who I wanted to be.”
“I remember,” Audra said.
“So, aren’t you the least bit happy for me?”
“Of course, I am,” Audra promised. “I just don’t think you are happy.”
“What does that mean?” I could feel myself getting defensive and the last thing I wanted to do was fight with my sister.
“It means that you’re drowning, Piper.”
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“Drowning?” I scoffed.
“You flit from relationship to relationship, never settling down. You work crazy hours and…”
“I have a job, so what?”
“So, that job is not your entire life.”
“And you think I don’t know that?” I demanded.
“I think you’re scared,” Audra said bluntly.
“Scared?” I asked, “Scared of what?”
“Living.”
I fell silent and leaned back in my chair. As annoyed as I was with Audra, I couldn’t find it in me to argue with her anymore. She hit on a touchy subject that I didn’t want to explore. It was bad enough having to picture Logan’s face. I didn’t think I could handle having a conversation about him.
Jack sat beside Audra with a concerned look. He’d always worried about me, from the time I was a little girl and he and Audra started going out. He was a good brother, a good husband to my sister. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to ignore my sister and focus on Jack.
“Jack,” I said pointedly. “How’s work going?”
“Oh,” Jack said. He glanced at Audra who just shook her head and sighed. “It’s really good. Things have been…”
Jack launched into an explanation about how wonderful business had been lately. The repair shop he owned was the only one in town, so it wasn’t like he had competition, but it was his pride and joy. He loved that shop almost as much as he loved his family. It was his goal in life to pass it down to his sons when they grew up.
I listened to the rise and fall of Jack’s voice, not catching every word, but happy to be sitting there listening to him. Despite what Audra thought, I did miss being in Bradberry. It was nice to see her and Jack. It was nice to see my cousins and even Aunt Miriam. As much as I hated to admit it, I was even happy to see my parents. There was only one thing keeping me away from Bradberry and it didn’t have anything to do with my family.
The door clanged open behind me and I turned around instinctively. I expected to see another relative or family friend walk through the door and grab a pint, but instead my eyes fell on a familiar face. The exact face I had been picturing moments before.
Logan walked further into the pub, his eyes scanning the room. He looked bigger than the last time I saw him, stronger. His muscles were threatening to tear apart his suit coat and his tie seemed too tight around his neck. Still, he looked handsome. More than handsome. My eyes roamed over his body and his face, glad that he hadn’t seen me yet. I felt glued to my chair. I wanted to move, to run before he saw me, but I couldn’t. My entire body felt heavy.
“What is he doing here?” I heard a voice ask, but it took me a minute to realized it was mine.
“I don’t know…” Audra said, but her words were lost as Logan’s eyes finally found mine. We stared at each other for a fraction of second before my body suddenly felt light and I jumped to my feet. Without a word, I ran toward the back of the pub and disappeared out into the alleyway out back. I didn’t stop running until I was several streets away and breathing heavily.
My heart was racing and my forehead was dripping with sweat, but I didn’t care. I sat down on a curb and put my head between my knees. I told myself to breathe, that I was being ridiculous, but my mind was still racing.
Why was Logan at Kellan’s? Why would he show up to the wake? Was it to see me? Or was it to see…
I sat up and shook my head roughly. My thoughts were running away from me and I had to pull myself together. When Audra accused me of being scared to live I knew she was right. I didn’t want to admit it, but there was a truth to her statement that I couldn’t ignore. Ever since Logan broke my heart, I had been hiding. Ever since that night, I had been terrified of everything…
Seven
Logan
My first thought was that I should turn around and go home. I walked up to Kellan’s and stopped just before I made it to the door. There were people covering every inch of the patio. Some were walking to and from their cars, others were crowded around tables drinking and talking animatedly. My stomach felt weak as I finally took a step forward and pulled open the door. Screw this, if I was going to do it, I was going to fucking do it.
Immediately, I began looking around for her. I could feel pairs of eyes tracking my every move. I knew I should get a beer and find somewhere to sit down, but I needed to see her face first. Just once. Piper’s Uncle Jeff was someone I’d only met in passing since I’d moved back to Bradberry. He was a loner, the kind of guy who never married or had children. He only left his house to see his family and even that was an imposition for him.
Still, when I found out he passed, I was sad. My heart ached for the whole Prewitt family, but mostly for Piper. She hadn’t seen him in years, that much I knew, but I imagined the funeral would still be hard for her. I wanted to be there for her. So, even though I knew I shouldn’t, I went to Kellan’s hoping I would get a chance to talk to her again.
My eyes continued to roam around the room, searching for those curls and bright blue eyes. It wasn’t until I looked to the far corner of the bar that I saw her. She was sitting at a table with her sister Audra and her brother-in-law Jack. All three of them were staring right at me. They looked like they’d seen a ghost.
Not Uncle Jeff.
Me.
My heart skipped uncomfortably when my eyes met Piper’s. She didn’t look angry or upset. Her mouth was hanging slightly open in shock. In those few seconds, I took in every detail of her face. I let myself stare openly at her long, dark curls. They were cascading down her back and I wanted nothing more than to run my fingers through them. Her cheeks were flushed pink and her lips looked exactly like they always did right before I kissed them. After all those years of picturing her, I never imagined she could look even more beautiful.
When I found her eyes again, she was still staring at me with that same uncertain expression. She looked like she wanted to run screaming from the bar, but something was holding her in her seat. Her eyes were locked on mine, she was staring at me with an intensity I would recognize anywhere…
It was two months into our relationship. Piper and I had somehow found our way to the backseat of my car and were making out like our lives depended on it. We never needed much encouragement, Piper and me. So long as we were alone, our bodies were wrapped tightly around each other. As our lips pressed together again and again, and our tongues danced gently, my entire body was alive with a fire I never wanted to put out. Piper had a way of tempting me like no one else ever had. Just one look from her and I was putty in her hands.
Piper pulled away to catch her breath, her eyes finding mine. They were sparkling with something that could only be described as pure desire. Fuck. I knew she wanted me and that made her even sexier. I tangled my fingers in her hair and pulled her lips back to mine. I kissed her fiercely while she moaned against my lips. The sound made my cock pulse. My hands roamed down her body until they reached her hips. I dug my fingers into the skin between her shirt and her jeans as I lifted her up gently. She kicked her leg over me and straddled my lap, our lips still fused together.
I pulled her shirt over her head and threw it into the front seat of the car. She shoved my chin up so she could kiss my neck. I was breathing heavily as my hands searched frantically for the waistline of her jeans. She knew what I wanted. She always did.
She was dirty like that.
In one smooth motion, she lifted herself up just slightly so I could unbutton her jeans. Then, she slid her legs out of them, never leaving my lap. I groaned and kissed her again, my tongue desperately tasting hers.
As we kissed, I laid her down against the seat and quickly tore my clothes from my body. Her hand was on my cock immediately. She stroked me slowly, teasing me mercilessly.
“Piper…” I moaned, my hips moving instinctively along with her strokes.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I threw myself on top of her and kissed every inch of her skin that I could reach. She tasted so sweet, delicious e
ven.
Lifting her up, I tucked my hand under her back and unclasped her bra. My tongue was on her nipples in an instant. I kissed and licked and nibbled them until her back was arched and her moans were unbearable.
“I want you…” I whispered in her ear as I slowly slid my hand inside of her panties.
“Logan,” her voice was rough and low when she said my name. I almost melted into her at the sound. Damn, she didn’t know how good she was.
Instead, my fingers explored her wetness with slow, methodical circles that made her legs tremble. There were beads of sweat pouring down her breasts. I leaned down to lick them as I continued to play with her.
“Please,” she whispered with desperation. “Logan, please.”
That was all I needed to hear. I slid her panties off and threw them impatiently away. I pulled us both up so she was straddling me again. Piper’s hands tangled themselves in my hair as she lowered herself down on top of me. When I was finally inside of her, I growled deeply and buried my face in her neck.
Our bodies moved together perfectly. We rocked and thrusted and held tightly to each other. I could feel our sweat mingling and our breathing was becoming more and more erratic. Piper held tightly to my shoulders as she leaned back and continued to ride me. Hard. My hands dug into her hips as we moved faster and faster.
My eyes roamed freely over Piper’s body. The bounce of her breasts. The curve of her neck. The way her eyes were half closed in pure ecstasy. I could have watched her forever. I never wanted this moment to end, but my body had other plans. I could feel myself growing closer and closer.
I wrapped my hand around Pipers curls and pulled her further backward while I lowered my lips to her breasts. She rode me harder as I licked her nipples. When my teeth closed around them, I could feel her shaking uncontrollably and I knew she was close, too.
The scream that escaped her lips when she came was earth shattering. I followed close behind her and we both collapsed against each other. I held her sweaty body against mine as we laid down together. Piper wrapped her leg around my waist and laid her head against my chest. We were breathing hard and I could feel my heart pounding against my ribs.
SEAL'd With A Kiss: A Second Chance SEAL Romance Page 3