Embrace

by Fernandez, Michelle

  Here I am, a fucking coward. Just tell her, Reinhardt. Tell her your dad is nothing but a shell of a man in a home being cared for by nurses, orderlies, and Doctor Williams.

  My mouth opens, I try my hardest to force the words out. But they don’t come. I don’t know if it’s because I’m ashamed of the hero I once idolized or that she’s got this great family she talks about and I have just my sister, which she still knows nothing about except for her name.

  “You are so damn beautiful,” I whisper, deterring the conversation.

  Intense chemistry permeates the little space between us. In this millisecond, I take it all in. Damn those eyes! They lure me in and swallow me whole.

  My gaze wanders to her chestnut hair in a wild mess all over the pillow. I trace the frame of her face with my finger and I love how her breath hitches. I lean in to kiss her, but her hand immediately covers her mouth as she shakes her head.

  “Brody. Stop. You can’t kiss me,” she mutters through her fingers.

  “And why not?”

  “Morning breath.”

  I stifle a laugh and pull her hand down from her face. “Dorothy, I’m going to kiss you, morning breath and all. Taste your tongue and feel your lips on mine because I have been craving you since I woke up this morning. Then we’ll eat.”

  “Eat?”

  By the look on her face, the sexual innuendo I could egg on, but decide I will leave that for another day.

  “I know a diner close by that serves some killer banana bread and hot cocoa.”

  “Right.” She draws out the word. “Eat as in breakfast.”

  * * *

  “Where are we going?” Delilah asks, her eyes peering out the window as I drive down the coast of Huntington Beach.

  “Sorry to drag you along, but I have to take care of something. It’ll take us about a couple of hours. If you need to be somewhere, you can drop me off then come back and pick me up.”

  Her head jerks back. “You’d leave me with your truck?”

  “Sure, why not?”

  “Drake would never let me drive Sylvia.” She shifts in her seat and her hand is on my knee. “Thanks for trusting me with your baby,” she says with a tug at the corner of her lips.

  I quickly glance down where her warm palm is near my scar she hasn’t seen yet. As she slides her thumb over my kneecap, it sends an electric charge straight to my dick and I am begging him to calm down.

  Grateful we are at a stoplight, I look at her beautiful face. The intensity in those blue eyes shifts from sweet to wanting desire.

  I pull her closer and kiss her senseless. The heat of her tongue taunts and teases mine. A groan vibrates in the back of my throat. The taste of the hot cocoa still lingers as I savor everything about her.

  I don’t know how much longer I can take it. My balls are bluer than the ocean I have been driving toward.

  A honk from the car behind us lets me know the light has turned green. And I am so tempted to head back to my place, but I can’t. I made a promise and I intend to keep it.

  I shift in my seat and think of the place I need to drive to, calming my aching dick that is half-mast in my board shorts.

  “If it’s okay, I’d like to hang out with you, wherever or whatever you need to do,” she says, breaking the silence.

  I take her hand, squeeze it, then kiss the top of it. “I’d like that.”

  * * *

  She clears her throat as I turn off the truck’s engine. “We’re here.”

  Delilah looks at the view in front of her with confusion in her eyes.

  “We drove for the last half hour to go to the beach when my backyard is just that,” she says.

  “Come on. Stop your fussing.”

  I climb out of the car, walk around, open the passenger door for her and she slides out. Straight into my arms. And without thought, I plant a chaste kiss on her lips. Kyle is right, she’s roped my balls in her lasso and has taken my man card.

  “So, what is so important that you need to drive all this way?” she asks as I lift the cover on the back of my cab.

  “I made a promise to someone.” I pull out two boogie-boards and a duffle, then shut the lid.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Delilah

  My heart swells at the sight before me. Brody drops the boogie boards, then opens his arms out as a young boy runs toward him, trampling him as they fall onto the sand. The boy reminds me of Daxton.

  “Brody, you came back,” the boy says as his dark blue eyes sparkle under the sun. “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too, buddy,” Brody says as he waves to a pretty woman in the distance wearing a purple baseball cap. “Have you and Miss Paula been here long?”

  “Nope.” The boy looks up at me as he squints his eyes. “Who’s she?”

  “Jerick, this is Delilah.”

  I stretch my arm out to shake his hand. “Nice to meet you, Jerick.”

  “Are you here to learn how to surf too?”

  I look up at Brody and I can’t help the growing smile on my face. Another piece of him revealed to me and the last pieces of my wall tumble all around me.

  A shy smile tugs at Brody’s mouth. “I’m part of the big brother program at Down Syndrome Surfers and I have known Jerick since he was five.”

  “And now I’m twelve.” Jerick squeezes his eyes as he spits out the words.

  “You’re practically a man,” I say with a smile.

  “Just like Brody.” Jerick chuckles.

  Brody scuffles his hair. “Well, speaking of being a man. Why don’t you pick up these boards and let’s get started on your lesson today?”

  Jerick’s enthusiasm speaks volumes as he jumps with joy and grabs the fluorescent yellow boogie board and runs to Paula.

  “You sure you’re okay to hang with us for a couple of hours?” Brody asks as he grabs the duffle and links his hand with mine.

  “Why didn’t you just tell me this is what you were doing today?” I’m grateful my dark glasses cover my face. I can’t let him see how this gets to me. And right now, I really miss Daxton. “You keep surprising me, Reinhardt.”

  “Some people don’t know how to act around kids like Jerick.” Brody looks over to the boy removing his shirt and tossing it on the sand. “I didn’t want to make you feel obligated to stay if you didn’t want to.”

  I cup his face with my palm, take in his brandy-colored eyes and boyish smile, then press a soft kiss on his mouth. Although it was a quick kiss, my head feels light and my heart heavy. I want to get lost in this moment with him but know we can’t because there’s an audience watching us as we turn to face Jerick and Paula.

  “We will continue this kiss later,” he says as he pulls me closer to him. “But first, a promise I made to that boy over there.”

  “Brody, I have a confession to make . . . I don’t know how to swim.”

  “Well, I guess I have two lessons to teach today.”

  “Jerick’s lesson is first. Then we can work on my lesson…” My words trail off and I bite my bottom lip when Brody removes his shirt, revealing his perfect torso. His eight-pack abs of perfection and the defined V trailing down to his board shorts, sends a tingle straight to the apex of my thighs.

  If anyone has been looking for Adonis’s body, I found it.

  In the flesh.

  Holy shit! I cover my mouth with my fingers as embarrassment flushes my face and every nerve is attuned to him.

  “Like what you see, Dorothy?” He chuckles, his eyes travel from my head to my feet as if he’s undressing me.

  The sun behind him glows around his broad shoulders. He’s masculine, fascinating, and breathtaking as he stands in front of me and I can’t help but stare for a moment before I speak.

  “Is there any part of you that is imperfect?”

  Brody hands me his shirt and his blond hair is a mess which only adds to his appeal. He licks his lips and raises a brow, and says, “Flattery will get you everywhere.” Brody kisses my cheek then turns
to walk toward Jerick where he anxiously awaits.

  And my goodness, I want him everywhere on my body.

  I’m so glad Brody brought me along. I don’t believe I have stopped smiling or laughed this much since I planted my ass on the beach towel as I watch him with Jerick for the last hour.

  Brody’s body is beautiful as waves crash against him leaving his skin glistening wet, just like my panties. And it’s so unfair how he’s making me feel like this. His laugh fills the salty air and carries over the waves while my heart swells seeing this side of him.

  Paula crosses my line of sight, picks up her towel, and dries herself off, breaking my trance.

  “I don’t think I have ever seen Brody smile so much,” she says off the cuff as she sits next to me. “I mean he smiles when he’s with Jerick, but not that kind of smile.”

  My cheeks warm and I’d like to think I’m the reason. “Well, if I’m being honest, Brody’s got me smiling too.”

  Goose bumps chase over me when I see the scars on his broad muscular body and the jagged lines, a few peppered marks from gunshots and marred burns that tell a story. Which brings me back to our conversation on the pier and his confession to me last night. The guilt he carries of letting a family down and the burden weighing heavily on him is palpable. And a day like today can remove that load, even if it is just for a blissful moment.

  Even though he’s got blemishes, they’re still beautiful, and it’s not just his body that’s beautiful, it’s his heart he wears on his sleeve and the way he’s with Jerick.

  I study them both. The smile they replicate as they race the waves, splashing each other and the playful high-fiving once they reach the shore.

  They pick up their boards, paddle out as far as Brody will allow, and repeat the same motions.

  “I can see that,” Paula says, bringing me back to our conversation. I have no idea where we left off because I have been ogling the man who has won me over.

  “See what?” I brush a wayward lock of hair from my face as I turn to face her.

  “Both of your smiles. I may not know much about you, but it’s in your eyes. As for Brody, he’s had a rough go these past several years. And to see his face light up like that”—she points her chin toward Brody and Jerick in the water—“is something I hadn’t seen at all.”

  “What do you mean these past several years?”

  “After they admitted Gerard, then Stella’s passing, I can’t imagine having both parents out of reach. Then the accident.” She lets out a breath. “But he seems to do just fine on that leg of his.”

  What does she mean by Gerard admitted? Is that his father? I want to ask more, but it’s only right if Brody tells me.

  “The explosion,” I confirm.

  She nods slightly. “Being discharged from the navy wasn’t easy for him.”

  “It seems he confides in you a lot.”

  “We have history,” she says then sees the bewildered look on my face. “Sorry. I assumed he told you about us.”

  “No. We’re still getting to know each other.” I smile and can’t help but wonder about the connection between the two.

  I stare at her for a beat. She’s petite and pretty. Her brown ponytail peeks out from the back of her purple baseball cap, floral board shorts and nylon bikini top tells me she boogie boards often.

  “We had a thing a long time ago.” She waves her hand in the air. My chest clenches and I’m not sure if it’s jealousy or I’m upset that Brody didn’t prepare me to meet one of his exes.

  “Don’t worry, Delilah, we’re ancient history. I have a boyfriend. Actually, Michael is my fiancé.”

  A warm breeze washes over me, as does the relief from jealousy.

  “Where’s your ring?” I say, noticing it’s not on her finger.

  “I will never wear that thing to the beach. First, I don’t want to get it dirty and if I lost it, Michael would never forgive me.” She raises her hands and thwacks them above her head. “Great job, Jer! Woohoo!” she hollers out to Jerick as he rides a wave, belly on the board and a gleaming smile on his innocent face.

  “Brody is so good with Jerick.”

  “He’s very protective of him too. Some people don’t know how to act around kids like him.”

  “Brody has a tendency to protect people, doesn’t he?” I ask then clear my throat.

  “It’s in his nature.”

  “My brother has Down syndrome,” I assert. “Daxton. He’s twenty-two.”

  She tilts her head. “Brody didn’t mention that to me.”

  “That’s because I haven’t told him. My family lives in Kansas. And Daxton is great on the ranch, always helping our parents and my cousin, Jacob, who is the foreman.”

  “Brody’s a good guy and I really hope you’re the peace he’s been looking for. He deserves it.”

  Brody’s board glides along the surface of the water alongside Jerick. Both laughing as they race to the shoreline.

  “The foundation Michael and I run are always looking for more big brothers and sisters. If you’re interested, I can always set you up with one of our kids,” Paula offers. “We meet every other Saturday right here, unless it’s raining then we meet at the facility not too far from here.”

  “I would love to, Paula. Thank you.”

  “Great. Oh, look at the time.” She glances at her watch, picks up the towel next to her, and rises from the blanket. “It’s time for Jerick to get out of the water. He really hates this part.”

  “I don’t blame him. He’s having so much fun out there.” I see the gleaming smile on Jerick’s face.

  “It’s not so much the water he’ll miss. It’s being separated from Brody.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Brody

  “Jerick likes you.” I take ahold of her hand and kiss the top of her knuckles.

  “I like him too.” She smiles as she takes her keys out of her purse. “I had a good time today.”

  “You seemed so comfortable with him. Most people—‍”

  “My brother, Daxton, has Down syndrome,” she admits. “So, being with Jerick made me realize how much I miss my little brother.”

  “Do you plan on going back home anytime soon?”

  “No. Not back to Kansas. But I do have a trip planned to San Francisco to see Dylan in a couple of weeks . . . maybe you can come with me?”

  “You want me to meet your brother?”

  “Well, actually you may meet my whole family. Dylan is going to propose to his girlfriend. It’s a surprise, so it’ll turn out to be an engagement party.”

  “Your brother is sure of himself. What if she says no?”

  “Phoebe is about seven months pregnant. And knowing her, she’ll want to complete her circle. Get that family she’s always wanted.”

  “Are you sure you’re ready for me to meet your family?”

  “The question is, are you ready to meet Team Marshalls?”

  “Bring it on.”

  “As soon as I talk to Dylan again, I’ll text you the details.”

  I lean down and gently kiss her lips.

  “I’m sorry I can’t hang with you tonight. Brotherly duty calls. Avery can be a pain and most times she can handle things, but she really needs me.”

  “It’s okay. Go handle your business. You don’t need to explain anything to me.”

  “But I want to . . . explain things, tell you where I’m at . . . so you don’t have to . . . you know, like in a relation—‍”

  What the hell is wrong with my tongue?

  “A relationship?” she finishes, cutting me off at my rambling and I haven’t got a fucking clue why suddenly it’s so hard for me to spit it out. “I’m not dating anyone else.” She shakes her head as if she’s mulling over what she just told me.

  I smile at her and these feelings that are consuming me will get me in trouble because I just want to pick her up and take her back to the bedroom and have my way with her.

  Instead, I rub the back of my neck with my han
d as the word relationship, enters my thoughts. That word has not been in my vocabulary since Paula.

  “I should have told you about me and Paula. I’m sorry,” I say as I cup the back of my neck. “We were best friends before we got together. Then we broke up and have remained friends since then.”

  “It’s okay. She explained everything to me,” Delilah says as the house keys jingle in her hand. “She told me about you, her, and your friend Kyle and all the crazy stunts you did as kids.”

  “What else have you two ladies gossiped about?”

  “Secret chick code things,” she says, shrugging.

  I burst out a laugh. “So, I guess she told you about the time we dressed up our rival school’s mascot in a tutu and painted makeup on it the night before their prom?”

  “No, but thank you for that bit of information.”

  My head is in la la land as I gaze into her topaz blue eyes and fucking hell, I have fallen head over heels for this woman. How the hell did that happen?

  I pull her chin up and kiss her soft lips. The words commitment, relationship, and girlfriend cross my mind as our tongues intertwine. I feel like I’m in high school all over again.

  I want to tell her how I feel about her, but the haze of our kiss consumes this very moment. Her hand slides up my chest and my arm swoops around her waist, bringing her closer to me.

  I’m doing my fucking best holding myself together, taking control of my emotions and testosterone as they collide. And yes, I want Delilah more than I have ever wanted any other woman. But I need to bide my time with her.

  I’d be a grade-A asshole for taking advantage of her knowing what I know. I’d be just like that shitbag, Todd, treating her like she’s less than worthy.

  And Delilah is so much more than just worthy.

  Not only is she beautiful inside and out, she’s strong, resilient, and making a new life out here. And hell if I will be the one that fucks that up for her.