All My Love (All #5)

by Natalie Ann

  “But what if?”

  “That’s a lot of what ifs. Try not to focus on them. Let’s put it behind us tonight, okay? It’s been a long day for both of us.”

  “You’re right. I should just let Ben try to find out more, like he said he was going to.”

  “Let Ben do what Ben does best. If there is something to find out, he’ll find it.”

  “Thanks, Drew,” she said, pulling the dress out of his hand, laying it on the bed, and stepping into his arms, holding him tight again.

  “For what?”

  “For loving me as much as I love you.”

  To Stay

  Drew rolled over and saw the empty bed next to him. He was always an early riser, but he had nothing on Jordyn.

  Reaching his hand over to her pillow, he felt the coldness. He turned his head and saw that his alarm would be going off in thirty minutes.

  No use lying around. He sat up, put his feet on the floor and rubbed his hands over his face a few times, the two-day growth of beard feeling odd on his palms.

  With all the traveling and lack of sleep he’d had, shaving was the last thing on his mind yesterday.

  Standing up, he went and grabbed a change of clothes from a drawer and went to take his shower.

  Ten minutes later, he was towel drying his hair and looking at himself in the mirror, turning his face from side to side. Should he keep the beard for now? He never went more than a day without shaving, but Jordyn obviously liked it last night. If not by her words, then by her actions.

  He thought back to what happened after dinner. They’d finished their talk about love and forgiveness. Then together they made a quick dinner and talked about everything he remembered from Ben and Patty’s conversation.

  By the time they finished dinner, he couldn’t stop yawning. The last few days had finally caught up with him, not to mention the emotional upheaval.

  “Come on, let’s go to bed,” she’d told him.

  “It’s early still. Not even eight. I’ll never fall asleep.”

  “Sure you will,” she said, grabbing his hand and leading him up to her room.

  She’d stood in front of him, run her fingertips across his cheek, and said, “I like this on you. It’s a new look. Kind of rough around the edges, but that’s not you at all.”

  “I shave every day, but I was too tired and preoccupied to do it this morning.”

  “Nervous about talking to me?” she asked, raising her eyebrow.

  “You really need to ask that?”

  “Maybe you could forget to shave a few more days,” she suggested.

  “I’ll have to think about it. I might need some convincing.”

  “I can do that.”

  There was a look in her eyes, one of a woman on a mission, and she didn’t disappoint, taking charge of undressing him.

  First went his shirt, the buttons undone faster than she ever had before. Next his T-shirt was up and over his chest, then just as quickly her hands moved to the buttons on his pants.

  “In a hurry?”

  “Actually I am,” she’d told him, leaning up, then kissed him hard and fast before going right back to pushing his remaining clothes away. “Go lie down. Remember, you’re tired.”

  So he did what she said, gladly. “Aren’t you going to undress?”

  “Don’t worry about me yet.” And he didn’t. He just lay there and took it like a man. The way her mouth moved over his chest, down his waist, then up again to his mouth, all around his face. “I really like this look on you.” Then she continued to brush against his whiskers. “But I see I’ll have to do some more convincing.”

  And she did. Down his chest again, his waist, with her hands, her mouth, even her body was rubbing against him.

  He was on fire, the tiredness washed away. He felt strong and powerful, with all the energy in the world at that moment.

  Reaching out with his hands, he went to pull her shirt up, but she stopped him. “Nope, not yet. Just lie there and relax.”

  Well, she said he could. Then she moved her mouth down further along with her hands. Moved them faster and moved them firmer. Gripping him, stroking him and tasting him, until she sent him spiraling out of control.

  That was it. He didn’t remember anything else the rest of the night. He didn’t think he’d ever fallen asleep like that before. Never had he not returned the favor.

  But here he was the next morning, staring at himself in the mirror and deciding the beard might need to stay.

  ***

  “You’re up early,” Jordyn said when she heard Drew walking outside her office door. He leaned against the doorframe and smiled at her. He hadn’t shaved either, making her want to pat herself on the back, but she refrained.

  “I slept hard last night and was in bed earlier than normal.”

  She loved the look in his eyes right then. All tender and sweet, full of mischief on top of it. “Well, you looked all worn out to me.”

  He laughed and it was a happy sound to her. A good sound, and it made her realize that they were back on solid ground again. Back to where they were before the last few days happened. Actually, better ground.

  “Sorry about that. I believe I owe you one.”

  He had to be joking; he was smiling after all. “Why’s that?”

  “Last night seemed a bit one-sided.”

  “It can’t be that way once in a while?” she asked, frowning. She didn’t know that, or didn’t realize it. Did he want to have been woken up last night? Not that she wouldn’t have enjoyed it if she did wake him up, but he’d looked so exhausted, she wanted him to sleep.

  “It can be any way we want it to be,” he said, walking forward and tracing his fingertip across her cheek. “But I would have preferred to have put you to sleep just as hard as I slept.”

  “I slept just fine last night.”

  She’d undressed and crawled into bed next to him. She’d been so keyed up from the day. All the news, their fight, their declaration of love—there was no way she was going to fall asleep that early.

  Surprisingly, she curled up next to him, laid her head on his chest, listened to the beating of his heart…and the next thing she knew it was four in the morning. By then she was wide awake and decided to come down to do some work.

  “Then I guess you don’t really need me,” he said, smirking at her.

  She needed him plenty, but didn’t voice that thought. For once she held it back; it was hard, but she did. She didn’t even know why she didn’t want to tell him.

  “You can make it up to me tonight. How’s that?”

  “Sounds like a plan to me.” He held his hand out to her. “Come on, I’ll make us some breakfast. You haven’t even eaten yet.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because you’re in yesterday’s clothes. Which means you crawled out of bed, grabbed the first thing you could and dressed without making a noise, afraid to wake me up so early.”

  He knew her better than she thought, because it was all true. She’d done it before and would again. She never wanted to wake him when she got the urge to work in the middle of the night, or early in the morning.

  And no, she hadn’t eaten yet. She came right down to the office and got to work.

  Turning back to her computer, she saved her work and stood up. “Let’s make it together. I’m not in the mood for a bowl of cereal.”

  He lifted his eyebrow. “I can do more than pour cereal in a bowl. Breakfast is about the only meal I can make well.”

  “Really?” she asked, following him to the kitchen. “How come you haven’t made it for me yet?”

  He walked to the refrigerator, opened it and took out eggs and milk. “You always beat me to it. I guess you like taking care of me.”

  He pulled the drawer open and got out some bread, while she filled the coffee pot for him. He had a few cups in the morning, so it was easier to make a pot for him.

  “Yeah, I do like doing that. It doesn’t have to be one-sided, does it? We
can take care of each other.” She figured she’d throw his words back at him.

  She watched him as he cracked the eggs into a bowl, then added the milk and some cinnamon. Guess he did know what he was doing.

  The only person she’d ever taken care of was her mother. Though it was a chore and hard work, she never felt that way. It was what you did when you loved someone.

  That thought made her realize she really was too harsh on Drew. Love made you want to care for someone, to protect that person, sometimes not thinking about their feelings in the process.

  It might not have been right, what he did, and she might not have agreed, but he did it out of love. She knew that without a doubt now.

  “What are you thinking about right now?” he asked her.

  “Nothing. My mind was wandering. Nothing important.” She wasn’t going to tell him about her revaluation. “Do you know what you’re doing today?”

  He pulled the pan out and placed it on the stovetop, then dropped some butter in it and turned the burner on. “No. Since I’m up early, I’ll run home and go talk to my father before he leaves for the day, find out where he wants me.”

  “Do you have any plans tonight?”

  She knew he wanted to work on his house tonight and the weekend, but normally they went out to dinner on Friday nights, or she cooked a nice meal for him. The start of their weekend together.

  “My father is going to help me out tonight and tomorrow at the house, but nothing more than that.”

  “Will you have time for dinner first? Or would you rather go right there after work?”

  “I’ll have time.”

  “Do you think your father would like to come to dinner too?” She hadn’t really seen much of Andy, just at the holidays.

  “I think he’d like that very much.”

  “Good. Text me when you’ll be here and I’ll have dinner ready so you two can eat fast and get some work done.”

  “Thanks for including my father.” He finished up with the last of their French toast, cooking seamlessly while they talked, then he placed a dish in front of her and one for him.

  “I should include him more. I guess it never really crossed my mind. You should have said something.” She wondered why he never did.

  “He spends time at Brynn’s a lot. He isn’t really alone that often. Remember, I’m still in the house with him several nights a week. Plus, he’s a social butterfly. He goes out with the guys a lot for a beer or dinner too. Still, he’ll appreciate spending some time getting to know you.”

  “I’d like that. I’d like to thank him too.”

  “For what?” Drew asked, lifting his head from where he was devouring his breakfast.

  “For raising a pretty awesome son.”

  ***

  “Things seem to be back on track with Jordyn now?” Andy asked later that evening when they walked into the upper apartment of Drew’s house.

  “Brynn filled you in, I’m guessing.”

  “Of course,” Andy said, smirking and slapping Drew on the back.

  He should have known his sister would. On the flip side, it saved him from telling his father. He didn’t keep secrets from them. “I learned my lesson.”

  “Sure you did,” Andy said, laughing. “The sooner you realize it, the easier it will be on you, Drew. You’re going to mess up again and again. You learn one lesson, but mess up another.”

  Drew snorted. That wasn’t what he wanted to hear. “You and Mom hardly ever fought, so obviously you learned.”

  “Drew, my boy, sometimes you are so slow.”

  Sputtering, he said, “What?”

  Andy wasn’t put off, though, and continued to smile. “Your mother and I fought all the time. We just tried to never do it in front of you and Brynn. That doesn’t mean we didn’t love each other. Sometimes two stubborn strong-willed people butt heads. It happens.”

  “I don’t think it happened as much as you’re leading me to believe.”

  “You’d be wrong. There’s nothing wrong with fighting, Drew. Or disagreeing. It’s how you work it out when it’s over. How you move on from that argument. That’s what makes a strong marriage. Not trying to always get along and never disagree.”

  Someone

  “Jordyn, I’m so glad you could make it,” Isabel said, rushing forward.

  It’d been a few weeks since Drew went to Alabama and Jordyn found out that she had a brother. She hadn’t heard anything else about that, though, and hadn’t found out anything new either.

  Not that she had more she could really look into herself. Everything was still in Ben’s hands in terms of finding out what he could about Tim and his years in the Navy.

  “Thank you for inviting me.”

  Isabel had personally called her yesterday and invited both her and Drew over for Sunday dinner. When they pulled in, she saw all the cars and realized that all the Harper siblings would be here today. Surprisingly, she wasn’t nervous over it.

  She felt something bump into her leg and looked down to see Grace sitting there. Drew said that Grace had started to crawl, but Jordyn hadn’t seen her in months.

  Grace’s big brown eyes stared up at her, almost hopeful, then she smiled and lifted her arms in the air.

  Jordyn felt her heart warm at the sight of the welcome, then bent over and picked Grace up, settled her on her hip and kissed her nose.

  She’d never thought she’d feel this comfortable around a large family. Not around this many adults or kids.

  But looking around now at the toddlers chasing each other and the babies in laps, the adults all laughing and watching her, she wasn’t uncomfortable at all. She felt like she belonged.

  “You little traitor,” Drew said, walking into the room.

  The minute Grace heard her uncle’s voice, she turned her head and immediately reached for Drew, ignoring Jordyn. “Traitor my butt,” Jordyn mumbled.

  “Don’t be jealous. She loves her uncle more.”

  “Her Uncle Ben.” Drew turned and saw Ben enter, followed by Presley and Chad. Before Drew could make a sound, Grace was taken out of his hands and was being tossed in the air by Ben.

  “Ben, I’m going to strangle you,” Brynn snarled from the couch. “She’s too little to be tossed in the air.”

  “Relax, Brynn,” Alec said. “He’s barely tossing her. Not like he does the other ones who almost reach the ceiling when he tosses them.”

  Jordyn watched Brynn’s face pale. “He doesn’t.”

  “Unfortunately, he does,” Kaitlin said from the couch. “But he was warned not to do it in front of you because you’ve been so panicked about it.”

  “Thanks, Alec,” Ben said, smiling. “Now I’ll never get my hands on Grace again.”

  Drew turned and took her out of Ben’s hands, and said, “I can toss you in the air like Uncle Ben does. Don’t worry, Gracie. Mommy is just a worrier.”

  “Your day will come, Drew. Just wait and see how you feel,” Phil said, laughing from the doorway with Ian sitting on his shoulders.

  Jordyn’s head was swiveling around the room. Everyone was talking, hopping into each other’s conversations, yet keeping a flow she never seemed to be able to maintain.

  Ben laid his hand on her arm. “When you’ve got a minute, I’ve got some information for you.”

  “Oh.” She hadn’t expected he would be here today and when she saw him, as much as she hoped he’d have something, she didn’t really think he would talk to her about it with everyone here. “Did you want to go in the other room to talk?”

  Ben seemed to hesitate, then shrugged. “If you want. It’s nothing really private, I think. Everyone here knows what’s going on.”

  “They do?” She knew some of the Harpers knew, but didn’t realize that everyone did. “I guess it’s fine in here then.”

  Ben leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, so Jordyn stayed where she was. “Tim was in the service for about twenty years. He was married and divorced in that time and had two more kids.�
��

  “I have two more siblings?” she asked, not believing this. Was she going to actually meet someone that was related to her?

  “You do. I’m not sure where they are. I know Tim divorced when the kids were young. Tim ended up in Atlanta working, where he stayed until he died.”

  “Do you know their names? My siblings”

  “Katy and Brandon Morris.”

  She didn’t know what she felt just now. Part of her was almost frozen in disbelief. Her whole life, she thought it was just her mother and her, and then she finds out she has two brothers and a sister. Her brother and sister were still out there, somewhere. “How old are they, do you know?”

  “I don’t have that information. There really wasn’t much to find. Tim looked to be a good seaman. He spent a lot of time out to sea, kept his nose clean, was deployed a few times and then left the Navy. I was able to run his social security number and found he had a bank account in Atlanta.”

  “Still open?”

  “Yeah. There wasn’t much in it, just a few thousand dollars. I called the bank, but couldn’t get any information. I wasn’t on official business, so I didn’t get very far. But I did manage to find out he has a safe deposit box there.”

  “The key,” she said, looking at Drew. “I’ve got a key at home. I didn’t know what it went to and just put it away.”

  Ben nodded. “That’s about all I have right now. I still haven’t heard back from any of my colleagues in Texas, but I’ll keep trying.”

  She felt her eyes fill again, but battled back the tears. She didn’t want to cry in front of this room full of people, but she was feeling overwhelmed. “Thank you, Ben.”

  “One more thing,” he said, pulling something out of his pocket. He grabbed her hand and opened her palm. “This was Trent’s. He had a thing for jewelry. Even convinced me to buy a ring so we could have matching ones.” He shook his head, a humorous look in his eyes. “This was his necklace. He was wearing it when he enlisted but had to take it off. He always kept it though. He was so proud of buying himself this chain when he was a teen. He was corny that way.”