You Can't Go Home Again

by Aubrianna Hunter

  Brian kind of shook his head from side to side. “Sure, I guess. Why?”

  “Do you think someone you know could be psychic and you’d never know it?”

  “Probably not. I would think you’d be able to tell. They’d be weird or something.”

  “Did Jenn ever tell you how Dani saved her life?”

  “Yeah, knocked her out of the way of a falling tree house. So, wait, you think Dani’s a psychic?”

  Jace shrugged, shook his head, then shrugged again. “I don’t know. She told me she saw a vision of me the next morning, heard my thoughts. She said she knew I was thinking that was the biggest mistake of my life. Bri, that’s exactly what I was thinking, still think, actually. I never told anyone about that night, let alone that she left.”

  “Okay, so…just say she is, that she actually saw that. Was it? The biggest mistake of your life? I mean, that’s pretty serious, especially considering… I would have thought joining the Marines, or taking the second tour in Afghanistan… Shouldn’t that be higher on the list of fuckups?”

  Jace looked over, being more honest with Brian than he ever had before. “No. If I had just been able to keep my damn hands to myself, she wouldn’t have run away.”

  Brian was obviously floored. “How did you keep this from me? How did I not see it? Or Jenn, for that matter. Girls are more touchy feely emotional. How did she not know?”

  “I don’t know. I guess Dani never told her. It was obviously not something she wanted to think about.”

  “So, then…last night…the kiss?”

  “Yeah…same thing. I can’t be around her very long or I… I don’t know, I just kind of forget that I’m not supposed to touch her. She stayed the night, after the hospital. Hell, Bri…the dreams I’ve been having. I can’t even be in the same room as her. It’s making me fucking nuts. And then the damn doctor asked her out, and with Zack hitting on her since she got here, I just kind of lost it.”

  “Dude, you have got it bad.”

  “Yeah, no shit. So quit fucking laughing!”

  “Okay, okay. I’ve just never seen you so tied up, man. What are you going to do about it?”

  He didn’t know. He knew he couldn’t fight with her anymore. Not now that he admitted he was mad at himself, not at her. But he wasn’t sure he could keep his hands off her either. Not if they weren’t fighting. And then there was the damn necklace. She had a boyfriend out west. But, if she had a boyfriend, why did she respond so sweetly when he touched her?

  “Did Jenn mention…does Dani have a boyfriend?”

  “Nope, not that I know of. Hasn’t in years actually. Or at least no one who was important enough to mention, otherwise Jenn would know. Why? You gonna give it a shot?”

  For the first time in weeks, Jace smiled. An honest smile. “I think I just might.”

  “Well, good. So, let’s go get started. Jenn and Dani should be on their way to Jenn’s parents to set up. You and I got called in to do the heavy lifting.”

  Chapter 30

  Friday afternoon was busy, but fun. It was only the four of them, Jenn and Bri, Dani and Jace at the house. Jenn’s mom was directing traffic, while her dad was busy following orders. The rest of the wedding party all had to work. Jenn was off for the summer, Bri had taken the last few days off, and Jace… Well, he was the boss. They worked around the crew setting up the tents, placing the tables, putting out the centerpieces. Once the stage was set up, they brought out the decorations for that.

  And they had a blast doing it. Jace was friendly, flirtatious even. Smiling at Dani, showing off. When the two men carried around the archway by themselves, Jenn and Dani hooted and hollered. The guys stopped, flexing into the muscle-man pose, making both women laugh. When Dani looked over at Jace, he winked at her.

  At the end of the day, they all flopped down on the pool deck, trying to cool off after working all afternoon. Dani was lying there next to Jenn when they were doused with twin buckets of water.

  Laughing and sputtering, she jumped up and made a flying tackle at Jace, knocking them both into the pool. When they surfaced, he had his arms around her as he laughingly placed a soft kiss against her neck. When he moved her hair aside, she felt him tense, his arm gripping a little tighter.

  She sucked in a breath, knowing why he’d frozen in place. He’d seen the red mark she still wore on her neck.

  She felt his shaft throb, pulsing against her back where she pressed against him. Chills shot up her spine when he leaned in, whispering in her ear. “It wasn’t a dream.”

  She turned her head to meet his eyes, shaking her head almost imperceptibly. She waited for the anger as he hissed out a breath. He pushed away from her, swimming over to the steps. She was absolutely shocked when he turned back and smiled at her.

  “You coming?”

  Seeing his crooked grin, the humor in his eyes, she recognized the double entendre for what it was. She smiled in spite of herself. She was really enjoying this new Jace. Or maybe this was just the old Jace returned. Either way, she liked it. A little too much. She swam to the steps, climbing out of the water and shaking out her hair. She knew her tank top and shorts were clinging to every curve. She also knew they would dry fast enough in the heat. So, skipping a towel, she figured she might as well use it to her advantage. She added an extra swing to her hips as she walked by. A quick glance over her shoulder assured her his eyes were exactly where she wanted them.

  She shook her hair all over Bri, plopping down on his lap to make sure he was soaked too. Jace grabbed Jenn, swinging her up into a bear hug while she squealed and laughed.

  While they all sat there, drying off, Jenn’s mom brought out pizza. Seeing them all, air drying in the loungers, she couldn’t help the soft motherly smile that popped to her mouth. “You two are getting married tomorrow, yet here you all are acting like a bunch of teenagers.”

  When they all glanced up, trying to look properly chastised, she laughed again. “Don’t ever lose that. Now, eat your pizza and send the boys home. A groom can’t see the bride on the wedding day. It’s bad luck.”

  Jace and Brian were going back to Jenn and Bri’s house. Dani had packed a suitcase and was staying the night here, at Jenn’s parent’s house. They had hair and nail appointments in the morning, and the wedding was at five o’clock. Hopefully after the worst heat of the day.

  As the guys left, Bri and Jenn snuck off for a minute alone. This also left Dani and Jace alone. He’d brought his truck over, so he flopped down the tailgate and hopped up, patting the seat beside him. She climbed in, leaning back on her hands to watch the stars.

  “I can’t believe they’re getting married tomorrow. It doesn’t feel like we’re old enough for that. Being back here, this afternoon, it felt like we were still in school.”

  “No, not really.”

  “Oh, well…you’ve been here for a while; maybe it’s just because I haven’t been. I just had a really good time this afternoon. With the four of us again.”

  “That’s not what I meant, Dani. I had fun too. I just mean it’s different. In college, Jenn and Bri wouldn’t have snuck off to neck. Which means I wouldn’t have been able to do this.”

  He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to him. When his lips touched hers, she felt the soft sigh through her lips. His tongue gently brushed hers, teasing and tender.

  Tender quickly turned smoldering, his hands digging into her hair, hers fisting into his shirt. He pulled back on a groan, pushing her shoulders, gripping them in some sort of war with himself. He jumped off the back of the truck just in time to see Jenn and Brian coming back around the front of the house.

  She hopped off the truck, closing the tailgate with a slam.

  Bri grabbed one more quick kiss before jumping in the cab of the truck while Jenn waved at him, a soft look in her eyes.

  Jace turned, pulling Dani against him, just close enough to let her know he’d been aroused too. He kissed her lips, just a warm, soft touch. With one more groan, he stepp
ed away and climbed into the truck. He had it started and in gear in a matter of seconds. As they drove off, Dani could’ve sworn she heard Jace cussing and Bri laughing.

  Chapter 31

  The wedding was beautiful. The day had been cooler than the norm for a Texas summer and the air-conditioning units had worked beautifully, keeping the guests, as well as the bride and groom, cool.

  As they settled into their seats at the wedding table, everyone cheered, welcoming the new bride and groom. The meal was served, and as everyone began to eat, it was time for the toasts.

  Dani went first, standing and clinking the spoon against her glass to get everyone’s attention.

  “As the maid of honor, it falls to me… To threaten the groom.” She paused while everyone laughed a little. “I’m supposed to threaten to cause him all sorts of pain if he dares to hurt my best friend. Unfortunately I need to break with tradition. I just can’t do it. They would be empty threats. Because Jenn, my best friend, the sister of my heart, has found one of the good ones. So, instead of threats, I ask simply for a promise. Brian, I ask that you promise to love her, to cherish her always, just as you do today. With that, you two will never be anything less than blessed.”

  Jenn jumped up, tears in her eyes, hugging Dani as the room applauded. Dani dabbed at her own eyes, damning the tears that had been ever present since she got back to Austin.

  Jace stood, taking his turn. “Wow, how to follow that… I’ve known Brian a long time. During high school, and even more so in college, we were lucky enough to earn the company of two beautiful, charming, intelligent women. They were smart enough to keep us at arm’s length. At least until we grew up a bit. A few years ago, Brian became aware of just how special Jenn really was. And being the smart lawyer type, he grabbed her up, made her his.” His eyes looked across the table, past the happy couple, settling on Dani. “Though as a man, I’m supposed to be opposed to marriage, afraid of commitment, I’m sure that if I were lucky enough to earn the love of a woman like Jenn, I would hold on to it for all times. Brian, you’re a lucky SOB. Jenn, just keep the blinders on!”

  Everyone laughed, cheering again, happily toasting the newlyweds.

  Dani felt her heart in her throat. She looked across to Jace, wondering if his message was meant for her. She couldn’t bear it if it were. She couldn’t bear to hurt him again. She had enough guilt where he was concerned; she absolutely couldn’t handle any more.

  Forcing the smile back to her lips, she pretended to eat her meal, shuffling food around the plate. When the staff came to clean it up, it was time for the dance. And the singing.

  Dani got up on the stage, adjusting the mike to her height.

  “Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen. I have been given the honor tonight of singing the first song Jenn and Brian will dance to as husband and wife. They asked me to pick something that I thought would suit them. So, here it goes.”

  The band struck up the music, loud and vivacious, playing The Beatles’ “When I’m Sixty-Four.” As Dani belted out, “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m sixty-four” everyone sat stunned at first, then laughed as the bride and groom made their way to the dance floor.

  After just one round of the chorus, the band faded away. Jenn and Bri were on the dance floor and turned, looking up at Dani.

  She smiled, winking at them both. “I’m sorry, I’m just teasing.” Another small round of laughter. “When I thought of them, there was only one song that came to mind. So, please join me in cheering them on.”

  Her voice hummed through the mike, so soft and smooth. “Mama, you taught me to do the right things. So now you have to let your baby fly.” As she sang “Mama’s Song” by Carrie Underwood, the crowd clapped, cheering on Jenn and Bri.

  * * * * *

  Jace was stunned, speechless. He’d heard her sing before, probably more than anyone else in the world. But always softly, quietly to just the guitar he was playing. Now, hearing her sing a song she believed in, for people she loved… It was unreal.

  She was good… No, better than good—she was amazing. And she didn’t even know it.

  “He is good, so good. And he treats your little girl like a real man should. He is good, so good.”

  She continued singing, having no idea what it was doing to him.

  As she finished the song, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. She slowly turned, stepping away from the mike, shaking hands with the band’s lead singer. As she stepped off the stage, a quiet roar of applause rolled through, led by Jenn and Brian. She stopped to kiss their cheeks, as the singer announced the father-daughter dance.

  While Jenn danced with her dad, Jace walked up behind Dani, running his hands down her arms, pressing his front to her back. He leaned down, whispering in her ear, his voice no more than a low rumble. “We’re going to finish what we started, Dani. Five years ago. A few nights ago. The dream that wasn’t a dream.”

  He kissed her neck, wrapping his arm just below her breasts, pulling her tight against him. When he heard her suck in a quick gasp, he let go, walking away before she even recovered enough to turn around.

  * * * * *

  The evening was wonderful. Dancing and laughter filled the air. Jenn and Bri danced with everyone, making the rounds to greet and thank people for coming. They were in no hurry to leave. They weren’t flying out until the following morning for their honeymoon. As the guests began to disperse, even Jenn’s parents went inside; they soon found only the wedding party and their significant others remained. Along with Jace’s brother, David.

  Jace hadn’t asked Dani to dance all night. In fact, after the one quick kiss and teasing comment, which had left her aroused and terrified, he hadn’t even come near her for most of the night. So she’d danced with everyone else, making the rounds several times over. When David asked her to dance again, she agreed with a smile on her face.

  * * * * *

  Jace had stayed away from her on purpose. He was having a hard time keeping his hands off her under the best of circumstances, and with the way she looked tonight it would be impossible. So he’d danced with others, being a good best man. He’d danced with Bri’s mother, both of his grandmothers and all the other bridesmaids as well. However, he’d kept a close eye on Dani, fighting down every surge of jealousy when someone else touched her. It had been a very long three hours.

  When he saw David claim her for yet another dance, he felt the green-eyed monster surge up once more. He excused himself from the bar, where he’d been talking to Zack and another one of his cop buddies, and headed over to cut in. Either that, or he might have to kill his brother.

  When David’s hand moved lower, all but cupping Dani’s backside, he decided that he was definitely going to have to kill him. Tapping him on the shoulder, harder than was even remotely necessary, he pushed his way between the two as David turned around.

  “Don’t you think she’s a little old for you, bro? Maybe you ought to watch where you put those hands,” Jace growled at David, his fury making itself known in every syllable.

  * * * * *

  David was confused; surely Jace wasn’t that worried about him making a move on one of his friends. Besides, he hadn’t seen Dani in years. “It’s only two years, less, actually. I’m pretty sure I can handle it.”

  David was less than two years younger than Jace, having been a sophomore when they were all seniors. He’d had a crush on Dani pretty much since junior high. Since he’d followed big brother and gone to Texas A&M as well, he’d kept that little crush all through college.

  David, an inch shorter than Jace, and not quite as big, made a move to step around him and resume his dance with Dani.

  Jace literally growled at him. “Back off!”

  As David looked into Jace’s face, seeing the absolute fury, he also caught a tinge of something more. Ahhh—so that’s how it is. Unable to resist teasing Jace—it was a brother’s prerogative, after all—he had to needle him. “And if I don’t want to back off? I don’t
see a ring on her finger. Why don’t we ask Dani who she wants to dance with?”

  Dani stepped around Jace, placing herself between the two men, facing David, pressing her body back against Jace. “Dani doesn’t like being discussed like an object to be owned by anyone. Besides, aren’t you two a little old to fight over a new toy?”

  Jace’s arm snaked around her waist, pulling her tighter against him, a clear sign of possession despite her words. David noticed, and noticed as well that Dani didn’t step away. Smiling and opting to back away gracefully, David was happy to see his brother fall at last. And he could do a lot worse than Danielle Foster. A lot worse.

  Turning on his heel, he headed over to the bar, taking his brother’s place next to Zack.

  Chapter 32

  Jace pulled Dani close, his hand low on her waist, sending flashes of heat through her body. The tingling began low in her belly, spreading upwards until her breasts felt heavy and achy, her nipples taut. The dress Jenn had picked had thin straps with an open back. Her bridesmaids had all been young and firm enough to pull it off. It also meant no bra. Jace had long since removed the jacket and vest, leaving only the two layers of thin fabric between them.

  She could feel the heat of his chest pressing against hers. He lifted one hand, caressing her cheek, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. When his fingers trailed down her neck, past the red mark that was beginning to show through the makeup she’d applied, he cupped her neck to bring her face up, her eyes to his.

  After a long, searing look, letting Dani know exactly where his thoughts were, he pulled her head closer, pressing her face to his shoulder. She’d kicked off her heels, so he was taller than she was now, by six inches or so. He bent his head forward, burying his face against her neck, occasionally pressing soft kisses to her shoulder.

  They danced like that awhile, swaying softly to the music. She felt his shaft, pressing against her belly, making her yearn. She knew she shouldn’t do this, knew she had to tell him about her vision, but her mind swirled around other dreams. Hot, erotic fantasies that felt so real. Real enough that she woke every morning aching for more.