Brody (22 page)

“Because you saw something in me, I saw something in me too.” His smile was brief and fleeting, as though his happiness depended on the outcome of this conversation. “I know my path to success was unconventional, but then, so am I.”

I laughed, thinking I wouldn’t want him any other way. “That you are.”

“I have achieved success, Ri. Now I have what most people work a lifetime for—the freedom to do whatever I want with the satisfaction of knowing that I don’t have to work another day in my life unless I choose to.”

And because I wasn’t sure I’d ever really told him, I felt compelled to add, “And I’m proud of you. I know your success hasn’t come without hard work or sacrifice.”

“Thank you,” he said, his eyes meeting mine. “All I ever really wanted was your approval. You know that, right?”

I was stunned. I was so sure he’d always known he had it. “I’m sorry if I ever made you feel that I didn’t believe in you.” I swallowed. “It’s just that I was scared of losing you to that life. Once you left, I wasn’t sure you would ever come back to me.”

Resting his head on my shoulder, he whispered in my ear, “I’ll always come back to you, baby. My heart is my compass, and you’re my due north.”

I melted as I wrapped my hand around his head, kissing his temple. I’d seen the many shades of Brody over the years, but raw vulnerability had always been rare and fleeting.

He swallowed repeatedly as he lifted his head to look me in the eye. “I always swore when I made enough to give you the life you deserved, I’d walk away from poker. That meant having the financial means to support your dreams, so you would never have to go to anyone else for help. You could always come to me.”

A tear slid down my cheek as I processed what he was saying. “You mean you’d invest in my business if I asked you to?”

“I’d invest in a shack in Timbuktu if you asked me to, Ri.”

“I love you,” I whispered, knowing there were no other words to describe my feelings for this man. Even love didn’t seem all-encompassing enough.

“I love you too.” He took a deep breath. “So now, I finally have it all lined up. The house—”

“I heard.”

“Your sister told you?” he asked, sounding surprised.

“Yeah, but don’t be mad at her.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m not. I know she’s lousy at keeping secrets. I assume that means you know about the job too?”

“Yeah.” I grinned. “I’m really proud of you. I think you’ll be an awesome coach and mentor for those kids.”

“I hope so, babe. I hope so.” Reaching for the box, he said, “So here’s the deal. I finally have everything I’ve ever wanted, with the exception of one thing.”

“What’s that?” I asked, clenching my hands in my lap when they trembled.

“A family of my own.”

My heart surged with hope, happiness, and disbelief. He hadn’t just said he wanted to be my husband. He’d said he wanted a family with me. The one thing I’d always wanted more than anything else. But I needed to know he didn’t have a single lingering doubt. “Are you sure about this?”

“More sure than I’ve ever been about anything,” he said, his voice thick as he opened the box to reveal a blindingly beautiful ring. “So what do you say, Riley? Will you build a life with me?”

I fought back tears as I extended my shaky left hand. “Yes.”

He smiled as he took the ring out of the box. “I feel like maybe I should spell out my terms before we make this official.”

“Okay,” I said breathlessly.

“I’m thinking I’d like at least a few kids.”

My voice cracked, prompting me to clear my throat. “Okay.”

“And maybe a dog. A big, manly dog I wouldn’t be ashamed to walk.”

I laughed before covering my mouth. He’d always teased me about my desire to have a little frou-frou dog that followed me around everywhere I went. “How about two dogs?” I countered, since I couldn’t concede on every point. “One big, one small.”

He seemed to consider my proposal before he said, “Okay, I think I can live with that. And I want a big wedding.”

Now he was definitely teasing me. He knew I wanted to be a wedding planner because I’d always dreamed of having the fairy tale wedding.

“I don’t know,” I said, tilting my head from one side to another as I glanced at the ring he was using to entice me. “I’m pretty busy for the next year with my clients. Maybe if you’re willing to wait—”

“No!” he said fiercely, making me giggle. “I’ve already waited long enough for this. We both have.”

“I guess you’re right,” I said, extending my hand a little farther. “I’m sure we can work something out. Any more terms?”

“Just one,” he said, setting the ring at the tip of my finger. “That you promise to love me forever and never, ever leave me. No matter how many bonehead mistakes I make, you’ll never let me go.”

I grabbed his hand when he would have set the ring in my place. “As long as you make me a promise, and this one is non-negotiable.”

“Anything, baby,” he said, looking alarmed.

“Promise that your days of running are over. When we fight, and we will, you have to promise me you’ll stay so we can work it out.”

Looking relieved, he said, “You have my word. So does that mean you’ll be my wife?”

“Absolutely.” Because of the tears clouding my eyes, I could barely see him slide the ring on my finger. But I didn’t need to see it. It felt solid and unbreakable. Like us.

***

As Brody moved up my body after treating me to a limb-tingling orgasm, I settled into the knowledge that the man I’d loved for most of my life was going to be by my side every night for the rest of our lives. That thought enveloped me like a warm blanket as he wrapped his arms around me while sliding deep inside me with one powerful thrust. I moaned before kissing him, conveying with my mouth what I couldn’t with words.
You are the best part of me.

He sighed, tearing his lips from mine. “It doesn’t get any better than this.”

“You sure about that?” I teased, clenching him tight as I plunged my hands into his hair. “‘Cause I’m thinking things could get a whole lot better for you with just a little help from me.”

“Oh yeah?” His blue eyes were sparkling with amusement when he grabbed my wrists and secured my wandering hands on either side of my head. His eyes slid to my engagement ring. “Damn, I love the way that looks on your finger.”

Not half as much as I did. It told the world how Brody felt about me: that he was mine, he wasn’t going anywhere, and he didn’t want anyone else. Ever.

“God, I love your body,” he said, releasing me so he could lean back and slide his hands down my ribcage, his admiring and assessing gaze following their path.

“Is that so?” My breath hitched when his large hands closed over my breasts.

“Every… thing… about… it.” He lowered his head and licked my nipples until I was a writhing, panting mess who was prepared to beg, if that’s what it took, to make him promise he would never stop pleasuring me.

He swirled his tongue around the taut peak as he looked up at me. “Hmmm, you like that?”

My breasts had always been outrageously sensitive. After so many years together, this man knew my body better than I did and often used that intimate knowledge to remind me who was in charge of my pleasure.

“You know I do.”

Grinning, he eased back, licking his lips as his eyes scanned every visible inch of me before locking on the sensitive bud screaming for his attention. “I know what else you like, baby.”

Yes. Please. That.

“There’s so much I want to do to you, it’s hard to know where to start.”

I have an idea. Start there.

He bit his lip, his eyes heavy with arousal as his thumb zeroed in on its target. He watched with satisfaction as I squirmed, panting his name while he circled the track that could result in my head blowing off.

“Please, Brody.”

He groaned, his hand picking up speed as he resumed thrusting. “Ah, I love the way you say my name when you’re about to come.”

“Broooodddy….” As we both let go, I fisted the pillow and used it to absorb my cries, feeling the rush of a simultaneous explosion.

He collapsed on top of me, his breathing uneven as he chuckled. “Wow. If I’d known engaged sex was like that, I would’ve asked you to marry me years ago.”

I slapped his back, smiling. “I’ve heard married sex is even better.”

“Damn.” He glanced at the door. “We are in Vegas. Why wait?”

I knew he was only joking, but I was equally sure that if I said I wanted to exchange vows now, he would. “You better be careful.” I nipped his shoulder as he pulled out of me. “What if I took you up on it?”

He rolled onto his side, pushing my hair off my face and staring into my eyes. “When I put that ring on your finger, it was because I’m ready to make you my wife, Ri. I’m not scared anymore. I’m excited. So whether you want to do it now or six months from now, the choice is yours.”

I grazed his lip with my thumb. “Six months? I can’t possibly plan a wedding in that amount of time. All the good venues are booked out at least a year in advance.”

“What?” He scowled, rearing his head back. “Just how long do you expect me to wait to make you my wife?”

The irony wasn’t lost on me. After I’d spent years wanting to marry him, the tables had finally turned and
he
couldn’t wait for our wedding day.

“We’ve waited this long,” I said, running my hand over his hard chest. “What’s another year or two?”

“Are you insane? At the risk of getting slapped, need I remind you that we’re thirty-six? Unless you want to have three kids in three years, I don’t think we should wait too long.”

He had a point, one I’d been trying to make for years. We weren’t getting any younger. “So maybe we compromise on the wedding—”

“We’re not compromising on anything,” he said, rolling onto his back. “You’ve been waiting your whole life for this wedding. It’s going to be everything you ever dreamed of and more.”

And with those few words, he did the impossible—made me fall just a little more deeply in love with him.

“Come on,” he said, clasping my hand against his chest. “This is your business. Surely you can pull some strings.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” I said, already running through possibilities in my head.

“Just a reminder,” he said, pulling me close, “money’s no object. Just plan the wedding of your dreams… as long as I don’t have to wait more than six months.”

“I love that you’re so anxious,” I kissed him.

“Can you blame me?” He turned my wrist over so he could plant a wet kiss against my pulse point. “You could wake up tomorrow and realize you’ve made a huge mistake.”

“Agreeing to be your wife is the smartest decision I’ve ever made,” I murmured, my eyes drifting closed as his tongue danced up and down my arm.

“Hmm, I better make sure of that,” he said, easing me onto my back.

And because I knew what kind of insurance policy he had in mind… I had no objections.

Brody

By the time we got home, news of our engagement had already made the rounds and my brothers had already called to offer their congratulations, but there were a couple of people I wanted to see in person, starting with Ryker. If my talk with Jack had reminded me of one thing, it was that I had Ryker to thank for the example he’d set for me, for all of us. I thought it was time for me to tell him.

None of us had ever been big on sharing our feelings. It was enough that we knew help was only a phone call away whenever we had a problem. But this felt different. Proposing was a milestone in my life, one I didn’t believe would have been possible without my older brother.

“Hey,” Cole said, pulling me into a hug when he answered the door. “Congrats, Uncle Brody. I heard about you and Riley getting engaged. That’s awesome.”

“Thanks, kid,” I said, wrapping my arm around his neck as we walked to the kitchen. “I’m pretty stoked about it.”

“I heard about the coaching job too,” he said, grinning. “You know that means you’re going to be my gym teacher, right?”

I groaned. “Is it too late to back out? You run like a girl. I’ll be mortified, having to admit I’m related to you.” I could only say that because he and his brother were both stellar athletes who probably would have put me to shame in my prime.

He laughed, shoving me. “Shut up.”

“Is your dad around?”

“Yeah, he’s out in the garage working on his bike. You want me to call him in?”

“Is your mom still at the shop?” I asked, eyeing the apple tarts under a glass dome on the counter.

“Yeah.” Cole laughed when he saw me salivating at the sight of his mother’s baked goods. “Help yourself. Mom wouldn’t mind.”

“Thanks.” I got a small plate from the cupboard, placed the tart on it, and popped it in the microwave for a few seconds before reaching into the utensil drawer for a fork.

“What’s going on?” Cole asked, sitting on a stool at the island. “You’d normally have inhaled that thing by now. Forget about using a fork. Riley finally got you housebroken or what?”

“Now that we’re going to be living together, I figure I should start acting more civilized,” I joked, taking the plate out of the microwave. “Maybe Ryker can give me some pointers, you know, help domesticate me.” I cut the tart in half and shoved one piece in my mouth.

I spotted Ryker walk in behind Cole and lean against the doorjamb, his arms crossed.

“If you need lessons on being whipped, Dad’s your guy.”

“Is that right?” Ryker asked.

Color flooded Cole’s cheeks before he narrowed his eyes at me. That would teach him to mouth off about his old man behind his back. “Uh hi, Dad. I didn’t hear you come in.”

“Apparently not.” Ryker walked up behind his son and coiled his arm around his neck before giving him a noogie.

Cole struggled to break free of his grip. “Hey, watch the hair,” He patted his dark tresses. “I’ve got a date with Sharyl later.”

“A date, huh?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as I polished off the tart. “I haven’t heard about this girl. Anyone special?”

“I’d say so,” said Ryker, reaching for one of the tarts. He bit into it, dropping crumbs on the floor. “He’s been after her for months.”