ComfortZone

Comfort Zone

KJ
Reed

Book three in the Come Together series.

He’s a lucky SOB, but Brice Winston’s life wasn’t always so
easy. His struggle to survive at an early age turned him into a man who needs
control—both in and out of the bedroom. Always careful of the women he chooses
to tangle in the sheets with, his need for dominance is never called into
question. But he’s never let himself imagine a future with the one spitfire of
a woman he’s always wanted.

Mary Ellen Hall has wanted Brice since she knew what boys
were good for. And she’s confident he desires her too. But he’s not making any
moves, so it’s up to her to seduce him. Even as he responds to her body, his
heart holds back. Mary Ellen isn’t about to accept any man by half measures.

Brice is forced to make a choice—his hard-won control or the
woman who pushes him out of his comfort zone.

Chapter One

Brice straightened his suit jacket,
hanging out with the other men from the bridal party, ushers included, in the
small cabin just down the road from the gardens. The gardens where his baby
sister would be getting married tomorrow. That was still a hard, painful fact
to swallow. That she was not only old enough to date, but that she was pledging
her life to another man.

Yesterday she was chasing the camp dogs through the barns,
scattering chickens in her wake. Clinging to his leg as she begged for a
piggy-back ride. Following him all over the property, worshipping him like only
a younger sibling could.

The rehearsal was set to start in a few minutes, and Trav
asked all the guys for a quick word before they began the practice
processional.

“Who am I walking down the aisle with?” Brice asked, playing
with his tie just to have something to do with his hands.

“My sister, Sarah. And you would have known that if you’d
been paying any attention up to now,” Trav answered good-naturedly.

Paying attention would have meant hearing
her
name
repeatedly. Self-preservation was the key to making it through the weekend.

“You lucky SOB. Walking the best girl down the aisle,” Pete
said from across the cabin where he lounged across the bed.

“We’ll all have to agree to disagree on the whole ‘best
girl’ theory. We could be here all night arguing that one,” Trav said dryly.
“Here, knock it off or you’ll strangle yourself.” He batted Brice’s hands away
and went to work on the tie’s knot himself.

“Can I just say what a relief it is to be wearing a simple
suit to a wedding instead of my freaking dress uniform?” Pete asked.

“It’s only the rehearsal,” Brice’s father pointed out
easily.

“But I’ll be wearing basically the same thing tomorrow. And
thank God for that. I know chicks dig the dress blues and all—”

“No talk of chicks when you’re dating my sister,” Trav
warned.

Pete continued without a hitch. “But, as I was about to say,
the chick factor is no longer necessary. So comfort is appreciated.”

Brice would love to have been comfortable. But as usual,
faced with the prospect of spending several hours in Mary Ellen Hall’s presence
with nowhere to go, no office to hide in, made him feel suffocated, like a
block of concrete was sitting on his chest. Day-to-day was easier. She stuck to
the stables, he stuck to his office. But now, mingling was a requirement. A
social nicety he couldn’t ignore, not without embarrassing his family.

Not only did he have to deal with his emotions, but he had
to keep the entire battle from showing on his face.

Thank God he had years of practice under his belt.

“Okay, settle down everyone.” Trav stepped up onto a stool
and raised his glass of water, adhering to the bride’s request that all
drinking be held off until dinner. “I asked you guys to all meet me in here to
just say a few quick words.”

“Oh, he’s going to be mushy,” Pete muttered over Brice’s
shoulder.

“To my ushers, some of the greatest guys I had the pleasure
of attending police academy with. Thanks for saving my ass when I needed it,
and you’re welcome for when I saved yours.”

Everyone chuckled, and the ushers lifted their glasses to
acknowledge.

“To Ariel’s father, Mr. Winston. You welcomed me into the
fold from the minute we met. You’ve got an amazing family, and I’m blessed to
be invited in so warmly. In addition, you raised one of the finest women I’ve
ever known. So thank you for that.”

“You’re a good man, Donovan,” came his father’s gruff reply.
Brice knew the man was near tears, holding back as manfully as possible. The
Winstons were an emotional bunch.

“That was a nice touch,” Pete whispered, and Brice smiled.
Pete was a cynic sometimes, but he knew the guy was good deep down.

“To my best man, Peter Goodwin. What can I say about that
ugly son of a bitch that hasn’t already been said?”

“Go ahead. Praise my wonderful attributes. Sing to the
heavens, man,” Pete joked, and received a snort back.

“Right. Not quite. But I will say that you’ve been a brother
to me, more than any blood brother could have been. Sometimes I’ve been proud
of you. Sometimes I’ve wanted to beat you to the ground. But regardless, you
always had my back. And I’ll miss your ugly ass when you head back to Cali with
my sister. Whom,” he added with a point of the finger, “you had better take
care of.”

Pete said nothing, and Brice knew it was because he was at a
loss for any joke.

“And lastly, Brice. My other groomsman, and Ariel’s brother.
You’ve been watching over her, helping her, protecting her since you were ten
and she was six. All I can say is thanks, and I’ll do my best to keep up to the
standards you set.”

It was hard to raise his glass to that. Giving up the
protective older-brother routine would be tough. But for Trav, he could do it.

Now he just had the rest of the evening to get through. No
small feat, thanks to one small woman.

Mary Ellen.

* * * * *

Mary Ellen watched as her best friend recited her pretend
vows to her almost-husband. In less than twenty-four hours, Ariel Winston would
be Mrs. Travis Donovan. And standing there holding her fake bridal bouquet,
pretty as always in a strapless sundress, she looked happier than Mary Ellen
had ever seen her.

Hot, boiling jealousy rolled through her, and she mentally
stepped on it, grinding it to the ground. The maid of honor shouldn’t be a
green-eyed bitch. That wasn’t fair to her or Ariel. Jealousy was a weak,
selfish emotion, and Mary Ellen wasn’t a weak person.

Selfish, sometimes. But not weak.

Besides. She wasn’t jealous because of Trav. He was a great
guy, one of the best. And Mary Ellen knew without a doubt her best friend would
have the kind of marriage others dreamed about. But she didn’t want Trav for
herself. No, it was the happiness itself she wanted. The connection with
another. The ultimate belonging with one man.

She glanced up as Ariel made a joke to the minister and
caught the eye of the best man, Pete. He gave her a cheeky wink, then looked
beyond her to the other bridesmaid who also happened to be his girlfriend,
Sarah. Beyond Pete, she watched as the second groomsman, Brice, concentrated on
the minister’s words.

The entire wedding party was one big jumble of family. Sarah
was Trav’s sister. Brice was Ariel’s brother. And Pete and Sarah were in love
themselves. One big happy family. She stole another peek at Brice from the
corner of her eye.

Mostly happy, anyway.

Always so serious, she mused. Quiet, reserved, taking
everything in with soft eyes and an understanding smile, when he chose to use
it. Which made him the perfect fit for his job as camp director, working with
children who came from bad situations and just wanted one week to feel special,
normal. His own background of being raised in foster care until he was adopted
by the Winstons at age ten gave him a unique and important view of what these
kids needed most.

Mary Ellen loved that about him. His endless patience,
willingness to go out of his way to make someone else comfortable and happy. To
make someone else’s experience worthy.

Of course, she was also a red-blooded woman. His tall, lean
physique and dark eyes that went with his slightly-darker-than-tan skin tone
didn’t hurt either. She was honest enough to admit his body alone would make
her want him for a night or two of hot-and-heavy sex.

But she was also just as truthful to know it was his heart
that made her want him forever.

Too bad the dumbass refused to even give them a shot. She
knew how he looked at her. How he snarled behind her back when she mentioned
another man she’d been seeing. That he watched her, tracking her every move
when nobody else was paying attention.

And yet, he refused to even consider the thought of being
involved with her. It was beyond Mary Ellen’s comprehension.

“And this is the part where you’d kiss the bride and we can—
Oh dear.”

Trav, hearing those words, lost no time in grabbing Ariel,
dipping her back and planting a passionate kiss on her lips. There were
whistles, claps and laughs. And Mary Ellen couldn’t help but giggle a little
herself. Her friend deserved happiness and a man who loved her more than life
itself. And Ariel was going to get it with Trav. No doubt about that.

The recessional, where she linked arms with Pete and joked
with him down the aisle about how goofy the bride and groom were, was quickly
over. The ceremony was going to be held outside in the gardens of Camp
Tecumseh, the camp Ariel and Brice’s family owned. Though the casual reception
would be held in the dining hall of the camp, tonight’s rehearsal dinner was at
a much fancier establishment in town.

Ariel raced back up to her as she let go of Pete’s arm and
tossed her arms around her.

“I can’t believe it’s here! Did you like
it? Did it look nice? Do I need to change anything?”

Mary Ellen smiled and hugged her friend back. “Yes, I liked
it. Yes, it looked wonderful. And no, you don’t need to change anything.”

Ariel pulled back and grinned. “Thanks. Everyone keeps
telling me that it’s all going great. But who knows if they’re just trying to
soothe the bride, you know? I knew you’d tell me if something was off.”

Something’s definitely off. Your maid of honor is a
horrible bitch, drowning in her own jealousy rather than feeling selflessly
happy for you.
“Nope. Everything really is great.”

“Okay. Awesome.” Ariel’s smile dimmed a little. “How are
things with my brother?”

“Ariel,” Mary Ellen warned. “We’ve been over this. It’s
over. I’ve given up hope that your brother will ever grow a clue and figure out
what is apparently obvious to everyone else around him.”

“But—”

“No.” Mary Ellen rubbed Ariel’s arms, hoping that being firm
wouldn’t be seen as crushing the bride’s spirits. “Sweetie, I love you. And
you’re sweet to worry about me. But this is your wedding weekend, and you
shouldn’t be spending it worrying about me and how I feel. I’m fine. Your
brother and I are both mature adults. And we will both be okay this weekend. So
don’t worry about matchmaking or anything. Everything will turn out great, and
you will have the fabulous wedding you and Trav deserve.”

Ariel took a deep breath and nodded. “All right. Sure.
Thanks for that. Oh, one more thing before I catch up with Trav.”

“What’s that?”

“You’re riding over to the rehearsal dinner with Brice.
Okaythanksbye!
”
She raced off as fast as she could in grass wearing heels before Mary Ellen
could protest.

Stuck in a car for almost an hour with the man who tormented
her dreams, but refused to give her any hope for a future?

Oh. Goodie.

Ariel was so getting a re-gift for her wedding present.

* * * * *

If there was a hell, it would be this for him. Trapped in a
car, stuck in traffic, with the one woman he wanted more than anything. And the
one he couldn’t have. All while trying to make small talk and ignore the
massive white elephant riding in the backseat.

“She looks really happy,” Mary Ellen said, staring out into
the line of cars ahead of them.

“She is happy.”
Excellent conversation skills, Brice.

“Are you going to be able to let her go tomorrow?” Mary
Ellen teased. “I know how much you hate the thought of giving her up.”

Brice’s hands clenched on the wheel and his back teeth
started to grind. She had no clue how close to the truth she was.

“Trav is a good guy. I trust her with him.”

Control. Something Brice didn’t yield with ease. Though he
never truly controlled his sister, not in a dominating or oppressive way, he
took it upon himself to look after her. To be her protector. From the moment he
was brought into the Winston family at ten years old, he’d looked at that
little girl, who stared back at him with such trusting, loving eyes, who would
tell anyone that listened that she had a brand new big brother that she loved a
whole lot…he’d sworn he would watch over her and never let anything harm her.

And now he had to pass the torch. At least it was to a good,
worthy man. Brice wasn’t sure he could have accepted it so easily otherwise.

“You were always a great brother,” Mary Ellen said softly,
as if reading his thoughts. “I remember when we were so young, and you used to
let her ride on your back…she thought you were a god.” Her lips tilted upward.
“I was jealous of her at first, wanting to have a big brother just like you. Or
any sibling, for that matter. Then I was jealous for other reasons.”

“Hmm?” he murmured absently, seeing an opening between two
cars and merging closer to the exit he needed.

“I was jealous of the attention you gave
her, when I wanted you to look at me. Just…not as a sister.”

Brice’s head whipped around to stare at her, just in time to
watch her eyes widen with shock and her mouth form an “O” of horror.

“Brice! Stop!”

He slammed on the brakes seconds before they would have run
into the car in front of them. His heart was thudding a mile a minute, and not
just from the close call with the car.

“Are you okay?” He unconsciously started reaching for her to
check before pulling himself back.

“Yeah, Brice. I’m fine. Are you? What was that all about?”

“What did you say?”

“I asked if you were okay.”

He shook his head. “No. Before I hit the brakes.”

Her fine, milky skin flushed and she looked straight ahead.
“Uh, right. Just saying I used to be jealous of the attention you gave Ariel
growing up.”

Okay. Apparently the elephant was no longer being ignored.
“Mary Ellen, I don’t know what to—”

“No. It’s okay. I’d rather you just stop there, please.” She
was chewing on her bottom lip, and he held back the urge to tell her to stop.
To reach out and soothe the tormented flesh with his thumb. Or his tongue.