I Run to You (34 page)

“Just that—I want you to enjoy yourself. To
feel as beautiful as you are. I am not going to lie about sometimes
pleasuring myself. I want you to feel sexual.”

“I do.”

He kissed her softly. “Are you on birth
control?’

“Yes.”

“I’ve had my shots, my checkup.” His eyes
twinkled. “But I’ll use a condom if you—”

“No. It’s okay.”

He said next, “We’re not going to have
intercourse until you move in.”

“Is that a bribe?” Her brow rose.

“No,” Max laughed scolding. “But it’s
symbolic, a commitment, on both our parts.”

She closed her eyes a moment.

He said, “We were supposed to talk tonight. I
want us to date. Your weekends will be busy with the band. I want
to show you things. I want you to show me things. I want to laugh
with you—Jordan—”

Her eyes were damp when her lashes lifted.
“You overwhelm me, Max.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispered

“No. In a good way. It’s just…” Jordan pushed
up and swung around to sit on the edge of the bed.

Max eyed her tattoos. He wanted to kiss her
back, to lick her all over. He wanted to….

“I want to feel it’s real. Believe it.
Believe in forever and all that. I…”

He was instantly alert and sat up beside her.
After a few moments, Max came to his feet and pulled his trousers
on, going over and getting a T-shirt for her to slip on.

“Come on, babe. We still need to talk.” He
took her hand and they went below. He collected her clothing, the
beer, and they settled on the sofa.

“All right,” Max held her as they lay side by
side. He would let her get dressed because he understood she needed
all her defenses, to talk.

Jordan murmured, “I’ll be happy with an
affair, if you tell me up front that’s what this is. I don’t want
to change my life—build my life, or possibly my daughters, around
something that won’t last.”

“I see.” He thought a moment. “And the sex?
You think because it’s intense it will just be sex?”

“Maybe.”

He sat up more, and let her do likewise.
Taking her hand with the ring, he brushed his finger over it while
he regarded her. “You believe I want you. But you wouldn’t believe
I love you?”

“How can you? We hardly know—”

“—I can.” He smiled softly. “But that doesn’t
matter as much as you knowing it, feeling it, without a doubt. And
I understand your doubts.”

“I’m sorry.”

He shook his head and kissed her. “Don’t
apologize. It just means you need proof. You need time to know it.
As long as you’re willing to give me that, then we’ll be
alright.”

“See, that’s not what guys say.”

Holding her tightly he rasped, “I’m not guys.
I’m me.”

Max simply held her awhile, then they went up
to the loft and lay on his bed, with their clothing on, they
slept.

Somewhere near dawn, he awoke and left her to
pad down and make coffee. He brought it up, setting it on the
nightstand, seeing her eyes were open. She was watching him.

He whispered, “Too early?”

“No.” She came to sit beside him, on the
edge, taking her coffee.

“Want to come down and see the fog rise on
the lake?”

“Love to.”

They took a blanket and went to the deck,
sitting with the chairs together, blanket over them, as they
watched the thick fog drift.

Max found her hand and held it. “I owe you.
Sex.”

She laughed in mid sip. “Umm. You do.”

He smiled, content oddly enough. Learning a
bit more about himself every moment he spent with her.

~*~

Brook had been driving Madeline’s Jeep. Her
car was still at Jude’s. She drove it to practice on Thursday—the
date being changed because of her work schedule.

“Lord, girl, you look ragged,” was Renee’s
observation as they stood in the kitchen. The house was already
filling up. Jason was obviously seeing the blond chic. They had
arrived earlier with Donna and Ally, and Jordan was on the porch.
Some of the cousins dropped in.

“Not sleeping,” Brook admitted.

Renee’s gaze went over her. “Found out
anything?”

“Karla was out of town that night.” Brook
smiled tartly. “Officer came by the Tavern and told me she had a
hotel receipt. Couldn’t have been her.”

“Yeah right. Not her maybe but—”

“Yeah, they figure it was one of the guys. A
dude named Chris Beck or something. He’s got a record.”

“At least the house is secure.”

“Um.” Brook leaned against the table. Renee
was at the back counter. “Feels strange—just not the existence I
planned.”

Talk and laughter flowed from the other
rooms. Brook asked, “How are things going with Sunny?”

“He’s—” Renee paused having been glancing
around. “Here.”

Brook followed her gaze to see Sunny just
inside the doorway. His hair unbraided, wearing jeans and boots, a
red shirt.

“I’ll just—” Brook began.

However, Sunny offered, “This seems to be the
place to hang out tonight.” he gave Renee a little smile.

“Stick around if you want.” Rene invited
him.

Brook observed Renee’s little, I do not care
shrug. However, she could feel the tension.

Sunny’s black brow cocked. “I’d planned
to.”

Looking between them, Brook murmured, “I need
to go tune my bass.”

Renee fell in step with him. Brook caught
Sunny’s amused smile as they passed through into the living
room.

Once the serious stuff got underway, Renee
had one rule for everyone, they could not talk while the band was
playing. Thankfully, everyone was cool about it.

Brook found her distraction in the music.
Also—in laughing at Jordan as she flubbed her words and rolled her
eyes, making up something hysterical in their place.

It was not their best practice. They had a
gig Saturday night. Brook would work Friday. It would be a tough
one. Mitch and the band were playing. The crowd at the Tavern would
be huge. For now though, she enjoyed the rapport with her band,
amused too, as Donna and Alley argued good naturally over
something. They were Coburns, so it was natural everything was a
debate.

Somewhere mid-way, someone went out for food.
Brook put the guitar aside. Everyone needed the break. They were
all off a bit.

Maybe it was the first club gig, getting them
rattled.

She grabbed a beer, and found a place in the
crowded kitchen to eat a burger and fries. Afterwards, working
through people—which included G.W., who hugged her and gave her a
loud kiss on the cheek. She made it to the porch.

Jordan was in one of the far chairs, having
her beer and smoke.

A dozen people lined the banisters, and sat
in rocking chairs. Brook went down the steps and walked around the
yard a bit, glancing up to Mitch and Madeline’s. They weren’t at
home today, Mitch was doing his other construction job, and
Madeline and Ruby were out shopping.

She was standing by an Azalea that was likely
planted 100 years ago, when she saw Renee and Sunny come out the
back door.

In the process of turning, to head back to
the steps, she caught the movement of Sunny backing Renee against
the house. Smiling, Brook walked to the steps and sat down. The
family would be wondering why Sunny was there. Not much got by them
though.

“Hey.”

She looked up and scooted over, so Jason
could sit beside her.

“Hey, yourself.”

His arm went round her shoulders. “How’s the
alarm system?”

“It’s there.”

He caught her dry tone. “It’s a
precaution.”

“Yeah, I know.” She looked over the cars
parked everywhere.

Hugging her a little, Jason murmured, “You
and Rafe break up?”

“You being nosey?” She laughed.

“Yep.”

She sighed. “We’re very close.”

“Hmmm.” He leaned back and captured her gaze.
His blue eyes slightly narrowed.

“We care very much for each other and always
will.”

His lips pursed making that dimple in his
chin deeper. “I know that one.”

“I doubt it. “ She joked. “You—don’t have
serious relationships.”

He winced and looked over his shoulder;
obviously checking to make sure the blond was not listening. When
he met her eyes again, his were twinkling. “Hasn’t happened to me
yet.”

“What?”

“Love.”

“Ah.” Her gaze roamed his handsome face. “It
will. If you date someone you care more about than just bedding
them.”

White teeth raking his lip on a smile, Jason
offered, “That’s kind of all that’s on my mind at this stage.”

“God, you’re hopeless.” She pushed at him
playfully.

Dropping his arm, he laughed and propped his
forearms on his knees while he roamed his gaze around the yard.
“From what I’ve observed—Love sucks.”

“I’ve said that myself.”

He glanced at her, then back at the yard.
“Coy’s never gotten over you. Never been able to hide loving
you.”

“God—not you too.” Brook sighed.

“Not pushing.” He assured. “Just sayin’.”

“Well don’t.” She stood and muttered; “I have
enough to deal with having Karla playing the psycho bitch—”

“You think that thing, with her and Coy, has
to do with—” He had stood too.

“No. I… don’t know.” Brook looked aside and
up at him.

“We got your back, lil sister.” He
winked.

“I’m very aware of the Coburn’s driving by
the Tavern, and my house—at all hours.” She dryly retorted.

“Comes with being in the family.” He winked.
“But we’ll catch them—whoever it is.”

Brook nodded just to end the subject.
“Thanks. I’m grumbling, but I do feel better knowing their all
looking out for me.”

Renee appeared at the top of the
steps—looking flushed.

“Back to work,” she told Brook.

In the living room again, taking her place on
the sofa, Brook ran through the songs. She spotted Sunny talking to
one of the Coburn girls. He sat in one of the ladder-back chairs.
She noticed when Renee sang the next one though, he watched. Sunny
was mature, smooth, and Brook observed, he knew how to observe
Renee without being obvious.

Still, when the session ended and everyone
was just relaxing, instruments packed up, she had gone in the
kitchen to clean up a bit of the mess—more to have something to
do—dreading going home, for obvious reasons. Brook could see into
the living room. Most who had shown up had gone out to the porch
and lawn. Sunny was relaxed on the sofa she had vacated, ankle on
his knee, and arm along the back when Renee came over to him.

She had on what most of them did, looking
sexy cute in cut off shorts and a white tank, her sandals, sporting
a nice tan. She leaned down to say something. Sunny leaned forward,
his hair sliding round his shoulders. A simple movement, of Sunny’s
hand resting on Renee’s hip told Brook more than whatever they were
saying to each other.

Tying the end of the trash bag, hefting it to
the back door, Brook opened the door and set it with others. When
she closed the door and turned, Sunny stood with his back to her,
kissing Renee.

Brook could tell from the sounds, slamming
car doors, muffled things, the echo inside, that she was the only
one in the house. She walked over to wash her hands in the sink.
Her intention to leave and give them privacy.

“Is Madeline home?”

Brook glanced over her shoulder to see Sunny
leaning his back against the inside door facing of the kitchen,
hands in his pockets.

“I don’t know. She was out earlier…”

He nodded. “I wanted to talk to her.”

“Something wrong?”

Those gorgeous brown eyes twinkled. “Not
really.”

Brook glanced in the living room but didn’t
see Renee. Looking back at him, she asked, “You coming to watch us
this weekend?”

“Probably.”

“Good.” She smiled.

He smiled a bit dryly. “Don’t get ahead of
me, brat. I have some good friends in this family. I don’t
want—”

“—God, but you’re old fashioned.” She laughed
and dried her hands. Walking to him, Brook paused and said, “Why
don’t you stay the night here. One night and everyone from Copper
creek to Diamond back will know. If anyone says shit, you tell
them—”

He cut her off, “I’ll handle it my way.”

She crossed her arms. “And Renee’s okay with
that?”

“No.” He laughed and straightened. They
walked into the living room toward the front door. “She’s playing
hard to get now.”

“Didn’t look like it from that kiss.”

“I still got moves, for an old guy.”

She snorted and looked at him as he opened
the door. “You look better than half the men here, and you know it.
And considering there ain’t no ugly Coburns, that’s saying
something.”

Reaching up to pull his hair before stepping
out, Brook added, “I think you like teasing her, as much as she
likes fighting with you. I’d say that’s all kinds of good
tension.”

Out on the porch, Brook chatted with Jordan,
standing at the porch rail, the both of them watching Renee walk
Sunny to his car.

“Interesting pair.”

She looked at Jordan. “Yeah. But right,
somehow.”

Jordan mused, “He’s got money, big
reputation, a lot that makes you think he wouldn’t go for a small
town woman. Not someone as down to earth as Renee. Although—she has
her quirky side.”

Thinking on Jordan and Max, assuming that was
what the woman was thinking of; Brook regarded her, glancing over
the jeans and leather. Then—she noticed the ring.

A ray of sun hit it. Since she had never seen
Jordan wear it—even though it was not a “rock” like Max would
probably have gotten one of his usual women, it was obviously
expensive. A lovely thin band, with a wave of three diamonds at the
top.

Jordan caught her looking and murmured, “Your
brother is crazy.”

Smiling Brook raised her gaze. “About
you.”