Losing to Win (Clearwater) (6 page)

Chapter Nine

JC opened Rebecca’s door just
as Lee jogged up to them.

Lee approached them, his arms
crossed over his chest. Anger sparked in his eyes. “I didn’t think you were
coming back? Mom said you were, but I figured you had to get back to your new
life and job?”

“Boy, I hope you haven’t lost
your manners while I was gone.” JC frowned.

“Sorry.” Lee held out his
hand. “I’m Lee. It’s nice to meet you, Rebecca.”

She accepted his hand. “Same
to you. I’m sorry we left before JC had time to talk with you last night. That
was my fault. I was tired after the plane ride.”

Lee poked his finger at JC’s
chest. “It’s your fault. You left us. You left Laya and me to handle everything.
Poor Laya’s got so much to handle, and I have football practice starting in two
weeks. Why’d you bother to come back?”

“Lee, I’m sorry you had to
pick up some of the slack with me gone. I had to go. Today, I’m here to take
everyone out to lunch, to enjoy some family time. I’ve missed you all.” JC had
always sheltered the kids, doing his best to allow them each to have a
childhood, but when he left, Laya and Lee had no choice but to take over. Lee
resented it, and while that tore at JC’s heart, he had no real choice. He was
useless to his family before.

“We don’t need you here.” The
muscles in Lee’s neck bulged.

“Damn it, Lee, stop acting
like a spoiled brat. I know you had to give up partying with the team and
cruising the streets, but damn it we’re talking about our family. Your siblings
needed you too.” JC’s anger peaked. He was tired of Lee acting like he was the
only one that gave things up to help. “What the hell did you want me to do? I
was a mess when I returned from duty. I wasn’t any good to anyone. Leaving was
one of the hardest decisions I made, but it was right for the family.”

“You’re wrong. Mom was worse
when you left, she cried all the time. When you were on a deployment she
worried, but when she sat by your bedside she realized she could have lost you.
Then you just picked up and moved across the country. It broke her. Kelly cried
for you, night after night. Nothing any of us did would comfort her. She’s
finally getting over missing you. She asks for you, but there’s no fighting at
bedtime. Do you realize what coming back will do to Kelly? She woke up this
morning searching for you and when she couldn’t find you she went back to bed
crying. You’re the only father she’s known. Hell, you abandoned us all.” Lee
uncrossed his arms, and for a moment, JC thought his younger brother was going
to hit him. Instead he took off running down the street.

JC leaned against the car. His
heart sank. Was coming back a mistake?

“JC.” Rebecca laid her hand on
his arm.

“Oh, Rebecca, I’m sorry you
had to witness that. Let’s go inside. I’ll deal with Lee when he comes home.”
He glanced down the sidewalk to see Lee rounding the corner. He pushed away
from the car.

“JC, wait.” She pulled his
arm. “Lee is upset. I think some of his anger stems from missing you. It wasn’t
just your mother that nearly lost you, it was your whole family. You’re their
hero. They look up to you and you’ve been a standup father to them, especially
the younger ones.”

“I did my living through Lee.
He has my dreams of playing football and going to college. To see him so angry,
breaks my heart. I don’t know how to fix it.” He shook his head.

“I think he wants your
freedom. With you here, being the man of the family, he had it. Maybe the
possibility of going to college in a year and leaving his family behind, he
feels guilty. You said you did when you joined the Marines and when you moved
to Clearwater. Go find him and tell him the reason you’re here.”

“What about you?”

He had to go after Lee, but he
couldn’t just leave Rebecca standing on the sidewalk. Who knows how long he’d
need with Lee.

“I’ll go inside. I have a
feeling your mother has some questions she’s dying to ask me about what’s going
on between us.”

He shook his head, sliding his
arm around her waist. “I won’t put you through mom’s interrogation.”

“It won’t be that bad, and
maybe I can soften her decision on the move. Now go on.”

“Are you sure?” He looked for
a hint she didn’t want him to leave.

“I’m sure. I’ll see you
inside.”

He leaned and kissed her.
“You’re amazing.” He went after Lee, knowing Rebecca could handle his mother.
He was more worried about the knowledge that he was falling in love with
Rebecca.

* * *

Rebecca took a deep breath and
knocked on the apartment door. She needed a swift kick on the behind for
offering to go in alone, but JC needed to work through his issues with Lee
without her. She either waited in the car or went inside.

Jackie opened the door. Her
slightly greying hair was pulled back in a clip. “Rebecca? Where’s JC?”

“He went after Lee. They need
to talk. I thought I’d wait for him here. I hope you don’t mind.”

Jackie stepped aside. “No,
come on in. Did Lee run-off at the mouth again? He never knows when to keep his
damn trap shut. If he goes making JC feel guilty about coming home there will
be hell to pay.”

Rebecca shut the door and
glanced around the room. The small apartment was fairly quiet. Laya sat on the
sofa with a school book on her lap.

“Did you bring JC back?” Kelly
peeked over the back of the sofa. She was in her princess pajamas and had tears
streaming down her face.

The little girl pulled
Rebecca’s heartstrings. She walked closer to the sofa, hoping to offer what
little comfort she could. When she bent, almost eye level with Kelly, the
little girl climbed over the back of the sofa. “Aww sweetie, JC will be here
soon. He’s just downstairs talking to Lee.”

“You swear?”

“I promise.” Rebecca made a
cross over her heart. “You should go get dressed so you’ll be ready when he
arrives.”

Kelly swung her arms around
Rebecca’s neck. Rebecca lifted her.

“Kelly, I’m sure Rebecca
doesn’t want to carry you around. Now get down.” Laya scolded her younger
sister.

“She’s fine.” Rebecca moved
Kelly to rest on her hip, her arm tight around the girl’s back. “You’re just
excited to see JC, aren’t you?”

“I’ve missed him.” Kelly
whined, snuggling her head against Rebecca’s shoulder.

“I know, sweetie.” She wanted
to do something to ease the little girl’s pain. If Jackie declined the move it
would be hard on Kelly when JC left again.

“Laya, why don’t you take
Kelly to get dressed and make sure everyone else is ready too. I want to talk
to Rebecca alone.” Jackie nodded.

Laya had to pull Kelly off
Rebecca before she was able to do as her mother asked. She left Rebecca and
Jackie alone in a heavy silence that seemed to fill the small apartment.
Rebecca wondered how nine people lived in such cramped quarters. The living
room was barely big enough to allow six people to sit. It had to have been
worse when JC lived at home.

“Don’t judge me.” Jackie sat
down on the recliner.

“I wasn’t. I was actually
admiring how spotless the apartment is. Parents with fewer children have a hard
time keeping up with all the toys and clothes lying around. Your home is so
tidy.” Rebecca sat on the sofa across from Jackie.

“I can’t take credit for that.
Laya does most of the cleaning.” Jackie smiled, glancing around her home before
her attention fell back to Rebecca. “I’ve thought about JC’s offer.”

Rebecca fought the urge to ask
what she had decided. Pushing Jackie might put her further from a positive decision.
She wouldn’t do anything to hurt JC’s chance at having his family closer.

“Aren’t you going to ask what
I’ve decided?”

Rebecca shook her head,
pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I figured you’d prefer to wait for
JC. I’m only here to support JC, not to force you into anything you don’t want
to do.”

“So if I said we were staying
here, you wouldn’t pull that guilt shit you did last night?” Jackie’s tone made
Rebecca cringe.

“I apologize if I came across
harsh. I only told you the truth and hoped you would consider moving a good
opportunity—for you and the kids.”

“I can see in my son’s eyes
that you mean a lot to him. He seems to like living in Clearwater.” Jackie
turned to study the picture of her son in his dress blues. His face so young
and innocent, it had to be shortly after he enlisted.

“JC might stay in Clearwater,
but not because of me. He’s gained peace there. I’ve seen a change in him after
being home one day. This visit has brought back his anxiety and stress. I don’t
think he could live here again. He’d lose all the progress he’s gained. You
have to realize that.”

“Are his nightmares back?”
When Rebecca remained silent Jackie added. “He tried to hide them, but the
walls are thin here.”

“Yes, last night.”

“But not in Clearwater?”

Rebecca didn’t have any
first-hand knowledge, only that he had told her he hadn’t had any since he
moved to Clearwater. “None that I know of.”

“I saw the tension in him last
night when he was here. I don’t want to be the one to cause him any further
grief in his life. He’s a good boy and deserves to be happy, that’s why I’ve
decided to go to Clearwater, as long as the kids agree.”

The door creaked. JC and Lee
entered the apartment. Both were smiling and JC had his hand on Lee’s shoulder.
“Did I hear you right?” JC approached his mother.

“It’s not up to me. The kids
have to have a say in this, especially the older ones.”

“JC!” Kelly ran to him and
wrapped her arms around his neck, crawling onto his lap. “I’ve missed you.”

“Are you really certain you
want to move?” Lee questioned his mother.

“Everyone sit. I’ll gather the
kids for a family meeting.” Jackie rose from the chair and walked down the
hall.

“What did you say to her?” JC
sat next to Rebecca, Kelly still clinging to his side. He wrapped his other arm
around Rebecca’s shoulders.

“Nothing,” She whispered and
leaned against him. “She sees what being back here is doing to you.” She
tickled Kelly’s stomach. The little girl giggled. Rebecca was happy that JC
would have everything he wanted, which she hoped included her.

Chapter Ten

With a positive consensus
reached, JC’s family would move to Clearwater on the condition he found them a
rental home before the school year started. It meant his family would have to
move twice, but at least they would all be together.

Instead of going out for
lunch, they ordered pizza and spent time together as a family. JC and Rebecca
cuddled on the sofa, Kelly dozing in his arms, while his mother sat across from
them.

“Why don’t you ship what you
don’t need over the next few weeks to the new house? We can buy new furniture
in Clearwater and you won’t need a moving truck?” JC made a mental list of
everything to be done.

“What about the cars? Lee’s
got your old one, and there’s mine. I’m not sure they’ll make it, but we can’t
be without a vehicle.”

“Clearwater is a small town.
The house will only be a few blocks from the high school so Lee doesn’t need a
car right away. I can get you one before you arrive.” JC smiled. “I don’t want
you and the kids doing that long drive, especially in two separate cars. Flying
would be easier.”

“Flying is expensive.” Jackie
didn’t seem convinced.

“Driving is too. Hotel rooms,
food, and gas, it all adds up.”

“Okay. I’m still worried about
a job.”

“Don’t be,” Rebecca replied.
“A friend of mine is a secretary for Dr. Bowmen, an OBGYN in Clearwater. She’s
retiring and needs someone to replace her. JC said you do that type of work. I
scheduled a phone interview for Monday, if you are interested in applying. The
only catch is, Dr. Bowmen needs someone to start in three weeks.”

“Wow, you’re amazing.” JC
leaned toward her, careful not to disturb Kelly, and kissed Rebecca. “That’s
tight, but we’ll make it work. Once we get back to Clearwater tomorrow, Rebecca
and I will start searching for a rental.”

Kelly’s eyes shot open.
“You’re leaving? You can’t! Please don’t leave me!” Tears fell down her little
cheeks, breaking JC’s heart.

“Oh, Kelly, we’re going to be
together soon. All of us. We’ll just be apart for a short while.” He picked her
up, cuddling her against him, and rubbing small circles on her back.

His mother rose, arms
stretched to take Kelly. “I think she needs a nap. She didn’t sleep well last
night.”

“It’s okay, I’ll put her
down.” JC stood, contentment filling his heart.

* * *

Rebecca leaned in the doorway of
Kelly’s bedroom, watching JC interact with his sister. She was more of a
daughter than a sister to him. Maybe it was because Kelly was the youngest at
only four, with nearly a five year age gap to the next sibling.

“Did Mom scare you off?”

“No. I just wanted to talk to
you alone.” She entered the room and shut the door behind her.

“Did Mom say something that
upset you?” He frowned.

“No. I was thinking about
Kelly. She’s really attached to you.” She moved closer to him.

“I know. Leaving tomorrow is
going to be hard on her.”

“And hard on Laya and Lee for
the next while until Kelly sees you again.” Rebecca glanced down at the
sleeping child. “I was thinking…why don’t we take her home with us?”

“What?” His voice rose, shock
clear in his tone.

“Hear me out.” She rested her
hand on his arm. “The rest of the family will be joining you in a week or two,
three max. Why not bring her with us now. She needs you.”

“I’m still at Cameron’s. I
can’t spring a kid on them. Even if I could, there’s no room.”

She took a deep breath,
wondering how he would feel about her next statement. “You could stay at my
place. I have a guest room. Kelly can sleep there.”

“I have to work. The shop
isn’t the best place for a child.”

“I’m part time at
Express-Ohh’s. I’ll watch her while you’re at work, and when we both have to
work we’ll make arrangements. It’s only temporary. We can make it happen.” She
rubbed his arm. “I know seeing Kelly so upset breaks your heart. If your mom is
okay with Kelly coming with us, then why not? It will give Lee and Laya a break
as well.”

“You’re sure you want to do
this?”

“I wouldn’t have offered if I
didn’t. We’ll find your mom a great rental, and everyone will be together in a
few weeks.”

He wrapped his arms around
her, squeezing her tight. “Thank you.”

* * *

By the time they arrived at
Rebecca’s apartment, Kelly was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes
open. JC turned to Rebecca, catching a glimpse of Kelly from the corner of his
eye. She was stretched out across the backseat, asleep. “I’ll take her up, tuck
her into bed, and then I’ll come back for our bags.”

“The bags are light, I can
grab them.”

He glanced back at Kelly, the
muscles in his shoulders tightening. “Are you sure about this? I could get a
room for us at Winterbloom.”

“Stop worrying. I want you
both here.” Rebecca laid her hand on his thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Now come on, she needs to be in bed.”

He nodded, opened the truck
door, and stepped around to the passenger’s side. She stumbled as she stepped
out of the truck. His shaft hardened as her chest brushed against his. His body
itched to hold her in his arms, to touch her. There was no doubt that he had
fallen head-over-heels in love with her. It just wasn’t the time to make his
feelings known.

He reached in the backseat,
pulling Kelly into his arms. She didn’t stir or even bat an eye. He turned to
see Rebecca with the bags in her hand. “I told you I’d get those.”

“It’s fine. Let’s go inside. I
want a hot bath and a glass of wine before bed.” She stepped away from the
truck and toward the door that led to her apartment.

JC bit his tongue, refusing to
force the issue. It wasn’t that he thought she couldn’t handle the bags, his
mother had taught him to respect women. Carry their bags, open doors, and be a
true gentleman every time. Tonight he’d let Rebecca have her way. It had been a
long day of travel, and morning would arrive before long. All he wanted to do
was relax, hopefully with Rebecca in his arms. Tomorrow he had to get back to
work and find a rental house.

Opening her apartment door,
Rebecca stepped aside for him to enter. “The guest room is the first door on
your right as you go down the hall. I’ll bring the bags and a nightlight for
the room.”

Kelly woke as he headed down
the hall. “Shh, sweetie.” He rubbed her back.

“Where are we?” Her voice was
a soft whisper and her eyes were still shut.

“We’re at Rebecca’s. I’m going
to put you to bed, so you can get some sleep.” He kept his voice low. Stepping
into the guest room, he realize it would be the first time Kelly ever slept by
herself. The only bedroom she ever had was shared with two other sisters. If
she awoke before morning it was going to be a rude awakening in a strange room
all alone. He wondered if he should sleep in here with her and decided the sofa
would be better, in case his nightmares plagued him.

The creamy white walls and
ebony queen bed showcased the room. A turquoise comforter and small blue and
white throw pillows decorated the bed. A large picture of waves crashing on a
pristine beach hung over the bed. It seemed a better fit for North Carolina
than landlocked Clearwater, Wyoming.

“It reminds me of home.”
Rebecca explained, coming to stand behind him. “With Dad in the Navy, I grew up
by the water. It inspired the decor for this room.”

“Do you miss home?”

She pulled back the bed
sheets. “Moving around so much I learned home was where you make it. But if
you’re asking do I miss the ocean, sometimes. But Clearwater is my home now.
It’s where I want to be and I don’t plan on leaving.”

JC didn’t want to wake Kelly
to change her clothes, so he put her into bed as she was. Her leggings and
T-shirt would have to do as sleepwear for tonight. He tucked the blankets
around her and stared down at her. Rebecca and Lee were right, while he played
no part in her conception, Kelly was like a daughter to him.

Rebecca cupped the side of his
face with her hand. “You worry too much. She’ll be fine. She has her teddy, and
we’re just down the hall. If she calls out, we’ll hear her.”

He nodded. “I know. You go
prepare your bath. I’ll bring you a glass of wine.”

She rose up on her tippy toes,
bringing her lips inches from his. “I’ve got a better idea.”

“Oh, do you?” He closed the
distance between them, pressing his lips to hers.

When the kiss ended, she
tugged his hand. “Come on.”

He followed her down the hall,
his shaft already hardening. It had been a long day, but his energy was
suddenly renewed. Being led down the hall, he didn’t take anything else in but
the sway of her hips. When she opened her bedroom door he was amazed with the
space. This larger room was decorated completely different than the guest room.
The walls were a warm topaz with the accent wall behind the bed a few shades
darker. The large canopy king bed, outfitted in a brown comforter with gold
swirls, dominated the room. Gold, brown, and black pillows were piled neatly on
top of each other. Sheer, white curtains accentuated the sides of the bed,
pulled back with gold ties.

“It’s different than the rest
of the house, but it’s cozy.” She pulled her sweater over her head, letting it
fall to the floor, before strolling to the bed. “Shut the door in case Kelly
gets up.”

He watched her ass saunter in
the black yoga pants. He wanted to pull those pants off with his teeth, before
tasting her sweet spot. He shut the door and when he stood in front of her, her
hands immediately pulled the belt of his jeans. Unhooking it, her fingers
flicked the button. “In a hurry, Sugar?”

“I want you naked and inside
of me.” The sound of his zipper echoed in the room.

His mouth claimed hers, while
his fingers unhooked her bra, with skills he didn’t know he still had, and slid
it off her shoulders. His fingers found her nipples, teasing them gently into
harden tips, his mouth eager to lay claim to one at a time.

She leaned back.

Lifting his head, he kissed
the base of her neck, working upward until he found her sensitive spot just
below her ear. “I want you on the bed, naked.”

His jeans hung loosely on his
hips. Her hand traveled between the rough material and his skin until she found
his hardened shaft, standing at attention. “On one condition…”

“Name it.”

“Don’t pretend.” Pushing his
jeans out of her way, she wrapped her hand around his shaft, gliding her
fingers along the length of it. “There’s no need for the prosthesis. I know the
other night you were worried about my reaction. It changes nothing between us.
Take it off and let tonight be about us.”

“I don’t know.”

“JC, I didn’t turn away when
you took it off in the hotel. I cuddled against you. That should prove to you
it doesn’t bother me. You are still the man I want to be with, and the
prosthesis doesn’t make me think any less of you whether it’s on or off. I want
tonight to be about us. Please.”

He could barely think a
coherent thought as her hand continued to run the length of him. “Fine, but I
want you naked and on your back.” He lowered to the bed, while she stripped
before him, shaking her hips to drive him wild. He regretted the decision to
take his leg off, but if their relationship was going to progress then he had
to get comfortable with it eventually. He rolled up his jeans, until he reached
the lever that would release the pin, allowing his prosthesis to come off with
ease.

With the pin released he was
able to lift out. The only thing left to do was to remove the sleeve that fit just
below the knee, where his leg was gone to half way up his thigh. The long pin
stuck out the end, which connected to the inside of the leg. He pulled it off
before tugging his jeans down and letting them fall on the floor.

“Oh, don’t stop there.” Rebecca
winked.

“What?”

“Lose the boxers and shirt,
and get your ass in bed.” She sat on the bed, her fingers tugging the hem of
his shirt.

“Woman, you’re so demanding.”
He laughed and let her pull the shirt over his head before sliding down his
boxers. He pushed her against the pillows. “You’re supposed to be on your
back.”

She nudged some of the throw
pillows off the side of the bed and rested on the king size pillows, her arms
above her head. “As you wish. Now what?”

“Anything I want.” He
positioned his body between her legs, his fingers going for her special core,
while his thumb teased along the outside of her lips until it reached the
center spot that would drive her crazy. As he teased, he watched her. Her eyes
were closed and a moan escaped her lips.

“I won’t last long if you keep
doing that.”

Ignoring her words, he didn’t
stop. He leaned over her body, kissing along her thigh and working his way to
her hip. He placed kisses over her stomach and up to her breast. His mouth
claiming one, his tongue traveled around the edge of the nipple, hardening it
again, before sucking it into his mouth and nibbling.