The Truth (5 page)

A moan erupted from her throat as his hands gently brushed her naked breast. Her nails dug into his back when he slowly rolled her nipple between his fingers. She fumbled with the buckle of his belt, wanting him more than she’d ever wanted anyone.

She stumbled when he suddenly stepped out of her grasp. His face was flush, and his breathing labored. He held up a finger, as he struggled to speak.

“B … Bed … we need to get to the bed.” He walked over and lifted her into his arms, pulling her close against his chest. “Our first time can’t be on the kitchen counter. That’s more of a third or fourth time.”

Cradled in his arms, she leaned in, running her tongue up the length of his neck. He moaned, the vibration sending flashes through her body. Running her hands through the soft mat of dark hair on his chest, she slowly rolled his nipple between her fingers as he’d done to her.

“The floor is going to have to do if you don’t stop for a second. We’re almost there.”

“I don’t see what was wrong with the count — ”

Her cell phone rang. They stood frozen in the center of the living room. She buried her head into the crook of his neck and willed it to stop. The ringing stopped, and both of them breathed a sigh of relief.

She smiled up at him and gently kissed him. He’d taken only one step forward when her phone rang again. This time, she pushed out of his arms and reached for her purse.

“I’m so sorry, it’s my mother’s ring tone, and she wouldn’t call back if it wasn’t important.” Her hands shook as she pressed the connect button.

“Mom, what is it?”

“It’s Ryan. I’m so sorry; I don’t know how it happened. He fell and I can’t stop the bleeding. We’re on our way to the hospital. I’m sure he’ll be fine, but I wanted you to know. I feel horrible.”

Lexie reassured her mother before hanging up. She shoved her cell phone back into her purse and threw it over her shoulder.

“Grayson, I’m sorry, I have to go. It’s Ryan. He’s on his way to the hospital, and I have to get there.”

Before she could finish her sentence, he’d gathered their clothes, tied his shoes, grabbed his keys, and was waiting by the open door.

“Hurry, Lexie.”

The minute they’d been cleared to enter the back hall of the emergency room, she spotted her mother walking toward them with Ryan in her arms.

She rushed forward, and her heart raced when he turned his tear-streaked face to her.

“Mommy.” His voice hitched as he reached his arms out to her.

“Oh baby,” she crooned, holding him close. “What happened? Are you okay?”

“I got stitched.” His sadness faded and his face beamed with pride as he lifted his bangs to show her the bandaged spot on his temple. “It hurted, a lot, but I only cried a little.”

“You’re so brave,” she kissed his cheek.

“What happened, buddy?” Grayson asked him, coming to stand beside her and investigating his bandage.

“I fell,” Ryan said simply.

“He was looking through the telescope and his stool tipped over,” Betty said. “He didn’t fall far, but he caught the end of a nail sticking out of one of the rails on the porch. The nail was so small, I couldn’t even find it at first, but he caught it just right.” She brushed her hands over her grandson’s hair. “There was so much blood I think it scared us both.”

“It was a gusher,” Ryan interjected.

“I bet it was.” Lexie smiled. “I’m so glad you’re okay, sweetie.”

“I found the dipper,” Ryan informed them, looking proudly at Grayson. “The big one.”

“That’s great. I think we’ll need to pick you up a more stable stool for when you show it to me.”

“Can I show you now?” Ryan leaned over and climbed onto Grayson, wrapping his arms around his neck.

“I think you should rest tonight. A battle wound like that one would have even the bravest soldier assigned to quarters for a day or two.”

“Yeah,” Ryan nodded his head in agreement. “I coulda bled to death.”

Grayson chuckled. “It’s a good thing Grandma was looking out for you.”

Ryan nodded again. His serious expression had both women turning their heads to hide their smiles.

“All right, little man,” Lexie said, reaching over to pull Ryan into her arms, “It’s time to get you home and into bed.”

Ryan twisted away from her, clinging tighter to Grayson. “Isn’t Grayson coming too?”

Grayson looked over at Lexie and mouthed, “Please?”

She smiled, “Yes, Grayson is coming with us. But there will be no star gazing or play time, its right to bed, deal?”

“Deal,” they both said in unison.

Lexie turned to her mother. “Go home and get some rest.” Pulling her into her arms, she whispered into her ear, “He’s fine. It was an accident, they happen all the time, remember? Stop looking like you were irresponsible or negligent.”

Betty sniffed, and squeezed her daughter tighter. “I’ll call in the morning and check on him. I’m so sorry.”

“You’re doing it again,” Lexie scolded. “Now kiss your grandson goodnight, and get home to Daddy.”

Betty stepped over and rubbed Ryan’s back as he lay comfortably against Grayson’s chest. Bending over to kiss his cheek, she whispered she loved him, waved at the three of them and headed out through the emergency room doors.

Grayson shifted Ryan to one arm, and held out his hand for Lexie’s. “Ready?”

She nodded her head, took his hand, and let him lead her out to the car.

“Grayson, did you ever have to get stitched?” Ryan asked as Lexie settled him in the backseat.

“Yeah, I’ve had lots of stitches,” Grayson answered.

“Did you have gushers, too?” Ryan asked.

“Yup, I’ve definitely had a gusher, that happens sometimes when you’re a soldier.”

Lexie realized she’d never asked Grayson much about his tour of duty in Iraq. She waited with interest for the answer as she buckled herself into the passenger seat.

“You ever get shot?” Ryan asked, his eyes filled with wonder.

“Actually, I have, yes.”

“What? You never told me that,” Lexie burst out, her stomach suddenly queasy.

Grayson shrugged. “Honestly, I try not to think about it too much.”

“You got shot? Whoa! I bet that took a whole bunch of stiches,” Ryan chimed in.

Grayson laughed. “You bet, buddy. I even got a scar out of the deal.”

“Wow! Hey, Mom, do you think I’ll have a scar?” he asked excitedly.

Lexie paled a bit at the thought. “I don’t think so, sweetie. Your battle wound is not as bad as Grayson’s.”

Ryan harrumphed, and then turned to look out the window.

“Where did you get shot?” Lexie asked Grayson quietly.

He rubbed his left shoulder. “Shoulder. I got lucky, the bullet missed the bones. Hurt like a son of a gun, though.”

“I didn’t notice a scar,” she said, thinking back to their earlier tryst when he had been shirtless.

“I believe you had other things on your mind,” he said, a hint of playfulness in his voice. Lexie swatted at him affectionately, and he grinned.

Once they’d arrived home, Lexie tucked Ryan into the middle of her bed. He wanted to be close to her, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep with a wall separating them.

He’d insisted on a bedtime story and Grayson was currently propped up against her headboard, with his long legs stretched out over the comforter, reading
Green Eggs and Ham.
It was the type of scene that would melt any mother’s heart, and she was no exception. Listening to the fluctuation of his voice as he spoke to Sam I Am and the sound of Ryan’s giggle, her heart swelled.

Climbing in next to her son, Lexie let the sound of Grayson’s voice lure her to sleep.

The following morning when she awoke, she looked over at her sleeping son and past him to the man sleeping soundly on the other side of her bed. He hadn’t gone home. Instead he’d covered her with an afghan, turned off the lights, and slept beside them.

It wasn’t the morning after she’d envisioned as they’d raced to his apartment last night, but she knew at that moment, that it was a morning after she’d never forget. It was the morning she fell in love.

Grayson jumped in his seat when Jordan slammed a large pile of files onto his desk.

“Where were you, Hunter?”

Looking up into the curious face of his partner, he could feel the heat rise on his cheeks. He hadn’t thought it would be a problem dating his partner’s sister, but having just been interrupted recalling the softness of her skin as he’d run his hands over her naked flesh, he realized it had its uncomfortable moments.

“Sorry, just thinking. What’s up?” he asked, trying to pull himself back to work.

“Whatever you were thinking must have been good.” Jordan chuckled and plopped down in the empty chair beside the desk. “How’d it go last night?”

Grayson replayed last night in his mind. It had been perfect, really. The way her eyes drifted closed when he kissed her, the way her body arched against his hands when he touched her. He knew he was falling for Lexie. He’d started the minute he’d laid eyes on her. But waking up this morning, watching her sleep with one arm resting gently across her son, he knew it was no longer falling. He’d fallen — hard.

“It wasn’t what I’d expected, but it went well, I think.” Grayson shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

Jordan’s eyebrow rose. He leaned forward and braced his arms on his knees. “The look on your face told me it went much better than well. Let’s forget it’s my sister for a moment. I recognize that look. You don’t have to talk to me about it, but don’t pretend that I don’t know either.”

He wasn’t exactly sure what Jordan knew, but he did know it wasn’t easy to forget it was his sister at this moment. “Dinner was delicious. Conversation was easy. She looked beautiful. But our evening was interrupted when we had to go to the emergency room with Ryan.”

“What?” Jordan shot out of the chair. “What happened? Why the hell didn’t anyone call me?”

“He’s fine, Jordan, really.” Grayson rose from his chair and squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. “He fell and caught his temple on a nail of some sort. There were a few stitches, that’s all, honest, he’s fine.”

Jordan took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “Thank God. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to that kid.”

“I can understand that. I think I was as panicked as Lexie when Betty told us she was on her way to the emergency room with him. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten dressed that fast before.”

Jordan’s eyes drew together, and his lips became a straight line, but he didn’t say a word. In the silence, Grayson realized what he’d said and felt the heat rise on his face again.

“No … not … It wasn’t like that. Well … shit, Jordan, nothing happened. Stop looking at me like that.”

Jordan erupted with laughter. “You should see your face. It’s priceless.”

Grayson sat down in his chair, and pulled a file off the top of the stack on his desk. What he really wanted to do was knock the amusement off of his partner’s face.

Jordan cleared his throat in an apparent attempt to get his laughter under control. “Sorry, man, but you have to admit that was funny.”

Grayson turned and glared at him and said nothing.

“So I take it my nephew’s accident interrupted your plans for the evening.”

Grayson’s fist clenched. He didn’t really know why, but he really wanted to punch him. He leaned in closer to Jordan. Glaring at him he spat, “First of all, it wasn’t my
plan
for the evening. Having a night alone wasn’t a premeditated attempt to sleep with her. And second, Ryan needing his mother was not an interruption in my book, it was reality. She’s not some fling, and I understand who comes first in her life. I’m more than fine with that.”

Jordan sat in silence with a serious expression on his face. Finally, his mouth twitched at the sides then broke into a huge grin. He slapped his hand against his thigh and hollered, “I’ll be damned. I was right. You’re in love with her.”

Grayson knew his mouth was hanging open, but he seemed incapable of closing it. Was he that transparent? His palms grew sweaty and he tried desperately to get a denial to cross his lips. He wanted to tell Lexie how he felt before her brother blurted it out over coffee.

The radio went off, saving him from further embarrassment. “Robbery in progress at 18421 Canal Street, suspect is armed. Possible hostage situation.”

Jordan responded to the call as they raced from the office.

They pulled up in silence. No sirens or flashing lights until they could evaluate the situation. There was one other car on the scene, and both officers were anxiously waiting Jordan’s arrival.

“What’ve we got?” Jordan asked, scanning the surroundings.

“As far as we can tell, there’s one gunman and two possible hostages inside. No demands have been made, and the phone inside has gone unanswered.”

Three additional patrol cars pulled in, all flagging the entrance. Jordan motioned the men and all took cover behind their car doors and drew their weapons as he reached for the bullhorn.

Before he could speak, the doors were thrown open and the suspect came out holding a gun to the head of a young store clerk. She was screaming and crying, begging him to release her as he clung tightly to her neck.

Judging by the way his hands shook and how his eyes struggled to stay focused, Grayson knew he was strung out. The kid was nineteen, maybe twenty, and high enough to shoot before thinking.

“Put down your weapon and release the hostage.” Jordan spoke with authority into the bullhorn. “We don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

Removing his gun from the side of her head, the suspect pointed at the police officers and shook it back and forth. “Back up man, you’re too close. Back up or I’ll shoot her.” He screamed, saliva spitting from his mouth, his eyes flicking from one officer to the other.

“You don’t want to shoot her, son. Put down your weapon and we can try to work something out. Nobody needs to get hurt here.”

While Jordan tried to hold his attention, three of the officers made their way to the back of the building.

Grayson inhaled a deep breath, trying to stifle the sounds of automatic gunfire and the screams of brave men from his mind. He hadn’t been on the other end of a barrel since being shot in Iraq. He’d been sure he was ready for anything then. Knowing the life of the young store clerk and his partner were both in his hands, he hoped he was ready now. Wiping his hand on his thigh, he tightened the grip on his gun.