Текст книги "Can't Resist Him"

Автор книги: Molly McLain

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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 14 страниц)

Chapter Twenty-Four

“The man sitting across from me right now is not the same man who sat in that very seat four months ago.” Dr. Sherman set his notes to the side and smiled. “Minus the scuffed up face, I’m happy with the progress you’re making, Corporal.”

Brody nodded. “I’ve slept a solid seven hours three times this past week.” Not because of the pain pills either, because he hadn’t taken those beyond the first day.

“That’s great. Is Jenny still helping to put your mind at ease?”

He nodded. “Yeah. She’s been my biggest supporter. I couldn’t have done this without her. I almost screwed that up, though.”

“How so?”

“I cut her loose. Told her I needed some space, because I didn’t want to bring her down with me when I hit bottom. Turned out I crashed a lot faster without her. It sucked.”

“So things are better now?”

Another nod. “Yeah. I mean, I have some decisions to make, but already the load seems lighter. I’m not sure what happened, but I’m not complaining.”

“Building trusting, supportive relationships can often be the best solution for trauma survivors, but you have to be sure you’re not using that support as a crutch. Or like a Band-Aid, for the lack of a better term. Maybe you’ve accomplished that.”

“That was some of my worry, yes.” He had to be sure that if things didn’t work out with him and Jenny, he wouldn’t end up back at square one, floundering like a guppy. “Now that I’ve gotten to this point, how do I sustain it? I know Jenn’s got my back, but I don’t want to depend on her, either.” Even though she’d let him in a heartbeat.

“When you’re practicing your meditation, try to focus on your family and other accomplishments you’ve had. Your work—”

“I hate my job,” he interjected, and the doc arched an eyebrow. “I can’t stand the travel. I have family I don’t see nearly enough because I’m either on the road or too damn tired from being on the road.”

“Is this a new development?” The doctor eyed him in that microscopic way that usually made Brody squirm. Not this time.

“No, but I’m not gonna lie—it’s definitely on my mind more now that Jenny’s in the picture.”

“Family is important to you, then.”

“Damn important. This past year has made that very clear.”

“How so?”

Yeah, that’s where it got tricky. He shifted in his seat, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “I think we’ve already talked about that in a round-about way.”

Dr. Sherman smiled. “I like that you’re making these connections without me having to point them out to you. That awareness is key.”

He nodded again. “I hate that Ernie and Troy will never have the opportunities that I have. I can’t shake that guilt, and I’m not sure I ever will. Hell, Ernie would have been a better father than I could ever dream to be.” He scrubbed his hands over his face, not letting the mental image of his buddy tossing a ball with a couple kids linger too long. “But that’s what I want. To be a dad. A husband.”

The older man’s smile stretched even wider. “You see a future for yourself. You’re not stuck in the past anymore.”

He wasn’t, was he? Was that because of Jenny and the prospect of making something real with her, or was it his individual desire for something more?

“That’s a phenomenal breakthrough, Brody. It may take some time to fully wrap your head around it, and that’s okay.”

He sucked in a deep breath and tried to organize the thought that had been kicking around in his head for the past several days. “I’ve never been one of those people who’s into that hocus pocus fate bullshit. But I can’t help thinking that meeting up with Jenn like we did was some weird universal twist or something. Like she was put in front of me for a reason.”

“Go on.”

“I don’t know what else there is to say. It’s just...we were both in such shitty places in our lives. I was determined not to involve myself with any more complications, but I couldn’t resist the pull to her either. I wanted to, but something wouldn’t let me walk away.”

“What do you think that something was?”

“Ernie. Which sounds totally fucking crazy, I know. But the thing is...she’s exactly the kind of woman he’d go after. Smart, stable, beautiful inside and out...” He scratched a hand around his neck. “She’s everything he wanted and everything I needed, but didn’t know I needed. Hell, if I hadn’t been thinking about him, I would’ve completely missed the deeper connection with her. I would’ve acted on instinct and I would’ve slept with her and fucked it all up. But I didn’t. I stopped and thought about what Ernie would have done.”

The doctor nodded. “Is that what you’re doing now?”

“No. Those first few moments aside, it’s been all me. I’m too damn selfish to let another dude get between me and my girl. I mean, I love Ernie like a brother, but I love her more. Not to mention, the fucker would probably haunt me ten times worse if I let her get away.”

Dr. Sherman threw his head back and let out a roar. “That’s one way of looking at it.”

“I’ve got a second chance here, Doc. A lot of guys don’t get this opportunity. Took me a while to accept that it was mine for the taking, but I finally see it for what it is. My life. My future.”

“Your fate?”

Brody shook his head and grinned. “My choice.”

***

“Ohhh, how about these, sweetie?”

Jenny looked up from the tray of orange geraniums she’d just set in the cart to see her mother fawning over some kind of delicate purple flower. It was gorgeous, but it didn’t look like it’d stand a chance in a single Nebraskan rainstorm, let alone a whole season.

“What is it?” She strode over and fingered the tiny petals. “It smells incredible.”

“I’m not sure. There’s no tag.” Helen lifted a potted square and checked the bottom. “Hmm. Nothing. Take out your phone. Google it.”

Jenny laughed. “I think it’s time we get you a phone of your own.”

“I do like the Facebook.”

Oh, for God’s sake. Maybe a cell wasn’t such a great idea. She glanced around the greenhouse. “I’ll find an attendant. We’ll ask.”

“Ask what? Maybe I can help.”

Jenny’s heart jumped. That sweet voice... She turned and came face to face with Brody’s Grandma Caroline. She looked fabulous in a pretty floral dress, with her silver hair done up in soft curls. “Mrs. Brekowski. Hello.”

“Hello yourself, dear. You’re looking as beautiful as ever.” She extended a hand and Jenny took it without hesitation. Then she wrapped her arms around the petite woman’s shoulders and hugged her tight. “The flower is purple aubrieta, by the way. Very hearty. If you don’t watch it, it’ll take over your entire flower garden.”

“In that case, I’ll take it. I’m not much of a green thumb.” Jenny smiled and stepped back, waving a hand between the two women. “Mom, this is Caroline Brekowski, Brody’s grandma. Caroline, my mother Helen Riley.”

The two women shook hands and made small talk about their selections, the weather, and of course how Jenny looked like she’d lost weight.

“I haven’t. Truthfully.” She rolled her eyes and thought about all the food she’d made at Brody’s last weekend. Most of it she’d froze, so it’d be easy for him to thaw and reheat, but she’d done plenty of sampling. “How are you doing?” she asked Caroline. “I think about you all the time.”

“Well, you know where I live, dear. If you think about me so much, I don’t see why you don’t just come over and check in on me.” The elderly lady winked and Jenny’s cheeks flushed.

“You have a point.” And now that things were looking up for her and Brody, she really had no excuse.

“In fact, since you’re already in town, why don’t you ladies join me for lunch? I haven’t figured out how to cook for myself yet, so I have a big pot of gazpacho I’ll never finish on my own. Jenny, dear, you could grill us a couple cheese sandwiches and we’d be set.”

Helen, who’d been soaking up any bit of social time like it was sunshine, nodded eagerly. “I’d love that. Sweetie?”

“Of course.” She eyed the flats of flowers in Caroline’s cart. “I’d be happy to help you load and unload all of these flowers, too.”

The older woman reached up and patted her cheek. “My grandson is a lucky man. I told him as much the other day, too.”

Jenny gave a small smile. “He calls you often, doesn’t he?”

“Grandmothers do offer the best advice, you know.”

“Advice?”

Grandma B. winked. “All in good time, my dear.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

“You’re not kidding, are you?”

Brody shook his head and slid the paperwork across the kitchen table to Sam. “Look it over and tell me what you think.”

“I can’t believe you’re serious.” His buddy glanced over the forms and pushed a hand back through his hair, opening and closing his mouth several times before he spoke again. “This is life changing shit, man.”

“Yep, but it turns out what I thought I wanted isn’t so accurate anymore. You think she’ll be interested?”

“Interested? I think she’ll be fucking ecstatic. I’m not sure what to say, Nelson. I mean...” His buddy scrubbed his hands over his face and eyed the papers in disbelief.

“Don’t get all emotional on me, bro. This isn’t about you or anything. In fact, I still owe you an ass beating for opening your big fucking mouth to Reed.”

“Yeah, well, clearly that worked out just fine.”

Brody rocked back on his chair and chuckled. “No thanks to you, you dick.”

Sam snorted. “Yeah, I have my moments. But all joking aside, I never saw this coming.”

“Like I said, save the tears. There isn’t one bit of me that questions this decision. I just hope Jenny’s as happy about it as I am.” He’d kept everything tight lipped because he wanted to surprise her, but the closer he got to revealing his big plan, the more the anxiety crept in.

“Only one way to find out.” Sam nodded toward Brody’s suitcase sitting in the foyer. “Get your ass to River Bend.”

***

“Ugh, he must still be at work.” Jenny tossed her phone onto the table and reached for her drink. Seven o’clock on a Friday night and she hadn’t heard a peep from Brody all day.

Carissa smiled, nodding along to the upbeat country song blasting through McCauley’s speakers. “Don’t worry, chica. He’ll turn up eventually.”

“You see my man over there?” Nicole leaned in and pointed across the bar to where Tony and the guys shot pool. “He’s hot, isn’t he?”

Maddie rolled her eyes. “You know what’s really hot? Me on these stupid fertility pills.”

Jenny, Carissa, and Nicole all swiveled around to face their flush-faced friend.

“What? Like you haven’t noticed I’ve been drinking ginger ale for the past six months?” The brunette lifted her glass and took a long, exuberant gulp.

“I caught onto that, but didn’t know you were having problems.” Carissa’s cheery mood turned gloomy in an instant. “I guess I’ve been so busy planning the wedding and worrying about the new house that I didn’t pay close enough attention. God. Some friend I am.”

Maddie waved a dismissed hand. “Eh, it’s probably minor in the big scheme of things. Just a little lacking in the hormone department apparently. Doc doesn’t think it’ll take long.”

Jenny smiled sympathetically. “And I suppose it doesn’t help seeing Ally getting bigger and bigger every day.”

“Yeah, I’m kinda hating on her these days, mostly because she’s so freaking cute.”

“She is, isn’t she?” Nicole sighed as Elena came over with a tray of fresh drinks.

“From Reed,” the petite blonde explained. “He said something about the four of you needing to liven up. I think he’s hoping someone will end up stripping on the bar later.”

“Ha!” Jenny shot a glance across the bar where Reed lifted his beer in the air and winked. “That man will never learn, will he?”

“Probably not. At least not until someone does to him what he’s done to so many of us.” Carissa plucked the cherry out of her new drink and popped it into her mouth.

“I’m going to go talk to him.” Jenny grabbed her amaretto sour and slid off the stool.

“Wait, why?” Nicole frowned.

“I need to lay some things to rest once and for all.” More to point, she wanted to thank him for being the player he’d been, because without him, things with Brody would’ve never worked out like they had. Then she wanted to make sure he knew how wrong he’d been about Brody. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

She set off for the far side of the crowded bar, squeezing her way between the loud, occasionally grabby bar-goers with her drink lifted above her head.

Tony stepped into her path with a goofy grin on his face. “Hey, darlin’. You talked to my boy lately?”

“Like everyday, Ton. It’s kinda our thing.” She winked and Tony laughed. “Not today though. I’m guessing he’s tied up with work.”

Her friend’s smirk widened. “Yeah, work. Uh huh.”

What the heck? She looked up at him, brow pinched, when Reed tapped on her shoulder.

“Hey, princess. You coming to see me?”

Tony shot her a curious look and she poked a finger at his chest. “You hold that thought. I need a minute with Reed.”

He stepped away, hands in the air, and she led Reed to the edge of the bar by the dartboards. “You’ve just called me princess for the last time,” she told him, raising her voice above the music.

“What was that?” One hand on the wall beside her head, he leaned in like he hadn’t heard her. A classic Reed move, trying to breakdown her walls just because he could.

Well, not anymore. “You heard me, you jackass. Now back up.”

He grinned and lifted his beer to his mouth, taking a half step back. “Just playing with you, Jenn. Relax.”

“You don’t get to do that anymore.” She stabbed the center of his chest with her fingernail until he gave her room to breathe. “No more of this silly stuff, okay? Out of respect for my relationship with Brody.”

“Nothing wrong with joking around. If he can’t handle that—”

“I’m asking you to stop. Not him. Me.”

Reed frowned. “Okay...”

“You’ve been my friend since I was old enough to ride a bike. I hope we can be friends until we’re old and gray. But it can’t be like it was. Not even remotely. I love him, Reed. He and I are going to be together and I don’t need you standing off in the corner, watching his every move, and worrying about what kind of man he is. I got that under control, okay?”

“I’m always going to—”

“No.” She lifted a hand and held her ground. “You’ve never been a brother to me, Reed, so don’t start acting like one now.”

“Jenn, come on.”

“You can’t respect him if you don’t trust him and I know you, Reed. You’ll find every reason in the book to hate him on principle alone. That isn’t fair.”

Reed lifted his chin, his jaw hardening.

“He’s good to me and I know it sounds crazy, but...” She tipped her head to the side, emotion gathering in her throat. “I don’t want to hate you anymore. Hell, I can’t hate you. Not when what happened between us is what led me to him.”

Reed’s throat worked as he swallowed. “You really think he’s it for you?”

“I don’t think it—I know it.”

He stared down at her for a couple more beats before a slow smile spread across his face. “He’s a lucky man, Jenn.”

Her heart lifted as she pushed a hand back through her hair and laughed. “So I’ve heard.”

“I mean it. And I’m not saying it’ll be easy, but I’ll do my best not to fuck with him too much.”

“That’s definitely in your best interest, man.” A deep, familiar voice sounded behind Reed and butterflies flooded Jenny’s stomach.

“Baby?” She pushed around Reed and, low and behold, there stood Brody in all of his tall, dark, and tattooed glory. She stashed her drink on the ledge and launched herself into his arms without a second’s hesitation, smacking kisses all over his face. He hoisted her up, hands under her ass as she wrapped her legs around his waist and held on tight. Two weeks. She’d gone two weeks without seeing him and it had been the longest fourteen days of her life.

“Missed me, huh?” He pressed his face into her neck and stole a few kisses of his own. “Fuck, you always smell good enough to eat.”

She giggled and pulled back just enough to cup his face and press her mouth to his. “You can do that later, handsome. Promise.”

He growled and nipped at her bottom lip. “This guy giving you a hard time?”

Ugh. Reed.

“No.” She shook her head and gave Brody one last kiss before wiggling down to her own feet. “I think we finally understand each other.”

“That so?” Brody knuckled his nose and wrapped a proprietary arm around her waist as she turned to face Reed. For the longest five seconds of her life, the two men did nothing but stare at each other. It wasn’t quite the sizing up thing that guys liked to do, but it wasn’t without testosterone and tension either.

Finally, Brody stuck out his hand. “Reed.”

Her ex eyed the proffered hand for a moment longer than she would have liked before accepting it. “How you been, Nelson?”

“Pretty damn good.” His fingers pressed a little harder into her side and she buried her face in his t-shirt to hide her smile. “I know you don’t like me, so let’s just cut to the chase, yeah? I’m with Jenn and I plan on it being that way for a long ass time. I suggest you get used to it.”

Reed looked from Brody to her and back again before he cleared his throat. “Point taken, man.”

“Good. So from here on out, you gotta a problem with me, you take it up with me. We clear on that?”

Oh, my God, I love this man! She peeked up and saw Reed’s face turn a few different shades of red. He nodded, though. Stuck out his hand again, too.

“We’re clear.”

Brody dipped his chin. “That’s what I thought. Now how about you buy me a beer?”

***

“Hurry up already. My God, I’m going to explode.” Jenny was out of her car and at the driver’s side door of his truck before he even put it in park.

He grinned and powered up the window before climbing out and exposing himself to her hasty hands and eager mouth. She pushed his shirt up and peppered his chest with hot, wet kisses, all the while working at his belt and fly.

“Slow down, sugar. We’ve got all night.”

“You don’t even know how hot that was, hearing you stand up to him like that.” She scraped her teeth over his nipple and he jumped, his hands instinctively winding in her hair.

“You really do like that macho shit, don’t you?” His laugh turned into a groan as she licked him again.

“Oh, my God, you have no idea.”

“Nah, I think I’m catching on just fine.” With a quick twist, he spun her around and pinned her against the truck door, one hand anchoring her arms above her head. Her aroused gasp echoed into the darkness, mingling with the crickets and the soft swooshing sound of leaves rustlings in the trees.

“Here’s how we’re gonna do this, sugar.” He trailed his tongue along the tendon in her neck before he bit her just enough to sting. “You want my cock, you’re gonna earn it.”

“I’ll do anything,” she panted. “Just hurry. I need it.”

Jesus. She was gonna make this just as hard on him, wasn’t she? “I know, babe.” He slid a hand into her leggings and she convulsed against his fingers when they grazed her clit. “I can feel how wet you are.”

“Tell me what to do, Brody. Please.” She wiggled against his hand and, because he was completely helpless to this woman, he gave her what she wanted, slipping a couple fingers deep inside. She gripped him tight and his cock pulsed, wanting in on the action, too. “Ahhh, yes. Just like that. More.”

“Who’s in charge here, sugar?”

“Mmmmmm.” She bit her lips together and met his gaze. Even heavy-lidded, her dark eyes shined bright with desire under the moonlight.

“That’s right, baby. We play by my rules, don’t we?”

She nodded eagerly, so he rewarded her with a hard pump that had her wetting his palm all over again. Hot. As. Fucking. Hell.

He grinned and dipped his mouth to hers, hovering just above a kiss. “Tell me you love me.”

She licked her lips and shivered. “I love you.”

“Good girl.” He brushed his mouth across her and teased his thumb over her clit. She whimpered with her tongue pressed against his. “Now tell me you’re mine.”

“I’m yours.”

“Forever?” The sweet clench of her pussy around his fingers had him shoving a knee between her legs, needing to get closer.

“Forever,” she gasped, her body vibrating with need.

“You mean that?”

“God, Brody, you don’t know what you do to me.”

He laughed and curled his fingers inside of her, making her back arch off the truck as she cried out into the night. “You keep telling me that, but you seem to be forgetting that you have the same effect on me. One more question and I’ll make you come. Deal?”

She nodded and another rush of warmth soaked his hand. When he finally got inside, he was gonna blow instantly.

“Let me move in and I’ll make you scream like this every fucking day.”

Her eyes went wide and she reached out for him, balling his t-shirt and hauling him as close he could possibly get without burying himself to the hilt. “Are you serious?”

“Dead. I got my shit in the truck.”

Her grin lit up the darkness and the happiest sob he’d ever heard erupted from her chest. “I love you so much!”

All he needed to hear. In less than a minute, he turned her into a quivering, liquid mess. Flushed cheeks, flaring nostrils, and the sweetest, sexiest scent perfuming the air around them.

“You good, sugar?” Dipping his lips to her ear, she shook from head to toe when his skin brushed against hers. So goddamn sensitive. So goddamn his. “Any chance we can go inside now and talk like civilized adults? Or do you need me to fuck you, too?”

She let out a shaky, satisfied laugh and curled into his chest. “Always, but I suppose we can talk first. Especially if it’s about you sharing my bed.”

“Oh, it is. Among other things.”

She pressed a kiss into his t-shirt. “I love it when you talk dirty to me.”

***

How was it possible that her life had changed so much in such a short amount of time? Her mom was improving every day, she finally had help at the salon, and she had the sexiest, most amazing man ever sitting at her kitchen island eating leftover lasagna at midnight.

Sexier yet? He wore nothing but his boxer briefs.

“So how are you going to do this? You’ll travel to work from here?” It seemed like a lot of extra miles, but since he spent so much time on the road anyway, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

“Actually, that’s something else we need to talk about.” He lifted a gift bag onto the counter. “For you.”

When the heck had he snuck that in? “Does it vibrate? Because I already have one of those.”

“Imagine that.” He hooted around a mouthful of food. “Never would’ve guessed.”

Sticking out her tongue, she dug into the bag. And pulled out a red t-shirt. A red Hudson Contracting t-shirt, to be exact.

“I quit the utility company. It was something I’d tossed around on and off for a while now. I hated living out of a suitcase. Really hated it when it started keeping me away from you.”

She looked between him and the shirt. Was he saying...?

“I start Monday. Josh needed an electrician and it just so happens that’s my trade.” He lifted a shoulder and she held the shirt to her face, smiling through the tears that suddenly lined her eyes.

“Is this real life or am I dreaming again?”

A crooked grin turned up one side of his addictive mouth. “If you are dreaming, I hope you never wake up.”

“I hope I do. Reality with you has always been so much better than the stuff in my head.” She hurried around the island and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Yeah? Like?” He swiveled on the stool, pulled her between his legs, and kissed from one corner of her mouth to the other.

“Like right now. Feeling your heartbeat. Your skin. You.” Her fingers teased over the short hair at the back of his neck and he shivered. “I love just being near you. It’s comfortable. And now I get to do it all the time.”

“You don’t think you’ll get sick of me?”

“Waking up to your sexy ass will be a hardship, for sure. But I think we can manage.” She rubbed her nose against his and his hands slid down to her butt, squeezing playfully. “So what about your house and all your stuff?”

“I’m renting it out to Sam’s sister, Dani. I’ve given her the option to buy it on contract since she’s had a rough go of it lately. She’s interested and Sam’s helping her out with the legal fees. Shouldn’t take too long to settle.”

Holy crap, he was all in, wasn’t he? “You really do love me. I mean, your life is in Omaha and yet—”

“No, babe.” He shook his head and the affection in his eyes shot like an arrow through her heart. Lovestruck. “My heart’s with you, therefore my life is with you, too. If you’ll have me, that is.”

Would she have him? God. How could she not have him? A tear slid down her cheek and she closed her eyes. There was only one more question to ask.

“What about the Corps? I know how much it means to you. I would never be able to forgive myself if you gave that up for me, too.”

His sigh and the gentle swipe of his thumb across her jaw had her sucking in a shaky breath. Waiting...

“For the record, I’m not giving up anything. I’m gaining everything. And the Corps? Well, I have nine months to figure that out. If I’m honest, I’m not ready to quit.”

Thank God for that. Not that she wanted to think about him deploying again, but she understood one hundred percent why he might want to. “I’ll support whatever decision you make.”

He smiled and squeezed her tight. “I know you will, Jenn. That’s what I love so much about you. You’ve got my back, no matter what I get myself into.”

She sighed against his lips. “How about you get yourself into me? I’m all for supporting that cause.”

He growled as he stood and swept her up into his arms. “Every day. We get to do this every damn day.”

“Is that a promise?” she laughed.

“That’s a promise, sugar.”