by Sierra Hill
If he remained standing, she’d be required to look up at him, her beautiful, soulful brown eyes wide with sorrow and apology. Almost submissive.
And that was not helping, either.
He eased himself down on the arm of the couch, shifting restlessly. Uncomfortably so close to her, yet unable to touch.
“Dylan…” Her voice cracked, bringing his attention to her face once again. “I know what I did was wrong. And I’m so, so very sorry. I lost your trust, which was kind of ironic in this whole situation. But if you give me a chance, I want to explain. To share the things I should’ve told you months ago.”
Silence. He was being stubborn, but he refused to encourage her with words. He wasn’t even sure he could make a sound – his throat had closed up tight at the sweet sound of her voice. Her scent wrapped around him like a vice.
“The truth is, Dylan, that the last four months have changed my life.”
His too. But he didn’t say it. Instead, he remained stock still, staring at the gorgeous woman whose body he’d worshipped, and whose light and beauty would make him cave. Of that he had no doubt.
Sloane shifted in her chair, taking a fortifying breath before continuing. “They were the worst I could have ever managed to live through. It destroyed a piece of me. But through it all, regardless of what was going on, you were the bright spot in my life. I came to count on you, Dylan. You restored my faith and belief in love. And I’m sorry I didn’t let you in on what was going on.”
Inhaling on a deep breath, she continued. “You know a lot of truths about me already. I am a teacher. Or, at least I was a teacher until a few weeks ago.”
It was obvious from the pain that emanated from her eyes that she lost the one thing she loved to do. Dylan’s heart felt a tug of empathy. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and soothe away the hurt. But instead, he stood stoic, his arms crossed at his chest.
“You also know I was engaged, but broke it off when I found out, via way of emails, that Blaine sleeping with a student. I didn’t know it was a student right away, instead, I ran away from my problems, in hopes that they would just go away. But they caught up with me.”
Sloane sighed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Dylan could see the composure she tried to regain, as she visibly straightened her spine and clasped her hands tightly in her lap.
It’s one of the things he loved about this woman. She was so vulnerable. Sweet. Yet strong and independent. He’d never seen a woman deal with such adversity and come out more beautifully scarred than Sloane. Deep down, he knew he’d caused one of those scars – or maybe more, he didn’t know. It shamed him to think he added to her hurt and her pain.
“And then there are things you probably don’t know about me. Things I intentionally kept secret because I was afraid you’d treat me differently, or wouldn’t want to be with me once you heard. It was true that I was on a leave of absence from teaching when I came to Boston at Christmas. But as you read in the paper, it wasn’t voluntary. I was embroiled in a scandal due to Blaine’s stupid decisions, and I was caught in the middle of it, and suspicions were cast toward me. I was suspended from doing what I love. What I’d wanted to do all my life. Had it not been for this bar – and for meeting you, I would’ve fallen apart. I probably would have lost my will to...”
She faded off before finishing that thought. If he hadn’t been glad he’d met Sloane before, he was even more thankful now, knowing he’d played even a small role in the way she transformed herself. Pushed herself outside her comfort zone and moved past the ugliness of life’s difficulties.
“And then my entire world was flipped on its axis. I fell in love with a man I never thought I would fall for. Someone who was just supposed to be a passing distraction. A fun fling to occupy my time and help me forget about my problems.” Sloane’s face bloomed with a blush of embarrassment, her lashes fanning across her cheeks, hiding her eyes.
“This man turned into so much more than that, but I was unwilling to admit it at the time. He gave me a sense of worth and purpose. And even when I left Boston, my feelings for him never changed. I’m still in love with him, but because of my unforgiveable behavior, I’m not sure if he still loves me. I’m afraid I messed up so badly that he may never be able to trust me again. And I don’t know what to do about it.”
Dylan watched as the tears rolled down her angelic face, her shoulders hitching with soft, quiet sobs.
All the hurt, anger and devastation he’d experienced over Sloane’s choice to exclude him from her life evaporated in that moment. He’d been stupid – oh, so stupid – for giving up on this woman. And over what? All because she decided to keep a few things hidden about her life? Because she was scared to tell a man she barely knew the truth about what she’d been going through?
And even if she’d told him the truth earlier on, would he have done anything differently? Would he have still walked away from her even then?
There was too much space between them. Dylan jumped off the couch and landed on his knees in front of Sloane. He cupped her face in his hands, pressing his thumbs over her cheeks, he gently wiped away the wetness, knowing in that moment he never wanted to make Sloane cry again.
He would spend every minute of the rest of his life trying to make her smile. He may not be college-smart like others in her life, but he’d work hard to make her happy. And if he fucked up along the way – which he was certain he’d do at some point – Dylan vowed to always find a way to make it up to her. As long as she’d let him.
“Shh, baby. Please don’t cry.” Dylan touched his lips to her cheeks, tasting the salty saline of her tears. “I’m so sorry for leaving you like that. I should have believed in you. I was just confused, and I convinced myself that you’d lied to me on purpose – to hurt me. To make a fool of me. I guess deep down I feared that you’d eventually realize you deserved someone better than me. Someone with money. Or a college degree. I’m just an electrician with pipe dreams of becoming an artist. Not worthy of you.”
Her tears had dried up, but his kisses didn’t. Dylan continued stroking her face gently, kissing her nose, her forehead, her ears, her hair. He wanted to devour her with kisses until she saw just how much she meant to him. How much he loved her.
“Sloane. I love you so much. The last few weeks have been pure hell for me and I was too stubborn to apologize or find a way to get you back. But I’m so glad you’re here. I’m groveling at your feet for another chance. You mean everything to me and I don’t want to live another minute without you. Will you forgive me?”
Dylan was literally bowled over when Sloane crashed on top of him, sending him sailing flat on his back to the floor. Laughter erupted from his chest, but he couldn’t breathe. She’d knocked the wind out of him. She was all around him, filling his senses with her touch, her sweet berry scent, the soft wisps of her hair floating around his face. She was everywhere all at once, as if she’d never been apart from him. Even though she was always in his heart.
Their laughter subsided, her giggles slowly dissipating as their kisses became frantic. More hurried and needy.
“I’ve missed you so much,” Sloane murmured into his mouth in between kisses. “Of course I forgive you, but only if you forgive me.”
Dylan raised up to a sitting position, shifting Sloane on his lap so he could face her and look her directly in the eyes. And what he saw in them was his future.
Their future.
Epilogue
“Are you sure you don’t need any help, Sloane? I feel bad that you’re doing all this work by yourself.”
Sloane was bent over a buffet table covered with a slew of foods and dishes for their holiday meal, many of which she had prepped ahead of time for Thanksgiving Day. She turned her head to the side to stare at Rylie over her shoulder.
Rylie lay stretched across the sofa, her legs crossed at the ankles, her hand resting gently on the small bump that was her belly. Six months pregnant, and it was absolutely true what they say about pregnant wo
man. She glowed.
“You need to stay off your feet, you nut. I’m perfectly fine managing this on my own. Plus, my mom should be back from the store soon to help with the rest of the food in the kitchen.”
Loud, raucous whoops and hollers were being carried up from the basement, where all the men were congregated around the big screen TV watching the Thanksgiving football game. Sloane smiled at the happy sounds that emanated from the circle of friends and family she’d acquired over the last year. It was crazy to think that so much had happened in her life in a little over a year.
Last year at this time, she was living in California, engaged to a fraud of a fiancé, and making a living as a teacher. This year, she was now living with her incredible boyfriend in South Boston, and was the owner of a very hip bar. It amazed her to realize how much happier she was in her own skin. While she missed Trista, her parents, and the San Diego winters, she’d found her true home in Dylan’s arms.
Making a mental checklist of all the final preparations that had to be handled before the group could all sit down for dinner together, she felt the warm arms of her live-in-lover wrap around her waist and gather her close. Her long hair was styled in a braid down the middle of her back, leaving her neck exposed for Dylan to nuzzle in, placing hot kisses below her ear.
Halting her work, Sloane leaned back into the warmth of his chest, a shiver of lust tingling down her spine. Every time he found that spot, she couldn’t help but moan at his touch. Although they’d had amazingly hot against-the-bathroom counter sex just that morning, Sloane was hungry for more. She was always craving this man. And it was going to be a long weekend with her parents sleeping in the room right next to them.
It seemed Dylan had the same thing on his mind as his fingers inched underneath the hem of her sweater, caressing the skin around her bellybutton, flicking her navel piercing that he loved so much, before slowly creeping down to the edge of her panties.
The sound of a throat clearing disrupted her very inappropriate thoughts of how they could use the empty space on the buffet table.
“Ahem. I’d prefer not to see my brother going at it in front of me, thank you very much. Why don’t you two get a room?”
Dylan laughed low and tight, letting his fingers fall from her shirt and placing a final kiss on the back of her neck.
“Oops. Sorry, Ry. But I can’t help myself when my girl looks so damn good.” Dylan shrugged off an apology before moving to the couch to place a hand on his sister’s distended belly. “How’s my little nephew doing in there? He kind of resembles a basketball at the moment.”
Rylie pushed his hand off playfully, letting out a very unladylike snort at his observation.
“Shut up. Don’t remind me how big I am right now. Not only does this kid make me look like I’m a hippo, he makes me as hungry as one, too. I’m dying to get my grubby mitts on that turkey you’re smoking out there in that Green Egg gizmo, D. When is it going to be ready?”
Sloane smiled, loving the brother and sister bond Dylan and Rylie shared. It made her heart feel three times larger seeing the two of them interact. And she was just as excited about Dylan becoming an uncle as he was. A pang of desire swept through her, knowing he’d make an even better father. Hoping that when that day came, she’d be the one to make him a daddy.
“Oh, that’s right,” he bellowed, snapping his fingers in an exaggerated motion. “That’s the reason I came upstairs! I have to go check on the bird and then bring some more snacks back down to the boys. I guess I got a little distracted by you two beautiful ladies.”
He moved into the kitchen just as shouts and cheers were called out from downstairs, where Dan, Mitch, Mark, Jason and Curtis were all huddled around to watch the game.
“The natives are getting restless. You better hurry things up, Chef.” Sloane kissed Dylan on the cheek as he headed toward the backdoor. Just out of view from the living room, he turned swiftly, capturing her face in his hands and kissed the hell out of her. A little breathless, and now fully turned on, she wrapped her arms around his neck, indulging in the incredible feeling of being in this man’s embrace.
As he pulled his mouth away from hers, she looked up into his eyes as he stared down at her with a look of mischief.
“What are you thinking about, Mr. Naughty?” Sloane wiggled against him, enjoying the friction that was created between their bodies.
Dylan’s hands moved down her shoulders, past her waist and around to her backside, giving her a measured squeeze as he pulled her in tighter so his hard erection pressed into her heat.
“I’m thinking we need a little Thanksgiving quickie while everyone is otherwise occupied. My workshop is heated, you know,” he added, shifting his gaze out the door to his detached garage where he’d been working on his newest collection of metal sculptures. “And you would look so fucking good laid out naked over my workbench.”
Wiggling his eyebrows to prove his intentions were definitely not pure, Sloane pursed her lips in thought. She kind of liked the idea of fooling around right underneath everyone’s noses. It was naughty and sneaky. And who knew when they’d get another opportunity to be alone together again.
Giving him a hard shove on his chest, she pushed him out on the back stoop, yelling at Rylie before stepping outside.
“Hey Ry! We’re gonna go check on the turkey. It might be a while, so when my parents get back, keep them distracted for a bit, will ya?”
A muffled laugh came from inside, followed by a “Sure thing,” as Sloane let out a high-pitched yipe when Dylan slapped her on the ass as the door swung shut behind them.
“Don’t you worry, baby. I plan on keeping you very distracted for the next twenty minutes. And forever and ever, if you let me.”
The End
Acknowledgments
When I started this writing endeavor two years ago, I had no idea what I was doing. Okay, I still don’t…but thankfully I’ve met some amazing authors, editors, critique partners, beta-readers, book promoters, and bloggers who have helped to instruct me and improve my craft along the way.
Big thanks to my editor, Stephanie Elliot, who is the bomb-diggity. You’ve been a source of knowledge, feedback, and humor. I’m sure you cringe every time you see my grammatical errors populate the pages of my manuscript, but hey, that’s why I need you! Thanks so much, my dear.
Jen (author J. Nathan), you are a doll. It’s been so great going through this similar journey with you. Thanks for beta-reading and providing me with your thoughtful insights and feedback. One of these days, we will meet and I can give you a big hug in person!
Author Michelle Lynn – although we’ve only recently “met”, you’ve offered me your time, suggestions, critique and authorly-advice. You’re a great critique partner and I can’t wait to meet you someday in the near future.
To my beta-readers, author Kate Carley and Donata Thomas. Thanks for your very valuable feedback. Honest critique is what I needed, so thank you both for yours!
To Twinsie Talk Book Reviews (Angie, Brenda, Melinda et all), the crew with Writers on the River, author Jillian Jacobs, Schmexy Girl Book Blog, Gossip Girls PR, and Giselle at Xpresso Book Tours – all of you are just downright amazing! Thanks for everything you do to help spread the word for indie authors like me.
A huge thank you to my sister-in-law, Carole Bennett. Your help in educating me (get what I did there?) on schoolteacher disciplinary actions, processes, and other profession details I needed to know is so very appreciated. And thank you for your continued support and grassroots efforts in letting your FB friends know about my books. It means a lot to me.
Thanks to my boss, Juli B. and her son, Marine Private James B., for the information on the Marine Corps. Ooh Rah! And congrats to James on his achievements!
And to Steve. My love. My life. My heart. I couldn’t do any of this without your encouragement and support.
About the Author
Since writing and releasing her first book in 2014, Sierra has found her cr
eative passion writing about the fictional characters that live inside her brain, who constantly shout for their own love stories to be told.
Sierra frequently indulges in what some might consider to be an unhealthy dose of reading, dark chocolate goodies, and way too much coffee. She hates cold weather, scary movies and reality TV shows, and frequently finds herself traveling around the U.S. to see her favorite musicians.
Sierra resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of twenty years and her long-haired, German Shepherd. She is currently working on her next book.
Did you enjoy Physical Distraction? If so, your recommendation is the highest compliment I could receive. Please feel free to share your feedback by posting a review on Amazon or Goodreads.
Have you read the other two books in the series? Find their links on my Amazon Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B018OMMPC6
And don’t forget to look for me on one of these social media sites:
http://www.sierrahillbooks.com
www.twitter.com/sierrahillbooks
www.facebook.com/sierrahillbooks
