“I’ll always be there for my knucklehead.”
I narrowed my eyes at him and laughed.
“I’m gonna grab some chips or an apple,” Mason said, walking out of my room. “When did you say Lily was getting here?”
“Any second.”
I sat on my bed and stared around my room, feeling like a stranger in my own space. I let out a sigh and thought about what my brother said. There were no words to even describe what that news just did to me. Marriage? And then this? I laughed as I realized it was just another one of life’s cruel jokes that I could toss into my pile of shattered dreams. At this rate the pile would turn into a mountain and crush me in the next few years.
I grabbed my new phone and scrolled until I hit Gabby’s number. I had taken a cue from her past relationships and had gotten rid of my phone and got a new number. And I was thankful I’d done that or I’d be texting Aaron right about now. I understood why she did it now. It really took away the desire to send a text or leave a message that would end up a drunk dialing souvenir.
But that still didn’t stop me from texting Gabby.
Did you know your brother was going to propose?
I tossed the phone aside and looked around my room. Maybe, it just needed a new color to brighten things up a bit. My phone buzzed and I grabbed it. Worried what the message might reveal, I took a deep breath in and looked down at the screen.
I helped pick out the ring
My heart was pounding, and the tears came pouring down my cheeks just as Mason appeared with a plate.
“Want an apple?” he asked, shoving the plate in front of me.
My tears turned to laughter as I looked up at my brother.
“Call Ayden and tell him I’m coming to party tonight.” I smiled, rubbing the tears off my cheeks.
“You look absolutely amazing,” Lily said, fastening the strap on her heel.
“So do you.”
Lily was dressed in a light green, tight dress that showed off all of her assets. Like always her outfit wasn’t overly revealing, but her body certainly made it that way. Anyone who danced with her tonight would be loving the view. I looked down at my black dress and silver flats and was pleased.
“This is the first time I think in the history of going out to a club that I’ve worn flats,” I laughed.
“Wise choice, my friend. I’m not sure any of us will be in a position to scoop you up if you fall on your ass tonight.”
I laughed and dabbed on a bit of lip gloss as I caught Lily looking at me in the mirror. “You’ll forget about him. You will. It will just take some time and plenty of good lays.”
“Lily.” I threw my gloss at her, but she ducked in time.
“I feel really horrible, like I was the one who told you to keep after him and all he was ever capable of was breaking your heart.”
“Don’t feel horrible. To be honest, feeling what I did with him reminded me of what it’s like to be truly alive, enjoying the moment. All that stuff. Now I’ll just try to find it with someone who might be on the same page as me.”
“Or the same continent.”
“That too. But seriously, I don’t regret one second of being with him.”
She nodded and smiled.
“I’m sure you don’t regret being with that guy from high school,” I said softly.
“You’re right. Not at all. It’s just a hard thing to recreate.”
“But, at least, you know what you’re looking for,” I said.
She shrugged. “What a great idea Mason and Ayden had.” Lily was always game for going out, and I was sure she was relieved that we’d be out in the city tonight rather than cooped up in my condo. “Is Gabby coming?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t think to invite her.”
Lily nodded. “Probably for the best. We’ve got four single people ready to party. She’d just hold us back.”
“Right,” I said, laughing. I glanced at myself in the mirror and was pleasantly pleased. Without the boot, I started feeling human again and was actually looking forward to going out.
A whistle came from the door, and I turned to see Ayden leaning against the frame. “A little short, don’t ya think?”
I started laughing and tugged on my dress. “It’s not like Lily’s.”
Ayden nodded. “I guess I should be grateful.”
“Hey, now,” Lily laughed.
“Ready?” Mason asked.
“Let’s get out of here,” Lily said.
“We have to stop in the kitchen first. We’ve got two shots each lined up for us all to get the night going,” Ayden said.
I let out a groan and felt my body being pushed toward the kitchen.
“What are these?” I asked.
“Our specialty,” Mason laughed.
“So anything you could find.”
Ayden nodded. “Pretty much.”
Lily did the first shot and puckered her mouth, squealing. “Whoa. That was hot. Your turn.”
I grabbed the glass and swallowed the shot in one gulp, hoping the liquid would get me well on my way to forgetting about the love of my life.
“Next,” Mason hollered, shoving the second shot glass in front of me.
I took a deep breath in and swallowed, hoping that would take away the bite but it didn’t. It tasted as bad as the first time.
“Club Vertigo here we come,” Lily shouted.
And we were off to a night full of forgotten memories and relived sorrows.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“So here we are enjoying a girls’ night on a gorgeous fall evening. Next time, I’ll come down to Portland. Maybe we’ll even rip Gabby away from Jason.” I stretched my arms along our balcony railing as I looked over the city landscape. “Remember when the girls’ nights involved all three of us?”
Lily started laughing. “Our Gabby seems to be a bit infatuated.”
“Can’t say I blame her. Jason is beautiful and such a sweetheart. It was fun on my brothers’ property though. All three of us…”
Lily picked up her empty glass off the table and began walking toward the French doors. “They seem like a really good fit.”
“It seems impossible to find, and I have to admit that I kind of wonder how much fate and destiny play in all of our lives. I mean will I ever find that one perfect man who will show me what Jason has shown Gabby? How does someone get Mr. Right to show up? In fact, sometimes it feels like certain courses of events are already predetermined for my lifelong venture into singledom. I just want that one man to sweep me off my feet. Is that too much to ask?”
The door clicked, apparently giving me my answer, and I started chuckling to myself. Great. I was getting all philosophical and talking to myself once again. This was what my life had become.
I closed my eyes and drew in a slow breath as I felt the cool evening air kiss my skin.
And then I heard his voice from behind penetrating me to my core. “I hope you’ll let me be that one man, Brandy. I never should have left. I’m so so sorry.”
His smooth, deep voice wrapped around every cell in my body as his words sunk in. My heart flopped upside down as I let myself believe that there possibly could be a chance.
Aaron slipped his hand around my waist sending a charge up my spine, and I leaned on the railing for more support. Bringing his lips close to my ear, he whispered, “I think fate already has been working hard in both of our lives, don’t you?”
His words sent a chill through me as I felt his mouth lingering next to my lobe, each breath skating across my neck. I didn’t know what to say. My heart wanted to say yes. Scream from the top of my lungs, YES! But my mind was winning over my heart; the fear replacing desire with every passing second. I stood frozen until his hands slowly turned my body to face his. I stared at him with wide eyes, uncertain of what to say, uncertain of how to feel.
I stood, taking him in, letting myself believe that he was actually here. My hands ran up his black suit jacket, my fingers grazing his chee
k. He looked down at me waiting for my response. I closed my eyes, trying not to be swayed by how good he looked in his suit and crimson tie. I didn’t want to keep repeating the past.
“Do you agree?” his voice was low and strong.
Feeling the strength I needed, I opened my eyes. “Do you? You seem to be the one struggling.”
His mouth collided with mine, and my world began spinning with every deepened kiss, every touch of his lips to mine. He hungrily ran his tongue along mine, leaving my mind and body completely at his mercy. I slowly nodded, leaning against the railing, feeling the burn of desire, excitement, and fear all bubble into one strong emotion of uncertainty.
My body became keenly aware of his powerful presence as his eyes penetrated deep into mine, searching for my forgiveness.
He knew what he wanted.
And it was me.
“It feels so right, doing the wrong thing,” I whispered.
“That’s because it’s not the wrong thing,” he murmured. “Just the complicated thing.”
“You absolutely sure?” I asked.
“Beyond doubt, baby.” His hands lowered to my hips, pulling me in closer to him as his eyes fell to my mouth, and I brought my hands to his chest imagining my life with him back in it even if only for tonight.
“Everything changes when I’m with you. I see the possibilities of a long, happy life. A future…” he whispered.
“Do you promise?”
“I gave up my position in China. I can’t be away from you. I can’t keep running. I made a promise to you that day that I’d never leave, and I never should have. I’m so sorry. But I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Forever and after.”
A quiver ran through me as his eyes conveyed the same message. My hands wandered across his taut chest, and my heart began beating quicker as I thought about the possibilities of us, a future.
“Tell me you feel that way too,” he said, cupping my chin softly.
“I do. I have. That’s why—”
His mouth crashed onto mine as a low moan escaped my lips. I was his the moment I laid eyes on him. All of the worries drifted away as his kisses deepened, creating the safety I had craved. His mouth slowly parted from mine, and my muscles began to tense as he took a step back and smiled.
“I’ve got a little surprise planned for you,” he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me through the door.
“I was quite happy right where we were,” I teased, my body still on another planet.
“I think you’ll like this even more.”
“Are you planning on staying the night?” I asked.
We stepped inside and Lily was nowhere to be found. She was probably hiding out in Gabby’s bedroom. Aaron proceeded to haul me through the family room, past the kitchen, right into my bedroom.
I heard the front door click and chuckled. Lily had escaped. I had the best friends in the world.
“So what’s your plan?” I whispered.
“You’ll see soon enough.”
“Tell me something. Do I need to be worried about any translators whisking you away?”
His eyes drilled into me as his lip curled up slightly. “I deserve that.”
“Damn right you do,” I said, grabbing his crimson tie as I pulled him toward me.
“Nothing happened with her. I promise. I fired her that night.” His gaze hardened on mine.
“I believe you.”
And I did.
“I even got all dressed up for you,” I teased, doing a half-twirl as I pointed down to my bootless leg. “Progress!” There was a slight squeal to my voice as the excitement pulsed through me. It had been a long journey, and I still had some light therapy to continue until the limp went away, but progress was progress. I had no idea how much I loathed that boot contraption.
“So is this what you wore to work?” he growled.
“I thought I was back on the market,” I teased. “Besides, I figured the shorter the dress, the less they’d notice the limp.”
“Baby, you always look amazing. But this…this is incredible.” His fiery eyes canvased my body quickly and a rush of heat ran up me. I had on a red dress that showed all the right features, but the length more than made up for the looseness.
“You like?”
“I love,” he growled, scooping me into his arms.
It felt so good to tease him this way. Watching his eyes hold the intense desire as I wriggled in his arms. He let out a small groan as he held me close to him. I felt his firmness against my belly and all I wanted to do was to take it in me. Make tonight last forever.
He pressed his forehead against mine as his fingers ran up my leg, skirting the edge of my dress. The hungry look in his eyes made my body warm with desire. His gaze stayed on me as he lowered me onto the bed, hovering over me. “I’ll never hurt you again.”
I let out a wobbly breath as my mind filled with all the hopes, desires, and dreams that I had forced myself to throw away.
“I promise I will never leave your side again. No matter how scared I get.”
“Scared?” I asked, touching his chin.
“Scared…You were right. I didn’t want to lose you the way my father lost my mother and—”
“You’ll never lose me like that. Ever.”
“When I was on the plane I realized I would be willing to feel that type of pain tenfold rather than be without you. To have you think I didn’t love you…”
I kissed him softly as the tears began to fall.
“I love you, Brandy, more than I ever knew I could love anyone. I’ll never be able to make you forget the hurt I caused you, but I beg for your forgiveness. I should have told you sooner. I should have worked harder on finding a replacement. All of it. You were right. But I think I was using it as an escape because I knew I was falling so deeply in love with you that—” he stopped himself.
“That what?” I whispered.
“That I could never live in this world without you. You’re my soul mate.”
Our faces were only inches apart as his words settled over me. He slowly began to remove my dress. His eyes sparkled as his gaze fell down my body. I looked down and began fidgeting as if it were the first time he had taken me in.
“Are you sure this time—”
“I’ve got everything under control. Believe it or not.”
“Do you have to go back?” I murmured.
“No. I gave up my position.”
“You what?”
“I quit.”
“But why?”
“My dad was being a hard-ass and life’s too short. I’ve got some other ideas that I want to develop.”
“What about—”
“If you keep asking questions, I just might blindfold you and make you sit still until I’m done with you,” he said, skating kisses across my belly.
“Is that necessarily a bad thing?” I asked innocently enough.
He smiled and turned my chin slightly. His lips brushed mine softly, sending a quiver of longing through me as he teased me with his mouth with the power he held over me. That same power that kept me coming back for more, no matter what life threw at me, at us.
“I’d be careful what you wish for,” he said, his voice low.
“Is that so?” I asked, sliding down the bed. I wrapped my arm around his neck, but he pinned me to the bed. His lips parted slightly as his mouth traveled up my arm, to my shoulder.
“You’re absolutely beautiful,” he whispered, tracing his right hand along my thigh.
I shifted slightly, attempting to kiss him, but he restrained me gently by moving forward.
“You control so much in your life. Everything is so perfectly orchestrated,” he murmured.
I let out a small moan of pleasure as his fingers continued gliding along my thigh.
“And I think it’s time you allowed me to show you another way,” he said. “No more games. Ever.”
I slowly nodded as he brought his mouth back up to mine, his tongue diving dee
per in search of quenching the need we both craved to find our forever.
Chapter Thirty
I was arranging the bowls in the kitchen, trying to keep track of everything. I wanted Aaron to remember this Thanksgiving for the rest of our lives together. Gabby and Jason were on their way over and so were my parents and brothers. Aaron’s parents were in Utah visiting Carla’s elderly parents, which was kind of a relief considering the shows she put on for simple dinners. I already had enough stress wanting to make today perfect for Aaron and didn’t want to think about trying to impress the almost in-laws. I wasn’t quite ready for the Carla whirlwind.
I glanced at the clock and knew I was cutting it close. I had to get the turkey in the oven or we’d be eating at midnight. The turkey was brined and ready to go. I needed a little help shoving it into the oven. Ever since my accident, I still hadn’t been allowed to carry things that were too heavy and bending was sometimes a problem, especially if I was holding something.
“Aaron,” I hollered. “I need help getting Henry in the oven.”
“Who the hell’s Henry?” he asked, coming into the kitchen, wearing his red plaid pajama bottoms. I couldn’t have made this moment more picture perfect if I tried. His hair was still stuck up in several different directions, and the dimple in his cheek was absolutely adorable.
“Henry is the wonderful bird who is allowing us to feast on him for our glorious Thanksgiving dinner.” I adjusted my flannel nightshirt under my apron and grinned.
“Jesus! Naming the poultry doesn’t really make it all that enticing,” he laughed. “Besides, how do you know it’s not Henrietta?”
I turned around and scowled at him. “Just stick it in the oven, big shot.”
He grabbed the large roasting pan and shoved the bird in the already warm oven as I began slicing the sweet potatoes for my mom’s famous sweet potato casserole. The corn pudding was already assembled in the fridge. All I had to do was pop it in the oven about an hour before the turkey was ready. I made the garlic mashers yesterday and only had to warm them up. So really, I just needed to focus on starting the appetizers.
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