Breathless

by HELEN HARDT

  She set down the coaster and then sat beside me. She pulled a small amount of weed out of the jar and placed it in the pipe. Then she lit up.

  I held off inhaling for as long as I could. I detested the smell of weed. To me, it hovered somewhere between roasting green chilies and blue cheese. I loved the smell of roasted green chilies. I hated the smell of blue cheese. Totally ruined the smoky scent of the chilies.

  But I’d come here to get laid, and if a few tokes put her more in the mood, all the better. I’d deal.

  The smoke from her pipe rose above our heads.

  “So what’s your story, Bob?” she asked.

  “Just looking for a good time. You?”

  “Same.” She inhaled, holding the smoke inside her lungs for several seconds.

  “How old are you?” I asked.

  “Does it matter as long as I’m over eighteen?”

  She was way over eighteen. “Just wondering.”

  “Thirty-three. You?”

  “Thirty-eight.”

  She nodded, taking another toke from the pipe.

  “Ever married?” I asked.

  “Twice. Both losers. The last one nearly put me in the hospital. Had to get a restraining order.”

  Shit. What had I walked into?

  “You?” she asked.

  “Once.”

  “Got kids?”

  “One. You?”

  “Nope. Can’t. Bad endometriosis.”

  A little TMI there, but at least I didn’t have to worry about knocking her up. Not that I was worried anyway. There would definitely be a condom involved in this little fuckfest.

  She set her pipe down, emptying the ashes onto a ceramic plate and grinding them out. Good. The smell would start to dissipate now.

  “Here’s the deal,” she said. “I’ll blow you for twenty-five. You can fuck me for fifty, and you can fuck my ass for seventy-five.”

  I shot my brow upward. She was a hooker? A fucking hooker?

  I stood, my groin still tight. “Not exactly what I had in mind.”

  She let out a raucous laugh. “Kidding, Bob. Just kidding. Do I look like a prostitute to you?”

  She really didn’t want me to answer that honestly.

  “You think any hooker worth her salt would let you into her apartment without seeing the money first? Oh, man. You should see the look on your face!”

  “Uh…”

  “And by the way, no one fucks my ass, so if that was your plan, you can go quietly.”

  Hadn’t been my plan, but I remained standing. “I think I changed my mind, Heidi.”

  “Bob, I was fucking with you. Can’t you take a joke?”

  I was four-plus bourbons in with a hard-on for another woman. All I wanted was a fuck. This conversation hadn’t been part of the bargain.

  But she stood, forwardly cupping the bulge in my jeans. “Sure you want to go?”

  I wasn’t sure at all. The only thing I was damned sure of was that she was a poor substitute for Marjorie Steel.

  But she was a substitute, and she was willing to let me fuck her.

  I walked toward the bed. “Coming?”

  Chapter Nine

  Marjorie

  “Talon!” I banged on the door of his bedroom. I could hear the whoosh of the shower. I turned the knob on the door and then banged again on the bathroom door. “Talon! I need you!”

  The shower shut off, and Talon appeared at the door, a towel around his waist. “What is it?”

  “Jade. She’s in pain in the kitchen. I’m scared.”

  “Shit!” He grabbed his robe while I turned away. Then he followed me to the kitchen.

  Jade was still doubled over.

  “Baby? What’s wrong? Tell me.” Talon knelt beside her.

  “I don’t know. It hurts.”

  Talon scooped her into his arms. “We’re going to the hospital.”

  That meant a trip to Grand Junction. Talon could get her there before an ambulance made it out to the ranch.

  “I’m going too,” I said.

  “You have to stay with the boys,” Talon said. “Call Jade’s doctor and have her meet us there.”

  Right.

  “Talon, the baby…” Jade sniffed back tears.

  “The baby is fine,” he told her. “Think good thoughts.”

  “Tal,” I said. “You can’t take her to the hospital in your robe.”

  “The hell I can’t.”

  “Lay her down on the couch in the living room and get changed. I’ll stay with her.”

  “All right. All right.” He easily lifted Jade, walked through the foyer to the living room, and laid her down gently before taking off for the bedroom.

  “Are you bleeding?” I asked.

  “I… I don’t know.”

  “Let’s check.”

  “The boys…”

  “I sent them outside for a few minutes. Can you sit up?”

  She nodded.

  “Stand?”

  She nodded again, and I handed her a tissue and then turned my head.

  “Marj!”

  I turned back to her. She held out the white tissue.

  Streaked with red.

  “Talon!” I screamed. “Hurry!”

  A few seconds later he appeared fully dressed, his hair still dripping wet.

  “She’s bleeding, Tal. You need to go quickly.”

  “Damn!” Talon rushed to her. “Did you call the doc?”

  “Not yet. I’m on it.”

  “I don’t want to lose this baby,” Jade pleaded.

  “You won’t, blue eyes. Not if I have anything to say about it.” Talon scooped her up again and raced toward the door.

  “You call me as soon as you know anything!” I yelled.

  Talon nodded as I closed the door behind him.

  My heart was pounding like a bass drum against my sternum as I called Jade’s OB and alerted her.

  This was not happening.

  Talon and Jade had been through so much.

  I couldn’t even let my mind go there.

  I sat down on the couch Jade had vacated and breathed in. Out. In again.

  Steady, Marj. Steady.

  After a minute or two, I rose.

  I had two boys to feed.

  Two hours.

  Two freaking hours ago Talon and Jade had left.

  And not a word. I’d forced myself not to call Talon’s cell. His attention needed to be focused on Jade. I hadn’t called Joe or Ryan either. I had no news.

  The boys had taken their baths and were in their bedroom. Talon and Jade had given them separate rooms, but that hadn’t worked out. They needed each other right now. They could change bedrooms when they were older.

  Eight thirty was bedtime, but they were both fighting it.

  I didn’t have the strength to force them to go to sleep. The light still shone under the doorway of their room, and Donny chatted, with Dale answering in short sentences. Dale talked the most to his brother, and I didn’t want to discourage it.

  Besides, I was too worried about Jade to fight them.

  I desperately wanted to talk to someone, but the person I always turned to when I needed to talk was Jade.

  I still resisted calling Joe and Ryan. No need to worry them, and Joe and Melanie had just gotten such great news about their own pregnancy.

  I fiddled with my phone as I sat in one of the recliners in the large family room.

  A little before nine. Early yet. Not too late to call anyone.

  Not too late to call Bryce.

  His was the voice I wanted to hear. His was the voice I knew could soothe me. But he’d walked out on me.

  I sighed. That didn’t matter. I needed him, and I knew, though he’d never admit it, that on some level he needed me as well.

  My fingers hovered over his name in my contacts.

  Chapter Ten

  Bryce

  Kissing Heidi was like kissing an ashtray—a sour marijuana ashtray.

  I broke away
. No need for kissing. I could keep my eyes closed and simply fuck her, pretending she was Marjorie Steel.

  I jerked when my cell phone started playing Styx in my pocket.

  “Ignore it, babe,” Heidi whispered huskily in my ear.

  I pulled away, my heart beating faster. “Sorry. It could be my son.” I pulled my phone out.

  Damn.

  Marjorie Steel.

  Why would she be calling me? I put the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

  “Bryce?”

  “Yeah.”

  “It’s Marjorie. I’m sorry to bother you, but I need to talk to someone.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  “No.” She sniffed. “Talon took Jade to the hospital. She’s bleeding and cramping. It’s been two hours and he hasn’t called. I have to stay here with the boys. They don’t know what’s going on. I don’t have the heart to tell them.”

  “Did you call Joe? Or Ryan?”

  A pause. Then, “No. I don’t want to worry them.”

  “I’m on my way. You need to call them.”

  “Okay,” she said timidly.

  I looked at my watch. “I should be there in half an hour. You call me if you hear anything, you got it?”

  “Yeah,” she choked out. “Thank you, Bryce.”

  “I’d do anything for you. All of you,” I clarified. “I’ll see you soon.” I ended the call and shoved the phone back in my pocket.

  “What’s going on?” Heidi asked.

  “I have to go. Family emergency.” That had sobered me up quick. So much for the four bourbons. “Damn!”

  “What?”

  “My car is still at the bar.”

  “You want me to drive you over there?”

  “Yeah, if you don’t mind. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. But you owe me.” She gave me what she no doubt thought was a naughty, seductive smile.

  To me, it was kind of disgusting.

  I didn’t say much during the short drive.

  When she leaned in for a kiss before I got out of the car, I turned, letting her lips brush my cheek.

  I wanted desperately for Jade and the baby to be okay, but I was reluctantly thankful for Marj’s call. It had stopped me from making a big mistake.

  I quickly left Heidi’s car, got into my own, and began driving.

  Marj was waiting by the door and opened it for me before I had the chance to knock. She pulled me inside and fell into my arms.

  I kissed the top of her head, inhaling. Her hair smelled like coconut. “Hey. Everything is okay.”

  She pulled away. “I still haven’t heard anything.”

  “I know you haven’t, because you would have called me, right?”

  She sniffed and nodded.

  “Did you call your brothers?”

  “Ryan didn’t answer, and Joe… I just couldn’t.”

  I sighed. “They need to know.”

  “They can know when I have actual news. I can’t burden them. They’ve all been through so much.”

  “But this is family, Marj. If ever there were three brothers who were there for each other, it’s the Steels.”

  “I know. I know. But…”

  “No buts. We’ll call them together, okay?”

  She swallowed, nodding, but we both jerked when her phone buzzed against her thigh. She pulled it out. “Oh, God. It’s Talon.”

  “You want me to answer?”

  She nodded.

  I took the phone from her. “Hey, Tal. This is Bryce.”

  “Where’s Marj?”

  “She’s here. She’s upset. How’s Jade?”

  He paused a moment. “The baby’s okay, so far. They saw the heartbeat on ultrasound, and they’ve got her hooked up to a monitor. The cramping has subsided, but she’s still bleeding a little bit. They’re going to keep her here overnight for observation.”

  “Okay.”

  Marj tugged on my arm. “What’s he saying?”

  I held my hand up to stop her so I could hear Talon.

  “Apparently some spotting during pregnancy can be normal,” he said, “and so can cramping. But because of her severe morning sickness, they want to keep an eye on her.”

  “Good.”

  “I tell you, Bryce. I’ve never been so scared in my life.”

  “Did you call your brothers?”

  “No. I assume Marj did.”

  “She didn’t. She didn’t want to scare them.”

  “Just as well. So far, everyone is cautiously optimistic. No need to bother them.”

  “Talon…”

  “Okay. Okay. I’ll call them. Tell Marj I’ll be home sometime tomorrow.”

  “Will do.”

  “Thanks for being there with her. I know her. Jade’s her best friend, and she’s probably worrying herself into a big mess. How are the boys?”

  “I assume they’re in bed. You want to talk to your sister?”

  “Yeah. Put her on.”

  I held the phone out to Marjorie. “So far Jade and the baby are fine. He needs to talk to you.”

  She nodded and took the phone, her facial muscles finally relaxing. “Tal?”

  She bit her lip as she listened to her brother for several minutes, only mumbling “okay” here and there. Finally, she said, “I will. You call me if anything changes. I don’t care what time it is.” Pause. “Okay. Bye.”

  “You better now?” I asked.

  She sighed. “A little. I don’t like her staying at the hospital.”

  “The hospital is the safest place for her right now.”

  “I know.” Her lips trembled, and her eyes glazed over with unshed tears.

  “Come here.” I pulled her to me in a warm embrace.

  She felt so good against me, and my cock hardened. Fuck. She didn’t need a horny man right now. She needed comfort.

  So that was what I’d give her. I led her through the foyer and down into the family room, where I deposited her on the leather couch and then sat beside her. “The boys are asleep?”

  “Yeah. I checked on them right before you arrived.”

  I eyed the bar. “Can I get you anything? Water? A drink?”

  She shook her head. “Just sit with me for a little while, okay?”

  “Of course.”

  She snuggled into me, and without thinking, I placed my arm around her shoulders. She felt so good in my arms, as if everything were right with the world.

  Too bad everything was not right with the world.

  But damn, with this beautiful woman in my arms, I could pretend it was, if only for tonight.

  Funny. I was horny as hell for Marj, but the thought of fucking her wasn’t in my mind at the moment. I wanted to hold her, comfort her, let her lean on me. I wanted to be a rock for her.

  Which was fucked up, really, because I was in no condition to be a rock for anyone. I couldn’t even be a rock for my own son and mother. They deserved better.

  Marjorie Steel deserved better.

  My legs itched. I should leave. I was the last thing she needed.

  Yet she’d called me. She’d wanted me. She hadn’t called her brothers.

  I kissed the top of her head once more.

  Man, I was a goner.

  Why had I tried to ease my ache for her with someone else? I could have fucked Heidi into oblivion, and I wouldn’t want Marjorie any less. I’d wanted her since I’d seen how amazing she was with Henry. Yeah, she’d looked like a supermodel in Jamaica, her long, lean body clad in a hot-pink bikini. I couldn’t deny she was beautiful or that I was physically attracted to her.

  But I was physically attracted to a lot of women.

  Marjorie Steel was different.

  Marjorie Steel was better.

  Marjorie Steel deserved the best.

  Unfortunately, that wasn’t me.

  But she needed me now, so I’d be here for her. I’d hold her as long as she wanted me to. Then I’d leave.

  Chapter Eleven

  Marjorie


  Snuggled into the crook of Bryce’s muscular arm, I inhaled deeply. He smelled like man. Pure strong man. Woodsy and musky and everything I wanted. Everything I needed.

  He’d walked out on me previously, and that still stung, but he’d come tonight when I called. I wouldn’t throw myself at him again. I’d wait this time. I’d wait for him to come to me. Even though everything in me was screaming at me to kiss him, to touch him all over, I’d wait.

  At the moment, I was content to simply be in his arms.

  To simply be with him.

  I let my eyes flutter closed, inhaling once more. Again, he kissed the top of my head, as a father might kiss a daughter.

  It was sweet. It was comforting.

  I’d take what I could get.

  I smiled against his chest when he took my hand in his, first entwining our fingers together and then rubbing my palm with his thumb. The massage felt good. Bryce had such strong hands. Beautiful hands—tan, perfectly square nails, long thick fingers.

  Yeah. Long thick fingers…

  I squirmed a little.

  Nope. I was determined. If a move was to be made, he would make it. I would not throw myself at him again. That wasn’t me, had never been me. I wasn’t the forward type.

  But I would look into his beautiful blue eyes. I needed to, needed to see what was reflected back in them.

  I pulled away slightly and raised my head. He gazed down at me with those amazing eyes. Blue eyes had always attracted me. They were so much more vibrant and sparkling than my own boring brown ones. Green were also nice, but blue… When I was younger, I’d gotten some blue contact lenses to change my eye color, but I couldn’t stand how it felt to wear them, so I’d reluctantly accepted my brown eyes. My whole family had them, after all, and my brothers were considered the best-looking men in Snow Creek.

  I didn’t agree, though. As much as I loved my brothers, their looks didn’t hold a candle to Bryce Simpson’s blond beauty.

  His dark-blue eyes, like sapphires. His perfectly sculpted nose that still had a light spray of freckles over it. His high aristocratic cheekbones, his golden stubble. And those full, firm lips, even redder than I—

  I jerked.