The Homecoming

by Jordan Silver

  I’d thought briefly of giving her time to get over whatever it is that asshole jerk had done to her, but then I thought better of it. We'd wasted enough time already; I'm going full steam ahead. I got the feeling from her last night, that she wouldn’t be too averse to there being an ‘us.’

  Though neither of us had touched on the subject, it was there in the air. At least I’m banking on that being it and not just my wishful thinking. Either way, I’d made up my mind, so if the little miss wasn’t ready, she was in for it.

  I have no problem steamrolling her, none whatsoever. It’s gotten to the point that I’m willing to do just about anything to have her; short of committing a crime, and even that’s up for debate.

  It’s funny, but when she was away doing her thing, and even up to the point where she was supposedly getting married, I’d told myself it was for the best, that she was doing what she loved and that she was happy. After all, isn’t that what we all want for the ones we love?

  Bull fucking shit. I don’t want her to be happy with anyone else but me, and I don’t give much of a fuck if that shit is selfish or not. The reality is, that now that she’s home and the path is clear, I’m gonna have her under me in less time than it takes for her to unpack.

  She’s special, so it’s going to take a lot of wooing and hand holding, and all the romance that women need to make them feel loved, while men’s dicks go through hell; but I’m willing to give her what she needs. But she’s not getting away from me, ever a- fucking-gain.

  So it was, with that great thought in my mind, that I approached the new day, with a head full of plans on how to win her. This couldn’t be like my usual, the very essence of who she was, what she’d always meant to me, called for more.

  I’d already started on my blitz attack, before I left the house this morning. Seven-dozen long stemmed yellow roses should be arriving at her door right about now.

  I planned on wooing her the old fashioned way. Lots of romance, she deserved it. She deserved everything that was good and I couldn't wait to get the chance to give it all to her. I had a lot of time to make up for and there was so much I wanted to share with her, I didn’t know where to begin.

  Last night, all the old feelings had come to the forefront. All the times I’d admired her body and her beauty, knowing that I could never own it. Now with the possibilities opened up, there was nothing stopping me from rolling right on in there. Fuck waiting, I had no intention as Jus had said, of letting someone else get in there while I twiddled my thumbs.

  I had no doubt that she would have any number of admirers vying for her attention, now that she was back on the home-front, and no longer under threat of her brothers killing anyone who even looked at her cross-eyed. I aimed to nip that shit in the bud before it even got started.

  ***

  I was sure my first phone call would be her thanking me, but I was wrong.

  Twenty minutes after I hit my desk I got a call from Justin.

  "Bro, what the hell are you trying to do, put every man in the Cove to shame?"

  "Don't tell me how to woo my woman brother."

  "Your woman is she? Sap. Hurry up with the chocolates, I like the cherry liqueur flavored ones." The fool hung up the phone.

  Her call came ten seconds later, and just the sound of her voice made me feel whole. If anyone happened to step into my office at that moment, they would think I’d turn simpleton, what with the big stupid ass grin on my face.

  "Donovan, they're lovely, thank you so much, I love them truly. You do know my brothers are talking smack about you right?" She was laughing, and that made me really happy, after her bout of sadness last night.

  "I know, Jus already called. So how are you this morning princess?" She sighed, I wondered if she knew I heard that.

  "Much better thanks to you, thanks for last night, I needed that."

  "Anytime beautiful, how about lunch, will you have lunch with me?"

  "Really?" her voice went little girl soft.

  "Yes really, what do you say?"

  "I'd love to."

  Man, this girl was gonna be the death of me, that breathy way she had of talking to me was a real turn on; that, along with a slew of other things that I had been reminded of last night.

  Like the way she moved her body so sleekly, like a dancer. Or the curve of her ass as it flared away from her back. I bet she had dimples there. And this was no way to be thinking, while sitting at my desk, in a station house full of people milling back and forth.

  "Good, I'll pick you up at one." I leafed through a report on my desk as I heard the sounds of the men changing shifts. I would soon have to go out there and hand out assignments to my men; get the day started; so far mine was off to a stellar start.

  "No I can meet you there, you don't have to come all the way out here just to go back."

  "Princess I said I'll pick you up. See you then beautiful." We hung up the phone on a happy note.

  Operation get my girl was off and running.

  I called the local cafe and had them pack me a picnic lunch for later, complete with basket and ice bucket for her wine. I was on duty so I couldn't drink, but there was no reason she couldn't.

  It was all I could do to get the job done. I wasn’t nearly as focused as I needed to be, my mind full of her and the day ahead. Thank heaven there was nothing more pressing, than typing up reports that needed my attention.

  The Cove wasn’t known for high crime, just an unruly drunk once in a while, or a trip out to the Foster place when old man Foster got to pounding on his wife and kids.

  This thing with the trafficking was the biggest case we’d worked in almost three years. There wasn’t much to it, but I like what I do. The pay was for shit, but each time I helped someone in need, it made it all seem worthwhile.

  Not that we haven’t had our run-ins with a weapon wielding crazy here and there. And with The Cove being kind of a cross roads between two major cities, we tended to get a lot of backlash here and there. But all in all we stayed relatively quiet.

  I raced through my reports and other bits and ends on my desk, and was out the door the second my lunch hour begun. As long as there were no calls, I could enjoy a nice leisurely lunch with my girl. Lay some more of that groundwork I’d started last night.

  Chapter 8

  I got to her house at about ten to, and found her waiting for me on the front porch. Good, I like a woman who didn't feel the need to play games, like making me wait. Never could understand the reasoning behind that bullshit.

  She looked fucking fantastic. The blue dress swirled around her knees and hugged her chest, to show just a hint of cleavage, and she wore her hair down around her shoulders the way I liked. I had the same thought I’d had last night, while studying her under the moonlight. She sure had grown up in the time she’d been gone.

  Gone was the softness of her teenage beauty, only to be replaced with something that looked like it should be gracing magazine covers. She had grown into a phenomenally beautiful woman, and she still took my fucking breath away.

  "You look amazing Shania." I kissed her lips. Not a lip locking kiss, just a soft brush of lips. But it was the first time our lips had ever touched. Minuscule as it was, I felt that shit send shock waves to my dick.

  I stared down at her, wondering if she’d felt it too. Hoping that the time was finally right and I wouldn’t have to wait too long to find out if all that promise was real.

  My dick had already made up his mind, but poor thing, he’d been waiting a long fucking time, almost ten years to be exact, and he was chomping at the bit. Still. Down boy, we’ve got a ways to go before we go there, all in good time.

  She blushed and tried to hide behind her hair.

  "Oh no you don't, there will be no hiding that beautiful face today, come on let's go."

  I took her hand and led her to the passenger side of my Range Rover, holding the door open for her, before buckling her in. I stole another kiss, couldn’t help myself. I planned on doing that
a lot in the next hour if she’d let me. I had to remind myself to move at her pace as I walked around the jeep to my side. The shit would probably kill me, but I could do it for her.

  "So where're we going officer?"

  "That's lieutenant brat, and it's a surprise." She grinned at my old nickname for her, as I buckled myself in and took her hand in my free one.

  I headed out of town to the little used cove that our town was named for. It had been years since I'd been there, but I remember it being rather beautiful. I also remember it being one of her favorite places when we were kids.

  Conversation was easy on the way there. We were so comfortable alone together, that it was hard to imagine that we'd never done this before. I'd known her her whole life, and yet this was the first time we'd ever been alone together like this.

  "So how are things here really? It was great seeing your family last night. I can't believe everybody's already married."

  "Yeah, it's great, mom and dad are in heaven waiting for grandchildren. I'm not sure they won't be waiting for a while, I don't think either Liza or Stacey are thinking babies just yet."

  "Really? I think that would be nice."

  My heart did a wild kick in my chest, she sounded so wistful just then. Was she saying she was ready for those things? Damn, a pregnant Shania, especially with my kid growing inside her. Wow the thought alone left me speechless.

  First things first there Chase, get through your first date and then maybe you can start day dreaming about the five or six sons and daughters you want to plant in her.

  We reached the cove and I pulled up to the grassy knoll that led down to the waters' edge. Taking her hand in mine, with the basket in the other, I found us a spot.

  We spread the blanket and set out the china and wine glasses. I filled hers with a nice Sauvignon Blanc, while I took Perrier.

  "Only a Chase would think of using China at a picnic." She teased, as she'd always done since our younger days. She liked to rib me about my family's wealth. Not in a negative way of course, just the kind of playful ribbing you did with the people you were closest to.

  We enjoyed a lunch of poached salmon and salad with asparagus in hollandaise. There was cheese and fruit as well that I wished I could feed her from my hand, but it was too soon.

  "Wow this is really good, thanks for thinking of this and thanks again for my flowers. I hope you know you don't have to do all that, but I do appreciate it."

  "Yes I do, I do have to do it."

  She looked at me with a mix of nervousness and...hope? God I hope so.

  "Do you mind if I ask why?" Her voice had gone all soft and unsure. I looked into her eyes as I took her hand in mine trying to read what was written there.

  I took a deep breath, questioning whether this was the time or not? So much was hanging on this one moment; I’m not exactly known for my patience this is true. I believe in going after what you want and fighting ‘til the end if need be.

  But when you were on the precipice of something like this, something that could go either way and mean the realization of a dream or the death of the same, it felt like swan diving off a high board with no safety net.

  There was nothing for it now though, she’d posed the question and I wasn’t about to play games and pretend I didn’t know what she was asking. So here goes, it's all or nothing, don't fuck this up Chase.

  "Because I want us to be more than friends. I've wanted that for a long time now." She didn’t say anything for the longest time, and I thought for sure I’d misread the situation, that her brother too had been wrong. Just as I was gearing myself up to give her all the reasons why I won’t let her walk away, she finally spoke.

  "Don't play with me Donovan..."

  "Babe; seriously, how long have you known me? Do you really think I'd do something like that to you? First of all your brothers would all take turns skinning me alive, not to mention what the chief would do to me. And more importantly than that, I've wanted you since you were sixteen fucking years old, there's no way this is a game."

  "Six…are you kidding me right now?"

  "No, I'm very serious sweetheart."

  "Why didn't you ever say anything?" Her eyes were wide with disbelief.

  "First, because you were too young back then, then time got away from us. I wanted you to go off to college and experience all those things every young person should. I didn't want to hold you back. And look at what you've done with your life. I wanted all of that for you, but selfishly, I wished you’d have stayed here with me too.”

  "Oh man, this is so much to take in, I don't even know what to say."

  "You don’t have to say anything, or you can say you feel the same, or at the very least that you're interested."

  She was nodding before I finished speaking.

  “Be very sure Shania, be sure that I’m what you want, that you can live here with me, because that’s what I want. I want us to have a life together. Just to make it clear I’m not talking about a momentary fling.

  I know I’ve just sprung this all on you and you’ve only just come home, and there’s probably a million other things on your mind. But I’ve been holding this in for a lifetime, this is the one thing that has been missing in my life and if you say yes, life as you know it will change.” I didn’t expound on that statement, she’d learn what it meant soon enough.

  “It’s just so much to take in at once. You sure my brothers didn’t put you up to this? You don’t have to…”

  “Don’t be stupid princess, of course no one put me up to it. I’m not in the habit of letting others decide these things for me. Besides, your brothers would never do something like that.”

  “But how can it be true? I don’t understand, you…all this time.” She seemed really flustered by that.

  “Like I said, the time was never right. At sixteen you were too young, not to mention jail bait.” I grinned when she threw a piece of Brie at me.

  I wouldn’t tell her that the things I’d wanted to do to her over the years held me in check. Even as a twenty-year old, when she’d come home from school, I’d known to stay away.

  The innocent sister of my best friend was in no way ready for the kind of man I was. Now as a woman full grown, there was nothing standing in the way. She’d learn to deal with my appetites, I’d see to it.

  “You still haven’t answered me, are you sure this is what you want?” She looked a little spooked and I wasn’t sure if that was because I was freaking her out, or if like me, she was face to face with her dream’s reality. I’m hoping for the latter, but no matter what, I’d already made up my mind. One way or the other, this woman was going to be mine.

  “Yes.” There’s that smile that I know and love. She was still looking a bit unsure, probably hadn’t been expecting this when she woke up this morning, but what the hell. At least we can move forward from any awkwardness, the cards were on the table. As far as I was concerned that had been the last hurdle.

  "Can I kiss you beautiful? It seems I've waited a lifetime to kiss you, but if I have to wait one more second I think I might explode." Was that me sounding like a fucking sap?

  "I wish you would."

  My eyes were already glued to her lips as we met halfway. I licked her bottom lip sensually, taking away the heady taste of strawberries and wine. Pushing the basket out of the way, I drew her close, deepening the kiss. Inhaling her essence into myself. She felt soft and warm, and mine.

  Finally, after all this time, mine. We kissed and nibbled at each others' lips, while laughing together like kids high on life. It was hell leaving it at just mere kisses. After all this time, to finally have her in my arms the way I wanted was a heady mix of euphoria and lust.

  I cautioned myself to go slow, even as my fingers brushed against the underside of her breast, or I nipped the flesh beneath her ear, leaving my mark. “You’re so fucking sweet baby, I always knew you would be.”

  I couldn’t get enough of her taste, and had we not been out in the open like this,
and had this not been the first time I’d got my hands on her, I’m pretty sure I would’ve pushed for more. But because of those two things I reined it in, but barely.

  My two-hour break was coming to an end so we decided to head back. She looked mussed and sexy as hell with her lips swollen from my attention. The mark I’d put on her was starting to show and I felt that kick in my gut. I’d put my mark on Shania Spalding. It had only taken ten damn years.

  "I hate to pack these nice dishes away all dirty and cruddy, just let me rinse them off then we'll go."

  "Sure sweetheart." We couldn’t resist one more lip lock, before she headed off. I wish I could bail and spend the rest of the day with her here, alone, in our own little paradise.

  She went off with the dishes, while I repacked the rest of stuff. I had just put the last thing in the basket when I heard her calling for me. I looked over and saw her backing away from the water.

  Hurrying over to see what could be freaking her out in the water, I was about to joke about a frog or some such thing scaring the big, tough, investigative reporter when I saw the body out in the water.

  I pulled her into my arms as I unclipped my phone and called it in.

  Some first date Chase.

  Chapter 9

  DONOVAN

  My guys were soon crawling all over the area. The body had been in the water for a while from its appearance, so there was no way to identify, since he was bloated beyond recognition.

  That's about all the crime scene investigators could ascertain, that the body was that of a male. From the looks of it, he’d been nibbled on a bit in there too. Hopefully they would be able to print him. One thing was certain; he wasn’t a local.

  I had a niggling suspicion in the back of my mind. Only this morning I’d come across something on my desk, and if this was what I thought it was, then my town was about to be caught up in a shit storm.