A Heated Touch of Action (A Scripted for Love Novel)

by MK Meredith

  “You’re not taking her,” Margo said, her voice taking on a shrill note.

  “The hell I'm not. You need to go sleep off your high so you can see straight.” He glanced around the kitchen in disdain. Dirty dishes overflowed the sink, and the cupboards were open, revealing little more than saltine crackers inside. “You’re in no state to take care of her tonight.” Anger and sorrow burned in his gut as he watched her stumble to her bedroom.

  She sneered as she went, not bothering to look twice at her own daughter.

  Cleo scooted past him out the door and made her way down to his bike as if afraid her mama would change her mind and make her stay. She remained silent but held on to him tightly all the way back to his house.

  Once inside, he took her bags up to her room. “Are you okay, Clee? You wanna tell me what happened?”

  “Mama and Bobby had a big fight. They were breaking things and screaming, and then suddenly, they were gone.”

  “When was this?” he asked, trying to keep calm.

  “I'm not sure.” Her voice was small. “Sometime in the middle of the night. I wanted to get up and lock the door, but I was too afraid of the dark.”

  He clenched his hands at his sides, hating himself for not being there when he should have. For Jack. Then none of this would have ever happened.

  Self-hate turned his stomach, and he used all his will to swallow it down. “Go get a shower and change, kiddo. I’ll order pizza, and we’ll have a little slumber party. I won't leave you alone in the dark, okay?”

  Once again, she threw her arms around his waist and hung on tight. Then with only a slight nod, she ran down the hall to her bathroom.

  His head fell back with a prayer. “I know you didn't have the power to do anything while you were here, little brother, but I sure as shit could use some help now.”

  CHAPTER 13

  Bel threw her arms out in wonder at the magical transformation of Raquel’s back patio and pool, determined to enjoy the party and take back some control of her life. She hadn’t spoken to Jimmy since the Villa and spent all day yesterday at the university. That was a good start.

  Glass hearts in varying shades of pink hung from an opening along the back wall that provided a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean, the sun reflecting a rosy hue all along the white stucco.

  A strawberry and champagne bar was set up in the corner around their outdoor waterfall, and touches of pink and white adorned the space from pillows on the lawn chairs to the placemats on the long outdoor table.

  “I feel like every time you throw a party, you've outdone yourself until the next party when you do it again. What’s the reason for today, by the way?”

  Raquel clapped her hands in delight. “I so love throwing a party, darling. Especially mid-week, what’s better than celebrating making it halfway?” She continued “Besides, there's nothing like having those I love close to my heart, both literally and figuratively. We missed National Women’s Day a couple weeks ago, and with such fine specimens in my life, a party was a must.”

  Bel snatched a strawberry-filled champagne flute, filling it with prosecco as Addi approached with a saucy little strut.

  Bel had always loved how carefree and unfiltered her friend was. With her super chic, blond bob, she looked like a cover model, but when she opened her mouth, she sounded like a sailor.

  Addi tapped her champagne flute, asking, “So how is your sexy giant of a teddy bear treating you?”

  A rush of heat infused Bel’s chest at the thought of Jimmy. Sexy and giant was right. “Teddy bear?” She'd seen a glimpse or two, for sure, especially the day she’d met his niece. “Same ol’ Jimmy, as far as I can tell.”

  Addi looked at her out of the corner of an eye as she took a sip of her drink. “Tell me about the Oscars, and didn’t you guys go to the Getty Villa Monday? Sam said she’d heard from Gage who heard from Jimmy when they were surfing that he was heading that way.”

  Bel stretched, trying to rid herself of the uncomfortable tightness that ran along her shoulder blades. “The Villa is one of my favorite places. We took a class on how to throw Roman pottery.”

  “No shit?” Addi looked intrigued. “Did you guys get all Patrick Swayze from Ghost on each other?”

  She rubbed her hands over her body, making groaning noises.

  Bel couldn't stop the smile that pulled up the corners of her mouth. “Not quite. He got a strange phone call and had to leave.”

  “Really? Who was it?”

  “I don’t know,” she said with a shrug, feigning a casualness that she hadn't felt since meeting the man. “But there was no stopping him, that was for sure. Whoever it was, it was important.”

  “Well, I can tell you this.” Addi stole a strawberry from her glass, biting it in half with a snap. “I see how that man looks at you. If something pulled him away from an afternoon in your company, then it was something he did not feel he could get out of.”

  Bel dipped her chin in acknowledgment. It was a nice sentiment. She couldn't help but wonder how it would feel to have someone that dedicated to her needs. As soon as she had the silly thought, she shook it away. Love was an amalgamation of chemistry, emotion, and cognition. Trying to understand it was about as easy as reining in the Pacific Ocean.

  On a sigh, she nodded toward Sam and her mother, Dee, who sat with Raquel at one of the high outdoor bistro tables, looking at Raquel's bracelets. They were beautiful, ornate strands of abalone shell weaved together.

  Bel joined them to take a closer look as the sliding doors from the house opened and a delicate woman with waves of brown hair running down her back stepped through.

  “Ahhhh, Liv, darling. I'm so glad you could join us.”

  Bel immediately recalled who the woman was. “You’re the jewelry designer, aren't you?”

  Liv smiled. “Thanks to Raquel. It's a dream I never thought possible.”

  “With your talents? It was inevitable that someone would snatch you up, I was just smart enough to do it first,” Raquel said, referring to their partnership for the new jewelry store at the Country Mart. There’d been a grand opening the end of last year that had been a huge success.

  “So, how's your project going?” Raquel asked Bel.

  She shrugged, refusing to allow herself to commit too deeply to anything. The answer—or the reality—was that her heart was wrapping around Jimmy whether she wanted it to or not. Love and its chemistry was a powerful thing.

  “It's fine. Coming along. I'm excited about the presentation.”

  “He ditched her without explanation yesterday,” Addi said as she snatched another strawberry from Bel’s glass.

  Bel waved her hand in dismissal, embarrassment warming her cheeks. Sinking to one of the lounge chairs close to the bistro table, she pulled a striped pillow to her lap. “Raquel, where’s Martin?”

  “He’s off with the boys. And don't think asking me is going to make me dismiss this conversation. I'm assuming Jimmy hasn't spoken much about himself or his past. It’s one of his biggest faults.” She released a sigh. “But just to give you a bit of perspective. Cleo has it really hard, and he’s trying to make her life better. He has to explain the details, but it’s something to keep in mind if you find yourself disappointed.”

  Addi dropped next to Bel on the lounge and elbowed her friend. “With Jimmy, I dare say Bel is never disappointed.”

  “Addi!” Bel glared at her.

  Liv, Raquel, and Sam laughed while Dee grimaced. “Addi! Does it always have to be so shocking with you?”

  Addi gave her mom a have you met me look. “Speaking of which…I propose a toast.”

  “Uh oh.” Bel grinned at Sam.

  All the women raised their glasses as Addi took off with her naughty toast. As she finished, and they clinked glasses, a deep voice spoke up.

  “Gentleman, I think we made a mistake.”

  The women looked up to find Martin, Roque, Gage, Raquel's three sons, and Jimmy standing there with their jaws dropped open in
shock and awe.

  Bel couldn’t help the laugh pouring from between her lips.

  One thing was for certain. No matter how hard she tried or planned or strategized…she had absolutely no control over anything.

  It took an iron will, but Jimmy kept his jaw in place instead of letting it fall to the floor like his friends.

  Two things he noted right off the bat. First, Addi looked quite pleased with herself as a silent, heated exchange passed between her and her fiancé. And secondly, while Bel was frozen in a state of complete and utter mortification, her cheeks were tinged a shade of pink that reminded him of their hike up into the hills and everything that had followed.

  He cleared his throat, shifting from one foot to the other, hoping to make some room in his pants for his growing interest—a situation he couldn't seem to control around her.

  Raquel leveled a stern look on her husband and sons, but her voice did not carry the censure showing from her eyes. “What are you doing here, darlings?”

  Martin wrapped his arms around his wife and laid a solid, passionate kiss upon her lips, then purposefully set her aside and made his way to a table laden with pink silk-covered Mason jars. “A little birdie told me that you got your hands on some of Maxine Van Buren's moonshine.” He waved his hand around the outdoor living space. “I don't care if this place is neck deep in hearts, her moonshine is worth it.”

  Their boys, Liam, Kyle, and Martin Jr., followed close at his heels, Roque and Gage not seconds behind. Jimmy joined slowly. He was interested, but not quite as intent as he was on getting his hands on Bel.

  “Having a good time?”

  “I am.” Her smile was tentative.

  “Our whole plan to cover the golf course in our drunken debauchery seemed like too much work once Martin heard about the moonshine, so we headed back.”

  “I haven't tried it yet,” Bel whispered. “But it looks like we should.” She glanced up, batting her eyes in a look that punched him right in the gut every time.

  “Did everything work out?” Her question was quiet but direct.

  He shrugged. “As much as it can right now.”

  She slid her hand into his. “You know I’m here for you, right? Any way I can help I would love to.”

  He got a little lost in the earnest emotion holding him captive, making him want to draw her in and never let go. “I appreciate it.” Outside of a very few people, he never counted on anyone but himself. Waving his hand in dismissal, he said gruffly, “But I'm fine.”

  “Really?” she challenged. “Because you hightailed it out of the Villa with barely an explanation.”

  He knew she was hurt, and he hated it. “I have some things going on but—”

  “What…you don't trust me? I'm not important enough to know?”

  Surprise had him jerking his head back. “Not important enough?” Is that what she thought? “Where in the hell would you get that idea from?” he demanded.

  “Your actions. When people are secretive, it’s a reflection of themselves, but it’s also a reflection of the trust they have with those they are keeping a secret from.”

  He tried to roll the tension from his shoulders. He couldn't find the words to explain his situation, especially when he felt so responsible. What would she think of him if she found out that his brother was dead because of him?

  He led her to a corner of the patio away from everyone else, grabbing a Mason jar as he went. “Let's give this a try.” He winked at her as he twisted the jar.

  Her face remained solemn, but he noticed the small sigh of acceptance as she took the jar from his fingers. A tiny sip was all it took and the lips he loved to taste spread wide as a glint of joy shone from her eyes.

  “Holy cow, taste this.” She shoved the jar into his hand, encouraging him to try it.

  He’d do anything to keep that smile on her face, and when the moonshine passed his lips, holy fuck, he was glad he did. “Goddamn, this shit is good.”

  She slapped playfully at his arm.

  “No wonder Martin changed our plans. Where does this come from again?” he asked.

  Bel gave a slight shrug. “One of Raquel’s besties named Maxine from back east. From what I understand, the two of them had gone to university together and, along with Roque’s mom before she’d passed, had been quite the trifecta.”

  He shuddered. “I can imagine.” If the other two women were anything like Raquel, he bet no one stood a chance with the three of them together.

  Over the years of working together, Roque had shared stories about how close his mother and Raquel had been. More than friends, more than sisters. When his mom had passed away from breast cancer, Raquel had been devastated. It saddened him to realize that she’d had to go through that with Maxine living on the opposite coast.

  Losing a loved one was an all-encompassing, oppressive feeling of wishing to turn back time. An impossible, fervent wish for one more chance to make things right, to do things differently, spend more time, or better yet…be on time.

  He closed his eyes against the shaded memory of his brother’s lifeless body, but the action only made the image brighter.

  In a desperate need to forget, just for a second, he swallowed deeply from the jar. On an outward breath, he said, “Damn. So good.”

  With each sip, the tension holding his shoulders hostage eased. He touched her cheek, gliding his fingers over the delicate skin along her jawline, pleased when a shiver shook her frame. “There's a lot about me you don't know.” And he regretted it, but he’d regret losing her more.

  “But I want to,” she whispered.

  “You want to until you do.”

  “Do you think I can't handle hard things, scary things? My physical appearance is not in any way an indication of my strength.” She grabbed the jar and took a deeper swig.

  “That's not it,” he said, gritting his teeth. “It’s Cleo.”

  A look of interest had her meeting his eyes. “Cleo? Yes, she’s the sweetest child.”

  “She is,” he agreed. “But she has it really hard at home. Her mother is spiraling out of control, and I'm trying to get custody so that she has some sort of chance in this world.”

  “You want custody?”

  “I do.” Nothing would make him stop fighting for her either. “That’s what I meant about my life being complicated. Cleo needs to be my first priority.”

  “As she should be. And I don’t mind complicated.”

  There was nothing but sincerity on her face, but he’d been down this road before. Relationships were good when they were easy, but history had proven more than once that as soon as things got sticky, most people opted out.

  How many women had he dated who mooned all over him, saying they’d be by his side forever, and then split as soon as they found out about his past…or his brother?

  “You're a good man.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek.

  He settled in the sensation of the moment, filing it away for the day that he’d need it again. Once again, he thought about how much easier it would be if he was married. Apparently, the courts were more willing to grant custody to a home with two parents than they were to a single man—uncle or not.

  And Bel would be perfect.

  He shoved the thought away. He was only human, but the guilt was immediate. He squeezed her hand, thinking about all the sins of his past, thinking of Jack. “You don't know me very well.”

  “Let’s get out of here. I have an idea.” She pressed into his side as a means of comfort though his body took it as a bold invitation. “I know you better than you think, and I like what I see.”

  He only wished it were true.

  “Wow, when you said you had an idea, I had no idea,” Jimmy said as he led Cleo onto the rooftop of Bel’s condo. The roof was covered in a vibrant green fake grass with outdoor furniture, a raised and boxed community garden patch, and potted citrus trees. Globe lights were strung all along the fenced border, and soft lamps dotted the space.

  Bel’s
face lit with joy at the sight of his niece, and it did something funny to his heart. He pressed his palm against his chest to ease the sensation.

  “Hi, Cleo,” she said, bending to eye-level.

  Cleo’s eyes grew round with wonder as her lips formed a whispered, “Ohhhhh…”

  Putting her hand out, Bel said, “Come with me. I’ve got the popcorn ready, all you have to do is pick the movie.”

  Jimmy followed behind the two, reveling at the contrast. Bel was tall and impossibly thin with bright waves of blond hair while Cleo was still so small, with eyes dark like her dad’s and chocolate curls that fell past her shoulders.

  He never saw two that fit so perfectly together.

  “Whoa! This is for us?”

  Swallowing down a chuckle at the little girl’s surprise, he followed Bel’s lead.

  “It’s for you, right, Jimmy?”

  He nodded. “Absolutely. I was telling Bel how hard you were working at school, and she thought you deserved a movie night.”

  “And on a school night.” Cleo’s whisper made Bel giggle.

  “We can’t keep you too late, but we have enough time to celebrate.”

  “Celebrate what?” Cleo glanced through a stack of movies on a small outdoor sofa.

  “Making it halfway through the week! A very smart friend of mine said it was surely something to celebrate.”

  With a nod, Cleo agreed. “I like your friend.”

  Bel laughed. “Most people do. You know her. Miss Raquel.”

  Cleo picked a movie and handed it over. “You know Grammy Malibu?”

  Jimmy shook his head at the nickname Raquel had given herself as Bel nodded.

  “I do. So, what’ll it be?”

  Cleo chose High School Musical, and while he smothered his groan, Bel spread a blanket on the fake grass.

  Pulling in floor pillows, orange Fanta, popcorn, chocolate candies, and sour gummies, she set up a movie night for a queen…or better yet, his princess.

  Cleo snuggled against a pink-and-white striped pillow right between him and Bel, riveted to the movie…singing, cheering—being a kid.