by Melissa Kate
And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it’s done
I hope you don’t mind
I hope you don’t mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is now you’re in the world
If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a girl who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it’s not much but it’s the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one’s for you
And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it’s done
I hope you don’t mind
I hope you don’t mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world”
The song made Nate feel sad. It was like she was singing it just for Noah.
“You and me against the world, Squirt.”
“You and me, Mom,” he muttered as he drifted off to sleep.
Brielle turned and found Nate’s gaze. She walked toward him and turned the light off on her way out.
“How long were you out there?” she asked.
“Long enough.”
He found himself reaching to touch her. His hand barely caressed her skin, “You’re an amazing mother, Brielle. And I’m not at all trying to take Noah away from you. I just want a chance to get to know my son.”
Her expression softened and Nate didn’t think before he dipped his head and ever so lightly brushed his lips against hers. She stood stock still and didn’t make a move which meant she didn’t push him away either.
“Are you seeing that guy?” he asked against her skin. Where the hell had that question come from?
“What guy?” she sounded less composed than before.
“That guy you were with earlier.”
“Matt? No, he’s Emma’s brother.”
“Good,” with that he captured her mouth and she had no choice but to open to him. What he didn’t expect was for her to practically melt in his arms. He pulled her against him and gently made love to her mouth. She matched him as their tongues danced together in re-acquaintance. He remembered every contour of her supple lips and he found himself getting rock hard against her stomach. He cornered her against the hallway wall and he felt her push her breasts up into him. He groaned, feeling as turned-on as a teenager.
“Nate, stop,” Brielle pushed him away.
He looked down into her face. At her flushed cheeks and pouty lips, swollen from his kisses. So beautiful. But the distress on her features was like a bucket of cold ice on his erection.
“We can’t do this,” she had her small hand on his hard chest, keeping him at a distance. “The situation is confusing enough without throwing our hormones into the mix. I’m not that naive twenty-something anymore. I’m not going to be some cheap lay.”
With that she walked around him and left him there, feeling like an asshole with a hard on.
CHAPTER 9
THE NEXT DAY NATE AWOKE early, feeling jumpy. He dressed in his sweats, pulled on his hoodie and, needing to expel this pent-up energy, knew that a hard road run was just what he needed. He had to keep his fitness up as part of the F1 Regulations anyway so he could definitely use the workout. Plugging in his Ipod to Dub Step, he stretched out as the music and rhythm blended to warm his blood. As the crescendo hit, he pounded the pavement hard and fast, feeling his lungs open and his heart pump faster and faster.
Last night had him on edge. He was feeling things that he never had before. Feelings he had no understanding of or explanation for. He was expecting the situation with Noah to be an uphill battle but so far, he had found that he was coming to easily settle into the idea of his son. He had enjoyed their time together so much last night that he’d stayed on far longer than he ever intended to. He had expected to pop in, see Noah and get the hell out of there before Brielle even saw him. Instead he’d ended up with far more than he had ever bargained for. Noah was beginning to creep up into his heart and that scared Nate. He didn’t even know if this whole situation with Noah was going to be permanent. He still wasn’t sure if he was a good thing for the kid but despite what his head was telling him, his heart continued to lead him to Noah.
And kissing Brielle last night? Shit, that was a bad idea. He hadn’t even planned to kiss her; he’d just heard her sing to Noah and shared the intimate moment between mother and son and it felt like the right thing to do. And oh, she was so hot for him. He still remembered the fullness of her lips against his and her fingers against his bare neck, holding him to her. He could lose a few hours in her. And he had, a long time ago. But the situation was complicated enough without trying to paint himself into a ready-made family. That was never the life he wanted. Plus she was pissy with him on most days, but it could just as well be his very presence that brings out the dragon in her. Nate thought back to Brazil and the young, pliant girl she had been. So young and carefree and so focussed on her career. What happened to that girl?
He slowed down to catch his breath as he stood in front of the gym. Another half an hour of cycling and he should be good to go – energy levels back to normal, not spiking into overload.
Sliding into a cycle, he cranked his Ipod up to another fast-paced beat. He needed a distraction. He needed to forget about Brielle and keep his focus purely on Noah. He watched the yoga class that was downstairs in the glass studio. Now, that was a distraction he could use. He took in the scantily clad women with their short yoga pants and tank tops. They were all bent forward with their asses in the air and Nate grinned in appreciation. Downward facing dog, his favorite. He noticed that the other men beside him on the adjacent cycles were also nodding their appreciation.
The women stretched forward, their asses climbing up high. Oh, what a view it was. He noticed the instructor in front. She looked like a blonde with her hair tied back and a thick black bandeau holding her hair away from her face. He couldn’t get a look at her face but her body was toned and sexy and soft. She got into a cat-like pose, on all fours and then arched her back up and then stuck her ass out again, almost like asking to be taken from behind. Nate was getting hard. Geez, he’d clearly gone without sex for far too long if a fully clothed woman was getting him hard. She continued with her yoga poses, twisting and contorting her body in unimaginable stances. Now, this was a woman he could take to bed. She could probably show him a thing or two, so unlike the stiff Brielle Woods. Yes, when this class was over, he was definitely going to give miss yoga pants a taste of Nate. Some hot sex with a stranger was just what he needed to take the edge off and keep him far away from his baby-momma.
She lifted her head and Nate nearly fell off his cycle. Standing on one foot and bending forward, the yoga teacher was none other than Brielle herself. This day was really turning to shit.
Brielle felt much better after her yoga class. Nothing calmed her down and revived her better than advanced yoga. It was exactly what she had needed after the stress of the past week. Between seeing Nate again and the paternity test, and then Noah’s party and that kiss last night! That was the kicker. She had never ever expected to kiss Nate again. She had imagined many scenarios in her head over the last five years. About how she’d give him a piece of her mind and tell him to shove off and then run into the waiting arms of another hot guy. But she didn’t have any guy waiting, never mind a hot one. Hell, she hadn’t had time for a man since Noah had been born. Her son came first and providing for him was a full-time job.
Then Nate had come along and kissed the air right out of her lungs and ended her six-year drought. All that left her was wet and waiting and horny as hell. She didn’t like it, not one bit. So, she’d sought solace in the one activity that best soothed her – yoga.
Her class cleared out and she packed up her mat and strode toward the exit. On the way out she noticed some men sparring in the boxing ring. They seemed to be do
ing some sort of mixed martial arts and Brielle squinted for a closer look. Great, all she had to do was think of the man and he was miraculously conjured up. There was Nate, standing in his sweats and sweat-drenched t-shirt, battling it out with another guy to stay upright. Even in his sweat-drenched state the man managed to look just delectable. Her nipples started to tingle and she chastised her body for betraying her.
At that moment Nate wiped the sweat off his forehead and looked up to meet Brielle’s eyes. His gaze dropped to her breasts and no doubt he was appreciating her pointed nipples. Before she could warn him, the other guy came around and sucker punched him right in the side of his face and he went down like a sack of bricks. He rolled around and groaned as he sat upright in the ring, arms on his knees. The contender was all too happy, hopping around Nate in the ring. Brielle shook her head and laughed to herself. Boys will be boys. Plus, he kind of deserved it after his moves on her the night before.
Brielle headed home for a quick shower and then back to the Brentwood Hills home. She was having yet another open house and was hoping that this time the house would actually sell. She was expecting to meet Paul, one half of the amazing couple she had met earlier in the week, and hopefully she could close the deal and convince him to buy the house.
Considering that it wasn’t a formal working day, she opted to dress more casually today. She slipped on her confidence heels for luck anyway. Noah was at a friend’s house for the day so she didn’t have to rush to get back to him, which was a great help if things went as she hoped they would.
When Paul walked into the home at noon he was sans Claudette.
“All by your lonesome today?” she teased, walking over to shake his hand.
He surprised her by enveloping her in a big hug. “No need for formalities. I feel like we are already well acquainted.”
Brielle laughed good naturedly as Paul let her go. He pulled out a bottle of wine and found two wine glasses in the sparsely equipped kitchen.
“Are we celebrating?” she asked hopefully.
“If things go as planned, then yes we are.” He had a twinkle in his eye and Brielle felt a tingle of anticipation run up her spine.
He poured the wine and clinked glasses in a toast.
His cell phone rang and as he pulled it out of his pocket, Brielle caught a glimpse of Claudette’s name but Paul declined the call.
“Is everything ok?” she asked, concern starting to overshadow her bubble.
“Yeah, it’s fine. We, Claudette and I, broke up yesterday.”
“Oh, no, Paul.” Brielle placed her hand over Paul’s on the counter and her heart pinched, both for the couple and the potential sale of the home.
Paul shrugged but didn’t remove his hand. “It’s for the best, she was very possessive and things weren’t working out.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he stepped closer to her. “I’m still interested in buying the house.”
He stepped closer still and his knees bumped against hers as she backed up against the kitchen counter.
“Paul,” Brielle breathed. Trepidation starting to kick in. What was he doing? This was not what she wanted.
“Yes, Brielle?” he caressed her cheek and leaned into her.
“Paul, no. This is not what I want.” She started to push against him but he now had his hands on her and was pulling her in. “Stop!”
She tried to pull out of his grasp but he was so strong and his body locked in all the parts of her anatomy she could have used as potential weapons. Brielle started to panic as Paul moved in closer. She had no way of getting out of his grasp.
“Paul, stop!”
“Is everything ok in here?” a cold voice at the foyer inquired.
Brielle heard footsteps coming toward them and she turned to the sound. She was never so happy to see Nate in her life.
“Oh, darling!” she gushed as she pushed away from Paul. “What took you so long?”
She waltzed into Nate’s arms and pressed her body into his so he would get the picture, then pulled his mouth down to hers in a deep kiss. She needed his embrace as much for the charade as for the comfort and safety. For a few moments he just stood there, not moving and she willed him to just go with it. When his response did kick in, he dipped her low and deepened the kiss, even going so far as to cup her ass.
“Too far,” she whispered, loud enough for only the two of them to hear.
“It’s your game,” he whispered back, a sly grin on his face.
She pushed away and regarded Paul coldly. “So, where were we?”
Paul looked miffed. “I will see you soon, Brielle.” And he walked out in a huff.
When the door shut, she fell back heavily against the cool wall and let the cold soothe her heating flesh. Whether she was overheating from Nate’s kiss or from Paul’s near miss, she couldn’t tell for sure.
“You ok?” Nate asked. “You’re shaking. What did that moron want? Did he hurt you?”
“He came in here with his girlfriend the last time and I thought he wanted to buy the house, and then today he just came at me.”
“Didn’t you read the signs?”
Brielle looked at him dubiously. “What signs?”
“He came in here dressed for a date – on a Sunday. He comes in without said girlfriend. And he brings you wine,” he lifted the bottle for emphasis. “Unless it was you who brought the wine.” He lifted a questioning eyebrow.
Brielle shook her head, still reeling. What would have happened if Nate hadn’t walked in?
“Why didn’t you just tell him to shove off? Why the façade of a boyfriend when that asshole forced himself on you?”
Brielle could tell Nate’s blood pressure was rising. “I just saw an easier way out. If I freaked then you would have too, and you’d have beat him into the marble floors, and then I’d have to clean up all the blood, and I just didn’t see it as worth the trouble.”
Nate smirked, obviously seeing right through her attempt at humor to lighten the situation.
“Thank you,” she said shakily. “For intervening, I mean. I didn’t actually see the signs. I’ve been out of the game for so long, I probably still wouldn’t see them even if they were spelled out to me.”
“How long have you been out?”
She stared at him pointedly. “I’m the mother of a five-year-old, Nate. I’m nowhere near the game.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” she waved him away. “Noah is worth more than anything else in this world.” Although sometimes she wouldn’t mind some male companionship and sex; God, she’d forgotten what sex was like. “Nice shiner,” she commented on the slight bruise above his left eye. “On second thought, maybe you wouldn’t have been able to pound that idiot.”
He grunted. “Yeah, Luca got lucky, I was distracted. And trust me, if I see that idiot again, I will show you just how hard I can’t beat him into the marble floor.” He folded his arms and leaned against the kitchen counter. “I didn’t know you taught yoga.”
“You don’t know a lot about me, Nate,” she smiled, happy for the subject change. “I started teaching when I was pregnant.”
“Why?”
She looked him in his amazing jade eyes, not knowing how much to say. “Things were tough. I didn’t have the financial support, so I had to make extra money wherever I could.”
“What about your studies? You said you had just a year left to qualify.”
“I couldn’t afford it and still have a baby. Prenatal visits were expensive and I needed to buy so much to prepare for Noah’s birth.”
She met his gaze and saw it in his eyes – pity. “Don’t look at me like that,” she chided him.
“Like what?”
“With your pity eyes. I made sacrifices, Nate, but I don’t regret them. Noah deserved the best an
d I did everything I could to make sure his needs were met.”
“I know,” his gaze turned downcast. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
Brielle shrugged. “I was so angry at you for so long, Nate. I thought you had knowingly abandoned your child and that made me hate you with a fiery rage because it was so unfair to Noah. But, I can’t hate you if you didn’t know.”
“I will find out who covered this up, Bree. And when I do, they are going to pay.”
The next week, Nate had a race in Austin. He flew together with his team and had little time to rest before the pit crew were getting the car in order. The last he’d seen them, the officials were scrutineering and weighing in. He’d noticed a few flat spots on his tire after the previous race last month and he made sure that the crew had everything replaced and ready.
When he got to the car just before the practice run, the team was just peeling off the tire warmers. The marshal came by to shake his hand and wish him well on his race.
The practice run went off without a hitch and soon the guys were kicking back, having a few drinks at the hotel bar. Mena, his PR agent, came by and plopped herself next to him.
“Hey,” she greeted, kissing either of his cheeks and embracing him in a hug.
“What are you doing here? You don’t usually make the local runs.”
“Yeah, but I have a PR stint for you tonight. There’s a new club opening in Austin and the management is paying a big wad of money to have you appear and pose for half an hour or so. Nothing major, just a few photos and you can be off on your merry way.”
Nate nodded, knowing that this type of publicity came with the territory of being a high-profile racer. Whether he liked it or not.
When Mena picked him up in a limo that evening, he felt every bit the racing celebrity. He took in her shimmery gold top and gauzy skirt and was reminded of the first night he’d met Brielle in Brazil. He’d been knocked off his feet when he’d seen her dancing with such abandon and it was like fate that he’d had to step in and save her. Seemed like he was doing that again these days.
