He Belongs With Me

by Sarah Darlington

  “Dammit. Tell me now, Clara.”

  Pinning my lips tightly together, I told him nothing. Instead, I tilted my head to the side so that he had better access to my neck. I learned last night that I loved being kissed there and Leo sure knew how to do it right.

  “Okay then. I gave you fair warning. Remember that.”

  His hands continued their exploration. My breathing turned heavy, which only seemed to motivate him further. When one of his hands moved inside my shirt, the warmth of his fingers grazing my nipple caused me to shiver all over. His expert touch tweaked, pinched, and traced in a feather-light way. Oh my! No one had ever touched me like this before. My body trembled and I steadied myself by placing both of my hands on the counter. My eyes remain glued on Dad and Maggie outside. They were talking and laughing, but all they had to do was glance in this direction and they'd see Leo all over me.

  Leo must have realized this because he moved us a couple of feet to the left so we would be out of view. His other hand joined in the action and he pulled my tank top down, completely exposing my breasts to the kitchen. I was panting so hard I couldn't think straight, and my nipples were as hard as diamonds under his touch. He'd clearly done this before.

  “You have the most perfect tits. I've been fantasizing about touching them since we were twelve years old.” He turned me around to face him and then took a step back so that he could get a better view of my naked chest. I couldn't breathe and my heart banged around like a ping pong ball, but I wasn't embarrassed because Leo's blue eyes took me in like I was the most perfect thing he'd ever seen.

  “You're beautiful,” he whispered, kissing my cheek. Then he pulled my tank top back up so that it once again covered my chest. “Too beautiful.” His eyes weren't on me anymore and his cheeks were totally flushed. I couldn’t believe I'd made Leo blush. And I hadn't even said a single coherent word to him since I’d walked in the door. He moved over to the other side of the counter, breathing heavy, gripping the edges of the counter, and trying to regain some composure. I had him all kinds of worked up. Hot damn, he was sexy! His eyes were dark and stormy, with a depth that stole my breath away. All I wanted was to get lost in them and never be found.

  “Leo. You're—”

  I was about to tell him how incredible he was and maybe even how badly I wanted to jump his bones right that moment, but Dad and Maggie walked into the kitchen. Two seconds earlier and they would have found me with my shirt down. Somehow I found that hilarious and I couldn't wipe the dumbass smile off my face. Thank the Lord for Leo's sixth sense and for stopping things when he did, because I probably wouldn't have stopped even if the Pope himself walked into my kitchen.

  “There you are,” Dad said to me. “Honey, I'm sure you're tired. Dinner’s almost ready, but why don't you go shower first? Oh, and there is aloe under my sink. You're a little sunburned.”

  “Okay.” I nodded, unable to look back in Leo's direction. If I did, I'd probably give it away to the world that we were together. We were together, right? I guess we didn't have an official title or anything—yet—but in my mind he was mine. But was I ready for Dad and Maggie to know? Actually, at this point, I pretty much wanted to shout it from the roof.

  “Why are you smiling like that?” Maggie asked, ripping me from my thoughts.

  “I'm having a good day,” I said truthfully, then turned and raced upstairs. A very cold shower was in order.

  CHAPTER 17

  MAGGIE

  I'd been having a good day myself. While eating my weight in ice cream, I watched three of my favorite movies under a shared blanket with a very handsome man. What more could a girl want? During my time with Leo, we barely touched—only accidentally brushing feet on three separate occasions while under said blanket—but we laughed and carried on like we were kids again. I felt whole and right when I was with him, but I wasn't sure if that was more about comfort or love. Because there was no denying that I'd shared a pretty big moment with Robby earlier. Maybe I was vulnerable though and Robby had been in the right place at the right time. Or maybe a little piece of me never stopped loving Robby. I just didn't know.

  What I needed was a chance to kiss Leo. I'd been thinking about it all day because I needed to know where my heart was at. A kiss would tell me…right?

  “Kids, grab some drinks and meet me out back.” Dad juggled a ceramic platter in one hand and his special butter-lemon sauce in his other hand. I helped him open the sliding glass door that led to the back deck, but I lingered in the kitchen with Leo. We were alone, and although I'd been alone with him all day, suddenly my heart went wild. I was going to kiss him. Right now.

  Oh Lordy!

  “Want a water?” Leo opened the fridge, oblivious to the change in me.

  “Sure.” Moving across the kitchen, I took the water he handed me. We were close enough that I could smell the light scent of his cologne, and I inched closer so that I could kiss him. He was tall—not as tall as Robby, but tall enough that I couldn't easily catch his lips against mine. I'd have to jump or grab him or...

  Leo held two water bottles in one hand and began to step away from the fridge. I'd been too busy over-analyzing and now the opportunity to make my move had passed. I followed him outside, wondering what the heck I was even thinking.

  Dad took his lobster tails off the grill and plated them. He sat down in his usual spot at the head of the table, and I sat beside him where I always did. Leo had a usual spot too—right beside me. If Clara wasn't at dinner, he'd sit in her spot, but since she was here tonight, I expected Leo to sit next to me. I expected wrong. Leo sat on the opposite side of the table—in the spot no one ever sat in—right next to Clara's usual spot.

  What the heck? Leo’s seat selection sent a resounding message. Not just to me but to Dad too. Leo and Clara were together. How foolish was I?

  Clara, who might have just set a world record for the fastest shower ever, came rushing outside with her hair hanging wet around her shoulders, wearing her typical yoga gear. She took the seat beside Leo like it wasn't weird that he'd chosen to sit beside her instead of me and started loading food onto her plate. “I'm so hungry I could eat this table. I didn't have breakfast or lunch. And Mary Ann is such a ‘you-know-what’ that she wouldn't even let me borrow a dollar to hit up the vending machine. I guess I should start carrying cash around like you always say, Dad.”

  “You should have called me,” Leo told her softly. “I would have brought you something.”

  “I didn't know you were back in Blue Creek until...” Clara paused, an uncharacteristic blush covering her face. “Until a few minutes ago.”

  “Okay then.” Leo grabbed Clara's hand in his, locking their fingers, and then reached across the table for mine. I hesitantly gave it to him. Then Leo glanced in Dad's direction, staring at him impatiently. “Say the prayer, Reed. Please. So she can eat.”

  Dad’s mouth was hanging open, and it appeared he’d been rendered speechless. After a few moments of sitting frozen in place, he swallowed hard and then completed the circle before saying the blessing.

  We all ate in silence for a few minutes after that—except Dad, who wasn't eating a bite.

  “So,” Clara started, “Old Man Sinclair turns eighty-three this weekend. You should throw a party for him, Dad. I mean, he's been a member forever and you're always looking for excuses to throw parties. What do you think?”

  Dad nodded slowly and then seemed to recover slightly. “That sounds wonderful. I have my tournament in Miami this weekend, but I can set everything up with Darlene, the event planner. Those things practically run themselves anyway. What a great idea, honey. Would you like to host it?”

  “Um, okay. I guess I could do that.”

  “You don't have to do anything other than show up,” Dad said. “That's all I do when I host.”

  Oh. My God! Did we just enter into an alternative universe? The twilight zone? Peewee’s freaking playhouse? Well, whatever place this was, I couldn't sit and quietly watch one minute
longer. “I had to work for you Saturday morning, Clara. You called out and the restaurant was short-staffed and I worked for you. You're welcome. It would have been nice to run away to New York with Leo for the weekend, but some of us are mature enough to handle our responsibilities.” Leo glared fiercely from across the table as I ranted, telling me with his eyes to shut up, but that didn't unnerve me. Somebody needed to put Clara in her place, and if Dad wasn't going to do it, then I would. “And you could have killed Leo! Not to mention, the extra work you created for the landscaping staff, thanks to your joyriding. Do you even think?”

  “Maggie,” Dad said, stopping me. “We could sit here and go over every little thing Clara did wrong this weekend or we could have a nice family dinner. It's not often that we all get to sit down together like this.”

  So, I had entered another universe. I tried to relax and eat my dinner, but I couldn't manage it. The worst part was Leo. He kept stealing glances at Clara and finding little sweet ways to touch her. Then Clara would catch Leo staring at her and this Cheshire cat smile—one that went along with her purple hair—would light up her face.

  I realized then that it wasn’t Clara’s immaturity from this past weekend that was bugging me; it was how different Leo was behaving around her. Sure he was just eating and barely speaking, but he was relaxed. Actually, he’d been relaxed pretty much all day. And the Leo I knew didn’t ever relax—unless he was high or drunk, which he obviously wasn’t right now. Could it be possible that Leo and Clara were good together?

  I immediately stood to my feet. “I'm sorry, guys, I'm feeling sick,” I announced. “I ate way too much ice cream earlier with Leo. This dinner looks delicious, Dad, but I really need to go lie down.” With those parting words, I left the back deck and hurried inside.

  I needed to catch my breath and time to process that I might have been wrong about everything. I’d just made it under the covers of my bed when Leo suddenly appeared in my room.

  “Hey,” he said, hovering close to the edge of my bed.

  “Hey,” I replied, confused but happy that he’d followed me.

  “Your dad wants you back downstairs. He has something he needs to tell us all.”

  I frowned. I’d thought for a moment he’d chased after me because he was concerned for me—I guess I thought wrong. Or not, because the next words out of his mouth sounded very concerned.

  “Are you okay, Maggie?” Leo asked. “You’ve been a little off all day. Are you sure you’re okay with Clara and I being together? I know it’s happening fast, but it’s going to be permanent…so I need you to be okay with this.”

  Permanent? I decided I should just be honest with him. “I just need time, Leo. I’ve always had you all to myself and now suddenly…I don’t.”

  The muscles in his jaw tightened and he slowly nodded. “Just so you know, no matter what, nothing could ever change our friendship. You’re the only thing in my jacked-up life that has ever been a fucking constant. Nothing will ever change that.” He rubbed his hands through his hair. “So would you please come back downstairs? You and Clara have your issues—I get that—but I’d really like you to come finish dinner with us.”

  I gulped. “I thought Dad needed me downstairs.”

  “He does. But I’d like you down there too.”

  What other choice did I have? If Leo needed me downstairs, then that’s exactly where I needed to be.

  CHAPTER 18

  CLARA

  Dinner with Dad was going well. Pretty damn well, actually. And Leo sitting beside me... He might as well have used a giant megaphone to announce that we were together—together together—and I was loving every minute of it. He’d also had his hand resting on my thigh under the table, rubbing back and forth, sending little shivers all over my body. I had been loving that too.

  And then the look on Maggie's face when Dad basically told her to shut up—priceless. I didn't feel bad that Maggie had to work for me on Saturday because there were other servers Anita could have called instead. Anita liked Maggie and probably called her first because she wanted the company. I did, however, feel bad about the landscaping staff having more work to do because of me. I must have left tire tracks out on the golf course when I went joyriding. Maybe I could make them some muffins or bring them lunch one day this week—something to make up for it.

  That left Leo and his bruised ass. Maybe I could make it up to him somehow too, and I didn't mean with muffins. The thought of Leo's glorious naked butt popped into my head, causing a scalding flash of heat to spread across my skin. Reaching for the water bottle beside my plate, I took a giant gulp. The naughty thoughts would have to be saved for later...when Dad wasn't present.

  If only he’d gotten up instead of sending Leo to go get Maggie. I had no idea what he wanted us all to hear—and neither did Leo, based on the curious look on his face—but something was definitely off with my Dad and we were about to find out what it was.

  Now my stomach was home to a giant school of flesh-hungry piranhas, eating me from the inside out. Whatever Dad had to say was obviously important, and I nervously fidgeted in my seat as I waited for Leo and Maggie to return to the table.

  “Before Maggie and Leo come back, I want to talk about what happened this weekend,” he said, letting out a giant huff. I waited for him to start yelling, but his voice remained surprisingly even. “Everything Maggie said was right. But the reality is that I have bigger things to worry about than hounding you and expecting changes I won't see. Not only that, you're twenty-one and this is likely your last summer at home. The last thing I want is to spend it fighting. So I'm willing to forgive and forget if you do two things for me in return. One...the lessons. Mary Ann called earlier and said that overall, things went great for you today. Do you think you can keep it up for the next two weeks?”

  I nodded, shocked at how easy I was getting off the hook and surprised that Mary Ann had anything nice to say about me.

  “Okay, good. Two…the hair. It has to go. You can dye it red, brown, or back to blonde—any normal color. But the purple can't stay.”

  I couldn’t stop the frown on my face or the feeling of disappointment in my heart. I loved my purple hair. Of everything I did wrong this past weekend, the hair was the one thing he focused on? Ugh! Really?

  “I don't hate it,” Dad continued. “It actually kind of suits you, but...it has to go. We have an image to uphold at the country club, and you're just as much a part of that image as I am. I need you to change it—immediately. I mean it, Clara.”

  This was why I wanted to move to Arizona. I didn't want to be part of any image that needed upholding, but I didn't have the energy to argue with him either. Not when there was some news that he needed everyone here for still hanging over my head.

  “Okay,” I said, admitting defeat, “I'll dye it back.”

  “Thank you.” Dad stood up, rearranging some of the dishes on the table. I noticed now that he hadn't even touched his food.

  Leo and Maggie came back outside and Dad immediately stopped what he was doing to sit back down. “Have a seat,” he said to them, “We have something to discuss.”

  Maggie sat down at once, saying nothing. It took Leo a few seconds longer to sit down, but then he did—again by me. Adrenaline started rushing through my veins, making me feel shaky. Was this conversation going to be about Leo and me? Maybe I'd let the hair thing go without a fight, but if he told me I couldn't date Leo, then the gloves were about to go on…or was it off? Whichever.

  “It's about Dean,” Dad stated.

  Dean? Never heard of him. I might have been relieved that Dad's big declaration was directed toward this Dean person and not my love life, but the noticeable tension on Leo's face wouldn’t allow me to relax. He swore a string of curse words hardly appropriate for the dinner table before saying, “His lurking ass is really starting to piss me off. Did Maggie tell you how he showed up on my doorstep this morning like a complete stalker? Reed, you need to tell him to get out of our lives. He's sta
rting to screw with Maggie's head. Hell, he's starting to screw with my head.”

  “He's not screwing with my head,” Maggie defended. “I'm just fine.”

  Leo let out a huff. “By fine, you mean he's wormed his way back into your life without explanation of where he's been for the last six years? Maybe you've forgotten the way things went down, Mags, but I haven't. That bastard made you promises on top of promises and he never kept one of them. Now he's suddenly back and you're fine. Well, I'm not fucking fine.”

  Holy mother of all things holy. Leo was seriously pissed and I was seriously confused.

  “This is my life and you need to let me handle it, Leo,” Maggie said. “I get that you're trying to protect me, but I really can handle this. I'm fine with him coming back to Blue Creek. He's been nice to me.”

  Dad nodded in agreement. “She's right. Dean's a good man. He hasn't had an easy life, but I trust that he's just trying to do right by what he knows. Anyway, it's not Dean I wanted to discuss. This is about his daughter, Valerie.”

  “Who the hell is Dean?” I snapped.

  “Robby,” they all answered in unison.

  Leo leaned back in his seat and tilted closer to me. “Dean is Robby. He changed his name, tricked Maggie into bringing him as her date to the gala the other night when she didn't recognize him, and now he's being secretive as hell.”

  Maggie again jumped to Dean's defense. “He didn't trick me!”

  “Robby has a daughter?” I asked, not really caring about the rest of the drama. “How old?”

  “Five,” Dad answered.

  “Oh.” My breath left my lungs as the dots connected. Now I understood what the big deal was. My body started to tremble in excitement. “This is incredible. Crazy—but incredible.”

  A hint of a smile appeared on Dad's face. “I think so too.”

  “What's incredible?” Maggie asked, confused. My twin was never any good at connecting dots. “Daddy?”