by Kait Nolan
“Letting yourself be human won’t spoil anything.”
“I don’t get to be human. I’m the glue. The mediator. Jesus, I’m about to be the actual mom—which is scary as hell. And I wouldn’t not do that. I love that child. But sometimes it’s all just…”
“A lot?”
She sighed again. “Yeah.”
“You know what I think?”
“I expect you’ll tell me.” Her tone held a faint smile.
“I think your mother would be proud of everything you’ve done, but that she wouldn’t expect you to fill her shoes. So maybe instead of trying to be all things for everyone, remember you just have to be Pru, and she’s pretty amazing all on her own.”
She lifted her head to look up at him. “And you would know that how?”
“I’ve got eyes.”
In another time, in another place, he might have kissed her then. God knew, he wanted to. But that wasn’t what she needed.
“You’re really good at this whole shoulder, thing.” Her vague look of suspicion as she said it told him he’d made the right call.
“I’ve known my share of strong women who need one from time to time.”
“Nice to know you’re more than a pretty face and blarney.”
Flynn batted his eyelashes and put on his best coquettish expression. “You think I’m pretty?”
Laughter cleared the last of the shadows from her eyes, and she stepped back just as the door opened and someone came out.
Xander eyed them both with that cool-eyed cop stare. “You okay, Pru?”
“Fine. Just needed some air.” She turned to go back inside, but shot a look over her shoulder. “Thanks, Flynn.”
“Anytime, mo stór.”
She smiled and went back to the party.
Xander stayed where he was, studying Flynn. “Watch your step, pal. Pru isn’t for playing with.”
The warning made Flynn like him more. “You’d be the brother figure, then.” He nodded. “Good. She needs someone looking out for her.” After this week, that someone wouldn’t be him. The idea of that gave him an odd little twinge.
“Kennedy’s told me about your reputation with women.”
“I’m not looking to make a conquest. You’ve nothing to worry about. Besides, your focus should be on your bride. Because if you don’t make her happy, I’ll break you in two.” He slapped Xander on the shoulder and went back into the tavern.
Chapter Three
PRU CRIED AT THE wedding. At least she was wearing waterproof mascara tonight. In her defense, she always cried at weddings, but this time she simply couldn’t contain her joy that Kennedy and Xander had finally made it to where they were meant to be years ago. It gave her hope that the forever kind of love did exist.
As she watched them exchange rings beneath a gorgeous, hand-carved arbor, twined in flowers, envy lanced through her for the briefest of moments. She wanted that for herself, wanted a man to look at her with those star-struck eyes and promises on his lips. That probably wasn’t in the cards for her. Her life was taking a different track because of Ari, and she was okay with that. But Pru couldn’t shake the sense of a door closing on this chapter of her life. The child had to come first. Ari needed to know she was the priority after years of uncertainty from her family of origin. Pru didn’t balk at that. She understood that need from deep, personal experience. But thinking back to her conversation with Flynn the other night, she wondered when she’d next have an opportunity to think about herself first.
She looked past the bride and groom to find him watching her and felt a long, liquid pull in her belly. What if now was her last chance? Shouldn’t she seize it with both hands?
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Pru tore her attention back to the happy couple just as Xander dipped his wife low, taking her mouth with his. Everybody cheered. Her eyes found Flynn’s again, as he lifted his fiddle to play the recessional. Those bold blue eyes followed her, along with his cheerful music, as she took Porter’s arm and trailed the newlyweds out of the barn. She felt the weight of his gaze, as she suffered through pictures in the boots she couldn’t wait to shed. And she thought of him while she made a quick trip through the kitchen and got run out by Athena, as she snapped orders to the crew she’d brought in from her own restaurant for the day. Pru mingled, moving from guest to guest, to make certain everyone had what they needed, playing perfect hostess. All the while, awareness hummed along her skin, and she wrestled with what to do about it, considering consequences and benefits, as she’d done all her life. It distracted her through most of the speeches, until she heard her own name mentioned.
“As the only one with sense among us, Pru managed to spirit the mascot out of school before we got caught and sentenced to God knows what by Principal Lloyd.” Porter glanced her way. “How did you get that thing back to Pineville High? All these years, and you’ve never said.”
“I drove to Johnson City and mailed it back with no return address.” Which any of them should’ve thought of, if they hadn’t been so intent on causing mischief.
The crowd laughed and Porter lifted his glass. “Thank God for Pru.”
Kennedy and Xander lifted theirs, along with the rest of the wedding party, and repeated his toast. “Thank God for Pru.”
Thank God for Pru. Their well-intentioned words echoed through her head as they drank. Thank God for Pru. The stable sister. The reliable sister. The one who will always be there, always put everyone else first. The one no one ever questions because she’s never done one damned thing in her life to step a toe out of line.
She gritted her teeth as she tipped back her own champagne.
Thank God for Pru. The boring, predictable sister, who has no life, so of course, we can count on her for everything.
She simmered about it through the rest of the speeches. She stewed during Kennedy and Xander’s first dance. By the time the rest of the crowd flooded the dance floor, she’d made her decision. Pru Reynolds wasn’t going to be the boring sister anymore. Not tonight, anyway.
She downed some of Denver’s spiked lemonade and pushed back her chair.
A hand entered her field of vision. “Would you be ready for a dance, then?”
Pru smiled up at Flynn. “I definitely am.” She placed her hand in his, devastatingly aware of the strength of his fingers curling around hers. If things went according to plan, she’d know a lot more about the feel of those hands before the night was through.
He lifted her hand to his lips. “You’re beautiful.”
Heat flooded her cheeks as she stared, transfixed, into the deep blue of his eyes. “You’re charming.”
Those eyes twinkled when he tugged her from her seat, and she wondered if he had dimples beneath the beard. As they stepped onto the dance floor, the music rolled over to David Gray. Flynn spun her into his arms and began to sway them both. Because she could, Pru relaxed against him, letting him lead and enjoying the heat of his body so close to hers.
“So the deed is done and everyone survived,” he observed.
“I’m holding off on declaring the latter, until I see the number of hangovers in the morning. I expect more than one sore head by breakfast.” There’d be mountains of breakfast to cook, no matter how little sleep she got, unless someone sweet talked Athena into kitchen duty.
“Easily dealt with. I know Kennedy’s hangover remedy and can vouch for its efficacy.”
“You may get called on to make it. But yes, the worst is over. Kennedy and Xander will be leaving for their honeymoon in the wee hours, and both Maggie and Athena are flying out tomorrow afternoon. The rest of our foster siblings will be heading out at some point tomorrow, as well.” She braced herself. “I figure you won’t be far behind, now that Kennedy will be off. Just so you know, we can shift your reservations around to come back later, when she’s home.”
“That’s thoughtful, to be sure.” He twirled Pru out and back, settling his arms more firmly around
her. “I’ll be here at least a couple more days, as I’ve no shows lined up for that span. I suppose you could put up with me on my own that long.”
“That’s not exactly a hardship.”
His lips curved, drawing her attention. “Good.”
Nerves she hadn’t felt earlier kicked into high gear. She needed to put things in motion before she chickened out. She lifted her gaze back to his. “Flynn?”
“Mm?”
“Do you remember what you said to me when we danced the first time?”
For you, mo stór, I would gladly do anything you asked.
His pupils sprang wide. “I do.”
She swallowed. “Did you mean it?”
“I did.”
Oh, thank God. As the song drew to a close, Pru pressed closer, lifting her mouth toward his ear. “Then meet me in twenty minutes by the bench at the overlook in the back yard.”
She didn’t wait to see his reaction before walking away. If she was reading this all wrong and he wasn’t on the same page, she’d rather realize it in the dark by the overlook than look him in the face in a crowd.
The tempo of the music picked up. Pru threw herself into a line with her sisters for the Cha Cha Slide. She shook her groove thing with Ari for the Harlem Shake. She even threw caution to the wind and proved she still knew every move of the Macarena. The Chicken Dance was where she drew the line, stepping off the floor and heading for the bar. One of the other bartenders from Elvira’s Tavern provided her with a second cup of the spiked lemonade. Ordinarily, she’d stop at one, but tonight was about pushing her limits and acting out of character. With one last glance around the floor—mostly to verify that all of her sisters and assorted foster siblings here for the wedding were occupied—Pru slipped out of the barn and into the night.
The air hummed with cicada song and crickets. This far into summer, night brought little relief from the heat. That made her plan all the more delicious. She crossed to the far side of the yard, watching for stray guests, but everyone, it seemed, was still packed into the barn. Good.
The overlook was empty.
Before Pru could process the disappointment of that, Flynn stepped free of the shadows.
Flooded with relief, she blurted, “You came.”
“You asked.” He reached out to skim his fingers along her cheek. “What do you want, Pru?”
She closed her eyes and leaned into the touch, already feeling a trifle breathless. “I want to show you something. It’s a bit of a walk.”
“In the dark?”
“There’s moonlight.”
“So there is.”
As she took his hand, Pru was conscious that he was letting her lead now. They left the yard, taking the trail she knew as well as she knew the house she’d grown up in. The sounds of the reception grew fainter as they went down the incline and wove their way through the trees. Neither of them spoke until the trees opened up some time later onto a small pool of water.
“This is Opal Springs.”
It took Flynn a moment. “Of the skinny dipping story?”
“That would be the one.”
“So this is where your sister got up to mischief. You’ve really never been?”
“No.” She took a breath and met his eyes. “I was hoping you’d help me change that.”
“Now?” The question escaped on a surprised laugh.
Pru looked out at the shimmering reflection of the moon in the water. “My life is about to change radically. This is the last time I get to think about myself first, and I don’t want my headstone to say, ‘Thank God for Pru. She was reliable.’ So yeah. Now.”
“Won’t they miss us?”
She could still hear faint strains of music. “Not for a while yet. We might miss the cake cutting, but I really don’t care.”
Flynn stepped into her, sliding a hand along one hip. “Is it a swim you’re after?”
Pru gripped his waist. “The swim is negotiable. I just want you.”
~*~
“I just want you.”
The four most beautiful words in the English language. They had Flynn wishing for a bed and privacy and time to fulfill her every fantasy and all of his. But she wasn’t just any woman, ripe for a tumble. She was the sister of one of his closest friends. And she was not, as Xander had pointed out, for playing with.
Flynn wasn’t feeling playful. None of the things Pru stirred in him were so simple as that. She was a woman who gave everything and asked almost nothing in return. Much as it seemed to rankle her, she was reliable and dependable—the family rock in the absence of their mother. But she was so much more than that and needed someone to show her. She wanted this, wanted him. How could he turn away from such a request?
He cradled her face, tipping it up until moonlight glimmered in the dark depths of her eyes. “Ceann álainn.”
“What does that mean?” Pru murmured.
“Lovely one.” Her cheek was exquisitely soft beneath his thumb. “And you are.”
She turned her face into the touch and closed her eyes, his name a sigh on her lips.
He didn’t know what she’d imagined when she’d brought him down here. A fast, wet coupling in the spring? One night of hurried passion? He wanted to give her more than that. He wanted to take his time, wrapping her in layers of pleasure until she forgot all the stresses and heartaches she’d endured. So it was with gentleness he took her mouth, with tenderness he pulled her closer.
She melted into him, her body going pliant as wax against his. The instant surrender fired his blood, but he kept the pace slow and easy. She was a woman who deserved to be cherished. Flynn didn’t want her thinking of a time clock or the inevitable end to whatever they brought to each other. He wanted her thinking only of his touch, his taste. Of the now. He traced the seam of her lips with his tongue. She opened for him, rising against him, her hands linking around his neck to pull him closer.
She tasted of the lemonade and of deeper, darker things, at odds with her usual sweet demeanor. Flynn sank into the taste of her, hauling her tighter against his body as need welled up to join with want, sparking urgency in his veins. And still he kept himself leashed, fought to maintain control. This was all for her. About her.
That was harder to remember as she wrapped one leg around his. He reached down, urging her leg higher, wrapping it tighter around him as he angled to press his erection into her hips. Pru whimpered, moving against him in a rhythm that made him half mad. He ran his hand up the warm, bare flesh, beneath the hem of her dress and higher, until he palmed that glorious ass. She moaned, pressing closer, until he was thinking three steps ahead, struggling to work through the logistics of getting her naked. Against a tree? God no. She deserved better that. But Jaysus, he needed some leverage.
There was a series of wide, flat rocks around the pool. Maybe he could get down on one. As the thought tried to form, he slid his hand lower, stroking over the silk between her legs to find it drenched.
Holy Mary, Mother of God.
Encouraged by her gasp, he nudged the silk aside and traced her bare flesh.
“Flynn!” Her cry was part shock, part demand.
He could do this, would do this, to give her pleasure and buy himself a little more time to think about how he was going to make love to her as she deserved out here, with no towels, no blankets, nothing to soften the ground. He slid one finger a scant inch inside her—
The snap of a breaking branch had him freezing.
“Wha—”
“Shh!” he hissed, listening.
Muffled voices had him hastily removing his hand, straightening her skirt. He tugged her into the trees, opposite the trail they’d come in on. They’d barely slipped out of sight before another couple came off the trail. The bridesmaid dress identified the woman as one of Pru’s sisters. Athena? Who the hell was she with?
Athena turned toward the guy beside her. “So how ’bout it, farmer boy? Are you up for a swim?”
“Is that a trick question?”
The deep, rich voice sounded amused.
Pru gasped, “Logan?” She promptly clapped a hand over her own mouth.
But neither her sister nor Xander’s other groomsman appeared to have heard a thing. They were both too intent on stripping down.
Flynn brought his mouth to Pru’s ear. “Time to go.”
As silently as possible, they picked their way through the trees, back to the trail. A splash of water and laughter made it evident Athena and Logan hadn’t heard.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Pru blew out a breath. “I seriously may cry.” She folded both arms across her middle, her face a mask of unsated misery.
Flynn adjusted his trousers, which were well past the point of uncomfortable. “Would it have been better if we hadn’t heard them and they knew we were down there and why?”
“I don’t know.” She threw her head back and stared up at the sky. “God, I just wanted one night. Not even a full night. An hour for myself. And I can’t even have that.”
Her frustration was palpable, and it ripped at him.
Flynn caught her arm, turned her toward him. “You deserve far more than hour.”
“Yeah, well, the Universe disagrees.” She gestured back toward Opal Springs.
“We have time. I’m not going anywhere just yet. And everyone else will be gone tomorrow.”
“Ari won’t.”
“We’ll figure something out,” he promised.
“Sure.” Pru turned away, clearly not believing him.
They headed back to the reception in silence, Flynn trying to come up with a plan the entire way. Parents had been having sex with children in the house since the beginning of time. There had to be a way to work this.
The party was still rocking and rolling, the crowd having barely thinned in their absence. As they wove their way through the tables at the edges of the dance floor, Ari bounced over.
“There you are! You nearly missed cake!”
Pru smiled and wrapped an arm around the girl’s thin shoulders. “That would be a tragedy, for sure. Let’s go get some.”
“I already had a piece,” Ari admitted.
