Heal Me

by Grady, D. R.

  She came awake with a start, and he tugged her into his arms, found her lips and thoroughly kissed her. “Mmmmmm,” she mumbled and he smiled. “What are you doing here?” she whispered.

  “A precaution,” he said and she nodded, her hair tickling the underside of his chin.

  “Okay.” She stretched before nestling closer. He felt her breathing even out and smiled before sleep came and claimed him, too.

  He woke later that morning to an obnoxious poke. “Didn’t Fred at least tie you to the bed last night?” he groaned as he opened an eye.

  McCully glared back at him. “You could have warned me,” she accused. Jenna stirred and he saw a smile pull at her lips. She propped her chin on his chest and perused his partner.

  “Warned you about what?” she asked in a sleep roughened voice.

  “That he’d sent his toad of a friend up to stay with me last night.”

  “Fred is the only man I know willing to spend the night with you. He’s the only one with a chance of surviving,” he replied and watched in interest as she swelled. “Fred!” he yelled.

  His friend appeared in the doorway. “You bellowed?” he asked, running a hand over his face.

  His eyes lit on McCully and Owen saw him take in her attire with masculine interest. She wore a pair of soft cotton drawstring pants and a tight, tiny halter top. The top of the pants and the bottom of the shirt didn’t quite meet in the middle. “Ah,” he said and strode to the bed to pluck McCully off it. “That’s where you went. I got cold,” he told her conversationally.

  “I can walk, you know,” she huffed at him and tried to squirm away.

  “But this is so much more fun.”

  “I wasn’t put on this earth for your fun, Savage,” she snarled.

  “Why don’t we go test that theory?” They heard her blow up, but couldn’t figure out what she yelled because he sauntered from the room.

  “Hmmm. That could have been interesting,” Jenna said, still propped on his chest.

  “Personally, I’d rather be here than there.”

  “I don’t know, it will be very interesting to see how they,” she broke off when a frustrated scream pierced the air, only to be broken off abruptly. Her brow creased. “Should we go check on that?”

  “No,” he said decisively, shaking his head to further the point.

  “What was that scream all about?”

  “I’m pretty sure McCully just got herself, or currently is getting herself, thoroughly kissed,” he said and looked at Jenna’s lips.

  “I’m not,” she grumbled playfully and he flipped her onto her back and came down on top of her.

  “I can rectify that.”

  “Action, Detective, I need action, not promises.”

  He set to giving her the action and took his time making certain she felt quite kissed.

  When they finally broke apart, Jenna cocked her head. “Thank you, I’m much better. I haven’t heard any more screams, so I imagine he’s been gentle with her.”

  “It’s not her I’m worried about. She’s been giving him all the signs that he’d better kiss her, so she’s fine. I’m worried she won’t be gentle with him.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah. Fred’s never been interested in relationships before. He likes women, but he’s usually content to observe. He said he’d get into the game when some woman makes it worth his while.”

  “I suppose she is?”

  “I hope so. In the meantime, I’m not feeling very thoroughly kissed,” he complained and Jenna laughed.

  Her eyes darkened. “Allow me.”

  Fred’s lips descended to her own nearly as soon as he dropped her onto the bed and TJ let out a scream before those amazing lips swallowed the sound. She slammed her hands to his chest, palm out to stop him and ended up gliding them up to his shoulders to pull him closer. He fitted his hands to her waist and then wrapped them under her, drawing her tight against him. They fit together perfectly. A realization that made her panic.

  Struggling she tried to get away, not wanting to deal with this right now. But he shook his head. “Running isn’t going to make this go away,” he told her softly and nonplussed, she stopped struggling.

  “What’s not going to go away?”

  He bent down and kissed her neck and every nerve ending sizzled. Gasping, she writhed. This man shouldn’t be able to make her feel this way. No man should be able to do this.

  His lips trailed up her neck to her ear and then back down again and he licked her collar bone. Goose bumps broke out across her skin and she shoved him away.

  “I’ve got a serial rapist to find. I don’t have time for this,” she muttered, rolling away from him and stalking to the bathroom.

  He lay gloriously on her bed, watching her with those blue, blue eyes half masted. Like he knew something she didn’t.

  “Keep telling yourself that, TJ,” he said.

  “Tell myself what?” she demanded. Before she got the full question out he erupted to his feet in an impressive display of muscle and coordination before backing her against the doorframe.

  “That this isn’t real,” he said and spanning her waist, lifted her and then trapped her against the wall, stepping into her and kissing her senseless again.

  When he stepped away, she still had the capacity to narrow her eyes at him. “I can tell myself anything I want, and this time it’s that we aren’t going to do this. I don’t even like you,” she exclaimed at which point his mouth twisted up in the proverbial Fred humor.

  “Right, and it’s a shame I don’t like you either,” he replied with a sweet grin, and he flicked her nose in an unmistakable gesture of affection before turning on his heel and exiting the room.

  TJ stood there for a long time after he’d gone, afraid. Very, very afraid of what had just transpired between them. And not because she was afraid of him. But rather, because she was frightened of her own weakness for him.

  Chapter 16

  When they returned home Friday night, O and TJ were disgruntled, tired, and cranky.

  “What’s with you two?” Fred asked from the table where he sliced bread. Even though it was Mark and Colleen’s turn to cook, they had a social function for Mark they had to attend. Jenna and he offered to cook since they were available. He had dumped some things into a crockpot, turned it on and forgot about it.

  Now the smell of barbeque chicken, corn on the cob, broccoli, and fresh bread scented the air.

  “We still haven’t found Brandan. It’s like he’s disappeared,” TJ exclaimed in answer to his question. Fred looked her up and down before he handed her the end of the bread he sliced. This mollified her. He hid a grin as he watched TJ plop onto the bench across from him and gnaw on her bread.

  “Did you bake fresh bread?” O asked Jenna as he sat down and helped himself to a slice.

  “I just popped the ingredients into the bread machine when I got home,” she replied and checked on the corn.

  TJ scraped away from the table and stood up. His heart pounded as he enjoyed the enticing scenery. She padded to the plates and glasses cupboard and took down four. Placing them at the other end from where he and O sat, she set the table.

  “You’re a doer,” Jenna said and smiled at TJ.

  “What?” TJ asked, her nose wrinkling in that cute way it did when she was confused.

  “You’re thinking and you have to be doing something while you do it.”

  “Oh, yes,” she planted her hands on her hips and grinned. “TJ McCully if you don’t go bother your father in the next two seconds, I’m taking you out of this world just like I brought you into it.” She performed what had to be a nearly perfect impression of her mother. “So, Dad usually invited me to come ‘putter’ with him. I love to putter.” She grinned again, probably lost in her memory and something flipped in his heart region. This woman was very dangerous and he didn’t like it. Unfortunately, he liked her.

  “Puttering. You like to putter?” Jenna asked, laughing.

&
nbsp; “Oh yeah. I’m also very good at it. Just ask my dad,” she answered, with the sweetest grin he’d ever seen. She seemed to really like the man.

  “Your dad is a good man,” O said from his side of the table.

  “Yes, he is.”

  That reminded him. He pulled out his phone and called his mother. When she answered he asked, “Are you at O’s mom’s house?”

  He grinned at her answer. “Good, did you take Sam and Jake?

  “Mom, it’s not fair for Mr. McCully to have to put up with two older versions of TJ McCully and you.

  “True, he did marry one of those older versions, but I figure he should have some help. Right, Sam and Jake would be helpful. At least give him one other male in the house. Yeah. Okay, yes Mom. I love you, too. No he’s right here,” and he handed the phone over to O.

  O took the phone. “Hi, Mom,” he said and Fred saw him grin. “No, see, I just get two moms now. I’m not seeing a problem here.

  “Oh, right. You are? Awesome.” O put a hand over the phone and whispered, “My mom is teaching yours how to make her chocolate cake.”

  “Best news I’ve heard all day. Hey, see if they want to come for supper. They can bring some chocolate cake along.”

  “Now that’s a great idea,” Jenna said.

  “Yes, tell Aunt Rachel to puhleeze bring cake,” TJ inserted.

  “Hey, Fred says to see if you four want to come for dinner?”

  “What? Yeah, he cooked and Jenna made fresh bread, so definitely come. Plus we figured Uncle Geoff could use some masculine company. Ow,” he said as TJ winged him.

  O grabbed her arm and pulled her onto his lap. She wriggled around but hadn’t bit him yet. “Great. No, come now. We’re hungry and it’s ready,” O said still holding his wriggling partner, and raised a brow at Fred over his cousin’s head in inquiry. Fred nodded.

  “See you soon,” he said with a goodbye and handed the phone back to Fred. Then he proceeded to give TJ a noogie. She retaliated by biting him. He thrust her away from him finally, and she poked him. Looking smug.

  “You are such a brat.”

  “Yeah, I know. Remember, nerdboy, I’ve got three brothers. You’ve got,” and she gestured to him, “another nerdboy. Who do you think knows how to fight dirtier?”

  O managed to get a pretty good swat in, but barely because she sashayed away with ease. And then she stuck her tongue out at him.

  He rolled his eyes at her. “You’re a pest,” he said as he watched her go to the cupboard for more plates, cups, and utensils.

  “Oh, do they know how to get to Jenna’s?” she suddenly asked and looked at Jenna.

  “Good question,” Fred said and dug out his phone again. He turned the screen on but before he could open his contacts, the device rang.

  “Hi, Mom. Yeah, TJ just asked if you guys know where Jenna’s house is.”

  “What? Oh, sure put him on. I’ll put his daughter on and she can give him directions.”

  He handed his phone to TJ who took it. “Hello?” she said. “Hi, Daddy,” she chirped and a huge grin split her face. She nudged him to move over, but he just pulled her down onto his lap and continued slicing the bread he’d been neglecting. She tried to squirm away, but at the sight of the large knife in his hand, went instantly still.

  “No, are you leaving Aunt Rachel’s now? What? Oh, okay. No, I think you can. It’s not hard.

  “Daddy,” she scolded. There were copious amounts of love and respect and admiration in her voice. He liked listening to her talk to her dad. Then she burst into peals of laughter. He could feel her shaking on his lap. “Daddy,” she yelped and something he must have said made her laugh again. She had the purest, funniest laugh he’d ever heard.

  O met his eyes over her head and said, “She’s talking to her dad, right?”

  “Yes,” he said and nodded.

  “She’s always like this when she talks to him.” Jenna hurried by and O reached out a hand and snagged her. He pulled her onto his lap and squeezed her.

  “I’ve still got work to do, if there’re more people coming,” she fretted, but TJ who must have overheard her put her hand over the phone and shook her head.

  “Jenna, don’t worry. Dad said all three ladies are bringing enough to feed me for four days, so you’re good.” She grinned at their hostess who smiled back at her and shook her head.

  “No!” TJ said suddenly and sat up so quickly she nearly head butted him. She wiggled a bit to find a better position and Fred put a hand on her hip to steady her. “Daddy, you need to go west, not east. No. Don’t turn right, go left. I swear, you’ve got three women in the car with you, don’t think you won’t have to ask for directions if you get lost. All that estrogen is going to force you to pull over and ask, so don’t think...what?” She erupted into giggles again and O rolled his eyes, while Jenna grinned at her. Her laughter was infectious.

  “No, you need to stop for a red light. Yes, that’s the law. I’ll ask Jenna.” Looking up at Jenna she asked for a few specific streets and between the two women they directed the parents in. Between much laughter and joking.

  “Oh no. I just thought of something,” McCully said as she disconnected the call.

  “What?” Jenna asked.

  “Of the four of us here, you’re the only one without a parent coming.”

  “That’s just fine. Mine are in Florida and they’re enjoying it very much down there.”

  “Mine have a place there, too, but I think they’re seriously considering moving back up here.”

  “Does that mean they’ll move back in with you?” O asked her. Fred didn’t really understand what he meant but he definitely enjoyed the feel of her on his lap.

  He began to pile bread into the bread basket Jenna had provided and TJ helped him.

  “I doubt it. I mean I’ve definitely got room, but I think they’ll stay with Aunt Rachel for now. The three of them get along really well. And Dad never misses the chance to say he has two girls instead of one. If I’m along he brags about having three of us.” Fred figured she probably rolled her eyes at that, but with a smile on her face.

  “Why would they move in with you? Is your apartment big enough for them?” Jenna asked.

  “Oh, I don’t have an apartment. Well, I do, but Colleen rents that. I bought the house I grew up in. My folks gave me a great deal when they moved to Florida. So, I’ve got plenty of room. We usually have holidays there or at Aunt Rachel’s.”

  “You own your parent’s house?” Jenna asked in amazement, which was good, since he didn’t have to.

  “Yes. Well, I have a mortgage. And I’ve made the place mine because I wanted a master suite, so I tore out some walls here and there and...” O cleared his throat and she grinned.

  “Okay, O’Maley and I tore out the walls and added fixtures and things.”

  “Coulihan helped, too, didn’t she?” O asked.

  “Yes, that’s right, she did. But didn’t we kick her out after about two hours because she kept frying the cordless drill?”

  “Yeah, that’s right. She kept making it smoke anyway, so we made her go cook.”

  “She’s not very good at remodeling, but she tries.”

  “Did you just do the upstairs?” Fred finally asked.

  She shook her head. “No. I wanted a bigger kitchen, too, so we did that, and I added a laundry room off the kitchen, because I got tired of going into the barracks all the time.”

  “The barracks?” he asked but the front door bell rang and the four of them got up to go answer the summons.

  Jenna deactivated the alarm while O opened the door. The McCullys were in the forefront of the group and grabbed TJ while his mom and O’s mom zeroed in on them. Mrs. McCully gave her daughter a squeeze and then grabbed Jenna who looked surprised but happy to be hugged. O’s mom and her twin traded spaces and then his mom took her rounds hugging everyone. Fred watched as TJ’s dad put an arm around TJ and held on tightly. She didn’t protest at all but stared up at her pare
nt with a mild case of hero worship. One of them must have said something funny because they were both laughing raucously.

  Her mother sighed. “She looks like me, but she’s him through and through.”

  “Yes, she certainly is,” O’s mom agreed, but both women grinned at the pair.

  Fred saw his mom move in to hug TJ who squeezed her back just as tightly and affectionately. The pair stared at each other for a few moments before smiles crossed their faces and they both slanted a look at him.

  “Troublemaker,” TJ’s dad said to his daughter, but loud enough that he could hear.

  Fred grinned.

  They entered the kitchen. “Why don’t you take a seat, we’re ready to eat,” Jenna invited as she set each of the dishes down the parents handed her. Fred saw there was a huge chocolate cake, some dinner rolls, a salad, a large pot of baked beans, and a TJ sized box of chocolates. Which meant everyone would get at least one to her five.

  Things got interesting when everyone seated themselves. TJ’s mom and aunt both vetoed her sitting beside her father. “Troublemakers, the pair. No way are they sitting next to each other,” the two women said together in such a way that it sounded like only one of them spoke.

  “Well, then I’ll sit with you,” TJ said, but O shook his head.

  “No way, my heart can’t take three of you,” he said firmly.

  “It’s not so bad, once you get used to it,” Geoff assured him.

  O sent him a look that spoke volumes. “You’re a professional, you can say that. No one else is willing to take these three on.”

  “I will,” his mother said and he turned to stare at his mom in disbelief.

  “Are you crazy? There’re three of them,” Fred couldn’t help contributing.

  His mom turned to look at the three TJs and smiled. “They don’t look all that daunting to me.”

  Fred shook his head and saw O doing the same. “TJ, park it somewhere, we’re hungry.”

  “It’s best if she goes where she’ll cause the least bit of damage,” O said and pointed to the seat between Fred and Jenna.