Kissing Bree

by JoMarie DeGioia

  “Idiot.”

  She stood and went to the fridge, pulling out one of the bottles of wine Derek had brought over last week. This was a nice, crisp white and just what she needed. Taking down one lonely wineglass from the cabinet, she poured herself a drink and returned to the couch.

  Her phone was silent beside her. The screen was dark. Yet it was mocking her. Daring her to put on her big girl panties and call Derek. She was in control of her own reactions, wasn’t she? She wasn’t a silly coed with her first crush. She wasn’t a tired debutant with yet another boring fix-up. No. She was Bree James. Self-made woman, sort of, and in charge of her own life. Taking a big swallow of the wine, she set the glass down on the coffee table and picked her phone up again.

  “Don’t be silly, Bree,” she told herself. “Just call him.”

  Before she could change her mind, she tapped on his number and made the call.

  “Bree.”

  His voice was different. A little strained.

  “Derek, is everything all right?”

  “I thought you were busy.”

  There was no accusation in his tone but her cheeks burned anyway.

  “I’m not too busy to see you,” she admitted in a rush.

  “Dinner at the Tavern?”

  “How about dinner from the Tavern? I’ll order a pizza.”

  “Sounds good.” He was quiet for a beat. “I’m glad you called.”

  His words warmed her down to her toes. “I’ll pick up the pizza and meet you back here?”

  “You’re not having it delivered?” he asked.

  “No. I was supposed to meet Jessie and Noah earlier, so I’ll stop by and say a quick hello.”

  “So you were too busy for them, too.” She could almost see his smile. “I guess I don’t feel so bad then.”

  “I’ll see you in about a half an hour,” she said.

  “Good.” For a single word, it held a lot of weight.

  “Bye.”

  They disconnected and she headed to the Tavern. It was busy for a Thursday night, so she went up to the counter.

  “A large sausage and pepper pizza to go?” she asked.

  The kid nodded and she paid for her order.

  “That’s a lot of pizza for one small girl,” Joy said.

  “Joy, mind your business.”

  Joy grinned. “Consider it minded.”

  Bree smirked at her and walked further into the tavern. There was a man seated at the bar, a tall dark-haired man with an upscale vibe. He was dressed like her father often did. Pricey knit shirt. Pressed trousers. Polished loafers. There was something about him, though. He seemed almost familiar.

  “Something to drink?” the bartender asked.

  “Nothing, thanks,” she told him. “Just waiting for a pizza order.”

  The bartender nodded and walked further down the bar. The guy, who looked to be about her father’s age too, eyed her. She didn’t like the way he leered at her, and she marveled that he could make her feel dirty without even speaking a word.

  “You should tell your boyfriend to take you to dinner,” the guy said.

  Bree leaned away from him. She knew he was fishing for information, but he really should cut bait. “I’m bringing dinner home to my boyfriend, actually.”

  “That’s a shame.” He turned to face her fully, leaning one elbow on the bar. “I hope he knows just how lucky he is.”

  Who the heck was this guy? Without answering him, she gave him a tight smile and turned back toward the dining area. Jessie spotted her. She waved and Bree all but ran over to their table.

  “What’s with the bar fly?” she asked as she joined them.

  “The leering dressy guy?” Jessie asked. “Yeah, I saw him checking you out when you came in.”

  Bree shuddered. “Yuck.”

  “I thought you couldn’t come out tonight, Bree?” Jessie asked.

  “I was going to review my notes from the meeting today, actually.”

  “And now you’re ordering a pizza.” Jessie narrowed her eyes as a smile played over her lips. “Interesting.”

  Bree waved a hand. “Don’t start with me, Pixie.”

  Jessie and Noah both laughed at that. Bree heard her name and walked back to the counter to pick up her order. She could feel the older man at the bar watching her and resisted the urge to flip him off. Apparently her mother’s repeated training in the social graces still stuck. Margaret James would be proud.

  She was just walking into her kitchen from the garage as her front doorbell rang. Her heart did that little skip as she set the pizza box on the tall counter. She opened the door to find Derek standing on the front porch, his hands in his pockets.

  “Hey, Bree.”

  Even as she silently called herself a giant idiot, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. He froze for a second, and then his arms encircled her. He felt so good. Solid. Real.

  Leaning back, she looked up at him. His eyes were dark and his smile soft.

  “Still busy?” he teased.

  “Watch it, Due Diligence.”

  Laughing, they went into the kitchen together.

  She loved him. His kisses and his smiles. She wouldn’t admit that to anyone, though. Least of all Derek. In his words, she’d break under the cross-examination.

  Chapter 19

  As Derek left the Sales Center late Friday afternoon, he came to a halt on the steps. What a way to end an otherwise perfect day. He’d spent the night with Bree, or a few mind-blowing hours anyway, and had a productive day at work today. He had his whole weekend ahead of him, to spend with Bree and to look after his mother. But now? Now the day threatened to go to hell in a skiff.

  There he stood. Edward Stone, esquire. Or, as he would think of him now given how he was dressed. He must have just come from the Clubhouse after playing a few rounds. Here he was. The devil in golf pants.

  “Hello, Derek.”

  “What are you doing here, Eddie?”

  Eddie smiled, that slick expression that masked the bastard within. “Can’t a father come to see his son in his new digs?”

  Derek stepped closer, breathing in through his nose and slowly letting it out. “What are you doing here?” he asked again.

  “I’m here for a visit, son.”

  His use of the word had the exact opposite Bill’s had just yesterday. No warm and fuzzy. No pride or admiration. Eddie elicited none of those things and never had.

  Derek looked around in the general area and saw that no one from work was around at the moment. “Don’t make me file that restraining order, Eddie.”

  Eddie glowered at him. “Is that a threat, Derek?”

  “It’s a promise. I won’t let you talk to Mom again.”

  “Fine,” his father snapped. His expression smoothed in an instant. “I think I like this Cypress Corners. It’s not what I expected.”

  Derek gave a short, dismissive nod. His mother had said something similar the other day but Eddie made it sound like he found the place lacking. Good. Maybe he’d get the hell out all the quicker.

  “Great golf course,” Eddie went on. “Just played a round with some guys from Tampa.”

  “When are you leaving?”

  “Is that any way to speak to your father?”

  Derek wasn’t going to get into this now. “Where are you staying, then?”

  “I wouldn’t expect you to invite me to stay with you.”

  No fucking way. “Damn straight.”

  “I have a room at the Cypress Inn.”

  “Enjoy your stay.”

  Derek opened his car door, bracing himself as he heard Eddie’s footsteps behind him on the crushed shells.

  “I’ll see you around, Derek.”

  He faced his father again, trying a different tack. “How long are you staying, Eddie?”

  “I’m not sure. I arrived yesterday, actually. Ate dinner in the tavern last night. Saw a lovely girl there. Stacked. Blond. Leggy.”

  Derek’s skin prickl
ed but he kept his mouth closed tight.

  “I happened to speak to a young couple eating dinner there, too,” Eddie added. “It seems they’re friends of yours. Nate and Jessica?”

  He must have meant Noah and Jessie. Derek grunted in answer.

  “Yes, they said the pretty young thing with the long blond hair is seeing you.” Eddie winked. “Imagine my surprise.”

  Derek’s hands fisted. “So help me, Eddie.”

  “How did you land a girl like that, son? She’s pretty, but there’s something else. She looks like our kind of people. Not the type of woman you usually go for.”

  Derek’s shoulders tightened. “Our kind of people?”

  “Quality, Derek. You know. Like our friends back in Boston.”

  Bree was worlds better than any of his father’s friends back in Boston. She was everything.

  “Don’t talk about her.”

  His father’s brows rose. “Then it’s true.”

  Derek’s lips thinned. “You have never had anything to do with me or my life, Eddie. Don’t start now.”

  “How the hell did you hook up with her? Let me guess. She just fell in your lap. You’re floating again, with her along for the short ride.”

  “What?”

  “You can’t keep her, you know. She’s way out of your league.”

  “Fuck you,” Derek growled.

  “Easy, son. You see, that was your problem. From when you were a snot-nosed little pussy. You lack determination. Backbone.” He snorted. “Balls.”

  Derek dragged his fingers through his hair as he took in another deep breath. “I’m not going to play this game with you. Not now. Not ever.”

  “Mark my words, Derek. She’ll realize you’re just not worth it.”

  The words struck deep. He didn’t care about Eddie’s opinion of him. Not in years. What he said about Bree, though? No. He couldn’t think about that right now.

  “When are you leaving?” he asked his father.

  “My stay is open-ended. You see, I have partners at the firm to look after my concerns.”

  This was another dig at Derek’s choices. But as he’d never wanted to even clerk for his father he let it roll off of him like water off a duck’s back. He thought of Bree in that second, about what she’d said at her parents’ place.

  “That’s good. You’re not going to see Mom.”

  “I know she’s staying with you. Abby told me.”

  “I can’t believe Abby even talked to you.”

  “She didn’t.” Eddie shrugged. “Not really. I heard her telling that idiot boss of hers.”

  “Are you stalking my sister now, too?”

  “I’m not a stalker.”

  Derek held up his hands. “Whatever. This conversation is done. Enjoy your visit.”

  Derek got in his car and shut the door. “Son-of-a-bitch,” he muttered.

  Gripping the steering wheel, he held on tight as his heart pounded. Eddie could work his particular brand of magic without even breaking a sweat. Now he was here in Cypress, damn it.

  Derek started the car and drove, spinning crushed shells and gravel as he left the parking lot. He didn’t even look to see where the hell Eddie was at the moment. He’d never had any words of encouragement for Derek. The shit he’d said today was nothing new, except for one thing. He wasn’t good enough for Bree? Well, hell. That was the one thing Derek had been worried about. She didn’t want anyone to know they were dating. She didn’t want to talk about where they were going. To define their relationship. Was his father right?

  Doubt clawed up the back of his throat. He wasn’t good enough. Bree was everything and he was just some guy who didn’t even know how to be in a real relationship.

  Pulling into the garage, he turned off the engine and just sat there. Tears burned in his eyes so he squeezed them shut. He’d suspected it for weeks now, hadn’t he? Bree was better off without him. Without his stunted feelings and closed off emotions. His fucked-up past and lack of sensitivity. He’d talk to her again, and soon. If she insisted they were just fooling around, he would have to end it.

  Better to put an end to what they had now before he got in too deep. Eddie was probably right, the bastard. She deserved much better.

  He just wasn’t worth it.

  ***

  Bree stretched out beside Derek, her bones feeling like molten caramel. Her thoughts were in a muddle, the blame for which she put squarely on his broad shoulders. He’d loved her to within an inch of insanity and now he just lay still beside her like he hadn’t moaned and groaned so nicely just a few minutes ago.

  “Mmm, nice,” she breathed. “That was incredible.”

  He stiffened, and then let out an audible breath. “We’re good together, baby.”

  She wouldn’t look for more in his words. They were good together, not that she had much to compare this to in her adult life.

  “I didn’t think you’d come over tonight.”

  “I almost didn’t.”

  His voice sounded stilted now. Flat. Something niggled at the back of her mind. Something troubling. They never spoke of anything deep though, did they? Why would they start now? She sure as heck wasn’t going to admit anything.

  “Are we doing anything tomorrow?” she asked, eager to put her odd feelings out of her head. “It’s Saturday, after all.”

  “We can do whatever you like.”

  “What’s your mother up to?”

  He jerked a little and then brushed his hair off of his brow. “I don’t know.”

  “Derek, what’s wrong?”

  He turned his head and she gasped at the turmoil in his gaze. “My father’s here.”

  She sat up, dragging the sheets along with her to cover herself. “Here? In Cypress?”

  “Yes.” He sat up, resting his arms on his sheet-covered knees. “He’s been here since Thursday.”

  “I’m so glad we got together Thursday night.”

  “I didn’t know he was here until today.” He ran a hand over the sheet, his fingers clenching and unclenching. “He told me he saw you at the tavern.”

  Realization struck her. “Ew, he was the guy at the bar.”

  “What guy?”

  “The leering guy who was hitting on me.”

  Derek cursed softly. “That sounds like Eddie.”

  “How long is he here?”

  “He didn’t say, but if he thinks he’s going to see my mother he’s out of his mind.”

  Bree saw the determination in his expression. Brows drawn together. Lips thinned. She didn’t doubt for one second that he would protect his mother to the death. That wasn’t a melodramatic thought, either. Not when you were dealing with a scummy guy who abused his wife and children.

  “Is he staying at the inn?”

  Derek nodded. “Yes. Says his visit is open-ended.”

  She placed a hand over his fist. “I’m sorry.”

  Derek stared at their hands, and then looked straight at her. “Thanks, but I’ll handle it.”

  The chill in his voice, in his eyes, was something she hadn’t seen in months. “I know you will.”

  He offered her a tight smile, then slid out of the bed and padded over to the bathroom. Bree nibbled her thumb, sensing some sort of undercurrent to Derek’s mood. She was hiding her own stuff, of course. Pushing her feelings way deep down. Would she be as good at keeping that mask in place as she’d seen Derek accomplish? Her heart had nearly broken when she saw the despair in his eyes.

  “I’m going to take off,” he said as he came back in the room.

  “O-okay.” She cleared her throat. “Um, did you want to do something tomorrow?”

  “Sure.” His voice was clipped, his Boston accent very pronounced. “Text me.”

  She started to rise but he held out a hand.

  “Don’t get up,” he said.

  He placed a knee on the bed and leaned down. His kiss was sweet. Soft. She wanted more but then it was gone.

  “Good night,” she said soft
ly.

  He took a long look at her, his eyes shuttered. “Good night.”

  She heard his footsteps on the stairs. Over the plank floor. Heard the front door open and close. Heard the latch snick in the doorjamb. He was gone.

  Tears burned in her eyes and she dashed her hands over her cheeks. “I’m not going to cry. This is ridiculous.”

  She put her pajamas on lightning fast and crawled back into bed. She could still smell him. That fresh, hot spicy scent that she’d caught on that very first rainy Monday morning. Her throat tightened. She had to end this. She was way too emotionally involved with a guy who clearly wasn’t. He had his family to look after, which would take up his time and his energy.

  Saturday morning she rose, rubbing the grit out of her eyes. After brushing her teeth, washing her face and throwing on a pair of yoga pants and a worn FSU T, she headed out to the bakery. Caro Graham was behind the counter, looking fresh and pretty with her bright green apron tied over her baby belly.

  “Bree!” Caro tapped the shoulder of her assistant, Jane, and walked around the counter. “I haven’t seen you in ages.”

  They hugged, and Bree smiled. “Look at you. No wonder Eli can hardly stop smiling.”

  “You know my husband. Eli is always smiling.”

  Bree thought about how different dark Derek was from his light and bright friend Eli. Eli had his own stuff to work through, according to some of the things Caro had shared with Bree. It was clear that the couple was blissfully happy, though. God, would Bree ever grab on to that kind of happiness if she ever had it? Probably not.

  “He’s been raving about the lemon lavender scones, too,” Bree said. “I think they would be a great way to start my weekend.”

  Caro nodded, her curly ponytail bouncing. “Sure. Jane, fix my friend up with a few scones.”

  “Oh, I only need one for me.”

  Caro’s head jerked back to her. “What? Why?”

  Bree shrugged. “It’s just me this morning.”

  “Is it?”

  “Caro, what are you talking about?”

  Caro lifted her chin toward the entrance. Bree followed her line of vision and saw Derek standing there.

  “I thought you would be with Derek today,” Caro whispered.