Brave the Heat

by Sara Humphreys

  It was a good thing he’d stayed, in the end, because the guy clocked out not long after midnight, with both his wife and daughter by his side. Gavin felt kind of guilty for thinking it, but it was a better send-off than the man deserved. He kept his feelings to himself though, especially after seeing how peaceful Jordan seemed.

  As the sun peeked over the horizon and the coroner’s van disappeared around the corner, Gavin stood on the porch and drank his fourth cup of coffee. Leaning against the railing, he pulled out his cell phone and sent a quick text to Rick, letting him know what was going on. He got an immediate response saying that Bill would cover Gavin’s shifts for the wake and funeral.

  Good men, good friends, and a damn good team.

  Gavin was a lucky man professionally, and for the first time in years, he thought his good fortune might actually be spilling over into his personal life.

  Jordan had told him ten different times that he could leave, and each time he’d simply shaken his head before pouring another cup of coffee. The girls had fallen asleep on the couch and he’d helped her carry them upstairs, Jordan taking Gracie, and Lily draped over him like a rag doll. As he carried Lily up the stairs, a warm ache seeped through his chest.

  How in the world could their father have let them go?

  Hell, Jordan and her daughters weren’t even his family, and he already blanched at the notion of losing them.

  The sound of the screen door creaking open caught his attention, and a moment later Jordan was standing next to him on the porch. Her long, lovely body, the one that always seemed so effortlessly graceful, looked weary and bone tired. Her big, brown eyes were puffy and red from crying, and the light that usually burned from the inside seemed to have dimmed.

  “My mother’s finally asleep,” Jordan murmured. “You know, I think she’s almost relieved that he’s gone, and I can’t say that I blame her. Maybe ‘relieved’ isn’t the right word,” she added quickly. “She loved him, in spite of everything. She loved him, but there’s no denying her life with him was more than difficult.”

  “She’ll be okay, Jordan.”

  “What’s she going to do now? Her whole world revolved around him. Making sure he wasn’t too upset, always walking on eggshells to keep him happy.” Letting out a sigh, she leaned against the post. “I’m worried about her, Gavin.”

  Jordan stared out at the horizon, and as her eyes fluttered closed, she folded her arms over her breasts and her body wavered, like flame in a draft. One rush of wind would knock her right over. The woman was exhausted, and for a second, Gavin thought she was going to fall asleep standing up.

  “That’s it.” Gavin put the coffee cup on the little wicker table by the window and, before she could protest, scooped Jordan off her feet and into his arms. “You can worry about her, and I’ll worry about you.”

  “What are you doing?” Jordan asked through a big yawn. She settled her head on his shoulder and melted against his chest. Gavin tried not to think about how perfectly she fit there, her curves settling into his, like a lock slipping into place. “I’d fight you on it, but I’m too tired, and as we’ve established, I think you like fighting with me.”

  “I’m taking you to bed.” He smirked and flicked the screen door open with the toe of his boot. “And believe me, this is not the way I pictured getting you there.”

  “You’re a regular scoundrel.” She linked her arms around his neck and snuggled deeper into his embrace. “But there’s too much to do. I have to call the funeral home and—”

  “It’s six in the morning, Jordan.” Gavin shook his head and let out a gruff laugh. “Most people are asleep, and you can take care of all that stuff later on with your mom. Right now, you have to get some rest.”

  “But what if the girls wake up?” Her voice was sleepier by the second and she fought to keep her eyes open. “They won’t know where I am, and they’ve never slept here before.”

  “That bed that they’re in is plenty big enough for all of you.”

  Gavin climbed the stairs with ease, keeping his voice to a whisper. He took each step carefully, trying to keep the old boards from creaking. Turning the corner at the top of the landing, he carried her down the hall and gently bumped open the door to the spare bedroom.

  “See?” he whispered as he silently brought her into the room. Standing by the edge of the bed, they both looked down at the girls. They were sleeping peacefully, tucked up together like a couple of kittens. “They left you half of the bed as if they were waiting for you to join them.”

  It took him a moment to realize Jordan was staring at him. His gut clenched when he shifted his gaze down to hers. He held her soft, warm body firmly against his. Awareness throbbed between them as her fingers drifted along the nape of his neck and his hands tightened their grip on her. The look in her eyes shifted to one of unmistakable desire, and Gavin swallowed hard.

  “You can put me down now,” she murmured, her fingers easing up his neck and tangling in his hair. “Not that I’m not enjoying the royal treatment.”

  Without a word, Gavin gently placed Jordan on her feet. But he didn’t release her. His hands moved down her back and settled along the top of her ass, his fingers lightly cupping the soft curves of her bottom. Letting his gaze float over her flawlessly beautiful face, Gavin took in every delicate inch. The woman looked as lovely today as she had fifteen years ago. Maybe more.

  “There’s nothing I’d like more than to pick up where we left off,” he said in a raspy whisper. Gavin’s fingers trailed up her sides, and he let his thumbs graze the underside of her breasts. Jordan’s eyes widened and her fingers fluttered over his chest seductively. “But…you need sleep.”

  “True.” Jordan glanced over her shoulder at the girls. Grasping the front of his shirt, she tugged him gently against her. She opened her mouth to say something, then shook her head. He knew she was mulling over exactly what she wanted to say. She stared at his chest and ran her forefinger over the emblem on the right side of his shirt. “Thank you, Gavin. I think Lily said it best… You keep people safe.”

  “Always.” He pressed his lips to Jordan’s forehead and murmured, “Now get in that bed before I lose my sense and forget I’m a gentleman.”

  Jordan let out a soft, almost musical laugh before slipping from his embrace and crawling beneath the covers, careful not to wake the girls. She adjusted the blankets over them before casting one last smile his way. Gavin stood in the doorway, his fingers lingering on the smooth glass knob for a moment before he quietly closed the door and walked away.

  Making his way out of the house, he shut the door tightly behind him. Once he got in his truck though, he sat looking at the old Colonial for a long time. His thoughts drifted to the last time he’d been here. It was the day after Jordan ran away, and Gavin had been so mad he couldn’t see straight. The shouting match with her old man had quickly turned into a shoving match. It wasn’t much of a fight because her father was older and drunk as a skunk. Gavin had gotten off one good shot right before the cops showed up and hauled his ass out of there.

  That day, he’d felt like his life was over. Jordan was gone. He’d been dragged into the police station, and the only reason he didn’t get arrested was because Claire had talked her husband out of filing charges. Gavin had never really believed he’d get a second chance with Jordan. Like the fires he fought, life seemed to be full of surprises.

  Chapter 12

  “It was a lovely service.” The woman’s voice was steeped with empathy, and she sounded like the handful of others who had attended the funeral and reception at the house. And as with the rest, Jordan didn’t really know her. Truth be told, most of them barely knew her father but had come to pay their respects to Jordan’s mom. In spite of all the years of her husband’s bad behavior, Claire had still managed to invest herself in the community.

  “I’m so sorry for your loss, dear.”

  “Thank you.” Jordan nodded and shook the woman’s hand “Thank you for coming.”
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  The old lady left, carefully making her way down the porch steps.

  Smoothing the fabric of her black linen dress, Jordan peered through the porch window. Most of the guests had gone. Claire was sitting on the sofa with two of her friends from church, looking through her old wedding album. The caterers were cleaning up the last of the mess in the dining room, and Jordan could hear the girls’ playful shrieks as they ran around the backyard with Maddy and some other neighborhood children.

  “Hey.” Gavin’s deep voice rolled over her, and his strong arms curled around her waist. Pulling her against him, he kissed her ear, then took her by the hand and led her to the white wicker porch swing. “Take a load off. You’ve been going nonstop for the past three days, and this might be the longest I’ve seen you standing still in the past twenty-four hours.”

  It was true. From the moment her father died, she’d had to make a series of phone calls for the funeral arrangements, not to mention sifting through her father’s paperwork with her mother. Wakes. Caterers. Life insurance. One task immediately begat another, and through it all, Gavin had been there—in the background, ready and waiting. He draped his arm over her shoulders when she sat next to him on the swing, and she let out a sigh of contentment. The joyful sound of Lily’s laughter filled the air and brought a smile to Jordan’s lips.

  “Is Maddy still playing hide-and-seek with all the kids?” Jordan asked with a giggle. “I think she likes it more than they do.”

  “Yeah, she is, and if Rick were here, he’d be right back there with her.” His fingertips made lazy circles on her upper arm. “He’s actually an enormous, hairy toddler pretending to be a grown-up most of the time. He sends his sympathies and was sorry he couldn’t make the funeral, but he’s on shift.”

  “I know. Maddy told me. I’m surprised they’ve never married. I mean, they’ve been together for years and both of them would be great parents.” Jordan leaned further into his embrace. “But it’s not for everyone, I guess.”

  “It’s the job,” Gavin said quietly. “Rick’s father was killed when he was about six or seven, and he doesn’t want to risk doing that, you know? Work is his baby and always will be. I’ve even heard Maddy refer to herself as Rick’s mistress because he’s married to the job.”

  Jordan nodded her understanding but said nothing. Part of her wanted to know if Gavin felt the same way. Did he want a family, or was he married to his job like Rick? She opened her mouth to ask but snapped it shut and thought better of it.

  Given the way their relationship was evolving, she didn’t want him to misunderstand the question or feel pressured. They had only begun exploring this thing between them, so it seemed too early to be asking about his thoughts on marriage and children. Besides, he’d stayed single and childless so far. What would make her think he’d want to change any of that because of her?

  “It was nice of your parents to come,” she said, wanting desperately to change the subject. “Honestly, other than them, Cookie, Veronica, and Maddy, I didn’t really know anyone here. A few have come into the shop, but I don’t really know them.” She let out a slow breath. “Funny thing is, I don’t think most people who came knew my father well at all.”

  “They came for Claire,” Gavin said evenly. “All the church ladies were here, and even Mrs. Drummond paid her respects at the service. All in all, I’d say your father had a good turnout at his funeral because of your mom. She’s a doll and everyone loves her. Present company included.”

  “You’ve been wonderful.” Leaning her head on his shoulder, Jordan closed her eyes. He rocked the swing gently. “Thank you again…for everything.”

  “I didn’t do much.”

  “Yes, you did.” Sitting up, she turned her body so she could look him in the eyes. Cradling his face with one hand, she stroked his beard-scruffy cheek with her thumb. “Do you have any idea how much it meant to me to have you here? Whether you were showing the girls magic tricks or helping my mom move furniture around for this little gathering, or simply being here.”

  “Ah, that’s no big deal, Jordan.” He played with the ends of her hair and lifted one shoulder. “It’s what people do.”

  “No.” Jordan shook her head and let out a curt laugh. “No, it’s not what most people do, Gavin. It’s not what Ted would do. It certainly wasn’t what my father did for most of my life, and living in New York City will quickly make you believe that everyone is only out for themselves. I know that you McGuires don’t think stuff like that is a big deal, because you’re used to it. Your family is unique, Gavin. You would do anything for the people you care about. But not everyone is like that.”

  “Maybe not.” He gathered her hand in his and kissed her palm before lowering it to his lap. “But you’re like that, and you’re raising two little girls who will be too.”

  “I hope so,” Jordan whispered. Tears stung her eyes but she squeezed them shut, hoping to will them away. “I’m trying to make it right, Gavin. Staying away for as long as I did was cowardly. It was the cowardly thing to do, and I wish like hell I’d come back sooner. Maybe if I had…”

  She trailed off, unable to finish her sentence for fear she’d dissolve into a puddle. She hadn’t cried other than that day when her father had first passed away, and not because she didn’t care. In fact, in many ways, she felt more love for her father now than she ever had. She hadn’t let herself cry because she couldn’t afford to fall apart. She had to hold it together for her mother and her girls.

  At least that’s what she told herself. The truth was, she didn’t want to break down because that would mean really feeling it—giving in to the pain and succumbing to the grief. That scared her more than anything else. Allowing herself to sink into it would mean acknowledging all she’d lost. There would be no second chances with her dad.

  “Hey.” Gavin pulled her to him. He wrapped those big, strong arms around her, murmuring against her hair. “You’re here now and that’s what counts.”

  Snuggled up against Gavin’s chest with the warm summer breeze drifting over them, Jordan felt the dam finally break. She let out the flood of tears that she’d been holding back. His embrace tightened and she buried her face against the comforting, unyielding expanse of his body, one heavy, quiet sob coming after another. She wept for all of it: her father’s wasted life, her mother’s uncertain future, Ted’s disinterest in his children, all the time she couldn’t get back, and all the mistakes she couldn’t undo.

  Sniffling and struggling to stem the flow of tears, Jordan sucked in a few shuddering breaths. Gavin stroked her back reassuringly. She lifted her head only to find a wet stain on Gavin’s pale green button-down shirt, the cotton also streaked with black smudges of mascara. Mascara she could only assume was now under her eyes, making her look like a raccoon.

  Gavin gave her a small smile and swiped at the tears and presumably the eye makeup. Jordan giggled and sat up, quickly wiping away what was left in a feeble attempt at making herself presentable.

  “Jeez. I ruined your shirt.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes at her unusual display of emotion. “I’m a mess.”

  “I have plenty of shirts. And believe me, a few tears aren’t the worst I’ve gotten on my clothes. Remember the food fights I had with my brothers? My poor mother said she should have bought stock in laundry detergent.” Gavin’s hand cradled her cheek and he tilted her chin, forcing her to look him in the eyes. When those intelligent green eyes latched onto hers, the storm inside of her stilled. The swirl of emotions and tsunami of guilt settled as Gavin cupped her face, the rough skin of his palm rasping deliciously along her cheek. “And you,” he murmured, “are beautiful.”

  Caught up in the feel of his touch and the gentleness in his voice, Jordan didn’t hear the car pull in the driveway. If she had, she would have been more prepared for what came next.

  “Well, no moss grows here, I see,” said an unwelcome and all-too-familiar voice. “Looks like you didn’t waste any time moving on, Jordan.”


  Jordan’s heart clenched in her chest as Gavin’s hand fell away. Ted slowly climbed the steps of the porch, staring at them with nothing short of contempt. Dressed in a blue jacket, a white button-down shirt, and rumpled khaki pants, he was a disheveled mess. He’d gotten worse. Jordan hadn’t thought it was possible for Ted, the man who was always perfectly coiffed, to look like such a disaster. His brown hair was longer than the last time she’d seen him, but those dark eyes—the ones filled with thinly veiled disgust—peered at her with stomach-churning familiarity.

  She could smell the booze, and based on the look of him, he hadn’t showered or slept in days. He’d obviously been on a bender of epic proportions, and the sway in his step confirmed his drunken state. Fear glimmered as she thought of the girls and prayed they would stay in the backyard until she could get Ted back in his limo.

  Rising to her feet with Gavin firmly by her side, Jordan folded her arms over her breasts and bit back the surge of fear and fury. Yesterday, she’d finally responded to Ted’s texts to tell him her father had died, but she never thought her ex-husband would show up. Tucking her hair behind her ears, Jordan squared her shoulders and braced herself for whatever would come next.

  “What are you doing here, Ted?” Jordan asked in a stronger voice than she expected. There was a black stretch limo in the driveway, and as she caught another whiff of booze, she was grateful that at least he wasn’t driving. “You really should have called first.”

  “I did.” He flicked his woozy, heavy-lidded eyes to Gavin, smirked, and tried to tuck his Ray-Ban sunglasses into the inside pocket of his jacket. He missed the pocket on the first try but got it on the second. “I talked to Claire. Told her I wanted to surprise you.”

  “More like ambush,” Gavin murmured. He kept his hands at his side, but Jordan could sense the tension in his body and hear it in his voice. “Surprises are usually more fun.”

  “I don’t believe we’ve had the plea-ssure,” Ted said, slurring his words. He flashed that charming smile and stuck his hand out to Gavin. He stared at it for a moment before briefly shaking it, only to drop it like a hot potato. “Ted McKenna. Jordan’s husband.”