A Better Man

by Candis Terry

  How he managed to deal with such aggression on a regular basis she didn’t understand. She’d not seen that side of him until now. Knowing it wasn’t the same as seeing it. Not that it made her afraid of him; it was just one more facet of his personality.

  “Should I be worried that seeing your brother fight excited you?” she asked Nicole.

  “No.” The teen dropped her shoulders and sighed. “Nobody gets me. Why is that? I have five brothers. Five! And not a single one of them has a clue who I am.”

  “I think you have to actually talk to them rather than snarl at them for them to understand. I know they want to.”

  “And that’s why Jordan brought me along?”

  Lucy nodded. “You can think what you want about him but he truly loves you. And he’s worried. I think if you give him a chance he’ll surprise you. He won’t quit on you. He wants you to be happy and he can’t figure out what’s wrong.”

  “It’s a long story.” Nicole leaned back against the seat like all hope was lost.

  Lucy’s heart sank.

  “I’m not who my brothers think I am.”

  “Then maybe you should enlighten them.”

  “I don’t want them to hate me. Which is dumb because they probably already do. But . . . they’re all I have.”

  “They would never hate you. Nothing you tell them is going to change the fact that they love you and they want the best for you.” Lucy couldn’t imagine what could possibly be tearing apart this beautiful young girl. Losing her parents hadn’t started this problem, but it had certainly added to the enormity. “I know it’s scary when you’re about to graduate from high school because you feel like you’re just being tossed out into the world unprepared. So if you have feelings of ambiguity, I think you shouldn’t worry so much. Your brothers will help you make the right choices. All you have to do is let them know what’s going on.”

  Nicole scoffed. “I wish it were as easy as being afraid to step out into the world past graduating from high school. Which—­I know, I know—­I won’t get to do unless I bring my grades up.”

  Lucy knew she was walking a fine line between teacher and friend. But she’d wanted to be a teacher so she could help kids. And right now, this one in particular seemed to need her friendship.

  She put her arm around Nicole. “I promise I’ll help you graduate if you promise you’ll at least put in the effort to do the work.”

  The girl looked up, her blue eyes watery. “Why do you want to help me? I’ve been such a . . .”

  “Brat?”

  That brought the hint of a smile.

  “I was seventeen once,” Lucy said. “It was one of the hardest years of my life. Or so I thought. When I look back now it wasn’t so bad. I don’t know what’s going on that’s making you so miserable, and I’m not asking you to tell me—­although I’ve got a soft shoulder you can cry on whenever you need it. All I want to do is help you get through it. I think you’re a wonderful girl. You have talent, and brains, and you’re strong. I know you are.”

  “I am?”

  Lucy nodded.

  “Everyone else just tells me I’m pretty.”

  “Well . . .” Lucy chuckled. “You’re that too. But you’re so much more. Don’t ever judge yourself or let others judge you solely based on your looks, Nicole. You should judge yourself on your heart, your integrity, and your willingness to step outside the box others want to paint you in, so you can just be you.”

  “Is that what you’ve learned?”

  “I learned a long time ago that I’m not the Miss America type, but I’m smart and I have talents maybe not a lot of other people have and I’m totally okay with that.”

  “What kind of talents?”

  “Well . . . I can tie a cherry stem with my tongue. I can write love stories. I can even start and finish the entire book I’ve written without editing chapter one a hundred times. I can do a triple back flip that would make most cheerleaders green with envy. And I can make treasure out of trash I find at flea markets.”

  Nicole smiled. Then she did the unexpected. She melted into Lucy’s embrace and returned the hug.

  Chapter 12

  After Jordan’s practice, Lucy and Nicole took his Range Rover and went in search of dinner while he soaked away the aches from the hard hits he took on the ice. It surprised him how much he’d gotten out of shape in just two weeks. But other than the nights he’d gone to the gym, he’d spent no time doing the exercises he normally did that kept him in top condition. Not that he’d gone soft by any means, but the hard charging he did on the ice for the duration of a game necessitated a certain type of endurance.

  While the jets pounded his tense muscles, he laid his head back, closed his eyes, and wasn’t at all surprised when a vision of Lucy—­naked—­flashed in his mind. He hadn’t actually seen her without her clothes, but he’d seen enough of her for his imagination to take flight.

  He wanted her.

  The question was, would she want him?

  Seabrook had been right when he’d said Jordan had never needed to work hard to get a woman’s attention. Call it what you wanted; he’d been lucky and blessed with the family’s looks. But while looks might draw women in, a little finesse was required afterward.

  Over the years, he’d learned how to treat a woman right. He’d also learned how to keep an emotional distance. He’d never had the time or need for someone on a more permanent level.

  He felt that need now.

  Whatever walls he’d put up, whatever bullshit line he’d told himself that he didn’t need anybody, everything was quickly changing.

  He’d never had a hard time reading a woman, but with Lucy it was different. Lucy had a tender heart, but in her past she was a woman who’d been badly mistreated. She’d found the strength to overcome her situation, to rebuild her life. And though she was a strong woman, he didn’t want to do anything to break the trust he’d hopefully gained. She was a complicated puzzle he was trying to put together one piece at a time.

  All he needed—­wanted—­was the chance.

  Through the closed bathroom door he heard the chatter of female voices. Lucy and Nicki were back. Anxious to join them, he turned off the jets, dried off, and threw on a pair of sweats.

  The moment he walked into the kitchen the chatter stopped. While Lucy pulled items out of a grocery bag and set them on the counter, Nicole pasted on her usual glare. When Lucy’s question to Nicki was met with silence, she turned around. Her gaze skimmed past his sister. When it reached him, it came to a screeching halt.

  Lucy didn’t often get to view perfection. Seeing Jordan wearing only a pair of sweatpants, a tribal tattoo that spread over his shoulder, and a few drops of water slowly sliding down the center of his immense chest and tightly rippled stomach, was better than anything she would ever see at a fine art gallery. The sweatpants hung low on his narrow hips. He’d slicked his wet hair back and a day’s worth of stubble covered his square jawline. Lucy barely held back a sigh. She hoped he wouldn’t put on the T-­shirt he held in his hand.

  “What did you guys come up with for dinner?” A genuine smile flashed to his sister and then her.

  Like the pasta she held in her hand, Lucy felt noodly all over. Like she’d been hit with a hot dose of testosterone that melted all the bones in her body. A new reaction for her.

  A good reaction.

  One she wouldn’t mind having over and over.

  She held up the bag of whole-­wheat penne. “I thought I’d make one of my favorite pasta dishes with fresh tomatoes and zucchini, and a romaine side salad with avocado and caramelized pineapple. Unless you’d like something else?”

  “That sounds great. But I thought you were just going to grab pizza or something.” He slipped the blue cotton shirt over his head, then tugged the bottom into place. “I don’t want you to go to all the trouble.”


  “It’s no trouble. And since I usually just cook for myself, it will be nice to feed someone else. Plus Nicole has offered to help.”

  Jordan’s surprised gaze shifted to his sister. “That’s great, Nicki.”

  She gave him a shrug with attitude. “It’s no big deal.”

  “It is to me.”

  When he hugged Nicole, Lucy could see the girl’s uncertainty whether to hug him back or not. At least she was thinking about it.

  A step in the right direction.

  Ziggy danced at Lucy’s feet and she laughed. “Yes, I got you some treats too.”

  “Can I give one to him?” Nicole asked.

  “Sure. They’re in the bag over there.”

  Nicole’s beautiful face came to life as she dangled the Beggin’ Strip and Ziggy showed off his tricks.

  “Have you ever had a pet?” Lucy asked.

  “No.” Nicole’s smile turned to a frown. “My father was allergic and my mother didn’t want animal hair all over her furniture. Which is stupid because we’ve always had leather furniture and you can just wipe it off.”

  “Nicki,” Jordan said in a warning tone. “Be careful what you say about Mom. She isn’t here to defend herself.”

  “I know that,” Nicole snapped.

  Uh-­oh. Lucy sensed their nice moment was about to head south.

  “Can you come wash the lettuce?” she asked Nicole as a deterrent.

  “Sure.” And the dark cloud was back in place.

  For several minutes they all worked together in the kitchen in silence. Uncomfortable to say the least. Lucy realized that not only was it her job to keep an eye on Nicole and try to help figure out the problem, but she also needed to be the Band-­Aid between brother and sister.

  “Do you have a stereo?” she asked Jordan.

  “Just the music channels on the TV. You can listen to just about anything you want there.”

  “How about you put on some music while we get dinner together. It might . . . lighten the mood.”

  As soon as Jordan disappeared into the living room and the music came on, Lucy leaned in and whispered to his sister. “Talk, Nicole. Barking is for dogs.”

  When Nicole looked up, she smiled. “So you’re saying I do a bad impression of a Rottweiler?”

  “Sweetie, you aren’t even a good Schnauzer.”

  When Nicole laughed, it lifted Lucy’s heart and she kept her fingers crossed for a more peaceable evening.

  An oldies station came on and Jordan came back into the kitchen looking doubtful. “Is that okay?”

  “I love old Beatles stuff,” Nicole said while she tore the romaine lettuce and dumped it into a bowl Lucy had found in the cupboard.

  “So do I.” Jordan moved up to the counter between Lucy and his sister and began slicing the tomatoes. “Do you like country music?”

  “It’s my favorite.” Nicole grabbed a knife to slice the zucchini.

  “I thought kids your age just liked rap and hip-­hop.”

  “My friends do. But I like music with a softer rhythm and a meaningful story.”

  Jordan nodded while the Beatles sang about strawberry fields.

  “I’ll bet you didn’t even know I play guitar,” Nicole said. “Or write music.”

  Both Lucy and Jordan stopped what they were doing, looked at each other, then looked back at Nicole.

  “Nope.” Nicole sighed. “I didn’t figure you did.”

  “That’s amazing, Nic. When did you start doing that?”

  “About two years ago. I bought an old pink guitar I found at a thrift shop as a decoration for my room.” Her slim shoulders came up in a shrug. “One night I was bored and just started goofing around with it and I got interested.”

  Jordan slanted a glance at Lucy that made her heart stand still. He’d just discovered more information about his sister in one minute than he probably had in seventeen years.

  “I’d love to hear your music some time,” Lucy said.

  “I’d love to hear it right now,” Jordan said.

  “I didn’t bring the guitar with me.”

  “But you’d play it for us if you had it?”

  “Sure.”

  “Then let’s go.” He grabbed his sister by the hand. “Lucy? Do you have this under control until we get back?”

  Lucy smiled at the exhilaration on his face and nodded.

  “Where are we going?” Nicole asked as he grabbed their jackets off the hook by the door.

  “There’s a music store a couple blocks away. I want to get there before they close.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m buying you a guitar.”

  When the door shut behind them, Lucy leaned back against the counter and wanted to cry. Jordan had seen the opportunity to become a part of his sister’s life. He’d found a connection. And he’d seized the opportunity to make things right. Just like he’d done on the ice today.

  Only in a much softer version.

  Hours later, Jordan sat beside Lucy on the sofa listening to his sister play her guitar from down the hall. She had God-­given talent. Best of all, she’d been forced to talk to him while they’d been at the music store, where she’d picked up several acoustic guitars and strummed until she found a Gibson Hummingbird that had felt right. When he’d started to take it to the cashier to pay for it she’d tried to stop him.

  “You can’t buy that,” she’d insisted. “It costs two thousand dollars.”

  He halted in the middle of the store. “Do you like it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Will it make you happy?”

  She’d hesitated and looked away to where a separate room housed numerous drum sets. “I don’t want you to buy me anything.”

  “Why not?”

  She’d shrugged.

  “Because you think you’ll owe me something?”

  Another shrug lifted her shoulders.

  He’d taken her by those slim shoulders and made her look at him. Blue eyes exactly like his own had stared back at him, verifying the reason he wanted to help.

  “You will owe me nothing, Nicki. I’m not buying it for you because I want something to hold over you. You’re my little sister. I love you. I want to see you happy. And if somehow this guitar will make you smile, then it’s worth every penny. Come on.”

  When he’d tucked his hand beneath her elbow and guided her to the cashier, he’d sworn he could hear her heart pounding.

  After he’d paid for the instrument and handed her the black carrying case, she gave him the first real smile he’d seen since he’d come back home.

  His heart melted.

  When they’d come back to his apartment it smelled amazing from the pasta Lucy had made. They’d all sat at the dining table and actually had a conversation while they ate Lucy’s delicious meal. Jordan figured buying the guitar had probably only given him a one-­night reprieve from the baby dragon’s temper. But he’d take what he could get. Because for the first time, with Lucy and Nicki there, his apartment felt like a home.

  Now, as he sat next to Lucy on the sofa, listening to Nicole play something that sounded like a soulful Miranda Lambert song, he sighed and reached for Lucy’s hand. “She’s really good.”

  “Really good.” Lucy nodded. “Who knew?”

  “Not me, that’s for damn sure. Nobody—­not even my mom or dad—­ever mentioned that she played.”

  “Some of her song lyrics are just breathtaking. I wish she’d have turned those in for an assignment instead of a review for Pretty Little Liars.”

  He chuckled. “Me too.”

  “When we talked today she didn’t mention anything about writing songs.”

  Jordan turned to look at her, noticing—­not for the first time—­just how beautiful she was without a stitch of makeup. Earlier wh
en she’d taken her shower, she came back into the living room sans makeup, hair pulled up into a mess of silky curls piled up at the top of her head, and smelling like fresh peaches. Somehow he’d managed to keep his hands to himself when all he’d wanted to do was bury his face in her neck and take a bite. He’d wanted other things too but he was still trying to take things slow.

  Hardest damn thing he’d ever done.

  “You talked today?” he asked.

  Lucy nodded.

  “About?”

  “How strangely excited she got when you decked that guy.”

  “Oh. Sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” she said. “I was thrilled that she let her emotions rule and that she appeared to want to protect you.”

  “I hate to admit it but I was damn proud of that.” His heart gave a crazy little thump at the memory. “What else did you talk about?”

  “About how she should trust you and talk to you so you can help her with whatever’s bothering her. And that you’re a good brother who loves her very much.”

  That Lucy had come to his defense touched him deeply. He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed the backs of her fingers. “Thank you.”

  Sincerity flashed like gold glitter in her brown eyes from behind those dark-­rimmed glasses. “I wouldn’t have said it if it wasn’t true.”

  Her soft voice floated over him like a gentle caress that tightened every muscle in his body with awareness. Craving to touch her, he brought her hand to his lips again and kissed the soft skin on the inside of her wrist. When she didn’t pull her hand away he drew her in so he could kiss her sexy mouth. When she leaned into his kiss, he lifted her onto his lap so she straddled his thighs with her cute little unevenly cutoff sweats, which she probably thought were unattractive and a safe choice in sleepwear. Yet all he could think about was slipping them off her curvy legs and touching all that bare skin and everything in between.

  When he cupped his hands over the firm curve of her ass and swept his tongue across her full bottom lip, she leaned into him. On a sigh she parted her lips and he took possession of her sweet, minty mouth. Her plump breasts pressed against his chest, and the scent of peaches drifted from her warm, soft skin. It was the most intimate they’d ever been. And he wanted more.