by Nina Pierce
Deirdre was grateful to have him here now. His hand, strong and warm on the small of her back, guided her through the nearly empty restaurant to the black lacquer tables in the back. As much as she loved her sister’s fiancés, she would have felt like a fifth wheel as the men offered silent comfort to Meghan and Julie with gentle touches and proximity. She was happy to have someone here supporting her heavy heart.
“What can I get you all on this dreary Tuesday morning?” Like the bright red and silver accents of the diner, the waitress was much too cheery for the solemn group.
“Coffee all the way around,” Peter, Meghan’s fiancé said with a wink. “Give us a couple of minutes to look at the menu.”
“Six coffees coming up.” The waitress tucked away her pad and left.
“I don’t really want anything to eat,” Deirdre said, putting down the menu she’d opened. “I’m not even sure why we let Mum talk us into leaving her alone.”
“Your mother’s a strong woman, Dee.” Peter reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “There’s nothing any of us can do sitting in the ICU for hours on end. We’ll all grab a quick bite and Meghan and I’ll head back to sit with Alice while you four go home and get some rest. It’ll be hard to support your mother if we’re all dead on your feet.”
“I’ve already called in to the office,” said Julie. “I don’t need to go home. I’ll join you.”
“Hon, Peter’s right.” Damon brushed a strand of hair from Julie’s face. “There’s no reason for all of us to be there. We have our cell phones if anything changes with your dad. Now how about I order some eggs and toast to share with you?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Peter said. “We’ll order a little bit of everything and have the waitress bring six plates.”
Twenty minutes later the table was filled with breakfast food and hot coffee, the clatter of forks against plates the only sound breaking the heavy silence.
“So Austin, how’d you meet my little sister?” Julie asked.
Deirdre tensed. She wondered when her sisters would get around to the third degree. No one, especially a man, got a free pass at the Tilling dining table. But she really had no desire to explain the events of the last few days.
“A mutual acquaintance hooked us up,” Austin said, threading his fingers through hers and flashing that heart-stopping smile. He might be stretching it a bit, but it was the truth. Jameson had certainly brought them together.
“Been keeping your relationship a secret? Or is this something new?” Meghan pushed food around her plate.
“Meghan, I don’t think that’s any of our business.” Julie chastised her sister then turned back to Austin. “Don’t mind her. She gets surly when she hasn’t had enough sleep.”
Meghan’s fork clattered to her plate. “I am not surly. Deirdre brought a stranger to the hospital where our father may be dying. I think I get to know what gives him the right to share our pain.”
“Meggie, that’s enough.” Peter tried to wrap an arm around the woman, but she shook him off.
“No. Seriously. I’m not sure why you aren’t all wondering about him. I mean, I asked Rach when she came by the hospital and she had no idea who Austin was.” Meghan said.
Now that just pissed Deirdre off. Regardless of how much they wanted to treat her like some kid, Meghan had no right to drag her friends into a petty family dispute. “You talked to Rachel about Austin?” Deirdre set down her coffee cup with slow deliberation. “Any reason you couldn’t ask me?”
A familiar whistle sliced through their growing anger. Julie dropped her hand from her mouth and pinned her sisters with a hot glare. It had stopped Meghan and Deirdre’s bickering since they were teens. Damon and Peter bit back knowing smiles, their forks continuing the slow glide from plate to mouth.
Yeah, some things with the Tilling clan never changed.
Julie straightened the napkin on her lap. “Meghan, that’s enough. Deirdre’s allowed her privacy. Now can’t we just have a nice—”
“Secrets? Really? Even if it includes drug arrests and police?” Meghan asked. “Was Austin your arresting officer, Dee?”
“I’m not a cop and she wasn’t arrested,” Austin said evenly.
“You don’t need to explain yourself to them, Austin.” Deirdre stood, her bravery shattering with the tears glistening in her eyes. “And I sure as hell don’t need your shit right now, Meghan. It’s been a long couple of days.”
Peter reached across the table, taking her hand again. “Dee, I’m sure there was a mistake with the Cutler police. Meggie spoke out of turn. Sit down. Finish your breakfast.”
Deirdre fell heavily into the chair unable to carry the weight of her friend’s betrayal. “Rachel told you too?”
“Of course she didn’t tell him. I did,” said Meghan.
“Told you what?” Julie asked, her gaze bouncing across the faces of her family. “What the hell are you all talking about? Why am I always the last to know about this stuff?” She put her hands to her cheeks. “And whatever it is, please tell me you didn’t tell Mum.”
“Of course I didn’t mention it to Mum. She’s got enough to deal with,” Meghan said defensively. “Why do you think I’m asking now?” She turned back to Deirdre. “So?”
“I was arrested for drug possession yesterday on my way home from a landscaping job in Cutler.” Deirdre’s voice sounded hollow even to her own ears.
“You can’t be serious?
“How the hell?”
Her sister’s questions tumbled out over each other.
A sob escaped as Deirdre put a trembling hand to her mouth. She wanted to be brave, but Meghan’s attack brought the fear slamming right into her heart. “Heroin. Five packets under the driver’s seat of the one-ton.” Ayden wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her against the solid weight of him. “Someone tipped off the police. Four cars chased down the one-ton and…” She inhaled a shaky breath. “They don’t know who called it in, but they pulled me over and surrounded me with guns.”
“Oh, honey you must have been so scared.” Julie laid her hand on Deirdre’s thigh.
“Dee, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” Meghan’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I thought they’d found some pot.” She shrugged. “I just assumed you were doing some partying like the old days. Really. I’m sorry.”
“Do you need to get a lawyer?” Peter asked. “I have a friend.”
Deirdre just shook her head, the hot press of dread clogging her throat and making it impossible to talk.
“The man she works for brought in a lawyer.” Austin replied. “It’s not going to go any further. Some minor red tape with the Cutler police. After talking with Mark Pearson and Rachel, Deirdre’s thinking it could have been one of the high school students who work for her.”
“It doesn’t matter how the drugs got there. Everyone in Delmont is going to assume the worst. I’m afraid when it hits the backyard fences, we’ll lose business,” she said.
“Well, we’re just going to have to set them straight, aren’t we?” Meghan said firmly. “And if they don’t believe there was some huge-ass mistake than to hell with them. We don’t want to work with them anyway.”
“We’ll get it straightened out, Dee. Don’t worry,” said Julie.
And just like that the family unit solidified as the Tilling clan circled the wagons.
* * * *
The sun glistening off the windshield of the Jag had finally burned off the early morning fog.
“Turn here. The farmhouse is only a couple more miles.” Deirdre’s voice was weak.
“Do you need me to call anyone? Rachel? Mark?” Ayden asked.
“No, I talked with Rach when she was at the hospital. She’s going to call Shawn and let him know about my dad. There are a couple of small jobs I put off, but Rachel will go there with Mark and crew.” A small laugh escaped. “Of course in the middle of all that, the witch forgot to mention she’d told my sister about the drug mess.”
Ayden reached over and squeezed her leg. “You’re pretty lucky to have such a supportive family.” She looked so small, so defenseless, huddled in the leather seat. He didn’t know how to make this better. Ayden had lost his family so long ago he didn’t know the kind of strength that came from sharing grief. He knew for certain, after her tearful confession to Julie and Meghan about the arrest, Deirdre had nothing to do with Jameson’s drug operation. She’d told him the truth.
He owed her the same. But how much worse could the timing be?
After Sunday, after they busted Jameson, he’d tell Deirdre everything, all the sordid details of his life. He just didn’t know if the reality would send her running in the opposite direction.
That would be his luck.
He’d started this relationship looking for a distraction, but Deirdre had quickly become so much more than a casual affair. He’d felt her defenses fall away last night with her clothes. She’d given all of herself to him and allowed him into her family. He looked over at the woman who’d tied his emotions in knots and worried about her reaction to his confession.
Her mother had pulled him aside while Deirdre was sitting with her father. Men hadn’t treated her daughter well, and Alice hoped Ayden’s intentions were honorable. He hoped like hell they were too. He hadn’t had time to sort that one out yet.
But if the night had proven anything to Ayden, it’s that he wanted what the Tillings had. Actually, he wanted Deirdre, the rest of the package was just icing.
The familiar burn of doubt heated his gut and he absently reached for the antacids in the glove box.
“You all right?” Deirdre asked.
“Too much vending machine coffee and not enough sleep.” He popped a couple of tablets. Yeah, not even close to the truth. The fact was, when the Jameson deal went down, there was no way he was going to be able to walk away from the sexy redhead who’d crawled into his bed and wrapped herself around his heart.
But he also knew, after the emotional turmoil of the past twelve hours, Deirdre sure as hell wasn’t ready to hear that confession.
Ayden pulled the Jag into the dooryard of the farmhouse. There weren’t any neighbors visible in either direction, cars either. It occurred to him Deirdre’s welfare had taken priority over his undercover work. Not a smart move on his part. Not when Jameson seemed to be breathing down his neck. He hadn’t really been on the top of his game over the last few hours.
There was nothing he could do about it now.
Deirdre reached for the door handle, too tired to open it, her hand fell back to her lap. “I need a shower,” she mumbled.
“What you need, Deirdre, is some food and rest. You barely ate anything at the diner. Meghan promised to call if there was any change. You don’t need to be back at the hospital until this afternoon. You guys have a pretty good system going there. Rotating shifts with your mom.” Lifting her hand, Ayden rubbed it against his lips. “I don’t have any pressing business meetings today. Everything I need to do can be done by phone. Let me take care of you.”
“I’d like that.”
With a firm arm around her waist, Ayden nearly carried her into the house and pushed her into the bedroom with all its girly frills and pastel colors. He stood in the bedroom doorway until the water in the shower started running and he heard that quiet little sigh he’d come to recognize as Deirdre’s contentment.
Now, Ayden rummaged through the modern kitchen, its cherry cupboards, dark granite counters, and stainless steel appliances harmonizing with the country charm of the old house. He wasn’t much for the morning after routine, but somehow it seemed natural for him to be bumping around brewing coffee and gathering random ingredients for breakfast.
Despite the gravity of their situations, his with the DEA and Deirdre’s with her family, Ayden felt oddly at peace cooking in her kitchen. He had no idea what she’d need from him today. Whatever it was, he’d be here to give it to her.
When her phone rang, worried it was her family, Ayden grabbed it off the wooden table and answered without checking her caller ID. “Deirdre’s phone.”
“Who’s this? Is Deirdre all right?” a worried female voice he didn’t recognize asked.
“Austin Schaeffer. Deirdre’s fine she’s in the shower.”
“Who’s this?”
“I’m her…” He wasn’t exactly sure how to define his relationship to the woman who’d wrapped herself around his heart. “A friend of Deirdre’s.”
“Black Jag asshole who nearly ran me over yesterday?”
He laughed, realizing he was talking to her friend and co-worker, Rachel. “That’d be me. But most of my friends just call me Austin.” He wondered exactly what Deirdre had said to Rachel yesterday after he’d left the estate.
“Yeah well, Black Jag, you’re only in my good graces ‘cuz you took care of her last night when she needed a friend. She’s been through a lot lately with her dad and…everything.”
He wasn’t sure if she referred to the arrest or Deirdre’s ex.
“Don’t you fuck with her heart or you’ll have me to answer to,” Rachel said.
Ah, her love life. “Her heart’s safe with me.” The words came out without thought, surprising him with their intensity.
“Whatever. I actually just called to tell her everything’s copacetic with Jameson. Mark and I’ll work in town with the kids today.”
“I’ll let her know.”
“And Jag…”
“Yeah.”
“She says you’re one of the good guys. Don’t disappoint.”
Chapter 9
“Ayden?”
He turned to find Deirdre standing in the kitchen doorway, a silky blue robe barely hiding her athletic curves. She’d wrapped a pink towel around her head. The dark circles of worry had faded, leaving only the honey glow of her almond eyes for Ayden to admire. The shower had done wonders for her.
He held up her phone. “I wasn’t sure who it was so I hope you don’t mind that I answered it.”
“Was it? Is my…”
“Oh, Christ, no. It was Rachel” Ayden extended his arms, meeting her half way as she willingly filled the void.
“Thank God. I don’t think I—”
“Shh. Stop worrying. Dr. McCarty seemed to have things stabilized.” He pulled her tight, burying his face in the softness of her neck. “Rachel just wanted to tell you that she’s got everything lined up for today and not to worry.” He breathed deep, filling his lungs with floral shampoo and soap. He grazed his teeth along the slope of her throat and dug his fingers into the weight of the world she carried on her tense shoulders.
“Mmmm, that feels so good.”
His heart tripped all over itself as he pulled back to see the desire clouding her eyes. He wondered who was supporting whom. “Deirdre, you need to rest. And I made some eggs.”
“I have more eggs.” She tipped up on her toes, pulling his bottom lip into the heat of her mouth, grazing it with her teeth. “What I need is you. I need to feel alive, Austin. I want to drown in the mindless abandon of what you do to me.” She dipped her head, looking up at him through those thick lashes. Her bottom lip pouted playfully. “You wouldn’t deny a woman in need, would you?”
“I wasn’t hungry for eggs, anyway.”
She jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and he carried her to the stove turning off the eggs and bacon. His cock swelled with each step out of the kitchen. Ayden thought he’d had his fill of her last night, but he was wrong. Where Deirdre was concerned, there never seemed to be enough.
“I can’t deny you anything.” Ayden nuzzled her neck and worked his hands into her robe. The hot flush of her skin against his fingers shot all the blood in his body straight to his groin. On autopilot, he carried her back to her bed, a four-poster canopy with lace draping everything. Very feminine and definitely too girly for Deirdre.
Deirdre read the confusion in his expression and giggled.
“I know. It’s not what you expected.” She
dropped her legs, pulling the dress shirt from his jeans in one motion. “This used to be the family homestead, until I bought it from my parents.” Undoing his belt buckle, her hands worked feverishly to strip him naked. “When I moved in we gutted this room first. Ah, there we go.” The metal clasp of the belt clanked on the wood floor as his pants pooled at his feet. “When it came to decorating I let Brianna…” Her hands froze on his hips, and little red flags filled her cheeks. “Sorry.”
“Never apologize for your past, Deirdre.” He kissed her nose. “Both of us have one.”
“Anyway, I haven’t been in here since she left. Had no reason to need the double bed.” Deirdre shimmied his boxer briefs seductively down his hips. “Later, we can do this in my old room. Nothing’s changed since I was a teenager. It’ll give you that bad boy feeling of sneaking in.”
He laughed against her ear, his tongue circling the dainty shell. “I’m thinking you snuck out, rather than the other way around.”
“Oh, how well you know me.” Deirdre palmed his erection, the pad of her thumb circling the mushroom tip. ”Enough talk, I can’t wait a moment longer, Austin. Just love me.” She breathed the words hot on his neck.
Ayden wondered if Deirdre realized she’d used the love word.
“Make love to me. Right here, right now. Make me forget everything outside this room.” Deirdre kept talking. He wasn’t sure if it was the caffeine or the endorphins making her ramble, either way he loved the sound of her voice.
He pushed the robe off her shoulders and the towel from her hair unable to resist the need to give her everything she wanted.
* * * *
Deirdre’s lids hung heavy on those chocolate pools that looked at him filled with an emotion he wouldn’t define as lust. He’d never been in love, so he wasn’t sure if it was that emotion sparkling in her eyes. But there was definitely something there. She looked sexy as hell, lying naked next to him on her bed, the sheets pooled around their bodies. He realized he wanted to give Deirdre everything her gaze was asking for. Perhaps he was only projecting and hoping this one-night fling turned into a three-day romp-fest was beginning to mean something more to her as well.
