Chapter 8
Colby
I left the kitchen as fast as I could. I was about to do something I would regret. Touching her, kissing her, holding her is something I would never ever regret, but I would regret it if I pushed her too fast and ruined what could be between us. Mark my words there will be an us. I can guaran-damn-tee it. I could see in her eyes that she was trying to mask her emotions. The fear and pain that showed through was not lost on me. I don’t know why she tries to hide what is going on in her mind. I want to know. I want to hold her, protect her, and possibly love her. I know the little spit-fire doesn’t need me to protect her, but I think she may need me to protect her from her own thoughts.
This is so out of character for me. I have never felt this instant connection with anyone. I wasn’t necessarily a hit it and quit it guy, and have had my fair share of relationships and one night stands, but nothing like this. I yearned for her; my mind and body seemed to gravitate towards her, and I just met her. I wasn’t sure if this was infatuation and would fizzle as fast as it caught fire, or if I wanted long-term with this girl. I knew I wanted her for more than one night though.
God, all I wanted to do was crash my mouth to hers and breathe her in. Something about her unleashes this protective beast in me. I have no clue what to do about it. Tyler said she didn’t date anybody, and she doesn’t seem to want to see Trey, but is it because she still loves him? Hell no, he cannot have her. If she still loved him, and Trey wanted her back, then why hasn’t it happened yet? This puzzle doesn’t add up, but I will figure it out. Brielle will not be hurt or uncomfortable in her own home while I am around.
I reach the cooler and grab another beer as I see Tyler peeking around the barn. I holler, “Coast is clear. I think you are safe for now.” I continue to laugh at him as he is searching the pathway for Brielle.
Right then, Addy comes over and smiles at me and says, “I think you could help her. God knows I cannot seem to reach her.” Then as quickly as she drops that bombshell on me, she walks over to the bonfire with the rest of the guys.
The back door opens and Brielle screams, “Come out, come out wherever you are, Tyler. I got something for you.”
I look over and see her holding a plate of something. Tyler freezes and stares at her. I swear he looks like a damn deer in the headlights. She starts cracking up. As she starts walking towards him I can tell he wants to run. With all of us watching him he decides to man up and wait her out. She slowly makes her way over to him, stands on her tiptoes, and whispers something in his ear. I see his whole body relax as she continues talking to him. I am jealous of my cousin in that moment. They continue talking quietly, and I see him bow his head, and then he reaches over and hugs her. I am ready to kill him right now. I want to be able to feel her arms around me. She hands him the plate she was carrying and heads in the direction of the bonfire.
All of the guys jump up when they see her heading their way with grins on their faces. She has them all captivated. One by one they all reach down and pick her up and pass her around their make-shift circle hugging her and laughing. I want to beat all of their asses.
I make my way over hoping to get in on that, and Tyler stops me. “Man, what the heck did you say to her?”
I stare at him confused, so he continues, “She didn’t kill me, and she brought out my favorite cheesecake.”
“What were y’all talking about?” I ask him.
He shrugs, “She basically told me that even though she is upset because I didn’t think before inviting Trey over, she knows I didn’t do it on purpose. She told me she knows I would never hurt her on purpose, and she loves me.” He looks at me, grinning. I sigh and just shake my head. While I am glad Brielle isn’t going to kill my family member, I want to be the one she is thanking.
I make my way over to the circle where everyone is talking, laughing, and catching up. I catch myself smiling and I know this is a great group of people. About that time a car door slams alerting us someone has showed up, by the silence followed, I know it is Trey. When I look over at Brielle, the look that comes over her face has me moving to her side before I know what I am doing.
Once I reach her I lean down to whisper in her ear, “I got you pretty girl.” The smile and look of adoration I get in response makes all my crazy ass thoughts worth it.
Trey walks over to the circle while spouting off a series of ‘hellos’ and ‘how’s it going.’ He stops right in front of Brielle and I feel her body tense. I step a bit closer to her and get a sneer from Trey. I have always thought he was a pretty cool and chill guy, but he makes Brielle jumpy, so I will have to rethink my opinion.
He says, “Hey B, don’t I get a hug hello?”
She looks at him with so much hate and says, “Stop the shit, Trey. You are here, and still standing; so don’t ask for much more from me. To expect me to hug you is a joke; I am STD free and want to stay that way. I won’t touch you. Stay away from me, and we will be fine.”
She storms back inside. He watches her walk the whole way in the house clearly debating whether to go after her or not. I tense up knowing what I will do if he tries it. He seems to think about it and turns back to us. The conversations start flowing like nothing just happened. After about thirty minutes, Brielle comes back out with platters of food that the guys thank her for. She makes her way into the barn to start the music.
She walks to the opposite side of the bonfire since a few more people have shown up. I assume she is catching up with them. I can’t stop watching her from the corner of my eye. Trey is mumbling some nonsense about getting back together with her, but I know that isn’t happening. I can tell by her body movements and the way she snapped at him that she won’t give him the time of day. If I am not mistaken, she is afraid, but pissed at him. She is more guarded when she catches sight of him, but seems to know where he is at all times.
Blake Shelton’s “Sure Be Cool If You Did” starts playing, and I see her body start swaying. She seems to be into Blake Shelton. It is amazing what you can learn by watching body language. I have had to learn to read people as a physical therapist. Sometimes your patients don’t want to tell you when they have had enough therapy for the day or if they are in pain. You learn to watch their mannerisms. I can tell this girl communicates through music, like she feels it in her bones. I love that about her. Hell, so far there isn’t anything this girl can do that I don’t like.
Everyone is dancing and laughing, so I decide to make my way into the barn and look for a song I want, when I hear a scream. I rush outside and see Addy in Trey’s face screaming, and Brielle is running across the yard to them. We reach the scene at the same time. She slaps Trey in the face before Tyler can get her away.
She screams, “Don’t talk about Brielle like that! You know she isn’t a whore, and I will kick your ass if you dare speak about her like that.”
Before I can react Trey lunges at Addy, but Brielle jumps in and screams, “Don’t touch her Trey, don’t you dare!” I see Brielle shaking from anger, fear, and anticipation of what will happen next, so I step up right about the time Trey wraps his hand around Brielle’s arm and tugs her to him.
He says, “Don’t be a bitch, Brielle.” She tries to wrench free of him and then I see red.
She starts crying, as tears are streaming down her face she says very quietly to him so nobody else can hear, “Get your hands off me. I let you get away with hitting me one time, but not again.”
I don’t remember anything after that except Ty pulling me off Trey. I look down and see Trey’s blood on my knuckles. I have never blacked-out in rage before, but that asshole hit her. He then had his hands on her again. I shake Tyler off me and head to the barn as the guys are hauling Trey’s sorry ass up and telling him to get the fuck off the property. I am guessing that dirty little secret she tried to hide came out while I was beating the hell out of Trey.
Once I finish washing my hands and trying to cool down, I look over and see Brielle at the doorway. I look over at
her, and she is still crying. I feel like shit. I don’t want her to be afraid of me, but after seeing me hit him, with what she has been through, I know she will fear me.
She shocks the hell out of me when she comes over with a towel and dries my hands. “Thank you.” I just stare at her and wonder what she is thanking me for. She explains, “It has been awhile since I have had a hero come to my rescue, and I appreciate it.”
I smile down at her and tell her, “Anytime.” I take a deep breath, look at her and ask the question running through my mind. “Why Brielle? Why would you not tell anyone what he did?”
She looks down like she is trying to gather her thoughts, and when she looks back up at me the look in her eyes about kills me. “Because I know how he felt. I know how it feels to be not enough.”
She delivered that with such conviction and then turns and leaves. I will be damned. This beautiful, sassy, loving girl doesn’t think she is worth it. I am about to change her mind and rock her world. She will know just how everyone sees her, and she will love herself as much as everyone else does when I am through with her . . . say in about eighty years.
Chapter 9
Brielle
Why did I just admit my biggest fear to him? I just told the man I was possibly falling for that I was not enough. Damn it, B, you are slipping. I could have had some fun with him before I warned him away from the damaged, worthless girl I am. The only problem is I know that what he was offering wouldn’t be fun. It would break me when he left me. I am not sure how I know this connection wasn’t a game, but call it intuition. This guy has more than a fling on his mind, and I don’t even know what a fling is.
I walk outside and face everyone. “Listen guys, I am sorry I didn’t tell you before about Trey. It happened, it is over, and let’s agree he is an ass-munch douche. Please let’s leave it at that. It is my first night home, and I want to have fun.” Everyone nods. Now we can have fun. I look at Addy, and her eyes tell me it is not over for her and we will talk about it later . . . Great, time to drink now. I grab my beer and walk over and hug her and whisper, “Later,” so she knows that I won’t avoid this. “I am going to check on the kids and make sure they didn’t see anything. When I get back we are going to break it down for everybody.” That was our code for dance our asses off. I could hold my own with dancing, years of cheering did that, but Addy, holy moly that girl could move.
I check in with the kids, and all is fine. Amelia said nothing was said or noticed, so I make my way outside. The last thing I want to do is go back outside. I want to jump in my car, play music, and drive. That is what I do when I need to think. It probably isn’t safe, but I block everything out but the music when I drive. I don’t want all my friends to think less of me because of Trey. If that happens, then I am one step closer to losing them. I need to be able to escape right now. Addy’s words come back to me “Find yourself.” I pull on my big girl panties and head for the backdoor to rejoin my friends. Deep breaths, Brielle.
I walk outside to the murmurs of the group making it known Trey will never be welcome around our group again, and I cannot bring myself to feel guilty. All the guys give me hugs, and warn me to never keep anything from them again, and I can’t help but feel relief that I haven’t let them down.
I glance around looking for Colby. I can’t help it. Something about him draws me to him; it is like a force I can’t stop. I don’t see him so I assume he already left. I would if I was in cray-cray town. I can’t believe he beat Trey’s ass like that. I am not a girly-girl that doesn’t believe a good ass whooping every now in then isn’t in order. He was on a rampage. There was no stopping him. It was like he was my personal savior. I head to go to the barn to put on some tunes Addy and I can dance to. All of a sudden I feel his eyes on me. I turn around and he is standing in the door to the barn with this panty-dropping grin on his face. Only one dimple showing, and I so want to lick it. Right then “Hey Pretty Girl” by Kip Moore plays, and he saunters over to me. He reaches me, holds out his hand, and says, “I played this just for you. Dance with me to your signature song.” He takes me in his arms and gently sways me to the music. Who the hell is this guy? I ask myself. He chuckles, “Colby Mason James from North Carolina, ma’am.” Oh damn, I guess I didn’t ask myself that question. Shit. I am so embarrassed. He pulls me closer, and he just holds me. I place my cheek against his chest. “Tonight I am your hero, and let’s leave it at that.” It is a good thing he is holding me because I would have fallen over.
“Okay,” I whisper, for the first time in a long time I feel content.
The song ends and he stares down at me, “Soon, Brielle, you will let me in. When you do I am not leaving.” Then lowers his mouth to mine.
It started out almost as a whisper of a kiss, but it doesn’t stay that way long. He wraps his arms around my waist and connects them against my back. Pulling me closer he tilts his head at the perfect angle and devours my mouth. I sigh into his lips, open my mouth tentatively, and trace his lower lip with my tongue. That is the only invitation he needs as his tongue invades my mouth and makes my whole body tingle. Our tongues are mating, licking, and sucking, and nothing has brought me this much pleasure and peace all at once. He is making parts of me ache and throb that never have before. I have never experienced this. How does he make me feel so much from one kiss?
I pull away and catch my breath and peer up at him through my lashes. He is mesmerizing, and sinful. I smile and tell him, “You have no idea what you are getting into with me Colby. I don’t want to waste your time.”
He just looks at me, “I will tell you one more time. One day Brielle, I will be yours and you will be mine. Now go with your sister and let me see this booty shakin’ I have heard about all night from these horndogs.”
I just shake my head and laugh. “Well Colby Mason James from North Carolina, enjoy the show.”
Chapter 10
Brielle
I don’t make it over to Addy before all hell breaks loose. I hear screaming from Cambree, crying from another girl; Dustin is getting really loud and something crashes, all while Amelia is trying to calm down the chaos around her. I catch Addy’s eye, and we both head towards to the house. I walk inside right as the bowl of dip hits the wall above Dustin’s head. The culprit was none other than Cambree. Seriously, can we not go ten damn minutes in this house without a shit storm? Addison runs to Cambree, I go to Dustin, and Amelia ushers all the other kids into the kitchen. I am deeply worried about what this commotion is about.
I ask Dustin, “What is going on?” He is pissed. Red-faced, he can’t control his breathing pissed.
He shouts, “I was talking to Carly about what classes she was registering for electives, and Kamryn decided to jump in the conversation. Then Cambree starts screaming for them to get out of the house. Carly started crying I went to reason with psycho sister over there, and she starts hurling food at me. Seriously B, that girl is twisted. She is off her rocker more than you lately.” Oh, there are so many ways I could respond to that.
Instead I say, “Sit both of you.”
Cambree gives me a look and says, “I am not a dog, don’t order me around like one.”
Addison grabs her, “Not now, Cambree. It isn’t cute. It is not going to help you at all.”
Both of the brats head towards the couch and take up residence on opposite ends of it. I walk into the kitchen to tell Amelia to take the other kids home if their parents aren’t already on the way. I need no witnesses to what I may be driven to do, so I can get this crap under control. As Amelia ushers everyone out the door, I see Colby and Tyler putting out the fire and cleaning up. This is going to cost me some extra cookies for Tyler, so I don’t have to hear his mouth about the dysfunction levels in this house. I find myself wondering what I could offer to Colby. There are so many possibilities. Where the hell did that come from? I have no experience with this. I need to get my head out of Colby’s sexy ass and fix this with my siblings.
I walk back into the great
room and notice Addy hasn’t moved. She is rubbing her temples. I walk over to her “I have this tonight, go upstairs and get in the bath.” She has been dealing with this for the past year, and if this is a normal occurrence I am surprised she hasn’t imploded by now. S
She looks at me “Are you sure? I have some experience in dealing with this.”
I tell her, “I am sure. You need a break, and this is what I wanted. My family.”
She smiles at me and hugs me and whispers, “Don’t show fear. They smell that from a mile away and will attack.” She giggles as she goes up the stairs.
I take a deep breath and count to ten. I am thinking counting to one hundred may be more helpful, but ain’t nobody got time for that. I sit between them on the couch, “Listen guys, I know this is a growing up stage in your lives, and it sucks. Cambree, things are changing and becoming more competitive for you at tumble and cheer. Your hormones are all over the place, but we have to figure out a way to work this out without broken dishes, or junk punches. Dustin, you are a freaking ball of hormones. It isn’t cute or funny how you play girls. They do have feelings. I know you do, too. For the life of me I don’t understand why you are doing things to hurt Cambree. Yes, she needs to chill out a bit, but you are being a damn instigator in the situation. Concentrate on soccer. If girls have to fit in the picture, then make sure they aren’t Cambree’s friends.”
I look to both of them to see if anything has registered. Dustin speaks first. “I am sorry. I know it drives Cambree crazy when I hit on her friends. Sometimes that is how I reach her. We use to do everything together, and now it is like the only time she talks to me is when she is yelling at me, so I have to keep the communication going. I will stop being a douche, but I just want us to spend time together again Cambree.”
Parker Sibling Series Box Set Page 4
