The Return of Brody McBride

by Jennifer Ryan

  Her whole body relaxed against his and within moments her breathing evened out. Listening to the quiet night, Rain’s soft breathing, and the feel of her body against his eased all the tension he’d carried with him all day. He didn’t think about work, Roxy, the future or the past. He gave himself over to the sweet contentment of being here with her, let it fill his heart and soul, and all the dark corners. He slept soundly, dreamlessly, the whole night.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  * * *

  RAIN WALKED OUT the double doors and descended the steps to the walkway below. Squinting her eyes, she looked up at the bright sky and let the sun warm her face. Brody’s hands clamped over her shoulders, the heat of his body warmed her back.

  “That was terrifying,” he said, a laugh in his voice.

  “I was twenty-three the first time I walked into a classroom and had to remind myself I wasn’t the student, but the mother of the students. Their teacher was at least ten years older than me and had a picture of her three-month-old on her desk. Very bizarre.”

  “I became a father at twenty-eight. It’s hard to imagine being twenty and having them. I know I’d have felt too young and irresponsible.”

  “You were,” she teased.

  “You too,” he said, his voice serious. “Eighteen and the mother of two.”

  “Old enough,” she said, and turned to face him. “Thank you for last night and this morning. You’re spoiling me.”

  “You’re just a little soft, not quite spoiled. I’ll have to keep working on it.”

  She laughed. Last night and this morning, Brody had gone out of his way to help her and make her feel treasured and loved. She’d slept in his arms and woken up to him kissing her neck and holding her close. Warm and hard behind her, she’d wanted to make love with him, but he’d gotten up, put on his sweats and gone down the hall to get the girls up and ready for school. By the time she came downstairs, they’d had breakfast. He handed her a cup of coffee, told her to sit at the table and eat her breakfast, eggs and toast with strawberry jelly. Her favorite. While she ate, he helped Dawn and Autumn get their backpacks and lunches ready. He walked them to the school bus.

  Every chance he got, he touched her, kissed her, said something complimentary.

  “I mean it, Brody. Yesterday, I was really feeling run down and tired. I appreciate you taking care of dinner, the girls, and me. It meant a lot. The bath, lying in your arms . . .”

  “Sleep,” he added.

  “Yes, sleep. All of it. I needed it. You. I can’t remember the last time someone treated me so well.”

  “I don’t want to be one more person you have to take care of, Rain. I’d like you to count on me. Lean on me when you need to, and ask for my help. Anything you want or need, it’s yours.”

  “Right now, I need to get to work. What are you doing today?”

  “I’m headed for the bank to withdraw one hundred grand in cash,” he said with an odd smile on his face. “This is strange,” he went on. “I grew up next to poor, always scraping together cash to pay for gas, beer . . .”

  “Taking out girls,” she added and smiled, because back then she’d loved Brody’s wildness and his go-to-hell attitude. She’d always been special to him, even when they were only friends. She’d always adored him. He’d always been drawn to her because he could be himself with her. One day, they’d looked at each other and saw something more. He didn’t see a little girl and his best friend, but the woman she grew into and he loved, even though he’d never thought himself capable. She saw the man she couldn’t live without.

  “Yeah,” he admitted easily. “Now, I can buy anything I want.”

  “Like your daughter’s freedom from Roxy.”

  Frowning, he answered, “Sad, but true. Necessary. What do you want, Rain?”

  “Lunch with you,” she answered easily. “If you’re working at the house, I’ll meet you there in a couple hours.”

  “Actually, I thought I’d come by the garage and bring you lunch. Something’s been rattling on the truck. I thought you’d take a look at it.”

  “I’m sure I can fit you in between the tire rotation I’m doing and replacing a fender on Miss Bertie’s Cadillac.”

  “Did she hit something again?”

  “Hopped the curb and hit a light pole.”

  “She’s, what, eighty-three? When are they going to take her license away? She’s a menace.”

  “Two new bumpers and four fenders. Still, she’s never hurt anyone.”

  “Thank God,” Brody said, smiling.

  “Her son promised me he’ll sell the car before her next birthday. Otherwise, I told him I’d disable it.”

  “You threatened him?”

  “No.” She laughed, incredulous he’d think she’d do such a thing. “Miss Bertie’s a formidable lady. Her son’s afraid of her, so I said I’d help him out by making sure the car didn’t work.”

  “Sneaky.”

  “Necessary.” She repeated his earlier thought that some things aren’t always pleasant, but needed.

  “Do you like working at the garage?”

  “You know I do. Pop and I have always had a good time together.”

  “Is it what you want to do? You don’t have to work, you know.”

  “Why? Because you have money?”

  “We. We have money. You could go back to school. We could travel. Stay home and take care of the girls and organize and decorate the new house.”

  “How about a little of all of that, plus a few other things?”

  “What things? Tell me what you want and it’s yours.”

  She put her hand on his chest over his heart and looked up at his earnest face. “Brody, the only thing I truly want is you and our children. You don’t have to buy me things to make me happy. I’m happy with you.

  “The truth is, I’m looking forward to working on the house, making it a home for us. I can’t wait for the stables to go up, so we can buy some horses.”

  “You love horses.”

  “You used to take me riding.”

  “You used to beg me to take you riding,” he remembered with a smile.

  “I thought we could get the girls a dog. A big tomcat for the barn. I think I’d like to be a rancher’s wife.”

  Brody scooped her up and swung her around right there in front of the school. “You’re the best.”

  Since she was above his head, she leaned down and held his face in her hands and kissed him. “More than anything, I want more of what we had last night and today. You and I in tune with each other and being there for our daughters.”

  He set her down and combed his fingers through the side of her hair. “Things have been kind of hectic lately.”

  “Don’t I know it. I’ll see you later.”

  They left each other with a kiss. When she got to the garage, she lost herself in work, though her thoughts always circled to Brody. Recently, her thoughts were about the baby they might have made over the last week. She wouldn’t know for sure for a couple more weeks, but everything inside her wanted Brody’s baby. It would be so nice to have a baby in the house again. More than anything, she loved being a mother. In her heart, she’d always regretted Brody had missed seeing the girls grow and develop from birth to little girls. She wanted to share it with him. A baby would be a beautiful start to their new lives.

  So many changes lately. Brody coming home, building a new house, a new business starting at the ranch with the horses, no more worries about money, and finally, the elimination of the threat of Roxy taking Autumn.

  Life was good and getting better. Soon, she’d marry Brody. She’d secretly dreamed of it for years, planned the ceremony in her mind, and held that dream close to her heart. She’d put Brody off on that front because she wanted everything in their past settled and done, but she couldn’t wait.

  Her father came out of the office, took his hat off, and scratched his head before saying, “Brody just pulled up outside.”

  Rain peeked around t
he hood of the car she stood bent over. Brody got out of a brand-new Chevy Tahoe. Odd, a tow truck sat idling in front of the SUV. Rain came around the car, wiping her dirty hands on a rag. She stuffed it in the back pocket of her coveralls and cocked her head at Brody as he stepped up close, smiling like an idiot.

  “I thought you said you were bringing your truck in for me to look at.”

  “I lied. I brought you this.” He held out his hand to indicate the new vehicle.

  “What’s wrong with it?”

  “Nothing. It’s yours.”

  “You bought me a car.” Unable to believe what was right in front of her, she stood stunned.

  “Like it?”

  “I, ah . . .” She stood there dumbfounded. No one had ever bought her a new car. She’d never owned a new car.

  “Rain, honey,” Brody coaxed.

  “You bought me a car,” she said again.

  “I’ll buy you a whole fleet of cars if you’ll smile.”

  “Don’t you think Roxy will hear about this and try to get more money from you?”

  “I don’t give a shit what Roxy hears or tries to do.”

  “Yes you do, because you want to keep Autumn safe.”

  He frowned and reached out to trace his fingers over her forehead and threw her hair. “I did this to make you happy. But you’re right. Keep the car hidden here at the garage until we finish this nasty business with that bitch.” All the fun sucked out of his surprise, he asked, “Do you even like it?”

  She leapt into his arms and kissed his face over and over again from his cheeks to his forehead, on his nose, and finally a big smacking kiss on his lips. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

  “Now that’s more like it.”

  He set her down and she ran to the open driver’s door and leapt inside. She took in the leather seats, all the buttons and gauges, the navigation system, MP3 and CD players, and, of course, that new-car smell.

  Brody leaned in the door and put his hand on her thigh. She covered his hand with hers and gazed up at him. “Thank you, Brody. I love it.”

  He leaned down to her ear and said for only her to hear, “It seats eight. You, me, the girls, plus a car seat will fit perfectly.”

  “Yes, we will.” He’d thought of everything. Her old car would be cramped with a baby seat between the girls in the backseat. This would allow for all of them . . . and then some. A baby now, another down the road. Sounded like heaven to her.

  “You did good, Brody. That’s a fine car for my girl,” Pop said from the open back door.

  “Only the best for my girls,” Brody answered. He stepped away from the car and pulled her out to stand beside him.

  “Eli,” he began, and Rain had no idea why he looked so serious. “I want to thank you for taking care of Rain, Dawn, and Autumn. I know they’re family, but you went above and beyond to see they had a roof over their heads, Rain had a job and her independence.”

  “She’s my daughter. Like you do with yours, I want to be there for her and make her happy.”

  “You knew I made her happy, and even if you didn’t think I was the right guy for her, you always welcomed me into your home.”

  “We both saw the good in you, even when you did your best to prove us wrong. You just had some growing up to do.”

  “I’ve done that, and part of growing up is taking responsibility and thanking those who’ve helped you along the way. My father taught me what kind of man I didn’t want to be. You showed me the kind of man I could be.”

  Rain’s eyes stung with unshed tears. Her father shifted from one foot to the other, uncomfortable with the emotions evoked by Brody’s words.

  “I hope I someday live up to your example. To thank you, I bought you this,” he indicated the tow truck. The driver pulled the brown paper taped to the door and revealed the painted insignia. ELI’S TOWING was scrawled across the door in bold red letters outlined in black against the yellow background.

  “Ah, now, son, that’s a beautiful thing.”

  “It’s all yours. The old truck’s getting up in years. I thought you might like a new one. Expand your business a bit, hire on some help.”

  Pop came to Brody and wrapped him in a huge bear hug, slapping him on the back and shaking his hand. “I love it. Thanks. Thanks a lot.”

  “Go, check it out.” Brody smiled wide.

  Rain hadn’t seen him this relaxed and carefree in a long time.

  The men got a kick out of playing with all the gadgets, lifting and lowering the tow bar, checking out all the amenities. She looked too, but spent most of her time watching her father and Brody interact, like two little boys with a new toy. Once the delivery guy went over everything and handed Pop all the paperwork, they came back to her, standing by the large bay door.

  “Rain didn’t know about the truck, but we talked about it and we have something else for you.” Brody took out the envelope from his back pocket. “Two tickets for a ten-day cruise to the Caribbean. She thought you might like to ask Sherry Osborne from the bank to go with you.”

  Pop turned to her, his mouth agape. “You know about her.”

  “You’ve always been very discrete about the ladies you’ve dated. You’ve always said Mom was the great love of your life, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find love again. I don’t want you to be alone. Sherry is very nice. I think the two of you make a nice couple together.”

  “You do?”

  “Does that surprise you?”

  “Kinda. I do like her a lot. We’ve been seeing each other for several months. Taking a trip is a big deal.”

  “Think about it. You and her on a boat at sea, visiting exotic islands. By the time you come back, you can move back into the house again. You’ll have the place to yourself. Or . . .” She left the rest hanging. From the odd look on her father’s face, he was thinking. His cheeks went ruddy and a soft smile tilted the corners of his mouth.

  “Thank you. Thank you very much.” He walked back to his office, studying the tickets in his hands.

  “Want to bet he’s calling to make a date with Sherry?” Brody wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side.

  “He’ll surprise her over dinner,” Rain guessed, watching her father pick up the phone and talk to Sherry. He smiled and used his hands. His whole face lit up when Sherry said something to him, probably agreeing to go to dinner that night.

  “Thanks, Brody, we made him happy today.”

  “Yes, we did.”

  Brody didn’t say it, he didn’t have to. She finally saw them as a couple. They may not be married—yet—but they’d gotten to that place where it was no longer “me” and “you” separately, but “we and us” together.

  She slid back into the Tahoe and turned the key. The engine hummed and she rubbed her hands over the steering wheel and took a moment to savor the new car and the excitement tickling her belly. She drove the short distance and parked it in the garage bay. She grabbed the duffle bag off the seat and got out, handing it off to Brody. He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips, the smile never leaving his face.

  “Is that Roxy’s money?”

  “That’s Autumn’s safety and freedom.”

  Chapter Thirty

  * * *

  TODAY WAS THE day. He’d pay off Roxy and finally be able to tell himself he’d taken care of his family, kept them safe when they needed him. The tension inside him grew more and more difficult to keep at bay.

  Brody picked the girls up from school and brought them out to the ranch so they could see the progress on the house. He needed to sign for the steel beams being delivered today at the site of the new stables and barn. The foundation and beams would go in next week. Once the skeleton was erected, the contractor could begin finishing off the shell and interior rooms. As much as they loved seeing the construction on the house, the main reason he brought them with him was he needed to keep them close.

  He wished this day would end, the girls tucked in bed, Rain lying in his ar
ms, and everything right in their world. Still three hours until he was due to meet Roxy. Rain was on her way to the cabin. They’d all drive back to town, have dinner out, and he’d drop them off at the house before heading over to the bar.

  Sleep escaped him last night. Rain slept in spurts beside him. Grateful the construction crew had left a half hour ago, he wrapped the quiet around his frayed nerves. If he didn’t have the meeting later, he’d go off by himself and settle down. As it was, he needed to keep an eye on the girls and get through this day without letting the past swamp his mind and drag him under, so he fought it hard. Rain would understand if he needed his space tonight and tomorrow.

  The girls ran around the corner of the unfinished house and came barreling toward him, screeching and yelling as Dawn chased after Autumn. Autumn grabbed his waist and swung around behind him as Dawn feinted left then right to tag her sister.

  “Girls. Enough. What have you two been doing?”

  “We were skipping rocks into the lake like you showed us. I got three,” Dawn announced.

  “I got the most. Four skips.” Autumn smiled up at him, triumphant in her victory over Dawn.

  “You two are fast learners. We’ll have to show your mom when she gets here.”

  “Can we go inside and get a soda?”

  “Sure, but you have to split a can. We’re going out to eat and Mom will kill me if I let you two ruin your appetite on sugar.”

  “Okay, we’ll share,” Dawn answered, and they took off for the cabin.

  He finished checking out the framing and the rough-in for the plumbing. Things were moving along smoothly on the house. Walking through the open room, his footfalls echoing on the subfloor, he wasn’t sure what set him off. His whole body went tense. He scanned the area around him for . . . snipers he knew weren’t there. Screams pierced the air, sending him to a crowded market in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Insurgents set off a bomb, gunfire erupted in the crowd, and he dove for cover, crawling along a low wall for a better vantage point. A door slammed nearby. A child screamed. Someone gunned an engine and the tires kicked up gravel. His lungs billowed in and out, deep gasps of air. He needed to move. Something was very wrong.