Back To Us (Dare With Me Series Book 4)

by J. H. Croix

  I would lay in my small bed, a familiar cold knot forming in my stomach as I worried about how to make it all better for everyone. I craved my father’s love and attention, yet I knew, even when I was really young, that I would never get it. It didn’t change that little emotional lurch every time he appeared, and the uncertainty that followed because we were just waiting for when he would leave again.

  My father didn’t always leave for a woman. He simply wasn’t built for commitment, or that was what he said to my mom time and again. I once heard him tell her he’d never planned to have children either. Apparently, he wasn’t a fan of birth control, at least not with her. To this day, I wondered if we had other half siblings floating out in the world, unknown to us.

  When Gabriel slept with me, I slept through the night, and I forgot all of that uncertainty. Oh, how I loved it. I savored it. It was like wrapping cold hands around a warm mug, the sensation of warmth comforting as it radiated everywhere.

  This morning, Gabriel was curled up behind me, spooning me in his embrace. His knees were hooked into the bend of mine, and his palm was splayed over my belly. I wiggled my bottom back just a smidge and discovered the hard length of his arousal. He was almost always aroused in the morning. He swore it was just the way he was.

  I felt it the second he came awake, a little vibration of awareness skating through his body. His palm tensed slightly on my belly before he relaxed it and moved it upward in a soothing stroke to cup one of my breasts. My nipples perked up, eager for his knowing touch when he lightly teased one with his fingers. His hand shifted, smoothing up over my shoulder before he brushed my hair away from my neck. Then I felt a light, barely-there kiss right where my shoulder met my neck. A sweet, hot shock reverberated through my entire body as all of my cells fired to life.

  I was so ridiculously turned on by this man. He turned me into a needy, needy girl.

  “I have a confession,” he murmured, the motion of his lips on my skin sending jolts of sensation through me.

  “I’m not your priest,” I teased, letting out a little gasp when his hand moved down again and teased my other nipple.

  “That’s okay. I just wanted to tell you the truth.”

  His hands were still teasing me, mapping my body, and it was hard to focus. I tried to clear the haze and pay attention.

  “About what?”

  “I don’t always wake up hard.”

  He flexed his hips, and I felt the presence of his arousal nestling between the cheeks of my bottom—hard and hot.

  “You don’t?” I gasped again when his teeth grazed my neck.

  His hand moved down over the curve of my belly and dipped into the core of me. I was wet. It was entirely Gabriel’s fault.

  “Only with you,” he murmured. “Only with you, Nora.”

  He rolled away from me, and I let out a protesting whimper, instantly missing him. But then I heard him reaching into the drawer beside my bed and the crinkle of a condom wrapper. In a second, he was rolling back toward me as I felt him smoothing it on. He lifted one of my thighs and sank smoothly inside me.

  We made sleepy love as dawn broke. A ray of sun crested on the horizon just as he sent me flying and shuddered against me with his own release.

  I loved it. I loved waking up with him like this, and I loved that he told me he was only like this with me.

  We showered and had coffee. And it was all so very good and so much of what I wanted.

  Yet I struggled to hold on to faith in him, in me, in us. Well-worn paths of doubt blazed to life after he left. Because this was how good it felt before. How could I trust it?

  Annoyed with myself, I spun around and grabbed my laptop, stuffing it into my backpack before I hustled up to the resort. Gabriel was headed out for some flights today, and I had some resort business to take care of. I handled all the scheduling and booking for flights as well as the resort. Daphne helped me with some of that, but the kitchen was her domain.

  I told myself not to think too hard about Gabriel. I told myself all those silly things they recommended in self-help books. Believe in yourself. Hope for the best. Just let life unfold. Fuck.

  I hated sayings like that because they annoyed the hell out of me.

  I felt good this morning, though, good in a way I hadn’t in a long time. I thought maybe, just maybe, I could believe Gabriel loved me.

  There was a pretty big “maybe” to that, though.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Nora

  “We’re going to be late,” Cat announced from where she sat beside me in the truck.

  “I’m going as fast as this little truck will go,” I countered, glancing sideways with a quick shrug.

  “I don’t want to interrupt Gemma’s class after it started. It’s not respectful.”

  I smiled. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate that. We’ve got five minutes. We should make it in the nick of time.”

  We did, by a hair. Both Cat and I were nearly breathless as we unrolled our yoga mats and took our positions at the back of the classroom.

  Gemma cast us a quick smile as she made her way around the room, leading the class and gracefully adjusting postures.

  By the time we were lying down on the floor at the end of the class, I felt good. This was one of Gemma’s faster-paced classes, and Cat and I loved coming to this one. Aside from the bonus of yoga, it was a nice way to spend time with my little sister. We had our own push and pull relationship. Over the past year, we had settled into a closer, less argumentative dynamic.

  With Daphne here and such an integral part of Cat’s life as her soon-to-be stepmother, because Flynn was basically her de facto father, it had eased the tensions between Cat and Flynn, as well as Cat and me. Somehow, Grant and Cat had floated along a little more comfortably over the years. Things had been hard after our mom died. Grant was just old enough not to argue as much with Cat but also not thrust into the role of functioning as her father the way Flynn had been.

  I took several deep breaths, feeling the lingering twinges of tension ease in my body. A few moments later, people started getting up and putting their things away. Cat and I both changed out of our yoga leggings and tank tops into “town clothes,” as Cat liked to call them.

  We were headed over to Red Truck Coffee to talk with Cammi about planning her wedding. Her friends were helping her, but she wanted our feedback on how to make it special for Elias.

  Gemma was waiting by the door as we approached. “Thanks for coming,” she said with a warm smile.

  “We love it. Sorry we were late,” Cat said.

  Gemma’s brow furrowed. “I didn’t think you were late.”

  “Cat thought we’d be late and didn’t want to be disrespectful by coming in after you started,” I explained.

  Gemma grinned. “It would’ve been fine if you had actually been late. Life happens.” She shrugged lightly. “I’ll see you ladies at class at the resort next week. Diego and I are going to stay for dinner.”

  “You better,” Cat said, shifting from her apologetic attitude about being late to apparently affronted at the thought that Gemma and Diego might even consider not staying for dinner.

  Gemma curled her arm around Cat’s shoulders and gave her a quick squeeze.” I love having dinner with you.”

  “I hope so. Diego’s my unofficial uncle, so now that you’re with him, you’re sort of becoming like my aunt,” Cat said so earnestly that Gemma placed her hand over her heart.

  “That’s so sweet. I know he means a lot to you, and he considers all of you family. I feel lucky to be a part of it. Where are you ladies headed next?”

  “Wedding planning with Cammi. Did you hear she’s pregnant?”

  “I did. Elias is going to be a family man. Diego is waiting for him to freak out. Not because he thinks Elias doesn’t want kids, but because Diego thinks Elias is a worrier,” Gemma replied with a wry smile.

  My heart pinched a little. Elias was a reserved guy and hid it well, but he was a worrier, and he alwa
ys liked to make sure everything was taken care of. Kids were messy and would definitely challenge that part of him.

  I chuckled softly. “It should be fun to watch.” A few students for the next class started entering the studio. “We’ll see you at the resort. Thanks again,” I called as we moved along.

  A few minutes later, I aimed the truck toward Cammi’s coffee truck.

  “I can’t believe Elias is going to have a baby,” I said as I drove.

  “Twins! He’s having twins,” Cat said, her eyes shining when she looked toward me.

  I grinned. “I know.”

  “Do you think he’ll let me babysit?”

  “I’m sure he will.”

  A few minutes later, we pulled up in front of Red Truck Coffee. Cammi owned this place as well as Misty Mountain Café, which she’d taken over about six months ago. Red Truck Coffee was a Diamond Creek institution. It was an aptly named coffee shop housed in an old red baker’s truck and had been around for years. Cammi kept it open from spring until the snow flew. Situated at the corner of the road that led to Otter Cove Harbor, it was the heartbeat of the small town in the summer when it was crowded with fishermen and tourists.

  “Do you think we’ll get some coffee?” Cat asked as we climbed out of the truck.

  A chilly gust of wind blew off the harbor, the air crisp with a salty hint. “I would imagine so. Cammi is always generous with her coffee. At least we can insist on paying here.”

  We jogged across the gravel parking lot and knocked on the back door to the truck. Cammi had said she wanted us to meet her here because Misty Mountain Café was still open, but she’d closed the coffee truck earlier.

  The door swung open, and Cammi smiled at us. It was no wonder Elias had fallen for her. She had an undeniable sweetness to her, so it made sense she would be the one to soften his guard. Her blue eyes twinkled as she gestured through the narrow doorway. “Come in.”

  I looked around the inside of the small space, commenting, “Even though I’ve been here hundreds of times, I’ve never been inside. It’s tiny, but it doesn’t feel crowded.”

  Cammi lifted her hands, tightening a ponytail holding up her honey-brown hair. “I did my best to make it spacious. When it’s busy, there are two of us in here, and we need to be able to move.”

  The counter where she served customers was closed with the serving window folded down. She had shelving on the sides and above. She pointed toward a cluster of stools.

  “Coffee?” she asked, gesturing for us to take a seat.

  “Of course, but we’re paying,” I insisted.

  Cammi pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. “No, you’re not.”

  “Yes, we are,” Cat chimed in.

  Cammi laughed. “I’ve already shut down my laptop where I can ring you up. If you insist on giving me money, put it in the tip jar.” She pointed at a Mason jar painted brightly with sunflowers. “The staff tomorrow morning will be thrilled.”

  While I stuffed a ten-dollar tip in the jar, she got to work making coffees for us. She made some tea for herself before she sat down, hooking her feet over the rungs on the stool. With a smile, she asked, “Okay, how do I make the wedding fun for Elias?”

  Cat cast me a worried look before her eyes bounced to Cammi. “I don’t know. Elias isn’t really a party guy.”

  “I’m so excited for you two,” I said, the backs of my eyes stinging with tears.

  Elias was like another brother to me and Cat, one of Flynn’s closest friends. He’d been a steady presence at the resort for over five years. While we were all thrilled for him and Cammi, we missed seeing him every day at the resort. We still saw him plenty because he worked at the resort flying planes, but it wasn’t the same.

  Cammi’s cheeks flushed, and her eyes shifted down. Following her gaze, I finally noticed a ring.

  “Oh, my God! He got you a ring?” I slapped my palm over my chest. “I already knew he loved you, but this is huge. Shopping for anything totally isn’t his thing.”

  Cammi’s smile was bashful when she looked up again.

  Cat demanded, “Let us see.”

  Cammi uncurled her hand from the mug and held it out for us to see. It was a simple band with a sapphire.

  “It’s beautiful,” Cat breathed.

  “It really is,” I said, my heart filled with joy for her and for them.

  Cammi blinked when she looked up at us, and I thought she might be trying not to cry. “He picked it out himself and surprised me last week.” Her voice was filled with wonderment as if she couldn’t believe what had happened.

  “Elias has had a thing for you for years. I knew one day he would get over himself. I didn’t realize you two would reach the wedding and family stage this fast, though,” I teased.

  Cammi’s cheeks went pink again. “I didn’t either. I know he loves me. It’s just when we first got together he didn’t strike me as the kind of guy to settle down.”

  “He is that kind of guy. He just had to find you. He’s one of the most loyal people I know,” Cat offered, looking back and forth between Cammi and me.

  “Oh, I know he is,” Cammi said with a soft smile. She cleared her throat and took a swallow of her tea before continuing. “It means a lot to me that you two are willing to help me plan a little. I don’t want anything elaborate. I thought maybe we could make the food whatever he wants. If you have any other ideas, I’d love that. I didn’t want this to be something that was just planned by my friends. I consider you all my friends as well.”

  “It’s only been since you and Elias started up that we’ve been more in your circle. You and I knew each other for years. It’s just you were a few years ahead of me in high school. That’s when everything is so defined,” I commented.

  “I know, it’s so funny how it’s like that,” Cammi returned.

  “Do you mean my world will be different when I’m done with high school?” Cat asked hopefully.

  “Absolutely,” Cammi said firmly. “It’s such a weird time in your life, but you don’t realize it until years later.”

  We settled in to look at what she had planned so far for their wedding and even did a conference call with Daphne for some menu ideas.

  My mind kept slipping back to Cat’s astute observation. That Elias was always the kind of guy to settle down, he just needed to find Cammy. I wondered if perhaps that was the case for Gabriel. I had a hard time envisioning myself as the kind of woman any man would fall for.

  I kicked those thoughts to the curb and tried to stay focused. We had a wedding to help plan. I couldn’t wait for it. Things were moving quickly for them now that Cammi was pregnant, and I loved that they had found each other.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Gabriel

  I hefted a bag of gravel onto my shoulder and turned, taking a few steps to reach the small plane and place it in the back behind the seats. Turning, I repeated the task ten more times, to be specific.

  I was delivering supplies to a community across the bay, along with dropping off some tourists in Seldovia, a picturesque town on the far shore of Kachemak Bay. It was one of the older towns in the area. However, it was off the road system, so the only way to reach it was by plane or boat. Despite its isolation, it was a tourist destination.

  “Hello,” a voice called from over by the parking area to the side of one of the plane hangars. Lifting my head, I saw two women approaching.

  “You here for a flight with Walker Adventures?” I asked as they got closer.

  “Yes.” One woman nodded.

  “You found the right place. Let me just grab a few things out of the office, and we’ll be ready to roll. Do you have any bags with you?”

  Grant came walking out of the hangar, casting an easy smile at the women. One of the women had long blond hair and big blue eyes, and the other was a brunette with dark eyes. Once upon a time, I would’ve happily spent hours flirting with both of them.

  These days, I had zero interest in any woman other than Nora. I couldn’
t even summon any interest if I tried.

  Grant, on the other hand, stopped beside them and flashed a smile. “I can get those bags if you need some help,” he offered.

  “That would be great,” the dark-haired woman replied. “Follow me.”

  He walked with her over to their rental car while the blonde waited beside the plane hangar. “Can I help you with anything?” she asked.

  “Nope. Just grabbing my bag.” I snagged my backpack out of the office and slung it over my shoulder.

  “By the way, I’m Gabriel,” I said, stopping beside her again. “I’ll be your pilot today.”

  She walked with me as I continued toward the plane. “I’m Lauren,” she replied. “Alaska is amazing. How long is the flight today?”

  “About thirty minutes, give or take.”

  “That’s it?” Her eyes widened in surprise.

  “All we have to do is fly across Kachemak Bay. It’s not too far as the crow flies,” I explained as I dropped my backpack into the front seat beside the pilot’s seat.

  Grant arrived with the other woman, who introduced herself as Samantha. He kept busy flirting with them while I took care of pre-flight checks. I considered offering this trip to him, but I knew he had an overnight trip booked. I wanted to be back at the resort tonight in the hopes that I could have another night with Nora.

  After the women were situated in the plane, I made sure the compartment underneath was locked up and then paused with Grant outside. “How long will you be gone?” I asked.

  “Three nights. You want to trade with me?” he returned with a quick grin.

  I chuckled. “Nah, man. This is just a drop-off. They’ll be back in town after this weekend, and then you can flirt to your heart’s content.”

  “You just want to be back tonight because of Nora,” he countered.

  Ever since it had become public knowledge that I was trying to convince Nora I was worth it, Grant occasionally teased me. He was her brother, so I tried to tread lightly.