Solitude (Cunningham Security Book 4)

by A. K. Evans

  I was leaning up against the counter in my kitchen, a cup of coffee in my hands, my thoughts running wild.

  I’d woken up this morning with Lorenzo beside me in bed, holding me close. I looked up at him, still asleep, and wondered how it was possible that a man who looked so peaceful could be so tortured on the inside. Last night, I’d gotten a whole lot more than I bargained for. I never expected to learn what I did, but I knew I wanted to do something about it.

  My heart hurt hearing about Lorenzo’s childhood. But what made it shatter was hearing him tell me that was afraid he could end up being just like his father. From the day I met him months ago, I knew he wasn’t that kind of man. In fact, he’d saved me from injury and embarrassment due to my own clumsiness on two occasions. And then there was everything that happened last night with Colin.

  He wouldn’t hurt me.

  I knew it.

  I just needed to make sure he knew it.

  So, before I could formulate any plan of action for accomplishing this task, I knew I needed to get up and get some coffee in me. I managed to sneak out from under his arm and now I was here, drinking my coffee while trying to figure out what to do.

  My thoughts were interrupted when I heard Lorenzo descending the stairs. He found me in the kitchen, let his eyes rake over my body, which was covered only by a t-shirt, and I saw the smile tug at the corners of his mouth.

  Lorenzo walked over to me, put his hands on the counter on either side of me, and nuzzled his face in my neck.

  After kissing me there, he pulled back and rasped, “Good morning, Jolie.”

  “Morning, boss. Coffee?”

  He gave me a nod and took a step back so I could get him a cup. After I handed it over, along with the cream and sugar, he stated, “You looked like you were deep in thought when I walked in.”

  “I do my best thinking in the morning,” I replied.

  “Do you want to share any of those thoughts?” he wondered.

  I shook my head.

  The look on his face changed, indicating he was worried.

  I wanted to ease his mind. “It’s nothing bad, just some stuff I’m working out in my head.”

  He relaxed a little just before he gave me another nod.

  “How is he?” I asked after a few moments of silence had passed.

  His eyes shot up. “Who?”

  “Your brother. I know you told me about your mom last night, but you never said how your brother was doing.”

  Lorenzo’s face broke out in a full-blown grin. “He made it,” he declared and even though I had no idea what that meant, I could tell he was filled with pride.

  “Made it?” I asked.

  “First round draft pick for the NHL when he was eighteen,” he explained.

  My eyes rounded in surprise. “He plays hockey?”

  “Yep.”

  I wracked my brain for about two seconds trying to figure it out. “Oh my God. Rocco De Luca. Rocky’s your brother??” I bubbled.

  Lorenzo jerked his head back. “You’ve heard of him?” he asked.

  I set my coffee cup down and started pacing. “I can’t believe I never made the connection. I mean, I realize I met you when it wasn’t hockey season, but I don’t know how I didn’t put it together or at least consider it. Of course, what are the chances that you’d be related?”

  I stopped pacing and looked up at him. Lorenzo was smiling, the biggest I’d seen yet.

  “What’s that look for?”

  “You like hockey?”

  “I am a huge hockey fan!” I cried. “And I love the Wyoming Summits. They are my team!”

  Lorenzo set his cup down on the counter, sauntered over to me, and wrapped his arms around my waist. After he tugged me close, he questioned me. “Are you planning to watch the game tonight?”

  “Um, yeah,” I shot back sarcastically because it was the most ridiculous question he could have asked.

  “Want company?”

  I nodded slowly.

  Lorenzo stopped the movement when he dropped his mouth to mine and kissed me. He lifted me up under my arms and set me on the counter, situating himself between my parted thighs. When he pulled his mouth away, he asked, “What are your plans for today?”

  “I have to call Ava,” I started. “She’s probably been freaking out since last night. I wouldn’t be surprised to see that she’s texted or called my phone a million times already. After I call her, I think a call to Kendall is necessary. I thought about going to visit Hank and Gracie sometime this afternoon, after I go shopping for them, of course. And then I’m coming home early enough to be settled in to watch the game.”

  “Full day then,” he noted. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure.”

  “The call to your girl and your sister…will those conversations involve you discussing things happening between me and you?”

  “That’s a safe assumption,” I answered. Then, I thought about it and figured he might be worried about me sharing. “I’m only sharing me and you,” I assured him. “Not what you told me about last night.”

  “Doesn’t matter to me either way, Jolie. I’m just wondering if you telling them means I’ve got to be prepared for the conversation that’s going to result from your family knowing, which specifically refers to your brother, Dom.”

  I shook my head. “Not yet. Kendall and Ava won’t tell anyone and I’m not ready for that situation with Dom, Memphis, or Colton. So, you’ve got time.”

  “He knows,” Lorenzo blurted.

  “What?”

  “Dom knows about everything I told you last night. He knows that and he knows how I’ve lived my life until now. If you want him to know there’s an us now, I’m fine with it. I’m just not sure he’ll handle it well.”

  I honestly didn’t know how Dom would handle it either. Colton and Memphis would have their own thoughts on it, but Dom was different considering he worked with Lorenzo. They were close and Dom was not one to stay quiet when he had an opinion about something.

  “Let’s just be us for a while,” I suggested. “If he’s going to react negatively, I don’t want to do it now when the babies are still so new. We’ll give it some time, and when we know we’re solid, we’ll share it.”

  “Baby?” he called, giving my thigh a gentle squeeze.

  My eyes, which had dropped to my lap, came to his.

  “What do you like to eat for breakfast?”

  “Donuts.”

  He chuckled. “You eat donuts for breakfast?”

  “Well, no, not usually. That’s what I’d like to have for breakfast every morning, but I usually wake up too late and don’t have time to stop and get fresh donuts. So I typically just have coffee and whatever I can find here that’s easy to eat on the drive to work.”

  “You usually wake up too late for a proper breakfast during the week, but on a Sunday morning after I’ve given you three orgasms and you’ve gone to bed well past a reasonable bedtime you wake up at the crack of dawn?”

  “I had a lot of things I was thinking about,” I retorted. “One of those, I’ll share now, was the fact that I’d had the pleasure of experiencing three orgasms that weren’t self-induced.”

  Lorenzo laughed. “Okay, so what are the chances you’ll let me take you out for donuts this morning? I’ll bring you back afterward so you can get on with the rest of your plans for the day. Then, I’ll meet you back here with dinner so we can eat and watch the game together.”

  “I’m trying to find the downside,” I teased.

  “Good. And after the game, we’ll talk.”

  My brows shot up. “Talk?”

  He nodded.

  “About what?”

  “We’ll talk about it tonight after the game,” he repeated.

  “Why not now?”

  His mouth dropped to my neck. I tilted my head to the opposite side to give him better access. Lorenzo’s hands trailed up my thighs and under the hem of my shirt, where he cupped my breasts in his hands. He pul
led his mouth from my throat, stroked his thumbs over my nipples, and claimed, “Because if we have that conversation now, it’ll delay me being able to bring it home for you at least two more times this morning, which will ultimately end in you not getting donuts for breakfast, but donuts for lunch instead.”

  I felt a spasm between my legs.

  “We can talk later,” I acquiesced.

  Lorenzo grinned and let go of my breasts, but only so he could whip my shirt over my head and put his mouth on them instead.

  “Most beautiful woman,” he muttered just before he sucked a nipple into his mouth.

  Then, he brought it home for me.

  Twice.

  After, I ended up having donuts for brunch.

  “Wait, are you serious?”

  That was Kendall.

  After Lorenzo took me out for donuts, he brought me home so I could get on with my plans for the day. The minute he left, I called Ava.

  She had sent about a thousand text messages to me by the time I called her back, too. Even though I hadn’t responded to her sooner, she completely understood why when I filled her in. And she couldn’t have been happier for me. She admitted to being slightly jealous, but incredibly happy.

  We were both working overlapping hours tomorrow, so I told her I’d give her the juicy details of our hockey-game-watching date night then.

  After I got off the phone with Ava, I called my sister.

  “Hey, Jojo!” she greeted me.

  “I need to tell you something, sissy,” I replied.

  She braced herself for it and I told her. I’d just finished explaining how Lorenzo brought me home and started interrogating me. Then, I divulged how I answered one of those questions and he just attacked.

  Hearing it, she was shocked and that’s precisely why she was questioning me now.

  “It was hot,” I swooned. “He complimented my dress. His exact words were ‘this fucking dress,’ and then he lifted it up over my head.”

  “I’m so jealous,” she confessed. “Unless, of course, he wasn’t good. Was it good?”

  “The best ever, bar none,” I answered. “Seriously, Kendall, he made me come three times last night and another two times this morning. He’s incredible.”

  “So unfair!” she shouted.

  I giggled.

  “In all seriousness, though, I’m so happy for you Jojo. But I have one question. Why did he suddenly decide that he was into you after telling you it was never going to happen between the two of you?”

  I knew Lorenzo said he didn’t mind if I shared that information, but it just didn’t feel right to me. Clearly, he was still dealing with his own issues with the whole situation and I didn’t think it was my place to blab it to anyone who would listen.

  “It was something serious,” I started. “I don’t want to share it, Kendall, because I told him I wouldn’t, even though he said it wouldn’t bother him if I did. But I will just leave it at telling you he had a very valid concern because of something he went through when he was younger. I don’t necessarily agree with his logic, but I understand where he’s coming from. I think it’s just going to take him some time to work through.”

  I could hear the smile in her voice. “I really hope it works out for the both of you,” she said. “You deserve to be happy.”

  “Thanks, sissy. I hope it stays good, too. Which kind of leads me to my next thing.”

  There was a pause before she asked nervously, “What?”

  “Please don’t mention this to Dom. I don’t want him freaking out. Ekko needs him focused on the kids right now and I don’t want to do anything to distract them from their most important priority. I’ll tell him soon, but I want to give Lorenzo and myself some time to figure us out. When we’re both feeling good about it, then we’ll share it with Dom.”

  “I think that’s a really great idea, but did you honestly believe you needed to ask me not to share it with him? I’m no fool and that, my dear sister, would be a foolish move.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at her. “I know, I’m just being extra cautious right now because I think I really like him, Kendall. A lot. I don’t want anything happening to ruin it before we even have the chance to start.”

  “Well, I’m rooting for the two of you,” she assured me.

  “Speaking of rooting,” I began. “I should go so I can do some shopping for Hank and Gracie. I want to visit with them today for a while and then I’m heading home to watch the hockey game. Guess what!”

  “What?”

  “Lorenzo’s brother is Rocco De Luca, the center man for the Summits. We’re watching the game together tonight,” I shared.

  “Oh, you two are perfect for each other,” she gushed. “I’m so glad there’s going to be someone there to rant at the television with you, especially if they make it to the playoffs again this season.”

  “I am so excited, Kendall. You have no idea.”

  Kendall chuckled and ended, “Alright, I’ll let you go. Kiss my niece and nephew for me. And call me later this week to let me know how things are going.”

  “I will. Love you, sissy.”

  “Love you too, Jojo.”

  I disconnected my call with Kendall, grabbed my purse and keys, and left. I had some babies to cuddle and I didn’t want to waste another minute.

  I’d stopped at the mall on the way to Dom and Ekko’s place because I simply couldn’t show up empty-handed. I was determined to win over those adorable faces by any means necessary. Of course, I knew that they wouldn’t even know that I was buying them stylish outfits right now, but I didn’t care. I wanted to spoil them rotten.

  When I arrived at their place, I saw just how exhausted my brother and sister-in-law were. Since I was there to see the babies, I insisted they both go take a nap. Ekko initially fought it, worried that leaving them without one of their parents made her a horrible mother, but luckily, Dom managed to get her to see reason.

  “We’re still going to be in the house, sugar,” he told her. “Jojo won’t let anything happen to them. You’re exhausted; I’m exhausted. They both just ate. We’ll take a break for a half hour and close our eyes. Jojo will come get us if anything goes wrong.”

  Ekko looked to me and confirmed, “Promise you’ll wake us if they need us.”

  “I promise.”

  I spent the next hour and forty-five minutes watching my niece and nephew sleep. I watched as their chests rose and fell with each breath they took and I memorized the outline of their perfectly shaped lips. They were, without a doubt, the most beautiful babies I’d ever seen.

  Hank was the first to stir. I hadn’t wanted to wake them before, but once it had been nearly two hours, I couldn’t hold back any longer. I scooped Hank up in my arms and cuddled him close. Ten minutes later, Gracie woke up. A minute after she started crying, Dom walked back into the room to pick up his daughter. She was so tiny in his arms.

  “Did you get some rest?” I asked.

  “You’re a lifesaver, Jojo. I feel like a million bucks now,” he shared before looking at his daughter. “Did you behave for Auntie Jojo?”

  “She was an angel,” I confirmed. “Ekko’s still asleep?” I wondered.

  He nodded. “I know they’re going to be ready to eat any minute now, but if we can keep them happy for just a bit longer, I’d like to give her a few more minutes to rest.”

  I looked down at Hank and declared, “We can do that. Right, buddy? We need your mama getting some sleep so she can take care of you. You can give her a few more minutes, can’t you?”

  Hank just yawned at me in response.

  A few minutes later, he started getting fussy. After I changed his diaper, Dom took him from me, gave me Gracie, and walked out of the room to take Hank to his mama. My niece lasted about ten minutes in my arms before she was done waiting. I changed her diaper, stood with her, and took her to Ekko.

  Walking into the bedroom, I said, “She’s ready to eat, Mommy.”

  The grin on Ekko’s face
grew. She wasn’t even a week in and she was already such a wonderful mother. Dom took the now-sleeping Hank from his mom.

  Once Gracie had latched on to eat, Ekko looked at me and sighed, “Thank you so much for coming here today. You have no idea how grateful I am.”

  “We are,” Dom corrected her.

  “I love them,” I announced. “And I love you guys. Whenever you need me, I’m here for you.”

  “Thanks, Jojo.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  I sat and chatted with them for a little while longer, but once both babies were fed and sleeping again, I left. I got my time in with them and managed to give Dom and Ekko a bit of a break, but they were still a new little family and I wanted them to have their time to figure out what worked for them.

  On my way back home, I made a quick stop at the grocery store. Lorenzo said he was going to be bringing dinner, so I thought it was only fair that I pick up dessert. I zipped through the store, picked up a few options, and dashed out.

  I wasn’t typically one for rushing, but I had a guy I’d been crushing on for several months coming over to eat dinner and watch hockey with me. There was no way I was missing that.

  My doorbell rang.

  I’d had just enough time when I got home, following my grocery store run, to take a quick shower and get myself ready without making it look like I was trying too hard. Even though Lorenzo and I were only going to be watching a hockey game, I still thought it was important to put in some effort.

  Opening the door, I found Lorenzo standing there holding up a box of pizza. “Someone called for delivery?”

  I laughed as I stepped back to let him in. “Please tell me there’s either plain cheese or pepperoni in there,” I implored.

  “Half and half.”

  “Goal!” I cheered.

  Lorenzo’s body shook with laughter. “You’re a goof,” he teased before he pressed a quick kiss to my cheek. “An adorable one, but a goof nonetheless.”

  “Why don’t you take that into the living room and have a seat?” I suggested, nodding toward the pizza box. “I’ll grab the plates and napkins.”