A Tender Touch: A Donnelley Brother's Novel (Logan Point Book 4)

by Carbonneau, Alannah

  She shrugged. “Someone had to say it. The poor man’s been running around trying to fix whatever happened between the two of you for a week. Put him out of his misery, Ember, or another girl will.”

  I stiffened as though I’d been backhanded - by my best friend. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “This is a wedding.”

  “I know that.”

  Kami rolled her eyes. “There are a lot of single people looking for hot sweaty wedding sex, Em. If you’re not going to pay any attention to the man, I can guarantee that some other girl will. Luke’s hot - and I know he’s really into you, but what you’re doing to him isn’t what he deserves.”

  “Whose side are you on?” I demanded, feeling my cheeks redden deeply. “You’re supposed to be my best friend.”

  “I am your best friend. That’s why I can say this to you, and you’ll listen to me.” She pinned me with determined eyes. “You’re being a coward. I know you love him, Em, and I know the man loves you. I also know that you’re feeling a lot of crap right now - but that’s all it is - crap.”

  “Kami,”

  “I know you, Em. So I know you’re telling yourself your not good enough for him. I know you’re telling yourself that he deserves better than you and that he needs someone who can give him more - but shit, can’t you see that you’re it for him?”

  I shook my head. “Please stop talking.”

  “No.” Kami hissed. “I’m not going to stop, because you said the same thing to me when I worried over whether I was good enough for Kyle. And I am good enough. I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to him because he is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I know if you pull your head out of your ass long enough, you’ll see it’s the same for you and Luke.”

  Tears balanced on my lower lashes, and I flicked at them, trying to keep from smudging my mascara in the process. “I just - I’m so afraid.”

  “You’re going to keep being afraid until you leap.” She smiled softly. “But once you’re in the air, falling, you’ll finally find that you can fly.”

  The bedroom door flung open just in time and Hadley waltzed in with Reese, Gracie, and her mother fast on her heel. I felt my mouth drop. “Oh my!” I gasped, touching my fingertips to my lip. “You’re beautiful.”

  She spun. “I’m so happy right now.” She blew out an unsteady breath. “Is it time yet?”

  Gracie chuckled. “It’s time.”

  “Oh God.” Hadley gave a little jump in her strapless princess gown. “I’m getting married.”

  “Cold feet?” I teased.

  Hadley’s eyes connected with mine and she stepped forward. Reaching out, she pulled my hands into hers. “Ember, there’s something I want you to know.”

  Sensing the seriousness in her tone, I nodded. “I’m listening.”

  “When you’re marrying a Donnelley Brother, there is never a moment that you have cold feet.” She smiled gently before winking. “Believe me when I tell you they know how to keep their women’s feet warm.”

  Blushing, I tried to restrain my nervous laugh. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “You do that.” She nodded. “Now, let’s go get me married!”

  Before I followed Hadley out the door, I grabbed my phone from the dresser. Sliding my finger across the screen to view Luke’s text message, I felt my heart race.

  You always look beautiful, so I know you’re beautiful now. I look forward to dancing with my date.

  I’m his date! I’m still Luke Donnelley’s date to this wedding - but I still can’t stop the ringing of Kami’s words in my ear. I know that if I don’t get my crap together, I will lose this - whatever this is with Luke. I don’t want to lose this.

  So I typed back a quick text before shoving my phone into the mocha clutch. I hoped he understood the reference of my reply to the night I’d spent dancing, intoxicated in his arms.

  Only if I can dance on your feet.

  ***

  The music was playing and I knew it was my turn to walk down the aisle. I hadn’t seen Luke all day long, and I would be lying if I were to admit that I wasn’t nervous as all hell. Because I was extremely nervous - and I wasn’t the one getting married.

  As I stepped around the small covering of trees out into the open, I looked up and found Luke watching me. He was standing next to Collin, as the best man, and I was the first bridesmaid to appear. Clutching my bouquet of pink peonies and white roses, I breathed in for courage, and I walked. Through my entire walk down the aisle, I felt Luke’s hot chocolate eyes on me, but I focused on walking my own feet down the grassy walkway - all the way to the altar.

  The men were in stunning mocha suits with soft pink ties. I’d never seen any of the Donnelley Brother’s in anything so soft - and still they pulled it off remarkably well. As I took my place at the altar and turned to find Kami and then Reese walking behind me, Kami moving to stand in front of me with Reese in front of her, closest to the altar, I let my eyes wander over Collin. He looked so resolute - in a wonderful way. It was like there was nowhere else on the earth that he would rather be, than where he was, waiting for Hadley to walk down the aisle toward him.

  As the music changed and Hadley appeared on her father’s arm, I couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Luke. I hadn’t been expecting to find him watching me - but he was.

  Feeling my cheeks burn brilliantly, I trained my eyes on Hadley’s smiling face and prayed the heat climbing through my body would soon offer me relief.

  Chapter 17

  Following the wedding ceremony were the pictures, and following the pictures were cocktails, and then dinner and speeches, and then the cake cutting. All through the evening, as the hours passed, I felt Luke there watching me - but I hadn’t found the time, not even a spare second, to tell him I was sorry for my behavior this past week. Kami was right, I didn’t want another woman to sink her claws in him. Luke was a catch, and although I didn’t deserve him, somehow I had caught him. Somehow, Luke Donnelley had fallen in love with me. Although he had yet to say the world changing words, I knew he felt them.

  Turning my attention to where Collin was leading Hadley onto the dance floor for their first dance, I felt my heart swell with happiness for the newlyweds. They truly were a beautiful couple and I just knew that their children would be perfect little blond minions. Yes, they would be minions - undoubtedly because they would be too cute to ever be accused of wrong-doings.

  I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face as the song came to an end and Collin dipped Hadley low, kissing her fiercely. The crowd clapped and cheered at their display of passion I prayed never failed to ignite them in its bliss. Collin and Hadley were the real deal. As a matter of fact, I truly believed that as soon as a woman married a Donnelley man - that was it for her. I mean, how could you marry a Donnelley man and ever think, for even a moment, that there was another out there who could possibly be any better? The Donnelley men were freaking perfect.

  “Dance with me?” A low voice rumbled in my ear and I flinched, twisting in my chair to find Luke leaning down next to my shoulder.

  I couldn’t detain the smile curling my lips as I took in his handsome face. Kicking off my heels, I spoke. “Yes.”

  He grinned, his hand already holding mine as he tugged me from my chair. Standing to face him, I felt my smile widen as his warm scent washed over me. He was so close to me, if I only tilted my face and grew a few inches, I could press my lips to his. “God, I love your smile, pretty girl.”

  “Thank you.” I looked down to my feet that were covered by the long hem of my bridesmaid dress.

  He lifted my chin. “And I love your eyes too.”

  I blinked. “Anything else?”

  He nodded. “You.”

  “What?” I breathed, feeling my heart thunder in my chest.

  His eyes connected with mine and in their depths, I saw a pure kind of honesty that could be rivaled by nothing. “I love you, Ember.”

  My breath caught in my throat, but
in spite of my silence, my crystal ball eyes said it all.

  Smiling gently, Luke placed a steady hand on the small of my back to guide me to the dance floor. Once there, he pulled me into his chest and whispered. “Climb on, pretty girl.”

  I beamed - it was impossible not to when he spoke such sweet words. A small giggle of delight tickled my throat as I did just what he asked, and climbed on. Stepping one foot onto each of his, he pulled my body snuggly against his and held me tight. Then, even though the music was quick and the base was pumping a demand for fast movements, he took me around the dance floor slowly.

  All around us, the floor was filled with people who spun and laughed and danced - but even though they were so close, they were so far away.

  As he held me close and spun me around in slow romantic motions, I couldn’t help but lose myself to the romance of the world Luke had created for me. Looking up into his eyes, I saw a happiness in their cocoa depths that warmed the entirety of my heart. Hooking my arms around his neck, I held onto him so tight, I knew that no matter what the world tossed at us - in this moment, what I had with Luke couldn’t be shaken.

  Dipping his head down to the crook of my shoulder and arm, he breathed. “I’ve missed you so much this past week.”

  I swallowed past my hesitation. “I missed you too.”

  “My bed isn’t the same without you in it.”

  My heartbeat quickened. “Luke,”

  “Don’t say you need anything but me, Ember.” He pulled back to look into my eyes. “You don’t need space and you don’t need time. I know you have feelings for me and I know you’re afraid of them, but I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. I promised you once that I’d be there to fight your fears. Please, let me keep my promise to you. Let me fight them, Ember.”

  “I - Luke, I’m trying.”

  He bowed his forehead to mine, breathing in relief - breathing in me. “That’s all I’m asking for, sweet girl.”

  I closed my eyes, simply breathing him in. “I love you.”

  I felt his body stiffen in my arms, and then I felt his arms circle around my waist to crush me against him. The breath rushed from my lungs in one big swoop, but although breathless, I was smiling harder than ever before - because it was out - the words were between us and I wasn’t afraid. Instead, I felt peace.

  His voice was a husky growl in my ear. “I can’t wait to take you home with me tonight.”

  His words elicited a reaction I never could have predicted in my body. The reaction was chemical - and explosive. My belly clenched as an aching kind of thrill pulsed through my entity. My heart raced and my blood heated - and I knew, without a doubt, that tonight was the night everything would change. Tonight was the night I was letting myself take everything and more than I wanted from life. Screw the promises thirteen year old Ember made to never give herself to a man - Luke Donnelley wasn’t just a man - he was the man for me. He was the other half of my soul and I knew that a life without him would be no life at all.

  A life without Luke wasn’t a life I wanted to live.

  I was in love with him. Fear was still pulsing within my bloodstream, its toxin wasn’t one I could simply detox from my blood so quickly - but there was another chemical pulsing through my body - desire. It burned through my fear in its determination to thrive.

  And suddenly my feet were no longer on solid ground. I’d taken my leap, and just like Kami had promised, I was flying. It was a lovely feeling that exploded with excitement and anticipation. I didn’t panic and dive for solid land. Instead, I spread my wings wider and concentrated on the fluttering in my belly and the hope in my heart.

  For the first time, the uncertainty of something new didn’t accompany a debilitating sense of trepidation, but instead, a flourishing kind of exhilaration. I knew it was because my something new, was no other than Luke Donnelley.

  ***

  “I think I need a glass of wine.” I announced after we’d danced through a few more songs. “My head is spinning - and not the nice ‘I’m feeling tipsy kind of spinning’.”

  Luke chuckled. “Right on it, pretty girl.”

  I stepped off the tops of his feet and felt solid ground meet with the flat of my feet. As I watched him walk to the bar, I couldn’t ignore the fluttering in my heart. Tonight would be different than any other night with Luke - because tonight, I was giving over my control. I was letting myself feel anything and everything he wanted me to feel, and probably some that he didn’t want me to feel, but I was ready. I was ready for the uncertainty. I was ready to push through the possibility of heartache that plagued me at the chance that I might lose Luke. I was ready to keep leaping forward with this man, because in spite of all the negative that swam through my mind - one positive outweighed them all. The positive of my love for him existed in my heart, and it fought every ounce of doubt that thought to push forward in its festering ways.

  I was in love.

  I was in love with Luke Donnelley.

  A hand touched the small of my back and I felt my eyes tear from Luke’s form at the bar to glance to my left, and then up, into Logan Donnelley’s face.

  “Hello.” I smiled.

  “How are you holding up?” Logan asked. His deep voice was calm, but I sensed there was an undercurrent of feeling in the rumble.

  “I’m holding up fine.” I smiled, wondering what the hell this man was trying to say. “It’s a beautiful wedding.”

  “It is.” He nodded. “I honestly never thought I’d see the day.” He chuckled, rocking back on his heel. “I suppose us boys should stop underestimating our mother.”

  I tipped my head back to squint up at him. “What?” And then it dawned on me and I shook my head. “Oh, you think Gracie is responsible for all this with her Cupid ways, don’t you?”

  “I do.” He affirmed.

  “Well, I can tell you right now that Gracie isn’t the one pushing me to admit my warm and fuzzy feelings.” I pinned him with my eyes. “It’s the other Donnelley women.”

  Logan smiled a half-grin. “They’re her minions.”

  “Ah haha!” I slapped my knee. “Your imagination, Logan,” I giggled. “It’s a damn good thing you have a child.”

  “And more to come.” He winked. “Many more.”

  I raised a brow. “How many more?”

  He winked. “I’m still working on that.”

  Silence settled over us and I wondered what Logan Donnelley was doing here, talking to me. The man was a growly man if I ever met one. He was blunt and honest and real - but he could be kind when he wanted to. Or, that was what I’d heard about the man. Logan had yet to grace me with conversation - until now.

  Tipping my head back once again, I asked. “Is there something you wanted to talk about?”

  His eyes settled on Luke walking over to us, before he turned to me. “Dance with me?”

  I stuttered for a moment, peeking at Luke again. Then I threw my proverbial hands up and said, “Sure.”

  I was in Logan’s arms before I knew it. “Be careful.” I warned as he moved me around the dance floor, away from Luke and his curious dark eyes. “I’m not wearing shoes.”

  “None of you women wear shoes when you dance.” His reply was an affectionate sounding grumble. “I’ve learned from Reese to be wary of the toes, don’t worry.”

  I grinned. “Awe, she’s teaching you well.”

  “As you’re teaching Luke.” His reply was blunt - exactly what one would have expected from Logan, but I had to admit that he’d been taking precautions with me. I wondered if he thought I was too soft to accept his matter-of-fact ways.

  “Are we getting to the point now?” I asked, making sure I was on the same wave length.

  “We are.” He lifted his chin.

  “Was this Reese’s idea?” I asked. “You coming over to talk to me?”

  Discomfort pinched his face for a moment, and then he admitted. “Yeah, but I agree with her. So I’m here.”

  “You have to agree with her
.” I mumbled. “You’re bound by marriage and law to agree with the woman.”

  He chuckled. “I sure am.” His laughter died and he looked down at me. “My little brother would do anything for you, you know?”

  I didn’t say anything and Logan continued.

  “Luke loves you the way I love Reese.” His admission was slow, but firm. “I know you don’t know the depth of that, but let me tell you right now, I’d lay down my life for that woman.” He chuckled. “I’d give any pain, a thousand times, to see her smile light her eyes just once.”

  “Logan,” I sighed, but when I heard him open his mouth in an attempt to continue, I announced in a whispered breath. “I love him too.”

  “I...” He stilled. “You do?”

  I smiled. “More than anything.”

  “So why?” He looked confused as his eyes moved back to Reese, who urged him to continue with a smile. He glanced back at me. “Reese doesn’t know?”

  “I’m sure they all know I love him - but none of them know I’ve admitted it to myself yet.” I blushed. “That only just happened. Actually, I’ve only really just admitted it to Luke.”

  Logan continued to dance with me. “Thank God. I love that woman, but damn, that was pushing boundaries.”

  I laughed. “You can’t save face now, Logan.” I shook my head. “You’d do anything for her.”

  “I would.” He admitted without an ounce of hesitation. “The same as Luke would do anything for you.” He lowered his voice with a small snicker. “Pretty girl.”

  I raised a brow and punched back with whispered words. “Country boy.”

  Logan’s eyes glittered as he appraised me. “Welcome to the family, Ember.”

  Chapter 18

  My back slammed against the cabin door as his mouth crushed mine. His hands gripped my waist tightly as his sharp breaths sounded with mine, mingling. My mind was fuzzy from the wine, but I hadn’t drunk enough to make me intoxicated. I knew what I was doing - and I was ready.

  “Christ, Ember.” Luke breathed through my kisses. “You feeling alright?”