Last True Hero

by Diana Gardin

She laughs. “I still want to hear that list.”

  “I bet you do. Breakfast?”

  “Oh, Dare,” she says breezily. “You’ll learn. I always want breakfast.”

  I smile at the repetition of the phrase she used the first time she spent the night with me.

  She jumps out of bed and heads for her bedroom door. I almost choke at the sight of her. Her bare ass waves at me as she walks.

  “Get dressed, Berkeley,” I growl.

  She looks back and smirks. She heads back toward her closet. “Gotcha.”

  There’s nothing shameful about this walk. When I enter the living room a few minutes after Berkeley, the gigantic grin on my face fades when I get a look at Grisham sitting on the couch, a mug of steaming coffee in his hands. He looks perfectly comfortable.

  Here, in my girl’s apartment on a Sunday morning at around—I check my cell phone—9:00 a.m.

  What the fuck is he doing here on a Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m.?

  “Good morning, Dare,” says Mea. She’s bright and chipper in the mornings, but I think that’s her normal state of being. “Coffee?”

  I nod. “Please.”

  Grisham keeps his eyes locked on me, a slight frown etched in his features. I don’t see Berkeley.

  “She went out to grab some breakfast,” explains Mea. “We didn’t have any eggs in the house.”

  Shit. I wish she’d let me go with her. After her kidnapping and being with her last night, I’m a changed man. I don’t want to let her out of my sight.

  I sit on the couch next to Grisham, wondering how to best pose my question. “What the fuck are you doing here?” seems rude.

  Mea perches on the edge of a barstool, eyeing us warily, like she’s waiting for an explosion to erupt. She might not have to wait long.

  I focus on Grisham, whose expression is calm. But I can see that under the surface of that placid expression, anger is simmering just below.

  “You want to know why I’m here?” he asks quietly, his jaw clenched.

  Leaning back against the cushions and propping my right foot over my left knee, I stare at him.

  He leans forward and sets his mug down on the dark wood coffee table. Just as he’s sitting back, Greta emerges into the kitchen. She stops cold when she sees the two of us sitting on the couch. Assessing us, she continues her trajectory into the kitchen, raising her eyebrows at Mea speculatively.

  “Everything okay?” She keeps her tone casual, but her gaze is locked on the two of us while she pours herself some coffee.

  I nod, trying to put the girls at ease. “Fine. I’m just waiting for Grisham here to tell me what he’s doing in my girlfriend’s apartment at nine in the morning on a Sunday, that’s all.”

  My voice is light, with an edge that lets Grisham know I want the answer, and I want it now.

  “I’m here because I’ve been here every single day you haven’t.” The anger in his voice is palpable now, traveling around the room like a comet that won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

  Feeling like I’ve been punched in the gut, I wince. Mea’s eyes are suddenly downcast, and Greta clears her throat loudly.

  “You weren’t here two days ago,” I shoot back. “You know, when she was kidnapped? Where were you then?”

  I can see the same injured look on his face that I probably just had on mine. Taking a deep breath, he continues.

  “And since when is Berkeley your girlfriend? Didn’t you just dump her and run last month? What the hell are you doing, man?”

  The hostility in his voice is muted, but the dude is clearly pissed. I take a deep breath, because shit…he’s got a point.

  I haven’t been here.

  And it was entirely my own fault that I wasn’t here. The fact that he has been…it stings. I allow my mind to wander back to the fact that maybe he hasn’t just been here as Berkeley’s friend. But then her voice telling me she loves me echoes through my head, and every jealous thought I have is stamped out.

  “Look,” I begin. I see both Mea and Greta subtly lean forward, because they want to hear what I have to say just as much as Grisham does.

  “I fucked up. I left before I had the whole story, but in my defense I thought Berkeley was just screwing with my head. I fell in love with that girl a long time ago, and it hurt to think she didn’t return those feelings.”

  Grisham’s brows arch toward the ceiling and he barks out a laugh. He runs a hand through his hair and rolls his eyes. Everything about his body language says he doesn’t believe a word out of my mouth.

  “But everything is different now.” Berkeley shuts the front door behind her as she enters the living room, carrying a grocery bag.

  Grisham and I both stand, but I reach her first and grab the bags from her hand. I carry them into the kitchen while she turns and faces Grisham.

  “He explained everything, Grish. He overheard something really awful I said about us to my dad. It was my fault.”

  “Berkeley—” I break in. I don’t want her blaming herself. That’s not what this is supposed to be about. I never should have walked away without talking to her first.

  She walks toward him and reaches up, placing her hands on his shoulders. I stiffen, staring at them from my spot in the kitchen. Greta reaches over and pats my shoulder reassuringly, but my eyes are riveted on Berkeley and Grisham.

  “Thank you for being here for me. You always have been, and I will always be here for you, too. Trust my decision here, Grisham. Dare is the guy I always thought he was. Oh, and also? He saved my life yesterday.”

  He sighs, looking down into her eyes. The defeat on his face is clear. “You sure?”

  She nods.

  His frown turns into a genuine grin. “You sure you don’t want to surf on it?”

  Now it’s my turn to frown. I thought she didn’t like surfing.

  She turns to me immediately, once again seeming to read the thoughts floating silently through my head.

  “I’ve picked up surfing over the past month or so,” she admits with a smile. “It’s been helping me…clear my head.”

  Huh. Surfing? With Grisham. Will she surf one day with me? The thought fills me with heat, imagining her sexy body filling out a wet suit and standing up on a surfboard.

  “We’ll go sometime,” she assures me.

  The smile I send her hurts my face. I walk over to stand beside them, wrapping an arm tightly around Berkeley’s waist. I hold out a hand, hoping Grisham will accept it for what it is. An apology for hurting her.

  “We good?” I ask.

  He eyes my hand, and then reluctantly grabs my palm and shakes it. I nod at him.

  “I swear to you, I will take care of her. It’s my new life’s mission.”

  He looks me straight in the eye, his light blue locking on my light green, and says, “It better be. And thank you for getting her back.”

  “Good,” says Berkeley. “Grish, you staying for breakfast?”

  He shakes his head. “That’s okay.”

  Greta walks around the island and into the living room. “Come on, Grisham. You gotta be hungry. Just stay and eat.”

  He swipes a hand across his forehead, glancing over at her. Something changes in his eyes as he takes her in. I follow his gaze and note that Greta is wearing what, apparently, she sleeps in. Tiny, and when I say tiny, I mean the material can barely count as an article of clothing, shorts and a thin black tank top. Miles of creamy skin are on display for Grisham’s apparent viewing pleasure. And I can tell by his darkening eyes and vacant expression that he is definitely enjoying the view.

  As Berkeley heads into the kitchen with Mea to begin preparing a major breakfast, I settle onto a barstool and try like hell to keep the gigantic grin off my face.

  Everything is right in my world. Chavez is gone from both mine and Chase’s lives. I have Berkeley back. And I’m never letting her go again.

  34

  Berkeley

  The same day that Grisham and Dare found common ground, Dare and I
are sitting on the couch, with me in his lap. He hasn’t let me more than five feet away from him all morning, and I’m secretly loving it. I don’t want to be farther than five feet away from him, either, and I think he knows it. He rubs a firm hand up and down my arm reassuringly as I lay my head against his chest. I want to feel his heart beating. The strong, steady thump reassures me, because I’m a pathetic, love-drunk idiot.

  “So, what are you going to do about Chase?”

  Dare hasn’t said it, but I know he blames his brother for what happened. I don’t want them to be at odds because of me. That’s the last thing I want for Dare.

  He looks down with a sigh. “I’m not really sure. I need to talk to him, I know that. Want to come with me to my house?”

  He’s happy. I can hear it emanating from his voice, can feel it rolling off of him in waves. I smile a small, secret smile, blissed out that I have something to do with his joy.

  Shaking my head, I rub my nose against his. “I think you should go talk to him on your own. I’ve got some design ideas I need to sketch out for a new client I’m seeing this week, anyway. Want to meet back up this evening? Maybe we can all go to dinner together?”

  He frowns, staring at me. “I don’t really want to leave you here alone.”

  I slap his chest playfully. “What, like I need a chaperone at all times? I’ll be fine.”

  He stares, doubt evident in his eyes.

  “Dare, listen…nothing happened between me and Grisham while we weren’t together. You know that, right? He’s been an awesome friend to me and nothing more. He hasn’t even tried to be anything more.”

  He nods slowly, and I can see that he believes it’s true. He still looks troubled, though. “I trust you, Berkeley. And if you had…well, I couldn’t be mad about it.” His thick brow furrows. “I just…I don’t know…want you with me.”

  He bends his head and kisses me, softly and slowly. I melt into the kiss, returning it with every ounce of love I feel for him. When we pull apart, his eyes are glittering dangerously. “I don’t have to go.”

  Oh, no. “Yes, you do!” I hopoff his lap and stand, scooting away so he can’t grab me again. “Go. I’ll be here. Text me what time I should be ready for dinner.”

  “I’ll be back before dinner, Berkeley. I’m not staying away all day.” He moves toward the door.

  It’s a little past noon now. “Don’t rush on my account. I love you.”

  He throws me a sexy, toe-curling smile before he walks out the front door. “Love you, Berkeley.”

  Grinning, I retrieve my laptop and some fabric samples from my bedroom and settle on the couch to work. I’m thankful my dominant hand is still functional. Mea and Greta are having a day out at the beach, but I text Mea and let her know about the dinner plan for later, in case they want to join us. She lets me know that they’ll be home well before dinner so that we can get ready together, and I’m suddenly very excited about tonight. I miss Dare already, and he’s been gone less than an hour. The thought brings an embarrassed smile to my face. I can feel the flush forming, and I know it’s because I’m being so ridiculous. But that’s what happens to a girl in love, right?

  As soon as I begin to sketch, the front door opens and Mea strolls in.

  “Hey,” I say, my tone surprised. “I thought you were beaching it today.”

  Mea smiles. “I was, but then your boyfriend texted me.”

  Groaning, I push my sketch pad aside and stretch. “Oh, man! Sorry, Mea. I don’t need a babysitter.”

  Mea plops down beside me. “Until further notice, I think you do. I mean, who gets kidnapped, Berk?”

  We both crack up, because it’s crazy and we both know it.

  “Only me,” I croak, gasping for breath.

  Mea’s expression turns serious. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here with you when it happened.”

  I wave off her apology. “That’s ridiculous. They would have gotten me eventually. Chavez was insane. He wanted to have me so he could get to Chase and Dare. There was nothing you could have done.”

  “Did he…hurt you?” Mea’s voice is hesitant.

  Shaking my head, I shudder. “No, thank God. He was a monster, but he didn’t lay a hand on me. It was all about the money.”

  Nodding, she wraps an arm around me. “We’ve been friends for a long time, Berk. I would have been lost if anything happened to you.”

  I know how she feels. Even though Mea and I had time apart while I was away at school, she was always in my heart and in my thoughts. Whenever I needed rescuing in my life, she was there for me. She knew how I felt about my parents, and the way they planned my life out for me, and she backed me up wherever and whenever she could. I can never thank her enough for that.

  “Ditto,” I say simply.

  35

  Dare

  Chase isn’t at the beach house when I get there, so Drake and I open a beer together while I wait.

  “How’s Berkeley?” asks Drake as he takes a sip.

  “She’s doing okay, considering. Her wrist is broken, but her spirits are up and I think she’ll be fine.” The relief is evident in my voice.

  “You two back together?”

  Grinning, I nod again. “Yup.”

  He returns my grin tenfold. “I’m happy for you, brother.”

  I’m happy for me, too. “Thanks, man. You want to come with us to dinner tonight?”

  He props his feet up on the coffee table and grabs the remote. “Who else is going?”

  “Just me and Berkeley, maybe Chase, and I’m sure Berkeley will invite her roommates.”

  Drake frowns, a dark look crossing his face. I have to ask.

  “Okay, what’s up with you and Mea? Every time I mention her you look like you swallowed something sour. And when you two are together you act like you’ve been fighting the same battle for years. What gives?”

  He shakes his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m cool with Mea. Just don’t know if I feel like hanging out tonight. What, you’ll miss me if I don’t come?”

  He scoots closer and puts his arm over my shoulder, which lets me know he’s avoiding the subject. He always shoves me off him when I tease like that. I frown at him. “Yeah, right. You’re coming.”

  Rolling his eyes, he scoots back over and flips through the channels until he reaches ESPN. “Yes, sir.” He salutes.

  “That’s more like it. Why don’t we make that a regular thing? You can call me sir every time I give an order, and then follow it.”

  He shoves me, and I go slamming into the other side of the couch. “Not on your life.”

  The front door swings open and Chase walks in. He pauses when he sees me, and then walks into the room.

  “Hey,” he says.

  Standing, I gesture toward the back of the house. “Let’s go out back.”

  We walk to the deck and have a seat. Neither of us speaks for a few minutes, just listening to the sound of ocean crashing against sand.

  “Chase—”

  “I’m not staying, Dare.”

  We speak at the same time, and then we both pause and look at each other.

  “You’re leaving?” I finally ask.

  “Yeah. I want to go check on Shay. I’ve got to give it a shot with her. I also…I need to get out of your hair. I really fucked up here, Dare. I’m sorry. I can only hope I can make shit up to you one day.”

  Nodding, I absorb the information he’s just given me. Chase will always be my brother, and I’ll keep hoping he grows up one day soon. Maybe a relationship with Shay can help him out with that.

  I reach over and hold out my hand. When he takes it, I pull him into a hug.

  “Call me when you get to Florida.”

  He nods. “Will do.”

  I rise from my seat and head inside to take a shower. I have to get ready to take my girl to dinner.

  We pull up to the restaurant, just Berkeley and me in my truck. Everyone decided to drive separately and meet up around seven o’
clock. Berkeley and I are right on time. She’s forgone her seat belt and is snuggled up next to me on the wide bench seat. As I look down at her where she’s tucked beneath my right arm, I just sigh with contentment. She’s absolutely beautiful. She’s dressed up; a dark purple dress hugs her curves. A thin black belt wraps around her waist, and I know that when she steps out of the car she’ll be taller than usual in her wedged black heels.

  She’s taking my breath away, and that’s no easy feat. I can’t get enough of her, and now I just embrace that fact instead of wanting to slap myself for acting like a bitch.

  Smiling at her, I brush the hair out of her eyes. I let my eyes rove, scanning down her body toward her long, lean legs, and all the way back up again. I appreciate the generous curve of her breasts at the top of her strapless neckline. “Huh.”

  Curiosity peaks her features. Her brow creases as she inspects herself doubtfully. “What?”

  I shake my head, pretending to be lost in thought. “It’s just that…I thought I saw you at your most beautiful the first night I kissed you, in this very truck. You were soaking wet from the rain, and you were laughing because of the sudden downpour. Your whole face was glowing.”

  I take her hand and toy with her fingers, bringing them up to my lips and kissing the back of her hand. “And then I thought you couldn’t be more beautiful than the morning after the night you showed up at my house in a cab. That morning, you sat on top of me to shake me out of a nightmare. You were so fierce, and loving at the same time. I think that’s when I fell in love with you.”

  Now she’s smiling, her dimples denting her cheeks. She squeezes my hand. “But then I saw you at that garden party. That long black dress, tight in all the right places, but so fucking elegant at the same time. I almost lost my shit when I laid eyes on you. You should have been in a magazine, telling every other woman in the world why they should buy that same dress.”

  I push her gently toward her seat before sliding out of the car and striding around to open her door for her. Reaching up, I place my hands on her waist, pulling her down to stand directly in front of me. Sliding my hands along her body, I grab her hands and step back, eyeing her again. “But now, tonight? This dress is amazing, honey. You are amazing. You have this new job that you love, and you’re standing on your own without the help of the Admiral. And…you’re mine. That makes you the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen.”