Mollie moves behind me to stand next to Ed, checking the monitor he’s hooked up to as well as the IV on his arm. “Is this one doing better for you?” she asks, holding his hand.
“Yeah, it’s good. So when can I get out of this place?”
Mollie shakes her head and looks over at the three of us. “Ed, you know we have to keep you a few days.”
“She’s only said it three damn times, son,” Bud says, as if they’re at home watching sports and not in a hospital.
“I know, Dad,” Ed says. “I just hate having everyone fuss over me. And this hospital gown is no fun either.”
“So you know for sure it was a heart attack?” Justice asks, tentatively.
“We do,” Mollie says, focusing on Justice. “It was pretty mild, but your dad was smart enough to see the signs and get himself here on his own.”
“Wow, that’s impressive,” I say without thinking.
Ed chuckles. “Maybe, but now I wish I hadn’t.”
“It’s just a couple of nights, Dad, and it will make everyone feel better.”
“Except me.” His dad pouts and Mollie pats his hand before walking toward the door.
“Wait, Mollie, where’s Logan?” Justice glances from her and then back to his dad. “And Mason, for that matter.”
“You don’t know?” his gramps says.
“Know what?” Justice grabs my hand again, and we both instinctively look at Mollie, who then speaks.
“You’re about to become an uncle again,” she says with a smile.
“What?” His eyes widen.
“Yeah, Ari went into labor while they were here visiting your dad. In fact, I’m going to check on her now if you want to come.”
Justice looks torn, glancing back to his dad.
“Go ahead, son. Unless you just want to sit here and stare at me.”
I know Justice is close with Ari and probably concerned about her, so this must be overwhelming for him. He surprises me when he steps back and says, “Actually, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Mollie, will you keep us updated and let them know I’ll be over soon?”
“Of course.”
“I’m going with you.” Bud heads for the door. “I’ve had enough of this guy.” He shoots his thumb over to Justice’s dad.
“Love you too, Dad,” Ed says, shaking his head.
When they leave, Justice offers me the chair his gramps was in, then pushes another next to me. We sit and chat, getting all the details from Ed about how he felt pain when he was coming home from Bridges Construction’s office but thought it was heartburn. After a time, it got worse and he began looking up his symptoms on the internet.
“You actually used the computer, Dad?”
“Hey, you’d be surprised. I’m not going to be one of those old people who thinks it was better when people were writing letters by hand and getting up to turn the channel.”
“Well, I’m just glad you came to the hospital.” Justice touches his dad’s arm, and I feel a sting behind my eyes. “And I’m relieved to hear you’re going to be okay. When I got the call…” The shake in his voice is faint but there. I almost feel like I shouldn’t be here, but he said he needed me, so I rest my hand on his back, hoping to give him some comfort.
“I know, son. I’m sorry to put you through that.”
Justice taps his dad’s protruding belly. “Well, I have some idea what might have caused it.”
“Yeah, yeah, I already heard it from Mollie and your brothers. I know. I’m going to work on my eating habits.”
“And lower stress?” Justice says.
He nods.
Justice told me a little in the car about how tough the transition was without his mother, especially for his dad. He suspected his dad wasn’t taking good care of himself. Hopefully this is a wake-up call. I don’t know what compels me, but I say, “Well, since you’re good at using the internet, there’s lots of great info about nutrition and exercise you could read about.”
“Whoa, Kaylee, we just met and you’re already throwing me under the bus?”
I smile to cover my awkwardness, but Justice wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Kay’s right.”
My focus is still on his dad, so I catch his expression change when Justice calls me Kay. I don’t know what to say, so I simply shrug.
“I’m tired of talking about me. Son, how’s the new business coming along? I know your brothers give you a hard time and have talked to you about coming home to work at Bridges, but I want you to know that hasn’t come from me. A man needs to make his own decisions in life.”
I see the wrinkle between Justice’s brow soften for the first time since he heard the news. After hearing Justice talk about his brothers, I’m so happy to see the support his dad is giving him. He spends the next few minutes telling his dad about his clients, some social media stuff he’s doing to reach new potential clients, and the noticeable absence of his schooling.
After a while, Ed surprises us both and asks, “So, which one of you wants to tell me what’s going on with you two?”
***
Sitting at the kitchen table, I watch Justice put the last of the dishes in the dishwasher, the only light an overhead dimmer on low. When we arrived at the house, it looked like Ed was in the middle of eating dinner when he decided to go to the ER.
“Are you sure I can’t help you?”
He grins over his shoulder. “Sure, offer now that I’m almost done.”
I open my mouth in mock offense because we both know I asked him twice already. “I can tell you have mixed emotions being here.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve been home. But I think it’s more that no one’s here. That’s not how it was growing up.”
After we checked in on Ari and visited with her and Mason, we decided to come back to the house to get some rest. Justice wanted to stay with his dad, but Gramps insisted he stay the night with his son, and there was only room for one. Ari’s doctor said it would likely be ten to twelve hours before she gave birth. Neither of us had planned to stay the night, so we had nothing with us, but I couldn’t imagine driving back when so much was going on with this family. “Will you share some of that with me? Some stories of you growing up here?”
Justice took the seat next to me and leaned over, resting his arms on the table. “When my mom died, Logan moved back home to help with Ryder and me. Then my uncle Frank moved in with his two kids because he couldn’t handle living alone without my aunt, who also died that day. My cousins were so young then.” A little smile flashes on his face, but it quickly fades, his expression darkening. “God, I was such an ass back then. I feel bad thinking about it.”
I scoot closer, put my hand on his arm. “You were young too…and just lost your mother. It was a hard time, and I’m sure no one holds it against you.”
“Maybe… One of the hardest parts was not getting to say goodbye. She was just…gone. I guess I didn’t know what to do with all that pain and anger. I wasn’t the only one. Uncle Frank was more of an ass than I was. There were eight of us living here and it was crowded, loud, chaotic, and honestly, I wouldn’t change that part, because I don’t think I would have gotten though that time otherwise.”
Though my experience was completely the opposite—I only had my mother and Archie when my dad died since my brother was already out of the house—I understand. Just looking at his face…it’s like I can see everything he went through; my heart feels his pain, and I know a piece of that pain is still there, inside him. I want to ease it. I reach out and run my hand over his hair, down the side of his cheek. Before I can pull it away, he takes hold of my wrist and kisses my palm.
“I’m glad you had them,” I say. “I really like your family. And I love seeing a different side of you.”
“Thank you,” he whispers, his eyes locked on mine.
“You don’t have to thank me”
“I do. For being here, coming all this way, agreeing to stay the night when you don’t even have an over
night bag or clothes. Don’t girls hate that?”
We exchange a smile.
“Not me. I’m glad I’m here.”
His eyes seem to darken at that. He presses my hand to his cheek, sending a swarm of flutters loose in my stomach. With his other hand, he hooks the back of my neck and pulls my mouth to his. Kissing me gently, he moves from one side of my mouth to the other and back before running his tongue along the seam of my lips. I open eagerly, hungry for more of him. The hand he had on my neck slides across my collarbone and a jolt of excitement flits through me as we kiss, and I wonder where that hand is going. He runs it down the outside of my breast, then snakes it around my waist before pulling me, along with my chair, closer.
I wrap both arms around his neck and slide one hand through his hair, something I’ve been dying to do for the longest time. A quiet moan escapes me, followed by a little yelp when he lifts me onto his lap, my legs straddling him and the chair. Dear Lord the feeling of him against me.
Ravenous lips land on my neck, kissing and sucking lightly; a flash of memory hits me like lightning of the night we shared a bed when Justice marked me. The thought of that red mark on my neck gives me goosebumps.
“Do you know how long I’ve wanted this? How badly I’ve wanted you, Kay?”
His words ignite a fire in me, but when his arms tighten around my body, I know there’s much more meaning to them. Pulling back, he pins me with his gaze. “Are you sure about this?”
Given our history and the fact that we almost slept together when I was drunk, I get him needing reassurance. I take his face in my hands. “Thank you for being so sweet, but I don’t have an ounce of doubt in me.” I press my lips to his and whisper against his mouth. “I want to be with you, Justice.”
His sexy half smile curving up just before he brings his lips back to my neck pulls me right back in. Then Justice stands from the chair, lifting me with him, and I lock my legs around him.
“Just not in my family’s kitchen,” he says as he walks us out and into the hall, carrying my tall frame like I weigh nothing. Stopping before the first room, he pins me against the wall, taking my mouth in a ravaging kiss. He leaves me panting when he finally steps into the room, lit only by a night light.
Dropping my head to his neck, I giggle. “Nice stuffed animals.” The bed is so well-covered in them there’d be no room for us.
“Damn, I forgot this room was set up for the little ones.”
We leave and he pads down the hall, stepping faster with the urgency to find a spot.
I hang onto his shoulders as we enter the next room. Kissing his neck, I inhale his masculine scent. This room is small, plain but with a queen-sized bed. Faint light from the moon spills in from the window. He sets me down next to it and stares down at me, adoration and lust—probably more if he’s feeling anything close to what I am—warring in his eyes, heating me from the inside out. Even when I thought I hated Justice, I still fantasized about him, but right now I feel so much more than desire. How can I feel so safe, so trusting and at ease with him already?
When he snakes his hands from my hips, up the sides of my torso, I instinctively raise my arms. He lifts my shirt over my head, then tosses it away before his eyes lock onto my breasts. With two fingers, he traces one black lace cup teasingly slow. By the time he stops, my chest is heaving with want and anticipation. His warm hand is sliding up the strap now, and I draw in a quick breath when he pulls it down and lowers his mouth to my tingling skin. Soft but eager, he kisses me, his tongue darting out along the way to the other side, where he lowers that strap and gives me the same attention there.
Running my fingers through his dark golden mane, I close my eyes and get lost in the moment. Justice, the man I acted like I hated but probably wanted the whole time, is methodically kissing every inch of my body. The man is sweet and sexy, gentle yet powerful.
When he pulls back and straightens, I lift his shirt over his head and stare in awe at his smooth taut chest. I run my hands over him, my eyes traveling down to his rippled abs, where he is undoing his jeans. “You know I’d never hurt you…”
“I know.”
Those two words seem to inspire Justice to have me naked in seconds, and when he steps out of his jeans and boxer briefs, I can’t help but take a few seconds to admire the incredible specimen of a man he is. I didn’t notice he was doing the same to me until I hear his words. “God, Kay, you’re amazing.” Then he pulls me close, our parted lips connecting, eager tongues reaching as he backs me up to the bed, then lowers me down.
Justice lies half beside me and half on top of me, his hand running the length of my body, his gaze following the trail. When he reaches between my legs, I groan and close my eyes. I feel his lips trail from my chest down to my belly, and when his lips caress my most sensitive flesh, I can’t contain myself any longer.
“Justice,” I say so breathy I almost don’t recognize my own voice.
“I know, baby, me too,” he whispers, then glides back up my body, kissing every few inches.
When he finally slides his full weight over me, it’s heaven. Every hard edge of his melding into all my soft curves, turning me into a panting, needy mess. I wrap my legs around his torso, urging him to take me now.
Justice enters me slowly, his lips at my ear, his pants of warm air lighting me up. Wasting no time, he builds to a steady rhythm, covering my moans of pleasure with his mouth, his tongue, until we’ve both reached that inevitable peak. And when he swears and rasps out my name, I’m lost to his passion, following him into that blissful culmination.
Chapter 17
Justice
Lying here with Kaylee in my arms, a wave of confusion and emotion pours over me. The back of my eyes sting, and my vision grows blurry as I stroke her hair. I blink rapidly and take a deep breath. No way I’m getting teary-eyed after sex, let alone have her see it. I don’t know what’s going on, but it must be the floodgates opening. All this shit with my family, trying to come back and change my life, wanting to be with Kaylee and finally making it happen after so long, just pushing it all down until this. A time when I’m at my most vulnerable.
Kaylee’s lips pressing into my chest pull me from the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. “It’s okay. It’s a lot, I know.”
“What are you talking about?” Her head is on my chest, so I know she’s not looking at my face.
“I can feel your heart racing. Your breathing is heavy.”
I run my hand all the way down her back and leave it to rest on her bare ass. “I think we both know why that is.”
She shakes her head lightly against me. “No… Well, sure, that makes sense, but you’ve been through a lot lately, and tonight…that was just too much for any one person.”
“Yeah, I know. My dad had a heart attack and my sister-in-law went into labor. What the shit?”
“And what happened between us… I’m sure that just made it all come to the surface. So don’t feel like you have to hide anything from me. I’m here.”
“First of all, thank you. Maybe it did unleash some stuff, but it was the most amazing thing that could happen.” I lift my head and wait for her to look at me. “You mean so much to me, Kay…and that was—you were—incredible.” I won’t tell her that just saying the words, thinking about it, has every cell in my body coming alive again, ready to start back up. I want to show her how incredible she is, give her every pleasure she deserves and worship her body all night. But I should probably let her rest…for a bit, anyway.
“It was pretty amazing.” She kisses my chest and then looks at me with a smile that’s so damn sexy.
“Damn, Kaylee. I was going to tell you to get some rest, but you keep smiling at me like that…”
“I guess you’re not used to it, huh?” she says playfully. Then, to my surprise she pulls up and straddles me. “But I’m not tired.”
“Wow.” My eyes widen, loving she felt comfortable enough to take charge and ask for what she wants. I reach up and touch he
r face, her neck, run my hand down to her collarbone. “Beautiful and a mind-reader.”
She licks her lips and I almost go insane. She’s so damn good she’s dangerous. Her gorgeous breasts in front of me, her soft sweet-smelling skin draped across mine, calling to me. What the hell else would I do? I sit up, bringing our bodies flush, ready to join us as one again, because when I have Kaylee naked and in my arms, moaning my name when I’m inside her, there’s nothing I can’t face. Too bad my phone pings and we both freeze, sure it’s news from my family.
Kaylee reaches over and snags it for me. Shit. “It’s a facetime from Curtis,” I say. “He only does it when it’s important.”
Her eyes go wide, and she dives to the side of me, covering herself with the comforter. “Take it.”
“Seriously?” I laugh and look at her, but she can’t see me so I tap to answer it, making sure to keep it close up on me. “What’s up, man?”
“J man, what are you doing up so early?”
“What do you mean? You just called me.” Only Curtis. So much enthusiasm for life and no clue that most people are not like him.
“Check it out.” He flips the screen and pans around the familiar-looking space, a few guys mulling around in the background.
“Is that the community center?”
“Yeah, Daven started the renovation. He actually kept his word. I’m just so jacked right now, because I never thought it would happen.”
“You didn’t?” I find this surprising because he’s always so positive.
“Just some stuff people said about Daven, but he came through. I thought you’d want to come down here, maybe even help out since you have experience. Maybe swinging a hammer like a man might show Kaylee that you’re—”
“Curtis, man, I’m not in town.” I glance over to the lump under the covers, knowing she heard. She peeks out and gives me a teasing smile.
Beautiful Bridges (Bridges Brothers Book 3) Page 14
