Against All Odds (A Brook Brothers Novel Book 2)

by Tracie Delaney

  Laurella made a mental note to ask him about it when she got the chance.

  “You’ve already met Cole,” Calum said. “And that sour-faced dick over there is Nate. The youngest.”

  “Welcome, Laurella,” Cole said while Nate raised his hand in greeting and gave a glimmer of a smile, which faded when he went back to his cell phone.

  They settled down to dinner, and Laurella immersed herself in the warmth around the table. The banter that was usual in large families began. Coming from a big family herself, she missed the noise, the arguments, and the love. Usually, her evenings consisted of a meal for one and her laptop. She didn’t regret the move to New York, and at least she and Calum were no longer at each other’s throats, but she missed her family terribly. Even though Alessia’s visit would detract from moving her relationship with Calum along, she couldn’t wait to spend time with her sister.

  “You’re quiet,” Calum murmured in her ear, his hand sliding up her leg beneath the heavy tablecloth.

  “A little homesick,” she said. “This reminds me of family dinners back home.”

  His hand moved farther up. He slid it between her thighs and applied pressure, daring her to open her legs. She clamped them shut, trapping his hand, and hoped her eyes gave him a clear message.

  “Stop it,” she whispered.

  His breath caressed the shell of her ear. “Make me.”

  Laurella glanced around the table. Cole was chatting to Indie, his expression holding none of the hatred of Calum’s, so whatever his problem was with Jax’s girlfriend, his twin didn’t feel the same. Jax was busy uncorking another bottle of wine, and Nate was still staring at his cell as if it held the answer to world peace. Did the man ever talk?

  “No one is watching,” Calum said, correctly guessing why she’d been checking out the others around the table. With his palm flat against her inner thigh, he applied enough pressure that her legs opened a couple of inches. That was enough for Calum to go exploring. Laurella caught her breath. She couldn’t deny that the game excited her. He curved his free hand around her neck, the other one feathering at the very top of her thigh, so close to her sex that she had to clench her inner muscles to control the need that grew by the second.

  “Tonight, you’re mine, Laurella.” His tone held a command that dared her to deny him. “Mine. No more pretending I don’t ache for you every second of every day. No more games that push us apart instead of bringing us closer. I know it’s happening quickly, but I don’t want to wait any longer. If you feel the same, nod.”

  She dampened her lips and swallowed then nodded. Calum hissed. He slipped a finger inside her panties and swept it over her sex. Only once, but it was enough to drive her crazy. Her eyes briefly closed. She almost moaned. Almost. But as quickly as he’d started the game, he withdrew.

  Mourning the loss of intimacy, Laurella lifted her eyes to his. He winked then inserted his middle finger into his mouth and sucked, mirroring her actions when she’d flirted with him in the restaurant the other night. Except it wasn’t the taste of wine on his fingers. It was the taste of her.

  “Merde,” she muttered.

  “Only the beginning, sweetheart,” Calum said.

  “The beginning of what?” Indie asked.

  Laurella and Calum both looked across at her at the same time, but before Laurella could make up a lie, Calum answered for her. “None of your fucking business.”

  Laurella flinched at the hatred in his tone. A furious expression crossed Jax’s face, whereas Indie simply painted on a polite smile.

  “Apologize,” Jax snapped.

  “To her?” Calum almost spat. “Not a fucking chance.”

  “It’s fine, Jax,” Indie said, putting her hand on his arm.

  Jax pounded his fist on the table. “It is not fine.” He poked his finger in Calum’s direction. “Stop grinding this axe. Indie is my girlfriend, and she’s going nowhere. This vendetta stops now.” He snorted. “You just love acting as though you were the wronged party, don’t you, Calum? Well, you weren’t. And Indie was as much of a victim as I was. We’ve moved on. You’d better find a way to do the same. Otherwise, we’re going to have a serious problem.”

  Laurella held her breath as the atmosphere switched from light to very dark in a split second.

  “Here we go,” Nate drawled.

  Jax’s head swiveled around so fast that he surely must have cricked his neck. “I’ll deal with you in a minute.”

  “What the fuck have I done?”

  “Absolutely nothing, Nate. That’s the problem. Ever since Mom and Dad passed away, I’ve tried to do everything to keep us together, to put this family first, yet you’d rather live on the other side of the country than spend time with us. You don’t answer your phone. You don’t visit unless one of us uses emotional blackmail. You won’t reply to emails. Well, you know what? You can all fuck off.”

  He shoved a hand through his hair, his face blotched with fury. Calum had warned her it could all kick off. He’d been right.

  “Take a fucking chill pill,” Calum said in his usual completely unsympathetic manner.

  “Jax.” Indie touched his hand. “Your brothers appreciate you, as do I.”

  “Really?” he said, his voice full of bitterness.

  “Yes.” Indie glared across the table at Calum then flashed a hard look in Nate’s direction. “Isn’t that right?”

  After a few seconds of silence, Nate was the first to speak. “I’m busy, that’s all. I’m trying to build a career. I can’t be flying across the country every five minutes.”

  Jax turned to his younger brother, his face softening. “I know. I’ll try not to nag.”

  A brief smile brought a couple of dimples to Nate’s face. They disappeared all too quickly. That was a shame. They’d made him appear much less moody.

  When Calum remained silent, Laurella squeezed his knee—not in a sensual way but in a way that said if he didn’t apologize, she would break his kneecap.

  He sighed. “Of course I appreciate you, dickhead.”

  Laurella squeezed harder. Calum winced.

  “And as my girlfriend seems to be giving me a clear message she’s going to break my fucking leg if I don’t apologize to you, India, I guess I’d better. I’m sorry.”

  Shock rolled through her at the speed of a bullet, and she loosened her grip. Girlfriend. She was having enough trouble managing the transition from hating him to flirting with him. And now he’d basically announced to his family on their very first dinner together that they were in a relationship.

  Calum seemed oblivious to her stupefied state as he held his hand out to Indie. “I can’t say I completely forgive you for what you did, but give me time.”

  She shook his hand. “I can do that,” she said, her voice muted.

  “Thank Christ for that,” Cole piped up. “At least I can take a break from the role of peacemaker.”

  “And on that bombshell, let’s call it a night,” Calum said. “Laurella and I have an early meeting on Monday morning that we need to prep for.”

  Laurella frowned. She didn’t have an early meeting, because she was taking a few vacation days to spend with Alessia. Maybe he wanted out of the heavy atmosphere, which had only receded a little after the tentative truce. She couldn’t say she was sorry he’d called time, although until his dig at Indie, they’d been having a lovely evening. The dinner-table drama reaffirmed her determination to ask him about Indie at an appropriate time.

  While Calum said goodnight to his brothers, Indie sidled up next to Laurella. “I don’t know how you’ve managed to tame him, but well done,” she said with a grin.

  Laurella chuckled. “I wouldn’t say I’ve done that, but I have a mean grip. I simply put it to good use. Sometimes physical discomfort is the only thing a blunt instrument like Calum understands.”

  Indie didn’t get to respond because Calum appeared at Laurella’s side. “Ready to go?”

  She nodded. “Thank you for having me over,�
�� she said to Jax.

  “Anytime,” Jax replied. “And who knows—next time, the evening might even be argument free.”

  “Don’t count on it,” Calum said, groaning when Laurella gave him a dig in the ribs.

  When they reached the top of the stairs, out of earshot of the rest of his family, Laurella frowned at him. “We don’t have an early meeting to prepare for.”

  “Correct,” Calum said. “But I definitely have a blunt instrument that you’ll be getting very well acquainted with.”

  Chapter 14

  Laurella struggled to keep up with Calum as he strode into her apartment building. Another couple was just exiting the elevator. Calum urged her inside.

  “What floor?” he asked.

  “Seventeenth.”

  Calum moved his body into hers before the doors had time to close. Pinning her to the wall with his hips, he gathered her hair into a ponytail and gently tugged. Her head fell back, and his mouth came down on hers with a groan.

  She’d barely given in to his kiss when the pinging sound of the elevator arriving at her floor interrupted them.

  “Couldn’t you live in a taller building?” he muttered.

  Laurella giggled as she walked down the hallway, Calum’s arm clamped around her waist as if he couldn’t bear to let her go. Excitement began to build, pooling low in her belly. It had been far too long since she’d reveled in a man’s touch, although none of her previous lovers had set her skin on fire the way Calum did with the simplest touch.

  They turned the corner, and Laurella stopped abruptly. Sitting outside her apartment, knees pulled up to her chest, arms curved around them, was her youngest sister, Alessia. Her face was tearstained, and when she looked up and saw Laurella, more tears fell.

  She scrambled to her feet and came charging down the hallway. She flung her arms around Laurella’s neck. “Oh, Ella. Thank goodness. I thought you were never coming home.”

  Laurella took hold of her sister’s shoulders and eased her back. “Alessia, what on earth are you doing here? You’re not due until Sunday.”

  Alessia sniffled then wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “I had a fight with Papa, so I caught an earlier flight. He wants me to go to college in Milan, but I won’t do it, Ella. I won’t. Gianni is going to Rome, and I want to go with him. You have to help me. You have to talk to Papa.”

  Gianni was Alessia’s childhood sweetheart and the crush Papa hoped would simply fade away. From the desperate, pleading look in Alessia’s eyes, Laurella knew Papa’s hopes weren’t going to come to fruition anytime soon.

  Laurella opened the door to her apartment. “Go inside, Alessia. I’ll be in shortly.” She gently shoved her sister through the door and pulled it closed behind her, a wry grimace twisting her lips. “Do you think the fates have conspired to keep us apart?” she asked, wrapping her arms around Calum’s neck.

  Calum’s hand curved around her face, and he bent to kiss her softly. “Go deal with your sister.”

  Laurella huffed. “I’m so frustrated.”

  Calum laughed and glanced down at the unmistakable bulge in his jeans. “You’re not the only one.”

  She grinned. “Cold shower?”

  “Or a hot one,” he said, winking. “I’ve got a pretty good imagination. It’ll have to do for now.”

  “I’m going to kill her,” Laurella said, more to herself than to him.

  Calum kissed her again. “I’ll see you next week.”

  Laurella watched him until he disappeared from view. She sighed, then went inside.

  Alessia had already made herself at home—shoes cast aside, feet curled beneath her on the sofa. Her suitcase, bursting at the seams, was set on top of the chair by the window.

  “He’s hot.” Alessia cocked her head at the closed door.

  Laurella ignored her. “Does Papa know you changed to an earlier flight?”

  Alessia shook her head sheepishly.

  “Alessia!”

  “I thought you could tell him. You know he loves you the best. If you talk to him, he’ll listen. I know he will.”

  “Where does he think you are? He’ll be going out of his mind, as will Mama.”

  Alessia shook her head. “It’s okay. They think I’m staying at a girlfriend’s house tonight. They won’t worry for a few hours yet.”

  Laurella breathed out through her nose. “You are so irresponsible. You’re eighteen now, Alessia—an adult in the eyes of the world. When are you going to start acting like one?” She was being overly harsh with her baby sister, but that was because of the thwarted night of sex with Calum.

  Alessia’s eyes filled up once more. “I thought you’d understand.”

  Laurella sat beside her. “I do understand. I know that Gianni is important to you, but don’t you think Papa also knows what’s best? He probably thinks some distance will allow you to spread your wings before committing to Gianni for the rest of your life.”

  In defiant mode, Alessia folded her arms across her chest. “I don’t need to spread my wings. I know what I want.”

  Laurella stroked her sister’s hair. “Why don’t you go and get some rest? You must be exhausted after the long flight. I’ll call Papa and talk to him.”

  Alessia’s face flooded with relief. She flung her arms around Laurella’s neck. “Love you, Ella. I knew you’d make it all better.”

  Laurella kissed the top of Alessia’s head. “Love you, too. Now scoot.”

  Happy now that she’d gotten her own way, Alessia grinned, grabbed her suitcase, and wheeled it into the one and only bedroom. Laurella shook her head affectionately. Alessia was incorrigible but adorable.

  She put on a pot of coffee. Papa wouldn’t be up for a couple of hours. It was going to be a long night. She flicked on the TV, more for background noise than any interest in watching, sipped her coffee, and replayed the evening’s events. The Brooks were certainly a complicated lot, although her family wasn’t dissimilar.

  She touched her lips, still able to feel Calum’s kiss in the elevator. If Alessia hadn’t arrived two days early, they’d be in bed together right at that moment. What would he be like? Proficient, certainly, but she also got the sense he’d be adventurous. His inappropriate touching of her at the dinner table was testament to his lack of care for rules or etiquette. Calum took what he wanted when he wanted it.

  A delicious shiver crept up her spine. They’d had to delay, not cancel. It would make their eventual coming together all the sweeter.

  On impulse, she grabbed her cell and sent him a text: How was the shower?

  He didn’t take long to reply: Lonely.

  She smiled to herself and was wondering whether she should respond when he sent another: How’s your sister?

  His interest and concern surprised her. The more she got to know him, the more she realized she’d misjudged him initially, although he had more than his fair share of culpability for her original beliefs.

  She texted: Hormonal. Alessia likes to overdramatize everything.

  When he didn’t reply, she sent another: I’m sorry the evening ended the way it did.

  She stared at her cell, willing a reply. When it came, she knew it was a text she’d keep forever: It might not have ended with me buried deep inside you, but you’re still mine, Ricci.

  She hugged herself and tapped out a response: Noted. Goodnight, Calum.

  Night, beautiful came the reply.

  A couple of hours later, Laurella shook off her tiredness and dialed her father’s number. He answered immediately, and the moment she heard his voice, her homesickness became almost unbearable.

  “Laurella, tesoro. How are you, my girl?”

  “I’m good, Papa. You sound very chirpy this morning.” That won’t last long.

  “Your voice would brighten the lowest of spirits. But it’s late there now, no? Why aren’t you in bed?”

  She decided to plunge straight in. Delaying tactics would only make her dread grow. “Papa, when I came home this evening,
I found Alessia waiting for me.”

  There was a gasp down the line. “But she’s not coming to you until Sunday.”

  “She changed her flight.”

  “Put her on the phone,” he demanded. Her father’s tone had grown deep and serious, his earlier levity blown away like a leaf on a breeze.

  “She’s sleeping. I’ll get her to call you in a few hours. She wanted me to talk to you about college.”

  “Pah,” her father said. Laurella could imagine him slicing his hand through the air in a dismissive fashion. “She thinks she can’t survive without that boy, Gianni. But she hasn’t lived. How can she possibly know what she wants?”

  “Papa, I know you want to protect us, but sometimes we have to make our own mistakes. Otherwise, how will we learn?”

  “I allowed you to make your own mistakes. And what did that bring? Alberto Vorino. I couldn’t protect you then, but I can protect Alessia now.”

  Laurella sucked in a breath and doubled over as if she’d been punched in the stomach. She squeezed her eyes closed, memories Calum had stirred up with his questioning in Chicago coming to the fore. “You can’t compare a young boy like Gianni to gentaglia like Alberto Vorino.”

  “Maybe not,” he replied. “But Alessia isn’t ready to forge her way forth on her own yet.”

  “Papa, she’s eighteen.”

  “A young eighteen,” he said firmly. “You were born thirty, yet still things happened.”

  “Papa, please,” she whispered. “I don’t want to talk about that time.”

  Especially now, when I’ve found a man who might have a chance of repairing my shattered soul.

  “And even if Alessia goes to college in Milan, you can’t be with her every minute of every day. Just consider letting her go to Rome. Maybe compromise on the first year until she proves you can trust her. You could get her to call you every night. If you smother her, she’ll fight. You know how headstrong she is.”

  Silence greeted her, but then her father let out a soft sigh of capitulation. “Okay. She can go, but I don’t like it, Laurella. And you tell that girl to call me when she wakes. It’s a good job she’s staying with you for the next few days. It will give me chance to calm down.”