by Hart, Taylor
Will’s nostrils flared in challenge. “Right.”
“You wanna go, bro?” Dipping his shoulder, Tom rammed Will in the gut and knocked him flat on his butt.
Will jumped off his back ninja style and landed a kick in Tom’s chest. He wagged his finger at Tom. “Destiny, man. She is your destiny!”
Tom struck his hand and deflected a hit. The brothers went into MMA fighting positions and started to circle, as they’d always done their whole lives. Sure, Will might have an inch and twenty pounds on him, but Tom was a fighter. He knew how to leverage, and he wasn’t afraid to do it. “Better watch that shoulder.”
“Oh, yeah!” A glimmer of happiness flickered across Will’s face. He always loved to fight. “You think you can get close to it?”
Tom waited, patient, knowing his brother wouldn’t wait very long and he would lose because of it.
Swiveling one way, then juking another like he had a ball and was going to get past Tom, Will landed a punch to Tom’s gut.
Tom retaliated with a punch to Will’s jaw, sparing his shoulder.
They both backed up, and Tom had to gasp for a breath. They weren’t landing the punches hard, but it still hurt.
“I believe I make my own destiny.” Tom glared at his brother. “And Emily Times isn’t part of it.”
Will broke his stance and kept one hand up in order to deflect anything coming. “You’ve never gotten over her. You’ve tried,” he said, letting out another sardonic chuckle. “Maybe you haven’t dated as many women as me, but you’ve dated enough. And you’ve never found another Emily, have you? So just face it like a man and take her to the stupid rehearsal dinner tonight and the wedding tomorrow.”
Tom hiked up in the air and did a swing kick, but Will stepped out of the way. With a scowl, Tom landed on his feet and bent down to dodge one of Will’s kicks. “Man, I hate you.”
Will laughed. “And you love me. That’s what brothers do.”
The surliness of the fight evaporated. They sized each other up, both with respect radiating in their eyes.
Will pointed at him. “I’d take your second chance and let the island bring you back together.” His tone had taken on a Jamaican accent. “It’s best for you, mon.”
“We’re in Hawaii, not Jamaica.”
Will shrugged. “I don’t care.”
Tom glared at him. Of course Will would do this. Just like all of his brothers tried to force him into things whenever they thought they were right. “Look, I’m not little anymore, and you don’t have to think you’re taking care of me, okay?”
Even though Will was barely eighteen months older, he’d always taken his role as big bro very seriously. When their father had passed, Tom remembered needing his brothers so badly. Needing his mother too, but she had to work a lot, and the brothers were serious about helping their mother. Zane, only fourteen at the time, had taken to making a schedule of house chores and then dinners and making sure someone helped Tom learn how to be independent, make his lunches, and so on. Will had often been the one to have to be with Tom because they were closest in age.
Will frowned. “I don’t think I have to take care of you.” He crossed his arms, releasing his own breath. “The bros and I talk, and yeah, okay, we are worried about you. You haven’t really cared for anyone for a long time.”
“Pot calling the kettle black,” Tom retorted.
“The girl I wanted to marry didn’t show up on the island, did she?” Will asked. “Have you run into her?”
“I’m fine.”
“Not true. You had a fake date two Christmases ago, and don’t deny it.”
“I brought someone. You didn’t.”
Will rolled his eyes. “She was a last-minute date you brought so you didn’t have to face us without anyone.”
It was true, and it annoyed Tom that Will was right. He thought of how he’d begged Carrie to go even though they’d only gone out a couple of times. He shrugged noncommittally and walked toward the sliding glass door, opening it and moving out to the deck. From here, he could see that the resort was crowded with kids and parents in the pools and on the beach.
Will leaned against the rail next to him. “I think the question you need to ask yourself is, do you take the opening in the defense when you see it?”
Tom grunted. “I kissed her.”
“Whaat?” Will put both hands up. “Yeah, bro.”
He remembered how amazing it had been. “It was awesome.”
Will let out a breath. “Of course it was.”
Tom stared back out at the view of the ocean. “She had a serious boyfriend up until this morning.”
“Of course she did. She’s Emily Times. Perfect. Put together. Men fall all over themselves around her.” Will nudged him. “None of us ever knew what she saw in you.”
Tom let out a laugh. “I didn’t either.”
Will poked him hard in the chest. “Ah, don’t be so modest. You’re a freaking hero now. Maybe an idiot in high school, I’ll give you that. But now you’re running into burning buildings and all that. So you kinda pushed past all the stereotypes, didn’t you?”
Tom dismissed his brother’s words. “Not a hero.”
“You served your country. You did the Kents proud. Like I said, you run into burning buildings, bro, so I think hero is part of your schtick. Plus,” Will continued, “We are Kents. Mom and Dad raised us right.”
Tom didn’t like the word hero, but he couldn’t argue the point about their parents.
“Mind you, I’m only forgiving Emily for breaking your heart because you still love her.” Will sighed. “And her dad messed her up when he left.”
His words smarted against Tom’s tenuous feelings. But it was true. She’d admitted it. All of it came together in his mind. Yes, she’d been afraid of losing Tom, just like she’d lost her father. “Hmm.”
“Take the opening, my man.” Will grunted and smacked his back. “Run through it, pick up your woman, and take her to the end zone.”
Tom laughed. “Yeah, okay, whatever.”
“Do what you want, but I just have one question for you.”
“Hmm?”
“Was the kiss a good one?”
Tom let out a sigh.
“I’m serious.”
Tom thought of the kiss, then held his brother’s gaze. “The best kiss of my life.”
Will roared out another laugh. “Gotta go.” He patted Tom on the cheek and went to open the sliding door. “Good luck.”
“Will.” Tom didn’t turn back.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
Will sighed. “It’s just what big bros do.” Then he was gone.
Tom stayed out on the patio for a bit, watching the families, unable to get that kiss out of his mind. He couldn’t forget Emily’s smell or the way she felt against him.
His phone buzzed, and he saw he’d received a text from Trina. Hmph, Will must have given her his number.
Details of tonight’s dinner and tomorrow’s wedding showed up. Be at her place by five forty-five for dinner. You know how punctual she is.
Tom grinned and thought about how stubborn Trina was. With a new surge of determination, he stared out at the ocean. He would fulfill his destiny, and he would make Emily realize that her only regret was that her lips weren’t on his.
* * *
When Emily had opened the door at five forty-five, she’d clearly been surprised. In response, Tom had smiled and said, “Trina.”
“Of course it’s Trina.” The side of her lip went up. “Thank you.”
He wanted so badly to pull her in for a kiss as he surveyed her smoking-hot red halter dress and gold heels that made her a good three inches taller. “It’s just about the deal.”
She straightened herself. “Yes, you’re exactly the kind of man who only cares about that.”
He didn’t know what she meant, but he offered her his arm. “Then shall we?”
Now, as they strolled toward a lit-up cabana and t
ables on the beach, he saw little Christmas trees set up with pretend snow on them. “Wow, Christmas in Hawaii. Who would have thought?”
Her eyes met his, and time slowed. “I know,” she said. A smile warmed her face. “Do you remember what we wanted to do more than anything?”
He laughed, thinking how they’d had it all planned out. “Build a castle based on the theme of Back to the Future.”
She laughed too. “We had it all planned out.”
“Like how we would fashion the DeLorean.” Tom snapped his fingers, and she muffled a giggle. With a start, he realized they were talking about the past and it didn’t hurt like it used to. He sighed. “Man, the hours we would spend watching those movies.”
“Do you remember your Biff impersonation?”
He grinned. “I’m not doing that.”
She nudged him. “Please.”
Pausing by one of the little Christmas trees a couple of feet before the main tent, Tom turned toward the tree, taking on the voice of Biff. “Why don’t you make like a tree and get out of here?”
She giggled into him, and he loved it.
Tom glanced at the tree and saw it was decorated with Christmas paraphernalia: fake little reindeer, ribbons, and mistletoe. He tugged out a piece of mistletoe and held it over her head. “You can’t say no to mistletoe.” He didn’t know why he was doing this, but he was in a silly mood after talking about Back to the Future.
Surprising him, she leaned up and brushed her lips to his.
The moment was electric, and he had to force himself not to yank her in and lock lips with her like he’d done earlier.
She put her finger to his lips. “We have to make this a believable second-chance story, right?”
Desire filled Tom. All he knew was that Emily Times was somehow back in his life, and he wasn’t about to let her go. “Of course.” He took her hand and more confidently walked toward the tent. “Where do you want to sit?”
Emily was already waving to people. She pasted on a smile. “Over here.”
He knew they were at the right table when shrill girl giggles pierced the air. Everyone else was already seated, and Emily introduced him to a woman named Melissa, who was the first over. Melissa wasn’t shy about hugging Emily and then wrapping her arms around him, giving him a swift up-and-down look. “Hey …” She looked to Emily for a name.
Emily let out an awkward laugh and put her hand on Melissa’s. “This is Tom,” she told everyone.
He saw the questioning look in her friends’ eyes, but they were discreet.
Emily’s face looked serene, and Tom noticed she was more polished when she was prepared. “Tom is a firefighter.” He noted she didn’t tell them anything else.
The women let out a chorus of oohs and ahs. “Are you in any calendars?” one of her friends asked.
Emily cleared her throat in embarrassment. She motioned to the redhead. “This is Alice.”
Alice winked at him before licking her lips. She cocked an eyebrow. “You look like you could be in a calendar.” She snapped her fingers. “Oh my gosh, he’s a Kent brother!” With an accusing look, she asked Emily, “You brought a Kent brother?”
Emily’s face turned red.
Alice swung back to him. “Are you a Kent brother?”
“Uh, yeah,” he said, taken off guard. Her friends chuckled, but Tom felt embarrassed at the show Alice made.
Alice’s boyfriend, Sean, put his hand out and laughed at Alice. “Sorry about her.”
Tom shook his hand, but Alice was giving Emily a look that Tom had only seen in hostage negotiations. “You knew him, and you never told us? And I go off about them all the time.”
Emily’s face was even redder. “Stop, Alice.”
Emily turned to some other friends, Eden and her boyfriend Jon. They sat next to them, and he soon discovered Eden was also very into all of his brothers.
“Your date is famous,” Eden said, drawing attention from the rest of the group they were sitting with. “He’s a Kent brother.”
“That’s right.” Alice wiggled her nose at him. “The firefighter. I remember reading you were single.” Her eyes widened. “Em has been keeping secrets from us, Melissa and Eden.”
Tom was starting to understand how trophy wives must feel. Sure, he’d been in the article, but he’d never heard women openly say things like this.
Emily frowned at Alice. “Oh, shush.”
The group laughed.
Alice still leered at him. “Much better than Brett.” She scrunched her nose up.
Tom glanced at Alice’s boyfriend, but he just shrugged. Mercifully, a waiter took that moment to approach, and they all ordered dinner.
Tom had thought this would be easier than it was turning out to be. Playful banter was nothing new to him, but the way these people spoke about him and his brothers like he wasn’t sitting right here … it didn’t sit right.
“Did you hear how Walker did that bachelor auction? Ah, I wish someone would organize one of those in New York,” said Melissa.
“Right,” agreed Alice, still looking at him like he was a piece of meat.
He tried to focus on the ocean and longed to take a walk down the beach. He took a sip of water. Could this night get any worse?
Before he knew it, Melissa’s boyfriend, George, started talking about stocks. He was an investment banker. “What do you think of the price of DOMO? It tanked when it first came out, but it’s making a comeback.”
“Uh, I’m not sure. What do you think?” Tom pretended to be interested in the conversation.
Other guests were seated at the surrounding tables, with more little Christmas trees scattered among them. There were quite a lot of people, and he wondered how many were from the firm.
Dinner was served, and they all kept up light conversation. Emily’s friends teased Tom like they’d been waiting for this moment all their lives.
Emily leaned over. “Sorry about them. It might have been easier if we’d said you were someone else.”
Tom balked at this. “I told you I only deal in the truth.” Spontaneously, he took her hand and kissed the back of it.
Once again, she blushed, and he remembered how easy it was to elicit this response from her. A smile played at her lips.
“Thank you all for coming.” A man who looked to be in his late fifties stood with a microphone at the head table. The guy held his hand out, and a striking blonde, dressed to the nines with very skimpy clothes, stood next to him. “Kitty and I are so happy to be sharing this event with you.”
Kitty snuggled in and kissed his cheek.
“Even though it’s not my first wedding, it’s going to be my last.”
Kitty took his hand and leaned into the microphone. “Mine too, baby.”
Mr. Owens peered deeply into her eyes. “Kitty deserves it. Kitty deserves everything.”
Then Kitty threw herself at him, smothering him with a flagrant kiss. He dropped the mic, and everyone let out little chuckles.
Emily glanced at Tom, amusement on her face.
Mr. Owens recovered, picking up the mic. “She loves me,” he said, and everyone laughed harder.
Kitty let out a little giggle and wiped his cheek where she’d gotten lipstick on it. “You’re so sweet.”
Beaming, Mr. Owens gestured to the band. “So eat dinner, enjoy the band, mingle, and have fun! And come say hi. Hint, hint!” The room broke into applause, and the band went from playing soft ballads to a Bon Jovi song about last chances.
Eden started clapping, and Tom glanced at her. It looked like she had tears in her eyes. “That’s so beautiful. I’m so happy for Mr. Owens.”
Alice snorted. “I’m never getting married.” Tom noted her boyfriend didn’t protest.
Melissa sniffed. “I can’t wait until our special day, baby.” She stroked George’s face.
He pulled her in and kissed her, and it turned into a full make-out session.
Emily lifted her eyebrows at Tom. “Well, then,” she whis
pered, taking a swig of her water.
Tom felt a foot tap against his leg. Casually, he looked beneath the table. It wasn’t Emily’s foot.
Someone cleared their throat, and when he looked up, he saw Alice smiling at him like a Cheshire cat. In response, he scooted his chair back and loosely put his arm around Emily’s chair. Emily turned and gave him a sweet smile. Dang, he loved being with her again.
Luckily, Alice quit touching his leg after that.
Melissa suddenly got up and waved everyone up and over to the other side of the cabana, where there was a wood floor and space to dance. “Come on, everyone. Let’s dance.”
A slow song came on, and the music got louder.
Tom watched the others get up and stood, holding out his hand to Emily. “What do you say?”
She hesitated before nodding. “Let’s do it.”
Transported back to senior prom, Tom pulled her out onto the floor. He couldn’t believe they were really dancing together. Emily glanced up at him, and their eyes held for a moment. She looked every bit the beautiful Emily Times he’d always loved. His mouth went dry, and he realized being this close to her only proved what Will had told him: he’d never gotten over her.
She looked at his lips, and his heart thumped. He thought of how they’d made out during the last song of the night at senior prom. Emily leaned into him, and he felt her rest her head on his shoulder.
Every part of him felt awake and alive and somehow relaxed with her next to him. Somehow—even though no one else knew that she was almost his wife at one point—somehow, for the first time since she’d told him no, it felt like it might all work out.
Chapter 14
Being this close to Tom Kent was a bad idea. Staring up into his eyes made her forget how terrified she was to face the future without him. Made her forget her own father leaving and her mother having a nervous breakdown. Made her forget how much she’d cried on that trip to Yale.
“You’re overthinking something, so why don’t you just put your head back down on my shoulder and relax.”
She leaned into him, laying her head on his shoulder. He was right. Her mind buzzed with a million questions about his life, questions she’d been pondering all day. Forcing herself to keep her head on his shoulder, she sucked in a breath, trying to relax and enjoy this moment.
