by Marie Force
“Ethan told me about his dad.”
She gasped and raised her head off his chest. “What did he tell you?”
“That he’s in jail.”
“How long have you known that?”
“A couple of days.”
“And you didn’t say anything?”
“It’s none of my business.”
She covered her mouth with her hand, and in the faint light of the moon, he could see her shaking her head. Her hand dropped to her lap. “How can you say that? I kept it from you and Alex when you hired me—”
“You have no criminal record, Hope. We checked. Whatever he did, I assume it had nothing to do with you.”
“Oh, it had everything to do with me.”
Paul’s stomach knotted with tension. “Are you going to tell me what you mean by that?”
“Could we go inside? It’s getting cold out here.”
Paul was practically naked, but he wasn’t cold at all. However, he noticed she was trembling. He doubted that had anything to do with the temperature. As he got up to go inside, he was thankful she hadn’t sent him away.
He followed her inside to the sofa, sat next to her and pulled a throw blanket over her. It took all the fortitude he could muster not to press her to talk about things that obviously caused her pain. If she wanted to tell him, he would happily hear her out, but he was not about to push her.
“Carl and I met when we were in college,” she said with a deep sigh that told him how hard it was for her to talk about this. “I was studying nursing, and he majored in sports medicine. He was so different from the other guys I’d dated. He was serious and focused and determined to make something of himself. We got married right out of college and had Ethan a year later. We tried to have other kids, but it never happened. I guess that turned out to be a blessing in the end.”
Paul had so many questions that he didn’t ask, hoping she would keep talking.
“He got a great job working for a college outside of Boston, and he coached girls’ lacrosse at our local high school. I worked for a memory care facility at night, so I was home with Ethan during the day.”
Paul wanted to ask when she slept, but he didn’t want to interrupt her.
“It was a busy life, but a nice one. We had a lovely home south of Boston. We had good friends and family close by. We weren’t rich, by any means, but we had enough left over to take a couple of vacations every year. And I was happy with him. A lot of my friends were bitter toward their husbands, always complaining about this or that, but not me. I was in love with my husband.”
New tears slid down her cheeks, and Paul brushed them away.
“I was at work when the police came. They said something about Carl, and I immediately thought he was dead. Why else would they come to find me at work? But he wasn’t dead. He’d been arrested for having sex with one of the girls on the lacrosse team.”
Paul sucked in a sharp deep breath.
“She was fifteen, and when her parents found out, they called the police. They came to me to find out what I knew, which was nothing. I was so shocked, I couldn’t speak or breathe or function. I ended up in the hospital for a night because I apparently had a panic attack. I couldn’t believe it. I thought there had to be some mistake. My Carl would never do something like that.”
Paul’s mind raced with thoughts and questions and rage for what the man she’d loved had put her through.
“Then we found out that girl wasn’t the only one. There were four of them in total. During his trial, I found out he’d had a vasectomy so he wouldn’t get them pregnant. That’s why we never had more kids.”
“Dear God,” Paul whispered.
“I can only imagine what you must be thinking.”
“I’m only thinking about you and Ethan and what you must’ve endured. I’m thinking how sorry I am that you had to go through something so horrible and how terribly hurt you must’ve been by someone you trusted and loved.”
A sob hiccupped through her as she took hold of his hand. “People were vicious. It didn’t matter that Ethan and I had nothing to do with what Carl did. We were lumped into the same boat with him. I was asked to resign from my job because my situation was a ‘distraction.’ We lost our house when I couldn’t make the mortgage payments, and Ethan’s friends weren’t allowed to play with him anymore.”
“I’m so sorry, Hope.”
She shrugged off his sympathy.
“I have to be honest with you. After we had some trouble with the former manager of the retail store, we investigate everyone we hire. None of this came up when we looked into you before we hired you.”
“Russell is my maiden name. I legally changed my name and Ethan’s after Carl was convicted.”
“I can’t say I blame you.”
“I should’ve disclosed this—”
He squeezed her hand. “No. There was no need for you to do that. Your professional references were impeccable, and your background check was clean. You didn’t owe us anything more than that.”
“Really?”
“Really. Your business is your business, and it has no impact on the amazing way you take care of my mother.”
“Alex might not agree.”
“Yes, he will. He thinks you’re amazing, too.”
When her chin quivered, Paul cupped her cheek and ran his thumb over her chin. “Why were you crying earlier? What happened?”
She glanced up at him with a tremulous smile. “You happened.”
“Me? I thought you said this wasn’t going to work.”
“I did, and I meant it because I’m still so messed up over everything with Carl. It wouldn’t be fair to get involved with you—”
“Do you still love him?”
“No. God, no.”
Paul didn’t think. He acted, laying his lips over hers. For the longest time, he did nothing more than rub his lips against hers, hoping she was getting the message that even knowing what he now did, he still wanted her. In fact, if possible, he wanted her more after hearing what she’d survived.
Tears tumbled down her cheeks, but her hand wrapped around his wrist, holding him close rather than pushing him away.
“I’m scared,” she said.
“Of what? You’re not afraid of me, are you?”
She nodded.
“Hope… Why? I would never hurt you or Ethan. If I had you both in my life, I’d consider myself the luckiest guy in the world. Tell me why you’re scared.”
“I had no idea about Carl. I never even suspected. If I let myself go there again…”
“Carl was a bad guy. I’m not a bad guy. I’m not the best guy who ever lived, but I do the right thing most of the time. In fact, most of the men I know do, too.”
“I want so badly to believe you.”
“You can believe me. You can believe in me. I can’t promise you that whatever this is between us will last forever, but I can guarantee that I’ll never intentionally do anything to cause you or Ethan any more pain than you’ve already endured.”
Closing her eyes, she leaned into the hand he still had on her face. “I love the way you make me feel, Paul. I never thought I’d ever feel that way again.”
Paul kissed her, this time more insistently, sliding his tongue back and forth over her lips until they parted to allow him in. God, she was sweet and responsive and sexy. He was thankful that she’d told him about her past so he knew what he was dealing with.
Her arms encircled his neck as her tongue rubbed his, setting him on fire with desire. Instinct took over, leading him to arrange her under him without breaking the increasingly desperate kiss. The alignment of their bodies had his erection pressed against the heat of her core. He wanted to touch her there. He wanted to touch her everywhere. But more than anything, he wanted her to trust him, and that wasn’t going to happen overnight.
So he softened the kiss and kept his hands firmly planted on the sofa on either side of her head.
The scrape of her fingerna
ils over his scalp made him tremble.
“Why’d you stop?” she asked in a small voice.
“Same reason as last night. Because if I don’t stop, I won’t be able to.”
She squirmed under him, and he had to bite his lip to keep from moaning. “Paul…”
“We’re going to the mainland on Tuesday. We’ll have a day or two alone together. Between now and then, think about whether this is what you really want. And if you’re in, you have to be all-in. Okay?”
“All or nothing?”
“We can’t do this halfway, Hope. It wouldn’t be fair to any of us, particularly Ethan.”
“You’re right. I know you are, but if we’re going all-in, you need to talk to Alex about it.”
“I will.” Though it was literally painful to tear himself away from her, he pushed up and withdrew. He offered her a hand and helped her sit up, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Are you okay?”
“I’m better. Thank you for listening.”
“I’m sorry for everything you went through, but that has nothing at all to do with us. Okay?”
“Okay,” she said tentatively, letting him know it would take a while before she truly believed him.
That was fine. He had nothing but time that he was willing to give her until she realized he was nothing like the man who’d hurt her so badly. Paul kissed her one more time. “I’ll go to the funeral with you in the morning. I don’t want you to go through that alone”
“That’s really nice of you. Thanks.”
“You’re going to figure out that you can count on me, Hope. I’ll see you in the morning.” He kissed her forehead and got up, forcing himself to walk away, to give her the time to decide if this was what she really wanted. And if she decided it wasn’t? What then? Well, he’d have to accept it and move on, but at least he’d know why.
He took the steps to the back porch and went in through the screen door, stopping short at the sight of Alex, nude, standing in front of the open refrigerator, guzzling a bottle of seltzer water.
“What the hell?” Paul muttered, averting his gaze from his brother’s naked rear end.
Alex closed the fridge, killing the light. “Sorry. Where you been?” When the light over the stove came on, Alex was, thankfully, leaning against the counter.
“Outside.”
“In your underwear?”
“At least I’m wearing underwear.”
“I thought you were asleep.”
“It was a little too noisy around here to sleep.”
“Oh, um…” Alex flashed a big dopey grin. “Sorry again?”
“Hate to say I’m getting used to it, but…”
“We’re moving out next week.”
“Thank God,” Paul muttered.
“So you’re just walking around the backyard in your underwear?”
Paul debated for a second before he said, “Not exactly. I was over at Hope’s.”
“Again I say in your underwear?”
“We… She and I…”
“Oh my God, Paul. Seriously? Since when?”
“I don’t know yet if it’s serious. It’s new.”
“You have to know I’d never begrudge you the chance to be happy, but if she quits, we’ll be screwed.”
“Why would she quit?”
“If it goes bad between you guys? Hello?”
“I’ve already told her that whatever happens between us will never affect her job.”
“Paul… Dad would flip out.”
“Dad’s not here! You said that yourself just the other day. Or is the gospel according to Dad selectively applied?”
“I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry. I’m just surprised by this news. I hadn’t noticed…”
“You’ve been a little preoccupied lately.”
“I don’t want you to think I don’t approve, because that’s not the case. I like Hope and Ethan. They’re great, and she’s incredible with Mom. I’m only concerned about somehow messing that up when we need her so badly.”
“I’m not going to mess it up. I won’t let that happen.” As he said the words, he hoped they were true.
“Good enough, then.”
“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say?”
“If you were thinking I was going to be a dick about it, you’ll be disappointed. You know what you’re doing, and you know what’s at stake for everyone. What else do you want me to say?”
“Nothing, I guess.”
“I hope it works out. You deserve to be happy, Paul. I’d never stand in the way of that.”
“You’re right about one thing. Dad would flip out.”
“Like you said, Dad’s not here, and I can’t believe he’d feel any differently than I do, especially after all you’ve sacrificed for this family over the last few years.”
Alex’s kind words left a lump in Paul’s throat. “Thanks,” he said gruffly. “I’m going to take a couple of hours in the morning to go to Lisa’s funeral with Hope. Daisy is off tomorrow and coming to stay with Mom while Hope is gone.”
“And you guys are still heading for the mainland on Tuesday?”
“That’s the plan, but don’t worry, I’ll be back in plenty of time for the festivities on Saturday.”
“Great,” Alex said with a laugh. “Just remember—what goes around comes around. Someday it’ll be your turn, and revenge is a bitch.”
“I’ll take my chances. I’m covering my eyes to give you a chance to get out of here without leaving me with images that can’t be unseen.”
“I’m gone. See you in the morning.”
Paul kept his eyes covered until he heard Alex’s bedroom door close. Then he dropped his hands, shut off the light and headed for bed, hoping the progress he’d made with Hope tonight wouldn’t disappear in the morning.
Chapter 11
Still reeling from what he’d learned in the kitchen, Alex got back into bed with Jenny.
She slid into his arms. “What took so long?”
“Paul came in from the yard wearing only underwear. I had to get the scoop.”
“Is there scoop?”
“Oh yeah. He was at Hope’s.”
“Wearing only underwear?”
“Yep.”
“So does that mean… Paul and Hope?”
“Apparently.”
“Wow, how did we miss that?”
Alex squeezed her sexy ass. “We’ve been a little busy.”
She crawled on top of him and used his chest as a pillow.
Alex loved the way she fit so perfectly in his arms, as if she’d been made just for him.
“How do you feel about that? With her being an employee and all?”
“You’re an employee,” he said with a chuckle.
“I was your girlfriend before I was an employee.”
“My dad had a thing about us dating employees.”
“I remember you saying that before.”
“I made the mistake of reminding Paul of that just now. I shouldn’t have done that. I could tell he’s already been wrestling with it himself.”
“Your dad would be so proud of both of you. I feel like I’ve gotten to know him through you and Paul and your mom, so I can say that fairly confidently.”
“God, I hope so. We loved him so much. We were scared of him, too, which I now know was part of his master plan to raise decent men.”
“He did a great job at that.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“Everyone thinks so. What you guys have done for your mom while keeping the business afloat is nothing short of heroic.”
“I don’t know about that. We did what anyone would do for their mother.”
“That’s not true, Alex. Lots of people would’ve put her in a home on the mainland and gone on with their lives. That would’ve been the easy thing to do.”
“We never considered that.”
“Which makes you two extraordinary, especially with a booming business to run, too.”
<
br /> “I’ve never felt it was extraordinary. It’s what family does for family.”
Jenny sighed and kissed his chest. “I can’t wait to officially join the Martinez family.”
“Are you starting to believe it’s actually going to happen?”
“I’m getting there.”
“I want you to relax and enjoy the next couple of weeks. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Intellectually, I know that. Emotionally, however…”
“I know, baby. I can’t wait to see you coming toward me on the arm of your dad so I can say, ‘Told ya so. It’s all good.’”
“I can’t wait for you to say that.”
“I want you to talk to me whenever you’re worried or upset about anything. I never want you to struggle with something by yourself. You’re not alone anymore. You’ll never be alone again.”
Jenny pushed herself up so she could reach his lips and kissed him. “That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said.”
He scowled at her. “I am not sweet.”
“Yes, you are.”
“You’re turning me into a regular pussy.”
She slapped his chest. “Don’t say that word! I hate it.”
“What word? Regular?”
“You know what word.”
He knew exactly what word and said it and others she hated regularly because she was so damned cute when she got pissed with him. “You’re going to have to tell me, because I’m not sure which word you’re talking about.”
“Knock it off. Quit trying to get me to say things I never say.”
“You can do it. Come on… Just say it.”
“I won’t.”
“I can make you.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
He shuddered dramatically. “I get so hot when you go all Southern belle on me.”
Rolling her eyes, she said, “Whatever. As far as I can tell, you’re hot all the time.”
“I’m hot for you all the time.”
“Even now?” she asked, moving on top of him with deliberate purpose.
“Mmm, especially now.” His hands moved from her hips to her breasts. After so many months together, he knew just what it took to turn her on, and he loved knowing her secrets.
