Blay nodded and swallowed hard. "I know. I think I'm going to head down to my apartment. ‘Night everyone."
Rory stood without hesitation. "I'll come with you." He put his hand on Blay's shoulder when the guy opened his mouth. "Shut up. I'm coming. Deal with it."
"Damn, I didn't mean to break up the party." Sean scrubbed his face with his hands.
"Man, didn't you hear what the 'rents just said?" Brody folded the best hand he'd had in years. "You didn't cause this. That bastard who started the building on fire did."
"Do you ever think we'll get ahead of them?" Kyle asked. "The ones selling the drugs, setting the fires, killing the innocents?"
Quiet enveloped the room for several minutes before Chauncey replied. "I have to believe it. It's the reason I clip on my badge every morning. When I'm done, I want to look back and say I gave everything I could so people in this city were able to live without fear."
Colm nodded. "It's all we can hope for."
Brody raised his glass. "To what we hope for, to those who serve to achieve it, and the people who support us while we do it."
The men all lifted their glasses. Hope filled his chest. With men like the ones in this room, the city had a fighting chance.
Amber sat across the counter from Hannah King and Sharon McBride. The women were amazing to watch.
"Do you think they've done this a time or two before?" Kallie King, her newly minted sister-in-law, leaned in and filled her wine glass after pouring a bourbon for herself.
"You'd think it was their kitchen." The women danced around each other as they worked to finish an array of treats.
"Right?" Kallie reached across the counter and snagged the tray containing the meat, cheese and crackers, moving it closer toward them. "I haven't eaten since breakfast." She grabbed two crackers and made a quick sandwich. "Hannah, are you sure you don't want any help?"
"You relax. Sharon and I have this. Amber, honey, where did you put the dessert box you brought in?"
"Here it is!" Sharon removed it from the bottom of the refrigerator. "Oh, Amber! Thank you!" Sharon spun as she opened the box. "I know you had to go all the way across town to get these!"
"You and Hannah adore the cannoli from De Palma’s." The mini cannoli were fabulous, and she liked to be able to treat the two older women. "I had to go over there to drop off Gage. He's so excited about camping this weekend."
Hannah laughed. "We had a blast pulling the old tent from the garage and puzzling together a way to set it up. That boy is so smart. I'd still be on the lawn trying to make all the pieces fit."
"Thank you again for letting him use it."
"He can have it! I have reached the age where my idea of camping is falling asleep on the couch."
Sharon pointed to the living room. "Have you tried Tara's couch?"
"What about my couch?" Tara asked when she and Brianna walked in the kitchen. "Hey, can all of you come every weeknight and do the cooking?"
"Kallie is a better cook than I am." Amber volunteered her sister-in-law immediately.
"Hey!" Kallie grabbed the wine bottle she’d used to fill Amber's glass and slid it away from her.
Brianna grabbed the bottle and poured herself a glass. "Where are the princesses?"
Sharon McBride answered. "Let's see, Bekki said she was going to be a little late, and she was going to pick up Erin from the clinic on the way here. Caitlyn is out back with Colleen. What have you two been up to?"
Tara leaned over the counter and grabbed a wine glass, holding it for Brianna to fill. "We were talking about how slow the city council was in addressing any new initiatives. Brie has worked hard to address all the issues and concerns they've thrown in the way of her idea to help feed the homeless in the shelters."
Amber stopped with a cracker halfway to her mouth. "Wait, I'm lost. What initiative is that?"
Brianna sat down on a stool next to her. "At the restaurant we have excess at the end of each night. Every restaurant does. Some things can't be shoved into a refrigerator and used again the next day. So I thought a few restaurants in the area would be willing to band together and put the leftovers into disposable containers, labeling the top with the contents to avoid any food allergies. The local businesses like mine could use the donation write off, but the main reason is because we are throwing away food which could be used to provide a meal to the local shelters. If we are allowed to proceed, we could provide the template for the rest of the city. Hunger could be wiped out at the shelters."
"And if there is enough support, we could start to provide for the ones who don't live in the shelter."
"Like what?" Kallie cocked her head, questioning the two women.
Amber got it. The inherent dangers of dealing with the homeless was probably front and center in her mind, too.
"Well, for instance, the Cardboard Cottages. We could take a food truck once a day and provide meals. Until the food ran out." Brianna shrugged. "But that's a pipe dream right now, and the first hurdle is getting the council to approve my initiative on a trial basis."
Amber and Kallie exchanged glances.
"What? What is it? I saw that look." Brianna wagged her finger between them.
Kallie nodded to her.
"Well, it's a noble effort, but if you ever do extend the service to places like the Cardboard Cottages, please coordinate security. While some of the people who live in those environments are down on their luck..." She glanced at Tara, knowing the woman was a social worker.
Tara sighed and stared at her wine. "I know. The homeless population has a problem with drugs."
Kallie nodded. "Among so many other problems. I agree with Amber. If you do ever get to that point, please consider security. Even if it is a rent-a-cop, the presence of security would keep things from devolving."
Brianna elevated her glass to her lips and took a sip of the wine. "So, to get off this depressing topic, I met someone."
Every woman in the house turned toward her. "What?" Hannah gasped.
Brianna's cheeks turned a dark rose color. "It's really new, Mom. About three weeks, but I really like him."
"What's his name?"
"What does he do?"
"Where did you meet him?"
"Is it serious?"
Brianna threw back her head and laughed as each woman asked a question at the same time. "Well, I met him at Chester's gym."
"Sorry it didn't work out." Sharon grimaced. "I didn't know he was dating anyone."
"No worries. I loved his gym, and he's a great guy who's perfect for Gretchen."
Tara whipped her head around. "Mom! Are you setting up Hannah's girls now?"
Sharon and Hannah giggled, and Sharon waved off Tara's comment. "I helped Hannah by introducing a mutual friend."
Hannah leaned on the counter and stared at Brie. "What is his name?"
"Ryker."
Amber swallowed her wine and coughed when it went down the wrong tube. Kallie whapped her on the back. Hell, Ryker was a common name, right? Maybe? "You going to live?"
"If you stop hitting me, yeah." Amber laughed as she grabbed Kallie's arm.
"Wimp." Kallie mumbled under her breath and then laughed. The woman's laugh encompassed her entire body and nobody in the vicinity could resist joining in.
"What's his last name?" Amber asked when she could breathe again.
"Terrell. Why, do you know him?" Brianna turned to her and Kallie. No one else could see her face. Her eyes were huge, and the face she made, well the only thing Amber could take away was a silent plea for them to remain silent on just who Ryker Terrell was.
"Ah… the name's very familiar." Amber dropped her eyes and busied herself with a cracker and cheese.
"I'm sure I've heard it somewhere before." Kallie kneed her under the counter. "Sounds like a movie star."
"What does he do?" Sharon asked.
"Ah, he's in management." Brianna shrugged. "But he's been on vacation for the last three weeks. We've worked out together and had a few
meals." Amber watched Brie carefully, and if the blush rising up her neck was any indication, they'd done more than eat a few meals together. Kallie knocked her knee again. She extended her middle finger under the countertop away from everyone else’s view but Kallie's. Her sister-in-law laughed again. God, she loved the woman next to her. She and Kallie were two peas in the same pod.
Hannah clapped her hands together. "Can we meet him?"
Brie opened her mouth and then closed it. She took a deep breath and faced her mom full on. "You know I love you, right?"
"Yes..." Hannah stretched the word out in response.
"Listen, I really like this guy. I'd like to have the space to see if it is going to work. No family yet. If the guys get wind of this, you know what will happen."
Tara snorted. "They ganged up on Carter. My brothers and yours."
"The boys?" Hannah's hand went to her necklace. "They didn't!"
"Yes, the boys did, Mom. They always do, and if either of you tell the dads, the boys are going to find out and then... I want some time, Mom. He's special. I really like him." Brianna smiled softly. "I promise when I know he feels the same way, I'll introduce you to him. But please, Mom. No hover-copter action."
Hannah blinked and then stated, "I don't hover."
Amber and Kallie faked choking on their drinks, and Brianna and Tara burst out laughing. Hannah's eyes opened wide, and she reached for her best friend. "Sharon, I think I may be insulted."
"Hannah, sweetie. You do tend to get into your children's affairs."
"But only with the best of intentions." Hannah's eyes went wide.
"Okay, Mom. Please, I promise I will tell you everything, and I'll even go one step further. I'll call you once a day to let you know how I'm doing. But please, give me the space to see if this is what I think it could be."
"I can do that, honey." Hannah embraced her oldest daughter. Amber and Kallie sniggered behind their glasses when Hannah crossed her fingers behind Brie's back.
"Oh, and for the love of God, don't tell Bekki. He does not need an investigative reporter shoving a mic up his––"
"Brianna!" Hannah scolded before Brie finished the sentence.
Brianna huffed, "I was going to say... nose."
Amber and Kallie laughed again. Brie sent them a withering glance which made them laugh all the harder. When Kallie was able to control her laughter, she tipped her glass toward Amber. "Welcome to the insanity, my sister. We are in for one hell of a ride."
Amber clanked glasses with her sister-in-law and took a drink.
Hannah King flashed her a smile and winked before she took a drink of her own wine.
She'd already been on one hell of a ride, but she'd take another trip around the park with these women. Anytime.
Chapter 24
By the time he heard Amber come inside, he had the kitchen cleaned and the tables folded ready to take downstairs in the morning. He remained where he was, facing the harbor and watching the lights. She slipped up beside him, and he wrapped his arm around her. "Did you have a good time?" He dropped a kiss to her hair and smiled at the smell of alcohol on her breath.
"We had a great night."
"Tell me you didn't drive home."
"Nope. Kallie and I shared an Uber." She stepped in front of him and wrapped her arms around his waist before laying her head on his pec. He wrapped his arms around her. "She's crazy."
"Kallie?"
"Yep. They’re coming tomorrow night."
"Who? Brock and Kallie?"
"Yep." Amber nodded against his chest.
"When?"
"What?" She looked up at him.
"When are they coming over?"
"Who?"
"Brock and Kallie."
"Oh, yeah, they're coming over. I told you that, didn't I?"
He smiled and put a finger on her nose. Her eyes crossed trying to follow it. "How much did you have to drink?"
"I'm thinking... enough." She smiled up at him.
"I think you are correct."
"Brianna is in love." She slipped from his arms and slid her shirt off.
He caught the material when she tossed it to him. "Damn."
Amber ran her hands up her waist and higher where he saw the leopard print of her bra. That was new... and sheer... so damn sheer he could see her nipples poking against the shimmer of leopard print.
"Brianna."
"What?" He blinked at her face but dropped his eyes immediately when her hands dropped to her jeans. The button unanchored and the zipper peeled down. He could see the very top of her panties. Shit… they matched. She shimmied from her jeans, and he laughed. Her socks had a lace cuff and were the same leopard print. "Come here."
She moved toward him; her eyes dropped to the buttons of his shirt. "You are wearing too many clothes, Detective." Her fingers popped the buttons out of the holes easily. She pushed away the fabric and tongued his nipple. The feel of her velvet soft tongue on his skin aroused his already hard cock. He shrugged out of the button down and held on to her waist as she unbuckled his belt, unfastened his jeans and pushed the zipper down. Her smaller hand reached into the denim and sweet merciful heavens he saw stars.
She purred, "I want you."
"Here?" He shoved down his jeans and boxers, snagging his socks as he stomped out of the clothes. His cock strained, hard and ready for his wife. Damn, he loved the phrase. His. Wife. She was his until death do them part, and death was the only thing that could tear him from her.
"Yeah. The lights are out, and the harbor is so pretty. No one is going to see us. She urged him to the window and turned around, placing her hands on the glass. She arched her back and looked at him. "Come and get me, Detective."
The wanton smile would have sealed the deal, but no... Amber stepped away from the window while keeping her hands planted on the glass. She arched harder and damn, that ass of hers had magical powers because his feet moved as if commanded by another force. His hands traveled up the outside of her thighs, and he bent over her, nipping her shoulder. Her small gasp added fuel to the torrent of sensations, visual and physical, which inundated him. He trailed his fingers through the crease of her sex. She was hot and wet. Her hips bucked back into the touch. He stood straight behind her and traced the small elastic band of her panties. Too bad the tiny strip of material wouldn't be used again. He curled his fingers around the fabric and rent the panties into scraps. Amber gasped and then threw back her head in a sexy as hell laugh.
He dropped to his knees and spread her legs a bit more. He trailed his tongue up the inside of one thigh as his fingers found the top of her sex and started a slow assault on her clit. He licked a stripe through the heart of her and was rewarded with a low moan. Catching her as she pushed back, he doubled his efforts. Her thighs shook around him as he stimulated and teased. He wanted her to finish, because there was no way he was going to last. He reached down and tugged his balls away from his body. She bucked again and then seized repetitively. Her low, sexy sounds of need and release surrounded them, and it was a music he'd never tire of hearing. He stood behind her and gathered her away from the glass, wrapping her arms around his neck.
She threaded her fingers through his hair and when he bent his knees to position himself, she moaned and rose onto her toes. His shaft slid into her slick hot body and he had to stop moving or he'd be done before he started. He kissed her shoulder as his fingers pushed up the almost-there bra and rolled her hard, pebbled nipples. They said the 'I love yous' and the 'I need yous' every day. They worked on saying what they meant, never wanting another disaster to cost them time.
But words weren't necessary here. They'd be wasted. The communication between them at this level was the most basic and most intimate. They were one. He slowly retreated and then pushed back in. Her body moved with his, her hips moving as he slid forward and her back arching as he withdrew, trying to hold him inside her. He held her against him, her back against his chest. The softness of her curves enticed and enthralled him.
Her softness a perfect foil to the hard muscles of his body. He moved forward and she pushed back. Yes, God yes. She was his counterbalance. His stability and equilibrium against the world outside the window.
As he stared out the window, he saw their reflection, no... her reflection. Amber's face was soft and lost in their love. Her beautiful full lips were parted, and her pleasure was there for him to see. He lost the battle against his desire and erupted inside her. The urgency of his body's need countermanded his want to make the moment last. He managed to keep himself, and her, upright through one of the most intense orgasms of his life by bracing an outstretched arm against the glass.
"Wow." She chuckled and dropped her hands to the arm he had wrapped around her.
"Yeah, that was..."
"Wow." She repeated.
"Yeah." He panted a little longer before she moved, and he slipped out of her. He stood up straight. "Have I told you today how much I love you?"
Amber turned around and stretched her arms up and around his neck. "Several times, but I could hear it again."
Brody swung her up into his arms. "Then I'll tell you again, and again, and again."
Epilogue
Ryker Terrell stared at the computer screen. The indictments from the Edelman and Desoto collar had netted them Rubio, but Peña had fled the country. The Jacksonville contingent had moved on the nursery and netted the production point of Gray Death, plus enough elephant tranquilizers to put down a herd of the majestic beasts. His counterparts in the FBI and DEA were watching the borders for Peña, not that the surveillance would stop the cartel boss from crossing the border again. The man ghosted in and out of the country like the borders were made of Swiss Cheese.
He'd cleared the debacle of paperwork nightmares Fenton had caused and was ready to call it a night. Finally, his team's plate was clean, and they were able to concentrate on the information Masters had provided the DA about the shipments of drugs via Treyson Enterprise's vast global shipping company. Most of the grunt work would be on their end, here in Hope City. The rest would be on the alphabet agencies.
Brody (Hope City Book 3) Page 24
