The Embrace Series: Romantic Suspense Box Set

by Dana Mason

  Now, as Ali and Johnny displayed their deep and unbreakable love, Melissa realized she’d never feel that again.

  “May I?” Melissa opened her eyes and glanced at the offered hand before looking up into Brian’s eyes.

  She waved him away and tried to politely decline. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She laid her fingers over her lips, reminded of the kiss in the bathroom.

  What drove him to kiss her? Pity . . . or spite? Did he believe she’d feel better if he paid her some attention? Or was he just trying to prove she shouldn’t marry Chase? He’d been adamant about it, but Melissa never thought he’d stoop so low.

  “I do.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her out with him before she could refuse again.

  “Can I talk now?” he asked in her ear.

  “No,” Melissa said, trying to breathe normal.

  “When?”

  Melissa inhaled deeply, commanding herself to stay calm. “Brian . . . I just . . . I can’t do this with you.”

  “We need to talk.”

  “Why? It’s all water under the bridge. We’ve gone on with our lives. I don’t want to constantly be reminded of what happened between us.”

  “It’s important that you understand.”

  “I do—you cheated—you didn’t tell me anything—you didn’t even break up with me before you married her—you didn’t tell me she was pregnant—you left me to wonder, Brian. You didn’t tell me anything.”

  “I know . . . and I realize now how much harder that made everything for you.”

  “Then why?” Melissa shrieked, unable to control the volume of the question. Her eyes widened as she glanced around the room before whispering, “Why didn’t you call me and explain?”

  He gritted his teeth. “I was a coward!” A frown creased his face. “I’d convinced myself you didn’t care. If you’d wanted to be with me then you wouldn’t have left.”

  “That was not my fault.”

  “Of course it wasn’t! I know that. I’m trying to explain the mind of an eighteen-year-old kid here, Melissa. Give me a second.” He turned her around again, and she could see Chase glaring at them as they danced.

  “No, don’t tell me anymore. I told you, I don’t want to get into this. It doesn’t matter . . . not anymore.”

  His eyes widened. “Yes! It matters, Melissa.”

  His shoulders bunched up then relaxed on an exhale. She tried to relax, too. She didn’t need her mother or Chase cornering her after the dance with questions.

  “I needed to be there for Julie and our baby . . . and I was afraid I wouldn’t go through with getting married if I had to face you.” Brian closed his eyes for a second then said, “I didn’t want to do anymore damage. I’d gotten Julie in trouble, and I needed to man up and do the right thing. I married her and tried never to look back.”

  “Well, you should be proud. You did the right thing.” She said it with such coldness, she’d even surprised herself.

  “Would you like the story better if I told you I regret my family? Is that what you want from me?”

  Her stomach knotted at the thought. She shook her head with a sigh. “Of course not. I understand it. I just wish you’d been more honest with me. Given me the chance to bow out and move on.”

  “You know . . . Erin found out about us by reading Julie’s journals.”

  “Wow. She read her mother’s journals?”

  He nodded. “I’m not sure how much she read, but she read that one. She knows the whole story. She actually thought Julie trapped me into marrying her.”

  “Did you read it?” Melissa asked.

  “Yes, I read it after she told me about it.”

  She shook her head at the thought of what Julie must have gone through all those years ago. “Oh God . . . poor Julie. She must have been scared to death when she found out she was pregnant. Eighteen years old, no family and no money.”

  “And no steady boyfriend. We weren’t even seeing each other, Melissa. We agreed to stay away from each other after that night. Truth is . . . we never intended to get together. We just got drunk and did something stupid.”

  “I hope you understand how much I care for Erin and Cody. I wouldn’t change things either, but it would have been easier to move on if I would’ve known.”

  “I’m sorry. That’s a very late, but very sincere apology. I didn’t realize . . .”

  Melissa nodded. “I understand. Thank you.”

  When the song ended, Melissa walked back over to the table to sit down, but as she approached, Chase stood.

  “Are you ready to go home?” he asked.

  She looked up in surprise. “Oh . . . uh, no, I can’t leave yet. We need to ring in the New Year with the Bride and Groom. That’s the point of a New Year’s Eve wedding.”

  “Why don’t you tell me what’s going on with Brian.”

  “He was the Best Man, and I’m the Maid of Honor. We have to dance one dance.”

  “Don’t treat me like I’m stupid. I have every right to be pissed-off, Melissa. I know you had a relationship with him. Show me some respect and be honest with me.”

  Melissa closed her eyes, suddenly exhausted. “Chase, Brian and I had a relationship seventeen years ago. We were high school sweethearts. I went to college, and he married someone else.”

  Chase leaned over, grabbed her arm and whispered, “We’re leaving now, Melissa.”

  “No, Chase.” She tugged out of his grip. “Please don’t. We need to be here for Ali and Johnny. What’s my family going to think if we leave so early? In a couple of months, this will be us, and these same people will be here to support us.”

  “I’m not foolish enough to believe we’re going to last another few months.”

  Melissa’s blood ran cold at the hard, unwavering look on his face. “Are you breaking our engagement?”

  “No, no, I’m not.” He shook his head and sighed. “But I don’t have high hopes for this lasting, not at the rate we’re going.”

  “Then stay . . . stay the night and have breakfast with me tomorrow.” She gripped his hand. “Please don’t make me go home alone tonight.”

  “Melissa . . .” The tone in his voice said what he didn’t. He was just as confused about them and about his feelings as she was hers.

  “Chase, do you love me?”

  “Yes, with my whole heart, which is why this is hard. Watching you behave like that with him is so hard.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said tearfully. “I’m not trying to hurt you.”

  “You know, maybe we need a couple of days to reevaluate the situation. I don’t feel you anymore.” He grabbed both her hands in his and held them. “I don’t feel like you’re a part of me like you were before. It’s as if you’re drifting in and out of this, and I’m searching for a lifeline while trying to hold on to you at the same time.”

  Melissa nodded. How could she argue with him? She had been growing distant. And she couldn’t deny that today hadn’t changed things for her. Seeing Ali marry Johnny had altered Melissa’s expectations for a marriage, for a husband and for a family. She didn’t want to settle. She wanted deep love. She wanted remarkable and unbreakable love.

  “I’m sorry,” she said again, unable to tell him this. She couldn’t explain her feelings to him now, not with everything else she was dealing with today.

  “I’m going home. I’ll call you in a couple of days.” He kissed her and damn if it didn’t feel like a goodbye kiss. She wanted to follow him out, but she didn’t. She just couldn’t.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Brian went in search of Ali, hoping she’d talk to him. He didn’t want her leaving for her honeymoon before he had a chance to apologize.

  He found her standing behind the head table with her hands entwined with Johnny’s, and Brian had to smile at the look on her face. She and Melissa look so much alike. Brian wondered if he’d ever seen such a look on Melissa’s face.

  Chase Collins couldn’t make her that happy. He thought about
the night she’d taken those pain pills. He’d wanted so much to make love to her. She’d wanted it, too. She’d even said she loved him—the expression on her face and that smile he hadn’t seen in years. It was his smile, and he knew it. No way in hell had she ever smiled at another person like that. His heart gave a little flutter, so sure of what he wanted now that the fog had cleared.

  He exhaled, the flutter turning his stomach. Melissa’s misery in the bathroom after the ceremony today, it broke him to see her so upset. He couldn’t stand it, and he blamed himself. He’d put pain in her heart.

  When Ali’s eyes met Brian’s, the beautiful expression changed to anger.

  “May I talk to you?”

  Ali’s eyes flickered around to see if they had an audience. Then she turned and sat in her chair with Johnny standing behind her. Johnny put his hands on her shoulders and nodded encouragingly to Brian.

  Brian sat down and faced her. “It was a beautiful ceremony. Thank you for including me and Erin . . . and letting her stand in for her mom.”

  “You don’t have to thank me. I love Erin, too.”

  “I need to explain something to you, Ali.” He exhaled heavily. “I didn’t purposely set out to hurt Melissa. You know I would never hurt her on purpose.”

  “I didn’t always know that Brian.”

  “Yes, you did. In your heart, Ali, you get how much I love Melissa. But here’s the thing . . . I couldn’t make things harder on Julie by telling everyone I married her because she was pregnant. I loved Julie. I loved her the day I married her, and I loved her the day she died.”

  “I don’t doubt for a minute how much you loved Julie, and yes, I’ve always known your true feelings for Melissa, even when you tried to lie to yourself. I still knew better.”

  Brian bowed his head and nodded. “I’m sorry Melissa got hurt. More sorry than I can ever express, but I don’t regret my decision. I can’t, not when I have such an incredible family. The truth is . . . I couldn’t tell Melissa back then. I couldn’t face her because I was afraid I’d back out of what I had to do. I chose to let her go, and I had to live with that. I still have to live with it.”

  “Why, then, would you want me to talk her out of marrying Chase?”

  “He’s not right for her, and he can’t make her happy. I don’t want her to get hurt again.”

  “Then do something about it, Brian. You can talk to her. You’re the only person who can change her mind.” Ali exhaled and closed her eyes, making a single tear run down her cheek. “Imagine what it looks like to Melissa. She’s watching me marry the man of my dreams, watching me build a family.” She opened her eyes and met his. “She’s alone, and she’s been alone for a long time. Chase is the first person she’s opened up to . . . the first person she’s tried to love since you married Julie, and you want me to talk her out of marrying him.”

  “That doesn’t make him right for her.”

  “Because you are the only person right for her. Melissa had to . . .” Ali stopped when her voice wavered. She took a steadying breath. “She had to watch me say my vows today while staring at you—the only person capable of making her happy, but engaged to the only person willing to give her the family she wants. No damn wonder she broke down.”

  “What can I do?”

  “I don’t know. What can you do?” She leaned forward, gripping his hands. “Listen, Bri, I love you, but goddamn, if you hurt my sister again, I’ll kill you myself. You have no idea what you’ve put her through. No idea!”

  “Rest assured, Ali, this hasn’t been easy on me either. I’ve spent every day of my life regretting her and thinking about her.”

  “Except your pain was eased by your beautiful family. You eased your regret with your wife and kids. You still had love and companionship.”

  Brian lowered his eyes and nodded. “You’re right. I didn’t realize until recently she had such a hard time getting over it. Maybe I didn’t want to know how much I’d really hurt her.”

  “At some point, Brian, you have to stop hurting her. Let her be happy with Chase if you can’t be with her. Back off and let her build a life.”

  Brian squeezed her hand. “Thanks, Ali. I’m sorry for stressing you out before your wedding. I hope you can forgive me. I’d never want you to be that upset with me.”

  “Lucky for you, I’m in a very forgiving mood.”

  When she smiled, he felt better and reached in to hug her. “Thanks and congratulations. You two are going to be very happy.”

  “Thanks, Brian. I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Take care of my partner. Oh, and congrats on the baby,” he whispered.

  “Shh . . .” Ali’s said smacking his back as he pulled out of the hug.

  “What’s the secret?” Johnny asked, leaning in to hear.

  “Never mind, bro. Enjoy the honeymoon.” Brian reached out to shake Johnny’s hand. “Maybe when you get back, I’ll be reinstated.”

  “I hope so. I’m not thrilled to be riding with Martinez.”

  “Two weeks?” Brian asked.

  “Yep.” He grinned. “Two weeks with my favorite girl.”

  “Okay, I’ll leave you guys alone. I need to go dance with my daughter.”

  “Brian, before you go . . . I want you to know, Jeffries will be back to work after the winter break. Maybe you should warn Erin so she’ll expect it.”

  He frowned, wishing more than anything he didn’t have to think about that bastard today. “Thanks, Al. I’ll talk to her about it before she goes back to school.”

  Brian found Erin with Melissa, who wore the most heartbreaking expression. Damn it if he could go back and change things, if he could go back and tell her the truth seventeen years ago.

  Before he had the chance to ask Erin to dance, she left hand-in-hand with Matty. He took a chance and asked Melissa again. “Would you like to dance?”

  “No, I’m actually going home.” She stood and turned to grab her wrap off the back of the chair.

  “But it’s only eleven. What about ringing in the new year?”

  She turned to look at Ali. “They’ll never even notice I’m gone.”

  “Is Collins taking you home?”

  “He left already.” Melissa’s eyes darted to the ground. “I’ll take my mom’s car. She can get a ride with Mark’s parents.”

  Brian leaned in, trying to get her attention. “I didn’t get you in trouble, did I?”

  “With who? Chase?” She shook her head and finally made eye contact. “He had to get home.”

  “You won’t dance with me, Melissa?”

  Her eyes dropped to the floor again. “No . . . I can’t.”

  He watched her leave, wanting more than anything to follow her out, but she needed a break from him . . . and from the hurt he knew he continually caused her.

  Chapter Thirty

  Erin dropped down into a chair at one of the empty tables. Several people had left, but just as many were still there, enjoying the music and celebrating. It was certainly the best New Year’s Eve Erin had ever had, even though she missed her mom. Usually her family spent the evening together at home. Her mom and dad had always let them invite a friend over and they’d drink sparkling cider and play board games until midnight. Then the fun started. God . . . she smiled at the memory of them outside on the patio, yelling and screaming at midnight, hugging her family in turn. Her heart sank a little, remembering her mom and dad, always embracing, both wearing grins and wishing each other a happy new year when the clock turned over.

  This year was definitely different. The frown her dad wore as he left made her sad. He and Melissa weren’t celebrating, they were both miserable. Why couldn’t they just stop screwing around and admit they loved each other already. She rolled her eyes. Adults were so stupid sometimes. Thankfully, Erin had Matty this year. He kept her on her feet, dancing and laughing most of the evening. She reached over for a glass and drank down whatever was in it. After finishing it, she lifted it to her nose and sniffed. Bleck . . . t
hat wasn’t cider. She hit the home button on her phone, they only had three minutes. She looked up to see Matty rushing toward her with glasses in his hand.

  “It’s almost time. Are you ready?” he asked, handing her a glass.

  She glanced around. “Where’s Cody?”

  “He’s there.” Matty pointed to where Jamie and Cody were standing next to her grandparents, also holding glasses of sparkling cider

  “Come on. Let’s get in the center of the dance floor.” Matty’s radiant smile forced little crinkles at the corner of his sea-blue eyes. She tucked her phone into the top of her dress and grabbed his hand, then she stumbled as he pulled her along.

  Auntie Ali, Uncle Johnny, and several other people were dancing around the large dance floor with their glasses raised. Capital Cities,’ “Safe and Sound,” was playing, and most of the people on the dance floor were jumping up and down along with the beat. Erin laughed as she and Matty joined them, their glasses sloshing around in their hands.

  The DJ started the countdown at thirty . . . twenty-nine . . . twenty eight. Matty grabbed her hand and pulled her close. They both stopped moving to the music, even though it was still playing behind the countdown. Ten . . . nine . . . eight . . . seven . . . six. Matty’s hand rested on her shoulder, his crinkly eyes focused on hers. Five . . . four . . . three . . . two. Matty’s hand snaked up the back of her neck and cradled her head, his other hand, still gripping the glass, came around her waist. Erin closed her eyes and his lips came down onto hers before his tongue sank into her mouth.

  Butterflies fluttered nervously in her stomach at the feel of him. Her knees wobbled and caused her to sink a little. Matty pulled her closer to hold her upright and on her feet. The moment was surreal and wonderful at the same time. He felt incredible, so strong and warm against her. She’d never really kissed a boy before, not like this. It felt good, and the strange knot building behind her stomach caused the flutter to increase. She wrapped her arms around his neck, standing on her tiptoes. This was definitely the best New Year’s Eve she’d ever had.