All The Way (All Series Book 3) (11 page)

Another thirty minutes went by and Isabel returned to the room, laughing and crying at the same time. Everyone jumped up and rushed forward. “They’re fine, all three of them. Everyone is fine,” she quickly said first. “The umbilical cord was around Cameron’s neck. Believe it or not, Harper’s hands were on the cord.” She burst out laughing even more. “Ryan thinks Harper was trying to help her brother. Me, I know better, she was laying the law down to her brother right now.”

Everyone joined in on the laughter. There were congratulations and tears all around. Alec picked Brynn up and hugged her tight, placing a more-than-friendly kiss on her lips in front of everyone.

No Return

On the drive back home several hours later, Brynn thought back to that kiss. Thankfully, it seemed no one was paying attention to what Alec had done. Everyone else seemed to be hugging their significant others too.

She felt like she belonged in that moment. She didn’t know why. Maybe it was the fact she shared in such a monumental part of their lives, or maybe it was just that she shared something with Alec alone. Either way, she was trying to piece it all together in her head.

Except Alec kept pulling her out of her thoughts. “I can’t believe how tiny they were, and Kaitlin was
huge
.”

“You know you need to stop saying that about her; it’s not very nice,” Brynn said, a smile tugging at her lips.

“I know, but that’s what brothers do. Besides, she’ll be back to her normal self in a few months. My sister is one of the most disciplined people I know, probably even more so with Sophia’s wedding coming up.”

“Is she going to go back to work? Do you know?”

“She said she is taking a year off. Of course it’s not like she needs to worry. She works for my father.” He laughed and was almost bouncing in the seat. “My mother is retired now and will be helping her those first few months. Actually, between my mother and Michele, Kaitlin will be fine. She might want to go back to work to have some peace.”

Brynn thought that was sweet that Kaitlin was getting so much help. Again, the pang of sadness crept in over her mother missing all of those things in her life. But her father would be there, and so would Drew. She knew that beyond a doubt. Even though she’d moved away, they were still very close.

“I don’t understand why they were making arrangements for the babies to be moved to Saratoga when Kaitlin is released,” Brynn commented a moment later.

He turned and looked at her, his eyes almost glossy. He was still so happy over his niece and nephew, she knew, and she softened considerably at that moment. Not that she needed anything to soften her toward Alec, but it was just another layer melting away. “Kaitlin will be released in a few days, and they want to keep the babies a few days longer because they were early. It’s closer to have them in Saratoga so Kaitlin won’t have to drive so far to get to them, and she probably won’t leave their side either. I’m sure Ryan is making arrangements now to get her a room there. He won’t care what the cost is.”

“Why though? Why not make the arrangements right in Albany? Won’t they get better care there?”

“Their pediatrician will care for them in Saratoga. They want Mac watching over the babies. He doesn’t have rights at Albany Med.”

“Mac? Brooke’s brother Mac?” She’d heard the name a few times but didn’t realize he was a doctor too. It seemed like all of Alec’s friends or family were in the legal or medical field for the most part, with the exception of a few of them.

“One and the same. Anyway, it’s closer for all of us to visit too. It might only be an additional day or so. I heard Presley say the babies were a good size, which helped.”

“Now you know why she was so huge,” Brynn said, laughing. “I can’t believe they were both close to six pounds that early.”

“Did you just call my sister huge?” Alec asked, smiling brightly.

“Wise guy,” she said back, without any heat.

The rest of the ride home seemed to fly by with Alec talking excitedly about the new additions to the family and taking bets on how fast Sophia got pregnant. It seemed Isabel had been dying for grandchildren. Brynn even overheard Michele saying, “I’ve got three now, Isabel. Still ahead of you, with another on the way.”

Isabel only laughed back and replied with, “I’ve got two more kids than you. I’ll pass you soon enough and you know it.” Brynn found out that Ryan and Alec’s parents were extremely close too. It seemed like everyone had a six-degree-of-separation thing going on in Saratoga.

“Here we are,” Brynn said when Alec pulled into her driveway.

“Thanks for going with me today,” Alec told her. He reached over and laid his hand on hers, threading their fingers together. “Open the garage door for me.”

She looked at his eyes and saw they had turned a darker shade of brown. She was afraid to ask, but didn’t want to make an assumption. “Why?”

He tugged her hand and pulled her closer to him, then leaned over and laid his lips on hers. Hot, fast and potent. “It’s either that, or I leave my truck in the driveway tonight where anyone can see.”

***

Alec held his breath. He was positive she was going to let him in, but if she said no, he would leave. He’d be disappointed, but he would do it. She released his hand, placed both of hers on his face and pulled him close for another kiss, then leaned back. “Give me a second.”

He watched her climb out of the truck, unlock the front door, flip a few lights on, and then the garage door was opening. He pulled his truck next to her SUV in the garage and got out, then watched her hit the button to close the door.

Walking up to her, his eyes glued to hers, he watched the heat in them. He’d been waiting for this, longer than he thought he could.

She reached for his hand and led him through the house, shutting off the lights she turned on just moments ago. When they got to the open double doors of her bedroom, he released her hand and reached for her. He’d stayed calm and controlled for the last few minutes, but now knowing what was about to happen, his control snapped.

He laid his mouth over hers, fast and almost burning her. His hands were in her hair, then down her arms, back over her neck and finally on her waist. In one fluid movement, he had her shirt up and over her head, tossing it to the floor.

Sensing his mood and urgency, she grabbed his shirt and started to unbutton it, then pushed it off his shoulders. Next she grabbed his T-shirt and yanked it over his head. “Oh wow,” she whispered. He stopped, unsure what her comment was about, not that it sounded bad. “I’ve been imagining you without a shirt. My imagination didn’t do you justice.”

He was done, right then and there. Yanking her forward, he kissed her again, hard, not caring if he was bruising her lips.

Backing her toward her bed, his hands were all over her. Undoing the clasp at her back, he pulled her bra off, then moved to the button and zipper of her dress pants. Pushing them down her legs, he was thankful she hadn’t been wearing jeans and work boots since he wouldn’t have had the patience to wait for her to unlace them.

She toed off her heels, lowering her a few inches, but he didn’t care. She still fit perfectly to his body. The feel of her breasts against his chest and her hands running down his arms—it was as close to heaven as he’d felt in a long time. Alive, he was feeling more alive in this moment too.

Then just as quickly, her hands were reaching for his jeans. Nope, not yet, he’d never last if she removed any more of his clothing or touched any more of his body.

He backed her up a few more feet until her legs hit the bed and he lowered her down, then watched as she scooted up to the pillows. He pulled his wallet out of his pocket, got a condom and laid it on the bedside table, then started to climb on the bed when he remembered his own boots and stopped. Removing them and his socks as fast as he could, he scooted over the bed and on top of her.

Framing her face with his hands, he lowered his mouth to hers again, kissing her long and deep. She wouldn’t lie still. He wasn’t sure if she couldn’t or just didn’t want too; either way, he didn’t care. But the little moans she was making combined with her hands all over his back were making it hard for him to wait.

Sliding down the bed, he kissed his way around her neck, chest and breasts, stopping and making her squirm a bit more, making her move under him more, causing her nails to dig into his back. Every movement she made, every noise he heard, only built his need to another level.

Further down he moved, over her ribs, her navel and to her hips. He stopped and his eyes went wide—right there on her hip, she had a small tattoo. He’d had no idea. She didn’t seem to be the type of person to have a small fairy tattoo either. Now wasn’t the time to think about that; he had other things to tend to.

Hooking his thumbs into the waist of her tiny panties, he pulled them down her legs in one fast motion. Pushing her legs apart, he took a brief moment to look at her, to see how beautiful she truly was.

“Alec, don’t you dare just sit there and stare,” she said, her voice sounding strangled to his ears.

Okay, she wanted him to move, then he would. Lowering his head, the tip of his tongue came out to touch. Just a taste, just a feel…just not enough.

He needed more, so he took, he tasted and he gave. His hands joined his mouth and he worked her over until she was calling out his name. The sound was music to his ears, only he was ready for a concert.

Shoving off the bed, he shed his jeans and grabbed the condom, then hurriedly returned to the bed. With his lips over hers and his body covering her, he slid in slow and steady. The feel of her heat surrounding him was almost more than he could handle, but he didn’t want to rush it, not just yet. Too long, he realized it had been just too long.

She moved her hips up taking all of him in so deeply he couldn’t control the groan that escaped. Or maybe that was hers, he didn’t know at this point. He was here, with Brynn, in Brynn, right where he wanted to be, where he needed to be.

His heart was racing and he wasn’t so sure it had anything to do with sex.

Holding her still for a moment—he had to relish the feeling of her. Then the moment was gone, the heat was building, burning him. Her nails were digging into his back, then were in his hair, pulling his head to hers, his lips over hers and holding them there.

He moved his hips back, then brought them forward in one fast sharp move. She moaned a little bit more, lifted her hips up higher silently begging him to do it again, so he did. Again and again, out and in, fast and sharp, waiting a second, then again.

She yanked on his hair, lifted her hips up and wrapped her legs around his waist. “Stop teasing me,” she growled and he was lost, utterly and completely lost—almost wild with need at this point. So he gave her what she wanted. He heard the panting of her breaths, mirroring his own, and brought them both to the point of no return.

Fairy Carpenter

Brynn lay back on the bed, her breathing having finally leveled out. She turned her head and looked at Alec next to her, looking equally as spent as she felt, except for the grin on his face. He’d pretty much just flopped down next to her seconds ago.

When his eyes landed on hers, he smiled softly, warmly, and her heart picked up its pace again. She reached her hand out, brushed his cheek, and when he turned into her palm, she was a goner.

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and tried to compose herself—there was no way she wanted him to see what was going on inside of her right now and she’d never been good at hiding her emotions—then said, “We didn’t make it the thirty days.”

He laughed, reached over and pulled her on top of his chest. “Did you really think we would?”

“I hoped.”

Running his hand down her back, he placed a kiss on her forehead. “It’s only three days shy. How about we lie and say we made it?”

“I was never very good at math anyway,” she replied. “Maybe I miscounted.”

“I think you might have. I’m not good at math either, we probably both messed up.” He grinned and kissed her lightly. “Let’s try again. Hmm, would you look at that? Thirty days, exactly like we said.”

She smirked against his chest, placed a kiss there, then shoved up and rolled back over to her side. He moved to the edge of the bed and stood up as she watched him walk into the bathroom.

She needed to get herself under control and back on the right foot. She had no idea what she was thinking, starting something with him.
Her boss
. But it was too late now. They would have to figure it out. They’d done a good job of things so far.

Climbing out of bed, she reached down and grabbed the first article of clothing she could find and walked out of the room.

***

Alec turned the water on cold and splashed it over his face. He was wrecked. Never before had he felt that way. If he’d had any doubts before about Brynn, he didn’t now.

Drying his face on the towel, he opened the bathroom door and noticed she was gone. She couldn’t have gone far. He was just pulling his jeans up when he noticed her in the doorway, and his heart stopped.

There she was, wearing his button-down shirt with only a few buttons done around the waist barely covering her, just enough to leave a lot to the imagination. As if that wasn’t a sexy-enough sight, she stood in the doorway, one hip cocked against the wall, holding two bottles of beer. “I figured we could use it.”

She walked over to him, handed him an opened beer, then stood on her toes and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. He pulled her back to the bed and then climbed on. They sat with their backs against the headboard, her in his shirt, him wearing only his jeans unbuttoned at the waist, while they both enjoyed a beer. “You’re pretty special, you know.”

Batting her eyelashes, she said, “Why thank you. You aren’t too bad yourself.”

He shook his head. “I meant bringing me a beer afterward.”

“Really?” she said, feigning hurt. “That’s why I’m so special? Because I brought you a beer after sex?”

“Well, you were special in a lot of ways tonight. The beer didn’t hurt either. Actually, it’s the whole package just now.”

She tilted her head. “What package is that?”

“You standing in the doorway in my shirt, barely covered, teasing me with all the pieces of you I just sampled. All the pieces I want to sample again.” His eyes rose to hers. “And I will later, but it’s like my fantasy woman come true.”

“A woman who brings you a beer, wearing your shirt, is your fantasy woman?” she asked. He saw the amusement in her eyes and heard the laughter in her voice.

He kept his voice light, kept it casual, but was honest. “Sure, but it’s more than that. You’re wearing a part of me. That’s my shirt on you, I just had you, you’re looking all soft and rumpled, and your eyes are all warm and filled with pleasure. I put those marks on you and that look in your eyes, and the first thing you do is grab my shirt and put it on. It’s a man thing,” he said, shrugging. He wanted to add it was a possessive thing but didn’t want her to take it the wrong way. He wasn’t even sure what he was saying right now, or if he was making a mess out of things.

“I get it. Makes sense,” she replied simply. “You’re pretty special yourself.”

“Why is that?” He wanted to know, needed to know. Would she share a part of herself like he just did?

She paused for a minute, almost as if she was guarding her words, then said, “Because you understand me.”

And he did. More than she might feel comfortable with, more than maybe he felt comfortable with. “I do. At least I think I do.”

“More than you realize.” Her smile turned almost sad. He didn’t know the reason for it and paused.

They were almost getting a little too serious right now. He could see the flush on her cheeks and needed to get back on more level ground. It was too soon for either of them to be having this serious of a conversation. “So…as much as I think I know you, the tattoo threw me for a loop. Not so much that you have one—which is pretty sexy, by the way, hidden on your hip like that—but that it’s a fairy. Somehow I never pictured you picking out something so common.”

She took a swig of her beer, then set it down on the bedside table. She moved the end of his shirt out of the way for him to see the tattoo again. Of course she had nothing else on, so his eyes were having a hard time focusing on just the tattoo at the moment. Her smirk told him she noticed that too.

Her fingertip was lightly tracing the wings of the fairy as she spoke. “I never thought I’d get one, least of all a fairy, but it seemed like the thing to do.”

“Why is that?” he asked, mesmerized by her movements. He was beginning to think she was doing it on purpose.

“A year after my mother died, I was missing her something fierce. We all were, my father, Drew, and I. Our family was close, just like yours. It was like a knife ripping out our hearts when she died.”

He couldn’t even begin to imagine. The thought of losing any of his close family was more than he could bear to think about, more than he wanted to even bring himself to think about. “I’m sorry.” He didn’t know what else to say.

“It’s okay. It’s better now. I want to say every year gets better, and maybe it does, but the hurt is always there under it all. Still, I focus on the good memories, the important things.”

“That’s probably the best way to be.”

“It is, and that led me to the tattoo. My mom always said I was the fairy carpenter when I was a kid. Anytime there was something in the house that needed to be fixed. Something small in the beginning—like a loose screw on a drawer, or paint peeling on a windowsill—I would notice before anyone else, and just fix it for my mom. She never had to ask, I would just do it.”

He could see that. Could see her catching on to the little details like that before anyone else, and just taking charge and doing it herself. “Sounds like you.”

She looked pleased by his comment. “In the beginning she thought my father was doing everything. I always remembered her asking him to fix things, and he did it, but he just never noticed they needed to be fixed before she told him. I guess I just wanted to make her happy, so if I noticed it, I fixed it before she could ask. She was my biggest champion growing up. She was in my corner from the beginning, supporting me to do what I wanted to do, be what I wanted to be.”

Her eyes were getting a little misty. He didn’t want her to cry. She didn’t look sad though, she looked happy. A good memory, she said, except he still started to get nervous. “Well, now you can be my fairy carpenter.”

He laid his half-finished beer on the table, and pulled her across his body, then situated her so that she straddled his hips. His hands moved up and undid the two buttons holding the shirt closed. Spreading it wide, he looked at her naked, exposed to him under his shirt, and that possessiveness he was trying hold back sprang forward again. “You can give me everything I want without me asking,” he said before he pulled her head down and sealed his lips with hers.

***

Brynn rolled over hours later, noticing the darkness in the room. They’d fallen asleep after the second time, completely drained, physically and emotionally. It’d been a long day for both of them.

She hadn’t meant to tell him what she did tonight, not about him understanding her. Still, it just slipped out. He seemed fine with it, not getting a panicked look in his eye. Nothing that would lead her to believe he thought she was rushing things or putting pressure on him. She wasn’t; it was the last thing she wanted to do.

Convincing herself to take it one day at a time had been hard the last few weeks, but that was what she decided to do. They would find their way, she believed it wholeheartedly.

It would work, or it wouldn’t, but she didn’t want to risk his friendship. She wasn’t worried about her job anymore, and that was a hard obstacle to overcome.

She believed him when he said it wouldn’t affect her job, and she trusted him, more than she’d trusted other men in her past. Which was probably why she hadn’t hesitated to explain the meaning behind her tattoo to him.

Turning her head, she noticed it was past midnight. “Alec,” she said, shaking his shoulder. “Alec, wake up.”

He mumbled in his sleep but didn’t open his eyes. She tried again, this time harder. “Alec, wake up.”

“What?” he said. “What is it?” He looked so handsome and sexy at the moment. All sleepy-eyed and naked in her bed.

“You need to get up and leave. You have to go home.”

“I am home,” he said.

“No, you need to leave. To go back to your house.”

He grinned at her, his eyes warming up again. “This is my house, I own it.”

She shook her head. He had a point. “True, but I live here, not you. Do you want everyone to know where you spent the night?”

“It probably wouldn’t be wise,” he said, sitting up. He reached for his phone on the bedside, hit a few buttons and then lay back down.

“Aren’t you getting up?”

“I’ll be gone and back before the crew gets here. I set my alarm to get up early to go home, shower and change. No one will be the wiser.” He reached for her. “Now stop talking and go back to sleep.”

She allowed him to pull her over to his side and under his arm, where she did indeed fall back to sleep.