I Run to You (51 page)

They heard Levi say; “I told you they
would.”

Tucking her head again, Brook met Madeline’s
gaze as Mitch waltzed her in a slow circle. Madeline must have
heard Levi too, because she was laughing.

The dance wasn’t long enough. The holding and
kiss wasn’t either. When the song ended, Brook went into the
kitchen, to help clean up, and Coy discreetly went out the door to
cool off.

An hour later, Max had slipped upstairs,
Madeline was talking to Jordan when Brook collected her coat and
said her good-byes.

On the snow covered front deck, snow still
drifting down thickly from the sky, she ran into Coy. He had
started his truck and got the heater going before going back in for
Levi.

“You look amazing tonight.”

“Thank you.” Her breath frosted out. Her eyes
on his.

“I’ve got to get the funny man home.”

She laughed.

Cupping her face, he kissed her, hungrily and
deep then said gruffly, “Busy week coming up.”

“Yeah.” His hands took hers, putting them
under his jacket. “As soon as Levi’s asleep, I’ll call.”

“Okay.”

“Phone sex.” He met her gaze. “Please.”

Smiling, turned on, she nodded. “Okay.”

A quick kiss and then she went to her car,
driving home on snow slick roads, sighing when she got out of the
mess, and into a hot bath.

Coy called around eleven.

She lay in her bed, eyes closed and nude,
listening to him sex talk. She did some herself, all breathy and
aching for him.

It was going to be a long ass winter, with
sparse dates and phone calls never being enough.

“God, I love you.” he ground after she had
whispered down and dirty.

“This is so not as good as the real thing,”
she moaned.

“Better than nothing.” he supplied, then, “I
don’t hear any buzzing.”

“It’s quiet little rabbit.” She laughed. “I’m
waiting on you.”

“I’m giving you time to catch up. I was ready
when we waltzed.”

She bit her lip. “I’m going to lay the phone
down, put it on speaker because I’m close.” She did, and Coy did
too.

Although Brook stopped talking, her breathing
accelerated. She whispered his name.

He was more vocal, muttering, moaning, and
finally chanting her name too.

Before saying goodnight Coy told her, “Be
careful this week. The roads are shit.”

“I know. I will.”

I love you, baby.” He hung up.

~*~

Spring could not get there quick enough for
Brook. Coy was driving all over, doing the sports on the radio, and
she worked extra shifts— just to keep from sitting at home waiting
for him to call.

She went to Levi’s school events when
possible and the band played gigs when they could get them. The
longer drives were harder, and even Renee realized it cut down her
time with Sunny. Donna met a bouncer at one of the clubs and fell
over the moon for him. Everyone went through colds, bad days, the
normal winter stuff that was made more so by shorter days, and not
enough sun.

At the first sign of clear weather, Brook did
her spring-cleaning and as the flowers bloomed outside, she was out
tending them.

The tavern rocked on Fridays. Renee called
her with an offer she was happy to accept, they were going to do
regular gigs there, and at the Mill. That way, Donna wasn’t away
from her kid and new love. Renee could see Sunny. They could do
more mixed sets with the family.

It was all-good with Brook.

In mid-March, she got up on her day off, put
on nice slacks, a tailored shirt, and comfortable shoes. Brook
stuck her sunglasses on her head, drove into town, and got her hair
done, her pedicures and waxing.

It looked like everyone was out. Main Street
was busy. Folks, though still in jackets, were shedding cabin
fever.

She was in her car, by the curb; just having
sent cards and gifts to her friends when she turned on the sports
station. Half listening because Coy had finished his stint. She sat
back— hearing his voice in conversation with one of the usual
sportscasters.

“I’ve really enjoyed it, thanks. There’s some
amazing talent among these young players.”

“Speaking of players.” The guy laughed.
“We’ve had to ship Coy’s fan mail by truck to his house. I don’t
think we’ve had as many female listeners in years.”

Coy chuckled. “I’m flattered. But taken.”

“Ah—that’s new.”

“No. actually, I was fortunate to find the
love of my life, years ago. We just had a bumpy start and hadn’t
seen each other in years. Fate brought us back tougher. I’m an
extremely happy man.”

“You sound it, and look it. He’s grinning
ladies.”

Brook smiled.

Coy said, “As much as I’ve enjoyed the
season, I’m looking forward to spending some time with my lady. So.
It has been great folks, and I thank you for welcoming me in your
hometowns, and supporting our amazing and talented young players.
Their teams. Thank you for making KPHL you’re first stop for the
local sports highlights.”

“Couldn’t have said it better myself…” the
other male went on talking and Brook gathered Coy was finished.

She went to Rafe’s for salad, in back with
him, listening to him talk about Ashley, She told him about Coy’s
wanting to give her a ring.

“You’ve loved him so long, Cariño. “ He
smiled knowingly at her. “Now that I feel that—” He put his hand
over his heart. “I don’t know how two people who do, can stay away
from each other. All the fighting, arguing—and loving. The
passion.”

She sipped her limewater. “You sure keep
Ashley smiling.”

“I try.” He winked. “She likes working on the
house. But when I am, it turns her on so much I can’t get anything
finished.”

Snorting, Brook teased, “I’ll bet you do that
on purpose.”

“Yes.” he admitted and raised his brows
wickedly, dark eyes sparkling. “I’ve got to get those stairs
finished though. She never minds the splinters but I can live
without them.”

They joked back and forth like that awhile.
Then, Brook dove to a café. She had a novel in her purse, and sat
outside, drinking coffee, reading, relaxing to the sound of birds
and customers around her talking.

“Is there sex in it?”

She raised her sun-glassed eyes to watch Coy
pull out a chair and sit down.

“Lots of it.” She lowered the book. “How’d
you find me?”

“I come here too sometimes.” He rolled up the
sleeves of his dress shirt. No tie and the top few button
undone.

She put the book down. “What do you take?
I’ll go in and get it.”

When he told her, she did that, returning to
find him with his feet resting in another chair.

He was reading the book.

“Like it?” she joked, sipping her coffee.

“Yeah. I’ve read her before. A series.” He
sipped and read a bit more. “The women in the family always read
these. I would sneak a few and read them in high school. I’ve got
some looks throwing them in the grocery cart. But around here—you
can get the same look for buying anything about serial killers in
the plot.”

She wasn’t surprised. Coburns were secure in
the masculinity, and no one could ever accuse them of being less
than macho.

Brook let him read it for a while, and then
laughed, snatching the book back. “I’ve not finished it yet.”

Just when she was going to put it in her bag,
the ring fell out.

She set the book aside and picked it up.

Elbows on the table, hands on his cup, he
watched her before asking, “Do you like it?”

“It’s beautiful.” She tilted it, seeing a
small diamond, the tiny hearts on the side.

He reached and took it, putting it on her
finger. Next, covering her hand.

Afterwards, they drank their coffee, held
hands, and wasted the afternoon there.

“We’ve got to get you a bigger car,” he said
later, walking her to hers.

“I’ve found one. I’m donating this one.” She
told him. “I hadn’t seen my Dad in forever. We met up a few
weekends ago. He came to one of the gigs.” She laughed. “Looked out
of place, but he’s my dad, so—”

“He’s not in cars now.”

“No. However, Dad keeps his contacts. He has
never liked the VW. Does not like me not having a 4-wheel drive.
Which, around here, I need.”

“Yeah.” Coy leaned against her car.

“He’s hooked me up, and I’ll go next weekend
to get it.”

“It’s not one those sissy things, is it?”

“Sissy things—” She sniggered at him. “No.
It’s a truck.”

He grinned and Brook snorted, “Figured that
would get Coburn approval.”

“It does.” He looked at his watch. “Damn. I
have to go. Time to pick up the boy.” They kissed and he left.

Brook looked at the ring on and off the rest
of the day.

~*~

By Sunday, at the usual Coburn gathering, at
Mitch and Madeline’s—the whole family knew about it. Many had heard
Coy on the radio.

Mitch had fired up the grill. After eating,
people were out enjoying the day, sitting in lawn chairs. Brook had
just walked by a group that included Coy, and he stood and caught
her wrist, pulled her back to stand between his knees, his arms
around her—clasping that hand with the ring on her finger, while
the family talked about opening the Mill.

The Coburn groups would play all day the
first day. They were going over whom Coy had booked already.
Brook’s band would play too.

Leaning against him, smelling his sun-warmed
skin and subtle cologne, she was a part of the group that included
Madeline and Mitch, Ruby and Jude, several others.

Max and Jordan were away. They would not be
back until the following month. Jordan was busy doing her music and
getting a debut ready. The family was pumped about it, and calls
were often exchanged. Nevertheless, everyone knew it was a crazy
time for herself and Max.

Forearms on Coy’s thighs, Brook met Ruby’s
grin with a wink. Everyone was looking at the ring today had
that—when?—Question in their eyes. Except Madeline and Ruby. They
discerned that even this much, was a huge step for Brook.

Brook let the conversation fall around her,
watching Coy’s tawny fingers twine with hers. During a time Mitch
went to get a beer, some of the others going too, she was in her
own muse.

His head dipped, lips near her ear. Coy
murmured, “They’re in a talking mood today, or I’d asked you to go
make out in the barn with me.”

She whispered back, “And have the whole
family follow us? No way.”

He sighed and said before Jude reached them
bringing them a beer, “That means we won’t see each
other—alone—until the opening. Two damn weeks. I can’t take phone
sex anymore.”

Sputtering on a laugh, she accepted the beer,
meeting Jude’s amused gaze as he looked from one to the other.

He said to Coy, “You’re sooo obvious.” then
laughed his ass off.

Mitch leaned back beside him, looked at Coy,
and teased, “That’s why married men and women smile all the time—we
get it anywhere, anytime, several times, and know all the secrets
of “quickies.”

Brook giggled but Coy said back, “Not subtle
Uncle Mitch.”

While they were still laughing, he said to
Brook, “Don’t let it pressure you. I am not going anywhere. This is
more than I’d hoped.” His fingers touched the ring.

“I don’t feel pressured. They gotta' rag you
for something.”

However, she did ache for him, the next few
days.

She caught one of Levi’s practices, bringing
pup with her and joining Coy on the bleachers. Nevertheless, the
phone conversations and phone sex—were not working.

She listened to him while he cooked Levi’s
dinner, or when he was helping him do homework. He would call and
she would tell him she was grocery shopping, or driving in for
dinner. Sometimes—he would sing to her. Brook would cry, sitting on
the back deck, feeling like an hour was too long without him.

On the laptop, he would send her jokes,
e-mails, love notes in the morning. Brook sent some back, and they
marked the days until the Mill opening. Levi was spending that
weekend with cousins—and Brook planned to spend it—with Coy.

~*~

Coy packed Levi’s bag, the night before his
cousin would pick him up early the next morning. The hand held
video games and games to play on their play station 3. He had
worked a lot lately, been on the phones doing the bookings and
advertisements for the Mill. Levi had spots and school. Even
driving to and from, they were grabbing a fast breakfast, looking
forward to getting home and chilling out.

Still, he measured Levi an inch taller this
year. Had noticed as he played peewee football— and started T-ball,
that Levi was one of the biggest kids on the team.

Although he did not ask about Karla much, Coy
answered when he did, trying to leave the bitterness behind, and
forget, for Levi’s sake. Now and then, he would worry about Brook,
and Coy would assure him she was okay. After he saw her, Levi was
fine. But at odd times, he would talk about what happened to her in
those woods.

Finished with the backpack, Coy dug under the
bunk bed for dirty clothing so he could get that washed up.

Levi came in, hair wet, in his wolverine
PJ’s. He plucked an action figure off the top of the dresser and
climbed up on the top bunk.

“When is Brook coming here to live?”

Coy stopped sorting and stood, bracing his
hand on the rail and looking at Levi. “I don’t know. Why?”

“Well, you said when you loved someone who
loved me…” Levi shrugged and turned the figures arms right. “She
loves me.”

Coy grinned softly. “Yeah? How do you know
that?”

“She told me. Lots of times.” He glanced at
Coy, cheeks flushing and then back to the figure.

Coy thought a moment. “I’ve just given her an
engagement ring—”