Mine to Steal (Mine to Love) (42 page)

“Faith,” I say through clenched teeth. “We can go as slow as you want.”

“I love you, Trey Miller,” she whispers against my lips. The words I wanted her to repeat that night are finally coming from her.

“I love you
,” I answer back before sealing my lips to hers with no intention of her every getting out of this bed.

Ever.

Faith ~ Three Months Later

After that day in my apartment, I took all of the information that Trey had gathered and prepared to present it to Mr. Roberts at Rock Solid. When I walked through the doors I knew Brad had got to him.

Sitting on the reception desk
was a box containing items from my workspace and two security guards to ensure I was escorted off the premises. At first, I was compliant, as he expected me to be, but when I handed the file over to him, he knew I wasn’t going away without having my say.

His demeanor changed and he whisked me up to his office so that we could talk. S
uddenly, I was an invaluable asset, and they couldn’t lose me.

I played the game and listened to him try to sell
me on a new position, better pay, and highly visible clients to build up my portfolio. The condition was that I could never speak of the ‘incident,’ and Brad would remain in his current role, maintaining his client list.

“Mr.
Roberts, that all sounds very lovely, but I have an offer with another company out of Denver that respects their clients and has a moral compass.” I stood up to leave his office and gathered my box. I removed the file and set it on his desk. “You can keep that copy, I have already handed the original file to the FTC. My suggestion, if you want to be the company you claim to be, I would clean house. Starting with Brad Emerson.”

The next day, I went to work with Trey at TM Enterprises and never looked back. He’s mentioned us living together a few times, but I think we need more time to adjust.
Nine-hour days at work and endless hours living together - we might kill each other before long. 

I suppose we’re basically living together as it is. If he’s not at my place, I’m at his.
Maybe in a few months, when things don’t feel so new, and we’re no longer knee-deep in the bliss of a new relationship, we can consider cohabiting. For now, I want to make it through meeting the parents.

Trey’s mom and dad invited us to their place for the weekend because his sister, Abby, is about to have her second baby.  She and her husband, Keane, already have their
three-year-old son Dax and the one on the way is a girl. I suppose this is their last hurrah before things get crazy-er.

We got in late last night
, and I was so excited to be back in the town I lived in as a kid. I haven’t been back here since we moved away and there are so many places that I want to see. When I woke up this morning, I tried to get out of bed, but Trey dragged me back against his chest and refused to let me go.

“Don’t leave me, yet.”

“I need to see if your mom needs help with breakfast,” I laughed

“I need some help in this bed,” he
murmured as he kissed the back of my neck in the spot that sends tingles up my spine every time.

I tried to leave again, but it was a halfhearted attempt at best
. And of course he won because he’s Trey and I love the guy so damn much.

* * *

I make my way downstairs and Trey’s parents are sitting at the table. Mr. Miller is reading the paper on his tablet, and Mrs. Miller is talking to Jett who tagged along for the trip. He hasn’t been too happy since Cheyenne dumped him.

It took us by surprise because she was completely smitten with him. Mrs. Miller is doting on him
, and he’s eating it up. Trey threatened to call Kayla and make Jett do a marathon blind date session, and Jett was all too eager to partake.

“Can I get you some coffee, Faith?” Mrs. Miller smiles sweetly at me.

“That would be great, but if you tell me where it is, I can get it myself.” She waves the offer off as if it’s the most absurd suggestion and leaves me at the table with two men who begin telling raunchy jokes and teasing each other relentlessly. I have tears streaming down my facing because I can’t stop laughing.

I have to
admit; it’s weird being around a functioning family. I don’t know when the last time I sat around a table with so many people to eat good food and laugh at really stupid jokes. My family is fractured beyond repair, but this family has accepted me with open arms, and it feels damn good.

“Hey,” Jett nudges
me at the breakfast table, snapping me out of my daydream. He continues to speak in a hushed voice. “Trey wants to see you.”

“Did he already come down and eat?”
I look around, but he’s nowhere to be seen.

“I know you have a crush on my brother.”
His voice is hardly above a whisper.

“Jett
-” I roll my eyes, irritated that he would bring this up when we’ve actually become friends.

He puts his hand up to cut me off.

“Don’t be mad; he’s really into you, too. If you go wait in the woods, he’ll be there so he can tell you for himself.” He gives me a wink, and I lightly punch his arm.

This is his attempt at making amends for torturing me as a kid
, and I’m happy to let him.

I excuse myself from the table and head out the front door to journey down the familiar sidewalk. It was in this town I laid eyes on the guy of my dreams. It was here my world shattered when I lost my brother. And it was here that my family broke.

Yet, it is here, in this town, I find hope and the closer I get to that spot in the woods, the more certain I am that this is where I’m meant to be.

The woods look different than I remember since there are more buildings and less ‘woods,’ but there is a bench that I remember well. It’s the place the neighborhood kids would go to, first to make a fort, later to make-out. Maneuvering through some of the thick brush I make my way to it when Trey steps from behind a nearby tree, scaring me.

“Holy shit!”

“Sorry,” he laughs. “That played out better in my head.”

“You came this time.” I smile, looking at my gorgeous boyfriend.

He smiles and takes a seat next to me
. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

Trey takes my hand and walks me to the bench and pulls me to sit
next to him. My legs are dangled over his lap, and he reaches out and tucks my hair behind my ear.

“Is it how you wanted?” he asks
and kisses my hand.

“You’re so mushy,” I tease, but I love every second.

“You’re so cute,” he laughs. “I love you so damn much. You are the most beautiful and amazing woman, and I’m so lucky to have you. Had I known about you as a kid, and known what we could be, there’s no doubt I would have showed up. I’m sorry you were hurt that day, but I will see to it you are never hurt again - and so you know, I never plan on letting you go.”

Trey pulls his
lips away from my ear, and I can’t stop smiling from his words. Tears well in my eyes and I fight to keep them away. It’s not his words that touch my heart, but him repeating my brother’s words to me.

“The idea of you always made me excited, but the reality of you in my life and in my heart is better than anything I could imagine. I would go through all of it again, to be here with you, right now. I love you with all of my heart and, so
you
know, I wouldn’t go anywhere, anyway.”

His hand cups my neck
, and he draws me close so that our lips touch. I want this man so much because he touches my heart like no one has before. Without regard, I climb onto his lap and deepen the kiss as his hand runs up my back, keeping my body locked to his. I feel his smile against my lips when he speaks, “We need to get home.”

“Actually,” I lean forward and press my forehead to his, “I’m going to take a walk.”

He’s not an easy many to get away from. I stand up to leave, but he pulls me back to him and kisses me again. I try again, but he has a hold of my hand and squeezes it as I move away.

The way that he looks at me, like I’m the most special person in the world, makes my heart tighten. He has no way of knowing the extent of my love for him.

“Want me to go with you?”
he asks as he cocks his head to the side.

I smile and shake my
head. “I need to see him alone.”

“Take your phone in case you need me.”
Trey doesn’t protest or argue; he gives me a wink.

I pat my pocket where the phone is tucked away and blow him a kiss before turning around to
head down the sidewalk. My destination is only a few blocks away, and I use the time to determine what I’m going to say to him when I get there.

It’s barely recognizable
, and my heart drops at the inattention from not only me, but also others.

“Hey
, Len.” I kneel down in front of his headstone and remove the debris so I can see it better. My finger traces over his name and his role in my life - brother.

Lennox Marshall

1985 - 2001

Loving Son & Brother

“I’m sorry I haven’t been here to see you. I hope you know it wasn’t my choice. Mom and Dad couldn’t take it anymore. They blamed each other, and I blamed them.”

The wind blows around me
, and it feels like he’s right here.

“Remember when you told me the type of guy I shoul
d hold out for? Well, I got him, and I think you’d like him.” I laugh. “I played that music game with him, the one you used to do with me - this was before he and I got together - but he’s got the same taste in music as you. I suppose I can overlook that one flaw.”

“
I hope you’re proud of me and wherever you are, that you’re happy. I carry you with me always and someday when I have kids, I’m going to tell them about my amazing big brother and pass on the advice you gave to me.”

As I get up to leave the cemetery, I remove a few sticks off his grave and lay my hand on the top of the headstone. “I promise I’ll visit again - I love you, Len.”

Walking back to the Miller’s home, I feel like everything came full circle. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, with the man I’m supposed to be with.

Acknowledgements

There is a
BadAss
group of women, hidden away on Facebook, and I’m lucky enough to call them friends. If it weren’t for their crazy antics, dancing videos, loverly voices and pictures of
inspiration
, I’m not sure where I’d be. I’m so grateful to have all of you.

To the Best Peeps Eva - all of you, I love you!

Kizeeta Williams, Gabby Warner, Kris Allbright, Kahlen Aymes, A. Meredith Walters, Kelsie Leverich, Amy Queau, Deanna Williams, Sarahbeth Caplin, T.K. Leigh, Katie Pettigrew, Penny Reid, Kim Greny - each of you have helped me in some way and I don’t think I can put into words my appreciation.

To my wonderful Betas,
R.S. Grey, Brittainy C. Cherry and Pamela Ebeler - thank you for reading MtS and asking questions so I could make it better. Every bit of feedback, whether I liked it or not, helped more than you will ever know.

My editor,
Jenny Sims, is so sweet and worked with my release chance. Thank you for being my person and making things consistent. I love seeing your trail all over my work. Kari Gardner, you are my best friend and personal cheerleader and I love you so much. Thank you for always being on my side and I hope you know I’m always on yours.

A while
back, I met a bag of books and the girl attached who goes by the name, Erin Spencer. Thank you for being my supporter and more importantly, friend. Alisha, thank you for hanging with me and giving me a much-needed distraction at the coffee house. You two ladies are simply the best!

T
o
My SIPs
, I’m so lucky to have found you girls and I love you to death, Bishes! Lisa Karafa, I can’t wait to finally hug you! Jenn Beach, you crack me up with your sausage love. And of course, Kim Stedronsky - oh Goose! Every time I think we’ve maxed out our common brain capacity, we exchange works and laugh because we
must
have been separated at birth. You’re my wifey, Kimotherapy, Romy and Goose - all in one!

Stacey Lynn, thank you for kicking my ass and helping me tighten up a story that desperately needed it - and
even
reading it twice. You’re amazing! Claire C Riley, I’ll save our durty talk for email. Thank you for going through this thing and offering the wonderful suggestions you did. I’ve never laughed so hard reading notes. Love you, Red!

Mieshaw
and Da - Mom and Dad - thank you for being the parents who cheer me on, love me unconditionally and read these books. You both make me smile with your excitement for what I do and are, without a doubt, the best parents I know. I love y’all so damn much!

Gidget and Peese, my dream, I love you sweet girls. You make me want
to be and do better. You will always be my babies, even when you have babies of your own. Thank you for being so proud of your mom and trust me - the feeling is mutual.