Between Him and Us Read online

  “You know you’re going to dance with me again tonight,” he stated simply while he busied himself cutting the pie into quarters.

  “I’ve been looking forward to it.” He was a really good dancer, and I loved the comfort I felt while being in his strong and protective arms.

  “Good, but first, we eat.”

  “So . . .” Lilly mumbled around a bite of pizza. She chewed her food then washed it down with a gulp of her beer. “Do you have any other secret talents I should know about? Were you a famous chef at some ritzy upscale New York restaurant?”

  “No. I was an EMT, actually,” I answered casually.

  “Really?” she mumbled again but finished chewing before continuing. “I can only imagine the things you’ve seen.”

  “There definitely were some things I wish I could erase from my memory. But it was the most rewarding.”

  “Is there anything you can’t do?”

  “Hmm, let’s see.” I stared at the ceiling, acting as if I were in deep thought. There wasn’t a whole lot I couldn’t do. My grandma taught me a little bit about almost everything she knew. Even if it was something girly, she taught me anyway. I shrugged coming up empty. “Not really, besides giving birth, maybe. That I definitely cannot do,” I exaggerated for good measure. “Though, I have delivered a baby.”

  “Really?”

  “Yup. It was the first call I’d ever been on, and I was scared out of my mind.”

  “Why would you be scared? I mean, if you chose that line of work, I assume you would’ve been prepared for just about anything.”

  “So did I, until we got there. I had expected my first call to be a car accident or someone having a heart attack, not a woman going into labor. I don’t know why it scared me the way it did because it turned out to be a pretty awesome experience. Here this woman was probably in the worst pain of her existence and she was eerily calm. More so for someone who had never given birth before. Ten minutes of hard labor, and she was the proud and exhausted mother to a cute baby boy, who had the healthiest pair of lungs on him.” I chuckled. “That was also the most rewarding call I had ever been on.”

  “There really isn’t anything you can’t do.” Lilly trailed off.

  “Come here,” I spoke softly. Lilly scooted closer, closing the distance and I dabbed my napkin at the corner of her mouth. “Marinara sauce.”

  “Thank you.” She set her empty plate on the coffee table and took a long pull from her beer. When she set the bottle down, she gave me a direct look and said, “We never finished our conversation the other morning?”

  “And what conversation might that be?” We definitely didn’t get to finish the physical conversation we started before Aunt Millie interrupted us.

  “The one about you leaving Sierra in New York.”

  “It isn’t important. She’s no longer a part of my life, and besides, I would much rather talk about you.” Her smile wavered, causing her lips to press together in a slight grimace. I didn’t want to fill our time and conversation with talk of an old girlfriend, but if I didn’t give her something I was sure she’d never let it go. “Sierra’s priorities changed once she landed the modeling contract of her dreams. She became obsessed with becoming famous, lusted after it actually, and that is not a place I fit in. I’m a simple guy—” I gently grabbed the inside of her thigh, needing to touch her, needing her to feel me on this one. “I know you saw my phone. There’s nothing between us anymore.” I reached up and brushed my thumb across the soft skin of her cheekbone, holding her eyes to mine.

  “But you two still talk?”

  “We didn’t for a long time. She made her choice, and I made mine.” Our stares lingered, and I needed her to somehow know she was my choice. But uncertainty swirled in the depths of her pretty brown eyes. “I’ll admit, she’s been contacting me a lot the last couple of months, wondering when I’m coming home. She asked if she could visit, which I shot down without a second thought. She says she wants to give us another try—”

  I never gave Lilly a definite answer if I was going to stay in Savannah. And by the look on her face, I knew she wanted to ask, but she chose to remain quiet.

  “You can ask me anything. As long as you’re in my life, I don’t have any plans on going back, not to live at least. Even if I did go back, she and I wouldn’t get back together. There is a reason she and I didn’t work, and that reason hasn’t changed. I will always be completely honest with you. I have nothing to hide and choose to hide nothing.”

  “But—”

  “Hey . . . we ask the hard questions just like we ask the easy ones. I want to know all there is about you, but I don’t want to push too hard, especially when it comes to him. I know it isn’t an easy subject to talk about, and I’m trying to be respectful of that.”

  “I appreciate that. It’s been hard, but I’m finding that spending time with you has eased the load a bit.”

  “I’m glad I can be here for you. Anytime you need me to listen, I’m here.”

  She laid her head on my chest while toying with the hem of my shirt, and I let her have her moment. Besides, I enjoyed the feeling of her curled in my arms, content and quiet. Sometimes talking, trying to fill the silent void with words was unnecessary.

  With the music playing softly in the background and sitting there with Lilly in my arms, I felt it in that very moment. It struck like a bolt of lightning, and I knew I would never be the same. By some intervention, divine or otherwise, we were destined to meet. Yes, the rest was up to us, of our own free will, I felt it deep in my chest. I was in love with Lilly.

  “What’s your favorite thing to cook?” she asked in a small voice, tracing her finger back and forth just under the band of my blue jeans. My mind fought between answering her and concentrating on how a simple touch was so arousing, but I couldn’t do both.

  “Hmmm.” I bit back a chuckle. “After tonight, I would have to say pizza.” I kissed the top of her head.

  “Well, I hope there are other things you can teach me to cook.”

  “There’s a lot I can teach you, Sunshine.” My hand roamed along the side of her back, landing on her backside, where I gently massaged her soft flesh.

  “That tickles.” She squirmed, not making matters any better.

  I held her tighter to me. “Just how ticklish are you?”

  “Don’t you dare!” She warned in mock-seriousness. She wiggled and squirmed, trying to remove herself from my hold, but I wouldn’t let her go. “You wouldn’t.”

  “Oh, but I would,” I taunted with a wink and an evil smirk, exaggerating grabby hands. I’d do anything to make her smile, even if it was tickling her to submission. Lilly got up and tried to make a run for it, but I followed, grabbing her hand and pulling her against my chest. “I believe you owe me a dance.”

  “I do.” Every inch of her beautiful features glowed.

  Her soft brown eyes twinkled with specs of gold and her smile remained etched in place. How could a living, breathing man not fall for such a warm and caring woman as her? A woman who had lost so much, endured such heartache, and came out the other side still willing to try to pick up the pieces and start over.

  “Did your grandma teach you to dance, too?”

  “She did. It was a Sunday ritual.” I locked my hands loosely at the small of her back. “She taught me a lot actually. I think that’s why I’ve never felt sorry for myself, thinking I was a statistic having young parents who gave me up. My grandma taught me how to love and be loved, how to work hard and appreciate what I worked so hard for. Lots of things really, but the most important lesson was to always have respect—for others as well as myself.” I brushed the back of my knuckles down the length of her soft cheek.

  “She sounds like she was a real good woman.”

  “The best I’ve ever known,” I spoke proudly and truthfully.

  “You must miss her a lot.”

  “Every day.” I closed my eyes for a second and pulled in a deep breath. I really did miss her. S
he was more of a mother to me than a grandmother and not a day went by that I didn’t think about her. I know that, to some, it might sound strange, but she was the sole reason I didn’t turn into a statistic.

  “When did she pass?”

  “About three months ago.” I smiled sadly. “I took it pretty hard since she’s been the one constant person in my life.” She nodded, interested in my story. “Not taking that scholarship wasn’t without good reason. If I did, she would have been alone and who knows what would have happened. I couldn’t do that to her, not after she took care of me all those years. It just wasn’t right.”

  “You’re a good person, Easton.” The words rolled effortless off her tongue.

  “Thank you. I appreciate you saying that.”

  “What about your grandfather?”

  “He died when I was ten.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  I nodded and pulled her flush against me. “It’s okay. I was young when he passed, so I didn’t get to spend as much time with him like I did my grandmother. She never remarried or dated that I knew of. So, you can begin to understand why I was so close to her.”

  “I can. And I think it’s sweet that you were. Everyone needs someone they can depend on.”

  “They do. You can depend on me.” I would do just about anything for her.

  She smiled, and I spun her out of my arms and back in. When I had her comfortable in my hold again, I looked down into soft brown eyes and asked, “Tell me something about you. Something easy, say . . . pet peeves, bad habits, favorite hobby. Do you sleep with or without clothes on?” Without any force, she smacked my arm and giggled. In turn, a soft chuckle rumbled from deep in my chest. All she had to do was emit a simple sound, a simple yet beautiful sound, and I grew weak for her. The song ended and she pulled me back to the couch.

  “What do you hate most about dating?” I winked. “So I know to avoid it.”

  She shrugged. “Let’s start with pet peeves. I would have to say, rude people. I can’t stand it when a person does not have the decency to be courteous. There is no reason for rudeness or disrespect in my book. My daddy always told us, and very bluntly I might add, that if we didn’t have anything nice to say, we needed to keep our mouths shut.”

  “I would have to strongly agree with you on that one.”

  “I don’t really have a hobby. Well, not anymore. When I was little, I used to love gardening with my mother. She always wanted a rose garden, and we’d spend hours on the weekends planting and watering, but for some reason she never could get them to grow.” Her smile dropped.

  “Hey. Why the long face?”

  “Things have been a little strained with me and my family since . . . he left. What’s worse is that I live in their cottage and it’s within walking distance of their house. Anyway”—she waved it off—“That’s how she became a really good customer and friend of your aunt. Her lack of green thumb didn’t stop her from decorating the house with bouquets of roses or some kind of floral arrangement in almost every room.”

  “Hmm, maybe we could try to plant something together.”

  She shrugged and looked away again, so I squeezed her hand.

  “What about your sleep attire?” I harassed playfully.

  “Humph. A girl has to keep some things a mystery.”

  I wrapped my hand around the back of her neck, bringing her lips to just inches from mine. “Well then, I guess you’ll have to spend the night so I can solve that mystery.”

  “And what do you have planned for this so called sleepover?” Her eyes locked on to mine. The sexy way she crawled onto my lap had my hands automatically grabbing her by the hips so she couldn’t get away.

  “Anything your pretty little heart desires, Sunshine.” My voice was strained as I reached up to nibble on her bottom lip. When her lips parted, I took it as an invitation that she wanted more. Tongues swirling, I grabbed the back of her head, intensifying the kiss for only a second before I pulled back and rested my forehead to hers.

  “I’m not sure how to answer your last question,” she breathed against my lips. “I never dated anyone other than—” She paused, and I felt the need to help her out.

  “Tyler.” I hated that she wouldn’t look me in the eyes. I slid my finger under her chin and slowly lifted until our eyes connected. “It’s okay. You can say his name.”

  “Thank you.”

  “No need to thank me.” I gently rubbed her back. He was her husband, and if talking about him helped, I would sit and listen. No matter how awkward it might feel hearing her talk about another man. “You said you were together since you were a teenager. Where did you two meet?”

  Lilly removed herself from my lap, and I hated the loss of her warmth and the tiny bit of distance between us. “We met in high school. He was waiting outside my English class one day. It was my last class of the morning—right before lunch.” A faraway look crossed her face, and I just sat there admiring her. “He smiled, took my books right from my arms, and asked if I’d sit with him at lunch.” She laughed quietly. “He didn’t tell me he was taking me off campus to sit with him—in his truck—at Sonic two towns over. That was the first time I ever skipped school.” She shook her head like she was shaking away the memory.

  “First time skipping, huh? Rebel,” I teased, knowing this was hard for her.

  “You know it.”

  “What happened next?”

  “We were inseparable from then on. Well, until I left for college and he left for basic. I never wanted to be with anyone other than him. Even when we weren’t together, I still held out hope that we would find our way back.”

  I watched, transfixed as her thumb brushed back and forth over the compass tattoo on her wrist and an unexpected spark of jealousy flared.

  Not wanting her to sense my short-lived bout of unease, I took her hand in mine and asked a question without giving it much thought. “Do you think you’ll ever get married again?”

  She tucked her chin to her chest and answered softly, “I never thought about it actually.”

  “Too soon?” She nodded and looked away. “Can I get you another beer?”

  “I’d like that, thank you.”

  “You bet.”

  When I returned, I handed her a bottle, and the second I sat down, it was as if the last five minutes never took place. A giddy look had replaced the sorrowful one, and she said, “My turn to ask you something.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Let’s see. What would you say are your best and worst qualities? Oh, and do you have any bad habits?”

  “Well, it isn’t so much a bad habit anymore, but I used to smoke. And on occasion, when I’m really stressed out, I break down and buy a pack.” I knew some people thought it was a gross habit, and for an even smaller few, it would be a deal breaker. When she didn’t comment, I continued, “As for best and worst qualities, I would probably have to say the same for both, that I’m loyal to a fault.”

  She gave it a second to sink in. “I can see how that could be good and bad. Loyalty is always a good thing, but I guess if given it to someone who doesn’t deserve it, it can be devastating.”

  “It can be. I have a feeling that the person who has my loyalty now is the most deserving of it.”

  “Is this how you seduce all the women—with music and dancing?” I teased as he slowly led us around the small space.

  “Not women. There’s only one woman I care to seduce, only one woman who I care to be this close to.”

  When he pressed his fists into the small of my back, it was clear he felt it, too. Never in my life had I experienced a feeling so intense and freeing, and I was so damn turned on. My need temporarily surpassed my indecisiveness as it pulsated all the way to my sex.

  “Sunshine?”

  “Yes?”

  “Stay the night,” Easton whispered as he dipped his mouth close to my ear. The low undertone in his voice had me closing my eyes, imagining all the things he would do to me. Then I asked myself if staying
the night was such a good idea. No matter how badly my body craved the feel of him, if I agreed, there was no doubt where it would lead.

  Leaning back, I pressed my palms to his chest and looked up into hopeful eyes. I stood temporarily paralyzed as the light shade of brown darkened and gold flecks flickered, slowly glazing over with lust. The pulsating at my core increased, wanting him as much as he wanted me. It was the fear of having another breakdown that left me internally arguing my decision.

  “I don’t know, Easton.” My words contradicted everything I was feeling, and he only had to push a little more before he broke through my insecurities and I gave in.

  He curled his hand under my knee and pulled my leg to rest on his hip. The sexy move, matched with the song we were dancing to left little to the imagination. His bulge pressed low against my pelvic bone, and I had to ask myself how I was supposed to deny this man.

  “No expectations.”

  “I don’t know. I’m not sure I can resist—”

  “Then don’t. Just let it happen. Let us happen.” The pounding in my heart and quickening of my breath was clear indication there was no way around this. As I grew hypersensitive to his touch, it became undoubtedly clear that if we made love tonight, there would be no turning back. He would own my heart . . . well, most of it.

  “That twinkle in your eyes and the way your tongue keeps darting out to wet your lips is telling me you want this, that you want me.”

  I had no idea I was doing those things.

  “Tell me I’m wrong,” he whispered as his hands roamed from my hips to the outside of my thighs before coming to rest dangerously low on my waist. He was waiting patiently, asking permission. “If this is too much . . . tell me to stop,” he rasped. Everything about this moment was making it that much harder to put up a fight. I knew if I said the word, he would step away. I just didn’t know if I wanted him to. “You have to tell me. I won’t go any further until you tell me to.”