I Run to You (27 page)

She pulled out of his embrace and turned
around, rubbing her palm over her hip, in a tense way. Max watched
her walk around the room then. He could tell she was struggling,
getting more agitated and anxious.

“Hey?”

She glanced at him, eyes full of shadows and
darkness.

He walked close again, and took her hand. Max
turned and opened the front door and led her out onto the porch
with him. Once he had her out there, he sat on the swing—and pulled
her across his lap.

“Stay put,” he gently scolded, when she
started to get up.

Arm around her, his other hand on her tense
thigh, he murmured, “I’m holding you, even though you want to hide
yourself from me. Get it all out now. When you’re finished, I am
really going to hold you— and then I want you to listen to what I
say…really listen. Don’t be the tough girl right now.”

“And I should trust you—why?”

“Because you want to. I want you to. And you
can feel that I mean everything I have said.”

Jordan looked away from his eyes, staring
somewhere near his throat.

Her face was tense, voice gruff and eyes
starting to get damp, but in time, she was talking, at first
abrupt—tense. Just in short statements. As he merely listened, it
came out as tight and painful utterances, up from her taut throat,
and begrudgingly past her lips.

Max knew, gathering her close, when the tears
started seeping from her eyes. There were moments her body actually
trembled. Seconds—when she had to stop and pull herself
together.

By the time she reached the part about the
twenty year old who’d talked her into leaving with him, then left
her stranded— he felt like he had been on an emotional roller
coaster.

Max was mentally sorting the ages. 14 when
she was assaulted. 17 when she met the Brit. She was twenty-four
now. Seven years, a whole adult life, a loner, avoiding warmth,
affection, needing—because of things that happened out of her
control—and because of some selfish, user prick, she’d latched
onto, for all the reasons. She was too young then to have been out
on her own, without anyone caring.

Max let the air clear a moment when she was
done.

The summer evening was still alive with
birds, sun. Sounds from the neighborhood, quiescent and scented
with hay, horses, mowed grass, and the like.

He put both arms around her, gathering her
really close and brushed his lips across her forehead. Idly pushing
the swing. He simply did that in a lulling way for some time.

She was calming. She had one hand on his
shoulder, the other arm around his spine as he had slumped a
bit.

He was forming what he would say next, but
wasn’t in a hurry, since he felt it was a little too emotional for
her. The more traumatic stuff. Hell, it was a struggle for him to
contain what he felt just hearing it.

She was not tense now, but lax, in that
adrenaline drained way.

A sound in the house, the back door slamming,
and then some thump in the den, sounded.

Jordan pulled up slowly, not away completely,
but just looking at him.

Max reached up and traced her lips. “I’m so
sorry.”

Jordan nodded.

He could see a thousand thoughts rushing
through her mind now.

Hand cupping her jaw, he husked, “It won’t be
like that with me. I am not a user. When I touch you, I want it to
feel good. I want you to want it. Want me. I don’t discount the
trauma or the pain you’re still dealing with. I will listen to you.
I will be there, for you. Do you believe that?”

She probed his violet gaze a moment,
swallowed, then said gruffly, “Yes.”

He smiled faintly “Good.” Max let her up. “We
can talk more later. Let’s take that coffee out back.”

He kept hold of her hand as he went
inside.

Brook was in the kitchen pouring coffee.

“We were bringing it.”

She looked up, her regard taking them in,
their linked hands. She grinned. “Not a problem.”

Max asked, “You guys hanging out here for a
while?”

“Yeah. I think we will.”

He looked at Jordan. “We’re going for a
drive.”

Jordan nodded.

“Cool. See you later.” Before she collected
the cup though, Brook came round and embraced Jordan. Max heard her
say, “Trust him. It’s going to be all right.” Then she left
them.

He and Jordan went out, and after some
debate; he talked her into letting him take the truck, instead of
the Harley.

He put a CD in and drove toward the lake,
windows down, and glancing now and then to where she sat, head
back, letting the summer wind soothe over her face.

He reached across and took her hand that had
been lying lax in the seat. Although she didn’t look over, or open
her eyes, her fingers weaved lightly though his.

Max pulled in the clearing, near the dock,
and where the Coburns held their July 4th gatherings. Opening the
door, Max got out, and then bent over to take off his shoes and
socks. He tossed them in the back and removed his shirt. Going to
where she stood by the door waiting, looking around. He took her
hand again.

Her eyes moved over him. Max saw everything
there he needed to, before waiting for her to take her shoes off.
She tossed them on the truck. They strolled through the mown grass,
to the sun washed dock.

Padding out on the weathered boards, he sat
down and drew her across, so she sat in front of him, between his
legs, his arms loose around her and their feet touching the
water.

She relaxed back against him, sometimes
tilting her head back, her hair touching his chin as she watched
the birds, or looked at the clouds passing over the sun.

Max absorbed her, breathed her scent, mingled
with the summer perfumes, and relished her woman’s skin and shape
against his.

“Nice?”

“Um.” She sighed and let herself ease and
rest against his strength naturally.

Max was content for the hour they did nothing
but that.

His legs sometimes moved, feet rippling the
water the soles touched. He felt her subtle shift and leaned back,
regarding her.

She had turned to look at him. Her eyes were
going over his hair, his face. He felt his heart was going to
explode when she stretched up— and kissed him.

He was passive at first. Then, hearing a
hitch in her breathing, Max cupped her head, his other hand on her
back, and let his tongue taste her.

Though it was an erotic kiss, arousing him,
he let her pull back slowly, and search his face again. Her gaze
dropped, lingered on his lips. He could not hide the hardening of
his sex against her.

She got up, not fast, not anxious, so Max
climbed to his feet too, looking out over the lake as she did
so.

Jordan—took his hand this time.

Max glanced at her.

Her eyes were very green, very beautiful. She
said softly, knowingly “You already knew.”

He nodded slowly. “Don’t be mad at
Brook.”

She sighed. “I’m not.”

He pulled her into an embrace, and held her,
kept his arm around her as they turned and walked back to the
truck. They were a bit putting on their shoes, getting cold water
out of the cooler, before heading back.

The sun was going down. Max looked over to
find her studying him.

He smiled.

She smiled too, and everything inside him
seemed to come alive.

“You’re biggest secret is that—you’re
beautiful, Jordan O’Quinn.” He reached over and took her hand.
“

“Not. But I’ll let you say it.”

He laughed, sighed, and was damned happy, all
the way back to Madeline’s.

Before they went inside, he kissed her soft
and easy, and held her for a moment. Max whispered, “I feel like a
kid on their first date. But, hey, Jordan…I really like you.”

She laughed softly. “You make me nervous
saying it— like that.”

“Nervous how?”

“Trembly, kind of, intimidated by
your—expectation. You’re incredibly handsome. I have never even
walked in your world. I’ve seen those pictures of women
you’ve—”

“—I’ve never, ever, felt like this
before.”

Silent a moment and she eventually confessed,
“Me either.”

He sighed and took her hand again, told her,
“I don’t mean to be so—overwhelming.”

“You are, simply because of who and what you
are.” She considered him frankly. “And I— just realized, that I’ve
never had a real adult relationship. I’ve never had a guy talk to
me, treat me like this….”

He stopped a moment. “It’s not an act just to
get what I want. I want you to feel good, enjoy yourself, when you
are with me. Feel, as if you can talk to me. Hell, ask me,
anything.”

Max shook his head, his eyes were moving over
her, and his voice roughened, “I want to kiss you—all over. Love
you, until you can’t stand it. Hold you, until you know it’s how it
is supposed to be.”

“This is—fast. Emotional. Right now. I need
to absorb it all.”

I know.” He laughed and blew out a breath,
walking with her again. “Your call. Your pace. I promise.”

Since everyone was inside, in the den, they
went there.

Mitch was on the cell, everyone in the family
seemed to be calling. G.W. and Alvin were MCing, and going over
some last minute bookings. Donna was leaving soon, picking up her
kids who were at another cousin’s house. Brook and Renee had been
having a cozy chat with Madeline.

Everyone looked at them, even when they were
trying act as if they weren’t.

Max released Jordan’s hand, and leaned down
to say in her ear, “I’m going to head off, let y’all do your thing.
Can I call you?”

“I’ll call you. Give me the number.”

He went to the kitchen bar and wrote it down,
bringing the folded paper back. “I’ll be in and out, helping get
stuff ready. Leave a voice message.”

She tucked it into her pocket. “We’ll see
each other Friday.”

“It’s going to be chaos. A tense and exciting
day for you.” He grinned.

“We’ll be on from eight till nine.”

“Right. I’ll be taking photographs.”

She nodded. “We’ll see other. Go on.”

“Right.” He sighed and rubbed the back of his
neck.

Max finally said goodbye to everyone and made
it to his truck. He did not want to hang on her.; she had things to
do. He was just so damned happy they had made all this
progress—that she was going to let him have a shot that he hated to
leave.

In the end, he got in the truck, but ended up
driving to Jason’s.

For all they joked around, his half-brother
was his closest friend.

He found Jason watching sports in his
den.

“Beer?’

“Yep.” Max got his own.

Five minutes after he had sat down on the
sofa, Jason hit the mute button and looked at him. “Jordan?”

The Coburn grapevine was alive, well—and
fast, Max thought wryly.

“Yes.”

Jason clicked off the TV and got up, waving
him over to the pool table. “Talk. “

Max did. While they shot several games of
pool.

Chapter 14

Rafe showed up at Brook’s, early Friday.

He carried in two boxes and then watched her
rushing around, toasting a bagel, still in her robe, freshly
bathed.

“If you don’t calm down, you’re going to be
exhausted by the time you guys perform.”

“I know.” She grimaced putting butter on the
bagel. “I’m all wound up.”

“So is Madeline. She called me twice
yesterday.”

Brook grinned and sat down on a stool. “She’s
worked her ass off.” She gestured toward the boxes. “Show me, while
I eat.”

He got up and opened them, pulling out the
T-shirts with “Audacious” on them she’d had printed and he had
picked up.

“They rock!” She dropped the bagel and
grabbed it from him. “Oh, these are great.”

Laughing, he helped himself to coffee. “I
think so too.”

She lifted the cell when it vibrated and
clicked it on.

“Oh, Renee, they’re awesome. Yes. Yes, I have
all the stuff ready. No. Oh, well just give me a call before I
leave.” She clicked off, put the shirt back, and got back to
eating.

Half way through, she informed Rafe, “Did Mom
tell you that the family has a table? It will be by Mitch’s camper.
So don’t worry about food and drinks, stuff like that.”

“Yes. She told me.” He asked, “You think
Karla will be there somewhere?”

“They’ll be security.” She shrugged. “There’s
an order she can’t come near Levi and he’s there. So, she’s crazy
if she risks it, just to get to me.

Rafe grunted but went on, “I’m working this
morning, but I’ll be there around five.”

“You’d better.”

“Like I’d miss it.” He started to leave.

Brook called out, “Hey?”

He turned.

“No good luck kiss?”

He grinned and came over, kissing her brow.
“Good luck. Kick ass.” He swatted hers.

Chewing the last bite, she regarded him
intently.

The look he returned was warm— but full of
meaning.

“Something’s been on your mind?” she
guessed.

“It’s an exciting day for you. Not a good day
to talk about it.”

“Nonsense.” She wiped her hands and came
around, making him sit on the sofa. She sat on the edge facing him.
“Talk.”

He ran a hand through his hair. Dropped it,
and stared at her, asking, “How come we’re not falling in love? My
feelings for you are special, different from any friend I have.
Always will be…unique, but…”

Brook cut in; “I know what you mean.”

He grimaced on a laugh. “When we first—took
it to the next level, I was always thinking, worried, about you
being the one who was going to break it off.”

“There’s not a breaking off.” She took his
hand. “We haven’t been intimate since that time at your house. But,
we have a blast together. We just moved right out of that
relationship, into the one that felt right, I guess. Not that I
regret anything…”