I Run to You (41 page)

By the time they were headed homeward, he
mused wryly that they had forgotten about getting into each other’s
pants.

He kissed Jordan longer, deeper, before she
went in. He assured her everything would be perfect.

On his drive home, he worked the
phone—calling the family, getting advice, support, the help he
would need to make both Jordan’s dream real, and his own hope, for
someday soon, a possibility.

~*~

Madeline lay in bed. Her head rested on
Mitch’s chest. They had just finished talking to Max.

Smiling, she mused aloud, “I wonder how long
before she’s our granddaughter?”

He stroked her back. “If Max had his way,
before she even meets him.”

“How are y’all going to manage it? There’s
the Mill and your other job, and—”

“We’re Coburns. We can do anything.”

She laughed. “Max seems to have that
confidence too.”

“He’s our son.”

Madeline chuckled. “He’s in love.”

Mitch raised and leaned over, looking down at
her. “So am I.”

She pulled him to her. “Isn’t it
wonderful?”

Kissing her neck he murmured, “That we love
each other?”

She laughed on a sigh, “Yes that. But I mean
that our son is in love.”

“Mmm.” Mitch found her ear, his hands gliding
over her body. “Wonderful.”

Madeline arched into him. She would savor
other things tomorrow. Tonight, her lover and husband, her best
friend, was determined to be a naughty distraction.

She loved making love with him. Anywhere.

~*~

The next big event for the Coburns was the
4th of July picnic.

Coy was aware he was going to be spread too
thin if the group did the usual and played in town, because the
Mill was booked that weekend. He finally wrangled with the city
council to have the events held at the Mill too. They weren’t going
to charge seniors and veterans; children under 12, and much of the
food and drinks were free. That way, the Coburn groups could do
their sets early and turn everything over to the Mayor and folks
who usually held the gathering and parade in town. The parade would
take place before noon, and the rest of the festivities at the
Mill.

When he was not working that, Coy was taking
Levi to and from school, to ball practice—unless Ruby or one of the
others volunteered, which they did often thankfully. He managed to
work on Max’s house two days, he and G.W. and Jason, a crew of
them, extended it up and out. They had the walls up by nightfall
the first evening.

Dog-tired didn’t begin to describe how he
felt though. He made two trips for his physical therapy and was
chewed out by the doctor for the ones he missed. There was shit
going on all over the place—and he was not making progress with
Brook.

He had small things to be thankful for. When
he dropped by, she wasn’t cold or anything. They talked about the
family, her job, and the band, whatever. However, some nights he
sat out back with a beer—and wondered if they actually had been on
that pier necked and joined.

Sighing, Coy set the laptop aside on the
leather sofa. He had two hours before picking Levi up from
practice. He stood, stretched, and went out to the front, hearing
saws and hammers over at Max’s— some whoops and yells as the
younger ones were likely throwing each other in the lake. Jordan
had moved in with Max. The family was thrilled, and aware of her
progress, getting to see her daughter soon, and excited for them
both. Madeline and Mitch were over the moon about it.

Leaning his forearms on the rail, Coy smiled,
wondering where Max’s suave had gone since he fell in love? The guy
was ape shit for Jordan. Though she was less demonstrative in
public or in front of the family, most of them had witnessed her
looking at and watching Max with “that” look.

Coy laughed abrupt, remembering the day he
had worked there and they had been biting each other’s heads off.
He had gone out back to get a water out of the cooler— and
overheard them apologizing, some moaning conversation about not
having had real sex yet. It comforted Coy to know he was not the
only celibate member of the clan. Jason sure as hell got enough for
all of them though. He was over the blond and showed up last week
with some brunette he met, doing body shots off her abs in a club.
G.W. jokingly called her Jason’s salt lick.

Coy presently swatted at an insect that
landed on his bare shoulder, his eyes telling his mind he was not
conjuring up Brook’s VW coming down the road from Max’s.

She pulled over near his truck. He wondered
if he had combed his hair today. He was barefoot, in ratty jeans,
had taken his son to school that way, grabbed a coffee, and come
home to a shit load of work. He did not know if he’d put
antiperspirant on either. But when Brook got out and came toward
him, he didn’t feel so bad.

She had on a bandanna tied on. Paint
spattered her denim shirt that was half buttoned over a bikini top.
Cut off shorts—paint on her arms, face, and her sneakers.

“Hey. Would it be possible for me to use your
shower?” She slid her sunglasses up on her head. “I’m running late
for work and—”

“Sure. No problem.” He turned from the
rail.

She grimaced on a smile. “Thanks. Its kind
crowded over at Max’s. Who the hell would dare get necked with
bunch around? Just let me grab my bag.”

He watched her jog back to her car, duck in,
and grab a carry all. Coming back, she huffed, “I don’t know which
of them are worse slave drivers, Max or Jordan.”

He laughed and let her in the sliding doors.
Coy noticed Levi’s sneakers in the middle of the floor. The video
games scattered out in front of the TV and other clutter.

“The guest one is really small. But use the
one off my room.” He looked at her, noticing a bit of sun and
freckles everywhere they weren’t last week, and despite the paint
and yes some grime, he was so glad when her face healed. Too damn
glad to see her here.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know where—”

“Oh.” He walked past her, going past the open
kitchen too, and to the door of his room, pushing it wide. He
mentally groaned over his bed being unmade, and the book he was
reading, as well as a dozen other things, cluttering the space.

She didn’t seem to notice. “Great house. Very
cozy.”

“Thanks. It’s—kid friendly.”

She laughed softly. Coy went past her again,
showing her the large double jet shower and dressing room.
“Anything you need, yell.”

Brook looked in and then hefted her bag. “Got
everything, I hope.” She looked at her watch, which was also
covered in white and lavender paint. “I should have quit an hour
ago. I could have made it home—”

“It’s no bother.” He eyed the spatters in the
V where the shirt wasn’t buttoned. Mostly, he eyed her skin and the
dew on it. Jerking his gaze back up, he knew he had been caught.
“I’ll just leave you to it…”

As he left, he murmured to himself, “Great
lines you’re delivering there, Coburn.”

After closing the door, he walked around
picking up the clutter. Seeing more of it than before for some
reason. His sink still held breakfast and lunch dishes. He paused
by it and cussed. Yanked down a cup and used jug spring water to
put on coffee. He would like a shower. He would like to be as clean
as she was when she came out. He would like to be in there with
her—getting the paint off for her.

Turning, he leaned his hips against the sink,
listening to the gurgle of the coffee maker. Smelling it, and
trying to clean his dirty mind. It didn’t work.

He thought of the dozen times he’d seen her,
not just dropping by but at the Tavern, in town, up at Madeline’s,
time he (just happened) to be near his Dad’s— or somewhere he’d run
into her. It did not matter if she was in shorts, or one of those
summery dresses, dressed nice in slacks and her cute tinted
glasses. It did not matter if a hundred people were around, or no
one. He wanted to kiss her, touch her, and be with her.

Levi talked about her. Coy had pumped him
shamelessly the day he’d let Brook pick Levi up from school and
take him out. He had not felt a bit of shame, but a lot of envy. No
matter what (conversation) he had with her, there was always that
other one when their eyes met. Always that crackle of tension, and
residue of memory.

It had been too quick. Not enough time. It
had not been what he would/could have made it. Not— that he would
take it back. But. Damn. He had not exactly been impressive.

The coffee maker stopped. He filled his mug,
added milk, and stood where he was, thinking about how slim his
time had been lately. It had been days since he had seen her. Now
she was here—on her way out.

It sucked.

He heard the door click. Brook came out
dressed in a tailored, sleeveless black blouse and slacks, a pair
of clogs. She tossed them down beside her bag. She
looked—beautiful. Her hair had grown an inch. She’d had it done
again, been styling it in some new sassy/ sexy way, he liked.

“Coffee?”

“Sure, thanks.”

He poured it, saying, “Have a seat. I’ve a
little over an hour before I have to drive in and get Levi.”

He turned, putting the mug on the bar. She
sat on one of the stools. He pulled the one on his side over, and
straddled it, across from her.

She sipped before muttering something as her
phone beeped.

Coy looked over her face, her eye shadow was
lavender. Her lips glossed clear. He wet his. They looked dewy.
They needed kissed.

Having pushed something on her phone, she
made a snorting/laughing sound, he found amusing.

“Something funny?”

“Renee.” She glanced at him. “She just texted
me that she and Sunny are having sex.”

He reached for the phone, “Lemme’ see.”

She laughed and held it out of his reach.
“She’s not sending pictures.”

“They’re at her house?” He asked grinning,
watching her face.

“Yep. Apparently Sunny came by on some excuse
and—”

“I should stop by on my way out.”

She gaped at him. “You wouldn’t—”

“No.” He grinned. “But I might send Alvin and
G.W.”

Laughing, Brook gave him a scolding look.
“Let them get some. They’ve been running each other in circles for
weeks.”

“Mmmm. Get some.” His eyes teased back. “I
guess Renee and Jason— are the only two in the family, “getting
any” lately.”

Her face flushed but she took a sip of
coffee.

Coy snorted, “How the hell is she texting and
having sex? I can’t imagine that’s very flattering to Sunny.”

“Well they’re not— yet. I mean, she’s
probably in the bathroom or something.”

“Or something?” He laughed, shaking his head
in that “women,” way.

Brook caught it and closed out her phone
after texting back.

“I hope she ties him to the bed and keeps him
there till he realizes he’s a lucky, you-know-what, to have someone
like her.”

“What did you text back?” Coy sipped with his
eyes on her face.

“None of your business.” She avoided his
gaze.

“Bed tying…”

“All right. Enough,” She chuckled, “I
shouldn’t have even told you.”

His teeth raked his lower lip. The current
humming hot between them. Coy murmured, “You can tie me to the bed.
A chair, anywhere—”

She groaned and shook her head. Her smile
came out, even as she fought it. “You Coburns are—”

“Hot blooded. Good in bed. Given the time,
that is.”

Brook retorted, “And, so very—modest.”

He muttered, “Not that quickies don’t have
their appeal. Take us, for instance…”

She hopped off the stool laughing. “I’m
going.”

“Don’t.” Coy stood.

She put her shoes on, glancing at him, over
his chest he noticed.

“I’m relieving Ashley. I don’t want to be
late.”

He walked around and went out with her. “Lot
going on right now.”

“Yeah.” She shifted the bag. “Crazy busy,
everywhere. We’ve hired two young guys at the Tavern, and will
probably need some part time since Mom is busy too.”

Coy looked over her face again. “On week
nights, I’m pretty much here with Levi. Weekends he’s somewhere,
but lately the bookings and all…”

“Yeah.” Her gaze skittered away. “I’d better
go.”

He padded out to her car. When she was in,
Coy leaned down at the driver’s side window. “If you’re working out
there again and want to shower, eat, chill whatever, there's a
spare key in that old milk can out back.”

“Thanks.”

“Or stop by when Levi is here, or when we’re
both here too.”

She nodded, her eyes ahead, before she
slanted him a look.

Coy felt the jolt of that violet gaze. A
blanket of hungers tightened his skin. He had to bite his tongue to
keep from saying what he really wanted to.

“You seeing someone?” he asked.

“No. And if I were, the family would have
told you.”

They would have. Coy murmured, “Sometimes
when I’ve stopped by. It’s so hard not to kiss you, be with
you.”

She drew in a long deep breath and blew it
out. “I’ve got to go.”

He stepped back, watching her back out and
then turn. Coy watched her until the car faded from view.

Inside, he went to his room for a T-shirt,
his shoes and truck keys. He could smell her perfume and walked to
the doorway of his bathroom. The tile on the shower wall was
beaded. He noticed something on the long dressing table and waked
over to pick it up.

It was a bottle of lotion. He uncapped it,
closed his eyes, and breathed in the scent, remembering it on her
skin. Lifting his lashes, he capped it and set it back, heading out
to get Levi.

Bridges, he mused as he started the truck,
were harder to build than he had thought. Trust—was something he
had no clue how to prove himself worthy of to Brook.