Redeemed Book 2: A Military Stepbrother Romance (17 page)

Of course, I didn’t want to go, not with the way things between Harrison and I were, but not going wasn’t really an option for me. Luckily, I didn’t have to do much of the planning, as our parent had gone all out and hired a party coordinator and planner. I didn’t know there was a difference between coordinator and planner, but they were two different people, so clearly there was.

I spent most of my time in the hospital with Maggie. The baby was doing fine, but given the complications of the birth, the doctors had recommended that she spend a couple more days in the hospital. Maggie was thrilled for the company, because after a while, family got a little tiring. She spent as much time as she could video chatting with Chris overseas, and I could feel his love for his new son through the screen from thousands of miles away.

It really was wonderful to see, and it made me long for a child of my own. Of course, before that I need to have a man of my own. In my highest moments of the last week or so I had allowed myself the opportunity to think of Harrison as that man, but I couldn’t do that any longer.

It just wasn’t going to work out between us. Maybe if our parents had never gotten together, then we might of had a chance, but that was all in the past now.

Our parents’ wedding anniversary party came up faster than I thought it would, and in the days leading up to it I thought about their marriage more than once. It was the second time around for both of them, but they made it work. I started to wonder, watching them, that maybe that was what to look for rather than the passion and heart racing that popular culture had sought me to seek out. Maybe finding someone you could laugh with, someone you could be comfortable around, was the right way to go.

Harrison kept mostly out of sight, and when I could see him, we didn’t interact. He stayed doing his own thing and I stayed doing mine. At first it stuck knives in my heart to see him, his gorgeous face atop his sexy body, but not for me anymore. He looked tired and sad, but didn’t say anything even when our parents pressed him. They figured it was something to do with the season and left him mostly alone. Thankfully neither of us were involved in planning this party. Our parents had not left something so important to either of us.

On the night of the party itself, I went to my room and got dressed after taking a shower. I did my makeup in the mirror and looked down at the deep blue dress I’d picked out. It hugged my curves just right for a classy yet sultry look. Our parents knew all the important people of Summitville, and they were all coming, and, my stepmother had noted, some were bringing their eligible bachelor sons.

I wasn’t particularly interested in any eligible bachelor sons not named Harrison Troy, but I couldn’t really say that part out loud, so I just smiled and nodded. Nevertheless, when it came time to pick out my outfit for the anniversary party, I ended up deciding on a dress just a little more sexy, showing just a little more cleavage and riding just a couple inches higher, than my initial plan.

Of course Harrison would see me in it. And he’d probably also wonder about my lingerie underneath. He might be pleased to know that it matched my dress perfectly, and looked stunning on me. Too bad for him he wouldn’t get to see it.

Our parents went to the party early and Harrison was nowhere to be found, so I ended up driving to the party myself. I wished Maggie was coming, but obligations with the baby had forced her to stay home. In all honesty I had half a mind to duck out of the party early and go hang out with her. I’d have way more fun that way and no one would miss me.

The party was in a giant hall, one of the biggest meeting spaces in Summitville, and by the time I arrived, it was in full swing. I gave my car to the valet and went inside, checking in my coat at the coat check. I didn’t know how long I’d stay, but I had to make sure my father and stepmother saw me and I said hi. They’d be a little too busy to spend too much time with me tonight, what with all their friends and close business associates around them and celebrating them. I’d put in a few minutes, say hi, give them my congratulations and then find the right time to make an exit.

Harrison arrived a few minutes after me, looking utterly gorgeous in a three piece suit that was cut and tailored to perfection. I watched the heads of all the women, clearly married and possibly single alike, turn as he entered the giant hall, some even doing a comical double take or even, in one case, the mythical triple take. He must have noticed me though I tried to avoid him, though I really wanted him to look at me and see me dressed like this. It was petty, and I knew that, but I couldn’t help it. I wanted Harrison to see what he was missing out on.

A lightbulb went off in my head and I joined the line of people gathering to greet our parents. They stood in the center of the hall, like a newly-married couple would line up. They looked so happy to be there, and when it came my turn I stepped forward and gave each of them deep and long hugs.

I hadn’t always been on board with my father getting married again, but now that I took a step back and saw how happy Ruth had made him all these years, I couldn’t help but get over my childish notions of one true romance. They may not have found each other the first time around, but they made it work each and every day and I couldn’t stand in their way.

I tried to make that clear when I talked to them, and both my father and especially my stepmother seemed to get the point. They both beamed with pride. I didn’t take up too much of their time, but told them I’d see them at the house later. They informed me that they’d gotten a suite at a hotel nearby and wouldn’t be home till tomorrow.

After I was done with speaking to our parents I went to the open bar and got myself a drink. Nothing too strong this time, not after what had happened at the Crown, but I definitely need a little alcohol to keep things lively at a stereotypically boring party as this.

“Mind if I join you?” I heard a deep and interesting voice next to me. “I’m drinking alone too, and a drink as well-made as this should not be enjoyed without company.”

I giggled at how strange that sounded, and turned to look…and came face to face with a beautiful man, older than me, with just the slightest hint of grey starting to show at his temples. He was all and strong looking and dressed immaculately.

And his smile, lord, his smile, well that could stop traffic. “Of course, please do,” I smiled back and looked down, resting my arms on the bar. He did the same, and we faced forward looking at each other in the reflection of the mirror in front of us.

We looked good together.

“My name is James,” he started, still looking at me in the mirror. We locked eyes.

“I’m Laurel.”

“Laurel,” he said, turning the name over and over, and I liked how it sounded rolling off his tongue. “I like that. You have a beautiful name, and it fits you perfectly.”

I blushed, loving the attention, and definitely catching Harrison’s look as he saw us together from the other side of the hall. I didn’t want to think about him anymore, though. I had a sexy man in front of me who clearly thought I was sexy too.

That was much better than a wicked stepbrother who couldn’t make up his mind what he wanted.

“Would you dance with me, Laurel?” I melted right there, nodding and not saying anything as we set our drinks down and James took my hand in his and led me to the dance floor off to one side. There, a DJ was playing slower music, the kind that you could get close to someone with.

James pulled me in close to him, and we danced. James knew what he was doing, and he guided me through the various moves like a virtuoso playing his favorite instrument. It was intoxicating being so close to a man who clearly knew how to handle a woman’s body so well.

We danced like that till I lost track of time, faster, then slower, and repeating. It was during one of the lulls that it happened.

We were dancing, James and I, and then Harrison appeared just off to the side of him. He coughed, and James slowed us down.

“Mind if I cut in?” Harrison said, strong but as polite as could be, following the protocol.

James looked surprised for a moment then collected himself. “But of course!” he smiled. “If that’s what the lady wants, then of course!” He looked at me, the question on his face.

“Ye-Yes, of course.” I turned to James. “That was lovely, thank you very much. I’d like to dance with my stepbrother for a bit, if that’s alright.”

“Ahh, right, the siblings. Of course, please, by all means.” He winked at me. “I’ll come and find you later, yes?”

I nodded. “That would be nice.”

James let me go and Harrison stepped into his place. I put my arms around his neck and we started dancing.

“What was that about?” I hissed at him, trying to keep the smile on my face in case anyone was listening or watching us.

“I saw you dancing with him.”

“And? I like to dance with nice, attractive men, Harrison. Call me crazy but it feels good!”

“We need to talk.”

“I think we’ve talked as much as we need to, don’t you? You said all I needed to hear.”

He looked wounded. “I need to talk to you, Laurel, please.”

The way he looked at me with those big eyes of his, I couldn’t resist. No matter what he did to me, no matter how much he hurt me, I couldn’t help but give him another chance to at least explain himself. Maybe that was what our bond was all about.

“Alright, alright. Let’s talk.”

He brightened immediately, standing up straighter and taller than before. I felt myself start to get turned on, and I hastily tried to push that back. “Not here. Let’s go somewhere.”

“Fine. Lead on.” We left the dance floor and moved around the hall looking for a place we could talk and not be disturbed. As we tried out different places I could feel James’ eyes meeting mine from the bar, as he raised a glass toward me. I smiled back, eager to get back to him when whatever Harrison wanted to say was done.

Eventually we went out a door and down a hall and found ourselves in a courtyard with a fountain. The lights were on and there was soft music playing, but evidently the party planner had neglected to tell any of the guests about this place, because there was no one here but us.
 

Harrison motioned to me and I sat down in front of the fountain, on a bench very similar to the one he’d taken me to in the forest.

“I’ve made another huge mistake, Laurel,” he started, with a rueful smile. “I know you won’t be able to forgive me but I have to say this.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Harrison. You saw me dancing with James and now you’ve got all these thoughts in your head…”

“This has been brewing for more than the last hour, Laurel, give me a little more credit than that.”

“I don’t see why I should - you’ve definitely made and changed your mind about us in less time than that over the last few days.”

He started to speak, opening his mouth and closing it a few times before he finally found the words. “OK, I’m sorry, and I deserved that. But please, hear me out. Yes, that was what set me off, seeing you dance with him. Of course, you’re free to do what you like, but I don’t have to like it.”

I crossed my arms under my breasts and shivered slightly, the cold open air of the courtyard finally getting to me. A second later Harrison had taken off his jacket and thrown it around my shoulders. It smelled like him and I felt my resolve begin to crack.

“And I don’t have to care what you think, Harrison. We lived like that for years and it worked out just fine.”

He looked incredulous. “And after what’s happened since you got back is that how you want to go from here? Just like before? Do you think we can?”

I shook my head, closing my eyes and wishing to be anywhere else. “I don’t know if we can, but it worked before.”

Harrison leaned over, stopping his face in front of mine. “It didn’t work for me before, Laurel. It never did. I couldn’t stand not being able to tell you how I felt.”

“You sure had a funny way of showing it.”

“I was young and dumb and I didn’t know what to do. I’m sorry about that.”

He stood back up. “I’ve had some time to think about what I said last time, about fighting and wanting to. I realize now that you’re the reason I didn’t fight.” He looked at me. “You’re the reason I want to be a better person, Laurel, can’t you see that? I need you, even if only for my sake.”

He turned around. “I may have saved you from Steve in the parking lot, but I need you to save me from now on. From myself.” He turned back to face me. “You’re so good for me, and I finally see that now. I don’t want to be another day without you.”

“You’re not still scared about being found out, about being able to be ourselves around here?”

“We don’t have to be here anymore. We can go somewhere else. I can choose where I go next, and you can come with me. We can make this work.”

“And our parents? What will they say?”

He sighed and closed his eyes before opening them again and speaking. “They’ve known how I felt about you. For a long time. Your father and I talked about it long ago. It was one of the reasons I left to join the military.”

“What?!” This was all new to me.

“He told me that if I came back and still felt the same way, he wouldn’t get in the way of us.

I’d have to have a long conversation with my father some time very soon, but now was not the time.

Harrison pulled up and close, cradling my face in his hands. I was unable to stop him, nor did I want to anymore. “I don’t care about what anyone else thinks, Laurel, I just want to be with you forever.”

“Forever’s a long time, Harrison,” I said, skeptically.

“I know. I hope so. Because I want to hold on to you as long as I possibly can, so forever sounds like a good place to start.”

“I don’t know…”

“How can I prove it to you? Tell me how.”

 
I looked up at him, standing there in the courtyard, holding me so close, and I kissed him like I’d never kissed him or anyone before. “You just did.”

Chapter 25 - The Love

The open courtyard was no place for two people who needed a place to get busy. It wasn’t easy to find a place to be alone at a giant fancy anniversary party. Sure, you could find places to talk amongst yourselves, but finding a place where you could be free from worry of getting caught while you, ahem, got a little busy? That was a taller order.