Love Me (Take a Chance)

chapter Thirteen


Brianna took the stairs carefully. Her knees were weak, and she could barely feel her feet. Last night, she had tried to get Thomas to stay overnight. When she kissed him good night, she had whispered that he should sleep in her room with her. He’d stammered an odd jumble of words, something about getting ready for tomorrow, and ran out of the house as if the devil were chasing him. And she still didn’t know why.

But tonight she was going to finally ask the question she’d been avoiding—and she would actually get an answer. He’d promised her that much. But after his flight last night…she didn’t think she would like what she would hear. And if that wasn’t enough to make her palms sweaty and her knees wobbly, she was about to meet his sister for the first time, along with Erica’s husband. A husband who just happened to be Thomas’s best friend.

Pressure much?

At the bottom of the stairs, she leaned against the wall. Laughter rose from outside. She pushed away from the wall and peeked out the front window. Thomas, dressed in a black suit and blue tie, kicked a soccer ball. She craned her neck until she could see Zach, a smile tugging at his lips as he answered something Thomas said and angled to intercept a pass.

Thomas laughed, called out a reply, and punted the ball back to Zach. They kicked the ball back and forth a few more times, while across the yard, Katelyn and Cody played tag. Brianna pressed her knuckles to her lips. They looked like a family. A happy family.

Her family.

When was the last time she’d seen Zach smile like that? Probably long before Michael had died. Before he’d gotten sick. Sometimes she liked to think Michael was still around, watching over them. Maybe he’d like the scene in the yard. A sense of peace filled her as she imagined him at her side. In her mind, his smile was warm with approval.

No one had wanted him to die, least of all her. She still missed him. Always would. But she couldn’t go on feeling guilty for the rest of her life, ashamed of her feelings for another man. Thomas belonged here if he wanted to be here. With them.

He could be a good father. As good a father as Michael would have been. The past two weeks had shown her that Thomas had an amazing amount of patience and tolerance with her children. Whether temper tantrums, fights, or tears over a broken baby doll, he’d been there. He’d helped make the kids feel better—and helped her feel better, too.

No more running away from him. No more second-guessing. She wanted him to stick around. If he gave even one sign of being willing to move here with her, she would beg and plead for him to take the position. To stay.

She checked herself in the wall mirror, smoothed her hands over her sleek sheath dress, and stepped outside. All four heads turned to her when the door opened but she had eyes only for Thomas right now. “Hi,” she said shyly.

“Hi, yourself.” His gaze caressed her from head to toe. He kicked the ball back to Zach and walked toward her, his steps predatory, lithe, his heated gaze never leaving her. “You look… God. Breathtaking.”

She lowered her eyes and tucked her hair behind her ear. “So do you. Even when you’re playing soccer in a suit.”

He rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish smile. “It’s fun. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I started playing again.”

Zach jogged closer. “Were you watching, Mom? Thomas was teaching me some of his ancient tricks from when he played.”

“Ancient? Watch yourself, boy. I already feel old enough, thank you.” Thomas ruffled Zach’s hair. The boy flushed. “But you really don’t need my pointers. You’ve already got a better kick than I ever did.”

The sheer pride in Zach’s eyes took her breath away. Did Thomas even realize how much he’d done for Zach? And to see them finally getting along…it had been rocky, but she was glad she’d trusted him.

“Thanks,” Zach said. A car door slammed, and his gaze shifted past Thomas. “Here come the babysitters. I told you guys I could have watched them.”

“A thirteen-year-old alone all night with his siblings? I don’t think so.” Brianna snorted. They would probably come home to find Cory and Katelyn covered in chocolate and running around high on a sugar rush, while Zach played Call of Duty online with Chris. “Maybe in a few years.”

The couple who came up the walk wasn’t nearly as frightening as Brianna had envisioned, even if Erica was intimidatingly lovely, the kind of woman the old Brianna would have been afraid to speak to. The resemblance between her and Thomas was unmistakable, from the deep, dark brown eyes to the infectious smile.

Her petite curves made even jeans and a T-shirt look classy—completely at odds with the rough, rugged, tattooed man at her side, who looked like he’d be more at home in a biker bar. Good god, those blue eyes were devastating, and despite herself Brianna flushed. Erica was one lucky woman.

Then her gaze drifted to Thomas—how the suit sat on his broad shoulders, unable to cage the luscious slopes of hard-packed muscle. The slightly dangerous edge to his smile, just that hint of promise that told her just what a feral beast he could be the moment they were alone. Yes, Erica was one lucky woman.

But so was she.

Cody trotted over and tugged her hand. “He’s a Marine, right, Mom?”

“Real-life and in the flesh.” She bit her lower lip and darted Thomas a nervous glance. “Are you sure Erica and Jeremy don’t mind watching them?”

“Trust me, she owes me. I had to take care of her when she was pregnant and Jeremy was away on deployment.” He made it sound like torture of the worst sort. With a shudder, he captured her hand. “Pickles at midnight. Ice cream at two.”

Brianna laughed. “I remember those days. Once I sent Michael out for a Big Mac at eleven at night. When he came home, I didn’t want it anymore—but I wanted a milkshake. And he went right back out, the lovesick sop.”

He rolled his eyes. “Sounds like Erica.”

As the couple drew closer, Brianna smoothed her hair and smiled. “Hello.”

“Hi,” Erica said, and, without a moment’s hesitation, pulled Brianna into a tight hug. Brianna tentatively hugged her back. She hadn’t expected or hoped for such a warm welcome. “Nice to meet you, Brianna. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about you.”

“Uh, thanks.” Her cheeks heated. “I’ve heard a lot about you, too.”

“Don’t believe any of it.” Erica grinned. “Tommy probably made it all up.”

“Brat. I told you not to call me that.” Thomas pulled his sister into a tight hug.

Jeremy offered his hand, those stunning blue eyes glittering. “Hello, Brianna. Nice to meet you.”

Brianna slipped her hand into his—and yelped when he, too, dragged her into a rough bear hug. Her blush felt like it was spreading down to her knees, and she awkwardly pressed her hands against the second hardest pair of abs she’d ever felt as she pushed herself back.

“Well. Um. Nice to meet you, too.” She fiddled with her hair and pressed close against Thomas’s side. “Thank you both for watching the kids overnight.”

“No problem. We needed a vacation from base life and it gave my mom an excuse to spend a few days playing doting grandmother with our little guy.” Erica lightly slugged Thomas’s arm. “Then the next step will be helping this idiot find a new house.” Her sly look slid from Thomas to Brianna and Brianna could have melted into the sidewalk.

Wait, what? He was house hunting? Her heartbeat sped up. “Oh. I see.”

Thomas cleared his throat. “I said that we might be looking at houses. Not definitely.”

But where? Here or in California? Thomas looked at Brianna, then looked away before she could meet his eyes. What was he hiding from her?

Cody tugged Jeremy’s shirt. “Is it true you’re a real soldier? Thomas said you are.”

Jeremy crouched down. “I’m better than a soldier. I’m a Marine. Do you like soldiers?”

“Yeah! But…you don’t look like a Marine. Where’s your uniform?” Cody eyed him. “And your gun?”

“At home. But I can tell you all about soldiers and military formations. I know lots.”

Cody’s eyes widened. “Will you play toy soldiers with me?”

Zach snorted. “He doesn’t want to play with fake military guys, Cody. He’s the real thing.”

“I’d actually love to,” Jeremy said. “I’ll even show you how real Marines line up for battle.”

Cody jumped up and down. “Can we go? Now?”

“Sure. Come on.” Jeremy winked at Brianna and Thomas, then followed the boy up the pathway. “You two kids have fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, Tommy.”

“That leaves a lot of options,” Thomas said.

Jeremy laughed. “Yeah, I suppose it does.”

“Oh, gross. I’m gone.” Zach bolted after Jeremy and Cody. “See ya.”

“Love you, too,” Brianna called out, then shook her head. “Looks like we’ll be missed horribly.”

“Go. Have fun.” Erica pushed them gently down the path. “Get out of here.”

“Bye, Katelyn,” Brianna called over her shoulder. “Love you, Princess.” Yet she lingered a moment. Would her shy little girl be able to deal with Erica?

She needn’t have worried. Erica sank down to one knee and offered Katelyn her hand. “So you like princesses? I do, too. Want to go play?” She smiled. “My favorite thing in the world is to dress up like a princess and have tea.”

Magic words. Katelyn brightened, slid her hand into Erica’s, and practically dragged her inside. The door shut behind them, closing them off—and effectively freeing Brianna and Thomas for the night.

“See? Told you they’d be fine,” Thomas murmured into her ear. His deep voice evoked a shiver. A tight, clenching need that hadn’t been answered in far too long. She wanted his hands on her, tearing her clothes off, pinning her, touching her in that rough, capable way of his.

Date night. Right. They were going to go out like adults first. Talk, and all that fun stuff.

“Now,” he rumbled, “we get to be alone. Relax. Drink a little too much. Whatever you want, you’ll get.”

What she wanted was him. Only him. Brianna bit back her smile. “I think that sounds wonderful.”

“Then let’s go.” Thomas kissed her temple and led her to the truck. He opened the door, helped her inside, then slid behind the wheel. “Ready?”

“Yes.” She met his eyes, darted her tongue over her lips, bit back a hungry whimper of anticipation. “Very ready.”

Thomas smiled. Slow. Dark. Knowing. Knowing exactly what being so close to him was doing to her. Exactly how much she wanted him. “Then I’d hate to keep you waiting,” he said, and started the truck. “Tonight, Brianna…tonight will be all about us.”