Stay with Me: The Moran Brothers Series

Chapter 17

Family Gathering

Reminisce

“Answer the question,”Knight says as he draws me into his arms and looks down into my eyes.

He doesn’t let me avoid his gaze as I try to look away and around his bedroom. He dips his head to follow mine until I give him my full attention.

I look into those blue eyes and can’t stop my heart from skipping a beat. It’s happened again. I’ve been sucked into all things Knight.

However, it’s been different. He hasn’t had to run out in the middle of the night. There hasn’t been an undercover assignment. Yet, there are the calls with Harris. Those are scaring me.

He says he’s on medical leave, but there’s something more going on there. He works out regularly and I’ve seen him push to the limit. A medical leave is also hard to believe since we fuck like bunnies and he hasn’t once looked worse for the wear.

Knight has been just as aggressive as ever, maybe more so, possessively so. I can’t see why he would be on a leave. Unless that wound leads to something he’s not telling me about.

“We’re not going together because our families don’t know we’re … that we’re spending time together,” I reply.

“And why are we hiding this fact?” he says with a frown.

I knew this fight would come back around. I barely got out of it the last time. I’m not too sure he’s going to let it slide this time.

“Knight.” I sigh.

He cups the sides of my face and pecks my lips once, twice, a third time. A shiver moves through me. I fight not to comb my fingers through his hair and pull him in for a full kiss.

“We should tell them.”

I shake my head before he gets the words out. “Maybe we should take a step back.”

A shadow clouds his beautiful features. This will be the fastest I’ve ever called it off, but maybe that’s for the best. It’s been a month since that night in the elevator.

We’ve been seeing a lot of each other. When I’m not working at home, Knight comes to my office to pick me up from work without fail. I spend more time at his place than I do mine.

“Rem,” he says in a warning tone.

“No, it’s for the best.”

“Come on, things?—”

He’s cut off by his ringing phone. Once again, that phone is coming to my rescue. I suck in a breath, grateful for the interruption.

Although I felt this coming, I don’t want to have this talk before this party. My mother has been so excited about this get-together. She’ll get to show off her grandbabies.

A pang hits my chest. I wish I had a family that my mother could show off. There’s that clock ticking in the background, telling me I’m running out of time.

Which means I need to make a decision about what I’m doing here. I watch Knight as he talks on his phone and runs a hand through his hair. He checks so many boxes except for the most important one.

I know what I want in a man. That can never be Knight. Yet he keeps drawing me in.

“No, I’ll take care of it. I’ll pick it up on my way,” he says into the phone.

Here I am doing it again. Lost in a man who’s not right for me. I’m only hurting us both. I know we can’t be more.

I turn for my purse and head out while he can’t stop me. His voice is rushed as he tries to end his call and come after me, but my mind is made up. I’m doing the right thing.

* * *

Knight

“What’s crawled up your butt?”Lord asks as he takes a seat beside me.

“Nothing,” I mutter and take a sip of my beer.

“Right.” He snorts. He follows my line of sight and snorts again. “What’s that about? You’ve had a thing for her for years. What? She turn you down?”

“Not in the mood.”

I’m in a shit mood. I have been since I watched Rem walk out on me. My blood has been boiling.

I want to choke Prince. He promised Bishop he would pick up the gift he and Saga had custom made for our parents, but some shit came up last minute. Both our and Saga and Reminisce’s moms love throwing parties for this or that.

This is one of those non-special occasions, but Bishop and Saga wanted Mrs. Walden and Mom to have the lockets with the twins’ photos. Bishop’s ass was on my phone pleading with me, while Saga was in the background freaking out.

I was the closest to the jewelry shop. I had to rush to pick them up before the place closed. I got there but at the cost of Rem getting away from me.

“I see that look. You’re about to do something crazy or stupid. Maybe both. Don’t, not today,” Lord warns in that big brother way.

I clench my fist on top of the table. I should be over there standing with her. She looks stunning in that sky blue dress. The thin straps and deep V-neck show off her deep brown skin. Her legs look like they belong wrapped around me.

It was a fight not to coax her back into bed earlier after she put those heels and that dress on. I put on a white dress shirt and a light blue tie to match her. I thought it would be cool for us to match.

That’s how it started or should I say ended. Maybe we should take a step back. I hate it when she says that. Although, in the past, I’ve been willing to go along because I understood. It made sense. Not so much anymore, the lines have blurred.

I tear my eyes away from her to look down at the tablecloth. She’s slipping through my fingers again. Like the rarest sand, refusing to be bottled away.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I reply to my brother.

“I know you as well as I know my twin. She’s the one you were telling me about. Have you told her how you feel?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“If you know it’s her then you know why she’s so afraid to be with me.”

“Yeah, but I’ve seen the way she looks at you too. When she’s lost in thought it shows on her face. I know you can’t tell us what happened with your last case, but something is different,” he says.

“Lord,” I say tightly.

“No, hear me out. You care about this woman. You guys have been back and forth for what?

“Like four years or something. Maybe it’s time to place your cards on the table. I’ve never seen you hide from anything. It shouldn’t be any different with her if she’s what you want.”

I think on his words. He’s right. “In the beginning, I was okay with it. I was still making my way up. I got the promotion right after her case.

“Somewhere along the line things changed. Now, I’ve let her push me away so many times it’s automatic. She’s trying to do it again, and this time it feels so fucking wrong,” I admit.

“I’m going to give you some advice, little brother. Sometimes, you have to let them go. If she can see what she wants walking away, you’re no longer chasing. That will get her attention faster than you waiting in the wings.”

I snort, but he may have a point. I’m always putting the pressure on Reminisce. Maybe it is time I let her see what’s out there is nothing like what she has with me.

* * *

Reminisce

“Hey, baby sis,”Prince croons as he tosses an arm over my shoulder.

I look up at him and beam. Prince is the most laidback of the Moran brothers. He goes along with life with that easy smile.

Why couldn’t he be Knight? I’d totally feel safe with a painter. I smile even more as I see the smudge of paint just beneath his collar.

“I see you’ve been at it. New muse?”

His eyes light up. “You can say that.”

“You may want to get that,” I tease, pointing out the paint.

“Thanks. Bishop will kick my ass if he finds out I was painting instead of doing him that favor,” he whispers.

“Your secret’s safe with me.”

I stiffen as Knight’s laugh rings out through the backyard. I turn to find him talking to a group of women and his mom. Jealousy rocks through me like a lightning bolt.

I have no right to be jealous. I told him we should take a break. I dab at the sweat that starts above my lip.

“You okay?” Prince asks.

“Yeah, it’s a bit warm.”

“You can say that again. I can’t wait to get out of this suit.”

I try to distract myself with our conversation as Knight’s deep laughter reaches me again. Just last night that laugh rumbled against my thigh as he kissed my skin and teased me about coming so many times.

“I heard you’re going to have a showing.” I clamp my mouth shut as soon as the words are out.

This isn’t something I should know. Knight told me it was a secret. I want to palm my forehead, but I try to play it cool.

“Yeah,” Prince drags out and narrows his eyes. “I’m thinking about it. Bishop has a big ass mouth.”

“Oh, I … um?—”

“Reminisce,” my father calls.

Thank, God. I turn to see him standing with a fine ass brother and another very attractive guy I’ve never met. Daddy waves me over with a huge smile on his face. I know that look. He’s about to try to set me up.

Knight’s laugh sounds at that very moment. I turn to look at him and his group of admirers to find that it’s just him and a pretty brunette. My heart aches, but it’s what I wanted, right?

I force myself to turn away from them. “Hey, I’ll catch up with you later,” I murmur to Prince.

“Later,” he says and takes off.

I stroll over to my dad and the two with him. On the way, I lock down my feelings and tell myself this is for the best. Knight should move on so that I can.

“Hey, Daddy.” I kiss him on both cheeks before he draws me to his side to face the two in front of him.

“Honey, I want you to meet Counselman Derrick and Sheldon here is my investment banker.”

“Nice to meet you both,” I say.

Derrick with his fine ass takes my hand and kisses the back of it. Okay, I see you brother. Smooth and gorgeous. He gives a broad smile that shows pearly white teeth.

“Your father has shared a lot about you. I feel like I know you already,” Derrick says.

“Don’t believe a word he says.”

“I have a hard time believing that you’re single. He has to be lying about that,” Sheldon says with a wicked smile of his own.

Safe.

That’s what that smile says. Yeah, Derrick is sexy as fuck, but he gives off a vibe of something dangerous. I know that vibe. I’d put money on him being ex-law enforcement.

Again, Knight’s voice and laughter float my way. I glance over and glare at him as the woman he’s talking to places her hand on his chest. He doesn’t even bother to remove it.

“Well, that part is true,” I chirp to Sheldon.

“In that case, it’s very, very nice to meet you,” he says smoothly.

Oh, well, this white boy has some swag. I like it.

“Your father says you were a Department of Justice Honors Attorney before switching to IP law. That’s a big change,” Derrick says and lifts a brow.

“This is also true, but that was another time, another life.”

“I’d like to hear more about you.”

“Counselman, are you asking me out?” I tease as my irritation with Knight grows. It’s irrational. I know, but I’m beyond pissed.

“I believe I am.”

Sheldon moves to my side and leans to whisper in my ear. “You can go on a date with him, but it’s just a waste of time. I’m the man you need in your life.”

And with that, he walks off. I look after him with a grin on my lips. Interesting.