16. Wren
16
WREN
I didn’t heed my own warning.
My boycott of Merrick Ellis lasted all of a few days. It’d been harder than I thought to stay away, and after all the noise had quieted, I knew I didn’t want to stay away—my heart be damned.
Because Merrick isn’t just the guy who steals my breath and rearranges my organs; he’s sweet and tender, washing my hair and making me dinner. He’s professional at work and absolutely insatiable the second we’re alone.
Over the past two weeks, we’d only spent a couple of nights apart. He’d whined that he could no longer sleep without being wrapped around me, but more likely than not, he liked holding my boob as he floated off to dreamland.
Such a guy.
Shaking my head, I wait as Merrick locks the door to Mountain Side, my breath visible in the air as I scan the parking lot.
And freeze.
“Wren, who the hell is that?” Merrick’s voice is low and menacing, jealousy unapologetically laced in his tone, his eyes landing on the shadowy figure leaning against my car the same time mine do.
But I don’t answer him, because something about the way my brother is perched against the driver’s side has me halfway down the steps. “Beau?”
“Your boyfriend looks pissed,” he mutters as I throw myself into his arms.
He hugs me back, his embrace tight, and I swear I can feel the way his heart pounds in his chest.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit, I can tell?—”
“Wren,” Merrick snaps, and it takes Beau less than a second to put himself between me and the man stalking over to us.
“Use that tone of voice with my sister again, and I’ll remove your nut sack and roast it like a god damn marshmallow.”
“What the fuck is with you people and setting shit on fire?” Merrick mutters as I cover my laugh, gently bringing my brother’s focus back to me.
“Beau, this is my boss, Merrick. Merrick, this is my oldest brother, Beau.”
“Boss,” my brother says, the word drawn out as he extends his hand.
Merrick is slow to return the shake, the two men locked in a stare down as I silently plead with Beau not to make this a thing.
“No one knows,” I whisper and Beau snorts.
“Yeah, I got that part,” he says, his lips twitching as he drops Merrick’s hand. When he doesn’t say anything else, I punch him in the bicep which he immediately rubs and scowls. “I won’t tell anyone, fuck.”
“Thanks,” I tell him as Merrick shifts from foot to foot. We technically had plans, naked ones, but something is off with my brother, and for whatever reason, he needs me. Peering around Beau, I make an obvious perusal of his truck, “Do you think you need new tires?”
To my knowledge, Beau only did this with me, never my brothers. It was our code growing up. If I was uncomfortable, I’d call Beau and tell him I think I need new tires and he’d drop everything to come get me. We hadn’t used it in a long time, but I’m happy in this moment to have it.
Merrick looks confused but Beau’s eyes soften. “Yeah, I’ll meet you at your apartment when you’re…done here and give you an update,” he says, staring at Merrick a minute longer before taking off toward his truck and tearing out of the lot.
“Is the violence and fire setting hereditary?” Merrick asks when we’re alone.
“No, they just wanted to make sure I can take care of myself.”
He grins. “I think you’ve accomplished that.”
“Rain check for tonight.”
“Yeah, and listen…”
“He’s not going to say anything,” I tell Merrick, my tone annoyed as he steps into me.
“I believe you.”
“Then what is your problem?”
“My problem?” he repeats, gripping the back of my neck and forcing my eyes back to his. “My problem is that I shouldn’t already miss you in my bed, that I shouldn’t be jealous that you’re spending time with your brother when I’d much rather have you naked and begging for me.”
My lips part on a barely audible gasp, and it’s all the invitation he needs before he takes my mouth in a hard kiss. It’s hot and needy, his hand tightening as he holds me where he wants me.
So much for sweet.
“You don’t get to come tonight.”
“What?”
“After your brother leaves, when you’re lying in bed, your pussy is aching, and your greedy little clit is looking for any kind of friction to get you off, you don’t get to come.”
“That hardly seems fair.”
“I’m serious, Wren, because I’ll know if you do, and the longer you can’t do as you’re told, the longer you’ll wait to have my dick inside you.”
“So bossy.”
“I am, Miss Sterling.” Leaning closer, he adds, “Let me know when you’re home safe.”
“You give me whiplash sometimes.”
“It’s what you do to me, Wren. Now get home before I change my mind and decide making you come all night is more important than whatever your brother needs.”
“Fine.”
“Drive safe, Hellcat.”
* * *
“Hey,” I say softly as I push open my apartment door and find Beau pacing the length of the kitchen.
Turning, he lets his arms drop to his sides, his hair mussed like he’s been running his hands through it since he got here.
“I picked up pizza.” He points toward the counter where the cardboard box is sitting next to plates, napkins, and cups.
Oh boy.
“Do you want to talk now or after we eat?”
“Indie’s pregnant,” he blurts out, my coat not quite making it to the hook before I spin and face him.
“From the wedding?” He nods. “And it’s yours?” I ask, my voice going up an octave as he nods again, this time narrowing his eyes. Clearing my throat as my heart beats like a drumline in my chest, I ask, “And how are you feeling about it?”
A myriad of emotions crosses his face, and my stoic and fiercely protective brother, usually so buttoned up, meets my gaze with tears in his eyes.
He’s a big, beautiful mess, and I don’t wait for him to say anything before running at him at full speed and eliciting an oof from him on contact.
“You’re going to be a dad!” I squeal as he holds me tight.
“No one knows.”
A secret for a secret.
“Of course,” I whisper, emotion clogging my throat as I try to wrap my head around it. “Come on, let’s sit and you can tell me all about it.”
It takes another minute for him to release me, my brother’s eyes wet with tears that he hastily wipes away with the sleeve of his shirt.
“I went to see her this weekend. God, Wren, she was so sick and then she’s apologizing for throwing up like she has any control over that. So I left and went to the store and bought everything I thought might make her feel better, looked up some of those natural remedies to see if they would help and?—”
“You are absolutely precious,” I tell him around a bite of pizza. He doesn’t even scowl, and I want to burst with happiness because my brother is going to be a dad, but he needs me to keep it together.
At least for now.
“I stayed an extra day to go to the appointment with her, the one where they pour the stuff on your belly and it’s a baby but it doesn’t really look like one, you know? And then,”—he swallows hard—“I heard the heartbeat.”
“That must have been so amazing.”
“My knees damn near buckled, and I was crying and Indie was crying, and nothing’s ever felt more right, you know?”
I don’t know, but I can tell by the look on Beau’s face that he absolutely does.
And I couldn’t be happier for my big brother.
“Are you going to move out to be closer to her? She’s from Tennessee, right? She’s not going back, is she?”
“Yeah, she’s from Blackstone Falls but she has lived in Montana since college. And no,” he says, clearing his throat, “she’s going to move to Wintervale.”
“Really?”
“Pen is here, and she likes Montana.”
“Plus, our family is awesome.”
“We are.” He smirks.
“Are you happy? Have you guys talked about what you want to do?”
“I would’ve liked to date her a little more.” Pausing, he takes a bite and stares off, seemingly lost in thought. “I knew she was special when I met her—unforgettable—and it’s crazy but I would marry her right now.”
“But…” I hedge, hoping like hell there’s a but attached to that.
“But I can’t without her thinking I’m only marrying her because of the baby.”
“Dammit, Beau,” I growl, grabbing a napkin and dabbing my eyes, because he’s in love with the woman carrying his child, and gah, it’s too much.
He snorts. “If you’re like this, I can’t wait to tell Mom.”
“She’s going to lose her mind.”
“I know.”
“But so will Reid.”
“I know.”
“And Lake and Dad and hell, even Jesse is gonna be excited.”
His smile falls as his lips press into a thin line. “She’ll come around, right?”
“I know she will. Just give her time—and enjoy getting to know her as you get ready for the baby.”
“I’m gonna be a dad,” he says, the words filled with awe.
“You’re going to be a great dad and?—”
My phone buzzes where I set it on the counter, my eyes locking on the sender’s name as my stomach drops to the floor.
HOLLY: I know you’re fucking Merrick
HOLLY: And I’m not the only one who knows—heard people gossiping about you all over town
HOLLY: I can’t wait till everyone knows THAT is why he took your proposal over mine
HOLLY: Ignore me all you want I’m gonna run you right out of Wintervale
“What’s wrong?” My brother asks, his brows furrowed with concern as he stares at me. Startled, I drop my phone back onto the table.
Face down.
“Nothing.” I smile, forcing myself to relax, “it’s nothing.”