18. Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Lehra busted through the door to my apartment like a tornado. “Oh my god. Chloe Bouvier is dead!”
Not even the shock of that statement could take away from the reaction I had to my Tink. The same reaction I had every single time I saw her.
Affection.
Desire.
Love.
Yes, I’d fallen in love with Lehra Kincaid over the past few months, a time period that I liked to call Cruz’s Ultimate Test of Patience.
Because she hadn’t gone through Rebound Guy or Revenge Guy or any of those other fuckers. She hadn’t been on a single date since she broke up with dumbass Dwight months ago. Which I’m secretly glad of because if I saw her with another man, I would most likely get arrested.
I was so fucking confused. I wanted to do this right and not be some random rebound guy until she found her happily ever after man. I wanted to be that HEA man.
Maybe Curly and all of them were full of shit. Maybe Lehra broke the mold and didn’t act like other women. Hell, I had no fucking clue. All I knew was that I wanted her— needed her—to be mine. Now.
Looking up at her with her wild, blonde curls and flushed face, I stood to lead her to the couch. “What the hell happened?”
We sat, and Lehra curled her legs beneath her and faced me. She was wearing a red-and-black top and skirt that revealed a Cruz approved amount of thigh in her current position. Luckily I had excellent peripheral vision and could enjoy the view while keeping my eyes on hers.
“It was a car accident outside Atlantic City.”
“Wow.” I scrubbed a hand over the top of my head. I can’t say the news made me sad because I knew entirely too much information about Chloe from Paul. “How did you find out?”
“I called Gianna to check on Janie-Bug.”
“Yeah, I talked to Auburn a couple hours ago. He said the surgery went well, and she should be walking soon.” I shook my head. “That kid’s a warrior.”
“She is,” Lehra said with a soft smile.
Jane’s biological parents had hurt Gianna and Auburn’s daughter when she was two, and the little girl had been in a wheelchair ever since. Apparently, Auburn had his cousin, Beau, look into it, and he found out the couple was dead. That was good. Otherwise, I’d be tempted to hunt the fuckers down for hurting that baby girl.
My phone rang, and I snatched it up, seeing that it was Auburn calling. I answered immediately. “Hey, man. I just heard. How are you?”
“I’m okay,” he sighed. “It’s… weird. I’m not sure how to feel about it. I just got off the phone with Dad a few minutes ago.”
Worry rose like a flash in my chest at the mention of his— our —father. “How is Paul doing with all this?”
“He seems to be okay. They were going through the divorce when all this happened.”
“Anything I can do for you?”
“Actually, yes. We’ll be here in Texas for a few more days while Jane recovers enough to fly. My brother, Monty, is taking a commercial flight since we have the private plane to transport Jane. Do you think you could pick him up from the airport?”
My mind reeled. My other brother is coming, and I get to meet him for the first time.
“Yes, of course. Send me the details.”
“Okay, I’m going to get back in there to Jane.”
“Give her a hug from me. Jaxon too.”
“I will and, Cruz?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. You have no idea how much it means to me that I can always count on you. I feel like… like you’re part of my family now.”
My heart lodged in my throat. We are family.
“What did he say?” Lehra asked as soon as I hung up.
“He, uh, wants me to go pick up his brother.”
Her eyes round. “Wow, Monty is coming home? Hasn’t he been gone for, like, sixteen years or something?”
“Yeah, about that.”
“I wonder what he’s like?” she mused.
“I know he’s a detective in Florida, and he just solved a big serial killer case.” I smiled, oddly proud of the brother I’d never met. “Auburn’s been talking about it.”
“I saw him on TV. He looks a lot like his brother.”
Which one? I wanted to ask.
Averting my eyes so I didn’t allow her to see my secrets, I stood. “I’m getting some water. You want anything, Tink?”
“Nope. Just ran home at lunch to change shoes. Tony’s got me running around this afternoon, and I needed some flats. Dinner tonight?”
“I’ll make burgers.”
“Goody. I love your burgers,” she said, unfolding herself from the couch and rising onto her tiptoes to press a kiss to my cheek. “See you tonight.”
And she was gone, leaving behind the scent of summer and the sweetness of her kiss against my face. I loved how affectionate Lehra had gotten with me. It’s the only thing that kept me going.
We ate dinner together several nights a week, and then we’d watch a movie with her snuggled into my side. We’d grown so close, almost like a real couple, minus the sex.
God, how I wanted us to go there. I craved her kisses like I craved my next breath. And not for the first time, I wondered if she would be into the same sexual things I was. She had been pretty adventurous that night in the hot tub, riding my lap in public where anyone could walk in and catch us.
Soooo… maybe?
Pushing those thoughts away, I dialed Paul and was relieved when he answered after the first ring.
“Cruz, hey.”
I heard the smile in his voice, even through those two short syllables.
“Hey, Paul. I heard about your… about Chloe, and I just wanted to check on you.”
“That was nice of you, but I’m doing okay. Just trying to sort through my feelings. I’ve despised her for so long, but I can’t bring myself to be happy she’s dead.” A sigh ran down the phone line, and his struggle was evident.
“I understand, but I think it’s okay to feel a little relieved that the person who’s been blackmailing you is no longer able to do so.”
“I think you summed up exactly what I’m feeling. I no longer have all this shit hanging over my head, and I feel… I don’t know… free or something.”
“That’s valid.”
There was a short pause. “After the funeral, I’m going to tell your brothers about the things their mother did. I think they have a right to know.”
It no longer struck me as weird when he called Auburn and Monty my brothers. The word sounded almost natural to my ears now.
“How deep are you going to go?”
“I actually wanted to talk to you about that. Would you like for me to tell them about you?”
Massaging my forehead with my fingertips, I closed my eyes and contemplated the question. “I’m not sure, Paul. Monty is coming home for the first time in over a decade, and you’re already hitting him with a lot.”
“A whole fucking lot,” he said with a humorless chuckle.
“I mean, you’ve got blackmail, threats, and the fact that their mother was trying to steal the company from Auburn. To also throw in, ‘ And hey, guess what? You also have an illegitimate brother. Welcome home, Monty. ’ That might be too much right now.”
“Cruz,” he sighed, “you know I don’t think of you like that. You’re just as much my son as Auburn and Monty. Maybe you’re right about waiting to tell them that part though. It’s going to be overwhelming enough.”
“I agree.”
“Are you worried they won’t accept you?”
I chewed on my bottom lip and nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “A little bit.”
“Son, I don’t think you have to worry about that. You’re a good man, and I believe they’ll be happy once the shock has worn off.”
“Thanks, Paul,” I told him my chest tightening at his words.
“I’ve gotta run. I need to get down to the funeral home.”
My brow scrunched, knowing Auburn was out of town and Monty wasn’t home yet. “Do you need me to go with you?”
“No, not at all. I’ve already talked to them and set most everything up. I just need to pay for the services.”
“Okay, but I’m here if you change your mind.”
“I appreciate it, Cruz. And thank you for calling to check on me.”
“No problem. I was worried about you.”
His voice sounded thicker when he said, “You’re a good son. I’ll see you on Monday.”
My own words came out hoarse with emotion. “Sounds good. Bye, Paul.”