Chapter 25
25
OWEN – SIX WEEKS LATER
On reflection, telling my father where to shove it was a good decision.
I stood my ground.
I did the right thing.
I know I did.
Two weeks ago, Jacob called me in the dead of night to inform me that the printing plant was on fire. The entire business literally went up in flames.
Spreading over five hectares, it was the biggest fire Castleview Cove had ever seen.
I sat up all night, watching every news bulletin, reading every article, and each one of them mentioned my father’s struggling business.
A few days later, a journalist who dug deeper uncovered the billions my father lost. It was all there in black and white. Which means both Gideon and Richard know, too.
The only thing I haven’t been able to ascertain is how the fire was started. However, knowing how hot some of the machines we used for printing get, I can only assume it was a paper fire.
I’ve brushed off the thought that’s crossed my mind several times; would my father really commit arson to help with his problems?
Was he really that desperate?
Two weeks have passed and I’m still mad at my ego-driven father for losing the family business that his father and my great-grandfather fought to build from the ground up. The family’s reputation was everything, but from over four hundred miles away, all I could do was stand by, watching and reading about how the Brodie heritage burned to the ground.
A huge part of me is relieved. The other part feels sad my father had the opportunity to make something of a business with enormous success and an incredible legacy and then lost it all.
I haven’t spoken to my sister in months, but I refuse to pick up the phone and speak to my her. I guess there is also part of me that is sad because we aren’t close. If we were, I would know what the financial status of the family is as well as their mental state too, but I’m completely in the dark.
Either way, it must be testing my mother and father to their limits, and knowing my mother, she’ll either be having a mental breakdown about her world blowing up, or wearing her impenetrable iron mask, pretending everything is fine.
I push the thoughts of my family out of my mind and go back to preparing dinner.
Between Jade’s busy display schedule, Poppy’s weekly routine, me keeping house, and my new volunteering position at the youth club on camp, which my “safe to work with children” security check came in handy for, I haven’t had a day off since the wheels of the plane hit the runway the day we returned from Cyprus, and it’s been the quickest six weeks of my life.
So much has happened. I settled into Jade’s military family home with ease, and it’s so Jade. Elegant with colorfully painted shabby-chic furniture, where no two pieces are the same. Each room has a theme with loads of soft, quirky Scandinavian-style fabrics, and cushions, dozens of fucking cushions, with tassels. What is it about women and scatter cushions? It’s just a cushion after all, but I am not allowed to use them. Jade has informed me they are for “decoration only” and that pillows are to women what power tools are to men. I can’t argue with that. Since our return, I’ve had to borrow a few tools from the neighbors to fix the extremely squeaky bed she had.
She informed me the squeak was never an issue before my arrival. However, with the number of times we have had sex in it, it sounded like it was going to break. My solution: I’ll fix it, so bring on the power tools because my body craves her in a way that I can’t explain and that bed is important to us. It’s where we share midnight secrets, where she has the ability to shine light into the darkest of my memories, and where she tells me she loves me.
It’s our sanctuary.
Living with each other permanently came naturally. Mirror images of one another, we are both organized and immaculate and I am guessing her tidiness comes from being in the military, where discipline and cleanliness are paramount. For me, it was because of my mother’s insistence; we were never allowed to play with toys outside of our rooms, and it wasn’t as a safety precaution in case one of the staff tripped over them. Oh no, it was a means to control us, to stifle any fun, and confine us to our rooms. It was also a way to criticize us if we didn’t tidy up after playtime. God forbid there was even so much as a toy soldier lying on the floor. That triggered a barrage of insults from Did you do this to upset me ? Are you just stupid ? Or the one she loved to use the most: You’ve caused me nothing but heartache since the day you were born.
Seeing Jade with Poppy is like a breath of fresh air and the opposite of my stone-hearted mother. Jade is full of fun, encourages messy playtimes, isn’t afraid to be silly or play dress up, and as soon as she returns from an overnight display, she has Poppy in her arms in a heartbeat telling her how much she missed and loves her.
It’s heartwarming and life affirming. It’s how I wished my childhood was.
My mother may have fucked me up for a while, but I refuse to let her ways become the norm. Because it’s not.
It’s a bonus having Gregor living a mile away from camp. I visit and chat with him most days, and we are closer than ever.
I have my little family now and I couldn’t be happier.
Taking care of Poppy seems to come naturally to me. Going for a run every day round the perimeter of camp as she chatters away to me in her stroller. Taking her with me to the gym while she naps, and she loves nothing better than holding the grocery list when we visit the store.
We celebrated Poppy’s first birthday without Michael because apparently, he couldn’t make it . Since our return, he has made every unbelievable excuse in the book not to visit. I mean, who uses the excuse that your mother’s budgie has died and that she is inconsolable to the point you can’t leave her? Although, knowing my mother, she would cry more over the death of her precious corgi than me.
Jade was right about him—he doesn’t deserve Poppy.
I keep reminding her that it’s his loss. He’s missing out on all the good stuff. From the new words she’s trying to say to exploring new foods. She’s even started walking. Crawling was too limiting for her and just like her mother, she hits every milestone like a champion.
Jade signed Poppy up for nursery for a few hours a week to get her used to mixing with other children , but I worry about her during her three-hour morning session in the same way I worry about Jade and her dangerous job.
It terrifies me to think about what could happen to her should a stunt go wrong.
It happens. Gregor informed me it has happened. Twice. One being fatal.
And while I love my daredevil vixen, she equally fucking terrifies me.
My world would implode if anything were to happen to her. In a short space of time, she’s set up camp in my heart and I never want her to vacate it.
The thought of losing my mirror soul, my twin flame. I couldn’t go on without her.
I love her more than life itself and there is nothing I love more than waiting at the door for her to come home if she’s been away overnight. When she comes home from work, I get giddy and happiness bubbles low in my stomach at the sight of her.
This is all new to me, and I’m basking in every moment I can.
The way I feel about Jade has nothing to do with her providing security and a roof over my head because I would happily sleep in a tent if I had to in order to be with her. It’s the joy, hope, and excitement she brings to my once soulless existence.
She’s introduced me to a world I knew nothing about. Being within the confines of a military base is like living in a village where everyone pitches in and looks after one another.
It’s fucking mind-blowing how these talented people and their families pull together to become a complete unit.
I can’t deny how much I miss Castleview Cove, which I never expected. I miss the beaches, surfing, running along the cliffs, the golf courses, and most of all, I miss my friends. Part of me wishes we were closer and another part of me wishes Jade’s flying schedule wasn’t so jam-packed because I reckon we would have already visited my hometown.
Although they assure me they have all been busy, too, which is why they haven’t squeezed a visit down to us either. However, next week we are driving up to Scotland where I’m excited to finally introduce Jade and Poppy, in person, to my friends.
There is also another exciting reason to visit. Skye and Jacob welcomed their daughter, Aurora, into the world four weeks ago, and it kills me that I still haven’t been to see them all. Had I still lived in Castleview Cove, I would have been the first one on their doorstep.
Knowing how important my friends are to me, Jade is equally nervous and excited to meet them. They will all adore her. I know it.
I’ve yet to meet anyone who says a bad word about her.
Except maybe Cobra.
Following the review, Cobra was dismissed and a variety of training has now been implemented to improve the values throughout the Air Force. Jade helped to make these changes possible, and I’m so proud of her for speaking out.
It’s been a busy few weeks as I have also started an online qualification in Youth Mentoring in the Community.
Jade has been extremely supportive, offering to pay for my courses and retraining, but I want to do this my way. The last thing I want anyone to think is that I am after her just for her money. Jade isn’t rich, but her salary isn’t too shabby either. They call her salary “danger money” for a reason, with more emphasis on the danger part. She reassures me she is safe but I’ve seen something flash behind her eyes that I’ve not put my finger on yet. I think it’s the unknown of who will look after Poppy should anything happen.
It can’t be Michael.
I don’t have a legal leg to stand on where he is concerned. After all, he is Poppy’s father, so I hope that we never have to venture down that alley. Ever.
A sudden cold chill sweeps through my body at the thought of Jade having a crash.
If the universe is listening, which I hope it is, look after her for me.
Please .
“You look deep in thought.” Jade’s voice trickles into my consciousness.
Laying the kitchen knife down, I turn from chopping the vegetables.
“Hey, Hotshot.” Wrapping my arms around her, I squeeze her tightly, splaying my hand to the back of her head to keep her close. “I missed you today.”
“You saw me at lunchtime.” She chuckles, squeezing me back. She missed me, too. I know she did. The days she’s here for lunch, like today, are my favorite days.
The advantage of living in an Officer’s Quarter just a half mile away from the airfield is that she can come home for lunch when she’s not away.
“Four hours of not seeing you is too long.” My mouth finds hers as we kiss each other hello .
Smiling against my mouth, causing me to kiss her teeth, she giggles. “What’s made you miss me?”
“Everything. I missed this sexy little flight suit you have on.” I squeeze her ass. “And this prissy little hair bun that makes you look all prim and proper, although I know you’re really a freak between the sheets.” Pulling out the bobby pins from her hair, I release her silky locks, letting them fall loose over her shoulders like a waterfall of fire.
I stand back and take her in while her big blue eyes blink back at me. “You look beautiful.”
Her cheeks fill with color.
“I think you’re beautiful,” she whispers in response, making me clench a little, not quite believing it. Having been told since I was a child that I was a worthless piece of shit, getting used to Jade’s praise is something I am still working on.
“We’ve been over this before, Hotshot. You are the one raising the bar of this relationship. I’m just the nanny,” I tease, knowing how much she hates me saying this.
She prods my side playfully and I flinch at how much it tickles. “I have told you, Mr. Brodie, that you are more than the nanny.”
“I know.” I make a list with my fingers. “I’m the cook, housekeeper, personal shopper, diaper changer, oh, and live-in lover.” The last one is our secret.
According to the official paperwork and my station pass, I’m the live-in nanny and not Jade’s boyfriend. Living together outside marriage within a military family quarter is against the rules, which I find archaic and unrealistic, given most couples live together before walking down the aisle these days.
I also suspect my fake single status is the reason why I get side-eyed, smiled at, and hit on too when I’m out and about. It’s as if the moms are all in heat .
Jade tells me that it’s most likely because their husbands are away on deployment and I’m the most “handsome guy on camp”. I know what lonely feels like. It’s not nice. Everyone needs someone. My someone just happens to be a redheaded spitfire and I can’t bear the thought of her being assigned elsewhere for six months without me. It sounds torturous.
“You are the best live-in lover to have walked the streets of this camp.” She tries to tickle me again, but I grab her wrists and hold them against her sides. “But shhh, don’t tell anyone.” She sounds flustered. “You are so strong.”
I keep her arms pinned. “And fast,” I state.
“Not as fast as me in my jet.” She wriggles about, trying to free herself.
“Wrong.” I bend at the knees, catching her unawares, and throw her over my shoulder. “I’m faster.”
She squeals, slapping my ass as I bounce up the stairs. “What are you doing?”
“Punishing you for trying to tickle me.”
“Where’s Poppy?” She squeals again when I slap her backside.
“Your mom came over this afternoon with Aunt Babs and asked if she could babysit for us tonight.” She sounds out of breath as we reach the top of the stairs and I stride across the landing to our bedroom. Our bedroom. What a fucking rush.
“So we have the house to ourselves tonight?” Her tone bounces with excitement.
I gently lay her down on the bed and stay standing at the foot of it. “I’m going to fuck you, then feed you.” I pull my tee shirt up over my head and throw it aside. “And then fuck you some more. How does that sound?” She bites her bottom lip, squirming as I crawl up her body .
“Or we could go to the gym,” she suggests, knowing that will never happen when we have the entire night alone together.
Grabbing her hips, I push hers into mine and rub my now hard cock against her. “I have a better workout planned for you.”
Her girlish laughter turns into a gasp when her eyes catch sight of my glinting metal. “What is this?”
I look down at the gold dog tags dangling from the chain around my neck.
“My new necklace.”
Squinting to read the small print, her eyes turn glassy. “You got dog tags with my name on them?”
“And mine. One of each.”
Examining them closer, she asks, “What does the date represent?”
“It’s the day we met,” I answer.
I watch her rubbing her thumb over the cheap gold identity tags. It’s all I could afford from one of those online jewelry stores. When I have the funds, I will replace them with real gold, but for now, gold-plated will have to do.
“Is that coordinates?” she questions.
“It is.”
“For?”
“Cyprus. Where we met. Check out the other sides.”
She flips the two gold tags over, then shakes her head, almost disbelieving. “You had a poppy stamped on the backs of them.”
“You both mean the world to me and now I have you both close to my heart. Even when you’re not physically here. You are here.” I grab the swinging tags, pulling them up on my naked chest to position them where they will rest when I stand up .
Silence stretches between us as her gaze bounces between the tags and me.
Shit, did I fuck up? Too much?
“Owen, these are beautiful.” Her eyes fill with tears. “Since the day we met, you’ve had my heart and head in a spin. It’s all happened so fast, but I love every minute of every single day with you. I don’t know what I would do without you. My heart is yours. I love you so much, Owen. More than you can ever imagine.” Pink creeps into her cheeks. “I hate being away from you when I go away. I’ve not wanted to not go to work before.” She pauses. “Until you. You’ve changed my life.”
“Have I ever told you that you are the best thing to happen to me?” I rub the pad of my thumb across her temple, wiping the salted tears from her skin.
“You are the best thing to ever happen to me.” She repeats the words she’s said multiple times before. With every day that passes, I fall harder for her, and I know I’m going to marry this woman. She’s got me, mind, body, soul, and she owns my fucking heart.
It’s all hers.
She wraps her legs around my hips, pulling me down between her thighs. “Make love to me.” Her lips find mine and when she slides her tongue between the seam of my mouth, I know there is nowhere I would rather be.
With her, it’s heaven.
Whereas before I was in hell.
And I never want to go back there.
However, when the devil calls.
You have to pick up.
And that was something I wasn’t prepared for.