Chapter 34
Lily
Brady stared at me from the other side of the main cabin with the most devilish smile on his face. We were only three hours into our trip to Bangkok, and every few minutes, I would find myself glancing in his direction, and each time, his eyes would already be on me. It didn’t matter if he was in deep conversation with his brothers and Jenner or that I was sitting on the opposite side of the plane, chatting with the ladies.
When it came to him, his gaze was never far.
That was one of the many things I loved about him.
And I wanted him to feel the love flowing through me, but Jo was dragging my attention back to our group of girls as she said, “I have to tell you that I’ve never seen Brady like this in my entire life.” She tapped her hand over the side of my leg. “He has heart eyes over you, girl.”
I didn’t know if it was her lotion or perfume—or both—that was the most delicious scent of pumpkin.
Wedged between Jo and Macon’s girlfriend, Brooklyn, with Rowan sitting across from us, all of us forming a small circle, I took my time looking at each of their faces as I replied, “I’m nuts about him.” I grinned and then gave my man a quick glance, our gazes locking before I added, “Honestly, he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Within the first twenty minutes of the flight, it almost felt as though I had three new best friends. Brooklyn and Rowan were just as warm as Jo and immediately embraced me. It was shocking, given that I was employed by the Spades, that I hadn’t met either of them yet, but so far, Brady was the only person I’d flown with.
“Is it just me, or does it look like Brady’s about to take you into the back bedroom and do the extra naughty to you?” Brooklyn said.
“I was thinking the same thing,” Rowan agreed. “He can’t take those heart eyes off you.”
Jo smiled and laughed. “He’s my cousin, I can’t go there, you guys.”
“He won’t go there either,” I said, giggling to Jo. “And don’t worry; he might look like he wants to take me into the bedroom, but he wouldn’t dare with all of you on the plane.”
“But when we’re not on the plane …” Brooklyn sang.
I shrugged. “Admittedly, anything is possible.”
Everyone laughed.
“It’s funny, when I first met Brady, I wasn’t a fan.” Rowan kept her voice down as she spoke. “He wasn’t super excited about my relationship with Cooper. One, because he was losing his drinking buddy and partner in crime, and he hated that. Two, because I had become an executive at the company, and he didn’t think, in our position, we should be dating.”
“Even though Macon did the same thing.” Brooklyn rolled her eyes.
“No kidding,” Rowan replied to her. “And three, he didn’t want my family’s business to merge with his, and that pissed him off to no end.”
“It was quite the trifecta,” Jo added.
Rowan said, “One I didn’t think we’d survive, but fortunately, we did.”
I’d heard Brady’s side of the story. I’d never heard Rowan’s.
So, I asked cautiously, “Was Brady … mean to you?”
“Not mean. He was just spicy.” Rowan let out a laugh. “Which is something I understand well. My oldest brother, Rhett, is just like Brady, so I know the behavior. Good thing is, Brady came around pretty fast, and underneath that rough, growly exterior is someone absolutely amazing.” Her grin grew. “But seeing you two together puts things in perspective. You could say, it gives me hope for Rhett.”
“Brady’s problem was that he was missing love.” Brooklyn’s icy-blue eyes held me while she talked. “Now that he has it, he’s a whole different person. He’s fulfilled, and his attitude—or lack thereof—really shows it.”
Rowan put her mocha-colored hair into a low ponytail. “His smile gives that away.” Her eyes shifted to me. “Your boy never smiled before.”
“It’s like an emoji has taken over his face,” Jo said, laughing.
“The heart-eye emoji!” Brooklyn said a little too loud.
They were all trying to inconspicuously glance in Brady’s direction.
But I didn’t have to. I knew exactly what they were talking about.
Because it was the expression that almost always stared back at me nowadays, except when we were talking about David or Diesel.
What the girls didn’t know was that beneath the hearts was a feeling of contentment.
Of knowing we were in the right place with the right person.
Something neither of us had known we wanted until we found it.
“I need to add one more thing,” Jo said, looping her arm through mine. “Given that Brady is my cousin, I’ve spent more time with him than I can even count. And never, in all these years, has he ever brought someone home or on a vacation with us.” She dragged her teeth over her bottom lip. “The man is thirty-one years old. Can we take in how big of a moment this is?”
Her expression let me know she wasn’t done. “But what’s equally important is that he didn’t just bring any woman with him, he brought you.” She squeezed tighter. “I know we’ve gotten to spend a bit more time together than you have with Brooklyn and Rowan, and in that time, I’ve grown to adore you. I’m so happy you’re part of the family.”
“I feel the same,” Brooklyn added. “You remind me so much of my sister, Clementine, which means I automatically love you. Gorgeous, caring, with old-soul vibes—you’re fabulous, Lily.”
“Something tells me we’re all going to be great friends,” Rowan said.
“I hope so.” I didn’t think my smile could grow, but it did. “And I have to add, I’m looking forward to meeting your brothers at the end of this trip even though we’ll only get to spend a little time with them,” I said to Rowan.
“Yes”—Rowan laughed—“that.” She shook her head. “Believe it or not, Brady invited them to join us for the entire trip, and part of me thinks they would have taken him up on the offer, but Daisy’s mom was just returning from a work thing out of state, and there was coordinating to do, and Ridge couldn’t make it happen. So, one night with them is all we get.”
“Rhett doesn’t have the same excuse,” Jo said.
Rowan voiced, “You’re right about that. I just don’t think he was ready to make that kind of leap without his brother. And given my relationship with Cooper, I don’t exactly make the best wingwoman for him.”
“I have to admit, I get his stance,” I said to the ladies. “We all know Brady on the outside isn’t the warmest person in the world, so if Rhett is like him, which you said he is, I can see his hesitation. Guys like them can’t just jump into the pack. They have to dip their toes in first and feel out the temperature of the water. The best news is, he’s coming, even if it’s for only a short time.” I put my hand on Rowan’s arm. “I know Brady had lunch with your brothers not too long ago, and he said things went well. Another huge step in the right direction.”
“You’re right,” Rowan said after a few seconds of silence, but she wasn’t looking at me; she was staring at Brooklyn and Jo. “She’s perfect for him, and I love her.”
“Get over here,” Brady said as he swam over to where I was sitting on the edge of the pool, taking in the gorgeous scenery around us. He moved in between my legs, giving me a one-second warning before he pulled me into the water.
“Ah!” I giggled as he slid me into the coolness. My arms and legs circled him, our faces aligned. “Hi.”
He dipped us as low as our necks. “I’ve missed you.”
“You just went over to the other side of the pool to grab a fry from Rowan’s lunch.”
“And I missed you while I was gone.”
I gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Please don’t ever stop feeling that way about me. It fills me in ways you can’t even imagine.”
“A feeling that will never die, I promise.”
Sun-kissed.
Rested.
Smiling.
That was how the two of us looked after four days in Bangkok.
Away from David, as far as I knew, and assured that Diesel was healing back at home, we could actually relax.
When we’d left LA, I hadn’t been sure how a vacation with a group of people I didn’t know that well—and some hardly at all—would go. But every moment had been perfect—from the walks I took with the girls in the morning to the meals we all ate together, the time we spent at the spa, and the sightseeing.
I understood why Brady enjoyed vacationing with this crew. There wasn’t a second when we weren’t laughing or having fun.
I nodded toward the far side of the pool, where Rhett and Ridge were hanging out with Cooper and Rowan. “We should go join them.”
“We should?”
“Yes.” I hugged him tighter. “They’re Rowan’s brothers. They’re your partners, and technically, they’re my bosses. We should spend as much time with them as possible.”
“At the moment, I’d just like to focus on how you feel in this fucking bikini.” His hands rubbed down my back, around my ass, and up my sides. “Fuck me, I wish there weren’t anyone in this pool right now.”
“I think this position is getting you a little too worked up.” I tried to wiggle, but he wasn’t letting me go anywhere.
“It’s not the position, Lily. You could be wearing a goddamn snowsuit, and we could be in the center of a fucking snowbank, freezing to death, and I’d feel the same way.”
That feeling.
How did he do it?
How did he consistently make me experience it?
They were just words, yet they were so much more with him.
I kissed him.
And then I kissed him again, but slower this time, tasting the sun and pool and French fry on his lips.
When I pulled away, his hard-on was pressing against me.
I had two options. I could either go up to the room with him—something I wanted more than anything—but that meant we wouldn’t be seeing the group for at least an hour, and I really thought we needed to join Rhett and Ridge, or I could change the subject.
“You know,” I started, “every morning, during our walk, the girls can’t stop saying how blown away they are by you.”
He chuckled. “And what does that mean?”
I ran my hands over his scruff. A thickness that I loved feeling with my fingers and when it scratched the sensitive skin between my legs. He wasn’t allowed to ever shave it.
“Apparently, you’re a whole new guy, and they love the version you’ve turned into.”
“You mean, an emoji with heart eyes?” he growled. “You guys weren’t exactly quiet on the plane.”
I laughed. “They’ve been calling you that ever since.”
“I know. Macon and Cooper found out about it and have been giving me endless shit.” He aimed his tip against me. “Which I’m fine with because it’s true.” His hands returned to my ass, palming each cheek.
He was slowly moving us through the water. He wasn’t bringing us over to Ridge and Rhett; he was just circling the section of pool that was surrounded by the suites our group was staying in.
Brady had booked the highest-rated hotel in Bangkok for us to stay in. After touring a few of the available properties, the six other partners agreed with the one Brady had picked to purchase, and Jenner was going to submit the offer. Once the Edinburgh remodel was finished, Bangkok would be his newest destination. And when that happened, his hotel would be the highest-rated resort in the city.
But with that decision came questions.
Many that had been filling my head over the last few days.
“How long do you think the rehab here is going to take?” I asked.
“Why?”
I arched my neck, soaking my hair in the water before I faced him. “I assume you’re going to move here, it’s too far to go back and forth weekly. That means the plane will be used by your other partners, and I’ll be everywhere but here.”
Not that I minded working for his other partners—that wasn’t the issue. It was the thought of being away from Brady for any extended period of time. I didn’t like the idea of that at all.
“You’re saying you’re going to miss me?” He dived into my neck, kissing up my ear and across my cheek until his lips were hovering over mine. “Is that what I’m hearing?”
“I think that goes without saying.”
“Six to eight months is my guess.” He traced his thumb over my bottom lip. “I can tell you one thing: there’s no fucking way I’m going to let my wife be away from me for that long.”
My eyes widened. “Your wife?”
“And if it were up to me, my wife would be moving to Bangkok with me.” His other hand left my ass, and both palms were now holding my face. “I won’t make that decision for you. But I don’t want to be away from you, and I hope you don’t want to be away from me.”
“What …” As my voice trailed off, I couldn’t stop staring into his eyes, waiting for the intensity in his expression to die down. It didn’t. It just continued to see right through me, confirming the seriousness of what he’d just said. A statement that had taken my breath away. “That’s a title I’ve never been called before.”
“It’s not just a title, Lily. It’s going to be a reality very soon.”