Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Miles had called twice since he had stormed out, and he finally called him back while Vivi was getting ready for bed. “Hey.”
He could hear the relief in Miles's voice when he picked up the phone. “You good?”
Mason watched Vivi as she moved around the bathroom, brushing her teeth and hair. He had never been better. “Yep.”
On the other end of the line, Miles sighed. “He didn’t mean it, you know.”
His brother was always playing peacemaker, but Mason could hear the thread of doubt in his voice. Their father would never change, and they both knew it. “He did. But I don't care anymore.”
“Just wanted to make sure you weren't doing something destructive.”
Mason stared at Vivi, thinking of how easily she had destroyed his defenses, ripped down his walls, and burrowed into his heart. This woman... he couldn't put words to this feeling yet, but he heard the change in his tone when he spoke. “I'm with Viv.”
There was a pause on the other end, and he could practically feel his brother’s approval singing through his veins. “I'm glad you're happy. You guys are good for each other.”
The bathroom light clicked off, and he watched Vivi as she stepped into the bedroom. Her curves were outlined in the silvery moonlight, and something flickered in his chest as she moved toward him. “Me, too,” he murmured to Miles. “Gotta go. I'll see you in the morning.”
He hung up and tossed his phone on the nightstand without taking his eyes from the gorgeous woman in front of him. Vivi crawled into bed and he wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her down to him. He breathed her in, her presence automatically calming his nerves.
Just having her near made him feel stronger. He had never wanted to be anything like his old man; he’d known that for years. But he was certain that, with Vivi, he’d found the one person who made him a better man.
Her hair tickled his chin, and he dropped a kiss on the top of her head. They lay there in silence for several minutes before he finally spoke. “I spent the afternoon at my dad’s.”
She shifted slightly, tipping her face upward so she could look at him. “How'd that go?”
“It was a train wreck, just like every other time.”
She propped her chin on the back of her hand where it rested on his chest. “I'm sorry.”
“Don't be. He's just a waste of energy and time, and I'm not going to give him any more of either.” He sighed. “I hate that I'm even bothered by it. After this long I should be used to being alone.”
“You're not alone,” she said, her voice fierce and full of vehemence.
“You have me, all the guys at Vantage… we’re your family now.
Blood doesn't mean a thing. Family is who you choose to surround yourself with.
There's no reason to keep toxic people in your life just because they share the same DNA.
“My parents weren't good people either, and I know for a fact that I wouldn't be the same person I am today without my brother and Ellen. So even if your father doesn't want to be part of your life, you'll always have us. You are—"
She stopped suddenly, and he found himself transfixed, his heart racing as he waited anxiously for her to continue. When she didn't, he felt compelled to ask, “Is that you telling me you care about me?” He infused some levity into his tone, and she lightly smacked his chest.
“I just...” She paused, her teeth digging into her lower lip. He could practically feel the heat of embarrassment radiating from her body where she lay across his chest. “You know what I mean.”
He grabbed her fingers and lifted them to his mouth, kissing the tips. “I know exactly what you mean. I'm glad I have you.”
The shroud of darkness gave him the confidence to continue, to tell her how he really felt and bare his soul.
“Because believe me when I say this, Virginia.
I haven't cared for many people in my life.
Miles, sure. My brothers from the Marines, absolutely.
I'd lay down my life for them in a heartbeat.
“But you... It's different. It's like... I feel lost without you. I feel dirty and unworthy but then I see you. I see my reflection in your eyes, and you make me feel whole and good, like I can be better than the man who raised me. I know it’s crazy, but I want you more every day.
I think about you from the second I wake up ‘til my head hits the pillow at night.”
“I feel the same,” she whispered.
Just hearing those words sent a rush of relief through him and something else he didn’t quite know how to identify. All he knew was he wanted more of it. More of her. Vivi was the most amazing woman he’d ever met, and at some point, she’d completely stolen his heart.
“Before you, I hadn’t kissed a woman in ten years.”
There was a beat of stunned silence, and he could feel Vivi staring at him. “Really?”
He nodded. “Remember that night in the hotel?”
“The no kissing rule.” He smiled at the tinge of disdain in her voice. “Yes, I remember that.”
“You should be happy with my no kissing rule.” He smiled and wrapped one hand around the back of her head. “I broke that rule for you.”
He pulled her down for a long, sensual kiss, pouring every ounce of appreciation and admiration he felt for her into it. Vivi lifted her head a moment later. “Since you put it that way… Makes me feel special.”
“You are special, babe. You have no idea.”
Vivi must have heard the seriousness in his voice, and she rearranged herself to see him better in the dim light. “Will you tell me?”
“About the kissing?”
“Yeah.”
He turned onto his side so he faced her and sifted his fingers through her silky hair. “You know life with my dad was pretty bad. I met this girl in high school—Samantha. She came from a good family, helped me with my dyslexia.”
“You’re dyslexic?”
He smiled at the disbelief in her voice. “I hide it well. Or try to, at least. I still slip up sometimes, but she was the first person who took the time to get to know me, to figure out what was wrong. Her brother was dyslexic, too, and I started doing some exercises to help with it.”
Vivi gave a little shake of her head. “I never would have guessed.”
“Good.” He kissed her forehead. “I don’t like for people to know. Makes it sound like a handicap.”
“How’d you get into the military?” she asked.
“Same as anyone else.” He lifted one shoulder. “I passed their tests, which was all that mattered. It wasn’t a huge deal. Not like I was a sniper dealing with numbers all day, you know?”
Vivi nodded a little, and he continued. “Anyway. So, Samantha and I started dating. She was the first person who really saw me, and I just… fell for it. When I left for the military, I told her I wanted to marry her when I got back.”
Vivi drew in a sharp breath, and he swept one hand down her spine to comfort her. “Thank God it didn’t work out that way. A couple years into my tour, I got a letter saying she’d found someone else.”
“Are you kidding me?” Vivi’s voice rose several octaves. “She sounds awful.”
Pretty much his sentiment. “Gets better.”
Vivi snorted. “I don’t think there’s anything “better” about that situation, except that she’s gone.”
“That was definitely a bonus,” he said, “even if I didn’t realize it at the time. Turns out she’d left me for Cross.”
Vivi jerked up to look at him. “Wait. Like… Carter? Our Carter?”
“The very same.” He nodded.
His girlfriend, Audrey, had run into some trouble recently, and he’d hired Vantage to do some background on his boss. Carter now worked for them, doing some legal consultation. Audrey was a sweetheart. Carter… he still wasn’t sure how he felt about him.
“I hated him when we were kids. His parents doted on him, gave him everything. He had everything while I had nothing. And then he got my girl.”
Vivi’s body trembled with fury. “Did he know you two were together?”
“No, she lied to him, too. Told him we went our separate ways after graduation.” He shook his head.
“You know what’s even worse? He actually served, too.
He put in his time overseas, then headed back to the States to study law, just like his old man.
So Sam got the best of both worlds—the Marine and the rich lawyer. ”
Vivi thought on that for a second. “They’re obviously not together now.”
“No, they’re not.” Carter had found Audrey, and they seemed to be extremely happy together. “From what I understand, they dated for a while until she cheated on him, too.”
“She played you both. That’s why the situation with the Morrisons bothered you so much,” Vivi said softly.
He nodded. “I can’t stand cheaters. Relationships should be built on respect and trust. If you break that…” He lifted one shoulder. “There’s just no going back for me.”
“I can understand that.” She was quiet for a second. “I’m sorry that happened to you.”
“I’m not.” It had sucked at the time, but he was forever grateful he hadn’t married Samantha. “Now I have you, and what we have is a thousand times better.”
He pulled her in close, loving the feel of her against him. Holding her close, knowing that she was his and he was hers… There was no better feeling in the world.