Page 21 of Master's Rise
Leaning toward me he pulls on my hand putting his other on my cheek. The kiss is sweet and filled with a longing that I don’t understand. An odd combination that leaves me unsettled in more ways than one.
“A need I’ve had but not the right mind frame.” His soft voice feels like it’s caressing my lips. With a kiss to my cheek, he sits straight.
My brain is running through so many opposing feelings, I just nod at him. I’d like to slide closer and wrap my arms around him but want to hear what’s bothering him too. Like the heat he sparks is just waiting for ice water to douse it.
“What I say here can’t be acted on or spoken to anyone but Rex or me and that can’t be in public.” He waits for me to agree and I do. “The meeting I had was with a detective about your father’s accident. Rex asked me to look into it.”
My father drowning is not believable so I nod again.
“The original coroner’s report shows no water in Byron’s lungs. He died before he hit the water. The fact that we have a report that says different is being investigated now that it’s known. You can’t talk about it to anyone but Rex or me. If it comes out, it could jeopardize the investigation and possibly put a bigger target on you than you already have from whatever is already happening in the town.” His words rip through me but are delivered calmly, kindly.
I look away breathing deep to steady my nerves. Someone took my father from me and is walking around free to live. It enrages me but at the same time, I’m relieved to know I was right. He didn’t drown.
When I look back, I see more pain in his eyes than when he walked in. “Tell me. This hurts you deeply, why?”
A look of anguish shows on his face and I feel it. I hurt for him and don’t even know why. My hand squeezes his automatically. His throat moves but he doesn’t speak. He needs something from me to get it out.
I tell him the thoughts that are running around my brain. Usually, they’re left unspoken but he needs something here. “Right now, I feel your pain with you and I know you feel mine. It’s such a weird feeling to have but it’s comforting too. My dad was taken from me. He’s been gone for a while, but now I know he was taken. It wasn’t an accident and I wasn’t wrong to not believe the report. It doesn’t change the outcome one bit.”
His grip on my hand is firm and he nods. “You’re right. The same deputy that had your dad’s case was on my dad and Jules. My Brother found the original report. My dad was shot before the car went out of control. It wasn’t an accident and knowing that won’t bring them back.”
I move. I don’t make a conscious decision, I just do. Sitting on his lap with my head on his chest, I need to give him exactly what I need from him. Just a pair of arms letting him know he’s not alone. I could use that too, but I think I shocked him.
“Thank you.” His voice is so low it sounds like a whisper.
~*~*~
Cort
Wrapping my arms around her, I start talking. I tell her a detail-lightened summary of my day. Everything from my Brothers hiding shit, Billy still hooked up to machines, admitting everything to Major, the expansion plan, the noble derelict, Trask calling in help for the investigation, feeling helpless for not knowing about Byron, my dad and Jules, then Rex being upset. She doesn’t say a word but I’m not sure I want her to. We sit in silence for a while and it feels good. I just laid out everything that felt so heavy earlier, everything I can’t say to my Brothers and feel like I can breathe again.
Her voice is soft when she starts talking but gets stronger as she tells me about her dad, dealing with the store, how people treat her so oddly, the cop that brushed her off and Rex. She loves Rex. I smile thinking I do too.
The silence should be awkward but it’s not. I like this feeling right now. I never talk about Club shit to any woman and I did with Seren. There’s something about her that I trust. Even if I didn’t give her blow by blow, I shared more than I normally would.
Her stomach growls and she looks up embarrassed. I kiss her lips and lift her up. “Let’s eat.”
Her giggle has me shaking my head, she’s young and cute but is more honest, responsible and confident than anyone I’ve ever been with. Maybe that’s what’s so stunning about her.
“If you put me down, I’ll get dinner on the table.”
I ignore that and carry her into the kitchen. “I don’t mind helping.” I actually miss doing shit like this. “It’s a bubble of time spent just doing for each other. There’s no stress or expectations in getting food on the table or eating.”
She laughs as I put her down. “Easy for you to say. I hope you think my food is edible.”
I shrug following her to the oven. “If it’s not, there’s always pizza.”
“True enough. Grab two plates for me.” She points to a shelf on the side.
I do, then go back for our drinks, clearing the table. Since the front is clean and ready for her opening, I put them at the worktable and get us set up. It smells good in here. The girl can cook.
She’s surprised when she turns. “We can eat out front.”
“It’s clean out there and this works.”
Putting a plate in front of me, she surprises me with a kiss. “I really like the laid back.”
“Mmm. I do too.” Especially her reaction to it.
