Love Me Or Lose Me (2 page)

Thomas couldn’t let that happen. She may not forgive him for acting like an ass, but he deserved the opportunity to explain himself. He needed to see her.

 “We’re going over there for dinner. We’ll get to the bottom of this little squabble of yours.” Cale’s cocky tone prickled his pride.

“I already told you what the problem is. I was an ass! Don’t be rough on her. This is all my fault.” If they upset her, it would just be one more crime to lie at his feet.

“The only way to fix this is for you to talk to her, and if we need to make her see that, we will.” Rhett didn’t sound cocky like his younger brother, he just had the same authority he always had.

“I shouldn’t be putting you guys in this position.” He admitting knowing that going to her brothers might be the equivalent of going behind enemy lines in her eyes.

“This is what family does. We’re there for one another no matter what.” Cale dropped onto the couch and grabbed the remote.

 “I’m not your family—” Thomas blurted, but Rhett didn’t let him finish.

“Not yet, but you want to be right?” Rhett’s smile eased some of his fears, but until he talked to Darcy he knew there would be no relaxing.

“If she won’t take your calls, I don’t think she’s ready to see you yet, but once we talk to her, she’ll be the one calling you.” Cale confidence wasn’t contagious at all.

“Or she could rebuff me just to spite all of you.” Darcy wasn’t a complainer, or a fighter, but she hated being told what to do.

The few times he tried to tell her not to do something, she did it just to prove she could. Then again reverse psychology worked wonders with her, as long as it was subtle. He wasn’t sure her brothers had a subtle bone in their bodies. They didn’t really have to, because if just one of them told her it might not be a good idea to talk to him yet, it might be enough to get her to accept his next call.  If they told her not see him, she might just to prove they couldn’t tell her what to do.

“I think I have a plan.” He said and her brothers all eyed him with interest.

Chapter Two

Darcy awoke to the smell of something wonderful teasing her senses. It was a great way to wake up. She peeled the covers back and climbed out of the bed. Scarlett must have tucked her in, because the last thing she remembered was bawling like a baby on her shoulder. Strangely, she felt a little better now that she’d gotten it out of her system. Now maybe she could figure out what she was going to do. She had two weeks she told herself as she headed for the bathroom.

A quick glance in the mirror over the sink made her groan. She was a frightening sight. Her eyes were still puffy from her crying jag.  To make it worse, she’d fallen asleep while her hair was still wet, so it was sticking out all over the place. Darcy wet her hand and tried to smooth it down, but it was so not happening. Grabbing one of Scarlett’s ponytail holders she pulled it all up. She still looked like crap, but it would have to do for now.

Her stomach rumbled insisting she go find food. So she decided to follow her nose. The second she opened the bedroom door she heard loud familiar male voices. They weren’t angry, just deep and boisterous as they always were when the three of them got together. It seemed her reprieve was over. She tiptoed down the hall listening to them talk.

“Whatever Thomas did-"

“Or didn't do" Scarlett interjected.

Rhett ignored her and continued with what he was saying, "Was bad enough to make her run home."

"Maybe she needed some time for herself. Did you ever think of that?" Scarlett countered.

“Isn’t needing time to think, or needing space, a euphemism for we’re over?” Jarrett’s question struck a chord deep inside her, because Darcy had always felt that way too.

Not many couples she knew that took breaks from their relationships ever managed to stay together, if they even got back together to start with. Was that why she hadn’t told Thomas what she was doing? The fear of losing him completely hovered over her every second, so maybe she didn’t want to take the chance.

“We’re just saying if she’s mad enough to leave him all of a sudden then there’s a pretty good chance it’s over,” Cale said.

“How do you know it was all of a sudden? Maybe she had this visit planned?” Scarlett knew she hadn’t, but that she was trying to keep her brothers guessing was a loving gesture.

“Maybe we shouldn’t let her call him until she decides if she’s going back or not.” Rhett’s tone was one she had heard many times, and she knew it meant he’d already made up his mind.

“I don’t think it’s up to any of us.” Scarlett was right, not that her brothers would believe it.

Darcy had enough eavesdropping. Their mother had always told them people that listened to other people’s conversation usually heard things they didn’t want to. Unfortunately, she was right again. One of these days Darcy was going to learn to listen to her advice. She stepped into the kitchen and instantly everyone stopped talking.

“What?” She hated that she sounded so defensive, because it would only make her brothers more intent on protecting her.

“You look like crap.” Jarrett obviously wasn’t pulling any punches.

“Why thank you,” Darcy said with a smile. “Scarlett whatever you’re cooking smells divine.”

“Well, it’s just about done so sit down and relax while the boys set the table.” She waved her hand and their brothers swung into motion.

Darcy laughed as she sat down. Her short nap had done her sense of humor some good if nothing else. It seemed that in the past two years Scarlett had found a way to handle their brothers. They set the table without a word, while Scarlett fussed at the stove. Rhett joined Scarlett and pulled something out of the oven. Cale and Jarrett each grabbed a serving bowl and carried them to the table then took seats on either side of Darcy. Steam rose off the mashed potatoes and corn. Rhett walked over and set a platter with a roast on the table.

“I figured you needed something hearty after your journey,” Scarlett said taking the seat across from her.

“About this road trip of yours, want to tell us what the heck is going on?” Jarrett asked as he dropped a spoonful of potatoes on her plate.

“Not really.” She looked at her brothers faces one by one and could see they weren’t going to take no for an answer.

“Fine.” Rhett shrugged his broad shoulders and smiled. “After we eat, I’m going to call Thomas and get the details from him.”

Darcy wanted to tell him to go right ahead, but her brain kicked in shoving her bravado aside. “It’s no big deal. Thomas has been really busy at work. I knew he wouldn’t miss me. So I figured now would be a good time for me to come visit.”

“If that’s all, then why has he been calling looking for you?” Cale shot the first hole in her story.

“Probably because my cell phone died, and I forgot the charger. I’ll call him later and let him know I got in okay.” Darcy planned on telling the truth to a point.

“No you won’t!” Her three brothers said in unison.

“Why on earth not?” Scarlett demanded to know.

“I already told you.” Rhett glanced at Scarlett before he laid down his fork down and covered Darcy’s hand with his much bigger one. “What you’re telling us may be true, but I think there’s something else going on. If you’re not ready to tell us, that’s fine, but I think you should really make sure what you want to do next before you call him.”

“Leading him on would be wrong. I hate women who play games.” Cale’s disgusted tone made her wonder if a woman had played with his heart recently.

“I’m not going to leave him wondering.” Even though she figured he deserved it.

But her brothers were right. She wasn’t ready to talk to him yet either, which is why she planned to leave him a message on his cell phone. Her brothers all focused on their plates for a few minutes, but Darcy knew they weren’t done yet. Surprisingly, it was Scarlett who spoke up.

“Darcy, I hate to say this, but they’re right.” Darcy was about to protest when Scarlett winked at her. “I’ll call and let him know you got in okay.”

“Good idea.” Darcy agreed quickly, knowing if one of her brothers called they’d ask Thomas all sorts of questions, and that would only lead to more problems.

The last thing she needed was for Thomas to think that she’d run to her brothers for help. Their relationship didn’t need any outside interference. It already had enough from his job. Of course, Scarlett calling him was only going to be a short delay. She’d have to face facts and Thomas sooner or later.

“I think one of us should make the call. You know have a man to man talk with him.” Jarrett said with a shake of his head.

“Why?” Darcy and Scarlett asked.

“Because if we tell him not to come here or even call you until you tell him it okay, he’s going to be more apt to listen to one of us.” Cale had a point, but who the hell did they think they were dictating rules for her boyfriend.

Darcy realized she had two choices. She could either let her brothers have their way and use them as a buffer between her and Thomas. Or she could stop them in their tracks before they got it into their heads that they could tell her what to do. Scarlett had obviously found a way to deal with them, now it was her turn.

“Look, it’s nice that you all want to take care of me, but I’m going to handle this myself.” She got to her feet and shoved her chair in. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a phone call to make.”

Nobody said a word as she walked away. It was so quiet she thought she could hear her heart beat, but her imagination was probably playing with her. She forced herself to walk into the bedroom and pick up the phone. Her finger shook a bit as she dialed his number. She closed her eyes and listened to it ring.

She was running through the message she planned to leave when she heard him say, “Hello Darcy.”

Her brain froze and it took her minute to say, “Hi…”

“You sound a little breathless, are you okay?” She couldn’t tell if he was really as calm as he sounded, or if he was using his well practiced courtroom demeanor. Then again. maybe he just didn’t even care that she’d left.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she lied, glad he couldn’t see her.

“Just surprised I answered?” He said catching her off guard.

“Kind of.” The dig came out harsh and she didn’t regret it at all. “You’ve been so busy I figured you’d be elbow deep in work.”

“Did you at least plan to leave me a message?” If Darcy wasn’t mistaken, she caught a hint of irritation in his voice

“Of course I did.” She didn’t tell him she hadn’t planned on answering if he called her back.

“What was it, honey?” His use of the endearment used to make her smile, now it made her frown.

“What was what?” she asked, sure she must have missed something.

“The message, what was it?” His even tone pissed her off. The least he could do was pretend he missed her.

“Oh, well I was just going to let you know I came to visit my family for a while.” She wasn’t trying to be coy with her vagueness; she just didn’t want to get into things until she did some thinking.

“I got that much from your note. Where are you exactly?” He asked, using the tone she’d heard him use when cross examining witnesses.

“I’m at Scarlett’s. I’ll be staying with her for a few weeks.” She wanted to sound firm, but she heard the waver in her voice

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Thomas knew she hated being told what to do, so he better have a damn good reason.

“Why?” She waited for him to answer, but all she heard was noise coming from the other end. “Thomas?”

She spun around as the door opened behind her. Darcy expected to see Scarlett or one of her brothers come in, but instead Thomas walked into the room. Her heart began to race as she took in the state he was in. The neat, professional, and sexy business man had been replaced by a dangerous looking man. His hair was tousled and he was sporting a few days worth of stubble on his chin. The slacks and dress shirt had been switched for a pair of tight jeans and a black T-shirt stretched across his chest, making it look even broader.

“Thomas, what are you doing here?” She realized she was still holding the phone to her ear and tossed it onto the bed.

“I had to come.” He closed the door behind him, but not before she spotted her brothers and sister standing in the hall.

She couldn’t believe he was there. “Why?”

~* * *~

Thomas knew he’d been bad for treating her the way he had, otherwise he wouldn’t have rushed there. Okay, he probably would have come after her even if she was the one who had been wrong. Not because he was whipped or anything like that, but because he believed what they had was that special something people were always whining they couldn’t find. He had found it and he was willing to do everything in his power to make sure they didn’t lose it.

Darcy’s leaving had forced him to realize he had risked losing her love and that was enough to make him see how stupid he was being. Thomas was smart enough to know just coming after wasn’t going to make her fall into his arms and forgive him. Still seeing how surprised she was that he came after her felt like a cold wave of guilt washing over him.

He considered himself mighty lucky that the plan he’d worked up with her brothers had gotten him this far. Now he needed to take the next step alone. If she sent him away there’d be nothing her brothers could do to help him.

“Because I knew if I was going to beg you to come home I needed to do it in person, but if you’re really set on staying here then I’m staying with you.”  He hoped she wouldn’t see through his bravado and realize he was acting on pure fear at this point.

“But you had all that work to do?” She looked at the door then back to him.