Love Rekindled (Love Surfaced) (25 page)

Brad continues and his excitement over his day thrills me. I don’t like hearing how he usually doesn’t feel useful, but I’m going to keep it my secret that he’s starting to find his place—where he needs to be in life and a second love after competing. I sit there enthralled in a conversation I know nothing about. Cayden’s arm and his knocking only milliseconds off his time, but Brad’s sparkling eyes are what I’m enamored with.

“I just hope he makes it.” He releases a breath after talking for minutes straight.

I place my hand on his and he looks up at me. “I know. Just take it one day at a time.”

“Yeah.” He dishes up a fork full and tastes my meal. “Amazing.” Then he shovels another bite into his mouth. I watch Em do the same thing, busy with her fork and plate, picking up the kernels of corn one at a time.

“What else?”

He swallows a bite and places his fork down. “I wanted to ask you, how long have you known Wes?”

“From high school.”

“And Cami?”

“She was my sister’s best friend, so most of my life.”

“She cornered me today and tried to intimidate me if I hurt you.” He rolls his eyes and I laugh.

“She didn’t?”

“She did. But I assured her I won’t hurt either of you.” He looks over at Em and my heart swells a little more.

“I know.”

“But I think the business is struggling.”

“No, really?” That would be horrible. I don’t know where Wes got the money to open Creadle’s Aquatic after he came home from college, but it’s been a success.

“How stubborn of a guy is he?”

I purse my lips, thinking. Truth is, I don’t know Wes that well other than the date we went on and his fights with Cami. “Stubborn.” I remember him and Cami fighting over my sister once. Or the time they broke up. “But I think he comes around after a while. Why?”

“I told him I’d help him by looking through some things for the business, but there was a consultant there when I left. I’m worried for him, but I’m not going to butt my nose where it doesn’t belong.”

I forgot how kindhearted Brad is. A lot of people only see a cocky, arrogant guy, who goes after whatever he wants with the same fierce competitiveness he used against his opponents in the water. But deep down, he cares. I witnessed him buying a meal for a homeless man on campus on more than one occasion. I waited for him on the bench in the pool house while he helped his teammates with a hiccup after practice.

He practically ran the fundraising for the swim team, but I guess those things can be clouded when the same person spouts off his mouth and starts fights for no reason at all sometimes. After graduation, I can imagine the people who knew him best even doubted him.

“You’re so sweet,” I say, sipping my Diet Coke.

“Don’t tell anyone.” He rolls those heart-melting eyes.

“Never, I don’t want any competition,” I joke back, liking this dynamic between us.

“Ah, baby, there’s no competition.” He leans over with his lips puckered at me.

I glance to Em and quickly lean in and give him a chaste kiss.

“Too short.”

“Later,” I mumble, forking my food.

“I’m holding you to that.”

We walk down the stairs with an exhausted Em fast asleep in her crib. My feet touch the cold tile floor and two warm arms surround me. He draws me back to his chest, his mouth already at the nape of my neck. After sliding my hair to the side to give him better access to my skin, his hands venture up my ribcage.

There’s nothing better than when the one you love can’t wait a second more to have you. I twist in his arms, and his strong hands descend to grip my ass.

“Mr. Ashby, you need to calm down.” I step backward toward the couch with him chest to chest with me. Unable to keep the pace he’s dictating for us, I fall to the couch and he doesn’t stop until he’s lying on top of me. “No movie tonight?” I smile and he shakes his head.

His brown eyes burn with so much desire, I fear I can’t put out the fire in them, especially since I’m not ready to sleep with him yet as our daughter sleeps upstairs. God, he makes it hard though. His lips linger over my collarbone and his magical hands touch every inch of me except where I need him to, and that only fuels my body to a frenzy of uncontrolled need.

“We should stop.” My voice breaks because I’m already panting and he hasn’t even kissed me yet.

“Nuh-uh.” He slides down the length of my body, his fingers grazing past the cups of my bra. I suck in another breath.

“Uh-huh,” I say, my fingers digging deep into the dark strands of his hair.

He lifts his head from between my legs, his right hand covering my jean-clad center. “One of us is coming tonight.” He flicks the button of my jeans and my breath catches in my throat.

“She’s upstairs.” My excuse sounds weak with the whimpered moan as his thumb massages my clit. Even with the barrier of my panties, I’m soaked.

“She’s asleep, Tay. Just keep your screams down.” He winks, teasing me about my uncontrollable mouth.

He hooks his fingers onto each side of my jeans and I lift my ass to help him slide them down my legs. “One leg over.” His hand guides my leg so it hangs off the back of the couch. “Other down. Have you forgotten the drill?” The sly grin on his face says he’s enjoying bringing me to the brink. Then again, he always did, but usually that made him too horny and he was in me instantly. There’s no way I’m remembering our first night on the couch with Em upstairs.

My fight is weak and I lose the battle with myself. My back arches begging for more as his tongue sucks my nub into his hot waiting mouth. He pushes my hips back down and moves one finger inside of me. “Stay down, baby,” he whispers, but his words sound like I’m in a tunnel.

He inserts another finger and I’m writhing underneath his touch as a burst of ecstasy travesl through me. Minutes later, his hair is wrapped tight around my fingers and I’m grinding his face to my core.

“Brad,” I sigh, my body slowly coming down from the explosions he manipulated out of my body.

His thumb leaves me and circles around my clit in a slow soothing motion as my body sinks into the couch to catch my breath. He slides back up my body, his hardness straining his jeans against my naked bottom half.

He kisses me lightly on the lips and draws back with a smile on his face. “I told you one of us would be coming.”

My hand slides into his pocket, searching for a condom. Maybe I’m making too much out of this whole special moment the second time around.

“Whatcha doing, babe?” He leans away from me and I dig into another pocket, coming up empty-handed.

“Where is it?”

“Where’s what?”

“The condom. You said you brought them.”

A devilish grin emerges on his face.

“I don’t have them. We’re not going to have sex with our daughter upstairs. I’m not the old Brad, remember?” Although he seems casual and okay with the fact that I still may think of him that way, the hurt in his eyes isn’t hard to miss, especially when you know Brad as well as I do.

“I know, but usually when you go down on me, it only makes you hotter.” He sits back and I crawl up on my knees, not allowing the space to separate us after this pivotal moment.

He takes my hand and places it between his legs. The hard bulge is visible, but I rub it up and down a little because I’m not a selfish person; I’m a giver. “Believe me, babe, I’m hot, ready to combust, so I really need you to stop doing that.” He picks up my hand and places it on my bare leg.

“Nuh-uh.” I shake my head and bite my lower lip.

“No, Taylor. I did not do that for you to reciprocate.” He shakes his head and actually pretends to watch the television.

“I know.” I scoot closer, my hands fiddling with his belt buckle. “I want to, too.” I shoot him my best seductive look, and he inhales a deep breath.

“Are you sure?”

I nod instantly. “Yes. Let me.” I act like I’m asking permission. He always enjoyed that school-girl thing when I’d act all innocent.

“Don’t do the school girl,” he begs, because we both know it will only escalate the situation.

I lean forward as both my legs straddle his hips. “Don’t worry, I’ll save the real temptress until we’re completely alone.”

He wiggles under me and I can only imagine he’s growing harder by the second.

“Let me give you some relief.” I slide down off his lap, my knees hitting the floor while my fingers manipulate his pants to free him.

Once my hands are wrapped around his girth and my mouth rests just above the tip, I look through my eyelashes, and his eyes could be a laser they’re burning so strong.

A little while later, it’s his hands clenching my head.

Brad

“GREAT PRACTICE, CAYDEN. YOU’RE GETTING
into the groove now.” I slap him on the back while he makes his way to the locker room.

I’m impressed because he really is improving on his time. From the list he gave me of the other guy’s times, he’s got a chance.

Cayden walks through the locker room and I turn toward the office, noticing I have fifteen minutes before my first lesson. Wes’s head is in his hands as he studies a paper in front of him. He scribbles and then crosses it out and scribbles again. It’s gut-wrenching witnessing him so distraught. This place could be amazing, especially since it’s not too far from the affluent cities in the area. The problem is, he doesn’t want to ask for help, and I respect that. But by not asking, he’s going to be left with nothing. Believe me, I’m a prime example of having too much pride.

I walk through the glass door and he tries to shuffle the papers. He spins around in his chair with a fake-ass grin plastered on his face.

“What are you doing?” I scoot up on the table by the window.

“Just some paperwork. When’s your next appointment?” He rests his ankle on his knee, and internally I debate if I should say something. Wes seems like a cool guy, and I think we have a kinship in a way that both of our dreams didn’t pan out. He found his place, but he needs help to continue.

“Who’s Mitchel?” I ask.

“A friend.”

“Bullshit.” I widen my eyes and wait for him to be honest with me and himself.

“Just stay out of it, Brad.”

I jump off the table and break the distance between us. Sliding into a chair across from him, I lean my elbows on my thighs.

“I can’t. See, I have a daughter to take care of and a girl who I’m hoping will one day be my wife. This is my place of employment, so I have to care.”

“Don’t worry, you’re getting paid.”

I wish I could honestly believe that, but from what I’ve witnessed the past two days, I fear one day I’ll arrive to a set of locked doors.

“I get the pride thing. I’m not one to share a lot, but I think I can help you.”

He leans back and stares up at the ceiling for a moment before his eyes land on me. Even before he agrees, I see in his eyes, he’s relented.

“Here.” He hands me the papers he was scrutinizing.

The first thing I notice is red everywhere. One line has black and that’s swim lessons. So at least those are making him some money, meaning I get paid way too little.

“What did Mitchel think you should do?”

He’s quiet for a minute, but when I look up from the paper, he sighs.

“Fire you.” He shrugs with a smile on his face, indicating that isn’t going to happen.

“Interesting, since I’m your best instructor.” I shrug like I really mean that.

“Jeez, Brad, this stays between us. Cami knows nothing, and she can’t. Do you understand me? She’d freak out.” I can see the gears moving on overdrive in his head.

“Don’t worry. This is between us. Do you have your taxes from last year? I need all your profit/loss reports since you opened. I’ll go through them all tonight, and then we can talk.”

“You’d do that? I have no way of paying you, Brad.”

I wave my hand in the air. “I’m doing this because you’re a friend and went out on a limb to help me.”

For the first time in two days, his shoulders relax slightly.

“Thanks, man.”

“Of course, there is one favor I might ask in return.” He cocks his head to the side.

“What?”

“Do you babysit?” A smile creeps on his face. “I want to take Taylor away for the night, but we have Emerson and there’s no way she’ll let just anyone watch her.”

“Sam?”

“Fuck off.”

He laughs and holds out his hand.

“Deal.”

“I’ll grab everything before I leave and we can talk tomorrow?”

“Sounds good. Thank you.”

“No problem.” My eyes study the sheet of the paper in front of me, and I wonder if this is even fixable.

Someone knocks on the window and Wes waves at them.

“Your lesson is here,” he tells me, and I hand the paper back to him where he turns it over on top of another pile.

“All right. Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out.”

Later that afternoon, I’m sitting at my apartment surrounded by Dylan’s boxes, trying to make heads or tails where this business went downhill. I gave Taylor the lowdown, and as much as I don’t want to be away from her and Emerson tonight, especially with Taylor being off today, I want to make sure this has my full attention. She understood, of course. It doesn’t stop me from trying to finish early and surprise her.