“Just promise me you’ll take care of it,” Natalie pleads. “I know those women in the skimpy swimsuits may distract you . . .”
“Nah. There was a time I would rubberneck at each one. But I’m there for my sister and I’m bringing Delilah,” I say. It’s the first time I mention her, and something tells me they’re not surprised by the look on their faces.
“So, you’re dating Linc’s sister, huh?” Mark says it more like a statement with a cocky smile and his hands brace the back of the leather chair.
“Linc?” I angle my head.
“Dylan. Dylan Marshall . . . His call sign is Lincoln.”
“Why Lincoln?” I ask while locking the case and setting it on the table.
“The story goes, when Dylan was a kid, his mama knocked the lie out of him. When he got on the SEAL team, Marshall didn’t like the name, Honest Abe. So one of the other guys started calling him Lincoln.”
“Is that so?” I chuckle, remembering Mrs. Marshall at the party. She’s a feisty woman and woman that kept her kids in line. “I guess it’s better than Muffin or Twilight,” I say with a chuckle.
“Well, I kind of like my husband’s call sign.” Natalie giggles and her smile says it all.
“Dreamboat?” Mark spits out. “More like the Love Boat . . . he’s like a freaking lovesick puppy chasing you around.” His laugh rings out in the room.
“You’re just jealous,” she retorts.
“Dylan give you shit for dating his kid sister, yet?” Mark scratches his head and the playful grin widens his face.
“Actually, he gave me his blessing.”
“No shit.” Mark shakes his head and gives a side glance at Natalie as she stacks some papers and taps them on the table.
“Am I missing something?” I ask as the two dart their eyes at each other, then back to me.
Natalie produces a tabloid magazine from her purse and opens to the middle of it. “There’s a short article about you.”
I take the magazine from her and skim the words. “Damn paparazzi. I just wish they’d stop conjuring shit from the past.”
“If I were you, I’d embrace it. It’s who you are. Why can’t you be proud of being a Saint Clair and a Reinhardt at the same time?”
“This is the shit that I’ve been trying to bury. It’s old news.” I wave the magazine in the air. I let out a sigh and rein in my temper over the one woman that started it all after I dumped her and all she wanted was my money. “I was accused of rape when I was twenty-one.”
Silence fills the room and the only sound is the tick of the clock on the wall and the hum of the air conditioner.
Lee softly speaks up, “Did you . . .”
“No. I was an arrogant kid who thought he was invincible. After a few weekends of fun, I moved on to someone else and apparently, Gina didn’t like it. Next thing I know, I’m petitioning for my freedom sitting in that damn courtroom. When it was her time to testify, her lawyers told us she dropped the charges. I later found out one of my friends recorded a conversation that Gina lied and wanted revenge.”
“Is that why you joined the navy?” Natalie asks.
“Yes. And my dad.”
“The great Master Chief Gerard Reinhardt,” Mark speaks up. “Man’s a legend.”
My smile comes easily. Thoughts of Dad in his uniform. I glance up at them and let myself miss him for a moment. I exhale and shake my head. “He’s the one who gave me my call sign.”
“Which is?” Natalie’s hand is on her hip waiting for the answer.
“Mister-wet-behind-the-ears-Flipper,” Mark bursts with a chuckle.
“Thanks for the surfboard, Uncle Brody,” James says. Both his and Max’s eyes are wide with excitement.
“You’re welcome,” I say, scuffling Max’s brown wavy hair.
“I promise to practice every weekend,” Max chimes in.
I gaze into their brown eyes. Those boys are looking more like Matt every day. “And remember to use your Go-Cam. You gotta capture every moment, every wave. Then upload it to YouTube.”
Being back in Virginia this past week, catching up with the team here and spending some quality time with Laura and the boys was exactly what I needed.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to pay for the surfboards? I know those things aren’t cheap,” Laura says with a soft smile as she watches James eyeing the board in the back of the truck.
“You’re insulting me. They’re my godsons, Laura. Besides, I have a couple of those back at home.”
I look at my wristwatch and know if I don’t hurry my ass up, Jackson will be pissed at me for making the pilot wait. I could have flown coach, but Jackson insisted I take the company jet. Must be nice to use it like it’s an everyday commodity.
I pull out an envelope from my duffle. “Here, this is for you.”
Laura takes the envelope from my hand and peels back the flap. After a few seconds, Laura lifts her eyes and meets mine as tears wet her cheeks. Her reaction tells me she’s read the main line.
She waves her hand at me and places the paper in my palm. “I can’t accept this . . . Take it back, Flipper.”
“It’s too late, and it’s something you can’t give back,” I chide. “It’s for their college.” I hand her a folder with the account numbers and the receipt for the $20,000 I deposited in each boy’s account. “I promised Matt that I would take care of you. And this is the only way I know how. The funds will collect interest so by the time they’re ready for college, you should have more than enough to start them out.” I let out a breath. “You and those boys are my family. I just want to make sure you’re going to be okay.”
“Brody, this is too much.” Laura covers her mouth with her hand as a tear slides down her freckled cheek. “I-I don’t know what to say.”
“Just say you’ll keep in touch with me, let me know if those boys give you a hard time so I can set them straight. And if you ever need anything, I mean anything, you call me. Promise?”
“I promise. Thanks, Brody.” Laura hugs me so tight, her head is in my chest as she sobs. “Matthew loved you like a brother.”
“Yeah, I know . . . and I loved him too.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Delilah
His eyes sparkle as they meet mine. It takes me a moment to find my voice. We stare at each other for a beat as the smiles on our faces speak volumes.
The sun setting behind him accentuates a silhouette of his broad shoulders, as he stands in the doorway wearing a light gray shirt under a black sports coat, and I know exactly what’s under them. The vision of his chiseled chest, ripped abs, and muscular arms sends tingles to my inner thighs. His trim waist leading down to a pair of black slacks and I picture his amazing firm ass and how very well endowed he is.
The scent of his crisp clean cologne gives me an instant burn throughout my body and the heat pools between my thighs. It’s been a week since I’ve had Brody’s lips on mine and right now all I want is to feel them on me.