“Well, this is not what we agreed to,” he said to Tate. Of course she would bend the boundaries, he thought. It annoyed him.
He watched her get out of the car and then walk around to the back door, where he’d spotted the intruder. She leaned into the car and picked up a sleeping child. A little girl. The little girl had long red ringlets, and she was fast asleep on Maggie’s shoulder.
Brady’s heart stopped. As Maggie walked closer to the front door, her eyes darted to the ground and back up as though she was nervous. He was nervous as well. His hands were shaking, and his armpits shed water like he’d walked out of the shower. But there was no point in delaying this any further, so he opened the door.
Maggie’s face was smiling, but the crease between her eyebrows was furrowed. He knew that look. She was trying to put on a brave face, but she was worried.
He stared at the child in her arms. Seconds later, the little girl started to stir.
“Brady, can we come inside?”
He felt like an idiot, “Of course. I’m sorry. I’m—”
Maggie interrupted him. “Brady, there’s somebody I’d like you to meet.” She turned, with her back facing him, so he could see the face of the little girl. She looked exactly like her mother. Brady was speechless as she opened her eyes. Then she started to squirm so Maggie set her down on the ground. She stood next to her mother, holding hands.
“Brady, this is Emma.”
The little girl stared up at him, wiggling the fingers on her right hand and tapping her foot to some imaginary song. Her mother continued. “Emma, this is your father.”
When Brady heard the words, he wasn’t surprised. The instant he saw the little girl and estimated her age, he realized she probably was his. But hearing it hit him like a ton of bricks. This was the last thing he’d expected.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked her.
“I had no way to, and I was stuck. Confused and scared too. He’d threatened to take her away, to sell her, Brady, and I’d met women who had that happen to their children. I didn’t know what to do, so I opted for keeping her safe. I thought you would be angry. I was in a very tough situation. The day she came into this world, I vowed I would do whatever I could to keep her safe. That was my primary concern. I hoped that someday you would get to meet her. But I’m not asking you for anything, not even forgiveness.”
He wasn’t going to show it, but his insides were melting, his whole defense system shutting down, dripping and shriveling like an ice cave in summer. He was teetering on the edge, wondering which way he would fall…and then he decided.
Brady knelt to the floor and addressed Emma. He held out his hand. “Emma, it’s nice to meet you. Did you have a good trip?”
The little girl didn’t take his hand but hid behind Maggie’s skirt. She poked her head around the corner and peered at him, her innocent, unsmiling face studying his.
He stood up. “That’s okay. It’s kind of a lot to take in. I suppose she’s not used to the idea of being introduced to…”
“On the contrary, she’s seen your picture, Brady. She knows a lot about you. I’ve told her. But she’s scared.”
Maggie’s lower lip began to tremble as tears spilled from her eyes.
Brady nodded. His body responded in reflex, his eyes also filling up with water. “She’s not the only one. Maggie—”
She fell into his arms, and at first, it was awkward. His mind screamed he wasn’t ready. Then suddenly he was filled with the familiar scent of her hair and her body, the yearning of the years he’d missed her, the joy of the year they spent together, and the desire of the fantasy dreams he’d survived on the past three years. He could feel her shaking. He also noticed Emma hugged the two of them, wanting to be included.
Brady felt he was at precipice, one of those high dive rocks he used to jump off when he was a kid. Just like on those endless summer days, it was time to vault off the ledge, scare himself senseless, and fly.
He knew he wasn’t quite ready, but he chose the excitement, jitters and all, and jumped anyway.
He kissed Maggie on the ear and whispered, “I am so glad you’re back.”
Chapter 20
Light hit Brady’s face, gently drawing him out of his slumber. His reflex was always to go back into the dream, to prolong the fantasy for as long as he could. He played tug of war, keeping his eyes closed and feeling the touch of her firm, smooth flesh beneath his fingertips. Her breathing pressed her chest into his, covering him with the lightness of her being, sending his senses into overload.
Keeping his eyes closed, his fingers clutched at the roots of her glorious, copper-colored hair, telling her non-verbally of his need.
Her hand pressed down the side of his body, over his hip, and found him, fully engorged and ready.
“Again?” she sighed.
But this was different. He opened his eyes, and she was still there. They were wrapped together in a sheet, legs entangled from their foreplay, after play, and all the glorious minutes in between. The bed smelled like them both. The sounds of gentle waves corresponded with her breath. Sea birds called out as she spread her legs, pulled herself up, and rubbed her pubic bone down his shaft. Hard.
It was real.
He flipped her on her back, breached her opening slowly, and watched her wince and tear up from the pain, the wounding he’d caused her from a whole night of lovemaking. God how he loved seeing her accept him, grow in her desire, crescendo into something beautiful and wild, pushing against him holding his leg with hers, undulating and begging for him to do deeper, give her more.
As his rhythm increased, he rocked her softly, kissing her breasts and pressing her closer with his hand beneath the small of her back. Her knees bent, accepting him deeper. He whispered in her ear his first truth of the day. “God, I can’t get enough of you.”
She stopped, and he opened his eyes, staring down at her face. She looked to the side, behind him. He turned quickly and saw Emma standing there, watching them both.
Brady scrambled to cover himself up, which exposed Maggie’s breasts to her daughter. He grabbed the sheets and covered her up hastily, but then he felt his rear exposed, so he quickly flipped over.
Little Emma watched this stoically and then said, “What are you doing to Mommy?”
“Sweetheart, he’s giving me a massage.”
“But he’s naked.”
“That’s how it’s done between adults sometimes,” Maggie answered. “Everything is fine, sweetheart. I’m sorry if it made you worry.”
Emma looked down at Tate, who looked right back at her, as if agreeing. Her sweet little voice directed the dog as though they were long friends. “Come on, Tate. Let’s go play in the other room.”
Without looking back, Emma turned and walked out, Tate right beside her.
Brady shook his head, rubbed his fingers through his hair, and pulled. Everything felt the same, tasted and smelled the same, but it was all different. He was embarrassed and wouldn’t look at Maggie.
“Not your fault,” she whispered to his lips, touching him lightly under his chin. She was casually seated crosswise, her body leaning into his chest. She kissed the side of his neck. Her fair fell against his shoulder; her breasts moved against his upper arm.