Damaged (Triple Canopy Book 1), page 10
Um. Wrong.
“What does “noted” mean?”
“In this instance, it means I’m starving, I wanna take my girl to The Brewery, and I wanna do it in this lifetime. So I’m not gonna have a lengthy discussion about how I know she’s fully capable of taking care of herself and whatever problems come her way, she’s just not gonna do it.”
So I was right. His reply was dismissive at best, asshole-ish at worst. But whichever it was, he planned on butting in.
“I don’t like that, Brady.”
“I can see how you wouldn’t, being as your brother’s probably butted in a lot because he’s rightfully protective. What you don’t get now but you will, is that I’m not your brother.”
“I know that,” I snapped.
“I’m your man.”
I clamped my mouth shut and Brady’s grin went from cocky to smug.
“Warning, keep smiling at me like that and you won’t be my man for long.”
If I meant to say more it died in my throat when Brady’s hand darted out, tagged me around the middle, and pulled me to him.
“Right. I’m not your brother, meaning I don’t have brotherly concern for you. That doesn’t mean I don’t have care and concern. That doesn’t mean I won’t wade in and make sure you’re safe. This is who I am, Hadley. You take the good with the bad. And I promise you, baby, I’ll make the good so good, you’ll overlook the bad because you’ll know I’m stepping in to protect you because I love you, not because I’m a dick.”
The area between my legs fluttered at the mention of the good he could give me. I definitely wanted more of that goodness. But I didn’t want another man bossing me around, even if that was coated in love. Jasper Walker took protecting his family to an extreme. He taught my brother to do the same. I can’t deny my sisters and I didn’t benefit from their efforts, we certainly did, but that didn’t mean sometimes it wasn’t annoying as hell.
“Sex doesn’t—”
“Not talking about sex, Hadley. Though that’s part of the good we’re both gonna get. I’m talking about you knowing you’re loved so thoroughly, so deeply, you’ll look back over your life and wonder if you’ve ever been loved before.”
That was big. No, that was huge. He knew my family, so he knew how deeply my family loved each other.
“And you think you can love me like that?”
“I already do love you like that. Up until now, I haven’t been able to show you. But I will. I’m not some controlling prick who wants you reporting on your whereabouts. I don’t need you to tell me about some jerk at the grocery store cutting in front of you at the checkout line, or some disagreement you have with a co-worker. What I need to know about is some crazy person is defacing books and writing threats. Whether they’re direct or indirect I still wanna know. And not so I can step in and take over, so I can have your back, making sure you’re safe while you’re being Hadley.”
I loved all of that, except the last part.
“What does “being Hadley” mean?”
“Baby.”
He smiled but said nothing further.
“What? That’s not an explanation.”
“You’re you. A force of nature. You zero in on something and you don’t stop. Not even when you should. Part of the reason I fell in love with you. When Hurricane Hadley wants to do something, nothing stops her. You’re the calm, the storm, and the rainbow. When you roll in, I never know if I’m getting the gale-force winds that’re gonna steal my breath or a calm breeze that never fails to warm. That’s you. That’s my Hadley. Determined. Brave. A fighter. The only thing I want is to make you safe while you’re being you.”
Seeing as he knew me, he was right, that was me. I didn’t look before I jumped. Not because I was naive or stupid, but because I knew whatever the outcome, I’d be all right. And if I wasn’t, I’d fight to make it all right. That was just who I was and Brady knew it.
So I made my decision the way I made pretty much every decision in my life. I went with my heart.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” His lips quirked and I didn’t let that irritate me.
“Yep. Are you ready to go?”
“Need a kiss first.”
“You already had one.” I pointed out.
“That wasn’t a kiss.”
“No? Funny, I remember your lips touching mine.”
“Babe, quit fucking around and kiss me.”
“What if I don’t kiss on the first date?”
Brady’s smile turned audible when he started chuckling.
“What’s funny?”
“How many dates have you been on in the last four years?”
I pinched my lips and narrowed my eyes.
Bastard knew I hadn’t had any.
“How many dates have you had?”
“Seeing as I already told you I haven’t fucked a woman since I’ve met you, that’d be none.”
I wasn’t sure what was bigger—telling me he was my man, already telling me he loved me deeply, knowing me the way he did, or Brady not having sex for four years because he met me and knew I was his. They were all huge, but Brady being all man, extremely good-looking, virile, meant he could have any woman he wanted. Yet for years he lived celibate—for me, for us. That was massive. That proved all the other things he’d told me were true. He was mine and he loved me.
“Fine. You can kiss me.”
With another chuckle, Brady dipped his head and took my mouth. This time it wasn’t a hard press of his lips. It was tongues sliding, tasting, claiming, and so good my toes curled in my sandals.
Brady Hewitt was really mine.
13
“Ohmygod,” Hadley groaned, then shoved her face back into my neck.
Her teeth sank into my flesh, then she used her tongue to soothe the sting, not stopping until she made it to my ear and whispered, “Faster, honey.”
I didn’t obey her command, something she’d been demanding for a good long while.
I was taking my time giving her what I should’ve the first time—slow and gentle on a soft mattress. However, Hadley was of a different mind. Any other time I would’ve gladly granted her what she wanted, but not this time—our first time in a bed after a great date that included good food and better conversation.
“Best date I ever had, baby.”
“Brady,” she moaned as I continued to rock into her.
“Dream come true you sitting across from me smiling.”
“Honey,” she whimpered when I swiveled my hips and ground down on her clit.
Hadley’s neck bent back, her back arched and came off the bed, her hooded eyes locked onto mine, and her thighs pressed tighter against my ribs.
Fuck, yeah.
“Need you to come for me, Hadley.”
“Yes.”
“Wrap your legs around me.”
I reached back, hooked my arm under Hadley’s knee, and tilted her ass so she could take me deeper.
Nirvana.
“Good Christ,” I growled, and drove into her drenched pussy, fighting back the urge to blow.
Hadley whimpered incoherently, her pussy fluttered, and with a deafening shout, she exploded around my cock.
So fucking tight and hot I slammed into her chasing my own climax. When I was nearly there she righted her head and I caught sight of her lazy, green eyes half-mast and dreamy.
Beautiful.
“Dream come true.”
“Yes,” she whispered, and my mouth collided with hers just in time for me to grunt my orgasm against her lips. Her tongue came out, gliding over my bottom lip and I stilled, allowing the bliss only she gave to wash over me.
Heaven.
My storm, my calm, my everything.
I started gliding, letting the last tremors leave my body, sliding slowly in and out, committing moment to memory. The feel of her under me, her soft skin, the muted mews against my lips, the way my chest had expanded—so full of love for her I thought I’d explode.
The great thing about this moment, unlike the first time I had her, was that I didn’t have to hide. I didn’t have to hold back how I felt. I could say what I wanted to say and do it freely.
“I love you, Hadley.”
I felt the air rush over my lips as she swiftly inhaled. But before she could say anything I kissed her.
Different than the other times we kissed. Slow and deep, I drank from her. Needing to taste everything she felt, not needing the words as long as I had this. Her open to me, legs still tight around my hips, my cock still planted deep, her hands on my shoulders, fingernails digging into my skin, her tongue in my mouth.
Linked together.
Regrettably, I had to break the kiss.
“As much as it pains me losing your hot, slick, wet pussy, you gotta let go. Condom.”
Hadley’s legs tightened and her hot, slick, wet pussy spasmed. I cataloged that for future use. My sweet, classy librarian liked dirty.
Excellent.
“Seriously, babe, before we have a mess, gotta get rid of this.”
Her limbs loosened, her legs opened, I pulled out and paused to look down at her.
Exquisite.
So beautiful, she wasn’t just my dream come true, my fantasy. She was my everything. Breath. Sustenance. For years, she’d been my reason for living when so many times I wanted to give up. Give in to my family’s curse and drown in a bottle of booze.
“Brady?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you, too.”
Fucking hell. I was wrong, I’d needed those words more than I thought.
I rolled off her, then the bed, and disposed of the condom as quickly as I could.
I hit the bed, slid in next to her, and tucked her to my side.
“Are you staying the night?”
Fuck. Shit.
“No, baby, but I’ll stay until you fall asleep.”
“Okay,” she sighed but said no more.
Her easy acceptance made me feel like a total dick. I knew I needed to talk to someone about my nightmares. They didn’t come frequently but they happened. And with Nicole’s birthday and the anniversary of her death coming up, I was dreaming every night, waking up coated in sweat, the taste of bitterness and failure in my mouth.
I needed to try and I would.
After Nicole’s birthday.
Just one more week, then I’d give Hadley the rest.
14
Two days after my first date with Brady that had ended in outstanding sex but also ended with me sleeping alone in bed, I watched him saunter into the library. This was unexpected but not unwelcomed.
I was in my office on the phone with a first-grade teacher at a local elementary school. The call was important, but seeing Brady through the windows of my office, I wanted to hang up and find out why he was there.
Then I saw Ellen smile and point toward my office and my heart rate spiked when Brady turned and caught sight of me.
He wasn’t smiling, as a matter of fact, his brows were pinched and it looked like something was wrong.
“Steph, I hate to cut this short but there’s someone here to see me. I have your class down for every Monday for the next six weeks. All I need is permission slips and you’re good to go.”
“Thanks, Hadley.”
“Anytime. We love having the kids in the library. I’ll curate a special display each week to go with your lesson plan,” I said and watched Brady as he made his way to my open door.
“That would be great. The first Monday will be about responsibility. We’ll go through all the ‘character counts’ pillars.”
“Awesome. I know just the books to pull.” Brady stopped in the doorway and his expression looked no less troubled. “We’ll talk soon.”
“Yeah. Thanks again.”
I rushed through saying goodbye and hung up.
“What’s wrong?”
“Have you been outside today?” Brady weirdly inquired.
“In general, yes. Since I got to the library and started working? No. Why?”
His eyes glittered and I pushed away from my desk to stand. “What’s wrong?” I asked again.
“There are a bunch of books dumped in front of the green—”
“What do you mean dumped?”
“Babe, calm down.”
Calm down? Was he nuts? I’d had enough of books being destroyed.
“What does dumped mean, Brady?” I could hear my voice getting tighter as I spoke.
“Shit, Hadley, they’re just dumped on the ground. Looks like some pages are torn out. I think you need to call it in.”
Why hadn’t I thought of that?
“I’ll call Ethan,” I told him and glanced around my desk for my phone. “Shit. I think I left my cell in the car.”
“Baby, you’re killing me with the cell. That’s part of why I’m here. I texted you to ask if you wanted to get lunch. I didn’t hear back so I called. After the third call, I decided to ask in person.”
Crap.
“Sorry. But just so you know, you could’ve called the library.”
“Right. I could’ve, but it’d be helpful if you kept your cell close.”
We were back to treading on dangerous ground. I’d heard that enough from my family over the years.
“Brady—”
“That’s not me being a dick. That’s just smart. In today’s world, anything could happen and it’s plain smart to keep your cell phone charged and close.”
On a good day, I didn’t want to argue about cell phones. I knew he was right, as was my mom and sister the five-hundred times they berated me about not being able to get ahold of me. Logically I understood I was a single female who left work after dark, lived alone, and didn’t have a landline at home. But I seriously hated the stupid thing. I didn’t like to be available twenty-four-seven. I enjoyed unplugging and relaxing.
It was no secret I loved my family. But growing up our house was noisy. There were seven of us, four of the occupants were girls. Delaney and Quinn fought about everything, then made up and were best friends, then fought more the next day. I was a twin, which meant Addy and I had done everything together. I loved my sister more than anything, but growing up in a house full of love that was expressed loudly made me appreciate quiet. I knew Addy did, too. We’d talked about it when we were moving out of our parents’ house. Everyone thought we’d move out and get a place together, but she was of the same mind—she wanted her own space, too. That didn’t mean we weren’t close or that we didn’t love each other, but it was time for us to be individuals and not Addy and Hadley—The Twins.
“If I say you’re right, can we avoid a lengthy discussion? Because I want to see the books, call Ethan, then go get lunch.”
“Yeah, Hadley, we can avoid a lengthy discussion as long as you keep your cell near.”
I rolled my eyes and stared at the ceiling a moment wondering if I was crazy getting involved with a man who my uncle had warned me was going to be protective and I had to know when to push back and when to concede. I figured since no one in my family let up on this topic, this was a prime example of when I needed to concede.
“Babe?” he prompted, and I rolled my eyes back to him.
“Fine,” I snapped and he smiled.
It took a lot not to call him out on his smug grin, and he knew it did because he started chuckling.
“I see that was hard for you,” he noted and I narrowed my eyes. “Appreciate you agreeing to that.”
He sounded sincere, reinforcing my earlier conclusion. He wasn’t being controlling—he cared about my safety.
“How many books are out there?” I whispered.
Brady didn’t answer until he made it across my office and wrapped his arms around me.
“Brace, baby, there looks to be at least a dozen. But some might be salvageable.”
Shit.
I slowly exhaled and shook my head.
“I don’t get it. How could anyone destroy such beautiful works of art?”
“I don’t know.”
I rested my forehead on his chest and tried to calm down. But not even the delicious smell of his cologne worked. His arms tightened and I felt his lips touch the top of my head where he muttered, “Let’s get this done.”
“I hate this. And what’s worse is, whatever books are out there ruined I won’t be able to replace. Gayle will make sure of it.”
Brady’s body went solid and he asked, “Is it possible she’s destroying the books?”
“I wish I could say yes, because I seriously don’t like her, but she’s on a week’s vacation in Florida with her family and they left yesterday. Those books weren’t out there this morning when I got to work.”
“You need cameras outside.”
“Yeah, that’s never going to happen. There’s no money for that and our budget’s on the chopping block for the third year in a row. With the way things are looking I’m damn lucky to have a job.”
Brady gave me a squeeze and slightly pulled away. I looked up at him, giving him what he’d non-verbally asked for.
“Your job in jeopardy?”
“Yes,” I told him honestly. “And I’d appreciate it if you don’t talk to anyone about that. I love my job. It would suck to lose it, but I know there’s a job waiting for me at Triple Canopy so I know financially I’ll be okay. I just wanted to prove I could make it on my own without my family’s help.”
“I get that.” Brady held my stare and something that looked a lot like pride shone back. “You got my word I won’t mention it.”
“You need cameras,” my cousin Ethan declared, and for the second time in the last hour, I rolled my eyes, this time toward the cloudy sky since we were standing outside.
“I’ve heard that before. But as I explained to Brady, that’s not in the budget.”
Ethan’s gaze slid from me to Brady and after a moment he asked, “Are you gonna—”
“No,” I cut in before my cousin could finish his question. “No one is using Triple Canopy resources for the library. And especially not for this. You said yourself that vandalism isn’t a serious crime. And even if you caught the person returning the damaged books, it would be near-impossible to prove they actually did the damage. And if we could prove they did because the damaged property is books there’d likely be no fine, no probation, and maybe restitution if we’re lucky. So it’s not worth involving Triple Canopy.”
