A Tender Touch: A Donnelley Brother's Novel (Logan Point Book 4) (7 page)

Laughter sounded ounce again into the quiet of the night, stifling only at the sound of the baby monitor alerting us to a shifting baby. A small cry sounded as the monitor blinked before sleep took over and laughter resumed. Reese’s son Kaiden never failed to accompany us on girl’s night. He was an easy baby and whenever he wasn’t eating, he was sleeping. Right now, he was sleeping in the playpen Gracie had purchased to sit in her dining room.

Reese broke through the laughter. “Seriously, Ember, you spend every waking minute with Luke.”

I interrupted her. “We’re just friends. Luke knows that.”

“But he wants more.” Reese argued. “I know he does.”

“I don’t.” I said quickly, before shifting awkwardly in my seat. “You all know I’m not ready for a relationship.”

Kami sighed. “You’ve never had a relationship. You don’t know what a relationship is - so how can you possibly know if you’re ready?”

“I just do.”

Gracie sighed and I felt my eyes flutter to land on her face. “Girls, let Ember decide for herself whether she’s ready or not. When the time comes for her to enter into a relationship, she’ll know whether it’s right or not.” She offered me a small smile before continuing. “But know, honey, that Luke does care for you. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t spend his every moment with you. He’ll wait for you, but I can’t promise he’ll wait forever. I know there are pains in your past you have yet to come to terms with, but maybe if you let him in, offered him insight into those pains, he’d be able to help you move forward.”

I felt tears burning in my eyes as I stared into the night. Then, to my utter surprise, I nodded. “I don’t want to lose him.” My voice was quiet and my words were mumbled. “He means the world to me, but I just can’t...” I breathed in sharply. “I’m just not ready.”

Gracie nodded. “You’ll know when you’re ready, Ember. All I’m saying, is you should let yourself open up to others around you. You have a beautiful, kind, gentle soul, and that kind of beauty in this world is rare. Don’t keep that exquisiteness caged by your fear of feeling, Ember.”

I felt tears mist in my eyes as I struggled to swallow the emotion building up in my chest, threatening to travel upward to morph into something more physical and audible than simple feeling, but rather the crystal of tears and the melody of sorrow.

“I...”

Kami spoke. I didn’t know if it was because she had something to say, or because she was taking pity on me. She knew me well enough to spot the signs that I was nearing my breaking point, so I knew, she knew, I was almost there.

“Ember,” Kami sighed. “You know that every one of us girls came to this Ranch in a desperate need to heal. This place is the perfect place for you to open yourself up to the pain you’re feeling. I know what you’re going through right now, because I know you. I know you don’t trust openly and I know you particularly don’t trust men - but I can promise you that the Donnelley men aren’t your father. They aren’t even in the same species as your father.” She sucked in a deep breath as a tear escaped from my eye. “I’m sorry for saying this, and I know it’s hurting you, but my not saying anything - my allowing you to continue living the way that you are, is hurting you more.” She pushed a smile into her lips. “I love you and you’re worth loving.”

“I love you too.” I didn’t know what else to say. Her speech was a lot to take in and I couldn’t find my voice no matter how I tried. Instead, I turned to Hadley, desperate to change the topic from me to something else - anything else. Placing the rim of my wine glass to my lips, I tipped my head back, and I downed the contents of my glass. Then, I spoke. “So, how are the wedding plans coming along?”

Through the sadness in Hadley’s blue eyes, she smiled and forced a perkiness that I appreciated greatly into her voice. “It’s coming along really well. Actually, I was hoping you would stand up with me as a bridesmaid?”

I stiffened and Gracie rose from her chair. I watched as she poured more deep red wine into my glass as I asked, “You want me to be a bridesmaid?”

Hadley nodded. “I really do.”

“But we just met.” I stumbled over my words. “I’m honored, really. But are you sure?”

Again, she nodded. “I’m positive.” She gave a small giggle. “I know we haven’t known each other long, but honestly, I feel confident that we’re only going to get closer as time passes. As you know I’ve asked Reese to stand as my maid of honor, and Kami is standing as a bridesmaid. I’d really love for you to stand as a bridesmaid as well.”

“Oh.” I nodded before laughing. “I’d love to, Hadley!”

“Yes!” She jumped up from her chair and I laughed even harder as she practically dove into my lap to hug me tight. “Thank you, Ember!”

“Of course.” I hugged her back, again careful not to spill my new glass of wine. “I’m so honored.”

“It is going to be an amazing day.” She breathed. “It already feels perfect.”

***

I don’t know how much time had passed between Hadley asking me to be a bridesmaid, three more glasses of wine, and the dancing, but us ladies were definitely going to pay for this the next morning.

I was spinning around with Kami on the deck when I heard a loud male voice ask. “Is this seriously what happens when we leave them alone?”

I looked up to see the four men and their father, John, staring at us with lopsided funny grins plastered on their faces. The man that had spoken had been Collin, Hadley’s fiancé. His green eyes were focused on Hadley with an intensity that made me blush deeply.
Jeez, that was a look that should be reserved for the bedroom.

“I think we should leave them alone more often.” Luke winked at me and the blush Collin had started deepened.

“I think they’re intoxicated.” Kyle stated. “But at least I know mine can hold her own when it comes to liquor.”

I nodded. “Kami’s a tank, Kyle.”

Kyle chuckled as he looked to Luke. “Yours is definitely drunk.”

“Hey!” I slurred as I wobbled slightly now that I was no longer spinning around and around in dance. “I’m not his. I’m mine.”

“Whoa!” Kami slid her arm around my waist as Luke moved quickly forward.

I heard his voice sound deep and low beside me. “I’ve got her.” And then his arm had replaced Kami’s. It was so warm and strong, I didn’t protest. Instead, I leaned against the hard expanse of his chest, inhaling the crisp clean scent of him. Lowering his head, he asked against my hair. “Are you smelling me, pretty girl?”

I nodded, inhaling once again. When I spoke, I slurred. “You smell ssssooo good.”

Kyle chuckled as he moved closer to Kami, sliding his arm around her waist. “Yeah, yours is definitely past intoxicated.”

Luke nodded. “I’ll take her home and get her settled in bed.”

I straightened, but I couldn’t find the will to push away from his warm hold. “Kyle and Kami are supposed to drive me.” I swung my face up to Luke’s. “Didn’t you drink? You can’t drive if you drank either.”

He shook his head. “Didn’t drink, pretty girl.”

“Oh.” I sighed, resting my face against his firm chest. “You’re boring.”

Hadley asked, “What did you guys do all night?”

“We had pizza and played poker.” Collin replied.

Kyle spoke again. “Kami made us pizza we had to throw in the oven before she left. The woman is a pizza Goddess.”

Logan piped up, “Damn, Reese’s nachos are world class too.”

“You know Hadley makes the best lasagna.” Collin stated matter of fact, ever the competitive type.

I wasn’t paying much attention to the conversation until Kami spoke. “If you think you know world class, just wait until you’ve tried Ember’s enchiladas. They are to die for.”

“Really?” Kyle raised a brow and I nodded.

“Yep! They’re good.” I smiled. “My mom taught me.”

Collin chuckled. “Well the next man night will be at Luke’s. How about you make us a platter of those legendary enchiladas?”

“Um,” I thought for a moment. “Okay.”

Luke tightened his arm around me and then I felt his thumb move over my side as he caressed me gently. I sighed, loving the feel of his hands on my body like this. It was so easy, so comfortable to be in Luke’s arms. I didn’t know how I’d spent an entire month and a half without experiencing this - the feeling of his embrace - his caress. It was extraordinary.

And I was intoxicated.

I tried to tilt my face up to look into Luke’s rich dark chocolate eyes, but I wobbled forward instead, entirely off balance. His caressing hand caught me quickly, gathering me into his arms as I heard his voice announce. “Alright, I better take her home before she passes out.”

“You’ve got her?” I heard Kyle ask with a seriousness that surprised me. Kami had told me of his protective side, but this was my first time to witness it.

Luke nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got her.”

“Drive safe, Luke. Don’t let her take any stairs on her own - it’s better to just carry her.” Collin called as though speaking from experience.

Luke chuckled as Hadley scoffed. “Night.”

When we arrived at Luke’s big black truck, I startled. I couldn’t remember walking through the house. As he opened the passenger door and picked me up into his arms, I protested. “I can get in myself.”

“I don’t think you can, Ember.” Luke’s voice wasn’t one to question, but I did anyway.

“Luke?”

“What?” He paused, holding me against him. God, it felt so good - the world felt right, balanced, when I was against Luke.

I forced my words to sound in the charged space between us. “Why are you still here?”

He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“I don’t understand why you’re still here, with me?”

“I don’t know what you’re trying to ask me, Ember?” He lifted me into the seat, reaching over my lap to buckle me in.

“I’m trying to ask why you still hang out with me when I told you I wasn’t interested in anything more. Why do you care like you do? Why don’t you just leave me?”

His eyes darkened, but for the life of me, I couldn’t look away. “Do you want me to leave you?”

Silence beat between us, and as I thought about him leaving me, I could have sworn my heart had started breaking. When I spoke, sadness echoed through my words. “No. I never want to have to live through that.”

“Then you’ll never have to.” He promised and I watched in awe as the man I had crushed on for a decade closed the door to round to the driver’s side of the vehicle.

He didn’t say anything as he climbed into the truck beside me to start the rumbling engine and I didn’t have anything else to say either - so we fell into silence as he drove. When my cabin was finally in view, I heard his low voice in the silence.

“So, you make a mean enchilada?”

“It’s really mean.”

“You should make it for me tomorrow.”

“But I’m going to make it for you on Wednesday.”

He shrugged. “I should probably test it out and make sure its worthy.”

I gasped. “I’ll show you worthy!” I dropped my head against the headrest. “My enchiladas will totally - my enchiladas are the best!”

He chuckled. “So you’ll make them tomorrow for me then?”

“Yes!” I nodded firmly, resolute in my drunken decision. “I’ll show you how good they are.”

He grinned and I felt my heart melt. “Good. Should I take out chicken?”

“Yeah, you need chicken and cheese and sauce.” I mumbled as I closed my eyes. “I’ll make them.”

“Great.” I heard a smile in his voice. “I’ll hold you to your word.”

“I never break my word.” I vowed, as darkness set in and sleep overtook me.

***

The world - my world - was moving.

Although I was more than aware I had been drinking and was more than likely excessively intoxicated. I knew it was more than just my mind spinning - my actual world was moving.

“Shit.” I heard a male voice grunt in the darkness as the sleep I’d been captive to released its hold and I realized that I was being carried - by Luke. As much as I longed to snuggle deeper into his arms and pretend the world outside of this moment didn’t exist, I knew I couldn’t.

“Luke?” I whispered his name and he stilled.

“You’re awake?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“Can I turn on a light? I don’t remember the last time I was in one of these cabins.”

Again, I nodded. “Yeah.”

I felt him use his shoulder to flick on a light and the living area illuminated with in an amber glow. Looking up into his handsome face, I felt my heart squeeze nervously in my chest. Never before had I longed to kiss another human being the way I longed to kiss Luke now. Shaking my head, I forced my eyes to break the hold his held on mine as I wiggled in his arms.

“You can put me down now.”

“Are you sure?” He asked with a half-grin. “You keep falling in and out of sleep. I’m afraid if I put you down, you’ll fall over and hurt yourself.” He paused before adding. “And then I’ll have to face the wrath of my brothers when their wives sick them on me for letting you get hurt.”

I don’t know what it was about his words - maybe it was the fact that I was envisioning his brother’s as wolves - but I couldn’t stop the laughter from bubbling up in my throat. It sounded loud, and without abandon into the small space of my cabin. Soon, Luke had joined my laughter with his own.

“You’re funny.” I stated. “But I’m fine. You can put me down.”

“Alright.” He sighed as he lowered my feet to the floor. Holding onto his arm, I found my center before releasing him. “You good?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m good.”

“You want some water?”

Suddenly, my mouth felt dry. “That’s probably a good idea.”

I watched as Luke moved quickly to the kitchen. He filled me a glass of water from the jug I’d placed in the fridge and brought it back to me. I took it from him without words, downing the water. When I was done, I looked up at him and grinned.

“What are you up to, pretty girl?” Luke asked warily.

“Can you build a fire?” I asked.

He raised a brow. “You want me to build you a fire?”

I nodded. “Yes, please.”

“Alright.” He sighed. “Are you sleeping on the couch?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“Ember,” Luke sounded reprimanding now, but I could see the formations of a smile on his lips. “You should go to bed. It’s already late and we work in the morning.”