Dee, Lavada - Nothing to Lose [Blackhawk Brothers] (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (19 page)

She was breathing as hard as he was when she pushed away enough to take his hand and lead him back up the steps. Her hand shook as she unlocked the door and pulled him in behind her.

“We have to talk.” His voice sounded husky, and he tried to lighten it. “Baby, I have things to tell you…”

She took both hands and cupped his face, pulling it back down to hers. With a moan, he pulled her into his arms and took her mouth with his. Her lips parted, and he was inside. She made light whimpering sounds that were driving him over the edge.

He angled his body so he could run his hands over hers. In seconds, he had her clothes off and was lowering her to the bed. She’d gotten his shirt unbuttoned, and he quickly shed it and his pants. He moved over her and rested his arms on the bed so he could look into her eyes. He saw his own need reflected in hers.

She ran her hands over his shoulders. When she reached up to find his mouth, he moved slightly away. “Look at me and promise you’ll never leave me again.

Tears ran down the side of her face. She moved her finger across his lips, and he pulled it into his mouth. “Promise!” he whispered.

She nodded. “I promise to never leave you that way again.”

If Cooper heard her exact words, they didn’t register, maybe he didn’t want them to. His arms were shaking as he tried to gain control. Need took over. It was more than sex. It was the need to unite and be one, to be complete, that drove him. He kissed her mouth and moved down to her breasts. They were fuller than they had been. When he reached her stomach, his lips moved over the baby, and he felt a surge of awe and love so deep it took his heart.

He softly whispered words of love as he joined them together and started the rhythm of the ages. “I love you, with all of me. I’ll love you forever.”

Galynn held nothing back and arched up to meet him. Passion and loved filled the room. In perfect harmony, they climaxed together.

Cooper rolled to the side, taking her with him. He had so much to tell her. Then they had plans to make, a wedding, a future. He closed his eyes, feeling complete and whole.

* * * *

When Grant saw Cooper and Galynn connect on the street outside Ruby’s, he started the car and drove to the nearest motel. He doubted Cooper would give him a second thought, and, after all, he wasn’t a kid. He could check himself in for the night. As he drove off, he felt a sort of yearning for the something that Cooper had. Maybe it was time to take a second look at bachelorhood.

It was almost eight o’clock when Grant woke from a nap. As soon as he’d gotten into the motel room, he’d run out of steam and had let exhaustion take over. Now, his stomach rumbled. He was only a few blocks from Ruby’s. Mumbling to himself, he grabbed the room key. “What the hell, maybe those two have joined the real world enough to seek out dinner.”

As soon as he entered the café, he spotted them. They were both sharing the same side of the booth and facing the door, though he doubted they’d see King Kong if he walked in. Damn, they looked good. A smile on his face, he slid into the opposite seat. “Hey!”

Galynn absolutely beamed at him.

“Grant, thank you. Cooper told me what happened in Atlanta.”

Cooper signaled Ginger for another cup of coffee and mouthed, “And a menu.”

“Sorry about leaving you on the street like that. You look like you might have gotten a nap.”

“Wellll, that’s a no-brainer. It’s only been three hours, Coop.” His smile softened his words. “So, you two get everything sorted out?”

Galynn answered, “Yes, everything is so perfect. I’d plan to stay here for a couple of weeks to give Ginger time to find someone for my job, but she wouldn’t hear of it.”

Ginger put a cup of coffee and a menu in front of Grant. Waving her hand over toward Cooper and Galynn, she said, “Do you think she’d be worth much if she stayed behind?”

Cooper’s laugh rang out. “You think I’d have left? Not in this lifetime.”

Ginger winked at Grant before turning to Galynn and Cooper. “And like that would be better?”

Cooper turned serious. “I’m going to try to talk Galynn into letting me pack her up tonight. That way we can get an early start tomorrow morning.”

“I don’t have very much that I need to take. The apartment was already set up with everything, and I’ve bought very little.”

If possible, Cooper looked even happier. “So, Grant, let’s get ourselves fed and start packing.”

Grant turned the menu toward Ginger and tapped his finger over the rib steak. “With all the fixin’s. Looks like I’m going to need my strength.” He looked over at Cooper and mumbled, “You are so going to owe me.”

During the meal, Galynn filled the two brothers in on what she’d been doing. “I finally came to my senses and planned to fight back. I couldn’t let Mick know where I was, but I found out I could start some things without him knowing. I contacted a lawyer, and he started the eviction process.”

She looked down at her hands, and Cooper quickly covered them with his. “I guess that what I did caused Mick’s stroke, or whatever he had.”

Grant shook his head. “It was only a matter of time. Anything or nothing could have set off that final attack.”

Even with packing looming, they lingered over coffee. When Cooper started playing with the salt shaker, Grant looked over at Galynn and winked. “Come on, honey. Let’s get you packed before this guy has half the salt on the table.”

True to her word, Galynn still traveled light, and it only took a couple of hours to pack and clean the apartment. “So do we load the truck in the morning, or do you want me to go get it and do it tonight?”

Cooper shook his head. “Let’s call it a night. How about meeting downstairs for breakfast? That’ll give Galynn a chance to say a last good-bye.”

* * * *

The clock glowed three o’clock, and Galynn pulled herself up on the pillow so she could watch Cooper sleep. Long, black lashes that were nothing short of beautiful, full, sensuous lips that were slightly parted, he was the most beautiful man she had ever seen, and he was hers. She snuggled back down against him. He pulled her closer. Morning would be here soon, and in his arms she was already home.

Epilogue

Grant stood on Cooper’s deck, looking out over the lake. It had been a whirlwind couple of weeks. Today, a wedding. He felt like instead of the bride being given away, he’d given his brother. Not that anyone had really performed the ritual of giving the bride away. Cooper and Galynn had chosen to have their wedding here at their house. They walked up together and gave themselves to each other. Hearing the vows they’d written, the women were all teary eyed and the men noticeably were swallowing and shifting their feet way before the minister pronounced Cooper and Galynn man and wife.

It was winding down now. It wasn’t a big wedding, but the guests were special. Old friends reunited and new ones being made. Nancy and her husband were here. At the last minute, Ginger had left the café for her kids to run and pulled her husband into the car for the trip. Thankfully, they’d held rooms for everyone at the lodge.

Grant could see Cooper, his hand at Galynn’s waist, ushering her out the front door. At the last minute, as if he felt Grant’s gaze on him, he turned. The sun was setting, and one of the last rays of the day bathed Cooper in golden light. He looked like a dark-haired angel, radiant with happiness. Again, like the night in Johnson, Grant felt a tug on his heart.

The moment passed, and Grant lifted his glass in a salute. Cooper answered with a wave.

THE END

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