Inseverable: A Carolina Beach Novel (30 page)

I pick him up and kiss his chubby cheeks in time to hear a car pull up the driveway. It’s not long after that that those familiar footsteps bounce through the house.

“Batman? You out back with Robin?”

I chuckle. “Yeah. We’re out here, baby.”

“Robin” starts flapping his little arms excitedly the moment he sees Trin walk through the back door. Can’t say I blame him. She’s only been gone a couple hours, but like him, I missed her the whole damn time.

She smiles brightly and reaches for him. “Hi,” she says, drawing out the word. “Here’s my little super hero.” She cuddles him against her, but greets me with a kiss packed with one hell of a sizzle.

She tugs on my bottom lip as she pulls away. I grin against her mouth. “I wouldn’t start anything you can’t finish,” I tell her.

“Now, baby. When have I ever not finished?” She tosses me a sly look over her shoulder as she carries our boy back into the house. “Besides, you need to give me something to do once our little bird goes down for his nap.”

I rub my jaw and chuckle. For all I suffered, I’m convinced she and our baby must be my reward. It almost seems wrong for a man like me to be given such love, to have his heart so filled with joy, but I’ll take it. And like I promised Trin on our wedding day, I’ll never let us go.

I find them lying on our bed as she feeds him. It’s cold in here from the air blasting through the A.C.. I grab the blanket at the foot of the bed and gather it around us as I lie beside them, positioning my body so I can see my pretty wife’s face. She smiles when I stroke her cheek.

“Did you get to see Hale?” she asks.

“Yeah. For bit.”

Her face shadows with concern. “How’s he doing?”

“He’s all right. These past few years have been rough, dealing with what he’s had to deal with, and being so far away. We’re supposed to get together later for a beer and talk.”

“That’ll be good for him.” She adjusts the blanket around Cal’s shoulders and asks, “Did you ask him about dinner Friday?”

I try to keep my face neutral, but it’s hard since I know what she’s really asking. “Yeah. He said he’ll be here.”

She raises her brows, hope sparking that gleam in her eyes. “Did you tell him Becca will be here?”

“I did.”

“
And
?” she presses.

“And what?” I ask, doing a shitty job at playing dumb.

“
Callahan
. . .”

I chuckle. “Well, for a man you claim had lost his grin. He sure found it when I told him she was coming.”

Knowing Trin’s all but planning Hale and Becca’s wedding, I quick change the subject. “How was lunch with your momma?” I ask her.

She gives me “the look” the one that tells me she knows I’m trying to distract her. But even so, she answers. “It was good. Landon sold his robotics technology for a cool fifteen million.” She shakes her head. “Everybody used to tell me I was the smart one. Little did they know Landon would graduate from M.I.T and develop something so high-tech it would change the world.”

“Yeah. Your daddy told me all about it when he was over earlier. Also said Landon donated ten of those millions to his charity.”

“Landon’s always had a good heart.” She loses her smile. “Too bad he had to go and marry that stripper who broke it. Good heavens, she and her bedazzled vagina were awful.”

I laugh. I don’t tell her Landon probably thought he’d scored big time. Instead I fill her in on my talk with her daddy as my fingers leave her face to smooth over Cal’s soft curls. “Owen wants me to help spearhead the charity, oversee construction, and talk to some of the vets. He’s hoping between the two of us, plus some of the boys from the V.A., we can figure out who’s home is in need of repair, or who doesn’t have one so we can build it for him—or her.”

“How do you feel about that?”

“I told him I would. He mentioned I’d have to travel with him some, but that you and Cal would come with us if any trips required an overnight stay.”

“Momma would have to come, too,” she says.

“Of course she would. After all our time in the Corps, she misses you.”

“I’ve missed her, too.” She adjusts her weight, a hint of something sparkling her eyes. “Although you have to admit, Papua was fun.” She dances her eyebrows. “And more romantic than Ecuador, don’t you think?”

“It was,” I agree. Which is why Trin was already six months pregnant by the time our term in the Peace Corps was up. Yeah, I joined, too. I was already there, and figured this way I could help, too.

“It’s good to be home, though,” I say, meaning it down to my bones. “I want to set down some roots, and maybe give Cal a brother or sister to play with.”

“I’d like that.” She sighs, thoughtfully. “This way, both our babies will be walking by the time Hale and Becca get married.”

“Trin,” I warn.

“Two little ring bearers―Or maybe a ring bearer and a flower girl. Doesn’t matter which, really. Either will be cute, don’t you think?”

“
Trin
,” I insist. “Hale and Becca haven’t seen each other in years.”

“Oh, that doesn’t matter, hon,” she says, dismissively. “When it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.” She glances down at our little bundle. “Speaking of which, guess who’s asleep?”

I shake my head and lift Cal junior carefully, knowing his momma’s up to no good, and knowing there’s nothing anyone can say to stop her. With a wink her way, I carry our son into his room, taking a moment to kiss his head before I lower him to his crib and cover him with a blanket.

When I return to our room, I’m half-expecting Trin to be on her laptop, online shopping for Becca’s wedding dress.

Instead I find my beautiful wife perched on the edge of our bed, leaning back on her hands, her dark hair falling behind her, her legs crossed, and the clothes she was wearing in a pile by her feet.

“Hey,” she says, pegging me with a heat-filled gaze that never dwindles and always proves how bad she wants me. “Ready to report for booty call, soldier?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I strip out of my shirt and toss it, kissing her hard as I lower myself on top of her.

It’s been three years since Trin swept into my life. Yet she’s still as kind and strong as ever, still loving, still gentle. She’s everything I desire, and all the woman I’ll ever need.

She’s my forever. And forever, y’all, has never sounded so sweet.

Dedication

To all those with wounded hearts. May you find the strength and love to once again be whole.

Acknowledgements

I am blessed to have many wonderful people to thank. Some who have been with me forever, and others who have recently jumped aboard the crazy train that is my life.

To my agent, Nicole Resciniti, who continues to help me all because she believes in me. Thank you, Nic, for waving that wand and helping me make my dreams come true.

For Jamie, my strength and the one who makes whole. Thank you for all the hugs, all the “it’s going to be okay” talks, and all the times you’ve lured me out from beneath the bed with the promise of Buffalo wings. That whole growing old thing? Yeah, couldn’t picture a better man to spend a lifetime with. Love you, babe.

To my babies who have shown me what real love is. Mommy loves you more than this writer could ever put to words.

To my girls, Amanda Flower and Kate SeRine. Thanks for laughing, screaming, and crying along with me. 

To my publicist, Lisa Filipe. I bet you didn’t know what you signed up for, huh? Thank you for your patience, for “blowing my launches up”, and for your tireless work. I’m so proud to have you on my team.

To my copy editor Gaele Hince who cries and cheers for my characters! Thank you for your kindness and hard work.

Most of all, to the members of are armed services, past and present, you’ll never know the extent of my gratitude, or respect.
 

For ways to help our wounded heroes and their families, please visit
 

https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org

By Cecy Robson

The Shattered Past Series

Once Perfect

Once Loved

Once Pure
 

The O’Brien Family Novels
Once Kissed
Let Me

Crave Me
(coming soon)

Feel Me
(coming soon)
 

The Carolina Beach Novels
Inseverable

Eternal
(coming soon)
Infinite
(coming soon)
 

The Weird Girls
A Curse Awakened
(novella)

The Weird Girls
(novella)

Sealed with a Curse

A Cursed Embrace

Of Flame and Promise

A Cursed Moon
(novella)

Cursed by Destiny

A Cursed Bloodline

A Curse Unbroken

Of Flame and Light
(coming soon)

About Cecy Robson

Photo by Kate Gledhill of Kate Gledhill Photography

C
ECY
R
OBSON
is a new adult and contemporary author of the Shattered Past series, the O’Brien Family novels, and Carolina Beach novels, as well as the award-winning author of the Weird Girls urban fantasy romance series. A 2016 double nominated RITA®finalist for Once Pure and Once Kissed, Cecy is a recovering Jersey girl living in the South who enjoys carbs way too much, and exercise way too little. Gifted and cursed with an overactive imagination, you can typically find her on her laptop silencing the yappy characters in her head by telling their stories

www.cecyrobson.com

Facebook.com/Cecy.Robson.Author

instagram.com/cecyrobsonauthor

twitter.com/cecyrobson

www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomCecyRobsonAuthor

Excerpts from Upcoming Titles

This book contains excerpts from
Let Me
,
Feel Me,
and
Crave Me,
the forthcoming books in the O’Brien Family novels by Cecy Robson, in addition to
Of Flame and Light
, the next installment in her Weird Girls novels. The excerpts have been set for this edition only and may not reflect the final content of the forthcoming novels

READ ON FOR AN EXCERPT FROM
 

Let Me
 

An O’Brien Family Novel

Cecy Robson

Chapter One
Finn

I see the strike coming at me a split second before it connects with my skull. My head snaps back from the force, the crowds’ hollers resonating like a muffled cry in the distance. It was a good punch―lightning quick with enough impact to knock most guys on their asses. But I’m not most guys.

You hit me, I’m only going to hit you harder.

My right hand shoots up, blocking and smacking away the kick gunning for my ribs. I pivot out of the way, again, and again, and again, avoiding Easton’s arms and legs as they come at me. He’s fast, strong, with a six inch reach advantage. But he’s too eager to take me out and not pacing himself like he should. Already he’s breathing hard and it’s just the start of the second round.

I take my time to figure him out, planning each move, searching for that opening I need. Do I take a few bashes because of it? Sure. It’s part of the job. But believe it or not, it’s part of the job I look forward to.

Those punches and kicks remind me that I still
feel
, that I’m still human. And that for now, I’m still alive.

“Oh!” some drunk behind me yells when my uppercut finds Easton’s chin.

He staggers back, swiping the blood oozing from his lip, yet he keeps his grin. He’s trying to make like it was a lucky shot. That it won’t happen again.