Last True Hero (9 page)

I
'm allowed to move five paces into the foyer before my mother explodes.

“Berkeley
Jane Holtz
!”

I turn, facing her wrath head-on without even cringing. I'm so proud of myself that I smile before I forget my mother is about to rip me a new one.

“Momma—”

“Don't you
dare
‘Momma' me! You've been out all night, probably with that Mea and her crew of misfits, and you arrive home this morning in the passenger seat of a
pickup truck—
”

I bite my bottom lip to keep from bursting into hysterical laughter. This is beyond ridiculous. I'm twenty-two, not twelve.

“At least it wasn't a motorcycle,” I offer. Then my mind drifts away to a world where sexy-as-hell Dare owns a Harley.

My mother's mouth drops open. The shock and disgust are written like a story all across her face. “You're
joking
about this? It isn't funny, Berkeley! What if your father had been home to see you arriving with…who
was
that?”

Here we go.
“Nobody. Just a friend of mine.”

She shakes her head in disbelief, her elegant blond bob barely shifting with the movement. “Get upstairs. I can't even look at you right now.”

I nod. “I have to shower and change, anyway. I'm working the lunch shift.”

Her mouth opens to argue, but I don't wait to hear it.

I'm just done.

When I get out of the shower, I have a waiting text from Dare.

I smile, typing out my response.

I get dressed in a pair of ripped jeans that I absolutely love, and a tight purple See Food T-shirt. In the spirit of pissing off my mother, I throw on a pair of black Chuck Taylors, because I know how much she hates them.

My phone buzzes, and I frown a little as I read Dare's message.

The dude won't make lunch with me, after I spend one night at his house, and I'm feeling
disappointed
? I give myself a mental shake, and then I actually slap both of my cheeks with my palms.

Get it together, Berk-baby. He's not yours.

He's not mine, but in my head, I picture him the way he was last night. The way he looked when he opened his front door to me. My toes curl in my sneakers and my muscles all tense up at the memory. He was darkly sexy. I didn't even know that combination appealed to me. Maybe it doesn't. Maybe it's just Dare that appeals to me.

And the way he cradled me in his arms as I fell asleep, and the way I kissed him out of his nightmare this morning. The low murmur of his voice as he spoke to me while I lay against his chest. The territorial look in his eyes as he observed me walking into the kitchen wearing his clothes.

I wish he could be mine.

Then I think of the look on Grisham's face when he asked me to marry him, when he knew full well I didn't want to. And my happy thoughts crumble into a pile of rubble all around me.

I pulled out my phone to send another text.

I head downstairs, thankful that my mother is nowhere to be found, and climb into my Escalade. When my phone buzzes, I look down at it.

I nod, sighing as I pull out of my neighborhood. A couple of days to breathe and think. That can only be a good thing.

When I arrive at See Food, Lenny is sitting at a back booth, cradling her head in her hands. The restaurant isn't open yet, so we're alone. I know Boozer is in the back, prepping his cooking materials for the day.

“Oh no, Lenny,” I croon sympathetically. “A migraine?”

She nods miserably, shielding her eyes from the dim restaurant lights overhead.

“I'm going to get right on the prep work, then. Why don't you just go lay down in the office? Daniella will be here soon, and I know we can handle the lunch crowd without you. Maybe by dinnertime your head will feel better.”

She looks up with a look of pure gratitude. “You're the best, sweetie. Thank you.”

Her skin is pale and she looks a little green underneath the chalky pallor, so I shoo her away and head into the back of the kitchen to help Boozer finish prepping.

After a solid forty-five minutes of cutting meat and seafood, chopping vegetables, and making sure the walk-in freezer is stocked for service, I leave a thankful Boozer in the kitchen and go flip the sign on the door to
OPEN.
I send Daniella a grateful smile for completing the dining room prep herself, and tie on my apron.

The first customer in the door is Mea, and I laugh as I seat her. She's practically bouncing on her toes as she walks beside me, and I make her wait an entire minute before I finally ask the question she's dying to answer.

“What are you so happy about?”

She squeals, and I roll my eyes. “I rented an apartment today!”

My mouth falls open. “I had no idea you were moving out!”

Then I narrow my eyes in suspicion. “Wait…do you have a job that I don't know about? You know, other than the one where you sell jeans and shirts for a living?”

Throughout college, Mea never stopped working at the job she began in high school. She worked retail at the mall, in one of the most popular clothing stores. She worked at a different local store when she was away at school, but now that she was back she worked in Brunswick County again.

“Actually…” She dragged out the word like it had about eight syllables instead of just four.

I raised my eyebrows, waiting for her to spit it out.

“I just got promoted to manager! It turns out that stuck-up bitch that used to manage the place was stealing money from the register every night! Lucky for me, huh?”

I grin. “Yeah, lucky for you. Congratulations! When can I see the new place?”

“Um, as soon as possible? I'm looking for a roommate. There's a girl I knew from school who lives here, too, and I'm trying to convince her to move out of her parents' mansion and come pay rent with me.”

“Okay,” I agree. I know now isn't the time to ask Mea why she isn't pursuing something with her recently acquired theater degree, which suits her so perfectly.

I leave her to go get her drink order and tend to the growing number of tables quickly filling up in my section.

By dinner shift, my feet are aching so severely I'm limping instead of walking, and my back feels like I've been carrying boulders down a mountainside rather than waiting tables at a popular seafood restaurant. My hair is falling limply around my face, and I'm sure whatever trace of makeup I had on before I left the house this morning is long gone. Despite all of that, my butterflies begin to dance around in my stomach as I anticipate Dare's impending visit.

As if on cue, his dark, beautiful form enters the front door about halfway through my shift. When I see him, I forget all about my usual play-it-cool act and run straight into his strong, willing arms.

He makes a pleased sound deep in his chest, which rumbles against my neck where his face is buried, and I sigh with satisfaction.

“That's a hell of a greeting,” he murmurs against my skin.

“Well, a girl misses her soldier when he's been away all day.” My voice is a little breathless as I pull back to stare up into his perfectly handsome face. A dark shadow of stubble graces the line of his jaw, where it connects with his neck, and I reach up to run my fingers across it.

“No shave today?”

He smiles, staring down at me. “I've had a lot on my mind today.”

The corners of my mouth begin to rise, and then another guy, one that I've never seen before, steps out from behind Dare.

“Hi there,” he says, sticking out a hand. A brilliant smile touches his lips. “I'm Chase. Dare's brother. You must be Berkeley.”

I can't stop my eyebrows from shooting upward, and my mouth from dropping open. I had no idea Dare had a brother. Then again…I don't know Dare very well, do I? A wash of unease settles over me as I shake Chase's hand. I catch Dare's eye and he gives a minuscule shrug.

“Well, let me get y'all to a table,” I finally say, turning to lead them toward the back of the restaurant. As I let Chase step around me, Dare grabs my arm, gently swinging me around to face him.

“I didn't know he was coming. I'll explain later.” His gaze is apologetic, and I know he's read my expression and wants to ease my conscience.

I shouldn't feel uneasy at all. There are plenty of things about my life I haven't shared with Dare. Including a proposal for marriage and parents who have my entire future mapped out for me.

Chase is tall, though not as tall as Dare. Their hair is similar in its dark color, although Chase's may be closer to the color of toffee, rather than milk chocolate. His eyes are drastically different from Dare's clear light green ones. Chase's are dark as a night sky, the darkest, deepest shade of brown I've ever seen. I can't read anything in them, and it strikes me that he could be hiding anything in those deep, dark abysses. His hair curls around his ears, where Dare's reaches all the way to his collar.

After I seat them and take their drink orders, I inform Dare that I won't be able to eat with them tonight.

“Yes, you will,” says Lenny as she breezes by me on her way out of the kitchen. “I'm feeling better. You deserve to sit and eat, and then to go on home, sweetie. I'll do your side work tonight. Thank you so much, Berkeley, for helping me today.”

I smile at her. “You're sure you're okay?”

She crosses her heart with her index finger. “Swear.”

Dare stands so that I can slide into the booth next to him. As I slip by him, my chest bumps against his and his eyes burn holes into mine. I try to contain my shiver and fail.

“So, Berkeley,” Chase begins once I'm seated across from him. “How come I'm only just finding out about you?”

“Chase.” Dare's voice is quiet, but his warning is crystal clear. Chase completely ignores it, staring at me.

I glance back and forth between them before I answer. “I'm not sure, Chase. Does Dare usually talk to you in great detail about all of his friends?”

Chase whistles. “Damn, bro. Friend zone? I thought I taught you better than that. I thought traveling the world with fatigues on would have taught you better than that.”

I narrow my eyes at Chase. Dare and I may not be together, but I won't stand for anyone to talk about him like he has no game.

Because that's just a dirty damn lie.

“I didn't say he was in the friend zone…friends don't usually spend the night in the same bed, do they, Dare?” I glance at him and smile sweetly.

He chokes on his Killian's, which Daniella has just delivered, and thumps his chest with a fist. “Nope. Mine never do. Do yours, Chase?”

Chase just shakes his head, turning his attention to the menu.

Dare leans over, his warm breath tickling my ear. “Nice one, vixen.”

I'm dying for Dare to explain the dynamic I'm reading between him and his brother. They don't really favor each other in the way I'd expect brothers to. But also, there seems to be a tension between them that I can't understand.

We put in our orders when Daniella comes back, and dinner goes off without any more drama. When we're finished, Dare lets me out of the booth and I stand, stretching.

“I know you're probably tired,” says Dare as Chase begins walking toward the front door. “But I'd like to keep you company tonight. That okay?”

I hesitate. I try not to be held captive in those striking eyes, but I get lost in them every time. “Dare…last night was…kind of amazing. But as far as my complications go, nothing has really changed. In fact, my life has recently become even more complicated. I don't want to drag you along for the ride.”

His eyes narrow dangerously. “But what if I like rides? Especially really, really fast ones?”

I laugh.

“Just hanging out, Berkeley. Remember? No marriage proposals.”

My stomach turns an impressive somersault.

“I have an idea for tonight…humor me,” he continues. “You have your car here?”

I nod.

“Okay, follow me back to my place so I can drop Chase off. Yeah?”

I can't say no. Damn, why can't I say no to this guy? I let my gaze sweep over his large form, and I know exactly why I can't.

“Okay.” I nod, biting the smile off my lips.

Once outside, Chase is waiting next to Dare's truck. I give him a wave as I walk to my Escalade. Chase whistles for the second time tonight.

“Shit, Dare,” he drawls. “She's out of your league! You know that, right?”

“Yeah,” Dare replies, staring at me as I climb up into the car. “You're not telling me anything I'm not painfully aware of.”

God, I hope Chase's visit in Lone Sands is a short one.

K
eeping my hands off of Berkeley, especially after she spent the night in my arms, is growing increasingly more difficult. Tonight she's wearing ripped jeans and Chucks, and I had no idea sneakers and denim could be so fucking sexy on a woman. But with Berkeley's curves poured inside of the jeans and the tight purple T-shirt that reads
YOU WANT SEE FOOD? GET IT YOURSELF,
my hands are clenched into sweaty fists under the table just so I won't grab ahold of her luscious flesh.

“What the hell, Dare? You got a girl and didn't tell me?”

I grit my teeth as I continue trying to ignore Chase's interrogation. I am beyond irritated with my foster brother. He'd shown up in town before I had the chance to return his endless phone calls.

“Chase, how do you know your problems didn't follow you here? I don't need that kind of headache in my life right now, man. I just got settled.”

Chase scoffs. “You think I'm an amateur? I've been doing this shit a long time, bro. Nobody followed me. They'll be pissed I skipped town, but I'll roll back in with their dough and all will be well.”

I glance over at him. “And that's where I come in, right?”

“Dude, I know you've saved up some crazy bank from your soldier days. You never spent a dime, always staying in the barracks and shit. You hoarded money like a motherfucker, didn't you?”

Everything he said was absolutely true. You get paid well to put your life on the line, especially after you rise in the ranks. I had no family to care for, and no expenses outside of my cell phone. Everything I made when I was overseas was tax free, and I saved money religiously. I'm glad now that I did it, because I've been thinking about what kind of life I want to start for myself now that the future is looking brighter.

Until Chase came to town. As much as I love my foster brother, his timing has always been shit.

“How much?” I sigh. I want to get it over with. Chase isn't in town for a friendly visit, and I can't pretend that I don't want him out of Lone Sands as quickly as possible. I've got more important matters to attend to. Like convincing the future Mrs. Conners that she is the future Mrs. Conners.

Fuck
, where did that thought come from? I don't know Berkeley well enough to think she could one day be my everything. But damn if the thought comes as naturally as a breeze over the ocean.

This girl is messing with my head. And I don't even hate it.

As I'm fumbling with my own thoughts, Chase spits out the amount of money he owes for his gambling debt.

The truck swerves dangerously into oncoming traffic, and I yank the wheel back hard to the right, narrowly missing a collision with a minivan.

“Jesus
fucking
Christ, Chase!”

He merely nods. “I know. I fucked up. But you got it, right?”

I nod slowly. “Yeah. I've got some of it. But I can't give you that kind of money, Chase. It would clean me out.”

He grips my arm. “I wouldn't ask, Dare.”

His voice has gone soft and quiet, and his grip on my arm is desperate. “I wouldn't ask unless I desperately needed it.”

I growl, running a hand through my long hair. “What kind of guy is this, Chase? He going to kill you if you don't pay?”

Chase nodded. “That's pretty much the gist of it.”

“
Goddammit
! Why do you do this to yourself? What if you didn't have me to bail your ass out all the time? I've had it with this shit, Chase. I'm trying to start a life here. I can't keep getting into your messes with you. You need to stand on your own feet.”

“You're gonna give me this lecture
now
, Dare? I know, okay? I know I mess up all the time. It's pretty much all I know how to do. But if you help me with this, I swear I will turn shit around. I fucking swear it.”

I just shake my head as I pull into Drake's driveway. The Challenger is parked in front, so I know he'll be ready to weigh in on this issue. He's less than thrilled that Chase showed up unannounced.

I've told Drake enough about Chase over the years that Drake pretty much can't stand my foster brother. I can't blame him; Chase is a total and complete mess. But we've been through a lot together. More than two young boys should have to suffer through.

Berkeley pulls in behind me in her sweet SUV, and I glance in the rearview. “I'll see what I can do, Chase. No promises.”

He nods. “Well, I'll stick around until you figure it out.”

Chase heads for the front door as I turn to face Berkeley. When her mile-long legs exit her car my heart begins thumping a steady, anxious rhythm in my chest.

I can't help it. As I greet her beside her car I grab her up into my arms and squeeze. She's so soft and round to my hard and sharp, the contrast is an addiction I don't want to kick.

I'm gonna let this girl become my habit.

“Hey,” I say into the crook of her shoulder.

“Hey.” Her voice is breathless as she answers, and the fact that I affect her the way she affects me gives my body a purely male reaction.

“You're a terrible driver,” she whispers into my chest.

I chuckle. “That wasn't my fault.”

“Yeah? Did Chase reach over and grab the steering wheel, forcing you to swerve like a drunk grandma?”

Shaking my head, I pull back to look down at her. “Nah. A crazy-hot blonde with wild hair caught my attention in my rearview.”

I laugh as she immediately reaches up to stroke her mess of curls, and she glares at me. “Wild hair?”

“Did you miss the part where I called you hot?”

She smirks, and the dimples in her cheeks wink at me. I keep my hands firmly around her waist, but I can't help it that they tighten their grip. Those damn dimples are my Kryptonite.

“What are we doing?” she asks.

That reminds me of why I asked her to come out tonight. “Come with me,” I say, leading her around to the back of the house. I hope to God my text to Drake when I left the restaurant sent him running to complete the arrangement I set up on the deck earlier this evening.

As we round the corner of the house, I smile, because my mission has been completed. The shocked gasp that escapes the girl beside me as she takes a look at what's on the deck is enough to make me pull her faster across the yard and up the steps.

I've littered the place with candles of various sizes. I found some lying around in Drake's cabinets, and purchased the others between arguments with Chase today. As soon as Berkeley told me this morning that she was working a double, I knew that I wouldn't be able to see her at lunch because of Chase's impromptu visit. I wanted to make it up to her, and I hated the thought of her aching muscles and tired feet after standing up and waitressing all damn day.

I've piled a lounge chair high with soft cushions, and sitting on the wood in front of it is a metal tub with a soothing footbath.

“Ohmygod.” Berkeley sighs. I want to take that sigh and put it away for later, so I can get it out and listen to it again and again.

My fucking habit.

“Sit,” I instruct her, pushing her gently into the chair and kneeling in front of her. Her eyes widen as I untie her Chucks and pull them off of her cute little feet. Each of her toenails is painted a different color. Blue, pink, purple, and slate gray alternate between her toes, and I smile at the sight of them. A hot blush creeps up her neck to her cheeks, and my grin grows wider.

I caress each foot gently across the top and place them in the water one at a time. The water's temperature is perfect, not too hot and not cold, either. I'll have to offer up my soul to Drake later, but I can't be bothered with it now. I'm too busy watching the sexiest look of ecstasy wash over Berkeley's face.

“I can't believe you did this.” She moans.

“Why?” I sit back on my heels and just stare up at her like a goof.

Her eyes fly open, where they had been drifting closed only seconds before. “Because it's so thoughtful and sweet. I've never had anyone do anything like this for me before.”

Lone Sands-1. Dare-1.

“Berkeley…are you telling me that I'm your first, again?”

She nods, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “Yup. I guess my evil vixen siren magic is working just as I planned.”

She closes her eyes again, and I get up to occupy the chair beside her. “Relax, vixen. Tonight is all about me taking care of you.”

Her answering sigh makes me feel like I'm winning at something…for the first time since I was blown out of a helicopter crossing over hell.

We sit in silence for a while, staring up at the stars. The sky is so velvety black out here at night, away from everything city-like. The ocean is our backdrop of sound, and I think that maybe staying like this, in the dark, staring up at the stars will become our thing.

“God, it's beautiful. I wish I could paint this. I've never actually been able to capture the night sky the way it truly looks.”

My eyes slide over to her, and then they narrow. “What do you mean, ‘paint it'?”

She turns her head so that she's looking at me, but she doesn't bother to pick it up off the chair. She's so completely blissed out. Something deep inside my chest takes flight, knowing I've made her feel that way. Then I allow another thought to enter my mind. What if I had the chance to make her feel that way with my hands? With my mouth? With my body?

The thought sends a sizzle of heat straight through my body, and I immediately return to the subject she's just broached.

“Paint. You know, like with brushes and colorful liquids? On a canvas?” Her eyelids are heavy as she teases me, and I swallow hard.

“You're an artist?”

She scoffs. “Well, I mean I
paint.
And I really love to do it. Sometimes there're feelings and emotions raging around inside of me that I don't know what to do with. When I was in middle school and I picked up a paintbrush in one of my art classes, I felt a complete release come with each stroke I made. I've been doing it ever since.”

I stare at her. I'm sure my eyes are filled with wonder. “Can I see?”

“My art? You want to see a piece I've done?” The almost shy tone to her voice is back, and she sucks hard on the corner of her lush lip. Jesus. I want to suck on that lip.

“I want to see
every
piece you've ever done.”

She flushes that sexy crimson, and I reach over to brush the hair out of her eye.

“You know you're very, very cute when you're embarrassed.”

Her dimples dot her cheeks. “Yeah, well…”

For the first time, she's at a loss for words, which I find uproariously funny. When I settle down, I ask her again.

“So, can I see?” I don't know why, but I have a sudden urge to see what this funny, beautiful girl has created with her hands and her mind. The desire is literally pulsing inside of me.

“I don't know. I don't keep any of it at my parents' house. I can't stand it when they don't get it the way I want them to. I have some pieces on a gallery wall at my university. My art professor promised he wouldn't remove them anytime soon.” She offers me a shy, tentative smile. “Would you want to—”

“Yes,” I answer before she finishes. “Just…yes. Can we go the next day you're off work?”

Her dimples appear in her cheeks. “Yeah. It's about an hour's drive to UNC Wilmington from here. You up for a little road trip with me, soldier?”

I reach over and grab her hand where it's resting on the arm of her chair. “I'm probably up for just about anything with you, Berkeley.”

I reach down and feel the water her feet are still soaking in. It's cooled off considerably, so I grab a towel from the little table beside me and pull her feet out one at a time. I take my time toweling them dry, and then leave one of her legs in my lap. Even though I love her ripped, tight jeans, I wish that today had been a day she was wearing a pair of her short shorts.

As I begin to rub her feet, using my thumbs to apply pressure to first her heel, and then the ball of her foot, she moans. I drop my head back, undone.

“Hey…Berkeley?”

“Mmm?” Her eyes are closed again.

“Those noises you're making…they're likely to make me forget about respecting your ‘complications.' They're likely to make me turn that lounger into a bed and lay you out on top of it. And then I might inexplicably end up laid out on top of
you.
I don't want to be a dick, but if you can….refrain from making those little moans. That would be fucking great.”

Her body tenses, and she's quiet, but I can see her peeking at me through one eye. “You don't know how much I wish I didn't have those complications right now, Dare.”

Jesus.
My name on her tongue does things to me that have never been done before. I can't get enough of this girl. Her face, her voice, her humor. Her laugh, her dimples, and now that I've found out she's an artist…I just want
more.

She suddenly sits up, the muscles of the leg in my lap tightening as she levels her gaze at me. “What's up with Chase?”

I sigh, moving my kneading hands up to her ankle. “He's my brother. He had my back a lot growing up. We always come through for each other, no matter what.” I try to keep my expression neutral.

She nods thoughtfully. “You two, for being so close, seemed awfully tense at dinner.”

I close my eyes briefly. I don't want to go into detail about Chase and his issues, but I don't want to hide anything from Berkeley either.

“Let's just say that he's got problems that I wish he didn't have. After high school, I picked a path that had to keep me on the straight and narrow. He chose a different path. He's still on it, and it irritates the shit out of me.”

Her brow furrows. “He's in trouble with the law?”