Page 113 of Second Chance

46

Coming and Going

[Mati]

Struggling in the limited space, clutching each other as we race to a finish line, I’m a mix of emotions—from the startle of seeing him to the shock of Chris’s letter—not to mention the passionate workings on the bench seat of my truck. Once we simultaneously release, I slump against Denton, letting him hold me as our breathing softens and steam covers the windows of the heat-filled cab. Only seconds pass before a knock on the driver’s side window has us both sitting upright.

“Shit,” I mutter, noting our precarious position. Denton has slipped out of me, and he hastily moves me aside, righting his jeans while I tug down my dress. He powers down the window enough to see my oldest brother on the other side of the fog-covered glass.

“Mati,” Giant addresses me, not even glancing at Denton. “You okay?” My big brother and I aren’t especially close although we share one thing in common—we both lost a spouse to death. His was to cancer. Mine the freak accident. Giant has become protective of me because of this connection, understanding my lacking desire to date, at least until recently.

“I’m good,” I say, my breath still ragged and a little anxious at being caught seconds after a sexual act by my brother.

“Billy wants to know if you’re coming back.” My head swings to Denton, who’s been watching me while my brother speaks over him.

“I probably should,” I offer sheepishly, feeling a bit awkward about having sex and then running off to work again. Denton’s hand covers my thigh and squeezes.

“I should get back to the band but save a dance for me.” He winks, and I want to tell him my dance card will only be filled by him. He grabs the latch to open the door and then leans back to me.

“Kiss me,” he whispers, wanting me to make a statement. Despite his public apology and his declaration before the town, he needs me to accept him before my family. I lean forward and press a chaste kiss to his lips, but he reaches for my throat with the tender grasp I’ve learned to love and draws me back to him. Not as impassioned as moments ago, it’s still intense while brief and makes the statement he needs.

He’s with me.

He nods at Giant as he steps out of my truck and heads back to the festivities. Giant reaches over the steering wheel to remove my key from the ignition.

“Holy shit,” he mutters, swiping at the heat on his face. His deep dark eyes find mine.

“You know what you’re doing, baby sister?”

“I think so,” I reply, although I sound uncertain. My body knows what it wants but the rest of me, I’m still a work in progress when it comes to Denton.

“He hurts you again, and I’ll kill him this time.” Giant might be big, and his tone sounds mean, but he’s too gentle to kill anything other than out of necessity, like hunting.

“That won’t be necessary.”

“Think he’ll stick?”

“I hope so,” I say, and simply admitting my doubt makes me wonder. My head’s back to overruling my heart. Giant reaches out a hand, and he tugs me forward to exit the truck. To my surprise, he pulls me into an embrace that’s rare for the oldest Harrington sibling. He’s always come across a bit unaffectionate, making us wonder how he produced two beautiful daughters.

“Follow your heart, Mati.” I nod into his broad chest, melting into the unfamiliar warmth of my brother.

“I want to believe he’ll stay,” I offer.

“If he’s smart, this time he will. He was always meant to be with you.”

I pull back and look up at Giant, a little surprised by such an admission. There’s no doubt my brothers have a fondness for Denton because of his upbringing, but they easily welcomed Chris into the fold.

“You all loved Chris,” I remind him. However, in the past month, my brothers have hinted they always thought Denton would be the man added to the family.

“We did. We also knew Denton needed you. Things happen in the order they happen for a reason, though.” I’m certain he means the death of his wife once he finally returned home from his military duty. Married young, they had a strange relationship, one that seemed a touch disconnected and a bit cold, but I’m not one to judge, nor do I know what went on in private between them.

“Think Denton’s here for a reason, then?” I ask, curious what it means since Denton crept back into my life.

“I think Denton’s here for you.”

+ + +

“Dance with me,” Denton’s gruff, sleepy voice tickles from behind my ear. His arms encircle my waist, and he kisses me on the side of my neck. We’ve gone from zero to sixty with the public affection, and I’m a little nervous about people’s reactions. Then I remind myself I don’t care what people think. I spin in his arms, and he tugs me to the dance floor. The song is upbeat although I don’t recognize what Gage Everly is singing on stage with his wife’s uncle. Regardless, Denton leads me like he did all those years ago, and I decide it might be best to follow his lead in all other things as well.