AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I can handle it. I’ve already met Reagan. How bad can it be?” He has no clue.
“Oh, and my sisters and Aunt Cass are the only ones who know our whole history. No one else knows everything.”
“You didn’t tell your mother everything?” I shake my head and he sighs in frustration. “I thought you were telling her everything. We’re not doing anything wrong. I don’t know why you feel this is necessary.”
“Please just respect my wishes. I have my reasons.” He reluctantly nods. We head out back hand in hand.
I haven’t introduced a boyfriend to my family in over five years, and certainly not since our family doubled in size with the Knight crew. “Everyone, this is Brody Cooper. Brody, this is everyone.”
I go through all of the introductions. When I introduce Reagan and Skylar, Brody says something about it being nice to see them again. I see Mom turn her head, not realizing they had met.
I save Mom for last. “This is my mom, Darian Lawrence Knight.”
He gives her a warm hug. “It’s so nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Knight.” After he pulls back, he smiles. “Wow, you and Harley really do resemble each other. It’s remarkable.”
She smiles at him. “Thank you, Brody. I certainly take that as a compliment. And please, call me Darian.”
I notice Reagan checking him out in that bathing suit and the tight shirt. “Damn sis. You snagged yourself a full-fledged hottie. Well done.” Brody laughs. I give him theI told you solook.
Trevor crosses his arms. “Not as hot as me though, right?”
Reagan shoos him away, but Aunt Cass strokes his ego by reassuring him of his hotness. The two of them have a strange relationship that I’d rather know nothing about.
I think maybe the safest place for us is in the pool. “Brody, it’s hot out here. Why don’t we jump into the pool?”
“Okay.” He puts his bag down and takes off his shirt. Even though I’ve seen it nearly every day for the past four months, I never get used to how hot his body is.
Aunt Cass comes by and wipes my chin. “You have some drool.”
“Do you blame me?”
“Nope.”
I grab us two drinks, and we get in the pool. He wraps his arms around me as we sit in the corner. We talk as he aimlessly moves his fingers all over my body and kisses my shoulders and neck.
I try to pull away, but he tightens his grip. I turn to him. “Stop it. Not in front of my family.”
He won’t let me move. “No. I’m really fucking sick of always having to hide my feelings for you. Everyone here knows we’re together. I will touch you when I want to, where I want to.” He turns my head so that our eyes meet. “And Ialwayswant to touch you, Harley.” He takes my lips in a kiss.
Trevor yells out, “Get a room.” We break the kiss and smile.
Mom and Jackson are cuddled up on a chair, fondling each other, but Aunt Cass slips into the pool, and swims over to us. Brody has his arms wrapped around me. I go to move away, but he squeezes me close. I look at her. “Hey Aunt Cass.”
“Hey.” She wastes no time as she looks at Brody. “So, Brody, how do you see the playing out?” She’s never been one for mindless chit chat. I suppose this conversation was unavoidable.
“How do you mean, Cassandra?”
“I mean the shitstorm that will head Harley’s way when news of your relationship breaks at the hospital.”
“My preference is to head it off. I’d rather go to HR and the administrative team to inform them that we’re in a serious relationship. I personally think it would be worse if it came out any differently. It’ll look like we’re trying to hide things. But Harley is calling the shots right now, and she wants us to remain a secret.”
“She has more to lose than you.”
“I’m not sure that I agree with that, but regardless, I would never want this to negatively impact her.”
She stares at him. “It’s unavoidable.”
I can tell that Brody’s getting angry. “What is it you’d like to hear from me, Cassandra? I love her. I want to spend my life with her. Are you suggesting I walk away from her? I won’t do that. I’ll do everything in my power to protect her, but I won’t walk away from her. We did that before, and we were both miserable. If there’s something else you’d like me to say or do right now, why don’t you just spit it out.”
