Page 11 of Unfounded

“Marley?” Luke’s concerned voice forces me to open my eyes as a heavy sigh leaves my body. I focus on him through the tears that are blurring my vision. I’m trying desperately to keep them from falling, but I’m not successful. I can feel them leaking from my eyes. I hate that all I can seem to do when I’m around him is cry like a child. “Hey, you are going to be okay. Trust me to take care of this for you.” Luke has rolled over to be right next to me, taking my delicate hand in his much larger one.

“I do trust you,” I tell him honestly. “It’s just…overwhelmingly insane this is happening.” He nods sympathetically. “I’m sorry for blubbering. I’ll try to get it together before your brothers arrive.”

“Stop apologizing,” Luke counsels. “Your reaction is completely understandable. If you need to cry, don’t hold it back. None of us will judge you for it. Hell, it’s comforting to know you trust me enough to be that vulnerable in front of me.” I stare at him in awe. No man has ever been okay with my waterworks. I’ve always been a sensitive soul as my mother says about me. I can cry over a Hallmark card commercial. It seems there’s a deeper meaning to Luke’s assessment of my tears. He doesn’t seem eager to elaborate, though. A horn honking, car doors slamming, and the crunch of gravel signal the arrival of his brothers and friends. I wipe my face quickly, thankful I’ve foregone makeup today. Otherwise, I’d have some serious racoon eyes or horror movie chick face going on.

“You can start the party now!” a male voice yells as a group of men come around the corner of the house. I look over Luke’s shoulder. My mouth falls open as I watch the men make their way toward us. The men are all buff, and that word doesn’t really do them justice, but it’s the only word that comes to mind, in this moment. I recognize all of them from the Bistro, but I only know Bo’s and Rosco’s names.

Bo is tall, like well over six feet by at least four or five inches, dark, and handsome. So much like his brother. At my height, I have to tilt my head way back to look at him when he’s standing next to me. Rosco isn’t nearly as tall. Maybe around six feet. I still have to look up, but not as much as with Bo. He is dark-headed as well with a well-trimmed, mustache and beard. He’s just as gorgeous as his other two brothers. The men burst onto the patio, carrying a huge cooler between the two of them. The three other men are trailing behind them. The one on the left is tall with black hair, broad shoulders, and a chiseled handsome face much like Luke, Bo, and Rosco. I assume this must be his brother Enos. The man on the right of the group appears to be about six feet as well with brown hair and a smile that lights up his blue eyes.

The guy in the middle is a little frightening. He’s bald with piercings and tats. He isn’t as tall as the others. Don’t get me wrong I like a man with tattoos, but this guy is tatted everywhere. Even his bald head. Well, I don’t know about everywhere, but at least what’s visible. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is tatted literally everywhere, but that’s not something I even want to think about. I can’t stop staring at the group as they approach. I try to drag my eyes away as Luke turns his chair around so he can greet the group.

“Hey, Marley,” Bo greets me as he and Rosco set the cooler down to one side of the patio near the mini-fridge. “How are you holding up?” His concern for me is sweet. I can tell he’s genuinely concerned not just making small talk.

“I’m fine,” I reply with my go to answer when anyone asks how I am. Luke whips around to give me a stern look. “What?” I ask at the look on his face.

“Sweetheart, you are not fine.” Luke is still holding my hand. He gives it a gentle squeeze before he continues, “It’s okay to admit that you aren’t.” My eyes are damp again. I don’t want to cry in front of these men. Why does Luke have to call me out on my little white lie? I try to swallow the emotions down, blinking rapidly to prevent the tears from falling, but I can’t. I jump to my feet and run for the sliding doors that lead inside. I need a few minutes alone, get myself back in control.

LUKE

“Way to go, bro,” Bo says as he smacks the back of my head, hard while I watch bewilderedly as Marley runs toward the house. “You’re an idiot.” I turn my head to glare at him.

“What are you talking about?” I ask, but not really wanting to hear his answer. I’m more concerned about Marley running off. I begin to make my way toward the house.

“You hurt Marley’s feelings,” Bo growls at me. “She didn’t want all of us to see her hurting and vulnerable. You outed her.” I stop as I consider his words.Is that what I did?It wasn’t my intention.Fuck!I’ve messed this up, and she hasn’t been here two hours yet. I need to fix this if at all possible.

“Can you guys get the chicken started?” I ask, continuing toward the house.

“We got this!” Rosco calls as he heads toward the grill. I enter the house, rolling at a fast clip. I never meant to hurt her feelings. Bo’s right I’m such an idiot, but I can’t focus on that right now. I check the living room, kitchen, and den, but she’s nowhere to be found. I head over to the lift and make my way up to the second floor. I exit the lift, checking bedrooms as I go, but I don’t findher until I enter my room. I see her on the balcony. She is standing at the railing with her back to me. Her arms are spread wide with her hands pressed into the wood as she leans heavily on them. Her head bowed. Despite the wind coming off the water, I hear her sob and it guts me. I did this to her. I want to go to her, but I hesitate. I have no idea what to do or say to make this better. I watch her for several minutes before I make my way closer to her as I scramble to find the right words to fix my fuckup.

“Marley?” I ask softly, hoping she’ll turn around and forgive me without another word, but I realize I’m being foolish even thinking this. She doesn’t reply or turn around. She remains standing with her head down. Her body shaking slightly. I curse myself for upsetting her so. I ease up next to her, placing my hand on her lower back. “I’m truly sorry, Marley. I’m an insensitive ass.” I blow out a breath as I look toward the waves crashing onto the shore below.

“You’re not an ass,” Marley counters so softly I wonder if I heard her correctly. She turns toward me. Her eyes, red rimmed from her tears, looking at me are like to punch to the chest. So much emotion in those dark brown eyes. “I just needed a minute alone to calm down after the day I’ve had.” She turns back to the ocean. My hand rubbing soothing circles on her back as if it has a mind of its own. I don’t try to say anything else. Honestly, I should give her the privacy as she mentioned, but I’m compelled to stay at her side, just in case she needs me. We remain this way for a while, just watching the ocean waves as the tide comes in. Eventually she turns to me. Her face now dry and her eyes no longer reddened from tears.

“I didn’t mean to ruin your evening,” she says as she gives me a half-hearted smile. “You’re right; I’m not fine. No one in my situation would be fine, but it’s my go-to-answer. I haven’t had someone to be concerned about me in many years.” She looks back out at the water once more before continuing, “I know mymom loves me, but she has so many problems of her own, that we don’t really share the hard stuff. I’ve been taking care of myself as long as I can remember. I got my own place at seventeen as soon as I finished high school. I haven’t asked mom for money or even advice since I left home. It’s just how it is. I’m used to customers who recognize me asking, “how are you?” I always say fine, no matter how bad the day has been already. It’s just how I am. I’m not used to having anyone concerned about me.” I nod as I can understand where she’s coming from on some level. I do the same with my brothers and sister. I’m always the strong one, not wanting to burden them when I’m having a bad day.

“I shouldn’t have disputed you in front of my brothers and friends,” I offer. My hand still circling her back. “It’s just I knew you weren’t fine. I don’t know why I felt the need to expose you like that. I just wasn’t thinking.” I have no explanation for my behavior. In my defense, I haven’t been in any kind of relationship in a very long time, not that Marley and I are in a relationship. Still I don’t want her hiding her feelings from me. I want to be the one to ease her pain, her fears. I don’t want to lose the connection I felt we had developed earlier. “Can you forgive me?”

She turns to me, a smile ghosting her lips. “There’s nothing to forgive, Luke.” I hold out my hand as she places hers in mine. I bring her palm to my lips and kiss it, savoring the feel of her skin on my lips. Glancing up at her, I see her face flushing at my touch.

“Do you feel up to going down for dinner?” I ask her, not sure if she’ll accept after everything that happened. She smiles at me and nods. Relief floods me as she leans down and places a kiss on my cheek. It sears me to the core, her touch. We make our way back downstairs. Marley stops off in the kitchen to begin steaming the vegetables and put the rolls in the oven. I head out to the patio where the guys are already throwing beers back. It’s going to be a long night. Rosco has the chicken on the grill. Enos is hovering around adding his two cents of advice to Rosco.

“Are you out of the dog house?” Bo asks when I roll out onto the cobblestone patio. My right hand raises in a friendly gesture that draws laughter from the men on the patio. I go over to check the progress on the chicken. Bo still trailing behind me. “I guess that’s a no then. You want me to go talk to her?” Now I’m pissed.

“No, I don’t want you to talk to her,” I sneer at my brother. “She’s in the kitchen, preparing the vegetables and rolls. Everything is fine.” Bo snorts as if he doesn’t believe me. Marley takes that moment to poke her head out the sliding glass door.

“Luke?” Marley’s face is flushed as if she’s embarrassed speaking to me in front of my brothers. “Um, I can’t find the salt.” Before I can answer or make a move, Enos is on the move.

“I got you,” Enos says, heading toward Marley. “Luke is OCD. Everything has to be in its place.” Marley watches him approach her looking a little concerned, but she steps back into the house and follows my brother to the kitchen. I blow out a breath, not understanding why seeing my brother going into the house with my woman has me on edge.Wait! My woman? Why did I think that?Marley isn’t mine. But do I want her to be? I ponder on that for several minutes, and the conclusion I come to is, yes. I want Marley, more than any woman I’ve ever met. It’s more than just attraction. She is more.Can I make her mine? Would she want me?I turn these questions over and over in my mind until laughter draws my attention back to the house.

Marley and Enos exit the sliding doors. Enos with a smirk on his face and Marley with a grin on hers. He put that smile on her beautiful face. Yet I made her cry, and that pisses me off.Am I a fool for wanting her? Could she ever find it in herself to want me too?I’m so caught up in my own head I don’t see her approaching. Her hand on my shoulder draws me out of my worries. Startled I look up to see her looking down at me expectantly.

“Hey.” She bites her lower lip nervously. “I’ve got the vegetables and macaroni cooking. Is there anything else I can do?” Iplace my hand over hers on my shoulder as I begin to shake my head.

“No, thank you,” I tell her. “You’ve done more than enough. You should relax.” Her lips pinch as she glances around at the guys, who are acting like idiots as usual. I realize she doesn’t know us that well and is likely feeling overwhelmed being the only female. I don’t know what to do to help her relax. I decide introducing her to the guys might help a least a little.

“Let me introduce you to everyone,” I begin as she gazes down at me. “I know you’ve waited on us at the Bistro, but you probably don’t know everyone’s name.” She nods her agreement. So I point to my brothers one by one then our two closest friends. “You met Bo and Rosco earlier today.” She gives them both a smile and dip of her head. “That’s Enos, he’s the finder of the salt.” He winks at Marley before giving me a smirk. I can’t help rolling my eyes at him. Marley’s smile widens as she watches the interaction between the two of us.

“Next we have Kelvin, and Dalton is the scary looking motherfucker.” There’s just no other way to describe him. The man is tatted and pierced everywhere, including his bald head. He looks like an inmate who escaped a maximum-security prison, but in reality, he’s one of the best men I’ve ever known. He’d give you the shirt off his back and has literally stepped in front of bullets to protect us. “Guys, Marley.” I gesture toward her.

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