Witness (Guardians Book 1) Read online

  “You want to talk, apparently.”

  “No. Sorry. We don’t need to talk.”

  He un-paused the television and I focused on the screen.

  For about twenty seconds. “Do you play in a band?”

  Jaxon paused the screen again. “I’ve been playing since I was twelve and no, haven’t played in a band for a while.”

  “How come?”

  “Because I can’t commit to gigs when I can be called in at any time, for any reason, for an indeterminate amount of time.”

  “Do you play country?”

  He sneered. “Hell, no.”

  “What’s wrong with country? I love country.”

  “No, you don’t. You love the studio processed pop shit that Nashville tries to pawn off on law-abiding, and some non-law-abiding, Americans.”

  “You don’t like any country?”

  “I like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and I might have given Jason Maxx props back in the day, but his new stuff is auto-tuned shit and it overshadows the fact he’s a kick-ass guitar player.”

  Jason Maxx was currently the number one country male artist in the world.

  “I love Jason Maxx,” I said.

  “You would.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I challenged.

  “You think he’s fine and his hair is gorgeous,” he said in a girly, sing-songy voice. “Right?”

  I giggled. “Well, yeah, but I also think he has a great voice and can write a catchy tune.”

  “Babe, his voice is so processed, it’s not even funny.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Seriously,” he said. “Granted, he never said he was a singer, and he really is one of the best guitarists around, but his voice is most definitely auto-tuned. They all are.”

  I settled my chin in my hand. “So, what’s your thing?”

  “My thing?”

  “Yeah. Do you have a girlfriend?”

  “No.”

  “Wife?”

  “Hell, no.”

  “Kids?”

  “No again,” he said, his expression growing amused.

  “What’s your type?”

  He studied me for several seconds. “Bailey? What are you doing?”

  “Just trying to get to know you.”

  “Well, stop it.”

  I frowned. “Why?”

  “Because I see that look in your face and you look like you want to set me up.”

  I gasped. “I do not.”

  “Okay,” he said, unbelieving.

  Both our heads focused on the door when Brock walked inside. He glanced down at my suitcase, frowned at it, scowled at Jaxon, and then headed toward the back of the house.

  I stood and followed him, leaving Jaxon to his football. I found Brock in the bedroom he was assigned to and watched him from the doorway. “Everything okay?” I asked.

  He nodded and pulled off his T-shirt before combing the closet and selecting a button-up.

  Before he could cover up the beauty that was Brock, I closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around him. “What’s wrong?”

  I felt his breath leave his body and he gave me a gentle squeeze. “We have to do this.”

  “I know that already.”

  “No, I mean, it came down from the top. We have to do this. Jaxon went over my head.”

  I raised my head and leaned back. “He went over your head?”

  Brock nodded.

  “Wow.”

  “That’s one word for it,” he said with a sneer.

  “Can we talk?” Jaxon asked from the doorway.

  “No, but you can fuck off,” Brock replied.

  Jaxon crossed his arms. “If you take a minute to listen and think, you’ll see I did not go over your fucking head, Brock.”

  “So, telling Matt the plan wasn’t going over my head?”

  “Who’s Matt?” I asked.

  “No, Brock,” Jaxon stressed. “Matt and I were at the parents for dinner…”

  “You told your parents?” he bellowed.

  “No. Just listen,” Jaxon snapped, and stepped further into the room.

  “Who’s Matt?” I repeated.

  “Matt figured something was up. I told him some of the plan…not all of it, and I sure as hell didn’t tell him about her,” Jaxon said, pointing to me.

  “Who’s Matt?” I asked again.

  “Bailey!” Jaxon snapped.

  Brock was on Jaxon within a heartbeat. His hand wrapped around his friend’s neck and Jaxon shoved up against the wall. “You ever fucking talk to her like that again and you and I are gonna have a problem.”

  Jaxon raised his hands in surrender, not even trying to defend himself. “Sorry, Bailey.”

  Brock released him, and Jaxon put some distance between them.

  “I’m gonna take Bailey out to dinner and you and I’ll talk when we get back,” Brock said.

  “We’re going out?” I asked, trying to keep some of the excitement from my voice.

  “Is that a good idea?” Jaxon challenged.

  Brock held a hand up in warning toward him and turned to me. “Yes, we’re going out. Dallas is coming with us, as is Macey.”

  “Are they dating?” I asked.

  “Babe, go put something cute on and we’ll talk about it on the way.”

  He didn’t have to ask me twice. I was out of the room, into the foyer for my suitcase, and back to the master bedroom in record time. I heard Brock and Jaxon arguing, but they moved out of the bedroom next to me, so I wasn’t privy to the conversation.

  Having chosen my favorite pair of jeans, a flowy, see-through blouse with a lace cami under it, and my favorite pair of Jimmy Choo’s, I put on a little make-up, ran a brush through my hair and made my way to the great room.

  Brock smiled a sexy smile as his eyes raked over me. “Gorgeous,” he said.

  I bit my lip. “You didn’t tell me where we were going, so I hope this is okay.”

  Brock held his hand out to me and I joined him at the kitchen island. He slid his arms around my waist and kissed my temple. “You are perfect.”

  I smiled up at him. “Where are we going?”

  “Mother’s.”

  “Oooh, I love that place.”

  He gave me a squeeze. “Two hours, tops,” he said to Jaxon.

  “I’m following.”

  “That’s fine. We’ll pick Macey up and then head to the restaurant.” He smiled down at me. “Ready?”

  “So, so ready!”

  Brock chuckled as he grabbed my hand and led me through the garage door and into the back of the black SUV.

  Bailey

  BROCK CLIMBED INTO the back of the SUV, so that Dallas could drive. Pushing me to the middle of the bench seat, he sat beside me and linked his fingers with mine.

  “How are we able to do this?” I asked as Dallas backed out of the garage.

  “Since your parents know where you are, but don’t really know who we are, the heat’s died down a bit,” Brock said without further information.

  I didn’t really care, so I didn’t press. I hadn’t been out of the house, other than the backyard and the doctor’s office, in over a month. I smiled at Brock. This was a date. A real date. Things were looking up.

  Dallas pulled up to a little home in downtown Portland and climbed out of the car.

  “Is there another reason the heat’s died down?” I asked once Brock and I were alone.

  Brock frowned. “Why would you ask that?”

  “Not born yesterday, Brock.”

  He sighed. “The heat has shifted to Vermont.”

  “My parents?” I asked, my heart dropping into my stomach. “Are they okay?”

  “They’re safe, baby.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because I know.”

  “You did something.”

  He nodded. “I did something.”

  “Okay,” I said, trusting him. I pulled my hand from his, cupped his cheeks, and kissed him. �
�Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  I wiped my lipstick from his mouth. “I kind of love you.”

  He chuckled. “I kind of love you, too.”

  The passenger door opened, and Macey climbed inside while Dallas held the door for her. “Hi guys.”

  “Hi, Mase,” Brock said. “You look gorgeous.”

  “Thanks, babe,” she said, and Dallas closed her door.

  Dallas jogged to the driver’s seat and pulled away from the curb.

  “You look great, Bailey,” Macey said. “How do you feel?”

  “I feel really good. Thanks for asking.”

  Macey turned back to the front and I raised an eyebrow at Brock and nodded toward the couple.

  Later, he mouthed.

  I wrinkled my nose, but dropped it.

  Arriving at the crowded restaurant, I was pleasantly surprised to find a reservation had been made and we were shown to our table as soon as we walked up to the hostess.

  Dallas and Brock held our chairs and waited for me and Macey to sit down before taking their seats. Brock settled an arm behind me, stroking my shoulder and generally making me feel adored. After Macey and I ordered a bottle of wine, the waiter left us, and I leaned closer to Brock, my hand on his thigh.

  “How long have y’all known each other?” I asked.

  “High school,” they answered in unison.

  “I was one year behind these two, and Alec was two years ahead of them, so I have always been the irritating little sister.” Macey smiled. “Brock’s younger sister is my best friend.”

  Dallas and Brock said nothing, and Macey flicked Dallas’s ear.

  “What the hell was that for?” Dallas asked, rubbing the side of his head.

  “Because the correct answer should have been, ‘No, Mase. You were never irritating. You are gorgeous and amazing and the light to our darkness.’”

  I covered a giggle.

  “No, Mase. You were never irritating. You are gorgeous and amazing and the light to our darkness,” Dallas droned.

  “Better.” Macey smiled and sipped her wine.

  I watched as the three friends talked, and for whatever reason, it made me think of Ali, which in turn, brought tears to my eyes and I tried to blink them away.

  “Guys,” Brock said. “If you’ll excuse us for a second.”

  “Sure,” Macey said, and Dallas nodded.

  Brock held his hand out to me. I took it and followed him outside and around the corner, past the food trucks and into the parking lot where he pulled me into his arms. “What’s up?”

  “I just started thinking about how close you guys are and it made me think of Ali.” I forced a smile. “But I’m okay.”

  He leaned down and kissed me. “We’re going somewhere alone tonight, so we can talk about anything you want to.”

  “We are? Where?”

  “Surprise.”

  “Please tell me you’re gonna put a ring on my finger and that you bought condoms.”

  Brock burst out laughing.

  “I didn’t mean that to be funny,” I said.

  “I know,” he said, still laughing. “I love you.”

  “I’m rethinking whether or not I love you.”

  “No, you’re not,” he said, and kissed my again. “And do you know why you’re not?”

  “Why?”

  “Because you know tonight’s gonna blow your mind.”

  “I heard the first time sucks.”

  “It won’t with me.”

  I shivered. God, I hoped not.

  “Better?” he asked.

  I nodded. “Yes, but I’m starving.”

  “Well, let’s get my girl some food, then.”

  * * *

  I had a tough time concentrating on the food and conversation after Brock’s revelation that we would finally be alone. I’d wanted this since the night he’d informed me he was going to marry me. No, that wasn’t true, I’d wanted it longer than that.

  Brock seemed to sense my distraction and carried most of the conversation without me, once again proving how perfect he was for me.

  When it was time to go, I nearly knocked my chair over when I stood. Brock gave me a private smile and took my hand as we walked back to the car. Dallas drove us to the Sentinel hotel and, after saying goodnight, Brock opened my door for me and I slid out of the car, taking his hand again as he led me to our room. We didn’t speak, and I took the time to just feel the anticipation.

  Brock opened the door and stepped back for me to precede him. I did so and smiled. A large king-sized bed with an upholstered headboard and soft bedding sat against the wall next to a large window. I barely got a chance to admire the luxury before I was swept into Brock’s arms and settled on the bed.

  I giggled, running my hands through his hair. “How did you manage this?”

  “My sister helped.”

  I craned my head away from his kiss. “She knows about me?”

  He smiled, stroking my cheek. “My whole family knows about you.”

  I pushed him away and slid off the bed. “Your whole family knows about me and your sister booked us a hotel room.”

  He leaned up on his forearm with a smile. “Yes.”

  “Oh, my, god.” I paced the room muttering “Oh, my god,” several times, while Brock watched me with a goofy smile. “What?” I snapped.

  He patted the bed. “Come here, baby.”

  “No. No way.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because your parents are going to think I’m a whore.”

  He scowled. “No, they won’t.”

  “You’ve known me for just over a month, you had your sister book a hotel room so we could get it on, and your whole family knows it. I’m a whore.”

  Brock’s shoulders shook as he looked away from me.

  “This is not funny,” I snapped.

  He slid off the bed, still laughing, damn him, and slid his hand to cup the back of my neck. “No one, and I mean no one, will ever think you’re a whore, least of all my family. They are going to love you.”

  “But they know about me.” I stared at him. “You don’t think I should meet them first? Make sure they approve?”

  “Bailey. Trust me when I say that they are going to love you. And no, I don’t think you need to meet them first, because you and I are separate from them. If by some off-chance reason, and I do mean off-chance, they don’t like you, it means nothing to me.” He smiled. “I love you. I can’t live without you. That’s it. Simple as that.”

  I licked my lips. “You can’t live without me?”

  “Nope.”

  “What did your sister say when you had her book the room?”

  “She nearly lost her mind.” He chuckled and nodded to the corner of the room where champagne sat in an ice bucket on the table. “She did that.”

  “She nearly lost her mind? Why?”

  “Because the last time I talked about a woman with any seriousness, I was sixteen and thought myself in love with my high-school girlfriend.”

  “Oh.”

  “And, I haven’t been with anyone in almost five years.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “No one?”

  “No one.”

  “No sex, no nothing?”

  “No sex, no nothing.”

  I bit my lip. “What if you’re out of practice?”

  Brock laughed, leaning down to kiss me. “That’s where communication comes in. You tell me what you like and don’t like, and I’ll go from there.”

  “What about you?”

  “Oh, baby, tonight’s all about you.” Brock slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small leather box. “But first.” He knelt in front of me and opened the box. “Will you marry me?”

  Inside the box sat a simple three-stone diamond engagement ring in white gold. The center stone was an oval diamond with smaller diamonds on either side.

  “Brock, it’s stunning.” I glanced at him and back to the ring.

  �
�We can return it if you don’t like it.”

  “I love it,” I said.

  “Is that a ‘yes’?”

  I nodded. “Yes. It’s a yes.”

  He stood, prying the ring from the box and sliding it onto my finger. It fit perfectly. “Are you sure?”

  I squeezed his chin. “I couldn’t have designed one better than this, Brock. It’s incredible.”

  “And what about tonight?” he asked.

  “You said you’d surprise me.”

  “I did say that, but I need you to know that I won’t do anything you don’t want me to.”

  “What I don’t want you to do is chicken out.”

  Brock raised an eyebrow. “Chicken out?”

  “Well, we’ve determined you’re out of practice…”

  With a growl, he lifted me and, after pulling back the covers, settled me on the bed. “I better get to studying, then.”

  I giggled and reached for him. Brock covered my body with his and kissed me, sliding his fingers into my hair and holding me to him. I kicked my shoes off and left them where they fell before reaching for the buttons on his shirt.

  “Wait, baby,” he said, and sat up.

  “What’s wrong?” I sat up as well.

  “I won’t survive you stripping me.” He undid the buttons on his shirt and slipped it off, while removing his shoes, socks, and jeans. He stood in front of me in a pair of tight, black boxer briefs and I licked my lips at the sight. “Okay, you doing that isn’t helping.”

  I giggled pulling my blouse off.

  “Wait, baby.”

  “What now?” I asked, my irritation rising. “If you’re getting naked, I want to get naked.”

  He chuckled. “Feisty.”

  “I’ll show you feisty if you don’t get your ass in this bed.”

  He set a knee on the bed and then hovered over me, leaning down to kiss my neck. “Are we a little impatient, baby bird?” He lifted my cami and kissed my stomach.

  I shivered. “Very impatient.”

  He pushed my camisole up over my breasts and pulled one side of my bra down. “We’re gonna take this slow, baby.”

  “I don’t want to take it slow.”

  “I get that,” he said, and removed my camisole completely. “But it’s gonna happen.”

  He wrapped an arm around my back and pulled me over him, giving him the chance to unhook my bra and slide it from my arms.

  “Gorgeous.” He drew a nipple into his mouth before unbuttoning my jeans.