Carae's Touch (Long Line of Love, #4) Read online

  He stood staring at her in silence for several moments before he slowly walked over to stand at her side.

  She smiled up at him, slid over, and patted the seat beside her.

  He sat but stared straight ahead.

  "Will you drive me home?"

  He frowned. "You're ready to leave all ready?"

  "I have a feeling you'd prefer it if I left. Am I right or am I right?"

  "You're not only wrong but you're also not right," he said, sounding amused.

  "Who knew being so wrong could feel so gratifying?"

  He shifted so he faced her. "What idiot let you go?"

  "The one who wanted to sleep with other women."

  "When he had you?"

  She shrugged. "I guess it's a man thing to always want more than you have."

  "Is it?"

  "Must be, but let's discuss why there isn't a special woman in your life."

  "Should there be?"

  "Well, by your own admission, you're no spring chicken."

  "No. I'm not."

  "Do you have any kids?"

  He stiffened. "No."

  "Do you want any?"

  He didn't answer.

  "Brandon?"

  He sighed. "There was someone very special once," he said after a pause.

  "What happened?"

  "She's dead."

  She touched his arm. "What happened? Can you talk about it?

  He shook his head.

  "Not even to tell me in general terms what happened?"

  He closed his eyes. "When she was murdered just over three years ago I lost her and the baby she was carrying."

  Hearing the pain in his voice, she slipped her arm through his and impulsively kissed him on the corner of his mouth.

  He jerked back. But instead of rising, as she expected, he pushed her against the back of the seat. Holding her there with the weight of his body, he feverishly pressed his lips against her ear and the side of her neck.

  After a moment of surprised immobility, she realized he was shivering and whispering something incomprehensible against her ear. She put her arms around him and held him until he abruptly jerked away from her and rose.

  She stared up at him. "Brandon?"

  He stalked across the grass and disappeared around one of the tall hedges surrounding them without a word.

  Had he just kissed and caressed her ear and neck or had he blindly sought comfort within her arms? Uncertain what to make of what had just happened between them, Carae remained on the swing. Surely, he would return once he regained his composure.

  After what felt like an eternity, she decided he wasn't returning. As she walked around the hedge, she saw him strolling towards her.

  "Brandon!" Relieved, she rushed forward and slipped her arm through his. "Feeling better?"

  He removed his arm and stepped away from her. "Yes. Thanks."

  After their intimate and frank conversation, the chill she heard in his voice confused her. "Is something wrong?"

  "No."

  "Then why are you suddenly so standoffish?"

  "My apologies for leaving you alone for so long."

  "Apology accepted."

  "Good. Now we should go back inside."

  "Why?"

  "There's no point in our remaining out here alone."

  She frowned. "So you're Bancroft."

  He narrowed his gaze. "I think you know I'm not Bancroft."

  "I think the only thing I know is that it's time for me to leave." She took off his jacket and held it out to him. "Will you drive me home?"

  He accepted his jacket but placed it back around her shoulders.

  Viewing the gesture as a peace offering, she smiled at him. "Whether you like it or not, I think you know that I like you."

  "You don't know me."

  "You're right, but that doesn't stop me from being attracted to you."

  "Unfortunately, the attraction is mutual."

  She widened her smile, satisfied that they were back on as intimate footing as he was probably going to allow. "Now we're getting somewhere."

  "I wouldn't count on that."

  "I am counting on it and I'm in the mood to dance in the moonlight. Are you going to oblige or are you going to argue me down?"

  "Is your physical relationship with your friend over?"

  She stared at him. "I didn't say we had a physical relationship."

  "So I noticed, but we both know that you did."

  "Why do you think you know that?"

  "I knew when I touched you."

  She blinked. "Excuse me?"

  "I can often tell what people are thinking and feeling when I touch them."

  "What?"

  "I often know what people are thinking and feeling when I touch them."

  "Are you saying...what are you saying?"

  "Haven't I made myself clear? I knew when I touched you. Some people consider this ability invasive, so it's not something I do often or without permission."

  "Yet you did it with me without my permission."

  "It wasn't intentional, Carae. I just..."

  "You just what? Invaded my thoughts?"

  "Not intentionally. I felt a rush of feelings and emotions when I touched you."

  "Wow. Ah, then it's just as well I'd already admitted I think you're to die for."

  "I'm flattered."

  "You should be."

  "But you've almost managed to derail my question. I know there are or were benefits attached to your relationship with this roommate of yours. What I don't know is if it's over."

  She moistened her lips, while trying to decide how much she should admit. "It is."

  "He's not the man who let you go. Is he?"

  "No. Now perhaps you'll tell me why you feel the need to fillet and grill me, given the fact that you don't date Lelia's friends."

  "So you remember her after all?"

  Her lips twitched. "She's too good a friend to deny. Now you're the one attempting to derail my question."

  He shrugged. "Nothing mysterious about my interest. I just want to know about you."

  "Why?"

  "In case you haven't figured it out, you intrigue me, Carae."

  "I can excite and delight you as well," she said.

  He nodded. "I have no doubt you can do that and more."

  "Am I going to be given the opportunity?"

  "No," he said.

  "Why not?"

  "I've already told you why not."

  "I know, but let's face it, Brandon...do you have a nickname or shall I call you sweetie?"

  "My younger siblings call me Hawk."

  She frowned. "But that's what Lelia called Layton when she introduced us."

  "It's a family nickname that we use and share as a sign of respect and affection for our elder siblings. I call Layton Hawk because he's older than I am. I'm a few minutes older than Bancroft, so he and all our younger siblings call me and Layton Hawk. In turn, Croft is also called Hawk by our younger siblings."

  "It must get confusing."

  "Actually, it doesn't. In addition, occasionally, Layton and Croft call me Hoss."

  "Hoss? I think I like it, but I might like sweetie a little more. Do you mind?"

  "I don't know that there's going to be any occasion for you to call me anything but Brandon."

  If she had her way, there would be countless occasions for her to call him sweetie. "Is that your way of telling me I shouldn't expect to see you again?"

  "I'm sure we'll see each other on the odd occasion...in the company of other people."

  "So you don't foresee any more moonlight strolls in our future?"

  He shook his head. "That wouldn't be wise."

  "So what are we going to do about our mutual attraction?"

  "I'm going to admire you from afar and suggest you might want to consider one of my other brothers who are closer to your age."

  "And you'd be all right with that?"

  He shrugged.

  "Even if yo
u'd be all right with that, I wouldn't. Trust me when I tell you I have zero interest in any of your brothers."

  "You haven't met them all."

  "I don't need to. I've met you, Brandon."

  "Bancroft is—"

  "I'm sure some lucky woman here tonight would love to stroll in the moonlight with him."

  "But not you?"

  "No. Not me." She spread her hands along his chest until her fingers brushed against the thick, glossy hair that reached well past his shoulders. "I'm interested in you, Brandon and only you."

  He briefly caressed her cheek. "Oh, damn, Carae. If I were just a little younger and if things were different—"

  "I've already told you I don't care about your age and we can work on the other things you think stand between us."

  He shook his head. "You deserve far more than I can give you."

  "I have a feeling it's not going to be easy, but I'm going to make sure you understand that I'm old enough to make my own romantic decisions, Brandon."

  "We're going around in circles. Come back inside. I'd like you to meet Bancroft."

  She turned her head and brushed her lips against his hand. "Maybe another time. Right now I think it's time you drove me home."

  "What are you planning to do about your car?"

  "Leaving it here will provide a perfect excuse for me to return tomorrow."

  He laughed. "That sounds like a plan except that this is my brother Layton's house. I live in the Old City area and won't be here tomorrow."

  She placed her hands on his chest. "But you'll drive me home?"

  "Of course I will."

  "Don't you want to know where I live before you agree?"

  "I'll happily drive you anywhere you want to go."

  "Will you?"

  "Yes, Carae, I will," he said, staring down at her. "However, you told me earlier that you lived in the Fairmount section of the city."

  "So I did. What about my car?"

  "I'll drive it to your house while one of my brothers follows in mine." He rose and offered her his arm.

  She stood and slipped her arm through his. "Lead the way and I'll follow."

  "Where will you follow?"

  "Anywhere you lead."

  Chapter Two

  Walking in the moonlit garden beside the woman whose existence he hadn't even been aware of two hours earlier, Brandon Grayhawk struggled with his emotions. For the first time in six years, a woman other than Rissa had managed to garner both his physical and emotional interest in a manner that made nonsense of any resistance he felt capable of offering.

  While he fully accepted that his overwhelming need for sexual intimacy after years of celibacy was normal, he found the emotions Carae stirred in him troubling because he had already lost the one woman he'd considered his sheenea. He and most of his brothers believed that an individual's happiness was determined by the ability to find and enter into a committed relationship with one's sheenea. He defined sheenea as the one person in the universe who completed him and help make him who he was.

  Losing one's sheenea held grave consequences for Brandon who believed he would never know emotional happiness without her. He'd spent the years since Rissa's death celibate and wallowing in a pit of despair so deep, he'd needed the help of his brothers to even climb partway out.

  When he'd lost all hope and least expected it, he'd walked into Layton's living room, looked out the French doors, and saw a woman standing alone on the patio. To his surprise, he'd felt drawn to her without even seeing her face. With a first glance, he noted she was of average height and possessed curves in all the right places. As she turned, he saw she was pretty with warm dark skin and full lips he immediately wanted to taste and kiss. Although she bore no resemblance to Rissa, who had been a stunning brunette who could easily have graced the cover of any magazine, he'd been drawn to her.

  One look at her face and all his pent up sexual desires, along with an overwhelming emotional need had assailed him. Tossing caution to the winds, he'd walked out onto the patio, looked down into her eyes, and lost all common sense.

  Moving towards her, the opening line to one of his favorite songs played in his mind, "Some enchanting evening, you may see a stranger..."

  And as in the words of the song, he'd been drawn to her across Layton and Tempest's crowded living room.

  Recalling how needy he'd felt when she held him as he shivered in her arms, he stopped, and turned her to face him.

  She smiled up at him. "Decided you can't bear to share even a moment of my time with your brother after all?"

  He laughed and then surrendered to his emotions by engulfing her in his arms.

  She pressed close, lifting her head to brush her lips against his cheek, close to but not quite touching his mouth. "I like this so much I can do this all night," she teased.

  Aware that he wanted far more than a hug from her, he released her. Given his reaction to her, he knew he needed the release that only sex could give him. But he couldn't afford to sleep with one of Lelia's friends.

  "That's a charming sentiment but I think it's time I took you home."

  She sighed and shook her head. "You're not going to make this easy. Are you?"

  "There's nothing to make easy. I don't date my sister's friends."

  "Oh, give it a rest, Brandon. Yes, I'd clearly love to get to know you, but that doesn't mean you should overreact. So get over yourself already and take me home."

  Her assertion that he had overestimated her interest in him annoyed the hell out of him. He was tempted to ascertain for himself the level of her interest. As he reached for her hand, Bancroft suddenly rounded the hedge. "Am I interrupting?"

  Certain Bancroft's intervention was intentional; he gave his twin a long cool look. "As a matter of fact, you are."

  "My apologies, Hawk, but since I'm here, introduce us."

  He turned to find Carae's gaze locked on Bancroft who smiled at her with an undeniable intimacy. "Carae this is my brother, Bancroft. Croft, this is Carae Harrington."

  Bancroft clasped her hand between both of his. "I'm delighted to meet you, Carae."

  She smiled. "The feeling is mutual."

  "Yes?"

  She nodded. "Oh, yes."

  "Then perhaps we can exchange numbers." He glanced at Brandon. "That is if you don't mind."

  Damn right he minded.

  "Why should he mind? He tells me he's too old for me and doesn't date Lelia's friends," Carae said, hoping her remark would spark a positive response in Brandon.

  "That would also make my twin too old for you," he pointed out.

  "As you pointed out, he's not quite as old as you are."

  "Don't be ridiculous," he said, annoyed.

  Bancroft released her hand and turned to face him. "Do you mind?"

  "What the fuck, Croft. Do you have to flirt with every single woman you meet?"

  "I take it you do mind, Hawk."

  "Yes, Croft, I do mind." He placed his hand on Carae's back and urged her away from Bancroft.

  "So it's like that, is it?"

  He stopped near the open French doors and turned to face her. "What's like that?"

  "Despite what you said earlier, you're not interested and you're going to make damn sure none of your brothers are either?"

  "Is that what you think, Carae?"

  "Frankly, I don't know what to think, Brandon. One minute you're pinning me against the swing while biting my ear and feasting on my neck with the ferocious appetite of a starving vampire and the next you're reminding me that you don't date your sister's friends again. And this after spending most of the night flirting with and flattering me."

  "I didn't bite your ear or feast on your neck."

  "Is that going to be your story tomorrow when I wake up branded with a neck full of hickeys and teeth prints on my ear?"

  He brushed a hand against her neck. "Did I hurt you?"

  She leaned against his chest and stared up into his eyes. "I'll let you in on a little secret
, sweetie. I loved every second of our intimate interlude and I'm betting you did too although I'm sure hell will freeze over before you'll admit it. Or are you going to surprise me and admit that you were seconds away from palming my breasts and kissing the taste off my lips?"

  After all his protestations about not dating Lelia's friends, her accurate assessment of his physical desire pissed him off. "Correct me if I'm wrong but you were the one who kissed me."

  "I wouldn't actually call it a kiss. But even if I had kissed you, I did it in an attempt to offer comfort. You were the one who took it to another level by humping me and going all vampire on me."

  "Humping you? Next you'll be claiming I had my zipper down and my hands inside your panties."

  "Mmm." She curled her fingers in his hair. "I think you mean my almost nonexistent thong and don't you wish?"

  Thoughts of his hands on her naked flesh, positioning her pussy to receive his cock, made him burn. "Yes," he admitted. "As a matter of fact I do."

  "Down boy." She licked her lips, smiled and walked away.

  Aware that nearly everyone in the living room seemed to be watching, he resisted the urge to slap her ass and slowly followed her inside.

  After briefly speaking to Lelia, she continued walking across the room towards the double doors leading into the hallway.

  Where the hell was she going without him? "Carae?"

  She paused at the doorway to make a fanning motion. "I need to freshen up."

  Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he turned to find Layton standing behind him.

  "So?"

  With that one word Layton managed to convey a wealth of meaning.

  Although two years Layton's junior, they were so close he often felt as if he had a second twin in Layton. The glade where he and Carae had talked was a popular spot during parties. He knew his brothers had run interference to ensure that he and Carae had it to themselves. So there was no point in pretending.

  "I like her," he said simply.

  Layton smiled. "Yeah?"

  "Oh, yeah. She makes me want to sing again."

  "So sing, but before you go bursting into song, refresh my memory. I know we were introduced but I don't remember her name."

  "Carae Harrington."

  "Pretty name."

  "Pretty woman."

  "So?"

  "So?" He grimaced. "She's a friend of Lelia's."

  Layton shrugged. "Don't let that be a stumbling block for you."