Before Sunrise Page 30

  “Harper, we talked about this. We’re family, okay?”

  “No. We’re not family, Eric. You’re best friends with my brother in-law. That doesn’t make us family. Why do you keep saying that? It’s so damn aggravating. I thought we were friends. Do I make you that uncomfortable?”

  Eric heaved a deep sigh. Maybe she had pushed too hard. She was pushy like her mama, and Kennedy was easygoing like their dad. She just didn’t know when to shut up some times. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound bratty. It’s just, I like you okay? There’s nothing wrong with that, right?” Harper smiled, and wondered what the hard stare he gave her meant. Then his face softened. He had to be softening to her the idea of them. Or so she thought. Then he did the worst thing ever. He kissed her brow and patted her arm.

  “Have a good night, kid,” he said.

  Kid! He called her a kid. He turned and walked off without another glance. Harper fumed. She watched him put on his helmet and fire up his bike. It crushed her deeply.

  “Kid, huh? I’ll show you how much a woman I am, Eric Drake.”

  ***

  Kennedy found it strange. A house that hasn’t been rented or lived in at the edge of a cul-de-sac was decorated with Christmas lights? There was no car in the drive. The garage door was down. But the place looked lived-in, cozy. A plastic Santa and his reindeer welcomed her from the lawn. Beyond the picture window she could see the lights of what looked to be a Christmas tree. Why would Eric decorate this way? It wasn’t like him. Why leave all these lights on if he’d been deployed to God knows where? Maybe he had intended to stay here for the holidays. Maybe the lights were on an automatic timer and she had to shut them off for him. Eric was a practical man, so these answers seemed plausible. Still Kennedy double-checked her GPS one more time. It would be embarrassing to walk into someone else’s house. The address checked out. Strange.

  Kennedy opened her car door against the push of the night wind. She stepped out in her suede jacket and knee boots, shivering a bit. The declining temperature made it thirty degrees out. A quick glance around and she noticed how quiet and serene the neighborhood was. Harper didn’t stay far from here, and the first house she and Liam had owned was a couple of neighborhoods away. She always liked Spring Lake. It reminded her of him. The day had come and gone with so much drama she hadn’t had time to think of Liam and her baby. Liam should have called her by now to update her on Mackenzie. It was almost eight.

  Kennedy hurried up the walk thinking she would call home and make sure they had made it in. Mackenzie never spent this much time away from her.

  She fumbled the key. Her hands and fingers were ice cold. Her gloves were stuffed in the dash of the car. Winter had come early and seemed much harsher this season. A smile played over her lips. This holiday would be spent with lots of snuggling. She couldn’t wait to wake up next to Liam on Christmas morning. Turning the lock, she pushed the door open, but her head was down and she tried to remove the key.

  “Surprise!”

  Kennedy gasped, startled. Her eyes stretched wide. Mackenzie stood next to her daddy in a Santa hat. Liam wore the same. For a minute she couldn’t process the whys, the hows.

  “Surprise! Surprise! Surprise, mommy!” Mackenzie bounced like a jumping bean, clapping and laughing. “We surprised you, didn’t we!”

  Kennedy came through the door smiling; her heart was pounding in her chest. The place seemed so festive. They even had a tree. “What’s this?”

  “Close the door Kay, it’s cold.” Liam sighed.

  Kennedy hadn’t realized she stood with the door flung open. She closed the door and Mackenzie rushed her legs, hugging them and grinning. She had missed her baby all day. She picked her up and kissed her. “Hey, sweetie. How was your day?”

  “Good. Look at it, mommy. Daddy and I did it. Look.”

  Mackenzie squirmed to be put down on her feet. She was so hyper in her excitement, Kennedy knew that sugar had to be the fuel her daughter was running on. But she didn’t ask. If she were honest, Liam had gone way above the call of duty. The place looked as if Wal-Mart’s Christmas department had exploded inside the house. Ceiling fan blades hung green, red, and silver garland with shiny silver tinsel. Frosty, Santa, and Rudolph cutouts were taped to the wall. A very obvious mistletoe dropped from a tiny ceiling hook a few feet from the front door. Lights were strung up along the tops of doors and around the room. The tree was huge. It reached the ceiling, and spread out at least three feet on ever side. It was the most wonderfully tacky decorating she’d ever seen.

  “Do you like it, mommy? We did it for you.”

  “I…um, yes, baby, it’s beautiful. Mommy loves it.” She looked at Liam, confused. “What’s going on, Liam? You set this up?”

  Liam just stared at her. She saw a lot of reasons behind the ‘why.’ This was done for her benefit. Enough to make her want to rush him and shower him with kisses.

  “Mommy. You’re standing under the mistletoe. Daddy said every time you stand under it you have to give us a kiss. Me first.” Mackenzie pulled her hand. Kennedy laughed and kissed her daughter’s tiny lips. “Okay now daddy. Come on, daddy. Give mommy a kiss. She under the mistletoe. Remember, we said she would.”

  Liam walked over to Kennedy. She suddenly felt nervous energy tingling over her at his approach. His eyes never left hers.

  “Hi,” he said.

  “Hello.”

  “Mac’s right. You are under the mistletoe. I know you’re angry with me because of the fight, and all, but we don’t want to disappoint her.” He looked down at Mackenzie and winked.

  “Well, I certainly wouldn’t want to disappoint Mac,” Kennedy said, taking a step toward him.

  “Do it! Give her a kiss,” Mackenzie said, pushing at her father’s legs.

  Kennedy stifled another laugh. “I think you better hurry up and kiss me.” She smiled.

  “My pleasure.” Liam cupped the left side of her face and drew her under his lips, covering her mouth with his. She melted on the spot. Her hands traced up and down his chest the way they used to when he kissed her in greeting. His tongue gently eased inside her mouth and once more, she was swept up in the passion between them. Time, distance, heartbreak…nothing could separate them when they connected like this.

  Liam’s tongue moved over hers, slow and apologetic and gentle. He was forgiven, though she couldn’t recall his offense. Both of his hands went to her face, his thumbs caressed her cheekbones, and the kiss deepened. She lifted her hands shakily at first, then gripped his hips. She could kiss him forever.

  “Ew, stop…stop.” Mackenzie pushed between them until they separated. “C’mon, mommy, I cooked dinner. Time to eat.”

  Kennedy, half-dazed half-awake, nearly groaned over their parting. Mackenzie pulled her with one hand. Liam caught the other, wanting her to stay, needing more. She had to let his hand go, leaving him with a hungry look in his eyes. Oh how she desperately wanted to satisfy that burn he had, because she carried it too.

  “C’mon, mommy, come now.”

  Mackenzie pulled her out of the living room area. They walked past the stairwell then turned left to the small kitchen and dining room. More surprises awaited her. A large black and white checkered picnic blanket was spread on the hardwood floor. There were three plates set with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a side dish of Chee-tos and gummy bears. For the drink, each plate had a CapriSun.

  “See, mommy. I fixed dinner.”

  Kennedy’s eyes welled with tears. “Did you do this for mommy, baby?”

  “Yes, me and daddy. But I did it the most. Daddy just helped me with the knife. See. All your favorites.”

  Kennedy laughed. “Actually, sweetie, these are your favorites.”

  “Same thing.” Mackenzie shrugged. She went and plopped down in front of her plate.

  Liam came behind Kennedy. His arm circled her waist, his mouth hovering close to her ear. “I’m sorry for yesterday. Stay and have dinner with us. Let’s make up.”


  Kennedy nodded. Liam wanted to make up. He had no idea how exciting and tempting the mere thought was. She couldn’t speak with his arm around her waist and the hard frame of him pressed into her backside. Her heart had lodged in her throat. He kissed her cheek and then released her. Kennedy sat on the blanket. She watched Liam make his way to his area and how he lowered to the blanket with his leg extended. She felt a sharp pang of sympathy but tried to discard it.

  “Oh no, daddy! We forgot the music,” Mackenzie whined.

  Liam nodded. He reached behind him and pulled over a portable CD player. He turned on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Mackenzie began to sway, singing along. Her red Santa hat flopped from one side of her head to the other. Kennedy reached over and adjusted it, to keep it from dropping too low on her brow. “So Eric let you borrow this place for the party? Helped you set me up?” she asked Liam.

  Liam bit off half his sandwich and spoke while he chewed. “It’s our place.”

  Kennedy choked on her small bite. She hit her chest to swallow. Mackenzie got up and started hitting her on the back. “I’m okay sweetheart, go ahead and sit down. Mama’s okay.”

  She looked to Liam and he was grinning so wide, she had to smile too. Eric had been his co-conspirator, but a house? That was fast, and the most unexpected thing Liam could have done. Especially since she struggled to figure out how to put them all under the same roof again. “Are you serious? What exactly do you mean when you say our place?”

  “I got it for us. I haven’t decorated yet. Not good at that stuff, will let you do it. But yeah, it’s where um, I’m going to stay, then I’m hoping we can stay. If you want to.”

  “I got my own room, mommy. It’s big.” Mackenzie nodded. “Daddy said we gone paint, after I get my dog.”

  “Dog?” Kennedy frowned.

  “Long story.” Liam gave a wink.

  Kennedy didn’t know what to say. The house took on new meaning. She looked around her and envisioned her life under this roof. She feared starting over, or starting from scratch. She and Liam had so little when they married. She could remember a place smaller than this one with a busted heater. She had so much love for it that she cried when he found a bigger place and they had to move. This was to be their do-over and she needed to be ready. The house had two levels so she imagined the bedrooms were upstairs.

  “I will get us a bigger place when I get on my feet,.” Liam added, as if he thought she might resist the modest arrangement. “I have some ideas of what I want to do. To make money and take care of us. I’m getting out of the service.”

  “You are?”

  “Yep. Got a meeting with Alexa tomorrow.” He paused, gave her a serious look. “Be honest. What do you think, Kay?”

  “It’s perfect,” she said over her child singing Jingle Bells the best way she could. “I love it the way it is. I can’t wait to move in.”

  “Really?” Liam asked.

  Kennedy nodded. “Really.”

  Frosty the Snowman began to play out of the tiny speakers. Kennedy stretched out on the blanket and tickled her daughter. Mackenzie, her mouth ringed with orange Chee-tos powder, laughed. Together they sang along with the radio. She saw Liam watching her, smiling at her, and felt an even greater sense of relief.

  ***

  Eric relaxed back in his leather recliner, his beer in one hand and his phone in the other. Every light except the lamp next to him left was off. He liked the dark, felt safe in it. Maybe because most of his escapes out of some really shitty situations in combat required he blend with the shadows.

  “Yes, sir, Mr. Vice President, I’m here. I certainly understand. I thank you, sir. If you can do anything, anything to assist I would appreciate it. Certainly, these are serious times. Yes, sir. I will await your decision.”

  He hung up. Eric groaned deep in his throat. Alexa had covered all her bases. Her tentacles reached all the way to the White House. Everywhere he turned was another brick wall. The vice president had been his last option. And he held out little hope there. His reassignment would have him living in Jakarta for a year at least.

  “Fuck!” he shouted to the empty house. He downed the last of his beer and let his lids drift shut. It was his fifth. He needed one more to completely waste out. He wouldn’t be drunk. Just numb. Numb was good. Tomorrow, if the call didn’t come, he would have to have pack for a very fucking long journey. Just as he settled into numbness a flash of light swept over him. He blinked awake. He knew he hadn’t imagined it. A quick look to the window he saw he headlights of a car in his drive just before they switched off. “Who in the hell?”

  Eric set the bottle down. He reached into the side cushion of his recliner and removed his Smith and Wesson. Rising, he steered clear of the windows. He had intelligence that the threat from Amir Sarkhir extended to several brother operators. Though they were keeping Liam and his family under watches both seen and unseen, Eric usually flew solo. He could take care of his own fucking self, and if he didn’t, well he had no real family who would care.

  He shook off the fog in his head and tried to focus. Who the fuck would arrive at his house this hour? He listened. A car door closed. The soft sound of clicking heels on the sidewalk approached. A woman. Probably Alexa. The bitch wasn’t beyond a night call. He’d fucked her a few times back in the day. You couldn’t hate someone as much as he hated her without being a little turned on. She was just as controlling under the sheets as she was on her feet. Thankfully, their messing around never led anywhere. She had one love jones and it definitely wasn’t for his cock.

  Eric stepped closer to the blinds. He didn’t disturb them. Instead, he focused his line of vision through the horizontal blades and released the safety on his gun. He got a look at his visitor when she knocked on the door. His brows rose in surprise. Resetting the safety he slipped the gun to the back of his pants and walked to the door and opened it. “What are you doing here sweetheart?”

  Harper grinned. “Dinner,” she said, holding up a bag of takeout from a rib spot up the street. She wore a gray trench that stopped at her ankles and sexy pink pumps. He could smell her floral beauty in the wind that blew a bone-freezing chill through his door. Was she on her way out and just passing through?

  “Are you going to let me in?” She shivered.

  “Yeah, sorry. Come in.” He held the door.

  Harper strutted inside. She was bold. He and Liam used to joke about how defiant she could be. Once Liam and Kennedy married, she wanted to live with them immediately, and visited often. Eric had always thought she was cute. A cute, sweet kid with a crush. Just a crush.

  He needed to send her on her way. Tonight he’d been in an unsettling mood, and could use little restraint with this princess. She disappeared through his house to the kitchen. Eric followed. He found her at the dining room table, placing the bag on top. “Harper, it’s late, love. You shouldn’t have come here.”

  “I brought you dinner.” She looked over to him and smiled. “And dessert.” She undid the tie to her trench coat. It opened, revealing the sexiest lingerie he’d ever seen. Damn. Pink was definitely her color. One look at the lacy undergarment against her chocolate skin and his dick stretched between his legs.

  “Fuck,” mumbled Eric. He was in trouble.

  ***

  “How long can she keep this up?”

  Kennedy snuggled closer. Their backs were pressed against the wall. Her right thigh was against his left. Other than that, he didn’t touch her and that in itself was torture. They were sharing a plastic cup of wine, watching their daughter, who sang in front of them. When she got excited she would bounce and grin, then run around the living room jumping over nothing. It started with The Wheels on the Bus, and moved to her ABCs. Now she was on Rudolph again.

  “How much candy did you give her?” Kennedy whispered.

  Liam frowned. “Not a lot.”

  “Mmmhmm, look and learn. I told you no sweets.”

  Liam put his hand on her leg, slipping his fingers b
etween her thighs.

  “Couldn’t help myself. I’m a sucker for my girls.” He kissed her shoulder.

  At last! Contact. Kennedy released a deep sigh. She had half a mind to get on his lap and take another kiss. One like the sweet kiss he gave her when she walked through the door. She glanced at him. His eyes slid back over to her.

  “I’ve missed this. Us. You know that, don’t you?” she asked.

  “Yes. I’m sorry, Kay. For everything. I could have handled things better. Give me another chance. We can go slow, at your pace.”

  “Of course we can, Liam. I ended things with Phil. It’s over. I’m yours. I was going to tell you tonight and then you surprised me.”

  Liam stared at her in stunned silence. Maybe he hadn’t thought she’d choose him. Maybe he just didn’t have as much faith in them as he used to. She didn’t blame him. Life had dealt him a bad hand since he was a kid. Nothing ever came easy to him. She planned to make up for so much. She would love him so hard and so strong that he’d never have to worry or suffer a minute of loneliness. She couldn’t wait.

  “I love you,” she said softly.

  He gently put his hand to her face and dropped his forehead to hers. “Kay, I love you too, always. I never want to make you cry again, hurt you. I feel like shit for what I said to you. You’re the only person on this planet who understands me. I missed you so much when I was gone.” He kissed her once, twice, three times, then slipped his tongue in and claimed hers.

  “Mommy! You not listening to me! Stop that!” Mackenzie began to whine, she rubbed her eyes as if she were on the verge of tears. Kennedy sighed. She broke the kiss first. She wasn’t even sure Liam heard his daughter. “She’s sleepy. I need to take her home and put her to bed.”