WMIS 07 Breathe With Me (9 page)

When she sees me, she turns abruptly to leave, but I stop her.

“Wait. Sam, can we talk?”

She stops mid-stride and sighs deeply before turning back around and facing me. Her face is completely sober, but I can tell this is not the conversation she wants to have.

“What’s up?” she asks.

“I swear, Keaton eats more than I do,” Natalie says as she bustles into the kitchen and pulls a bottle out of the fridge, then turns to us and her eyes go wide. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“You didn’t,” Sam replies. “What do you want, Meredith?”

“First of all, I hope I didn’t cause any trouble by mentioning Starla earlier.”

Sam laughs and shakes her head, surprising me. “Trust me. Starla is not an issue. I’ve known about her for a long time, and not that it’s any of your business, but Leo and I are just fine.”

She begins to walk away, but I stop her again.

“Well, I guess I want to clear the air. I know you’ve never liked me.”

She holds her hand up for me to stop talking. “I didn’t know you. I was away at college when you dated my brother all those years ago. But I do know that you broke his heart.”

“I don’t want you to hate me—”

“I don’t hate you. I just don’t trust you.”

Well, there you go.

“Sam,” Natalie says softly. “You didn’t trust me either.”

“I didn’t know you either, but you didn’t see Mark after she broke it off,” Sam reminds her, then glances back at me and pulls in a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “People grow up. They change. I know that.” She props her hands on her hips. “I love my brothers more than just about anything, so I’ll be watching, Meredith. I don’t hate you. I don’t even dislike you. I don’t trust you.”

“I get it.” I nod and shrug.

“What the hell is going on?” Mark asks from the doorway.

Chapter Five

~Mark~

I saw Mer walk through the back door a few minutes ago, and Sam followed her, and neither has emerged.

I don’t have a good feeling about this.

“Hey,” I say to Luke quietly. “I’ll be back.”

He nods and I make a beeline for the open door, and just as I’m about to walk through, I hear Sam say, “I don’t trust you.”

“What the hell is going on?” I demand. Natalie is holding a baby bottle in her hand, biting her lip. Sam’s hands are braced on her hips and Meredith is leaning her hands on the countertop, but she looks fine. She’s not crying or breathing heavily, and I send up a silent prayer of thanks.

Sam can be ruthless. But Mer is holding her own.

My strong girl.

“I’m just clearing the air with Sam,” Mer says and smiles brightly. “No problem.”

I glance at Sam who continues to watch Meredith before she turns to me and shrugs. “We’re fine, Mark.”

“There’s no blood?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood.

“Not yet,” Sam says and cocks a brow at me.

“Geez, no need to be violent, slugger.”

“We’ll see,” she replies and turns to leave.

“I’m going to take this to Keaton,” Natalie says, but stops by Meredith on her way by. “I’m glad you’re here. Just give it time.”

Mer smiles and nods and I immediately cross to her and tilt her chin up. “What happened?”

“Nothing dramatic,” she replies. “She doesn’t dislike me. She doesn’t trust me, which I can work with.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that it’s better than I thought.” She smiles and hugs me tightly, wrapping her arms around me and nuzzling her face against my chest.

“I know Sam can be ruthless, so if she said anything to make you…”

“Stop.” She lays her hand on my chest and looks up at me with those blue eyes, shining with unshed tears. “Do you know what I would give to be able to grill my sister’s boyfriend? To make him squirm a little?” She shakes her head and bites her lip and I tighten my arms around her. “I can handle Sam.”

“Okay.” I kiss her head and hug her close. “Do you want to leave?”

“No, let’s go back out.” She smiles bravely and my heart melts a little more. She’s here because of me, because she knows it’s important to me. She leads me outside and we quickly join a conversation with Meg, Will, Matt and Nic.

“Vegas,” Meg says.

“What’s happening in Vegas?” I ask, keeping Mer’s hand in mine. Matt and Will both notice and exchange a glance.

Yeah, I’ll be getting ribbed later. I don’t care.

“We’re all going to Vegas,” Will says. “We’re just going to do a big group bachelor/bachelorette party.”

“Fun,” I reply. “When?”

“In a few weeks,” Meg says and smiles. “We’re making all the travel arrangements. All you guys have to do is show up.”

“I like the sound of this trip,” Matt says. “How are the wedding plans coming?”

Will groans, but Meg lights up, clearly excited to talk about wedding plans. “Great! Alecia is the best.”

“Alecia is planning this one too?” I ask. That woman plans every event for this family. She might as well just marry someone and officially become part of the gang.

“Yes, and she’s brilliant.”

“When is the big day?” Meredith asks.

“June 9
^th
,” Meg replies.

“That’s only about six weeks away,” Nic replies. “I’ll need you in the shop this week so we can look at cake ideas.”

“Okay! Fun!” Meg agrees. “It took us a while to choose a date,” she tells Meredith.

“It’s because she’s lazy,” Will informs us all with a smile. Meg slaps his arm and rolls her eyes.

“I am
not
lazy.”

“I can’t wait to marry you,” Will says and nuzzles Meg’s ear, making her laugh. “Let’s go right now.”

“It’s Sunday,” Meg replies and pushes against Will’s chest. “Nothing is open right now.”

“I’ll make some calls,” Will replies with a smug smile.

“Miss Mer!” Josie interrupts, pulling on Meredith’s hand. “We love this song! Come dance with us. Please?”

Meredith laughs. “You like Starla, do you?”

“Yes, please come dance.”

“Okay.” She smiles up at me. “My dance card just filled up. I’ll be back.”

“Have fun.”

She lets Maddie take one hand and Josie take the other as they guide her to the open lawn area where the kids have been playing. She starts to move her body, showing the girls some new moves, laughing with them. Maddie concentrates, watching Mer with an intense look on her sweet face.

“She’s great,” Nic comments and sips her water.

“You brought a woman to a family function,” Will states soberly.

I just nod and watch as Livie joins the others and Meredith lifts her in her arms and twirls her around, dancing effortlessly with the toddler.

“He’s not even listening to us,” Matt comments.

“I can hear you, asshole.”

“She’s so good with the kids,” Isaac says as he and Caleb join us. I nod and shove my hands in my pockets as Mer glances up and winks at me, sending a punch right to my gut.

“Brynna rarely drops the girls off with anyone,” Caleb says, “but she and Stacy have no qualms about leaving the girls with Meredith while they go get pedicures during dance class.”

Sophie tries to turn and falls on her butt. Her little lip sticks out, but before she can start to cry, Mer squats next to her, Livie still in her arms, and calms her, then helps her back to her feet so she can continue dancing with the others.

Christ, she’s magnificent. She kisses Liv’s cheek and then sets her on her feet so she can dance in that awkward way that toddlers do, and finishes the song with the others.

“She’s clearly in the right job,” Matt says quietly. “Most of us can’t deal with two of them at once, and she has all of them around her effortlessly.” He points as baby Liam toddles over and grips her jeans, pulls himself up on his feet and bounces on his legs, dancing with the others.

“Mark’s a goner,” Meg says. I glance over at her and grin.

“I’m bringing her with me to Vegas.” I’m bringing her with me
everywhere.
If I’m invited, she’s invited.

“We wouldn’t have it any other way,” she replies and pats my arm. “I like her already.”

I’m fucking in love with her again already. I’m never letting her go. Never again.

She comes running back to us, out of breath and a wide smile on her beautiful face.

“They would dance all day,” she says with a laugh. “Maddie’s amazing. If she wanted to, she could go pretty far in the dance world.”

“She’s eight.” Caleb growls.

“Well, not today,” Mer agrees. “But someday.”

“She asked me if we could sign her up for one on one classes with you,” Brynna says as she pats Michael on the back. “Isn’t she too young for that?”

“Maybe a bit,” Mer says and purses her lips as she thinks it over. “You could add a second class a week for now. If she’s still interested when she hits about thirteen, I can take her on one on one and work with her.”

Brynna nods thoughtfully and glances up at Caleb who’s just gone pale. “What do you think?”

“I think I don’t want to even think about the day she turns thirteen.”

“Oh! That reminds me, I have something for Mom. I brought her birthday gift along with us, but it’s in the car. Meredith, will you hold Michael for me?”

“Oh, I…” Mer begins, but Brynna places the sleeping baby in Mer’s arms and hurries away. Mer looks at each of us with panicked eyes and then back down at the oblivious baby. “I’m not good with babies. Here, his dad should hold him.”

“You’ll do fine,” Caleb says with an amused grin.

“Here,” Stacy says and helps Meredith settle Michael on her shoulder. “There you go. He’s not going anywhere.”

“You were just swarmed by children and looked just fine, sweetheart,” Will says.

“I’m good with kids, but tiny babies scare the hell out of me. I’m afraid I’ll break them.” Meredith immediately sways back and forth, patting Michael’s diaper-covered butt and rests her cheek on his head. “Is this okay?”

“Perfect,” I reply quietly. Her eyes find mine over the baby’s head and she smiles softly.

“Wow,” someone—Meg?—says. I can’t look away from the gorgeous woman before me.

My woman.

Mine.

She looks amazing wearing that baby. I can see her holding
our
baby. Grandbabies.

Fuck, this is forever. She’s it for me.

“I’m going to need someone to take that baby,” I say calmly.

“Why?” Mer asks and frowns. “Am I doing it wrong?”

“No, I need to get you out of here. Now.”

“I got it!” Stacy takes Michael from Meredith and I immediately grip her hand in mine and tug her along behind me to the gate at the side of the house.

“Goodbye everyone!” she calls with a laugh and waves. “I had a great time! Thanks for including me!”

“Goodbye!” I can hear the guys laughing, and I don’t give a shit. I need her. I need to claim her, to remind her that she’s mine. To lose myself in her for hours, rediscovering everything about her.

“Mark?” she asks with another laugh. “Slow down, babe.”

“No.”

I yank the Jeep door open and wait for her to climb in but she stops in front of me and cups my face in her small hands.

“Stop. What got into you?”

“I can’t wait another minute.” Her eyes darken as she watches me. “I know it’s nuts and my brother will most likely never let me forget dragging you out of there like a caveman, but I can’t share you with them any longer. I need you naked and wet and moving beneath me for about the next two days.”

Her eyes dilate and she licks her lips as she watches my mouth move. Her hands are braced on my biceps and I smile as I flex them on purpose, making her eyes widen and that pulse point in her throat thrum in anticipation.

“Well, when you put it like that,” she says softly. “Are you taking me home?”

“I’m taking you to my place,” I reply and tip my forehead down onto hers. “No interruptions. I’m going to make you scream and laugh and come undone, and I don’t want you worrying about who can hear us when I do.”

“Fair enough,” she says. “Can we stop talking about it in Will’s driveway and just go do it now?”

“That was the idea.”

Chapter Six

~Meredith~

“Where do you live?” I ask and nervously bounce my knee in a fast staccato.

“About ten minutes from here,” he replies and takes my hand in his, pulling it to his lips to kiss my knuckles. “Too far.”

I can’t stand it anymore. Telling me he needs me
now
flipped a switch inside me and I need to touch him. He stops at a red light and I slip out of my seatbelt and crawl over the center console, grip his face in my hands and kiss him. Demandingly. He growls and buries his fingers in my hair, holding me to him as he kisses me back with a hunger I’ve never seen from him before.