If that was truly his vision of their future, it was no wonder hed run. The fact you couldnt tell me that just proves it wasnt meant to be. You saw me as a burden, not a partner.
Delaney, I He was interrupted by the angry shriek of a newborn echoing through the gym. Damn. Mikes exhausted. Im going to go see if I can walk the baby and let him and Sandy get some rest.
She nodded, simultaneously relieved this conversation could end and disappointed he was walking away from her. It was probably for the best. He couldnt unbreak her heart and, even if he could, nothing had changed.
Tuckers Point was her home and it was a place he didnt even want to visit, never mind return to for good. They could be civilmaybe even friendlybut there was no point in looking into the past. Brody Rollins wasnt part of her future.
* * *
THERE WAS NOTHING like trying to keep a fussy infant soothed and quiet in a gym full of people to kill a guys new and fragile urge to start a family.
His arms ached, he had a tweak in the small of his back, his shoulder felt damp and his feet hurt. And, when hed managed to sneak a peek at his watch mid-jostle, it had only been a half hour.
Parenthood was not for sissies.
He had nobody to ask for help, either. Not long after Mike and Sandy lay down, hed seen Delaney slip behind a screen to the cot she and another volunteer were taking turns using. With those three people all napping, Brody was essentially alone in a room full of people.
Hed walked away from this community and he knew, from the looks hed been getting, they hadnt forgotten hed snuck out in the dark, leaving them, his family and Delaney behind.
Why dont you let me help you with him?
A woman who looked vaguely familiar stood next to him. While it was a relief to know he wasnt alone, after all, he wasnt too sure about handing Sandys baby over to just anybody who asked.
Im Dani Harbour. He must have looked blank, because she arched one eyebrow at him. I was a year behind you in school.
Delaneys friend.
Yeah, Delaneys friend. The you jerk was implied by her tone. Let me walk Noah for a little bit. You look beat.
She knew the babys name. And its not as if she could go anywhere. Are you sure you dont mind?
In this town, we help our friends and neighbors. She paused. Sandy and Mike are both.
Just so he knew he wasnt either. I appreciate it.
He handed Noah to Dani and then pressed his hands to the small of his back, twisting to work the kinks out. Relaxing was an entirely different thing, however, and he found himself hovering as the storms refugees took turns passing the baby. While he appreciated the way the community stuck together, that was his nephew they were playing hot potato with.
He breathed a sigh of relief when Sandy emerged from behind the screen almost an hour and a half later. Noah was obviously winding himself up for a good bawl and even the comfort of snuggling against Rebecca Coxs really ample breasts wasnt doing it for the little guy anymore. He wanted to eat.
Sandy looked well-rested, though, which was good. With her husband safe and her baby being looked after, shed managed a power nap she desperately needed. She smiled when she spotted them and made her way over.
Time for the little monster to eat, she said, taking Noah from Becks. Thanks for babysitting. I feel so much better now.
You needed the rest, Brody said. I wish you could have slept longer.
As he said it, he caught Delaney slipping out of her sleeping area through the corner of his eye. She should have slept longer, he thought. Wearing herself out taking care of things did nobody any good.
She disappeared in the direction of the bathrooms and, when he saw her again, she was fresh-faced and looked ready to tackle whatever the next thing on her list was.
Well, she wasnt going to tackle it alone. Brody wasnt used to sitting around and he was more than capable of helping in any way he could. He made his way over to the check-in table, where she was drinking orange juice and reading something on her clipboard.
What can I do to help?
She jumped, almost dropping her plastic cup of juice. Brody! Dont sneak up on people.
All I did was walk. What are you reading?
Im trying to find anything at all I can to justify putting off the next thing on my list.
If Delaney was avoiding it, it couldnt be a pleasant task. What is it? I can help.
She sighed, dropping the clipboard on the table. Its time to go around and clean and disinfect. With so many people in one place, its important to stay on top of the germs so I have to wipe everything down with bleach water.
Point me towards a bucket, oh fearless leader.
She laughed, shaking her head. I dont really see you in rubber gloves with that sweater and those shoes.
What about them?
I know quality when I see it, Brody. Its obvious you havent had to do manual labor in a while.
That wounded him for reasons he couldnt quite put his finger on. Im not afraid of hard work. I might have crews to do the heavy lifting now, but dont forget Im from herefrom the docks. I know hard work.
Her eyes met his and she tilted her head, as though he were a puzzle she was trying to solve. Gee, Brody. That almost sounded like hometown pride there for a second.
Im just saying I can do whatever you need done. Thats all. Pride wasnt an emotion he connected to his childhood.
Im not going to turn down the help. Lets go get the stuff.
He followed her through the double doors in the hallway, trying to keep his eyes above her waist and not on the gentle sway of her hips as she walked. Especially since they were being watched. They were always being watched in the gym as people kept watch for any scrap of gossip.
The supply closet was next to the gym, and he waited while she found the right key on the ring he assumed the school supplied to the emergency management volunteers. The small room must have been on the same circuit with the gym because, when she flipped the switch, the overhead light flickered and turned on. He followed her in and wrinkled his nose at the chemical smell.
I saw that, she told him, amusement in her voice. I can probably find you other work, like holding Mrs. Camerons ball of yarn while she knits, if this is too much for you.
The amusement in her eyes and the light teasing in her voice dragged him back to five years ago, when Delaney had been his only joy. The hours hed spent with her had been the bright spots in a dismal life, and his body reacted to their achingly familiar chemistry with a rush of desire.
Her eyes widened when he stepped toward her, needing to touch her again. Brody...
Delaney. There were shelving units behind her and she couldnt retreat. Have I mentioned how much Ive missed you?
He watched her face, looking for anger or rejection or anything negative, but all he saw was the hot blush across her neck and cheeks, and her eyes focused on his mouth.
Ive missed you, too, she whispered.
It had been inevitable from the second he stepped through the doors and saw her for the first time, he realized. Five years hadnt cooled what sizzled between them. Under the ashes of his abandonment, the embers burned and now the fire flared again. This was the only woman hed ever loved and there was no way he could stop himself from touching her.
* * *
BRODY WAS GOING to kiss her. Delaney knew the man more intimately than shed ever known any other, and his intention was made plain in the hot and hungry look in his eyes and the way he moved toward her.
She should shove him away. There were plenty of other things he could do that didnt require being near her. Kissing him was a dead-end road and she should bang a U-turn before she ended up stuck in that lonely place shed ended up before.
But she was going to let him kiss her because she had no resistance against him. She never had. And she wanted the kiss, too.
With his hands braced against the shelves on either side of her head, Brody lowered his forehead until it came to rest gently against hers. His eyes closed and she knew he was fighting the same internal battle she was.
A kiss would be a very bad idea.
Kissing you is a bad idea, he whispered.
At least they were on the same page.
But I want to, he continued. Definitely on the same page. Its all I can think about. And I dont have to wonder what itll be like. I know kissing you is like pulling a royal flush in a high-stakes game. Its a total rush and nothing will ever beat it.
Warmth curled through Delaney and she felt the soft breath of his sigh over her face. She placed her hands on his chest and felt his body stiffen under her touch. She could push him away. She should push him away.
Instead, she ran her palms over the soft wool of his sweater and up to his shoulders. A slight nudge, pulling him in, was all it took. His mouth covered hers and the sweetness of it tugged at her heart.
His lips were gentle and she shivered when his tongue danced over her bottom lip. He was savoring her, and she reveled in the sensations that swept through her. No matter what her mind said, her body and her heart knew this kiss. Nobody had ever made her feel the way he could with a simple touch of his lips.
Delaneys fingertips bit into Brodys shoulders as he deepened the kiss, but she still didnt pull away.
She knew she should. Letting herself get too close to Brody Rollins would bring her nothing but a second helping of heartache, and yet there was something about his kiss that felt so right. His tongue danced over hers and she leaned into him as his hand slid up her back. Her body remembered thisthe feel of his touchand wanted more.
It was the sound of the door handle jiggling that finally gave her the strength to break away.
Good lord, a quarter of the town was just a few feet away and here she was, making out with Brody in the custodians closet like a teenager.
Delaney? It was Alice, one of the other volunteers, and Delaney slipped out from between Brody and the shelves as the door opened.
Im in here. What do you need?
Alices gaze bounced between Delaney and Brody a few times, and Delaney was dismayed when she saw understanding dawn in the other womans eyes. This would be a nice bit of gossip for everybody to chew on for a while. Sorry. Were running low on paper towels.
She grabbed a few rolls, balancing them in her arms, and then gave Delaney a quick smile on her way out. Ill just...go. Take your time.
Delaney wondered if shed meant that to sound as suggestive as it came out. Just grabbing some bleach, rags and buckets. Well be right out.
When the door swung shut behind Alice, Delaney had to stifle a groan. Even if she hurried, half the people in the gym would know shed been kissing Brody Rollins in the supply room before she got out there. The news would trickle through to the other half whether she was in the gym or not.
I probably shouldnt have done that, Brody said quietly.
I didnt exactly put up a fight.
No, but now everybody will be talking and...Im sorry.
She grabbed two buckets and put a cleaning rag and a plastic gallon of bleach in each one. Theyd fill them with hot water from the kitchen. At least its only a matter of time before you get to leave. Again. So you wont have to hear it.
Delaney, come on.
At least this time you have to sign yourself out so, as long as Im manning the clipboard, Ill know youre going this time.
He put his hand on her shoulder, making her stand still. I dont know how many times I can apologize for not telling you in person I was leaving.
Screw the note, Brody. Has it occurred to you Im having a little trouble with the fact you didnt ask me to go with you?
He didnt know how to make her understand. If Id asked you to go, you would have wanted to think about it and make plans and...I dont know. Sort through all your stuff and come up with a whole pile of stuff you wanted to take.
Like any normal person would.
If Id had to wait for you, I would have lost my courage. I drove out of here in a beat-up car with a duffel bag of clothes and two hundred bucks in my pocket because right then, at that moment, I was more afraid of staying than leaving.
Fine. Just dont lie to meor to yourselfand say that right then, at that moment, I factored into your decision at all.
He blew out a breath, then took one of the buckets from her. You sure know how to take the blush off a good kiss.
That was the point. I have work to do.
She left the supply room and hurried into the gym before he could say anything else.
They worked in silence, washing down almost every touchable surface in the gymnasium with the diluted bleach mixture. He took some good-natured ribbing from some of the guys about his bright yellow rubber gloves, but Delaney tried to ignore the rich sound of his laughter. She tried to ignore the way he stopped to talk to people now and then, rebuilding old bonds hed severed so unexpectedly.
But no matter how much she tried to focus on the past and wrap herself in a security blanket of old hurts, her gaze was drawn to him time after time. More often than not, hed catch her looking and his expression would be pensive, as if he were trying to gauge her mood. And she was keenly aware that most of the people in the gym with them were watching them watch each other.
Probably making little tsk sounds under their breath. Poor Delaney. That Rollins boy broke her heart once and now shes going to let him do it again. Foolish girl.
That thought finally ignited the anger and resentment his kiss had cooled and she held on to it throughout the rest of the day. Even when he helped her clean up after theyd served supper to the crowd, she managed to be polite and appreciative, but decidedly detached.
But when they dimmed the lights and everybody around her started drifting into restless sleep, Delaney lay awake, staring at the ceiling because every time she closed her eyes, she relived that kiss again.
And ached for another.
CHAPTER FIVE
TUESDAY MORNING CAME early, thanks to the kids who couldnt sleep in when away from their homes. Or maybe kids never slept in. Brody didnt have a clue, but he knew these kids were up and at em like a horde of two-legged, overeager roosters.
Brody sat on the floor, his back up against the wall. He felt trapped and restless and, from all reports, the freak storm wasnt abating any. Hed already powered up his phone to deal with some email, including responding to the message from his office manager, who thought her boss being stuck in a school gym was the funniest thing that had ever happened.