Jesus. Ezra simply went into protective big brother mode as he took over from Paddy. Let me get with Mom to see what the status is.
Ezra got on the phone with his parents and within minutes hed managed to settle everyone down. His parents had recently arrived at the hospital where they met Vaughan and Kelly, Vaughans ex-wife and the mother of his children.
Ezra explained everything to Paddy, Natalie and Tuesday once hed hung up. Dad says the hospital wont let anyone else in where theyre waiting along with Vaughan and Kelly. Kensey is sleeping over at a friends house already so at least that one thing is taken care of, by the way. Kensey was Maddies little sister. Someone will call when Maddies out of surgery and they hear from the doctor. He said not to come down there right now.
I feel helpless. Paddy paced as Natalie put the kettle on for some tea.
Tuesday spoke quietly from where shed been pulling mugs down from a cabinet. One thing you might do is make your parents and Vaughan a reservation at a hotel near the hospital. After youve been at the hospital all day you need a place to retreat. To shower and nap and just let go when no one else is watching.
Ezra wasnt sure how to feel about the raw pain in her tone. She clearly didnt want to go into it, and at the same time, she didnt hide it.
Thats a great idea. And it was. His parents would rest if it was convenient to the hospital and the room was paid for and would go to waste otherwise. And if they did, theyd spot Vaughan back and forth.
Let me do it. Give me something to do before I go crazy. Paddy headed into the living room as he scrolled through his phone.
Ill be right back, Ezra told Tuesday.
She nodded, reaching out to squeeze his hand as he passed by.
He needed to check in with Damien, too. It was past three at that point so he and Mary would be sleeping. But Ezra knew theyd be upset if he didnt tell them. And it would be easier to get Damien to stay with his wife until morning if Ezra handled him just right.
Then everyone would be dealt with for at least the next twelve hours or so.
CHAPTER FIVE
TUESDAY WATCHED EZRA follow his brother and turned away with a sigh. Natalie was right there and she would be insufferable until Tuesday shared. Which was a best friends right after all and shed do the same in Nats place.
Not yet. You came in right as condoms were procured. Tuesday leaned in close to Natalie. He could be a gold medalist, world champion in oral sex, however.
Natalie groaned. Im so sorry. We tried to call you and then him and we just didnt want to let it wait.
Of course you came over and thats what you were supposed to do. If you hadnt, hed never have forgiven himself.
Tuesday got the feeling no one was harder on Ezra than Ezra himself.
Tuesday had noted the way Ezra had eased into control and Paddy calmed down. The Hurleys were very close-knit and those girls were adored by one and all. Theyd needed him, hed responded and had helped and everyone felt better.
It made her happy to see Ezra step in to protect his family the way he did.
Natalie nodded, agreeing. Still, it sucks. Wed just started to fall asleep when we got the call. That little girl is such a sweetheart. Vaughan must be beside himself.
They got to it before her appendix burst. It could have been so much worse. At least Vaughan was there when it happened. The youngest Hurley brother appeared to be a great father so Tuesday imagined hed have been out of his mind with worry if hed been across the country on tour still. Hed be worried then, too, of course, but at least he was close by and that was a blessing.
Well talk about that later. Natalie looked toward the living room, where the brothers both had phones pressed to their ears. So. A champion, huh? Natalie asked carefully as she bumped her hip to Tuesdays.
One of the things Tuesday loved most about her best friend was the way Natalie knew when to push and when to back off. After Eric had died, Tuesday had drifted awhile.
Unable to face the home shed made with Eric, Tuesdayd gone off to visit people and sleep in guest rooms. It had been Natalie whod finally got through to her and told her to start living again. Natalie who pushed and coaxed and cajoled her back to the work of the living once more.
Ezras rumble sounded from the other room and it made Tuesday smile.
Yes.
And it was okay, so thats good.
Natalie had meant being with a man in their homein Tuesdays bed.
A hotel room was private and impersonal and it wasnt yours for longer than a little while, which telegraphed the attitude she wanted to project. She had lovers and not boyfriends.
She wasnt sure when shed be ready to be with someone again and so it had felt to her that the safest thing was to not do it until she knew it was time.
Ezra, though, trod all over that distance. She let him. She even liked it. But she feared it, too, and it had awakened all sorts of stuff inside. Stuff she didnt have the time or the luxury to examine right at the moment.
It was way better than okay. Tuesday looked down at herself. Im going to run up and get dressed. Ill be right back. Keep an eye on the tea.
I will but dont think this discussion is over.
As if Id ever think otherwise. Youre bossy and nosy. But I expect you have some stuff to talk to me about, too. I need a Paddy update.
Natalies features softened with love and it made Tuesday so happy to see it. Deal.
Her best friends joy was genuine. Even if tinged with worry. Tuesday kissed Natalies cheek. Good. Be right back.
Tuesday dashed up to her room to change. At first she tried to ignore the way the room smelled like him. Like sex and sin and hot, hot man. Shed made herself a promise not to think about what anything meant until theyd got past this situation with Maddies surgery and it all rushed in anyway.
But then it hit her.
She stood in her doorway, her hand on the light switch, and realized the step shed taken by letting him up there and between her thighs was way bigger than shed intended to make. Tuesday wasnt sure what she thought before shed led him up to her bed. Well, okay, shed been thinking about riding him like a horse. But...
A man like Ezra marked a place with his presence. He filled up a room just by standing in it. But on top of that he emanated so much charisma and energy; a dark, wounded heart wrapped in so much talent it was a little intimidating.
Hed swept her up. She got caught in whatever it was between them. So powerful. He made her feel things more than just momentary pleasure. But he didnt appear to be looking for anything long-term. Like her. Right? Was that even still the case?
Tuesday shook her head to stop that train of thought as she flicked off the light. There were other things to focus on.
* * *
PADDY WAITED UNTIL Ezra had tucked the phone back into his pocket before he got close enough to speak quietly.
Hotel reservations made.
Good deal. I just spoke to Vaughan. Maddie is out of surgery and in recovery now. Shes stable and if all goes well theyll let her go home tomorrow. I told him you were making hotel reservations.
Good deal. I just spoke to Vaughan. Maddie is out of surgery and in recovery now. Shes stable and if all goes well theyll let her go home tomorrow. I told him you were making hotel reservations.
Paddys brow rose with appreciation. Bravo. You cleverly made him think that he needed to be sure Mom and Dad got rest so hed need to go with them. And it gave me something to do, as well.
As if Ezrad ever let on just how much he tended to manage them all. He just gave Paddy a bland look until his brother rolled his eyes and relaxed a little.
Why dont you call Mom and let her know about the room and then text Vaughan the details? It would give Paddy something else to do, which would keep him busy, not feeling helpless.
Paddy nodded. I just remembered, I called Damien but got his voice mail. Can you try again?
Handled. I called on the house phone. It woke him up. I told him there was nothing to be done so he needed to keep Mary in bed. Ill call him now and fill him in on what Vaughan told me.
Within ten minutes Ezra had got it all taken care of. All bases covered. Pregnant sister-in-law sleeping, all brothers accounted for and okay. His parents were headed to the hotel with Vaughan once theyd wrapped things up at the hospital.
Ezra had heard in Vaughans tone that his brother had a lot going on. More than just the immediate situation. Ezra planned to head to the hospital around noon so he could speak with Vaughn a little then.
Im sorry. Paddy looked out the front windows. For coming here and interrupting I mean.
At first Ezra had no idea what his brother was apologizing for. He scanned his memory until he realized Paddy meant sex.
Shit happens, Patrick. He kept reminding himself of that because he was going to be nauseated all day from blue balls. He was trying not to even glance back into the kitchen because if she still had that scarlet robe on all silky next to her skin he was going to weep.
But you guys...well finally, right? Paddy waggled his brows.
Ezras laugh may have sounded a little less than amused. Dont worry about it. She and I know where the other lives. Well pick it up again once this is all behind us.
Shit. Now Im really sorry.
Ezra snorted, slapping his brother on the back. Ill let you make it up to me. Come on. Well fill Nat and Tuesday in and then Im going home for a while to sleep before I head down to the hospital.
Should we cancel the show? Paddy looked at his watch. Tonight, I guess it is already.
I left it up to Vaughan. Ill call Jeremy in a few hours to let him know whats up. Vaughan says if shes stable and fine, he thinks we should do it. He said we can play tonight and then hell head straight to the hospital from the arena. And if he was smart, hed be working on figuring out how to win Kelly back and get this new guy out of the picture.
When he and Paddy got back to the kitchen, Tuesday had changed into jeans and a T-shirt but she still looked sexy and gorgeous and his dick hurt at the memory of how shed looked less than an hour before.
Ezra filled them in. Paddy sweet-talked Natalie into going home with him and Ezra wasnt sure what to do with his disappointment at the idea of his own empty bed. He liked his bed. He liked sleeping alone, in the middle of his gargantuan mattress. But he bet Tuesday was warm and soft in the mornings. That might be worth sharing his mattress for.
Paddy and Natalie left and Ezra turned his attention to Tuesday, moving to her. Im sorry we got interrupted.
Well, all things considered, its all right. For me anyway. She grinned a moment. You? Well, I can help you out.
He groaned at that. Her hands or mouth on him, quick and hard so he could get off. Yeah, thatd be fantastic, as it happened. And yet, not what he wanted. Not his first time with her.
He pulled her close, kissing her for a while until he felt a little better. Are you coming tonight?
She nodded. Nat and I are driving out together with Mary.
You and me. And like someone else spoke from his lips: Come back to my house after the show. Well start over and do it far better this time around.
He liked the smile he got.
All right. Go home and rest awhile. Ill see you tonight. Im glad Maddies okay.
He hugged her once more at her door before he headed out to the porch. He stepped away, pausing. See you tonight, Tuesday.
* * *
EZRA DROVE HOME with the windows rolled down. A thousand things he needed to do raced through his head. He went through them all one by one, assigning them some measure of importance and by the time he pulled into his garage, hed tidied his thoughts.
Loopy, his sweet, silly Lab, woke up when Ezra came in from the garage. She looked slightly guilty, which meant shed been on his bed until she heard the garage door open. I got your number.
That he said it while scratching her behind her ear meant her guilty face faded, replaced by her normal happy-go-lucky goofiness. She groaned when he moved to her chin, which sent Goldfish and Peanut into the room as fast as their paws could take them.
He tried to move, but was unable to avoid the pain of kitten claws in his jeans as they climbed him like a tree.
You were in my bed, too, werent you? He took a cat under each of his arms and headed toward his room.
Ezras house had been the last to get finished because hed had the first one torn down and a new one rebuilt when hed got out of rehab. This place was his home. His refuge from the insanity of the world outside.
A cedar-log home, it was open and bright. The central core of the house soared up to the bare-beamed ceiling with a gallery at the second floor.
The master was on the first floor at the rear of the house, behind beautifully carved oak double doors. Doors he usually left open as they were now. He dropped the cats carefully as he headed toward his bathroom.
Sorry, kids, but Dad needs to be alone. He shut the bathroom door and knew theyd be getting back on his bed the minute he was out of sight.
When hed come back from tossing his dirty clothes, the water was hot and he stepped under the spray with a sigh. He didnt need to shower then. He could just sleep, clean up before he headed to the hospital with his stuff in the trunk and get ready at the arena.
But a riot of energy coursed through him. It wasnt about getting clean. He needed to jerk off so he could fucking sleep.
He worked soap into his palms, turning the bar over and over until his hands were nice and slick. Head back, he let the water hit him from all three directions as he trailed slippery hands over his nipples, tugging the bar through the left one. It wasnt like he had to do much to get close again.
The memory of how shed been just a few hours before came easily. Tuesday Eastwood was alluring. Sexy. Smart and funny. She was beautiful and vibrant and so totally in charge of her shit.
Her taste was on his mouth as he licked over his bottom lip. Right before he wrapped a fist around his cock and pumped slowly.
Fuckyeah.
He imagined her back arching as he slowly pressed into her body. Shed wrap her legs around his waist...if he took her missionary. Maybe hed thrust a few times and roll her over and start again.
Yeah, that worked.
She had a great back, a fantastic ass; hed look his fill as he got closer and closer. From that angle he could take her in slow, deep thrusts.