Drawn Deeper (26 page)
The sound of movement in the room made us both turn toward the door. The boys had spent the night at their grandparents’ house so they could help with wedding preparations last night and this morning.
Hagrid was prancing into the room, tongue out.
“What’s he doing out of his kennel?” Kyle said.
“I let him out after he went outside early this morning.”
His lips curved into a grin. “Which must have been when you brushed your teeth.”
“I’m not ready for you to experience my morning breath yet.”
He got on his side, his head propped up by his hand and his elbow on the bed. “Okay, but I honestly don’t care, Mer.”
Looking over at the clock, he groaned. “I’ve got to get in the shower.”
“You’re the best man,” I said, smiling with excitement. “But I already knew that.”
He kissed me and pushed himself up out of bed. “You gonna join me?”
“I could be persuaded to.”
He bent down to the bed and scooped me into his arms. “I can be persuasive.”
“You definitely can,” I said, laughing.
I’d never showered with a man before, and it ended up being surprisingly intimate. Washing each other was sensual and relaxing at the same time.
Shower sex wasn’t an option, because Kyle had to get dressed and we had to get to his parents’ house for the wedding.
When he walked out of his walk-in closet dressed in his tux, I felt a swirl of excitement in my belly. One day, he would look just like this on the day we got married. I believed that in my heart. I didn’t care how long it took—just having him and the promise of something more was enough.
“You look great,” he said when he saw me, his brows arched as he nodded his approval.
I’d decided to wear a simple, sleeveless, blue wrap dress, leaving my hair down and accessorizing with silver bangle bracelets and, of course, my necklace from Kyle.
“Thanks,” I said, sitting on the bed and bending down to fasten the straps on my sandals. “And can I just tell you how nice it is for a tall girl like me to be able to wear heels and
still
not be taller than her man?”
“I love your long legs,” he said, eyeing them from the doorway of the bedroom.
“You’re full of compliments today,” I said, standing up.
He reached for my hand, and we headed for the garage, making a quick stop for my bag in the kitchen.
Henry and Grace’s home was bustling with florists and caterers when we walked in. Jordan and Eric were sampling the food with Mason, all of them being swatted away by Grace.
“Meredith,” she said as soon as Kyle and I walked into the room. “Hi. We’re glad you’re here to celebrate with us. You look lovely.”
“Thank you. Is there anything I can do to help?”
She hesitated. “Would you mind running out to get some ice?”
“Sure, no problem.”
We all busied ourselves in preparations, and the morning flew by. Jordan and Eric were handsome in their suits, if not also a little grumbly about how sweaty they were. I sat in the middle of them in the second row of chairs set up in Henry and Grace’s backyard for the ceremony.
April was radiant. As soon as she started approaching in her halter-neck gown, Mason’s swagger was nowhere to be found as he cried openly. The sight of him made me tear up.
“Why’s everyone cryin’?” Eric asked me, looking puzzled.
“It’s just a wedding thing,” I whispered. “It’s a happy day.”
“I don’t cry when I’m happy.”
“Let’s watch, okay?”
Kyle looked strong, proud, and content as he watched his brother exchange vows with April.
The attorneys had worked out an agreement for Kim to see the boys twice a week, for two hours at a time, under the supervision of a Lockhart family member for the next month. She apparently hoped to stay here and had eaten the giant slice of humble pie required to see the boys, apologizing for her behavior at Kyle’s house and agreeing in writing that it would never happen again.
We didn’t know if she’d remain sober, but a counselor at the treatment center she’d been an inpatient at had confirmed to Reed that she’d completed a six-month program there. That was a start.
After the ceremony, April changed into an ivory, knee-length dress for the reception. There were a few tables set up in the yard, all decked out with beautiful, tropical flower centerpieces.
Kyle, Jordan, Eric, and I sat at a table with Reed, Ivy, and their son, Noah. They’d announced her pregnancy, and Noah was giddy with excitement over being a big brother. They made a beautiful family.
I met Reed’s eyes across the table briefly, and a moment of understanding passed between us. This was how it was always meant to be, though there was a time when neither of us knew that.
“Meredith, I love your necklace,” Ivy said as we finished our dinner of grilled salmon, potatoes, and asparagus. “It really fits you.”
“Thank you.” I reached for the “M” pendant and ran my fingertips over it.
“I recognize that necklace,” Reed said, shaking his head. “Kyle made us stop by a jewelry store in St. Louis on the way to the airport to go to Montana. He took so long picking it out that we almost missed our flight.”
“But we didn’t,” Kyle said, putting his hand on top of mine on the table and brushing his thumb across my knuckles. “It all worked out.”
“It all worked out,” Reed agreed.
“I think she thinks the ‘M’ stands for Meredith, though,” Kyle said, looking at me.
I furrowed my brow. “It doesn’t?”
“No.” His eyes sparkled warmly as he smiled at me.
“What does it stand for, then?”
“Mine.”
B
RENDA ROTHERT LIVES IN CENTRAL
Illinois with her husband and three sons. She was a daily print journalist for nine years, during which time she enjoyed writing a wide range of stories.
These days Brenda writes New Adult Romance in the Contemporary and Dystopian genres. She loves to hear from readers.
Visit Brenda Rothert at
www.brendarothert.com.
Thanks for reading Drawn Deeper! If you enjoyed Kyle and Meredith’s story, I’d greatly appreciate a review on the site you purchased it from.
The next book in the Lockhart Brothers series, Hidden Depth, will release in the first half of 2017.
If you’re on Facebook, I’d love to have you in my group
Rothert’s Readers
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My village went above and beyond to help me get this book written. I truly couldn’t have done it without them.
Beta readers Janett Gomez, Michelle Tan, Chelle Northcutt and Chantal Gemperle were with me every step of the way. I’m so grateful for their support and encouragement.
Editor Lisa Hollett and copy editor Taylor Bellitto put the polish on this story. I am so fortunate to work with them and I know my books are much better because of their expertise.
Others I’m lucky to have in my corner are Denise Milano Sprung, publicist Jessica Estep of Inkslinger PR, my assistant Pam Million, formatter and interior designer Christine Borgford of Perfectly Publishable and cover designer Regina Wamba.
My Facebook reader group, Rothert’s Readers, has also been more supportive and encouraging than I can say.
To every reader who has stuck with me on the Lockhart Brothers series, even though there was a fourteen-month gap between the release of In Deep and Drawn Deeper, thank you. I can’t tell you what it means that with all the books out there, the Lockhart Brothers have stayed on your minds and in your hearts for this long. I promise the wait for the next book will be much shorter.