The Sterling Boys (16 page)

DANE

"That's the one," I say proudly, unable to wipe away the stupid grin on my face.

"The teardrop one?" Maverick asks, looking into the glass case.

"You say teardrop, I say raindrop."

I laugh as he rolls his eyes, and I offer him an unapologetic shrug while returning my eyes back to the perfect little thing in front of me.

"I think I'm lactose intolerant," Maverick says randomly.

I cock a brow as the short man behind the counter comes to assist us.

"And you're telling me because?"

"Because it's your fault," Maverick says, his nose turned up in disgust.

"How can it be my fault that you're lactose intolerant?" I ask incredulously while pointing for the man.

"Because you've been serving so much cheese lately that it's starting to make me sick."

I burst out laughing while shaking my head. Right now, even Maverick's corny jokes are funny. I love being in love.

Maverick smiles but groans. "This is the real thing. You're really going to do this?" he asks as the jeweler hands me the ring.

I slide it onto my pinky, grinning when it stops at my knuckle. It's already the perfect size. This has to be a sign.

"I'm really going to do this." I look up at the jeweler and hand him my credit card. His eyes grow wide when he sees it, and a slow smile spreads. "I'll take this one," I say to him.

"Do you need it sized?"

I wiggle it back off my finger, smiling even bigger as I take a happy breath.

"No. It's perfect."

The guy rushes around to wrap up the sale, and Maverick leans over the glass, propping his elbows on top.

"You don't think this is all happening a little fast?"

I can't help but laugh. Everything is funny right now. I think being in love actually makes you feel high.

"Fast? Maverick, I've been in love with Rain since I was a thirteen-year-old kid. No. I'd say this is rather slow. I'm not wasting any more time."

He tries hard not to grin, but he can't help it. I just smile back at him, and he breaks the stare, laughing while shaking his head.

"Damn, you're really such a cheesy bastard these days," he says despite his insuppressible grin.

My happiness is infectious, and I refuse to apologize for that. Tonight is step one to making sure she says yes. I'll ease her into it so that it doesn't seem like such a big leap.

"You didn't act so surprised when I invited you to come with me," I murmur distractedly, shaking my hands when they start to sweat.

"Like you said, you've loved her since we were kids. I figured it was just a matter of time."

I tilt my head, confused. "You knew?"

"Of course I knew. Hell, Kode and Corbin were the only two blind enough to miss it. The two of you were inseparable. Dale and I were going to give you two one of those celebrity mashed up names—like Brangelina or whatever—but no matter how you twisted your names, you were still just Rain and Dane. We thought about
Drain
, but it just didn't seem to fit."

Laughter falls out of me again. Rain has to say yes. I want to feel this damn good for the rest of my life.

"When you gonna ask her?" Maverick asks, still grinning like me.

"A couple of weeks from now. I've got it all planned out. She loves Silk, and I've got the place emptied out that night. I wanted to plan a big party and surprise her."

His grin only grows as the jeweler hands me the box that holds the small symbol of a future with the girl I love.

Maverick walks with me outside, both of us staring at the box in my hand. "You're the only jerk we'd ever let her be with, just so you know. Honestly, you two couldn't be more perfect for each other."

My damn cheeks hurt from smiling so much. I don't think I've ever been so excited about anyth—

"Ow!" I yelp when Maverick punches the fuck out of my arm for no reason at all.

I glare at him, debating on whether or not I should knock him on his ass.

"What the hell was that for?" I ask the grinning bastard.

"For making me smile like a bitch and gush like a bridesmaid, you fucker."

My smile returns as my laughter rumbles out, and Maverick rolls his eyes while following me to my car.

"Rain only has Tria and her assistant as far girl friends go. She might need another bridesmaid or two in the wedding party."

Maverick cuts his murderous glare toward me as I laugh harder, taunting him.

"Dick," he mutters while opening the car door.

Time to go get ready for step one—tell Rain I love her.

RAIN

"You okay?" Tria asks as we drive back toward Dane's. It's almost three in the evening now. The breakfast benefit turned into a much longer event, but it was so therapeutic. I honestly didn't know how much I needed that.

"I had cancer in my uterus, and they had to take it out. It wasn't gallbladder surgery," I say in a soft breath, shocking Tria into a gasp.

She slows the car down and turns onto a random road to keep us from getting back too soon. Leaning my head back, I stare out the window.

"Rain, why didn't you tell me that when I picked you up?" Her tone is almost scolding, and for some strange reason, that almost makes me smile.

"I didn't want anyone to know. I'm still dealing with the reality of what it means to lose that piece of me. I always pictured having kids. Now... now I can't."

I turn back to face her, and see her sad, sympathetic gaze that is coupled with unshed tears. I didn't tell her this to get pity. But I had to tell someone. Everyone needs someone to talk to.

"Does Dane know?"

I laugh humorlessly. "No. You're the only one outside of the medical staff that knows. Dane and I just started dating. This isn't a conversation to be had so soon."

She frowns as we complete our circle and end up in front of Dane's. "Do you want to go somewhere and talk?" she asks genuinely.

"I just wanted someone to know. It's hard to preach about not doing this alone, when I'm doing just that. Now someone knows," I say, shrugging while battling the tears I refuse to cry.

I've cried my tears already. I've healed. Now I have to move on.

"Thanks for considering me your someone to know," she says while reaching over and taking my hand.

I have a sister. A real, warm, sister.

"Thanks for listening."

She reaches over and hugs me, and I return the embrace, sniffling as one of my tears escapes. I need to ask her about what's going on with Pete Mercer, but we're both squealing and shrieking when the door beside me flies open, destroying all other thoughts.

"Sorry," Dane chuckles, and I take a vicious swing at him, prompting his laughter to deepen. "I said I was sorry," he says through his laughter as he dodges my flailing arms.

"You scared the hell out of us," I grumble as he pulls me from the car and kisses me gently on the lips.

He tilts his head as he pulls back, and he wipes away the lone tear on my cheek.

"What's wrong?" he asks seriously, his humor forgotten.

"Sister moment," Tria says from the car, quickly getting me out of trying to lie.

I'm a terrible liar.

"Ah," Dane says while relaxing, and he leans down to brush his lips against mine.

He pulls me to him before leaning down to the open passenger door. "Want to come in for a while? You can leave in plenty of time to get ready for the party."

Ah hell. I forgot about this event, too. Our lives are really too busy. Tonight Dane has a big clinic unveiling. He's serious about helping people, and it's one of the many things I love about him. But I'd like to curl up in his arms after this day and just fall asleep.

"Nah," Tria says, looking at me. "I actually need to take care of something first. I'll see you guys later, though."

DANE

"Where were you? I tried calling," I say as Rain steps into the house.

I follow, admiring her body from the back. I'm not sure I like her wearing such a short little dress without me around. Not that I have any control over that, but still. I'd have to kill someone if they touched her.

"We had a breakfast thing that turned into a most-of-the-day thing. My phone was shut off to keep it from interrupting anything. I just forgot to turn it back on."

She doesn't want to tell me. That sucks. I thought we were making great progress. I just bought the ring; I have something major planned for tonight, and now... no. Fuck this.

"Rain, you can evade the question all you want, but we're together. You used to tell me everything when we were younger. I know things have changed, but we're together now. And you don't know how much I want this to work. I don't want secrets between us."

Her eyes change in that moment, and her lips tighten. She wars with something before finally letting out a breath of resignation.

"You're right. Sorry." I really wasn't expecting her to cave that easily. "Tria and I were at the Hilton. They hosted a benefit breakfast. All the proceeds go to breast cancer victims and their families to help with treatment costs. I was a guest speaker."

Closing the short distance between us, I reach for her and she willingly steps into me, wrapping her small arms around my waist.

"Why didn't you tell me? I could have gone with you."

My lips rub across her forehead as I affectionately trace my fingers up and down her back.

"It was mostly women—women affected by breast cancer. And... well, I don't know. It just didn't feel right to ask you to go to that. I want things to be fun and light between us right now."

I pull back to tilt her chin up, forcing her eyes to meet mine.

"Rain, we're not the traditional couple that's just starting to feel each other out. We've seen the good, the bad, the scary, and the crazy together. Let's skip the superficial phase. We're well beyond that. I know you inside and out, just like you know me. I want more than the fun and light stuff."

She looks at me, her eyes unreadable, and then she shocks the hell out of me. "Dane, I... I love you."

I only hesitate because I'm worried I just dreamed that. I had an elaborate plan to tell her I love her tonight after I showed her what I've been working on for the past six years—my biggest, best, most incredible project.

I never expected this.

The fear of rejection crosses her eyes, and I finally snap out of my shock long enough to choke on a breath of air.

"I love you, Rain. So fucking much," I say through a whisper, afraid my voice will crack if I use anything louder.

Her smile almost makes me lose my footing, and her eyes water as she pulls me down to press her lips against mine with a kiss that could melt glaciers. Just when I prepare to move this to the bedroom, she breaks the kiss and leans back.

"Dane... I had to—"

Someone bangs on the door, startling us and interrupting whatever Rain was going to say. I rush over when the knocking becomes more urgent, and swing the door open to Dale.

"We need your help. Tria was ran off the road by Pete Mercer."

Rain gasps, but Dale grabs her before she rushes by.

"She's fine. She called Eleanor, but Kode and I were over there getting her new furniture moved in. Maverick and Corbin are out looking for him. We're going to take care of Pete before he messes with anyone else." He focuses all his attention on Rain, seriousness taking over his face. "Go be with your stepmom and sister. We don't want you anywhere near Pete."

Shit. I forgot about helping Eleanor move her new stuff in.

"I'll kill him if he touches Rain," I growl, not meaning to voice that aloud.

"Yeah, well, Kode might kill him out of principle. We handled him years ago, and now the prick is back, acting as though he's not afraid. I need your help to keep Kode out of prison."

Rain trembles beside me, and I wrap an arm around her waist, guiding her toward the door. Kode's not as crazy as everyone thinks he is, but he might go too far. Then again, I really would kill Pete if he tried this shit on Rain.

"I'll catch up with you later. Go to Tria. Make sure she's okay," I murmur, kissing Rain and silencing her objection.

Then Dale and I disappear out the door while she stays behind, still stunned. If she snaps out of it before we're gone, she'll demand to come, and it'll be a fight.

Fortunately, we're in the car before she comes out of her shock, and Dale floors it.

Pete staggers and falls, blood
gushing from his nose as Kode pulls his fist back. The stupid son of a bitch collapses to the harsh, unforgiving pavement of my club parking lot.

Once Maverick located him, he and Corbin brought him here. Considering we're Sterlings and he's Pete, we're not too terribly worried about cops.

We're all standing here between my club and private parking deck, away from the prying eyes of the public. The rest of us are just watching, making sure nothing gets out of hand. Kode needs to hit something. In all honesty, he's probably needed this since Rain chose me. So I let him have this, since he needs it more than I do.

"Fuck with anyone in Rain's family again, and you won't walk away next time," Kode snarls, glaring down at Pete as he slowly gets up to his knees.

Kode has beaten the fuck out of him, but as long as the guy is conscious, I see no reason to interfere. My brother finally finishes, allowing Pete to crawl away.

We're already late, and now Kode's suit has blood and sweat on it.

"You guys go on without me. I've got to get cleaned up," Kode says, taking the proffered towel from Maverick.

As he wipes his hands off, I say, "No. We all need to be there. This is for Rain, and all of us have sunk a lot of money and time into this."

"It was your idea, Dane. It's your gift."

I frown as I stare at the brother I've always been close to. Until this, we've never dealt with tension. When we were kids and we got pissed with one another, we'd beat the hell out of each other and then shake hands. This... I don't know how to fix this.

"Kode, Rain is still your friend. This is a big night for her, and she doesn't even know it. All five of us should be there for this."

He looks up at me, his lips pursing as he ignores his cut hands.

"And if you and Rain were still not speaking, would you be there tonight?"

I've thought about that for six long years. It's hard to accumulate the amount of investors, donors, and volunteers this place needs, so it took a while. But even though she broke my heart, I still wanted to do this more than anything. As fate would have it, now I get to be by her side the day it's revealed to the world.

"Yes. I would have."

A harsh breath leaves his lips, and he nods slowly. "Fine. Let's swing by my place. I won't take long."