Brothers of Paradise Series

Dr. Rashid’s smile fades. “He’s in surgery. I don’t know more than that, Miss Marchand. But if it sets your mind at ease, I believe he had a history of epilepsy, which might unfortunately explain the erratic driving behavior.”

“Oh.” How terrible. “May I send him flowers somehow? Or is it all confidential?”

“I can ask his family for you, if you’d like.”

“Please do.”

It’s very, very late at night when Hayden finally opens the passenger door to his car. He’s still quiet-has been since we said goodbye to my parents.

He pulls out of the parking lot and onto the road back to Paradise Shores. His hands are clenched tight on the steering wheel.

“I’m taking you home,” he says. “And I’m staying the night.”

It had seemed like a foregone conclusion that he would. I try to smile at him, but his gaze is focused on the road ahead.

“That sounds great.”

Hayden nods once, but his profile is stark against the passing streetlights. His jaw is clenched, and tension radiates from him.

Tonight… It was too close to what happened a decade ago. It was too close for the both of us, but I know that while I wear the physical scars from that accident, Hayden mostly bears the psychological ones. He had been the one to pull me out and call 911. I have very little recollection of that night at all.

“Hayden… Are you all right?”

There’s faint surprise in his eyes, and then he reaches out and puts a large hand on my thigh. The connection between us is as it always has been-a safe anchor in a stormy sea. It calms me immediately, and I can see how his own tension lessens slightly.

“Don’t, Lils. I’m not the one who was in a car crash.”

I lean back against the seat. The adrenaline has left me, and together with the painkillers, all I feel is tired. I can’t wait to have his arms around me and drift into sleep.

I put my hand on his. “I know. But I also know it was… It was similar,” I whisper. “To what happened before.”

The tension is back. I can see how he locks down and retreats into his shell. “Not until we’re home,” he says, and I understand. He can’t break apart until we’re out of the car.

But I can’t help but notice that he called my place home, or the corresponding warmth that blooms in my chest.

We’ve always been home to each other.

He parks the car in silence and wraps an arm around my waist as we walk to my front door. I’m not hurt, and I don’t need the assistance, but I need the connection as much as he does.

Hayden gently takes the key from me and unlocks my front door. I shoot him a tired smile. “I’m fine, Hay.”

“I know,” he murmurs. “I know.”

He closes and locks the door behind us. I kick off my shoes and throw my bag to the side, and then we stand there, in my little hallway, just looking at each other.

Hayden’s eyes are a storm. There’s fear there, such furious fear that it nearly takes my breath away. I take a step toward him, and he toward me, and then I’m in his arms and he’s carrying me toward the bedroom. His arms are wrapped around me tight, like he’s afraid I might disappear. I’m holding him just as tightly.

“Christ. When I saw those flashing lights today…”

“I know. I know.”

“I can’t handle it, Lils. Not again.”

“I know.” I pull his face down to mine and press my lips against his feverish ones. “Neither can I. But I’m okay. We’re okay.”

“Thank God for that.” Hayden lays me down gently on the bed despite the urgency coursing through us both. He pulls me close, hugs me against his chest. I understand his need to touch me-to know I’m all right. I feel the same with him… touching him to know he’s here.

“God,” he murmurs again. “Lily, I love you so much.” His eyes are dark with emotion and something else, something uncertain and vulnerable. I can’t help the flutters in my stomach or the way my lips curve into a smile.

“I love you too. Always have.”

“I never stopped,” he says, voice low. “Not once, not ever, not since I first saw you.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“When we were kids?”

He nods. “I just didn’t know it right away. All I saw was a girl with hair like fire and knobby knees, challenging me to rise to her level.”

I put a hand on his chest. His heart beats fast and strong beneath my palm. “I loved you too, from the start. Even if you were terribly grumpy.”

“Not with you.”

“Especially with me,” I say, smiling. “But I learned how to make you laugh eventually.”

“You did. God, Lily, no more car accidents.” He rests his forehead against mine. “My heart can’t take it.”

“No more,” I agree. For a long time, all we do is breathe together, our bodies intertwined. His arm is strong beneath my head. My own fear and adrenaline subside, here in his arms, where nothing can harm me.

“How was sailing with my brothers?”

He shakes his head, but there’s amusement in his voice. “You want to talk about that?”

“Yes.” I slip my fingers inside the hem of his T-shirt and stroke the hot skin beneath. “They didn’t scare you off?”

He brushes my hair back and leans in to kiss me. I respond in kind, both of us drawing reassurance from one another. “No. They never will. Lily, I’ll never leave you again.”

“I know,” I murmur, warmth spreading through my chest. I finally believe him. “I spoke to my father today. About what he told you after our car crash, years ago.”

“You did?”

“Yes.”

“Lily, I never meant for that to drive a wedge between you two.”

I shake my head and rise up on my elbow, fighting tiredness so heavy it makes me dizzy. This is important-and some of my old anger resurfaces.

“He had no right to,” I say. “Absolutely no right. You had just been hurt yourself, and I…” I shake my head. There will be more time to talk about this. “I told him to butt out of our lives.”

Hayden runs a callused thumb over my cheek, and the look in his eyes nearly tears me apart. God, I love him so much.