Unbreakable Forever: A New Adult Romance Novel (4 page)

“I understand,” I said.

“Some experienced the healing by believing a medication healed them. Others found it through a number of reasons,” Dr. Brenner explained. “But the one thing they had in common was a state of relaxation and belief. Some of the patients believed they did not have much longer, and just lived more fully, laughed more, and let everything else go. What we need to figure out is how the body responded while in that state.”

The subject fascinated me.

I recorded a video interview with Dr. Brenner and included it in my film. I included several patients he recommended after receiving their permission to be interviewed by way of video for the documentary. I spent several weeks preparing the video before I asked Dr. Brenner for his review of the film.

“
This is extraordinary work, Erin. You have a talent for this, for capturing the data and putting a human face on it. It’s brilliant.”

“
Thank you so much. I hope Stanford feels the same way.”

“
I have no doubt they will. I can even provide a personal recommendation for you. I work with Stanford Medical School, and this will be something they will want to see, no matter what they conclude.”

I drew in a deep breath and felt a weight lift from me. It was the most hopeful I
’d felt in months. Maybe Devon and I could stay together after all. I was doing a documentary on medical miracles, and was hoping I was about to receive a miracle of my own.

“You know I can’t swim very well. Keep an eye on me.” Kristen winked at Devon.
Shannon and Kristen giggled and ran to the beach.

“What’s up
, buddy!” Matt blustered.

“Now
, how did I know that you were somewhere around lurking?” Devon teased.

“Maybe because there are beautiful women around? That’s just
me, bro. They follow me around. Although, between you and me, one of those hotties is following you around. I’ll give you a hint. The hot brunette over there.” Matt flicked his eyes toward the beach as a lopsided grin lined his lips. “Tell me that is not a delicious sight.”

Shannon and Kristen were frolicking and laughing in the water.

“She is damn hot, Matt. We all know that.” Devon glanced at her and back to Matt.

“And she has the hots for you
, man. What more could you want? A gift from the gods wrapped in a lovely blue bikini. Look at those girls. Wars are fought for lesser treasures, my man.”

Devon laughed at his friend. “The spoils of war?
I didn’t know we were in a war.”

“Always, my friend.
Always. It’s called life. And to the victor comes the spoils. We’ll be enjoying some sunshine. Feel free to stop by and talk to that lovely babe.” Matt jutted his thumb at Kristen.

“Sure thing, Matt.”

Devon patrolled the beach. The weather got into the upper nineties on one of the hottest days of the year. Kristen and Shannon set up a volleyball net and were quickly joined by two guys. Matt scooted them along and invited two more girls to play beach volleyball with them.

Devon breathed out a laugh and shook his head
as he watched his friend in action.
How in the hell are we going to make it through four years of college?
he thought to himself. Devon’s eyes lingered on Kristen’s shapely behind for just a moment. Her curvy, tanned body glistened in the summer heat, and her silky dark hair fell over her smooth shoulders as she jumped for the ball and landed in the sand. Kristen’s blue eyes scorched a path toward him and she flashed him a stunning smile.

Devon breathed in and headed for the rowboat to make a tour of the lake. He tossed a few life jackets in the boat and rowed toward the center of the lake. Kristen eyes wandered his way as she kept an eye on his location. His arms corded with muscle as he powered the boat away from her, his flat
, lean stomach constricting with each row to show off his perfect eight-pack abs.

Kristen licked her lips and watched him momentarily before returning her attention to the game.

Devon had covered a few days for Erin while she worked on her documentary film. He heard the trill of his phone when he returned to the office, indicating he had a text message.

Erin:
Don’t let anyone drown while I’m not there.

Devon
: There is no guarantee. You better hurry back!

Erin
: Do you want me to get into Stanford?

Devon
: Absolutely. Do what you have to do.

Erin
. I miss you.

Devon
:
Me, too.

Shannon and Kristen
peeked into the double doors. “Hi, Devon.”

“Hey,
Shannon.”

“Hi,
Devon.” Kristen leaned over the door, giggling as Shannon bustled in wearing a red bikini that highlighted her strawberry blonde hair. Kristen opened the locked door from the inside and swung on it into the office while Shannon laughed at her.

“Girls, girls, you can’t come into the office. Authorized personnel only.”

“So official,” Kristen teased him. Devon swung her back to the other side of the office entryway. Kristen’s blue eyes shone as she laughed at Devon moving her on the door back to the outside. “Can’t I stay? I’ll be good.”

“That’s just it. I know you won’t be good.”  Devon eyed her as a
controlled grin spread across his lips.

“Maybe you should spank her
, Devon.” Shannon put her hand over her mouth to contain her laughter. Shannon and Kristen burst into a fit of giggles as they swung back into the office on the half-open door.

Devon returned to push the door closed so the girls would stay outside. “You two are going to take up my whole day. I have other
kids
to watch out there.”

“Kids, huh
,” Shannon said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. As Devon swung the half door shut, Kristen jumped off and draped her arms around Devon’s shoulders and neck, pressing her body into his. With one lift of her hips, she brought her lips to his. He pulled back as Kristen gently caressed his lips with hers. As Devon pulled back, she bit his lower lip before letting him go and dropping back to the floor. Devon felt like his mouth was lit on fire.

Kristen bit the corner of her mouth and looked up at him, placing her hands behind her back and
giving him a flirtatious smile.  She licked her lips as if to put out a fire. Devon took a deep breath. “You guys have to stand outside. You can’t be in the office.”

Shannon and Kristen walked out of the office.

“How was it?” Shannon whispered.

“Oh, my God. He tastes as good as he looks.” Kristen smiled at Shannon and turned her smile to Devon before frolicking off to the beach.

Devon sat at his desk and scanned over the paperwork for the day, but inside his heart was banging in his chest. He wiped his lower lip with the back of his hand, still feeling the sensual bite on his lip.
Fuck
.

He picked up his cell phone to check for messages.

Erin had texted him.
Making progress. See you tonight?

Devon swallowed and returned the text.
Can’t wait.

Erin
had wanted to see Devon all day, and thrust her arms around him with excitement when they met for dinner at his house. They were going out this evening to one of their favorite restaurants. Walking under the summer stars, Erin told Devon how her project was going.

“I had the most
amazing interview with one of the Stanford doctors. The human body really is incredible.”

“That’s wonderful. I knew you could do it.”

“What’s wrong? You seem preoccupied,” she asked him.

Devon turned to her and traced her lip with his thumb. “God, you’re so beautiful.” Erin
searched his eyes as Devon traced the bow of her lip. He thought about the kiss Kristen had given him. He thought about what Kristen had said to him:
Your serious commitments are keeping you from living
. But every time he looked into Erin’s eyes, all doubts disappeared as fast as the summer days, leaving him with the only thing that was real in his life: this beautiful girl standing in front of him.

“What’s wrong, Devon? You look worried.”

Devon swallowed as he looked into her eyes. “I don’t want anything to come between us, Erin. Ever.”

“I don’t
, either. So tell me what’s wrong.”

Devon looked at the
star-filled sky before bringing his eyes back to hers. “Shannon and Kristen stopped by today. They were playing around in the office. I asked them to leave, and before Kristen left, she turned and kissed me.”

“What?
She kissed you?” Erin crossed her arms and clenched her jaw. “What?” Erin’s brow creased as she blinked at him.

“She just kissed me.” Devon extended his arms in a declaration of innocence. “
I scooted her out of the office as quickly as I could. I didn’t want it to happen, Erin. I don’t want anything to come between us,” Devon said with pleading eyes.

“So while I was working on a documentary trying to get into Stanford, you were making out with Kristen?”
Erin’s lips parted in disbelief.

“I wasn’t making out with her. She kissed me. She took me by surprise
, Erin.”

“
How are we going to survive four years of college if we can’t even get through the summer?”

“Because nothing’s
as important to me as you are, Erin. I told you that. You can’t let stuff like this get in our way. It’s a distraction. It means nothing.”

“I’m gone for
a few days, and this happens? I mean, this is unbelievable. Unbelievable.” Erin turned to the side, her hair fluttering in the summer breeze. “We have four years to go in college.” She stared ahead, shaking her head.

“Then you’ll have to trust me
, Erin. Or else this won’t work. I trust you. Do you trust me?”

“I don’t know.”

“What can I do to get you to trust me?”

Erin turned to
him for a moment. “I don’t want this to be a melodramatic moment, Devon. We have to learn to trust each other. But that is not cool at all.”

“
I can make it up to you.” A suggestive and hopeful smile spread across his lips.

“You’re not getting off that easy.” Erin glared at him.

“No? W
hat would you have me do? I’ll do anything,” Devon pleaded.

“
You’ll find out when we get back to my place. My mom’s out of town. It has to do with washing your mouth out with soap after that kiss.”

“Oooh. If there’s a shower involved
, I’m all for it.”

“
There is definitely a shower involved.”

“Okay. So we’re cool.”
Devon tried to make eye contact with her, but she walked straight ahead.

“Sure.” Erin’s eyes narrowed as she
kept walking. A devious smile traced across her lips. “We’re cool, Devon.”

After dinner,
Erin arrived at her doorstep and invited Devon in. Every time he tried to touch her, she slapped his hand away. “Not yet,” she reprimanded him. She had been fending him off all evening.

“God, you’re sexy when you’re mad.”

“Who says I’m mad?” Erin grabbed some water from the refrigerator. “Everything is just fine, Devon.” Erin took a sip of water and set it down. She looked at Devon with dark and lustful eyes, and started slowly unbuttoning her shirt. Devon stood there with his mouth dropping open as Erin unbuttoned each button, revealing her golden skin and black lace bra. Her blonde hair shimmered against her skin as she reached the last button.

Devon gasped
as his eyes blazed a heated trail over Erin’s luscious, curvy body. “God, you have such a perfect body. You’re so beautiful.” Devon’s voice was almost shaky, even desperate.

Erin just narrowed her eyes at him and began massaging herself in front of him through the lace of her bra. Devon’s face grew dark with lust and awe for her beauty. Erin began kneading her breasts and circl
ing her nipples, which were partly visible through the semi-transparent lace. Her full lips formed a circle as she closed her eyes and played with herself through her bra.

Devon became
painfully aroused in his jeans, and his eyes grew wide with admiration and lust. He circled the counter and leaned into her to kiss her when she slapped his hand away. “No!”

She put her shirt back over her breasts. “Get back behind the counter.” Her
voice was commanding, with an air of anger, as she pointed behind the counter.

“Oh, God.” Devon’s
tone had a hint of desperation and anguish.

Erin slipped
her shirt back off her shoulders and began massaging her breasts again. She pulled the bra under her breasts and began kneading and rubbing her nipples until they were erect. She looked at Devon with lust in her eyes as she rubbed and massaged her firm breasts, pursing her full, soft lips at him.