Authors: Casey Clipper
Obviously he held a special place in her heart but how would that transfer into a relationship between them? They were now bound together through blood and family loyalty. Neither had a choice. Yes, he’d been madly in love with her for years, but he prayed she understood the position they were forced into to keep her safe. He hoped someday she would love him as much in return.
Derrick crawled into the California king and closed his eyes. Visions of his younger brother slammed into him. A gaping hole in his heart opened further. His brother, his best friend was gone. It had always been a realm of possibility, but they’d protected Darren. Always. They'd slipped up.
Darren had allowed his love for his wife to interfere with his business. Lately he’d tended to end his day early, wouldn’t enforce runs or collections, and gave his men passes when underachieving. Derrick fully understood why. Courtney could make a man lose his sense of reality in her presence. That was a trap he was going to have to concentrate on not falling into. He couldn’t allow his love for her to alter business decisions.
Sighing, he wiped a single tear that had escaped his left eye. A vivid high school memory came to mind as if it happened yesterday.
Senior night for Derrick and he noticed Darren had been unusually quiet all day. They had their pictures taken together, Darren and him in their blue and gold football uniform
s and Diane in her cheerleader uniform. After their victory, their parents had gone home. Darren and he headed towards the car they shared when his little brother stopped.
"What am I going to do without you here?" Darren asked, looking dejected.
Derrick furrowed his brow in confusion. "What?"
"What am I going to do?" Darren asked again.
Derrick studied his brother, leaned on the roof of the car, and crossed his arms.
"Darren, you'll be fine. You don't need me around. What you do need is to find your own identity, not be Derrick's little brother. Rule the damn school." He waved dismissively to the dark building that during the day screamed with high school kids. He smirked. "Get laid. A lot. You won't have to worry about getting my rejects."
Darren scoffed. "As if. I have my own line."
Derrick chuckled. "You'll be okay. Just keep up your grades so you can come to college with me."
Darren sighed and nodded.
Diane sashayed up the parking lot in her uniform. "What the hell are you two lover-brothers doing? You were supposed to pick me up at the gate. I've been waiting forever."
Derrick rolled his eyes. "You have
not
been waiting. Don't be overdramatic. Let's go home before Mom and Dad worry."
Thinking back, it occurred to him that was the moment he realized how much Darren leaned on him. That knowledge made him swell with pride.
Little did he know that tiny bit of advice would propel Darren to thrive and gain the confidence to start and run an empire that consumed the entire Northeast.
Derrick
Cozy warm, Derrick stirred out of his light slumber. His muscular arm clung to the softest of skin while a familiar scent wrapped around him. He jerked awake, his eyes flew open to find Courtney sleeping on her side, situated into his body, her back to his front.
When had she crawled into bed with him?
His heart clenched for her. She wasn’t able to sleep in her marital bed without her husband. He reached around her and swept her askew hair off her face. She looked so peaceful
. Softly he kissed her cheek then slid his hand around her pregnant belly. He was surprised when he felt the baby kick against his palm. He hadn't known the baby moved that much. Courtney and Darren never said a word. Keeping his hand in place, he relished the sensation of the baby tumbling underneath his large hand.
How was she sleeping through this movement?
He relaxed back against the pillow and buried his nose into Courtney’s sprawled out hair. He felt something stir within him while he held her in his arms. The overwhelming
need
to protect her and her baby engulfed him. He'd always wanted her. She managed to suck him into her natural essence of femininity, love, and devotion. How Darren lost his edge with Courtney he couldn't fathom, because the urge to go all out caveman over her was rapidly consuming him. Not that he considered that a horrible state. It would make certain he never left Courtney. Permanently.
Courtney
A forceful kick to the ribs painfully woke Courtney. Her eyes flew open.
Darren.
Reality of yesterday's nightmare struck her hard. Tears spilled over and hit the pillow. Rolling onto her back, she felt her chest constrict, like a vice squeezing her chest.
The bed sank and a gentle finger wiped at the tears. Derrick leaned down and kissed her forehead. Knowing he was here for her gave her something to hang onto. She reached for his hand. He wrapped his hand around hers and squeezed reassuringly.
"Are you hungry?" he asked.
Courtney shook her head.
"You need to eat, sweetheart. For the baby," he said softly but firmly.
His dark chocolate eyes held her. Derrick would bring something different to her life. His no nonsense demeanor would prevent her from any type of hurt again. Those dark, piercing aware and alert eyes saw everything. Derrick's skeptical personality didn't trust anyone but himself.
"Okay," she agreed.
Derrick gave her a small smile. "Good."
After helping her up out of bed, they left the spare bedroom. Derrick stopped at her bedroom and went inside to retrieve her silk robe. He helped her into the garment.
Darren had bought her these gowns when her baby bump outgrew her usual nightgowns. He'd been attracted to her pregnant body in the
smooth sleepwear.
Derrick brushed his lips on her bare shoulder. "I don't like the men seeing you in your nightgown," he admitted. "From now on, only me," he softly ordered.
"Staking your claim already?" Courtney teased.
He cocked a censorious eyebrow in return. About to make a smartass retort, she clamped her mouth shut.
He
was serious. Huh? Did he have a right to be?
With the subject dropped, Derrick placed his hand on the small of her back and led her downstairs to the already busy home. They stepped into the kitchen where Jack, Carl, and a few other men gathered drinking coffee. The room stood eerily silent. All lost in their own, mournful thoughts. It was the first time she'd seen Jack since she lost Darren.
Jack
"Mrs. Murphy," Jack said, his voice filled with regret and sorrow. He felt solely responsible for Darren's death. He shadowed his boss everywhere. But Darren had managed to talk Jack into taking the day off. He'd wanted to spend special alone time with his wife choosing new baby furniture. Their conversation had rattled through Jack's mind all night.
"Jack, I'm taking Courtney to the baby furniture store downtown today," Darren said. He took a sip of his coffee, not looking up from the newspaper.
"'K, Boss. What time you want to go?" he asked.
Darren shook his head. "I'll be taking Mrs. Murphy myself, Jack. Take the day off. I want to be alone with Courtney."
He hesitated, not thrilled with the plan.
"It will be all right, Jack. It's one day," Darren assured him.
He nodded tightly. "Okay, Boss, but if you change your mind‒"
"You'll be the first to know," Darren finished.
"I guess it's Ms. now, Jack," Courtney said.
Every single man gasped.
Jack approached her, tears swimming in his eyes. He blinked, desperately trying to hold them at bay. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Murphy," he said, refusing her title. "I can't even begin to...I don't...I can't...I'll do whatever it takes, whatever you need, whatever. I don't care." The tears escaped his eyes. He roughly wiped at them. "If...if..."
He'd been with Darren since the kid had been in college. He'd done his first collections. He'd given him advice on how to get his business up and started and personally through the kid's depression stage. He'd kept Darren's secret from his parents. He'd had Darren's back since day one. Darren was like a son to him, not a boss.
Surprising Jack, Courtney snaked her arms around his large frame. He couldn't help but bury his head into her hair and wrap himself around her. His big body shook from his silent cries. And the terrific woman that she was, she held him, allowing him to wallow in his grief. He didn't deserve her forgiveness, but he needed it. Darren trusted him and Carl to watch his back. No one else was bestowed that honor.
When Jack pulled away, Courtney took his hands. "I would never blame you," she said. "Darren wanted the day to be about the two of us and our baby. I understand that he can be very persuasive." She snorted. "I personally know he can be."
His lips twitched. Courtney would know how her husband rolled.
"Darren had no better security than you and Carl. But now I expect you to watch over Derrick for me." She looked past him to Derrick, whose dangerous gaze cut right through him. She looked back to him. "He's important to me. I need him for me and for my baby, Jack."
"I give you my word, Courtney," Jack vowed.
Courtney
"Food started to arrive at six-th
irty this morning," Carl said. "We have it all marked. The items here are from the families we know and their staff who brought it over. The rest we tossed."
"Courtney, you're not to eat any of this," Derrick demanded.
"But‒"
"I'll make you something," he interrupted, not to be argued with.
"Okay," Courtney relented, not willing to disagree. Unlike Darren, Derrick could be agreeable, but when he felt strongly about something there was no bend in him. It was a losing battle. If she wanted to maintain her sanity she needed to learn to adjust.
Derrick pulled out some eggs. "I'm going to scramble eggs and make toast. I'm not nearly as good as a cook as Darren," he said, cracking eggs in a bowl.
Quietly the guys left the kitchen. Unlike Darren, Derrick never had been welcoming when it came to the men hanging around as onlookers into his and Courtney's interactions.
"I'll hire a housekeeper who can also cook. I know Darren loved to play chef, but I want you to worry about taking care of yourself and not thinking about making a meal."
She found herself caught up in his demanding demeanor. His hard tone. His inner strength that oozed from every pour despite the fact he lost his brother. His voice soothed her, mesmerized her. That deep rasp combined with confidence and darkness. She could listen to him speak all day. She almost forgot how much she enjoyed talking to him.
Derrick turned towards her. "Court?"
She blinked out of her daze. "Sorry."
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I just got lost in your voice," she admitted. She turned away and focused on the wooded area outback.
When he didn't respond, she knew she'd thrown him off. "Sorry. Your voice is soothing."
Derrick stepped into her line of focus. "Don't apologize to me, Court. There's no reason. Ever."