Breathless (Steel Brothers Saga #10)(16)

Marj was waiting by the door and opened it for me before I had the chance to knock. She pulled me inside and fell into my arms.

I kissed the top of her head, inhaling. Her hair smelled like coconut. “Hey. Everything is okay.”

She pulled away. “I still haven’t heard anything.”

“I know you haven’t, because you would have called me, right?”

She sniffed and nodded.

“Did you call your brothers?”

“Ryan didn’t answer, and Joe… I just couldn’t.”

I sighed. “They need to know.”

“They can know when I have actual news. I can’t burden them. They’ve all been through so much.”

“But this is family, Marj. If ever there were three brothers who were there for each other, it’s the Steels.”

“I know. I know. But…”

“No buts. We’ll call them together, okay?”

She swallowed, nodding, but we both jerked when her phone buzzed against her thigh. She pulled it out. “Oh, God. It’s Talon.”

“You want me to answer?”

She nodded.

I took the phone from her. “Hey, Tal. This is Bryce.”

“Where’s Marj?”

“She’s here. She’s upset. How’s Jade?”

He paused a moment. “The baby’s okay, so far. They saw the heartbeat on ultrasound, and they’ve got her hooked up to a monitor. The cramping has subsided, but she’s still bleeding a little bit. They’re going to keep her here overnight for observation.”

“Okay.”

Marj tugged on my arm. “What’s he saying?”

I held my hand up to stop her so I could hear Talon.

“Apparently some spotting during pregnancy can be normal,” he said, “and so can cramping. But because of her severe morning sickness, they want to keep an eye on her.”

“Good.”

“I tell you, Bryce. I’ve never been so scared in my life.”

“Did you call your brothers?”

“No. I assume Marj did.”

“She didn’t. She didn’t want to scare them.”

“Just as well. So far, everyone is cautiously optimistic. No need to bother them.”

“Talon…”

“Okay. Okay. I’ll call them. Tell Marj I’ll be home sometime tomorrow.”

“Will do.”

“Thanks for being there with her. I know her. Jade’s her best friend, and she’s probably worrying herself into a big mess. How are the boys?”

“I assume they’re in bed. You want to talk to your sister?”

“Yeah. Put her on.”

I held the phone out to Marjorie. “So far Jade and the baby are fine. He needs to talk to you.”

She nodded and took the phone, her facial muscles finally relaxing. “Tal?”

She bit her lip as she listened to her brother for several minutes, only mumbling “okay” here and there. Finally, she said, “I will. You call me if anything changes. I don’t care what time it is.” Pause. “Okay. Bye.”

“You better now?” I asked.

She sighed. “A little. I don’t like her staying at the hospital.”

“The hospital is the safest place for her right now.”

“I know.” Her lips trembled, and her eyes glazed over with unshed tears.

“Come here.” I pulled her to me in a warm embrace.

She felt so good against me, and my cock hardened. Fuck. She didn’t need a horny man right now. She needed comfort.

So that was what I’d give her. I led her through the foyer and down into the family room, where I deposited her on the leather couch and then sat beside her. “The boys are asleep?”

“Yeah. I checked on them right before you arrived.”

I eyed the bar. “Can I get you anything? Water? A drink?”

She shook her head. “Just sit with me for a little while, okay?”

“Of course.”

She snuggled into me, and without thinking, I placed my arm around her shoulders. She felt so good in my arms, as if everything were right with the world.

Too bad everything was not right with the world.

But damn, with this beautiful woman in my arms, I could pretend it was, if only for tonight.

Funny. I was horny as hell for Marj, but the thought of fucking her wasn’t in my mind at the moment. I wanted to hold her, comfort her, let her lean on me. I wanted to be a rock for her.

Which was fucked up, really, because I was in no condition to be a rock for anyone. I couldn’t even be a rock for my own son and mother. They deserved better.

Marjorie Steel deserved better.

My legs itched. I should leave. I was the last thing she needed.

Yet she’d called me. She’d wanted me. She hadn’t called her brothers.

I kissed the top of her head once more.

Man, I was a goner.

Why had I tried to ease my ache for her with someone else? I could have fucked Heidi into oblivion, and I wouldn’t want Marjorie any less. I’d wanted her since I’d seen how amazing she was with Henry. Yeah, she’d looked like a supermodel in Jamaica, her long, lean body clad in a hot-pink bikini. I couldn’t deny she was beautiful or that I was physically attracted to her.