Kate Hoffmann - Brody

“What more is there?” Brody asked himself, staring at the list. He owned a suit and tie and a decent pair of shoes. He wrote that down, though he assumed if he got a job in the business world, he’d need a better wardrobe. He started a list for the NFL job and even made one for getting back into Aussie football.

Brody heard the front door open and turned to see Payton walking in. Their eyes met and for a moment, Brody forgot to breathe. He still found himself amazed that she’d wandered into his life. How the hell had he gotten so lucky?

“You’re home early,” he said, glancing over at the plane ticket he’d left on the table.

She held up a sheaf of papers. “I stopped by the immigration office on my way back from shopping. I have to fill out all this paperwork and then call back for an appointment.” Payton dropped her shopping bags on the floor, then sat down on his lap and slipped her arms around his neck. “What happens if they don’t let me stay? What if they force me to go home?”

“Maybe you need to go home,” he said. The moment the words slipped out of his mouth, he wanted to take them back. Why would he encourage her to leave? Was he compelled to test her feelings for him? Brody took the plane ticket from the table and held it out to her.

“What’s that?”

“A ticket home,” he said. “Sam dropped by. I guess he got tired of waiting for you and decided to talk to me.”

Her expression turned angry. “I left a message that I was coming to see him tomorrow. He always has to control everything. God, I hate that about him. I’m not going home. And I’m not going to talk to him again. I’ll just return the ticket. Or better yet, exchange it for tickets we can use together.”

“I think you should go home. Payton, I don’t want to constantly be looking over my shoulder, waiting for him to turn up again like he did today. You need to clean up the mess you left behind and then, if you still want to, come back. But this is always going to be hanging between us, Payton. I’m always going to wonder if I’ll wake up someday and you’ll be gone.”

She bit on her lower lip, her eyes filling with tears. “So you want me to leave?”

“Of course not. But if you’re going to stay, I want you to stay forever. And if you don’t smooth things out with your family, you’re always going to regret that. Do it now. Make amends. And then come home to me.”

A long silence grew between them as she considered his suggestion. “You’re right,” she finally said. “This whole thing has been hanging over us like a dark cloud. I know what I want and I shouldn’t be afraid to tell them.” Payton cupped his face in her hands and stared into his eyes. “I’ll go back day after tomorrow,” she said. “After we’ve celebrated your birthday. And I’ll call my parents and let them know I’m coming home.” Payton leaned forward and gave him a fierce kiss. “I will come back. You can count on it.”

Brody’s pulse leaped. He cupped her face in his hands and molded her mouth to his. How would he live without this? After a day or two, he’d be ready to hop a flight to the States and drag her back.

But he’d have to be strong and hope that she would return and stay for good. Brody slipped his arm beneath her knees and stood, then slowly walked toward the bedroom, their mouths still caught in a deep kiss.

As he lowered her onto his bed, they broke apart for a moment. He stared down into her beautiful face and tried to memorize all the tiny details that he’d begun to take for granted. He didn’t even have a photo of her. But then, perhaps that was for the best.

He could believe she’d existed in a dream, that what they’d shared hadn’t been real. If she didn’t return, he’d continue with the fantasy. And if she did, reality would be better than anything he could have ever imagined.

They undressed each other slowly, taking the time to touch each inch of exposed skin. There were so many spots on her body he’d lingered over, spots made just for his lips or his tongue or his touch. In his eyes, she was perfection and there would never be another woman like her.

And when they finally came together in a long, delicious possession, he was already regretting what he’d done. He should have burned the ticket, should have trusted his instincts and kept her with him.

He thrust deep and held her close, desperate to seal the bond they shared. Again and again, they moved together and when their release finally came, Brody knew just one thing was certain. He loved Payton and if giving her up meant assuring her happiness, he’d do it in a heartbeat.

JFK WAS CROWDEDwith summer tourists, the concourse a maze of luggage and late passengers. Her flight from Perth had been a marathon affair, though passed in the comfort of first class. She’d boarded a Qantas flight almost thirty-five hours ago and had changed planes in Melbourne and Los Angeles. At this point, she could barely summon the energy to lift her bag onto her shoulder, much less marshal the resolve to face her parents.

But her trip was far from over. Before she’d left Perth, she’d booked her return flight and a night at an airport hotel, putting the charges on her credit card. One last thing her father would pay for before she was completely on her own. She was due to get right back on the plane in another twenty-four hours. In all, she’d be apart from Brody for three and a half days-enough time to realize she could never stay away longer.

They’d had a wonderful birthday celebration, though it was laced with the bittersweet knowledge that they’d soon be miles apart. After returning from the restaurant, they’d stripped out of their fancy clothes and made love all night long.

When it was time for her to leave, he’d reluctantly let her go. He’d decided to call a cab, rather than drive her to the airport himself, and Payton was glad for it. Emotional goodbyes would have been too difficult to handle. She was determined to get her problems solved and then return. Neither one of them would have time to be sad.

Payton wondered why she’d even bothered to leave. She didn’t need to see Sam again. As for her parents, she could have invited them to Fremantle for a visit and a chance to meet the man she loved.

Payton stopped short, causing a traffic problem on the concourse. She hadn’t admitted it to herself until now, but she was in love with Brody. It had taken thirty-five hours in and out of the air for her to come to that realization, but at least she was dead certain of it. She loved Brody Quinn and deep down inside, she knew he loved her, as well.

“So what am I doing here?” she muttered, staring at her surroundings. Payton hoisted her bag back up on her shoulder and started off again. “Closure,” she murmured.

How wonderful would it be to return to Brody without a single thing hanging over their heads? She smiled to herself as she walked, thinking about the last time she’d seen him. He’d stood in the doorway of his apartment building, watching her get into the cab. He’d looked so sad, almost as if he didn’t believe he’d ever see her again. She’d prove him wrong.

Her parents had promised to meet her outside the security checkpoint and as she neared the spot, Payton said a silent prayer that they’d kept their promise. As she worked her way through the crowd, she caught sight of Sam. He waved at her and she started toward him. He met her halfway, then grabbed her bag.

“I thought my parents would meet me.”

“They’re waiting in the Red Carpet Club just down the concourse. I wanted to talk to you first.”

“I don’t have anything to say to you, Sam.”

“I have something to say to you,” he said. He took her elbow and steered her over to a row of chairs set against the wall. “Sit.”