Mending (This) Read online

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  Mending

  The second book in the This Trilogy

  By J.B. McGee

  Copyright 2012 J.B. McGee

  Smashwords Edition

  Dedication:

  To my fans, thank you so much for your encouraging words. Thank you for reading book one and begging for book two. I never could have imagined the love you have shown to me and I will never lose my humility or humbleness where your generosity is concerned. I poured everything I have into making this book the best I could. I hope it does not disappoint you.

  Chapter 1

  January 14, 2011 ~ Noon

  The Present

  Gabby

  Gabby had been driving for four hours and it felt good to stretch her legs. She was wearing skinny jeans and Ugg boots with a knee length double breasted khaki coat buttoned up and tied around the waist. Her chestnut hair was wavy and fell on both sides of her shoulder reaching her breasts. She had thrown a black crocheted beret style cap on before leaving Columbia. After stretching from left to right, back and forth causing popping noises to come from her back, she reached over to the passenger seat and grabbed her purse. Locking and closing her door, she grinned as she proceeded into Bradley’s downtown apartment building.

  She got into the elevator and took it up to the penthouse floor. She briefly looked at her reflection on the steel doors and tried to tame her hair. She pursed her lips to distribute the lip gloss she had applied a few minutes before arriving while still in her car. When she got out she was immediately at his door. Gabby cheerfully knocked a rhythm. Before she could finish her cute little knocking melody, the door flung open.

  “Well hello there.” Bradley surveyed her from head to toe smiling. Reaching his arms around her waist pulling her closer, he nuzzled her neck while using his hand to move her hair back behind her shoulder. He pushed his head into the small opening at the top of her jacket trailing kisses on her neck.

  “Well, I take it you missed me? Geez, aren’t you going to let me in or are you going to completely make me fall apart right here in the hall?”

  Clearly Gabby didn’t mind too much because she closed her eyes and tilted her head to the side sighing as he continued to plant kisses over to her jaw and up to her mouth. She did nothing to stop him, but instead grasped her fingers tightly around his longer than usual dark locks.

  Flashing his playful blue eyes to hers quickly and never stopping from kissing her, “Mmm, you falling apart right here in the hall sounds really good to me.”

  “Bradley,” Gabby whispered.

  “Mhmm?” He continued planting soft kisses to the other side of her jaw and down her neck going towards her chest.

  Gabby moaned, “We should go inside.”

  “Okay. I. Have. Missed. You. So. Much,” he growled as he began to move back pulling her in with him.

  Bradley’s apartment was most definitely a bachelor pad. It was decorated in urban contemporary furniture in a combination of khakis, creams, and navy. The windows went from floor to ceiling and what walls there were between them were painted a contrasting white and gray color.

  As soon as the door was shut behind her, he untied her coat and pushed it off of her shoulders revealing a charcoal poof sweater with three quarters length sleeves, scoop neck, and banded waist. The sweater was showing a tease of cleavage. He pulled the shirt away from her body and let go of it quickly almost popping her skin when it quickly shifted back into place. Grinning he muttered, “I like this.” Reaching down, he picked her up into his strong muscular arms, carrying her towards his bedroom. Gabby couldn’t contain her giggles.

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, they were mouth to mouth almost instantly. Tongues ravenously thrashing with hunger and need from not seeing each other in a week. She pulled away with her big hazel eyes aglow, shaking her head from side-to-side. “You are so crazy, do you know that?”

  “Yes, I do. Crazy for you.” He kissed her passionately again, then broke it quickly leaving Gabby panting and frustrated huffing and her brows furrowed. He gently put her down on his king-sized bed. “Don’t pout like that. You won’t be let down.” He started to remove her shirt. “I have plans for us later tonight, so I need to make sure I get all my crazies out before we have to leave. Do you know how hard it is to go a week without my lips all over every square inch of your body?”

  “Nope, I don’t know. I think you need to show me,” Gabby teased. Oh she knew how hard it was to go all week without touching him. But, it turned her on to hear him want her so badly. All she had done the last four hours was daydream about the way he’d relieve her mounting tension and pit in her stomach. The long distance relationship had been hard, but not as hard as they had thought. It was working. He tried and succeeded in every way he knew how to make it up to her, to show her how much he missed her, when they were together.

  Bradley tossed her shirt to the floor beside the bed. “Oh, Miss Gerhart, I fully intend to show you.” He pulled the back of his white t-shirt from behind and tossed it onto hers beside the bed while pushing her gently back and climbing between her legs. “I want to reacquaint myself with your body. I have so much planned for you.”

  Gabby’s eyes were wide and grin came across her face. “Hmm, I like the sounds of that.”

  “No baby, no sounds.” He started at her navel and kissed her softly, gently tugging on her sensitive skin. “The feel of that, that’s what you should like, now shh.” Then he slowly licked up her midline.

  She arched her back and moaned, “Ah, right.”

  Bradley looked up with a mischievous grin. “Right,” he spoke, mirroring her words as he took her tenderly kissed her lips gently tugging them with each kiss. His hands started where his mouth had earlier started on each side by her navel and slowly moved up until he reached her breasts and the sensations caused her to shiver below his able hands. When he felt goosebumps pop through, he smiled as he continued to kiss her. His lush eye lashes brushed up against her over sensitized skin as he closed his eyes.

  She threaded her fingers through his silky hair as she arched her back. “Ah, I’ve missed you,” Gabby spoke softly.

  “Shh.” Bradley caressed her cheeks with his knuckles and then skimmed them to her hair, moving it back as Gabby tilted her head and sighed closing her eyes. She grasped his hair tighter as if her life depended on it. Once her hair was moved to the side, he moved his kisses to her ear, tugging her lobe smiling.

  “Mmm,” Gabby groaned and pulled him to her mouth to kiss him, this time with more passion and urgency. The doorbell rang, but neither stopped.

  “Aren’t you gonna get that?” Gabby asked after it rang a second time.

  “Nope.”

  “Clearly it must be important, they have rung it twice.”

  “Don’t care. Nothing’s more important than you.” He moved his kisses to Gabby’s neck and then her chest. “Shh.”

  Gabby shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t think they are going to go away, Bradley. Just go see what they want and come back to me. I’ll wait.” Gabby raised one eyebrow and gave him a playful smirk.

  “Hmm, I’m in no condition to go open the door right now.” Bradley looked down at his over worn rugged Abercrombie jeans, which were about to bust at the seams from his arousal.

  Gabby covered her mouth trying to hide her smirk. “Yeah, you should probably straighten that out.”

  Bradley cocked his head to the side and moving his pointer finger from left to right, “Tisk, tisk, tisk, Miss Gerhart, you are a naughty girl with your double innuendos. I have every intention of straightening my situation out when I am done at the door.” He reached down and gave her a chaste kiss. “I’ll be right back, don’t move a muscle.” He hopped up from the bed, grabbing his shirt from the floor
. He quickly threw it over his head and smoothed his hair into place as he stumbled out of his bedroom. The doorbell rang once more. Frustrated at the rude interruption he yelled, “Coming. I’m coming already!”

  Chapter 2

  August, 2010

  The Past ~ Gabby

  Gabby’s wavy hair hung just below her shoulders and her face was dewy from being on the beach earlier. Her speckled hazel eyes were droopy from fatigue and she was dressed in the khaki linen capri pants and a white t-shirt she had worn earlier in the evening before dinner. She had just come home from her first date with Bradley Banks. Coming into her childhood home, which was now Sam’s primary residence since she had started medical school, she closed the door, leaning her back against it. She closed her eyes and pursed her lips shaking her head. She felt hopeful and happy for the first time since the summer of 2008 when Ian and her childhood friend, Lindsey, had broken her heart.

  But, at the same time, she was terrified. She had no idea how in the world she and Bradley could make a relationship work. They were in two totally different places in their lives. Gabby was going into her sophomore year at Columbia College in South Carolina, while Bradley was nearly ten years older than her and had an established career as the CEO of a prominent commercial architectural firm in Atlanta, Georgia. Just like every other friendship or relationship in her life, they were socially unequal. But, as if that weren’t enough of a complication, there was the whole long distance relationship thing to consider, too.

  She had met Bradley months earlier at a wedding for her sister’s childhood best friend, Cade Williams. There had been fireworks from the moment they saw each other, but Gabby had resisted him thinking that he had a girlfriend. She felt humiliated when she found out it was his sister. Bradley was so smug at the reception, almost acting as if he could easily have Gabby. It had been a roller coaster of emotions because on the one hand Gabby was extremely attracted to him. However, on the other hand, she was terrified of being hurt. She knew her social inadequacies were also one more reason why they were probably not compatible. Gabby ran away from him when he agreed that she probably couldn’t give him what he needed because he didn’t do relationships. He was more of a one night stand or a casual relationship type of guy. She had spent the summer unsuccessfully trying to erase him from her memory. Earlier that day, when she had come home to Charleston from Columbia to see Sam, she had been surprised to see him on the beach looking for her. She was surprised at how much she had longed for and missed his touch. He talked her into going out for the evening and that is what had led up to this very moment.

  Gabby was taking deep breaths and trying hard to not jump up and down with elation. Yes, she was scared, but she also couldn’t help but shake the feeling that Bradley was different. Regardless of their mutual romantic feelings towards each other, he had agreed for them to get to know each other as friends first after learning what Gabby had been through in the only other serious relationship she had ever had. Besides, there were other reasons for Gabby’s lack of trust. She had unresolved issues from her childhood. She had lost her mother at such a young age. She, herself, wasn’t even sure if she was emotionally ready for a serious romantic relationship.

  Gabby was thankful there would be no sexual expectations for this part of their relationship. Yes, he had said he could handle that she was a virgin. Yes, he had said that he could wait with her. In fact he promised that even though they were going to start as friends that he would be exclusive to just her from this day forward. She wasn’t sure she could trust him. But, if they were just friends that would take away some of Gabby’s fear of his ability to commit and hopefully lessen the hurt if he turned out unable to keep his third leg in his pants, like Ian.

  After Gabby had regained her composure taking several cleansing breaths, she walked to her room in the small cottage beach home and began to change into her pajamas: a black pair of yoga pants and a fitted black tank top. She gently brushed away the tangles the breeze from the beach had left in her long wavy chestnut hair while talking to Bradley. She climbed into her twin sized bed and quickly dozed off to sleep. She was exhausted from the myriad of emotions she had experienced in a single day.

  Gabby woke to the smell of fresh brewed Dunkin’ Donuts medium roast coffee in the kitchen and knew that Sam must already be awake. That was the only coffee either sister would drink. Excited about spending the day with Sam, she smiled as stretched yawning. She grabbed a rubber band and quickly pulled her frizzed hair back into a ponytail. Hesitating as she glanced in the mirror on her dresser as she walked out of the room, she patted her cheeks and exhaled at the bags under her eyes from her long night. Looking at the alarm clock, she realized it was only eight in the morning. Her aching body reminded her that she had only had several hours of sleep. Rubbing her large round eyes, she yawned once more as she entered the kitchen. She stretched her arms out sighing.

  Sam was sitting at the small kitchen table with her messy short brown pixie haircut. Unlike Gabby, she was very petite. She was already dressed in a white V-neck t-shirt, running shorts and tennis shoes. The year before, Gabby had gotten Sam into running. Gabby had missed a lot when she lost her friendship to Lindsey after she caught her with Ian. She especially missed having someone to go for a run with in the mornings. When she got to college, although Sam had not been a big exerciser, she was thankful for the extra time with her. She enjoyed having an exercise buddy. It had proven to be a great stress reliever for both sisters. It was just another way they bonded. They would run with their iPod’s in their ears, side-by-side without saying a word.

  Sam’s large brown eyes glanced up when she saw motion in the doorway. She was sitting at the table with her cup of coffee reading The Charleston Gazette. “Hey, sleepy head. What time did you finally crawl in last night?” A small half smile forming as she emphasized the finally part.

  Gabby was very nonchalant, shrugging her shoulders and walking to the coffee maker. She picked up the mug that Sam had left out on the counter for her. “Well, we got home at around 11:30, but I changed and we just went to the beach for a little bit.” She glanced back to Sam with a shy smile and then started to pour her coffe. “I think it was around one-ish when I finally got home from the beach.”

  Sam rolled her eyes exasperated. “Well?”

  Gabby could feel Sam’s gaze burning a hole through her head. Gabby peeked quickly back to her sister. “Well, what?” she said as she resumed making her coffee.

  “Oh, c’mon, Gabby. Details. Spill the beans.” Sam folded the paper and put it down, leaning up with her elbows on the table. Gabby turned from making her coffee with a huge grin on her face. She pulled the chair across from where Sam was sitting and sat down. “Oh, well that speaks volumes,” Sam teased her little sister.

  “Oh Sam. It was so incredible. He had planned everything, thought of everything. I’m not gonna lie, I’m terrified. But he was so charming, such a gentleman.” Gabby paused. “And, I just can’t shake this feeling I have when I’m around him. The chemistry, the electricity I feel when he’s close to me or touches me makes me feel more alive than I’ve ever felt,” Gabby gushed. She smiled while shaking her head, eyes clasped shut.

  Sam couldn’t contain her elation that it had gone well. “So, where did he take you shopping?”

  “Saks. He’s completely over the top. But, I thought it was sweet.” Gabby sipped her coffee. “Get this, dude knew what size I was.” She rolled her eyes as she let out an exasperated smile. “He got me to get this dress that I would have never bought on my own, but I felt so sexy wearing it and these heels, they were killer. I didn’t even look at the price tags. No telling how much he spent in the fifteen minutes we were in that store.”

  “So, did you kiss him?” Sam quizzed her sister.

  “Well, just cut right down to the chase, Sam. Geez,” Gabby spatted, “Yes, I kissed him.” Her cheeks reddened as she dropped her head, closing her eyes grinning.

  “Is that all you did?” Sam got up to
fix herself another cup of coffee.

  Gabby’s head shot up and her eyes were wide. “Oh Sam. Good grief.”

  Sam glanced back as she poured the cream and Splenda into her mug. “C’mon, I want to know, spill the beans already!”

  “Well, we kissed once and then he um…” Gabby shifted in her seat and she could feel herself starting to blush. “He fed me coconut cake on the swings at the harbor…uh…with my eyes closed,” Gabby whispered recalling the moment as she closed her eyes.

  “Oh. My. Gosh, Gabby. He’s totally into you.” Sam made her way back to her chair sitting down with one leg crossed under her. “I mean, I already knew that, but that’s just hot. He clearly thought that out, don’t ya think?”

  “Oh, I think he thought it all out alright. I must admit that was one of the most romantic things anyone has ever done for me. He makes me feel so special, but I don’t get it. I don’t understand why he wants me. He could have anyone.” Gabby’s lips formed a hard line.

  Sam tilted her head. “Gabby, I don’t know why it’s so hard for you to see that you are a rare gem. The complete package. Any man would only be so lucky to have you.

  “Whatever.”

  “I am not just saying that because you’re my little sister. I can’t tell you how many guys last year had crushes on you, but you showed zero interest in them.”

  Gabby shrugged her shoulders and put her head down fidgeting with her cup.

  “I’m serious, Gabby.” Sam held her mug with both hands and brought it to her mouth taking a sip. “But anyway, what did you do at the beach?”

  “Just talked. He was sweet. He carried our shoes and my bag, I mean what man does that,” Gabby giggled.

  “Oh Gabby. He’s smitten.” Sam leaned in and smiled.

  Gabby glanced up and inhaled sharply. “He asked about Ian.”

  “Oh really, how did he know about Ian?”

  “Well, I just told him I had baggage. He pretty much figured out it was from another guy. I told him everything.” Gabby shook her head. “Sam, you’re the only person I’ve ever been able to talk to about that. I mean, it was so easy, too. And it was cute, he was so mad. I hope he never meets Ian, because I think he might just have a throw down with him.” Gabby’s eyes lit up.