“No more talking,” he murmured against her lips. “I want you wearing nothing but that ring and the moonlight.”
Shivers raced through her at his sexy command. Anything they needed to discuss or work out with this relationship could be done later, because Reese was stripping her clothes off and she had a feeling she was about to get another birthday present.
* * *
“I discovered I’m adopted.”
Josie’s gasp over the warm night air seemed to echo.
It was well past midnight, so technically her birthday was over. They were on their way back to his place, fully dressed, and he found he couldn’t keep the news from her any longer. The only people who knew that he knew the truth were strangers. Reese needed her advice and her shoulder to lean on. That was the main thing he valued about their relationship. Even when he was trying to be strong, to put up a front of steel, he could let his guard down around her and she never criticized or judged him.
He’d wanted to tell his parents first. He really thought he owed them that. But the other part of him needed Josie’s advice on how to handle such a delic
ate situation. There was nobody he trusted more with this secret.
“Adopted?” she repeated. “Reese, how... I mean, who told you? Are you sure?”
He guided the yacht toward his dock. In the distance, his three-story beachfront home lit up the shoreline. He always loved this time of night when the water was calm and quiet. He needed a stillness in however he could manage to gain one, in order to keep his sanity.
“I’m pretty certain,” he told her, still keeping his eye on the dock. “I also found out I have two half brothers in Green Valley, Tennessee.”
“That was the reason for your trip.”
He nodded as he felt her come up beside him. The wind whipped her hair, sending strands drifting over his bare arm.
“Who are your birth parents?” she asked.
Reese shrugged. “I received a letter from a woman who I found out was my half brother’s mom. She was dying and before she passed, she sent three letters. Even her son didn’t know who his father was growing up, but she wanted to clear the air, I guess. Anyway, I don’t know about my birth mother, but my biological father is Rusty Lockwood.”
“Lockwood,” she murmured. “As in, Lockwood Lightning?”
“Yeah.”
“Wow.” Josie laid her delicate hand on his arm for support. “Have you met him?”
Reese slowed the engine as he neared the dock. “No, but I’ve not heard pleasant things about him and in my own research, I’ve read some disturbing news. He’s certainly no comparison to Martin Conrad.”
The gentle squeeze from her touch had a bit of his anxiety sliding away.
“Nobody is Martin Conrad,” she agreed. “Do your parents know you found this out?”
“No. That’s what I want to talk to them about tomorrow.”
He still didn’t know how to approach the topic other than just showing them the letter and giving them a chance to explain.
“Do you...um, do you need me there?” she asked, her tone low, uncertain. “I mean, I don’t want to step over the line and make you uncomfortable, but if you need someone—”
Reese reached up and slid his hand over hers as he glanced her way for a brief moment. “I want you there.”
She seemed to exhale a breath and her body relaxed against his. “I don’t even know what to say, but I’ll do whatever I can for you.”
He knew she would. He knew no matter what decision he made, she would stand by him.
“I’m going to Green Valley in a few days.” He steered the ship expertly between the docks. “I’d like you to come with me if you can get away.”
“I’ll make the time, and I can always work on the road,” she told him. “Or are we taking the jet?”
“It’s going to be a quick trip,” he stated, killing the engine. “We’ll fly to save time.”