Tough To Love Read online

  Falling back on the sofa, Shawn laughed. “Rally, you didn’t allow me to do anything. I’m an adult now. I can do anything I want. You need to understand I might be your baby brother, but I don’t need you telling me what to do.”

  “How can I believe any of that when I come home and find you making out with Lara like a couple of sex-depraved teenagers?” Rally questioned, sitting across from his brother. “I only want the best for you. You’re family and I have to make sure you’re making the right decisions.”

  “Thanks, but I can handle making a few mistakes.”

  “Why make mistakes if you don’t have to?” he asked. “Just listen to what I tell you and everything will be fine.”

  Getting up from his seat, Shawn patted him on his shoulder. “Okay, I’m going to leave before I say something I regret. I love you, but you can’t give me advice when your life is a mess. Enjoy the rest of your day.” Without a backward glance, his brother walked out the front door, leaving him alone.

  “My love life is fine. I know what I’m doing,” Rally grumbled, taking off his tie and tossing it on the loveseat. “I’m content with Vanity. I don’t need or want anyone else.”

  Why am I lying to myself?

  He wanted Sage to the point he couldn’t get through the day without thinking about her, but she left him. Yet he couldn’t just sleep with her to get it out of his system because she would take it as a commitment on his part. However, Rally couldn’t get the memory out of his mind of how well Sage responded to him back at his office. She made him want to show her what true passion was, not just amazing foreplay. Shit…he was getting too old for this.

  Getting up from his seat, Rally walked across the room to the family photos displayed across the fireplace. Picking up a photo of Sage, he traced her face with the tip of his finger. “Why are trying to drive me crazy? I’m usually so in control, but with you I’m not,” he mumbled, placing the photo back on the mantle.

  Sage doesn’t feel the way I thought she did, or she wouldn’t have quit and gone to work for Julian. Rally hated that he was jealous, but he was.

  “Hey, is anyone home?” a familiar voice called.

  Rally left the fireplace and walked into the entranceway and found the person talking over his daily thoughts. He tried not to show Sage how excited he was to see her, especially after the fight they’d had earlier at the office.

  “I didn’t think I would see you again this soon after the way you stormed out of the office.”

  Resting his shoulder against the doorway, he liked how cute Sage looked in her t-shirt and jeans.

  “I had to come here to get some of my clothes,” she answered, looking at him. “I swear I’ll be completely moved out by the end of the week.”

  He should have been thrilled Sage was moving out, but he wasn’t. What happened to the girl that was always trying to find a way to kiss him?

  “Are you sure that you want to leave?” he asked. “You can stay here as long as you want. I don’t mind.”

  Sliding her hands into the back pockets of her jeans, Sage titled her head to the side and stared at him. “Rally, you’re getting what you wanted for the past four years now. I’m finally taking your advice and moving out. How can you be angry with me?”

  Pushing his body away from the wall, he walked up to Sage. “I’m not mad, but I don’t want you doing anything in haste. I’m truly fine with you living here with me.”

  Sage’s eyes lingered on his mouth, making his cock stand at attention. His body always told the truth when it came to her. Why couldn’t he do it?

  “You don’t have to worry about keeping any eye on me anymore. I’m going to be in good hands,” she answered.

  “What do you mean? Are you moving in with someone? Please tell me it isn’t Shawn?”

  “Julian…”

  “The hell you are,” he snapped. “He will have you in his bed before the week is out.”

  “Who I sleep with isn’t any of your business,” Sage said. “However, Julian isn’t like you. He knows how to treat me with respect.”

  “I’ve known Julian far longer than you. If he thinks about getting you into his bed, he won’t stop until you are there.”

  Gasping, Sage took another step back from him. She wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Why don’t you worry about yourself instead of me?”

  Rally hated thinking about Sage in another man’s bed, especially Julian’s. He had to get her away from him. “I know you want me,” he said, harshly.

  He quickly closed the distance between them and caught her arm roughly. “Julian will be a poor substitute for me. If you want the real thing, stay here and I can give you pleasure like you never dreamed.”

  Tears filled her eyes as Sage stared up at him, then she quickly blinked them away. “Thanks so much for having such a low opinion of me,” she said, jerking her arm away. “I know you really don’t want me, so why would I ever consider your offer? I’m getting out of your hair as fast as I can. Why can’t you leave me alone? You have Vanity and she doesn’t mind telling me how perfect she is for you. If you’re craving sex so badly get it from her.”

  The need to have Sage was eating at him. He couldn’t remember the last time he had made love to Vanity. Any time she tried to seduce him it never worked. He wasn’t getting aroused by her anymore, but all Sage had to do was walk in the room and his cock got hard.

  Rally couldn’t understand why he couldn’t do as she asked, but he couldn’t. Sage was actually leaving him and moving in with Julian, of all people.

  “How do you know she’s the right woman for me?” Rally questioned. “Maybe I’m with her just to pass away the time.”

  “You would never waste a year of your life being with her if she wasn’t what you wanted. But, I don’t care anymore. Do anything you want as long as you leave me out of it. I told you at the office, I was done and I wasn’t lying.”

  “I think you’re lying to me right now. I believe you still want me. Do you think it’s right what you do to me? You’re always around tempting me and having me craving things that I shouldn’t.”

  “That isn’t true,” she denied. “You don’t want me.”

  “I don’t?” A dark eyebrow arched over a green eye a spilt second before Rally’s mouth swooped down and captured Sage’s in a white hot kiss.

  Growling deep in his throat, he moved his hands down Sage’s back and grabbed her denim-covered ass. He ground her stomach against the erection that had been plaguing him since she strolled through the front door.

  How was it possible she could make him this rock hard? Vanity could stand in front of him naked and nothing happened. Despite the passion of the situation, a small laugh escaped his mouth and Sage froze in his arms.

  “This isn’t funny, Rally,” she said, shoving him back from her.

  “Sage, I wasn’t─”

  “No, don’t even try to tell me you weren’t laughing at me. I shouldn’t have come here while you were at home. It was a mistake that I won’t make again. I can pick up my clothes later.”

  Spinning on her heel, Sage walked back towards the front door. It took Rally a minute to realize she was actually walking away from him.

  “Sage , damn it. Wait a minute,” he yelled, hurrying after her. He couldn’t let her leave like this.

  “Go to hell, Rally,” she yelled over her shoulder, then flung open the front door and almost ran smack into Vanity on the other side.

  “Hey, Little Spice,” Vanity’s voice taunted.

  Sage stopped and stared down at Vanity. “Stop calling me Little Spice, bitch. It isn’t my name. And if you can’t, I’ll make sure that you do.”

  “Sage, don’t you dare leave. We aren’t done talking,” Rally said, stopping behind her.

  Turning back around, she glared at him. “Stop bothering me and keep a tighter leash on Vanity. She has one more time to insult me. I’m so tired of the both of you. I’m beginning to think Shawn is right. The two of you do deserve to be together.”


  Sage shoved past a shocked Vanity and continued out the door like he hadn’t spoken one word to her. Where had that sudden change come from? He would think about it later. Right now he had to stop her from leaving.

  “Sage…Come back here. We aren’t finished talking.” Rally tried to get past Vanity in time to stop Sage, but she got into her car and drove off before he could.

  Fuck! He hadn’t wanted things to end like that. Sage wasn’t the problem, he was, and the sooner he came to grips with that the better off he would be.

  Chapter Nine

  A month later the sounds of kids fighting, and chairs being knocked over, had Julian and Sage racing out of his office to find out what was going on. She stopped running and watched as Julian broke up a fight between two boys.

  Coming up to the younger boy, she touched him on the shoulder. “Jay, what is going on?” she asked. “Haven’t I warned you that if you got into another fight Julian could kick you out for good?”

  “Bitch, you better keep your mouth shut,” the other boy, Mario, screamed at her. “I’m going to kick his ass and there’s nothing you or Julian can do about it.”

  “Mario, that’s enough,” Julian shouted. “You’re out of here. It’s best if you leave on your own before I toss you out. I won’t tolerate you disrespecting Ms. Nicole.”

  “Julian, it’s okay. I know he’s upset and didn’t mean anything by it,” Sage said, quickly jumping in.

  She knew Mario loved coming here. If Julian kicked him out, he would be out on the streets with his older brother in a gang. Something must have happened to make him fly off the handle off like this.

  Mario calmed down instantly and stared at her. “Ms. Nicole, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I don’t want to get kicked out. I love coming here after school. If I can’t, I won’t have anything else to do after school.”

  “See, Julian?” Sage said, making eye contact with the man standing next to Mario. “I’m sure Jay and Mario will be able to work things out. However, if the two of you get into another fight with each other or anyone else, both of you will be banned from coming back, understood?”

  “Are you sure, Sage?” Julian questioned. “I can give them both a two-week suspension. They both know that no fighting is one of the top five rules.”

  “NO!” Both boys screamed and then looked at her for help.

  Sage hated to punish both boys so harshly for their first mistake, but they did need to be taught a lesson about breaking the rules.

  “I don’t think they need to be suspended; however, I think they should have kitchen duty for an entire month. They still need to learn that breaking the rules is wrong.”

  “I think that’s fine, but if the guys don’t agree, we’ll go with my plan.”

  “We’ll agree,” Mario and Jay said at the same time.

  He glanced at both young men. “Good, now go and find something constructive to do before I change my mind,” Julian said, picking up the fallen chairs.

  The boys took off so fast to the back room Sage was surprised they didn’t trip over their own two feet. She was glad Julian listened to her instead of allowing his temper to take over.

  “What are you going to do when they find out your secret?”

  “What secret?”

  “How you’re really a nice guy and this tough man routine is just an act?”

  “Hopefully never,” Julian laughed. Coming over to her, he wrapped his arm around her waist. “Care to tell me how you got so smart after only working here for a month?”

  Jabbing Julian in the ribs with her elbow, Sage laughed when he dropped his arm and held his side. “I’m wounded. You’re kicked out for two weeks.”

  “Do you think you can really make it without me for two whole weeks?” she teased.

  “Nope,” he grinned. “You’re the person who keeps me calm. I couldn’t do it without you.”

  For a moment, Sage had a momentary lapse in judgment and thought about Rally. She wished just once she heard those words from him. But that wasn’t going to happen because he hadn’t spoken to her since she raced out of his house. She had gone back to the house later that day and surprisingly he was nowhere to be found.

  “Earth to Sage.” Julian waved his hand in front of her face, regaining her attention.

  “Stop it,” she mumbled, swatting his hand out of her face. “I’m listening to you.”

  “I think your mind was a million miles away on Rally. Is he still giving you the silent treatment?”

  She sighed, tired of discussing Rally. “Can we not talk about him?”

  “Stop avoiding the question. I knew that you had a crush on him for a while. Is it still there?” Julian asked cautiously. “I mean would any guy have a chance at getting to know you better?”

  Sage’s breath caught in her throat. Was Julian asking her out on a date? She liked Julian a lot, but she wasn’t sure if she ready to date himHe was a wonderful friend. She wanted a man to love, but she didn’t see him as that man. She would rather have him as her good friend.

  “Hmm…Julian, I like you a lot.”

  “But you’re still in love with him,” Julian finished for her.

  “Honestly, I don’t know how I feel. Rally is such a complex man. He tells me one thing and does another. I wouldn’t say I’m in love with him. I’m just torn about how I feel,” she admitted honestly.

  “I have a suggestion.”

  “What?” Sage would love to hear how she could finally purge sexy Rally Teveare out of her system.

  “How about we just date and see where it leads us. I’m not really looking for anything serious myself, but I’m tired of being alone.”

  “You can’t be serious.” She gasped. “Julian, you’re a gorgeous man. I know you don’t have to be alone. You never have any problems attracting the opposite sex. I have seen how some of these kids’ moms look at you.”

  Julian groaned. “I know, but I’m not interested in them. You’re like a breath of fresh air and I need that right now. Let’s do it. You know it’s a good idea. We can go out and have fun while trying to get our minds off our problems. I love the guy, but if Rally is too dumb to see you then why waste anymore of your time on him?”

  Sage tried to think of a reason to say no. It would be nice to have someone to do things with besides Shawn. He hung out with her when he wasn’t with Lara.

  “Okay…I think it’s a great idea.”

  Julian gave her a huge smile, making his gray eyes even more amazing. “Good…how about we have our first date tonight? I’ll pick you up after work.”

  “I live right across the hall from you.” Sage laughed. “You don’t have to travel that far to get me.”

  Julian chuckled. “I’m glad you were able to get the place. Sometimes the waiting list for my building can be over six months long.”

  “All right, Mr. Messener. I guess I can play along with you, but remember I don’t want any funny business.”

  “I swear I’ll be a perfect gentleman. Scout’s honor.” Julian held up two fingers and smiled at her.

  “You were a Scout?” she asked, doubtful.

  “For about two days and then I got kicked out,” he answered.

  “Do I even want to ask why?”

  “It’s better if you don’t. How about we go outside for the picnic and have some fun?”

  “Let’s go.” Sage replied, walking next to Julian. She was happier than she had been in a very long time.

  Chapter Ten

  Thank God, it’s finally over!

  Rally thought the meeting would never end as his employees filed out the door. He was working so much now that even Vanity was showing genuine concern for his well-being, which surprised him. He was doing what he loved, yet it wasn’t as fulfilling as it used to be.

  During his last year of high school he’d decided to become a stockbroker and, and nothing held him back from achieving it. He had taken all the classes he was required to: economics, business, finance and accountancy. He still remembered
the night he stayed up late studying to make sure he got the best grade in the class. His parents had been so proud of him when he graduated at the top of his class landing a job right out of college.

  Three days after graduation he started out as a trainee with a firm of stockbrokers. The recruitment process, with the psychometric and aptitude tests, about did him in, but like always he passed them with flying colors along with the interviews.

  It was almost time for him to go through another training course so he could keep up-to-date with all the new procedures and regulations coming out next year. However, this year his mind was on other things─Sage.

  She was the only thing he was constantly thinking about nowadays. He was stupid. He knew that she was intentionally avoiding him. The last time he saw her was at the grocery store but he had been with Vanity. Since he didn’t want them getting into another fight like the one at his house, he turned and walked the other way.

  Yesterday, he was having dinner with a client and saw her coming out of a restaurant across the street, holding hands Julian. The sight of them together bothered him so badly. He almost left his meeting; however, he got his jealousy under control just in time.

  How could she be around town with Julian like he didn’t even exist to her anymore? Resting his head back against the leather seat of his chair, Rally drummed his fingers on the conference room table. He had been fighting a losing battle for a while when it came to Sage. Her sweetness called to the deepest part of him, making him want to cherish her forever, but could he go back on his word?

  Years ago, he made a promise to his grandmother that he would marry the woman she saw in her dream. His grandmother said this woman would love him like no other had, despite problems they may face, and keep the Teveare heritage going.

  Closing his eyes, he blew out a deep breath and tried to make himself believe he could spend the rest of his life with Vanity, but he didn’t see it happening. His need for Sage grew daily and he was fighting a losing battle. It was time for him to give it up, break things off with Vanity, and admit defeat. Hopefully, Sage would be in a giving mood and not make him beg for too long.