She smiled. “Thank you. It’s been a dream come true…well, at least for me, it has. My father, on the other hand, is still upset with me for not coming and working for him. He keeps telling me that my degree was a waste of his money—even though the coffee shop has done so well this last year. This is the first time I’ve left it. My mother has a business degree, so she has been helping me out with it.”
For a moment, she almost looked sad.
What is it about this girl that is getting to me?
“What is your degree in?” I asked.
“Ocean engineering,” she said with a weak smile. “My father is a petroleum engineer, and he owns his own company.”
I let out a small laugh. “Well, hell, why open a coffee shop when you could be building dikes and flood control systems? If you worked for your dad though, I guess you would be exploring offshore gas and oil fields,” I said.
Her mouth dropped open.
“What’s wrong?” I asked with a smirk.
“No one ever knows what an ocean engineer does. I always have to tell them,” she said with a small smile.
I smiled and gave her a wink. “Well, you’ve finally met someone who knows.”
I heard Jessie and Scott come in, and I turned to see Jessie barreling through the door. She stopped the moment she saw us. She smiled when she saw Azurdee, and Jessie immediately walked over to her. She took Azurdee in her arms and hugged her.
Jessie turned to me and gave me a look. She put her two fingers up to her eyes and then pointed at me as if to say that she’d be watching me. I was just about to take a bite, but I stopped my fork right at my mouth. I couldn’t help but laugh. I shook my head and winked at her.
Scott walked up, hit me on the back, and sat down. “You behaving, Lark?” he asked with a cocky smile.
“Yes, I am. Isn’t that right, Azurdee? I’ve asked her to sleep with me only three times.”
“What?” Jessie yelled out.
Azurdee laughed and shook her head. “He has not. He’s really been a gentleman.”
She looked at me, and I gave her my signature smile that I knew drove all the girls crazy—except it didn’t seem to faze Azurdee at all. Her smile dropped, and then she turned away as Jessie held up her ring finger. They both started screaming and jumping up and down. I threw my hands up to my ears and looked at Scott, who was laughing.
Holy hell, why must girls scream when they’re happy? The only time I want a woman screaming is when I’m giving her an orgasm.
“Jesus, make them stop, Scott,” I said.
I peeked over at Azurdee. She was talking a mile a minute as she kept bouncing up and down.
Fuck, she has nice breasts.
Ugh, I need to get the fuck out of here.
I got up, walked over to the sink, washed off my plate, and put it in the dishwasher. I leaned against the sink and looked at Scott. “Is the Wild Coyote Bar still open?”
He nodded, and I noticed Azurdee look over at me.
I pushed off the counter and started to walk out of the kitchen but not before I said, “Good. I need to get laid.”
“Oh, really nice, Lark. Do not bring a girl back here!” Jessie called after me.
I took the steps two at a time and quickly changed before heading back downstairs. Jessie and Azurdee were engaged in a conversation as they sat together on the sofa. I looked over at Scott, and he shook his head. He must have known I was going to ask if he wanted to come.
I shrugged and said, “Well, thank you, Azurdee, for dinner. Y’all have fun tonight.”
Scott stood and walked me to the door. “Dude, are you sure you want to go out? Why don’t you stay here? We’ll grab a few beers, head down to the barn, and catch up.”
I smiled and put my hand on his shoulder. “Dude, I haven’t had a piece of ass since Belize. Don’t wait up for me,” I said with a wink.
I glanced over his shoulder and saw Azurdee looking at me. Our eyes caught, and then she rolled her eyes and looked away.
He slapped my back and laughed. “Yeah, ’cause Belize was so long ago.”
As I walked out, I made a vow that I would not let this girl get under my skin. I sat down in my truck and threw my head back against the seat. I haven’t felt this way ever since Nikki. One good fuck, and I’ll get over it.
I spotted the beautiful blonde the moment I walked into the bar.
After three drinks, a few spins around the dance floor, and one shot, I was pulling up her dress and ripping off her panties in the backseat of her car. All thoughts of Azurdee vanished when the blonde told me to fuck her hard.
“My pleasure, sweetheart,” I said as I slammed my dick into her. Blocking everything and everyone out, I only focused on her calling out my name.
I walked into the kitchen, and Jessie, Azurdee, and my mom were all sitting at the kitchen island, looking at paint samples.
I stood there, shocked. “Mom? What are you doing here at eight in the morning?”
The fact that my mother and father had done a complete one-eighty with Jessie had freaked me out enough, and now, she was in my kitchen looking at paint colors.
“Well, we have to paint the baby’s room—the sooner, the better,” she said with a wink.
I looked over at Jessie, who shrugged her shoulders and smiled. I still couldn’t believe she was pregnant, and we were getting married. All thoughts of Trey were gone, and she seemed to be happy with the idea of staying home and raising our child.
I glanced at my watch as I walked over to pour a cup of coffee. “I’m going to head over to Gunner’s place and see if they need any help with the New Year’s Eve party. Is Lark around?”
Jessie motioned for me to walk out back with her.
“He went for a ride. I have to show you something outside. It looks like maybe one of the horses might have gotten out and made his way up to the house,” Jessie said.
My mother looked up at Jessie and giggled. Even she knew that Jessie was using a lame excuse to get me outside.
I followed Jessie outside. She smiled as she reached up and wrapped her arms around my neck. I leaned down and gently kissed her soft lips.
“Hmm…” she said as she grabbed my lower lip between her teeth. “Thank you for last night,” she whispered.
I smiled. “No, baby…thank you for this morning.”
She put her finger in her mouth and barely bit down on it.
My dick was hard instantly. “Fuck, Jessie.”
“I’d like that,” she said with a wink. “Oh god, Scott, the moment you walked into the kitchen, something happened…and…and I…”
“What? You, what? Are you okay?” I asked as I put my hands on either side of her face.
“I don’t know if it’s because we were apart for so long or if it’s because I’m pregnant, but I’m so horny, and I just want you,” she said as she closed her eyes.
My stomach did all kinds of weird things. I grabbed her from behind her neck and pulled her lips to mine. I kissed her like I wasn’t going to kiss her ever again. I moved my hand up her shirt and felt on her breasts.
“Your mother is right inside.”
“I don’t care.” I picked her up and carried her around to the side of the house.
“Scott…” she whispered.
I put her down, and she pulled off her panties. I unbuttoned my pants and pulled them down. Then, I lifted up her skirt and slipped a finger inside her.
Jesus Christ…she is soaked. “Motherfucker, you’re so wet.” I removed my finger, picked her up, and slowly slid into her.
She threw her head back and whispered, “Oh god, yes. Scott, it feels like heaven. You feel so good.”
I didn’t know if it was because we could get caught at any minute or if it was the way she was whispering to me, but this was so fucking hot. I moved fast and hard, and I knew I wasn’t going to last much longer.
“Jessie, I’m not gonna last very long, baby.”
“Almost…oh god, it’s right there!”
“Oh, baby, I’m coming. Ah, yeah, that feels so damn good,” I said as I poured myself into her.
I leaned her against the side of the house, my dick still pulsing inside her, as I tried to catch my breath.
“Scott? Jessie? Are you out here?” my mother called out.
Jessie brought her hand up to her mouth as her eyes widened. I smiled and put my finger up to my lips.
“Mrs. Reynolds! Oh, you have to see this crib! I think it’s perfect,” Azurdee called out.
We stood there for a few minutes before I put Jessie back down.
“Have I told you how much I like Azurdee?” I said with a wink.
Jessie giggled and picked up her panties. She shoved them into my pocket as she gave me a wicked grin. “Now, I have to go back in there with no panties on and try to make it to our room to clean up!” she said as she hit me on the shoulder.
I pulled the panties out of my pocket and bent down. I lifted her dress and used her panties to clean her up. I looked up at her, and her eyes caught mine as she chewed on her bottom lip.
I let out a laugh. “Again?”
She nodded, and I stood up and shoved the panties back into my pocket. I grabbed her hand and walked us around to the back porch.
I kissed her quickly as I dropped her hand. “I’m heading to the barn, baby. Be good!”
I walked backward with a smile as she smiled and blew me a kiss before she turned and walked back into the house.
God, I love that girl.
I walked into the barn and saw Lark taking a saddle off of a horse.
“I thought I might find you in here.” I walked up to him.
He looked at me and grinned as he shook his head. “Damn, dude. I only have one thing to say to you.” He set the saddle down.
“What’s that?” I asked as I grabbed a brush.
“Look the fuck around before you take your bride-to-be outside!
I let out a laugh and shook my head. “Ah hell, I don’t know what came over us. My mother is in the house, too.”
Lark rolled his eyes. “Ugh…that makes it hot, I guess, but damn…I like Jessie, and I didn’t need to see that shit. I’ve never turned a horse around so fucking fast in my life.”
I threw my head back and laughed harder. As I stopped laughing, I looked at Lark. “Shit, don’t tell Jessie you saw us. She’d never be able to look at you again.”
“Trust me, I’d rather forget what I just saw.”
I slapped him on the back. “Did you have fun last night? You got home late.”
He turned and looked at me. “Yep, I had a good time. Met some girl named Monica. Well, I think that was her name.” He stopped and thought about it.
I rolled my eyes. “Tell me you didn’t…”
He smiled as he opened the stall door to lead the horse back in. “Fuck yeah, I did. Let me tell you, that girl probably gave the best head I’ve ever had.”
I let out a sigh. “Lark. Dude, aren’t you afraid you’re going to get a girl pregnant one day?”
He just looked at me like I was an idiot. “I’ve never in my life had sex without a condom. Ever. That is my number one rule. No condom? Then, she can give me head, and if she’s good, I return the favor.”
“My god…you talk about it like it’s nothing, like it’s meaningless.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “It is.”
“What if it’s not to them? What if they actually don’t want a one-night stand?”
“I never make any promises. They know that all I’m looking for is a fuck. I make that pretty damn clear, and so far, I haven’t had any problems.”
I shook my head. “Lark, don’t you want to settle down? Get married and raise a family?”
He looked at me with sadness in his eyes. “There was only one girl I wanted to do that with, and she’s dead.”
“If you just opened up your heart, dude…”
He put his hand up and smiled. “I don’t need a lecture. I got one from Miss Goody Two-Shoes last night when I got home,” he said with a laugh.
“Azurdee?” I asked.
“Yeah. She was up, reading. She came into my room and asked if I got laid. When I said yeah, she sat on my bed and began to tell me how dangerous it was.”
I smiled and nodded. “Sounds like her. She has a good heart and means well.”
“Well, I already have a mother. I don’t need another one. And that’s exactly what I told her. She got pissed and walked out. So, really, Scott, I’m good. I know you’re happy and all that shit, but I don’t want the same things you want. Plus, my job would never allow for me to be in a relationship. I travel too much.”
I rolled my eyes and pulled out my phone. “You ready to go meet Gunner and Jeff?”
He smiled. “Let’s do it.”
As we walked back toward the house, I smirked and said, “Dude, bring your gun.”
Lark looked at me and smiled. “Why?”
“I want you to fuck around with Jeff. He is always bragging about how good he can shoot.”
Lark shook his head and laughed. “Hell, this ought to be fun.”
I pulled up behind Josh’s truck and smiled. “Awesome. Josh is here, too. You’re going to like him. Down-to-earth guy and good with his hands. He made the desk in my office.”
“No shit? He’s the one with the twins, right?”
I snapped my head and looked at Lark. “You were actually listening to what I said?”
“Of course I was, dickhead.” He opened the door and got out.
I walked around the truck as Ellie came out and smiled at us.
“That’s Ellie, Gunner’s wife.”
“She’s beautiful. Lucky bastard,” Lark said.
Ellie made her way down to us. She gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
She turned and held out her hand to Lark. “Hi, you must be Lark. It’s a pleasure. I’m Ellie.”
Lark smiled and took her hand. “Ellie, the pleasure is all mine.”
Ellie looked back at me. “Gunner, Jeff, and Josh are all out back. I don’t know which one of them is the most excited. They actually went into town and took trees from the recycle pile,” she said with a giggle.
I would never get over how sweet and innocent Ellie was. I glanced down at her stomach and smiled. Ellie and Jessie were probably going to give birth within a month or so of each other.
“How are you feeling, Ells?” I asked.
She smiled bigger and put her hand on her stomach. “Wonderful.”
“Congratulations, Ellie,” Lark said.
“Thank you so much! Now, y’all go around back. I have to get to my garden before Alex wakes up.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I tipped my hat.
Lark and I walked around back.
Josh looked up and smiled. He walked up and reached out for my hand. “Congratulations, dude. I couldn’t be happier for you and Jessie.” Josh flashed me that smile of his.
“Thanks, Josh. I’ve never been happier in my life. Hey, this is my buddy from college, Lark. Lark, this is Josh Hayes.”
They both shook hands as Lark said, “Lark Williams. It’s a pleasure.”
We repeated the process with Gunner and Jeff. We stood around for a few minutes, shooting the shit, and then Lark went in for the kill.
“Are those targets back there?” He glanced around Gunner’s shoulder.
Gunner turned and then looked back at Lark. “Yep.”
Jeff smiled and said, “You like to shoot?”
Lark nodded. “Love it. I even brought my gun, hoping to get some target shooting in.”
Jeff took the bait. “Hell yeah, dude. Go and grab it. Let’s see how good you are.”
I felt kind of shitty. Gunner shook his head as he smiled and made his way into his house to get a gun. Gunner had never met Lark, but Gunner knew Lark had been in the Marines and was a sharpshooter.
&n
bsp; Lark walked out to my truck to get his gun as Gunner came out with his Remington Model 700.
Then, Jeff started talking shit. “Damn, dude, I hope I don’t embarrass your friend. You probably should have told him that I kick your asses in target shooting every time,” he said with a wink and a smile.
It took everything out of me not to start laughing. I smiled and looked at Gunner as he busted out laughing.
“Jeff, you might want to pull back on the smack talk,” I said.
Lark came walking up and put his gun case down. He glanced up at the targets. “Three hundred yards?”
Gunner nodded. “Give or take.”
Josh took Gunner’s Remington and shot first. He was about three inches left of the center. Gunner went next. He shot just a bit better than Josh, but then again, it was his gun.
I smiled as I stood there and watched Jeff. God, I love fucking with him.
He glanced over at me and winked, and I just smiled back at him.
Cocky bastard.
Jeff was next. I had to admit that Jeff could shoot a gun. He was probably the best I’d seen since Lark. Jeff shot and was about one inch to the left of the center.
He smiled and looked at Lark. “Don’t know if you can get any better than that, dude.”
Lark smiled as he bent down and opened up his case. He pulled out a custom Nemo Omen .300 Winchester Magnum.
“Jesus H. Christ, that is one bad-ass gun,” Josh said.
Jeff just looked at me. I shrugged my shoulders and smiled at him.
Lark glanced at Josh and smiled. “Thanks, dude. She’s my baby.”
Lark got settled and started shooting. I peeked over and watched Jeff’s face fall. When I turned back and looked at the target, Lark’s grouping was tight, and it looked like one bullet was inside the other in the dead center of the target. He was barely nicking the hole, making it bigger. He took a step to his left and started shooting the next target with the same results.
When he stopped, he looked over at Jeff. “I think that’s better, dude. This was baby’s play. I’m used to shooting at a thousand yards.”
“Motherfucker. Where in the hell did you learn to shoot like that?” Jeff asked.
Josh and Gunner both started laughing.
Lark let out a small laugh. “My father owns a hunting lease in south Texas. I think I had a gun in my hand as soon as I turned five.”
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