by Toni Aleo
Being there, she couldn’t help but wonder if maybe she wasn’t cut out for city life.
Another thing she needed to assess.
Rolling her eyes at her endless list of things to examine in her life, she sat down in her spot and opened her laptop to where her chapter and characters were waiting. She felt giddy not needing her headphones as she jumped in, her fingers flying over the keys.
“Angel, I can’t.”
“You can,” she demanded, looking over her shoulder at him, spreading her ass apart for him. Her body was burning with heat, flushed. And fucking hell, he wanted her. He wanted to push his cock so deep inside of her ass, he wouldn’t be able to think, but he couldn’t.
He wouldn’t.
“Angel,” he tried to say, his voice cracking as he watched her squeeze her ass cheeks, her eyes searing into his. His nickname for her, angel, wasn’t something he said often, but when it came to her, he found no other word to describe her.
She took him straight to heaven. With just a look.
His beautiful angel.
“I could hurt you. You’re so small, and you’ve never done it—”
“First time for everything,” she said over him, and his hands shook as he met her gaze. “I want you to fuck me, Travis. I want you inside of me. Now.”
His heart skipped a beat. How did this happen? She was his best friend’s sister. Baby sister. He knew better, but fucking hell, he was about to fuck her hard.
Because she was his.
When her phone rang, Gen glanced over at it, her breath catching. She wanted so much for it to be Montgomery, but it was her mother. Only a little disappointed, since she hadn’t spoken to her mother since she had arrived, she picked it up. “Hey Mom.”
“Hey, honey, how are you? How’s it going?”
“Great, words are pouring out of me.”
“Wonderful. Is everything still utterly beautiful there? I was always so jealous of that place. It reminds me so much of back home in Georgia.”
Exhaling deeply, Gen leaned back in her chair, and it gave a bit so the sun kissed her cheeks even more. It was such a peaceful day. She could hear the sounds of the distillery on the hill, and she figured she’d need to make a trip up there.
“It is. I love it here. You should come visit before I leave.”
“Maybe, we’ll have to see.”
“Yeah,” she said, her voice trailing off because if she had her way, she’d never leave. “I really don’t want to leave, Mom.”
Fawn paused for a moment before she cleared her throat. “Well, we both know that Montgomery isn’t going to move there, Genevieve.”
Gen shrugged, closing her eyes. “I know.”
“Then that probably won’t happen.”
“I’m just saying. I don’t want to.”
She paused once more. “Genevieve.”
“What?”
“What’s going on?”
She cleared her throat. “We haven’t spoken since I left. Well, no, I take that back. I texted him about my room, and he was a smartass about it.”
“Why? Because you went?”
“That and because he wants me to quit writing.”
Her mother took in a quick breath. “What? It’s your job.”
“He wants me to be a housewife, he says. I guess I should have figured that out since he never really implied that he wanted me to get another career. I want more from my life than that. I want to be successful but also a great mom, ya know?”
“Oh.”
Gen’s brows pulled together. “Oh?”
“I feel that was a bit of a dig at me.”
“Not at all. You only wanted a mom life, and I want both.”
“Well, I mean, you won’t have time for writing when the kids come anyway,” her mother treaded gently, and Gen scoffed.
“I’ll make time. I’ll write with a kid on the tit, I’m good.”
“I don’t doubt that,” she said softly. “But I don’t think Mont understands that.”
“He doesn’t. He wants me to be his mom, or hell, you, and I don’t want that. I don’t know, Mom,” she said, frustrated. “Maybe I should call off the wedding.”
Her mother gasped before she started rambling. “Oh no, Gen, that’s a little dramatic. I’m sure this can be fixed.”
“Maybe, but I don’t want to get trapped in a marriage where my husband doesn’t support what I do.”
Fawn didn’t answer for a long time before she said, “I understand, but, Gen, if you call this wedding off, you’re saying goodbye to him permanently because he won’t stand for that. Or really, his momma won’t. And since he’s basically still hanging on to that umbilical cord, that might not go well.”
Gen snorted as she nodded. She knew her mom didn’t mean to be funny, but it was since it was the truth. Montgomery was the biggest momma’s boy Gen had ever met. It hadn’t ever bothered her before, but now, with the wedding and everything else… Yeah, it was a real problem.
“Oh, Genny, what am I going to do with you?”
Gen smiled. “What does that mean?”
“I just want to know you’re taken care of, and I feel like you’re running.”
“Mom, I’ll always be taken care of. I don’t need anyone to do it for me.”
“I mean by a man, and Mont would take good care of you.”
“Yeah, but he wouldn’t support me even a bit.”
“That’s unfortunate. I have dinner with Verna tonight. I’ll bring it up.”
“Ew, please don’t.”
“Okay.” Gen knew she would anyway, so she let it go. “All right, well, you finish that book and then really do some soul-searching, okay? Can you honestly live without Mont? Don’t you love him?”
When Gen couldn’t answer automatically, she felt her stomach drop.
Did she love him?
“I don’t know,” she answered, more to herself than her mother. “He really hurt me the other day. He accused me of coming here to cheat on him.”
“What in the hell? Is he insane?”
“He must be.”
“Who in the world would you… Oh Lord, is that drug lord still there?”
Gen snorted as she shook her head. “He wasn’t a drug lord. More of a mover of the drugs, and hell if I know. I haven’t seen him.”
“Goodness me. I’d forgotten all about that guy.”
Gen hadn’t. “Yeah.”
“Okay, well, don’t get into any trouble. And if you see that guy, run. Please. Like you should have when he cornered you in the clubhouse.”
“I think I cornered him.”
“Genevieve, don’t ruin my beautiful image of you as a sweet and innocent teenager.”
That had her guffawing. “Mom, come on. I went home with Montgomery after our first date. I’m no Sister Mary. I write smut, as Montgomery constantly reminds me, for goodness’ sake.”
“Lord. Please stop. I don’t know what you do. I’m hanging up.”
“Love you.”
“Love you more.”
With a grin still in place, Gen went to hang up, but then her mother said, “And please, really think this through, my love. Don’t let Montgomery go without considering all of the repercussions.”
Her smile dropped then as she swallowed. “I hear ya, Mom.”
She hung up and leaned back. It was all just so complicated. Why couldn’t he be supportive? Why couldn’t he just understand that she wouldn’t stop writing? Since her phone was still in her hand, she texted him.
Genevieve: Why haven’t I heard from you?
When he didn’t answer right away, she told herself he was working, but she knew damn well he had his phone on him. He always did.
Before she could go back to work, she heard, “Hey, Gen, you hungry?”
Gen looked over her shoulder at Delaney who was standing in the door to the kitchen on the other side of the porch. Tilting her head in curiosity, Gen said, “Hey, what are you doing here? I thought the new girl was starting?
”
“She’s a no-show, like everyone else in this town, and since I owe—” She stopped, her lips pressing together as her nose wrinkled up. “I’m here. You hungry?”
Gen’s eyes narrowed. “You owe whom?”
“No one. Food. You. Is it happening?”
Gen laughed. “Yes. Please. Thanks,” she called as the door shut. A grin sat on her face. She wasn’t sure what the deal was with the mystery of the Blu’s owner, but she was surprised how much she didn’t care. It was probably some girl she didn’t even know. Maybe a fan who was nervous around her or something, because everyone in Spring Grove loved Gen. She was awesome, how could they not? She chuckled to herself.
When the door opened once more, she looked back as Delaney started toward her, a plate in hand. When she set it down, Gen’s eyes widened. “Oh, shut up.”
“Oh, yes. The Blu’s famous fried pickles.”
“Holy mother of God,” Gen groaned as she took a bite of the fried goodness and moaned. They were perfectly cooked and downright scrumptious. The last time she’d had this fried magic was when Theo… Her brows immediately drew in as she glanced up to Delaney. “These are wonderful,” she said slowly. “You make them?”
Delaney laughed. “No, girl. I can cook, but I can’t cook that. The chef did.”
“Is the chef the owner?”
“Maybe,” she drawled. “But word on the street is this is your favorite, and since you’re our only guest, here you go.”
Gen paused her eating. “Why am I the only guest?”
“I don’t know,” Delaney said simply, shrugging her shoulders. But it was a lie. “Slow month?”
“It’s peak tourist time. Everyone is in town.”
“Yeah, I don’t know,” she said while looking everywhere but at Gen. Which meant one thing.
More lies.
With a grin, Gen leaned on her hand. “Hey, Del, you remember Theo Hudson? I saw his momma the other day.”
“Oh, yeah. She’s a hoot.” Delaney struggled for words, and Gen could tell she wanted to get away.
But she wasn’t going anywhere until Gen had some answers. “What about Theo?”
Delaney blinked. “Yeah, I don’t know.”
“You don’t?”
“Nope.”
Oh, she was lying through her teeth. “Really? Don’t you talk to his mom?”
“I do.”
“And she doesn’t talk about Theo?”
Delaney started to get flustered. “Yeah, I mean, I don’t know. I gotta go.”
“No, you don’t,” Gen said laughing. “I was just curious.”
She shrugged. “Well, y’all were too hot for words, so I expect you would be.”
A grin pulled at Gen’s lips. The five years she’d had with Montgomery couldn’t even come close to those two weeks of passion with Theo. Wow. That was pathetic. When her phone dinged, she looked down to see it was a text from Montgomery.
Montgomery: Have nothing to say.
Her face turned hot with annoyance, and before she could even think it through, she asked, “Say, what are you doing tonight?”
Delaney looked back at her, her eyes boring into Gen. “I think I might be going to the bar with you. For that drink you owe me.”
A sinful grin came over Gen’s lips. All her thoughts of Montgomery, her mom, and her life outside of Spring Grove were gone, and Gen had one thing on her mind.
Finding out what in the world was going on with Theo Hudson.
Her fiancé’s half brother.
She knew it was wrong. She knew she should take her mom’s advice and not worry about it, but something was up.
And she needed to know.
So with a nod and a sneaky grin, Gen said, “I think you might be right.”
Chapter Seven
The Drunken Barrel sat right on the county line and was something out of an old Western. It reminded her of a saloon, and she wasn’t even the least bit surprised to see the same old men taking up residence on their barstools. She couldn’t remember their names, probably since they had never talked to her, but she’d never forget their leathered faces or their bushy eyebrows. The whole room smelled of whiskey and cigarettes, but it didn’t bother Gen. It excited her.
“It hasn’t changed a bit.”
Delaney rolled her eyes. “Does anything in this town?” Gen smiled over at her as they went to the bar, sitting down before Delaney concluded, “Obviously I love it, since I haven’t left.”
“Exactly. This is your town,” Gen agreed, and Delaney grinned. “You work everywhere.”
Delaney laughed. “I do. I love money.”
“Do you even have time to spend it?”
Delaney nodded. “Yup, like now.” Holding up her hand up, Delaney called, “Two shots of whiskey and two beers.”
The bartender nodded, and Gen then glanced to Delaney. “I’m supposed to be buying.”
“Oh, I know. But this first one is on me, to welcome you and all.”
Gen grinned as she nodded, looking her friend over. She was wearing a body-hugging dress, her long brown hair down along her shoulders. Her makeup was dark and her lips bright red. Gen suspected she wanted to show off a bit. “So, are you dating anyone?”
A sweet smile pulled at Delaney’s lips as she nodded. “Larry from the body shop.”
Gen paused and then made a face. “The guy with no teeth?”
Delaney laughed. “He’s missing one.”
“It’s a front one, though?”
“Well, yeah, but it’s fine. He’s still handsome, and he treats me like a lady.”
“That’s all that matters,” Gen said, and Delaney nodded in agreement.
“It is, and since I’ve been through everyone else, this is my last chance in Spring Grove. I’m going to have to go back on a dating site next.”
“FarmersOnly.com?”
“I hate you.”
“Plenty of fish is good too, apparently.”
“Really, stop.”
Gen laughed as she shook her head. “Being in a relationship isn’t all that great.”
As their drinks were placed on the bar, Delaney clucked her tongue. “Oh no, trouble in paradise? You’re with that rich guy, right?”
Gen rolled her eyes. “That narrows it down.”
“Well, you do come from a fancy-dancy place.”
“Well, I’m not fancy-dancy.”
“No, but that’s your roots.” Delaney took her shot and let out a harsh sigh. “And you know who I mean. Theo’s half brother. What’s his name, Marshall? Mitch? Miguel?”
“Montgomery.” After taking her shot, Gen made a face. “Miguel?”
“What? It seemed right,” Delaney laughed before she took a long pull of her beer. “Are y’all married?”
“No, not yet. Three weeks.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah,” she said slowly, clearing her throat. “I’m not sure I want to do it anymore.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know, he’s being a dick and he doesn’t support my career.”
“Hasn’t he always been a dick?”
Gen gave her a dry look. “He’s a good man, he just doesn’t want me to have a career. He wants me to be a stay-at-home mom or some shit. That’s not me.”
“Why are you just now finding out about him not supporting you?”
Gen’s stomach hurt as she took a pull of her beer to replace the sourness in her gut. “’Cause I’m an idiot? I was comfortable. Sex was good, things were easy. And now, it’s not.”
“I feel that was something to fix a while back, or at least, to discuss.”
“I guess we ignored it. Like I said, the sex used to be good. Now we’re both just distracted.”
“No one is too distracted for sex.”
Gen shrugged. “They can be.” When Delaney sent her a dubious look, Gen shrugged again. “We are, at least.”
“Maybe ’cause y’all shouldn’t be together. Or maybe y’all fell out of love?”
Gen sighed as she tapped the bar with her empty shot glass, wanting another one. “I don’t know.”
“Well then, don’t do it.”
“I haven’t even really spoken to him since I left. It’s been a crappy text here and there. Isn’t that pathetic?”
“It is,” Delaney agreed, shaking her head. “What’s his deal?”
“He didn’t want me to come.”
“Why?”
Gen shrugged. “Who knows. He brought up me cheating on him, when I’d never. He was the one to cheat on me.”
Delaney held her hands up, her eyes wide. “Whoa, he cheated on you?”
“Yeah, like three years ago. We went to counseling.”
Delaney cleared her throat, not looking the least bit convinced. “My mawmaw always says, once a cheater, always a cheater.”
Gen shrugged as her shot glass was filled, and she knocked it back quickly. “Yeah, I don’t know.”
Delaney’s eyes widened as she looked away, nodding her head. “Well, putting the cheating aside, do you think he can change his mind on your career?”
Gen shook her head. “No, and I think I always knew that.”
“Then I vote to leave him.”
Gen laughed. “It’s harder than that, I think—”
“No, it’s not,” Delaney interjected. “If you’re not happy, you’ll never be happy. Things don’t get better because you want them to. There has to be some bend in a relationship. It takes two, and if he isn’t wanting to bend now, he’ll never bend.” Gen just blinked, Delaney’s words hitting her straight in the heart. “Mark my words, Genevieve. If you don’t call it off now, you’ll be stuck, and you’ll be very unhappy for the rest of your days. I’d rather live here, where I’m basically looking under rocks for someone to love me, rather than be in a relationship where I’m not valued.”
A little breathless, Gen shifted her gaze, taking a pull of her beer. Looking back at her longtime friend—even though they hadn’t stayed in contact unless she was in Spring Grove—she smiled. “When did you get so smart?”