Can't Help Falling In Love (A Calamity Falls Novel Book 5)

by Erika Kelly

  “Sure. What’s up?”

  “I left a message with them this morning, see if I could rent a mountain bike. It’s a perfect day, and I want to check out the area.” He wagged his phone. “They just got back to me.”

  “That sounds like so much fun.” When Posie got a little older, she’d do things like that with her. Calamity was a town for outdoor activities—they had a bike path connecting it to Jackson and circling the lake.

  “What’s that expression for?” he asked.

  “What expression?”

  “The one like…” With a mournful look, he let out a long-suffering sigh. “That one.”

  “That’s not what I was doing.” She grinned because, okay, maybe she had been. “I was just thinking about how long it’s been since I’ve done stuff like that. Probably not since high school. When Posie’s older, I’ll get her a good bike. There’s a lot to do here in the summer.”

  “Why wait? Come with me now.”

  “Oh, God, no. I’ve got too much to do.”

  “Yeah? Well, I’m here for the summer. Use me. I’m a jack of all trades.”

  “You’re coaching, remember?” Could she make time to do something fun? Just this once? She thought about her to-do list. She was a delayed gratification kind of person. She saved the best food on her plate for last, and she didn’t sit down with her tea until the dishwasher was running, the toys picked up, and the bathroom sink wiped clean of toothpaste.

  Thinking about it, she was absolutely on top of her business and the festival. They’d had a little snafu with the license, but she’d handled that yesterday. She’d okayed the banners last night. The extra staff she’d hired to get her through the summer was handling production and packaging. “Actually, I think I’ve got everything under control at the moment.”

  “So you’re coming with me?”

  Could she really do that? Play hooky when the festival was just weeks away? “I’d better not. But why don’t we plan something for this weekend? With Posie.” She turned onto Crescent Street and pulled in front of the huge sporting goods store. “You need me to do anything with Ollie while you’re gone?”

  “I’m going to ride home first, knock out a few emails, before I hit the trails.”

  “Sounds good. Have fun.”

  “Oh, before I go...” He pulled something out of his back pocket, and then held his fist out to her.

  When she opened her hand, a ring dropped into it. The gorgeous blue-green stone practically glowed in the soft morning light. “What is this?”

  “I noticed you don’t wear jewelry. I’m sure it’s because you work in a kitchen, and I probably shouldn’t have gotten it, but as I was leaving town, they were setting up an arts and craft festival. I saw the sign for Colorado gemstones, and I pulled over. Just to see what they had. I saw the aquamarine and thought…” His cheeks turned pink. “Well, it’s your birthstone.”

  How did he even know that? “This is stunning.” She was so completely touched she didn’t even know what to say. “They’re usually a light blue—I’ve never seen one this…rich with color.”

  “Yeah, that’s what drew me to it.”

  It fit perfectly on her ring finger. Raising her hand, she held it in the sunlight. “Thank you, Beckett. I absolutely love it.”

  “You’re welcome.” He tipped his head toward the window. “Okay, so, I’m going to grab my bike.” And then he was gone.

  Don’t go. She watched his easy stride, that sexy as hell bubble butt. She remembered how those hard globes had felt in her hands, how his cheeks had tightened with each powerful thrust.

  Longing ripped through her.

  He tossed a grin at her over his shoulder. He’d caught her gawking, and she laughed.

  “You know you want to,” he called.

  She really did. Another glance at her ring—how sweet and thoughtful—had her buzzing with joy.

  She wanted to be with him…so do it.

  When did she ever take time for herself? And she couldn’t think of a better reason than spending time with him.

  It took a couple hours to cruise the bike path that zig zagged across a sage meadow and wound its way up the mountain. Coco hadn’t ridden in so long, she’d forgotten the thrill of dips on the trail, the stretches of flat road rounding a cliff’s edge, and the air…the incredible pine-scented, snow-chilled air.

  At noon, they’d stopped for lunch. Now, stretched out on a picnic blanket, hidden in the forest a good half mile off the trail, Coco enjoyed the dappled sunshine filtering through towering trees. “My thighs are going to ache tomorrow, aren’t they?” She popped a grape into her mouth.

  “Probably. But was it worth it?”

  “Totally. I have to make more time for exercise in my schedule. After the festival, I’ll do that.”

  “When I met you, you were going to run a daycare center in town.” One arm bent, his hand supporting his head, he gazed up at the trees. “And I remember thinking, That’s not her. You’ve got too much…flair for that.”

  “Flair, huh?”

  “Ever since I found out about Posie, all I can think about is what happened to you. How your life swerved so abruptly.” He reached for her hand, lazily entwining their fingers. “While I was out having a good time, you were rocking a baby to sleep. I hate that you did it alone.” He brought their joined hands to his mouth and kissed the back of hers.

  “I mean, of course I would’ve liked having someone to go through it with me, but it’s made me and Posie really close.” She reached for another grape. “I thought about you a lot over the years.”

  “Where the hell is the bastard who did this to me?”

  She laughed. “Not at all. I just hated that you were missing out on something so important. With every milestone, I’d go back to searching for you, but I had nothing to go on. I had all these fantasies about how I’d finally find you.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like I’d be on the cover of the New York Times for selling my amazing, fanciful chocolates, and you’d be in your Brooklyn brownstone eating breakfast. You’d be reading the paper, drinking your cappuccino, and your wife would be like, ‘Oh, chocolate. Let me see that.’ And she’d snatch the paper out of your hand, and you’d get up and chase her around the kitchen, the two of you beautiful people laughing—”

  “That’s pretty detailed.”

  “Hey, don’t judge. There are a lot of sleepless nights with babies.”

  “So, while you smell like spit-up and have dark circles under your eyes, I’m living the glamorous life in New York City?”

  Coco laughed out loud. “Yep. But I loved the idea of being a world-famous chocolatier by the time you came to find me.”

  Letting go of her hand, he hiked up on an elbow and raised his eyebrow. “I’ll bet my wife wasn’t nearly as pretty as you. Bet she wasn’t as accomplished either. And I’ll bet she didn’t put sprinkles in oatmeal.”

  The breeze rustled the branches, scenting the air with pine and dusty earth. Her body went warm with a rush of sensation. “I love the way you see me.”

  “I think you’re fucking amazing. But finish. So, I’m chasing my wife around the kitchen…”

  “And then you catch her and kiss her—”

  “Hang on. Do I kiss her like this…” He leaned over, blocking the sunlight, and pressed a chaste kiss on her mouth. “Or this…” He moved closer, so he could kiss her softly, sweetly, and then he swept his tongue along the seam of her lips. When he pulled back, he brushed the hair off her forehead. “If she’s anything like you, I’m thinking it was more like this…” Licking into her mouth, he coaxed her tongue into play.

  Sensation burst inside her body. He smelled so good—so clean and masculine—and he tasted sweet, like grapes. She loved the way he kissed—soft, slow, like he was taking his time to explore her, savor her. He just felt so good.

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she drew him closer, needing more. She scraped her fingernails along his scalp, growing restles
s for the press of his body. When she couldn’t take another second, she tugged him, making him fall on top of her.

  He wasted no time situating himself between her legs, reaching under her ass and lifting her so his hard erection pressed against her belly. God. He groaned deep in his throat, rocking his hips, like he needed to fuck her but was restraining himself. For her.

  Because he’d told her it was her move.

  Respect. She liked that.

  Everything about this man drove her wild. A simple kiss turned into a flash fire of raw, burning lust.

  As his tongue stroked into her mouth and his cock rocked over her clit, he awakened the sexual woman who’d suppressed her desires in order to be the best mother she could be. Her back arched, her hips lifted. Touch me.

  He must’ve heard her silent plea, because he skimmed his hand down her chest, shoved up her shirt and peeled back the cup of her lacy bra, exposing her breast to the cool June air. “Did you imagine me sucking my beautiful wife’s tits?”

  She yanked her shirt up and over her head, pulling it off. “Mm hm.” She could barely wrest the words from her throat. “She liked it, too.”

  “Funny because, I remember how much you liked it when I did this…” His mouth covered her nipple, and his tongue swirled around it, teasing it into a hard, tight bead.

  Erotic desire flowed through her, hot and electric. “God, Beckett.”

  He growled deep in his throat, as he plumped her breast and sucked hard enough to make her cry out.

  It felt delicious, the press of his hard body, the lavish attention he gave her nipple. Reaching underneath, she unclasped her bra and tugged down the straps.

  He pulled it off and tossed it aside. Pressing kisses down her stomach, he licked a circle around her navel. “What about her pussy? Did you imagine me licking it?”

  “So many times.” She grabbed a fistful of his hair to make him look her in the eyes. “Except it was mine.”

  “Fuck, yeah, Coco.” Unbuttoning her shorts, he tapped her hip, signaling her to lift up, so he could pull them off along with her panties. Sitting back on his heels, he spread her legs, eyeing her with pure hunger. “You’re so hot.” He lunged forward, hands cupping her breasts, pushing them together. “You’ve got the prettiest tits I’ve ever seen.” He gave each nipple a lick, before kissing her with lust and hunger. “One day, I’m gonna fuck them.”

  “Yes.” She shifted restlessly beneath him, the pulse between her legs making her crazy with need.

  And then he stretched out on his belly, hands sliding under her ass and lifting her, like he was about to indulge in a feast. And he licked the whole hidden length of her.

  She cried out, tipping her head back and closing her eyes to seal in the tumult of sensations.

  As with everything he did, he took his time, like he was just tongue-kissing her in the kitchen on a lazy Sunday morning. Her body turned molten, her fingertips tingling. And just when she was starting to grow restless, when need turned into desperation, he swiped his tongue over her clit. Hitching up her knees, she clutched handfuls of his hair, holding him right up against her.

  “Beckett…oh, God, Beckett.” Desire streamed through her, all creamy and hot.

  Reaching up, he palmed her breast, squeezing it and plucking her nipple, igniting the path between her two pleasure centers until she burst into flames. The tightening, the quickening came way too soon, but he sensed it, and he licked faster, harder, one big hand caressing her breast, the other gripping her ass, and her orgasm just roared through her, incinerating any shred of rational thought. “Beckett.” She sailed through a weightless space of pure euphoria.

  He read her so beautifully, easing off, slowing down his licks until they turned languorous…and she let out a final sigh of pure relief.

  Rolling onto his back, he rested a hand under his head, the other on his chest. “My wife’s fucking hot.”

  “You sure know how to keep her happy. She’s a lucky woman.” A breeze stirred the branches above, fluttering across her skin like a silk scarf. “I might fall asleep right now.”

  “Might want to put on your clothes first. Would suck if those trail riders saw you naked like that.”

  “What?” She jackknifed up, looking around the forest. “Are you serious?”

  He chuckled. “Of course not. You think I’d expose you like that if I thought anyone would be riding through?”

  She smacked him. “You scared the crap out of me.”

  All the humor faded, as his gaze locked onto her breasts. Hungry, hot.

  God, she loved the way he wanted her. “So, no one’s around?”

  He grasped his erection, gave it a squeeze. “Hell, no. We’re nowhere near the trail.”

  “Then why are you still wearing pants?”

  Chapter Twelve

  After coaching the afternoon trampoline session, Beckett popped into the office, where Fin, Brodie, and Will were hanging out. “Got a second?”

  “You bet.” Brodie waved him in.

  “Got a lot of guys wanting private sessions with you,” Fin said from behind a desk.

  “I’m happy to do it.” There was an empty chair, but he leaned against the wall. “Wasn’t sure how it would go since I’ve never coached before.” He liked it a lot more than he’d expected. When he’d retired, he’d been done. Sure, he still boarded for pleasure, but getting near a gym, talking about tricks? He hadn’t been able to stand the thought of it.

  But now, he kind of liked it. He’d had this one kid who didn’t get it. Kept landing heavy on his tail and just sliding out on his ass. And Beckett had pulled him aside and talked to him about rotating from his core, not his arms and shoulders. He’d worked with him privately until the kid had a lightbulb moment, and it had felt damn good seeing him finally stomp his landing.

  “I watched. You do something not enough coaches do.” Sitting on the floor, Will handed his four-year-old half-sister a big, red Lego block. “You break it down, so they understand the mechanics of a trick.”

  “That’s what worked for me,” Brodie said. “Our dad hired a coach for us. These guys got it right away.” He tipped a chin at his brothers. “They were tearing up the slope, doing crazy-ass tricks, but I wasn’t getting it at all. I was pissed and—”

  “Temperamental,” Will said.

  “He was a total diva,” Fin said.

  “Not even close.” Brodie looked offended. “I handled it in a very manly way.” His brothers cracked up. “Anyhow, Coach pulled me aside and gave me the physics behind boarding. He explained velocity and centripetal acceleration, and once I understood about my speed, the height of the walls, the weight on my body as I accelerated, it all clicked in my head. That’s when I became way better than any of these assholes could ever hope to be.”

  “You do realize there’s a little kid in the room, right?” Will said.

  Ruby’s head popped up. “I’m not little. I’m a big girl.”

  “You’re my big girl,” Will said.

  For all the years he’d known Will, he’d never seen even a hint of softness. Tall, solid muscle, he took his sport seriously—which explained his Olympic gold medal. So, to see him on the floor, his voice saturated with affection for his sister? Didn’t compute. “How old are you, Ruby?” Beckett asked.

  The dark-haired little girl glanced up at him. “I’m this many.” She held up four fingers, before turning back to her blocks.

  He wanted to say, I have a five-year-old. But he couldn’t do that. Not yet.

  Not until he figured out how to fit her into his life. And he just wasn’t there yet. He’d talked to his partners, and they didn’t like the idea of him hiring someone for the summer—not during this critical first year.

  But he wasn’t walking away from Posie, so he had to figure out something they could all agree on. And it just felt like he couldn’t make anyone happy. His partners wouldn’t budge off the original business plan, and Coco wouldn’t accept him into their lives unless he found a way to
be physically present more than a couple times a year.

  The thing is…this is my life.

  It might not be a conventional one, but that’s just the way it is. Coco might have to change her thinking a little.

  He could be a father from the road. He could FaceTime, text…

  Text a five-year-old? That was exactly how he’d kept in touch with Ari.

  Had it messed her up? Was that why she’d come to idolize him? Because he was elusive and only gave her tiny pieces of himself here and there?

  He could see that. Being six years older and in such a different phase of life, he’d been more of a rock star to her than a brother.

  That’ll mess Posie up, and that’s exactly what Coco’s talking about. That’s why she doesn’t want to tell her I’m her father.

  I get it, but then…what the hell do I do?

  “How long do you think you’ll be in town?” Fin asked, pulling him from his thoughts.

  “I’ve got a friend covering some of my trips this summer, so I’m good until the end of August. I can coach until then.”

  “Excellent.” Fin grinned “Anytime you get the itch to coach, come on back. You’re welcome anytime.”

  “Thanks.” He gave Brodie a chin nod. “Anyhow, I just wanted to let you know there’s not going to be a wedding.”

  “Yeah, I figured. I’ll let Diane know. She’s got some other possibilities, so we’re good.”

  “Does this have anything to do with Coco Cavanaugh?” Will asked.

  Surprise had him pushing off the wall. “Where did that come from?”

  “I saw you biking with her yesterday.” Will handed another block to Ruby. “Ruby and I were out riding. You guys flew right past us. Looked pretty happy.”

  “Nah. I’m just staying in her guest house.”

  “How do you know her?” Fin asked.

  “She was supposed to make the chocolates for the wedding.” Even saying the word wedding out loud now sounded wrong. He never should’ve gone along with that plan.