by Claire Adams
I nodded, even though I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what I might have done. It wouldn’t surprise me to find out I’d done something terrible without realizing it. I just wished Emma would tell me.
“If you love this girl, don’t let her go without a fight,” Winston piped up, and I lifted my eyebrows. He didn’t often weigh in on most matters, choosing to hold his tongue while the other men talked. When he did speak, everyone else fell quiet, even Big Tom.
“Winston’s right,” Laraby said. “You have to find a way to talk to her.”
“I tried calling, but she won’t answer the phone,” I said. “And, she hasn’t been to work all week.”
“She’s got to live somewhere, son.” Big Tom stared hard at me. “Go find her and get this figured out now before it’s too late. She might tell you to leave her the hell alone, but at least you’ll know. If you don’t find out what happened, you’ll be kicking yourself for the rest of your life.”
I knew that much was true.
I drove back to the farm after breakfast, thinking of what I’d say when I pulled up and saw Emma’s little blue car in the driveway. But she wasn’t there. Lacey wasn’t due in, either, but at least I knew what was going on with her and that she’d be back on Monday. It was going to be another long, lonely day on the ranch. It just didn’t feel right around here without Emma.
Instead of getting right to work, I went to the porch and sat down next to Riley.
“I don’t know what to do, old boy,” I said. “I must have done something wrong, and now Emma won’t come to work or speak to me. What would you do in my place, Riley? Would you go after your girl even if she didn’t seem to want a damned thing to do with you anymore?”
I looked down at the curled up shape of my scruffy old mutt, but he hadn’t even lifted his head at the sound of my voice. Sighing, I sat back in my seat to puzzle this out.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Emma
Saturday
I was out back with Kasey, drinking coffee while we watched Daddy walking around the barn, looking for things that needed set right. I’d come over before the sun rose to help out with the horses and a few other chores on the property. Now I was relaxing for a minute before the sunshine strengthened and the heat of the day set in. I’d told Daddy I’d help him in his garden today. Anything that kept me busy all day was good.
“You were right,” I told Kasey, just coming right out with it because I wanted this part of the conversation over with.
My conversation with Jack had done the opposite of ease my mind. I hadn’t been able to forget the sight of Lacey in Pete’s arms, and nothing Jack had said made me feel any better about it. I needed to hear what another woman had to say. And, Kasey was always there to listen to my problems. She knew me better than anyone, and there was no one I trusted more in this world besides Daddy. If she agreed with Jack that this wasn’t an issue, I might consider talking to Pete. If not, I’d let things lie the way they were.
Kasey glanced over, eyes wide with surprise. She looked fifteen again, with no makeup on, her hair pulled into short pigtails, and wearing a matching pajama set. “What do you mean?” she asked.
“What you said about Pete and Lacey having feelings for each other.” I kept my eyes on the small, solid shape of Daddy as he walked to the front of the barn and then disappeared inside. I could feel Kasey’s eyes burning into the side of my head, but not looking right into them helped.
“I saw them together, hugging like they were in love. I don’t know why they went to so much trouble convincing me they were friends just to turn around and rub their feelings for each other in my face like that.”
I tightened my jaw, swallowing back the tears that were burning in my eyes all of a sudden. I went from being angry to heartbroken in a span of a few seconds. I just wanted to move on with my life, but I couldn’t help how hurt I felt.
Kasey sighed long and low. “I tried to warn you.” But she didn’t sound like she was rubbing it in my face. I looked over at her, and her big eyes were shiny with how upset she was for me. “I’m sorry, Em. Pete’s such a nice guy. I really thought things were good between you.”
I nodded, trying to smile a little but not quite making it. “I did, too.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t just this Lacey putting the moves on him?”
I shook my head. “No. He was hugging her, too. I saw it with my own eyes.”
“Shit.” She pressed her bare lips together, keeping in whatever else she was thinking.
I watched Daddy crossing the yard over to us. He stopped at the foot of the deck, resting one boot up on the step. He tilted his hat back so he could stare up at me from under the brim.
“You mind running up to the feed store, Em? The horses are about out. You can take my truck.”
“Sure, Daddy,” I said with a smile. I turned to Kasey after he walked off. “You want to come?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Hell, no!”
We laughed together as I got up. I went through the house to get Daddy’s keys and then went out to the truck. The feed store was in the middle of town, only fifteen minutes from the house. At this time in the morning, there wouldn’t be much traffic on the road…not that there ever was.
I took the country road into town, the window rolled down so the wind blew through my hair and the radio turned up, some twangy music coming through the speakers. I pulled into the parking lot of the feed store and went inside. Feed for big animals was in back, so I headed that way, saying good morning to the owner as I went down one of the aisles. There’d be a kid back there who would help me load the food onto a flatbed cart and take it out to Daddy’s truck. I told the kid how much I wanted and he loaded it onto the cart, telling me he’d get it outside for me while I paid.
I turned to head to the front and froze solid.
Lacey was walking in the door.
Fuck.
There was no place to go that she wouldn’t see me besides the bathroom, and that was clear across the store. She was the last person in Round Rock I wanted to speak to right now, but I’d be goddamned if I’d let her chase me into the bathroom.
As soon as she saw me, she smiled, waved, and came over. I kept a stony look on my face, not being outwardly nasty, but not friendly either. I just wanted to get this over with so I could get the fuck out of here and away from her.
“Hey, Emma, how’ve things been on the farm this week?” she asked, tipping her cowboy hat back on her head.
I frowned at that, not understanding the question. “You haven’t been at the farm?”
Now it was her turn to look confused, her blonde brows scrunching together. “No, I’ve been down in Galveston with my family all week. Pete didn’t tell you?”
I shook my head.
“My grandmother passed last Monday afternoon. I hadn’t even known she was sick.” Her voice was shaking. She wiped at her suddenly wet eyes. I’d never see her like this before. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you before I drove out that night. I dropped by the house to let Pete know and then got on the road.”
That knocked all the stubborn fight out of me. And it got me thinking. “Is that why you and Pete were hugging on the porch on Monday night before I left for the day?”
She nodded.
“I thought…” But I couldn’t finish because I felt too much like a horse’s ass.
Her eyes went wide as saucers as she watched me. “Wait, you didn’t think Pete was hugging me because we were getting together, did you?”
I reddened to the roots of my hair instead of answering. What could I say? I couldn’t believe how stupid I’d been. I should’ve trusted that Pete and Lacey wouldn’t lie to me for weeks just to end up getting together.
“Oh my God, Emma, you never need to worry about that. Pete loves me, and I love him, but not that way.” She smiled, and I did, too, even if I did still feel like the biggest ass who ever lived. “He loves you that way. I’ve never seen him this happy with anyone in my lif
e.”
I had to make this right as soon as I could. I couldn’t believe I’d let an entire week go by while this festered. I needed to talk to Pete.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Pete
Sunday
I started on the fence at the front of the property, west of the house, first thing in the morning after getting the horses fed and watered. I hadn’t been able to sleep much the night before and just needed to keep my mind off of things. There was so much that needed doing on the farm, especially with both of the girls out just about all week. I was thankful for the diversion. Working on the fence helped, keeping me busy all the way into the afternoon.
I looked up at the sound of a car coming up the country road, thinking it might’ve been Lacey.
But it was Emma’s little blue sedan.
My heart leaped in my chest. I dropped the wood and hammer at my feet and started over to the driveway, running by the time she pulled onto the property. I was just so damned happy to see her after so many days of nothing.
She got out of her car just as I reached the top of the driveway. She smiled shyly, watching me skid to a stop and lean over onto my knees to catch my breath.
“I came to explain,” she said, cutting her eyes away before she said the next part. “And to apologize.”
It was easy to let her say her piece uninterrupted because I was still catching my breath from the sprint across the front of the property. I hadn’t run that much since high school.
She kicked the dirt with her sandaled foot, and I found it hard to stop looking at her bare legs in that sundress.
“I saw you and Lacey hugging on the porch Monday night,” she said. “And, I thought y’all must’ve had feelings for each other after all even though you both said that you didn’t. I thought the best thing for me to do was to leave.”
“Emma, I never-”
Her soft smile shut my mouth. “I know. Lacey told me what happened with her grandmother.”
“You don’t have a thing to worry about between Lacey and me. We’re just good friends.”
“I know that now.” Her eyes widened as the grin twitched off her face. “I’m just so damned sorry I almost let that get between us. I don’t know what got into me.” Her wide eyes were shiny now. She looked close to crying. I didn’t smell great after being outside all day, but I had to have her in my arms after the lonely week I’d had. I pulled her close, kissing the top of her head as she snuggled into my chest.
“I’m sorry, Pete,” she whispered. “I brought dinner as a peace offering.”
My stomach chose that exact moment to growl, and she laughed. “That sounds great,” I said.
“You go get cleaned up,” she said. “I’ll set up dinner.”
I pressed a kiss onto her mouth while she giggled, then hurried to do what she ordered. I went back to the bathroom, stripped off my dirty, sweat-soaked clothing, and got in the shower. I washed the day’s stink down the drain, scrubbing hard so I’d smell nice and clean for Emma, and cut the water off. I wrapped a towel around my waist, not even hesitating long enough to dry the rest of me, and went to the bedroom. I picked any old shirt and jeans, forcing them on over my wet body before rushing back out to the kitchen.
Emma had set two places at the table and laid a chicken casserole in the center, surrounded by a bowl of steaming mashed potatoes, another bowl of roasted vegetables, and a plate of freshly baked rolls. She’d opened a few beers and set them next to our empty plates. She smiled up at me from her seat.
“How’s it look?” she asked.
I never took my eyes off of her, loving the sight of her in my kitchen waiting for me after a long day’s work. “I never saw anything better in my life.” I took my seat as she dished out the casserole. “It smells so good.” I hadn’t eaten this good since dinner at her daddy’s house. Things just felt natural again as we dug in. I was relieved to find it was so easy to pick up right where we left off before Monday night.
“I had a lot of time to think this week,” Emma said, peeking across the table at me. “I realized I was so hurt by what I thought was happening between you and Lacey because I’ve never felt this way about anyone. I hated losing you, but I didn’t want to stand between you and Lacey if that was what you wanted.” She smiled, but her pretty eyes were shiny and sad. “It was a long week.”
I knew just what she meant. I put my fork down, not wanting anything to get between us right now – even the delicious food I couldn’t get enough of.
“You could never be in the way of anything, Emma. I want you in my life.”
“I know,” she said, and her eyes had changed. I knew that hungry look. I felt a stirring in my jeans. But she went back to picking at her food.
“I missed you this week,” I said, and she looked up at me again. I just couldn’t go on without feeling her lips on mine and her smooth, warm body beneath my fingers. It had been far too long. “I’m going out of my mind just sitting here, watching you.”
She drew in a deep breath, the color rising into her cheeks.
I stood at the same time she did, and we met in the middle of the room, pulling each other close as we kissed. The horrible week just melted away as I slid my tongue into her mouth. We kissed for a long time, pressed together in the kitchen, before she pulled her head back, leaving both of us breathless. She stared up at me, her green eyes wide and the look in them so hungry.
“Let’s go to the bedroom,” she whispered.
I didn’t need to be asked again.
I swept her up into my arms and carried her down the hallway.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Emma
Sunday
It felt different this time, after what we’d been through. Pete set me down onto my feet in his bedroom, the look in his eye drawing the breath from me. I’d never seen him this way. He looked like he hadn’t had a drink in days and now, here I was, the cool glass of water he needed, just in time to save his life.
His blue eyes took in the dim light in the room, widening so they looked black. He leaned to kiss me again, his tongue pressing past my lips and exploring every inch of my mouth gently in a way he hadn’t done before, like he was tasting me for the very first time.
We broke apart from each other, breathing heavily, the heat starting at my core and spreading out in tingling waves between my legs. His eyes drank in the sight of me when I pulled my dress over my head, and the desire on his face, the need that twisted his lips and widened his eyes, made me burn hotter for him. I stepped back, keeping my eyes on him, my chest rising and falling with my panting breaths, and sat down on the bed. He took his shirt off while I watched and tugged his jeans down. I smiled to see he wasn’t wearing any underwear. He came over to the bed slowly, giving me time to appreciate how damned good he looked standing there, his muscled chest, and long, firm limbs. And, of course, his thick cock rock hard and ready for me.
I scooted back on the mattress and lay back onto the bed. He climbed in next to me, his fingers tracing a trail from my flat stomach up to my bra. He licked his lips – and that undid me. I had to have my mouth on him.
I pulled him down by his neck, kissing him as that need welled up in me. I pushed the hand on my chest down between my legs, opening my knees so he could feel how much I wanted him. His fingers rubbed over the damp crotch of my panties, and I moaned into his mouth. He moved the fabric out of his way and sampled the wet heat of my sex, his fingers playing with my clit.
“I wanted this all week,” he said, his mouth moving over mine. He kept his fingers between my legs, rubbing over the wetness around my aching lips, but moved his mouth to my neck, kissing first, and then sucking on the skin while I writhed beneath his hands. He finally worked my panties off while I lifted my hips to help him. He unfastened my bra next, sliding it off my arms. He smiled as he took in the sight of me.
“I missed you so much,” he said.
I touched the soft stubble on his chin. He looked like he’d hardly slept a wink in days. �
��I missed you, too.”
He brought his lips to mine, his fingers sliding down between my legs again, this time moving into that heat completely, entering me so deeply, I could feel the palm of his hand press over my clit. I moaned and kissed him more passionately. His fingers fluttered inside me, stirring up those tingling sensations that moved over every trembling inch of my skin, bathing me in warmth. The heat blossomed, enveloping my entire body.
I wanted him more than I ever had before. Things had changed between us.
I needed him to scratch that aggravatingly pleasurable itch between my legs that his busy fingers were only making worse. I needed the whole thick length of his cock inside me.
He slid his fingers out of me, drawing a deep, gasping breath from me that brought his lips to mine again, his tongue exploring my mouth while his fingers explored the rest of my body. He cupped one breast, then the other, squeezing my erect nipples so I whimpered into his mouth, the pleasure nearly too much to take without begging him to climb on top of my trembling body and enter me as quickly as he could. I reached between his legs and took hold of his cock, closing my fist around it and pumping, gently at first, then faster. His hips moved against my hand as he groaned into my mouth. He broke away from me, his hot breath mingling with mine.
“I’ve never wanted anything more than I want you right now,” he said.
I pumped his cock harder, getting hotter at the way his face twisted with the pleasure I was giving him. “I want you inside me,” I whispered, and his eyes widened with hunger and need. “Right now.”
I let go of him as he climbed on top of me. His mouth found mine again as his hips dropped between my legs, the tip of his cock pressing into the needy heat of my sex. I wanted him, but I wanted to feel this dripping hot need for a few seconds longer, my body squeezed tight by how much pressure was building up inside me, all that luscious, tingling need. I tilted my hips, rubbing my dripping wet sex over his cock. He moaned, ending his kiss by nibbling at my bottom lip. He brought one of my legs up, bending it at the knee so my foot was resting on the mattress. He did the same with the other one. I let my knees fall to either side, opening myself completely to him.