No More Secrets: A Small Town Love Story (The Pierce Brothers Book 1)

by Score, Lucy

  “I’m making a mess of this,” she groaned.

  “Yes, you are. But you’re new at this so I’ll cut you some slack,” Carter said, pulling her into him. “For the record, I haven’t given kids a thought. Could I see us with a family? Sure. Someday. But it doesn’t have to be now, and it doesn’t have to be the way everyone else does it. There’s more than one way to make a family.”

  Summer looked down, but he nudged her chin up. She saw only love in his eyes.

  “Honey, I’m not upset that we might not be able to have kids. I’m upset that you think it would change how I feel about you.”

  She smoothed the t-shirt over his chest enjoying the feel of him under her hands.

  “I’m so sorry for so many things. For not telling you about any of this. For running away when I got scared. For underestimating you.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and tucked her head under his chin.

  “Summer.” Her name on his lips was like a caress and she knew she was forgiven. “Jax read your blog last night and came tearing into my bedroom yelling and carrying on. All I caught was ‘Summer’ and ‘cancer.’ It scared the life right out of me.”

  She winced. “I was so scared. I’ve been so scared for so long that it started to feel normal.”

  “Where are you now?” he asked.

  She smiled against his chest. “Right where I want to be. In your arms, with a wide-open future in front of us. There’s just one thing that I want right now.”

  “What’s that? Name it and I’ll make it happen.”

  “I want to go home. Will you take me home?”

  “Of course.”

  “We can swing by my apartment first so I can pack.”

  Carter leaned her back to study her face. “Home to Blue Moon?”

  “Home to Blue Moon,” she nodded.

  He swept her up in his arms again, spinning them around in a circle. Summer laughed.

  “As soon as I introduce you to Dr. Armenta. She’s a big fan of yours.”

  She felt a vibration against her hip. “Oh my God! My phone’s been on silent since yesterday,” she said, reaching for her pocket.

  “You have about thirty missed calls from me,” Carter said, lowering her to the ground.

  Summer dragged her phone from her pocket. Her eyes widened as she read the caller id.

  She glanced at Carter as she swiped the screen to answer. “Hi, Dad?”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Two weeks later.

  Summer wiggled in excitement on the stool.

  “Listen to this one, Carter,” she said, clapping her hands.

  Carter grinned from the stove where he was pouring the evening’s leftover vegetable soup into glass containers. “I’m listening.”

  Summer cleared her throat and began to read the email out loud.

  Dear Ms. Lentz,

  We at Eve’s Garden were thrilled to read about your plans to start a digital magazine that focuses on real life health and wellness. As a creator of an entirely natural and cruelty-free cosmetic line, we would love to discuss advertising opportunities with you…

  “There’s a dozen more of these just from today from eco clothing designers, wellness spas, even frozen food producers,” Summer said, scrolling through her inbox. “I just can’t believe this is happening!”

  Carter tucked the soup containers into the refrigerator and joined her at the island. “You know why this is happening, don’t you?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.

  He nipped her off of the stool and placed her on the counter.

  “You’ll have to remind me. It keeps slipping my mind,” she said, cheerfully wrapping her arms around his neck and drawing him in.

  “It’s because when you’re open and honest about who you are and what’s important to you, things fall into place.”

  “Some things don’t seem to be falling,” Summer said, playfully running a finger over the bulge in Carter’s pajama pants. She bit her lip when she saw the light in his eyes.

  “Summer, what time is it?”

  She pulled his wrist to her face to check his watch.

  “It’s almost ten.”

  “And what’s our rule about working at night?”

  He was playing with her now and she liked it. “You mean the rule where I’m not supposed be on electronics after nine?”

  Carter nodded slowly and she felt her pulse pick up. Oh-so-casually she reached over and shut the lid of her laptop. “Oops.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “You think that’s going to keep me from punishing you for breaking the rules?”

  “Oh, I’m so scared,” Summer teased.

  Carter leaned in closer until she put a hand on his chest. “What’s that?” she asked, her gaze darting to the side door.

  When he looked away, she slid off the counter and started running.

  He caught her in the great room, bringing her down to the floor with a neat tackle around her knees. In a fit of laughter, Summer clawed at the couch trying to escape. But she was no match for Carter.

  In seconds he had her kneeling on the floor, her face pressed into a couch cushion.

  “I think you need a refresher on the rules,” Carter said, holding her in place with one hand, while his other roamed freely.

  When his fingers hooked into the waistband of her shorts, she shivered with the thrill. And when he pulled them down her thighs, exposing her flesh to his hungry gaze, she whimpered.

  He caressed and stroked until she was sure he could hear her heart pounding in her chest.

  She tensed, remembering. “Where’s Jax?”

  Carter slapped the curve of her bare flesh. “I’m getting you naked and you want to know where my brother is?”

  “I want to make sure your brother isn’t going to come in here and see you getting me naked!”

  “He’s with Beckett. They’re working on Beckett’s guesthouse so he can rent it out.” His fingers trailed a path up her back, pulling her shirt with them. “Now, if you’re finished with your questions I have a few of my own.”

  Summer moaned as his lips burned a fiery trail down her back. He paused to nibble lightly at the dimple next to her spine.

  “Question No. 1,” he said, nibbling the curve of her hip. “Are you happy?”

  “So very happy,” Summer said to the cushion.

  “Good answer,” Carter said, teasing her sensitive ribs with his tongue and teeth. “Question No. 2. Why don’t we use electronics after nine?”

  Summer shivered under his mouth. “So … so we can spend quality time together without unnecessary distractions.”

  “Good girl,” he murmured against her. “Question No. 3. How do you want to spend said quality time tonight?”

  He had been so gentle with her since they left the city, making love to her like she was something precious, fragile. And as beautiful as it was, she wanted him to break through that steel-fisted control. She wasn’t delicate or fragile, at least, not anymore.

  “I want you so deep inside me that I can’t tell where I stop and you begin,” she told him.

  She felt him tense and tremble with lust. “Summer.”

  “Show me how much you want me like this, Carter.”

  Gone was the gentle pressure of his hands and in its place was a controlled violence. His strong, callused hand stroked down her back and lower still until his fingers found her center.

  “God, you’re so ready for me,” he whispered through gritted teeth, using two fingers to slowly, reverently part her folds.

  “Don’t make me wait, Carter,” Summer begged. “Please.”

  With a fierce surge, his fingers stretched into her. Her sigh was a sob of pleasure. Carter fisted his other hand in her hair and worked his fingers in and out of her aching tightness.

  “Come to bed with me, baby,” he ordered.

  “No,” she countered, pushing back against him. “Here. Like this.”

  She heard the rumble deep in his chest as he withdrew slightly only to plu
nge back into her. Again and again, until she pulsed with desire. She felt his erection like molten steel as he leaned into her. He was dominating her and she wanted more.

  He pulled out of her, leaving her empty and aching. But his fingers were replaced with his blunt crown. He entered her on a groan, forcing himself into her core. Summer cried out at the invasion. She never wanted to get used to the feeling of being claimed by him.

  He stayed there, fully sheathed in her, for just a moment. She felt him fighting the urge to let go and take.

  She shifted back into him, enjoying the exquisite pressure that was already building inside her. She would never have enough of this, of him. He filled her body and soul. He was everything she had been missing.

  “Carter,” his name was a prayer of thanks from her lips.

  He began to move then in short, violent thrusts that stripped away all control. Flesh slapped against flesh in a race to the edge. Summer found herself there at the razor’s edge of desire, but she wasn’t alone. He was with her, as always.

  She felt Carter’s hand glide between her legs. Fingers teased her until she spiraled over in a beautiful eruption of power, of love, of passion. She felt him tense against her, felt him shudder inside her as he joined her with his own climax.

  This was love.

  Still joined, they sank to the floor. Carter curled around her, stroking her, whispering dark words of love. She fit here, in his arms, here in this house.

  Her entire wardrobe had neatly transferred into Carter’s closet. The furniture she brought with her from the city was stored on the second floor of the little barn, which would soon be turned into the headquarters of her digital magazine. With construction already started on the brewery, Carter had culled out a small crew to simultaneously rehab the second floor of the barn into a spacious loft office.

  Summer still took little moments in the day to remind herself where she was. Everything had moved so fast that she was determined to slow it down and enjoy every moment of it.

  The man that she loved had carved a space for her that fit so perfectly she wondered why she ever fought it. Her life’s dream was being realized, she had begun to repair the relationship with her parents, and she was planting the roots that she never knew she so desperately wanted.

  And she was finally an official member of the Blue Moon Gossip Group.

  Life was better than good.

  A horn sounded outside, breaking her reverie.

  Carter jolted beside her.

  “Who is that?” Summer wondered out loud, annoyed at the interruption. “It sounds like a tractor trailer truck.”

  “Someone who wasn’t supposed to be here until tomorrow,” Carter grumbled. He eased out of her. “You’d better get dressed, honey. We’ve got company.”

  They hastily pulled on clothes and headed out onto the front porch.

  “Isn’t this pretty late for a visit in Blue Moon?” Summer asked as Carter held the door for her.

  If he answered her, she didn’t hear him. Her attention was on the hulking RV parked in front of the house. Her mother threw open the passenger door and waved.

  “Surprise!”

  “Mom?” Summer gasped. “But you’re supposed to be in Alaska!”

  “Well, then your father is never going to let me navigate again since we took a very wrong turn and ended up here.”

  Carter nudged Summer forward until she hurried down the steps and met her mother for the hug she didn’t know she had been missing.

  “I can’t believe you’re here!”

  Her mom released her and reached for Carter. “It’s so nice to finally meet you in person, Carter,” she said, wrapping her slim arms around his shoulder.

  “I get the feeling you two have been scheming behind my back,” Summer accused.

  “The three of us actually,” a booming voice interjected.

  “Hi, Dad.” Summer took a tentative step toward the man in the moose sweater.

  He opened his arms to her and she flew into them. “There’s my girl,” he said in a voice choked with emotion.

  Still larger than life, Phil Lentz seemed softer somehow. The lines of his face were cut a little deeper, his hair a little wispier.

  “I can’t believe you’re here,” Summer said again, this time sniffling.

  Her father set her on her feet. He extended a hand to Carter. “Carter. Thanks for having us.”

  Carter shook his hand. “You’re very welcome. I’m glad you could make it.”

  Summer slipped out of her dad’s grasp and threw her arms around Carter’s waist. “Thank you,” she whispered against his shirt. His arms came around her and she felt his mouth on the top of her head. Wrapped in the arms of the man she loved, she missed the teary smile her mother shot her father.

  “I love seeing you so happy,” Carter whispered in her ear. “I’d give anything in my power to see you smile like this.”

  “You’ve already given me everything. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life evening the score.”

  Thank you for reading “No More Secrets”

  If you enjoyed No More Secrets, check out Lucy’s Amazon and Wall Street Journal bestseller Pretend You’re Mine. Its another great small town love story read.

  Pretend You’re Mine: A Small Town Love Story

  Luke Garrison is a hometown hero, a member of the National Guard ready to deploy again. Strong, sweet, and sexy, he doesn’t have a girlfriend and doesn’t want one. When the wildly beautiful Harper stumbles into his life, though, he realizes that she’s the perfect decoy. A fake girlfriend to keep his family off his back until he’s out on another mission.

  So what if a single bite of her lip sends his mind to wicked places? He can control himself. Can’t he?

  Harper was on her way to starting a new life… again. But something about Luke makes her want to settle down in this small town and make Luke’s house a home. When his arms wrap around her like steel, she finally knows what it’s like to feel safe. Protected.

  One night of sleeping in the same bed turns into something much, much more… and soon Luke can’t keep his mind off Harper’s wide gray eyes, or his hands off of her luscious curves. He never thought he’d feel this way about a woman again. But he knows that he can’t tell her the truth about his dark past, and she can’t reveal to him what she’s running from.

  Anyway, this isn’t a real relationship. It’s only for a month. Only pretend. Until it isn’t…

  “What the hell were you doing? I come in and you’re shaking your ass on the counter.” He was shouting.

  “I was getting a cup for juice,” Harper shouted back. “I thought you were out for a run.”

  “I was,” he gritted out. “I have an early meeting.”

  “Oh.”

  “Why don’t you have any clothes on?”

  Harper realized that her bare breasts were smashed into the kitchen floor and her underwear was halfway down her thighs.

  “Oh my God!” Harper tried to wriggle free.

  “For the love of God, Harper, stop wiggling.”

  “Just let me — Oh.” He was hard. She felt him through the incredibly thin gym shorts, nestled against the juncture of your thighs. “Luke?”

  “Just give me a minute,” he muttered.

  “You sound mad,” she whispered.

  “Harper!” He barked her name and she felt him twitch against her. He sighed. His breath was a warm breeze on her neck. “Okay. Get up.”

  He pushed himself off the floor and pulled her up by the elbow. Harper set about yanking her underwear back into place with one hand while trying to cover her breasts with the other arm.

  “What’s the point, Harp? I’ve already seen it all.” He looked annoyed.

  “Fine.” She dropped her arm and put her hands on her hips. “You’re this mad because I climbed up on the counter?”

  His gaze flickered up to her face and back down again. Harper set her jaw. “Eyes up here, buddy.”

  “Yeah, that’s not goi
ng to happen.”

  “Why are you so pissed?”

  “Fuck it.” He grabbed her — again by the waistband of her underwear — and yanked her against him. They stood that way, mouths a breath apart, for a second and then another one. Harper moved first. She brought her hands to his shoulders. When he didn’t move, she rose on tiptoe and slowly brought her lips to his.

  His mouth, like the rest of him, was hard…

  About the Author

  Lucy Score was born in rural Pennsylvania, land of chicken and waffles. Obsessed with books since kindergarten, Lucy began penning her own fiction in the second grade when the teacher assigned “My Life on the Mayflower” essays. She enjoys cooking, yoga, and napping. Lucy dedicates her days to crafting steamy romance stories so hot her family can’t look her in the eye.

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