by Jordan Marie
“You have rabbits?” I ask, blinking trying to picture that.
“No. I meant if I did. You know, like that old movie?”
“Uh… no…”
“No?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I tell him, and I really, really don’t.
“Where the guy had the affair and the woman was off her rocker and when he broke it off she boiled his little kid’s rabbit,” he explains. "I mean I didn’t watch it closely. Linda wanted to watch it so I did—which with hindsight should have warned me she was unstable. "
“When did this movie come out?” I ask and Black frowns.
“I don’t know, why? Eighties I guess.”
“I wasn’t born in the eighties. How old are you again?”
“Don’t you have cable?” he asks, obviously not going to answer the question, which again—makes me want to grin. When Black isn’t making me want to kill him, he’s making me laugh.
“Not for movies where innocent rabbits are boiled!” I grumble.
“Didn’t you go overseas? People eat rabbits you know.”
Guilt immediately hits me.
“I know. I cook them, but they aren’t my pets.”
“You cook rabbit? Is that because you’re a gardener?”
“What?”
“You know, you catch rabbits eating gardens so you trap and kill them and then…”
“You literally are insane. That’s not a landscaper’s job. But, I guess I should confess I’m not, nor have I ever been a landscaper.”
“I kind of figured, since your dad owns banks.”
“I don’t live off my father,” I complain.
“You live at home with him.”
“So? You live with your mother. Does she pay your bills?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why do you assume my father pays mine?”
“Well you’re—”
“If you say because I’m a woman, so help me God, Black Lucas…”
“We’re making progress, I guess.”
“What does that mean?”
“At least you know my real name now,” he laughs. “And I know you’re the mayor’s daughter, not his landscaper, that likes to cook rabbits on the side,” he jokes.
“I’m not a landscaper,” I whisper. “I’m a chef.”
“Looks like we have a lot more to learn about each other,” he says.
“Looks like we do, but I have to go pick up Kong…”
“How about,” he says, standing up and then reaching down for my hand, “I walk with you and tell you about my dog—my real dog.”
I don’t know what that means exactly, but Black is holding my hand and wanting to spend time with me and I’ve missed him. So I do what any sane woman would do who has any trace of hormones at all in her body…. I agree.
Honestly, I’d go wherever Black leads me for a chance to have him hold my hand and look into those eyes.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Black
“Your ex is a bitch,” Addie says, her voice a mix of anger and shock.
“Trust me, I know.”
“And you can’t find your dog anywhere?”
“We’re still looking, but so far no,” I answer, hating the worry and pain that rolls in my stomach at the words. I don’t know why I felt the need to tell Addie everything that’s been going on, but I did. It felt better actually sharing it with her. Christ, everything feels better just being around her. I’ve been fooling myself. I’m more than just attracted to Addie. There’s something about her that just calls to me and I definitely want more of it—more of her. It’s as if, when I get around her, extra electricity fires through my body, making me feel more alive.
“I’m sorry, Black,” Addie says and she stops walking. I turn to look at her and she reaches up, sliding her hand along the side of my neck. She goes up on the tips of her toes and I lean down as she pulls me to her lips. She kisses me, it’s a brief kiss probably meant to bring comfort, but it’s been so long since I’ve had a taste of her that I don’t let her get away. I deepen the kiss, taking it over, owning her mouth and letting her know that I’m still hungry for her. She melts against me and I groan as I feel the weight of her body against mine. Her tongue tangles with mine, just as hungry—just as full of need.
When it’s over I keep her against me, closing my eyes and listening to her breathing as she buries her head against my chest. Nothing much has felt right in my life lately—nothing except Addie. We’ve fought more than we’ve kissed, but damn it I like that too. I like everything about her. I’m going down. I’ve watched it with Gray, White and I saw it up close and personal with Luka and Petal last year. I know the signs and I’m there. I just hope Addie is in this with me. With a kiss like that, all signs point to yes, but you just never know.
Especially with a woman…
“Go to dinner with me, Addie,” I whisper to the top of her head. I hadn’t meant to say it, but I don’t want to let her go.
“Just dinner?” she asks, her eyes dark with what I hope is desire.
“For now,” I respond, waiting.
“I’d like that, Black.”
“Shit!”
“I don’t have to—” she says startled.
“It’s not that. I forgot I was supposed to go by the farm and pick up my brother. He’s going to drive out to the animal shelter with me.”
“You think Kong might be this close?”
“No, but I was hoping Meadow—the woman who runs the shelter—might have connections with other shelters…”
“Then I’m coming too,” she says. Panic immediately hits me. I don’t think I’m ready to have Addie at the farm with my family. Hell, my mother will probably start giving her things to make sure my little swimmers don’t have to swim upstream. I’m not ready to be a father yet…. “What?” she asks, clearly reading me easily and prompting me to get my brain on the conversation and not on getting Addie pregnant—which for some reason was exactly what I was doing.
“We’ll have that mutt and I’m not sure he and I can travel in the same vehicle,” I invent.
“Kong? Oh, crap! I’m going to have to rename him… Can you even rename a dog that’s used to his name already?”
“I don’t know, but there’s no point. It only bothered me when I had to see the damn dog every day.”
Addie doesn’t like my answer, I can tell. I don’t quite get it until she steps out of my arms.
“You just kissed me.”
“I remember,” I smile. She’s got that look on her face that says she’s going to give me hell, but I don’t care.
I like it.
“You can’t kiss me and not expect to see me or my dog at least once or twice a week on the regular, Black.”
“On the regular?”
“Exactly.”
“So you’re upset because I told you that you didn’t have to rename the dog?”
“No!”
“Then I think you’ve lost me again, Princess.”
“I told you to stop calling me that!”
“You’re kind of acting like a princess at the moment,” I tell her and I really shouldn’t be smiling. I know women and smiling when you’re pissing them off might get you de-balled. But, again, I can’t seem to stop myself.
“I’m upset because you just kissed me like you meant it and—”
“Let’s make this clear right now,” I respond, letting my fingers move to thread through her hair. I might even give it a slight tug—I can’t help myself. “I did mean it.”
“Well you can’t kiss a woman like that and then announce you aren’t planning on seeing her that often.”
“I don’t remember saying that,” I respond casually. I want to keep up with this conversation, but I just noticed the red dress she’s wearing has a deep cut along the neck that shows cleavage and when she moves there’s this cute little beauty mark that flashes…
I want to lick that mark…
“
You implied it when you said I didn’t need to rename the dog.”
“You know what I like about you, Addie?”
“What?” She sighs to indicate that she’s exasperated with me and that shouldn’t make me want to laugh—but it does.
“You’re direct. Something bothers you, you don’t hold back and you immediately let me know—you say it like it is.”
She studies my face and some of the anger seems to leave and her stance becomes less rigid.
“It’d be nice if you liked my personality or heck my boobs or my ass… not my mouth,” she grumbles.
“I need you to trust me when I tell you, Addie, that I like everything about you.”
“I—”
“From your feisty attitude, to the curve of your neck,” I tell her, letting my fingers slide along her neck to accentuate my words.
“Well, then….”
“To that sexy ass of yours that I alternate from wanting to spank because of your attitude and wanting to spank for the pure pleasure of it.”
“Black—”
“And you don’t need to worry, Addie, because I love your breasts too.”
“You do?” she asks, swallowing.
“I want to bury my face in them,” I confirm.
“That sounds romantic,” she laughs, but her nipples are pushing against her shirt, so I think I’m getting my message through.
“And just recently I’ve noticed this sexy little mark on your chest that I really want to play with,” I tell her and then I lean down to press my lips against the mark.
Addie’s hands come up and her fingers dive into my hair as I place a kiss there and I know that I’m not imagining the way her body shudders against mine when I do it.
“Black…”
“In fact, I want to play with your whole body and that’s going to take a lot of time, Princess. A lot of it.”
“Then I guess we’ll have to rename the dog.”
“I guess so,” I smile, against her skin, placing one more kiss before stepping back. My cock is hard, pushing against my pants and it’s painful, but I resist the urge to adjust myself.
“And I’m still going with you to the shelter,” she adds, letting me know that my tactics didn’t divert her at all.
I sigh, but I don’t disagree. Looks like I’m taking Addie home…
I guess it would be foolish to pray my mom behaves herself—but I send up a small one anyway.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Addie
“Black?”
“Yeah?”
“Is that a… cow?”
It’s a silly question. I clearly see that it’s a cow. I can also clearly see that he’s lying on his stomach in the yard letting two little boys rub his belly…
“That’s a cow… but he’s more like a pet cow….”
“A pet cow?”
“Yeah, he uh…” Black hesitates, putting his hand on his neck and massaging there, his face full of more than a little apprehension. “He thinks he’s a dog.”
“Oh… well that makes sense,” I mumble.
“It does?”
“Not really, but he is acting like a dog,” I respond, because he is… his tail is even wagging.
“Uncle Black!”
Two boys come running up to Black. One has blond hair and looks kind of familiar. The other has darker hair, but they still look a lot alike. One thing is clear… they adore their uncle.
“Hey guys. What are my favorite monkeys up to?”
“We’re not monkeys!” one of them denies, and the look on his face makes me grin. The way Black rubs his fingers over their heads, ruffling their hair and the clear look of love on his face makes me do more than smile. I’m pretty sure every female part inside of me melts.
“I want you two to meet someone. This is Addie. Addie these two bandits here are Terry and River,” Black says pointing to each child as he says their name.
“Very nice to meet you both,” I grin. They’re beautiful kids and full of energy.
“What are you two doing here? Wasn’t there school today?”
“We got sent home,” River says.
“What did you do?” Black asks.
“Aw shucks, Uncle Black, it wasn’t nothing,” Terry chimes in.
“What kind of nothing?”
“River was trying to make Mr. Cradeson’s hair look good. He was doing him a favor, man!”
“That’s right I was!”
“What did you do?” Black asks again.
“I thought I told you two mongrels to go clean out Hamburger’s doghouse?” Black’s mom asks.
Doghouse?
Black’s arm moves over my shoulders and gives me a squeeze.
“Aw Gramma! It smells!” River complains.
“Yeah man. Hamburger shits a lot!” Terry adds.
“Terry, what did I tell you about that mouth? You two quit your whining and get back to shoveling, before I tell your mama’s what you did to Mr. Cradeson’s hair,” Ida Sue warns them.
“Oh crap! Let’s go, Terry,” River yells over his shoulder as he runs to the… there’s a giant doghouse painted white with a red top that is about seven foot tall. I’d think it was a small barn or even a one horse stall, but it has an oval shaped opening with a slanted sign tacked above that says Hamburger. It looks like the Snoopy doghouse… on steroids.
“Orchid! What a pleasant surprise. I hope this means my son has got his head out of his ass.”
“I—”
“Mom, try to be on your best behavior and not scare Addie off.”
“Black try not to annoy your mother,” Ida Sue responds and then she takes my hand and pulls me away from Black. “I’ve been meaning to call you. I was wondering how my little puppy is getting on?”
“He’s good. Black and I left him at the groomers. I’ll have to pick him up a little later—along with my car.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t bring my little grand-dog with you.”
“He and Black don’t exactly get along…”
“Now there’s an understatement. Well, come on in and you can tell me about that fancy restaurant you got a second interview for.”
“How did… How did you know about that?”
“Why your daddy told me at the town council meeting yesterday.”
“Since when do you go to town council meetings, Mom?” Black asks.
“I’ve been thinking of getting more involved in our community,” Ida Sue shrugs.
“God help the community,” Black mutters.
“Black Horn Lucas you are treading on some mighty thin water. Orchid honey, when you have kids make sure you teach them to respect you. I failed somehow in that endeavor,” Ida Sue says, shaking her head as we reach the front door.
“Okay…” I answer quietly, looking back at Black. “Horn?” I mouth to him. He shakes his head and I’m quickly distracted by Ida Sue’s next question to see what he does next.
“How do you feel about having children, Orchid?”
“I… well maybe someday…”
“You can’t ever start too soon. Children need a sense of family and it’s best you do that when you’re younger.”
“You’re probably right, but there’s things I want to achieve in my career first…”
“Careers are good too. In today’s world you can totally do both. Don’t you agree?”
“I… Yeah I suppose so,” I answer, suddenly not sure what we’re talking about.
“Mom—”
“Now, Black—”
“Just let it go. Tell me what my nephews did to Cradeson’s hair piece.”
“Oh that. Do you remember how Terry has always had a fondness for nature?” Ida Sue asks as we go through a back door and find ourselves in a huge kitchen with an even bigger farm table right in the center. It’s so big it nearly swallows the room—though I guess with as many kids as Ida Sue has that you need a table that big for family gatherings. Black pulls out a chair at the table for me and I grin up at him and
sit down. He looks nervous, so I squeeze his hand and he winks at me—but, he still looks tense.
“Yeah?”
“Well Terry was convinced old Cradeson would look better if his rug was painted up like that pet he brought back from the woods at the back of Magnolia’s place.”
Black laughs, but I’m not sure I understand.
“So, they painted the toupee?”
“They sure did. I got to admit it did look better. Old Cradeson’s rug was a bright red and about four shades brighter than his real hair. He puts that thing on and I swear it looks like the top of his head is a massive head wound that’s just bleeding profusely.”
“Yikes.”
“Sweetheart,” Ida Sue says over the sound of a blender, because as soon as we got here, she began making something. “You don’t know the half of it. It’s something you really have to see to believe.”
“Well what did they paint it? Brown like a rabbit?”
“Close. Black and white.”
“Black and white? But… the only animal with those colors is a skunk… Terry had a pet skunk!?!?”
“He did until poor Magnolia managed to get him out of the house. They had to move. The landlord was none too happy. I hear he had to completely tear out Terry’s room and remodel it.”
“Oh my…”
“Needless to say Magnolia lost her security deposit.”
“Uh… yeah. I can see why the boys were sent home.”
“Oh that wasn’t why,” Ida Sue says, shaking her head.
“It wasn’t?” Black asks.
“No. They got sent home after the boys started arguing because Terry thought River painted it wrong.”
“Painted it wrong?”
“Yep and you know how Terry is when he wants to prove someone wrong.”
“What did they do?” Black asks.
“Terry met River at recess and showed him how to trap a skunk.”
“And they got one? That easy?”
“Well yes and no.”
“Huh?” I ask, getting more confused by the moment.
“They’d been at it for a few days. They agreed to hide the toupee until they could compare the color schemes—so to speak. Cradeson thought he had just misplaced his hair, so he used his spare. The trap worked last night apparently, but not exactly how the boys planned.”