by Nana Malone
The well of emotion only made his chest ache more. But he nodded. "I know. But still, I know I didn't owe that cup to you. But you gave up a lot, and I'd like to make some of that up. Even when we couldn't necessarily afford skates, or rink time, you made it happen. And I appreciate it. So I hope you enjoyed the other day. I wanted to make all your dreams come true."
His mother took a long sip of coffee. "You know you did. Does it make me a bad person that I absolutely enjoyed the look on Joyce's face when she saw the cup?"
Ransom chuckled. "Nope. Her kid's a prick. He'd always high-stick me when we played street hockey."
She grinned. "Okay, good." Then her eyes suddenly went wide. "Oh, my gosh, I need to call over to Ella Carlisle. She called a couple of days ago, wondering if I'd heard from her sister. With the storm and everything, Lexa hadn't called. Ella was worried."
Ransom cleared his throat. "I'm sure that Lexa probably got a hold of her sister. Cell reception was spotty." He knew for a fact Lexa had texted her sister. And Ella had replied. So she must've called his mother before that. "Besides, Lexa is smart, I'm pretty sure she's okay."
His mother slid him a glance. "Or, she found some good Samaritan to help her in the storm." She grinned at him.
Dammit, she already knew. "Mom, do you have something to say?"
His mother laughed as she shrugged. "Why wouldn't you tell me that you helped her?"
"Because it's no big deal. I saw her car in the ditch, and I helped her out. Put her in the guest room, gave her some of your old clothes to wear. No big deal."
"You know, Lexa has always been very cute. She's exactly the kind of girl I always hoped you'd bring home. Not those other girls I always see you with in the magazines. Certainly not someone like Callie, the kind with boobs and a small brain."
Ransom blinked. Then blinked again. The bark of laughter rushed out of his chest. "Tell me how you really feel, why don't you?"
His mother took another sip of coffee. "Well, when you were dating her, I had my reservations, but I certainly wasn't going to tell you what to do, or who to care about. Or who to marry, for that matter. But after everything went bust, there was also no point in telling you that I'd seen that coming from a mile away. I never understood why you married her."
That was a good question. It had been more than the physical chemistry. It had been the idea that someone would love him. Just him. For him. But, he'd been wrong about that. And then there was the little fact that she'd lied about being pregnant. "In some ways, it was just as much my fault as hers. I chose wrong. Very wrong. I was blinded by this idea of what I thought I wanted, that I didn't pay attention to what I needed. And she was just not a happy person. Nothing I could do was ever going to make her happy." He shrugged.
"Well, I don't think Lexa is dating anyone."
"Mom, let it go. I'm only twenty-three, and I have one failed marriage under my belt. I certainly don't need another one."
She rolled her eyes. "Who said anything about marriage? All I'm saying is that Lexa is adorable, smart, quirky, and fun. And you could use some fun in your life. She's just the kind of girl to get you watching Game of Thrones, and not taking yourself nearly so seriously. And then, if something happens, great. If it doesn't go much further, then at least you had some fun. But, I don't want you to be alone. I don't want you to keep pushing people away because you think you don't deserve love, or because you think you'll somehow make them leave you."
Her last remark hit too close to home. "I'm going to head out."
"Of course you are." She leveled a gaze on him. "I love you, Ransom Cox. From the moment I had you, you have been the light of my life. Just because your grandfather didn't acknowledge me, just because your father left, just because it didn't work out with Callie, doesn't mean you are somehow unworthy of love. Because when you look at it, I have loved you when you didn't make yourself particularly easy to love. I have loved you when you've been adorable, pissed off and broody, sad and angry, and happy and lovable and sweet. I love you always. Who's to say that you won't find someone else who does?"
That was the thing about his mother. She had a way of making him look at things when he didn't want to. Seeing the other side. Making him see the possibilities.
Eleven
"I'd like to make a toast to your safety. I was so worried."
Lexa raised her glass and clinked it against her sister's. "I'm so sorry I made you worry. I should have just waited for you to drive me home in the truck, and spent those days with you. I just thought it wasn't that bad and I'd make it home without any problems."
Her sister grinned. "But, you had a knight in shining armor. You realize you've been taciturn about what happened those days you spent with Handsome Cox. I want all the details. All the sisterly details. And make sure you draw them out."
Lexa blushed. "I have no details to give you. He was a gentleman. He even arranged for someone to tow my car and for me to get into town to pick it up. He's very nice. Even made me dinner." She'd leave out the hot sex, the laughing, and the connection part.
Ella narrowed her eyes at her. "You holding out on me? Don't you know you're a shitty liar?"
"I'm not lying." She was leaving out some enormous details. But lying? Never. Not to her sister.
"So, you're telling me, nothing in the way of sexy times happened with Handsome Cox?"
Lexa flushed again. What the hell was she supposed to say to that? Over the last couple of days, she'd been busy putting the events of the storm behind her. She was almost done with her article. And she'd been doing a nearly decent job of not thinking about him. She managed to hold off to about once every hour. Which was great, considering that for the first couple of days, it had been once every five minutes.
She'd catch a whiff of something like sandalwood, and immediately think of how he smelled, his scent wrapping around her. Or, she'd see melted chocolate, and think of the way his voice sounded when he said her name, as he begged her to come for him. Yeah, that particular memory was the worst. Because it made her ache all over. Made her want him. But no. She wasn't going there. Not again. He was firmly in the don't think about category. Firmly. Absolutely.
"Anything that may or may not have happened will never happen again."
Ella raised a delicate brow. "So you're saying, allegedly, that something may or may not have happened?"
"I'm not saying anything."
Ella threw up her hands. "Just blink if you have, in fact, seen his dick. Inquiring minds need to know."
Lexa laughed. "I will tell you no such thing. None."
"Never mind, you told me everything just now. So," her sister leaned forward. "Is he—?"
"Hey ladies, I was just sitting over there by the bar watching the two of you talk intently, and I can only surmise they are talking about me, so I figured I'd come on over to introduce myself. See if I can buy you ladies a drink?" The guy with the dark-brown hair and light-frosted tips gelled into a messy array on his head, leaned forward and wrapped an arm around Lexa.
Lexa looked down at his hand, then back at him. "Do you mind not touching me, please?"
He didn't remove his arm. Instead, he said, "Relax, just being friendly."
"And you can be friendly without touching me without my permission. It's called consent. Take your hands off me."
His gaze narrowed almost imperceptibly, but he removed his arm. "Jesus, fucking relax, would you? I was trying to be nice."
This was what she hated. She hated that his idea of trying to be nice meant encroaching on her personal space. "If I wanted you to touch me, I'd let you know. In the meantime, my sister and I are enjoying a drink on our own. We don't need your help buying drinks or anything else." She stared him down.
Ella watched, eyes wide, her hands wrapped around her beer bottle. Lexa knew her sister had her back. However unwisely.
"You always such a bitch, or is that for my benefit?"
"Always a bitch. Now, if you'll just skedaddle—"
He glared at
her and leaned forward. "Fuck you. You're not even that—"
He didn't get to finish whatever he was going to say, because someone yanked him back so hard, he looked like a ragdoll being tossed around.
"Back the fuck off. They don't want your attention. Matter of fact, now might be a good time for you and your crew to find somewhere else to drink tonight."
Without turning, Lexa knew who it was. Except his voice was always softer when speaking to her. She always thought of it as warm and fluid, but now, it was frozen, icy, menacing.
The guy with the outdated hairdo turned. She could only presume he intended to defend himself, then he stopped short. At around six feet, he wasn't diminutive, but next to Ransom, he was woefully out-reached and out-muscled. He halted his movements and immediately stumbled back. "Dude, you're Ransom Cox."
Ransom said nothing, just crossed his arms and inclined his head toward the door.
The guy didn't take the hint to stop talking, though. "You know, I saw your last couple games. Man, you were fucking awesome." And then, as if it slowly dawned on him that the Ransom Cox had just pulled him off of some chick, he went pale. "Look, I didn't know she was with you. I meant no disrespect. I'm huge fan."
Ransom inclined his head. He slid his gaze over to Lexa and Ella, before scowling at the guy. "She's not with me. But she did tell you to back the fuck off, and you thought that was an invitation to call her a bitch. I take offense to that."
The guy stammered. "Look, I've had a lot to drink. And I was an asshole." He turned to Lexa and Ella. "Sorry if I crowded you. My bad."
Ransom threw a glance at his friends. "Which one of you wants the honor of dragging your boy out of here?"
They knew what the get-the-fuck-out-of-Dodge look was. They all downed the last of their beers, tossed money on the table, and escorted their friend out of the bar.
Ella stared. "Jesus, he looks even bigger when he's doing something like that. So fucking hot."
"You have no idea." Lexa murmured. Her whole body flushed with heat as she remembered just exactly how big he was.
Ransom turned his attention to them. "I think it's time for us to get out of here. I'll walk you guys out."
Lexa knew he was right, but it irritated her that he thought he could dictate to her.
Ella shook her head. "I see a friend of mine over there. I'll sit with them and wait for hubby."
Lexa nodded. "Fair enough. I’ll text you when I get home."
Ella stopped her. "You sure you're okay? Nothing going on here?"
"Nothing I can't handle."
Twelve
Lexa didn't even look at Ransom. It was better this way. Just walk away. Do not go there again. It didn't matter what her body wanted to do. But every thought centered around him with a gravitational pull that was impossible to ignore. But she was walking away. No more bad choices.
It appeared that Ransom had other plans. "Lexa, wait up."
"Ransom, I don't have anything to say to you right now."
He sighed. "I know I deserve that. But if you'll just let me explain."
She turned to face him. "You don't have to explain anything to me. I get it. Once again, I made a huge mistake. It's fine."
"You shouldn't be walking out here by yourself. At least let me take you home."
Lexa kept walking. "Funny thing about Hope, New York, is we've heard of Über before."
"Lexa, please stop. First of all, that guy could be lurking around here with his friends. He may have backed off, but you still pissed him off. And second of all, I'm sorry. Okay? You and I both know that this is a bad idea for so many reasons. You said so yourself."
She whirled on him. "Do you have any idea what it was like to wake up with you gone? What it feels like to be thrown away?"
He winced. "Yeah, I have an idea or two about that."
Sadness washed over her. No, do not let him get away with it. This is what you always do. Stand up. "Well, if you do, then you understand. It sucked. And after that morning, it really sucked. I mean, God. You're used to waking up and just leaving whatever woman is there in your bed. And unfortunately, that's a situation I'm well aware of, too. I pick the wrong kind of guys. That's not your fault. That's mine. Let's just chalk the whole thing up to getting stuck in a storm. Now, I'm going home."
He sighed and hung his head. "Please, let me make sure you get home okay, all right? Then I'll leave you alone."
She hesitated. "Why? Why do you want to take me home?"
He hesitated. His lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but then he flattened them into a thin line. "I just want you safe. I'm taking you home."
"If you think—" The breath rushed out of her lungs when Ransom simply picked her up and tossed over his shoulder. "Would you put me down? I'm not some recalcitrant child. You can't just heave me over your shoulder like a caveman."
"And yet, here we are."
Dammit, he wasn't even breathing hard. "Ransom, put me down."
He complied. Abruptly.
"Dammit, Ransom."
"Lexa, I'm taking you home. That's it. The sooner you get in the truck, the sooner you'll be rid of me. How's that?"
His truck was right here. And, as it was September, the nights had started to cool, and she hadn't brought a jacket. This is only for the ride home. No other reason.
Oh, the lies we tell ourselves. No. She wasn't taking the ride because she secretly hoped something would happen. She was done with all that. Liar.
She climbed into the passenger seat, clicked on her seatbelt, and then proceeded to resolutely ignore him.
"You got your car okay?"
His question was soft and gentle. The sound made her body warm and pliant. "Yes, fine. Thanks."
They drove by the ditch, and she worked hard to suppress a shudder.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, fine. I just hate to think what would have happened if you hadn't come along."
He cleared his throat. "I'd rather not think about that. Lexa, I—"
"Ransom, I'm—"
They spoke at once. And then he surprised her, by saying, "I haven't been able to get you out of my fucking head. Sleeping has been next to impossible. My whole room still smells like you."
"Ransom, don't. Don't say those things to me. Because I'm the girl desperate enough to believe you when you say them."
"What do you want from me? You want me to tell you that I felt something? Well, I did. And as for me walking away from you, you don't need a guy like me. Why can't you see that I'm trying to do the best thing for you?"
"When did you become such a Neanderthal? One second you're defending my ability to say who touches me and when, the next, you're making decisions for me? I'm a big girl. I can determine what's good for me and what's not." And she had already determined that he was not good for her. Do not engage. But it was too late for that. It was too late before she got in the car. The moment she heard his voice in the bar, it was too late.
"Do you understand at all, how hard it is right now? Not to fucking touch you?"
"Well, it's hard not to be touched. That morning, I—"
"Lexa, don't say it."
"Don't say what?"
"Don't say anything that reminds me of that morning, because I swear to God, you will not go home right now."
She was in no mood to be told what to do. Not by Ransom, anyway.
"There you go again, trying tell me what to do. What is it you want to hear, exactly? That I've never come so hard in my life?"
"Lexa—"
"What, is it that you want to hear? How good the sex was? Hell, it was great. Shoot, I could barely walk to get in the car you sent for me. Despite all that, my favorite part of the weekend was watching Game of Thrones with you. Learning about hockey. Talking to you. I felt like someone saw me."
His car veered off the road, hanging left. Oh, shit. They were going to his house.
That should concern her. Should make her demand for him to take her to her place. Back to the little co
ttage, where she'd make good use of her battery-operated boyfriend. So much better than getting her heart broken. But she didn't say anything. She just sat in stiff silence, with heat blooming low in her core, knowing what was about to happen next.
He drove quickly. When she dared to slide a glance over at him, she could see the muscle in his jaw ticking. The truck roared as he sped up through the entrance of the driveway, slammed on the brakes, and threw the truck in to park. Coming around to her side, he scooped her out, then placed her gently on the ground. Lexa glared up at him defiantly. "So, we're here now, now what?"
She could see the storm in his silver eyes. The anger in the slant of his jaw, and the desire coursing through him as he leaned towards her. As if he was trying to fight it. Yeah, good luck with that.
"Now this." He slanted his lips over hers. His tongue harsh and demanding, seeking entry, Lexa went willingly. Hell, she practically threw herself at him. Melting into the embrace. This was what she'd been longing for since that morning. God, why did it feel so good?
Ransom picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. With a growl, he slammed the door of the truck shut. He carried her easily towards the house, one hand fisted in her hair, the other on her ass. The sound of his feet on the wood told her that they were on the porch, and that any second now, they would be inside. And then, he would be inside of her, and she wouldn't feel so empty. So lonely. She would feel wanted.
That was sad. Ransom didn't love her. But, Ransom couldn't stay away from her, either. Any more than she could stay away from him. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, she would deploy the new plan of staying the hell away from him. But tonight, tonight she could backslide. And she wouldn't judge herself too harshly in the morning, because, goddammit…orgasms. Several of them.
Multiple orgasms awaited her, and she was weak. Because Jesus Christ, he was Ransom Cox. And he knew exactly how to play her body.
Ransom fumbled for the keys in his pocket, trying to shift her so he could yank them out. After the storm many of the electronics needed to be replaced. His keyless entry included.