ZEKE

by Kate Tilney

  We find our rhythm, sweat glistening on our skin. With moans and gasps, we move together, pushing each other toward a pleasure so strong, it feels impossible. When that familiar quickening grows in my belly, I cry out. Wave after wave of pleasure courses through me. Zeke thrusts into me one time, shooting his seed inside of me.

  I’m still coming down from it all when he pulls me to his chest. His hands stroke my back in lazy circles.

  “You belong right here,” he says.

  I wonder if he means now at his side or in his life. Forever. At the moment, I’m inclined to agree with both descriptions.

  Chapter Six

  Zeke

  The next day, the tension between Britt and I has all but evaporated. All it took was a night of fucking. Go figure.

  After breakfast, we drop off Stone at his rehearsal for the pageant. He makes Britt promise that she’ll show him how to toss pizza dough in the air for dinner. She crosses her heart and blows him a kiss. The two of them paint a pretty picture. One I wouldn’t mind seeing every day for the rest of my life.

  I’m not stupid enough to think that a few hours in bed—after an enjoyable hour on a mountaintop—means Britt is ready to plant roots here with Stone and me.

  I’m also not ready to completely dismiss the idea either. Not just because of what she’s come to mean to Stone and me. But she seems happy here too. In forty-eight hours, she’s gone from an anxious woman worried about serial killers, to a self-possessed woman who can hold her own with the Masters men.

  “What do you think you’ll do when you get back to Minnesota?” I ask as casually as I can while we look at fishing lures in my father’s store.

  “Not a clue.” She sighs heavily. “My agent said I should keep myself available in case any roles open up.”

  A lump lodges in my throat. I swallow past it. “So you’re leaving the door open to Los Angeles?”

  “I’m not really the type of person who ever likes to close a door forever. But I’m also at a point where I realize my dreams have changed.”

  “How?”

  “There was a time when I wanted nothing more than to be on a TV show or in a movie.” She picks up a fishing pole to study it. “Now, I just want to do something—to be part of something—that matters. I’ll always love acting. But not enough to live somewhere that doesn’t feel like home. To live somewhere I don’t feel like myself.”

  Her words warm my heart. I bet she could find all of that here.

  I trade the pole Britt is looking at for one I think she might like better. She tests the wire and nods. I grow hard again even though I just had her a couple hours ago. I never thought a woman holding a fishing pole could look so sexy. Now, I’m thinking I should show Britt my favorite fishing hole. Maybe, we can see how river shore sex measures to mountaintop.

  Britt’s phone rings before I can pitch a fishing excursion. I take her pole and place it on the counter along with the other supplies I’ve picked up. My eyes never leave her face.

  When she hangs up, she flashes me a smile. “That was the mechanic.”

  “Good news?”

  “He wants me to come and take a look, but he says I should be good to go in the morning.”

  The morning? So soon. My stomach drops, even as I give her shoulder a squeeze and grin down at her. “Want me to walk you over?”

  “I’ll be okay. You finish up here.” She throws her arms around me and squeezes. “Want to meet at the grocery store after? Whatever you want on your pizza—it’s on me.”

  “I’ll see you there.”

  I keep the grin on my lips until she’s out the door.

  “What are you going to do about that?” my father asks from behind the counter.

  “She’s leaving in the morning.”

  “Only if you let her.”

  I roll my eyes. “What do you suggest I do? Lock her in the cabin? Steal her car keys.”

  Dad grins. “Hey, I’m not telling you what to do.”

  “Then what are you telling me?”

  “That you’re an idiot if you let her leave without telling her you’d like her to stay.”

  Sighing, I rest a hip against the counter and continue to watch her walk down the street. She pauses along the way to chat up my old Sunday school teacher and to pet her dog.

  “If only it was that simple.”

  “Why isn’t it?”

  I shake my head at my old man. “She says she’s put Hollywood behind her. But if that agent of hers came calling with a role, how could I stand in the way?”

  “Weren’t you listening to a word that pretty girl just said?” My dad reaches out and smacks the back of my head. “She says she wants a real life. She’s not going to get that in Hollyweird.”

  “But what if this life here isn’t enough?”

  My dad gives me a stern look. “She isn’t your ex-wife. Now, she was a nice enough woman, but she wanted fame and fortune. That girl went for her art. That’s a big difference.”

  I suppose he’s right. “I don’t know.”

  “Well, you never will unless you give it a shot.”

  There may be some truth to that as well. I’m contemplating how I might broach the subject with Britt when my firehouse cell phone rings. I glance down at the display and ice runs through my veins.

  “What is it?” Dad asks.

  “It’s the community center. A fire started in the kitchen.”

  Dad’s eyes widen. “Isn’t that where the kids are having rehearsals for the pageant?”

  I don’t answer, because I’m already out the door.

  Chapter Seven

  Britt

  The mechanic is just pushing himself out from under my car when his phone rings. I fight a flicker of annoyance as he reaches down to pick it up.

  He swears under his breath. “I’m sorry, Miss. I’ll have to talk to you later. There’s a fire.”

  My eyes widen. “Where?”

  “Community center.”

  I follow him out the door as the double whammy realizations hit. First, that the community center is where we left Stone for rehearsal just an hour ago. And second, Zeke is the fire chief. I don’t have to wonder if he’s on his way to the heart of the fire.

  Heart pounding, I race down the street toward the community center. I trip on a shoelace and fall to the ground. I wipe my scraped hands on my jeans and push myself up. An old weathered hand reaches out. I look up and into the face of Zeke’s dad.

  “Were you heading to the community center?”

  I nod. “I promise not to get in the way. I just need to be there.”

  “I know exactly what you mean,” he says, pulling me to my feet.

  Mr. Masters keeps my hand firmly clutched in his. Those dark blue eyes, the same color of Zeke’s, hold my gaze steady. “Our boys are strong. They’ll get through this.”

  A tear slips down my cheek, but I squeeze his hand, grateful for his comfort and strength.

  At a slower pace, and with me slightly limping, we reach the outskirts of the community center. Smoke streams out of windows as fires lick the sky through the roof. The police have put up a barricade to keep us, and the other curious residents, out of the way.

  Huddled off to one side, there’s a group of small children. I search their faces, waiting to see Stone’s. But I don’t.

  “Where’s Stone?” I tighten my grip on Mr. Masters. “Do you see him?”

  The older gentleman shakes his head. “That’s his class though.”

  There’s no denying the fear in his voice.

  I take a deep breath through my nose. I will not panic right now. I will keep perfectly calm and be a pillar of support for my guys. Just as soon as I see them.

  “Should we talk to the teacher?”

  “You stay here,” he suggests.

  Though I feel useless, I agree. I promised not to get in the way. The last thing they need is someone clueless like me getting under foot.

  My stare bounces between the burning building and Mr
. Masters’s face as he talks to the teacher. The woman is gripping on to two children, tears streaming down her face. It crumples as a fresh sob comes out of her mouth.

  I try not to imagine the worst. That Stone was somehow hurt. That he can be anything but fine.

  A piece of roof collapses in the building. A gasp of horror sounds through the crowd. My heart slowly tears in half.

  “Please be okay,” I whisper to myself. “Be okay.”

  Mr. Masters returns to my side and puts both hands on my shoulders. “Stone didn’t come out with the rest of the kids. One of his friends said he was going to help fight the fire.”

  I choke. “Oh my God.”

  “Zeke knows. He’ll get him.” Mr. Masters sounds strong and steady, but I notice how hard he’s blinking and swallowing.

  Unable to watch him hide his pain a moment longer, I wrap my arms around his waist and keep my gaze set on the building.

  “Please be okay,” I say over and over again.

  Another part of the roof collapses, and fresh wails cry out from the crowd. A large figure rushes out the door. He’s followed by a handful of other men dressed in fire suits.

  “That’s the whole crew,” Mr. Masters says.

  And that’s Zeke leading them. As he comes closer, I see a smaller body perched on his hip.

  “It’s Stone!” I squeeze Mr. Masters and feel him shudder next to me. “They both got out.”

  But are they okay? Zeke carries Stone to a waiting ambulance. Mr. Masters and I leave our post. By the time we reach them, Stone is telling a story with both of his hands. His face is smudged with ash and soot, and he has a tiny oxygen mask over his mouth. Besides that, he appears no worse for the wear.

  When he sees us, he waves us over. I run to reach him, throwing my arms around him. Joy radiates through me as his little arms come around my neck.

  “Britt!” Stone says excitedly. “I helped put out the fire.”

  “And we’re going to have a long talk about that later,” Zeke says over my shoulder.

  I turn to glance up at his stern, but relieved face. He gives me a wink, and my belly flutters despite everything. I hold Stone even tighter, suddenly tired from the fear and relief.

  “The building will be a total loss,” Zeke tells his father. “But we got everyone out.”

  ‘That’s all that matters.” Mr. Masters pats his son on the back. A cloud of ash flies up over him. They both grin.

  More tears flow down my cheeks. Seeing my distress, Zeke lowers to one knee. Putting an arm around my shoulders, he holds us close to him.

  “Thank God you’re both safe,” I say against his chest, before I pull back to look up at him. “I’ve fallen in love with you both. Now that I’ve found you, I’d like to have you both around as long as possible.”

  A grin breaks out across Zeke’s face. “Does that mean you’re going to stay?”

  I nod. “You’re stuck with me now.”

  He squeezes me tight and presses his lips to mine. “Good. Because I think we’ve fallen in love with you too.”

  “I have!” Stone says excitedly, though he covers his eyes when his father kisses me again. “I love you, Britt.”

  I’m laughing through my tears as I hold them both close to me. A few days ago, I thought my life was going nowhere and that I’d run out of luck. Now I see I was just saving it for this moment and this place.

  I’ve finally found my dream. And it’s better than I ever imagined.

  Epilogue

  Zeke

  Two Years Later

  We were supposed to leave twenty minutes ago. But there’s no stopping my wife when she’s in director mode. With only three rehearsals left until opening night, Britt says the cast needs all the practice they can get.

  Forget that they’re a bunch of middle school students, not Broadway stars.

  And her audience will be their parents, not newspaper critics.

  I made the mistake of mentioning all this to her last week. I ended up spending the night on the couch and getting a lecture about what could happen if I mansplain ever again.

  Besides, as she pointed out, the play is being held to celebrate the grand opening of the new community center. She wants it to be perfect.

  I would blame it on pregnancy hormones, but I’m pretty sure that voicing that out loud would fall under the mansplaining clause. And I’m attached to the body part she threatened to do away with. So is she, come to think of it. Again, I’m afraid to mention that.

  But as she’s the mother of my children—and the love of my life—I’ll keep my mouth shut and wait until she’s done.

  A few minutes later, when the talent appears to be on the brink of staging a full-fledged mutiny, Britt calls the practice to an end. She brings the actors together for a few final instructions and ends it by having everyone place their hands together in the middle.

  She glances around at them, her eyes alive with excitement. “On the count of three: community. One, two, three—”

  “Community,” they shout, hands raised in the air.

  Then they scurry away before she can remember any notes to pass on. For my part, I can’t resist chuckling a little. Two years ago, Britt crashed into this town. Now she’s taken it—and the Masters men—by storm. We’re all eternally grateful for that.

  Grabbing her bag, I sling it over my shoulder and go to intercept as she’s about to corner the mayor. She probably wants to ask for another backdrop for the stage. I can just imagine how good that request will go.

  I sling my arm over her shoulder. “We’d better go relieve my dad.”

  In actuality, my dad said he’d be good to watch Stone all night. But it’s the only way I can think of to get Britt out the door in the next few minutes.

  Nodding, she takes a step and winces.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s nothing.” She waves off my hand. “I’ve just been feeling more of the Braxton Hicks contractions. They’re just getting stronger and happening more often.”

  My blood runs cold. “How often?”

  “Maybe every three minutes.”

  Every three minutes. “Those don’t sound like Braxton Hicks.”

  “Then what are they?”

  “Real contractions.”

  The words are barely out of my mouth when she grips my hand and gasps. We both glance down at the floor to find a puddle of liquid.

  Her eyes widen. “Is that . . .”

  I pull out my phone and punch in our doctor’s number. “It’s Zeke Masters. Britt’s water just broke. We’re at the community center.”

  The doctor assures me he will be out the door and on his way.

  “Shouldn’t we try to get to the hospital?” Britt asks before doubling over in pain, her hand gripping mine hard enough I wince, too.

  It’s barely been two minutes since her last contraction. I don’t think she’s been keeping track as well as she thinks. The closest hospital is forty-five minutes away.

  I lower her to the ground and kneel next to her. “I don’t think we’re going to make it to the hospital. But the doc is on his way.”

  Only a flicker of concern flashes across her face before she nods.

  “That’s okay. It’ll be fine. We can just have the baby—”

  The next contraction takes hold. My heart thuds in my ears. Shit. At this rate, I’m not even sure the doctor will be here on time.

  Another minute—and another contraction—later, my prediction proves correct.

  “I’m so stupid.” Britt says, tears streaming down her face. “How does a woman not realize she’s in labor?”

  “You’re doing great, honey.” I brush the hair away from her face, holding her hand while sneaking a look between her legs.

  I see a head with a smattering of red hair on it.

  “Just keep doing what you’re doing.” I move to place myself between her knees. “Just hold on and push when I say.”

  Her eyes meet mine, resolute and strong. She nods.
<
br />   A few minutes later, our daughter is wrapped in a cardigan and resting on my wife’s chest. I move behind Britt, so she can lean against my chest.

  She turns to glance up at me. “All that EMT training of yours paid off. You’re amazing.”

  I shake my head. “You are. You’re the most incredible person in the world.”

  “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  “I couldn’t do any of it without you.”

  As we gaze down into our daughter’s scrunched up face, I marvel at how blessed I am now.

  Two years ago, I’d given up believing that there was anyone out there for me. I’d decided Stone and I would be fine just the way we were. If I’d only known then how rich our lives would become.

  Thank God for crappy cars and rainstorms.

  ***

  Thanks for reading the Kings of the Mountain series. I hope you loved these strong mountain men and the sassy, curvy women who love them. If you enjoyed this series, I hope you will check out Fall Before You Leap, a standalone steamy short about a curvy, runaway bride who falls for the cop driving her getaway car.

  Click here >>

  Want a free steamy short read and to be the first to know about new releases? Subscribe to my newsletter. You’ll receive a free copy of my steamy short EXTRA LONG WEEKEND, available exclusively to subscribers, when you do.

  Click here >>

  You can also connect with me onFacebook,Instagram,Twitter and by joiningKate Tilney’s Reader Team.

  Thank you for reading!

  XOXO

  Kate

  Also by Kate Tilney

  Extra Long Weekend

  BROCK: Kings of the Mountain #1

  FLINT: Kings of the Mountain #2

  RHETT: Kings of the Mountain #3

  MAX: Kings of the Mountain #4

  ZEKE: Kings of the Mountain #5

  Fall Before You Leap

  SARAH: Ridiculously Royal #1

  ALEX: Ridiculously Royal #2

  JAMES: Ridiculously Royal #3

  HENRY: Ridiculously Royal #4

  About the Author