I’d bend over backward for my sisters, but Braden McManus, I’d bend over forward for.
Damn it, London, don’t go there.
The trance I was in was broken when I heard Marcus faking a cough. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw his mouth crack in to a mischievous grin. “So, Braden, how’s the family?” Marcus asked as he grabbed a cloth and wiped off the bar.
“Good, Mom and Dad still live in the same house. I think that my mom is enjoying being retired, but my dad is bored as hell.”
“How about your wife?” Marcus held up one finger. “Hold that thought.” Marcus turned to answer the phone, which left me with nothing to do but wonder who the hell Braden had married. Was he happy? I bet she was beautiful. He probably married some cheerleader type.
“Hey, I gotta run, that was my mom.” Marcus lifted the half-door that kept people from walking behind the bar.
“Is everything okay?” I leaned forward on my elbows, and my heart ached with worry for Marcus and his brother, Asher. Marcus’s mom was several years older than my dad had been, and something happening to her today of all days was almost too much.
“Yeah, she’s fine, but I have to run. Don’t worry about your tab; they’re on me. If you need anything else, just ask Jett.” He gestured toward the bartender at the other end of the bar before adding, “Braden, it was nice seeing you, and I hope you stop in again.”
“I’ll start coming by more.” Braden held out his hand, and the men shook before Marcus turned to me. “Listen to me, call your sisters or call my brother, hear me?”
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll make sure she’s fine,” Braden assured him.
I rolled my eyes and then gave Marcus my most motherly stare. “I better not find out that you skipped out for some booty call. You know that it’s okay to have a dick with standards.”
I turned my gaze to Braden, who was beating his chest and making a loud choking noise. “You okay there?” I patted his back and felt his body heat radiate through my fingers.
“Yep, I might be the one who needs mouth-to-mouth. I just never imagined hearing London Kelly saying something like that. The girl I remember was much quieter.”
Marcus let out a loud snort. “Amazing how girls can fool you, huh?”
I shook my head, trying to clear away the thoughts of putting my mouth to Braden’s mouth, and decided that one more beer shouldn’t hurt, four wasn’t going to kill me, it would just help get rid of that thing...shit...what was it called? Oh yeah, a filter. “Jett, can you hand me another beer?”
2
Braden
My cheeks hurt. Ever since walking into the Elbow Room, I hadn’t stopped smiling. London was hysterical, and I’d never imagined she had this side. Back in high school, she always seemed shy, or at least every time I came near her she was.
“What are you staring at, Braden McManus?”
“You do know that you can just call me Braden, right? You don’t have to use my last name.”
She tilted her head slightly as if pondering my words. Clearly, London was nervous, and I had no idea why.
“Nope. I’ll stick to Braden McManus, thank you very much.”
“But we’ve known each other since we were, what, ten?”
“Eleven.”
“So, you know that we were eleven when we met, but you won’t call me by just my first name?”
“Nope. Bad things happen when girls start getting all cozy with guys like you.” She stuck out her index finger and poked me in the chest then moved her hand to smooth out the wrinkle she’d just put in my shirt.
“What’s wrong with guys like me?” I was provoking her—I knew I was. But she was so cute and she was still patting me.
“You’re too good looking, and that makes you a danger to womankind.”
“Am I danger to you, London?” I leaned close and inhaled the combination of hay, flowers, and maple syrup that made her smell like Southern sunshine. I wasn’t sure why, but at that moment, those had to be the most erotic scents in the world.
“Nope, not a danger. See, I’m smart and won’t get buddy-buddy with you. I grew up around ranch hands. I don’t like guys like you, ones that only want to get into my pants, so I’m rejecting you before anything can even start.”
Her hand had stopped patting and was resting on my pec. I doubted she realized she was even doing it. “Okay, London, so how many drinks have you had?”
“Believe it or not this is only my fourth. I’ve had a hard day. Hell, I’ve had a hard last few weeks. I feel like I’m drowning. I came in for an escape.” She folded her arms on top of the bar and rested her head on them as she used her waist to make the bar stool swivel.
Geneva was a tiny town, we had one stoplight, one school, and one store that doubled as the gas station and meeting place. Word spread pretty fast when Samuel Kelly died, and as much as I wanted to pay my respects, it felt weird. I didn’t know the man. I’d only known London because we went to the same school.
When we were younger, she’d always smile and wave, but once we got to high school, I barely even get a nod. It was as if we became strangers. It was weird how something from back then could seem like it was yesterday.
“Sooo, Braden McManus, you never answered the question, are you married? Where’s the wife? Whatever happened to that cheerleader?”
“No, London Kelly, I’m not married, which means that I don’t have a wife, and what cheerleader?”
“You know the one.” London swung one arm out at me, and I had to place a hand on the back of the barstool to keep it steady and her in it.
“Nope, I have no clue what you’re talking about.”
“Ugh. Lie. All men lie, and you Braden McManus are the worst. Missy, or was it Krissy? Shit. Maybe her name was Sissy? I don’t know, but you and she were always sucking face. I’d walk down the halls and there you two were, going at it. In the parking lot, in the library—hell, even in the gym. I figured that you two would have gotten married and had a shitload of kids by now the way she was always dry humping you in public.”
“London, you have me pegged all wrong.”
“Whatever. It isn’t like I care anyway. You know what? Forget I said anything. I mean look at me, I’m thirty years old, single, and except for Marcus, I can’t tell you the last time a guy paid me a compliment.”
“You haven’t changed one bit, you are still just as beautiful as you were back then and just as feisty.”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m complimenting you.” I winked at her, knowing that she’d take my compliment as a joke.
“Haha, very funny. Just remember that today when I woke up and spun the wheel of attitude, it landed on sarcastic bitch, again. So, no need to lie to me.”
Jett slid a basket of cheesesticks and some sliders over to us and then gave me a pointed look between glancing to London. She, of course, didn’t notice, but I nodded, happy that this beautiful girl had some solid people looking out for her.
“London, you do realize that not all people pay their compliments verbally, right? Some do it with actions.”
She turned and stared at me, and our eyes locked. “Explain.” She picked up a cheese stick and waited for me to talk.
“I was just thinking about Marcus and how he didn’t want to leave until he knew that you were going to be okay and get home safe.”
“Marcus is like a brother to me.”
“But he isn’t your brother. That’s a compliment, out of everyone he knows, he actually chose you to be part of his family. And Jett keeps looking over here to make sure that you are okay. He brought food over just so you wouldn’t keep drinking on an empty stomach. It’s a compliment when someone chooses to care about you when they don’t have to.”
She grabbed a slider, took a bite, and chewed slowly as if pondering over what I had just said. She reached for the glass of water that Jett had brought when he set the food down, and I was hoping this meant she was over her pity party for the evening, not that
she didn’t deserve one. She absolutely did.
I reached across her and pulled the basket of cheese sticks closer but stopped when she trailed one finger down my cheek. Looking to my left, I watched her eyes, but they weren’t looking at me, well, they were, they were just focused on my lips. Her mouth was lightly parted, and she was slowly leaning in to me. When her hands slipped around my neck and pulled me closer, I didn’t resist. Her lips locked with mine in a way that was too graceful for someone who was drunk.
My shock only lasted a second, and then I was kissing her back, nipping her bottom lip before deepening the kiss and sliding my tongue against hers.
She pulled back and looked up at me, batting her lashes as she smiled impishly.
“I’m ready to go home.” She rose from her seat and leaned sideways dangerously.
“Whoa, let me help you.” I wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her. Supporting her weight wasn’t that hard because she was light as feather. The warmth of her body sent tingles down my spine. She was so fucking soft.
“Are you okay?” She held her eyes shut and then leaned her head against my shoulder.
“London?” I whispered, slightly shaking her shoulders, but she just groaned in response.
“Yeah, just stood up too fast. I’m not drunk, but I definitely can’t drive home. I need to call one of my sisters.” London reached for her purse.
Placing a hand on hers to still her search. “I got you, I’ll take you home.”
“You sure? I live way off 46.”
“I know where the Kelly Ranch is.” Releasing a deep breath, I shook my head at the sudden twist of events. I knew that I was only driving her home, but it gave me another chance, some more time to ask her out.
When we stepped outside into the muggy evening air, I placed one hand on London’s back and escorted her toward my truck. She watched me with a slightly annoyed twist of her lips as I opened her door for her, and I wanted to laugh. The girl would need to start seeing the compliments in actions.
“Look, I’m appreciative of the ride home but that doesn’t mean I’m incapable of doing normal shit, got it?” London held her keys wrapped in both hands against her chest.
“Never thought you were incapable of doing anything you set your mind to. I was only trying to be nice. You’ve had a long day, you’re in heels, and this is a gravel parking lot.”
“Oh.” London nodded, and I waited for her to get in and then ran around to start the engine and turn on the air conditioner for her.
“I think that I just need to get home,” London said, her voice drowned out by the radio. I tilted my head to see her. She looked very peaceful and very innocent.
“No worries, I’m taking you home.”
Driving down State Road 46, I followed the signs to Kelly Farms and Iron Horse Stables. This part of Seminole County was sparse, and everyone had acreage, so the traffic was non-existent. It wasn’t uncommon to see people riding a horse down the side of the busy State Road either. Hell, I remember my dad used to make jokes because the grade school had a sign that read: No horses allowed on the sidewalk. He always used to laugh, wondering which idiot took their horse up on the school sidewalk because for there to be a sign, there had to be a reason.
It had been almost twelve years since I had been on this side of town, and the last time was when I was in high school and had gone to a party at Marcus’s house.
“Is Marcus still your neighbor?”
“He is. The O’Neals sold their property about a week ago, though.” She pointed to a large sold sign. “It’s a shame we couldn’t get it, but five hundred acres is a bit out of our price range.”
“Have you met the new owners?”
“Nope. I’m sure I will eventually. The old owners said the guy was nice, but we will see.”
When I pulled into the fenced area of the ranch, the house was all lit up outside but not inside. The home was beautiful, I didn’t think I’d ever seen it before, but it was sprawling, the outside was covered in either cedar or cypress shake.
Pulling in front of the circle drive, I stole a glimpse of London, who was staring out the window as if deep in thought.
“London?”
“Mm-hmmm,” she hummed distractedly.
I was sure that she didn’t intend for her words to be erotic, but they were, and I felt like a total ass as I adjusted the front of my pants.
“Sweetheart, we’re at your house.”
London sat up and then turned to me. “Thank you for everything, not just bringing me home but listening to me. I’m total a mess, and I know it.”
“You are a beautiful mess.” I slid one hand to cup the side of her face. I wanted to kiss her again, to taste her before I let her go for the night.
She pulled one corner of her bottom lip in-between her teeth and looked at me between her lashes. Fuck, that had to be the most provocative pose in the world.
“Don’t, London.”
“Don’t what?” She still watched me through her nearly closed eyes.
“Don’t look at me that way. You’re so fucking beautiful, and all I want to do is show you just how beautiful you are.”
Her lashes slowly rose, and our eyes were locked as she unbuckled her seatbelt and shifted so she was sitting on her knees. Then she stretched over the center console and kissed me. I met her kiss touch for touch. I couldn’t hold back, nor did I want to as I pulled her closer to me, urging her to crawl over the center console so she was straddling me. Adjusting the steering column and pushing my seat back, I made room for her, and neither of us dared to break the kiss.
When her fingers made their way to my shirt and the first breeze of cool air hit my chest, I knew that it was decision time. Either I stopped this or I was going to fuck this woman of one too many of my teenage fantasies right here.
My answer was to cup her firm ass and pull her tighter against me as I explored her mouth with my tongue. Then taking a deep breath, I pulled back just enough to whisper against her lips, “I want you, God, I want you, but not in a truck.”
“If I invite you in, that doesn’t mean I like you. I still might want to buy you a toaster for your bathtub.” She lowered her mouth to my ear and nibbled. Her words were funny, but I couldn’t laugh because her actions were driving me crazy.
“I’ll make you like me. But until then, fine.”
“Then come inside.” London reached for my door handle and pulled.
I slid my legs out, London still holding on to me. She wrapped her legs around my waist and lowered her mouth back to mine as I stood up from the truck.
I felt my cock twitch at the mere thought of what it would feel like sinking into London and I had to grit my teeth and find some resolve to move forward, slowly, following the pathway that led to the front of her house. She continued pressing kisses along my jawline, down my neck, and then back up as I tried to balance the both of us and make my way up the few stairs to her front door. Jesus, I deserved a fucking award for this, she smelled so good, and all I wanted to do was to say fuck going inside and then put her up against the porch and take her right here. Moving my legs took a whole lot of determination.
Her arms around my neck tightened.
The lighting of the porch was enough for me to see her throat making waves. Her eyes were soft, and her flushed cheeks were tomato red. It was the very expression I had seen on women, hell, I’d put it on women after a night of great sex, and tonight, I was going to put it on her.
“Am I gonna be an old maid?” London looked up at me, and at that moment there was a clear pleading in her eyes. She needed assurance of her beauty.
I let her slide down my body until her feet were back on solid ground and then cupped her cheeks in my hands. “No, sweetheart, you definitely will not be an old maid. You are much too desirable.”
“Okay,” London murmured and pressed her lips to mine again. Somehow, I was eleven years old again and seeing London for the first time. She was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen.
She had also been my first school crush, but she never had time for me, never spoke to me.
When she broke the moment and stepped back, I regained my thoughts and my words. “London, where are your keys?” I lifted one brow.
“In my side pocket.” She punched out her hip as if that would make this job easier. But she was wearing a dress, fuck, I didn’t even know that dresses had pockets.
“Okay, can you give them to me?”
“No. You get them. You’re Braden McManus, you’re used to getting into a girl’s pants.” London laughed at her joke, and I saw the challenge in her eyes. “Don’t you frisk women in your day to day job?”
She wanted to play that way, fine. “Turn around, ma’am, you have the right to remain silent unless you are shouting my name in ecstasy, then, of course, I’ll go easy.”
“Easy or soft?” London giggled as she complied.
Thrusting my pelvis against her as I pressed her against her front door, I asked, “Does this feel soft to you?”
She shook her head, and I leaned in closer to her.
“Remember that anything you say can and will be used against you to prolong your torture before I finally allow you to orgasm.”
Groaning, I wrapped one hand around her waist, slid my hand into her pocket, and fidgeted until I could grip the ring and pull them out. Just as I was almost clear of her pocket, she stopped me.
“Braden McManus, you were just feeling me up.” London cracked up laughing and then let go of my wrist.
“London Kelly, you’re gonna have a lot more than my hand if you don’t hurry the fuck up and open this door.” I held out her keys to her.
She was still giggling as she unlocked her door, and I reached over her head to grab the edge and hold it open.
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