“And I hope you’ll always be happy I said yes.” She grinned. “We can both be very stubborn.”
“But look at how much fun it’ll be to make up.” He whirled her around in his arms, and then headed to the bedroom. “I want these sweets first, then we’ll celebrate with chocolate cake.”
When he set her down on the bed, Lacey asked, “Did your mother know the cake was part of you asking me to marry you?”
“Yes, I had to tell someone. I almost proposed to you at Shirley’s Place.”
“She’d have loved it if you did, but I’m glad you waited.”
Hunter slowly removed her blouse and bra. He stood back and looked at her. “I can’t believe how lucky I am that we found each other again. I have to admit I’d never forgotten you.” He cupped her breasts and tenderly kissed each nipple. Then he stared into her eyes. “I realize now that I was looking for a woman who liked to do outdoors activities, one who listened to me talk and discuss my dreams. She’d be warm and loving, and like my family. I was looking for you.”
Lacey stood and pulled him up with her. She removed his blue shirt and rubbed her hands across his wide, strong chest.
“I wasn’t looking. The two most important men I’d had in my life, my father and my husband, hurt me badly. They’d taught me to not trust, and yet in just a short time you’ve shown me how a real man treats women and especially the one he loves. I trust you. Oh, I may slip a few times before it’s really set inside me. But I’ll learn to not doubt, and to know you’ll be beside me whatever.” She put her arms around his waist and rubbed her bare breasts against the soft hairs on his chest.
For a minute they didn’t move. They let the love and peace flow between them.
Hunter moved first. He unfastened her jeans button and pulled down the zipper. He took hold of her jeans and panties and pushed them downward. “Sit. I’ll remove your boots, so I can get these clothes off of you. I’m aching to be inside your sweet, hot, hot pussy.”
Lacey sat on the side of the bed and ran her fingers through his thick hair as he knelt and finished undressing her.
“Stand in front of me,” she said.
Hunter smiled at her as she undid his jeans and removed them and his undershorts. His cock sprung out and she wrapped her fingers around the hard, silken heat.
She licked his salty essence from the slit in his crown and then took him in deep in her mouth. Her tongue licked the sides, along the vein on the underside, and she moved her mouth up and down his length. He ran his fingers through her silky black hair.
He groaned when she sucked on his dick. When he did, she pushed him to the limit by speeding up her movements and holding his sac in her hand.
When he stopped her, she looked up questioningly. “I want to come inside you, and I’m about to explode.” He grabbed a condom from his jeans pocket, sheathed his cock, and placed her further up on the bed. He placed his dick at her pussy opening and plunged inside.
Her pussy walls clenched tight around him. “Ah, you feel so good,” she whispered.
Hunter moved slowly in and out as his fingers played with her sensitive nipples. He leaned forward and grazed his teeth across each one. Gradually, he increased his speed, sending her desire spiraling into the stratosphere.
“I can’t get enough of you. Harder, harder,” she demanded.
A shiny gloss of perspiration coated their skin. Hunter chuckled. “I’ll try. I have an idea.” He quickly rolled her on top. “Now you can control the thrusts.”
Lacey liked the position. She took him in deeper and moved up and down at a fast rate. The glow in his eyes and the tightening of his jaw told her he felt the same. When he rubbed her nipples between his finger and thumb, a shot of electricity went straight from her core and up her spine.
“Yes,” she yelled as a rapturous wave of ecstasy rushed over her. Hunter pushed in hard a few more times before his cock pulsated in sudden spurts in her pussy. Her pussy walls held him tight and rippled around him as they both found their joyful release together.
Hunter kissed her. “You’re wonderful, and I love you.” He rolled to the side, but held her hand. As their bodies cooled and their breathing slowed, Hunter leaned over her.
“Do you want to shower? Afterward, we’ll call Mom. I’m sure she’s sitting by the phone. We can eat some of her cake and come back to bed.”
Lacey rubbed her fingers across his beard-shadowed jaw. “I like your plan. But I’ll go first or we’ll never get around to calling your Mom before it’s too late.”
“Midnight wouldn’t be too late. This is her first son hopefully getting engaged.”
Laughing, Lacey got out of bed and ran into the bathroom. When she turned on the light it was the first time she’d really looked at her ring. There was a large, round diamond with smaller diamonds around it and along the sides. It sparkled in the light.
She loved it. It hadn’t mattered what it looked like, Hunter gave it to her. He wanted to marry her. She did a silly little dance across the room to the shower.
* * * *
Hunter’s mom was ecstatic. “Let me talk to my future daughter-in-law,” she said.
“All right, Mom. I can see I’m going to take second place from now on,” he teased. Then he handed the phone to Lacey.
He sat back and watched the expressions on Lacey’s face. He loved her smile and the mellow tone of her voice.
“Thank you, Mrs. Garrison. Okay, Mom Garrison. We’re very happy. No, we haven’t discussed a date, but you’ll be the first to know.” Lacey shut off the phone. “She’s a little excited.” She giggled. “And so am I.”
Lacey glanced around the kitchen. “Where are the plates, silverware, and glasses? Point me in the right direction. I’ll cut us a big piece of cake, and how does milk to drink sound to you?”
“Just perfect with chocolate cake.” He watched her getting the utensils and plates. She poured milk in the glasses and came to the table where she cut them each a huge piece of the cake.
“That’s a lot,” Hunter said.
“Are you saying you can’t eat that much?”
“No, but I don’t want to be so full I can’t make love afterward.”
“We have some talking to do before we go back to bed.”
“Such as?”
“When do we get married?” Lacey asked.
“Are you in a rush?”
“Aren’t you?” she asked, and looked surprised.
“I sure am, but I expected you’d want to think about it, discuss it, and all the sundry things women do before the big event.”
“You wouldn’t mind if I took my time?”
“I’d hate it.”
“I thought so. Here’s my idea. We’ll plan the wedding for a week or two after Josie arrives. I’ll let my folks know and they can come if they want. But I see no reason for us to wait. We’ve practically known each other forever minus a nineteen-year separation.”
Hunter pulled her onto his lap. “I love the way you think.” He kissed her hard. “You taste like chocolate.”
“Let me back in my seat. I haven’t finished my slice of your mom’s delicious cake.”
“Maybe I want to eat yours. I’m almost finished with mine.”
She put up her fists. “I’ll fight you for it.”
He kissed each fist. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he teased back, and sat her on her chair.
“You’re just afraid I’d beat you.”
“Probably.” He agreed with a wide smile on his face.
Hunter knew he’d never been this happy. He’d always been a generally happy person, but the joy and pleasure of loving Lacey was much more intense.
“You look very serious for a happily engaged man,” Lacey said.
“I’m trying to memorize you and this moment in my mind’s eye, so I can bring it forth from my memory and never forget it.”
Chapter Sixteen
The next week went by quickly. Sunday, they met at the home place. The family congratul
ated them, and they received a lot of teasing from all the brothers. Hunter’s mom and dad embraced her literally as their first daughter-in-law.
“This doesn’t take the rest of you off the hook,” Mrs. Garrison warned her sons. “I expect more marriages and soon.”
“Hunter, you’ve put the pressure on us.” Cort frowned at his brother. Then he smiled at Lacey. “But I can see why you couldn’t resist. She’s a special lady. Still, Mom, I hope you understand special ladies don’t come around every day.”
“I’d expect we won’t see another one for a year or two,” Devin added.
His mother gave him the evil eye, as her sons called it. “I do not accept your excuse. Find one.”
They all laughed and gathered at the table loaded with food.
Lacey’s phone rang just as they were finishing dinner. She walked into the living room to take the call when she saw it was Josie.
“Hi, sis, when are you coming to visit?
“How does Tuesday sound? I should have called Friday, but I had to calm Mom down and take care of some last minute arrangements.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m glad you are arriving so soon. You can help me plan my wedding.”
“Wedding?” Josie screamed in the phone.
“Hunter asked and I accepted.”
“You’re sure about this? I do like him, but it is fast after your previous experience.”
“I’m fine, and I’m fully confident this marriage will be completely different.”
“Then I’m happy for you. Have you told Mom?”
“I wanted to wait and set the date. Since you’ll be here on Tuesday, we’ll plan the wedding for the second Sunday after you arrive. The first Sunday you can meet all the family.”
“Wow, you are in a hurry.”
“I’m ready to start my new life. I’ve had myself on hold for too long.”
“What about a wedding dress?”
“I’m sure Mom will have some ideas, but I don’t want a white gown. I want something in a pale pink.”
“I love the idea. We’ll search the Internet when I get there. They do have Internet, I hope.”
“Yes, silly. What time do we pick you up on Tuesday?”
“I can rent a car.”
“No way. Hunter and I will be there. E-mail me your flight number and all the information.”
“Will do. You’d better call Mom soon before I forget and let the surprise out.”
“Don’t you dare, I’ll call today.”
Lacey joined the others at the table. “My sister, Josie, called. She’ll be arriving Tuesday.” Lacey looked down the table at Mom Garrison. “I invited her to next Sunday’s dinner. I hope you don’t mind.”
“If you hadn’t, I would have asked her. I’m looking forward to seeing her. Isn’t she a few years older than you?”
“We celebrated her thirty-third birthday when we were in Washington.”
“What’s she like? Is she as pretty as you?” Joel asked, and winked at Lacey.
“She’s too old for you,” Cort said.
“I like older women,” Joel said in protest.
“Actually, she’s the serious one of the three of us,” Lacey said. “It’s probably why she chose a career in finance. She’ll be interviewing for the job here at the ranch.”
“What job?” Joel looked at Cort.
“Heath thinks we need someone to keep us straight with the records and finances. He’s tired of trying to decipher our notes and scribbles.” Cort looked pointedly at Joel. “He means the lumber business, too.”
“I don’t need help.”
“Tell Heath. He’ll be here Thursday night,” Cort said.
“I’m glad. He’s been in New York much too long without coming home,” Mrs. Garrison said. “Now finish eating. I have a delicious apple pie and ice cream for dessert.”
She smiled at Lacey when the men in the family started eating. “It works every time.”
“I’ll remember if I have a houseful of boys.”
Hunter’s head came around. “Eh, I was thinking more about two or three children.”
Lacey grinned and his brothers roared. “She got you. We could tell she was kidding,” Justyn said.
* * * *
Hunter and Lacey headed to the airport. “Tuesday came fast,” Lacey said.
“We’ve been busy with all the congratulations on our engagement. My phone at the office hasn’t quit ringing. And I’m glad you got to meet Magdalena yesterday.”
“I don’t think she was as happy to meet me.”
“What do you mean?” Hunter glanced at her.
“She’d been hoping you’d notice her.”
“What? She’s never tried to flirt with me.”
“I’d bet she has, but she’d be subtle and move slowly.”
“You must be imagining things. I never thought of her in any way but professionally.”
“It didn’t matter. She had plans for you, and I’ve gotten in the way.”
“You’re mistaken.”
“Ask your brother, Devin. He came by just as she arrived yesterday and stayed for the meeting.”
“I will. You’ll see I’m right.”
Lacey smiled and changed the subject. “When I called my mom, she wasn’t happy we’re getting married so quickly.”
“I’m sorry she gave you such a hard time.”
“She thinks we’re moving too fast, and I’ll regret it later. I reminded her I’d known Ray longer and it hadn’t made a difference. She knows you’re a good man, but hates losing me to Wyoming.”
“What did Alex say?”
“He’s all on your side and thrilled. Mom tried to make excuses to why they couldn’t get here for a wedding this soon, but she’ll manage to arrive on time at Alex’s insistence.”
“Does he worry you?”
“We agreed whatever decisions we make in the future will be mutual. We’ll both change as we live together and get older. Who knows what we’ll want then.”
Hunter reached across and took hold of her hand. He squeezed it. “You’re right. We’ll let the future take care of itself.”
Josie was coming off the plane when they got to her terminal. She rushed into Lacey’s arms.
“I’m so glad you’ve come to join us,” Lacey said.
Hunter grinned. “Doesn’t your future brother-in-law get a hug?”
Lacey smiled when Josie blushed, but her sister let Hunter hug her. “Is your luggage checked?”
“My suitcase was heavy so I did check it and another smaller one.”
“We’ll get them and be on our way to the home place. Mom wants to meet you. She’s cooking dinner for us and several of my brothers. I hope we won’t overwhelm you,” Hunter said as they walked toward the luggage ramp.
“It will nice to meet old friends. I may not recognize them though.”
When they parked at the home place, Lacey saw Cort, Devin, and Fletcher’s vehicles. “I guess the twins couldn’t make it, but you’ll see them on Sunday.”
Hunter escorted them in. “Mom and Dad, look at grown-up Josie.”
His mom and dad hugged her. “Welcome to our home, Josie,” Mrs. Garrison said. “Do you remember Cort, Fletch, and Devin?”
“I do, but they’ve really changed.” She looked up at the tall threesome.
“So have you,” Cort added. “And for the better I might say. I remember you as a giggling teenager.”
“I only giggled when you were around. I had a terrible teenage crush on you.” Cort blushed at Josie’s words, and the rest of the family laughed.
“Dinner’s ready. We can talk more at the table.” Mrs. Garrison led them into the dining room. “Josie, you and your sister will sit on either side of me.”
Hunter sat on the other side of Lacey. Devin surprised Lacey by sitting beside Josie. As usual the food was delicious and for a while no one spoke much. They were too busy eating fried chicken and mashed potatoes with fresh green beans and a salad.
�
�This meal is so good,” Josie said. “I skipped lunch, and my stomach was rumbling when I got off the plane.”
“I like to see people eat and enjoy my cooking. Do you cook, Josie?”
All the brothers looked up and at their mother. Devin grinned. “You’d better run for the hills. Mom’s looking for brides for us. She’s feeling more confident since your sister agreed to marry Hunter.”
“What he said is true, Josie,” Mrs. Garrison said after giving Devin the look. “Why haven’t you and your younger sister married?”
“Mom, don’t put her on the spot,” Hunter said.
“She doesn’t have to answer.” His mother patted Josie’s hand.
“I don’t know, Mrs. Garrison. I’ve been busy with my job, and I don’t socialize much. Being in crowds of people I don’t know makes me shut down. I don’t impress the men at all,” Josie said in a deprecating tone, shrugging.
“They must have all been blind,” Devin said.
Josie smiled at him. “I don’t think so, but thanks.”
Lacey glanced at Hunter and at the rest of the table. They were all looking at Devin.
“What?” Devin asked. “You were all thinking the same thing.”
“True,” Cort agreed. “But we weren’t as fast to the draw as you.” He grinned at his scowling brother.
* * * *
Later, while the ladies were cleaning up after dinner, the brothers gathered in the family room. Their father had gone for his evening walk.
“Why did you all look at me so funny?” Devin asked. “I gave her a compliment. What was the big deal?”
“We give compliments. Unless you’re interested in a woman, you keep your conversations impersonal.”
“She’s not a stranger. She’s Lacey’s sister. She’ll be part of the family.”
“True, but you sat by her and there was a look on your face,” Fletch added.
“Oh no, you don’t put me at the head of Mom’s list. I see what you’re doing. You want to take the heat off of you.”
“We think you like her,” Cort teased.
The Unforgettable Bride [Brides for the Garrison Brothers 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 14