by Tia Siren
I cleared my throat, not wanting to stir up drama, but I needed to know what I was getting into. “What about Leslie? Is she going to be there?”
“Yes. She’s invited. I’m sure she’s coming.”
I felt a little bummed, but I would have to decline the invitation. Leslie’s big mouth couldn’t be trusted. I was not about to let her make a scene at Teresa’s party like she had at dinner. I was not going to ruin her big night by bringing Brock, plus, I didn’t really feel like making a spectacle of myself either.
“She’ll behave. I promise. Things were a little tense last week, but she knows better now.”
“I don’t think so, Hank. I haven’t talked to her since Friday, and I don’t know that I’m ready to. She said some pretty nasty things. I’m only glad Jasper and Brock didn’t hear them,” I said, fighting down the rage that rekindled just thinking about it.
“Ashley, you need to let it go. You have to admit it was a little strange to have dinner with the man who had almost managed to get his hands on Dad’s farm. It wasn’t cool.”
“I didn’t invite him! Dad did!” I wailed.
He chuckled. “Trust me, I know. We both know. Dad hasn’t exactly been silent about it. He may be old and sick, and we may be parents ourselves, but believe me, he let us know in no uncertain terms that he would whoop our asses if we ever disrespect him, his house, or his guests again.
I practically fell to the ground rolling with laughter. I knew Dad would follow through on that threat, too. He took that kind of thing seriously. It was all about respect with him.
It was good to actually talk with my brother instead of him lecturing me. “I don’t know about that. We are trying to figure things out.”
“Ashley, relationships aren’t easy. You don’t think Teresa and I have had our issues? I can’t tell you how many times I have thought about packing up and running away. You have to look at the big picture. Are you happier with him than without him? Are there more good times than bad? Use those to gauge the relationship, not what you’re feeling in any given moment. Hell, or even a given month sometimes. You have to set your mind to making it work.”
“Thank you, Hank. I know. I was young back then. We’ll see. This is all new for us. I think we’re just trying to figure stuff out. You’ll be the first to know if we decide to make this an official relationship,” I teased.
“I better be. I have to go. I’ll see you next Friday. It’s fancy. Wear something nice. Not church nice, but nice.”
“I’ve been to black-tie functions before, Hank. I think I can dress myself.”
“Oh, I forgot. You’re Miss Fancy New York. See you then,” he said, and hung up.
I was glad to know Hank was willing to give Brock a chance. I knew it was asking a lot, but in reality, Brock hadn’t done anything wrong. Leslie and Hank had nothing to be mad about, especially considering Hank didn’t even want to try to save the farm.
I checked my watch and hoped Brock was up. Then I laughed. Of course he was up. It was after eight, which meant he had probably been up for a while. The man probably already went for a run. The extent of my morning exercise had been to get out of bed and walk across the room.
“Good morning,” I said when he answered.
“Hey.” He was a little out of breath.
“Are you running?”
“Just finished. What’s up?”
I knew the man well. “I wanted to see if you would be interested in going to a party next Friday in Morgantown. Hank’s wife is getting promoted and there is going to be a celebration.”
“You want me to go to a party with your family?”
I laughed, completely understanding his hesitation. “Yes. It was Hank’s idea actually. They all promise to be on their best behavior. If not, Dad will beat them.”
He chuckled and then agreed. “I will go anywhere if it means I get to spend time with you. How fancy is this party?”
“Black tie. Got anything in that big closet of yours?”
“I do. What about you? Are you going to wear some sexy little sequin number?” he said in a low, husky voice that told me exactly what he was thinking.
“I don’t know yet. I may have to do some shopping.”
We agreed on a time for him to pick me up and made some plans for the night. Since the party was in Morgantown, we would need to leave early. I hung up the phone feeling very excited for the weekend. I couldn’t wait to see him decked out in a tux. It all felt very adult.
My mind drifted to what I would wear. I needed to go to Morgantown to shop. I knew I wouldn’t find anything appropriate around here, and I certainly didn’t have anything black-tie worthy in my closet.
I called Anna. “Hey, feel like heading to Morgantown for a shopping day?”
“Yes.” I heard footsteps and turned around to see her standing in the kitchen. “Oh,” I said into the phone while looking directly at her.
She rolled her eyes and put it away. “That’s actually why I’m here. I get one last try to hook me a man before I get fat. I need a dress that rocks this body,” she said, waving a hand over herself.
I laughed. “I think you’ve rocked that body enough, which is why you are in this predicament.”
“Whatever. Says the lady that has a kid.”
I quickly showered and we left, taking Jasper and Dad along for the ride. We needed male opinions—we thought.
Chapter 38
Brock
I felt a little silly in the black tux, but that was only because I was still in our small town. Once I got to Morgantown with other tuxedo-clad men, I wouldn’t feel quite so ridiculous. I pulled in front of the house and climbed out of the truck, doing my best to avoid getting dirty. I would have to dust off before I went into the party.
It had been dry this week, which meant dust was everywhere. There was no avoiding it, and I could see it clinging to the hem of my pants and my shiny black shoes. I knocked on the door and Jasper quickly answered it.
“Hi, Dad. You look very nice,” he said in an adult fashion.
“Well, thank you, bud.”
“Mom’s almost ready. She said she didn’t like her earrings. Grandpa said no one would look at her earrings.”
I laughed and made a mental note never to say anything I didn’t want repeated around Jasper.
Tanner was sitting in his recliner, reading the paper, but jumped up when he saw me. “You look dashing. I think Ashley will be very happy to see you,” he said with a grin.
Just then, Ashley cleared her throat. “Ta-da,” she said in a soft voice.
All three of us turned to stare at her. Once again, I was blown away by her beauty. She could do down-home country girl by day and Hollywood starlet by night. It was an amazing transformation.
“Stunning,” I uttered.
“You look real pretty, Mom,” Jasper said.
“Beautiful, hon. And those earrings look perfect,” Tanner pointed out.
I drank in the sight of her as she spun around, showing off the back of the gown. It was sexy but elegant. She wasn’t showing too much skin, but her shoulders were bare in the off-the-shoulder gown. The full length fitted her perfectly at the waist before flaring out at the knees and making her look much taller than she was. I had a feeling she must have on a pair of killer heels under all that fabric.
“Thank you. You look very nice,” she said, eyeing my tux. “I feel so grown up.” She started laughing.
I laughed as well. It was like going to prom but for adults.
“Ready?” I asked.
“I am.”
We walked to the porch before she hiked up the gown to keep it from dragging in the dirt on the way to the truck. It was as I expected. She was wearing a pair of black stiletto heels and black stockings. I had to block the image that popped into my head. I wanted to pull that dress off and see her in nothing but those heels and black stockings. It created a vivid fantasy in my head.
“I figured we could eat beforehand, so I made us reservations
,” I told her as we drove up the highway.
“Good idea. We need to get food in our systems to absorb the alcohol that will likely be freely flowing tonight.”
I laughed. “I spoke with your dad. If there is too much alcohol involved, I asked him to watch Jasper for us in case we needed to stay the night in Morgantown.”
She blushed a little. “I bet he was all too happy to agree to that.”
“Actually, he did seem pretty excited at the idea of us not coming home.”
We ate a fairly light dinner. Ashley insisted if she ate too much the seams would rip out of her gown. I doubted that but didn’t push the matter. When we arrived at the hotel where the party was being held, I braced myself for round two of the Parks attack.
Hank and Teresa saw us almost immediately and warmly welcomed me. It was a little surreal, but I was going to go with it. Next, Leslie and her husband made their way over. Leslie wasn’t quite as thrilled to see me as Hank had been, but she wasn’t threatening to claw my eyes out. I guessed that could be called progress.
“Want to dance?” I asked Ashley, who quickly agreed.
“There’s Anna!” she said excitedly.
I looked in the direction she was staring and my mouth dropped open. “Wow. She looks amazing.”
Ashley giggled. “Yes, she does, but this is the only time you are allowed to say it.”
Anna looked very happy and completely in her element as she held court in a corner of the room. Men were fawning over her and she was practically glowing in her dark blue gown.
“Let’s grab a drink,” Ashley said, pulling me toward the open bar.
We spent the next hour drinking and dancing. I was having a blast and could tell Ashley was as well. It was good to be carefree and enjoying life with someone I cared so deeply about.
I left her at the bar with Anna and ventured over to talk with one of the realtors I knew in the area. It wasn’t long before there was a small group of us talking about various properties and the current demand for large residential parcels.
“I know an excellent photographer who can sell a property with a single picture,” I boasted, then spoke to the group about her skills as a photographer.
“Ashley.” I called her over. “This is her,” I said with a great deal of pride.
She nervously smiled, looking at me. “Her?”
“These gentlemen are looking for a photographer to create some pictures for a brochure they are putting together for a new resort they are building. I told them I knew the best photographer in West Virginia.”
“You’re too kind,” she said, extending her hand and introducing herself to the men.
They exchanged information.
“Thank you,” she whispered in my ear.
“Of course. I’ll have your schedule booked full by the time we’re done tonight.” I winked.
It was close to midnight when I realized I’d had enough of partying.
“Ash.” She was giggling in a corner with her sister, Leslie. “Ash, I have a room for us. Are you ready to leave?” I asked, hoping my words weren’t slurred.
The champagne had been very generous, and I felt very tipsy and horny. I wanted to get my girl alone in the hotel room. We had both admitted defeat an hour ago, recognizing there was no way I could drive home.
“I am,” she said. Her face was flushed from her alcohol consumption.
“Have fun, you two,” Leslie mumbled.
She had clearly been enjoying the free alcohol as well. In fact, the entire room was filled with raucous, drunken laughter and a lot of flushed faces. The hospital knew how to throw one hell of a party. It was a little ironic, but they had worked out a deal with the hotel that any party-goers would get a discount on rooms if they chose to stay. It was a win-win for everyone.
Anna came to stand beside Leslie. “Let’s go,” she said, taking Leslie’s hand.
“Drive safely,” I told her. “Are you sure you don’t want to get rooms? I’ll pay,” I offered.
Leslie smiled. “No, thank you. Anna is sober. We’ve got to get home to the kids. We stayed too long as it is.”
We wished them well and headed for the exit. Ashley wrapped her arm around my waist and leaned into me. The two of us stumbled down the hall to the elevator. It was reminiscent of many of the parties we’d attended when we were younger. When the elevator doors slid shut, I wrapped my arms around her waist and kissed her.
“I love you,” I murmured against her lips.
She went stiff in my arms and tried to pull away. I kissed her again, holding her firmly in place.
The doors slid open and I pulled her down the hall to our room. I managed to get the keycard in after fumbling a few times and pushed the door open. She kicked off her heels the second she stepped inside.
“Thank God,” she said a little too loudly. “My feet were killing me! Why did I think I needed such high heels?”
“Because they are incredibly sexy.”
She giggled. “You couldn’t even see my shoes. The gown covered them.”
I grabbed her and kissed her. “I love you.”
“Brock,” she protested, trying to pull away.
I shook my head. “Uh-uh. I love you. You are not going to run from me this time, Ashley Parks. I love you and you are stuck with me.”
My hands moved up her back and found the zipper. I slowly pulled it down as I kissed her neck. It fell away and pooled at her feet while I caressed her nearly naked body. She carefully stepped out of the dress and draped it over a chair. I stood there, staring at her in those thigh-high black stockings and tiny black thong with a strapless bra.
“You’re so fucking hot, Ashley. I love you,” I said again. “I want to fuck you every time I see you. You’re the most beautiful woman in the world and you’re mine.”
I was going to keep saying the words until she heard them, believed them, and accepted them. I wasn’t letting her run out of my life. Not again.
A sexy, “fuck me” smile spread across her face as she sauntered toward me. She kissing me before pulling the bowtie from around my neck. I reached down and scooped her up and into my arms. She gasped.
I carried her to the single bed in the room and gently deposited her on top of the blankets.
“I love you. I am going to make love to you and show you how much,” I promised her.
She leaned back, propping herself up on her elbows, challenging me to have my way with her body. I was going to do just that, but first I owed her. I reached down and started to pull one of those sexy black stockings down her leg. I kissed each inch of her leg as it was exposed, spending some time at her knees before moving down her beautiful shins and all the way down to her toes.
I kissed her foot, then each of her toes. “I love you.”
I went to work on the second leg, repeating the action, and this time, when I got to her foot and kissed it, she said it.
“I love you, too,” she breathed out.
I smiled and looked up at her. “I know.”
She laughed. “Ha! You only thought you knew.”
“Oh, I knew, Ashley. It’s you who has taken so long to figure it out.”
I went back to kissing her feet and gently massaged each one. She had told me earlier in the night that the heels were killing her feet. I had promised to pay them a great deal of attention. I was a man of my word.
“You’re amazing,” she whispered.
I grinned. “I know.”
Her head dropped back as she laughed. “If only you weren’t so lacking in confidence.”
I chuckled as I rubbed her feet. It didn’t take long for the foot rub to turn into something else entirely.
Chapter 39
Ashley
His magical hands were giving me the best foot massage I had ever experienced. My feet felt like putty in his hands. Gone were the cramps and sore muscles. He rubbed all the aches and pains away.
I felt flushed, and it wasn’t because of the alcohol now. I writhed on the bed as
he ran his tongue up my leg.
“Roll over,” he instructed.
I rolled onto my stomach. He rubbed my shoulders before moving down my back and unfastening my bra. I breathed a sign of ecstasy at the freedom that small gesture gave me. He worked my back, kneading and rubbing away all the tension.
“When did you learn how to give such good massages?” I mumbled. My cheek was pressed against the bed and my body was too relaxed to think about lifting my head.
“I read about it,” he said glibly.
I didn’t want to know. I was perfectly happy to enjoy the benefits of his experienced hands. His hands moved to my lower back, where he applied gentle pressure as he rubbed outward from my spine.
I moaned in ecstasy. One of his hands cupped my ass. He rubbed before dropping his lips and kissing a trail up my spine. I shivered in delight as he explored every inch of my body. No part of me had been untouched—except that one part that was growing more desperate.
He worked his way back and slowly pulled my thong down. I lifted my hips enough to allow him to pull it past my thighs and down my legs.
“I love your body,” he said, coming to lay beside me on the bed. I lay there feeling completely relaxed. He kissed my forehead as he ran one of his hands down my back. I rolled to my side and put a hand on his chest. He was still fully dressed.
“Why aren’t you naked?” I asked petulantly.
He grinned. “I was too busy taking off your clothes.”
“I want you naked.”
He rolled and got off the bed. I followed him. My hands began the tedious task of unbuttoning each of the buttons on his shirt before pushing it off his shoulders. My mouth closed over one of his nipples. I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed his ass, yanking him toward me. I pushed my breasts against his chest and rubbed up and down, relishing in the feel of his crinkly chest hairs scraping against my sensitive nipples.
I quickly unfastened his belt and then the button on his pants before pulling the zipper down. I pushed his pants down his hips and then dropped to my knees in front of him, pulling the pants as I went.