Sweet Dreams (Sweetwater Book 2)

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Sweet Dreams (Sweetwater Book 2) Page 11

by Rivi Jacks

“You may have paid for them, but Max bought them, and I wore them so—they are more mine than yours.”

  Lucas’ eyebrows rise in surprise, and there’s a stunned, amused look on his face. “Sofie,” he gives a blunt chuckle. “Max has never—nor will he ever—buy panties for you, this I promise.”

  Oh.

  “Why would you think I’d let him or any other man for that matter buy you lingerie?”

  “I… I just thought…” Oh, this is now beyond embarrassing. Wait! Lucas went to a store and bought me underwear?

  His laugh is a low sexy sound as he pulls me close, burying his nose in my hair.

  “You bought me lingerie?”

  He pulls back to look at me. “Why does that surprise you, my sweet?”

  I shrug. No man has ever bought me lingerie, except for my uncles, and they only footed the bill, my aunts actually purchased them. The thing is—Lucas just doesn’t seem the type to shop.

  “Lucas,” Max says as he comes out of the study. “You’re still here.”

  Oh no! Max was in the study? I cringe, stepping back, wanting to hide behind Lucas. I wonder if he heard anything.

  “Sofie and I had a—matter to discuss.” He gives me a wicked grin as I narrow my eyes on him. “I’m going now, though.” He pulls me into his arms, his eyes shining with suppressed laughter down into mine. “Damn, I’m going to miss you.” He gives me a hard, delicious kiss as he pulls me up tight against his body. When he releases me, I glance at Max, catching his smile.

  “I’ll call,” he says and gives me a lopsided grin as he heads out the door.

  With my panties.

  Chapter Six

  I mosey on back to the kitchen to discover some of the Guard sitting around the table playing poker.

  “Sofie!” Emma Rae jumps up from Andy’s lap, bouncing over to me. “I’ve missed you.” She gives me a hard hug, laughing.

  I hug her back. “I’ve missed you too.” I look over at the table to acknowledge the greetings sent my way, and then back at Emma Rae. “How much have you had to drink?”

  I grin when she holds up a finger and thumb measurement. “Just a smidgeon.”

  “Uh-huh.” I look over at Andy, who smiles, nodding in agreement at her estimation.

  “Would you like to sit in, Miss Sofie?” Cal asks, looking up.

  “Not tonight, Cal, but thanks.” I give him a smile before saying to Emma Rae, “Come sit by me and fill me in on what’s been happening,” I reach up into the cupboard. “Do you want a cup of coffee?”

  “Got anything to put in it?”

  I open the cupboard I know holds liquor. “Looks like we’re in luck.” I hold up a bottle of brandy.

  She claps her hands. “I’d love a cup of coffee.”

  I laugh. “You’re certainly in a good mood.” We sit at the island counter, with the brandy bottle between us. “So, what’s new?” I ask. “I missed seeing you at the Shotgun Shack earlier.”

  “Yeah, I worked tonight, and then Andy and I helped Murphy get the store ready for the floor people.”

  Murphy has a company come in about every three months to strip, clean, and re-wax the store’s floors. They do it at night after closing. It’s a good way to pick up extra hours, staying and helping to get every movable object up off the floors.

  I glance over at Andy again. “That was right nice of Andy to help.”

  She leans in close to whisper. “We’re talking about moving in together.”

  This surprises me because I know Emma Rae’s never even considered moving out on her own since her mom depends on her as she does. Mrs. Bruchard had a harsh reaction to the rabies vaccine she had to take several years ago after being exposed to an animal with rabies. The vaccine did something to her, and she’s never been the same. Emma Rae’s dad left them when Emma Rae was a baby, and when her mom became ill, Emma Rae took on the financial burden of providing for what her mom’s disability benefits did not cover. She’d only been sixteen at the time, struggling to finish school, working evenings and weekends, never complaining. I think that’s why she likes to party so hard, to blow off steam.

  “Andy says we’ll find a place and put a trailer or build a small house for Mom.”

  I glance across the room at Andy again. “Emma Rae, that’s—”

  “Ain’t he a peach?”

  I reach over to take her hand. “Yes, he is.” I’m glad she’s found someone like Andy, but again, I wonder about telling her what he is. I feel guilty for not telling her, but—how do I tell my best friend her boyfriend is a vampire? Especially when I’ve just found out my boyfriend is one. Maybe I need to ask Lucas if I should talk to Andy, and we could both tell her. “I’m happy for you Emma Rae.”

  She laughs and gives me another hug.

  The back door opens, and Sawyer and Taylor walk in. Seeing Taylor reminds me I’m supposed to call Maryanne. Max informed me right after Lucas left that Maryanne and her dad decided to stay at Estella and Lucian’s since Lucas had to leave. I feel like we haven’t been very good hosts.

  “Did you get Maryanne and Walter delivered to the Zelt’s?” I ask Taylor.

  “Yes, ma’am, safely delivered.”

  I give him a thoughtful look.

  “What?” he asks, laughing.

  I shake my head. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Coming back into the kitchen after my phone call, I join Sawyer and Taylor at the center island. Emma Rae is back on Andy’s lap, helping him with his cards.

  My cup is empty, and I look suspiciously at Sawyer.

  He rubs his belly. “Good coffee, cuz, thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” I stand to get us both another cup.

  “Sofie, how has your evening been?” Taylor asks. I look over to catch his knowing smile.

  I give him a long look, and he grins. Is he referring to the cabin? He knows way too much of my business. “Very well, thank you, Taylor. Would you like a cup of coffee?”

  “If you don’t mind.”

  I sit back down at the counter with coffee for the three of us. Picking up the bottle of brandy, I add a healthy measure to my cup. Sawyer’s talking to some gal on his phone, and he nudges my arm, nodding at the bottle as he holds up his cup for me to add brandy to it.

  When I set the bottle down, I slide it toward Taylor. He reaches over and picks up the bottle. “What are you drinking here?”

  “Emma Rae and I have been adding it to our coffee.” I pick up my cup and take a sip.

  Taylor grins.

  “What?” I ask suspiciously.

  “This is a six-hundred-dollar bottle of excellent cognac, and you’re drinking it in coffee.” He laughs.

  I choke on my sip. Sawyer doesn’t break stride in his phone conversation as he reaches over to pound me on the back.

  Holy shit, Lucas spends way too much money on liquor.

  “Did you ever tell Lucas you girls abused his expensive tequila the way you did, swigging down shots?” Sawyer asks as he ends his call.

  I turn toward him to give him a look. The kind that says he has a big mouth.

  Taylor laughs out loud.

  I squirm, turning back around. “I will,” I say in a small voice. Sawyer just grins, shaking his head.

  “Hey, who was that Brian clown earlier tonight?” I ask, ready to change the subject.

  Sawyer finishes his sip of coffee, setting his cup down. “Sorry cuz, he was a little short on manners.”

  “He was irritating as hell.”

  “A word of advice?” Taylor says looking at Sawyer.

  “I know,” Sawyer responds, grinning at me again. “He made Lucas a little tense, huh?” I snort softly.

  “Yes, he did,” Taylor agrees. “And trust me, it’s not a good idea to make Luc
as tense.” I snicker at that assessment, earning me another laugh from Taylor.

  “Understood,” Sawyer says.

  Emma Rae drifts back over for a fresh cup of coffee.

  “Here Emma Rae,” Taylor says as he picks up the brandy bottle. “Have another shot.” He smiles at me.

  “Thanks, I will.” She holds out her cup.

  I narrow my gaze on Taylor, and he grins in response. No wonder he and Sawyer have become such good friends, they’re both ornery as hell.

  A couple of the Guard quit the card game, so Sawyer and Taylor decide to try their luck. Emma Rae and I pull a couple of bar stools close so we can give them all grief. It’s fun, and we’re having a good time, but our talk inevitably evolves to the Kihn. Sawyer says that he’s heard a couple of reports of strange activity going on over at Milo Walker’s place. The river runs through part of old Milo’s land, and the water has eroded away the dirt over the years, exposing the bare rock cliffs along the banks. There are several caves in those cliffs. Most of them aren’t too deep, but a few go back a ways. Taylor asks why no one has said anything about the cliffs, with Sawyer telling him that old man Milo pretty much keeps everyone off his land and has always considered that part of the river as his. When we were growing up, it was a known fact that you took your hide into your own hands if Milo caught you on his land. He kept his shotgun loaded with rock salt.

  “We need to check those out.” Taylor strokes his chin in consideration. “If the old man is so cantankerous, we’ll have to go in at night.”

  “You’d do better to take a couple of johnboats and go during the day,” Sawyer tells him. “You’ll have to climb to reach the caves, but there are old steps and a path part of the way.”

  “There used to be a couple of big oak trees that you could tie ropes onto and go over the top. I guess they’re still standing,” I add.

  Taylor smiles. “Let me guess, Sofie, you used to go up into those caves.”

  I grin at Sawyer. “A time or two.”

  Sawyer laughs. “The only time Ben ever walloped Sam and me was the first time we took Sofie up there with us.”

  “How old were you?” Taylor asks me.

  “Twelve.”

  “We all went up there, our senior year in high school, though,” Emma Rae informs. “That’s when ol’ Milo called the sheriff.”

  “Yeah, that was fun,” I say with a laugh. “But dangerous when you’re drinking.” I give Sawyer a pointed look.

  He laughs and holds up his hands with open palms. “I wasn’t drunk.”

  “No, but the screaming, drunk tootsie you had with you had no business being there,” Emma Rae mutters, still annoyed after all these years.

  “Sawyer had to tie a rope around her waist to keep her from falling off the cliff into the river,” I giggle, shaking my head at him. “And she still managed to go over the side a couple of times.”

  Everyone at the table laughs.

  “You girls were too hard on Shelly.”

  Emma Rae snorts. “She was annoying Sawyer, and you know it.”

  “Anyway,” I attempt to change the subject for Sawyer’s sake. “Ben could probably clear the way for you with old Milo. Make it a little easier to get in there during the day.”

  “Daytime would be better. I’ll talk to Ben.” Taylor is still grinning as he looks at me.

  “What?” I ask.

  He just shakes his head. “Deal ‘em.” And he pushes the deck of cards to Andy.

  The game resumes with a couple of the guys saying something about Lucas, and then I hear Cal say something about Clea. I quickly look over at him, and he guiltily looks away.

  Who the hell is this Clea? I wish I’d asked Lucas before he left. I especially want to know now because Cal keeps giving me furtive glances as if he’s worried because he let the cat out of the bag. Or maybe it would be more appropriate to say, he let the old girlfriend out of the bag.

  The card game breaks up well after midnight. Emma Rae tells me to call her as she and Andy take their leave.

  I’m placing our dirty cups and glasses in the dishwasher when Sawyer says, “Sofe, I’m taking off, I’ll call you in the morning, okay?”

  “Sure.”

  “Let’s do something.”

  “That sounds good,” I tell him. “Are you going home?”

  “Yeah, I need to get some rest.”

  I laugh. “What you need is a vacation from all the women you mess around with.”

  “No rest for the wicked, cuz.” He gives me a hug.

  “Be careful going home,” I tell him.

  “I will. I’ll call you.”

  “Not too early,” I say as he heads out the back door, holding up his arm to wave back at me.

  I wipe down the island as Taylor comes back up from the basement.

  “Find what you were looking for?” I am a little curious about what he was doing down there. There’s a game room in the basement and members of the Guard go downstairs on a regular basis, but I don’t think that’s the reason Taylor makes his frequent trips. I also know it’s not to visit the room with all the stored bottles Lucas just told me about. So—

  There are two locked doors down there that I have no idea what they conceal. Do his trips downstairs have anything to do with what’s behind those doors?

  I look over at Taylor when he doesn’t reply. He’s on his phone, texting someone. When he finishes, he looks up and grins. “Yep. Have a good night, Sofie.” He heads out the back door.

  O-kay. I shake my head, wondering what’s going on. I’m not going to worry about it though, I tell myself. I turn off the main light in the kitchen as I head back to the bedroom.

  It doesn’t take me long to change into one of Lucas’s t-shirts and crawl into my lonely bed. I can’t believe how much I already miss him.

  I roll over and pull his pillow against my front, holding it tightly to my chest as I inhale his arousing scent. I should have stayed at the cabin. That thought is a little surprising as I realize I already feel an attachment to the place. Maybe because Lucas had it built for me. Out of love. I know he loves me even though he’s never said the words. It’s the man’s actions that say it all. Right?

  I’d be lying though if I didn’t admit that it bothers me a little that he didn’t tell me more about his trip. Or about Clea. He knows I heard him say her name, so why didn’t he tell me who she was? And I’m still uncomfortable with the fact that he is so secretive about his life. Cosmopolitan Magazine says that’s one of the warning signs of a bad relationship. I roll over, taking his pillow with me. Of course, the article I read didn’t really cover vampire/human relationships.

  The ringing of the house phone gives me a start, and I eagerly roll over, taking a deep breath before reaching to answer.

  “Hi.” My greeting comes out all breathy.

  “My sweet.” Lucas’ voice sends a thrill running through me. “How did you know it was me?”

  “Just a hunch.”

  “What are you doing?”

  I glance at the clock on the nightstand. “It’s one here, and I’m in bed. What time is it there?” I ask.

  “Midnight.”

  “What are you doing?” I ask as I pull pillows up behind me to lean against.

  “I’m just back from a meeting, getting ready to turn in.” I hear ice rattle against a glass. “I doubt I’ll get much sleep though, thinking about you.”

  I smile. “I miss you.”

  “Baby, you have no idea how much I wish you were here.”

  “Me too.” My voice sounds wistful.

  “What’s wrong, Sofie?”

  “Nothing’s wrong, I just miss you like crazy, and you’ve only been gone” —I look over at the bedside clock— “about six hours.”

 
“Are you sure there’s nothing wrong?”

  I sit up, suspicious now. He knows about Cal’s slip-up, and I’m certain of how he knows. Taylor.

  “Why?” I demand. “Did Taylor say something?” I hear the sheets rustle through the phone, and I breathe in deeply, envisioning him lying in bed, wondering if he’s naked.

  “Does Taylor have something to say, Sofie?”

  “You tell me,” I say tartly.

  His laugh is husky and masculine. “You certainly have a sassy mouth.”

  “So, you keep saying.” I grin. “What are you wearing?” I am still so new at this game of seduction with him that I can’t stop my blush.

  I hear his quick intake of breath. “Are you changing the subject?”

  “Maybe,” I say, knowing in that moment that I will never—ever—ask him about Clea. I shouldn’t have to.

  “My sweet, you are like a breath of fresh air in my life.”

  I like the warmth I hear in his voice. “Good.” I slide down against the bed pillows.

  “But I know you want to ask me about Clea.”

  I sit back up. “No, I don’t.”

  He’s quiet as we both sit silently for several moments.

  “Okay, well, maybe a little,” I finally say. “But only because she’s like some big secret.”

  I hear him laugh under his breath. “First of all, Clea is not a secret, she’s a good friend.”

  Uh-huh.

  “That’s all she is, Sofie. We’ve been friends for several years.”

  “An old girlfriend?” I really don’t have to ask, I already know.

  He hesitates. “Not a girlfriend. We dated but not for long.” I nod as if he can see me. “We discovered we were better suited as friends.”

  I like his answer. “Okay.”

  “Okay?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why didn’t you just ask me about her earlier, Sofie, before I left?”

  “Because I shouldn’t have to ask you.”

  He doesn’t say anything for a moment, and then he says, “You’re right, I’m sorry.”

 

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