by Mary Leo
Emotion gripped her throat, making it tight and rushing tears to her eyes. She pushed it all aside. This moment wasn’t about her. It was about Chase.
“But those scars are part of you. Part of the story of your life. They’re battle scars.”
“Believe me, there was no fighting involved.”
She slid up closer to him. “That’s not true. You wouldn’t be here now, with me, if you hadn’t fought hard to make it through all of that. You’re still fighting. Fighting to keep your arm functioning, fighting to keep walking, fighting to keep me in your bed.”
“And have I won that fight?”
“Which one?”
“To keep you in my bed?”
She slowly unbuttoned the shirt she wore and slipped it off her body, grinning. “Just try to get me out.”
He bent over to her, devouring her lips with his, cupping a breast, then running his thumb over her taut nipple sending waves of pleasure over her entire body.
“My turn,” he whispered, as he oh so sweetly suckled each of her breasts, and lightly ran his fingers down to her stomach and lower. A shiver slowly made its way down her spine, then settled in her belly, causing it to quiver. Stroking her where she instantly became wet and silky, his thumb made little circles over the bud of her center, causing a sound complete ecstasy to escape from her lips, just before she trailed kisses down his neck and chest.
She so desperately wished he was another man, a different man. Someone she’d met in town, or better still, someone she’d met in Vegas. A stranger she was just now getting to know, learning to enjoy. Someone she could merely have occasional, uncommitted sex with, and not Chase Cooper. The man she was desperately falling for and would sleep with again—hoped to sleep with again and again. The man who was bound to hate her once he learned the truth—once he knew what she’d done.
A white heat spread over her as she gasped for a breath. His fingers, his hands were like magic. They seemed to burn right through to her soul, making all rational thought dance out of her reach, leaving only intense desire.
He was kissing her now, kissing her eyes, her cheeks, her lips, neck, breasts, stomach, then trailing his tongue to her wet center where he suckled and stroked her until her hips began to quiver. He thrust his tongue inside of her, making it impossible for her to think of anything else but wanting even more of him.
“I want you now, Chase Cooper. Just you. Deep inside. So deep that I lose all reason and I can’t breathe.”
He reached on the nightstand for a condom, ripping it out of its wrapping with a deep whisper of a growl, then he unrolled it over his rock hard erection.
His hands slipped under her hips as he pulled her down towards him, her legs wide on either side of his body. He looked down at her, his gaze raking over her naked body as if he were memorizing each curve, each swell, and every nuance, causing her skin to prickle with goosebumps. As he dragged his gaze up to her face he fell on top of her, stopping himself with his hands pressing into the mattress on either side of her shoulders.
With his lips only a whisper away from hers, he said, “So deep neither of us will be able to think of anything else but our pleasure. There’s no tomorrow. There’s no yesterday. Just now. Just here. You and me.”
His lips came down hard on hers. His tongue pressing through her lips just as he pushed inside of her, deep and hard, taking her breath away.
She relaxed into each thrust, her fingers pressing into his back, legs wrapped around his waist, deep male sounds of pleasure washing over her, ratcheting up her pleasure. It was almost too much for her to endure. Too many sensations. White hot sensations surging through her entire body, then down to her core.
She found her climax just as he found his own, the thrusts coming hard, deep and fast, then tapering off to a few sharp penetrations that caused her to hold on with all her draining strength. The world exploded all around her and she buried her face into his shoulder, feeling the coarseness of his beard scratch her cheek. Nestling into the manly feel of it, loving his weight pressing against her body, loving the scent of his moist skin, the feel of his hard muscles pushing against her breasts, not wanting him to leave, ever.
“Stay. Just for a moment more,” she whispered in his ear, then nibbled on the tender skin of his earlobe.
“A moment more,” he said, his voice deep and sultry as his breathing began to slow down to a more normal pace.
He pushed up and gazed deep into her eyes. “Do you even know how amazing you are? How incredibly beautiful and sweet-tasting? Your skin tastes like honey. I can’t seem to get enough of you.”
He kissed her shoulder, her neck, her chin and then every so gently, her lips.
“But we have to sleep sometime. It’s a big day . . .”
He stopped her from finishing her sentence with a finger pressing to her lips. Then he carefully rolled off of her, slipped into the bathroom for a moment, then returned, landing on his back. She cuddled up next to him, pulled the blankets up and rested her head on his shoulder.
“I think I’m tired now,” he said. “I can’t keep my eyes open.”
“Me too,” she told him, and within the next moments he drifted off into a comfortable sleep while RuthieAnn tried to keep her tears from flowing down onto his shoulder.
BY THE TIME Chase, RuthieAnn and her brother, Kevin, a six-foot-two strapping young man with dark hair and a face that was sure to break a thousand hearts, made it to the memorial luncheon at Old Town Inn on Saturday, both RuthieAnn and Kevin seemed more stunned than emotional. Sure the service for Clark had been sad, with several of his old-time friends getting up to say a few kind and sometimes not so kind words about Clark, but what no one had expected, even Chase, was such a large turnout. The small chapel had been standing room only, and even then, some folks had to stand out in the hallway trying to listen to everything that was being said about the town drunk, who at one point had even run for mayor . . . a fact Chase hadn’t known about.
Chase couldn’t think of anyone who had spent any real years in and around Wild Creek who hadn’t shown up, and now they were all at the luncheon. Fortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Stanford, owners of the restaurant, had phoned Chase about the small order and Chase had increased the order by three times as much. As it was, they had prepared enough, but it would be damn close.
Walking into the familiar restaurant, the same restaurant where his dad’s memorial had taken place, filled Chase with pent-up emotions he thought he had under control, but apparently didn’t. He couldn’t quite calm the knot in his stomach or the lump in his throat. Yes, Clark’s death had caught him by surprise, but the loss he felt for his own dad still haunted him.
“There’s Jayden with Pearl,” RuthieAnn said as they walked into the noisy, crowded room. “I really need to hug my boy.”
“You go. He probably misses you like crazy. My family’s here,” Chase told her nodding over at his brothers Hunter and Draven. His mom, his sister Shiloh, and Avery were there as well. Everyone sitting at a round table. He spotted Reese buying drinks at the small bar set up in the corner of the room near the balcony doors. He wasn’t sure how to make nice with Reese, but funerals and weddings seemed to bring everyone together, despite their differences.
He supposed this was as good a time as any to at least say hello to Reese. He really wanted to get their relationship back on track . . . if that was even possible. He’d been a complete shit to Reese and he knew it. He couldn’t ignore him forever. It was time. Besides, he’d seen first hand how much it had devastated Kevin that his sister more or less disappeared from his life for the past five years, especially at a time when he really needed her. He understood why she’d done it, but it had taken a toll on Kevin.
He was glad to see them together again.
“I’m going to go over and say hello. Didn’t get a chance to speak to any of them during the service.”
RuthieAnn slipped her hand out of his. “Take your time. I’m good now that my boy’s here.”
They had spent most of the previous day together, talking, making love, then talking some more. They even stepped out for a few hours, picked up Jayden and went shopping for clothes for the memorial. Jayden ended up in dress pants and a white shirt, while RuthieAnn wore a simple black dress with long sleeves. She looked positively lovely.
Chase bought a new pair of Levis, a black shirt, and he had even bought a new black cowboy hat for the occasion. Clark would’ve appreciated the hat. He was always partial to black cowboy hats.
Afterwards, they’d dropped Jayden off at Pearl’s, picked up some food, drove back to his house and spent the rest of the night in bed, naked. It was as if each of them had been starving for affection and couldn’t get satisfied. Even now he had to purposely keep his intense desire for her under control. He’d never felt like this before and he refused to question it. Instead he had to continually give himself permission to enjoy what they had and not overthink what was happening.
He still hadn’t pressed her about the color of Lucky’s car. He guessed that a big part of him didn’t want to know, didn’t want to take the chance that she’d confess that it was dark blue. Then he’d have to ask more questions, questions that could destroy what they had going. He’d almost done just that when he’d told her not to leave him again.
Fortunately, his stupid statement had breezed right by her which led him to believe he was all wrong about her being at the scene. He had, in fact, superimposed her face in that horrible memory.
Now all he had to do was find a way to remove her from that morning.
“Are you sure?” he whispered in her ear. “I would like nothing more than to stay with you the entire time.” He knew how nervous she’d been about all of this. “Believe me, it’s not a problem at all.” He ran his hand along her arm, and it sent a comforting warmth through him. Just touching her seemed to calm any anxiety he was feeling about reaching out to Reese.
“Everything’s good now that my son is here,” she smiled up at him while holding his hand. “We’ll meet up later, okay? It’s time for you and your brother to come to terms. I don’t want to hinder that. I’ll be fine. Honest.”
“Thanks,” he told her, anxious to get his meeting with Reese over with. They hadn’t been in the same room together in several months. The whole thing felt awkward, but Chase knew this brotherly feud couldn’t go on much longer. It was killing their mom.
“Besides, it’s time Jayden met his Uncle Kevin,” RuthieAnn said, smiling over at her brother, who had gotten waylaid at the entrance and was just now coming up behind them. He wore a black shirt, black tie, black dress pants and cowboy boots—spit-shined cowboy boots. Most of the men in the room wore the same exact outfit, and the few who wore a suit coat wore newer looking jeans and boots, a staple among most Wild Creek male residents. The town was almost too rugged for anything else.
“We’ll catch up later,” Kevin told Chase as RuthieAnn pulled him away.
“Looking forward to it,” Chase told him as they made their way over to Pearl’s table. All three of her kids were there, along with Sheriff Tyler Gentry, who held their youngest daughter in his arms. Tyler was a big guy, almost six-five with linebacker arms, a chest that could stop a train, and perhaps the most muscular legs Chase had ever seen on a guy. He and Chase worked out at the same gym, a gym right outside of town that Chase had used consistently ever since his accident. Ever since his shoulder and arm had started giving him trouble again, he hadn’t been going very often, if at all.
Chase tipped his hat to Sheriff Gentry, just as he spotted Kaya and her husband, Pete, at the far end of the large room. They used to work for Chuck Starr, but all that ended when the truth came out about how truly evil the man was.
Once again, one of the few residents missing from this memorial luncheon was Chuck Starr, who everyone in town hated even more now that they knew the truth about his conspiracy with Avery’s dad to keep her mom in Bell House, a home for the mentally impaired—which Pamela Harding, Avery’s mom, was not.
The investigation of Bell House was still ongoing, Most of the staff had been replaced, and several more of the patients who were still living there had been correctly diagnosed. The house had withstood the scandal and was getting a complete overhaul, which only served to help the residents who actually needed the facility. Reese and Avery were now on the board, making sure all the patients actually needed to be there and what had happened to Avery’s mom would never happen again.
As he approached the group, he tried his best not to limp, but whenever Chase didn’t get enough sleep or was overworked, his limp seemed to be more prevalent. Of course, his mom noticed. “You okay, son?” she asked as he came closer.
“Fine, just a little tired,” he told her, leaning over to give her a kiss on the cheek. She smelled of violets and coffee, a fragrance that always comforted him. She was his mom and he loved her like all get out. To him, she was the most beautiful woman in the room . . . excluding RuthieAnn, of course. His mom looked handsome in her black dress and matching shoes. Her graying hair was combed back off her face, and she wore a dark red lipstick on her lips.
“You shouldn’t push it,” Reese said from behind him. “I know Clark meant a lot to you, but you mean a lot to us. So take it easy, brother.”
Chase swerved around to face Reese, and in that instant all his past animosity towards his brother vanished. Whatever evils Chase believed his brother had committed against their dad, simply vanished into thin air. Nothing mattered but his profound love for his brother. “It’s good to see you, Reese.”
“You too,” Reese said and just like that, the brothers hugged, grabbing hold of each other’s right hand, then with the other hand they patted each other’s backs. Chase had really missed Reese, despite his misplaced anger. They were brothers, after all, and had always been close. Chase had hated their arguments, and he knew their dad would’ve hated them.
“Saw your woman the other day. So have you two set a date yet?” Chase asked, as they pulled apart. “And congratulations, by the way.”
“Thanks. Yeah, wedding’s set for mid-August. Chase, I want to apologize for being such an ass about everything. You were right. I was an arrogant fool.”
“That’s for damn sure. Glad you finally admitted it,” Chase said, enjoying their old banter.
Reese stared at him for a moment, then they both laughed. “Yeah, but I was an even bigger ass,” Chase said. “Have to admit, I like everything you’ve done to the ranch, and I know Mom loves all the renovations to the house. Having money in the bank is sure a good feeling.”
“Yeah, too bad Dad couldn’t have enjoyed it,” Reese told him. “He was the one who ran all those tests on our land. Wish he could’ve hung around to enjoy the fruits of his hard work.”
Their dad had run tests to see exactly what was under their land. As it turned out, natural gas lay hidden under there, the motherload of natural gas. Somehow Chuck Starr had known this and tried his best to swindle the Cooper family out of what was rightfully theirs.
“He would’ve really enjoyed seeing all the crap that’s come down on Chuck’s head. I heard he’s about to lose his ranch.”
“It was never his to begin with. It actually belonged to Avery’s mom, Pamela. We’re really close to having it back in her name. It’s looking like that might happen in a few weeks. Avery will be so thrilled.”
“Would love to be there when Chuck moves out.”
“He already did. Closed the house up months ago. Lives in Phoenix now.”
“How’s Avery taking all of this?” She stood about five feet away from them, surrounded by the rest of the family. Chase had a feeling they were keeping their distance on purpose.
“At first, she was devastated, but now she just wants it all settled. Her dad and Chuck will probably have to serve some time for what they did to her mom.”
Chase knew the two men had conspired to keep her mom at Bell House. They had told everyone, including Avery, that she had died.
“W
hat about the doctor who kept her sedated for what, twenty years?”
“We heard that he fled to Mexico,” Reese told him.
Chase shook his head in disgust. He hated to see anyone get away with doing something evil to another human being. Ever since his accident, he’d become hypersensitive to this sort of thing, and obsessed with learning who hit his bike that morning. But trying to locate the driver had been eating him up inside.
He’d successfully let it go for the past few months, but now that RuthieAnn had returned and seemed to be the star of his dreams, he’d become obsessed again. It was a vice he knew could destroy him, along with his budding relationship with RuthieAnn.
“That’s too bad. I’m sure Avery and her mom were hoping for some justice.”
“I’m not done with the story. Seems he was on his phone, lost control of his car at an intersection, and ran into a pole. He died on the spot.”
After a moment, Chase said, “Karma’s a bitch.”
“Sure is,” Reese said. Chase felt certain he detected a bit of a smirk on his brother’s lips.
“There’s a lesson in all of this.”
“And what’s that?” Reese asked, leaning in to hear what Chase had to say over the roar of the other voices in the room.
“Don’t fuck with the Coopers or any of their friends.”
“Amen, brother.”
Twelve
Despite the overabundance of flowers, Clark’s memorial had turned out much better than RuthieAnn had ever imagined. Chase and Pearl had been right. The town needed to say goodbye to the man they once knew and the man they’d come to know after years of drinking. Either way, everyone had been especially kind to both RuthieAnn and Kevin, and she would be forever grateful. She was beginning to see Wild Creek in an entirely new light.
As it turned out, Kevin decided to take an extra couple of days to spend with his sister, his nephew, and his friends. He told RuthieAnn that he’d gotten everything okayed from his professors and his part-time job. She couldn’t have been happier. RuthieAnn liked hanging out with her brother. They’d been separated for far too long.