“I’m hungry too.” Gracie edged closer to Bodie and tossed her hair over her shoulder in a flirtatious little maneuver Charity recognized from her own middle school days. Dear lord, this girl had it bad. Dev would have his work cut out for him if he planned to keep them apart. She’d like to see him try to dissuade that girl.
“Then it’s settled. Food’s already on.” The older woman ushered them up the porch steps. “We’d best hurry up before it gets cold.”
Welcome. That was the only way to describe the feeling that came over Charity when she walked into Dev’s parents’ house. Welcome and instantly comfortable. The house smelled like breakfast, like fried bacon and fresh banana bread.
It seemed either furniture or memorabilia took every square inch of wall space in the small living room, but the area was also tidy and well cared for. Charity wandered a bit, to the back of the room where rows of photographs hung in precise patterns. An homage to Dev’s various sports pursuits, it appeared. She studied the photographs of him in his uniform, with his team, holding trophies. One in particular held her. It was a picture of him standing between his parents, both of them beaming with a poignant blend of love and pride. Stadium lights glittered above their heads, and, behind them, the green field stretched out for what seemed to be miles.
Dev was their everything. You could see it on their faces.
“Oh, but I worried for him out there.” Mrs. Jenkins came up alongside her. “Every time he collided with one of those boys on the football field or basketball court, I had to turn away.”
“Sports can be brutal.” She could attest to that.
“That’s true,” Mrs. Jenkins agreed. “But it also gave him something we couldn’t. Discipline. Perseverance. Camaraderie. Those boys on his teams were like brothers, and he needed that back then.”
Charity nodded, seeking out Bodie. He and Gracie were chatting near the couch. There was so much wisdom in Mrs. Jenkins’s words. Bodie needed those things too, and no, Charity couldn’t give them to him. Not on her own. He needed support. A community to rally around him.
“Come on.” Dev’s mom collected Charity under her arm and they all drifted into a small dining room tucked into a corner behind the kitchen. A man—Dev’s dad, she would presume—already sat at the head of a dark cherry pedestal table, a newspaper hiding his face.
“Carl, we have company,” Mrs. Jenkins said loudly.
The newspaper rustled and then came down. “Well, I’ll be.” Mr. Jenkins quickly folded up the paper and stood, straightening his flannel shirt. The first thing Charity noticed about him was his eyes. They were deep set and a wise brown, almost identical to Dev’s, even though there was no blood relation. Wrinkles crosshatched the man’s face in a distinguished pattern, making him seem approachable and perceptive.
Dev started in on the introductions. “Dad, this is Charity, her nephew, Bodie, and you know—”
“Gracie girl. It’s been ages.” Mr. Jenkins edged around the table and gave the girl’s shoulder a squeeze before offering Bodie a hearty handshake. “That’s quite a grip you’ve got there, son. Dev said you and he were gonna take down that old pine tree that was being eaten up by beetles.”
“Yes, sir.” There was a respect in Bodie’s tone that he didn’t offer to just anyone. “Wasn’t easy, but we managed to get it down.”
Charity smiled. That was it, what she’d needed to see, especially after last night. That glimpse of pride in what he’d done to help Dev this morning. Bodie cared. He cared far more than he let anyone see.
“Well, I have to thank you for that, then.” The older man clapped her nephew’s shoulder. “Can’t do the work around here like I used to with my arthritis. I really appreciate you helpin’ out.”
“Uh, sure. Yeah.” Her nephew seemed to struggle to find words. “Of course, sir. I was happy to help.”
“And Charity Stone.” Dev’s father lumbered over and hugged her the same way his mom had. “Not every day we get a celebrity in the house.”
“And it’s not every day that I’m welcomed into such a lovely place.” A place that seemed to wrap its welcoming arms around her.
“Now that we’re acquainted, why don’t y’all take your seats?” Mrs. Jenkins walked over and pulled out a stack of plates from an antique hutch along the side wall, setting them gingerly in the center of the large table. “Bodie and Gracie, you two sit over there.” She gestured to the other side of the table by the window.
“Actually, I’ll sit here.” Dev muscled his way in between the two kids and pulled out the chair, dropping down before anyone could tell him otherwise.
Typically, Charity didn’t resort to rolling her eyes, but she made an exception, waiting until he looked at her and then adding a shake of her head for good measure. The man might be sexier than sin and heroic and strong and noble, but he had a lot to learn when it came to middle school girls and their crushes.
Chapter Fourteen
If Gracie made gaga eyes at Bodie one more time, he’d…well, hell, Dev had no clue what he’d do.
He’d tried everything—leaning forward and back to block her view of the kid, rudely interrupting their conversation as often as he could, in between deflecting glares from both Charity and his own mother, of course. Didn’t matter what he’d tried, Gracie had simply outmaneuvered him during the entire breakfast.
The girl had some quick reflexes, and it appeared she was on a mission to cast a spell on Bodie. If the kid’s slightly improved attitude was any indication, it had started to work.
The frown Dev couldn’t seem to shake went deeper. He wasn’t loving the way these two kids had started to look at each other. Or the flirty tone Gracie kept using. It would only lead to trouble. Flirtatious giggle one day and the next he’d be busting them for making out in the car somewhere. Or maybe a barn since neither one of them could drive…
“Bodie, that’s hilarious!” Gracie reached around behind Dev and patted Bodie’s shoulder.
Hilarious? The kid had only told a story about the time his neighbor’s chickens had gotten into his bathroom and one got stuck in the toilet. Dev didn’t see what was so funny. There was nothing fun or funny about this breakfast, in his opinion. Good thing they were wrapping it up. Bodie was a good kid and all, but he still had some issues to work through. Issues Gracie Cortez knew nothing about.
“I love chickens.” Gracie leaned past Dev to look at Bodie for the five millionth time. “I keep begging my parents to get some, but they said they don’t think the guests at the inn would like a bunch of squawking hens running around.”
“Well, we’ve got a whole flock.” Dev’s mom balled up her napkin and tossed it onto her empty plate. “In fact, we’ve got a few new chicks and a couple of piglets down in the barn.”
“Piglets?” Gracie gasped. “I’d love to see piglets!” She was already scrambling out of her seat. “Don’t you want to see piglets, Bodie?”
The kid finished off the last of his bacon and shrugged. “Yeah. Sure.”
Dev stood too. There was no way those two were walking down to the barn alone. “Don’t you think you should get back to your uncle’s ranch, Gracie?” he asked firmly. He’d be more than happy to escort her home. “I wouldn’t want your mom to worry.”
“Nah.” She traipsed to the other side of the table. “Mom’s helping Aunt Jessa with the triplets this afternoon. They told me I could stay over here if it was all right with you.”
Great. So she had all the time in the world to charm the pants off Bodie. Literally. Well, not on his watch. He’d make sure everyone’s pants stayed exactly where they belonged. “I’ll walk you down to the barn,” Dev said.
Across from him, Charity stood abruptly. “Actually, Dev, I thought we could do the dishes together.” She glared at him with a tight smile. “How does that sound?”
“Uh.” Based on her expression, this was one of the times when he didn’t have a choice but to say it sounded great.
“Oh, honey, I couldn’t let you do my
dishes,” his mother gushed. “I’m the hostess, after all.”
“Please. I insist.” Charity reached in and took the stack of plates right out of his mom’s hands. “You all go down and see the animals. We’ll join you in a few minutes.”
Okay. Fine. A few minutes. Bodie and Gracie couldn’t get into trouble in a few minutes, could they? Just in case, Dev stacked the rest of the dishes scattered around the table in record time.
“Well, I don’t know—” his mom started, but his father steered her toward the living room. “Come on, MaryElla. If she wants to do the dishes, let her do the dishes.” He gestured for Gracie and Bodie to follow them. “Y’all might even be able to hold those piglets we got down there.”
Gracie squealed with excitement as the group paraded through the living room and out of sight.
“Make sure you all stay together,” Dev yelled.
Charity shot him a death glare over the table. Then, without a word, she carted the dishes to the sink and set them on the counter.
Dev assessed the rigidity in her movements. Yeah, she definitely wasn’t happy with him. She opened the dishwasher and continued to ignore him as she turned on the faucet.
Guess he had to be the one to break the cold snap howling between them. He walked over and leaned against the counter next to her. “You glared at me a lot during brunch.”
Charity paused from rinsing a plate. “You were being a jerk.”
That baited a laugh. “Tell me how you really feel.”
“I don’t think I have to.” She bent and nestled the plate into the dishwasher between the others, then straightened and faced him directly. “It was pretty obvious to the entire room. I wasn’t the only one glaring.” She snatched another plate. “Your mom glared. Gracie and Bodie both should’ve glared.”
“Fine. Maybe I went a little overboard.” He couldn’t help it. “I’m protective of Gracie. I mean, I still think of her as a little girl. She hasn’t experienced half of what Bodie has. I guess I’d like to do my part in keeping her happy bubble intact.”
Charity secured the plate in the dishwasher and shut off the faucet. She turned to him and seemed to think for a few minutes before speaking. “No one wants to live in a bubble, Dev.” The anger in her tone gave way to something else. Sadness? “When I first walked into your parents’ house, you know what I noticed right away?”
“The weird Beanie Baby collection my mom has on those vintage 1970s bookshelves?” He noticed it every time and it never failed to make him cringe.
“No.” Her small smile scolded him. “I noticed that you’re the very center of their world. The pictures, the memorabilia, even the Beanie Babies.” She playfully narrowed her eyes as though she was on the hunt for information. “You know you loved those things when you were little. I’ll bet you slept with some of them.”
“The koala and the monkey,” he confessed. “Those were my favorites.” Until he realized how creepy they were. Staring at you with the glassy, lifeless eyes? Yikes.
Charity’s face sobered. “Bodie doesn’t have that. He hasn’t had parents telling him he matters. He hasn’t had parents showing him he matters. He needs friends, Dev. He needs to believe he’s lovable. If you try to keep Gracie away from him, you’ll only be reinforcing his insecurities. The self-doubt is what makes him act out in the first place. He’s testing me—testing all of us—to see if we’ll abandon him like everyone else has.”
The words hit him hard enough to knock out most of the concerns he had regarding Gracie and Bodie. Most, but not all. “You’re right,” he said to Charity. “It’s easy to forget that.”
“I know he’s hard.” She eased closer. “Trust me. I get it. But I’m trying to look for glimpses of the good in him. Like when your dad thanked him for helping with the tree. He lit up from the inside. I haven’t seen him respond that like to anyone.”
“Yeah.” He’d noticed it too. His dad was good at that—at seeing what people needed to hear.
“I’m not trying to make you feel bad,” Charity said. “You’ve done a lot for him too. And I can already tell it’s helping. I’m just saying you shouldn’t automatically think he’ll ruin Gracie’s innocence.”
“Good point.” She made a lot of good points, and she wasn’t afraid to share them, which was one of the things he liked the most about her. Unable to resist, Dev slipped his hand onto the curve of her hip and hitched her closer, searching as deep in her eyes as she would let him.
“What?” Her gaze shied away.
“I’m just trying to figure out what’s wrong with you.”
Her head tipped back. “What’s wrong with me?”
“Yeah.” He swept his gaze from those captivating eyes down to her lips, and then all the way down her body. “You’re smart as a whip, as my dad mentioned numerous times during breakfast.” He caught her eyes again. “You’re strong and brave. Funny. Pretty much the perfect woman.”
She belted out a laugh, completely unfiltered, and he loved hearing it, loved the way she didn’t try to edit herself around him.
“I’m not perfect,” she insisted. “For one thing, I have no filter.”
“You’re honest,” he murmured, moving as close as he dared.
“I’m selfish.” Her breath caught in the words.
He shook his head. “I don’t buy that. Ambitious maybe. Hardworking and focused, but not selfish.”
“Okay, fine.” Her voice had noticeably weakened. “I push people away and try to do everything on my own.”
“Being independent isn’t necessarily a bad thing. You know who you are.” And she didn’t apologize for it. She didn’t try to be who everyone else wanted her to be. “Trusting people takes time. Especially when you’ve never had someone to rely on.”
“How do you do that?” She asked, her eyes intent on his.
“Do what?”
“Make me have faith in things I’ve never believed?”
“That’s not me, Charity. That’s you. Maybe you’re ready to believe.”
She caved against his chest, bringing the sweet heat of her mouth to his. Finally. The kiss loosened every ounce of control he thought he’d had. He brought his other hand to her hip, urging her closer but not forcing her.
She moved on her own, fitting her body tightly to his. She seduced him with her lips, drifting over his in light fleeting touches before pressing in harder and opening her mouth to him. Her tongue sought his, and all the wetness and heat of her nearly drove him over the edge. He inched his hands higher, sliding them along her hips, then waist, under her shirt and up her ribs, moving them slowly, giving her the space to tell him to stop.
Instead, she arched into his touch. “Your hands,” she murmured into his mouth. “Oh god, Dev. Your hands.”
She was silky soft, every inch of her; every spot he touched made him want to feel more of her. “You can tell me to stop,” he reminded her gruffly. “I would never take more than you want to give.”
She pulled back and brought her hands to his face, cupping them around either side of his jaw. Her gaze settled in his, so comfortable and open. “I know you wouldn’t.” She kissed him softly again, her hands drifting down to his elbows and applying pressure to prod his hands higher on her body.
His fingers grazed the satin edge of her bra, and he felt a hitch in her breath. His own breath hitched too, ragged with anticipation. He glided his hands up to hold her breasts and took their kiss deeper. Her nipples responded, hardening into tight buds against his palms. “Damn, I want you,” he uttered against her lips. “I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you.”
“You can have me—”
Somewhere, a door banged open.
Charity whirled away from him, flailing to turn on the faucet. She grabbed a plate just as his father walked into the kitchen.
Dev’s arms fell heavy at his sides, his heart still pounding hard enough to put him off balance.
“Did Bodie and Gracie come back here?” his dad asked, seemingly oblivious to the a
wkwardness that had driven Dev and Charity to opposite sides of the room.
“Uh. No.” Dev watched Charity at the sink, her posture rigid and her hands bordering on frantic as she rinsed and stashed the plates. “Why?”
His dad glanced out the window with a furrowed brow. “Your mom and I took a detour to get the mail. Said we’d meet them at the chicken coops, but we couldn’t find them out there anywhere.”
“Did you check the barn?” Blood still rushed through him so fast all he could think about was being alone with Charity again. “I’m sure they’re around somewhere. They couldn’t have gone too far.”
“We checked the barn. Even called out for them a few times,” his dad said. “And Gracie’s horse is gone.”
“Her horse?” That got Dev’s attention. “Maybe they headed back over to the Cortez place.”
“I’m sure that’s it.” Charity had shut off the water and turned around to face them. “I’ll call over there and ask Naomi if she’s seen them.”
Dev waited as she dug out her phone and made the call. Judging from her end of the conversation, Naomi hadn’t seen them either.
“Maybe they went for a ride,” his dad suggested when Charity hung up.
“Bodie doesn’t know how to ride.” The flush that had brought her face alive only moments before had paled. “And Gracie’s still learning. It’s one thing for her to ride over here on the road, but I’m not sure either one of them is qualified to go much farther.”
Dev felt the same worry creep over him, but he hid it underneath a casual shrug. “We can go out and look around. Like I said, I doubt they could’ve gone too far.” Beyond the meadows on his dad’s property, the hills turned into mountains with steep, unforgiving terrain. There were no trails, and unless you’d spent a lot of time out there, it was easy to get lost. Rather than think about that scenario, Dev walked over and took Charity’s hand, leading her out the backdoor behind his father. “We’ll find them,” he said, making her a promise. Hopefully they’d find them before they got into any trouble.
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