“I don’t like feeling helpless, Cami. I hate it. When I was imprisoned, that’s exactly how I felt. I couldn’t do a damn thing to help that man. When I was deployed, you needed me, and I wasn’t there.”
“You were doing your job, Garrett.”
“That’s not the point, Cami. You shouldn’t have been alone to deal with the death of your father! I should have been here.”
“Do you blame yourself?”
“For what happened to that man? No. For what happened to you? Of course I do, Cami. I love you, and all I want to do is protect you.”
“I used to dream about your funeral,” she said quietly. “Every time I went to bed, I would dream about my father’s funeral first, and then it turned into yours. That’s why I wasn’t sleeping. During the day, I’d imagine you were there with me, but I knew that wasn’t reality. But at night, I couldn’t tell my brain to shut off. I couldn’t remind myself of what was real and what was just my imagination.”
“Cami,” I murmured, leaning across to kiss her softly. “Thank you for finally telling me that.”
“I want you to confide in me, Garrett.” She looked down at the ring on her finger, the one I placed there the night before I deployed. We hadn’t talked about a wedding or marriage since I’d returned. But I knew what that ring symbolized. I knew it meant I’d promised to share my life with her, good and bad, and I hadn’t done that. I’d confided in Jackson and Captain Dennison but not the woman who had agreed to become my wife.
We both breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Cami never asked me for much beyond my love, honesty, and trust. It was easy to give her my love; she was so easy to love with her easy smile, wild curls, and compassion. But honesty and trust were harder to give, especially after being on my own for so long. I never relied on anyone else, and Jackson was always close if I needed someone.
Our final month in Gig Harbor seemed to fly by as we finally settled into our new life together. The mornings were filled with playful and lingering kisses that made it difficult for me to leave for base each morning, and on more than one occasion, I might have been late. The nights were slow and luxurious, and we both slept easier, tangled up around each other. It felt like the ugly truths had finally been revealed, and we were ready to move forward into the future.
Chapter Fourteen
Garrett
“Why are you acting funny?” I asked Cami, taking my eyes off the road for a brief second to peek at her.
“I kind of hate car trips,” she said with an embarrassed smile.
“What? Don’t you think that’s information you should have shared with me before we got on the road?” I couldn’t help but laugh at how she squirmed in her seat, trying to get comfortable, or the way she fidgeted with the radio.
“I’m sorry,” she said, reaching down into her bag to pull out a bag of sour gummy worms. “My mom used to take me everywhere with her, and since I couldn’t drive, I was forced to listen to endless hours of New Age garbage music and eat her shitty health food snacks.”
“So, that’s why you practically emptied the shelves of the gas station when we stopped?” My eyes dropped down to the floor of the truck’s cabin to her large bag bursting at the seams with her stash of convenience store treats right on top.
“I bought enough to share.”
“Baby, I’m not going to eat that crap,” I told her with a wry smile. I reached across the bench seat and placed a firm hand on her thigh. “It’s not that long. We’re stopping, remember?”
Since we had plenty of time before we closed on my Uncle Charlie’s property and could spare an extra day or two, we decided to stop in Oregon’s Rogue Valley. I’d found a beautiful historic mansion-turned-B&B and booked us what the owner described as the “most romantic room” at the inn. We planned one day of touring some of the local wineries before finishing the second half of our drive. I was looking forward to a day of peace and quiet when all I could focus on was me and Cami.
“How did you make it through those trips with your mother?” I asked a while later.
“I usually slept,” I said with a grin.
“Well, there’s no sleeping in the truck with me. I need you to keep an eye on those directions.” The rental truck was pretty basic; there were no power locks or windows, and there definitely wasn’t a navigation system.
“Yes, sir,” she said with a mock salute and the cutest pout that made me want to pull the truck over and kiss her senseless.
When we arrived at my uncle’s property for the first time a few days later, it was not what I expected. In fact, it defied all my expectations. I hadn’t seen the property in almost twelve years, so surprises awaited me around every corner.
“There’s room for twenty-two approved car spaces, so you just need to get the lot paved,” the agent informed us as we stood in the middle of a dirt lot. “And your uncle was also planning to move production on-site and open the tasting room to accommodate a winery on the property.”
“Why didn’t he?” I asked, sticking my hands deep into the pockets of my shorts and surveying the property. There wasn’t much land to expand upon, and I wondered if maybe stretching the property to include production was a waste of resources. I could easily see his vision, but was it what I envisioned for myself?
“He ran out of money,” the agent said plainly. “He decided to cut his losses and try to recoup some of the money he put into the renovations.”
“Lucky for me,” I muttered. “How many cases was he producing?”
“About 4800 a year.”
I whistled low. That was more than I was planning on fresh out of the gate. I had so much to relearn about the intricacies of blending and aging. I took one look at the property and knew I had to figure out the land too. How did the proximity to the Russian River affect the soil? My feet itched to feel the dirt beneath them. I ached to just roam the land.
A tug on my hand drew my attention back to the moment. I turned and found Cami leading me toward the main house. She gave me a knowing look as if she understood my desire to bury my hands deep in the earth and crush it between my fingers.
“The house needs work,” the agent told us as we trailed behind him. “He added the building that will serve as the tasting room and had a flagstone patio installed, but the main house is pretty dated. There is also room to enlarge the barrel room to accommodate a tank room and a crush pad. Right now, they produce everything off-site once they harvest the fruit.”
“Sounds like my uncle knew what he wanted,” I commented as we toured the severely outdated home.
“He did, but he knew when to cut his losses,” the agent said ominously. My uncle had been in the wine business forever and gave it all up when he got in over his head. Would I have the courage to do the same thing?
Predictably, Cami wandered toward the kitchen. I studied her as she surveyed the area. A small frown pulled down the corners of her mouth.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, coming up behind her and circling my hands around her waist. I pulled her back flush against me and buried my nose in her hair, inhaling the fresh, clean jasmine scent mingling with the fading warmth of the sunshine. I would never get enough of how she smelled.
“It’s kind of small,” she said softly.
Accepting her money didn’t feel right unless she was able to live her dreams too, and during our road trip, I asked her to make me a list of things she wanted in her dream kitchen. She was so excited talking to me about stoves and Sub-Zero refrigerators. There was so much hope in her expression as she bounced up and down, telling me all about the delicious delicacies she was going to bake for me. I promised her a kitchen worthy of her culinary skills because she deserved everything and then some.
Sucking in a deep breath, I scrutinized the kitchen. Even though it seemed inadequate to her, it looked plenty big to me. “Maybe the designer will have some ideas on what we can do,” I encouraged her. “Let’s go and check out the rest of the property.”
As the agent indicated, my
uncle had already expanded the property to accommodate the tasting room addition. It was its own building and connected to the main house by a flagstone walkway. At the far end of the room was a wall of windows opening to the large, covered deck. It would be perfect for a half-dozen tables where people could hang out and relax during the warmer months, and then in the cooler months, the tables could be replaced with couches and fire pits. The image of a bustling tasting room packed full of patrons was crystal clear in my mind.
“There’s so much natural light in here,” Cami breathed out. “It’s perfect.”
“I know,” was all I managed because I was completely engrossed in the plan forming in my mind.
“It’s so different from the Hammond Wines tasting room. That one is so cozy and rustic. And this room is bright and airy. Maybe we should go with a more modern feel?”
I had completely forgot about Cami’s visit to Hammond Wines. “I’m sorry your first visit wasn’t with me.”
She reached down and slipped her hand into mine before resting her head against my shoulder. “My first real visit will be with you.”
We finished our tour of the property before heading back to our hotel in downtown Healdsburg. Tomorrow we closed and then we’d move in to the house.
“I’m going to take a shower,” Cami announced, stripping off the shorts and tank top that seemed to be her own personal uniform. The summer sun had deepened her skin to a beautiful golden glow and gave her wild curls sun-kissed streaks.
“And I’m going to join you,” I replied, following suit and removing my own clothes. I’d promised myself I would never pass up an opportunity to be close to Cami, and now that I was free to touch and kiss her whenever I pleased, I had no problems keeping it.
The suite we were staying in overlooked downtown Healdsburg and might have been a little indulgent, but after weeks in a dark, filthy cell and a year without the creature comforts of home, the money just seemed to spend itself. I followed her into the spacious walk-in shower and behaved while she rinsed away the sweat and dirt with her familiar jasmine-scented soap.
“Mmm,” I moaned, inhaling her scent as I came up behind her. I placed my lips on her shoulders, licking playfully at the droplets of water. “Please don’t ever stop using that body wash.”
My hands slipped around her waist, and I pulled her against my chest; the playful licks turned into soft nips and then transformed into gentle kisses along the column of her neck. My cock had hardened the moment she started to undress, and there was no promise of it softening until I’d had my fill of her.
“Hands on the wall,” I growled, guiding her to the far end of the shower, away from the spray. Cami placed her hands firmly against the tile and stuck her seductive ass out a little before grinding it slowly against my cock. It was like someone flipped a switch in us both; one minute we were soft and loving, and the next, we were wild animals who only acted on need.
The smooth, slippery surface of her skin made it easy for my hands to glide around her waist and up her back until they gripped her shoulders. I pushed until she bent forward, and her ass pressed firmly against my cock. I released one hand to take hold of myself, stroking my dick until it was practically steel in my hand before guiding it to her center.
“Are you ready for me?” My voice was husky and hoarse; I could barely contain myself.
The feel of her body against mine unleashed the animal inside me. My hand dug into the firm, warm flesh of her ass, and I placed a kiss on her shoulder. I couldn’t help myself whenever I was around her; she instilled a desire deep inside me that was hard to contain.
“Yes,” she breathed out right as I slammed inside her. A cry escaped her lips, and her eyes clamped shut from the force.
Every time we touched, it was like a jolt of electricity coursing through my body. My mind became singularly focused on her – her noises, her moans – and the softness of her skin.
I remained still until her breathing returned to normal, and she relaxed. My free hand returned to her shoulder, clasping it while I created the rhythm that joined our bodies. I looked down and watched her ass bounce against me. My lips turned up into a wicked grin as I released one hand from her shoulder and brought it to her waist. I thrust hard and quick into her before slowing my tempo. She captivated me completely with the way her body moved against mine.
“Do you like that, baby?” She whimpered as my thumb pressed against that forbidden part of her body. Someday, I thought to myself. Cami surprised me as she ground herself harder against me. I pressed harder, thrust deeper, until her moans filled the shower, echoing off the tiled walls in a sinful symphony that drove me insane with need.
My punishing pace was relentless as I plunged deep inside her over and over until Cami vibrated in my hands. I could see her losing control until she succumbed to the powerful orgasm that seemed to radiate from deep inside her. She let out a high-pitched wail and begged me for mercy. But my own end was in sight, and I wasn’t giving up until I reached it.
“Oh god,” I said through gritted teeth as I held her limp body firmly in my hands. My own legs were ready to give out as I rooted myself deeply inside her, filling her completely with every ounce of my release.
The water in the shower had gone cold, but my skin felt heated. I held Cami, waiting for her breathing to return to normal. Slowly, I returned to reality and to Cami. She pivoted to face me, and I was greeted by a warm smile and the softness of her lips on my skin.
“We should be more careful,” Cami said to me quietly, her hands tangling in my wet hair. Of course, she was absolutely right. For months, I’d assumed she’d continued to use birth control during and after deployment. There was never any talk about the added protection of condoms when I returned home, and I doubted whether Cami was actually worried about getting pregnant. Instead, it seemed like she still had concerns about our future together.
“I know,” I replied. “But would it be so bad, Cami? I want to have a family with you.”
“Garrett, you’ve been gone for a year. We just bought a three-million-dollar property together. I don’t really want to add a child into this equation right now.”
I looked up at her as I placed my palm flat on her chest and let it drift down to her belly. It was easy to imagine it swollen with our child growing inside her.
“Someday,” I murmured thoughtfully before I knelt and placed a soft kiss on her belly. When I looked up at Cami, her expression didn’t match how I felt. She looked almost terrified. I backed away slightly and stood, clearing my throat. “Sorry, I got carried away.”
Her smile was thin. She reached out and placed a hand on my cheek, rubbing her thumb against my skin softly. “It’s okay to want children, Garrett. But now isn’t the right time.”
I nodded my understanding. “Are you still on birth control?”
“I stopped while you were deployed but started it again before you came home.”
“Are you worried that you might be …?” I let my voice trail off because the word pregnant felt heavy on my tongue. I didn’t want the universe to sense the small morsel of hope suddenly sprouting deep inside me.
“No, I’m not worried, but there’s always a chance.” She paused before a wicked grin transformed her face. “But you’ve been pretty insatiable since you returned.”
My cheeks heated from embarrassment. “Just tell me to stop, okay?”
“Never,” she whispered.
The next morning, we closed on the property. A pit formed deep in my stomach as I signed my life away and watched Cami slide over a check with an unbelievable sum written on it. She was amazing, and I was lucky to have her, but I had to be honest about the guilt I felt for taking her money. Cami sent reassuring smiles my way throughout the entire process, but they did nothing to lessen the responsibility I now carried with me. I had to succeed in order to pay her back. There was no other option.
“Why do you look like you’re going to throw up?” Cami asked me with a laugh as we walked out of th
e title agency office. I held a manila envelope weighed down by more than just the keys to the property.
“I’m fine,” I said, brushing aside her jab. “Let’s go, I have a surprise.”
I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day. The sky was a brilliant shade of blue, and the sun was high and bright, illuminating the acres and acres of land we passed. My knee bobbed anxiously as we drove away from the title agency in Santa Rosa and up Highway 101 toward our future.
Chapter Fifteen
Cami
“Oh my god,” I whispered when I caught my first glimpse of the sign. “Garrett, what did you do?”
There was a large white sign with gold lettering at the front of the property that now belonged to us. Yesterday, this was Benson Creek Winery; today, it was Sorenson Cellars. My hand covered my mouth, stifling the gasp. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
“When did you do this?” Garrett stopped the moving truck at the edge of the driveway and turned off the engine.
“I’ve been working on it since our offer was accepted,” he explained. We both sat in the cab of the truck, staring at the sign until Garrett complained about the heat and got out. I followed him, sliding down from my seat. Slowly, I walked behind him to stand in front of the sign.
“Sorenson Cellars? You didn’t need to do that. This is your dream,” I told him.
Garrett looked down at me with a wistful gleam in his eye and lopsided smile. He gathered up my hands and held them loosely against his chest, where I could feel the thunderous rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my palms. “You made all of this happen,” he said. “I’m standing here today because of you. I never would have survived all those weeks in that prison cell if I hadn’t had your love to give me the strength I needed every day to open my eyes. So, yes, Cami. I did need to do this because you’re all of my dreams finally come true.”
Just Like Love (Just Like This Book 2) Page 9