And my heart leaps in absolute recognition of its other half.
Her eyes go wide when she sees me but that's all I see because then I have her in my arms, pulling her against me tightly. "I'm going to spank you, then fuck you, but I'm going to kiss you hello first," I say to her just before slamming my mouth on hers.
I expect a fight.
I expect angry and jilted Casey.
Instead, she throws her arms around my neck, and she's the one that proceeds to kiss the fuck out of me. She kisses me so damn good my knees almost buckle, so I lock them hard and, just for good measure, drop my hands to grip hard onto her ass.
She gives me a tiny taste of tongue, but then it's gone all too fast as she pulls back. "I'm so sorry," she blurts out, and then she starts to ramble. "I was pissed. But then I threw my phone, and your number... I didn't know what it was, so it turned into a night of wine and Will Ferrell, and I felt even shittier today, and..."
She stops... seems to be at a loss of words. Her gaze drifts away from me, and she nibbles on her lower lip.
"Casey?" I say softly to get those beautiful eyes back on me.
They slide back and they look a bit clearer... more confident. She smiles and says, "I'm just really glad you're here."
"Me too, Goldie," I assure her. "And I'm sorry I was such a lousy communicator. I should have never ignored you for three days. I don't have any excuse other than to tell you things started happening really fast and my head was just fucking spinning with it all."
Her hand comes up, and she places soft fingers over my lips to hush me. "Don't," she says gently.
"I have so much to tell you," I say as her fingers fall away.
"Later," she says as she takes my hand and starts leading me toward the bedroom. "First... you promised a spanking and a fucking. Then we can talk."
Christ above, I silently pray as I follow her back. Thank you for bringing this woman into my life.
Unfortunately, exhaustion got the better of me and after I heated Casey's ass up, I fucked myself into a coma, promptly falling asleep after I had the mother lode of all orgasms.
When I awoke, Casey was gone from the bed and the sun was streaming through the windows. I rolled off the mattress, pulled my jeans on, and promptly found a message written in lipstick on her bathroom mirror that said, "Down on the beach." Not even bothering with a shirt or shoes, I make my way over to the public beach access and find her sitting in the sand with a cup of coffee.
Her face tilts up to me when I reach her side, and her soft smile fills my heart as I plop down beside her. She leans over and grazes my jaw with her lips. "Sleep good?"
"Yeah," I say as I run my fingers through my hair. "Guess I was more tired than I thought."
She turns her face back to the ocean, but I continue to stare at her a moment.
So fucking beautiful. So fucking mine.
I reach out, take her coffee, and help myself to a sip. I can't help but grimace over the creamy sweetness that hits my tongue, so I push the cup back into her hands.
"So what's going on, Tenn?" she asks with an impish smile. "You don't write... you don't call. What's a girl to think?"
My hand goes to the back of her head, threading my fingers through her hair and turning her face to me. I stick my nose right alongside hers and kiss the corner of her mouth. "The girl... she knows, without a doubt, that I love her."
She presses her forehead against mine and says, "I do know that and I love you too. But if you ever go three days again without talking to me--"
"I don't intend to go three more minutes without you by my side," I tell her earnestly as I give her another kiss and release my hold on her.
"So what's been going on?" she asks quietly.
I take a deep breath and wrap my arms around my knees. "It's been a mess... trying to figure things out. The corporate attorneys really started pushing Woolf and me hard to take the company public. That was the reason for going to Chicago."
"But," she prompts me along.
"But we're not going to," I tell her. "We thought about it hard and honestly... we were really close to doing it, but then something happened."
She turns to look at me with curious eyes. I merely reach into my back pocket and take the envelope out. Unfolding it, I hand it to her.
"Just before we were getting ready to walk into the meeting with the board of the investment bank, my dad's personal attorney, Bob Stoops, handed this to Woolf and me. He said it was a letter my dad had written to us, and he had specifically asked this attorney not to give it to us until at least one month after his death. However, Bob, who was also very good personal friends with my dad, felt like it was more important we read it before going into that meeting, so he sort of made a command decision to deliver it a little early."
Casey looks down at the envelope and then back to me with uncertainty. I give a nod toward her hands and say, "Read it."
She opens the envelope and pulls out two sheets of paper that bore my father's last words to his sons in his neat but rustic penmanship. I read along over her shoulder.
Dear Tenn and Woolf:
It is my hope that as you read this, I can offer you both some words of wisdom and encouragement that perhaps I didn't have the fortitude to tell you when I was alive. I know I put a lot of pressure on you both to follow in my footsteps, but truly, I don't ever want that to have been the biggest disservice I may have done to my sons.
I've asked Bob to give this to you after I die, but it's my hope that you can figure things out on your own so I've asked him to wait at least a month to deliver it. If for some reason you are faltering or unsure of what to do, please take these words for what they are... merely a way for me to be a father first and foremost and not a businessman.
Tenn... my oldest son... you will never really know the pride you have brought to me. You may not be the exact chip off the old block I had envisioned, but you have surpassed what I could have ever hoped for in a son. You served our country in such a way as to humble me, and you gave me a beautiful granddaughter who I hope is more like you than me any day of the week. I know my dreams aren't your dreams, and so the one thing I want you to know... no matter what... you follow your heart.
Woolf... my youngest son... you are a chip off the old block, and it is in you that I pin all of my hopes and dreams for the future of our family. I know that may seem like a lot of pressure, but I have absolute faith and trust in your abilities. I know you may feel lost and afraid over everything that is facing you, but this is when you lean on your brother for support, and you surround yourself with good people to help you along the way.
Whatever you both decide to do, know that your mother and I will be looking down on both of you with love, pride, and complete satisfaction that we raised our children right.
Love,
Dad
My eyes mist up again as I read the letter. I've only read it about twenty times since I opened it a few days ago, and each time, the impact of his words momentarily stuns me. I guess I never gave my dad enough credit for being just a dad.
His words had such an impact on Woolf and me as we read them that we walked into the meeting with the investment bank, politely listened to what they had to say, and then just as politely declined their help. Neither one of us had a fucking clue what to do, but fueled by our father's words, we knew we'd figure it out.
Casey gives a little sniffle, and I watch as she blinks back tears. She folds the letter up, puts it back in the envelope, and lays it down on the sand between her feet. Leaning forward, she turns her face and lays her cheek on her knees to look at me.
"What does that all mean?" she asks.
"It's still complicated, and I'm still going to have to be involved somewhat in the family business, but it also means that I'm going to still pursue my dreams."
"Would those dreams include me?" she asks hesitantly, and I can't let her go another moment with any doubts.
Reaching out, I pull her over to me, lowering my legs to t
he sand and situating her on my lap so she straddles me. My hands go to her perfect face and kiss those perfect fucking lips.
"My dad said something really important in that letter," I tell her. "He told Woolf to surround himself with good people."
She nods, not really understanding.
"The main reason the corporate attorneys wanted us to consider going public was to alleviate management duties on us. It was just shifting the burden, so to speak."
"Because they didn't trust you and Woolf?" she asks.
I shrug my shoulders. "Maybe, but we understood that. We don't have much business experience. But then we started thinking... let's take Dad's advice and bring in good people to help us rather than do it all ourselves. I mean, my dad did everything, sure, but that didn't mean we had to."
"So you're going to hire people?"
"In a nutshell," I tell her as my hands go to her lower back where I rub at her gently. "For each enterprise, we're going to put a business manager and CFO in place, and they'll report to Woolf and me. And we've talked Bob into coming on board with us full time to act as our personal attorney and advisor. He knows more about my dad's business holdings and the way they operate than anyone does. Woolf is going to run the ranch himself though. That's where his passion is and he's got a good grasp on it."
"What about you? What's your role?" she asks, and I don't miss a slight tone of fear in her voice.
"I'm going to help Woolf oversee things, but if you'll still have me, I'm going to do it remotely from here. When I get things settled down, I'm going to open the bike shop. But I think... for the first year or so, I'm going to have to travel back and forth quite a bit. Live there part of the time."
Casey starts worrying at her lower lip, lowering her eyes shyly. When she finally raises them, I see a hint of determination though. "And what about us? Will this be a long-distance type thing?"
I smile at her, leaning forward to give her a quick kiss. "Did you not hear the part where I said I'm not going another three minutes without you by my side?"
She nods, her eyes hopeful yet still guarded. "Spell it out for me."
"It means I want you by my side, whether it's here in Nags Head or in Wyoming. I'm not going to be separated from you, and if you don't want to live in Wyoming, then I'll just tell Woolf he's going to have to go it alone from the start. I mean it, Casey... you are far more important to me than the Jennings fortune. I'm not giving you up."
"I'll go," she says quickly and throws her arms around my neck, hugging me tight. "Wherever you go, I'm there."
"It's only temporary," I assure her as I squeeze her to me. "Our real home will be here."
"Doesn't matter," she says softly with her lips near my ear. "As long as I'm with you."
"God, I love you so much," I tell her and don't give her a chance to reciprocate because I kiss her hard and deep, sealing her promise to stay by my side.
She pushes back on me, causing my lips to falter. When I stare into her earnest eyes, she says, "I love you, Tenn. And I am so thankful for you because I would have never known this feeling if it weren't for you. You've taught me so much... shown me so much. My eyes have never been as wide open as they are right now, and my heart has never felt this damn good in my entire life. You are my everything, and I would follow you to the ends of the earth."
My throat turns dry and something pricks at my eyes, but I manage to croak out. "Baby... going to make you so fucking happy."
She gives me that bright, Casey Markham smile, and leans in to press her lips against my neck.
"Going to marry you too," I tell her boldly, expecting that might shock the shit out of her. Instead, I can feel her smile against my skin.
"And I wouldn't be averse to knocking you up quickly with a kid or two," I press forward, and she actually moans against my neck.
Fucking moans over me telling her I want to impregnate her.
"We'd make some pretty babies," I murmur as my hand comes up to cup the back of her head and hold her against me tighter.
"I've been told that recently," she whispers as her tongue comes out to taste me right at my jaw line. "But we have to be married first."
"Say the word and I'm there. We can hop a plane to Vegas right now and throw your birth control pills away."
Casey giggles and leans back to look at me. She gives a serious shake of her head. "The ranch. I want to get married on the bank of Snake River... your favorite place in the world."
"Second favorite," I remind her. "You're my favorite place."
"And I only want our family and close friends there," she continues. "And we have to work on getting custody of Zoey. She has to be with us permanently, okay?"
I tilt my head, overwhelmed by the capacity of her heart. "Sure, baby. We'll get started on that real soon."
"And Tenn?" she says with sparkling eyes and joy practically pouring off her.
"Yeah, baby?"
"It's going to be physically impossible for you to make me any happier than I am right at this moment," she says assuredly, linking her fingers through mine. "You've given this girl more than she could have ever hoped for."
"Oh, Goldie," I tell her in a low warning voice. "I'm just going to have to prove you wrong about that."
"Bring it on, baby," she says before leaning in to kiss me. "Bring it on."
Epilogue
Tenn
Mention marriage and babies to Casey Markham just once, and it's all over.
Four weeks to the day since I mentioned wanting to marry her while we sat out on the beach facing the Atlantic Ocean, and I'm now about half an hour from making it a reality.
While I had to get on a plane the very next day and get back to Wyoming, Casey stayed behind and put her mother and Gabby to work planning the wedding with her. Since she already had the venue picked out--and that would be on the shores of a river in Wyoming--she was able to do pretty much everything else on the internet.
A few days later, she had no hesitation picking the date and sent it to me in a simple text. July 30th. Our wedding. Be there.
Later, she told me that it had to be done then because Zoey would have to be back in North Carolina a few weeks after to start school, and Casey had decided she wanted Zoey to go on our honeymoon with us. That came in the next text.
Zoey and I want to go to New York City for our honeymoon. Cool?
Of course, I texted back that it was cool. Whatever the hell she wanted, as long as she remained gung ho to tie herself to me. And even though I'm swamped with shit that needs to get done with my father's estate, I told Woolf to plan on me being gone for at least a week in August.
Casey and I decided that it would be best to move for custody of Zoey once I established permanent residency in North Carolina, so for the time being, she was going to stay with Brianna until I could get the ranch under control. I didn't have it in me to take on that fight while trying to pour all of my energy into getting myself out from under the Jennings family business. But once I was free from it, there was no doubt that Zoey was going to be with Casey and me.
I finish buttoning up the white western shirt with black stitching and put on a bolo tie with a pewter buckle that Casey gave me. It has the Double J logo stamped into the metal. I have no clue what Casey is wearing to the wedding and she told me that she didn't care what I wore, so I chose a western theme since she gave me the bolo, went with a white shirt because it's a wedding, and then chose a pair of dark denim jeans, a black belt, and boots.
Grabbing my black Stetson off the dresser, I leave my room and head over to Woolf's side of the house to get him. He's my best man, of course, and I have strict instructions from Casey that we are to be riverside at least ten minutes before the ceremony is to start. Which means I don't have much time to get our asses on our ATVs and head that way.
Woolf's bedroom door is ajar so I push it open. "Come on, dude... got a woman to marry."
"Just a second," he groans, and then my eyes take in Woolf standing there with his head th
rown back and his hands gripping onto a woman's head while she deep throats him from a kneeling position.
"Fuck," I mutter, quickly turning on my heel and exiting the room, slamming the door shut behind me.
And just my luck, the closed door isn't enough to diminish Woolf's roar of release as she finishes him off. I lean back against the wall and jam my hands down into my pockets, waiting for my brother to zip up and get his ass out here so we can meet my bride down by the river.
Fucker. I can't believe he's in there getting a blow job on the second most important day of my life, the first being the day Zoey was born. And yeah... maybe that's a little bit of jealousy on my part since my girl gives the best head ever and I had to sleep apart from her last night. Casey insisted on staying at a hotel in Jackson with her crew because she wanted to preserve some wedding traditions.
The door suddenly flies open and Carlie Payton stumbles out, giggling at something Woolf says with her lips all puffy and red. I hadn't recognized the waitress from over at The Shady Pine bar when she was blowing my brother, but I nod a greeting at her.
"Hey Tenn," she says breathlessly, and then turns to accept a deep kiss from Woolf, who practically bends her in half.
"That was amazing, baby," he says just before releasing her. Giving her a quick pat on her ass, he turns her around and pushes her toward the hallway.
"We still on for some tag-teaming at Scandalous tomorrow?" she asks as she walks backward away from him.
"Yup," he says with a charming grin, his eyes raking up and down her body. "Looking forward to it."
She blows him a kiss followed by a husky laugh and spins away.
"What the fuck is tag-teaming? And what the hell is Scandalous?" I ask him as I push away from the door and follow him down the hallway while he refastens his belt. He's wearing a mint-green western shirt along with his ratty, old, brown Stetson, but at least he's washed and pressed. He loves that fucking hat more than life itself so I don't say anything.
"It's just a private club over in Driggs," he says vaguely and then completely changes the subject on me. "You have the rings?"
My heart lurches for a second, and then I remember I had put them in my back pocket. I reach back and pull out a simple, platinum wedding band that I bought last week along with another platinum ring flashing with diamonds. Three to be exact.
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