His Forgotten Love (A McGinty's Of San Antonio Series Novel Book 4)

  “Baby, those kid ghosts are trying to save the people in cars by pushing them over and off the tracks. They’re trying to help us, not hurt us.” he tries to explain. He tugs me closer, but I step back up and point my finger at him.

  “That’s only the one side of the legend. You know that.” I lean into him. “I heard they’re trying to push you onto the tracks because they’re mad they died and want you to meet that same fate.” I shiver again and wrap my arms around myself. “Jesse, I’m scared now.”

  He grins but sees I’m truly terrified so he takes me into his arms. “Sorry, baby.” He pulls me closer and I feel his body shaking with laughter.

  “Jesse, stop,” I whine.

  “Okay, okay. I didn’t realize you’d freak out. No ghost tracks.” He promises, still laughing.

  “Ever.” I add.

  “Ever, baby?

  “Jesse!” I whine.

  “Okay, baby. Calm down.” He pulls me to the hotel instead of his car. “Let’s just take the trolley around downtown and leave the car here.” he suggests.

  “That sounds better. Perfect.” I take few deep breaths. “Let’s go to the hotel and see if they have the list of stops and times.” My excitement returns a little.

  After we pick up the trolley schedule from the hotel lobby we make our way to the closest stop just in time to catch one. We hop on and take our seats. Jesse puts me on the inside of the small bench seat so I can look out the window. As I’m watching the downtown fly by, I feel Jesse’s hand reach over and take mine. He interlaces our fingers before resting our hands on his thigh. I glance down and emotion feels me.

  Just like my mom and dad.

  This is what I always hoped for. Something so simple, but it means so much. I smile and look back out the window, blinking the happy tears from my eyes.

  We do the normal touristy stuff. We visit the Alamo; take a ride on the notorious malfunctioning elevators that take you top of the Tower of America, walk around Hemisfair Plaza for a while before making our way down to the Hard Rock Cafe on the river for lunch. The waiter sits us and I look around briefly at the outfits of various artists lining the walls. Once we order, I find Jesse is studying me.

  “What?” I ask.

  “I’m just picturing my wife running a bar and dance hall.” He smirks and I smile.

  “And?” I’m intrigued by what he may think.

  “I think you’re going to be great and do great.” he responds. “You’re looking to open in New Braunfels, right?”

  “That’s where I’m hoping to, yes.” I sit back and wait because I can see he’s thinking.

  “Live music?” I nod. “You said open microphone nights too, right?” Again I nod. “Dance floor?” I nod, even though now he’s lost in thought and not looking at me anymore. “What are you going to name your place?” he asks as he brings his eyes back to mine.

  I stare back into his and my thoughts halt. I actually have no idea.

  “Um, I don’t know,” I reply honestly. “I mean, I want to honor mine and Cody’s dream in the name. You know?” This time he nods. “Something that honors our military. I want to do it for Cody, my dad, Patrick, our family but now you and your family, too.” I share.

  Jesse smiles and I know he’s got it so I smile back and wait. He reaches across the table and takes my hands. “How about naming your place Holloway’s? Legally you’re a McGinty but this dream; it belongs to the Holloway’s. You and Cody.” He sits back, still holding my hands and waits.

  I feel my nose start to tingle and I sniffle back the emotions as I take in how perfect that is. Holloway’s. I look over Jesse’s head and try to pull myself together before I break down in happy sobs. Yes, my place is going to be called Holloway’s and I send up a silent prayer thanking God for Jesse. A peace has just settled in my heart.

  We stay quiet as we finish our meal and after Jesse pays the check he takes my hand and we make our way back down to the river and start walking along the sidewalk. Neither of us speaks as he walks up and buys two tickets for the river barge. We stand in silence, Jesse behind me, arms wrapped around my waist as we wait for it to dock. The sun is beginning to set and the lights strung in the trees above us start lighting up in different colors. I’m leaning against my beautiful husband, enjoying the warmth of his arms when the barge finally arrives. While waiting to board I glance around taking in the crowd. My stomach turns and my breathing quickens when my eyes catch on someone familiar. I stare at him and he stares back, smiling. I reach out to him as tears fill my eyes. I blink to clear the moisture so I can see him better but when I open my eyes he’s no longer there. Cody.

  “Baby?” Jesse asks concerned. “What’s wrong?”

  “I thought, I thought I saw Cody,” I respond breathlessly and wiping my eyes.

  “Baby,” Jesse pulls me close.

  “It was him Jesse. I swear.”

  “I believe you, Allie. He’s watching over you.”

  I look up at Jesse. “You really think so?” I sniffle.

  “Yes, baby.”

  I smile and Jesse holds me close until we board the barge and take our seats.

  Jesse sits and pulls me down so close to him I’m almost sitting in his lap. I lean into him, resting my head against his chest as the boat makes it way down the river. My eyes take in all the beauty surrounding us but my head never leaves the beauty of my husband and my heart warming at the thought of Cody watching over me.

  When the barge docks at the stop near our hotel, Jesse and I make our way off and back to the hotel. The elevator ride is quiet as Jesse still holds onto me as we make our way down the hall to our room. Once inside, Jesse pulls me to him and kisses me sweetly. Not hurried or frantic. But slow and sweet. My hands are resting on his chest and when he breaks our kiss. He leans his forehead against mine and sighs.

  “Allie, I love you. I wish I could have met you sooner. I would live every lifetime that has even been just so I could have that time with you. I need all those lifetimes with you. The first time I saw you, in the first second, I already regretted not having you before that moment. I know that’s crazy.” He lets loose a deep chuckle over his confusing words.

  “Jesse, I get it.”

  And I do.

  He pulls me over to the bed and sits down before pulling me on his lap. “How about tomorrow, before we get back home, we drive through New Braunfels, look for signs of sale or rent and see if any areas jump out at you. Also, Uncle Brock knows all about this stuff. You could talk to him. He might be able to help or know someone who can.” He leans back on the bed.

  I straddle him and look down and smile. “That sounds like a great plan, Jesse. I haven’t been this happy in so long. I’m going to name my place, our place ‘Holloway’s’. Our place.” I whisper and shake my head. “I never thought I’d have a place again after Cody’s death and leaving my family. Thank you, Jesse.”

  “Baby.” He murmurs and pulls me down for a kiss.

  We break the kiss and I share, “I have so many ideas.”

  “Tell me. I want to hear them all.” He sits up with me still straddling his lap.

  I’m about to share some of my thoughts when my eyes catch on my Victoria's Secret bag from the mall. I still have one more item I haven’t worn. I hop off Jesse’s lap and walk over and pick up the bag and start for the bathroom.

  “Where you going, baby?” His eyes following me.

  “I’ll be back. Then I’ll tell you my ideas.” I chirp, excited. I close the door to the bathroom and lock it. If I don’t, he’ll come in and I’ll never even have the chance to wear it. I pull out the black baby doll and matching panties and lay them across the sink’s vanity before turning on the shower. I pin my hair up before I hop in and make quick work with the razor. I make sure I don’t miss any spots, before I get out and dry off. When there’s a knock on the door I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face.

  “Baby, you need any help?” Jesse asks and I almost laugh.

  “No. I
’m good. Thanks though.” I reply flippantly and pick up the hotel lotion and smell it. Lavender. That’ll work.

  “Are you sure?” he begins sounding a little desperate.

  “I'm sure. I'm grateful you're so thoughtful and sweet, Jesse. You're the best husband.” There’s a muffled thump and I’m pretty sure it's Jesse’s head hitting the door in frustration. A giggle bubbles up my throat but I press my lips together before it comes out. I start spreading lotion all over my body as I continue my torture. “Wait! You know what I’d want to do?” I ask.

  “What, baby?” His voice is full of hope.

  I finish with the lotion and pull on the black panties and turn my back to the mirror to make sure they’re sitting right before I reach out and pull on the baby doll nightie. “Sleep. I’d rather sleep. Gosh, I’m just so tired, Jesse.” Then there’s another thump on the door. I silently giggle as I let my hair down and do a quick brush through before fluffing it up a bit.

  “Sleep? As in sleep, sleep?”

  “Sleep, sleep.” I confirm and I feign a loud yawn. Jesse sighs through the door.

  “Okay, baby. I’ll get the bed ready.” His footsteps retreat from the door.

  I wait a couple more minutes and then open the door. I look out into the room before taking a couple of steps in. Jesse has turned down the lights and pulled the blankets back so I can lie down. He’s sitting in the chair next to the bed and my eyes travel across his bare chest as I take a few more steps into the room. He’s unbuttoned his shirt and it’s hanging out loose. He’s looking down at the hotel room info with the television remote in his hand. I take a few more steps till I’m only a few feet in front of him and softly cough. He looks up and when he sees me, the remote drops from his hand making a loud clatter on the table.

  “Fuck me.” He hisses.

  Okay, good response.

  I wait for him to tell me what he wants and it doesn’t take him long.

  “Turn slowly, Allie.” he orders in a deep growl.

  I look in his eyes before slowly turning around. When I make a full circle, his eyes travel up my legs, across my stomach, and breasts before coming back to meet my eyes. He sits up in the chair and crooks his finger at me and I approach him. When I get within his reach, he grabs me by my hips and pulls me between his thick, blue jeaned covered thighs. My hands go to his shoulders as he runs his hands down the backs of my legs and back up. He leans forward and kisses me just above my belly button.

  “Baby, you smell good. You feel good.” He hums his approval. “So beautiful.” He looks up at me. “And you’re mine.” he finishes and stands.

  My hands fall from his shoulders and slide down his chest as my eyes travel up to meet his eyes. “Yours.” I rise up on my tiptoes and kiss him. He kisses me back and it’s so full of passion and emotion, I whimper and shiver. His mouth is devouring mine. I don’t want it to end. He must feel it too because without breaking our kiss, he backs up to the chair sits and pulls me to straddle him. He leans back and I lean with him. My hands are now in his hair and I’m pulling his head back so I take over the kiss and devour him. He moans and slips one hand down and runs his fingers along the gusset of my panties.

  When he feels I’m already wet, he moans and stands. He quickly slips my panties off before pulling me back down on his lap. He cups the back of my head and tugs my mouth back to his with one hand while the other makes its way back down. He teases me with his fingers but when it’s not enough, I break the kiss and reach for his belt. He scoots down so I can release the buckle, undo his pants and free him. I try pushing his pants down more but I can’t. “Jesse.” I plead shamelessly, needing him. He rises up and shoves his pants down enough so I can get to him then sits back up. “I need you in me now.” I beg.

  He wraps his arm around my waist and lifts me while using the other to position him at my entrance. Once he moves his hand, and I slowly lower myself on him, I sigh. He keeps his arm tight around my waist, controlling my movements until he’s fully in me. When I rest my body’s weight on him, feeling him in me so deep it almost hurts, my head drops back and I whimper.

  “Fuck, Allie. You’re so beautiful.” He runs his hands across the satin covering my breasts causing my nipples to harden. When he pinches them, I gasp and began rocking against him. He lets out a growl and drops his head back against the chair and grabs my hips. When I raise my head up, I look down at him, and he’s watching me. I lay my hands on his chest and start slowly riding him. His hands go to my butt and he grips so hard I’m sure to have bruises. He’s letting me have control so I slowly rise all the way up until he’s almost out of me before lowering myself all the way back down and resting my weight on him again. I know I’m going to be sore, taking him this deep, but I don’t care. I keep torturing the both of us and Jesse’s grip is getting rougher. He’s sucks in his lips before biting down on the bottom one, still trying to give me control. I know he’s about to lose it and I want him to. I need and want him to take control. “Jesse.” I whisper and he slowly rises up and gently stops me from riding him.

  “I got you, baby.” He brings his lips back to mine and again he devours my mouth, making me want his kiss more than anything in the world. As he’s kissing me, his hands travel up my sides and he pulls my baby doll nightie up, only breaking our kiss to pull it over my head, toss it aside and then his lips are back on mine.

  We kiss while my hands travel to his shoulders. I try pushing his shirt off but I can’t. “Please.” I beg needing his skin against mine.

  “Come on.” He lifts me off of him and carries me over to the bed. He gently lays me down, positioning me the way he wants. He pulls my legs apart so that my knees are resting on the bed and comes forward to taste me.

  He runs his tongue up and circles me before going down and thrusting it inside of me. “Jesse!” I call out in need. It’s not enough. I need him or I just know I’m going to die.

  “Okay, baby. Hang on.” He stands back up.

  He starts undressing. Too slowly while watching me. I slide my hands down my stomach. One touch. That’s all it’s going to take. I lick my lips as I get closer but Jesse, his eyes are on my hand and he shakes his head.

  No?

  I whimper but stop. He drops his shirt on floor then pulls off his boots. I roll onto my stomach trying to hold on when all of a sudden, his hands are on my hips. He pulls them back and yanks them up.

  “Don’t come. Wait for me.” Jesse orders as he fills me. I push back needing more. “That’s it, baby. Show me how much you want me.” I moan and push myself back into him again and again. I’m so close but then Jesse stills.

  “Nooooo,” I plead. His hand wraps around my neck and chin from behind and he pulls me back. My back is to his front and we’re both on our knees. I reach back and wrap one arm around his neck and place the other one on his thigh and start riding him again.

  “Hold on tight and keep going.” he encourages while kissing and licking my neck.

  Both his hands make their way to my breasts and he cups and lifts them as he pinches my nipples. “Jesse!” I scream trying to take him deeper and faster.

  One of his hands leaves my breasts and wraps around my waist as he helps control my movements so I can take him even harder and deeper. I’m almost there. I’m riding the feeling knowing I’m about to have the most intense orgasm ever when Jesse brings his other hand up and grabs my face, turning it so he can see me. When he does that, our eyes lock and I come. I come so hard I can’t even scream. Or I did scream and I don’t even realize I did. He brings his mouth down on mine and his tongue is diving in my mouth when he lets out a deep groan and bites my lip and stills. His arms are so tight around me that I can barely breathe. After a couple of moments, his arms loosen their hold and he gently lowers us to the bed on our sides.

  When our bodies hit the mattress, his arms go back around me tight and that’s how we fall asleep.

  Later that night, Jesse lifts me enough to pull the covers over us and then comes back to me
. He wraps me up tight in his arms and after he gives me a soft kiss against my head and rests his chin there. We don’t wake again until morning. After showering and packing up our stuff, we load up and make our way to New Braunfels to see if we can find a good location for Holloway's.

  It’s been almost a month since Jesse and I married. One night, we all met in New Braunfels to attend Wurstfest. Even Abigail and Nick came down. Abigail talked the girls into wearing some pretty hot German Fraulein costumes complete with clogs which the guys started to throw a fit about only to be shut down by Bradley when he showed up wearing a men's Bavarian costume and told them to hush. The rest of the guys drew the line at dressing up too but we did talk the into Tyrolean hats.

  We had a blast drinking, eating and riding some of the rides. We made our way through the different carnival games and the guys ended up taking over one of booths determined to win the big prize. They took turns trying to break beer bottles on a shelf a few feet away with baseballs. They broke bottles but never enough on one turn to win the big prize, a giant stuffed dog wearing a Lederhosen. They far outspent the cost of the dog buying chances and when I told Jesse that, he looked me in the eye, dead serious and said, “Oh, it’s not about that now. It’s way beyond that. It’s personal.” The girls and I gave up trying to talk them out of spending more money and made our way through the rest of the rides finally stopping at Ferris wheel.

  All the girls piled on, spread out over four benches. When we got to the top we looked out over the entire festival that was being held along the Comal River in Landa Park. I was coming back down when I heard Jesse holler my name. I looked over the edge saw him standing at the Ferris wheel’s exit gate with the rest of the guys only he was holding one of the huge stuffed dogs and wearing a huge smirk. All I could do was laugh at his silliness, but of course I was very proud of him.

  A little later, the temperature started dropping so we made our way out of the festival. As we were heading back to our cars we came across a wine bar called Longshot. The wine bar was the original home of the farmers had owned the land. The inside was amazing. Except for some wine racks, the owner had kept the house as it was when it was owned by the farmer. It had beautiful wood floors and beams across the ceiling. We all settled in some picnic benches out front that near a bonfire. Chimineas had been placed throughout the front lawn keeping everyone warm. There was a corn hole game set up and the guys took advantage of that while the girls settled in and enjoyed a wine tasting of all the different wines offered. We met the owner, Jasper, and he told us how his orchards are actually in Lubbock which Abigail flipped over. She and him begin talking and realized she knew exactly where he was talking about. She introduced him to Nick and it turned out they had both heard of one another and that Nick’s mom, China, loves their wine and is a member of his wine club. Small world indeed. After the guys stop playing corn hole they settled in with us and we all sat quietly listening to the band which was two guys playing acoustic guitars and singing. They were amazing. All the couples were snuggled in close except for me. I was snuggled up with Jesse and the giant dog he won for me. Reluctantly, we all went home but now Longshot has become one of our favorite places and we go there often.