by C. J. Welles
*
Callie
WE PULL UP in front of the steps at the ranch just after mid-afternoon.
My new home.
“At least there’s less stuff to move this time,” Jace says, as he grabs a box from the truck bed.
We managed to get all my things to fit into Jace’s truck. I don’t need any furniture here, so Krystal ended up taking it all with her.
“Yes, thank God. I’m stuffed. It’s been too long of a day.”
“You head inside to mom. The guys will help me bring everything inside.”
I don’t make it two steps away from the truck before Jane comes barreling out the door.
“You’re here,” she says, wrapping her arms around me.
“Mom, you see her all the time. She has been here before.”
“I know, but it’s official that she has moved in now.” She leads me to the house “Oh,” she says and turns around. “Hurry up. That thing is here.” I catch a glimpse of Jace smiling before Jane tows me inside.
“What thing is here?” I ask.
“Oh, nothing.” She waves her hand in the air “Just something Jace has been waiting on for the horses.”
She leads me upstairs and pauses outside our room.
“I had Logan help me move all of my things out of my old room and downstairs into the spare room. All I have done up here is move your bed into your new room. I didn’t feel it was my place to go moving anything else around.”
“You didn’t have to give us your room. You could have used it when you came to visit.”
“It’s okay dear, that room brings back too many memories, anyway. I’ve spent more nights on the couch over the past months than what I have in that room.”
I didn’t know that. I feel bad now, that she has been sleeping in the living room.
The guys bring all my boxes inside and leave them for me to unpack. Just as I am about to start on the first box, Jace comes barreling through the door with a massive grin on his face.
“Come with me. Angel, I’ve got something to show you.” I stand up and before I get the chance to even take a step he has me in his arms and nearly running down the stairs. I hold my breath, praying he doesn’t drop me.
“What are you doing Jace? Where are you taking me?”
“Just hold on a minute,” he says as he carries me across to the car shed.
He puts me down just outside the door and tells me to put my hands over my eyes. Leading me into the shed, I hear him murmuring to someone then hear them leave. Well, I hope it’s them leaving and not Jace.
“Okay Angel, you can open your eyes.” I pull my hands away and gasp when I see what is in front of me.
“You… you bought me a…car?”
There in front of me sits a shiny black Chevrolet SUV.
“Yeah, baby.”
I squeal loudly and throw myself into his arms. “Oh, my God… it’s sexy… You are the best... I love you,” I get out between kisses.
“So, you like it then? You don’t want me to take it back.”
“No, don’t you dare. I fricken love it.” He laughs loudly against my lips and I feel the vibrations from his laugh roll over my body.
“As soon as I saw it, I knew it was so you. I can see you cruising around the place in it.”
This is the first time anyone has bought me something like this. I feel tears well in my eyes. He is so sweet. I can never repay him for this, but I know he doesn’t care. I know he gets as much out of this as I do. I know the main thing that makes him happy is when I am happy.
“Thank you, so much babe,” I quietly say.
“Anything for you,” he whistles to me and when I turn he tosses me the keys. “You want to take it for a drive?”
I jump up and down as a full-on grin spreads across my face.
*
Jace
WE LAY IN the grass next to the dam, naked and all tangled up. Callie runs her fingers up and down my belly.
I could happily lay here for hours like this, just us two. Even though it is cold as hell, as long as Callie is in my arms I don’t care.
“So, baby, Bryson was talking to me and his parents have asked us over for Christmas day. Since it’s going to be my first Christmas without dad and mom is staying in Austin, they didn’t want us over here alone.”
She sits up and smiles. “I would love that,” she says quietly.
“I think this year it is going to be everyone. The Millers, The Lewis’s and us. It’s going to be big and full on, but I know we will have a great time.”
“I can’t wait. Christmas was never big in our house. Mom and Shannon were always off celebrating at functions.”
“Hey, you will never have a quiet Christmas ever again. I promise you, Angel.”
Hopefully, this Christmas will make up for all the other lonely ones. I certainly know it will beat any Christmas I’ve ever had if she says yes. I just wish dad was here to see it.
“Bry said you were talking to him yesterday.”
She sighs and nestles back into my side. “Yeah, I’ve decided to let the past go. Yeah, he called me a few names, but honestly, there are worse things in the world. I’m over holding a grudge against him for something so insignificant. I think I was only so hurt because of our history, then what he said about me. He was basically being a hypocrite but pointing the finger at me.”
“I ain’t sticking up for him, but Bryson isn’t usually like that. Yeah, he is full on and says anything and everything, but he doesn’t usually put people down like that for no reason. I don’t know what his issue was.”
“He was jealous. Jealousy works in weird ways.”
“What was he jealous of?”
“Me being with you and how I turned him down after one night.”
It clicks. I never even put it together. “You’re the stripper chick. Like I know you’re a stripper and he spent a night with you, but that night I found out I was so angry it didn’t even click.”
“What?”
“On the way home, he was pissed off because this stripper girl had turned him down. And do you know what I remember saying? ‘I’d love to meet this chick, she must be something special’.” I also remember him saying she was just a piece of ass. That part I am pissed about. But as Callie said, it’s all in the past.
“And, am I something special?” she says with a cocky grin.
“You know you are,” I say before getting up. “Come on, I want to make love to you again, but if I keep laying here my cock is going to freeze to my leg.” I don’t think I am exaggerating either. It’s turned fuckin’ cold out here.
“Oh, God Jace, you say Bryson ain’t shy about sharing details.” She laughs as she folds up our blankets and gets dressed.
“Hey, you’d be the one complaining if it was out of action. So, stop laughing.” She laughs even harder.
∞∞∞
Chapter 28
Callie
“JUST HANG ON a second,” I call out to Krystal who is staying with us tonight and is going to spend Christmas with us tomorrow at the Miller’s place.
I’m so excited. Like really friggin’ excited, like a ten-year-old. Jace used to think I got excited over the horses, but that was nothing on my craziness now.
I have turned the house into a Christmas wonderland. Everywhere you look are decorations. And don’t get me started on the Christmas tree. It’s a real tree.
I had only been here for a day before I made Jace go get me one. All I ever had growing up was a tiny fake tree that sat on a side table in the living room.
Krystal and I have done well over the past few years, but nothing beats spending Christmas with the one you love.
“Sorry, just had to make sure I sent out an email to the person buying a horse this afternoon,” I say, as I walk back into the living room.
“How’s the new house? I’ve barely had time to catch up with you over the past two weeks.”
“It’s been great.”
“That’s
good. It’s an awesome house. Don’t you get lonely there by yourself?”
“I haven’t exactly been by myself. I have been seeing someone.”
“You have? Oh, my God who? I was thinking of setting you up with Bryson.” I thought they would make a good couple. I’ve said to Jace about it several times, but he’s told me to keep my nose out of it.
He’s just too bossy sometimes.
“Well,” she pauses. “That’s what I wanted to tell you. I know it might come as a shock and-”
I cut her off “Hang on, I have to answer this,” I say when I hear my cell ring.
I run to the office where my cell is.
“Hello," I say when I answer the call. I wait a moment, but no one replies. "Hello, is anyone there?"
"Ah, yes," the person sounds hesitant. They sound familiar, but I can’t work out how. "Callista. It’s Jimmy." I feel my knees wobble. There’s only one reason my uncle would be calling me.
“Tell him, I don’t care what he has to say, I am not interested in his bullshit lies,” I grind out through clenched teeth.
"Callista, he’s not saying anything. There's something I need to tell you." I can tell from the tone of his voice this isn’t going to be good. I reach for the seat behind me as I shakily sit down.
Nothing that this man could ever tell me would be good. "W-wh-what is it?" I whisper.
"I'm sorry to say, but your, ah, step-dad...” He pauses "Martin died last week,” Jimmy says shakily.
I feel all the blood rush from my head. Is this a sick joke? Why would I care? Why would he call me?
I don't say anything. I can't. I can't talk, and I can't hear anything over the ringing in my ears.
"Callista are you there?" I hear Jimmy say.
"Y-y-yes," I stammer out then take a moment before I continue. "I don’t care that he... died, nor do I want to have anything to do with my.... family," I whisper the last word. They are not my family.
I have a family that cares about me and who wants and loves me. Those people I grew up with, they are no one to me.
Why would he call me? Why would I care about that evil man? How does he not know that he's a monster? They were brothers.
"I need you to come into the office." He pauses. "There is something I need to tell you and give you.”
"I do not want anything from that man." I hang up the call before he can say anything else.
My whole body is shaking, and my heart is beating out of my chest.
I always wished for the day he would die.
The day that he went to hell.
But I don't feel any different at all.
I sit in the office for ten minutes while I try to get my feelings under control.
I refuse to let the news get to me. It’s not like I care anyway. I just don't feel the closure that I thought I would.
I am relieved that he can't hurt anyone ever again.
Once my body stops shaking and I have my emotions under control, I head back to the lounge room.
I will not let him affect me. I keep telling myself that, as I sit down with Krystal.
“Bryson and I are dating,” Krystal blurts out just as I reach for my drink. I pause and look at her. “I didn't want to tell you earlier because you two haven't been talking and… I did feel bad at first. I felt like I was betraying you. But he’s so nice to me. When we’re together, he’s nothing like what you said about him.” She pauses and looks to me “I’m sorry.”
I lean back on the couch before I talk. “Krystal, I wanted to set you two up. I’m happy for you, as long as you’re happy.”
“Really? You mean that?”
“Yeah, I decided a few weeks back that Bryson wasn't as bad as I thought he was. Everyone makes mistakes. The main thing that counts is if they learn from them and if they can acknowledge their mistakes.”
“I know he regrets it.”
“Me too.”
∞∞∞
Chapter 29
Callie
TOSSING THE PAPERWORK on the desk, I look at my phone that is ringing again. For the past month, I have had call after call from Jimmy and Dexter. They keep telling me I need to come in and see them, but they won’t tell me what it is about.
There’s no way I’m having anything to do with Martin or his family. I’ve put my past behind me and that’s where it stays.
Apart from the unwanted phone calls, the past month has been great. I’m loving living here and everyone has been fantastic at helping me settle in. With Bryson and Krystal dating, she’s down this way often, so I still get to see her as well.
It was a bit of a shock to see them together for the first time. Only because Krystal is so happy. She’s always laughed and been a happy person, but now it's like she’s a new kind of happy.
Christmas Day was the best Christmas of my life. Having Jace there and the three families as well as Krystal, there wasn't a better way I would want to spend it. The only downfall was Jane. And I know it upset Jace, not having Jane here, but she needs to do what makes her happy.
When my phone rings again, I look at the screen and see the attorney’s office number. Sighing, I hit the dismiss button.
I’m not getting any work done today. God, I’ve been running behind for the past few weeks. I’ve only just started this job for Jace and already I can’t get my head around it all. Jimmy’s stupid annoying phone calls ain’t helping much either.
Standing up, I walk out of the office to the kitchen where I find Claudia cooking the guy’s lunch.
I head to the fridge and pull out the carafe of sweet tea. Claudia makes the best sweet tea in the state.
“Are you joining the guys for lunch?” she asks, with a hint of a Spanish accent. Claudia’s parents were both Spanish, but they moved here when she was only ten and she grew up here in Texas.
“Yes, I’m taking a break.” I need a break to get my head clear, so I can get some work done.
She gestures to the table “Sit,” she says as she walks over with a plate of food for me.
I scoff into the beef cobbler that tastes oh so nice. I’ve just finished when Jace walks into the kitchen followed by Logan and a few ranch hands. He smiles one of his sexy smiles as he walks towards me.
“Hey, Angel.” He kisses me softly on the lips then grabs a plate of food that Claudia is putting on the server’s bench. “How’s the office goin’ today?”
“Argh, don’t even ask. I’m not getting anything done. Everything is all over the place,” I whine like a baby. I am just over today.
Jace pats his lap as he sits down, and I shake my head. He’s been out working since five o’clock and hasn’t had breakfast or anything yet.
“Angel,” he says in a warning voice. “Come sit with me and once I’ve finished we’ll spend some time together.”
I nod slowly and walk around to him before I sit down. He wraps his arm around my middle and pulls me back against his chest. I sigh and melt into him. Jace is my home. It doesn’t matter where I am or what is happening, if I’m with him, I feel like I’m home.
“That would be amazing,” I mumble as I turn around and snuggle into his chest and breathe in his outdoors smell.
“Babe, did you just smell me?”
“Yeah, I do it all the time. You smell like outdoors and fresh air, horses, and home.” I sigh into his chest again.
“Angel, you’re crazy,” he says as he continues to eat his lunch.
Yeah, I’m crazy, but I’m only crazy for him.
*
Jace
I COULD TELL as soon as I walked into the kitchen that there was something up with Callie. She looked stressed and tired. I’m hoping I haven’t lumped too much on her with all this business work. I wouldn’t think so, she’s smart and knows her way around a computer. But I don’t know. She hasn’t exactly been doing an office job for the past few years.
“Any requests?” I ask her as I kiss her neck. Logan gives me an annoyed look from across the table. I know we have shitloads of wor
k to do, but they can handle it. My fiancé comes first. She’s had a big change moving here, and taken some hard hits from that asshole, Martin.
Callie shakes her head. “No. As long as I’m with you.”
“Alright baby,” I say as I finish my last mouthful and put my fork down. I turn Callie around on my lap before picking her up as I stand. I turn to Claudia. “Gracias Ms. Claudia,” I say. Then I hear her talking away in Spanish. She tells us all the time to just call her Claudia. That’s not how it’s done here though. We respect our elders.
I wouldn’t have a clue what she is saying. I only learned a few Spanish words when I was in college. They were swearing words and they were taught to me by two Spanish guys that lived in the apartment next to us. Mom caught on quickly what I was saying when I come home on the weekends and used them. Nothing got past her.
“Where are we headed?” Callie asks, as I walk out the door.
“You’ll see,” I say and kiss her on the forehead. I climb the stairs two at a time. Callie is so light, you can hardly tell you’re even carrying her.
“Oh God, Jace. As much as I’d love sex, you can’t finish up work early just to have sex with me,” she says as I reach the landing at the top.
“Don’t stress. We’re not just havin’ sex,” I reply as I walk into the room we have turned into a TV room. Since Claudia moved in, we have given her the downstairs bedroom and she uses the main living room of a night. I didn’t like the idea of her living over with the others in the ranch hand quarters. And even if I did want that, no way would Callie let it happen.
We spend some night’s downstairs with Claudia, but most of the time we come up here, or we are busy working crazy hours. Running a ranch means that the work hours never finish at five pm.
Placing Callie down on the couch, I pull my shirt over my head and toss it on the floor and remove my belt, while she watches me. I then kneel in front of her and run my hands up her thighs, to the hem of her red satin top. Pulling it over her head I toss it on the floor, along with mine. She leans forward and kisses me as I remove the rest of her clothes. She lays on the couch waiting for me as I strip my jeans and boxers off.