Copper Lining (The Cardwell Family Series Book 3)

by Christy Pastore

  “What’s all this?”

  “End of summer carnival supplies. It’s the Thursday night before Labor Day weekend. We invite the kids’ parents, and it’s a whole thing—cake walk, face painting, ring toss. Your standard games and prizes. Local restaurants donate food and supplies.”

  “Oh, wow. Did you send something home with Celia?”

  Olivia shakes her head. “Celia said that you guys would be leaving to go back home before the carnival.”

  I frown. Well, I guess that answers my question about Celia wanting to stay in Kentucky. I planned on talking with her tonight over a dinner of pizza and cheesy bread.

  “Yeah, I guess we will be. I can’t believe summer’s nearly over.”

  She shakes her head. “Lucky California girl, you get that summer sunshine feeling all year.”

  Yeah, lucky me.

  “Minka?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’ve been in childcare a long time,” Olivia begins. “If it means anything to you, I don’t think Celia’s excited to leave so soon. If you can stay for the carnival, it might mean a lot to her.”

  I smile. “Thanks, Olivia. I appreciate your honesty.”

  I guess Celia and I will be having that conversation after all.

  Once I’m back at the apartment, I text Wes.

  Hey. I’m out of the office today. Working at the apartment. Do you want to come over? I can make lunch.

  Wes: Hi, gorgeous. That sounds great. I’m finishing up a meeting. I can be there in thirty minutes.

  Me: Great. See you soon.

  Turning up the volume on the radio, I whip up a pasta and avocado Caesar salad for the two of us. I think about what I’m going to say to Wes.

  I haven’t exactly had time to think about what I want to say. How do I even start?

  “Hey, Wes, this is crazy, but I think we should try to make it work. I’m moving to Kentucky—permanently.”

  My heart jumps in my chest when there’s a knock at the door. Wes appears on the video screen. He’s wearing a blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and black dress pants.

  He’s so damn hot.

  I open the door and immediately Wes gathers me into his arms, kissing me hard.

  “Wow, that’s some hello.”

  “Yeah, how about we make the most of the afternoon?” His strong arms hold me as he smiles.

  “Um, what did you have in mind?” I tease.

  Wes kisses me lazily, his hands cradling my face. I lean into his hold. Stepping closer, I rise on my tiptoes, deepening our kiss.

  This man, I want to make him happy, but I don’t know if I can give him everything he needs to be happy.

  Our tongues meet, and I swallow down the fear.

  All I have to do is be honest with him.

  My arms band around his neck, reveling in the feel of his rough scruff against my skin.

  “Babe.” Wes’ voice is husky, his hands holding me close as the feel of his erection presses into my belly. It makes me tremble. “Let me have you.”

  “Wes, I need . . . ,” I breathe.

  He doesn’t wait for me to finish my thought. In a blur of movements, we’re in the bedroom. The back of my thighs hits the mattress.

  “Minka.” My name spills out with a rough edge to his voice. Wes kisses down my neck and his fingers skim up my sides.

  “Wes, I need to talk to you.”

  “We’ll talk later. Right now, all I want to do is make you come.” He unbuckles his belt and then kicks off his pants. After he pushes his boxers down, he climbs onto the mattress and his green eyes are filled with lust.

  With a flick of his wrist, he pops the button on my jeans and tugs the zipper down. His fingers strum against my clit and I moan. He thrusts a finger inside me, and I’m nearly coming apart. A few more pumps send me over the precipice of pleasure.

  Heat pulses between my legs as he takes his time stripping me of my clothes, and then I’m pulling his shirt over his broad shoulders.

  His lips capture mine. I lose myself in the kiss. Wes’ tongue sweeps inside, teasing before his teeth nip at my lips.

  “I can’t stop thinking about you,” he whispers. “I need you.”

  My heart clenches, and I throb with ache. “I want you too.”

  He cages my head between his tattooed forearms. “You’re gorgeous. So damn hot.”

  “You drive me crazy.” My hands wrap around his cock, and I stroke him slowly.

  “Keep doing that, and you’ll see how crazy I can be.”

  I can’t help the laugh that leaves my lips. “Show me,” I tease, continuing my sensual torment.

  “That’s enough,” he growls and pushes inside me. One slow deep thrust and Wes is buried to the hilt.

  “Oh my, Wes, you feel so good.” I wrap my legs around his waist, my heels dig into his ass.

  The heavy ache of my orgasm builds with every thrust. My nails claw and dig into his muscles.

  His lips find my neck, and his teeth scrape along my pulse. My eyes squeeze shut as my orgasm slams into me, and Wes comes with a roar as he fucks into me harder.

  Holy . . . wow.

  “I don’t know how, but this just keeps getting better,” I say when I finally catch my breath.

  “Because . . . ,” he laughs and gulps in air. “Hear me out before you sucker punch me. You know what they say about women and men. Women hit their sexual peak after men, so technically, you and I are right in the sweet spot.”

  I laugh, pulling him closer. “I’ll take that compliment.”

  Wes

  I wake up and realize I’m in Minka’s bed. She’s resting on her side with her hand tucked under the pillow. She looks beautiful and peaceful all at once.

  The image steals my breath away.

  I must be in love with her.

  Maybe I’ve known for a while? There have been a handful of moments where I can see myself easily falling in love with this woman. I never stood a chance from the first moment I laid eyes on her in Maui. There was a fire in her eyes that morning.

  Scrubbing a hand over my face, I exhale a heavy breath.

  Minka stirs and the sheet falls away from her flawless skin. Her gorgeous tits are on display, full and heavy and begging for my mouth. I resist the temptation and ease out of bed. Minka promised me lunch, but I think she deserves dessert. I’ll run down to Thistle and Ivy and pick up a lemon blueberry cake.

  After taking a piss and combing my hair, I walk back into the bedroom and tug on my clothes. Just need my keys and I’ll be on my way.

  I glance around the kitchen; that’s when I notice the large gift box on the counter.

  Who would send Minka a gift?

  Oh shit. Hope this isn’t my birthday gift.

  I can’t help it, and I look at the contents of the box. High dollar items, the pen alone, I know, costs a pretty penny. My eyes dart to the card and my heart skips a beat.

  Don’t read it.

  I can’t help it. Blame it on me being crazy for Minka.

  And for whatever reason, I read the card.

  Minka,

  We’re looking forward to “baking” beautiful memories with you. We can’t wait for you to join our family here at The Love and Dine.

  It went on to say a ton of other stuff, but I didn’t need to read further.

  She’s accepted the offer.

  I’m breathing and blinking, but all I feel is the tidal wave gripping me and pulling me under. I watch from above as the wave pulls me, slamming my body against rock and sand.

  Minka accepted the offer from Love and Dine. Has she even told Brant?

  No.

  Brant would have told me this morning.

  He was all gung ho about me talking to Minka about a future with me and the company.

  Not only did she blindside me, but she’s blindsided my brother.

  My family.

  In some distant corner of my mind, I know that there is an explanation. I need to take a breath.

  She said sh
e needed to talk to me . . . this is probably what that’s about.

  I glance at the card. It’s her future. Her dream.

  I can’t take that from her. I can’t be a dick. As much as it’s hurting me inside, I have to let her go.

  Make her see that there’s no future here.

  She’s doing the right thing.

  Minka

  I stretch and roll over, half expecting to see Wes naked and smiling at me in my bed. Sadly, the sheets are cool.

  I grimace. This must have been how he felt the morning I left him in Maui. Regret hits my tummy. But today will be different.

  “Wes, are you here?” I call out from the bedroom.

  He doesn’t answer, so I brush my teeth, toss my clothes on, and check my phone for any messages.

  Nothing.

  I zip out to the kitchen, no sign of him.

  Just as I’m about to slip on my shoes, he comes through the door.

  “Hey, I thought I’d get dessert.” He smiles and places the box onto the counter.

  My stomach flutters with relief and nerves. “Looks great. Thank you.”

  I take a step forward to kiss him, but he dodges me.

  Is that intentional?

  No.

  “So, earlier you said you needed to talk to me about something?”

  I laugh nervously. My hands shake as I reach into the fridge for our salad. “Uh, yeah. That can wait though. We should eat first.”

  “Well, I have some good news.” Wes takes a seat at the island. “It seems that two superstars are opening a restaurant in Nashville and they want Cardwell to be the official bourbon.”

  We dig into our salads. He goes on to tell me all about the plans and the proposed expansion. Excitement courses through me.

  “That’s amazing.”

  “So, now you need to share your good news.”

  “Right, that . . . first, I’m really glad that I came to Cardwell. Working with you and Brant and everyone has just been a dream come true.”

  “Well, we were glad to have you. You’ve done incredible things for the company. We can’t thank you enough.” He gives me that sexy sideways grin and my heart beats a little faster.

  Were glad to have me? My brows scrunch together. “Right. I’m really happy here. And I think Celia is happier than she’s been in a long time.”

  “That’s . . . good to hear.”

  But the hesitation in his words leaves me a little on edge.

  Am I imagining this, or have things changed since he first got here?

  “Keely introduced me to the principal at Mayfield, via email, of course. It seems like a good school system and Celia’s private school is a little pricey.”

  “Well, that shouldn’t matter. With your offer from Love and Dine, you can probably give Celia the best education money can buy, and isn’t that every parent’s dream?”

  I stare at him and the butterflies in my stomach bounce and zip. “Well, yes, but it’s also about a community. Last year some girls had their hair appointments canceled for prom. Apparently, classmates were calling to cancel appointments, and the girls were in tears when they found out they had no one to do their hair. I don’t want Celia to grow up around bullies.”

  “There are bullies everywhere. Even here. Just ask my sister.”

  “Wes, are you telling me not to move here?”

  His jaw ticks, and he rolls his shoulders back. “You can move wherever you like. I don’t know if you’ve . . . we’ve thought all of this through.”

  “All I’ve done is think about what you’ve asked,” I say, my voice getting a little louder.

  “And what happens when you move here and you realize it’s a mistake? How are you going to feel every time you have to put Celia on a plane to be with her dad?”

  A mistake? He can’t be saying these words.

  My hands fly into the air. “That’s my issue to worry about, not yours.”

  “It will be my issue when you blame me for not taking your dream job.”

  “I make my own decisions, Wes. And I’ve been doing that for a long time. You don’t need to feel bad about me not taking the job because I’m taking it.”

  Anger boils inside me. How dare he.

  “I thought you’d changed, Wes. I thought you’d grown up since I met you in Maui, but you’re the same immature jerk you were on the island.”

  “Yep, that’s me, princess.” He stands and stares at me.

  What’s with this performance of Jekyll and Hyde?

  “Why are you pushing me away?” Tears threaten to spill, but I swallow them down. “Why did you ask me to think about giving us a real chance if it was all for nothing?”

  “I thought . . . I thought you were someone else too. But it turns out I was wrong.”

  Without another word, Wes walks out the door, leaving me all alone. Tears carve paths down my cheeks as I sink to the floor and sob.

  I have no idea what happened. What I do know is that my heart is fracturing into a thousand fragments because the man I care so deeply for just walked out of my life.

  Wes

  “Fuck. Dammit. Dammit.” My hand slams against the steering wheel.

  I replay the entire conversation in my head as I drive through town. Everything I said to her killed me.

  “I thought you were someone else too. But it turns out I was wrong.”

  Ugh. I’m not wrong. She’s exactly who she’s always been—strong, ambitious, and passionate.

  A heavy weight settles in my chest, and I can’t breathe. I feel like I’m having a heart attack.

  God. I treated Minka like I couldn’t give a shit whether or not she wanted to be with me and make it work. Spewing that lie hurt me.

  This is for the best. She’ll see in time.

  I couldn’t let her walk away from the job, the money, and everything she’s worked so hard for—her job is a sure thing.

  The two of us.

  Her and Celia moving their lives across the country.

  That’s a huge risk.

  “Dammit,” I scream out. “Why did I do that to her?”

  For a moment, I think about turning my truck around, begging her not to leave.

  No. She needs to leave. She should leave.

  No matter how much it hurts.

  The days move by in a haze.

  Or maybe it’s me moving through the fog that is life.

  Yeah, it’s probably me.

  I’m outside in the scorching humidity chopping wood. Being outside is the only thing keeping me sane right now.

  “Happy birthday to me.” I tip my beer toward the sky.

  My phone pings, and it’s another message from my mom. She came by earlier with some chocolate coconut cupcakes and wished me a happy birthday. She wants to know if I’ve tried the cupcakes yet. I send her a quick reply and then crack open another beer.

  “Weston,” Brant shouts as he plods down the hill.

  “Down here. Grab a beer. There’s plenty in the cooler.” My thumb hooks over my shoulder.

  “Thanks.” He cracks open the top of the cooler and fishes out a beer.

  “What brings you by?”

  “Came to celebrate your birthday. People are coming over in an hour. Food and drinks and fun.”

  I pick up my ax and swing. “I’m all set with food and drinks. Got a frozen pizza and a box of cupcakes waiting on me inside. Don’t need any people. Maybe a dog. So, if you want to get me a present, get me a dog.”

  “I’m not getting you a dog. Look, you need to pull yourself together.” He steps in front of me.

  I add another block of wood to the stump. “Pull myself together? I’m doing better than most, brother.”

  He spears a hand through his dark hair. “Caroline made you a cake. It was her idea to surprise you with an impromptu gathering. She’s worried about you and driving me insane with all her baking.”

  “Your wife bakes for you. I can see how annoying that would be.”

  “It’s nervous energ
y because she’s five days past her due date. I even went for a run with her and Julep earlier.”

  “You let your pregnant wife run? Did you put her in a bubble?”

  He rolls his eyes. “I know. I know. But she’s irritated, and this heat isn’t helping.”

  I swing my ax, and the wood splinters in half. Just like my heart.

  “Haven and Tyler are bringing food from the restaurant—pasta, fresh bread, and salad. Maybelle and Sawyer have party games. You need to buck up, young camper. We’re not letting you sulk anymore.” He props his foot on top of the stump.

  “You wanna move? I’ll chop that pretty designer shoe off your foot. You don’t have to be such a hard-ass.”

  He does though. My brother has seen me at my worst. There was an unfortunate incident involving a little too much weed tossed in with a few beers and a terrible case of jetlag. That day I ended up naked as the day I was born in our parents’ pool.

  Brant made me drink a bunch of water and drove me around until I came out of my weed-induced haze.

  Then he took me to The Penny Plate for a double cheeseburger and large fries.

  Back then, I was this teenage punk with no direction, he said. Little did he know that trip to Amsterdam changed my life.

  The incident in the pool was my last hurrah. And for the record, I didn’t mean to get naked.

  “I know you’re hurting, Weston, but—”

  “I’m fine,” I snap.

  “You’re not fine. You’re a mess.” He blows out a heavy breath. “You’re clearly upset about Minka leaving, but you’ve gotta try to find a way to be happy.”

  “This speech seems familiar.”

  “Look, I gotta be honest, Caroline and I thought Minka would move here, or at the very least, you two would do the long-distance thing. As much as you love to travel, hell, getting outta Kentucky every now and again seems totally up your alley. Not to mention the surfing in California.”

  “Nah. That offer with Love and Dine was too good to pass up.”

  “What?”

  “The offer was really generous. The money and everything. You should have seen her, Brant. The way her eyes lit up when she told me about writing her own cookbook, something she’s wanted to do her entire professional life. How I feel about her doesn’t matter. All that matters is she and Celia are happy. I couldn’t let Minka pluck her from a private school in California for Mayfield Elementary.”