Gamed (Minnesota Caribou Book 4)

by Colleen Charles

  “I can’t imagine being with anyone other than you. I wish you could crawl inside my body and experience how I feel when I’m with you,” he says, his voice hushed and honest and everything a woman wants to hear when a man declares himself. “Like I can conquer the world. And I can’t imagine that feeling fading anytime soon, because you’re everything to me, Sue-Ann. Every fucking thing. I want you in my jersey, in my seat, in my life. Supporting me and being my girl. Because I love you so fucking hard.”

  His words hit me like a wrecking ball to my chest and for a moment, I can’t respond.

  He wants you, Sue-Ann. You. No one else. Not twenty-year-olds with bodies that are still high and tight. Not fake-haired, fake-nailed, fake-lipped, fake-eyelashed puck bunnies screaming in the stands wearing his number stretched across their equally fake tits.

  He loves you. He said it. All the words. It’s yours Sue-Ann, the dream, the little girl fantasy. Just because it doesn’t look quite like you thought it would, doesn’t mean it isn’t real. Quit overthinking and just take it, for fuck’s sake! You know you want to.

  Telling my inner voice to stand down, I demand it not think of any terrifying thoughts about the future or what it holds. I’m going to enjoy the journey. I’m going to enjoy the man. And with a tiny exhale laced with perfect bliss, that’s exactly what I do.

  Chapter Thirty

  Max

  “Where are you taking me?” Sue-Ann asks, turning toward me.

  I reach over and grab her hand to give it a reassuring squeeze. “Hey. All of my surprises have turned out well in the past, haven’t they? You need to just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.”

  A little flash of worry turns her lips down. “What if I wore the wrong thing?”

  “You look gorgeous. You could be wearing a Hefty bag, woman. Quit worrying. All my surprises are good.”

  She glances in the back seat. “But Meatball’s not on this trip.”

  “That’s because Meatball can’t participate without endangering her. That’s the only hint you’re going to get, so I suggest you just snuggle your sexy ass into the seat and listen to George Strait sing about how all his exes live in Texas. By the way, any of those that I should be worried about? Besides Spencer.”

  She hisses in a breath, which only pushes her tits upward, making it harder to keep my eyes on the road. Kneading the plump flesh and sucking and biting her nipples until she moans my name has quickly become one of my favorite post-game activities. “Stop tormenting me about Mark Spencer!”

  The answer to the question I’m about to ask seems pretty important—at least to me. “So who else did you date? Anyone I know?”

  She shakes her head. “No, I don’t think so. By the way, there aren’t that many. Unlike someone else who shall remain nameless but is sitting right beside me in the cab of this truck.”

  “I’m not as big of a player as you think. I had a steady girlfriend in high school and most of college.”

  “Do you feel like that was enough? To sow your wild oats, I mean? How can I be sure that I’m going to be enough for you? What if you want to go out and… get some?”

  “I’ve got the best ‘some’ in my bed right now. And because of all the women I’ve been with, you’re the best one at riding me like a rodeo cowgirl. Your sweet pussy clenches and flutters and coaxes every last drop of juice I’ve got to give.”

  She glares at me with those full lips pursed into a pout. “Crass, party of one.”

  A chuckle rumbles from somewhere deep inside me, because teasing her is one of the highlights of my life. I never plan on stopping. “You don’t like riding me?”

  She crosses her arms over her chest. “I don’t like talking about it.”

  “You liked talking about it the last time you did it. ‘Oh, Max, fuck me harder, you animal! Spank my ass and call me a bad girl.’”

  She swats me on the upper arm but just ends up curling her fingers around my bicep. I flex into her hand. “Why are you so depraved?”

  “Because even though you bitch about it, you secretly love it. Look at your skin. The best shade of well-fucked pink. And because I give you permission to be your true self. Face it, Sue-Ann. With me, you’ve cracked completely out of your shell.” I waggle my eyebrows in my most corrupt way. “That bad girl was simmering just below the surface waiting for permission to come out and play. You can’t stuff her back down now.”

  She falls silent and we just enjoy the music and each other’s company the rest of the drive to Spirit Mountain where the latest surprise is about to commence. Just like disc golf, I’ve planned everything down to the last detail. And even though my heart hammers against my ribcage, I’m pretty confident she’s going to love it.

  Once I pull into the lot and into a parking spot, Sue-Ann glances around. “Spirit Mountain? Skiing season is over already.”

  “I know. Skiing isn’t the only outdoor activity here. Haven’t you ever been here in nicer weather?”

  She shakes her head. “No, I actually haven’t.”

  I slide my backpack out of the back seat and sling it over my shoulder. “Ready?”

  “Oh, my God. You’ve got the backpack again. What are you up to, Monroe?”

  I take her hand in mine and squeeze. “Something you’ll like. I totally promise.” Crossing my heart with my fingers, I tug her along behind me and make my way to the counter.

  Sue-Ann gives my hand a firm squeeze. “You better not let me down.”

  I press a gentle kiss to her lips. “Trust me, babe. I’ll never let you down ever. Not for the rest of my life.”

  Once I reach the counter, I lean in. “I have a reservation. Monroe for two.”

  The cute high school girl behind the counter works the keys and after a few strokes, she smiles at me. After the whir of the printer fires up, I have a guest pass in hand. “Have fun,” she says, waving at us as we turn to leave to head to the Timber Twister. Of course, I paid to close it down for thirty minutes and Spirit Mountain’s executives might even be helping me.

  Okay, they’re huge Caribou fans and they have a skybox. They’re so helping me pull this off. This is something I could never do alone. This is something that takes a village.

  Luckily, I have one.

  We hike to the start of the coaster and Sue-Ann glances at it. “I heard about this coaster on social media. It looks really fun, and it’s supposed to have the best views.”

  “And who is the guru of fun? Me.” I point to my own chest as we climb inside the car together. I snuggle Sue to my chest. I’m behind where the heaviest person has to be, and that suits me just fine. I just may have to molest her on the way down since she has no way to stop me from fondling her. I’ve never ridden this damn thing either, but I hear it goes up to 25mph.

  And I control the speed.

  I chuckle low into Sue’s ear, but refrain from clapping my hands together and cackling like a mad scientist. “Do you have a need—a need for speed?”

  Her hands grip the sides of the car. “Just don’t hurtle us down the mountain to our demise and keep it under control, wild man.”

  “I always keep it under control. Except on the ice and in the bedroom. But you like it when I lose it just a little, don’t you?”

  She trails a hand up my leg, underneath my knee and along my inner thigh. And just like that, everything backfires on me. “I’m all for a little loss of control behind closed doors. Are you going to get this car going or not?”

  After I release the brake, the two-person car pitches forward and down the easy first hill. I pray to God that everything is set up as I requested because I didn’t really have time to come here early and do a trial run. I’m depending on other people to orchestrate the most important moment of my life, and that causes my stomach to clench in a knot.

  When the car dips into a hairpin turn, chain link supports either side, supposedly in case of an accident. There haven’t been any accidents on the Timber Twister, but I guess there’s a first time for everything. I don�
�t think about that, I only look for the signs I had positioned on each turn complete with the Caribou logo that marketing graciously made for me when they found out my intentions for this evening.

  And this whole wild ride to happily ever after is being filmed, which I allowed for so they could post it to social media. Hell, between the Caribou and Sue-Ann’s, this event is like a damn marketing extravaganza. But as a business owner, I know she won’t care. It will all help propel her dream of a string of boutiques all over Minnesota into overdrive. We’ll celebrate in private later. This particular moment is meant for friends and family.

  And fans.

  And Sue-Ann is my number one fan.

  And she always will be.

  That’s why I’m locking this shit down.

  My way.

  When we round the first curve, I breathe a sigh of relief as I spot the first sign. Marketing outdid themselves. It’s about six feet by six feet, emblazoned with the Caribou logo and the word, ‘WILL’ in huge black block letters. A legally blind person could read it. I have no idea if she saw it or knows what it means and what lies around the next bend as we rumble down the metal track, but once the words start coming in rapid succession, I hope she gets it. I guess I don’t have a Plan B for if she’s not reading. But knowing my Sue and her constant analyzing everything, she’ll pick up what I’m laying down.

  The car veers to the right and ‘YOU’ is on the next set of chain link barriers. I think she tenses, but I can’t be sure. She could just be trying to stay firmly inside the open-air car as it rattles and spins around the curve at breakneck speed.

  On the third turn, I know I’ve hit paydirt because she screams when she sees the ‘RACE’ sign. Twisting, she tries to look back at me, but we’re moving too fast and I hold her tight with my arm while I brake with the left. No way is she going to do something dangerous because she wants to control this proposal.

  I’m the man here.

  I do the asking.

  I lead this union from this moment forward.

  We zip around the fourth curve holding the ‘WITH ME’ sign and straight into the homestretch. I made sure to save the best for last. The last bend in the tracks contains the most important sign, the one that reads, ‘FOREVER’ and by the time the car skids to a stop, all of our friends and families stand at the end, waiting and cheering and carrying on like a bunch of liquored-up crazies. I think they must have hit the champagne early.

  Julia and Meg race toward us, smiles splitting their faces wide. After all, they both helped me plan this covert mission and they planned the entire party that’s about to take place after my perfect girl gives me the answer I’ve been waiting my entire life to hear.

  Sue-Ann jumps out and into the waiting arms of Julia as I fish the backpack out from underneath the seat. I have to do this right. Just like my mom taught me.

  The book slides out of the canvas and I drop to one knee.

  “He’s doing it!” Meg screams and the crowd goes wild again. Many of the diehard Caribou season ticket holders wave signs they made themselves with my number and other symbols and sayings. A little girl holds a pinata shaped like an engagement ring over her head. My sassy sister points a finger at me. “Why are you doing it with a book, dimwit? Are you going to make Sue-Ann swear on the Holy Bible?”

  My mom appears from the fringes and shushes her as Julia puts her hands to her face. I present the book to Sue-Ann and she stares.

  And stares.

  I hold the book high in my hand. “Sue-Ann Johnson, you make me want to be a better man. Ever since I met you, I’ve been the best version of myself that I can be. Will you make the happiest whippersnapper alive and consent to be my cougar?”

  She leans in and whispers, “Why are you proposing to me with The Penis Book, Max? If you don’t have the money for a ring yet, we can just wait to get one.”

  My eyes twinkle with all the love I feel for this woman. And I hope I never, ever stop surprising her and bringing fun into her life. Even when we’re old and gray, we’ll be the talk of the rest home. We’ll have old people sex in the supply closet and scandalize all the nurses.

  I give a little nudge. “Open it. You’ll need instructions for our wedding night. I especially like Chapter Fourteen—Put it in your mouth: How grub affects your nub.”

  Meg’s laughter rings through the air and my mom hisses in a breath. “Maxwell Anthony Monroe. You are ruining everything with your gutter talk!”

  Meg juts out a hip. “Mom, tell him to quit talking about his demon jizz again! Gross!”

  Matt stands close by, holding a beer, and I think he might have just snorted it up his nose as he enjoys being the only child not drawing Mom’s wrath.

  “Meghan Louise! Do not say things like that in public. These people are going to think I’m a horrible mother!” My mom’s face turns a few shades of rose as she stomps her foot on the ground.

  As if it’s a snake about to bite her, Sue-Ann takes the book and opens it. Of course, I gutted it and a black velvet box from Tacori is nestled inside. As if I wouldn’t have the most gorgeous ring for her. Two months’ salary and all that. And with my new three-year deal, that’s a hell of a lot. Her hands flutter to her neck and she glances at the ring and back at me.

  “Here, let me help you.” Jumping to my feet, I flip the lid open and present her with the ring. “You haven’t answered my question, babe. Will you marry me? Please? The crowd is getting restless. They’re looking for a happy ending here.”

  With tears welling in her eyes, she nods and then catapults herself into my arms. The roar of the audience is deafening, but I still hear her when she says, “I love you, Max. Thanks for bringing me back to myself. Back to the joy of life. When I’m with you, everything is brighter. Better. I can’t believe you chose me.”

  And just like the small-town Duluth Amazing Race and this race down the mountain to the perfect finish, our relationship has come full circle. Around and around for all eternity. A circular symbol of forever along with the one that I push onto Sue-Ann’s finger. “I’ll always be your fun, babe. You may have so much fun you spontaneously combust.”

  Sue-Ann will be happy for the rest of her life, because I’ll make it my mission. And I’m so down for it.

  Epilogue

  Sue-Ann

  Julia leans in and her warm breath tickles my neck. “Why is Meatball headed down the aisle on a vacuum?”

  My lips twitch as I try to keep from laughing and creasing my perfectly applied makeup. “She’s our flower girl and HHH is our ring bearer. Max trained her to ride him. Said if he can’t vacuum like a normal Roomba, he needs to be good for something and earn his keep.”

  Jules steps back and stares. “Are you kidding? We’ve talked about our dream weddings since we were little. At no time did that girlie fantasy include a huge dog humping an electronic device.”

  I fluff out the skirt of my ball gown. Cinderella moment all the way. “I’m marrying a redneck, Jules. He had ideas and things that he wanted. I couldn’t shoot down every single one of them. I had to take one for the team here. It was either Meatball riding a Roomba or you and I wearing cowboy boots and hats.”

  Julia swallows down a retort and spins on her heel to get ready to take her walk.

  “You look gorgeous, baby girl,” Dad says, taking my arm. “And you clean up nice too, Mrs. Spencer. I still remember you girls with skinned knees and dirty faces. Boy, times have changed.”

  “After my tomboy phase, I bet you never thought this day would come,” I say, slipping my hand in the crook of his arm.

  “I always knew it would come, because you’re the best daughter in the world. And you have a heart of gold that’s meant to be shared with your soul mate and your future kids. I’m a little surprised by the package, but I’m not unhappy. You’ve blossomed ever since Max came on the scene. He brings out a new side of you, Sue-Ann. A softer side that just makes you even more beautiful.”

  Julia swipes at a tear after my dad’s speech. “Aw
, you guys are going to ruin my mascara.”

  Dad brings my hand to his lips for a kiss before placing it back in the crook of his strong arm. “Ready, sweetheart? You’ve got your whole life ahead of you. And an amazing man waiting to share it.”

  I nod, and we start our slow walk down the aisle. By the time we get there, Meatball is doing a perfect sit-stay next to Matt, Max’s best man. We decided to forgo a huge wedding party and just have a best man and matron of honor. I have no idea where HHH is, but I hope he doesn’t ruin the ceremony by firing up during the vows because his sensor picks up a piece of lint.

  Once I reach the altar, Dad kisses me on the cheek and answers the important question about who gives this woman to this man.

  Max takes my hand, leans in, and whispers, “You look so beautiful. Like my own personal princess.”

  Smiling up at him, I take my place, considering how lucky I am. How everything in my life has finally fallen into place in the most unlikely way. And how grateful I am that life blessed me with the most amazing love.

  I weigh Max’s words, pausing and releasing a short breath. Everything feels so right and my heart overflows with joy and hope and everything good and worthwhile in this world. Everything I thought might linger just out of reach as the years passed me by. But now I have them and I’m never, ever letting go.

  Even though I’ve already peeled back many layers of the man who is Max Monroe, I want to spend the rest of my life getting to know him on the deepest levels. Everything that’s obvious and everything he’s trying to hide. I want it all because I want him.

  It’s hard to keep my emotions in check through the readings and the songs and the vows that we wrote ourselves, but I manage to keep the tears at bay. A beautiful matching wedding band gets slid on my finger by Max’s sure hands and I finally have to dab a bit of moisture from the corner of my eye when we’re proclaimed husband and wife.