by Marie , J
She threw herself into that kiss. Giving me everything words couldn’t express. Telling me everything that she couldn’t say out loud. Maybe it made me a weaker man, but I’d never felt these types of feelings before and I hoped that I got to keep them. I hoped that this would lead to many more kisses. Much more of everything because I didn’t want anything less. She’d already ruined me.
Pulling away, a flush kissed her cheeks.
“Wow…”
“I don’t even think wow describes that kiss, darlin’. We’re making our own fireworks tonight, that’s for sure.” I kissed her temple again, fighting the urge to take her lips once more. I noticed movement behind Cassidy Mae when I pulled away.
My eyes found Reagan sitting in the row of trucks parked in front of us. Two thumbs up in the air and a smile across her face. I shook my head and turned away, not noticing that Cassidy Mae had also seen Rea.
“Well, looks like we have a cheerleader tonight.” She whispered shyly.
“Yeah… I don’t think we’re gonna live that one down. Better be glad she’s farther away than normal too or else there would’ve been catcalls and whistling.”
“So true…You know… I’m finding it harder and harder to resist you, Beau. What do you suggest I do about that?”
A smirk crosses my face and I lean in to kiss the corner of her mouth. “Well sweetheart, there’s an easy answer to that. Don’t. Give in to me. To us.”
We spent the rest of the time watching the fireworks light up the night sky, wrapped up in each other. I didn’t want this night to end. I wanted to keep her a little longer.
We stayed up way too late. Driving around in his truck until 2am laughing and talking about whatever came to our minds.
There’s just something about a sexy man, a truck, and curvy roads that made me want to let down all my boundaries and give into everything. Or maybe there’s just something about Beau that calls to me. There’s just a tiny part of my brain that says I can’t fully. Not until I know what happened with Andrew. Have they found the body? Has he been declared dead by the state?
I’d been sitting in the living room drinking tea while catching up on the latest tips for getting a barrel horse set up back into the arena. We’d been working with Oakley for a while now and she was doing so well. Reading the tips, I’d realized that we were right on par for where we needed to be.
I glanced up from my phone to a very sexy Beau in all his shirtless glory, freshly washed and mouthwatering. I openly ogled him. I don’t even care. If he’s walking around half-naked for my benefit, then who am I to not appreciate it? Those deep brown eyes were intently focused on me, and I fought the urge to squirm. His dark brown hair was wet and glistening from his shower. My fingers itched to run through it like I’d done the night before when he kissed me for the first time.
The scruff of his five o’clock shadow painted my face with brush marks. The touch of his calloused fingers rough against my skin. The fire of the passion that burned in one simple kiss. My lips warmed at the memory of his kiss. Coding it to memory so I never forgot how good a kiss could really be with someone who has feelings for you.
He’s just so manly. Sex God-ish. I still couldn’t believe he wanted me. Beau prowled toward the couch and I admired his sexy abs and Adonis belt. Watching his abs as they pulled and flexed with each movement. Low slung pajama pants showed off that perfect v that leads south and hung off his hips just right. I tried to hide my ogling of him behind the tea mug, but I’m pretty sure he could tell from a mile away.
Beau plopped down on the sofa, throwing an arm behind me and I snuggled into his side. Inhaling his scent of man, wood, and a hint of something fruity. Yum. He tightened his hold and murmured in my ear, “Good morning, beautiful.”
I grinned up at him. “Well, hey there cowboy.”
“Mmm, have I told you how much I like the sound of you calling me that?” He nuzzled my neck and I squirmed, shaking my head. “Well, I do.”
His palm clasped the back of my neck and brought my lips to his. Our mouths met and I opened for him. He sucked on my upper lip, while I sucked on his bottom one. I tilted my head to get a better purchase on those sweet lips of his as my tongue darted out and dragged along his. I was about to jump him when a throat cleared from behind the couch.
Turning around I saw Rhett and Reagan, bed heads and smiling.
“Well this looks like a good morning, you two.” Reagan laughed, nudging Rhett.
Rhett nodded. “I’d tend to agree, Rea.”
Beau stiffened at the sight of them, clearly, a sleepover had occurred.
“Wanna tell me what Rhett’s doing in our house, Rea?”
“We may have had a little sleepover last night.” She shrugged like it was no big deal, but Beau was having none of it.
“Rhett, get out. My sister and I need to have a talk. I’ll deal with you later.”
The look on Rhett’s face radiated anger. “Dude, your sister is a grown ass woman. She can tell me if she wants me to leave.”
Beau clenched his fists. “You knew the rules, Rhett. My sister is and will always be off limits. You’re not good enough for her.”
“Beau, I am not the same guy I was in high school. I’ve changed.”
“Leopards don’t change their spots, Rhett. You seem to forget you’ve said that before…”
He threw his hands up in the air in frustration. “Are you serious, right now? At least I’m brave enough to tell someone how I feel and not make them wait for years to find out.”
Beau huffed. “That has nothing to do with you…”
“You’re right. It doesn’t have a damn thing to do with me, but she does.” He pointed at Reagan. “I like your sister and that’s not going to change. She wants to be with me, then you need to accept it.”
“She’ll never be with you if I have anything to say about it.”
“I guess we’ll see then.” He stomped off, leaving through the front door.
Beau turned around to face Reagan once Rhett had left. “What in the hell were you thinking?”
She rolled her eyes and shrugged in her shoulders in a blasé motion. “I like Rhett, and we’re just having a little fun brother, nothing wrong with that.”
“There is when the one you’re having fun with is one of my best friends. There’s a line ya just don’t cross, Rea.”
She walked over to Beau and stuck her pointer finger in his chest.
“Beau Montgomery, I am a grown independent woman and I will do who or what I want when I want, and you will have no say in the matter!” Her face flared with heat and anger.
I could feel the tension between them and I wondered what Rhett had done that was so wrong in Beau’s eyes.
His face hardened.
“I will when it’s under my roof! Rhett may be fun and games now, but what happens when he breaks your heart?”
“That’s for me to worry about…”
“Reagan…”
“You know what, I’m leaving! I’m not a child and don’t deserve to be talked to as such.” She huffed and stomped off, opening and slamming the front door as she went.
He turned back to me, “Well, I’d say that went well.”
A chuckle burst from my lips and he couldn’t help it. He laughed too.
He huffed out a breath. “I just don’t get it. Why him? Out of all of my friends, she had to pick the worst one.”
“Maybe she sees something in him that you don’t?”
“Let me guess. A playboy cowboy with a heart of gold? That’ll be the day.”
“Hey now, we can’t all be as good as you.”
“I’m not saying I’m perfect, Cassidy Mae. I’m just saying she can do better.”
I didn’t know how to respond so I just nodded and looked away. I wondered what the past held for Rhett and Beau. I get the whole you’ll never be good enough for my sister, but it seemed deeper than that. I had my own issues though, so I had no room to talk.
Later that day, as I wa
s working Oakley in the arena, I noticed an odd-looking black SUV sitting in the parking lot. My interest got the best of me, so I decided to check it out. As I walked Oakley up to the driver’s side door the black tinted out window rolled down. A face I hadn’t seen in months greeted me. One I thought I’d never see again. My skin crawled with panic, blood pumped faster as my heartbeat quickened. Why him? Why now?
That dark creepy voice from my past, “Well hey there Cassidy.”
A nauseous feeling crept up my throat. The bile was acrid and bitter. I wanted to scream but no noise would come to me. I couldn’t crumble in front of him. I wouldn’t let him see me falter. Do not show him you’re afraid.
“What are you doing here, Devin?”
A grim frown marred his face.
“You tell me, bitch. I want to know what happened to my brother. No one’s heard from or seen him since you skipped town.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, my voice filled with fake concern.
“Now I wonder why all of a sudden you’re out here in the middle of nowhere when your husband mysteriously disappears. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that now, would you, Cassidy?”
“I’m just now finding out about it like you are. I left him, Devin. He was a horrible cheating husband and a cruel man. I fled and didn’t look back.”
“Cheating on you, huh? From what I’ve been seeing he isn’t the only one cheating.”
Beau.
“You leave him out of this. It’s between Andrew and me. I gave him divorce papers before I left town.”
“If only it was that simple. My brother is missing and I have a sneaking suspicion that you know exactly who was behind it. You’ll be hearing from me again, soon.”
He sped off and I was left reeling.
I couldn’t breathe. My body was being pulled into the undertow and trying to drown me. Fears crashed into me like unrelenting waves. Every single memory bitter like saltwater on my tongue.
I took Oakley back to the barn and my hands shook as I untacked her from our ride. Devin knew that I had either seen or knew something about Andrew’s death. My gut churned. I’d put every single person I cared about in danger. Who knows what he had the potential to do. Devin was someone you just didn’t mess around with and if he truly believed I knew what happened, then I had more coming my way, and it wouldn’t be good.
I’d just finished untacking Oakley when I saw Beau coming out of the tack room, a big grin simmered across his cheeks and lit up his eyes. It took everything in me to smile back at him. He couldn’t know. He was already in enough danger and I wouldn’t make it worse. I’d brought this down on him and his family and I hated myself for it.
“Hey sweetheart, how was she today?” His arms wrapped around me as he kissed my forehead. I melted into him, even though every single nerve in my body said not to. But that was Beau, he always made me feel so safe. So…loved.
“Oh, she was, um, good. Really good. I think she’ll be ready to go, by the fair for sure.” I wouldn’t make eye contact with him fearing that every emotion wrecking my body would be broadcasted across my face.
“Cassidy Mae… are you okay?” He pulled away from me, but I still didn’t look up.
“Yeah… everything’s fine.”
“Now I know you’re lying to me darlin’ when you won’t make eye contact. Hey, look at me. What’s going on?” His hand cradled my chin as he tipped it upward. Fighting the urge to look into his eyes for reassurance I continued to look away or past him. At anything that was directly in front of me.
I shrugged it off. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I am always going to be worried about it, Cass. Especially if it involves you. Now tell me what’s going on…please.”
I shook my head but my mouth opened anyhow.
“He knows…” That was all I said. Nothing else would come.
“Who knows?” He bent down looking me in the eye. “Who knows, what, baby?”
“Devin knows that I know what happened to Andrew, Beau. I’ve put every single person on this farm in danger.”
“How did you find this out?” A sob escaped my lips and I shifted closer to him. Reaching for any comfort he would give me. My body jittered, my muscles twitched with the nervous energy flooding my veins.
“Devin found me.”
“Who’s Devin, sweetheart?”
“Devin is a… private investigator who also happens to be Andrew’s… brother. He showed up earlier in a black SUV. I rode out to see who it was. I shouldn’t have gone, Beau. Now he knows. And he’s going to come for me. And every person here is in his path of destruction.”
He pulled me in even closer if that was possible. Our bodies were so pressed together that I couldn’t tell where I stopped and he started. He kissed my forehead again and stroked his calloused fingers through my hair. I was shaking, my blood pumping so hard. I wondered if he could feel it beating against his own chest.
“Shhh…. Baby it’s okay. I’m here. I’ve got you and I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
“But how do you know? Devin is not a nice person. He has ties to the mob. He will come after me and take anyone out who gets in his way, especially if he believes I had anything to do with Andrew’s death.”
“You’ve seen me darlin’, I’m not weak by any means. If it comes to fighting him for you, I won’t back down. I’ve finally got you after all these years and he’s not taking you away from me. So, let him come. We’ll be ready. The guys will stand behind you if he ever comes. We’re your family now and you’re stuck with us.”
I smiled into his chest, saying nothing as I breathed him in. Beau and his body wash aroma caressed my senses and held me captive. A scent I’d grown to love and feel safe in. I believed him when he said he would protect me, but I didn’t know how. Devin was sneaky. He didn’t do things above the law.
“Hey sweetheart, you’ve got me now. You can be scared but I promise you this… I’ll die before I let him hurt you again.”
“Thank you,” a whispered reply comes from my lips. There is so much to thank him for and as if he could read my mind he replies.
“I know. Can I make a request though? Please tell me if and when you hear from him. We need to be fully prepared for him to arrive.”
“Okay…”
“Come on, I’ve got plans for us today. Let’s get going.”
I looked up at him curiously. “Where are we going?”
“We’re going to blow off some steam. Grab your swimsuit and grab Reagan. We’re all going swimming in the lake.”
“That sounds perfect, but I don’t have a swimming suit. And we know someone is following me now. Do we really want to go anywhere right now?” I chewed on my bottom lip, unsure.
“Cassidy Mae, let me worry about this. You need a distraction and a lake day is the perfect plan. Now, you and Rea are about the same size. Maybe she can let you borrow one? If it was just me darlin’ you could swim naked, but I don’t want to share that with anyone else.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh, is that right?”
“Damn right.’ Now scoot.” He swatted my ass playfully. “We’ve got some swimming and fun to be had.”
“Okay then…” I ran off to the house to grab all the stuff we would need for a lake day. Reagan caught me as I ran from here and there picking up things and putting them into a bag.
“Hey, can I borrow a swimming suit? Beau is taking all of us to the lake and I don’t have one.”
She winked. “I’m surprised he had you ask me. I would’ve assumed that boy would want to see you in nothing but a bra and panties.”
“Oh, he told me I was more than welcome to swim naked but only with him.” I shook my head as a smile crossed my face.
She ran into her room quickly and returned with a suit. “Sounds about right. Here, try this one. What do we still need?”
“Sunscreen, towels, drinks in a cooler, and maybe some snacks. I need to run to my room and throw this swimming suit on
under my jean shorts and a tank top. I’ll be back!”
I scurried away, trying to rush to get myself together. I ran a quick brush through my hair and brushed my teeth while I was at it. This is the first time Beau would see me in less than shorts and a tank. I wanted to look good for him. I held the swimsuit Reagan had given me up and gasped.
Where’s the rest of it?
I’m not sure you could even call it a one piece with holes in the fabric missing everywhere. As I put it on, I realized that I really needed to shave my unruly bikini line. I had quite the fluff going on. Running into the bathroom I quickly shaved. Not five seconds later a knock came on the door.
“Cassidy Mae, I’m leaving without your cute butt if you’re not out here in the next five minutes!”
“Coming!” I quickly rinsed off and headed back to my room to put on the suit. Pulling it up my sides I gasped at how much skin was truly exposed. I also noticed how skinny I’d become since high school. I wondered what Beau would think of me now. I was self-conscious, like every female my age. It didn’t matter if I was skinny, I still had scars. They weren’t visible scars, but I’d been cut deep and I felt every single pinch or hit I’d ever had coming to the surface. I fought the tears that threatened to fall.
Another knock on my door had me composing myself. Tears would only cause them to panic and I’d already shed them in front of Beau. I didn’t need to do it with Reagan too.
Throwing open the door, I found Reagan. “Finally, geez… what were you doing in there?”
“Shaving my lady bits if you must know…”
Realization dawned and she winked. “Feeling a little frisky, huh?”
“Um, no. It was just sticking out of the strip of fabric you gave me. Seriously, where is the rest of this swimsuit?” I said pulling up my tank top to show her.
