by Elle Linder
He suddenly felt emasculated. Julia cleared a quarter million a year, three times what he made. To be only twenty-eight and have millions in the bank amazed him. She amazed him with her savvy business skills. Owning a resort on the brink of being one of the top destinations in northern Idaho as well as a successful inn and spa in Los Angeles was no small accomplishment. But he wanted to provide for her, not the other way around.
“Luke, the kids need to see her. She needs to see them. I won’t take no for an answer. They’re going.” The tables had swiftly turned, and she was driving the conversation. “One more thing.”
“What is it, baby?”
“If you want me to move in and the kids are going to be living with us permanently…then we need a bigger house.”
“I agree. What are you thinking?”
“I want to buy the lot down the road. We’ll build there but also keep your lake house as an investment property. We could use it as an Airbnb.”
Damn he loved her.
“I know the property, and I know a builder. Let’s do it.” He squeezed her tight. “Can I help you pack your things to move back into the house before I head to Alaska with the kids?”
“Is that all we’ll do? Pack?”
His hand crept between her legs. She hummed as his fingers slipped into her shorts, but the sparkle in her eyes hadn’t returned, and that concerned him. He’d let it go until after her mom and aunts returned to Arizona.
It ached to see his duffle lying by the door like the last time he’d left her. Except now, seeing the kids’ bags next to his brought her emotions to a whole new level. Julia’s life had exploded in a matter of months with Luke and his kids, her family. For five months, she’d been surrounded by them and had never imagined loving it as much as she did.
Seeing them ready to leave made her heart hurt.
“Are you going to be all right?” Luke asked, stuffing some snacks for the kids into a backpack.
“I’ll be fine.”
“I don’t believe you. Or more like, I want you to be miserable without me,” he said playfully.
“Sleeping in your bed will be miserable. I’ll have to occupy myself,” she said, giving the teasing right back.
He growled low in his throat, taking several wide strides toward her. Luke slipped his hands around her waist and kissed her deeply.
They’d never had it out like she said they needed. In fact, the whole week had been a blur—between spending some much needed time with her mom, looking at house plans with Luke, and dealing with resort issues. Now Luke and the kids were leaving. Her mom and aunts had left two days ago, and Julia would be alone through the weekend until Lauren arrived on Monday. She would have her for only one day before Rick and Izzy arrived at their new home in Faithful Falls.
Julia wrapped her arms around Luke’s neck, kissing him with all the heat and passion a goodbye kiss should encompass, turning them both on. This kiss would have to last them, but the reality was it would only leave her missing him.
Not to mention the sudden bout of insecurities that had grown at a rapid rate over the last couple of days.
“You have the most intoxicating mouth.” Their tongues danced sweetly. “So delicious.”
“This morning you said it was ‘fucking hot’ while we were in the shower and I was on my knees.” He trembled in her arms like he had that morning, and she giggled. “What am I ever to believe?” She licked his upper lip, feeling him grow hard against her. “The kids…”
“We have ten minutes…” He raised his eyebrows up and down. “Come to the bedroom with me for a minute.” His low, husky voice made her sizzle inside.
“What? I thought we were going?” Brice said, appearing out of nowhere.
“We are, but I need to, um…” Luke paused as if considering his excuse for whisking her off to the bedroom.
“Kiss Julia,” Brice blurted out as he flopped on the couch, making gagging sounds. He walked his feet up the back of sofa and let them kerplop over the edge. He had a jealous streak when it came to Julia, one that only she found endearing.
“Feet off the back of the sofa. We’ll be out in five”—Luke glanced at her seductively—“In ten minutes.”
She fluttered her eyelashes, teasing her determined man. “Luke, honestly.”
He ignored her pathetic attempt at stopping him and pulled her into the room. Julia knew Luke would not be controlled or manipulated by his ten-year-old. She loved how he remained staunch in his convictions of how it would be with the kids around. He continued to romance her and dote on her.
But taking her into the bedroom with Brice a stone’s skip away? He might be taking it a little too far. Maybe.
Ten minutes ran through her head, igniting a burning desire between her legs. Ten minutes was code for quickie. Good thing she had selected a dress to wear today, but at the lake house? What was he thinking?
Luke closed the door, locked it behind him, and practically salivated, ogling her. “I think you’re amazing.”
“Aww…so are you.” She stood at the foot of the bed with her hands clasped together like a virginal angel. She swayed from side to side, giddy for what would come next. A low hum trickled out of Luke. “I see how my moving back in might have been untimely. Is this what I should expect from now on?”
“You’re taunting me.” She nodded as he stepped toward her. “You know what that does to me.” Feigning surprise, her mouth made an “O” as she slowly placed her hand over it. “Please tell me you’re not wearing cheekies.” She shook her head, biting her lower lip. “Aww, damn.” He gently guided her to lay on the bed. This side of him thrilled her. Gentle yet strong. Respectful yet demanding. He could be horny and loving all at the same time. Sex was never just sex to him, it was always making love, and did it ever blow her mind.
Luke brushed his hand along her inner thigh, up, up, up, and he froze.
Julia grinned coyly, arching into his hand, feeling the tips of his fingers hovering over her wet, swollen core. It made her eyes roll into her head and her breathing deepen.
“No panties.” Her eyes flashed open hearing the lust in his voice. His eyes turned dark with hunger. The man had an insatiable appetite for her, but then, she couldn’t get enough of him either. Luke fell to his knees, lifting the hem of her dress slowly.
“No panties, but Luke…we can’t.”
“The fuck we can’t.” One purposeful swipe of his tongue and there was no turning back. Not that she would ever reject his affections. He teased her with long strokes of his tongue and soft groans. Oh, she was getting there fast. With the fullness in her lower half building, she gripped the comforter tightly, pressing into his face.
“You are so good.” Her praise came out breathy.
“You taste so good,” he whispered, standing up.
“Mmm,” she hummed.
Julia opened her eyes as he pulled his pants down. He slipped a condom out of the pocket of his jeans and rolled it on.
Her breathing hitched.
Luke smiled, giving her a delighted nod that he was ready. Spreading her legs wide, he gazed down at her, licking his lips. She could come just looking at him. He gripped her inner thigh, rubbing his thumb over her clit.
“Oh!” He placed a hand over her mouth, entering her in one swift thrust.
“Shh…” He lifted her leg up, guiding her to wrap it around his thigh. “I love you so much,” he said, nibbling her ear. “So much.”
Feeling him with the barrier made her sad, but she didn’t want to overthink. Only enjoy her magnificent man. When they created a baby, she’d be thrilled, and so would Luke.
He rocked in a firm, steady pace. Time was not on their side, but he could satisfy her in ninety seconds. One touch of her G-spot was all it took for the big-O. She gripped the back of his head, guiding his lips to hers. He obliged, covering her mouth to muffle her erotic sounds that could not be silenced. They had this routine down pat. Wildly they ravaged each other with hungry, wet kisses to the rhythm
of his pelvic thrusts.
“Yes…” she panted, slipping her tongue into his mouth. It was her tell. Luke upped his tempo, hitting her favorite spot, and she went off, clenching around him. She held his head firmly in place with their lips locked. Luke drove into her once more, setting off his own release. “Oh wow! You’re the master of quickies.”
He shot her a drunken postcoital smile. “Tell me the truth. You planned for this to happen, didn’t you?”
“Seriously, Luke? You’re the one who wanted to come into the bedroom.”
“No panties equals sex, always. Admit it, you planned this.”
“I like to be prepared. I’m a planner, you know.”
“You’re the best planner ever.”
“Better believe it, handsome.”
They were so good together. Better than she could have ever dreamed. Luke snuggled her close, but not for long, as the minutes to his departure neared. Reluctantly, Julia made the first move to end their sweet moment and went into the bathroom to clean up and make herself presentable.
Several minutes later she walked out. Luke was put back together, and his arms were open to her. She walked right into them, fighting the swell of emotions inside her. Luke grasped her high ponytail, wrapping her long locks around his hand as he held her head protectively. She hated that she had to say goodbye to him, but it had to be done.
“Look at you, grinning like a fool,” she teased him, trying to mask the melancholia taking hold of her.
“A fool in love with you.”
“And I you. But enough of this flirting. We have one frustrated boy waiting for us on the other side of that door and you have to catch a flight.” She jerked her chin toward the door. “Let’s go.”
The goodbyes were quick, and before she knew it, she was waving to the love of her life and the kids who had become hers. With no one around, she let her tears flow. She loved them desperately.
It was then she gripped her stomach, wishing Luke hadn’t used a condom.
The day after she’d picked a wedding date, she had stopped talking the pill, but they hadn’t officially discussed adding a baby into the mix of their busy lives. There wasn’t a single doubt in her mind Luke would welcome a baby. He’d talked about a baby more than she had the last several months. It was she who had been unsure until recently.
If they created a life out of their love, she would be over the moon.
She walked back inside the little lake house and broke down on the couch. A good cry was what she needed to clear out the stale air so she could breathe a fresh vitality into her soul. To motivate her in getting the ball rolling with building a home for her family and creating the magical woodland wedding of their dreams.
Lingering on the parts that saddened her wasn’t her way.
Life was beautiful.
And the best was yet to come.
twenty-one
Goodbye, Alaska
Black shutters framed the windows of the little brick house Rick had called home for the last ten years. The single-story three-bedroom house wasn’t anything special, but the small neighborhood was nice. The room on the far left was Izzy’s. Last night, he had painted her pink walls white and changed out the flower fan from the ceiling with a plain fan with fake oak blades. No longer was it his little princess’s bedroom.
“I’ll email you the walk-through documents tomorrow if that’s okay?” the property manager asked, but Rick couldn’t peel his eyes off the house that held so many good and bad memories. He handed over the keys to his house.
“That will be fine.”
“Have a safe trip, and good luck in Idaho.”
“Thanks.” Rick nodded. He was ready to start his new life in Faithful Falls. More than ready.
All his possessions were packed into a moving truck that Luke had offered to drive back to Idaho for him. He and the kids had taken the truck yesterday and left bright and early this morning. When Rick had gotten the text from Luke that they were on the road, moving got real.
It didn’t seem possible, and sometimes he would pinch himself, worried it might all be a dream, the way his life had dramatically changed in the span of eight weeks. The other night over a beer at a local pub he’d told Luke that he had never been happier.
And it was true.
Rick had never been more grounded and ready to put down roots before in his life. Lauren was what had been missing.
He looked up at the sky and said a silent prayer as he opened the driver’s side door, inhaling the clean air before getting into the car. He had one final stop to make. A stop that he dreaded, knowing there was no possible way it would go well. Especially since Luke had seen Renee first, and from what Luke had told him afterward, it had gone about as horribly as he’d expected. She’d upset the kids with her crying and yelling, and she’d called Luke every name in the book.
Worse than all that, she had ripped Julia to shreds, calling her a homewrecker and a heartless thief for stealing her family.
Renee infuriated Rick. How could she say such horrible things about Julia, of all people? She was the sweetest woman he knew. But drugs did awful things to the best of people. For someone like Renee, who wasn’t nice on her best day, drugs made her the most hostile and vindictive woman he knew.
“You all right, Son?” his mom asked as Rick pulled away from the curb. “This is good.”
“I know, Mama. It’s very good, but there’s a lot of memories we’re leaving behind, you know.”
“Yes, yes, I know. But now you have Lauren.” His mother’s face lit up every time she said Lauren’s name. It shocked him that she had taken to her so quickly after only spending one weekend with his beauty. Isabel Torres didn’t take to most people easily, but she’d fallen in love with Lauren faster than he had. She said it was mother’s intuition, that Lauren was a good person. The two strong, sassy women had bonded over The Vampire Diaries and Izzy.
That whole weekend, Rick had sat back marveling over Lauren and falling deeper in love with her. She’d cooked with his mom in the kitchen, helped her clean up, and hugged her goodnight. The hug had sealed the deal for his mom.
Then there was Izzy. She would overwhelm Lauren with games and tea parties, yet Lauren weathered it like a champ. She dazzled everyone with her charming, playful, and sometimes eccentric antics, and won the hearts of the two women who mattered to him.
“This is a big move for you too, Mama. Are you sure you’re okay with it?”
“Yes, don’t be silly. I only moved to Juneau for you and Izzy. I have nothing here.”
“But you’d tell me if you didn’t want to?” She waved him off. Of course she would have told him.
The drive to the sober living house where Renee resided wasn’t long, and Rick was good with that. He wanted to get it over with sooner rather than later. As he pulled up in front of the brick building, his stomach twisted. Maybe he wasn’t ready to do this.
In a moment of uneasiness, he called Lauren.
“Hi, babe! Are you on the road? How’d it go?” Lauren answered excitedly. Her voice soothed his nerves.
“God, I miss you.”
“Do you? There’s something different in your voice. Are you okay?”
“I’m about to take Izzy in to see Renee. I wish you were with me.”
“No, you don’t. I wouldn’t be able to hold my tongue with her. She has caused Julia too much pain. I’d love to have five minutes alone with her.” Rick chuckled. He loved the fiery side of her. “In the forest where nobody would hear her screams,” she continued.
“Damn, baby, you have a violent streak in you.”
“I do, for the ones I love.”
“Yeah…are you trying to tell me something without telling me something?” Lauren didn’t say anything, but he could hear her breathing. “Lauren?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m not expecting an answer.”
“Oh, good. ’Cause I can’t say what you want me to say. And I don’t want to hurt you by not saying it.”
“I know. Relax, baby. I called just to hear your voice. You make me stronger. And I can’t wait to see you in a few days.” His mother elbowed him then, pointing to herself. “And Mama can’t wait to see you too.” He laughed as she nodded her head eagerly.
“Aww, tell her I’m looking forward to seeing her too. But, Rick, how are we going to…you know?”
He looked over at his mom looking through a magazine. No doubt she was listening, but he would choose his words carefully. “I want to hear you say you know.”
“Fuck.” Rick shivered in his seat. “A lot.” His groin twitched at the prospect. “Over and—”
“Don’t say another word,” he interrupted her, making Lauren giggle wickedly. The phrase “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” was true, but distance also meant a lot of phone sex, and Lauren reigned superior in making him come before he made her.
“Are you sure?” she enticed.
“Quite sure. Thank you for the pep talk, babe.”
“Anytime, handsome. Bye.”
He ended the call, looking at his mom. “She said she’s looking forward to seeing you too.”
“She’s a good woman.”
“Yes, she is.”
The blue room was where the residents met with visitors. It was also where house meetings were held. Sheer curtains covered all three windows, bathing the space in a soft, warm glow. The room was long, with one seating area on the north end and a couch and two chairs divided by an oval coffee table. Rick and Izzy were seated on the south end of the room on a grey L-shaped sectional.
Rick’s leg shook as he anxiously waited for Renee to appear. It surprised him that she wasn’t waiting for him. She’d known they would be there at eleven. Typical Renee. Would she never change?
Izzy played with a brown bear plushie he’d bought her during Lauren’s visit a couple of weeks ago. Like him, she seemed unsure about being there as she looked over the room and then up at him for assurance.
