That Night (Coming Home To The Grove Book 4)

by Hope Ford

  But now I’ve lost my shot with her, and I suppose that’s what I deserve. I’m rich enough, but I’m not cultured or the kind of guy a beautiful woman like Olivia would probably want to be seen around with.

  Even though I didn’t get much sleep after getting Olivia’s rejection I figure I should go to the vet office and pick up the feed to get that done and over with so I can move on and put her out of my head.

  On my way, I stop at the corner market and pick up a bouquet of flowers. I tell myself it’s just to thank her for the great job she’s done with the animals, but there’s probably a part of me that’s hoping I can still win her over.

  When I pull in, Olivia is standing outside on the sidewalk with another man. I sit in my truck and watch them for a minute. They’re both laughing and the man reaches up to push her hair off her shoulder. Fuck me. Are you kidding me? Is this the Kyle?

  Since I’m parked in the pickup lane, I call inside to the clinic to let them know I’m parked at the dock and here to pick up my load.

  I lean against my tailgate, doing my best to not stare at Olivia with the other man.

  Eventually, I give up acting like I’m not staring. I’m looking straight at the asshole that keeps putting his hands on her. This has to be the Kyle.

  I put my hands deep into my jean pockets as if that’s going to stop me from punching the smile off the man with the perfect teeth and hair. Oh my God, is that Kyle Richards from the Mavericks? I squint my eyes a little to see him. It sure the fuck is. The Kyle that she’s seeing is none other than the Mavericks’ starting first baseman and the man that holds the records for most homeruns in the league. Fuck! I scream in my head. How the fuck am I supposed to compete with that?

  All I want to do is track down Kyle and beat the hell out of him, but I can’t do that.

  Olivia isn’t mine, and she doesn’t want me.

  The orange, red, and purple flowers are long forgotten in the passenger seat of the truck now.

  Olivia

  Kyle is a guy I’ve talked to a few times, but we figured out fast we made much better friends than we did anything else. He’s dropping by to make sure we’re still on for lunch to talk about our godparent duties to Brody and Rose’s child.

  Kyle is always a hugger, and he’s got me locked in tight when I spot Derrick in the parking lot. I’m outside on the sidewalk in front of the vet office next to the parking lot so I’m close enough to see the very serious, concentrated look on Derrick’s face. The look only grows sterner as Kyle keeps talking. Does he know Kyle? Does he not like him for some reason?

  As if Derrick’s opinion of him matters, I take a tiny step back and then realize I’m being ridiculous. He left you after having sex with you, Olivia. His opinion on anything doesn’t matter.

  “I can’t believe how great you look. I’ll have to hit that gym you told me about. You’ll have to tell me about what has you so radiant over lunch. Seriously, Olivia, I could kiss you.” I turn my face, knowing he means on the cheek.

  I see one of the assistants walk out with Derrick’s order, and he takes it from him easily and loads it into the back of his truck.

  “If you have a minute, I’d like to talk with you, Derrick,” I say to him across the way. I’m not sure if he even heard me because he doesn’t even meet my gaze. He’s too busy staring at Kyle. “Kyle, can you wait a second?”

  “Hey, no worries. I’ll let you get back to work. Just wanted to make sure we were still meeting for lunch.”

  “Yes, we’re still on. Noon, right?”

  “Yeah, sweetie. I’ll have to leave right after to fly out for Memphis and our next game.”

  “Well, I’m not even going to tell you good luck. You can take the Barrons. I have no doubt.”

  He gives me a high-five and walks over to his sports car.

  I don’t even wait for him to start his car before I’m walking toward Derrick’s truck. He doesn’t look my way, and before I can reach him, he’s pulling out of the parking lot. When he pulls out on the road, he’s squealing his tires as if he can’t get away fast enough.

  Well, I guess that means that today I get asshole Derrick.

  Shaking my head, I start walking toward the vet’s office, and right in the parking spot where Derrick was parked is a bouquet of orange, red and purple flowers. I look at them and then at the back of Derrick’s truck as it speeds down the road away from me.

  I bend and pick up the beautiful arrangement. When I look at the card, I’m shocked a little to see my name written in a tiny scrawl on the front.

  I put the arrangement under my arm and open the envelope. Thank you for everything Olivia. I’m glad I met you. Derrick.

  “What the—?” I say out loud.

  I’m so confused.

  13

  Olivia

  I stew over it all morning. In between patients, I do my best to try and figure it all out, but nothing makes sense.

  I have lunch with Kyle, and even he can tell I’m distracted. I assure him I’m okay, and we have a nice lunch while talking about our upcoming duties as godparents.

  I work the rest of the afternoon, and finally, because I can’t take it anymore, I know I need to talk to someone, I go over to the Forest Grove Inn hoping I can talk to Lacy a little bit.

  Instead of knocking on the screen door, I push it open. “Hello! Lacy, you here?” I call into the entryway.

  Lacy comes from the kitchen holding a towel and wiping her hands off. “Liv, hey, I didn’t know you were coming by. It’s so good to see you,” she tells me before bringing me in for a hug.

  “Well, I needed to talk. Do you have a few minutes?”

  She looks worried but doesn’t hesitate. “Absolutely. Come on, I’ll make some tea. Wait, or is this a hot chocolate talk?” she asks, looking at me over her shoulder as she holds the kitchen door open.

  “Definitely hot chocolate.”

  She purses her lips, knowing that there’s something wrong with me. Lacy is the nurturer of the group. She’s going to make me feel better, I know it. Even if it’s just listening to me get it all out.

  We chat while she makes the drinks, and when she sets the steaming cup of chocolatey goodness in front of me, she says, “Spill it.”

  I cover my face with my hands. God, where do I start?

  I put my hands down and lay them flat on the table. “I lied to you guys. But not because I wanted to or anything. I was embarrassed.”

  Her forehead creases even more. “What exactly did you lie about?”

  “Uh, well, Derrick didn’t leave me at the bar.”

  She shakes her head. “Why would you lie about that?”

  I can feel my face heat. “He left me at my house… the next morning.”

  She looks as if she still doesn’t get it. But I can see the second it starts to make sense and she smiles real big. “Ohhhhh!”

  “Yeah, well…” And I tell her everything. About us meeting and how it just felt right, and I took him home with me. I scan over quickly about the amazing sex because I’m sure she doesn’t want to hear about her fiance’s brother. I tell her about the way he just left the next morning. No goodbye, no see ya later, nothing. I even tell her about him taking me horseback riding. About him asking me out and then about this morning when he was at the clinic and obviously tossed out the flowers instead of giving them to me.

  When I finally finish, I stop suddenly, and I feel as if I’ve been running a race. She’s staring at me with the biggest look of confusion on her face. “It doesn’t make sense!” she exclaims.

  “I know it doesn’t. But I don’t know what to do about it. I mean, what does any of this mean?”

  She shakes her head and then straightens her back as if she’s made a decision. “You need to talk to him.”

  I’m shaking my head before she even finishes the sentence. “No, I can’t. He wants me, then he doesn’t want me, then he does. I just don’t know…”

  “Liv, listen to me. I know Derrick. I’ve known him all m
y life. He may have had sex with you the first night, but he’s never been known to be a player. If he likes you, it means something.”

  I open my mouth and slam it shut again before I finally get up the nerve to say what most worries me. “But what if he doesn’t? What if he’s just looking for another night and that’s it? I mean, he was irresistible, but I’m not going to be his booty call for whenever he’s in the mood.”

  Lacy rolls her eyes. “Well, he’s not like that. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Go talk to him. It’s eating you up inside. You need to find out what he’s thinking.”

  I think about it, and while I am, Lacy snaps her fingers. “He was jealous!”

  “What? Why? Of who?” I ask her.

  “Kyle. You said you were talking to Kyle when he pulled in. Maybe he was going to give you the flowers, saw you with Kyle, and left. It makes sense.”

  Jealous? Could Derrick Keller be jealous? He doesn’t seem the type, but also, if it’s possible, that could mean that he actually likes me. That he might want more than a one-night stand or some booty call.

  I’m nervous, but I finally give in to what she’s saying. She’s right. I’ve been so upside down with all of this, I know I need to work it out. And I’ve never been one to walk away from a problem. I need to face it head on. Even if it ends up breaking my heart.

  I thank Lacy for the hot chocolate and the talk and then go to the Keller Ranch.

  When I finally get up the nerve to knock on the door, Derrick swings it open and pushes the screen door so there’s nothing between us. “Where's your boyfriend?”

  “My boyfriend?”

  “Yeah, ya know. Kyle Richards, the pro baseball player.”

  “Kyle and I are just friends. We’re the godparents to Brody and Rose’s soon-to-be child.”

  “So he’s not your boyfriend?” Derrick reiterates.

  “No.”

  “But he called you early in the morning the day after we were together, and you said you were eating a bagel instead of telling him you were with me.”

  My eyes widen as I realize that this is why he left. He must have overheard me on the phone. “Of course I didn’t tell one of my friends that I was brushing my teeth so I could get back to having sex with a guy I met in a bar the night before. I mean, I didn’t even know your last name at that point.”

  He nods, his eyes almost wild as if he’s trying to process everything. As if he finally comes to some conclusion, his eyes stroke my body as they pass over me. “That’s all I wanted to know.” He takes my hand and pulls me into his house.

  As soon as we step in, I pull my hand back. “Wait. Not so fast. You’re hot, then cold, then hot again. I’m not just going to jump into bed with you. I know you probably think I’m easy now, but I promise you, I’m not just some…” I start to whisper. “I’m not just some booty call.”

  “I asked you to go on a date with me.”

  “Yeah, and I told you no because you made love… fucked me and then left the next morning without saying bye… not even thanks.”

  “You were right the first time.”

  I shake my head, so frustrated with this conversation. “What?”

  He pulls me to him and cups my ass in his hands, holding me tight against him. I can feel his hard cock pressed into my belly, but I don’t try to pull away. “What we did was more than just fucking, Olivia.”

  I stare up at him, speechless.

  He cups my face in one of his hands. “I started that night wanting a good time. No strings attached. But when I had you, I knew I wanted more. I never spend the night with anyone. I sure as hell don’t sleep with them and hold them in my arms all night. When I woke up, I was determined to convince you to go out with me, and then I heard you on the phone. I thought… and don’t get mad because honestly we didn’t really get to know each other, but I thought you had a boyfriend.”

  “You thought I was cheating on someone? I would never cheat.” I try to pull from his arms, but his hold tightens on me.

  “I know that now. None of it was making sense, but I was so pissed I didn’t try to work it out. I left… and I shouldn’t have. I want another chance,” he tells me matter-of-factly.

  I cock my head to the side to look at him, and I can see the hope flaring in his eyes. “Do you promise that if something like this happens again, you’re going to talk to me instead of jumping to conclusions?”

  “This won’t happen again.”

  “How do you possibly know that?”

  “Because I’m going to have you so exhausted you’re not going to be answering any phone calls from Kyle Richards at the butt crack of dawn anymore.”

  I swat him on the chest. “I’m being serious.”

  He bends down and picks me up, my legs instantly going around his waist. “So am I.”

  He starts to stride down the hallway, his mouth nuzzling my neck as he walks. “Where are you taking me?”

  “My bed. And I’m going to keep you there until I convince you that this is more than a one-night stand.”

  I pull back and look him in the face, wrapping my hand around the back of his neck. “You’re too tempting, Derrick Keller. You can have me. Whatever you want from me. But please don’t lead me on or hurt me. I don’t think I can handle it.”

  He walks into what I’m guessing is his bedroom and sits on the bed with me still in his lap. “There’s a lot I want to do to you. But I won’t hurt you or lead you on. I’m pretty sure we’re gonna have something good here, Olivia.”

  I could swoon right here at his feet. “Kiss me, Derrick. 'Cause I think I need some more convincing.”

  He presses his lips to mine before whispering against my lips, “We’ve got all the time in the world.”

  Hours later, after I’ve told him over and over that I need to get home and each time he’s found another way to keep me in his bed, he says, “The cabin is open if you want it.”

  I laugh and tease him. “Oh, now it’s open. You sure didn’t want me to stay on your ranch the other day.”

  He’s as sincere as he can be. “Yeah, but at that time I thought you were with someone else, and I knew it would be too tempting having you this close. But now that you’re mine, I want you to stay.”

  “I’m yours, huh?” I ask him as he kisses along my naked collarbone.

  “Yep, definitely. And I’m yours.”

  The renovations have started on my house, and already it’s been a pain in the butt. “I should wait, ya know, see how this goes.” I gesture between us.

  He pulls me over top of him, straddling him. His cock is hard between us. “I already know how this is going to go. I want you close.”

  My hands slide up his chest as I move my body over him. Like a wanton hussy, I rub myself against him. “Oh yeah? How close?”

  His hands go down between us, and he fists his cock before bringing it to my core and pushing his hips up to meet mine. A tremor shakes him. “Look at me,” he huskily whispers.

  When my gaze meets his, he tells me, “I don’t think we can ever be close enough.”

  I’m so overcome with emotion I can’t say anything. I don’t want to ruin it by saying words that I know are too early to say, even though in my heart I know I feel it. Instead of saying anything, I let the feeling take over, surround me, and make me whole. I start to move, his manhood plunges in and out of me, and I don’t stop until we’re both satisfied.

  Epilogue

  Olivia

  Being a rancher, Derrick wakes up and is in the shower when I get dressed. I write him a note and put my lipstick on to kiss it.

  Then as I reach the front door, he stops me. “Where are you going? Sneaking out?”

  “No,” I laugh. “I left you a note.”

  “Yeah, but then you gave this paper my kiss, and I want it.” He is wet in only a towel knotted around his waist. He crosses the space between us and pulls me against him, kissing me breathless and letting his towel drop as he trails hot wet kisses down my neck as he
unbuttons my blouse. “You don’t want to leave before I give you that special kiss that makes your toes curl, do you?”

  He’s already got my jeans down around my ankles while I very weakly remind him, “I have to go to work.”

  “You better get used to being a little late.” And he carries me over to the couch. I’m thrilled to hear it and consider opening the office an hour later on a regular basis.

  Epilogue 2

  Chrissy

  “So wait, hold up, I missed all this. He didn’t actually leave you at the bar?” I ask. I was late getting to Patty Cakes for what has turned into a weekly lunch with friends. I wish I could say I was late because I was doing something exciting, but I wasn’t. I was on the phone with my ex-husband. I don’t even know why I bother answering the phone anymore when I see it’s him. There’s never any good that will come from it.

  “Yes. I’m sorry I lied, Chrissy. I was so embarrassed about my one-night stand. But I shouldn’t have lied to you all,” Olivia apologizes.

  Derrick’s always been a great guy. A little gruff and rough around the edges, but he’s a good guy. I can’t hide my surprise when I ask, “So wait, it was Derrick that left you the morning after?”

  Olivia smiles. “Yeah, it was all a misunderstanding. He heard me on the phone with Kyle telling him that I would meet up with him. He thought Kyle was my boyfriend and I was playing him.”

  All the women around the table laugh at that. Olivia’s definitely not some femme fatale.

  “So from the smile on your face, I’m guessing that you guys have worked it out?”