by Ciana Stone
"Help me what?"
"Oh, for crying out loud, plan your wedding. I am the maid-of-honor, right?"
"Who else would I ask?"
"Well, there you go. Now, if you'll excuse me, there are some hot SEALs I need to thank." She walked away, thinking about Russell Walker, the deal she'd made with him and the promise she'd made to herself.
No matter how much she wanted to, she wasn't getting involved with him. For once, she was going to focus completely on the task at hand and keep her damn libido locked up.
That's just how it had to be. At least with him. Now if any of these SEAL's were single, that was going to be a whole new ballgame.
Chapter Sixteen
Reese and Mathias lay on an old quilt he'd spread on the dock, naked and satisfied from what she thought was one of the best sexual experiences of her life. Twilight was upon them, and the air was starting to cool.
As they lay there, they talked about what had happened since they returned home. Reese was telling him about Naomie having dinner with the Walker family. "She said her ovaries started singing God Bless America when she met the Walker family at dinner last night," Reese said and chuckled. "But she promised to keep her libido locked up and out of trouble."
"Is that a problem for her?"
Reese rolled her eyes. "Naomie is not a chaste woman. She's passionate about everything and has a very healthy sexual appetite."
"That's right, you and she were lovers once upon a time."
"Yes."
"And?"
"And what?"
"Was it good? The sex?"
"It was. For what it was. I mean, it wasn't like making love with a man. Different equipment and all that. But she's very good with her hands and mouth."
"Would it make you mad or grossed out if I said that's kind of a turn on?"
"No, not at all."
"You really are one of a kind." His phone rang, and he reached out and checked the caller ID. "Deacon."
"Answer it."
"Deacon? Really? Yeah, amazing. Okay, great. Yep. Bye." He put the phone down. "Apparently the baby actually grabbed Deacon's finger on purpose, demonstrating progress of some sort."
"They're so proud of him. What did they decide to call him? Last I heard they were waffling between Michael and Wayne."
"Michael. Anyway, they wanted us to ride over for a little while."
"This evening?"
"If you're up for it."
"Of course, it's your nephew. I know you love seeing him."
"I do."
"Then we should get ready and go."
"We will. First, I want to ask. When do you want to have the wedding and where?"
"I was thinking around Christmas, and Mercy suggested we do it here. If that's okay?"
"It is very much okay. What do you want me to do?"
"Just love me. Come home to me at the end of the day, run naked through the woods with me or go skinny dipping, and make love under the stars. Be my friend, my confidant and my lover and let me be yours."
"That sounds perfect."
"To me too. Want to share a beer to celebrate before we get ready to go?"
"Absolutely."
"Okay, I'll be right back." He gave her a kiss, then got up and headed for the house. She watched him, and when he stepped off the dock, onto the grass, he looked back over his shoulder.
"Caught ya."
Reese laughed. "No shame."
Mathias smiled and continue on toward the house. Reese watched him, thinking how full of surprise life could be. Here she was, a woman who'd grown up convinced that dreams were just wishes that could never come true and that love was a fairy tale meant only for stories.
And look at her now. A woman who counted every day as a blessing, because astonishingly, dreams can come true.
Even those you were afraid to wish for.
An Excerpt
Chapter One
So here's where it all begins. Or ends.
Either way, life was never going to be the same again. If there was life after what happened next. There were two ways she could play this. The first was, play weak and beg, or the second was the way her mama had raised her, hands on her hips and ready to rumble.
Tallulah, or Lula as she was most often called, chose her mama's way because she wasn't about to beg this sorry sack of shit for anything. "I'll tell you what." Her hands went onto her hips. "If you don't put that gun away your buddies are going to see you get your ass kicked by a girl."
That probably wasn't the smartest challenge. Men hate to be called down by a woman, particularly in front of their friends. But this one had crossed a line when he shoved that five-dollar bill into the band of her thong and then tried to pull the thong clean off her body.
As if he hadn't seen darn near all there was to see of her. Not to mention there was a strict no-touch rule. That's the only reason she took the job. She wasn't ashamed of what nature had blessed her with and didn't give a hoot about men watching her do a silly pole dance, but she was a "touch when invited" kind of girl and she rarely invited anyone to touch.
She didn't go into personal policy but did point out the "no touching" rule that was clearly posted. He called her a whore and he jerked her off the stage. That's when she slugged him. The way his eyes rolled around she though that might be the end of it.
Luck wasn't with her, though. As soon as his head whipped back into normal position he pulled the gun.
Now they stared at one another like the gunslingers of old, sizing each other up and looking for weakness. Lula wasn't at all sure, he would back off. "I tell you what, cunt." He looked around at the crowd that'd gathered and grinned before returning his attention to her. "You drop to your knees and suck my dick and maybe I won't blow your fucking brains out."
Just as the thought crossed her mind that she'd take a bullet rather than suck anything of his a deep male voice from the edge of the crowd brought silence to the place.
"Or..." The people parted to make way. "...you hand over the gun and leave before I get angry."
Well, hellooooo Thor. Lula was as surprised as her nemesis when a man emerged from the crowd. And holy Asgardians, what a man. Well over six feet, with a mane of blond hair, eyes the color of frost and a body build for either fighting or sinning, maybe a whole lot of both and she'd opt for the latter if given a choice.
That, however, was a fantasy for another day because right now she saw the uncertainty on her opponent's face and inwardly cheered. Apparently so did his friends because one of them egged him on. "Shoot that fucker, Earl."
Earl didn't have a chance to turn the gun on Thor before the gun was in Thor's hand and Earl's eyes were rolling back in his head from a punch that sent him crashing like a felled tree. Lula wanted to cheer, but instead, tripped one of Earl's friend who decided he was brave enough to go after Thor.
Many times, in her life she'd heard tales of people "mopping up the floor" with those who stood against them. This time she saw for herself the expression come to life. Thor mowed through those rednecks like a god, even taking time to give her a wink when she yelled a warning about someone behind him.
All in all, from start to finish, the fight lasted about two minutes, but by gosh it was an exciting two minutes. When the bouncers finally shouldered their way through the throng of people, Thor handed them the gun, turned and stuck out his hand, palm up, to Lula.
Lula was many things, but one thing she was not, was fool enough to say no to the mighty god of the Asgardians. Thor was her savior and, okay, so he wasn't really Thor, but a gal could dream and she'd yet to see anything in real life that had come close to what she was looking at now.
So, naturally, she put her hand in his. He led her to the back of the crowd. "Are you okay?"
Lula whipped off the lace mask she used to conceal her identity. "Of course, I am. You saved me, Thor."
He laughed. "My name's not Thor, it's Linc."
"Tonight, it's Thor."
"Is that so?"
/> "Absolutely. And thank you. I'm Tallulah Christmas Sumpter, but you can call me Lula and I owe you."
"You're welcome, Lula, but you don't owe me anything."
"Oh, I'm quite sure I do. You see, I knew that either my life was going to end or begin, depending on what Buttwipe did with that gun. And thanks to you, the first night of the rest of my life begins now, so I feel that deserves a special thank you."
"Ah, well, when you put it that way, what did you have in mind?"
She smiled up at him. "Let me get dressed and I'll show you."
"Okay, I'll wait for you right here."
"Be back in a flash, Thor." Lula didn't believe for a moment that he would be waiting when she returned, but she hurried to the dressing room to change.
Chapter Two
Linc hadn't gone to the club outside of town with any expectations. He'd been there once, right after he moved to Cotton Creek. That visit had netted him a lot of phone numbers from the dancers and he'd just recently depleted the list.
He didn't think he'd be accepting dates from any of them again. Linc was always surprised at how quickly women could make the leap between a date and a relationship. Maybe he was simply dating the wrong women, or women in the wrong age bracket.
That latter might be close to the truth. Since he'd been in Cotton Creek he'd dated exactly two women over the age of 35 and those were two who were bi-sexual and liked threesomes so maybe they didn't count. Although they had suggested that maybe they would make a good permanent threesome.
Linc had to decline. Not that it wasn't entertaining, but one woman at a time was enough and he didn't really get off watching them pleasure one another. Color him odd.
The problem with dating when you hit your mid-forties is that women your own age were either divorced with children, or they'd never been married and were quite desperate to do so.
He wasn't much interested in either sect.
Which left him with younger women.
Not all of it was bad, but he was honest enough to know that all too often the younger ones were simply looking for a sugar-daddy or a temporary relationship where they didn't have to pay the bills, had sex whenever they wanted and generally got to relax.
Sadly, that didn't much appeal to him anymore.
Which brought him to this moment in time. Ending one of the most unusual nights he'd spent in a very long time, with a woman who was anything but ordinary.
"More?" she lifted the Mason jar of moonshine.
"I'm good, thanks. That fish was fantastic. I don't meet many women willing to catch, clean and cook them."
"Mama always said that you shouldn't expect others to do things you wouldn't go yourself. Besides, Papa taught me to do that before I was eight years old. Oh, look, the sky is starting to change. It's almost a new day."
"It's pretty here," Linc commented as he looked out over the expanse of water and the land bordering it.
"Isn't it? I was so luck to find this place to rent and honestly, I have those ladies at the Honky Tonk to thank. I'd just gotten to town and was staying at that motel off the highway. The desk clerk—well one of them, said that the Honky Tonk was a great place to eat and meet people so I headed over on a Wednesday night.
"Sure enough the place was rocking, and the owners were the friendliest gals I've ever had the pleasure to meet. I told them I was looking for a place to rent and they put me in touch with their Daddy, Mr. Billy Sweet. Honey, he must know everyone in this county and inside of two days, he called and said he'd found the perfect place."
Lula raised her arms and turned in her chair, looking for all the world like the pretty woman in a game show who gestures to the prizes. "And look. It's the cutest place, isn't it? And right here on the lake. Bonus, baby. Plus, there's a nice canoe and a kayak, the fishing poles and enough privacy that I can go skinny dipping any time I want."
"I'd say you scored, Lula." Linc raised his glass then polished off the last swallow of moonshine.
"Amen to that. Say, you want to take a swim?"
"Sure."
"Last one in's a rotten egg!"
With that, she bounded up and off the deck. Linc chuckled as he watched. She first shed her hair, which kind of surprised him. That must be one hell of an expensive wig, because until now he thought she was a blonde.
Next, her shorts were left behind, then her top. Clad only in a pair of thong panties, she hit the water at a run, splashed several steps and dove.
Linc stripped down to his boxer briefs and followed, but at a leisurely pace. He waded out into the cool water, feeling a hint of a shiver dance across his skin. Just as he reached waist deep she rose up in front of him.
Maybe it was the moonshine, or the predawn light that had mist rising from the lake and giving everything an otherworldly feel. Whatever the case, at that moment he thought that he'd never seen a woman more beautiful.
Blessed with the most unusual violet eyes, sitting beneath elegantly arched brows and rimmed with thick dark eyelashes, her skin bore testimony to a mixed heritage. Too dark for Caucasian, too light for African American, and with a touch of something else that seemed evident in her high cheekbones and long neck, she was an eclectic blend.
Her nearly waist length dark hair clung to her full and obviously real breasts. She seemed unconcerned with her nudity and he wondered if that was a result of what she did, or she was just naturally uninhibited.
"Wow, Thor, you're really something." She smiled up at him.
"I'm not—"
"Sure, you are. Until the sun is up and then the magic is over and you're back to being plain ol' sexy as sin, Lincoln Shaw, Army Ranger and blacksmith. But until then, you're Thor, my hero."
Linc chuckled and lowered himself into the water. "I somehow get the idea that you'd have done quite well on your own. You seem pretty self-sufficient."
"Thanks to my family."
"Indeed. Which begs a question. Why are you here? So far from your family, whom you obviously adore?"
The tears that suddenly spilled down her cheeks both surprised and alarmed him. "Lula, I'm—"
Before he could finish his apology, she turned and dove. Linc watched and waited for her to surface. What the hell had just happened?
He felt her hands on his sides a moment before she appeared. Lula looped her arms around his neck and hoisted herself up to wrap her legs around him. Her skin was cool, her nipples hard from the chill of the water.
"Before the magic ends," she said and kissed him.
She still tasted of apple shine. Her lips were full and soft against his, parting to allow the kiss to deepen.
Linc had to give her credit. Lula knew how to kiss. Five seconds into the kiss he was at attention and ready to take things to the next level. His hand moved beneath her, to cup her ass. When he moved his hand and his fingers brushed the side of her sex, she ended the kiss.
"We haven't gotten there yet."
"No?"
She smiled at him and pushed away. "Oh Thor, I hope you're not one of those men that thinks just because a girl dances in next to nothing, she's automatically going to agree to sex."
"No, I'm not."
"Good. And look, the sun's up. Time for you to go and me to sleep."
She headed for the shore and with no other options available, he followed. When she reached the deck, she stopped on the step, wrung out her hair and then disappeared inside. By the time he'd reached the deck, she returned with two towels, offered him one and wrapped the other around herself.
Linc dried and dressed, noticing that she did nothing but lean against the railing and watch. He sat to put on socks and boots, then stood. Lula walked over to him. "I enjoyed spending the night with you, Lincoln Shaw and hope I see you again."
"No more Thor?"
She smiled. "Perhaps, the next time magic happens. But for now, thank you for coming to my rescue, for being a gentleman and not pressing for more."
He reached for her hand, lifted it and kissed the knuckles. "In all hones
ty, this is the most enjoyable night I've spent with anyone in a long time, so thank you, Tallulah Christmas Sumpter. I hope I'll see you again soon. Any chance you'd give me your phone number?"
"Oh, I think I can see my way clear to do that. As long as you give me yours."
"Are you going to call me, Lula?"
"I just might. Come on inside. My phone's in the kitchen."
It didn't take long to exchange phone numbers and when that was done, she walked him out to his truck. "Be safe, Lincoln. I'll be talking to you."
"You bet. Sleep well."
She smiled and stepped back. Linc noticed that she watched until he'd backed up and turned around. Then she raised her hand and waved before turning to head back to the house.
He waved and drove away, thinking that this had, without a doubt been the most unique night he'd ever spent with a woman. He didn't know much about the facts of Lula's life, but what he did know made him interested to learn more.
Dating suddenly seemed interesting again.
Chapter Three
"Whoa." Lula stopped dead in her tracks and watched the two women sparring in the ring. "That is so totally bad-ass."
The manager, Dan Wilson, who was showing her around, smiled. "That's Deputy Charli Judd and Dr. Reese Quinn. They're regulars."
"Wow, Deputies and Doctors don't look like that where I come from." She watched for a few more seconds then looked at Dan. "Okay, so where were we? Oh yes, so you have weights, weight machines, peg boards on the wall for climbing, ropes for climbing and battle ropes and cardio machines and a sparring ring and – what about stuff for women not really into a lot of heavy-duty weight workouts?"
"You look pretty fit and defined. You don't do weights?"
"No, poles."
"Pardon?"
"Poles. As in pole dance?"
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, it's a great workout."
"Can you do any of it on a climbing rope?" He gestured toward the thick rope hanging from the ceiling.
"Sure. It's called rope dancing."
"Could you show me? And before you think I'm being a creep, I ask because we have women come in all the time who walk away without joining because we don't have anything that appeals to them."
