Closing her eyes in bliss, Rae leaned against the back of the elevator car. “Oh my God, I’m so stuffed.”
“I second that.”
Her eyes opened to smile at me. “This has been such a wonderfully romantic night.”
“I would argue that the night is still young.”
With a giggle, Rae replied, “It’s almost nine o’clock. That’s like midnight back home.”
“I had something else in mind for us to do.”
As we stepped off the elevator and into the hotel lobby, Rae eyed me suspiciously. “It doesn’t involve getting a room here, does it?”
I laughed. “Would you give me a little credit on the sex-fiend front?”
Her face softened. “Okay. My apologies.”
When we walked outside into the chilly night air, I motioned to the horse-drawn carriage among the taxis and Uber drivers. “Would a carriage ride be considered romantic or cheesy?”
“It would be romantically cheesy.” Rae winked. “And I would love it.”
“Then your carriage awaits, Cinderella.” Holding out my hand, I helped her into the carriage. After Rae was seated, I climbed in beside her.
“Is this something else you arranged while I was getting ready?” Rae asked as the carriage lurched forward.
“Yes. I sure did.”
With a teasing smile, Rae asked, “What would have happened if I’d turned my nose up at the idea?”
“I would have pretended not to have anything to do with it while secretly paying the driver through my Apple wallet.”
“I see,” Rae replied with a laugh.
I winked at her. “But I had it on good authority that you would probably like it.”
Rae’s brows creased. “Good authority?”
“I texted Kennedy and Ellie to get their opinion.”
“Then I’ll have to make sure I thank them as well.” After leaning her head against my shoulder, a happy sigh escaped Rae’s lips. “Thank you for a truly beautiful date night.”
“I did do pretty well on short notice, didn’t I?”
She grinned up at me. “Yes, Mr. Egomaniac, you did.”
“In all seriousness, I’m glad you’ve enjoyed yourself. I can’t remember the last time I had such an easy and relaxed night in the city. I’ve loved every minute, Rae.” It had been so long since I’d wanted to put so much effort into one night. When did I become so shallow and . . . easy? Once again, she had brought something out in me that had been somewhat suppressed. Defeated.
Rae’s happy expression faded slightly. “While tonight is so very magical, I’m already dreading tomorrow when my carriage turns back into a pumpkin.”
“What are you talking about?”
“When you have to take me back home tomorrow.”
I shook my head. “Just because you’re going back home, doesn’t mean we’ll never see each other again. I plan to stay in Hayesville with you.”
Her eyes widened. “You do?”
“At least for the next week or so until I’m needed in the studio.” After her stunned silence, I added, “Well, that’s only if you want me to stay.”
She grinned. “Of course, I want you to stay. You just took me off guard.”
“Not only are you surprised, I’m sure Rejune will be thrilled to have me back at the Grandview.”
Rae groaned. “I swear, if we had any spare room at the house, I’d have you stay with me.”
“For some reason, I don’t think that would go over very well with Aunt Sadie or your dad.”
“Probably not, but I’d be willing to risk their wrath to have you out of Rejune’s clutches.”
I chuckled. “Babe, you have nothing to worry about in that department.”
“I know, but I’d also prefer to have you as close to me as possible.”
“I like that idea as well.” Nuzzling her neck, I added, “Especially when it came to bedtime.”
A snort escaped her lips. “Of course you would mention bedtime.”
“I can’t help it. You drive me absolutely fucking wild with desire.”
As Rae gazed up at me, I saw the question in her eyes. I shook my head at her. “You really don’t know how incredibly sexy you are, do you?”
“Maybe.” She smiled. “But I wouldn’t mind you telling me more.”
“If I tell you more, I’m going to want to ravish you.”
As lust glittered in her dark eyes, it seemed Rae had abandoned her all-romance-and-no-sex resolve. “I can live with that.” Oh yeah, she’d definitely abandoned it.
When I pulled the blanket over our laps, Rae gave me a questioning look. “What are you doing?”
“Keeping us warm.”
“But it’s not that cold outside.”
“I’m aware of the temperature.” I slid my hand up her thigh and then between her legs.
“What are you doing?” she hissed as her wild gaze spun from me to the driver and then back.
“Shh, just go with it.”
“But the driver—” I cut her protests off by rubbing her pussy. Pinching her eyes shut, Rae bit down on her lip. As I worked her clit over her panties, she began to slowly raise her hips.
Dipping my head, I whispered into her ear. “Would you like more?”
“Yes,” she panted.
“What do you want?”
“Your fingers inside me.”
I obliged her request by slipping two fingers into her panties and then plunging them deep inside her. “Oh God!” she shrieked.
Her reaction caused the driver to glance at us over his shoulder. “You better be quiet or the driver is going to keep watching me finger-fuck you under this blanket.”
She bobbed her head while once again biting down on her lip. As I increased the pace of my fingers, Rae began working her hips faster against my hand. When I felt her walls begin to tighten, I said, “Go on, babe, let yourself go. Come out here under the skyline.”
Rae didn’t have to be told twice. As her walls tensed around my fingers, one of her hands gripped my shoulder while the other gripped the seat. Even as her eyes rolled back in her head with pleasure, she somehow managed not to cry out.
Once her walls had stopped convulsing, I drew my hand out of her panties before bringing my fingers to my lips. Rae gazed at me through hooded eyes as I licked her off my fingers. When I finished, she adjusted her skirt before she sat up straighter in the seat. She threw a glance at the driver before turning to face me. “I think it’s time to repay the favor.”
“You do?”
She cupped my erection under the blanket. “It’s either that or have you walking funny when the ride ends.”
I grinned. “I suppose we don’t have a choice.”
After she unzipped my fly, her hand dove inside my pants. I sucked in a breath when she took my cock in her hands.
“I wish I could have my mouth around your dick right now instead of my hand.”
“You do?”
“Mmhmm. I love the way it feels to have my mouth filled with you.”
“What else would you do if my dick was in your mouth?”
“I’d lick the head before I sucked it deep inside. Then I’d slide you in and out, twirling my tongue around your underside. I’d pump you with my hand just like I’m doing now.”
Oh fuck. Rae and the dirty talk were driving me wild. Throw in the fact that I was getting a public hand job, and I was flying high.
“When I tasted your pre-cum, I’d slide you deeper into my mouth while my hand worked you even harder. With my free hand, I’d cup your balls, kneading them between my fingers. Then when you got close, I’d keep you buried in my mouth.”
“You’d let me come in your mouth?” I said, panting and raising my hips against her hand.
“Oh yes. After you came in my mouth, I’d swallow all of you down. Then I’d make sure to lick every drop off your cock.”
Her words and the mental imagery had me throwing back my head as I blew my load on her hand and the blanket. Givin
g Rae a satisfied smile, I said, “That was fucking mind-blowing.”
“I’d have to agree.”
After I cleaned myself off Rae’s hand, I balled the blanket back up into the floor. I looked up to find the driver had pulled the carriage over to the sidewalk at the Hilton. “Okay. That’s the tour.”
“Thanks, man,” I said as I hopped down. After I helped Rae from the carriage, I pulled my wallet out of my suit pocket and took out two crisp one-hundred-dollar bills.
When I handed them to the driver, his eyes widened. “Thank you, sir.”
“You might not be saying that when you have to throw that blanket away.”
“Excuse me?”
“Let’s just say that tip also covers a new blanket.”
As the realization of what I meant washed over him, he quickly nodded his head. “Got it.” At the same time, Rae squeaked and hurried away. I knew I had embarrassed her by mentioning our escapade in front of the driver.
When I finally caught up with her, she was waiting in front of the Mercedes—her face still flushed from mortification. Although she protested slightly, I pulled her into my arms and kissed her. It had been too long since I’d had her lips on my lips, her taste in my mouth. God, I would never get enough of her. “I’m sorry for embarrassing you,” I murmured against her lips.
“You better be.”
“Is there some way I can make it up to you?”
Tilting her head, she looked thoughtfully up at me. “A chick flick on Netflix followed by some orally induced orgasms.”
I laughed. “Hmm, I think that can be arranged.”
“Good. I’m also going to want French toast from Rafferty’s on the way home.”
“You don’t want much, do you?” I countered as we slipped into the car.
With a smile, she snuggled against me. “Would it be too much to ask for you, too?” Hell, no. I was hers. Undeniably, irrevocably hers.
“You have me—mind, body, and soul.”
“And heart?”
“Always.” Without a doubt in my mind.
One month later
It was just a usual Friday morning that found me out working in the warehouse, rather than behind my desk. Armed with my clipboard of paperwork, I was inspecting the progress on some of our latest jobs. Since I’d starting dating Gabe, Fridays were spent counting down the hours until I could see him. Either he would drive up to Hayesville or I’d drive into Atlanta, and sometimes we would meet halfway to stay in the guesthouse at Abby and Jake’s farm.
True to his word, he spent two weeks with me before he had to return to Atlanta to begin work in the studio. We’d have breakfast together at my house. Then I’d go to work, and he’d go do what I joked were his musicly things. When lunch rolled round, he would bring food to the shop. Most days, he would bring lunch for my dad as well, and the three of us would eat together. He’d quickly picked up the names of most of the men who worked for us, and like Dad, he would hang around shooting the shit, until it was time for Linc to get in from school.
Sometimes we would sneak in a quickie. We’d gotten pretty creative with picking locations, and some of my favorites were banging in the back seats of some of the abandoned cars in the junkyard.
Once Linc arrived home from school, Gabe’s attention became focused on him. He helped him with his homework and made sure he had a somewhat healthy afterschool snack. They would sometimes disappear for hours on end somewhere away from the shop. Whenever I would question what they were doing, Gabe would tell me they were just throwing a football around. I knew he was secretly hoping to get me to lighten up on Linc’s desire to play guitar.
Although I’d been heartbroken when he’d had to go back to Atlanta, Gabe worked double time to make it seem like we weren’t apart. There were Facetime chats through the day, as well as some late at night for phone sex. While I’d been skeptical at first about if we could make a long-distance relationship work, things had rolled along well these last two weeks. Still, I did worry about what it would be like when Gabe went back on the road. Even though he assured me it wouldn’t be as bad as I feared, I still couldn’t help being worried.
I’d just finished inspecting the replacement of a rear deferential when I heard my name called. When I looked up, I saw one of the mothers from Linc’s class in the doorway. I hurried across the floor to meet her.
“Hey Britt. What seems to be the problem?”
An embarrassed flush filled her cheeks. “I sort of ran off in a ditch on the way home last night. I think I’ve done something to the front wheels.”
Smiling, I said, “Well, you’ve certainly come to the right place.” I scribbled on my notepad. “I’ll get someone to head outside and check on your front-end alignment.”
“Thanks, Rae.” As I started to call for one of the guys, Britt said, “You know, I didn’t think I’d find you here this morning.”
“Oh? Why not?” I questioned absently as I craned my neck to see who might be free.
“I figured you’d be at the school.”
Shiiiiit. With being hot and heavy with Gabe, had I somehow forgotten something important at Linc’s school? “Uh, remind me again what’s happening at school today?”
“It’s the talent show.” Britt rolled her eyes in a huff. “I would be there myself if Mackensie hadn’t chickened out at the last minute and refused to do the number she’s been practicing for weeks on the piano.”
I furrowed my brows at her. “What does the talent show have to do with Linc?”
“He’s playing Love Me Tender on the guitar.”
“Excuse me?”
Britt looked taken aback. “That’s just what the program said.”
I shook my head. “There must be some mistake. Linc doesn’t even own a guitar. How could he be performing today?”
After digging in her purse, Britt produced a folded red sheet. “Here. See for yourself,” she said as she handed it to me.
When I gazed down at the program, I couldn’t believe my eyes. There it was in black lettering: Lincoln Hart—Love Me Tender, guitar solo. Blinking, I tried fighting the feeling that I had slipped into some alternate universe. The one thing I did know was that I needed to get to the school and find out what the hell was going on.
“Thanks, Britt. I, um, I gotta go.”
“Rae?” Britt questioned as I sprinted past her and out the door. Of course, I realized halfway to my car that I didn’t have my keys. After turning around, I hurried back inside, and Britt once again asked, “Rae?”
“I’m sorry. I just came back in to get my keys.” Once I had retrieved my purse from the office, I grabbed the first man I saw, which happened to be Donnie Granger. “Go take care of Britt’s car.”
Wide-eyed at my breathless request, Donnie nodded. After getting in my vehicle, I tore out of the parking lot on two wheels. I didn’t bother telling Dad or the others where I was going. Although it took less than five minutes to walk to Hayesville Elementary, I didn’t want to waste any time.
After slinging my Passport into the first empty parking space I came across, I flung the door open and jogged inside the building then hurried down the empty hallways to the auditorium. When I threw open the door, I heard an upbeat tempo blaring from the speakers. A group of girls was doing a choreographed hip-hop dance.
When the routine ended, the principal came to the microphone. “Thank you Jenna, Keri, and Melissa for that wonderful dance. Next up we have Lincoln Hart.”
My heart leapt into my throat at the sound of his name. Although I should have been glad I hadn’t missed his performance, it just drove home the fact that it was really happening. Linc was playing the guitar—and not only was he playing the guitar, he was doing it in front of an audience. I suddenly had a flashback of middle school when Ryan had sung and played the guitar part for The Thunder Rolls by Garth Brooks. “This seriously can’t be happening,” I murmured.
As Linc walked out from behind the curtain, my chest ached. My somewhat shy son was beaming as
he gazed out into the crowd. Somehow between home and school, he’d added a tie to the white button-down shirt he had put on that morning. He must’ve packed it in his backpack where I wouldn’t see it.
Linc sat down in a chair in the center of the stage. After adjusting the guitar on his lap, he began to strum the opening chords. It made sense that he had chosen Love Me Tender—Dad was a huge Elvis Presley fan, and I was sure he’d heard the song countless times.
He played the entire song flawlessly. When he finished and applause rang out in the auditorium, his smile stretched from ear to ear. After standing up, he even took a bow. In that moment, it seemed as if he was born to perform.
Agony burned its way through my chest while tears pricked my eyes. So much of me wanted to be applauding just like the others in the auditorium, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I felt like the worst mother in the world for not embracing not only my son’s talent, but also his pure unadulterated happiness, but each time I started to bring my hands together, I flashed back to that scene with Ryan.
No. No. No! I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t lose Linc to music. Even though it seemed extreme, I just couldn’t let him become his father.
After he disappeared behind the curtain, I made my way backstage. Part of me felt like an asshole for confronting him now, like I should have let him bask in his moment of glory for the day before coming down on him when I picked him up from school. But, the other part of me wanted answers to the questions burning through my mind. How and when had he learned the guitar? After I had refused to get him one, where on earth had he gotten a guitar?
Weaving my way through kids and parents, I finally saw him. He had his back to me and was chattering incessantly to someone just outside my field of vision. He gesticulated wildly while bouncing on the balls of his feet. Just as I got to him, the person leaned in to hug Linc.
My heart shuddered to a stop, and I fought to breathe.
Gabe?
I shook my head furiously from side to side as if I could somehow clear my head and not see him before me. He couldn’t possibly be standing with my son and congratulating him on doing something he knew I had forbidden. Surely Gabe would never go behind my back like that. He’d said he’d support my decisions as a parent.
Jacob’s Ladder: Gabe Page 20
