Beyond the Orange Moon (Mathews Family Book 2)

by Adrienne Frances

  Charlie smirked a little. “Death isn’t shit.”

  “Louder!” Carl had said, and grabbed Charlie’s face.

  “Death isn’t shit!” Charlie roared into the air, his mouth in a full on grin.

  “Good.” Carl had smiled and nodded. “Now, let’s get a beer.”

  Charlie’s eyes had widened as the smile faded from his mouth. “A beer? Dad, I can’t have a beer.”

  Carl had smiled and let go of Charlie. “I have a few months left. Nobody’s telling me I can’t have a beer with my son.” He walked to the truck, and grabbed a bottle from the back. He opened it and took a drink, before handing it to Charlie.

  Charlie hadn’t hesitated. He pulled the bottle from his father’s hands and took a large swig. He handed the bottle back to his father and smiled.

  “I’m going to act like that was your first time drinking a beer and you didn’t just look like a pro,” Carl had teased.

  After the beer was finished, the two had picked up the Harley and loaded it into the back of Carl’s truck.

  “We need to stop and get some gum,” Carl had said before starting the truck. “Your mother can’t smell that beer on you.”

  “What happened to your ‘nobody’s telling me I can’t have a beer with my son’ speech?”

  “I meant the drinking law, son,” Carl had said with a shake of his head. “That didn’t include your mother. That woman can level us all with just one look. I don’t want to mess with that. Do you want to mess with that?”

  Amused, Charlie had shaken his head. “Nope.”

  Six months later, Carl was gone.

  Looking back now, Charlie would like to be able to say that he had handled the day he watched his father slip away like the man his father had asked him to be. Maybe he had, in a way. He’d held his father’s hand and cried into his chest, but he had promised him that he would learn to take a hit and he would always get back up.

  Right now, however, he wasn’t getting back up and he was failing his father.

  Charlie let go of that memory and looked back into the window of Ollie’s. He smiled as he watched Ben and Jonah laughing at the bar. They were two of the smartest idiots he had ever known and they had just made him realize how lucky he was to have them.

  He swung one leg over his father’s old Harley and paused. He wiped the sweat from his palms on his faded jeans and then looked at his trembling hand. The silver ring gleaming up at him held more meaning than it had the first time he’d put it on. He’d thought he would always wear it, but sometimes life doesn’t go the way we plan. He pulled the ring from his finger and held it between his forefinger and thumb as he watched it sparkle in the sun.

  “I will always carry you in my heart, Meredith,” he whispered, before bringing the ring to his lips and kissing her goodbye.

  He slid the ring into his pocket, and brought the roaring engine of his Harley to life. It was time for him to restart his own life.

  It was time to look beyond the orange moon.

  * * *

  Lucy slammed her fist down on a freezer bag full of potato chips and felt the pent-up frustration leave her with each strike. She could have used a food processor to crush the chips, but her fist was killing two birds with one stone and doing both jobs just fine.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Lydia asked, peering over Lucy’s shoulder. “Why are you doing that to the chips?”

  Lucy turned her chin in Lydia’s direction. “I’m putting them on the chocolate cupcakes.”

  Lydia sighed and took a step back. “Of course you are. I mean, why wouldn’t you be doing that, right?”

  “Oh ye of little faith,” Lucy replied. “You trusted the bacon and cheese cupcakes; now trust this.”

  Lydia headed back to the front of the café. Before she made her way through the swinging doors, though, she stared at Lucy for a few moments and gave her a proud smile. “I’m happy you’re back.”

  Lucy stopped pounding and met Lydia’s warm eyes. “I know.”

  “Can I fire April now?”

  A giggle ripped through Lucy’s chest. “Please do.”

  Lucy gave the potato chips two more smashes even though they didn’t need them, and held up the bag to inspect the crumbs. “Perfect,” she said to no one.

  She grabbed her pan full of unbaked cupcakes and smelled the ingredients that combined to create the ultimate chocolate cupcake. She could hardly wait for their aroma to dance around the room while they were baking. It was a miracle what a little flour, butter, sour cream, chocolate, and cocoa could do.

  She opened the bag of chips and pulled out a pinch of crumbs. They were salty, greasy chips, unhealthy and yummy. The combination of salt and chocolate would do wonders for the taste buds. Why hadn’t she thought of this before? She sprinkled chips over each cupcake, and wiped her greasy hands on her apron.

  As she slid the cupcakes into the waiting oven, she heard the doors swing open again. “Did you put the help wanted ad out yet?” she asked.

  When she didn’t get an answer, she turned around and nearly lost her breath. “Charlie?”

  With his hands in his pockets and an unreadable look in his eyes, Charlie leaned one narrow hip against the wall. Her eyes wandered from his head to his feet, taking in his faded jeans, tight gray T-shirt with aviator sunglasses hanging at the neck, and beautiful, sun-kissed skin.

  “What are you doing here?” she said, her voice hoarse with surprise.

  He pushed himself from the wall and took a careful step toward her. “I came to see you,” he said gently.

  His eyes landed on something behind her. She followed his gaze and her cheeks began to flush the moment she realized that he was looking at the stainless steel countertop that he had put her on just over a week before.

  Lucy rubbed her greasy, and now very sweaty, hands against her apron again. She brushed away a loose strand of hair with the back of her hand and looked around nervously. “Why?”

  Charlie moved in front of her. He took her trembling hands and held them against his soft lips. “Watching you leave like that nearly ripped me in half.”

  Lucy closed her eyes and shuddered as the warmth of his words greeted her entire body. She could have fallen against his chest and melted right into him. She opened her teary eyes and her chin quivered, revealing her heartache and happiness all at the same time.

  Charlie ran his thumb over the single tear that was sliding down her cheek, and shook his head. “No more crying, Lucy.”

  “What are you saying?” she asked, not wanting to get on another roller coaster ride of feelings.

  Charlie smiled and guided her back until she had nowhere to go. He placed his palms flat on the wall behind her, trapping her with a muscular arm on each side of her head. He looked down at her, his eyes ablaze, and said, “Don’t ever run away from me again.”

  With her heart pounding, Lucy met his eyes. “You ran away, too.”

  His jaw tightened for a moment before he nodded. “I won’t run from you either. I don’t know where this will go, but I’m not going to let you walk out of my life. I miss you and it hurts. I know we can work through my past.”

  “I didn’t run because I can’t handle your past, Charlie. I ran because …”

  Charlie moved his right hand from the wall and cupped her cheek. The calm look in his eyes silenced her. It was the first time she had seen him so unguarded; he was open to her and he wanted her to see that he meant every word.

  He placed his lips against hers. For only a moment she froze, wondering if she should let him in. There was little to contemplate, of course. There was so much to say, but all the effort in the world couldn’t make her forget about those lips.

  He ran his tongue along the seam of her mouth. With a surrendering sigh, she allowed him inside. He curled his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, her entire body collapsing into his steady hold.

  As his tongue caressed hers she allowed her hands to roam over his sol
id chest and up to his neck. She wrapped her hands around and dragged her fingertips along his nape. His hair was on the long side and curled just at his neck, allowing her to trail her fingers through the silky strands.

  He pulled his mouth from hers and, for a moment, she felt his absence. She wanted to pull his lips back, but when they found her neck, she moaned into the air. She tilted her head, wanting more. He touched his tongue to her skin, then gave her a small bite. He licked and sucked his way to her ear and nibbled on her lobe.

  “I want all of you,” he whispered in her ear. It was a throaty whisper that mixed with his warm breath, telling her just how desperate he was to take her as his. “I have to take you somewhere. I need to run my tongue over every inch of your body and then make love to you for hours.”

  “Oh, God,” was all she could say. Her voice was a breathy sound, one she didn’t even recognize.

  “Luce?” Lydia’s voice traveled through the kitchen. “Oh, whoops! Sorry!”

  With a reluctant groan, Charlie pulled his mouth from Lucy’s neck. He held her gaze with wild eyes, his chest heaving. “Lucy’s done for the day, Lydia.”

  “Uh, okay,” Lydia said, a touch of humor in her voice.

  Neither of them looked at her, but at the sound of the swinging doors they knew she was gone.

  Charlie ran a calloused hand over her cheek and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Come with me,” he said, and took a step back. He pulled her hand, starting to lead her to the front.

  “My car,” she said, still winded.

  “My bike,” he corrected, shaking his head. “I’m not letting go of you.”

  Lucy said nothing in protest. Just the thought of wrapping her arms around his waist as the vibrations rocked her body had her reeling.

  “Wait.” She pulled off her apron and grabbed her purse from the counter. She grabbed his hand again and followed him to the front of the café.

  Lydia stood by the register and handed change to a customer. She followed the two of them with her eyes and grinned at Lucy. “So, I’ll see you Tuesday, then, yeah?”

  “Tuesday?” Lucy asked. “What about tomorrow?”

  “Hah.” Lydia rolled her eyes, knowing exactly where the two of them were headed. “I think I can cover you, sweetie.”

  Charlie opened the door to the café and smiled at Lucy as she walked past him. “Tuesday,” he confirmed to Lydia, a hint of amusement in his voice.

  Lucy followed him over to the Harley parked along the sidewalk. He swung one leg over the bike, and held out his hand for Lucy to take. “Ready?” he asked with a little smirk.

  She placed her hand in his, squeezing it a little harder than she needed to. She swung her leg around and settled onto the black leather seat behind him. She put her feet up on the passenger footboards and wasted no time clinging to his lean waist.

  With the push of a button, the engine jolted into a loud rumble. Charlie slid his aviators over his eyes. “Hold on,” he ordered, at which she happily squeezed him tighter.

  They pulled out onto the road and instantly Lucy was hit by the wind blowing through her hair and the beautiful sun on her face. She had lived in Arizona her entire life, but she had never experienced it like this. With the red mountains in the distance swirling and blurring with the dazzling blue sky, it was as if she had fallen into a Monet. The feeling brought a grin to her face that she was sure Charlie could feel against his back, because he pulled one hand from the handlebar and gave her arm a gentle caress.

  At a red light, they stopped and Charlie put one foot down to hold the bike steady. Lucy cuddled closer, being so bold as to run her fingers along the waistband of his jeans. The skin there was tight and she wanted more as she dragged her fingertips lower. She could feel the desire in his chest as it vibrated through his back and tickled her cheek.

  The light turned green and they were on their way again. As much as she loved the ride, her impatience was growing.

  Charlie leaned them into the turn that took them into his subdivision. They were going to his house, which sent a chill up her spine. They pulled into the driveway where Charlie killed the engine and lowered the kickstand.

  “Charlie, we should go somewhere else,” Lucy whispered.

  “No.” Charlie turned halfway and put a gentle hand on her leg. “Don’t. It’s okay.”

  He lifted his chin, a gesture for her to get off the bike. This was the moment that made her understand everything; she knew that he had made the decision long before they started the ride.

  She placed her hand on his shoulder and hesitantly lifted herself from the Harley. When her feet met the ground, Charlie was right beside her. He pulled her into his embrace and kissed the top of her head.

  “It’s just us here, no one else,” he assured.

  Lucy nodded, her face pressed into his chest and the smell of him making her dizzy. She lifted his hands from her hair and pressed her lips to his strong fingers, but quickly pulled away and looked down when she realized what was missing.

  “Your ring,” she said, a feeling of wonder rushing through her. “You took off your ring.”

  His mouth was pressed into a straight line, tightening his jaw. He nodded once and cupped her face in his hands. “I can’t let anything hold me back anymore. I said I want you and I meant it.”

  She closed her eyes and tried to calm her rampant nerves. Her entire body went weak at his words. “Take me inside,” she demanded, breathless.

  With a seriousness she could comprehend completely, Charlie pulled her hand and led her to the door. He let her walk in first and leaned against the door, looking at her with hooded eyes as he flipped the lock behind him.

  That scorching look said so many things that it was hard for Lucy to even register them all at once. However, now was not the time for interpreting expressions. He wanted her. He wanted to move forward with her into the future, whether he knew what it held or not. He had removed his wedding ring; he had taken her back to his own home with the hopes of creating new memories. This wasn’t a man looking for meaningless sex; this was a man looking for a life beyond all that he had lost.

  This was a man looking to her for that future.

  In that moment it was all clear. She desperately wanted to let go of that same past. They had both clung to the same painful history for over a year.

  That was the realization she had needed; it was time to let it all go.

  She placed her purse on the floor and toed her shoes off. With her chest rising and falling visibly, she began to unbutton her top slowly. She refused to pull her eyes from Charlie’s as she drew the garment from each shoulder and let it slip away from her arms, revealing her lacy, light pink bra.

  A rumble escaped from Charlie’s chest. He swallowed and licked his lips, which sent her confidence soaring and encouraged her to go on.

  She unbuttoned her capris and slid them from her waist, shimmying from side to side until they fell to the floor. She stepped out and pushed them to the side with her toe. Her hands drifted over the lace of her pink thong, the tiny bows at the sides tickling her palms.

  Charlie’s gaze took her all in, from her eyes to the hair that cascaded over her breasts, and all the way down to her pink toenails.

  With a small exhale, she unclasped her bra. She pulled the straps from her tan shoulders and let the lacy undergarment fall to the floor. She stood there, exposed, and allowed him to take in every inch of her.

  His breath seemed to quicken as his eyes grew darker. He stepped toward her, but she took a step back and shook her head. She turned slowly and tossed him a playful smile over her shoulder, before heading down the hallway to his bedroom.

  His eyes crinkled with amusement as a he pursed his lips and followed her. His feet quickened behind her and she knew that he was hot on her trail. She got to the doorway of his room when his hands caught her from behind and snaked around her tiny waist.

  She let out a giddy yelp and giggled when he lifted her into the air
. His hands roamed over her skin as he set her back down and left a trail of kisses from her shoulder to her neck.

  “I want to touch every inch of your beautiful body,” he whispered into her ear. He settled his palms on her hips, then skimmed along her stomach to cup her breasts with a gentle squeeze.

  She arched against him, wanting more of his touch, and raised her arms to wrap her fingers around his neck. She pulled at his hair and groaned as he pinched her hardened nipples.

  From behind her, he took a little taste of her skin and sighed. “Turn around,” he commanded, and she immediately obeyed.

  As he walked her to the bed, he pulled his shirt from his muscular body and Lucy’s mouth watered. His chest was tan, chiseled, and perfectly lined with ridges of pure muscle.

  She reached out to him and ran her fingers over the smoothness of his chest. In that moment, she allowed herself the freedom to let go—to touch, lick, taste every part of his beautiful body. It wasn’t even for him, but something she needed to do to satisfy her own personal craving.

  He sat on the edge of the bed and ran his fingers up the backs of her thighs. With a gentle hand, he pulled her to him so he could bury his face in her stomach, kissing and licking her skin.

  She pulled his hair as he ran his tongue in the valley between her breasts and inhaled, every movement he made filled with a thoughtful, savoring action. He was so controlled. There were no words for the way he took his time.

  She spread her legs and straddled his lap, letting her palms move over the muscles of his arms. His hands moved into her hair before he cupped her cheeks and kissed her jaw. She bit the skin between his shoulder and neck and felt her blood smolder with each groan that came from his mouth. She leaned back and slowly guided his head down to run his tongue over her breasts. Her fingers fluttered through his soft hair and her hips began to roll against his hard body.

  He lifted her from his lap and, for a moment, she was in the air with her legs wrapped around his waist. He held her there, kissing her while his strong hands cupped her bottom. His hips moved against her as he turned and laid her on his bed.