Fail to Trust (The Casteel Trust Series Book 2)

by Scarlet Wolfe

  Asshole moments call for drastic measures.

  Wrapping my arms around her thighs, I pick her up and hoist her over my shoulder.

  “Travis!” She swats my back, but not too hard. “We’re at work. What are you doing?”

  “I’m taking you to a private place where I can apologize inappropriately.” The laughter from the room could shake the foundation. I hear a few whistles on the way out the door, too.

  “Travis Casteel, you put me down this instant!” she shouts, but what she doesn’t realize is men have a built in amplifier to decipher and recall a chick’s tone of voice. I have all of Becca’s tones burned on my brain.

  I’m not stupid. OK, most of the time I’m not stupid, but dumb shit slips out of my mouth, like earlier.

  “See, now, that’s not your angry tone, beautiful.”

  “What?”

  “That’s your ‘I’m going to pretend I’m mad when secretly I love what you’re doing to me’ tone.”

  “Yeah, and I see my training’s going well,” she says through a giggle, so naturally, I swat her ass. I mean, it is right next to my face.

  I carry her past the front counter, and Franklin holds his hands up, giving me the “you’ve gotta be kidding me. You’re sticking me here alone again” look.

  “We’re taking our lunch. Be back later,” I say.

  “Your tab has runneth over, asshole.”

  “Damn, you’re uptight. You need to get laid.”

  “I’d have to leave this place for that to happen!” he yells as the door swings closed behind us.

  Finally dropping Becca to her feet at the passenger side of my truck, I push her back, pinning her against it. She brushes hair from her face and huffs out a breath I can see.

  “It’s cold out, Travis, and I don’t even have my coat. Besides, this isn’t a private enough place for you to be inappropriate.”

  “No, but our property is private enough. We’ll grab sandwiches and have lunch there. Inside the truck. I promise to crank up the heat.” She climbs in, and I hurry around to the driver’s side.

  “We’re never going to get work done, are we?” she asks.

  “Nah, you’ll get tired of me eventually.”

  “I hope not, seeing how I have this …” Becca reveals a folded up white envelope from her back pocket.

  “What’s that?”

  “When we stopped at the house this morning for me to grab more clothes, Mom gave me this letter from my attorney. I’ve been waiting on a settlement from the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident.”

  Becca grins, and it’s the unsure kind. “Before you worry or doubt that this is OK, I want you to know that Molly’s family received more than I did. Our attorneys worked tirelessly to make sure we were compensated.”

  “OK. What does it say?”

  “I’m going to receive three hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”

  “Shit. That’s a lot of money.”

  “I know, and I’m also aware that I’m receiving more because Molly lost her life, so I’m thinking I’ll donate some of it to the children’s hospital to comfort the burn victims.”

  “That sounds perfect. Molly would want that.”

  “We could put the balance toward building our home, Trav. In the backyard, I could make a flower garden in Molly’s honor. All morning I kept picturing this blond little girl catching a butterfly off one of the flowers. Our little girl.”

  Tears glisten over her blue irises, and all my childish behavior goes out the window when she gazes at me like this. Her eyes latch onto mine and stare long enough for me to see all the way to her tenderhearted soul.

  “Whatever your heart desires, Becs, I’ll make it happen.”

  “Aside from designing our house plans, I don’t want to map out our future.”

  “What do you mean?” Can’t say I’m liking the sound of this.

  “Molly’s death and Alice’s accident show that plans can be broken, so let’s live each day without them.” She swipes tears from her eyes, and her face lights up.

  “Let’s get married one day on a whim, and when we’re both ready for kids, we’ll stop using protection and see when and if it happens.”

  “I can roll with that,” I reply.

  “Let’s wake up each morning and live a life of surprises, like this one. I get to have a picnic in your pickup in the middle of a work day.”

  “If you want a lifetime of surprises, I’ll keep 'em coming. Wait right there.”

  Jogging around to her side of the truck, I open the door and then the glove compartment in front of her legs. I’m all smiles and a bundle of nerves when I pull the black ring box from it. Her eyes grow rounder and her fingers press to her quivering lips.

  “I bought this for you the same day I closed on the property, and I prayed I’d get a chance to give it to you. I was going to plan something elaborate for the moment, but you would’ve seen it coming, so here’s a surprise for you.”

  I drop to one knee next to the open door of my truck. “Becca, will you stay engaged to me until we get married one day on a whim?”

  Her head is nodding fast, and she’s instantly shaking.

  “Yes, yes, yes.”

  I slide the ring over her dainty finger, and as soon as I stand, she slings her arms around my neck.

  “I love you,” she utters in my ear. “And I really love not making plans with you.” She giggles, and I reach around and grab her ass.

  “We may not be making plans anymore, but I sure got a lot of ideas. Inappropriate ones. You better prepare, sweetheart, because my man brain is storin’ a lifetime of surprises.”

  End Notes

  Thank you for reading Fail to Trust. Franklin’s book, Link to Trust, will release in 2017! You’ll once again get more of the Casteel brothers!

  Additional novels are available in the teen/YA, contemporary and erotica romance genres. To keep up on the latest release information, teasers and covers, follow me on the web at www.scarletwolfe.com, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

  Here is a link to all of my novels at Amazon. My books are also available at Barnes and Noble, iTunes, and Kobo.

  If you enjoy my writing, I’d greatly appreciate it if you would leave me ratings or reviews. Thank you!

  Acknowledgements

  My loving husband, Patrick. The support you show me is remarkable, and I’m forever grateful.

  Thank you, members of Scarlet’s Red-Hot Readers for being a part of my everyday life. I’m still amazed that there are readers passionate enough about my writing to want to share it with the world.

  Many of you have never met me in person, yet you give up your precious time to read my books, interact with me and support me!

  Thank you to my friends and family who promote my writing and lift me up when I’m feeling discouraged. I love you all!

  I want to thank my readers for their continued support. Your encouraging words keep me pushing forward. I’m learning and growing every day from your feedback and would love to chat with you anytime about my writing.

  Thank you, Samantha for all you do for me. Your shoulder is probably sore from me leaning on it. Ha ha! Thank you for editing my novels, too! If anyone needs editing services, you can find Samantha Wiley at Proofreading by the Page.

  Jo-Anna Walker with Just write. Creations finished up this sexy cover. Thank you for your kindness and incredible talent. For all your design needs, you can find Jo-Anna at Just write. Creations.

  Thank you Hype PR for promoting Fail to Trust. I’m looking forward to working with you in the future! You can contact Hype PR at http://www.thehypepr.ca/

  I want to thank those who run the blogs and Facebook pages that help promote my work. You are invaluable, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know you.

  My beta readers and proofreaders for your time. I can’t emphasize enough how much your feedback improves my work. Thank you, Tammy Becraft, Morgan Mittelbrun, Rachel Pugh, Mandy Sawyer, Samantha Wiley and Angie Zamora. You rock!