Mace: Conner Brothers Construction, Book 3 (CBC)

by Cee Bowerman

  “They’re okay?” Reba whispered from across the hall.

  “Yeah, they’re talking about some friend of Grunt’s who has a huge cat,” I told her. “Are you okay?”

  “No,” Reba shook her head.

  “Come on, sweetheart,” I told her as I pulled her close to my side. “Let’s get out of here now before they come out and get upset.”

  “Yeah,” Reba whispered as she glanced back toward the door. Tears were streaming down her face now, and she reached up and wiped her cheeks with both hands. “I’m ready.”

  17.

  “And don’t eat my pint of Cookie Two Step or I’ll have to kill you.”

  Reba

  MACE

  “We have to get out of bed now, beautiful.” I nudged Reba’s hair away from her neck and started to kiss her in that spot that made her shiver. “I’ve got plans for you today.”

  “Have I told you lately how much I like it when you wake me up?”

  “You may have mentioned it every morning for the last two weeks,” I chuckled.

  “I get my orgasm and then drink my coffee and my day just starts off on the best note. What am I going to do when my life goes back to normal and you move back to your house?”

  As much as I wanted Reba and her kids to be safe, I didn’t want to think about what those changes would mean in my life. In the two weeks since I’d moved into her house and her kids had been staying at Grunt’s, Reba and I had found a nice rhythm. I loved waking up next to her and making love to her while she was warm and soft from a good night’s sleep. I tried my best to have her coffee made before she stepped out of her bedroom just so I could see that dreamy smile as I handed her the mug.

  And the nights together were better than I’d ever dreamed of having.

  I didn’t want to think about going home alone. I was already head over heels for Reba Lane and I didn’t want to wake up without her ever again.

  I hadn’t said anything to her. It just wasn’t the right time knowing she had so many other things going on in her head and she was missing her kids so hard that it was a physical pain in her chest.

  I just needed to revel in what we had today and not worry about tomorrow until it happened. I’d deal with it then and tell her how I felt about her in the hopes that she had already started to feel the same.

  Until then, I’d live in the moment.

  “I live to serve, my lady,” I said as I slapped her on the ass to get her moving. With a squeal, she sat up and glared back at me. “Come on. Big plans.”

  “You’re killing my buzz,” Reba growled as she sat up. “This better be good, buddy.”

  “It will be,” I laughed. “Trust me. Hop in the shower and I’ll get your coffee ready.”

  “Ugh,” Reba groaned, but she got up and headed into her bathroom.

  I watched her go, admiring her bare legs and ass as she sauntered off. When she got to the doorway, she glanced at me over her shoulder with a knowing grin. I shook my head and walked out of the bedroom, headed to the coffee pot for her morning fix.

  Just as I pushed the button on the coffee maker, Reba’s cell phone started ringing in the bedroom. I darted into the room to catch it, knowing how upset she’d be if she missed a call from the kids. I was glad I’d hurried when I saw Shannon’s name come up on the screen.

  “Good morning!” I said with a smile on my face.

  “You’re not my mom!” Vada giggled. “Good morning, Mace.”

  “Hi, sweetie. Mama’s in the shower. Let me get her for you. How’s the adventure going?”

  I listened to Vada tell me about the long car trip and how many cows she saw on the drive as I walked into the bathroom to get Reba.

  “Babe?” I called out as I got into the room. “Vada’s on the phone.”

  “Oh!” Reba squealed and I heard the water turn off just as she opened the shower door. I handed Reba a towel and she wrapped her hair up in it before she snatched the phone out of my hand. “Hi, Vada baby!” I smiled at the look on Reba’s face as she heard her daughter’s voice, and then I gave her some privacy as I walked back into the kitchen.

  Grunt and Shannon had taken their entire household along with Shannon’s two daughters and their children to a lodge down in south Texas that had an indoor water park. We had visited with the kids yesterday afternoon for a few hours in the apartment above Martha’s diner and the two of them had been beside themselves with excitement about their upcoming trip.

  I knew that it broke Reba’s heart that she wouldn’t be with them, but she was glad they were getting this opportunity to go and have some fun. I’d made a silent promise as I watched the three of them chatter about the lodge they were going to that I would take them on a trip as soon as this was all over. Reba deserved to relax for a few days out of town and enjoy them.

  While the coffee perked, I put a few slices of bacon on to cook and whisked some eggs for a quick scramble. Once the eggs were cooked and the toast was finished, I put a slice of cheese on each piece and then assembled some breakfast sandwiches for the two of us.

  Reba didn’t know it, but we had a short car trip in our future. I didn’t want to have to take any extra time out to stop for food on the way.

  “Morning sex, coffee, and breakfast? Mr. Conner, I do believe you are the whole package,” Reba joked as she hopped up onto a barstool across from where I was standing. “Next thing I know, you’re going to whisk me off to a castle or something.”

  “Hmm,” I pretended to think about it for a second. “I’ll have to build one. I don’t know of any castles around here.”

  “Well, when you build it, don’t forget the tower room full of windows so I can drop my long hair down and let you sneak up.”

  “Noted,” I laughed. I slid her plate over to her along with her coffee, and the two of us silently enjoyed our breakfast. “Now pack a bag of casual clothes for tomorrow.”

  “What?”

  “Did I stutter?” I laughed at her curious expression.

  “You’re taking me somewhere overnight?”

  “I am. Pack and let’s get on the road.”

  “I need details. I can’t just pack without knowing where you’re taking me. Do I need something to wear tonight for dinner or will jeans work? Is it cold or warm? Are we going north or south?”

  “Jeans for tonight and tomorrow. Weather is cool but not freezing.”

  Reba stared at me for a minute and I just smiled at her.

  “That’s all you’ve got?”

  “That’s all you’re getting,” I laughed. “Get moving.”

  “Mornin’,” Rason grumbled as he walked into the kitchen from Cyrus’s bedroom down the hall. “Thought y’all would be gone by now.”

  “Bus is leaving in 10, but I’m not sure Reba’s going to be on it at this rate,” I explained.

  “Shit!” Reba jumped up and darted into the bedroom, and I could hear drawers opening and closing within just a few seconds.

  Rason and I both chuckled as we listened to Reba scurry around the bedroom packing.

  “We’ll be back tomorrow evening sometime,” I explained to Rason. “How did things go yesterday?”

  “Her court appointed lawyer tried to say she was hormonal because she really did believe she was pregnant,” Rason explained. He’d been having problems with a woman he’d briefly dated. It had gotten so bad he’d been hiding here at Reba’s house for weeks without leaving it except for when his lawyer needed him to appear in court. “He actually asked the judge to make me sit in on a counseling session with her to help her ‘transition’ or some shit.”

  “And you said no, I take it?”

  “Hell yes, I said no. I’m not going anywhere near that woman again,” Rason shuddered. “I’m probably not going to go near another woman for at least a decade, man. I’ve had my fill.”

  “Not all of them are crazy,” I tried to explain to Rason, but at just the wrong moment, Reba let out an ear piercing scream from the bathroom.

  “Spider!�
��

  Rason just stared at me blankly for a second before he glanced toward the bedroom door. Before I could move, Reba was yelling again in a relieved voice, “I killed it. I’m okay! I’m okay!”

  “At least she kills her own, right?” I chuckled.

  Rason started laughing, and I couldn’t help but join in. Reba came out of the bedroom and dropped her bag on the couch with a snort, “Thanks for your help, big strong men.”

  “Was it the size of a dinner plate? Did it talk to you and offer you a balloon?” Rason teased her.

  “Man, kiss my ass,” Reba half heartedly punched him in the arm as she sat down beside him. “That thing was huge. I don’t know how I missed it when I was showering.”

  “He probably sat there quietly and watched you.” Rason nodded his head and then said seriously, “You just did the world a favor and killed a pervert spider.”

  “Oh, bite me,” Reba grumbled as she took another sip of her coffee. “Can we go now?”

  I laughed at the two of them, enjoying the friendship I’d seen building between them over the past few weeks. They grumbled at each other and fought like Cyrus and Vada, but I could tell that they were building a lasting friendship while Rason was locked up in her house.

  I walked over to the couch and our bags as I listened to Reba tell Rason about the stuff she’d picked up for him at the grocery store yesterday.

  “And don’t eat my pint of Cookie Two Step or I’ll have to kill you. That’s saved for heartbreak or hell week hormones, whichever comes first.”

  “Aye aye, captain.”

  ◆◆◆

  “I can’t believe you still won’t tell me where we’re going,” Reba complained. I’d realized in the last two hours in the car with her that she was a bit of a control freak. It irritated the hell out of her that I was trying to keep this a surprise. “Is that a tower?”

  “Well, hell,” I laughed. “I do believe it is.”

  The bed and breakfast I’d reserved a room in for the night was in an English Tudor style home. It was at least three stories tall, and there was a turret on one corner. I realized now what the proprietor had meant when she said she was going to put us in the “round room” for the night.

  “It’s almost like a castle,” Reba whispered as I pulled to a stop out front. “Holy shit, Mace.”

  I’d lucked out and planned the perfect place, especially considering our conversation this morning.

  “Milady,” I bowed as I opened her door to help her out.

  “Oh, Mace, it’s beautiful,” Reba said as she took my hand and turned to look at the large home. “I love it. What are we doing here?”

  “We are going to spend the night and relax for a little bit,” I told her with a grin. “I’ve got it all arranged.”

  “You are so getting laid, buddy,” Reba mumbled under her breath.

  I laughed out loud and she grinned at me.

  “I’ll hold you to that, baby.”

  Once we checked in with the young lady waiting for us in the entryway, she showed Reba and I through the house and up some winding stairs to a huge round room at the top of the tower. The large windows let in the bright sunshine, making the all-white room glow.

  “Oh my goodness,” Reba whispered as she looked around. “It’s beautiful.”

  “We’ll have lunch brought up to you in about 20 minutes,” the young woman said softly as she let herself out.

  “Room service?”

  “All weekend long,” I smiled.

  “Oh,” Reba chuckled. “You are good.”

  I pulled her into my arms and kissed her until both of us were breathless.

  “This place is ours until Sunday after lunch.”

  “You told me to pack for one day!”

  “I know,” I smiled. “Maybe we’re just not going to get dressed tomorrow.”

  “That can be arranged,” Reba tiptoed up to fit her mouth to mine again for another kiss. When she pulled away, she smiled, “Too bad she’s bringing the food in just a minute or we’d get started on that naked thing right now.”

  “Let’s get unpacked and look around while we wait,” I suggested as I adjusted my pants. I was rock hard and the zipper was killing me, but I had planned our afternoon out already and knew there wasn’t time for sex just yet.

  Lunch was delicious, and Reba and I both enjoyed it before we went to sit out on the balcony with our tea while the staff member cleared out the dishes we’d used. Reba didn’t know it, but I wanted her outside for a reason. I was hoping the surprise I was setting up would make her happy when we came back inside to the reveal.

  I was pleased to see that I had nailed it when we stepped back into our room..

  “I’m getting a massage?” Reba whispered with huge eyes as we walked back into the large suite from the balcony.

  “We both are,” I explained as I pulled her into my arms. “This time you get to relax while someone works the kinks out of your muscles.”

  “Oh, buddy.” Reba chuckled. “You know the way straight to my heart.”

  I hoped so because she had already taken over mine.

  ◆◆◆

  “I feel like I’m made of Jello,” I murmured as I laid on the lounge chair beside Reba on the balcony. “I’ve never had a massage before.”

  Reba didn’t say a word, she just turned her head to look in my direction and sighed.

  “Weren’t you going to do naughty things to me?”

  “I was,” Reba sighed again. “But I can’t move right now. If I did, I’d probably just melt into a puddle on the floor. I’ll be extra naughty after I take a little nap.”

  I chuckled as I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, enjoying the warm sun on my face.

  “I’m not sure what you have planned for tomorrow, but I doubt anything could top this.”

  I opened my eyes to smile at my girl, realizing that she was fishing for details again.

  “I guess we’ll see.”

  18.

  “I think I may have picked the wrong brother.”

  Lena

  REBA

  “If he got you a massage on Friday, what in the world did you two to on Saturday that could have topped that?” Lena asked as I wrapped her leg with the long heating pad we used after her workouts.

  “On Saturday, he took me to this salon they had there. I had my hair trimmed, colored, and styled and then I got a manicure, pedicure, and a wax. They put a honey mask on my face and I sat in the sauna for an hour before they took me into this meditation room and did another light massage while they moisturized every single inch of my body,” I explained. I stuck my arm out in front of Lena and told her, “Feel my skin. It’s like a baby’s butt.”

  “Oooh,” Lena whispered. “I think I may have picked the wrong brother.”

  “I’ve never been so pampered in all my life.”

  “He’s good,” Lena whispered. “And I’m sure he was rewarded for his efforts?”

  “Oh, honey,” I laughed wickedly. “He was so rewarded.”

  “How are things at home?” Lena asked me softly. She knew how upset I had been and how much I missed my kids. She was worried about me. “You okay?”

  “I am,” I assured her. “Mace is making it better, or as good as it can be with the kids gone. They’re still out of town having a blast and I talk to them both a few times a day.”

  “They’re still out of town?”

  “Yeah,” I chuckled. “Grunt told me this morning he was going to keep all of them there until they kicked him out of the place. He said the kids run off and play all day long and he hasn’t experienced this much peace since before he and Shannon got together.”

  “I bet they sleep so hard at night.”

  “You’re still on that waking up kick?”

  “Yes.” Lena sighed as she absentmindedly rubbed her sore leg. “They both woke up twice last night. They’d been sleeping through the night for months and now they’re both suddenly insomniacs.”

  “I’m s
ure it’s just a phase.”

  “I’m so lucky to have all the brothers around.” Lena smiled. “Angus and Violet are taking them for the night so I can get naughty with my man and then sleep for 10 hours straight.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” I laughed, but it was cut short when the fire alarm started howling just outside the room we were in. “What the hell?”

  “Is it a drill?” Lena wondered out loud as she sat back up.

  “No.” I shook my head and started taking the weighted heating blanket off her leg. “We don’t do those.”

  “We better head out,” Lena said as she twisted and put her feet on the ground beside the table. “Come on.”

  “Jace isn’t here.”

  “We’ll be in a group of people,” Lena urged me toward the door as she grabbed her purse. “I’m sure it will be okay.”

  “No,” I shook my head. “This is something Darryl would do.”

  “What do you mean?”

  I glanced toward the window of my therapy room and then at the door. I made a snap decision and ran over and threw the lock on the door before I grabbed my cell phone out of my purse.

  “Don’t we need to go outside?”

  “Shhh,” I put my finger up and held it there while the phone rang. “Sonny, the fire alarm is going off at work and Jace is gone. He left about 10 minutes ago to run an errand so I could visit with Lena.”

  As soon as Sonny was done talking, I hung the phone up and put it in my pocket. I walked toward the window as I held my hand out for Lena’s.

  “My cousin agrees that this sounds like a Darryl thing.”

  “If there really was a fire, wouldn’t we hear people yelling?”

  I glanced over at the door for a second and concentrated on what I could hear. When Lena gasped, I snapped my head around to see that she was staring out the window.

  “Who’s that, Reba?”