Forbidden Bad Boys (Small Town Forbidden Romance Box Set)

by Holly Jaymes

  “Everything okay?” I asked.

  He nodded. “The fire is contained. It took out a couple of cabins along the pass, but the homes around there are safe.”

  “Do you need the condo for anyone?”

  He shook his head. “Your parents aren’t coming?”

  “They are. And they want to stay there, but I’m worried they’re going to ride in expecting to be treated like God’s gift to Eden Lake.”

  He smirked. “I take it you didn’t tell them a McLean owned it?”

  “No.”

  “Or that you’re sleeping in a McLean’s bed. That a McLean has done dirty, wicked, naughty things to their daughter.”

  I pulled my brows together. “I remember wicked and naughty, but when did we do dirty?”

  He laughed, and I loved how soft and relaxed his face was when he did. He usually looked so serious, so it was nice to see him loose.

  His hand cupped my breast, his thumb brushing over my nipple. It sent a sizzle of arousal through my blood.

  I pushed him back. “Since you’re so tired, how about I do all the work?”

  He quirked a brow. “All?”

  I nodded as I straddled his thighs. “Just relax, Mason. Let me take care of you. Reward you for all you do for the community and me.”

  He grinned and brought his hands under his head. “Take care of me, Willa.”

  I did just that, using my hands and mouth to worship his body. I love how he was a big, dominant man, but relinquishing his pleasure to me, until I had him crying out my name as his orgasm consumed him.

  I cuddled against him.

  He kissed my temple. “I owe you. Can I pay you back tomorrow?”

  “Get some sleep, Mason.”

  He was already deep in sleep. I rested against him, feeling more content than I’d ever remembered feeling. No, that’s not true. There were many times growing up that I felt content, and nearly all of those times I’d been with Mason. He’d been such an important part of my life. One that my parents didn’t know about. It didn’t seem right to keep him hidden. He deserved the recognition of being a good friend to me and to the town.

  I studied his profile, so strong in the moonshine. He was a good and decent man. Would I be able to help my parents see that the Haynesville-McLean feud was stupid? Would they be able to look past Mason’s last name and see the good person he was? Based on the phone call today, I didn’t think so. I was sure coming back into Eden Lake would be difficult for them. As a result, my mother would likely be obnoxious, and my father would criticize all the changes the town made.

  That meant, while they were here, they couldn’t know about Mason and me. That could be a problem since we showed up at the reunion together, but I could probably find a way to explain that away.

  I closed my eyes because it felt so wrong to hide Mason away like something was wrong with him or with what we were doing.

  I woke up the next morning to Mason doing delicious things to my body.

  “That’s the best way to wake up,” I said when he’d finished, and I’d finally caught my breath.

  “We’re even now.” He grinned at me, looking very pleased with himself.

  “Are we keeping score?” I ran my fingers through his hair. It was crazy how normal this felt. Crazy but lovely.

  “Actually, I’ve lost count.”

  I laughed. “Me too.”

  “Do you have work to do?” He rolled us until I was on top of him.

  “A little. My parents are coming in today too.”

  “I’ll get you the key. The condo has two bedrooms. Will you be staying with them?”

  “Afraid they’ll see me with you?”

  “I ain’t afraid of nothing.” He gave me a sheepish look. “Okay, I might be afraid of your mom. There’s no SEAL training that covers people like her.”

  “People like her?” I quirked a brow.

  The amusement in his face fell away as if he thought he said something wrong. It wasn’t wrong, and yet, I did feel a little defensive for my mom.

  “If she knew that I’d just made you come with my mouth, what would she do?”

  The memory of the feel of his tongue made my body come alive again. “She wouldn’t take it well, although, in her defense, I’m not sure she would be okay with any man doing what you do to me.”

  He gave me a smug smile.

  “I hadn’t thought about staying there, but it might be for the best. I suspect she’s going to embarrass me with her haughty ways, and it would be worse if it got out that I was staying with you.”

  He pushed my hair back from my face. “Eden Lake is a small town. Someone could tell her we went to the reunion together. We confessed to others that we had been friends growing up.”

  I sighed. “I should tell them about that. Not the part about us getting naked, but about being friends. This feud is stupid.”

  “I agree. You know, if we play our cards right, maybe they could come here for dinner before they leave.”

  “That might take a miracle. In the end, it might be more hassle than it’s worth to try to change their mind about your family since none of us are staying.”

  The gleam in his eye dimmed slightly at my words.

  “Well, whatever you decide, I’ll support you.” He moved out from under me and got out of bed. I couldn’t help but feel like I’d said something wrong.

  “I’m sorry they can be so conceited,” I said, wishing he’d come back to bed.

  He shrugged. “At least the cycle is broken with us.”

  Of course, without a Haynesville and McLean living in the town at the same time, the feud wasn’t an issue. The cycle was broken when my family left. It would be again when they returned to Sedona, and I headed east.

  Chapter 14: The Feud

  Mason

  Coming home from fighting a fire, I was bone tired. Seeing Willa in my bed made me happier than I was safe to feel. I wanted to touch her, but I was so fucking exhausted. Instead, she took charge, touching me, and making me feel so good. It was sexy and homey, and I could get used to her being in my bed every night and every morning. Waking with her warm body next to me made me feel like I had to touch her. I returned the favor until she was writhing and calling my name. It was music to my ears.

  But I’d be an idiot to think this could be my life. No matter how wonderful it was. No matter how much I could see and taste a future with her, I had to remember that she was here just to get things sorted with her parents’ house, and then she was on her way.

  The problem was whenever she was near me, reality left the room. Need, longing, wishes took its place until a comment like, “since none of us are staying,” burst my bliss bubble, reminding me that this situation was temporary.

  I got out of bed because being too close to her made me forget reality. That reality wasn’t just that Willa was here for a short time, but also that her parents’ heads would probably explode if they knew I’d talked to her, much less touched her. My father wouldn’t be too thrilled, although he’d likely see it as a way to stick it to Mr. Haynesville. My mother secretly would be thrilled that the feud was ending with my generation, but in front of my father, she would support him.

  Fuck ‘em, my obstinate self said. If I’m happy and she’s happy, why are we giving them any power over us? Habit. Tradition. I’m sure our parents would see it as being disrespectful to them if we broke the feud. Willa clearly thought so as she wanted to keep our friendship, or whatever this was between us, a secret.

  I got into the shower, mentally going through my day. It was Saturday, so my workload was small. I had a few things to do around the house, and I wanted to take a hard run around the lake. I should probably check the condo to air it out and perhaps put some fresh flowers in before her parents showed up.

  The door to the bathroom opened. Willa sauntered in naked and rosy, and my plans went out the window.

  “Are you upset at me?” she asked.

  “Not at you, no.” I made room for her, hop
ing that her intention was to join me.

  “Are you mad that my parents are coming?” she asked.

  “Are you going to stay out there for this conversation?” I asked when she didn’t step in.

  “I’m not sure I should come in.”

  “Seriously?” I looked down at my dick. There was no doubt that she should join me.

  She smirked. “Well, he does, but do you?”

  I sighed and took her hand, pulling her into the shower. “I hate having to adjust my life based on this feud. You said it yourself, it’s stupid. It’s ridiculous and insulting that I have to hide my attraction to you or hide that it’s my place they’ll be staying in. They’re immature snobs.”

  She flinched, and I figured I’d gone too far.

  “And your parents would be okay with this?” she asked.

  “I don’t give a fuck what they think. That’s the point.”

  “So, if they were coming to town, you would be okay with me being in the guest room?” She pursed her lips, thinking she was calling me out.

  “No. They stay in the guest room. You would stay in mine, and if they had a problem, they could stay somewhere else. I’m not ashamed of you or us.”

  She looked down, and I was worried I had hurt her feelings.

  “I know it’s dumb, but they’re my parents. Their home burned down.”

  “A home they haven’t been in for ten years. It can’t have been that important to them,” I reminded her.

  Her sharp gaze jerked up to mine. “You’re going to minimize their loss.”

  I sighed. “No. You’re right. I shouldn’t dismiss the loss of the house. But I’ll be damned if I let them walk over me simply to placate their emotions.”

  “Placate?”

  My dick was already deflating. I switched places with her, and exited the shower, grabbing a towel.

  “Do you want me to feel sorry for their loss? Sure, it’s a terrible thing. How about I do what they did when my father’s business suffered during the winter that there was no snow. Oh wait, your father called in the business loan, which my dad couldn’t pay, so he was forced to work two jobs just to feed us.”

  I ran the towel over my head. “Or maybe I could go to the school board and accuse their star football player son of cheating so he’d lose the scholarship he’d just earned to go to college. Oh, wait…that was your father trying to ruin my brother’s future because he was pissed that Tucker told him to go fuck himself.”

  “Mason.”

  I whirled on her. “Before you speak, consider what you’re saying. You want me to take pity on your family, which I feel like I have. I’m letting them stay at my place, which they clearly don’t appreciate. But I’m not going to feel sorry for them. I don’t owe them anything, and frankly, I find it offensive that you’d try to guilt-trip me considering what your family has done to mine.” I tossed the towel toward the laundry bin, not caring if it made it, and walked out.

  “So much for ending the feud,” she called.

  What the fuck! Incensed, I walked back in. “Really? Did you miss the part where I gave them my place to stay? Gave you a place to stay?”

  Her jaw tightened, and she turned away.

  “Why am I being held to a higher standard? Do you think your folks would be letting me stay in their condo if my home burned down? Hell, would you have let me stay with you?”

  “I would.” But she wasn’t convincing.

  I scoffed. “No, you wouldn’t. You and I only work if we’re secret, hidden. What is it, Willa? You get a thrill of secretly sticking it to your parents by seeing the bad boy from the other side of the tracks.”

  “I think you’re overdoing it now, Mason.” She found another towel and wrapped it around her.

  “Then what? Why are you here? Why are you ashamed to tell your parents that we’re friends? Why can’t you tell them that the person extending kindness to them is a McLean?”

  She looked down again. “Because they won’t appreciate it. But I do, Mason.”

  “Right.” I shook my head. “I’m going to check on the condo. I’ll leave the key at the lodge. I’ll be sure to tell them not to let it slip that it’s mine.”

  “Mason.” Her tone suggested I was being melodramatic. Maybe I was, but it fucking hurt the way she defended her parents and wanted me to be sensitive to their needs. After all the shit they put my family through, I had half a mind to withdraw my offer. The only reason I was offering it was for Willa. I didn’t give a shit about them.

  I tugged on jeans and a t-shirt and used my hands to push my hair back. I put my watch on and gathered my change for my pocket. I realized I was slow about it, hoping Willa would come around. When I turned, the door to the bathroom was closed.

  It was good while it lasted, I thought. Fuck! I shook my head. I was right. I didn’t owe them anything, and most certainly, I did not owe them sympathy. But, hell, it went against my “fuck the feud” motto because right now, that feud was smack dab between Willa and me. But I didn’t put it there, I reminded myself. While I felt like shit about it, right now, I’d rather be in the right.

  I headed out of the bedroom, grabbed my keys, and went right to my SUV. I would get a coffee in town and then stop at the store to pick up items for the condo. See! I wasn’t a total asshole. Of course, I’m sure there was a part of me that wanted to make sure the place was nice to keep Mrs. Haynesville from calling my place a pit, which she would if she knew it was mine.

  I picked up my coffee, thankful that no one was there asking about the reunion or me and Willa. Emma, the woman behind the counter, was a member of the community. But, she hadn’t grown up there, so all she’d know about Willa and me was that we were descendants from the famous feuding family. She asked about the fire last night and then wished me a good day. She was a lovely woman, and sometimes I wished I was attracted to her. God clearly had a sense of humor that Willa was the one that got under my skin.

  I drove to the grocery store on the edge of town, used more by tourists than locals, again with the hope of not running into anyone. I picked up an expensive bottle of wine, crackers, French cheese, dark chocolates, and two bouquets of flowers. The condo should have toilet paper and other necessities because I paid the resort for housekeeping services.

  I drove to Eden Meadow Park resort and carried my goods up to the two-bedroom condo. It had one of the best views of the lake. It also, unfortunately, had a view of the meadow and hillside on the opposite side of the lake. The Haynesvilles would have a first-class view of their burnt neighborhood. I wonder how long it would be before they complained about it. If they knew the place was mine, they’d probably think I’d bought just so they’d have a view of the charred home as if I would have known three years ago when I bought it that this would happen.

  Stop letting them fuck with your head, Mason, I said to myself.

  I opened the sliding door to the balcony so the place could air out. I put one set of flowers on the entryway table and the other on the dining table. I probably should have bought another for the master bedroom. I put the wine in the wine cooler and the cheese in the fridge. I put the chocolate in a decorated clear glass bowl and set it next to the flowers on the dining table.

  I opened the curtains in the room and checked that the place was stocked with necessities. It all looked good to me, but I was sure Willa’s family would find something to complain about.

  I closed the sliding door, locked up, and drove to the lodge.

  “Hey Mason,” Cal Steler said as I stepped up to the check-in desk.

  “Hi, Cal. Listen, I have someone coming in to stay at my place.” I slid the key to him. “Would you mind taking care of getting them settled?”

  “Sure thing. I’ll send up housekeeping.”

  “I was just there. It could use a little air, but other than that, it looks okay. Can you leave a note about the wine and food for me?”

  “Of course. What is the name?”

  I swallowed. “Haynesville.”

>   His brows lifted, and he looked at me like he wondered if he heard me right.

  I nodded. “I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell them that the place is mine.”

  “Sure thing. Should I double the rate?” he said with a hint of mischief in his tone.

  “No charge.”

  He frowned. “You’re joking.”

  “Their house burnt down. Wouldn’t be right to treat them different—”

  “First, they have the money, and second, karma is a bitch.”

  The McLeans might have gotten the short end of the stick with the Haynesvilles. Still, many other people in town, including Cal’s family, had been mistreated by Willa’s dad too.

  “We’re better than that, Cal.”

  “You might be.”

  “They’re only here for a short time. Let’s get ‘em in and out again ASAP with the least amount of grief as possible.”

  He sighed. “You’re a better man than me, Mason. But yeah, sure. We’ll treat them like celebrities.”

  “Thank you, Cal.” I slid a few bills to him. “For you and any of the staff that has to deal with them. An incentive to be nice.”

  He grinned. “I’ve always wondered what would have happened if Jeb McLean had bested Henry Haynesville all those years ago. Maybe things would have been different here.”

  “With my luck, the McLeans would be bigger assholes.”

  He laughed. “Have a good one, Mason.”

  “You too, Cal.”

  When I first returned to Eden Lake, I’d been worried that the McLean-Haynesville feud would continue to hang over the town and me. The truth was, I think most people were glad to have it relegated to history. They learned quickly that I had no interest in it, and so I forged my own history in town.

  Growing up lonely except for Willa, I knew I had friends. I was an active and respected member of the community. But I’d forgotten that for a moment. I was letting old resentments get in the way of Willa and me. I was doing exactly the same thing I was accusing her of.