by C. A. Harms
“That makes me real happy,” he said huskily. “Dinner at Ma’s tonight. We’re all invited. Bring Trinity too. But when we leave, we leave together.”
“Okay,” I said. My heart was racing, and I knew if I tried to say much more, I would only embarrass myself. After only five minutes in his presence, I was already a ball of sexual need.
He leaned in and placed his lips against mine in a soft, soothing kiss before he pulled away with a smile. “Love you,” he said loud enough for anyone else to hear. Warmness filled me as I realized he not only had once again confessed his love, he’d done it in front of Amber and Ryan.
“I love you too.”
He motioned with his head toward Ryan, indicating that his brother was ready to leave. After giving Amber one last kiss, Ryan quickly followed after Noah, leaving behind two women who had no hope of ever outwitting the power of a Sawyer man.
***
Being around the guys and interacting with their mother was always so heartwarming. They truly adored Tammy and it showed. The three boys were always arguing over who was her favorite, and she loved the attention they gave her. Tammy was also one hell of a lovable person, and I had grown quite fond of her as well.
“Yeah, you suckers can believe what you want, but Ma loves me more,” Jackson insisted as he wrapped his arm over her shoulder.
But before he could get too comfortable, Ryan grabbed Tammy’s hand and pulled her into a hug. All of us girls just sat back and watched, laughing and enjoying the show. Noah swooped in and snatched Tammy from Ryan, spinning her, then curled her in his arms as if he was shielding her from his brothers. It was the cutest thing.
I watched in awe as Noah took her hand and began moving with her in a slow, loving dance. At the adoring smile she gave him, I would have almost believed in that moment that Noah was in fact her favorite, had Tammy been the type of person to pick favorites, but she obviously loved her boys equally.
“Stop hogging Ma, you jackass.” Jackson barged in, cutting off Noah and Tammy’s dance. She laughed and buried her head in Jackson’s chest as they began to bicker over her attention once more.
“You three have women, give this old bat a break,” she squealed as she wiggled her way free and scurried off toward the kitchen.
I instantly felt blessed for being able to be a part of the love they shared. I had never known a love like that, at least not until I met the Sawyer family. Noah caught my gaze from across the room and winked, which set off those familiar chills any small gesture from him caused me. I truly had learned to love the reaction my body had to everything Noah.
As he moved across the living room in my direction, I couldn’t help but smile. And when he sat down at my side, he shifted me onto his lap to allow more room for his large frame to fit in the small space.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he said with a smirk. Noah knew he was all I could see, and he loved it. He was arrogant and sweet—the best of both worlds—and knew the perfect time to show each side.
“You gonna give me a kiss, or you plan on staring at my lips instead?” he asked before licking his lower lip.
I blushed, knowing I had just been openly drooling over the thought of his lips on mine.
“Don’t get all embarrassed on me, darlin’, just give me a little sweetness instead,” he said with a grin as he gripped the back of my neck and pulled me toward him. A soft moan escaped me as his tongued trailed along the seam of my lips, and for a moment, I forgot we were sitting in his mom’s living room with a large audience.
“Well, Bailey and I have some news to share when those two over there stop sucking face.” Jackson’s booming voice startled me, and I pulled back from Noah quickly, embarrassed at finding all eyes were on us. Of course, Noah just chuckled.
“As if we don’t find you and Bailey in more compromising positions than just a simple lip lock,” Noah said as he slid his hand beneath the hem of my shirt and lightly brushed his fingers over my lower back.
It was now Bailey’s turn to blush as her eyes grew wide, and she looked over at Tammy, who was also laughing at Noah’s comment.
“Go on, boy, tell us the news.” Tammy was grinning widely, and something told me she was already expecting what was about to come.
The second Jackson stepped up behind Bailey and reached around to place his hands on her stomach, the entire room fell silent. It was one of those beautiful moments that give you the chills. You could instantly see the love in Jackson’s eyes when Bailey looked back at him over her shoulder.
He placed a soft kiss against her forehead before looking back at the rest of us. All traces of his earlier silly behavior had vanished and now had been replaced with deep affection, something he rarely showed to anyone other than Bailey. “Not only has this beautiful lady agreed to marry me, but she’s also making me a father,” Jackson said, choking up.
Congratulations were exchanged, along with hugs and, yes, even tears. Though Amber and I already knew, we still shared in those tears. Her secret was now officially out, and we no longer had to hide our excitement.
Tammy stood back, watching the happiness around her with tears in her eyes. I watched out of the corner of my eye as her gaze wandered to the picture of her late husband hanging on the wall, and she smiled at it as if she was sharing a silent secret with him. As if I wasn’t already raw with emotion, that touching moment only caused my chest to ache more.
She scanned over everyone until her eyes settled on Jackson. I couldn’t help but smile as he arched an eyebrow at her and she mirrored his reaction, then grinned and tilted her head as if to challenge him.
“What?” he said, and it rang out over all the commotion in the room. Slowly, everyone grew quiet one by one as they became aware of the stare-down between Jackson and Tammy. A nervous chuckle fell from Jackson, and I found it humorous how a big, strong man like him, or any of the Sawyer boys, for the matter, could grow intimidated by their hundred-pound mother.
“Well,” Tammy said as she took a step toward Jackson and Bailey. Everyone stepped back, allowing her full access to them. “It’s about time you two allow us all to hear something we already knew.”
Jackson looked down at Bailey, and she shrugged before looking back up at his mother.
“The two of you are terrible at keeping secrets,” Tammy said as she stopped in front of them.
Almost simultaneously, Jackson and Bailey looked at one another and said, “Did you say something?”
Everyone around them laughed, including Tammy.
“Neither of you had to say anything. But a word of advice,” she continued, pointing toward her son. “If you are trying to keep being pregnant with my grandchild a temporary secret, try hiding the sonogram picture someplace other than the checkbook in your office. You do understand I write checks for the ranch too.”
Bailey smirked back at Jackson, looking at him as if they had some secret bet. “And you said I would be the one that let the secret out.”
Amber snorted and then quickly slapped her hand over her mouth. She tried to rush from the room, but Ryan grabbed her around the waist, holding her in place. “Oh no you don’t.”
Amber’s eyes grew wide as she begged for me to help her, and in that moment she gave me away too. Noah engulfed me in his arms and chuckled against my temple. “Something is telling me our girls have been hiding some things from us all,” he added as he tickled my sides.
“So you did let it out.” Jackson smiled at Bailey, sharing her earlier excitement. The two of them had to have made some sort of bet about who would squeal first.
“I didn’t tell on purpose! It was a slip of the tongue. I was an emotional mess over the wedding gown, and I got caught up in the moment. It sort of slipped out and, well, those two saw right through me. It isn’t my fault they know me so well.” Bailey was getting flustered, which only caused us all to laugh a little more.
“You know what this means now, don’t you?” Jackson asked with a smirk.
“Yes, naked dinners for a
week.” She said it so casually, as if she wasn’t in a room full of innocent bystanders and the mother of her fiancé.
We all watched in silence as she looked up and registered that we’d all just heard that. Her eyes grew wide, and she covered her face in horror.
“Aw, Bay, don’t worry,” Ryan said with a chuckle. “We all know you two can’t keep your clothes on, so naked dinners seem like a normal day between the two of you.”
Tammy wasted no more time. She closed the distance and took Jackson and Bailey into her arms. “Those naked escapades of yours have given me another grandbaby to love, so you won’t hear me lecturing. Just please, for the love of God, keep it on your side of the lake. There are just some things a mother should never witness.” Tammy’s body shook in laughter when Bailey once again groaned in horror.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Noah
“The girls are meeting us, right?” I asked as we pulled up in front of Roger’s.
Jackson had decided a night out as a group was better than two individual parties celebrating their last days before the wedding. So we settled on meeting at Roger’s Bar, one of our regular hangouts.
Ryan climbed out of his truck just as Jackson pulled up alongside my truck. “Yeah, they’re all at my place getting fixed up. They should be here within the hour,” he said.
Jackson waved, motioning to a couple guys he knew, and they started walking in our direction. I noticed Booker in the group and immediately hung my head with an annoyed groan. The guy was a jackass. He got under everyone’s skin.
“Just look at it this way, we’ll have someone to push around all night,” Ryan said quietly just as they joined us, and it made me chuckle. I guess there was one good thing about Booker showing up.
The bar was packed tonight. Some band from Billings was in town for the weekend, and Jackson thought seeing them play would add fun to our group night. Hell, I would have settled for a fire out on the ranch followed by a party of my own with Alena. But Jackson was the man of the hour, this was for him and Bailey, so I would grin and bear it.
“Well, would you look at that,” Ryan said in an irritated tone. “And she looks like she’s already had a few.”
I looked up just as Stacey stumbled into Booker and he wrapped his arms around her waist to steady her. She giggled and looked up at him with those seductive eyes of hers.
The love I had once felt toward Stacey had long faded, but the idea of that fuckwad having any involvement in my son’s life left a bad taste in my mouth.
“It would appear she’s sunk her claws into another willing soul,” Jackson added as the three of us watched the sick display of lust.
“Booker was always willing. She was the one that used to have standards.” I wrinkled my nose in disgust as he leaned forward and placed his lips against hers.
And with that, we all turned our backs and walked toward the bar. Stacey had told me her parents were keeping Austin tonight because she was going out with friends. But I guess those so-called friends were either an excuse she fed her parents or they were now an afterthought.
“Just let it ride. You know it ain’t gonna last,” Ryan said as he stepped up to the bar beside me. “He’ll be moving on by this time next week to another lonely girl.”
“I don’t give a shit if they screw around or not. I just don’t want his fucked-up shit anywhere near Austin.” I looked back over my shoulder when the two of them stumbled toward the bar all wrapped around one another. Apparently she had no fucking class anymore, either.
Her eyes met mine, and for a moment she appeared ashamed until Booker slid his hand around to cup her ass and she was once again lost in his advances.
“Line ’em up,” Jackson hollered. “And keep ’em coming.” He slapped five one-hundred-dollar bills on the bar and grinned over and Ryan and me. Apparently, he planned on taking full advantage of the fact his fiancée couldn’t drink. He had a designated driver, which meant he was getting fucking loaded.
And who were Ryan and I to decline a night on our younger brother? After all, if we refused, we may hurt his pride.
When the bartender set out a line of shots before the three of us, Ryan shrugged and took one in each hand. “To Jackson,” he stated loudly. “May you and Bailey live a life full of great sex and unforgettable love.”
“Well, the sex is fucking out of this world, so we’re all good there.” Jackson chuckled as he tipped back his first shot and hissed after he swallowed. “And the unforgettable love, we got that too. Never in my life have I felt anything like it.” He shook his head as if to clear it before tipping back the next shot.
Ryan and I followed, and the burn in my chest from the whiskey had me closing my eyes tightly, waiting for the soothing effect of the beer I chased it with.
“Fuck me, look what just walked in,” Ryan yelled, surprising us all. He was normally the quieter of us three. “Fucking sexiest damn women in Livingston.”
My eyes met Alena’s, and she tucked her chin toward her chest, hiding her flushed cheeks. Amber’s eyes widened a bit in surprise, and Bailey laughed loudly, followed by an obnoxious snort.
Apparently alcohol made Ryan vocal. I had a feeling tonight was gonna be funny as hell.
I sauntered over to Alena, and she lifted her head, looking up just as I stopped in front of her. “You look good enough to eat, sweetheart.” She had on such a short skirt that when I reached down, I could feel her bare thigh. I lightly trailed my fingertip along the hem and watched as she bit down on her lower lip. “Not sure I’ll be able to hold off until we get home. I may have to drag you off someplace dark and have my way with you.”
And apparently drinking made my ass hornier than usual. I suddenly felt as if I hadn’t had her in weeks.
“Don’t go teasing me now,” she taunted, and I knew she was baiting me. But she needed to understand there was absolutely no reason to push. I already felt myself growing hard at the idea of bending her over the barstool and nailing her hard. I squeezed my eyes shut tightly and tried to talk down the raging hard-on that was now pressing against my zipper. Fucking shit was painful.
She giggled, and my eyes shot open to meet hers.
“Have you already been drinking?” she asked, reaching out to press her palm against my chest. I nodded as I held my breath, waiting for her next move. “You’re acting a little out of character. I think I’m gonna enjoy this side of you.”
She rose onto the tips of her toes and brought her lips closer to mine. “I’m pretty sure at this point I could convince you to do just about anything.” Her soft breath tickled my face, and I nodded. There was no question about it, I would have given her whatever she asked without hesitation. I was so fucking wired.
As she leaned in closer, I thought she was going to kiss me, but she only brushed her lips over mine and pulled back entire too quickly. I could feel myself leaning farther into her, chasing her for the kiss I wanted.
“Come on, handsome, buy me a drink,” Alena hollered over her shoulder at me as she strolled toward the bar. My gaze fell down, focusing on her ass. That damn shake of her hips was taunting me, teasing me.
“Just a little warning, she did a few shots of her own before we left,” Amber said through her laughter, and I knew what that meant. Tonight was going to be explosive, because my girl got a little wild when she drank too.
***
“Stacey is still the same attention whore she once was,” Ryan said as he took a seat on my left at the bar. “And I hate to say it, but she’s doing it to get to Alena. I don’t see this shit ending well.”
I had been thinking the same thing for the last hour. Stacey had been doing anything she could to gain my attention, included dry-humping Booker over and over while looking directly at me. I wasn’t biting, and that only made her attempts more obvious.
“She’s shooting daggers at your woman,” Ryan added, and I turned in the stool to get a look at what he was referring to.
He was right. Stacey stood only a few feet fr
om Alena with her eyes narrowed in a pissed-off glare. Alena, of course, was oblivious to her attitude, because she was feeling entirely too good to notice Stacey.
“Do I go over there and set her straight, or do I just grab Alena and drag her ass out of here?” I feared either way I would upset Alena. She looked so relaxed and happy. At that moment, she chose to look up, and her eyes met mine. A sweet smile pulled at the corner of her mouth as she motioned for me to join her on the dance floor.
I shook my head while remaining in place, and she smiled bigger and nodded as she crooked her fingers and swiveled her hips seductively. I knew any moment I would be leaving the bar to join her, but it was fun to pretend I could resist her. The problem was that judging by the look on her face, she knew I couldn’t.
Alena was definitely my match. She played just as must as she surrendered, and I fucking loved our games. When she ran her hands up her thighs and over her stomach before gently cupping the sides of her breasts, I had reached the end of my resistance. I stood and stalked toward her like a man on a mission.
She let out a little hmph as my body collided with hers and I took her mouth in a hungry kiss.
“When are you gonna be ready to get out of here? I need to get you alone.” It came out resembling more of a growl than actual words.
“And what exactly do you plan on doing with me once you get me alone?” she asked in a husky whisper.
I didn’t answer her with words. Instead, I pushed my hardness against her, and she gasped.
The sound of squealing caught our attention. We both looked to our left and found Stacey up in the face of some brunette. Booker stood off to the side, watching the two women like some fucking idiot. I would have bet my left nut this catfight was his doing.
