“I don’t mind sleeping in a closet if Lacey’s there.”
Her mother nodded and gave Lacey a look that said, “See? He wants to marry you.”
As soon as they walked in the front door, they were besieged by her sisters and other relatives. Lacey’s mother introduced Hunter.
Renee whispered in Lacey’s ear, “Are there more in Wyoming like him?”
“He has lots of brothers, all single. You’ll have to visit.”
Josephine, or Josie, as her family called her, moved over to Lacey when Renee walked off.
“Are you out of your mind, getting involved with another man wanting to hold office?”
“He’s not like Ray, and he’s running for state senator, not for the senate here.”
“Alex will have him in Washington within the next two years if he wins his state Senate seat.”
“Why do you care?” Lacey asked.
“I don’t want you hurt. You’re still recovering from Ray’s betrayals.”
“I never knew you cared. You didn’t visit me much or call.”
Josie turned her face away for a moment and then looked back. “I’m not good with words. That’s why I chose a career in finance.”
Her older sister looked a lot like their mother. She was shorter than Lacey and had light-blonde hair that curled around her face and fell halfway down her back when she wore it loose like she did tonight. Lacey considered what her sister just said.
“I didn’t know what to say or do, and I was afraid if I said the wrong thing I’d hurt you more. I’m sorry you thought I didn’t care,” Josie added.
Tears came into Lacey’s eyes. She pulled Josie into her arms. “I never realized until you pointed it out, but you are the quiet sister. Are you happy working in finance?”
“Most of the time. But the office is busy and noisy, and I have to learn to talk more and join in the camaraderie if I want to advance in my career.”
Hunter joined them, and Lacey told him about Josie and how she worked at a large office downtown. “She’s not too happy with all the noise and people. She’s also having difficulty getting promoted where she’s employed.”
Josie blushed. “I didn’t mean for you to tell anyone else.”
“She told me because I may know of a job you’d like. Did you enjoy living in Pleasure Valley?”
“Sure, but I was young. As you know, it’s been years since I lived there.”
“Garrison Enterprises has an opening for a person with a financial background. My brothers aren’t great with keeping up with the paperwork. Heath, our older brother, handles all our business in his New York office. He wants an assistant at the ranch. Think about it and let Lacey know if you want an interview. Your mom said to tell you two to lead the others to the dining room.”
Lacey wasn’t hungry, but she’d be glad to have dinner over and go to their room. She had to decide whether to mention their biological father to her sisters, and whether to invite them both to come back with her and meet him. Would she upset them, or did they have a desire to meet him after all this time?
Chapter Twelve
“The dinner was more enjoyable than I’d thought it would be, but I saw Alex pull you aside afterward,” Lacey said. She stood in the upstairs bedroom allotted to her and Hunter. Hunter walked across the room and pulled her into his arms. His firm lips kissed her hard.
“Quit worrying.” Hunter grinned. “Alex, as he asked me to call him, has decided he likes me and sees a future for me in Washington.”
“I knew it. I didn’t think he’d move this fast, but with your looks and personality he couldn’t resist. What did you say?”
“I explained I wanted to be a state senator and that was as far as my ambitions went for now. I added my doubts about ever wanting to become known on the national stage.”
“That must have upset him,” Lacey said.
“No. He’s confident I’ll change my mind. He said the state Senate was a good place to start my new career.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of, and when you get involved with Washington you no longer have any private life. Every word you say is repeated, analyzed, and then commented on by all the news stations.”
Hunter cupped her face in his hands. “Look at me.”
Lacey scowled at him. “What?”
“I agree with you. I don’t believe I’ll ever want more than being in the Senate or being governor. But I don’t want to say an absolute no. In the future, circumstances can change. A no now might cause a misunderstanding between us or worse if I said yes then.”
He kissed her face all over, and then with his one hand behind her, holding her tight against his hard cock, he whispered, “I want to make love to you. Can we forget politics for one night?”
Lacey wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m so glad Mom ran out of rooms.” She held her body tight to his and felt his cock pulsate. “Take me to bed, cowboy.”
“With pleasure, ma’am.” Hunter picked Lacey up and carried her to the bed. When he placed her feet on the floor, he stepped back and started to undress.
Lacey pulled her dress and slip off and her shoes. She watched Hunter as he took off his undershorts, leaving his beautiful, sexy body fully uncovered. From his pants pocket, he drew out a condom packet, opened it, and sheathed his large cock.
Lacey stepped into his space and ran her hands across his flat six-pack and down his hard abdomen. Then she wrapped her fingers around his wide, jutting dick.
“You are so handsome and sexy.” She stared into his blue eyes and saw a flash of gold.
His hands spanned her waist, and he drew her against his warm body. His mouth covered hers as his tongue invaded the inner recesses to caress the softness with sensuous strokes.
She brushed her fingertips over his nipples. His breathing increased with each touch of her hand on his body.
Hunter reached behind her and unfastened her bra. He tossed it on a chair and cupped her full breasts in his hands. His thumbs grazed across her sensitive nipples. When her head fell back and she moaned with pleasure, he kissed her neck.
“I can feel the beat of your heart under my lips,” he said. He placed feather-light kisses in that area.
Then he swept her panties down and off. When he straightened, he placed her on the bed and followed her down.
Lacey sighed. “The best feeling in the world is when your body first touches mine so completely.”
“I’m using my elbows to keep part of my weight off of you. Am I too heavy?”
“Not at all.”
He kissed her breasts and caressed them. His tongue and teeth titillated her buds.
Hunter took his time kissing his way to her mound. Her pussy juices flowed out, wetting her lower lips, and her pussy walls clenched with hunger.
Heat and desire rushed through her veins as Hunter kissed her clit and licked her juices on the way to her pussy opening.
“Please, put your hard cock in me, now.”
His face and his eyes glowed with desire. “You are sure you’re ready? I mean we can play another thirty minutes or more.” His mouth curved into the lopsided grin that made her heart jump.
“Now!” she demanded.
He spread her legs and rubbed his cock along her pussy lips. Then, while looking into her eyes, he slowly slid inside her tight pussy walls.
Pleasure filled every pore of her body. Slowly, Hunter began to move in and out. Once he leaned down and kissed and sucked on her breast. She felt his touch all the way to her core like a thread connecting his hot mouth to her trembling desire.
She lifted her hips to meet his thrusts and gradually he moved quicker. She tightened her walls around him each time he plunged deeper. When euphoria broke into a wave of sheer bliss, it rolled over Lacey, making her whole body shiver in delight.
Hunter yelled out his joy when he reached his peak. He held his dick hard against her womb. Her pussy walls rippled around him and her orgasm peaked again, just gentler this time.
&
nbsp; Hunter rolled off of her. He put his arm over his face and took deep, harsh breaths. When Lacey put her hand on his chest, she could feel the heavy pounding of his heart.
He moved his arm and cuddled Lacey against his side. “You may not want to hear this or be ready for it, but I love you, darlin’, for better or worse.”
Lacey cuddled closer as his words echoed through her body and her mind went round in circles looking for an answer.
She loved him, but something held her back from voicing the words. Deafening silence surrounded them.
Finally, Lacey looked at his lovable face, and said, “I love you, too, but I’m not ready to commit to those words just yet. Does that make any sense?”
His fingers brushed her hair off her face. “Surprisingly, it does. I can wait. I’ve never been very patient when I wanted something as badly as I want you. But I’ll try to be until you can wholeheartedly tell me you love me. Actually, your words made me hopeful.”
She saw the tenderness in his gaze and recognized the steady calmness about him that was so reassuring. The fineness of the man he was shone in his eyes and in the gentle way he held her close. His goodness touched her heart.
Lacey glanced away from him. She so wanted to open her heart and trust him completely. But was she capable of loving and trusting to the degree he deserved?
* * * *
When Lacey went down to breakfast, she took her sisters aside and invited them to lunch. “I’d invite Mom, but this is something the three of us need to discuss first, before mentioning it to her,” Lacey explained.
“Let’s go to the Mexican restaurant just down the road. The food and the margaritas are very good,” Renee said.
“It’s all right with me, but you have to be the designated driver, Josie. You don’t like to drink during the day anyway,” Lacey said. “I’d like a nice cold margarita.”
“What time shall we meet?” Josie asked.
“I have somewhere I want to go this morning. Can we have a late lunch, say one o’clock?” Lacey asked her sisters.
“It’s good for me. Mom’s got this huge buffet set out for breakfast and she’ll push us to eat well,” Josie said.
“Then at one o’clock we’ll meet outside the restaurant.” Lacey glanced across the room and saw Hunter had come down. He’d stayed behind in the room to make several calls.
“See you later.” Lacey made her way around the relatives to get to his side and rescue him from Alex.
“No talking about business anymore this trip,” Lacey warned Alex. “If I have any say in it, Hunter will not be a Washington politician.” She kissed Alex’s cheek and pulled Hunter to the side.
“I have to go somewhere on my own this morning, and then I’m having lunch with my sisters at one,” she said. “What’s been planned for the men? Do you know?”
“Alex said they’re going golfing. He invited me to join them.”
“Do you play golf?” Lacey asked.
“A little. Joel and Justyn love the game. I go with them sometimes.”
“Then do you mind joining the other men just for today?”
Hunter studied her face intently. “Are you sure you want to do, whatever it is, alone?”
“I think I have to. It’s overdue.”
“Then after we eat breakfast, I’ll dress for golf. Alex said he has an extra pair of shoes. Luckily we’re the same shoe size.”
“You two are getting much too cozy.” Lacey took his arm, smiled, and they strolled toward the buffet.
* * * *
Lacey asked the taxi driver to wait. She made her way around the large section of the cemetery named Peace. On the far side, she stopped by Ray’s grave. His birth date and date of death were engraved on the headstone. Underneath, his parents had added, Beloved son, gone too soon. Fresh flowers had been placed in the metal vase. She suspected Ray’s mother came often to the grave. His mom had been devastated by his death and all the negative things said about her son on the news.
“The last time I was here, Ray, I was at your funeral. I never thought I’d come back.” Lacey sat on the ground and pulled weeds the gardeners had missed, as she talked to her dead husband. “If anyone sees me, they’ll think I’m crazy. I don’t care. I never got to tell you good-bye. My anger prevented me from wanting to, but I did love you at the start. You were handsome, personable, and everyone liked you, especially the ladies. I suppose it was too much temptation.”
Lacey glanced at the blue sky above and across the area to where her cab driver patiently waited. “I’m sorry you died. You were much too young. I’m sorry we didn’t fit. We were caught up in the dazzle of love and the excitement of youth and living in the capital city.
“I never thought I’d say this, but I forgive you. I’m letting go of all the anger and disappointment to try and regain my life.”
Tears came into Lacey’s eyes and she let herself cry for him and her and the promises made and broken. For a love that never got the chance to flower and bloom. And most of all for the child they’d never see or hold.
There were wrenching cries at first from the bottom of her soul, but gradually the tears stopped and she stood. “Good-bye, Ray. I hope you can rest in peace.”
Lacey made her way back to the cab. “I’m sorry I kept you waiting so long,” she said, and got in the back seat.
“No problem. I had a good book. But it’s going to cost you. My meter’s been running the whole time.”
“I can afford it.” What I couldn’t afford was carrying around all that anger and hurt. She sat back in her seat and the driver turned toward the small village where her parents lived. She looked at her watch. It was twelve-thirty.
“Do you know where this restaurant is?” Lacey showed him the name and address Renee had written down.
“Sure.”
“Then drop me off there.”
She took a deep breath. Funny, I feel lighter. Lacey took out her powder and glanced in the mirror.
After she’d repaired her makeup, she sat back and considered how she’d tell her sisters about their father.
“Here you are, lady.” The cabbie nodded at the Mexican restaurant.
“Thank you so much.” Lacey paid him and included a large tip. Then she went inside to face her next task.
* * * *
“We got here first and decided to get a table. I ordered you a strawberry margarita,” Renee said. “I hope that’s what you wanted.” Josie sat beside Renee drinking iced tea.
Lacey sank into the chair. “It looks wonderfully refreshing.” She took a long, cool swallow.
“You look hot, and have you been crying?” Josie leaned closer. “You have.”
“I tried to cover it up, so I wouldn’t have a lot of questions.” Her sisters continued to look at her, waiting for an answer.
“Okay, I went to Ray’s grave.”
“Whatever for?” Josie asked.
“To have closure, as my counselor would say.”
“You are seeing a counselor after you refused every time Mom suggested you see one?” Renee stared at her.
“I was finally convinced my anger and hurt was keeping me from going forward.” Lacey blushed, but looked steadily at Renee.
“I’m glad. Good for you,” Josie said. “It takes courage to try and pick up the pieces and go on.”
“I hope you and Renee have courage and will listen to what I have to say without interrupting me. Then we can discuss it.”
A dark-haired, tall, good-looking waiter came to the table to take their orders. Renee’s smile was extra friendly. They quickly studied the menu and gave him their order.
Renee watched him walk off. “I do like a man with a good-looking bun.” She smiled at Lacey. “Your Hunter has a handsome bun, and I’d bet he’s sexy looking all over.” She winked.
“Really, Renee,” Josie scolded her. “Is sex all you think about?”
“It is when I’m not getting any.” Renee shrugged her shoulders. “Loosen up some, Josie, and have a lif
e.”
“Please can we get back to the topic at hand?” Lacey asked.
“What is the topic?” Renee looked across at her.
“Our father.”
No one said a word, but Renee and Josie both looked stunned.
Josie spoke first. “What about him? We don’t even know if he’s alive.”
“He is, and he wants to meet with me. I thought you and Renee might like to come for a visit and see him, too.”
“Have you been hunting for him?” Renee asked.
“No. I met a man who knows him. He told me our father has settled and matured. He’s married and has younger children.”
Renee took a long swallow of her margarita, and then she said, “I’ve put him out of my mind. I don’t remember him and Dad, Alex, is the only father I’ve known.” She glanced at her sisters. “Do you think he’d be hurt if we traveled to Wyoming to see our biological father?”
“I don’t know. It was a difficult decision for me to make, but I’m going to meet with him,” Lacey said.
“We must tell Mom and Dad what we’re planning,” Josie added. “I wouldn’t go behind their backs or even go unless they are all right with it.”
“I agree,” Renee said.
“Then tomorrow after the big party, we’ll talk with them,” Lacey said. The waiter bringing their food was good timing. Eating gave them a chance to not talk. Lacey studied her sister’s faces. She hoped she hadn’t started something that would upset the whole family.
When they were finished eating, Renee looked across at Lacey. “Tell us what you know about our other father.”
“He married ten years ago. His wife lived in a nearby town when he met her. He runs their ranch and the feed store he bought. Apparently he’s done well for himself. Oh, and they have a six-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter.”
“I don’t know why he’d want to see us.” Josie frowned and sipped the last of her iced tea. “I’ll have to decide if it’s worth taking time off from work to meet him.”
The Unforgettable Bride [Brides for the Garrison Brothers 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 11
