Sweet, Sexy Heart – the Bradens & Montgomerys (Pleasant Hill – Oak Falls)

by Melissa Foster

  “Because, as I’ve said since we first met, everything is different with you. I want more time with you, not less. We only have this week together before I leave for my book tour, and I don’t want to waste a second of it.”

  A nugget of sadness burrowed deep inside her. She hated the idea of him leaving, but it was inevitable. She didn’t want to waste a second of their time together either, or miss a moment of the way he made her feel. She stood with the sheet pressed to her chest and glanced over her shoulder at him. He was looking at her like she was his everything, making her want to let down her guard as she’d done last night. She wasn’t naive. She knew things might change next week, that this time together might be all they would ever have, and that bothered her. But he was loving, supportive, and funny, even if a little pushier than what she was used to, and she really, really liked him. He made her feel special and safe and, she realized, much more comfortable in her own skin, too. She didn’t want to pass up a chance at this beautiful happiness, even if short-lived. If this was all that was in the cards for them, she wanted to experience all of it. To soak it in and revel in it for as long as it lasted. And she did so knowing her sisters would be there to help her through her heartache.

  Gathering all of her courage, she dropped the sheet and walked naked toward the bathroom.

  He whistled. “Damn, baby. Best ass is right.”

  She spun around, jaw gaping. “Who told you that?”

  “I plead the Fifth.”

  “Ugh. Brindle!”

  “Don’t be mad,” he called after her as she stalked into the bathroom. “It’s a compliment!”

  After using the bathroom, she brushed her teeth and quickly ran a comb through her hair, noticing love bites on her neck and body. She skimmed her fingers over them, memories sizzling inside her. She really had become his wild thing. She set down the comb, breathing deeply as she gathered her courage again. It was one thing to show her bare ass and another to walk out there giving him the full monty.

  She pulled open the door, and her knees weakened at the sight of him lounging against the headboard, reading her book club novel. One long leg stretched out in front of him, the other bent at the knee, flat on the mattress. His formidable cock lay soft just above his thigh. Her body ignited, and then she noticed Reno lying at his feet, happy as a clam, as if Dash belonged there. Lord help her, because she wanted to jump on board the Dash-belonging-there train, too.

  Dash lowered the book, their eyes connecting for a hot second before he dragged his gaze down the length of her. Her nipples pebbled, and he was just as visibly aroused. He crooked his finger, beckoning her to the bed.

  He made a clicking sound with his mouth, nudging Reno, and Reno jumped off the bed as Amber climbed on. “You’re reading my book.”

  In one quick move, Dash shifted her beneath him, his cock rubbing against her center, creating delicious friction. “I read it while you were sleeping this morning, too.”

  “How long were you waiting for me to wake up?”

  “A couple of hours. I’m an early riser, up by six most days.”

  It was nearly nine. “You should have woken me up.”

  “You needed to rest so we can test out my rewrites.” He kissed along her jaw. “I plan on wearing you out again.” He kissed her neck. “And again.” He kissed her lips. “And again.” He gazed down at her, desire burning in his eyes. “And that’s just before lunch. Then we have to get cleaned up, because we have something very important to take care of.”

  “What?” came out breathless and needy.

  He brushed his lips along her cheek, whispering, “Making your teenage dreams come true.”

  THIS WAS A day of firsts for Amber. As promised, or warned, Dash ravaged her senseless, completely wearing her out. She nodded off in his arms, and they didn’t crawl out of bed until just before noon. It had taken some convincing for her to shower with him. She’d never showered with a man before. But wow, what a man he was. She would never think of showers the same way again. In fact, she couldn’t wait to get dirty just so they’d have a reason to take another one.

  It was nearly two o’clock when they finally left the house. Dash said he had a big day planned for them, but he refused to tell her where they were going. They left Reno at home and headed over to Sin’s so Dash could get clean clothes.

  Sin’s truck was parked in the driveway, and as they walked up to the front door, her nerves prickled. Dash squeezed her hand. “Your hand is sweating. What’s wrong?”

  “I’ve never done a walk of shame, but this has that feel to it, doesn’t it? You showing up at Sin’s wearing the same clothes you wore the night before is like announcing to the world that we just had sex.” She whispered sex.

  He hauled her into his arms. “We had sex?”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m just not used to having my personal life on display.” As she said it, she realized she’d never really had much of a personal life to protect until now.

  “It’s just Sin, not the gossiping grandmothers.” He touched his forehead to hers. “You know, sweet thing, according to your sisters’ husbands, the sparks between us could have caused a wildfire last night, and that was just while I was watching you on the dance floor.”

  “You’re right. I’m just being silly.”

  “No, you’re getting used to something new. But unless you plan to keep me chained to your bed, people are going to know we can’t keep our hands off each other.”

  She pictured Dash in all his naked glory chained to her bed, and her insides caught fire. Now, there’s a tasty option. “I wonder where we can get chains.”

  “Now you’re thinking.” He kissed her, and they headed inside. “Next stop, the hardware store.”

  After a little teasing from Sin about Dash missing his curfew, Dash changed his clothes, and they headed out again. He drove straight to the high school, parking in the empty lot. “What are we doing here?” Amber asked as she climbed out of the car.

  “Teenage dream fulfillment. Come on.” He took her hand, leading her toward the bleachers by the football field.

  Excitement bubbled up inside her. “Are we going to make out under the bleachers?”

  “Damn right we are.” He tugged her in for a smooch, and then they ran toward the bleachers hand in hand.

  As he led her under the bleachers, she felt like a naughty kid breaking the rules, which cranked up the excitement. Dash drew her into his arms. “Is my good girl ready to get bad?”

  “Heck yeah.” She was ridiculously giddy at the prospect.

  His lips came down over hers, and as their tongues explored, one arm crushing her to him, his other hand threading into her hair—oh, how she loved that—it felt like they were discovering each other for the very first time. She didn’t know if it was the naughtiness of breaking rules or the man who made her feel safe and special, turning their already magical kisses into earth-shattering steaminess, but whatever it was, she never wanted it to end. He kissed her more demandingly, taking and giving, then taking much more, sending desire whipping through her like a rolling storm building, intensifying with every swipe of his tongue. The force of their kisses sent her stumbling back against the metal stand, and she was glad for the leverage, using it to go up on her toes to fist her hands in his hair, pressing her whole body against his exquisitely hard frame, wishing she could feel the heat of their passion flesh to flesh. Their hands moved greedily over their bodies and the rest of the world spun away, a single thought clinging to her—that the raw, unbridled passion they shared was more powerful than she ever thought she’d find. How was it possible that they’d known each other for only a little more than a week, when she knew in her heart that he’d been right when he’d said she’d been waiting for him her whole life?

  Their lips parted on a series of kisses, both of them breathing hard, clinging to each other like they needed the other to survive.

  “Jesus,” he panted out. “I want to kiss you forever.”

  “The
n do it.” She pulled his mouth back to hers.

  They lost themselves in a mesmerizing rhythm of slow and sensual, then urgent and demanding, all-consuming kisses. Time ceased to exist. When they finally made their way back to the car, they were utterly drunk on each other.

  Dash started the engine and reached for Amber’s hand. “What’s going on in your beautiful mind?”

  “I think you really have ruined me for any other man.”

  “My evil plan is working. Buckle up, hot stuff, we’re just getting started.”

  “I STILL CAN’T believe Brindle and Morgyn told you that I’ve never made out in a movie theater.” Amber popped a fry into her mouth. “I think I’ll have to thank them.”

  Dash kissed her smiling lips.

  They’d gone to the movies and sat in the back of the nearly empty theater. After kissing until they were both hanging on to their sanity by a thread, he’d pushed her boundaries and had given her the orgasm she’d so desperately needed. Which had done nothing to diminish the wood he’d been sporting, but seeing his careful girl set herself free was worth it. She wasn’t the only one setting herself free today. These were firsts for him, too. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually enjoyed life as much as he had these last few days with Amber. Now they were finishing dinner at the Stardust Café.

  She snagged another fry, looking gorgeous and sweet in a buttercup-yellow sweater that brought out the flecks of gold in her eyes. “What else did the blond birdies tell you?”

  “You’ll see. I don’t want to ruin the surprise.”

  She eyed him curiously. “I need to get to know your brothers and sisters so I can learn your secrets. Tell me something I don’t know about you.”

  He finished his milkshake and set down the empty glass. “Today was the first time I’ve made out under the bleachers or in a theater.”

  “No way.”

  “It’s true. I told you my life was busy when I was a kid, and I was the guy on the field, not under the bleachers.” He stole a kiss. “You’re also the first woman I’ve ever been crazy about.”

  She blushed. “That’s hard to believe. You’re so warm and expressive. I know you said you’ve had a hard time trusting women, and I believe you, but still.”

  He took her hand, gazing into her trusting eyes, wanting to share all of himself with her and explain why it was hard for him to trust women. But a café was hardly the place for that conversation. “That’s because you bring out the best parts of me, and you get to see things in me that others don’t. I think the same of you. You’re the brightest star in a night sky, and I have no idea how you’ve gotten this far without a ring on your finger and a baby in your arms.”

  She shook her head, like she didn’t believe him, and a tease rose in her eyes. “You know why.”

  “I do?”

  She lowered her voice. “Because I was waiting for you.”

  He was dead. Slayed through the heart with a fricking arrow. “That’s right, sweetheart, and don’t you forget it.” He pulled her into a kiss, choking back the emotions trampling through him. “Want to know another secret?”

  “I want to know them all.”

  “A guy has to keep an air of mystery about him. But I’ll share this one if you promise not to tell anyone.”

  She made an X over her heart.

  He leaned in, speaking in a hushed tone. “Football wasn’t my first career choice.”

  “Really? In the interviews I read, you said you’d wanted to play since you were a kid. That you were born to do it.”

  “I was born to do it. Not many wide receivers are given MVP awards, and I love the game and the camaraderie with my teammates. But being born with a good genetic foundation that you hone and perfect to do something you enjoy is different from following your dreams. I gave the public what they wanted to hear.”

  “You just got even more interesting, Pennington. What did you really want to do?”

  “The kind of thing I’m doing with the ladies around here in the mornings but on a bigger level, like a boot camp. I loved setting up those obstacle courses I told you about for my brothers and sisters and coming up with creative ways to get them motivated and moving. But reality set in pretty quickly, and by the time I was fifteen, coaches were all over me about my athleticism and football. As I said, I loved football, so when I realized I could use those skills to help my family, it wasn’t a hardship. I just split my focus. When I went to college, I studied kinesiology, the psychological and physiological principles of movement, which fed that passion, and focused on football to help my family. It was the right choice. My family is set for life, I enjoyed my career, and I made the best friends a guy could ask for.”

  She had that dreamy expression again. “I love knowing this secret.”

  “I’ve never told anyone, but I want you to know the real me. Inside and out.”

  “I think we’re doing a pretty good job of getting to know each other inside and out.”

  He chuckled. “We sure are, and now you know some of my secrets.”

  “Yes, but please tell me there’s a follow-up secret.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I know you retired to work on your motivational speaking and launch your book, which is great, but when do you plan to follow your heart and start a boot camp?”

  “I have no idea about the boot camp, but I’m going to follow my heart right now. I think it’s time for your next surprise.” He took her hand as he rose to his feet, bringing her up with him. “A gaggle of grannies told me about the infamous Let it Out wall.”

  Her eyes lit up as he led her to the graffiti wall in the back of the café, which was covered with initials in hearts and other scribblings about couples and matters of the heart. He snagged one of the permanent markers from a bucket on a table by the wall.

  “I recently learned that a certain beautiful girl’s name is missing from this epic monument of coupledom, and if I want to stake my claim on her, I’d damn well better do it right.”

  She grinned from ear to ear as he found a spot on the wall and wrote their initials in a heart. He drew an arrow shooting through the lower left and emerging from the upper right of the heart, then drew three stars around the arrowhead.

  “Those same grannies told me I was shooting for the stars.” He tossed the marker into the bucket and hooked his arm over her shoulder, heading for the door. “There’s no getting away from me now, Amber Montgomery. We’re up there for all the world to see.”

  “Be careful what you wish for.” She sounded like she was warning herself rather than him.

  Trust me, sweetheart. “I have yet to make a wish that hasn’t come true.”

  He pulled open the door, and as she walked through, she said, “In case you’ve forgotten, you’re leaving next weekend.”

  “Yes, and you’ve given me a thousand reasons to come back.” The sun was just beginning to set as they headed to the car. He opened the door and patted her ass. “Get in, pretty thing. It’s time for your next surprise.”

  “There’s more?”

  “You’re my girl. There’s always going to be more.”

  Fifteen minutes later he parked at Jericho Ridge, which he’d learned from the guys last night was home to all the greatest parties in Oak Falls.

  “How do you even know about this place?” Amber asked as they got out of the car.

  “I’m a resourceful guy.” He opened the trunk and pulled out a cooler, a blanket, and a bag full of supplies.

  “Wow, you sure are. Want me to carry something?”

  “I’ve got it, but we’d better get down there. We have a creek party to attend.”

  “Oh, Dash. That’s a sweet thought, but there’s no party tonight,” she said apologetically. “You’d hear the music and see the bonfire.”

  “Damn.” He feigned disappointment. “We can still make the best of it.”

  The scent of pine and damp earth hung in the air as they made their way down to the creek, and he said
, “This is a beautiful rite-of-passage spot.”

  “It is pretty. Reed and Grace shared their first kiss in that creek after being apart for a decade.”

  “I bet a lot of people shared their first kisses down here.” He spread out the blanket. “What did you think of the creek parties?”

  “I rarely went to them. Parties intimidated me when I was young.” She looked out at the water, talking with her back to him. “I was afraid there would be too much commotion, and when there were parties at people’s houses, I worried about strobe lights because they’re a trigger for my seizures.”

  He finished setting out the rest of her surprise, filling two wineglasses with sparkling cider. He streamed music from his phone, which was connected to a small set of speakers, and went to her. “I wish I could have been with you then. You wouldn’t have been intimidated if you’d had me by your side.”

  “I wish you were, too.” She turned, surprise rising in her eyes as she took in the crackling fire and the lanterns he’d hung in the trees and set around the blanket.

  “Welcome to your private creek party.” He handed her a wineglass. “It’s cider, not alcohol.”

  “You knew there was no party?”

  “Actually, I had planned a party with your family and friends, and I had even invited Nana and Hellie and the ladies. But once we got to Sin’s and you said what you did about not wanting your private life on display, I realized I’d made a mistake. You wanted the rite of passage, but you don’t need spectators.” He loved that about her. She was so much more than the quiet, careful woman she appeared to be. “So I texted Brindle, Nana, and Sin, since I couldn’t tell Sin in front of you, and I asked them to get the word out that the party was canceled.”

  She blinked several times, like she was trying not to cry. “You set it up and canceled it? You must think I’m nuts.”

  “No, sweetheart. You’re the sanest person I know, and I am honored to be part of your rites of passage.” He held up his glass. “To making out at a creek party.”

  “To the best creek party ever.”

  They clinked glasses as “Wanted” by Hunter Hayes came on. “Sounds like our song.”