by M.A. Stacie
Libby shoved at his chest, and her stomach somersaulted when he picked up his bag. This was it. Taylor was leaving, and even though he promised to return, a part of her suspected he wouldn’t. Once he was away, he’d realize his time at the ranch had been temporary. His life was still back in Sea Pointe.
“Fuck off,” she said, teasing, trying to hide the hurt and anxiety that rushed through her system. “Tell your brother to say ‘I do’ as quick as possible.”
Taylor smiled. “Are you coming outside to wave me goodbye?”
“No.” She shook her head. “I can’t.”
Taylor gave her another searing kiss, and she was thankful he understood. His tongue stroked and his hands clutched, and she pressed every inch of her body against his.
“You’re a little flushed,” he said and winked. “You’d better be waiting for me, woman.”
Libby closed her eyes, unable to face the image of him walking out the door and possibly out of her life. The front door closed with a bang, and the sound echoed around the room. Holding back a sob, Libby slumped onto a chair.
“Is he there yet? Can I video chat with him? Or call him?”
Libby took a calming breath as her son’s excitement increased by the minute. Each time she thought she had him distracted, Levi would ask her again if Taylor was ready to take a phone call.
She had no idea, as she hadn’t heard a thing from him since he’d left. She knew he was probably still traveling, or perhaps he’d just arrived. He would call when he had a moment. But it didn’t stop her worrying he’d already started to change his mind.
“Taylor will call when he can, Levi. Please stop nagging.”
Her son shot her a bored stare, then caught himself before he rolled his eyes all the way to the ceiling.
“Watch yourself,” she said. “I’m tired and cranky. I won’t ignore your usual horsing around.”
Levi neighed, and she hid a smile behind her hand. She turned her back, not wanting him to know he’d chipped at her wall.
“When is he coming back? He promised to take me fishing again. Told me we would catch our dinner.”
This time she did laugh. “Taylor couldn’t catch a cold, let alone a fish!” She flicked her hair over her shoulder to see her son’s face. “Taylor is a city boy.”
“Not anymore. Josh said he’s done lots around here. Remember when he didn’t know how to fix the fence? He just kept hitting until it was fixed.”
“That’s not quite mending the fence, is it? That’s a bit like Pops saying he fixed the TV by whacking it.”
“Pops did fix it!” he said. “Then he let Taylor put it in his room.”
She giggled. “Have you cleaned your room?” she asked, trying to change the subject to something other than Taylor. She really could do without the constant reminder that he wasn’t there. Her son worshipped the man, which made his absence all the more evident. The ranch was empty without him. Hollow.
Levi shrugged. “I did it yesterday.”
“And you’ve been playing in the room since, which means there are plenty of things not put back where they belong.”
He toed the floor. “You don’t know that.”
“Hey!” she responded, kneeling on the floor in front of him. She grasped his shoulders, holding him so he had to face her. “Where is this sass coming from?”
“S’not sass.”
“Snot is what comes out of your nose. Speak properly.”
Levi sniffed. “Still not sassing you.”
“What’s going on, Levi? You never talk back like this. Why are you being so disruptive now?” She hated chastising him, but then she’d never had much cause to before.
“That’s how everyone talks.”
“Where? Who is everyone?”
Levi pouted and tried to pull away from her.
“You’re not going anywhere unless you talk to me.”
“All right, then. School. The other boys talk like that. If I do, I get to be in their gang.”
Libby groaned. Hadn’t they resolved the issue of school? “Who?” she repeated, though she could already guess the culprit.
“Aster. But you can’t say anything. He’s not bullying me, Mom. He’s not.”
Careful with her response, she tried to keep her tone even. “Maybe you think they are being friendly, but you know speaking to people like you have been is wrong. If those boys are making you act that way just so you can be friends with them, then that’s something we have to talk about. They shouldn’t be doing that.”
He dropped his gaze, blowing a stray blond curl from his forehead. Libby wanted to scoop him up and protect him from the world. She had battled for years to hide him from evil; she had control over that, but the other children at school were a different matter and she was struggling.
“Okay.” She stroked her hand over his hair. “Tell you what, let’s take the horses for a ride.”
He took hold of her hand and nodded.
Libby led her son from the cottage and locked the front door. She was too busy chasing Levi across the yard to hear the phone ringing inside.
Chapter 24
“Ever had phone sex, Blue?”
Libby shivered in reaction to the low timbre of his voice. Taylor had been gone for a little over thirty hours, and she hadn’t thought it was possible to miss someone as much as she missed him. All day she’d looked over her shoulder, expecting to find him there, his gaze drifting lazily over her body. Her head would tell her it wasn’t possible—that Taylor was miles away—but her body wouldn’t listen. Her body wanted him.
And so did her heart.
“I’m not getting dirty with you over the phone,” she said.
He chuckled, and she squirmed. “And why not? Don’t you want me? Don’t you miss me?”
“Of course I—”
“Don’t you remember how it felt when I kissed you? When I slid my tongue against yours as my hands caressed your shoulders, your chest . . . your breasts.”
Libby grew hot. Very hot.
“Maybe I should remind you of the way I made you whimper when I fucked you so slow. Or did you prefer the fucking to be hard?”
Libby groaned. She pushed her hair from her forehead, the rise in temperature making her uncomfortable. Even with the distance between them the man could get her wound up and wanting a release. Damn him.
He didn’t attempt to hide his amusement. She could hear it quite clearly. “Have I made you horny with my naughty words?”
“Y-you would love that, wouldn’t you?”
“Was that a stutter? Shall I continue to see how flustered I can get you?”
She pouted even though he couldn’t see her. But she didn’t tell him to stop. Instead she got more comfortable in bed and listened to his deep breathing. Closing her eyes, she imagined him lying next to her and could almost feel his breath on her skin.
“What’s your hotel like?” she asked, turning onto her side and resting her head on the pillow.
“Is that your equivalent of asking me what I’m wearing?” he asked.
She smiled. “Hardly. I just hope no one’s around to hear your lame excuse for dirty talk.”
Taylor laughed. “It might be lame, babe, but it’s all for you. And I’m afraid I’m fully dressed.”
“I didn’t ask what you were wearing.”
“Hey, watch out, because once the ladies hear my talk, they’ll all want me. I’ll have to auction off my time.”
She laughed. “That’s right, I forgot—you’re irresistible.”
“You’ve got that right.”
“I miss you,” she said before she could filter the thought. “I know that’s silly, but I—”
“I miss you, too,” he said, then sighed. “I went to meet that doctor today—Dr. Milo. We talked. I’ve made a few decisions.”
Her spine stiffened. “What kind of decisions?”
“I don’t want this discussion over the phone, babe. There’s no need to panic about it. I’d rather see your
face when I tell you.”
“It had better be good,” she said, rolling onto her other side.
“Always is with me. Don’t you know that by now?”
“You certainly keep me on my toes. I can’t remember what I did without you.”
The sound of Taylor’s wistful exhale blew out of the receiver. “We’re good together, aren’t we?”
“We work. I have no idea how, but we do. You make me see that anything is possible as long as you have the strength to face your fears.” Tears filled her eyes. Somehow it was easier to be candid over the phone, though she knew she should tell him all this to his face. She’d hidden for too long. It was time to live.
Time to love.
“You taught me the same,” he said. “Fuck, I can’t wait to see you again. I need to kiss you real bad.”
Libby was about to agree when Taylor began to talk to someone else. The conversation was short, muffled, as if he had covered the mouthpiece.
“I’ve got to go, Lib. Kyran is ready to hit the bar.”
Her heart thumped, but she said nothing.
“I’m not drinking, so stop panicking. We’re just meeting there.”
She smiled. “I have faith in you. Are you and your brother good?”
“Getting there. But I’ve gotta go, sorry. I love you. Be home soon.”
“Okay, ’bye. Wait! You what?” It was too late. The dial tone buzzed in her ear. Taylor had hung up, leaving her with those three words ricocheting around her head. It wasn’t a shock he felt that way, because she did, too. It was the offhand way he’d declared it, like he’d said the words a thousand times before. How often had he said them and she hadn’t heard? When she was sleeping? When she had left the room?
She stared at the phone, wanting to call him back. He should know she felt the same. They’d been stupid; they should have talked before he left instead of making excuses. Each of them had been hiding for too long.
Acting on instinct, she redialed his hotel phone and waited for him to answer.
“Mom?” Levi said, his eyes sleepy as he walked into her bedroom.
“Hey, what’s up?” she asked.
“I can’t sleep,” he whispered, rubbing his eyes. “I’m excited about tomorrow.”
Libby smiled and disconnected the call. Taylor would have to wait.
She patted the mattress beside her then lifted the covers and waited for him to climb into bed. “I hope you catch us something delicious for dinner.”
“Pops said we could go farther down the river. Farther than we’ve ever been!”
“That is exciting. Just make sure you check and recheck that Pops has his cell, okay?”
He snuggled closer to her, and she wrapped her arm around him, hugging his body against hers.
“I will, and I remember how to use it. Pops said we could camp out there as well. All the way down the river!”
Libby smiled. Her son’s excitement took her mind off Taylor. “You won’t be able to do any of that if you don’t sleep.”
Levi hummed and closed his eyes, already starting to drift off in the comfort of her bed. Libby stroked his light curls, closing her own eyes and telling herself to relax.
Tomorrow. She would call Taylor tomorrow.
Breakfast was rushed, and trying to make Levi eat had turned into a futile exercise. Her son was giddy, bouncing around the cottage as he waited for Josh to collect him. He’d slept well, which was more than could be said for her. She’d tossed and turned all night, replaying the three words Taylor had spoken over and over. Resolving to call him as soon as Levi left, she snapped herself out of her trance.
“Levi, you’re going to need to put your shoes on.”
The landline rang as he raced across the small living room toward her. He stopped at the phone and picked it up before she could get to it. “Hello?”
“Who is it?” she asked.
Levi shrugged and held out the phone. “Nobody.”
Libby swallowed, fear gripping her tight and gluing her feet to the floor. She couldn’t move, couldn’t make herself take the receiver from him. Her stomach clenched, bile rising up her throat. “What do you mean ‘nobody’? Is there someone there?”
He shook his head. “No, Mom. No one.”
Libby rushed forward and snatched the phone from him. Her hand shook as she lifted it to her ear.
For the second time in two days the dial tone filled her ears.
“Mom, what’s wrong?”
Libby exhaled, calming herself down with each slow, steady breath. “Nothing, baby. I’m fine. You made me dizzy with all your excitement, that’s all.”
He flung his arms around her legs, hugging her and squeezing. “Sorry. I’ll stop. Pops will be here in a minute, right?”
Libby nodded, combing her fingers through his hair to tidy it.
“Did Taylor call?” Levi asked.
“He did. He misses you.”
Levi grinned. “Really? I miss him, too. He’s the best friend I ever had. ’Cept Pops.”
Libby’s heart clenched, hating that her son had few friends his own age. Living out in Hunter’s Hollow didn’t help, as the nearest neighbor was miles away. She’d done everything she could to protect him, but in the process, she was isolating him from children his own age.
“Hey, I have an idea.” She squatted down, bringing herself to his height. “How about we ask a couple of your friends to come for a sleepover? We could even pitch a tent in the yard if the weather is good enough.”
He whooped and bounced with excitement. “Yeah! But who? Who can I ask?”
“Anyone you’d like, but keep it to two, okay?”
He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and hugged her tight. “Awesome, Mom. Thanks.”
“Think about it while you’re camping with Pops.”
He pulled away and nodded before racing off to his bedroom. He missed her pained expression. She’d been reluctant to let Levi go camping with Josh. They hadn’t heard from Chase, but her fear still got the better of her. She’d refused Levi’s request so many times and only gave in when Josh promised her son would be fine. Even then she hadn’t been comfortable with it, but her only other choice was to lock Levi away for the rest of his life. It was a ridiculous option.
She’d run from Chase to give Levi a normal life. Camping with Josh was normal.
“Please don’t put everything in your backpack, Levi. It’s one night and you’ll be busy fishing.”
He shot her a quick wave at the same time someone tapped on the front door. “Come in,” she shouted, picking up Levi’s discarded toys from the floor.
Josh’s boots thumped as he entered the cottage. “Is he ready yet?”
“He’s been awake since the crack of dawn, but he’s only just decided to get his act together.”
“Figures.” Josh clicked his tongue, and she’d known him long enough to know he was working out how to say what he was thinking.
“What’s up, Josh? Spit it out.”
He smirked, then looked down at his boots. “It wasn’t important. I was going to ask how you were doing. I mean, I won’t take Levi if you need the company.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Jeez, am I that pitiful?”
“Never said that.”
“Josh, I’ve been here on my own before. I can function fine, but thanks for the concern. Just make sure you have your cell. Just in case.” She turned her head. “Levi! Pops is here.”
A loud thump came from her son’s bedroom followed by his feet pounding down the hall. It was a good thing she didn’t have neighbors, or stairs for that matter. Levi would have toppled right down them, and any neighbor would not be impressed with the noise level.
“I’m coming.”
Josh snickered. “Spoke to Taylor and Kyran yesterday.”
“I still don’t get why you didn’t go to the wedding. I can handle this place by myself.”
“No way,” he said. “There was not a single chance I was up and leaving you with the ranc
h. Kyran understood. I’d have to go to Sea Pointe to catch the ferry, and I haven’t been to Sea Pointe in years. The place moves too fast for me. It gives me indigestion.”
Levi charged into the living room. “I’m ready, Pops. Can we go?” He bounced up and down, his backpack jostling on his shoulder. Libby held on to his arms, stilling him enough to slip his other arm through the strap. She kissed the top of his head. “You need to behave. Otherwise I’ll have Josh bring you right back. Okay?”
Levi nodded. “Promise.”
Josh ruffled her son’s hair. “He’ll be fine. And we’ll bring home something good for dinner.”
Libby hugged her son and kissed his cheek, only to watch him grimace and wipe it away. “Stop, Mom! I’m doing man stuff now, not girlie baby things.”
Josh clipped him around the ear, and Libby tested him by kissing his cheek again. He wrinkled his nose, but he didn’t protest again.
“Have a good time, baby.”
“I’m not a baby.”
“You’ll always be my baby whether you like it or not.”
“I think the fishing trip will be a great time to talk to this guy man to man, don’t you?” Josh asked.
Libby agreed, and as they bustled out of the cottage, she tried to get her head around the fact that her little boy was growing up. It was happening too fast for her. She wished for a pause button, as she enjoyed Levi as he was. She certainly wasn’t ready for the confused teenager he would, no doubt, become. She also worried about the genes that had been passed down to him. Would he have a temper like his father? Would he know right from wrong and be able to fight any demons within him?
Her head hurt.
She rubbed her temples and flopped onto the couch.
Since arriving in Hunter’s Hollow, she’d kept her head down, making sure she stayed hidden. It had all changed since Taylor had exploded into her life. He’d blown her monotonous, quiet life into smithereens, leaving her exposed. Her instinct had been to battle the sensations he caused, to rebuff him. But Taylor had a way about him, a charisma that sucked her into his crazy vortex, and she’d been hooked.
