Brides on the Run (Books 1-4): Small-Town Romance Series

by Jami Albright

  “You feel so damn good.” He never took his eyes from her. His hands came to her hips and increased her speed. With every rock of her hips, the white-hot glow of release grew higher and hotter. “I’m almost there. Are you close, Charlie?”

  She bit her lip and nodded. The delicious friction made speech impossible. He slid his hand between them and found the sensitive bundle of nerves that had the potential to set her off. She closed her eyes and let her head fall back reveling in the deliciousness of the sensation as his fingers rubbed quick circles around the spot.

  “Charlie, look at me.” The command couldn’t be denied.

  She did and lost her breath in the process. There was lust and need in his hot gaze, but mostly it overflowed with love. Did she deserve this much love and happiness? She didn’t know, but she craved it from him.

  They made love to each other with their eyes and their bodies. They didn’t speak again, but so many things were said in those moments.

  I haven’t been whole without you.

  You’ve haunted my dreams.

  I’ve missed you so much.

  I’m desperate for more of you.

  I love you. I love you. I love you.

  Who said what didn’t matter, they were bathed in the knowledge that they each felt the same way and it healed something deep inside her.

  He increased the movement of his finger. She increased her rhythm. Fire licked between them until her whole body went up in flames. The roll of her orgasm took her. There was no light, no sound, only sensation. She chased every pulsing beat until she was boneless and spent.

  He followed close behind. “Charlie.” He didn’t shout, there weren’t any deep moans, he simply whispered her name like a benediction and a prayer.

  For a long moment, he didn’t say anything else. Didn’t move. And she worried that she’d hurt him. “Hank?”

  “Mmh.”

  “Are you alright?” She wasn’t. Her entire existence had just been altered.

  He opened one eye and grinned at her. “I’m amazing. I was thanking whatever god brought you back to me.”

  “Oh.”

  Reverently, he placed his hands on her belly. “You know you’re never getting rid of me now. Right?”

  “I’m counting on it.” He wasn’t getting rid of her either, and she’d spend the rest of her life proving it to him.

  Chapter 52

  Third Trimester

  Life had never been so good for Charlie. Not when she won her first talent contest. Not when she became a star. Not when she received her first Teen Choice Award. All of those things paled in comparison to her sweet life in her little hometown.

  It was common knowledge now that she’d lost all of her money, that she was pregnant by the sheriff, and that they weren’t married. The good folks of Zachsville generally regarded her just like everyone else in town. She was gossiped about just like Chelsea Rae

  when people found out she was making jewelry with her own hair and selling it on the internet. Or Lonnie over at Lonnie’s Tires and More, when it was discovered that he and his sister, Loretta used to play lick tongue with each other as kids. Eww.

  And she couldn’t be happier.

  Let ’em talk. With every rumor spread, or tongue that wagged, she became more and more Charlie Klein, resident of Zachsville, Texas, and less and less Charlie Kay, Hollywood star. Which was why when the story broke in the media about her pregnancy, it was nothing more than a trivial footnote in the gossip rags. She guessed Ron and Marci had been right. She was a nobody.

  Thank God.

  Pod was getting bigger and thriving. Who knew she’d be so good at growing a baby? Some days her ankles swelled, some days her breasts were so sensitive that it hurt to wear a bra, and every day she was so thankful for this little miracle that her heart barely contained her joy.

  She was still singing at Boon’s a couple of nights a week. While she enjoyed it, she’d be glad when Beau Callen got to town and could take over for her. Performing wasn’t something she wanted to keep doing. But she did love being able to help her friend keep her bar in business.

  But the most significant source of happiness was her relationship with Hank. Every thump of her heart was for him.

  Thump, thump, joy.

  Thump, thump, love.

  Thump, thump, trust.

  She’d laughed more in the last couple of months than she had in the previous eight years. She was safe with Hank, so were her hopes and dreams, and she told him so every chance she got.

  Her days were spent making up for lost time with him, growing her baby, and getting her shop ready to open. And they were some of the happiest she’d ever known.

  Now she glanced around the little store she’d put together with hard work, sweat, and the help of her friends and family.

  “Charlie, do you want the mother and baby care products together?” Her new manager, Roxanne, asked her. It had turned out Roxanne had lots of retail and management experience at a boutique in Austin but wanted to work in Zachsville to be closer to her twins, so it was a win, win for both of them.

  “Yes. I have a few things in the back that I’d like to use for the display.”

  Roxanne set the dusting cloth on the counter. “I’ll get them. What am I looking for?”

  “A couple of wicker baskets, a few stuffed animals, a blue robe and some slippers. Arrange it however you like. I’m not picky.” They were only a week from opening. It was thrilling, but there was still so much to get done, and to make matters trickier, Raul had gone MIA. Thomas had assured her that everything was still a go, but it was unnerving. She had enough product for a month, but she’d need supplies soon. She’d bought all that Thomas had, and not at the wholesale price she’d agreed upon with Raul, but she’d wanted to make sure she was fully stocked.

  Hank had been trying to get her to find a new wholesaler, but the deal with Raul was too good to give up. So she was willing to wait a little longer for him to get back to her before she went with someone else.

  Her phone rang, and Hank’s name popped up. The butterflies that always came out to play when she was with him did a dive roll in her belly. “Hello.”

  “Hey, baby.” The warm tenor of his sweet voice breathed life to the fire that simmered just beneath the surface of her heart.

  “Hey, handsome. What’s shakin’?” She broke a dead leaf off a potted plant on the counter.

  “Not much. I was wondering if you could take a break and grab an early lunch with me.”

  She surveyed the stack of work she needed to get done and almost told him no, but one thing she’d learned about running her own business was that there was always work to be done. This pile of papers would still be here when she got back in a couple of hours. “Sure. Where should I meet you?”

  “At the courthouse. I have something to take care of there.”

  “Alright. Are you headed over now?”

  “On my way now. See you there.”

  She pushed to her feet, an activity that was becoming more and more difficult. Being eight months pregnant was no joke. “Roxanne.”

  The pretty brunette poked her head out of the storeroom. “Yeah?”

  “I’m headed to lunch with Hank. I’ll be back in an hour or so.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Charlie grabbed her purse just as her phone rang again. She quickly punched the button when she read the screen. “Raul?”

  “Hello, chica. How are you?”

  “I’m big as a house, but well. How are you?”

  “I’m well. I’m sorry my business called me away, but I’m back and will have your first shipment to you tomorrow.”

  The squeal that escaped her was not professional at all, but she didn’t care. “That’s fantastic.”

  “Thomas told me about you and the sheriff. Congratulations.” There was the tiniest bit of an edge to his voice.

  Maybe Hank had been right, and Raul had wanted more than a professional relationship. “Thank you.”

/>   “I think it would be better if we made the delivery at a time when he’s not around. I don’t think he likes me very much.” He chuckled.

  That was an understatement. “No problem, but I don’t involve him in my business, Raul.” She looked both ways at the street before she crossed to the courthouse.

  “That’s good. I’d hate not to be able to do business because of your boyfriend.”

  What a weird thing to say. Male pride was ridiculous. “That’s not going to happen.”

  “Good. That’s very good.”

  She nodded and mouthed, “Thank you,” to a man that held the courthouse door open for her. “What time should I expect you tomorrow?”

  “The delivery will be there around two.” The sound of computer keys clacking came through the line. “I’m making this first delivery myself to explain the recyclable crates, the best way to handle them, and the retrieval process.”

  “Great. I’ll see you then.” She looked up and down the hall. Hank hadn’t told her where to meet him.

  “Goodbye.” Raul disconnected.

  Her already good mood went up about a hundred percent. Things were falling into place.

  The goofy smile she’d been wearing got even wider when she saw Hank come out of one of the offices. The sun coming through the high windows shone down on him, making the natural highlights in his light brown hair look like spun gold. He took her breath away, and he was all hers. Her lady bits did high kicks when he caught sight of her and grinned. Lord, he was handsome.

  “Hi.” She weakly waved, and that was a feat. The man struck her stupid.

  He strode toward her. No doubt what his purpose was. His lips came down on her in a kiss that wasn’t at all appropriate for the courthouse. He nipped and sucked her bottom lip before he pulled back and smiled down at her. “Hi. I’ve got a question for you.”

  “Okay.” She hoped he wouldn’t ask her to operate heavy machinery, because at the moment that was out of the question.

  “Marry me?”

  “Okay.” That seemed to be the only thing she could say to this man. “Wait, what?”

  He laughed and kissed her quick and hard. “Too late to change your mind. You’ve already agreed.”

  “Hank, your divorce was only finalized last week.” She glanced around the empty hallway. “What will people think?”

  The look he gave her communicated clearly that he knew she was full of shit. “You don’t give a rat’s ass what anybody in this town thinks.”

  “That’s not true.” It was pretty much true. “I care what our family and friends think.”

  “Yeah, and they’ll all be thrilled.”

  The happiness spread across her face until her cheeks hurt. “You’re right.”

  He started dragging her down the hall.

  “Where are we going? You cannot drag me into another closet and maul me. The poor janitor hasn’t been able to look me in the eye since he caught us in there last time. Besides, I hardly fit in a closet anymore.”

  He laughed and kissed her hand. “You’re perfect just the way you are. But we’re not going to find a closet.”

  “Then where are you dragging me off to?”

  “To get the marriage license. I’m not letting you change your mind.”

  Yeah, like he had to worry about that. It would take a full-on disaster to rip her away from him. “Okay.” There she went again, agreeing to everything.

  “I want to get married before Pod comes, so I’m thinking in a couple of weeks.” He yanked open the door to the marriage license office.

  “What’s the hurry?”

  He glanced around then fake whispered, “Because of what people will say, of course.”

  She laughed. “Okay.” It seemed to be the word of the day.

  Chapter 53

  “Are you going to feed me, or was this all a ploy to get your way?”

  Hank hugged Charlie to his side and placed his hand on her belly. “Anything you want, baby.”

  She tried and failed to keep a put-out look on her face. “Good, because I’d hate to have to hurt you, you being the law and all.”

  His laughter filled the town square. “Where you from, girl?” He led her to the City Cafe. The familiar smell of home cooking hit him in the face, and he soaked it in.

  Her long lashes fluttered. “Why, I’m from the great state of Texas, sir. Why do you ask?”

  “Every day your accent gets thicker and thicker. I love it.” He pulled her to his side and kissed her head, then led her to an empty booth.

  “The regular, Charlie?” Trudy, their waitress, asked.

  She’d ordered the same thing for a month—chicken livers with mashed potatoes and fried okra.

  A happy sigh passed through her lips. “Yes.”

  “And for you, Sheriff?”

  “I’ll take the special, Trudy.”

  “Iced tea for both of you?”

  “Yep.” He reached across the table and took Charlie’s hand. “Trudy, you can be the first to know. We’re getting married.”

  “What? Oh, my word. How exciting. Congratulations!”

  He ignored the stunned look on Charlie’s face. Maybe he should’ve talked to her first, but she’d have to get over it. She was his, and he wanted everyone to know it. He’d decided to ask her to marry him when it had been almost a month since she’d heard from Raul Perez and he’d heard from the DEA.

  There was no way he could make this commitment to her with that business between them. Maybe he should’ve contacted Agent Sheridan, but his philosophy was no news was good news. Also, Pod’s birthdate was quickly approaching, and he wasn’t lying about wanting to be married before the baby came. Call him old-fashioned, but that’s how he felt.

  “I can’t believe you told Trudy. It’ll be all over town by the time the lunch rush is done,” Charlie whisper-yelled. “I haven’t told Pops or… Oh, my Lord, Honey. If she hears this through the gossip tree, she’ll kill us.” She yanked out her phone and dialed. “Pops? Is Honey with you? Put me on speaker phone.”

  As she waited, she gave Hank another fake dirty look and put her phone on speaker too, then turned down the volume.

  “Which button is it?” Wardell asked.

  “It’s the button on the screen that says, speaker.” Charlie tried to help without cracking up laughing.

  “On the screen? Right here?”

  “Yes, that’s the one.” Honey’s voice came over the phone line.

  Finally. The clock was ticking on this thing. It was only a matter of time before Honey heard the news now that Trudy knew. “Okay, can y’all hear me?”

  “We can hear you, Charlie,” Honey said.

  “Good.” She reached for his hand. “Hank and I are getting married.”

  “Oh, my word! That’s wonderful darlin’!” Honey’s squeal rang through the line.

  “’Bout time,” Wardell grumped.

  Hank laughed. “You’re right, Wardell.”

  “Hank?”

  “Yes, Wardell. It’s me.” He winked at Charlie.

  “Considering the circumstance, I’m going to forgive you for not asking me first.” Charlie’s grandfather sounded miffed. He’d never really thought of asking Wardell.

  “Don’t be such an old fuddy-duddy. She’s a grown woman and can make her own decisions,” Honey admonished.

  Charlie bit her lip, obviously trying to hold in a belly laugh. “Well, I’ll let y’all go. I just wanted you to know.”

  “Bye, darlin’. Congratulations,” Honey said.

  “Are you happy, Charlie?” Wardell asked.

  “Ecstatically happy, Pops.” Her blue eyes found Hank’s, and the faces of all the other women in the world disappeared.

  “Well, then I’m happy too. We’ll see y’all later.” There were some odd noises on the line. “How do you turn this fool thing off?” her grandfather complained.

  “Just push the button, Wardell,” Honey said.

  “Which one? There are about a hundred on h
ere.”

  “That one, right there.”

  “I don’t know which one— Oh, this one.”

  “Yes. You’re cute when you’re all flustered, you know that?” Honey cooed.

  “I’ll show you flustered, woman—”

  Charlie hung up her phone before her grandfather could complete his sentence. Him showing his girlfriend how flustered he could get was on the list of things she never wanted to hear. Her hands went to her ears. “Make it stop.”

  Hank squeezed her hand. “Let’s just hope we’re still as…um…active as they are at that age.”

  “Are you trying to make me lose my appetite?”

  He barked out a laugh. “Not at all, just statin’ a fact.”

  Trudy returned with their drinks, then retreated to check on their order.

  “Are you happy?” He hoped he didn’t sound insecure, but on some level, he guessed he was. She was a Hollywood star, whether she claimed it or not, and had been exposed to hundreds of handsome, sexy men. Maybe she was regretting her decision to tie her wagon to a small-town sheriff.

  Sunlight burst from her smile, and he took an easy breath. “I’m blissfully happy. Why wouldn’t I be? I’m marrying the best man I know, I’m about to open the shop my grandma and I dreamed of, and I’m pregnant with that good man’s baby.”

  The muscles in his shoulders unknotted. He wasn’t the best man, as evidenced by the fact that he’d not told her anything about Raul and the DEA, but that seemed to be behind them, so he’d spend the rest of his life trying to be the best man she knew. “I’m glad. I’ve never been happier.”

  “Oh, gosh!” Her hand went to her mouth. “I almost forgot.”

  “What?”

  “Raul called me this morning.” There was that sunshine again. “He’s making my first delivery tomorrow.”

  What. The. Fuck.

  She sipped her iced tea. “Isn’t that great?”

  One terrible scenario after another played out in his head. Each one worse than the other. She’d never forgive him. He knew it. This shop was who she wanted to be, what she’d created for herself and Pod, and he was about to be part of polluting it. In the back of his mind, he knew what had to happen to keep her safe, and she’d hate him for it.