“Geez, thanks for the vote of confidence, Grams,” Wes grumbled.
“In case you two missed it, I can’t keep a woman either. They skip town just to get away from me.”
“Oh, hogwash.” She waved her hand in dismissal. “That last one doesn’t count. That proposal should have never happened. There’s only one girl that has ever mattered and it’s up to you to fight for her. The girl had terrible examples of what a marriage really is. You need to show her what true love and commitment looks like.”
I stood from my seat, not able to listen to any more. The two of them didn’t know the half of it.
“Where are you going?” Wes looked up from the TV at me.
“To get some more beer. We’re out. And if I have to listen to this crap all night, I’m gonna need more.”
I picked up my keys and walked out into the dark, pulling my ball cap over my head. I didn’t see them, but I felt their smug smiles behind me.
Shit. This was a mistake. I lifted my hat, combing a hand through my hair as I worked up the nerve to knock.
I shouldn’t be here. Yet, here I was. Standing on her porch like a stalker. Instead of my feet carrying me to my truck, they carried me through the fields toward the Davis Farm.
“You just gonna stand there all night?”
I jumped, cursing under my breath at hearing Lottie’s voice from behind me. I spun around as she walked up, stopping at the bottom of the steps. She crossed her arms, tilting her head to the side.
“Lottie. You scared the hell out of me. What are you doing out here in the dark?”
“I could ask you the same thing.”
I shoved my hands in my front pockets, glancing from side to side. “I—uh…I thought maybe we could talk.”
She released her arms, looking back at the barn as her hands slid in her back pockets. She nibbled her lip, contemplating my suggestion. There was a long silence. A tsunami of emotions brewing inside. My heart pounded harder than it ever had. Everything hinging on her response. She looked back at me, her face still unreadable.
“Okay. Let’s talk.”
An easy smile pulled at my lips as my body relaxed. She climbed the stairs, and I stepped aside, allowing her to lead the way into the house.
I crowded her as she opened the door, taking every opportunity I could to be close to her, stealing a touch or a whiff of her sweet scent whenever possible. Watching her react to it—her cheeks blazing—was the best part.
She took a few steps into the house, moving aside, pressing her back against the door to allow me to pass, her hand resting firmly on the doorknob.
I waited, wanting her to lead. When she didn’t make a move, I stepped in front of her. Crowding her. Breathing her. Looking steadily down her beautiful body and back at her face. Her eyes were hungry, her lips parting.
She breathed.
I snapped.
“Tuck—”
I swallowed her words with my mouth. Unapologetic of my hostile takeover. I pushed and probed my tongue greedily. Taking what I wanted. Owning her mouth, her moans—eager moans that only provoked me further. I squeezed her round ass that had been taunting me all week, lifting her so her legs wrapped around my hips, her arms around my neck.
Two steps. That was all I could handle, the need and urgency to be inside her too powerful to make it to the bedroom or even the couch. I lowered us to the floor, nipping at her ear, sucking on her neck, devouring her like a starved man.
“Talk,” she panted. “We should talk.”
“Later,” I growled.
I thrust my hard as fuck erection toward that sweet spot I’d soon be claiming. She drove her hips upward to meet mine.
“Fuck,” I gritted, removing my lips from her so I could remove her clothes.
I tugged at her jeans as she wiggled her hips to assist me. Once removed she sat up, hastily unzipping my pants, freeing me as I pulled my shirt over my head, tossing it away with my hat. She gripped my swollen cock, her eyes wild with lust. I grinned, crawling back over her, pushing her back to the floor. Foreplay wasn’t an option. I’d make it up to her later.
I hooked two fingers under the seam of the lace that covered her. And yanked. Hard.
The material ripped.
She gasped.
I tossed the useless cloth aside.
“Those were expensive.”
“I’ll buy you new ones.”
I covered her mouth with mine once again, shutting her up before she could argue.
I held myself at her entrance. “Birth control?”
“Yes. But—”
“I’m clean, babe. You?”
She nodded. And I pushed. Not wasting another damn second, I slid inside, her warmth engulfing me. Pure. Fucking. Heaven. She was plenty wet. Ready and desperate as me. Her nails dug into my shoulders as I stilled.
“Tucker,” she whimpered, begging me to move.
“Give me a second, baby. You feel too damn good. I want to make this last.”
I kissed her soft and firm. The passion in her eyes matched mine. I slowly began to move. She arched her back, pressing her perfect tits against me. It wasn’t good enough. I needed to see them. I pushed up her shirt and bra to reveal them, taking them into my mouth, caressing and massaging my hand over her soft skin.
I picked up my pace as I sensed the build of her orgasm. Driving my hips harder and faster as she clenched around me, her sounds of pleasure fueling my fury. When she called out my name, her core throbbing around me as she came, my body tensed with the euphoric sensation shooting through me, marking her as mine.
I collapsed, my weight pressing her further into the floor as I buried my face in her hair. The smell of coconut and sex flooded my nostrils.
“God, I missed you.” I grinned through my heavy breathing, my whole body feeling like deadweight.
She laughed a heady laugh that made my dick twitch inside her. “Me or my vagina?”
“Definitely your pussy,” I deadpanned.
She pushed at my shoulder playfully. I laughed, rolling off of her onto my back. I lolled my head to the side to look at her, both of us still smiling.
“I missed you, Lottie.” I ran my hand along her jaw. “All of you.”
Her face softened.
“I missed you too, Tuck. More than you’ll ever know…” She rolled her head, looking up. “But, we should talk.”
I looked back at the ceiling, my breathing starting to level. “We will. Right now, I have other plans.”
“Oh?” She rolled to her side. “And what are those?”
I raised to my feet, pulling her with me. “Less talking, more fucking, baby.”
I threw her over my shoulder, slapping her bare ass as I marched her to the bedroom. She shrieked and laughed, more than willing to follow along with my plan.
11
Lottie
The sound of my phone rang in the background. I groaned rolling from my side to my back, dragging my arm over my eyes to shield the bright light streaming through the sheer curtains. The ringing stopped. But the ache between my legs didn’t. The ache? Oh. Shit. I popped up, eyes wide, looking at the other side of the bed, finding it empty but definitely ruffled. Oh. Shit. I brushed my hair from my face, glancing around the room.
The ringing started again. Crap, where the hell is he? I tossed the covers aside, the cool air hitting my naked body as I jumped from the bed. I grabbed my robe, tying it around my waist, dashing out of my bedroom and down the hall in search of my phone. The ringing stopped. After tossing my scattered clothes aside and army crawling for five minutes, I found it under the couch in the living room.
It must have fallen from my pocket after Tucker threw my jeans last night. Oh. God. Tucker. Last night. Not good. Well…actually it was really good. Better than good. Mind-blowing and earth-shattering are better descriptions for what he—Ugh! No. No, no, no. I needed to stop thinking about how wonderful it felt and more about how terrible of an idea it was.
The ringing resumed. I an
swered immediately.
“Hey,” I squeaked, peering out the window as I hid behind the curtain like a spy.
“What the hell, Lottie?” Hannah’s irritated voice rang in my ear. “I’ve been on pens and needles all damn night, waiting on you to call me back.”
“Don’t be so dramatic,” I whispered.
“Why are you whispering?”
“I’m not whispering,” I whispered again as I traveled through the small house in search of Tucker.
He was nowhere to be found. Instead of being relieved like I should have been, I was disappointed.
“What’s going on, Lottie? You’re acting weird. And you never called me back after you spotted the hot contractor guy on your doorstep.”
“How do you know he’s hot?”
“Please. Don’t insult my intelligence. I know you, Lottie. You get all cagey when I ask you about him. Not to mention all the heavy breathing I hear through the phone whenever he’s there working…wait a minute. Oh. Oooh… You slept with him, didn’t you? You got nailed by the hot contractor!”
I groaned. “Maybe…”
She snorted a scoff.
“Okay. Definitely. I did. Oh, God. I’m such an idiot, Hannah.”
“That bad?”
“No. That great.” I sighed, sweeping my hair into a bun atop my head, the phone pressed between my cheek and shoulder.
“Then what’s the problem? It sounds like you were doing your vagina a favor. I need details, woman.”
I bit the corner of my mouth. I hadn’t exactly been truthful with Hannah about my contractor and our past.
“Did he show you his hardwood? Was there some tongue and groove to ensure an easy lay?”
“Seriously, Han?” I walked into my half constructed kitchen in search of the Keurig I’d picked up earlier in the week.
“Did he pull out his drill and screw you to the wall?”
I rolled my eyes, setting up my mug and pressing brew.
“Or did his hammer nail you to the floor?”
Okay. That one was pretty accurate.
“Are you done yet?” I crossed my arms, leaning against the cabinet.
“Nope. This is fun. Please at least tell me he kept his tool belt on while he did it.”
“Sorry to disappoint. He had nothing on. We even went bareback. Three times.” With more than three orgasms. It seemed Tucker was still more of a giver than a taker.
“You dirty little hooker.” She laughed. “But really, Lottie. What’s the deal?” Her voice turned serious. “Wait… You like him, don’t you!”
“It’s hard to explain.”
“Well, I’ve got time for once, so start explaining, sister.”
I explained. All of it. Our whole sordid past, which only made me feel worse about my moment…eh…moments of weakness from the night.
“I’m going straight to hell, Han. I know it.”
“Now who’s being dramatic? So you had sex with an old flame. You didn’t act on it alone. Plus, he was the one to initiate it, so don’t beat yourself up over this.”
I sighed. “He left without a word.”
“Maybe that’s for the best. No uncomfortable morning after conversation that way. Unless…”
“Unless what?”
“Nothing. Forget I brought it up.”
“No. Now you have to say it.”
“Fine. Unless, maybe you want more than the usual fling you’re so determined to always have.”
“No. No way. I’m leaving as soon as he’s done with the house. Maybe sooner, now.”
“Sure.”
“I mean it. It can’t happen again. And I’m going to talk to him and let him know it was a mistake.”
“You really think that’s a good idea? Telling him it was a mistake after everything that’s happened between you?”
“Well, maybe I won’t say it in those words. I’ll figure something out.”
Avoidance. That was all I could come up with. I avoided the pounding on my locked door as I hid behind the couch. I avoided him calling my name through the door. I avoided going to Sunday dinner at Grams.
There was no way I could sit there having a wholesome family dinner while knowing all the dirty things Tucker and I had done less than twenty-four hours before. So I did what any woman who was avoiding the dreaded day after conversation with a one-night stand would do—faked an illness. It was the only way out. Grams wouldn’t accept any excuses otherwise.
I was so nervous about making that call to her that I gave her a little TMI, describing my fictional explosive diarrhea and vomiting in detail to ensure she wouldn’t insist I come anyway.
Only slightly starting to relax as the summer sun began to set, I prepared Apollo for a ride to help clear my head and figure out what I needed to say. Afterward, I’d have a bubble bath, a glass of wine, and get a good night’s sleep. Then I’d be ready. Then I’d be prepared to face Tucker Monday morning.
I entered the barn, picking up my saddle to prepare Apollo for our ride. Apollo nickered his greeting, nudging his nose against me as I stepped into his stall.
“Hey, boy. Glad to see me?” I cooed, petting just above his muzzle.
“Guess you’re feeling better,” a deep voice came out of nowhere behind me.
I yelped, dropping to the ground, ducking behind the stall walls.
“Seriously, Lottie?” Tucker sighed, his tone amused.
I held my breath, burrowing further down into the straw floor.
“I know you’re in here.”
I raised my pointer finger to my lips, giving Apollo the universal ‘be quiet’ signal. He snorted and grunted, his head nudging at me once again as I tried shooing him away. I guess it wasn’t universal for horses.
I covered my face with my hands as Tucker’s footsteps neared. Not ready. So not ready.
“Lottie.” Tucker smiled an amused smirk, peeking over the stall wall, his arms resting on top.
“Oh! Hey, Tuck…” I sang with a nervous grin. “Was just...looking for my phone. Thought I dropped it.”
He shook his head, entering the stall, amusement dancing in his eyes. He offered his hand out to help me up. I took it. As he pulled me to my feet, I brushed the straw from my ass with my one free hand. He didn’t release my other, instead tugged me closer to him, our bodies colliding together, his small smile transforming into a sexy grin as his eyes hooded over.
“You’ve been hiding from me.”
“It was a mistake!” I shrieked without thought, my mind all flustered. Well, damn…so much for my efforts.
His brows pinched together, the humor in his eyes gone.
“The hiding or last night?”
“Both. Neither. Shit. I don’t know.”
His arms dropped from my body as he took a step back, his hand rubbing the back of his neck raw. I waited a minute, my mind reeling before settling on telling him the truth.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Tuck. I’m just really confused. Last night was great. But I’m leaving. That’s not gonna change.”
“Shit, Lottie.” He dropped his hands to his hips, focusing on me. “You think I didn’t know that last night? I’m well aware. I know anything that happens with us isn’t going anywhere.”
“Okay. I…as long as we’re on the same page.”
His body relaxed, his expression softening. “We are. Now will you get your ass over here so I can kiss you properly?”
Relieved from his assurance, I smiled, taking a step forward, landing back in his arms. He slanted his lips toward mine, then pulled back right before they brushed.
“Wait. You weren’t actually sick, were you?”
I shook my head, shrugging shamelessly. “Sorry.”
“I guess I’ll be keeping Grams’ homemade chicken noodle soup she sent with me then.”
“The hell you will. She made that for me!”
“Under false pretenses.”
“Don’t make me call Grams.”
“And what? Admit to her you purpose
ly missed her Sunday dinner and lied to her no less? Be my guest, sweetheart.”
Damn. He had me there. “Halfsies?” I grinned, dramatically batting my eyelashes.
He chuckled. “We’ll see.” He plucked a piece of straw from my hair, flicking it to the ground. “I’m sorry about disappearing on you last night. I didn’t want to wake you and couldn’t let Lily wake up to me not being there in the morning.”
“I get it. It’s fine.”
Apollo snorted, his hooves stamping the ground restlessly.
“Were you going for a ride?”
“I was thinking about it. Wanna join me?”
“Sure. But this time”—he kissed me chastely—“no jump starts.” He headed toward Dolly’s stall.
“Whiner.”
“Cheater.”
“Please, we both know I’ve always been a better rider than you,” I tossed confidently over my shoulder, leading Apollo out of his stall.
“Ha,” Tucker mocked, saddling up Dolly. “You have an advantage riding Apollo. I’m stuck on Dolly. She’s an old mare who wasn’t bred to race like him.”
“Would you prefer to go get your own horse? I’d love to see Midnight anyway. He was always one of my favorites.”
“No... We don’t have him anymore. I got too busy with my construction company to ride him much. It wasn’t fair to him. I gave him away a few years back.”
“That’s too bad. Couldn’t have been an easy decision. You always loved that horse.”
We walked side by side, leading the two horses out of the barn. It would be a short ride with the sun setting.
“Yeah. It wasn’t…what about you? What do you plan to do with Dolly and Apollo once you leave and sell the farm?”
I looked over at my horse, another wave of sadness falling over me at the thought of selling him. “I’m not sure.”
“Well, if you need help finding a home for him, let me know. The place that took Midnight was a ranch for underprivileged kids. They have a great facility with a great cause.”
I nodded, internally shaking off my sudden somber mood. I needed to snap out of it. It’s not like I could take him all the way back to Seattle with me. And up until a few days ago, I hadn’t exactly been around to bond with him. Regardless, he was still mine. And I’d known he was still here. Even if I wasn’t. In a couple weeks, neither of us would be. And the farm…well, it would no longer belong to me.
Redeeming Lottie Page 11
