by Tessa Layne
“Can I kiss you?”
The fact that he asked made her love him all the more. She nodded, the butterflies taking flight again.
His lips were warm against hers, and a little hesitant. She moved her unbandaged hand to his neck, encouraging him, but he remained gentle. She broke the kiss and leaned back. “My lips aren’t injured.”
His mouth met hers again, this time with more certainty. She flicked her tongue against his lower lip, unwilling to wait. He groaned in the back of his throat and gathered her close, his mouth opening to her invitation. When his tongue slid against hers, she sighed against him as the familiar rush of warmth flooded her.
He released her, breathing heavily.
She giggled again, giddy and nervous. “It seems my lady bits are in full working order.”
His laughter thrummed through her like her favorite whiskey.
He cleared his throat. “Mine too, it seems.”
Silence settled between them. His hands were restless, though. Stroking and caressing her temple, her hip, her shoulder. “Jamey,” he murmured. “I was so afraid I’d ruined your life, so–”
She covered his lips with her unbandaged fingers. “Hush. We’ve got time.” She caressed his cheek and brought him forward for another kiss. A day’s worth of whiskers scraped against the sensitive part of her palm, sending delicious whorls of awareness and need spiraling through her.
Once she was out of the woods… the possibilities opened before her. She wouldn’t count her chickens. The future of the lodge and the inevitable wrangling surrounding it, still hung over them. But they would get through it together. Certainty filled her heart. No matter what happened, they’d face it together.
CHAPTER 40
Brodie hopped up the short steps to the large front porch of the Big House and flopped down next to Jamey, stretching his arm across her shoulders. Maddie’s influence on the ranch had been most noticeable here, on the porch. The beat-up bachelor furniture and leftover bailing wire spools had been replaced with large cushioned patio furniture. White bulbs were looped across the porch railing and hung in graceful arcs between the pillars. They created an air of festivity when everyone sat out at night. Even now, when it was coat weather. Maddie had replaced the beat-up old beer fridge with a newer, fancier model that also held wine bottles.
“How’s my favorite zombie today?” He crooked his finger underneath the dark glasses Jamey wore, and gently removed them from her face. He still cringed internally when he looked at her. He’d never get over that his carelessness had caused her so much pain.
She tilted her chin to receive a kiss. “Eye doctor said I’m on target.”
He searched her eyes for signs of permanent damage, not that he’d recognize it. The left one was still pink in the corner. Guilt tugged at his gut as he continued his inspection. The scabs on her face and arms were slowly fading. The longest, on her left forearm, still looked nasty. He traced his finger alongside it.
“Do you think this will scar?” He couldn’t keep the worry from his voice. Didn’t even bother to try. She’d been a good patient, diligently following the doctor’s orders. But he still didn’t want her to wear a permanent reminder of his stupidity.
She lifted a shoulder and glanced down at her arm. “Won’t be the first scar I’ve gotten in the kitchen.”
“It better be the last,” he growled.
She snorted, rolling her eyes. “Comes with the territory, Captain Hoverpants. You going to quit manhandling bison just because one might trample you?”
“Hell, no. But it’s–”
“Different?” She supplied, shaking her head. “Not so much, hot shot. Besides…” she grinned mischievously. Her saucy grin combined with her injuries gave her an air of wickedness and badassery that had him squirming in his seat. Hell, who was he kidding? He was dead gone on her. For life. Every glance, every laugh, every smile – hit him with a one-two punch to the gut, and left him just a bit weak in the knees.
“Besides, what?” He zeroed in on her mouth, captivated by the way her teeth pulled on her lower lip.
She laughed low and husky, the sound warming his insides and settling in his groin. “You love the fact I’m as wild as you are. Admit it.” She drew her finger down his neck to the hollow of his throat then traced the vee of his shirt.
Jesus.
One touch and his balls were on fire. He forced himself to think of shoveling manure. He swallowed hard. He swallowed back the words that were ready to burst out.
Not yet.
There were things they still had to discuss. But he couldn’t resist a little taste. He leaned in, brushing his lips against hers. God, she was sweet. Like one of her kitchen sink cookies, or one of those strawberries they’d thrown on the floor a few weeks back. He slipped his tongue across hers, melting a little at her soft sigh of surrender. He wanted… forever.
Reluctantly, he pulled back. “Come home to the lodge?”
She nodded, her eyes warm.
He handed back her glasses and stood, offering his hand. He pulled her flush against him. “I’ve missed you.” His voice took on a gruff edge. “Dottie’s done a good job keeping the kitchen safe, but she’s not you.”
She’d been an enormous help, though. Juggling all the lodge balls on top of daily tutoring these last three weeks had been exhausting. Until Jamey had been hurt, he hadn’t realized all the ways outside of the kitchen that he’d come to rely on her. Dottie had saved his ass, but no one held a candle to Jamey’s skill in the kitchen and the office. It still rankled him that it had taken a serious incident in order to recognize it.
“I don’t think Dottie will take kindly to me bossing her in the kitchen.”
“I think you’ll be surprised. I think she respects you.”
Jamey’s surprised smile lit her face. “Really?”
He nodded, tipping his Stetson back so he could kiss her freckled nose. “You ready?” Keeping his arm around her, he stepped them off the porch. A tight ache briefly settled in his throat. These first steps with her felt like a new leaf. Like everything was right… well, almost right. Just a few more pieces to put in place and then everything really would be right in the world.
They walked the few minutes down the dirt road to the lodge, enjoying the crisp fall air. Meadowlarks and robins called from the bushes, and sulphur butterflies flitted through the last of the sunflowers. The oaks along the creek bank had begun their yearly transformation to deep red.
Contentment settled over him. Something deep inside slid into place. Like a key turning in a lock. This feeling, this peace. This was why people got married.
Blake had softened since marrying Maddie. He could still be an overbearing cuss, but the worry lines had disappeared from between his eyes. And Blake had been surprisingly supportive about the dyslexia. Blake had taken an active interest in his tutoring, and offered to help him with his daily practice.
The stunner had come when Blake had asked to see a copy of Jamey’s proposal. He and Jamey had floated her plan for the lodge. Blake had listened, nodded, and then had said to draw up a contract, informing them he’d help them reach an agreement on the split. With his heart in his throat, he’d made a few phone calls.
They reached the top of the gravel drive.
“Whose truck is that?” Jamey’s grip tightened. “Are you ready for early guests?” Panic tinged her voice.
He gave her a reassuring squeeze. “All under control.”
Rabbits starting hopping in his stomach. Instead of heading around to the back door where they normally entered, he steered her toward the front.
“Brodie?” Suspicion entered her voice. “What’s going on?”
He blew out a deep breath and pushed open the door. Do or die time. He entered the great room, heart hammering, and glanced back, catching her expression of surprise and the accompanying scowl as she recognized the five men lounging with beers.
“You brought in my brothers?” Her voice rose unnaturally. “Did you plan on
losing your balls?”
He cleared his throat, stealing a glance at her brothers. He’d expected much harsher treatment from them than he’d received. Surprisingly, Maddie had put in a good word for him, then instructed him to contact Jamey’s father first. Apparently, that had done the trick. He’d never admit it to anyone, but they intimidated him just a little.
Jamey widened her stance, removed her glasses, and crossed her arms. “What are you crew doing here? I don’t need minding.”
Jarrod took a pull on his beer before answering. “Nice to see you too, sis. You look like you got in a brawl with an alley cat.”
She snorted. “The only brawl there’ll be is if you lot of gobshites try to meddle in my affairs.”
Her brother Jason raised his eyebrows. “Gobshites? I see your accident hasn’t affected your mouth.”
“Or my brain. Now why don’t you tell me what in tarnation you think you’re doing here?”
Jarrod’s mouth quirked. “I had some business in the neighborhood. Thought I’d stop in.”
She made a disbelieving sound in the back of her throat. Brodie covered a smile and helped himself to a beer from the bucket on the floor. Watching Jamey take on her brother was entertaining as hell.
Jason piped up. “Umm. Yeah. Me, too.”
Jamey rolled her eyes. “Let me guess. Because you were studying prairie fire containment… in October?”
He grinned back at her. The kind of grin that said he knew he was yanking her chain. “Yeah. Something like that.”
She glared at each of them. “The shit is in the pasture. Don’t insult me by bringing it inside.”
Jon Paul spoke up. “A little birdie may have told us you ran into a bit of trouble. We’re just making sure you’re okay.”
She opened her hands and shimmied in a circle. “There. You can see I’m perfectly fine.”
“It’s true. She doesn’t look nearly as bad as that time she got into a fight with Mary Pat Alexander in the eleventh grade.” Her brother Cameron was usually quiet. But when he spoke, it was always with a well-timed zinger.
Her brothers chortled at the memory. “Yeah, but you should have seen Mary Pat,” Jason reminded them. “She had black eyes for weeks thanks to the broken nose.”
Brodie’s ears perked up. “Wait.” He stared at her. “You broke a girl’s nose?”
A pink flush stained her cheeks, and she shifted her shoulders defiantly. “She deserved that and more. Believe me.”
Holy hell.
His sassy ass-kicker.
God, he loved her.
“Actually, sis,” Joe spoke up. “Brodie here invited us out for the bison round-up.”
Her eyes widened and she spun around, leveling a glare at Brodie. “You really have lost all your marbles haven’t you? Do you realize not one of them can ride a horse?”
He grinned at her, thoroughly amused. “If they’re going to be visiting, they might as well learn to ride.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Why would they be visiting? They never came to Chicago.”
“A mistake we won’t be making again,” answered Jarrod seriously. “You’re right, you don’t need minding. But we’re family. And if you’re putting down roots here, we want to be a part of it.”
“Who said anything about putting down roots?”
Brodie cleared his throat. “Let’s continue this discussion later.” He shot a warning glance at her brothers, then turned back to Jamey. “I want to show you some changes I made in the office. Gents…” He tipped his Stetson to her brothers. “Dinner’s at the Big House tonight. You can head over in about an hour.” He held out his hand to Jamey, practically dragging her toward the office when she put her hand in his.
“Why’d you tell them to come?” She hissed under her breath. “I wasn’t in any kind of danger.”
“Just come here.” He laced his fingers through hers and pushed open the door of the office. Her surprised gasp was all the confirmation he needed.
The office was neatly rearranged, a large calendar on the wall with space for each room. On the desk there were color-coded files with big labels that were easy for him to read.
Her eyes grew wide. “You did all this?”
He shook his head. “No way. Dottie and Jarrod helped me. Jarrod explained the most important parts and how to organize them. Dottie suggested the calendar for each room.”
She shot him a grin that turned his insides to lava. “You’re so sexy when you do things like this.”
“Yeah?” Who knew files could be sexy? “Wait until you see what we’ve done in the kitchen.”
Her look quickly transformed to worry. “You haven’t rearranged have you?”
“Nope. Just color-coded, so I don’t get confused. Come on.” He tugged on her hand and led her into the kitchen. “First things first. Open the fridge.”
She flung a dubious glance his way, and slowly opened the door. “What’s this?” She grabbed one of four large bottles standing front and center with bows around them.
“I know you miss Guinness. Jarrod did some research and found a brewery in Denver that is making gluten-reduced dark beer. This one is a rye stout. A little heavier than a Guinness, but I think you’ll like it.”
Her features softened in the same way they had when he’d shown her the chicken coop, conveying emotions she rarely expressed. She studied the bottle in her hands then raised her eyes, delight sparkling in her green irises. “That’s…” She grinned. “Thank you.”
She placed the bottle on the island and stepped up to him, lifting her chin and sweeping her lips across his. “You… I love you.”
All the words he’d been patiently holding back started to push out. “Forever?” Every cell in his body stilled.
A slow sexy grin spread her mouth as she nodded. “Yes. Always. No matter what.”
“Marry me.”
Her eyes widened.
Shit.
This wasn’t how he’d planned it. He still had… things to show her. To offer her. He still needed to woo her. Show her the Mr. Yuk stickers on the dangerous stuff, and the color-coded labels that Dottie had made. He still had to read out loud to her. The thoughts stampeded through his brain.
No taking the words back now.
What was it Dottie always said? In for a penny, in for a pound. He jammed his hand into his pocket and brought out the gold circle that had been burning a hole in there since Jarrod and his gang had arrived, two days before.
His hand shook as he captured her fingers and placed the ring in her upturned palm.
She sucked in a breath. “Is that…”
“Yes. It’s your grandmother’s. Although if you want something different… something fancier…”
“No.” She folded her fingers over the ring. “It’s perfect.”
“I… ah…”
Her free hand snaked around his neck. “Stop talking and kiss me.”
He didn’t need to be asked twice.
He leaned in, capturing her mouth. Gently at first, then pulling her closer, he deepened the kiss, gliding his tongue against hers and pouring all his love into her. He tasted her recesses and groaned deep as she sucked him deeper into her mouth. His cock sprang to life, wanting in on the action. They were both panting when they broke away. He touched his forehead to hers, working to bring his breathing back to normal.
“So… yes?”
“Yes.” Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
Joy exploded in his heart, thrumming against his ribs as warmth flooded his body. Sliding his fingers through her curls, he tilted her head for another kiss, taking his time and showing her with his mouth everything he’d love to do to her later.
Heat pooled low in his back and he lifted her, settling her on the island and stepping between her legs. He removed his Stetson, placing it on the counter next to her. “Jamey,” he murmured against her mouth. “I have something to show you.”
She leaned back eyeing him with naked lust. “If it’s not your cock, I’m
not interested.”
He couldn’t hold back the laugh. “Patience darlin’. Not while your brothers are in the other room.”
“Fuck my brothers.”
“No. I only want to fuck you.”
She curled a leg around his hip. “Yes, please.”
He slid his hands up underneath her shirt, drawing his thumbs across her breasts.
“Don’t tease,” she panted. “It’s been too long.”
He sighed. He wanted nothing more than to drive balls-deep into her and lose himself in her softness. Her slick heat. But they could wait a little longer. His cock could wait a little longer.
“Here.” He reached for a folder, pulling it from underneath his hat, and handed it to her.
“What’s this?”
“Just read it.”
He studied her puzzled expression, heart still hammering, as confusion, then shock, flashed across her face. After what seemed like endless minutes, she finally raised her eyes to his.
“Why?”
“One. I love you. Two. I want you to be happy. Three. I didn’t realize how much I relied on you until I had to do all of it without you.”
And four – when he’d called Jarrod to draw up the contract giving her fifty-three percent equity, Jarrod had reiterated how Jamey had lost all her savings because of trusting her previous business partner. It all made sense now. Not that they’d need a contract. He’d spend the rest of his life showing her how much he loved, respected, and valued her.
She laughed quietly. “And here I was, all set to tell you we could go even-steven.”
“I beat you to it.”
“I really think we should renegotiate the equity. I’m fine with fifty-fifty.”
“We can discuss that later then. For now, let’s celebrate.”
She opened her hand containing the ring. “Before we do… will you?”
He took the ring and flipped her hand over, sliding the ring into place. “Marry me, Jamey. Take my heart. Be mother to our children. Spend the rest of your life with me?”
She broke into a wide smile. “Who knew you were such a romantic?” She drew him back between her knees, looping her arms around his neck. “I’ll be your wife, Brodie, and we’ll figure out this contract. I have one condition though.”
