Fall in Love Book Bundle: Small Town Romance Box Set

by Grover Swank, Denise

  My voice was a barely audible growl when I asked, “What the fuck am I listening to?”

  Savannah distractedly smacked at my face to stop me from talking, never once taking her eyes from the two sitting at her kitchen table, but the girl who consumed my every thought was talking to a developer . . . about Amber. I needed to know why.

  Beau turned his head to speak directly into my ear, ensuring his words wouldn’t carry into the kitchen. “She’s telling him why buying the ranch would ruin Amber. Trying to talk him out of it.”

  I shifted away so I could look at him, knowing my shock had to be written all over my face.

  Beau just let an eyebrow tick up in response and agreement.

  “Your towns are growing reasoning is flawed here,” Rae said, pulling my attention back to her.

  Swear to Christ my heart was beating so damn hard with pride and adoration for that girl, I was sure it was going to escape my chest.

  “Doesn’t mean it won’t,” the developer countered, and Rae lifted a shoulder in a faint shrug.

  “Doesn’t mean it won’t,” she agreed, but every word dripped with doubt.

  That girl.

  That goddamn girl who hated small towns and panicked at the idea of settling down—in any sense of the word—was defending ours.

  Was using the only power she had to try to help keep ours how it was.

  Was making me come dangerously close to doing what I swore I wouldn’t. To her, to myself, to Leighton . . .

  The three of us continued to silently listen over the next few minutes, but I struggled to focus as moments with Leighton and Rae flashed through my mind and collided.

  “Sawyer, I love you.”

  “I cherish you.”

  “You can’t fall—”

  “Shut up, Rae.”

  My eyes shifted to Rae as my stomach dropped with a mixture of fear and denial even as my heart raced harder and faster with acceptance.

  And I wondered if I’d fallen in love with her that first time she’d told me not to.

  “Goal is that ranch,” the developer said, cutting into my chaotic thoughts. “They never saw anything else—I wouldn’t have seen anything else if you hadn’t told me to look.”

  Rae nodded for a moment, not seeming to realize she was. “There are plenty of small towns in the country that need to be saved by what you want to do, Nathan. Doing that here would destroy this town. You know it would.”

  Savannah gripped Beau’s arm and squeezed, watery eyes shining as she tried to hide her smile behind her other hand.

  When the developer responded in agreement, Beau looked from his wife to me, a hint of a smile lighting his usual aggravated expression. “Damn,” he mouthed.

  “How long has this been going on?” I asked softly.

  Beau motioned behind me with a jerk of his head, then led Savannah that way when she seemed content to stand there and listen.

  Once we were out of earshot and away from the echoing entryway, Beau wrapped Savannah in his arms to keep her still when she began bouncing on the balls of her feet, and said, “We were headed in there when we heard that girl—”

  “Rae,” Savannah and I said at the same time.

  Beau just rolled his eyes and continued on. “—ask the developer if he planned to meet with Hunter again. We stopped and waited to hear the response.”

  Savannah pressed her palm to his neck and leaned forward in his arms to take over. “And from what they were both saying, Rae already told him the day he got into town that he shouldn’t buy the ranch.”

  “It seemed like a do-you-see-why conversation before they both argued their sides,” Beau confirmed.

  “Fuck,” I said on a breath, unable to contain my smile.

  “She told him the two of you weren’t together.”

  “Beau,” Savannah hissed, turning and stepping out of his grasp.

  My expression had fallen as soon as my brother had said the words. “What?”

  “He assumed you were, she said you weren’t,” he said with a shrug. “Said you were just friends.” When Savannah smacked his stomach, he just continued to watch me with a knowing look. “Thought you should know.”

  I nodded, but the movement felt sluggish. “Yeah, uh . . . she’s right. We aren’t.”

  We weren’t. I was very much aware of that. Still felt like a punch to the gut hearing how she’d corrected someone.

  Didn’t matter if we weren’t together, I wouldn’t have corrected anyone who assumed otherwise because Rae knew as well as I did that we were something. Something so damn significant that it edged on terrifying.

  I knew Rae. I knew I was different for her than anything before.

  And after all the bullshit to even get to where we were, she was still trying to keep me at arm’s length to either protect herself or hold onto who she was before she met me. And that was only going to ruin us faster than she could run.

  “Was that necessary?” Savannah snapped in a hushed, disapproving tone.

  “Yeah,” Beau replied instantly, unapologetically.

  “We already got involved when we shouldn’t have. It isn’t our place.”

  Beau stared at his wife in a way that was reserved for her. If anyone else had challenged him, he would’ve stepped up with fists swinging. With Savannah, he’d always loved and respected her too much to do anything more than listen.

  If my only way out hadn’t been through them, I would’ve left them to talk it out. Instead, I let out a slow exhale and leaned against the wall I’d been standing near as Savannah gave him that look.

  The one that said she knew what he was thinking and disagreed with it. That dared him to voice his thoughts that would surely be the cause of a new argument.

  After a few moments, he let out a harsh breath and looked to me. “What that girl did for the ranch was unexpected, and I respect the shit out of her for it. But I stand behind telling you about the rest. You needed to know.”

  I lifted a shoulder and mumbled, “You didn’t tell me anything I don’t already know.”

  “Then what the hell are you doing?”

  “Beau . . .” Savannah said as her eyelids slipped shut, voice soft and filled with warning.

  “After everything you’ve been through,” he continued, “after all the bullshit you’ve done since Leighton, don’t let a girl who doesn’t give a shit about you be the one to trip you up again.”

  Tension filled the small space as silence engulfed us . . .

  My pain and frustration from the second blow he’d delivered. Savannah’s disappointment. And whatever the hell always seeped from Beau.

  With a sad look directed at my brother, Savannah left.

  Beau rocked on his feet as if to go after her, but stopped and mumbled a curse as he passed a hand over his face.

  “Thanks for the talk,” I said snidely and started past him.

  With a hard shove against my chest, he pushed me back and leveled me with a dark look. “If I’m willing to piss off my wife for you, then you’re gonna fucking listen to me.”

  A hard laugh forced from my lungs. “That right?”

  “At first, I thought that girl was like—”

  “Rae,” I said harshly. “Her name is Rae.”

  Beau’s jaw ticked from the pressure he put on it, and for a moment, he just stared at me. “I thought she was like every other girl in this town who’s tried to tie you down. I was wrong,” he added. “Clearly. Savannah showed me how wrong—tonight confirmed it.”

  I waited, knowing he wasn’t done, but when he didn’t continue, I asked, “And?”

  “And you’re in too deep with a girl who doesn’t care about you,” he said as if I should’ve already understood this. “You’re so damn twisted up in her that you don’t see how this is gonna break you. I remember how you were those last months with Leighton and after she died . . . you can’t survive another break, Saw.”

  I blinked slowly as his words replayed again and again. “Wow, uh . . . fuck. Thanks
?” A breathless laugh tumbled free as I started around him again. “Didn’t know this part of my life was up for discussion.”

  “You’re the only uncle my kids have,” he said once I’d made it past him, halting me. “You’re the only brother I have left. I can’t stand by and watch you go into something that will take you from us.”

  Glancing over my shoulder, I gave him a dismissive look. “You’re the only one who thinks it will.”

  “Sawyer—”

  “She isn’t Leighton,” I snapped in a grave tone, then turned on him and closed the distance between us. “Worry about you and your family, I’ll worry about myself.” When it looked like he would argue, I held up a hand to stop him. “I already know Rae might disappear at any second. I know, Beau. And if she does . . .” I shrugged helplessly.

  “You’ll break,” he reiterated as if there were no question about it.

  “Man, fuck you.” I stepped back, rubbing at my neck as I gave myself a second to breathe. “Leighton took herself from me just weeks after Dad died. Y’all needed someone to try to keep our family together—I walked away from my dreams and did that. Give me some fucking credit for burying my grief in women. I survived the way I had to, and better than any of you did. I can survive whatever happens with Rae.”

  I left before he could say anything else, heading for the kitchen when I heard the soft conversation still drifting from it.

  Each step closer to Rae had my pulse racing faster and faster with the need to see her and hold her.

  Each step had Beau’s words playing in my head again . . . had my jaw clenching and my hands curling into fists.

  When I stepped into the kitchen, both Rae and the developer glanced over at me, Rae’s words only stopping when she saw that it was me.

  The change in her was instant.

  Full, pouty lips spread into a smile that damn near stalled my heart. Eyes brightened with excitement. Entire expression lit up like I was offering her the world just by being there. Body relaxed with a deep exhale, as if she’d been waiting for this moment, craving it as badly as I had, and it was finally here.

  “You’re in too deep with a girl who doesn’t care about you.”

  Yeah, fuck that.

  I erased the space between us and curled my hand against the side of her neck, tilting her head back with my thumb on her jaw as I bent to brush my mouth across hers.

  The content sigh she released against my lips had mine twitching into a knowing grin.

  “Missed you too,” I whispered playfully before placing another soft kiss against her waiting mouth. When I pulled back, she was teasing that lower lip with her teeth and smiling lazily.

  The developer made an amused sound, and Rae shot him a cold look and snapped, “Hush.”

  “Didn’t say anything,” he said wryly.

  I didn’t have to wonder what the exchange was about, I could assume from what Beau had told me.

  I slanted a glare in the developer’s direction when he held out his hand and said, “I’m Nathan.”

  “I don’t care.”

  Rae’s fist went into my side so fast, the shock of it had my breath wheezing from my lungs. “Fuck, Rae.”

  Jesus, first Emberly, now I had to worry about Rae sneaking in hits too?

  “Be nice,” she demanded in a low tone.

  When I shifted my attention back to her, everything she’d been trying to do for us and for our town came rushing back and overwhelmed my hatred for the man trying to take the ranch.

  Letting my thumb trail across her jaw, I dipped my head in a faint nod before looking to the developer again—I refused to let him have a name—and taking his hand to shake it. “Sawyer. Hear your girlfriend likes Rae.”

  A wide smile crossed his face as he relaxed against his chair. “Like is a huge understatement—borders on obsession. I’m surprised Rae didn’t run screaming, thinking we were stalking her, when she realized who I was.”

  “Because I adore her,” Rae added, “I told you.”

  “Makes two of us,” he said, his expression going all soft.

  “Well, I’m sorry to interrupt, but . . .” I glanced to the oven’s clock, then to Rae. “Do you not have your phone on you?”

  Her stare drifted behind me as her head shook. “No, why?”

  The last thing I wanted to do was explain the tradition in front of the developer, but I also didn’t want to ask in a way that would hint at something more—something that would probably have Rae shutting down on me.

  “There was something I was hoping to steal you away for.”

  “Something?” Rae said wickedly. “Is that right?”

  Well, fuck.

  With that tone, I was considering just taking her back to my place to bury myself in her for the rest of the night.

  But I knew everyone else would already be there, and I couldn’t back out on tonight.

  “It’s a surprise,” I finally managed.

  “I need to call Megan anyway,” the developer said as he stood. “Then I have a lot of work and even more to think about.”

  Rae looked between us a few times before settling on him. “It’s just business,” she said softly. “Let me know what happens.”

  He offered her a thankful smile as he grabbed their empty bowls. “Appreciate it, Rae.” With a nod at me, he murmured, “Nice to meet you.”

  “You too.” From the way Rae pushed against me, I was sure I hadn’t sounded sincere.

  Once he’d left the kitchen, I pulled Rae from the chair and brought my mouth down on hers. “You’re incredible,” I said against the kiss before capturing her mouth again.

  Taking and taking more from her until she was leaning into me and giving me her.

  “Why is that?” she asked when I pulled back, eyes bright with mischief.

  I turned so she could see the darkened place where we’d all stood, and nodded toward it. “When I came in, Beau and Savannah were there. They’d been coming in here and heard y’all.” Rae tensed in my arms, so I ran my hand down her back. “I listened for a couple minutes before we left to talk.”

  Fear filled her eyes, and I wondered if it was because of what I already knew, or something else. “You heard . . . what did you hear?”

  “They heard a lot more than I did, but enough to know that you’re incredible.” When she only nodded, worried stare on my chest, I lifted her head so she would have to look at me. “Thank you.”

  “I—” Her shoulders sagged and she glanced away for a moment before meeting my gaze. “I would have done it even if I’d never met you. Anyone could see how it would destroy this place.”

  Anyone who lived in Amber could.

  The people who passed through couldn’t—that company sure as hell couldn’t.

  But saying any of those thoughts would only scare Rae, so I just repeated, “Thank you.”

  She offered me a soft smile, then asked, “So, what’s this surprise?”

  I pulled her through the kitchen, leading her toward the stairs. “It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you.”

  A few steps up, I released her and moved back to the landing as she watched me curiously. I was worried if I went up to the room with her, we might not leave this house.

  “All I can tell you is that if you come with me, you won’t be coming back tonight, and you’ll be outside.” At her surprise, I nodded behind her. “So, if you wanna come, you should probably change.”

  With a suspicious glare, she started up the rest of the stairs.

  “Does that mean you’re coming?”

  Without missing a step, she glanced over her shoulder with a look that nearly brought me to my knees. “If you’re lucky, we both will.”

  Fuck.

  She’d barely hit the top landing before I charged up after her.

  We were going to be so damn late.

  Chapter 27

  Rae

  Sawyer muttered a curse when his phone began ringing through the speakers of his truck and hurried to accept the cal
l coming in. “Em,” he answered hesitantly, fingers drumming anxiously on the steering wheel as he led us away from Blossom.

  “Where are you?” Emberly asked in a singsong voice over the sounds of laughter and music.

  Something about her question had Sawyer’s head dropping back against the headrest and another curse slipping past his lips. “Leaving Beau’s. Why?” he demanded, the word coming out short and with a hint of dread.

  “Well, would you look at that,” she said mockingly. “It’s like you already knew you had to pick up the alcohol.”

  “Fuck, seriously, Em?”

  Her laughter filled the truck. “I’m not the one who’s late. Brady will be waiting for you.” Her teasing voice hung in the air for long seconds after she ended the call and the music began softly playing again.

  “Uh . . .” I looked from the dashboard to Sawyer, struggling to wrap my mind around the short, confusing conversation that had just taken place. “We’re late?”

  An amused huff tumbled from Sawyer. “Little bit.”

  “Why . . . I thought—” I shook my head in an attempt to clear it. “I thought you were taking me somewhere.”

  “I am.”

  “No. I thought you were taking me somewhere . . . just the two of us.”

  “Shit,” he murmured as he glanced over at me, worry creasing his brow. “Rae—”

  “No, it’s fine. Really.” When he sent another worried look my way, I reached over to take his free hand, a small laugh climbing up my throat. “It is. You didn’t say anything about what we were doing, so I assumed it was just us. But if we actually had somewhere to be, why did you let us get caught up like that?”

  His stare drifted to me and a wicked grin crossed his face, sending flashes of the past half-hour through my mind and sending an aching twist of need deep in my core.

  Shedding clothes.

  Desperate hands.

  Demanding kisses to quiet moans and shattering orgasms.

  We hadn’t even made it to the bed or gotten fully undressed . . . the first time.

  He pulled my hand close and trailed his lips along the inside of my wrist before pressing them to my forearm. When he spoke, his tone was low and gravelly and made me shudder. “Hearing you whisper my name when you come will always be more important than getting somewhere on time.”