“What happened to the naked?” I ask pulling off my tie.
“You’re back already?! What happened?” She lays the tablet down on the table and sits up.
“She admitted it was all a lie. There never was a baby. They just wanted more money.”
“Those assholes!”
“Yeah but I think there’s more to it than that. She said it was all her husband’s idea, and he made her do it. She fears him. The mediator was trying to talk her into pressing charges against him for assault.”
“What did he do?”
“When she admitted what they had done he grab her arm hard. He left a dark red handprint. It wouldn’t surprise me if it bruised.”
“Poor thing.”
“Enough about them. I believe you said something about skinny dipping earlier,” I scoop her up off the couch and stride toward the back of the house as she laughs.
“Instead,” she reached up and gently bites my lip, “why don’t you take me to bed? You know I’m not really going to get naked in your pool.”
I change directions and walk toward the bedroom. “Now I remember back in high school when you didn’t have a problem being in the water naked.”
“That was in the middle of the lake with no else around. I’m not taking a chance of your neighbors seeing my boobs.” I keep my mouth shut that the neighbors wouldn’t be able to, but some creative paparazzi might.
I lay her down on the navy comforter, her blonde hair spread out in a wave. I place my hands beside her chest, holding myself up and stare down at the most important thing in my life. My heart. My soul.
“What is it?” Her brow furrows with worry.
“I was just wondering what in the hell I did to deserve to have you in my life. I thank God every day I have a second chance with you, and I don’t screw it up.” I lean down and press my lips to hers savoring the softness.
“You’re not the only lucky one. I never thought in a million years I’d have a second chance at happiness. I love you, Zach, and I’m glad that all the craziness brought you back into my life.” Her hands clench in my hair drawing me back toward her.
Our lips meet in a slow, soft kiss.
“Do you know what it does to me to hear those words?” She raises her to toward me, rubbing against my hardened dick.
“I have some idea,” she purrs. I can't help but chuckle.
“You do that to me every time you breathe. I meant you made my soul come alive.” One more kiss before I trail my mouth down her jaw. Her moan is music to my ears. Leaning back, I smooth my hands down her cloth covered chest until I reach the hem of her shirt and bunch it in my hands before skimming it up her torso. Her sexy tummy draws my attention and my tongue rims her belly button as I reveal more satiny smooth skin. My fingers trail over the slight silvers of skin on either side of her stomach. She jerks underneath my hands.
“That tickles,” she laughs breathlessly.
“I’ll keep that in mind for later.” Smiling against her skin, my hands push up the material until it bunches at her breasts, the pink material of her bra, the lace rough against my fingertips. I palm the mounds, her nipples stiff beneath the material and I rub my thumbs across the peaks before taking her shirt the rest of the way off. Her bra comes off next, sailing over the side of the bed as I latch onto her nipple. Her breath catches when I nip the stiff bud. She hisses at the slight sting, tugging on my hair. For several minutes, I lavish attention on her breast alternating between licking and sucking until she’s writhing beneath me, begging for more. Somewhere along the way, I’ve lost my shirt and her pants and panties pool on the floor at my feet. Looking like a goddess, lying on the bed, she eyes me hungrily as I take off my belt. My pants drop and I kick them out of the way. Dani licks her lips as I grip my dick through my boxer briefs.
“See something you like?”
“Don’t tease me, Zach. Get over here.”
“Patience, sweetheart,” I tease, giving my dick another squeeze. “All of this is yours.”
The briefs drop to the floor, her eyes glued where my hand wraps around my dick as I slowly rub up and down the length.
“If it’s mine, give it to me,” she growls.
Grabbing her legs, I pull her to the end of the bed until her ass is at the edge and her ankles are on either side of my head. I stand between her splayed thighs, rubbing the head of my cock in her wetness and I circle my thumb around her clit. I push in a little, her pussy clenching around me as I build her up.
“You gonna come for me? Drench my cock with your honey?”
“Pllleease,” she groans out, hips lifting, trying to pull me deeper. Slowly, evers so slowly to torture both of us, I fill her until my balls are touching her ass. Planting my fists by her hips, the tops of her thighs pressed toward her I pull back before thrusting back in hard. Her moan is all I need to pick up a punishing rhythm, both of us chasing our orgasm. My hand splays low on her belly, thumb rubbing her clit and a few thrusts later, her mouth opens on a scream as her hands grip my forearms, nails digging in. Her pussy clenches as my balls tighten, spurt after spurt fills her up as she lays there boneless. I land on the bed beside her, panting.
“Zach?” She murmurs.
“Yeah, babe.”
“I can’t feel my leg,” she giggles. Moving to free her leg where I have it pinned to the bed, we scoot toward the top and lay back down, her head on my shoulder.
“What’s the plan now that this is all over?”
“I think a nap and then some food.” She pokes me in the side, and I laugh. “After that, I think it's time to head back home.” She smiles against my chest.
“Nap, food, home. Best plan I’ve heard all day.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Danielle
Placing the last finishing details on the wedding cake, I step back and eye the cake critically.
“It’s perfect.” Claudia beams. “Not too feminine, not too masculine, I think you hit the nail on the head for what she wanted.”
I was more excited about the groom's cake she ordered, a replica of the guitar her husband plays in his band. If they love the cakes, it could be a huge feather on my cap. I place the cakes in the walk-in refrigerator to let them cool for the trip to The Lodge tomorrow. I lean back against the door exhausted.
“All we should have to do is assemble it and place the C and I on the top. I’d hate for those to break. We need to pack them carefully.”
Zach pushes the swinging door open. “Good evening, ladies,” he drawls. Claudia's face heats when he winks at her. He leans down and gives me a peck on the lips. “Hey, babe, how’s it going?”
“We just finished up for the night. All that’s left is delivering the cake and assembling it tomorrow before everyone arrives.”
“Is it someone local or an out of towner?” He picks up a piece of cake off that we carved earlier. He moans as he chews.
“Good, huh?” I laugh. “They’re from around Dallas. They rented out everything.”
“Everything?”
“All the cabins along with the main building. They’re trying to keep it private.”
“Are they famous or something?” he jokes, swiping another piece.
“Kinda,” I smirk.
“Who is it? Someone I’d know?”
“The groom is a member of a rock band but the whole band is coming from what I understand.”
“Holy shit. Who is it?”
“Isaac Haynes. I think he plays guitar or bass with the Silver Tongued Devils.” His eyes widen comically.
“Really? I love those guys.”
“Since when do you listen to rock?”
“They’re on my playlist for the gym. I’m helping you deliver tomorrow right?”
“What, you want me to introduce you?” I joke.
“No, I wouldn’t ask that of you or intrude on their day,” he smiles that sexy ass smirk. “But I wouldn’t mind either if we run into them.”
“There’s a possibility since you are he
lping me deliver in the morning.” I point my finger at him. “But I make no promises.”
“Okay, okay,” he holds his hands up playfully. “How about I take my favorite girls out for dinner tonight?”
“If I don’t have to cook, I’m all for it. I just need to clean up. Where’s Lila anyway?” Listening, I don’t hear her little voice out front with Callie.
“Jessa is with her. She said she’d stay with her while I came to see how you were doing.”
An hour later we’re sitting, eating ribs at the Bones Barbeque and Lila has sauce smeared all over her face as she licks her fingers. Country music plays in the background as the waitress refills our glasses of sweet tea.
“Lila, please use your napkin,” I huff out for the third time, picking it up and handing it to her.
“But it’s good, Momma, don wanna waste it.” She looks at the napkin in disgust. “And Zach does it too.” I look over at him to see him sucking the dark red sauce from his thumb. He blushes at being caught.
“Sorry,” he says contritely.
“Zach, are you gonna marry my Momma?” she asks innocently, and I choke on the tea I took a sip of. She takes a bite of potato salad as if she didn’t just drop a bomb of a question. Zach pauses with his cup halfway to his lips.
“I’d marry your momma in a heartbeat if she’d have me, Princess. Do you want me to marry your momma? That would mean I’d be marrying you too.”
“I wanna daddy. I mean I have a daddy but he’s in heaven and can’t play with me or give me a hug ‘cept when I’m dreamin’.”
My heart breaks at her words and even Zach’s eyes fill up with tears.
“Lila Grace, I’ll never replace the daddy you lost, but I’d love to be your…”
“Can I call you Papa?” He looks at me as he wipes a tear from his cheek. My throat closes with emotion as he asks me the silent question. I can only nod my head as the tears crack down my face.
“I’d love it if you’d call me Papa, sweetheart.” His voice cracks.
“And you’ll come live with us? And make me pancakes?” She grins mischievously.
“Whoa who said anything about pancakes?” He laughs. “And we’ll see about the other thing. Let’s take it one day at a time.”
“But you love Momma, right?”
“More than anything.” My heart swells every time he says it.
“Even me?” She pouts and I roll my eyes at her dramatics.
“Well, since you’re a part of your Momma, I love you just as much.” He reaches over and wipes some sauce from her nose making her laugh.
“Good. Can I have ice cream?” He jumps up and heads toward the waitress, no doubt ordering her ice cream. She will have him wrapped around her finger in no time flat.
At lunchtime the next day, we pull up to the service door at The Lodge to unload the cake. Zach eyes the surroundings and I know he’s hoping to get a glimpse of the band he hasn’t shut up about yesterday. He even played one of their songs as we made love last night.
“They’re probably not here yet, Zach, and if you make me drop this cake, I will kick your ass,” I hiss as we move the heavy bottom layer to the rolling cart.
“We’re not going to drop it,” he reassures me focusing on the task at hand.
An hour later the cake is assembled, and I put the C on top of the cake next to the I.
“Perfect,” I mumble.
“Dani, that cake looks amazing,” a voice sounds from the other side of the room as Reagan walks in. At least I think it’s her. Instead of my always smiling, not a hair out-of-place friend, this is a poor imitation with sallow skin and her hair in a messy bun. Her dark eyes are emphasized by the purple circles underneath. She looks like she’s lost weight, her skin pulled tight across her cheekbones.
“Thanks, Rea.” I nod to Claudia and Zach as they roll the cake into the walk-in refrigerator. I pull off my apron and walk over to her and give her a hug. “You doing okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Rea, don’t bullshit your friends.”
“I’m not okay. I’ve filed for divorce, but it will get bloody before it’s over, I think. I’m trying to be reasonable with everything but he’s fighting it. He wants to sell The Lodge and split the money.” Her voice waivers at the end. This business means the world to her and it would break her heart if he forced her to sell.
“Do you have a good lawyer?”
“Yeah, he’s supposed to be a real ball buster. I hope that benefits me and I’m not getting screwed over again.”
“Oh, honey, I don’t know what to say.” I hug her again. “I’ll help however I can. Tequila night, man bashing session, slash his tires, you name it I’m there.” She chuckles.
“I know. You and Jessa are keeping me sane right now.” She smiles at me, a fraction of its usual brilliance. “I came in here to tell you the bride wanted a sneak peek of the cake if that’s all right.”
“Of course. It’s all done. We just can’t leave it out for too long, it needs to set up.” I motion to Claudia to roll it back out.
“I’ll go get her then.”
A few minutes later, Reagan returns with the group of ladies I had the consultation with earlier in the year.
“Oh, my goodness,” Camryn gushes. “Dani, this is beyond what I expected. It, just, I’m at a loss for words.” Her friends ooh and ahh over the cake. I see one, Mallory, I believe, elbow the taller blonde and point at Zach. This might be his opportunity to meet the band.
“Zach, honey, can you come here for a minute?” I call out sweetly and the two gasp as I confirm what they thought.
“Sure, babe,” he slides his phone back into his pocket and saunters over.
“Zach, I’d like you to meet Camryn, Kristen, Mallory, and Skylar. Camryn is our bride today.”
“Holy shit, it is you,” Mallory breathes out. Kristen elbows her and her face heats.
“Nice to meet you, ladies.” He lays that Southern charm on thick.
“We’re big fans. I think we listened to your last album the whole drive up here yesterday,” Mallory gushes.
“Thank you. It’s always nice to hear.” He reaches out to shake their hands. “I’m a fan of your fiancé’s band too.”
“Oh, you must stick around and meet the guys.” Camryn smiles at him.
“I wouldn’t want to impose, ma’am.”
“Oh phooey. It’s not an imposition. Come to the reception. We have way more food ordered than we’ll ever eat. Isaac couldn’t decide and ordered a ton.”
“In that case, I’d love to help you celebrate.”
“Could you sing a song?” Mallory pleads.
“Good grief, Mallory, give the man a break,” Kristen grumbles good naturedly.
“If the bride would like me to, I’d be honored.” He smiles and Mallory wobbles a little.
“Okay, girls, we gotta get a move on to finish getting ready,” Kristen shoos them back out the door. “It was nice seeing you again, Dani, and meeting you, Zach. We’ll see y’all later.”
Hours later, the cake is being cut as the groom smiles down at his bride, love shining in his eyes. He gently feeds her a piece before she smashes hers in his face causing the entire room to burst into laughter. He pulls her to him for a kiss, smearing it all over her face too. She laughs as he grabs a napkin and wipes it off. Zach is in the corner speaking with an older gentleman with dark hair graying around the temples. He hands Zach a business card before slapping him on the shoulder and walking away. I walk over to him and he puts his arm around my shoulders drawing me close as he stares at the card pensively.
“Who was that?”
“Brian Jefferies. He manages the band. He heard I might be looking for new representation.”
“Oh, wow.”
“Yeah. He seems like a nice enough guy.”
“Maybe you could hear him out?”
“Maybe.” He gives me a quick kiss. “Right now, I have a song to play for the couple.” He jumps on the stage and picks up
his guitar. He had spoken with the band earlier. Giving a nod, he strums the opening chords of Tracy Byrd’s Keeper of the Stars as the couple takes to the dance floor. The words float through the air giving me goosebumps as Zach looks towards me as he sings, the words meant for me.
“Damn girl, you lucked out with that one,” Reagan walks up behind me.
“Thank goodness for second chances.” I smile. “Yours will come too. And it’ll blindside you just like it did me.”
“No, I think I’m done.” I frown at her. “For now,” she amends to appease me, I’m sure. She’s wearing her pain like a shield and I’m afraid it’ll take a strong man to break through. She walks away to speak to one of the other wedding attendees as Zach finishes up his song.
As he walks towards me, I thank God for the blessing of having him in my life.
Epilogue
Dani
One Month later…
“Where are we going?” I ask as we turn down the gravel road a couple of miles out of town. It’s the opposite direction from where most of the cabin rentals are closer to the lake. The trees thin out as we pass more cattle pastures. Zach pulls the truck up to a gate.
“Here.” He winks and jumps out to open the gate. He drives further down the dirt road until we top a small hill. My breath catches at the beautiful view of the large stock pond with the trees along the back fence line. The still green grass blows in the breeze.
“It’s beautiful but why are we here?”
“Come on,” he opens the door and comes around to my side to help me out. “You like it?” He smiles at me anxiously.
“Yes.”
“What would you think of building a house right here and looking out at this view?”
“A house?”
“Yeah,” he waves at the view. “I figured we could put the kitchen and table in the back with big windows so we can look at this every morning.”
“Zach, it sounds lovely but…” I turn to him to see him down on one knee beside me. In his hand is a black box.
Pieces of a Broken Heart: Whiskey Bend Series Book One Page 20
