Loving Cara

by Kristen Proby

  Cara takes another sip of her coffee and blushes. Since the other night after the movie, she hasn’t said one negative word about her body. Instead, she simply blushes and smiles when I compliment her.

  Remembering Friday night both pisses me off and turns me on. That anyone could look at Cara and call her fat or ugly is pure insanity and fills me with such rage that I can’t see straight. But the aftereffects when I fucked her against this kitchen counter and then showed her over and over all night long how beautiful I think she is made it one of the best nights of my life.

  As her eyes widen and begin to shine, I can see that she’s remembering too.

  “We don’t have time for this,” I mutter regretfully, and take another sip of coffee.

  “Time for what?”

  “For me to haul you back to my bedroom and bury myself inside you for the rest of the morning.”

  She swallows hard, making me grin.

  “Rain check?” she asks with a half smile.

  “Absolutely.”

  “What are you doing in here, anyway?” She refills her mug. “I don’t usually see you until lunchtime.”

  “I have a surprise for Seth.”

  “You do?” She grins widely and leans a hip against the countertop. “What is it?”

  “You’ll see; you’re coming with us.”

  “Well then, I guess I’d better get dressed.”

  “I guess you’d better.” I slap her ass as she saunters past me and back to my bedroom to change. I’m thinking about following her to cash in on the rain check now rather than later when a sleepy Seth wanders through the front door, munching on a breakfast burrito.

  “Mornin’.”

  “Good morning. How are you?”

  “Sleepy.” He plops down at the kitchen table. “I don’t want to do any schoolwork today.”

  “Didn’t sleep well?” I pour him a glass of orange juice, which he gulps down quickly.

  “I stayed up too late reading the book Cara gave me.” He shrugs and takes a bite of his burrito.

  “Pretty good, huh?”

  He shrugs again, then nods reluctantly. “Yeah, it’s good. I finished it already.”

  “What did you finish?” Cara asks as she joins us. She’s changed into jeans and a green V-neck T-shirt that shows off those amazing tits of hers perfectly and makes her eyes glow.

  I should have come back to the house earlier to make love to her before Seth got here.

  “The book you gave me,” Seth replies as if it were no big deal.

  Her eyes widen in surprise and then she laughs. “I haven’t even finished it yet.”

  “Slowpoke,” Seth taunts her, and she shoots him a mock glare.

  “You were only supposed to read a chapter a day.”

  “Too slow,” he mutters. “Do I have to build that model of the solar system this morning?” He stuffs the rest of the burrito in his mouth.

  “No,” I answer before Cara can, earning a surprised look from both of them. “At least not this morning. Cara, do you mind if you have class this afternoon instead?”

  “I don’t have a problem with that.”

  “Why?” Seth asks skeptically.

  “I want to take you somewhere. Come on, let’s hop in the truck.”

  “I don’t want to wash dishes again. I’ve been good.” Seth turns his wide, hazel eyes to Cara. “Don’t make me.”

  “This isn’t that kind of field trip,” I inform him dryly. “You’ll like it.”

  “Okay!” He jumps up and runs out the front door and to the truck, hopping in the backseat.

  “You’re coming with us.” I take Cara by the hand and lead her out to the truck as well, helping her climb in the front seat.

  “Cara, where are we going?” Seth asks, bouncing in the backseat.

  “I don’t know, Josh didn’t tell me either.”

  “I really hope I don’t have to wash any dishes.” Seth buckles himself in and watches out the window as I pull away from the house and down the long driveway to the highway.

  The poor kid is going to need therapy because of that field trip.

  Among other things, such as a bat-shit-crazy mother.

  We don’t have to drive far. I pull into Louie’s driveway and come to a stop at the side of his small, ranch-style home. He saunters outside and waves, smiling at Seth as he jumps out of the truck.

  “Hey, Louie!”

  “Good morning.” Louie fist-bumps Seth, then motions for us to follow him to his small barn behind the house.

  “You have a barn too, Louie?” Seth asks.

  “A small one. But I don’t keep livestock.”

  Cara and I walk behind Louie and Seth. I grip her hand in my own, lacing our fingers together, happy to hang back and let Louie reveal Seth’s surprise.

  “Why are we here?” she asks with a smile.

  “Wait for it.”

  My eyes are glued to the barn door as Louie slides it open and Seth walks through.

  “Puppies!”

  Cara’s eyes find mine, laughing. “Puppies?”

  “Puppies.” I lead her into the barn. Louie has a large corner fenced off with blankets, dog beds, bowls for food and water, and six Lab puppies, four black and two yellow.

  The mama dog sniffs Seth’s hand and offers him a friendly lick before backing away so her pups can beg for attention.

  “I didn’t know you had puppies!” Seth lets himself in the pen and sits on the floor, right in the middle of the pups, laughing as they climb over him, licking his face and pulling on his clothes.

  “Lola had her pups almost three months ago and they’re ready to go home,” Louie tells him, grinning as he watches Seth with the pups.

  “Do they have homes?” Cara asks, also grinning at the boy. “They’re adorable.”

  Louie nods. “Five of them do.”

  “Only five?” Seth frowns.

  “One of them still needs a home.” Louie points to one of the black puppies. “One of the black males isn’t spoken for yet.”

  “Well, Seth,” I say, wrapping my arm around Cara’s shoulders, “I thought that maybe you might like to take him.”

  “Me?” Seth asks, his eyes wide. “Really?”

  “A boy needs a dog.” I shrug.

  “Which one is mine?”

  “I guess that’s a yes,” Cara murmurs with a laugh.

  “That little black fella you’re holding right now,” Louie informs Seth, and props a booted foot on a bucket.

  The little guy just curls up for a nap in Seth’s lap.

  “I think he likes me.” The boy’s face is all smiles, his eyes are shining in excitement.

  “Looks like,” Louie agrees, and helps Seth out of the pen with his new friend. Louie clasps a simple leash to the dog’s collar and hands it to the boy.

  “I can take him home?” he asks me hopefully.

  “You can. But he’s your responsibility, Seth.”

  “I get it.” He shakes his head and buries his nose in the fur on top of the pup’s head. “I’ll take care of him.”

  “He’s so adorable.” Cara takes the puppy out of Seth’s arms and snuggles him. “Oh, I love that puppy smell.”

  “We’ll all think he’s great until he’s chewing our shoes and anything else he can get his paws on,” I remind her as I lead them out to the truck. Seth jumps in the back and Cara hands him the pup before shutting the door and climbing into the passenger seat.

  “I’ll train him,” Seth announces. “I’ll look at videos online and learn how.”

  He giggles as the puppy licks his face and then burrows in Seth’s neck to take a nap.

  Cara clasps my hand in hers and squeezes tightly. “This is good for him,” she whispers.

  I nod and drive us back to the ranch.

  “What are you going to name him?” Cara asks as I pull up to the house and we all climb out.

  “Optimus Prime,” Seth announces proudly, making me laugh.

  “That’s a long name,�
�� Cara reminds him with a chuckle.

  “He’s not a Spider-Man.” Seth furrows his brow, deep in thought.

  “No, he’s not,” Cara agrees dryly.

  Seth leads the dog around the yard, waiting for him to relieve himself before going into the house.

  “I know! Thor!”

  “Thor?” I ask. The kid obviously loves comic-book movies.

  “Thor.” Seth nods his head decisively.

  “I like it.” Cara’s smile is sweet and happy.

  “Thor it is.”

  “Come on, Thor, we have to do our science project.”

  “We don’t have any supplies for him.” Cara frowns up at me as Seth guides Thor into the house.

  “We have other dogs on the ranch, honey. I brought a dog bed in. He can eat with the other dogs in the morning, and we’ll get him some toys the next time we go to town.”

  “Okay.” She pulls me to her and stands on tiptoe so she can brush her lips over mine. I immediately grip her hips and pull her against me, sinking into her.

  Each time I kiss her it’s like the first time.

  “What was that for?” I ask as I pull back to give us both a chance to breathe.

  “I just like you.” She shrugs as if it were no big deal.

  “Gee, that’s convenient.” I swat her ass, then soothe it with my palm. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

  “Convenient,” she agrees, and plants a sweet kiss on my chin, then pushes her hands into my hair and pulls me down for another all-consuming kiss, practically climbing me. It’s all I can do to not pull her into the backseat of my truck and take her hard and fast.

  “Thor peed!” Seth announces as he comes barreling out of the house with a happy Thor.

  “You go back to work.” Cara laughs and pulls away reluctantly. “I have to teach science and potty-train a puppy.”

  “I didn’t mean to add more work for you.” I grimace as I realize that’s exactly what’s just happened.

  “It’s fine.” She shrugs. “You owe me.”

  “I’ll make it up to you, sweetheart.” I feel the smile grow across my face as I picture exactly how I’ll make it up to her.

  She answers with a grin of her own. “I know.”

  * * *

  “So did you find the Mustang?” I ask my brother, my phone pressed to my ear, as I stride toward my house. The sun is shining brightly again today, making my head sweat under my green hat. I need a shower.

  “Yeah, the bastard sold it back to me.” Zack sighs on the other end of the phone. “I have a feeling I paid more than what he bought it for.”

  “Kensie didn’t tell you what she sold it for?” I ask with a frown.

  “I haven’t spoken to her since before she left Seth with you.” He sighs again. “Is Seth nearby?”

  “He’s in the house with Cara, working on math or something.”

  “He still won’t take my calls.” I hate hearing the defeat in my brother’s voice.

  “I wonder what that woman told him,” I murmur.

  “I’m sure she told him many, many things that aren’t fucking true and are pretty fucked-up.”

  “I’m sure you’re right.” I walk through the back door of my house, a smile spreading across my face at the sight of Cara sitting at my table, looking all fresh and sexy in her jeans and green T-shirt. Her honey-blond hair is tucked behind her ears and I want to push my fingers through it.

  I can’t get enough of her.

  She looks up and grins back at me, those hazel eyes shining in happiness.

  “Hello?”

  “Sorry, Bro, got sidetracked.”

  Seth’s head snaps up and he eyes me warily, but Thor hops up from his napping place at Seth’s feet and greets me energetically, dancing around my legs, his pink tongue hanging out of his mouth.

  “So when will you be here?” I ask as Seth leads Thor back to his feet at the table. I pull a bottle of water from the fridge, twist off the cap, and guzzle it down in one long gulp. Cara’s eyes are glued to my neck, her mouth slightly open and her eyes wide, and when the tip of her little, pink tongue peeks out to touch her upper lip, I almost grab her and take her to my bedroom to keep her under me for hours.

  She recovers and blushes, looking down at her papers. Fuck, she’s adorable.

  “I’ll be there by this weekend.”

  “Awesome, I can use the help.”

  “I miss you too,” he mutters dryly. “Be nice to my kid.”

  “Seth’s being taken care of,” I assure him, wave at Cara and Seth, and head for the shower.

  “Is he as bad as Mom says?”

  “He’s doing better. Cara’s been great for him. He’s enjoying the ranch and we put him to work every day with chores, but I think he secretly loves it, he just doesn’t want us to know it.” I start the shower and start stripping out of my sweat-soaked, smelly clothes. “Louie’s Lab had pups a few months ago. He gave one to Seth.”

  “Sounds like us at that age.” Zack chuckles. “A boy needs a dog. I’m nervous about seeing him, man. Kensie has him hating me.”

  “So prove the bitch wrong, Z. Seriously, Seth will come around with time. You deal with eighteen-year-old kids fresh out of boot camp every day. You can handle one kid who secretly hero-worships you.”

  “I don’t need him to hero-worship me. I’d settle for speaking to me over the phone.”

  “He’ll come around.” I watch the mirror go cloudy with steam. “Do you need me to pick you up from the airport?”

  “No, I’m driving up. I’ll leave tomorrow morning.”

  “Drive safe. Call if you need me.”

  “I will. Thanks, man. Later.”

  “Later.” I hang up and step into the shower, washing up quickly so I can join Cara and Seth. I yank on a clean pair of worn blue jeans, pull an old red T-shirt over my head, and join Seth and Cara in the kitchen.

  “. . . don’t care!” Seth yells.

  “Seth,” Cara’s voice is hard and her hands are fisted on the table.

  “What’s going on?” I ask, and narrow my eyes at Seth, who just glares at me as he jumps out of his chair, his feet planted, shoulders square, as if ready for a fight.

  “Why didn’t you tell me my dad was back in Texas?” he demands.

  “Seth, you refuse to listen to anyone when your dad’s name comes up.”

  “If he’s in the States, why hasn’t he come here?” His lip quivers slightly but he tightens his mouth to hide it, and a ball of lead takes up residence in my gut.

  “He had to finish up some things in Texas before he could come home,” I explain calmly.

  “No one told me,” Seth repeats stubbornly.

  “Seth, your dad tries to talk to you every time he calls and you refuse to take his calls. I know you don’t want to see him, but—”

  “You don’t know anything about it!” Seth yells as tears fall from his eyes.

  “Okay, explain it to me.” I lean against the counter and tuck my hands in my pockets, as if my body weren’t tense and longing to pull him to me to reassure him.

  I need him to talk to me.

  “No one cares.” He shakes his head and looks down at his feet, his dark hair falling into his eyes.

  “That’s not true, Seth,” Cara begins.

  “Yes, it is,” he interrupts, and glares at her. “What do you know, anyway? You’re banging him.” He points at me. “You’re no better than the rest of them.”

  Cara gasps, and before I realize what I’m doing, I’ve gripped Seth’s lean shoulders in my hands and pulled his face within an inch of my own.

  “I’m going to tell you this one time.” My voice is low and hard. Measured. “If you ever disrespect Cara like that again, I will make you regret it.” I loosen my grip but keep his eyes on mine. “I love you, kid. I love you. I care. I want to know what’s going on in your head, but I won’t force you to tell me.”

  He continues to cry silently and it’s killing me.

  “I’ll answer any ques
tions you have. I’ll talk to your dad for you or call him back right now and put you on the line with him. He wants to talk to you, Seth.”

  He shakes his head in denial, and I just sigh deeply and cup his face in my hand.

  “Seth, your dad loves you,” Cara adds. “He’s trying to get here as fast as he can. Maybe talking on the phone with him will make you feel better.”

  “I don’t want to talk to him,” Seth whispers, and turns tear-filled eyes to Cara. “I’m sorry about what I said. I didn’t mean it.”

  “I know.” Cara offers him a smile. “You’re angry. But talking to us, or your dad, will help, sweetie.”

  He shakes his head again and I pull him in for a hug.

  “It’s going to be okay, buddy.”

  “Can I take Thor to the barn?” he whispers.

  “Yeah, go ahead.”

  He pats his leg and Thor happily follows him out the front door.

  “My brother really needs to get here and work some things out with that boy,” I mutter softly.

  “He’s so angry,” Cara agrees softly. “I wish I could kick Kensie’s ass.”

  “Get in line, sweetheart.”

  She gathers Seth’s papers and tidies the table swiftly. I pull the papers out of her hand and set them on the table and pull her into my arms, tucked under my chin. I love the way she fits against me.

  I tighten my arms around her shoulders, gliding my hands up and down her back, and just hug her.

  “It’s amazing how you calm me,” I murmur.

  “Same here,” she whispers without moving her cheek from my chest. “Zack’s on his way home?”

  “He should be here this weekend.”

  “Good. Seth needs him, whether he believes it or not.”

  “I know what I need,” I murmur, and kiss her head.

  “What?” She pulls back to look into my eyes. Her hazel eyes get me every time.

  “You,” I whisper, and kiss her forehead. “You, curled up with me on the couch, pretending to watch a movie while I seduce you.”

  She raises her eyebrows and smiles softly. “Do I get to pick the movie?”

  “Since neither of us will actually be watching it, yes.”

  CHAPTER

  Nine

  CARA

  I stretch lazily, enjoying the way the soft white sheets shift over my naked body, still sensitive from a night of incredible lovemaking. Without opening my eyes, I reach to my right, searching for Josh, but his side of the bed has gone cold.