Small Town King: A Single Dad Romance (Carlisle Cellars Book 3)

by Fabiola Francisco

  “It was good.” Her hand lands on mine, and she clutches it. “Not a lot of traffic, so it passed quickly.”

  “That’s good. Your mom is okay?”

  “Yeah,” she nods. “I called as soon as I arrived to let them know I made it safely, and she sounded great.”

  “I’m glad, babe.” I lift her hand and kiss the inside of her wrist before dropping it back on her leg. I squeeze the inside of her thigh, and she tenses, looking at me with parted lips and a deep breath.

  When I pull into my driveway, Magnolia gasps. “Wow… This is beautiful.” She looks at my two-story house.

  It’s not as big as my parents’ estate, but it’s a good-sized home with a lot of space. It sits on an acre and a half, so we have plenty of space to do whatever we want. The dark gray roof contrasts the light gray stone on the exterior walls. The lawn is well-kept, thanks to my landscaper.

  “Thanks.” I pull into the garage and park. “Now, come on.” I kiss the top of her hand and open my door, rounding to the passenger side to open the door for her.

  I lead her into my house, and she once again breathes out, “Wow.”

  Magnolia looks around, taking in the neutral tones and clean space. Her wide eyes meet mine, and I smile sheepishly.

  “Your home is gorgeous,” she says.

  “Thank you.” I step closer to her and place my hands on her hips. “I’m glad you’re here.” I brush my lips against hers and smile when she sighs.

  I lead her to my kitchen and hear another quiet gasp. I chuckle to myself but feel proud. I know my house is impressive. I’ve worked hard to have it the way I like it. Ella and I built this home, and it’s exactly how my dream house would be. I walk around the island and grab a bottle of our red blend wine that Magnolia likes and start opening it.

  She smiles when she notices which one it is. “Do you need help? It smells good.”

  “Nope, just relax. I’m making ribs in the oven.” I left it cooking the short time I went to the bookstore so they’d have time to slow cook.

  “Ribs in an oven instead of a barbecue? I don’t know about that. Are you even a real Texan?” she teases.

  I round the island with two glasses of red wine and place them on the counter beside her, grabbing her waist and tugging her to me. “Oh, I’m Texan, but I don’t want anything to take my attention away from you tonight.”

  The way she looks at me, in awe as if I were a king, hits me in the chest. I kiss her, bringing my hand to the back of her head, tangling my fingers in her hair, and snaking the other one to her lower back, pressing her into me.

  Magnolia draws in her breath, and I take the opportunity to slide my tongue between her lips and seek hers, moving together to the drumming of our hearts. Slowing down, I give her a hard kiss before stepping back and handing her a glass.

  “Cheers,” I say, lifting my glass.

  Magnolia taps hers with mine and grins. After taking a sip, she closes her eyes and sighs. “I love this blend.”

  “I know; That’s why I got it,” I wink.

  “Whatever happened with the grapes that were affected by the smoke?” she asks, leaning her side into the counter.

  “Katelyn had the trial blend for us to taste this past week.”

  “And?” She raises her eyebrows in anticipation.

  “It’s not bad,” I tilt my head. “It’s got smokey undertones, almost like it was done on purpose. It’s fruitier than I like, but my dad and Miles both liked it. After testing a second batch, Miles will buy the supply if it’s just as good.”

  “Wow, that’s fantastic. I’m so glad that worked out.”

  “Me too. It wasn’t a total loss.” I hold her hand. “Let’s go sit while the food continues to cook.” I head toward the living room that opens from the kitchen and sit on the couch, bringing her down to me.

  I take a drink of wine and set the glass on the coffee table. I settle back, looking at Magnolia, the slope of her neck as she takes a drink, the pink in her cheeks, and the sideways glance she gives me.

  “What?” she asks.

  “You’re beautiful. Did I tell you I’m happy you’re here?”

  “Yeah,” she nods.

  “Actually,” I say, pensive now, lost in my own mind.

  “I’ve never had another woman in this home that wasn’t Ella, and I haven’t been with another woman since she passed. Her loss felt so raw, and then it was numbing, focusing on work and the girls. Then…then you happened.” I blink my eyes, focusing on her.

  Magnolia smiles sadly. Her hand reaches mine and squeezes.

  “Are—”

  I shake my head. “Don’t doubt this between us.”

  She’s quiet when she nods.

  “I had a talk with her…Ella. Not in a creepy way,” I quickly add in case she thinks I’m insane.

  “I get it.”

  “I thanked her for being the woman I loved for so many years, for giving me Charlie and Chloe, and for bringing you into my life. It’s like she knew what I needed and gave me you. I don’t know,” I run a hand through my hair. “Maybe I’m crazy.” I blow out a deep breath, looking straight ahead.

  Magnolia scoots closer to me, putting her hands on either side of my face. “I don’t think you’re crazy. I think we have help from above when we need guidance. I’m glad we met. Maybe she knew what I needed, too.” Her eyes mist over, and I place my hands over hers, holding them.

  I nod and drop a quick kiss on her lips. “I’m lucky because I get the opportunity to love two great women in a lifetime.”

  Magnolia’s eyes snap open, and her breath catches. I realize my slip and smirk.

  “I love you,” I whisper. “At some point between fighting it and surrendering, I fell in love. I don’t know if people will say it’s too soon or judge me, but I know Ella would want me to be happy, and you make me happy. That’s all that matters. My daughters adore you, and you adore them.”

  Magnolia’s eyes are full of tears that trail down her face. Her fingers curl around the sides of my face.

  “I love you, too. I realized it while I was away when the idea of not returning for an extended period of time was a possibility. The thought of not seeing you…” She shakes her head.

  I move my hands from hers and hold the back of her neck, bringing her to me and crashing our lips together, kissing her hard and fast. My tongue pushes through her lips, demanding until it finds her tongue. Her hands move from my face to clutch the front of my shirt. Her soft moans fuel me, wanting more of that. My free hand moves to her hip and squeezes, awarding me with a groan. My dick hardens, needing more of her.

  I never thought I’d be here again, with a woman, falling in love, looking forward to making a life together. But Magnolia quietly walked in, healed my girls and me, and she did it all unconditionally because she wants the world to be a safe place for people. She wants people to be happy.

  “Brett…” she moans, loosening her hold on my shirt and pressing her palms to my chest.

  “Hmm?” I keep kissing her.

  “The timer on the oven.” Her words break through my lust-filled fog, and I lean back. Her lips are swollen and red like the rest of her face from my stubble.

  I listen, and sure enough, the timer is going off.

  “Damn it.” I run a hand through my hair and Magnolia giggles. I stare at her, raising a brow, which only makes her laugh louder.

  After catching my breath, I sit up. “Let me check the food. I don’t cook as well as Miles does, but ribs are my specialty. And yes, in the oven.” I lift my brows.

  “Oh, Miles cooks better? I may have gone for the wrong brother,” she teases.

  “Don’t even joke like that,” I say possessively, looping my arm around her waist and pulling her onto my lap. My hands push her hair away from her face as she continues to laugh. I kiss her hard and demanding. When she moans, I smile, satisfied.

  “Don’t forget you’re mine,” I growl.

  She chuckles softly and looks into my eyes. “
I don’t want to be anyone else’s.” The smile she gives me lights up my heart. I finally feel like I can breathe easy for the first time in years.

  Chapter 35

  Magnolia

  “I take it back. I’ll keep you. That was delicious.” I clean my hands with the hundredth napkin and smile. I can’t remember the last time I was this happy. I still worry about my parents, but I know they’re capable of taking care of themselves. Being with Brett is worth living away from them.

  “Thanks. I’m glad you liked it.” He wipes his mouth with his napkin, finishing off his wine.

  “Uh, liked? I think I thoroughly enjoyed it.” I stare at the graveyard of ribs on my plate.

  Brett chuckles.

  “Well, it’s a stroke to my pride.” His smile is gorgeous. He’s a handsome man, but when he smiles, it’s like the light around him turns on. He looks different, lighter.

  “I got dessert from So Fresh & So Sweet.”

  “You did?” My eyes light up.

  “Yup. They had berry turnovers.” He stands to clear the table, and I help him. He motions for me to sit, but I ignore him and grab my plate and the platter where the roasted potatoes were plated.

  “If I help you, we can have dessert faster.” I wink and place the dishes in the sink and turn on the faucet.

  As I rinse them, Brett places them in the dishwasher. We work in perfect harmony, and it makes me giddy. To know that he feels the same way I do is inexplicable. It fills me with joy and love and just…so much of everything.

  Once we finish, he warms the turnovers while I grab two plates from the cupboard he signaled. We sit back at the table to enjoy our dessert.

  “Oh!” I shout and then grimace apologetically. I set my turnover on my plate and wipe my hands on a napkin. “I forgot to tell you why June wanted to talk to me.”

  He lifts his brows. “We did get a little sidetracked,” he smirks, showing off that dimple.

  “Yeah…” I trail off and then focus again.

  “Since the restaurant is opening in a few weeks, she asked if I’d be interested in helping her at the bookstore a few days a week. Miles is going to be busy, and she could use an extra hand, especially planning the upcoming events.”

  He smiles widely. “That’s great, congrats.”

  “You knew?” I tilt my head.

  Brett shakes his head, but I don’t believe him. “I didn’t, but I was hoping it’d be something along those lines. I know it’s not your dream job, but it’s something.”

  “It is. It’s definitely a relief. It’ll give me time to work on my website and find clients.” I feel good about this. The store will allow me to earn a paycheck while I work hard to build my dream. I’ve loved being there the last few weeks while June was on her honeymoon.

  “Exactly. You’ll get it done. You’re meant to help people.” I warm at his compliment and nod, feeling a slight blush creep up my neck. I take the last sip of my wine, probably indulging more than I should, but it’s so good.

  I tell Brett what June and I talked about, the events she’s hosting at the bookstore soon, including a book signing. We finish our dessert, and I grab the plates without his argument this time. As I rinse them, I feel his hard body pressed against my back.

  Brett’s hands slide down the sides of my body, stopping at my hips, and he leans forward to whisper in my ear, “Leave them there.” His voice is deep and gruff. I can’t hide the shiver that runs through me, especially when one of his hands slides over my butt and squeezes. My core contracts, and I tense, leaning back into him.

  His lips land under my ear, trailing kisses down my neck to my shoulder. His hand on my backside moves to the front, landing on my lower belly and pressing my body into his front so I can feel his hardness through our clothes.

  I moan and arch my back.

  “Come on, babe,” he lures me.

  His hands move to turn me around, and I oblige, facing him. My hands loop around his neck as I stare into those green orbs. I brush my fingers through the longer strands of hair at the nape of his neck, and he sighs, closing his eyes. Lifting on my toes, I brush my lips against his. His eyes snap open and darken.

  The second brush of my lips, he takes over. Brett takes control of the kiss, our lips fusing in a toe-curling kiss. My entire body tingles, goosebumps appearing on my skin. Brett’s hands move to my ass, and I yelp, breaking the kiss when he lifts me. My legs wrap around his hips, and I tightly hold on to his shoulders.

  His deep laugh makes me so happy. I stare into his eyes, brushing away his hair from his forehead. He gives me an easy, lopsided smile. Then, he kisses me, causing my legs to tighten around him. He growls and pulls me tighter to him until I feel his erection pressed against me, which causes me to moan.

  We kiss for what seems like hours, him holding me, our bodies moving against each other. Brett starts moving, never lifting his lips from mine. When we reach the stairs, he lifts his head to look where he’s going, and I trail my lips down his neck, nipping and sucking. His steps falter, but before I can drop to my own feet, he grips his hold on me.

  We make it up the stairs and to his bedroom. I don’t have time to look around before he places me on the center of the bed and positions himself over me, his lips exploring and teasing. I arch into his mouth, burning and wanting him on every inch of my body.

  “You’re gorgeous,” he brushes strands of my wild hair away from my face. “So sweet and kind.” He kisses my lips. “So perfect for me.” A kiss on my neck.

  I wrap my legs around his hips and attempt to tug him down, but it’s no use.

  “Need you,” I say. Brett chuckles and shakes his head.

  “I’m takin’ my time, babe.” His hand moves to the hem of my shirt and sneaks underneath, teasing my skin until I’m shivering. Slowly, ever so slowly, he inches it up my body, placing a kiss in the center of my stomach. His darkened eyes look up at me, and I whimper at the intense need reflecting at me.

  Once he lifts the shirt to where my bra is, he pauses and drops another kiss. His hand trails up and down my body, and my stomach contracts at the ticklish sensation. His coarse stubble scratches my skin in a way I wish I were feeling lower. Grabbing his head, I pull him up and devour his mouth.

  “Touch me,” I plead. The tips of his fingers brush the underside of my breasts, and I moan softly. “More,” I say.

  “I can’t get enough of you,” he breathes out.

  “Doesn’t seem like it,” I retort.

  “It’s called patience.” He winks, gripping the sides of my body.

  “Then you have it for the both of us.” I arch my hips into his to emphasize my point.

  Brett groans and tears my t-shirt off my body.

  “Finally,” I sigh.

  His lips move to the swell of my breasts, nipping and kissing before he lowers the cups on my bra and takes a nipple between his lips. I cry out and tense. His tongue swirls around the hard bud before his teeth scrape the sensitive skin.

  “Jesus,” I moan.

  Brett continues his teasing, moving to my other breast and giving it the same attention. I’m begging him for more as I tense and try to get friction in my core by thrusting into him. Brett presses his lower body into mine and thrusts hard, giving me a sneak peek of what I want, but it’s not enough. I don’t think anything will ever be enough.

  We’ve been taking things so slowly, teasing touches and kisses, gentle strokes that have built up to this moment. I know our situation is different. Brett is a father, and he’s had his own emotional baggage to work through. I don’t care. I want him, and I know his wife will always be a part of our lives in a way because of his daughters. I will honor that because they deserve it.

  When his tongue flicks against my pebbled nipple, all rational thought escapes me, and I moan, focusing on his mouth and the pleasure it’s causing. One of his hands snakes down my body to the top of my shorts.

  “Finally,” I say again, causing him to chuckle against my skin, the vibrations add
ing to my amped-up sensitivity.

  Brett unsnaps the button on my shorts and lowers the zipper blindly. When his hand sneaks in, I’m arching and tensing before he’s even touched me. The anticipation is enough for me to lose control.

  “You’re wet,” he says against my lips before taking my mouth with his in a searing kiss. My hands roam his body under his shirt to feel his warm taut skin.

  “Goodness,” I cry out when his finger swipes against my clit.

  After two more strokes, Brett leans back and stares down at me. His hands move behind my back to remove my bra. Then, he moves to my shorts, sliding them down my legs until he throws them on the floor. He looks at me hungrily. His eyes scan from the top of my head to my toes, taking in every inch.

  I lie there, feeling vulnerable and desirable at the same time. He leans down and kisses me before moving his lips down to my chest and then stomach until the tip of his tongue teases the bare skin right above where I need him most.

  “Brett,” I sigh in exasperation.

  He kneels on the floor, tugging my body lower on the bed, and hooks a leg over his shoulder. Soft kisses tickle the inside of my thighs as he trails his lips closer. Chills cover my body, and my heart drums wildly. As soon as his tongue swipes my clit, I arch and moan, panting.

  “So good,” he murmurs against me before licking me again.

  Brett takes his time tasting me, teasing me, taunting me with his lips and hands. He slides his hands under my butt and lifts my hips, thrusting his tongue into my pussy, fucking me with his mouth. I cry out in surprise and then in pleasure.

  His lips and tongue please me, take me to the brink of orgasm, and back down. When his lips circle around my clit and suck, I dig my nails into his scalp and press his head further to my body, needing a release before I lose my damn mind.

  Stronger than me, Brett moves his mouth, once again fucking me with his tongue before his fingers take over, and he finally has mercy on me, his tongue alternately flicking my clit and sucking it. His fingers hook inside me and find that spot that makes colors go wild behind my lids, and my entire body surrender to the pleasure he’s giving me. I free-fall down a cliff of desire until I hit my climax, calling out his name, locking my legs on either side of his head, and letting the waves of my orgasm wash over me on repeat as he prolongs it.