Discovering Love on Cranberry Lane (Island County Book 11)

by Karice Bolton

  Anthony opened the door, and I gave another quick wave as we walked outside into the brisk air.

  “It’s freezing,” I muttered, watching my breath turn to fog.

  “I know something that could warm you up.” Dwayne smiled as we walked to the car.

  “One-track mind,” I teased, sliding into his SUV.

  “Can you blame me?” He shut the door and started his vehicle.

  I giggled and looked out the window as he drove down the windy road that got Anthony in trouble. I couldn’t believe how nervous I was getting with every passing mile. The thought of being with Dwayne had invaded my mind since the first time I saw him at the grocery store, and now it might actually happen.

  “Would you like to go back to my place?” he asked, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

  “Yes, please,” I answered too quickly.

  “That answers that.” He grinned, taking a left toward Cranberry Lane.

  “I had a lot of fun tonight.” I smiled at Dwayne and rested my head against the seat.

  “I always have fun with you.”

  His words hung in the air, and I felt utterly content. “And I really am proud of you for taking the initiative on that business loan.”

  “Thanks for giving me that little push.” I closed my eyes. “It turns out that I qualified for a couple of small grants.”

  “That’s great news.”

  “It is.” I nodded, keeping my eyes closed as the heat blasted into the SUV.

  Dwayne pulled into his driveway and turned off the car before I opened my eyes. Tonight felt so perfect in every way that I never wanted it to end.

  “You look so beautiful,” Dwayne said softly, pulling my hand into his.

  “Thank you.” I smiled. “I shouldn’t smell like pancakes, either.”

  “But I’d love it if you did.” His voice deepened, and he let out a sigh. “Claire, I love you no matter what.”

  Hearing those words ring through the air turned every bad thought I had about my past into something that only made my future brighter. It was as if all I needed was for those words to wipe the slate clean, and they did.

  He brought my hands to his mouth and kissed my knuckles so tenderly, I almost missed it.

  “I love you too, Sheriff.” I smiled as the desire to be loved by this man in every possible way grew by the second.

  “You ready to go inside before the heat vanishes?”

  I nodded, feeling a surge of excitement as my hand found the handle on the door, and I sprang out of the car, nearly tripping to the ground.

  “Sorry. Just a little too excited.” I laughed, and Dwayne’s gaze caught mine as he chuckled.

  “I feel the same way.”

  We walked up to his front porch, and he let us in.

  He flipped on the lights, and I smelled a faint whiff of vanilla. “Were you baking?”

  Dwayne nodded. “I made some oatmeal cookies for Aaron’s lunch.”

  “You are so putting me to shame.”

  Dwayne laughed and looped his fingers with mine, bringing me into him.

  “Would you like some wine?”

  I nodded as he pulled me into the kitchen and poured us both a glass.

  “You know what I love about you?” he asked, and I felt my body warm.

  I wasn’t sure if it was from the man standing in front of me or the wine.

  “I haven’t a clue.” I shook my head.

  It really was one of the world’s great mysteries.

  “You’re incredibly smart.” He took a sip of wine. “And tenacious.”

  “Keep going.” I smiled, taking a sip.

  “You have a mind of your own, and you won’t let anyone boss you around.”

  I laughed. “Not anymore.”

  Dwayne smiled and set his glass down on the counter. “Well, maybe in some circumstances.”

  He took a step forward and took my glass from me before sliding his arms around my waist.

  “Maybe in some circumstances,” I repeated breathlessly as his hands ran up my back.

  “Kiss me,” he demanded, and I immediately obeyed as his mouth crashed down to mine.

  His lips tasted like wine, and it felt like at any moment, I might wake up from this incredible dream. I parted my lips, craving more as he hungrily kissed me.

  Dwayne’s hands slid under my sweater as I held onto him, feeling his mouth searching mine as if I held answers to something he’d been looking for. Feeling his fingers skate against my skin sent shivers across me as a little moan escaped my lips.

  It was as if the first time I saw him, the first time he made me laugh, and the first time he made me realize I had control over my own destiny were all bottled up in this one perfect kiss. The sensations of what love was supposed to be washed over me entirely as I felt his lips press against mine and his hands greedily exploring my body.

  Our kisses slowed, and Dwayne pulled away. “The accident left me scarred.”

  I brushed a dark piece of hair from his forehead and trailed my finger down his cheek as I shook my head and looked deep into the eyes of the man I loved.

  “It doesn’t matter to me.”

  “I mean, physically…” He pressed his lips together for a brief second. “Scarred.”

  I closed my eyes and cupped my hands behind his head as he pulled me closer and kissed me like I’d never been kissed before.

  The heat between us made me feel on fire, and all I wanted was to experience more of Dwayne Wilson.

  As if he could sense the need building in me, he ran his hands under my sweater and unfastened my bra, his hands cupping my breasts, and the gesture nearly did me in as I leaned into him. He broke our kiss only long enough to pull the sweater over my head as I quickly shook my bra to the floor.

  Instead of feeling completely vulnerable and uneasy in some man’s kitchen, I felt admired and wanted as Dwayne took me in, his gaze slowly appreciating every inch of me.

  “You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen,” he murmured, his lips crashing to mine once more.

  I drew a shaky breath as I unbuttoned my jeans and shimmied out of them between breathless kisses.

  Dwayne tangled his fingers with mine, and I quickly followed him down the hall to the family room. It was like we didn’t have time to even make it upstairs with all the pent-up need growing between us.

  The franticness grew with every passing second as he lay back on the couch and pulled me on top of him.

  I giggled and squeezed his hand. “Taking advantage of not having the boys around.”

  His smile only widened. “My guess is this is the only time we’ll be able to do this outside our bedroom.”

  Hearing the word our brought another wave of emotion as he circled his arms around my bare waist. I hovered over Dwayne as he gingerly played with my nipples, sending tingles through me in rapid succession.

  I quickly unbuttoned his shirt and ran my hands along his chiseled chest and abs, my fingers moving over his skin until I found the waistband of his jeans and slowly unzipped them as his mouth replaced his fingers in all the right places.

  I tugged on his pants as he tilted his hips and shoved his jeans and underwear off, and his mouth teased me into a blur of need and desire as I straddled this man I’d wanted since I saw him in his cowboy hat.

  Dwayne’s mouth and hands moved from my breasts to my bare belly, and my breath caught as every cell in my body ignited with want. His warm breath skated across my skin as he moved lower and his fingers moved to work away my panties.

  “Dwayne,” I whispered, and he stopped only briefly enough to look at me before he spun me on the couch and towered over me.

  “Every inch of you is perfection,” he said softly as his hands slid along my naked body and I admired his. He was gorgeous, every ounce of him defined and magnificent.

  In the dim light, I saw the scars that made him the man he was today, and I thought they were beautiful as they wrapped along his hips and moved down his thighs.
<
br />   I reached my hands toward him, but he caught them in his and raised my hands over my head. I smiled and wiggled my waist as the need pounding through me made this move almost insufferable. He kissed me slowly along my neck, and I giggled with delight.

  “You’d better not make me wait much longer, Sheriff.”

  His eyes darkened with the same passion I felt as his mouth crashed down to mine, letting go of my hands.

  I ran my fingers over his body, over his scars, and felt closer to him than anyone ever before.

  “Sheriff, I love you,” I whispered between kisses as I wiggled my hips and slid my hands down his waist, barely able to cup all of him between my fingers.

  “I love you, Claire.” His breath drew a sharpness as I stroked him. “But you don’t have to call me Sheriff.”

  I giggled and kissed him once more. His eyes locked on mine as he nudged my knees apart and I felt him slip into me. He sank deep into me, and the fullness took my breath away as my body arched into his in a rhythm purely our own.

  For the first time in my life, I let myself be vulnerable, and every raw sensation that came with that openness caressed me into a high I’d never experienced before.

  I wrapped my legs around him, and my body tightened as our limbs tangled together and our worlds melded as one.

  It was at that moment I realized that for the first time in my life, I’d discovered what love was supposed to be with a man.

  Dwayne’s movements were slow and deliberate as he watched me come down from my ecstasy and I tried to catch my breath.

  His tightened grip around my hand felt so beautiful, firm, and strong…stable.

  And that was when I realized I’d never had someone I could depend on. I’d never had a stable force that I could look up to or talk to. My parents looked at me as if I’d been more of a nuisance than anything, and then I ran into Marvin.

  But looking up into Dwayne’s eyes and having my hand in his made me feel stable for the first time in my life, and I never wanted the feeling to end.

  Chapter Nineteen

  It was Thanksgiving morning, and I woke up in Dwayne’s arms. Colby had begged to spend the night at Aaron’s, and I had to admit that I’d only made him beg so it didn’t seem like my idea.

  “This is my favorite place to be,” I whispered, circling my fingers along Dwayne’s bare chest.

  He kissed the top of my head and brought me in. “Me too.”

  “Do you ever worry things are too perfect?” I looked into his eyes, and he smiled.

  “The thought has honestly never crossed my mind.”

  I shoved myself up and smiled. “Wait, that I’m not perfect or that—”

  He wrestled me into his arms, laughing, and I never wanted to leave.

  “Do you think we should tell the boys we’re a thing?” I asked as his fingers skated along my naked body.

  “I think they might have figured that out.” Dwayne laughed. “I mean, you didn’t exactly take the guest room last night.”

  “True, but I thought I was very convincing when I explained why I had to sleep in your room.”

  Dwayne sat up in bed with a white sheet draped around his body. “What was the reason you gave again?”

  “The bed was broken.” I laughed, running my hands down his back.

  “Oh, right. Yeah.” Dwayne nodded. “Totally believable.”

  I sat up and grinned at the man I grew to love more every day. I could tell my hair was a tangled mess, and I doubted the mascara on my lashes was there anymore, but I didn’t care.

  “Should we start the turkey?” I asked, stretching. “Or at least the coffee.”

  “About that…” He stood with the sheet wrapped around him, and my breath caught as the sheet dipped lower.

  “You’re so distracting, Sheriff.”

  A wicked smiled surfaced, and he shrugged. “Sorry.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  He laughed and shook his head.

  “What’s going on with the turkey?” I asked. “Did you forget to buy it?”

  Dwayne’s eyes sparkled with the usual mischief that was utterly irresistible.

  “No, but we have a slight change of plans.”

  “How in the world can Thanksgiving plans change? They’ve been pretty set in concrete for generations. You buy a turkey, cook a turkey, and eat a turkey.” Slight panic arose because I was a girl who liked her turkey. I purposefully stopped eating it in August so I could appreciate it even more by November.

  He chuckled and let out a sigh. “You’re getting prickly over turkey.”

  I reached for my T-shirt and slipped it over my head. “I’m not getting prickly over turkey. Just the lack thereof.”

  He walked over and looped his arms around my waist. “I never said that we wouldn’t have a turkey.”

  “Thank goodness. I was beginning to rethink everything.” I laughed. “And I mean everything.”

  He kissed my forehead. “But I hope you like this surprise I’ve been working on.”

  Colby and Aaron’s conversation slid into mind, and I giggled. “Does Aaron know what it is?”

  “He’s known for weeks.”

  “And he’s kept it quiet?” I asked, surprised.

  “Apparently.” Dwayne let go and walked toward the bathroom.

  The man was so damn sexy.

  Too sexy for my own good.

  I let out a groan and turned toward the oversized bay window in Dwayne’s bedroom, which overlooked a small inlet. I spotted a red net shed off in the distance and wasn’t sure if it was on Dwayne’s property or not.

  “Such a gorgeous view.”

  Dwayne walked over holding a fleece blanket and wrapped it around both of us as we peered out the window.

  “Is that your property?” I asked, and he nodded.

  “Yeah, it stretches past the dock and the old net shed.”

  “So pretty.” I rested my head on his chest. “Are you going to give me any hints about the rest of the day?”

  “Only that I hope it’s a Thanksgiving to remember.”

  “It already is.” I turned around and stood on the tips of my toes to plant another kiss on the most luscious lips I’d ever encountered.

  He slipped his arms around my waist, and I felt his firmness press into my belly.

  “Oh, Sheriff.” I laughed. “You make things so difficult.”

  “Mom, are you in there?” Colby asked.

  A little knock sounded at the door, and horror washed over Dwayne’s face as he scurried to the bathroom. I quickly pulled on flannel pajama bottoms and opened the door.

  “Did you hear?” Colby asked, jumping up and down.

  “Hear what?” I asked, cocking my head slightly.

  Colby ran into the bedroom and didn’t seem the least bit taken aback about anything.

  “We’re going on a helicopter.”

  My brows shot up. “Are you sure?”

  “Aaron said so.”

  I heard the shower running and realized Dwayne was hopping in.

  “Whose helicopter?”

  “Jake Harlen’s.” He crawled on the bed and looked at me.

  “And it’s today?” I confirmed.

  “Yup. We’re going someplace called Hound Island.”

  I laughed and shook my head. “I think that’s supposed to be a surprise, so let’s keep it between us.”

  “Why would it be a surprise?” Colby asked as Aaron traipsed into the bedroom.

  He was more observant about his uncle’s room and glanced at me.

  I pointed toward the bathroom. “Your uncle is in the shower.”

  “Did you tell her?” Aaron asked, and Colby nodded.

  “Isn’t that cool? I have the best uncle in the world.” Aaron’s arms soared beside him as if he were mimicking an airplane. I didn’t bother correcting him since they all flew.

  But my heart raced wondering if what Colby and Aaron said was true.

  The shower turned off, and within minutes, Dwayne w
alked into the bedroom.

  “When do we get to go?” Aaron bounced on the bed, holding a pillow.

  “Go where?” Dwayne asked, trying to play it off.

  “To Hound Island,” Aaron answered.

  “I can’t wait to go in a helicopter.” Colby ran in circles, and Dwayne’s gaze connected with mine.

  “Why did I think Aaron could keep a secret?” He laughed, shaking his head.

  Seeing the love in Dwayne’s eyes melted me on the spot, and all I could do was smile and nod.

  “In case you haven’t figured it out, we’re spending Thanksgiving Day on Hound Island. My parents are already over there, along with Maddie, Chance, and their kids, and Harmony and Jewels. Jake will be flying us over so you can see the islands from above.”

  I stood in awe, watching the man explain the details of the most elaborate Thanksgiving I’d ever heard of.

  “Hildie’s already cooking the bird and the ham.” Dwayne smiled. “At least now, you don’t have to worry about that.”

  “You’re the most incredible man I’ve ever encountered.”

  “Just resourceful.” He walked over to me and kissed me softly on the lips, and Colby giggled.

  Colby shook his head and stared at Aaron. “Eww. You were right.”

  I laughed and made my way to the bathroom for my own shower. “Be good for Dwayne. I’ll be right out.”

  Colby nodded, and all the boys went down to the kitchen for some cinnamon rolls I’d brought from the café the day before.

  I showered as quickly as possible as nerves and excitement sizzled through me at an unstoppable rate. I’d never really thought about riding in a helicopter before, and now that the experience was suddenly at my feet, I started to get scared.

  Or nervous.

  Or completely freaked out that the thing could fall out of the sky.

  By the time I made it downstairs, I must have looked like a mess.

  “You okay?” Dwayne asked.

  “I think it just hit me that I’m going to be in a chopper.”

  Dwayne’s brows shot up. “I didn’t think you were afraid of heights.”

  “I’m not.” I shook my head and took a bite of a cinnamon roll. “Or I didn’t think I was.”

  Colby and Aaron finished their cinnamon rolls and stared at me.