by Abby Brooks
I offered introductions all around and we ordered our drinks, then moved to a table in the back. The lighting was just right and the music set the perfect mood—friendly, with an invitation for sexy.
“How’s the thumb?”
“I purposefully didn’t wear nail polish tonight so I could gross you out.” She presented the digit for inspection, and I had the strongest urge to slip it into my mouth and suck, to tease her with my tongue until she stopped pretending she only wanted to be friends.
And to think, Daphne said it was Garrett who might scare her away.
I turned her palm in my hand, gingerly studying her thumb. “You got yourself good.”
“I’ll survive. But!” Morgan lifted her eyebrows with a smile. “I did figure out where I went wrong on the coop. Step two.” She mumbled the words in defeat. “I basically had to undo everything to fix it.”
It was right there on the tip of my tongue. An offer of help I knew she’d refuse. I had enough experience to knock that project out in two days, three tops, but I clamped my mouth shut. “That sucks,” I said instead. “I bet it was worth it, though.”
“Would you look at that?” Morgan widened her eyes and took a sip of beer. “He does learn.”
“At least one of us does.” I dropped her a wink like it was a mic and leaned both elbows on the table.
She laughed, a throaty sound that went straight to my dick. “You should be very proud of that one.”
“Believe me. I am.” I took a drink and met her gaze. Her eyes glimmered in the low light and they were locked on me like I held the answers to the mysteries of life.
Speaking of mysteries, it was time for me to unravel hers.
I sat back, crossing my ankle over my knee and throwing an arm over the back of the booth. “So. Time to step out from under the shroud of mystery. I know how long you’ve been in Cherry Falls, but I don’t know why you decided to move here of all places.”
Morgan shrugged. “This is as good a place as any.”
“It just seems a little lackluster after life in the city.”
She paused with her bottle halfway to her mouth. “How’d you know I’m from the city?”
“Let’s just say you’ve got ‘metropolitan’ written all over you and I took a wild guess.”
“Your wild guess is right on the money.” She sipped her beer. “City life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
And that was that. She clamped down, giving me a look that dared me to press the issue.
So naturally, I did.
Rolling a hand through the air, I widened my eyes. “And…”
“And so I moved here.”
“But why, Morgan?” I leaned forward, eyes locked on hers. “People don’t just pack up their lives and move for no reason whatsoever.”
“You’re very persistent.” She quirked her lips.
“And you’re very stubborn.”
“But you like it.”
I nodded in concession. “I’m discovering I’m a fan.”
She took in a long breath. “I have recurring migraines. Like, the kind that put me down for days at a time. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. I just hide in my room until they go away.”
“That sounds awful.”
“It’s…” She sighed. “It’s no way to live. My doctor tried me on so many medications, ran so many tests. Nothing helped, but he just wants to keep switching up the prescriptions. I did some research and found posts from people who found relief by getting out in the sun for vitamin D, growing their own food, just getting back to basics, reducing stress, and living clean. And that’s why I’m here. I’m hoping it’ll help. Something has to.”
“Has it helped so far?”
“A little? Maybe? They’re not gone, but you saw my garden. I haven’t been able to eat much of my homegrown veggies and I’m running behind on the whole backyard chicken idea.”
“I wish there was something I could do to help.”
There was.
I could build that damn coop for her, but I wouldn’t offer again.
If Morgan wanted my assistance, she’d have to ask.
“Oh yeah?” She cocked her head. “I’m sure you have a very particular idea on what you could do.”
Playing it cool, I shrugged and took a swig of beer. “Something will come to me. I’m sure.”
“Now which one of us is the stubborn one?” Morgan laughed. “Okay. You know my background. It’s your turn.”
“I know your background?” I scoffed. “I don’t think so. I know why you moved here, but that barely counts as background.”
“What else do you want to know?”
“Everything, Morgan. I want to know everything.”
Morgan
The night passed in a blur of good conversation and lots of laughter. The more I got to know Reuben, the more I liked him…which was saying a lot because I was a big fan from the start. When he asked me what I did for a living, I explained I was a freelance graphic designer.
“But my grandma left me an inheritance, so I don’t have to work all that much if I don’t want to. Leaves me plenty of time for my other projects.”
I waited for him to offer to help me with those projects, but the entire night went by without him saying one word about it.
I did, however, learn that his parents died when he was very young. That he had an older brother and a younger sister and prided himself on helping people around town. After that little nugget, I waited, because surely, it was the intro to the chicken coop conversation, but no. We moved right past it without him so much as blinking an eye.
As the night came to a close, he walked me to my car, his hand pressed to the small of my back. We pushed through the doors into a starlit night, a full moon hanging low and swollen in the sky.
“Bet you don’t get views like that in the city.” He draped an arm over my shoulder and his cologne intoxicated me—as did the feel of his skin against mine. It wouldn’t take much to pivot in his arms, lift up on tiptoe, and press my lips to his…
Instead of letting that thought go any further, I distracted myself by changing the subject. “Fine.” I turned to Reuben. “You win. Could you please help me with the chicken coop?”
His eyebrows raised as he recoiled. “How did we go from talking about the moon to…” He cocked his head, blinking in surprise.
“You wanted to ask me all night.”
“But I didn’t ask.” The smile on his face said he counted this as a victory.
I held up a finger. “But you wanted to.”
“There’s something else I’ve wanted to do all night.” He took my hand and pulled me close, angling his face over mine. There was a moment, a heartbeat’s worth of time where I could have pulled back and reminded him we went out tonight as friends, but who was I kidding?
I raked my fingers into his hair and drew him towards me, pressing his lips to mine. He was sweet and slow, but the hum of want throbbing between us was sharp.
Delicious.
Delirious.
His tongue swept into my mouth and I melted. Softening to him. Melting against him.
Moonlight traced our edges in silver as fireflies flashed in the distance. His fingers gripped my hips and he pressed my body to his. I moaned against his mouth.
Reuben pulled away, smiling as his gaze danced across my face. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, then caressed my cheek with his thumb.
“When do you want me?” he asked.
Right now, answered my body.
I blinked, unsure how to respond to his question. It was so forward, so crazy, but I couldn’t deny the chemistry between us. It just seemed strange to ask me when we should go to bed together…
“Tomorrow’s Saturday.” Reuben smiled. “I could come by after lunch.”
After lunch? Why not now? Why were we scheduling…
Realization smacked me in the face and I huffed a laugh. “You’re talking about coming to help me build the coop.”
“
Of course that’s what I’m talking about. What did you think—” Reuben quirked his head as understanding widened his eyes. “You thought I was…? Really? You thought that’s how I’d go about…?”
His warm laughter reddened my cheeks.
I stuttered the beginnings of an explanation, but he put a finger across my lips. “It’s okay. Don’t hurt yourself. I’ll see you tomorrow after lunch if that’s okay. You know, to help with the chicken coop.”
I managed to respond without embarrassing myself, then waved goodbye as Reuben climbed into his truck and drove away. As soon as he was out of range, I got into my own truck, then dropped my head against the steering wheel with a groan.
So much for keeping my distance.
Chapter Five
Morgan
Saturday morning did not start well. Light had a subtle edge to it, this shimmer around the perimeter with a miniscule nest of sparkles flickering in the center of my vision—a warning of an impending migraine. Well, shit.
Thankfully I wasn’t in pain. And the rest of the indications I’d end the day in bed? Absent as well.
The shimmer was subtle. I wasn’t nauseated. Basically, I felt okay—except for the way I had to squint when I turned on the lights.
I’d probably be fine. Though, I'd said that before and I'd been wrong.
Very wrong.
I spent the morning breathing deeply, trying to stay calm so the migraine didn’t have a chance to materialize. Spending the day in bed wasn’t an option, and not just because it sucked and I hated it.
Reuben was coming today.
And I was excited.
Like, over the top, bounce in place, giddy excited.
The last thing I wanted was to cancel at the last minute because a headache might show up later. I'd rather take the steps I needed to fight the monster off and spend the day with him—even if it meant slowly sipping coffee while wearing sunglasses inside.
In the meantime, I entertained myself by replaying last night’s kiss, the way my body sang as his touched mine. I'd never felt anything like that, the instant connection, desire churning in my belly as I kissed a near stranger under a starlit sky. I wanted to feel it again. And again. And then some more. I wanted to understand what it was about Reuben that felt so different than anyone before him.
Not that there’d been all that many people before him.
As the morning went on, the signs of an impending headache dissipated enough that I felt like I could have some breakfast. I ate, congratulating myself on making the right call and working on self-care instead of canceling with Reuben. Not that long ago, if I woke thinking I might end up with a headache, there would be a headache. No doubt. It looked like I’d been smart to move to Cherry Falls—no matter what my family or my doctor had to say on the matter. My health was already improving, and I hadn’t even been here that long.
Enthused by the progress, I dressed in a simple tank top and shorts, then pulled my hair into a ponytail. Considering I’d be sweating in the sun all day, I spent more time on makeup than I should have. I wanted to look good for Reuben, which was silly. I wasn't supposed to be thinking about a relationship. I was supposed to be thinking about my health.
Tell that to the butterflies that fluttered to life when a knock sounded on my door.
Grinning, I practically sprinted through the house to answer, taking a moment to smooth my shirt and catch my breath before opening the door.
“Hey there.” I smiled, leaning on the doorframe as I let my gaze wander the hot hunk of masculinity that was Reuben Cantal. Once again, he wore his jeans and t-shirt uniform, though today he carried a toolbelt in one hand.
My mind went on a field trip, imagining him kissing me like he did last night while bare-chested, sweaty from the day’s work, and wearing that toolbelt. I licked my lips. I liked the idea of him strutting around with that thing slung off one hip. I liked it a lot.
“Hey there to you too.” The quirk to Reuben’s smile as he pretended not to stare at my boobs told me he liked what he saw just as much.
My eyes went on another adventure, zooming past his handsome face to swoop around his pecs—
For goodness sakes, Morgan! Stop it right now. Stop visually molesting the man and invite him inside!
I held open the door and stepped out of the way, gesturing for him to enter. “Come on in.”
Reuben stepped over the threshold, eyeing the living room like he'd never been in one before. “I always heard the Crockers had some serious hoarding issues and had let this place fall to pieces. Either you worked a miracle on the renovations, or the town gossips had their info wrong.”
“It was a little bit of both. The place was trashed, which was the only reason I was able to afford a home this big. After I moved in, I discovered most of the damage was cosmetic, so all it needed was some elbow grease to make it livable. Thankfully, I’m not afraid of hard work.”
I gave him a brief tour of the place, then offered to get us something cold to drink while he carried the tools from the back of his truck to the project site. I grabbed my sunglasses, put on a hat to further shade my eyes from the sun, and filled some water bottles. Beverages in hand, I stepped into the overly bright June day just in time to watch him lower some kind of saw-type-thing to the ground. The muscles in his arms twitched and bounced with the effort. The fabric of his t-shirt stretched taut over his back and I let out an appreciative sigh.
He looked up, caught me staring, and grinned. I made an effort to shut my mouth and pretend I hadn’t been daydreaming about seeing him naked as I crossed the yard.
Reuben accepted a bottle of water and took a drink, swiping a hand across his mouth when he swallowed. “I was thinking I’d take a look at the original project plans. You know, get myself situated with what you’ve done and how you’ve done it.”
Ah yes.
The chicken coop. There I was thinking about stripping the man of his clothes while he was on a mercy mission to help me with the mess I’d made.
Get a hold of yourself, Morgan.
I pulled out the plans I printed off and walked him through what I'd done, showing him the mistake I’d made on the first day and how I’d gone back to try to solve that problem. Reuben took the pages from me, reading through them and nodding as he processed the information.
After a few minutes of hemming and hawing, he looked at the coop then turned to me. “You actually did a really good job, especially for someone who has no experience.”
“I can't tell if you are making fun of me or not.” It sounded like a real compliment, but after years of my dad second-guessing everything I did, I wasn’t all that good at knowing for sure.
Reuben looked surprised by my statement. “I'm being genuine. There are a lot of pitfalls you completely managed to avoid. Your angles are mostly flush. The structure is solid. I have no doubt you would have gotten this done by yourself. I'm just happy to help you cross the finish line.”
Chapter Six
Reuben
From the second Morgan opened the door I wanted to jump her bones. How was it fair that someone could look that beautiful, that hot, that drop dead sexy when they were getting ready to spend a day working in the sun?
Answer? It wasn't fair. Not to me. The man who had to stand next to her and pretend I wasn’t turned on as fuck while hammering nails.
The look of pride that blushed across her face when I complimented her work sent me over the edge. Her prickly exterior vanished and a true smile bloomed—maybe the first one I’d seen from her. It made me wonder what her life had been like before she moved to Cherry Falls to make her so unsure of herself. But more than that, it made me want to erase that self-doubt. To lift her up. To make her see how strong she was, and how much potential she had. I wasn't lying when I said her work was good. It had plenty of rookie mistakes but considering she hadn’t even owned a hammer when she took on the project, I was impressed.
If she could do that, she could do anything.
Morgan
cocked her head, narrowing her eyes as she looked at me. “What?”
“What do you mean, ‘what?’” I imitated her expression.
“I mean you're looking at me funny.” She brushed her hand through her hair, smoothing the flyaways back into place.
Was all her blustering self-confidence actually a defense mechanism? While outwardly she looked like a firecracker who wouldn't take shit from anyone, inwardly, maybe it was all for show. Something told me Morgan Montgomery was hurting, and she put on prickly armor to keep the world from hurting her more.
I wouldn’t let that happen.
If I had my way, nothing would ever hurt her again.
“I'm looking at you like this because I’m amazed.” I stepped forward, encroaching on her personal space because I couldn’t not touch her any longer. “I know we just met, but I'm really glad we did.”
I’d pushed her farther than she wanted to go last night. She’d agreed to go out with me as friends and I stole a kiss anyway. On the way here, I promised I’d honor her wishes and keep it professional today.
I could already tell I was a big fat liar.
A lock of hair blew into her eyes and I brushed it away. She leaned into my touch. And that was all the invitation I needed. I cupped her cheeks, angling my lips over hers.
“I promised myself I wouldn't do this today, and if you tell me you don't want me to, I won't. But Morgan? I can't resist you and I want to kiss you. I need to kiss you.”
My lips brushed hers as I spoke. There was nothing I wanted more in this moment than her. If she pushed me away it would destroy me.
Her eyes flicked to mine. She licked her lips, then threaded her hand into my hair and drew me close. As the June sun beat down on my shoulders, I wrapped an arm around her waist, slipping a hand underneath the hem of her shirt to brush the skin of her lower back. Goose bumps flared up her spine and she melted into me, giving herself to me, begging for more.
Our tongues danced. Our bodies tangled. And my heart? It clenched with something I didn't have a name for. Something big and uncomfortable. It felt like tsunamis, tornadoes, wildfires. Whatever was building inside me had the power to lay me to waste.
