by Emily Bowie
Running his hands through his hair, he continues, “I am in this for the long haul. I want us to be partners in crime…figuratively.” He stresses that word and it makes me wonder about the society. I keep silent, not knowing how to respond to anything he’s confessed.
“I can’t ever totally get away from the society,” he says, knowing it would be a question I’d have. “But I can distance myself.” He steps closer to me. So many thoughts are running through my mind right now. I must look like an idiot just standing here, not saying a word.
“My number one priority is us.” We are only about a foot away from each other. “What are you thinking?” His hand touches my strawberry blonde hair.
“You’re moving here?” Yep, that is the first thing I think to say. I could have said half a dozen much better, more insightful things. Tyson always makes me feel like I’m tongue-tied.
He chuckles at my words. “I have another surprise,” he says, looking a little worried as he glances at me.
I watch him take a step back, hating the distance between us. I’m doomed; I love this guy.
He is reaching for the barn before my mouth begins to work again. “Wait.” He turns to face me. I bend to let the puppy down. “I love you too, Tyson Bennett.”
His smile widens, turning into that confident grin he wears so proudly before opening the barn doors.
The sound of hooves stomping against the wood and the muffled sounds of horses fly out, hitting me in the heart.
No, there can’t be.
I walk toward him, going inside where he stands. Each stall is full, with real, live, breathing horses.
“Sweet baby Jesus,” I say, looking around the barn.
“I have one more surprise.” He takes my hand and leads me out toward the back of the barn. I have to half-jog, half-walk to keep up with each of his strides. Then I see that old green tractor. The one I spent on my dad’s lap for many seasons.
“It’s not.” I start to question him.
“It is the same one your dad had.”
Great, now I’m crying, I can feel the tears running down my face. He takes me in his arms; how I denied this man I will never know.
“How did you know?” I ask him, still trying to compose my emotions.
“I may have talked to Luke a little and found out this meant a lot to you.” His words are muffled into my hair. Knowing that Luke helped made my eyes tear up again. I loved my dad too much to hold anything against him. Luke did not have the luxury of an older brother to shelter him away from the family’s financial burden, but he was still willing to put his view of our father aside to help Tyson with this for me. It means a lot to me. Everything did. Knowing that Tyson was willing to work with my brother to create a perfect moment for me is everything.
“I’m so sorry for how I treated you.” The words came out soft and sincere.
I can feel his lips shushing me. “No, Country, this is all on me.”
I let out a mini laugh as I try to curl my lips inwards. For a nickname I used to hate so much, it has found a way into my heart, causing me to love it as much as I do him.
“You didn’t have to do all this to get my attention.” I squeeze him tighter, feeling at home more than I ever have before.
“I know. But we’re partners now. We have to learn to accept help from each other.”
The guilt in me starts to rise up; I never told him that I kept in contact with Trevor. “I’m buying a stud off Trevor,” I blurt out, not wanting any secrets.
I can feel him still, as I wait for his reaction. “How much does he want for it?”
How do I tell him he wants a date? “I think he wants a date.” I hold my breath, remembering how he reacted to Trevor in the motel.
His head bends down to look me in the eyes. “Do you want that?” His eyes search mine.
“God no.” I shake my head; the thought makes me sick.
“Call him and tell him we are together and that I’ll be living here and see what he says.”
I nod my response.
“Good.” He kisses my head.
“I’m sorry for how I acted at your society. I think Richard drugged me,” I blurt out. That fact was weighing heavy on my heart. I need him to know I would never embarrass him like that.
“I know, baby. I’m an ass for ever thinking you would.” He hugs me tighter. My heart feels lighter just getting this all off my chest. I hated keeping secrets from him.
“Now, will you finally allow me to love you?”
“As soon as I saw you standing here, I was ready,” I say.
Then a shriek leaves me as I feel myself being tossed over his shoulder. “What are you doing?” I gasp, enjoying the way he effortlessly moves my body.
“I’m going to remind you what it’s like when we’re together.”
Epilogue
JEWELS
The sun is shining brightly into my kitchen at the ranch, Tyson’s arms wrap around me, giving me a chaste kiss on the cheek. “Good morning.”
The bacon crackles in front of me. I promised the boys that I would make breakfast today, since they will be doing all of the cooking the next day.
“Mind if my brothers crash our holiday dinner tomorrow?” he asks.
Placing a lid onto the frying pan, I turn to him. “I didn’t realize they were back in town from Andrea’s funeral.”
Andrea had been found hanging in her closet with a note confessing her part in Lewis’s disappearance. The whole thing is tragic. No matter how I feel about the history between Tyson and her, I wish someone could have saved her from herself. Deep in the back of my mind a small voice wants to ask if the society had anything to do with this. But the thought is too much. Tyson would never allow it. I push down the nagging feeling I get when I think of her end.
Tyson’s voice brings me out of my thoughts. “They got back home last night.” Tyson did the trip in one day, but I thought his brothers were going to stay home for the holiday.
Walking to him I continue, “You know you don’t even have to ask.” My finger jabs into his right pectoral. “Your family is always welcome.” He takes my finger and places it into his mouth, giving it a small suck. Lightly, I slap my hand out of his grip and give him another look. “Luke is just in the other room,” I hiss at him. He only shrugs, not giving a shit.
Ever since Tyson got Luke off of all charges against him, with only a small slap on the wrist, he walks around like Luke owes him, or maybe it’s that predator in him that feels like he has to protect me from my brother. The thing is, they still both feel the same way about each other, although it is getting slightly better. They are going to have to get used to each other. I love them both and have no plans on letting either go.
“Morning, love birds!” Brody’s voice booms into the house.
Walking into the kitchen, he holds up a carton of eggs like they are a gold trophy. “I brought eggs!”
Tyson goes to his brother while still talking to me. “You see why I ask now? My family just makes themselves at home. Like they live here.” Tyson stresses the live part to Brody.
“This isn’t my house, you have to knock,” Tyson scolds his brother.
Brody just shrugs. “You are here enough, I would say y’all are living together.”
Going to the boys, I take the eggs and open the carton. “Where did you get the eggs?” I ask, knowing they are not store bought.
“My sexy neighbor.” He winks at me, very proud of this fact. I can’t help but laugh and shake my head as I walk away thinking about that poor girl who probably doesn’t even know what she has coming for her.
Luke’s voice begins to travel into the room. “Mom just called. She will be here about seven o’clock tonight.” With everything going down with our family, our mother finally confessed she wasn’t going on vacations like she kept telling us. She had met someone out of state. And now that we were all grown up, she was going to move in with her boyfriend.
It shocked the hell out of us. I never thoug
ht of my mother as a sexual being. I shudder again at the thought then scold myself internally. She is a person just like me. I need to embrace this new mother who has become very upfront with everything.
“Jewels, you sit down, I’ll make the eggs,” Brody tells me.
“No.”
He tries to get the eggs back but I keep them out of reach.
“Seriously, I don’t mind.” Pointing to Tyson and Brody, I say, “Now, Bennett boys, I know you are all fantastic cooks, but breakfast is the one meal I can make. Now go on and sit down.”
Both of them raise up their hands in a salute. “Yes, ma’am!” they respond in unison.
Coming back to Three Rivers has been the best thing I have ever done. I forgot how much I loved this small town. I should never have allowed the one incident to chase me away. I never see Trevor. He kept his word on selling me the horses I wanted and he was the one who brought up that the date wasn’t necessary. The guilt and stress I was carrying melted away after that. I have been paying him with post-dated checks so I never need to see him face-to-face. If I do see him in town he just nods and continues on. It is quite nice. I never expected Trevor to grow up so much.
The ranch is prospering so far. I was able to get two of my horses into a few rodeos and we have a third and second placement. I’m excited for next spring to come and see how well all of my breeding comes around.
Tyson almost fainted when he had to see how the process worked. I just brought out the large, warm, water balloon-like artificial vagina and Tyson freaked the hell out. City boys, what can I say? Ever since then I’ve been calling him City. Now he knows how I felt when he first called me Country. I’m sure he will learn to love it, just like I did.
“Now what are you thinking to make you smile so big?” Brody teases me, reminding me they are still here.
“Just remembering why Tyson is such a city slicking boy.” I giggle, going straight into flipping the eggs over.
“This is getting old, Jewels,” Tyson says in exasperation. Brody is laughing in the chair beside him. He is my biggest supporter in making fun of Tyson.
I can hear Tyson’s chair scrape across the floor and I already know his plans. Slowly, I place the spatula down.
“Brody, you’re on egg duty!” I call out as I begin to run for the door. I can hear Tyson coming up quickly behind me. Just as I am about to open the door, my feet come off the ground and Tyson flips me over his strong shoulders. I can’t help the giggle that erupts out of me.
“You know I do this because I love you, baby,” I try to plead my case.
He smacks my ass. “I think you are going to have to show me how exactly you love me.” I can hear the lust in his voice.
“We have about fifteen minutes until they notice we left,” I whisper as he walks us out the door.
“I don’t care if they know we are gone,” he replies, making me giggle more.
THE END
Continue reading for a sneak peek of the Bennett Brothers #3, Recklessly Devoted.
Please note, this is unedited and subject to change.
Recklessly Devoted
(Bennett Brothers #3)
Chapter 1
CASSY
One year ago
“Heellloo.” I drawl out each letter, watching a fine specimen of a man walk into Nelly’s pub. I’m sitting perched up onto a stool at Kat’s and my table. My head following the man walking in. I allow myself to shamelessly look him over. His body is stiff, yet his swagger has an air of cockiness. It holds discipline, strength, and confidence. He’s wearing a gray V-neck T-shirt, and faded blue jeans. His shirt cuts off half of his tattoo, just showing the start of black Roman numerals. My eyes rake back up his body once more before I really take notice of what limited facial features I can see. He’s not pretty, but is handsome. His features look hardened, and his short brown hair just sits on his head like he never bothered to do anything with it.
He sticks out of the crowd loudly, tourist.
I turn around to Kat. “Cheers to a good night!” I raise my glass to hers while my mind stays on the stranger.
For one night I don’t want to care what his family name is, or his background. I want him for me, just one night to allow myself to throw my father’s voice out of my mind. To act on impulse, desire, and lust.
Now I’m no saint. I love a good fuck and a better tongue lashing. But it’s always been calculated, measured. These thoughts have been engraved into me since I can remember.
To be successful I had to find the right husband, with the right pedigree and the right money. My father could never handle if my life turned out like his did. I have to do this for him, because he is all I have.
I could never judge him for this, I couldn’t possibly understand losing one’s wife with a month-old baby, living in poverty, until finally saving enough money to build your wife’s dream house—the only thing is, it’s too late. She is gone. But you do have one daughter to make right by.
I give my head a shake, as if to remove myself from those thoughts and find myself glancing toward the back where the pool tables are located.
“Kat, isn’t that Chase over there?” I ask her, trying to give myself a reason to wander over there.
My best friend turns her head, her long brunette locks being tossed behind her back with her sudden movement.
“It looks like the one and only.” She sips her drink, refusing to meet my gaze, but it’s obvious she has a thing for that man. Being the greatest best friend, I’ll make this easy on her.
“Let’s go check out the game.” I’m slipping off my stool, grabbing her hand and leading the way. For her sake, not mine. That’s the type of friend I am.
I watch as the tourist steadies his eyes on the table, calling out the pocket that the ball will land in. It is mesmerizing. I find myself stepping closer, situating myself amongst the small crowd that has gathered.
I’d love to pinch his ass, as it lifts up from him leaning over the table. I hear the crowd clap as he sinks the last ball, still with Chase’s balls left on the table.
I can’t help myself, I saunter up to him. “Hey, cowboy,” I greet him even though he looks nothing like a cowboy. I allow my hands to rest on his pool cue. I watch his eyes sweep up and down my body before an appreciative smile graces those lips I want to taste. My hand glides up and down slightly. “You’re pretty good with this stick.” Corny, I know, but he’s a dude. You have to be as forward as possible otherwise they can miss the mark completely.
“It’s not the only thing I’m good at, beautiful.”
Good boy, he knows what I’m up to. The best part is that he will be out of this town by the end of the weekend.
“Can I buy you a drink?” he asks. Polite, too.
I shrug coyly. “Sure.” And allow him to take my hand to lead the way.
The bar is overcrowded so he wraps his arm around my waist to keep us from getting separated.
“What do you want to drink, sweetheart?” His voice hits my ear and it’s sexy.
“I’ll get a beer.” I wait a beat then continue. “Then how about you show me what type of truck you drive?” I’m moving a little fast, totally not my style. To be truthful, I’ve never had sex until after the third date. No man wants to marry the girl who gives it up on the first date. Like I said, I’m always calculating. But I have no vision of me marrying this man. I just need him to show me a good time. I need this escape from my reality.
The family reality that I try to hide from everyone. I’m carefree, happy Cassy Campbell, life of the party. No one likes a Debbie Downer.
He stares into my eyes, and I begin to wonder if I’m being too forward and scaring him off. My heart is pounding, wondering if I am going to be rejected. The way he looks at me has my hands shaking with vulnerability. I go to open my mouth to tell him to ignore what I just said. I was stupid to try this in Three Rivers anyway. But then his mouth crashes on mine. His lips mold perfectly into mine and it takes everything in me to not melt aga
inst him. The rhythm is perfect against mine. There are no awkward moments, where he goes right, I go left. I want to pour my feelings into this kiss, it seems that intimate, even in a crowd with beer lingering in the air. But I hold myself back. I refuse to let my heart play a part in this.
I refuse to believe the chemistry is anything more than physical. The kiss slows and softens before I pull away. Wow. That was one hell of a first kiss.
He looks down at me, with a soft, knowing grin. The type of grin that can melt panties off a nun. “Well, I think I am going to enjoy you seducing me tonight, sweetheart,” he purrs into my ear, his body is so close to mine it is hard to see his face. Excitement rushes through me.
“Cowboy, you have no idea. I am going to ruin you for all time,” I whisper into his ear before nipping his earlobe.
“How thirsty are you for that drink?” he asks me, my body still snug against his hard, muscular chest and thighs.
“What drink?” I reply, winking at him.
With one knowing glance at me, he turns, leading me out by my hand. My skin is hot with the excitement and my skin is already hot with the excitement of being with the mysterious, sexy tourist. The parking lot is full for being a weekend and vacant with everyone inside thrust for a drink.
He leads me to what I assume is his truck at the back of the lot. The light from the pub doesn’t quite reach this far back. He wastes no time before I am pushed up against the black vehicle and his hands are roaming across my skin. His touch is warm and passionate, with a needy edge. Taking control of the moment, he pushes my legs apart with one of his. I can feel my clit pulsing against our rough jeans. Grabbing ahold of my hair with one hand, he tilts my head back, peppering light kisses from my jaw down to my collarbone and back up to my lips. His other hand glides along my bra, roughly moving the cups down to gain access to my tits.
