by Rye Hart
“The O’Conner Family Bash is coming up soon?” she asked.
“Next week, actually. Gonna be a good one.”
“They always are,” she said.
“You know you can come if you want.”
She raised her head from her hands and chanced a look at me. I could see her squinting her eyes in pain, and it killed my heart. But it was odd to me that she was experiencing a hangover this bad. Even with the wine she had with the girls, she only had two beers.
How long had it been since she really let loose like that?
“I think I’m going to take my breakfast to bed,” Katie said.
“Whatever you want. I’m gonna start this dishwasher, then I’ll get outta y’all’s way,” I said.
“Goodnight, Andrew.”
“It’s ten in the mornin’, Katie.”
“Well, I’m falling back to sleep sometime today. So goodnight.”
I chuckled as she smiled at me, gracing me with that sparkle in her eye just before she shut her bedroom door. I heard the other two girls giggling up a storm in the bathroom. Probably listening in on our conversation or some shit. I started the dishwasher and left the room, ready to start the last leg of planning for the reunion.
Then I ran straight into Dylan.
“Checkin’ on the girls?” he asked.
“Yep. They’re all back asleep. Cooked ‘em some breakfast.”
“Hope you didn’t kill ‘em,” he said.
“My cookin’s not that bad, asshole.”
“Language, Andrew. And since I have you here, I want to talk about the family reunion comin’ up next week. Anythin’ you need me to do?”
“Nope. I’m gonna go double-check with Caleb on food. He’s supposed to go shopping after his half shift today. Then I’m gonna talk to Wyatt and make sure no one has RSVP’d last minute for this damn time. And yes, I know. Language. Got it.”
“It would be best if you stopped cussin’ all together,” he said.
“Not a chance. Sorry it hurts your dainty little ears, bro. But I ain’t changin’. And before you say anythin’, no. I don’t do it in front of paying customers.”
“Good. Because guests don’t want to hear that kinda trash talk on their vacations,” he said. “What are we grillin’ for the reunion?”
“Figured chicken breasts, an array of vegetables, corn on the cob, some shrimp, and hamburgers.”
“What’s for dessert?”
“Banana puddin’ and Momma’s Oreo Layer Cookie Cake,” I said.
“Perfect. You sure you don’t need anythin’ from me?” Dylan asked.
“I invited Katie, but she didn’t really give me a straight up answer. Make sure to invite her again when she’s feelin’ better. I think she might like comin’. And double-check the time for me. Right now, I’ve got it in my head that it starts at two. Let me know if that’s right.”
“Didn’t you send out the invitations?” he asked.
“I made a damn Facebook event ‘bout it, Dylan. Fuck. You ask me what you can do, then you shit on me for it?”
“Yikes. Someone else needs some more sleep as well. Take a nap before you trot around doin’ all this stuff.”
“Plan on it. Last night was a wild ride, and I’m exhausted.”
“You’re not the only one. Took me three cups of coffee to remember my name this mornin’.”
“Had you taken Whitney to bed with you last night, she could’ve reminded you of it all night long,” I said with a grin.
“Not my type. You know that. Let me know if you need anythin’ else.”
“Just a double-check on the time and to make sure someone else invites Katie,” I said.
“I can do both,” he said. “And remember, you’re off today. If I see you ‘round that front desk or fiddlin’ in the stables with the animals, I’m tearin’ you up.”
“Got it. Family reunion shit and no work shit.”
“Language,” he said.
“You know I’m gonna keep cussin’ just to piss you off.”
CHAPTER 6
WYATT
Sunday was an optional work day for me, and I decided to take it.
With this new property we’d acquired for the resort, there was shit tons of marketing and advertising that had to be done.
Slogan selection and planning out commercials, trying to find a way to tap into the East Coast and how we could get them excited about booking a room at our new Charleston addition took a lot of brain power.
I was going cross-eyed looking at everything, and I knew I had to get up from my desk. I’d drive myself fuckin’ insane trying to come up with things on the spot if I didn’t clear my head. That was my job; marketing and advertising for the resort. That and helping Andrew out with the animals when he got swamped with other stuff Dylan was always throwing at him.
And the best thing to clear my head during a day like that was a good horseback ride.
“Wyatt?”
I turned around as I walked toward the back door and saw the prettiest sight alive. Katie was standing there with her curly hair bouncing around her cheeks. It used to be so long and big with poof but having those curls all around her face suited her now that she was in her twenties. She came up to me smiling and threw her arms around me, and I soaked up her warmth for as long as I could.
“You look good for someone’ nursin’ a hangover,” I said.
“I see you talked to Andrew,” she said.
“Briefly. You get a nap in?” I asked.
“I did. But when I woke up, Lizzie and Whitney weren’t around. You know where they headed off to?”
“My guess is either back to the bar or the pool, though they might’ve been scheduled to leave today. Most of the guests were before things happened.”
“Oh, man. I didn’t think about that. They did tell me they wouldn’t’ dare to wake me up after my wicked hangover. You think Dylan would look it up for me and see if they’ve checked out?”
“I’m sure he’d do anythin’ for you if you flashed him that pretty smile of yours,” I said. “You gettin’ yourself into anythin’ today?”
“Just a horseback ride. I was going to see if the girls wanted to come with me, but since there’s a chance they aren’t even here, you want to go with?”
“That’s actually what I was headin’ to do. Work’s got me all tangled up in my brain, and I need a chance to clear my head.”
“Awesome. I went to see if Hunter wanted to come, but he’s nursing a pretty bad hangover himself. He was still throwing up when I knocked on his door.”
“Yep. That’s a bad one all right. So, what you’re sayin’ is that I was your third choice to go ridin’ with.”
“You weren’t even on my list until I saw you,” she said with a grin.
“Oh, I’m hurt. My poor heart.”
“Come on, Mr. Sensitive. Let’s get us some horses.”
“Sensitive? I ain’t sensitive. I’m a cowboy.”
“That you are,” she said with a giggle. “Now come on. We’re burning daylight.”
Katie took my hand and tugged me out the back door. Her skin was soft and smooth against mine. Inviting, just like her hug had been. I held her hand tightly as we walked toward the stables and I released her to pick out her horse. She came trotting back with the all-black stallion and a big smile on her face. I watched as everything came rushing back to her. How to put a saddle on a horse. Cleaning his hooves before we went out. I watched her fluid movements as she mounted the horse, throwing her leg over Midnight’s back as she sat tall with pride.
I thought back on her prom night, when I was her date. There was so much sexual tension and attraction between us, but I didn’t have the nerve to kiss her like I wanted so damn much. That bothered me for years. It was a regret I carried for a long time.
It was really good to see her smiling again.
“You coming?” Katie asked. “Or are you gonna rearrange that saddle one last time?”
“Just makin’ sure
the horse is comfortable, too. This one here’s Sunshine. She’s a spitfire with an attitude. Gotta make sure she’s comfy, otherwise, she’ll buck you off,” I said.
“Yikes. Well, be careful. I’m not equipped to administer CPR.”
The thought of her lips anywhere near mine caused me to stumble as I threw my leg over the back of my horse.
“Ready?” I asked.
“Yep. Let’s go.”
The two of us rode together in silence as the stamping of hooves underneath our bodies filled my ears. I was glad to finally have some alone time with her. It was something I’d been craving for years. But when she announced her engagement, I threw all ideas of that out the window.
Until a couple of nights ago when she called the wedding off.
We rode down a trail that went through a bit of the forest out back of the resort. It was one of the more intermediate trails, and Katie was handling it like a champ.
The smile on her face was so big it almost closed her eyes, and the way she stayed mounted on the horse gave me the perfect view of her ass.
It was hard paying attention with her body rolling up and down like it was.
So I ran up alongside her and slowed both our horses down.
“Something wrong?” Katie asked.
“Just lettin’ our horses breathe. Midnight’s pumpin’ air pretty hard,” I said.
“It’s beautiful out here. Do all your resorts have trails like this?”
“They do. It’s our signature offerin’. Each has somethin’ different, but all of them have horses and trails to ride ‘em on.”
“You guys have done so well. I’m really proud of what y’all have accomplished.”
“I see that accent’s creepin’ back in,” I said with a grin.
“Can’t help it when I’m surrounded by accents like y’all’s.”
“They’re pretty thick. Even people in downtown Dallas look at us weird sometimes.”
“It doesn’t matter anyway. I like them,” she said.
“Then that’s all that matters to me.”
“So, what have you been up to for the past few years?” she asked. “I never really got to chat long enough with you guys whenever I’d come into town.”
“You were busy with your momma and things like that. It’s understandable.”
“Any interesting developments? Women in your life? Dating or side jobs of any sort?”
“No to all those questions,” I said with a grin.
“You mean to tell me you’re not dating anyone? Why not? You’re a great catch.”
“Eh, I found my woman awhile back. Things didn’t work, and no other woman measures up.”
“So, you’re a one-night-stander like your brothers,” she said.
“Unfortunately. No passion to settle down with anyone. I don’t want to settle, and I found my princess, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
“Why not?”
“Just wasn’t. We took different paths, and she was happy with hers. Can’t blame her for doin’ what she did, and I’d never ask her to compromise that to be with me.”
“Maybe she wouldn’t see it as a compromise.”
“Maybe not. But I’m okay with where I’m at. The company’s doin’ well, and I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me. Don’t need no distractions like some lady wantin’ my time.”
“I know. Damn ladies and their time-wasting antics,” Katie said with a smirk.
“I’ve missed this, you know.”
“Missed what?”
“This time with you. We all have. I know none of my brothers will start throwing a big party on account’ a what you’re dealin’ with, but we’ve missed our Katie.”
“Well, I’ve missed you guys too. I don’t want to think about the fact that Michael was intentionally isolating me, but looking back, I can see how others would get that impression.”
“We’re just glad to have you back, even though I know you’re hurtin’ right now.”
“You know, I’m not hurting as much as I thought I would. I mean, it sucks. I know he lost out on money he wishes he could get back. But we were talking about my future. I would’ve been stuck in that rut for the rest of my life, unable to change anything and feeling like I owed him something because of all he did when Mom died.”
“Then how are you feelin’? ‘Cause it can’t be good,” I asked.
“It’s not good, but it’s not bad either. I feel more like I’m in limbo than anything. I have to talk with my landlord and get all that straightened out, and if I can’t, I have to find a place to live here in Dallas. Or around the area, at least. I’m still in the process of trying to find a job here that I enjoy. The one I secured when Michael and I decided to make our home out here was only to help make ends meet so he wasn’t carrying the brunt of the financial responsibility like he had been. But I’m not happy with it. It’s just a lot to consider right now.”
“Sounds like it,” I said. “What job you got secured now?”
“The firm I’m with deals in everything. Identity theft, worker’s compensation, basic civil disagreements. It has no focus, and it makes the job ten times harder,” she said.
“What do you wanna do?” I asked.
“Well when I think about it, the only thing that really puts a fire under me is the thought of helping single moms.”
“Doesn’t shock me one damn bit,” I said.
“If I had it my way, I’d open my own firm and target helping single mothers with anything they needed. I watched my mother struggle all her life when she could’ve had a court work in her favor. I’m tired of seeing single mothers crapped on by society because they don’t have decent enough representation because they can’t afford it. That’s what I really want to do. But opening my own practice takes money, so I have to work a job I hate in order to get the money to save to do what I love.”
“I’ve always admired you for your tenacity, Katie. Whatever happens, I know you’re gonna do it because it’s what you’ve always done. You do what you want no matter what’s standin’ in your way.”
“Thanks, Wyatt. I appreciate it.”
“Anytime. But we should be gettin’ back. I still gotta work, and you gotta figure out where your friends went.”
“And check on Hunter. You know, make sure he hasn’t puked up his stomach yet,” she said.
We turned our horses around and rode back to the stables, full gallop through the woods and I got another perfect view of her luscious body.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
She was full of fire and fight and had dreams she wanted to pursue. I knew she was going to be just fine once she got her feet back under her.
Katie always was. She was strong as an ox and bull-headed to the core. If she wanted something, she was going to get it.
We rode the horses up to the stables, and I quickly dismounted. Katie kept getting her boot caught up in the wrong side of the stirrup, and it was making getting her down difficult. I held out my arms to her so she could slide right off, but she moved at the last minute, and it threw me off balance. I stumbled back into the stables, landing right up against a wooden beam as her body pressed deeply into mine.
“Wyatt. I’m so sorry. I couldn’t get my foot turned around. Are you okay?”
“Yep. Just fine. You good?” I asked.
I looked down at her and caught her wild stare. Her beautiful hair was all in her face, and I brushed it back without a second thought. Something changed in the air around us. It crackled with electricity as I tucked some of her hair behind her ear. I cupped her cheek, and she closed her eyes, nuzzling into my skin as her touch shot fire up my arm.
Desire was filling my gut as my lips made their way toward hers. I was helpless to stop it. My body wanted her more than I could stand.
Our lips connected as my hand wrapped around and supported her neck. At first, it was only my lips moving, and I wondered if I’d made a mistake. I stopped my movements and waited for her to return the kiss, searching for
any sign that this was something she wanted too.
Then her hands flew to my hair, gripping it tightly as her lips pressed into mine.
I cloaked her back with my arms and pulled her deeper into my torso. I picked her up off her feet, our tongues dancing together as electricity shivered me in my boots. I walked her deeper into the stables and into a dark corner, shrouding our bodies so I could feel her properly.
This time I wasn’t going to let the moment pass.
End of Sneak Peek. Would you like to know how this continues?
Click Here: Her Best Men
BEAUTIFUL DISASTER
A SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE
PROLOGUE
Drake
Four Years Ago
“Dinner’s ready, babe!” Shannon called. Her sweet southern voice echoed up the staircase, as I stepped out the shower.
“Just finishing up baby, be right out!”
I stared into my reflection in the mirror, quietly thanking the cosmos for blessing me with more than I’d ever deserve. I had best fucking wife known to man, and I didn’t deserve her or that precious little girl that was waiting for me to come downstairs and join them for dinner.
I smiled as I threw on a shirt and my jeans, a nervous energy running through me as I thought about the night ahead.
I dashed down the stairs like a bat out of hell.
“Daddy!” Ava called from her seat at the table next to my wife.
She shot me a toothy grin, throwing her hands in the air as I passed by. I picked her up, and Ava squealed with delight, a high-pitched laughter bubbling up out of her. It was the best sound. I hugged her tight and spun her around. Shannon shook her head at our antics, trying not to laugh.
“Oh, you two. Sit, eat,” she said. “We're gonna be late as it is.” The frown lines on her beautiful face told me she meant business. She always had the cutest expressions when she was serious.
“Gotta do as mommy says. She’s the boss, you know?”
I kissed Ava on the head before putting her back down into her high chair. Her smile quickly turned upside down. Her second-year birthday had just passed, and she was growing up too damn quickly.
