She laughs against my lips. My hand falls from her face as I take a step backward. I lace my fingers with hers, and together, we walk around the back of the house. Old nineties country music is blaring, the fire is high, and everyone has a bottle of beer in their hand.
“It reminds me of Marro,” Lola-Mae says, then she turns her head, her eyes on me. “All the good parts of Marro anyway.”
I start to ask her what she means by that, but don’t get the chance because Maisie appears in front of us, carrying two beers. She offers me one, but I shake my head once, then Lola-Mae reaches out and takes one of the beers, lifting it to her lips before she takes a pull from the bottle.
“There’re some Cokes in the fridge on the back patio. You’re more than welcome,” a voice calls out from the darkness.
It’s Beckett Cooper.
He knows I’m not going to drink a beer tonight, and he knows why. I watch as his gaze flicks over to Lola-Mae, and he gives her a wink before he says anything else. Beckett is standingnext to Maisie, and I can’t help but wonder if they’re a thing. He’s standing close, maybe a little too close.
I don’t get the chance to think about it much longer, because Maisie moves toward Lola-Mae, and they dip their chins, their voices too low for me to hear over the music. Beckett jerks his chin, his gaze searching mine for a moment before he takes a few steps toward me, stopping when he’s directly in front of me.
“You good, Blackmoore?” he asks, his voice dipping low.
A few months ago, I might have been offended by the question. But as my gaze flicks over to the woman at my side, I realize he’s just asking. Because even if we aren’t best friends, we’ve known one another since kindergarten and have spent our whole lives together. He gives a shit. Just like I would give a shit if the tables were turned.
“I’m good,” I state, my eyes shifting over to Lola-Mae again before they return to meet his.
His gaze slides over to her as well, then shifts back to meet mine. “I bet you are. Happy for you,” he murmurs before he lifts his hand and, curling his fingers around my shoulder, shakes me gently.
A few moments later, we’re all gathered around the bonfire. The music is playing, my woman is pressed to my side, and a cold Dr Pepper is in my hand. I feel like I’m sixteen again.
LOLA-MAE
Sucking in a breath, I close my eyes as I let it out slowly. I bite my bottom lip and open my eyes. My back is stiff from last night. I can still smell the smoke in my hair. I was too tired last night to wash it out.
Stretching, I bring my arms over my head. My back crackles about five times before I push myself up to a sitting position.When I look at the pillow beside me, it’s empty. That shouldn’t surprise me.
Harlan seems to be up before the sun no matter the day. And he didn’t drink last night the way I did. He didn’t drink at all. What he did was stand beside me, hold me, and deliver me safely to my bed, falling in beside me.
It was better than any night I ever had in Marro.
Hands down.
Throwing my legs over the side of the bed, I shuffle toward the kitchen. I need coffee. Lots of coffee. Starting the Keurig, I yawn as I walk over to the window. I look out in an attempt to see if I can find Harlan. I don’t see him immediately, but then I catch a glimpse of a horse in the distance.
I can’t look away from the horse and the man riding on its back as they approach. I watch him, wondering how my life went from living in a trailer in Marro, jobless and stressed out, to this. Answering an email from him, then getting those naughty notes on my desk, changed it all.
Changed my entire world.
And I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Everything about my new life with Harlan is what I could have only dreamed of when I was little. No, that’s not true. I never dreamed of any of it, because I didn’t think it could be possible.
A girl like me could never live on a ranch like this, could never have a clean, warm bed to sleep in with a gorgeous man to sleep beside her. I wasn’t destined for anything like this, and yet, here I am.
I’m living a life I never dared to dream of before.
The front door opens, and I spin around to see a man walk through. His eyes are on me, as if I'm the only person not just in this room, but in the world. Harlan moves through the small room, only stopping when he’s within arm’s reach.
He lifts his arms between us, and I feel his palms cup my cheeks. Wordlessly, he lowers his head, then his lips are touching mine before his tongue slides inside me, swirling around my entire mouth—tasting me.
Consuming me.
He lifts his head, breaking the kiss, and his eyes find mine. I hold my breath, waiting for whatever it is he’s going to say, wondering if I did something last night while I was drinking to ruin this all.
“I love you, Lola-Mae.”
