Page 50 of Love, Lies, and Whiskey

“DOES THIS OLD barn remind you of anything?” Doc asked as he assessed the damage to the barn siding Saturday midmorning with Juliette. Lucas hadn’t made it outside yet.

“Only some of the best stolen kisses I’ve ever had.” She looked sweet and sexy, with her cowgirl hat shading her beautiful baby blues from the sun, wearing cutoffs, a salmon tank top that clung to her curves, and worn work boots that told him she was no stranger to doing these types of chores.

“Oh yeah?” He dragged his gaze down the length of her. “I’d like to steal a lot more than kisses right now.”

She smiled a little bashfully, and that sweetness only made him want to kiss her more. He really needed to get his mind off the things he wanted to do to her. But it wasn’t easy. The other night had given him a taste of the woman he’d craved for his entire adult life, and it had only whetted his appetite. The more he learned about her and Lucas, the closer they became, and the stronger that ache to be with her took hold.

Pushing those thoughts away was not easy, but he tried to distract himself. “How was Lucas this morning?”

“About the same, I guess. Maybe a little less tense. He didn’t really say much, but he’s been texting a lot.”

“Probably bitching to his friends about me, and that’s okay. He needs an outlet.”

“I wish he’d talk to me, but I’m trying not to push.”

“He will when he’s ready. I talked with my mom a little this morning, and she thinks that in addition to dealing with me being his biological father, part of his struggle is that other than Josh, he’s never had to deal with someone else having strong feelings for you, or you having feelings for them.”

She sighed. “I know. I’m hoping the therapist can help with all of that.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you to the appointment?” He’d offered when they’d talked on the phone last night, but she hadn’t taken him up on it.

“At some point, maybe, but right now I think I need to talk to her as much as Lucas does. To figure things out, you know?”

As they rounded the back of the barn, he slid his arm around her waist, drawing her into his arms. “Is that your way of telling me to back off?”

“No, as long as we’re careful around Lucas, I don’t want you to back off.”

“Why do you think I waited until we were behind the barn to touch you?” He brushed his scruff along her cheek, and she breathed a little harder. “I’d never do anything to hurt our boy.”

“That’s about the best foreplay you could ever use on me.”

“That’s not foreplay, darlin’. It’s a promise.” She was looking at him so longingly, his restraint snapped. “This is foreplay.” His mouth came hungrily down over hers in a scorching kiss that had them both going a little wild. He tangled his hand in her hair, backing her up against the barn, grinding against her, swallowing her moans of pleasure. “I’ve been dying to kiss you since yesterday.”

She made a needy sound and pulled his mouth back to hers.

He deepened the kiss, sliding his free hand to her ass, and she bowed against him. He broke the kiss on a growl, trailing kisses down her neck, earning one sinful sound after another. “Fuck. Those sounds are killing me.” He knew they were on borrowed time and listened for Lucas like they used to listen for Hazel when they were making out in the barn or the yard, as he gently tugged her tank top down just low enough to kiss the swell of her breast, earning a desperate “Seeley—” and a rock of her hips, taking his mind to dark, erotic places. Her plea was music to his ears, and he took her in another soul-searing kiss, which had her moaning and arching into him. A door slammed in the distance, and they reluctantly drew back. “Fuck.”

“That brings back memories.”

“So does this.” He stole one last kiss. “Mm-mm.”

“How do you always get me revved up so fast?” She squirmed in her shorts as she adjusted her top.

“It’s a gift.” He picked up their hats and placed hers on her head. “Would you rather I kept my hands to myself?”

“No. I just can’t believe we’re still sneaking around like teenagers,” she said, and they both laughed as they headed around the side of the barn.

Lucas was standing in the middle of the yard wearing a loose T-shirt, jeans, and his cowboy hat, thumbing out a text.

“I need to run inside and freshen up,” she said. “Do you think you two will be okay for a few minutes?”

“Of course.” Lucas was still focused on his phone, so Doc swatted Juliette’s ass as she walked away, earning an adorable glare over her shoulder.

She stopped to talk to Lucas. Doc couldn’t hear what she said, but as she headed up to the house, Lucas pocketed his phone and made his way down to the barn.

“How’s it going?” Doc asked.

“Fine,” Lucas bit out, sounding anything but fine. His gaze moved to Doc’s cowboy hat. He made an annoyed sound and tossed his own hat onto the grass.