10. James
JAMES
JAMES
“A re you sure Alan and Jessie will be okay with us bringing Lucy?” Erin asked for the third time now, and still my annoyance surprisingly remained at sub-zero levels when I usually got annoyed pretty easily.
We’d gone to the pet shop and bought all the essentials for Lucy—the name she’d given the dog—then popped into an outdoor gear store, where I insisted on buying adequate boots, a hat, gloves, and a high-quality winter jacket for her.
No way was the padded jacket and low-quality shoes she arrived in enough for a winter in the mountains.
She even fought me on letting me pay for her stuff, even when I was the one insisting on it, at least she refrained from making a scene right then an there.
On the drive home, we dropped by the grocery store in Moon Lake, which, the moment we stepped inside and the old hags zeroed in on Erin, I realized was a double-edged sword.
The grocery store was the local meeting hub for all the female old-timers who ran the rumor mill around here—while Blake’s bar was the meeting place for the male equivalents—so, if anyone would know about a missing dog, it was here.
We met Mrs. Brooks, who told us the newest antics of her hockey-playing son, Paul; Mrs. Fisher, the mother of Peter Fisher—local deputy sheriff, badass former Navy SEAL, and one of my closest friends, and Mrs. Connors, all-round busybody with a slightly vicious streak toward newcomers and everyone who found themselves fallen from grace.
Sadly nobody knew of anyone missing a dog, or could positively ID Lucy, but they were bending over backward to interrogate Erin.
And I had to put my foot down and drag her out of there to escape.
So for now, Lucy was still ours, curled up and snoring in the backseat while Erin turned around and checked on her every five minutes. It was so sweet how she was so concerned about Lucy’s well-being and whether she was inconveniencing anyone.
Sweet and sexy, and I was licking it up like a dog with a plate of leftovers. She was fascinating, like no woman had been in a long time. “Sorry for the old ladies interrogating you like that.”
She chuckled, then grazed my arm when she turned around and looked back one more time. “They’re just nice ladies.”
The simple touch sent shockwaves through my system. And made me want more—made me want to have it all.
Maybe I’d gone too long without. I’d tried to keep having easy hookups.
Even after Trish left.
But tucking the girls in every night had been more important. Being the best father I could be had taken precedence over my libido. And those hookups hadn’t been satisfying, anyway. Not as satisfying as it would be to watch Erin and the girls enjoy the breakfast I’d made after having had her in my bed all night, writhing under me, her skin touching mine, moaning…
Holy shit. Head out of the gutter, Cullen.
I’d known Erin for exactly 24 hours—if that. I had already kissed her and was already daydreaming about having her in my bed?
Cool your horses, buddy. Think about your responsibilities. Think about her. She’s just arrived. She doesn’t know anyone besides Jessie.
“So?” Erin was looking at me.
“So what?”
“Will Jessie and Alan be okay with us bringing Lucy?”
“It’s okay. I promise.”
I would’ve called ahead to make sure, had I not known that Alan got Jessie a puppy a month ago. And that Jessie had picked up the twins from preschool, and they’d be there waiting for us and dying to meet Lucy.
When we drove up to the beautiful old farmhouse, I heard Erin sigh and watched her from the corner of my eyes.
She was admiring the house in the distance and Jessie’s horses, Tempi and Curry, who ran alongside the driveway.
She hadn’t been as impressed with my home even though the previous owner had made his money right before the dot-com bubble burst, and it showed. He’d built it as an ultra-luxurious getaway for his then-wife and sold it with the divorce. So even though it obnoxiously screamed wealth—which I hated—it was too comfortable to let go.
But maybe I should think about moving. I’d bought one of the ranches out here years ago. Had rented it out for the past couple of years. It would be good for the twins. Nature, fresh air. Not that Moon Lake didn’t have all that. And we would lose access to our indoor pool and to the lake, which would suck.
“How are you with water?”
Erin sent me a look that was part surprise, part confusion.
“Water?”
Why did I even ask her such a stupid question? Our living situation had nothing to do with her. “Yes.”
“Well, I like to drink it, and I like hot showers. So I guess I’m fine with water.”
“Do you swim?”
“Swim?”
“The lake. It’s beautiful for swimming.”
She nodded. “Yes, I swim. Though I’ve never lived near a lake.”
“You will get used to it in no time. Just wait.”
Small talk. Small talk was safe and easy.
I stopped the SUV right in front of the entrance to Alan and Jessie’s farmhouse, jumped out, and rounded the hood to open the door for her.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, standing beside me, glancing up at the house. I opened the back door, and Lucy practically jumped into my arms again. What was with that dog?
Then I turned and looked at the old farmhouse—tried seeing it through her eyes.
She was right. It was a beautiful building. Sturdy. Massive walls. The festive wreath on the door underlined its idyllic charm. It was the perfect home.
Filled with love, laughter, and a traditional family.
The weight on my chest made me close my eyes for a second. I pictured Erin this morning. How she smiled at Abby and Marley. I shook my head.
“Yes, it is. Let’s go inside.”
We were greeted by Jessie and Alan, the kids, the puppy, and two cats that made Lucy perk up for a moment before she settled down against my pecs again. In the short time Jessie and Alan had been married, this house had turned into a zoo. But because of it, the twins loved spending time here so much.
“Daddy, Daddy, look,” Abby said and showed me some arts-and-crafts endeavor made of dry pasta, seeds, and a paper plate.
“Looks good, Abbs. It will look amazing at home in the hallway.” Our hallway was plastered with my kids’ art. Most of it was falling apart by the time we got it hung up, but I didn’t care. Whatever they brought home got highlighted in the hallway and admired by all.
“Erin.” Jessie embraced Erin, and both women looked beyond happy to see each other again. “How are you? I wanted to come by yesterday, but someone”—she threw me a dirty look—“said you needed to rest. Is this the dog?”
She grabbed Erin’s hand and pulled her over to me. I pressed Lucy against me, not sure if all the people and animals would overwhelm her. Maybe it had been a bad idea to bring her.
“Yes, this is Lucy.” Erin lifted her out of my arms. And when her finger touched my forearm briefly, I felt the resounding zing all the way to my toes.
The shock in her eyes—when they searched and found mine—was enough for me to want to get her alone again.
Push her against the nearest wall. Kiss her senseless until I could feel her soft sighs under my lips, until she gave up control and let me have my way with her completely.
I could feel my cock stir.
Not the right moment for thoughts like this.
“I invited the guys over for a little pre-Christmas get-together.” Alan patted my back. “Since you took the day off and all. I thought we’d end it with a little celebration worth the occasion.” His eyes moved from Erin back to me, and he didn’t even try to hide his grin.
So what if I hardly ever took a day off? I was a busy man. I took my responsibilities seriously. And managing my investments, my job as a mayor, and my volunteer work as a firefighter—besides having time for my babies—took discipline, dedication, and hard work.
And didn’t leave much time for slacking off. Especially not on a Friday.
“So that’s the reason?” I winked. “Not that everyone and their neighbor want to meet Erin?” I knew this town. And even though the younger generation didn’t join the rumor mill as much as the old-timers did, they weren’t much better.
Alan chuckled and patted my back again. “That too.”
“The kids are having a slumber party,” Jessie chimed in. “And I’m on kids duty for the rest of the day.”
I hesitated.
She raised her hand. “It’s already decided. Resistance is futile. Take a breather. I know you can use it.”
She laid her hand on my arm and smiled.
It was as if my friends knew I needed some adult time.
My eyes searched and found Erin’s. And maybe the chance of some alone time with Erin, too.