Chapter 38 #2
Hazel leans over as Sawyer reaches in, patting his arm. “Grandbabies are the best thing in the world.” She tilts to look at him over his glasses. “Even when they’re grown.”
She tugs him over and plants a kiss on his temple.
“Grandma,” he protests, but smiles.
“Oh, I’m just excited there will be more to love!” Her rich laugh warms the room.
As we’re leaving with full bellies and sore cheeks from laughing most of the evening, Sawyer holds my door open so I can climb in.
“Pretty crazy, huh?” He smiles sheepishly while sliding behind the wheel. But he pulls my fingers up to kiss my knuckles. “Thanks for coming. I know my grandparents were dying to meet you.”
“Oh my gosh, they’re like Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Please tell me I’m not the only one who thinks that?”
He laughs, backing out of the parking lot. “You’re not the first, but don’t let them fool you. Grandpa knows everything that goes on at the ranch, and Grandma has some sort of spy system set up. Uncle Dixon told me once that she has a camera in every flower and a listening device in every bee.”
He pulls out onto the snowy road, then his headlights pass over a parked SUV across the road.
When we pull by, the brakelights flash and it takes off.
“Did you see that? That looked kind of like that rig Cade was driving.” His lower lip juts out as he checks his mirror. “Hmm, it’s going past the lane. Do you think that was him?”
I turn around to look behind us, but it’s taking the corner of the road and then disappears. “I don’t know.”
“Fuck,” he exhales. “I need to tell Dad.”
He digs into the pocket of his jacket and flips through his contacts.
I can hear it ringing through the tiny speaker. Then the voice mail kicks on.
“Dad, I just saw a car parked across the lane that could have been Cade? I just wanted you to know.” He turns to me, brows knotted, and clicks to end the call. “Should we go back?”
“That’s your call, baby. Do whatever will help you rest easier.” If I’ve learned anything about Sawyer, he’s fiercely loyal and worries more about everyone else than himself.
Damn, he really is a good man.
He wants me forever. And a family.
I’m the idiot dragging my feet.
Watching him chew on his lip in the dim light of the dashboard, something inside of me snaps.
My walls break.
Shatter.
He’s everything I want and more.
I’m done waiting and keeping him at bay. There’s no doubt he’s mine.
“I guess there isn’t much I can do about it.” He shakes his head, gripping the steering wheel hard enough to make it squeak. “It might not even have been his car.”
“You let your dad know.” I pat his thigh and leave my palm resting there. “Did I mention I have one last Christmas present for you?”
He blinks like he’s pulling himself out of his own head, then glances at me. “You do?”
“Well, it isn’t exactly a house in a beautiful meadow.” I smile at him, squeezing his leg. “It’s all of the money that you’re supposed to have earned. Plus tips. I kept stashing it away, but now that you have other benefits, I didn’t know if you still wanted me to keep it?”
“Huh?” He looks bewildered. “I forgot all about that. I told you I didn’t want it.”
“I feel guilty holding onto it.” Digging into my purse, I pull out the thick envelope.
“Shit, how much is in there?” He really looks surprised.
How could he not care?
“A few thousand.” I wave the stack. “Probably more.”
“I have one more stop before we go home.” He turns hard left onto a dirt road.
It doesn’t take long before it becomes clear where we’re going.
“Is Scotty down as another surprise?” I watch the familiar markers pass as we get closer to Mom’s.
“Nope. I know for a fact he’s still in Missoula tonight because he texted this morning and said he met a girl at that party.” His teeth flash in a crooked smile.
“Of course he did. Then why are we here? We already spent time with her this morning.” I watch him jump out and come around to my side.
“Your mom was like a second one to me when I needed her most. I think it’d make a nice present for her.” He holds out his palm to help me out.
“Sawyer,” I gasp. “You don’t want anything?”
“You’re the best gift I could ever ask for,” he says softly, cupping my cheek on the porch.
His lips press mine as he pulls me close.
Fire rushes through me and I curl my fingers into the lapels of his coat.
“Well, aren’t you two just the cutest?” Mom’s sing-song voice makes us both startle.
“Val brought you a present, Mrs. Martin.” Sawyer’s pink cheeks prove he felt the same rush of heat that I did.
“I did?” I whisper.
He nods, winking at me.
“I did,” I say a little more firmly, then extend the stuffed envelope to her.
Her brows knot, then raise. “I can’t take this, you kids need this more than I do.” She tries to push it back into my hands.
“No.” Sawyer holds up his palm. “It’s yours. Merry Christmas.”
“Sawyer, you already chop all of that wood for me. It’s a marvelous gift.” Her eyes begin to well.
“You did?” I look at him questioningly.
He shrugs, the corner of his mouth turning up. “It’s just a thing I do every year.”
“Mom, I love you. Take it. We can’t stay, but will come by next weekend, okay?” I want to get him out of here.
“Are you sure?” She hugs the envelope to her chest as if she’s afraid she’ll drop it.
“Yes,” we say simultaneously.
Electricity races through me as we climb back into the truck.
We’ve barely left the driveway when I snap off my seatbelt and start peeling down my leggings.
“Val?”
“Stop the car.” I have a fever in my veins that is calling for him.
He pulls off to the side quickly. “What are you—”
My mouth silences him as I scramble for his zipper.
Sawyer’s my perfect man. I’ve just been too fucking stubborn to admit it to myself.
No more little steps.
“I need you,” I pant against his lips, then crawl onto his lap.
“Val, I don’t have a condom,” he groans as I pull his hardening cock out of his boxer-briefs.
“We’re done with those.” Hitting the lever to his seat drops the back.
His fingers dig into my hips, pausing me. “What are you saying?”
“I want my ring on your finger, Sawyer, and everything that goes with it. I’m through pretending that I want to wait.” I lean over and cinch up his chain, crushing my mouth against his.
When I lower myself onto him, he groans. “I’m not gonna last long.”
“Then don’t. Fill me up until your cum is leaking out of me.” Rolling my hips, I grind him deeper, squeezing him with my inner muscles.
“Fuck.” He braces himself on the floorboards to thrust into me.
His thumb moves in, pressing against my clit in a rapid flick.
I’ve been practically vibrating all night, so it doesn’t take much to push me into oblivion.
My back arches as the waves crash over me, heightened by his own roar as he shudders, pumping me with his scalding seed.
Falling over him, I find his mouth again. This time gentle with my kisses.
“I love you, Sawyer. I don’t ever want to let you go.” It might seem silly, or fast.
We’ve only been in each other’s bed for a couple of months.
But he’s been in my life, a part of my family, long before I even realized it.
I just needed to open my eyes to the truth.