Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
GHOST
The moment I walk into Perdition, I know something’s off.
It isn’t the dangerous kind of wrong. Nobody’s throwing punches, nobody’s shouting, and Mason isn’t glaring at anyone from across the room like he’s two seconds from shutting the whole place down.
The music is loud, the bar is packed, and the familiar chaos of a Friday night rolls through the room exactly the way it always does.
Boots scrape across the floor, glasses clink, someone near the pool table hollers when a shot goes sideways.
On the surface, everything looks normal.
But something about the air feels different. Rev notices it at the same time I do. He slows beside me, scanning the room before leaning a little closer. “You see that?” he mutters quietly.
I follow the direction of his gaze across the crowded bar, past the guys lined up at the counter and the small knot of women near the jukebox. And then I see her. Rae.
She’s sitting in the women’s booth like she belongs there, wedged between Bella and Brooke with a drink in one hand and a grin on her face that tells me she’s several drinks past her normal limit.
Her cheeks are flushed, her hair is halfway falling out of the messy bun she always throws together like she doesn’t care what it looks like, and she’s leaning forward while she talks, waving her hand dramatically toward the ceiling like she’s telling the most important story anyone in that booth has ever heard.
My steps slow. “What the hell is she doing here?” I mutter under my breath.
Rev lets out a quiet snort beside me. “Oh man,” he says, shaking his head slightly as he watches the scene unfold. “You’re in trouble.”
Because Rae isn’t just sitting there. She’s laughing.
Her head tips back, her shoulders shaking with it, and the sound carries across the room even through the music.
Bella says something that makes the whole booth lean in closer, and Rae points toward the bar with exaggerated seriousness like she’s presenting evidence in a trial.
Then she spots me. The laughter cuts off instantly. Her eyes lock on mine from across the room, and for a split second she just stares at me like she’s trying to decide if I’m real or something she imagined after too many drinks.
Then her entire face lights up. She lifts her drink high in the air. “There he is!” Rae calls loudly, pointing at me like she’s announcing the arrival of a celebrity. Every woman at the booth turns to look at me.
Bella’s grin spreads wide the second she sees me standing there. “Oh this is going to be fun,” Bella says loudly, clearly making no effort to keep her voice down.
I drag a hand slowly down my face. “Jesus Christ,” I mutter.
By the time I reach the table, Rae is already halfway standing up. She wobbles a little as she pushes herself upright, then immediately straightens and points directly at my chest like she’s been waiting all night for this exact moment. “You!” Rae declares.
“Me,” I reply flatly.
Her finger wavers slightly in the air as she narrows her eyes at me. “You’ve been sneaking around my farm,” she accuses.
Bella makes a delighted little noise and claps once. “Oh my god,” Bella says, laughing as she leans back in the booth. “She came here to confront you.”
I shoot Bella a look. “Helpful,” I tell her dryly.
Rae crosses her arms over her chest like she’s preparing to deliver a speech to a courtroom. “You have been fixing things,” she says with dramatic seriousness.
I glance around the table. Every woman sitting there is watching us like this is the most entertaining thing they’ve seen all week.
Rae sways slightly on her feet before continuing. “The gate,” she says, ticking the items off on her fingers. “The barn hinge. The porch swing.”
Her eyes narrow even further as she leans a little closer. “And the cabinet hinge.”
I rub the back of my neck. “…you noticed that one?” I ask her.
“Yes I noticed it!” Rae says loudly.
Then she points at me again. “You cannot just sneak onto my property and start repairing things like some kind of…” She pauses mid-sentence, clearly searching for the right word. “…very large raccoon with tools,” she finishes confidently.
Brooke bursts into laughter beside her.
I take a slow breath. Then I reach forward, wrap an arm around Rae’s waist, and lift her straight up before she can launch into whatever speech she was about to deliver next. I hoist her over my shoulder in one smooth motion.
The entire booth erupts. Bella whistles loudly. “Atta boy, Ghost!” Bella calls out with obvious approval.
“Cole!” Rae shrieks.
“You’re drunk,” I say calmly as I adjust my grip around her legs.
“I am not!” Rae protests.
“You absolutely are,” I reply as I start walking.
She twists slightly over my shoulder, trying to glare at me upside down while I head for the door. Behind us, Rev is practically choking on laughter. “Need help carrying her?” Rev calls after me.
“No,” I say without turning around.
“Good luck with that,” he answers.
Rae smacks the middle of my back weakly. “Put me down!” she demands.
“No,” I reply.
“You can’t just kidnap people!” she insists.
“I’m returning you to your farm,” I tell her.
“Without permission!”
“Correct.”
The night air hits us the second I push the door open and step outside. Rae stops protesting almost immediately, hanging limp over my shoulder like she’s suddenly reconsidering the choices that led her here.
After a second she lets out a dramatic sigh. “Your shoulder is very bony,” Rae informs me.
“Thank you,” I reply.
When we reach her truck, I open the passenger door and carefully set her inside before shutting it behind her. She squints up at me through the windshield as I walk around the front. “You’re driving,” Rae says suspiciously.
“Yep,” I answer as I climb into the driver’s seat.
“Rude,” she mutters.
I start the engine and pull out of the lot before she can argue any further.
The road out of town is quiet. For the first few minutes Rae just stares out the window, watching the dark fields roll past. Then she slowly turns her head toward me.
“You’ve been fixing things,” Rae says again.
“Yes,” I reply.
“You weren’t going to tell me,” she says.
“No,” I answer.
“That’s suspicious behavior,” Rae says.
“It’s maintenance,” I tell her.
She studies me for a long moment. Then suddenly she leans across the seat and grabs the front of my shirt. “Come here,” Rae says.
I already know exactly what she’s about to do. Sure enough, she leans in, clearly aiming for my mouth. I catch her wrist gently and guide her back toward her seat. “No,” I tell her.
She blinks at me. “…no?” Rae asks.
“No,” I repeat.
She frowns. “Why not?” Rae asks.
“Because you’re drunk,” I say.
Her eyes narrow slightly. “I am a little drunk,” Rae admits.
“Exactly,” I reply.
She crosses her arms. “Well that’s annoying,” Rae says.
“You’ll survive,” I tell her.
For about thirty seconds she sits there sulking dramatically. Then she tries again. This time her hand slides slowly across my thigh. I grab it immediately. “Rae,” I say.
“What?” she asks.
“No,” I tell her again.
She groans loudly. “You are being extremely difficult right now,” Rae complains.
“You’re drunk,” I remind her.
“So?” she says.
I keep my eyes on the road. Then she slowly leans sideways until her head rests against my shoulder. Ten minutes later her breathing slows. By the time we pull into her driveway, Rae is completely asleep.
I shut off the truck and glance down at her. Her hair has completely escaped the messy bun now, spreading across my shoulder. Her hand is still tangled in my shirt.
And despite everything, a small smile pulls at the corner of my mouth. “Trouble,” I murmur quietly. Then I lift her into my arms and carry her toward the house.
The farmhouse is dark when I climb the porch steps with her. The porch swing creaks softly in the night breeze, the chains swaying a little as I brush past it. I notice it automatically. I replaced those chains three nights ago after finding one cracked almost all the way through.
Rae doesn’t notice any of that. She’s completely dead weight in my arms, her head tucked against my chest, breathing slow and even as I nudge the front door open with my boot.
Inside, the house settles into quiet around us. The dogs lift their heads the second we step inside. Moose gets to his feet first, his tail wagging slowly when he recognizes me. Daisy follows a moment later, padding closer with cautious curiosity.
“She’s fine,” I murmur to them.
Moose sniffs my leg, then Rae’s boot, then gives a satisfied huff before wandering back toward the couch. Apparently the animals have accepted me at this point.
I carry Rae upstairs.
Her room smells faintly like her shampoo and laundry soap, mixed with that earthy scent that seems to cling to everything in this house. Moonlight spills through the window across the bed, turning the sheets silver.
I lower her carefully onto the mattress. For a moment she doesn’t move. Then she rolls onto her back with a soft groan.
“…Cole?” Rae murmurs.
“Yeah,” I answer.
“The room's spinning,” she says.
“Because you drank half the liquor at Perdition,” I tell her.
She lifts one hand lazily into the air. “That seems… unlikely,” Rae says.
I crouch beside the bed and start pulling her boots off. “Stay still,” I tell her. She does not stay still. Instead she props herself up on her elbows, watching me through half-lidded eyes while I tug the first boot free.
“You kidnapped me,” Rae murmurs.
“I transported you,” I reply.
“Without consent,” she says.
“You were about to start a speech in the middle of Perdition,” I remind her.
She smiles faintly. “I was making excellent points,” Rae insists.
I pull the second boot off and set them on the floor before standing. “Lie down,” I tell her.
“Bossy,” she mutters. Still, she falls back onto the mattress.
I grab a glass of water from the bathroom and set it on the nightstand before turning back toward her. She’s halfway tangled in her hoodie. “…stuck,” Rae mutters.
I step forward and pull the hoodie off over her head. Her hair spills loose across the pillow. Her jeans come next. She lifts her hips clumsily while I slide them down her legs, leaving her in a tank top and underwear.
The moment I straighten, she rolls toward me.
Then suddenly she lunges forward and straddles my lap.
I’m sitting on the edge of the bed.
She’s on top of me. My hands immediately catch her hips to steady her. She’s warm. Soft. Bare legs draped across mine while I’m still in my jeans.
Her hair falls around her face as she leans closer.
“Rae,” I say.
She ignores me. Her fingers slide slowly up my chest like she’s mapping the shape of me through my shirt. “Hi,” Rae murmurs.
“No,” I tell her.
She blinks. “…no?” Rae asks.
“No,” I repeat.
Her mouth falls open. “You are the most frustrating man I’ve ever met,” Rae tells me.
“You’re drunk,” I say.
“I’m slightly drunk,” she insists.
“You’re very drunk,” I reply.
She leans closer anyway. “Cole,” Rae says.
“No,” I answer again.
Now she looks annoyed. “You’ve been fixing my farm,” Rae says loudly. “For three weeks.”
“Yes,” I say.
“You clearly like me,” she says.
“Yes.”
“And I clearly like you,” Rae continues.
“Yes,” I reply.
“So why,” she demands, waving one hand between us, “are you saying no?”
I catch her wrist before she can start gesturing again. Then I shift, lifting her off my lap and turning her sideways so her back rests against my chest instead. She huffs once in protest, but I wrap one arm around her waist and hold her there while she squirms for about two seconds.
“Hey,” Rae says.
“Relax,” I tell her.
“I was doing something,” she complains.
“Yeah,” I say calmly. “You were.”
She starts to argue again, her voice soft and stubborn in the quiet room, but I lean down before she can finish and press a slow kiss against the side of her head, right above her ear.
We’re stretched out on the bed now, the lamp throwing a low glow across the room while she lies half tucked against my side beneath the blankets.
The moment my lips touch her hair, her whole body stills.
“Rae,” I murmur quietly. She goes silent. “The first time I fuck you,” I say in a low voice against her hair, “I want you completely aware of everything I’m doing to your body.”
Her breath catches just slightly.
“I want you sober,” I continue. “Clear-headed. I want you to remember every second.”
She doesn’t move for a moment. Then I feel her shoulders slowly relax against my chest. “…oh,” Rae murmurs softly.
My hand slides slowly up her arm where it rests across my stomach, my fingers brushing gently along her skin. “You’re going to feel every inch of it,” I tell her quietly. “Every touch.”
She exhales slowly, and the fight that had been in her a minute ago just drains right out of her. After a moment she settles more comfortably against me, her head resting on my shoulder. “…okay,” Rae whispers.
Her hand drifts down to my forearm, her fingers curling there like she’s anchoring herself in place. Within a minute her breathing starts to slow, the steady rhythm of sleep pulling her under. Within three she’s completely out again.
I stay where I am for a while, lying there beside her and listening to the quiet house and the soft sound of her breathing next to me. When I finally shift, I do it carefully, easing her down so she’s fully on the mattress before pulling the blanket higher over her.
She doesn’t wake up. She just curls onto her side, one hand resting on the bed where I’d been holding her.