CHAPTER SEVEN
Shawn
The sun is unforgiving.
A blistering intrusion stealing the night and my peace. It was already creeping up over the horizon when I pulled a sated and limp Chrissy into my chest and allowed us both to finally stop.
Stop touching.
Stop kissing.
Stop being inside her like my body needed to make up for all the lost time.
I lost count of her orgasms. The number of times she begged me “no more” only to cum for me again. Each time was more perfect than the last and I already ache to do it all over again.
But it’s morning.
Our safe bubble of seclusion has popped. We’re left in the open arms of dawn and all the things we pretended didn’t exist while we devoured the other.
They exist now.
The worries and uncertainties.
All the things we will have to face once we leave the cocoon of this bed.
Against my ribs, Chrissy sighs. Her soft, warm body brushes along the length of mine as she nuzzles closer, and I’m astounded by the sight of her in my arms. In my bed.
Technically, the hotel bed, but in bed with me.
A week ago, I never would have believed such a thing was even conceivable and yet...
My fingers comb through all those waves tangled by my greedy clutches. Her body is marred with bruises and burns from my stubble. Even while I hate seeing marks on her satin flesh, knowing how they came to be on her has me restless to repeat the process.
But I let her sleep. She’s going to need it. I have a feeling we’re not going to be getting much once the news gets out.
I shouldn’t care as much as I do.
My business will survive regardless. While I have been hired to build several cabinets and rocking chairs, the larger bulk of my business is done through my website. People in Mayfield and Pinecrest. A few all the way in Toronto and Michigan who have seen my handmade pieces and placed an order.
Still, it’s not me I’m worried about. It’s Chrissy and Mark. It’s how this will affect them.
Against my side, Chrissy stirs. She shifts and lifts her face off my chest. Her dark eyes open and find mine with an endearing little smile.
“Morning.”
I kiss her.
I pour my love and madness into the melding of our mouths. The hand I slip beneath the heavy cape of her hair and cradle the back of her skull. I nudge her onto her back and lean over her.
“Love you,” I pant into her swollen lips.
Dusky lashes lift and the harsh slant of light coming from the window softens against the pools of blue rising to meet mine.
“I love you, too, Shawn.”
Hearing her quiet confession does something to me. fills me with a fire that feels like I’m capable of handling anything as long as I have her. It’s a boost of adrenaline that gives me the rush I need to make this work.
She’s mine.
Period.
There isn’t a soul alive I will allow to take her from me.
Except...
“We need to talk to your dad.”
Mark has always been a remarkably reasonable man.
Calm. Patient. The kind of guy you need on your side during a bar fight.
But this isn’t like asking to borrow his power tools.
It’s his little girl. His entire world. Fathers are supposed to love their daughters and protect them, but Mark and Chrissy ...
there’s a bond there. A love forged from loss.
They were all the other had when her mom died and that wielded a loyalty between them that I don’t think God himself could break.
And I’m supposed to be his best friend. The guy he trusts to watch her when he can’t.
I mean, I will. I’d give my life for hers.
But I’m supposed to be like an uncle. I think.
My role in Chrissy’s life has always been uncommunicated.
An unspoken understanding that I would be there when Mark couldn’t be.
I don’t think this is what he meant.
“It’s going to be okay,” Chrissy whispers. “We’ll get through it, right?”
We will, but I don’t know how I’ll get through it if Mark cuts me off. If he makes me pick between our friendship and his daughter. I know I’m going to pick her without even thinking about it, but it’s going to kill me if I lose him in the process.
“We can stop,” she presses when I guess I take too long to respond. “This could be it.”
I’m ready to tell her that’s not fucking happening, but I see the fear in her eyes like she’s worried I might agree.
“You’re not getting rid of me now. Come hell or high water, you’re stuck with me.”
There’s no missing her shaky exhale, the relief that floods her features. But I don’t mention them when dropping my face to the hollow of her throat and closing my eyes.
We leave Chrissy’s car at the hotel and take my truck back to Jefferson with her fingers threaded through mine.
Our clasped hands rest on her jean clad thigh, warm and secure.
Her head is turned in the direction of the passing highway, the glint of sun hitting the icy tips of passing trees.
The roads are surprisingly clear and we make it to town much faster than I’m ready for.
My truck pulls up behind Mark’s and I cut the engine.
“It’s going to be okay,” Chrissy says, I think, to both of us.
I can only nod as I take a deep breath and kick open my door.
I round to her side and help her down. She doesn’t ask to grab her overnight and I don’t offer it.
Part of me thinks we’re both preparing for the chance that Mark might refuse and ...
she’d come home with me. But I’m not hoping for it. I pray that isn’t the case.
Not because I don’t want her living with me. I’d pack her up and take her with me right now if she asked. But if we leave with only that single bag, it means shit has gone sideways and I wrecked things between her and her father.
She squeezes my fingers as she leads the way along the snow-covered path. At the back of my mind, I make a mental note to grab some salt the next time I go to Holland’s Groceries. I don’t want Chrissy ... or Mark, to slip on the ice I feel crunching beneath my boots.
Like he’d been expecting us, Mark throws open the front door and stares from me to his daughter, drops his gaze to our joined hands, flicks back up to me. All with the pissed expression of a man ready to grab his shotgun.
“Something you need to tell me?” he bites out.
“Dad...” Chrissy begins, moving up the steps ahead of me, putting herself between us.
“Get inside,” Mark barks, shoving the door wider and disappearing towards the living room.
My heart is a wild bird lodged in my throat, desperate and panicking, trying to escape. I don’t know whose palm is clammy, but I’m sure it’s mine because Chrissy sucks in a breath and follows without missing a beat.
It’s warm inside. Too warm. A stifling temperature that has me wishing I could take my coat off, but I have a feeling we’re not going to be here long and keep it on.
Dark brows furrowed, arms folded, Mark is perched on the armrest of the sofa, watching us when I shut the door behind me. It’s only with the profound clap of it sealing us in that I am made painfully aware of everything.
Chrissy’s damp strands twisted into a single braid over one shoulder.
The same clothes he saw me in at the shop yesterday before I practically shoved him to the ground running out the door.
The fact that he knew his daughter was at a hotel and I never came back. Doesn’t help that his gaze is on me, taking me in while he waits for me to start.
“I love her.” It blurts out, true and to the point. “Didn’t mean for it to happen. Tried to fight it, but...” I lift a shoulder and let it drop. “Don’t want to fight it anymore. I want to be with her.”
His features don’t shift. Barely moves beyond a sideway snap in Chrissy’s direction.
“You got anything to say?”
Unlike me, Chrissy’s expression is as firm and stubborn as I’ve ever seen it. She meets her father’s stern glower with steadfast determination.
“I pick him. He makes me happy.”
Nothing else.
Even Mark seems to be waiting for her to say more, but she simply returns his stare with a defiant tilt of her chin.
Mark huffs when it becomes clear that he’s not getting more.
“Well, I can’t say ... I’m surprised.” The hint of a grin darkens the corners of his mouth and shines across his eyes.
“Neither of you are very good at being subtle. The whole damn town has a running bet to see when you’ll stop pussyfooting around the elephant in the room and give in. ”
“What?” I mumble stupidly.
“The whole town?” Chrissy blurts at the same time.
Mark rolls his eyes and pushes to his feet.
“You two really thought you were so clever, huh? You didn’t think anyone would notice?
Didn’t think I would notice?” His voice rises with his indignation.
“I live with both of you ... practically. Don’t get me wrong.
I wasn’t pleased about it in the beginning.
Made me uncomfortable seeing you eyeing each other like that.
Chrissy was just a kid in my eyes still, but ...
Jesus, save me, I don’t think I could have gone another damn year. ”
“You fucking lied to me!” I snap, realization smacking me upside the head. “You fucker.”
Mark throws up his hands. “It worked, didn’t it? You’re welcome, asshole.”
“What’s happening?” Chrissy cuts in, glancing between us.
“Your dad,” I grind through my teeth, wishing I could at least pretend to be angry about it, “told me you’d gone off with some ... boy to the hotel.”
With zero shred of decency or shame, Mark shrugs. “You were both acting like a pair of goddamn teenagers. Honestly, I came to the shop yesterday to punch you in the mouth, if I’m going to be honest.”
I blink. “What the fuck did I do?”
One arm swings in the direction of the door. “Do you think I can’t see your ugly truck from the kitchen window? The night of Chrissy’s birthday, she tells me you’d gone, but there was your truck. Just sitting in my driveway, but no Shawn in sight. So, where the fuck is Shawn, huh?”
“Shit.” I grimace and drop my gaze.
Chrissy slaps a hand over her eyes.
“Yeah, fuck you.” Mark smirks. “I almost even kicked down the damn door and beat your ass, but I figured, you know what? I’m going to pretend it was all a nightmare and you’re not in my daughter’s room.
I even convinced myself that this might finally be the thing that gets you to stop mooning over her.
Then, you piece of shit, you broke her heart.
Lord, help me, but I never pegged you as that kind of dirt bag. ”
“Mark...” I begin only to get stopped by his hand lifting, cutting me off.
“Drove to your shop to find you as broken and hurt as she was and I ... I couldn’t do it anymore.
You idiots needed a push. Which, by the way, next time you’re going to storm out of your fucking shop, toss me your damn keys, asshole.
I had to lock the door and climb out the fucking window.
Pulled eight muscles that you’re getting a bill for. ”
Chrissy’s hold on my hand vanishes and she’s sprinting the distance straight into her father’s arms. He scoops her up, lifting her feet off the floor in a crushing hug — so much for those pulled muscles.
“Love you,” she mumbles into his shoulder.
Mark grunts but squeezes her tighter. “Couldn’t find a single other guy, huh?”
I get he’s teasing, but I scowl at the question.
“Don’t lie.” Chrissy pulls back to narrow her eyes at him. “You know you’re happy it’s Shawn.”
Mark rolls his eyes and sucks in a loud breath. “Maybe. Don’t like that my grandbabies will have his ugly face, but ... ow!”
Chrissy’s swat gets him in the arm. “Our babies will be the cutest things, and you know it.”
“Of course, they will be. They’ll have my genes.”
It’s Chrissy’s turn to roll her eyes, but she grins at him before turning to me.
I’m still not sure what just happened. I’d been so braced for a fight, my muscles are having a hard time relaxing.
“Why don’t you go up and change? Give us a minute to talk,” Mark says, eyes on me now.
Chrissy doesn’t move right away. She fixes her father with a glower of warning.
“Be nice,” she tells him firmly. “I love him and if you hurt him, I’ll come down and beat your ass myself.”
Mark huffs. “Don’t threaten me with a good time. Now, scat.”
With a snort, Chrissy turns to me. I don’t move when she comes over and places her small hands on my chest. But I do meet her halfway when she goes up on her toes to capture my lips.
Over her head, I can feel her father’s annoyance, but all I know is the sweet scent of her shampoo. The way she tastes so warm and willing. I may not have a clue what’s happening, but I’d do it all again just to have her in my arms like this forever.
“Love you,” I breathe against her damp mouth.
The edges curve and she smiles up at me. “Love you, too.”
With a final skim of lips, she leaves me alone with the man staring hard at the ceiling like it holds all of life’s answers. Thankfully, he waits until she’s out of sight before shaking his head.
“That’s going to take a lot to get used to.”
I ignore that.
“I swear, I never touched her before ... recently,” I explain. “I would never—”
Mark puts a hand up. “Do you know what I do for a living, Shawn?” I don’t understand the question, nor does he give me a chance to ask when he continues, “I work on farming equipment. Sometimes, construction equipment. Basically, I build and maintain very big machinery. Sometimes, I even show newbies how to use their big machines. So, I get to dig very big holes. If I thought for even a second that you touched my baby girl before she was an adult ... well, we wouldn’t be standing here having this conversation. ”
I say nothing as he moves in the direction of the kitchen. Bottles rattle as he removes two beers and holds one out to me.
“I wouldn’t,” I stress, accepting the offering. “I wouldn’t do that to you, and I sure as hell wouldn’t do that to her.”
He snaps the cap off his drink and guzzles back half.
“It’s weird for sure,” he muses around a burp.
“But Chrissy’s right about one thing, I don’t trust her with anyone else.
” Eyes absent of sass and sarcasm meet mine.
“I know you’ll take care of her the way she deserves.
You won’t break her heart or make me regret bringing you into our family.
I like you, Shawn. You’re the closest thing I have to a brother, and I am entrusting you with my entire world. My reason for living.”
I hear the praise and warning in each word and feel them to my soul.
“I promise.”