38. Get Close And Hold Onto Me
Get Close And Hold Onto Me
Cara
‘Oh god.’ I groan as I roll over, and the room keeps on rolling.
My arm lands on the warm body next to me, and it soothes me a little.
‘I feel like shit,’ he mumbles into the pillow, and I laugh.
‘I’m still drunk.’ I reach for the water that drunk me had the foresight to leave by the bed, or was it drunk Doug?
‘Because,’ he grabs his phone, ‘we got back to the room at two a.m., spent an hour attempting to have sex,’ I laugh again as the memory of that fumble hits hard, ‘and then slept for a grand total of three hours.’
‘What?’ I reach for my phone. ‘Six a.m.? Why the fuck are we awake at six a.m.?’
Doug’s deep rumbling laugh next to me stirs something in me I’m in no state to be considering.
‘Go back to sleep,’ he says softly, already drifting.
‘I can’t. Once I’m awake, I’m awake.’ I groan, getting up to head for the bathroom.
When I climb back into bed, Doug’s eyes are closed, and his breathing is soft. I almost hate him for going back to sleep so easily, but he looks so lovely.
His dark lashes rest on the top of his cheeks, and his perfect pink lips, slightly parted in slumber, peek out from the silky dark hair of his mustache and beard. I snuggle down next to him and close my eyes, attempting to slow my breathing and go back to sleep.
Releasing a deep sigh, I shuffle down a little more, trying to convince my brain that I’m comfy and that sleep is good when the large, calloused hand that knows every inch of my body slides up my thigh. My eyes snap open, and I turn my head to look at him. His eyes stay closed, but a naughty smirk pulls at his lips.
‘I’ll help you get to sleep.’ His fingers inch higher, and my legs part instinctively. ‘Because your huffing and puffing is keeping me awake.’
I laugh for just a second until he does what he does best and takes me to places I never imagined I could go.
Waking up in a hotel room with a man I’m falling hard for was blissful, the second time, after we had got a bit more sleep and were just hungover instead of hungover and still drunk. Meeting Missy and the twins in the restaurant for breakfast gave me a sense of satisfaction I’ve never known. He held my hand in front of them. He sat next to me, got me coffee, and kissed my cheek. This is how it could be, him and me, and I want it. I want it so much.
When it came time to leave, Doug asked Bree to take my stuff back to Forest Falls, and I was shocked to be led outside and handed a helmet and a way-too-big-for-me leather jacket.
‘What the…’
‘You put it on your head, sweetie.’
‘This is yours?’ I look at the motorcycle in front of me in awe. It’s massive, bigger than I would have imagined, and so shiny.
Doug steps close and takes the helmet out of my hand, then puts it on my head and gently does up the strap.
‘You don’t need to assess the risks here. I’ve got you.’
He leans in to kiss me lightly, then climbs on, and I take a moment to admire him. Man, he looks sexy with his strong arms flexed as he holds the handlebars. He should have leathers on. I know that, and so does he, but as he flicks his gaze to the jacket still in my hands, wordlessly telling me to put it on, I understand he sacrificed his jacket for me.
‘No, you put this on. I can go with Bree,’ I say softly, and he reaches out for the jacket. I think he’s going to put it on when he holds it up.
‘Put it on, baby. I want you with me. I want you wrapped around me, pressed up against me. I’ll keep us both safe.’
Well, I can’t argue with that. I slip my arms into the jacket, and with just one deep breath, I climb on behind him.
‘Get close, and hold onto me, okay?’
‘Okay.’
The beast underneath me roars into life, sending a thrill through my body, and as he pulls away from the hotel car park, I can’t keep the smile from my face.
When we arrived at my house, my whole body was vibrating; whether from adrenaline or the constant purr of the bike, I didn’t know, but my excitement levels didn’t last as Doug pulled out his phone.
‘Fuck.’ He cursed loudly, making my eyes widen. ‘I didn’t get the house.’ He held his phone so tightly I thought he might crush it before he apologized and told me he needed to find out what was going on and left.
Now I’m sitting on my porch waiting to hear from him when the rumble of a car on the drive has me looking up from my book and turning my music down. I don’t recognize the car, but as they get closer, I realize, I recognize the little girl in the back. A woman with curled, bleached blond hair gets out of the driver’s seat and opens the back door to get Bowie out as I stand and make my way to the top of the porch steps.
‘Merida.’ Bowie calls out and runs to me, and I step down toward her, smiling, as she crashes into my legs, wrapping her arms around them, and I stroke her hair.
‘Bowie!’ the woman snaps, and I look up to see her scowl. This must be Jessie.
‘Hi, I’m Cara.’ I offer a small smile as Bowie steps back toward her mother. Jessie scrutinizes me. Her lips pressed into a tight line as her gaze travels from my head to my toes.
‘Where’s Doug?’
My stomach knots up. She knows… she must know. Why else would she be asking me that?
‘Um, I don’t know.’ I admit, honestly.
‘I can’t get hold of him, and he works here, so where is he?’ Ah, okay… this is okay.
‘Oh, no, the house is done.’ I gesture behind me. ‘He has some outdoor bits to do, but it’s Sunday,’ I shrug. ‘He’s not working here today.’
‘ Fuck !’ she yells, and I wince. Bowie is right there.
‘Can I help?’ I offer since she looks pretty distressed. ‘Would you like to come in for a drink or anything?’
‘Yeah, mama, we can watch Brave.’ Bowie jumps up enthusiastically.
‘We’re not watching your stupid movie today, Bo. I need to find your daddy.’
‘Maybe Zoe or Bree will know where he is,’ I suggest.
‘Do you think I’m stupid?’ She glares at me, and my mouth falls open. ‘I tried everybody. Nobody can take her, and I have plans. Goddam piece of shit, deadbeat…’
‘I can watch her,’ I cut her off before she finishes a sentence that I won’t be able to let her come back from.
‘Excuse me?’
‘If you need someone to watch Bowie, she can stay with me. You can let Doug know she’s here, and he can come and get her whenever he’s free.’
‘You?’ she hisses with so much disgust I wonder if I’ve said something offensive. ‘Why the fuck would I leave my kid with you?’
‘Mama,’ Bowie gasps at the language, and I step forward.
‘I know that you don’t know me, but the Campbells do, and Bowie does. I’m trying to help, so please mind your language when you’re on my property.’
‘Your property.’ She laughs, but there’s no humor in it. ‘ Your property? You never even set foot in this town. What the hell gives you the right to sit up here in the castle on the hill, looking down, thinking you’re better than us.’
‘I think you should leave.’ I square my shoulders and try so hard not to bite. I need to not make anything worse for Doug. He didn’t get the house, and the last thing he needs is me being the reason Jessie runs.
‘Bowie, car,’ she barks, her eyes never leaving mine. ‘You ain’t welcome here, princess. Nobody wants you here. Nobody .’
Her words sting. I know they aren’t true, but they reach the part of me that’s not yet fully healed, the part that still fears rejection.
‘Goodbye, Jessie.’ I force a smile. ‘It was lovely to meet you.’
I watch as she tears off the drive and heads for the road, and I rush for my phone. I need to tell him she’s on the warpath.