Chapter 12
Clayton
The drive back from Grady’s felt longer than usual. I’d been hoping Rachel would come along.
If I could just show her some of the magic in this place, maybe it would be enough to win her over.
But instead, she was probably sitting at my kitchen table right now, writing up the report that would deny Mrs. Andretti’s claim and break my heart in the process.
Rachel had already told me what was happening between us was just physical. I was the one refusing to believe it.
Nuts whined from the passenger seat, picking up on my mood the way he always did. Bolts just pressed his wet nose against the window, oblivious.
“I know, buddy,” I said, reaching over to scratch behind his ears. “I like her, too. But let’s not get too used to having her around.”
But I wasn’t convinced she would really leave.
It was illogical to feel that way, given that she’d told me point-blank this was just physical. But I couldn’t ignore the magic of being tangled in the sheets, whispering confessions to each other.
She’d felt it too.
Our connection was too strong.
Whatever the fuck was happening between us was mind-blowing. Or cock-blowing, to be more specific. I’d never wanted a woman as badly as I wanted Rachel.
And now that I’d had her, all I wanted was to make love to her over and over again.
Six times between last night and this morning hadn’t been enough. Not even close.
I pulled into my driveway and killed the engine, staring at the warm glow of light coming from the kitchen window. She was still in there. Still deciding the fate of people I cared about. Still deciding whether to stay or go.
I needed to find a way to convince her to stay without scaring her off in the process.
If she were local, I’d let our romance play out nice and slow.
But there was a time limit on our love affair unless I made some bold moves.
“Come on, guys,” I said to the dogs, pushing open my door. “Let’s go see the woman who’s going to break our hearts.”
Nuts and Bolts bounded out of the truck ahead of me, their tails wagging as they raced toward the porch. I followed slower, my boots heavy on the gravel, trying to prepare myself for whatever came next.
I’d barely made it to the bottom step when the front door flew open.
Rachel stood there with the biggest grin I’d ever seen on her face, her eyes bright, her cheeks flushed, and her hair tumbling loose around her shoulders. She was still wearing my flannel; the sleeves rolled up past her wrists, and she looked so beautiful it made my chest hurt.
“Clayton!” She was talking so fast I could barely keep up.
“I found it. I found the loophole! Section 7.4.2 of the policy manual covers emergency stabilization repairs even without permits, as long as they were necessary to prevent further damage. And an ice storm definitely counts as an emergency. That means I can classify your repairs as temporary stabilization and approve the current claim based on its own merits. Mrs. Andretti gets her money and you don’t get in trouble and I don’t have to lie on the report because it’s all technically legal, even if my company would be mad if they knew I was using the clause this way.
But I’m not doing anything wrong. I’m just interpreting the policy in the most favorable way possible for the homeowner, which is completely within my discretion as a senior adjuster and—”
“Wait.” I held up my hand, my heart pounding. “Slow down. You’re saying the claim’s approved?”
“Yes!” She grabbed my arm and pulled me up the steps onto the porch.
“I found a legal loophole. HomeGuard might be annoyed if they ever figure out what I did, but it’s still completely legitimate.
Mrs. Andretti keeps her house. Her niece has a home.
And you don’t face any legal consequences for helping a neighbor in need.
I just have to pretend I don’t know that she’s not planning on spending the claims money to fix the repairs correctly.
And she’ll need to sign a statement saying she plans to do the right thing. ”
Relief hit me so hard my knees nearly buckled.
Mrs. Andretti was safe. The sweet old woman who’d always treated me like a son wasn’t going to lose everything because I’d tried to help her.
But then reality crept back in, cold and unwelcome.
“That’s great news. But what happens next?” I asked, my voice rougher than I intended. “How long until you leave?”
The unspoken word hung between us.
How long until you leave me?
Rachel’s smile faltered. She looked down at her hands, then back up at me with something vulnerable in her expression. “I don’t know.”
I’d never been one to beat around the bush. Life was too short for dancing around the things that mattered, so I put all my cards on the table. “I don’t chase temporary things, Rachel. Stay. And build something real with me.”
Her mouth dropped open, but no words came out.
“Last night, you led me to believe you might be open to a new life.” I tugged her close and looked straight into her eyes. “Was that just something you said so you could ride my cock for a night? Or do you think you might actually want a life here with me?”
“With you?” she asked breathlessly, her eyes hanging on mine.
“I’ve already called my buddy Davis,” I rumbled.
“He owns a big construction company here in town, and he’s been trying to get me on board for over a year.
I’m going to take the job. I’ll be running one of his crews.
It will be a big paycheck. We wouldn’t have to live like this.
We could get a nicer place. I could… take care of you. ”
Her eyes widened. “Take care of me?”
My beautiful Rachel appeared to be incapable of doing anything but parrot my words back at me.
I could see our whole life spread out before me. There was that lakefront property I’d been eyeing for a while. The one with the cozy den.
“You could be my w—. Well, what I mean is, you could do whatever you choose. Let me take care of you, or… if the job means that much to you, I’ll stop slamming your job.
This could be your home base. I’d get to see you a few times a month when you’re between assignments.
” I growled out my final sales pitch. “You could bring a houseplant.”
Rachel stared at me for a long moment, then took off her glasses, her gorgeous eyes searching my face like she was looking for something.
A lie, maybe.
Or a sign that I meant what I was saying.
Then she smiled so wide. “A houseplant? Is that your big pickup line, Clayton?”
“Hey, if it works, I’m sticking with it. If it doesn’t land well, give me an alternative and I’ll use that instead.”
She took a step towards me and leaned in against my chest, looping her arms around me.
“It wasn’t just sex,” she said quietly. “Not for me.”
“It wasn’t for me either,” I tugged her closer, trapping her in my arms.
“I don’t want temporary, Clayton.”
“Neither do I.”
“And I don’t know about a few weekends a month.
I’m not sure I want to leave this place.
I may have… submitted my resignation at work this morning.
I’m ready for a change. Red Oak Mountain is looking pretty inviting.
And did I hear something about a wife in that little speech of yours? Did you just propose to me?”
“Yeah. I sure did. Let’s be crazy. Marry me, Rachel.”
She grinned up at me. “I kind of like the idea of being crazy together. Let’s do it, Clayton. Let’s get married before you change your mind. I don’t want your cock running around town single any longer. I’d like to lock that beast down.”
We stood there on my ramshackle porch, the dusky light filtering through the trees as dogs circled our legs, and something shifted between us. A silent understanding that didn’t need words. We were for life.
I kissed her.
Not the desperate, hungry kisses from last night. This one was soft and slow, full of all the things I couldn’t say out loud yet. Love. Longing. Maybe even a few promises about the future.
She dropped her glasses, and her hands came up to rest against my chest. I felt her melt into me, her body going soft and pliant in my arms. She tasted like coffee and hope, and I never wanted to stop kissing her.
After a few minutes my cock started throbbing, demanding attention. I walked her backward until her shoulders hit the wall of the house, then pressed my hips against hers so she could feel exactly what she did to me.
“What about the neighbors?” she gasped.
“Can’t see a thing.” I nipped at her lower lip. “Tree line’s too dense. I’ve got a whole acre between me and the nearest house.”
A wicked gleam sparked in her eyes. Before I could process what was happening, her hands were at my belt, tugging at the buckle with nimble fingers.
“Rachel, what are you—”
She dropped to her knees right there on my front porch, yanking my zipper down and freeing my cock from my jeans. The cool evening air hit my heated flesh for just a second before her warm mouth engulfed me.
“Fuck,” I groaned, my head falling forward to watch her.
Her tongue swirled around the head of my cock, teasing the sensitive underside before she took me deeper. One hand wrapped around the base, stroking in time with the bobbing of her head, while the other cupped my balls with gentle pressure.
She looked up at me through her lashes, those brown eyes dark with desire, and the sight of her on her knees with my cock in her mouth nearly made me come right then.
“Rachel,” her name came out strangled. “Baby, I want to make love to you. Let me come inside you.”
But she didn’t stop. If anything, she increased her pace, hollowing her cheeks and sucking harder while her hand twisted around my shaft.
I tried to hold back. Tried to pull her up so I could bury myself in her warmth instead. But she moaned around my cock, the vibration shooting straight up my spine, and I was lost.
“I’m going to—” The warning barely made it past my lips before my orgasm crashed through me.
I came hard, my release pulsing into her mouth in hot spurts while my fingers tangled in her hair. She swallowed everything I gave her, her throat working around me until I was completely spent and shaking.
When she finally released me and rose to her feet, she had the most self-satisfied expression I’d ever seen. Like she’d just gotten away with something delicious.
“I like how out of control you get over me,” she said, wiping the corner of her mouth. “I wanted to see how fast I could make you come.”
A laugh rumbled up from deep in my chest. This woman was going to be the death of me.
“That so?” I growled, already reaching for the waistband of her pajama pants. “Fair’s fair, babe. It’s my turn now.”
She shrieked with laughter as I chased her through the front door; the dogs barking excitedly at our heels, not sure what was going on. I caught her in the hallway, spinning her around and pressing her against the wall while my fingers worked her pajama bottoms down her hips.
“Clayton!” She was still giggling, but the sound turned into a moan when I found her pussy already slick and ready for me.
I sank to my knees in front of her, hooking one of her thighs over my shoulder, and buried my face between her legs.
She was mine now. And I was going to spend the rest of my life making sure she never forgot it.