Chapter 7
Today is the best day of my life. Or maybe that was yesterday. Or maybe it started yesterday and every day from now on is going to be amazing.
That”s definitely how I”ve felt all day. Even when the alarm clock went off far too early after Raine and I stayed up at the cabin later than either of us had planned.
We”d talked till he had to build the fire back up in the stove. I”d told him more about Kay and how she”s made it hard for me to move on with my life-- even being hostile since I moved away. And Raine shared his own experiences with death, telling me how he saw his entire family torn apart when his father and grandfather were killed together in an auto accident on the old ferry road to the valley when Raine was only eleven.
I”d heard rumors about his oldest brother, who left town long before I came to Moonshine Ridge, and Zephyr had mentioned losing her father and grandfather in an accident when she was just a baby; but I had no idea how much their family suffered as a result of their loss.
I guess Zephyr was so young when it happened, she never really knew anything else-- but Raine explained how his grandmother blamed his mom for sending the men to Slow River to begin with, how his mother accepted the blame, and how his oldest brother channeled grief into anger and alcohol abuse while his other brother escaped the mountains in pursuit of a professional sports career.
Leaving Raine somewhere in the middle to make sense of everything that had happened, and find his own way through it.
Then he impressed me with his love-making skills again, before cooking me dinner on the stove, and then we made love one more time before we finally packed up and headed back to town.
I wasn”t prepared to stay the night at his place, so he dropped me off at mine-- and didn”t leave until my alarm went off at three thirty in the morning. Then made me late for opening the cafe.
Fortunately, Moonshine Ridge works on its own sense of time and it”s not unusual for the small businesses here to keep ”ish” hours. No one blinked an eye at me when I didn”t turn the sign over to the side that reads ”open” until five thirty-seven.
Deputy Hawkins came in at his usual time, this time smiling ear to ear.
Then Terra Diaz walked over from her daycare center and shocked everyone by greeting the deputy with a kiss.
Like...a kiss. The ”this man is mine and no bitches better forget it” kind that had the small-town gossip mill on fire less than fifteen minutes later.
That was great for business though. I think everyone in Moonshine Ridge has come through the cafe today to confirm the rumors.
Raine said he”d be by before closing today but he”s running late. Cell service is spotty enough here in the heart of the town, but up at the camp where he spends most of his days, it”s non-existent. So, of course, I haven”t heard from him.
It works out well anyway, since I decided to stay open a little later to make up for the late start this morning and to accommodate any late afternoon gossip mongers looking for little town intel...and an afternoon caffeine boost.
I have a couple of bags packed, things Raine suggested I should bring with me up to his place so I”ll have what I need to stay with him for several days at a time.
He”s already making plans to move me in with him and I haven”t even been to his house yet.
I giggle while I work, doing end of day cleaning with the front door propped open. It”s a warm day despite the early February date and with the coffee makers running full blast all day, the cool air making its way inside feels good.
”Are you really still open?”
Maggie McAllister stands on the threshold, peering inside longingly.
”Yup, got a late start this morning so I figured I stay open a little later.” I laugh at her visible sigh of relief as she steps inside, then turns around to motion at someone still waiting outside.
Her husband, Birch, fills the doorway, blocking the light as he moves inside.
”Can I interest you in a gossip-monger special? Or just your usual?”
Maggie and I share a laugh but Birch just stands behind his wife and glowers stoically.
I haven”t seen much of Birch McAllister; he runs the local sawmill that”s on the edge of town so he”s not around much during my usual business hours. His brothers and their wives own the sporting goods store across the street from the cafe and the tavern just another block over. I”ve gotten to know Hyacinth and Chamomile pretty well but the men keep their distance-- something about their grandmother”s feud with Raine”s grandmother, who also happens to be my landlord.
Maggie only makes it in a couple times a week since she”s up on their property doing the stay-at-home mom thing most of the time, but she comes in often enough that I have her tall, full-fat, double espresso maple pecan latte memorized.
”Do tell me what a gossip-monger special is first,” Maggie asks, a hint of southern accent peeking through the words.
”It”s just a standard vanilla latte.” I hate to disappoint her, ”It”s been the default order of pretty much everyone who”s stopped by to ask questions about the newest couple on the mountain.”
”I”ll stick with the usual,” Maggie tells me, then looks up at her husband who leans down to place a soft kiss on her lips. ”He”ll have an Americano,” she adds even though Birch hasn”t muttered more than a grunt since coming inside with her.
I know he”d prefer a cup of hot, black, house brew, but the regular pots are already off and cleaned up for tomorrow.
”So, speaking of new couple gossip,” Maggie hedges as she stands at the counter, off to one side so she can watch me pull the espresso shots, ”Hyacinth says she saw you leaving the cafe yesterday in a certain classic Ford truck?”
The blush heats my face far more than the steam coming of the milk in the pitcher as I prepare her latte.
”You seeing Raine Hart?”
Birch”s deep voice startles me. It”s got a disapproving thing going on that makes it clear that he”s questioning my taste in men.
”Um, actually, yeah I am.”
I top Maggie”s lattes with the thick, steamed milk and finish the pour with a tulip design before handing the drinks over.
”Be careful there,” Maggie tells me, her teeth worrying her lower lip as she gives me a concerned look. She”s not talking about handling the hot coffees.
”Why? What”s wrong with Raine?”
I know all about the family drama between the Harts and the McAllisters. You don”t move to a town like Moonshine Ridge without getting the local tea spilled all over you before you”ve even had a chance to meet your neighbors. But no one”s warned me off of dating any of the men on the Ridge and the way Maggie and Birch are looking at me now has me wondering if their concerns go beyond the bounds of the family feuds.
”I”ve never seen one of the Hart boys do right by a woman yet.” Birch slides his arm around Maggie”s shoulders as he grumbles. “I find it hard to believe one of ”em would start now.”
”Just be careful there.” Maggie finishes the transaction on the touch pad point of sale, tapping a button to leave a tip and signing the screen with her finger.
”Have fun with him.” She gives me a wink and half a smile that has Birch scowling deeper. ”Just remember it”s just fun, okay?”
Ten minutes later, the door is still open and the open sign is still in the window but my mood is a lot darker. I still haven”t heard from Raine, and Birch and Maggie”s warning is ping-ponging between my head and my heart.
I have the La Pavoni torn down; the portafilters and the steam wand are soaking and I”m about to go turn the sign in the window to closed and lock the door when I hear the distinct idle of Raine”s truck shut down and the sound of the e-brake being applied the way he always does.
This time there”s no hesitancy. He jumps the steps to the boardwalk porch in two quick leaps and jogs across the empty shop space before jumping the counter in a lithe move, sliding over the surface like the Duke boys hood-sliding across the General Lee, and landing on my side with the heavy sound of both boots hitting the floor at the same time.
Before I have time to think, I”m pressed against the back counter, held tightly with one strong arm wrapped around my waist while he presses something into my hand, but I can”t see what it is because I”m too busy swooning into the searing kiss that”s busy wiping any doubts I was having from my brain.
Raine
”Sorry I”m late,baby. Did you get my text?”
Letting go of April”s soft body shouldn”t be so hard. Never thought I”d be jealous of a fucking espresso machine, but it was clear when I came through the door that she”s busy taking the thing apart.
”No. I just thought you didn”t have service up at the camp.”
I fucking love that breathless quality to her voice and the dazed way she looks up at me. Letting her body lean into mine like she trusts me completely to keep her on her feet.
It”s impossible to resist kissing her again. So I do.
”Couldn”t call out of camp,” I confirm when I let her up for air again, ”but I shot off a message when I was at the Gulch...do you like ”em?”
It”s only then that she seems to become aware of the bouquet in her hand.
”Oh my gosh, Raine, these are gorgeous!”
My sister will skin me alive if she finds out I raided her precious greenhouse, but watching April bury her nose in the handful of mixed flowers I picked for her is worth it.
”How come you”re just getting this place closed down?” I ask, looking around at the little coffee shop that”s obviously been open an hour past her usual hours and feeling guilty about being late. ”You weren”t staying open just to wait for me, were you?”
Leaning back on the blue Formica counter, I kick my legs out in front of me and take her in my arms eagerly when she steps back between my knees for another long kiss.
I”ve been aching to get on this side of the counter ever since I first walked in here. Because this is where my girl is.
”No,” she laughs lightly when I let her lips go. ”It”s been crazy today. Apparently, Terra and Hawkins are a thing now and everyone on the mountain had to come in to get the scoop.”
”Everyone came in here? Damn, woman. If it”s not bad enough that you got yourself hooked up with me, Alice McAllister is going to hate you for taking her gossip business away. She”s used to her store being the tea capital of the Ridge.”
A shadow crosses April”s pretty face. She must know she”s easy to read because she pulls the flowers back up for another sniff.
”What”s wrong? Alice wasn”t over here giving you shit already, was she?”
The McAllister/Hart feud has never really affected me, outside of them and their friends not being keen on sharing space with me, but for an old lady, Alice can be a real bitch sometimes and if she”s giving my girl trouble, I”ll have to tell gran.
”Not Alice, no, she”s only come in the one time when I first opened. But uh, Birch and Maggie were in.”
Birch McAllister fucking hates my brother, Hayle, and while I can”t say he doesn”t have good reasons for it, Hayle”s still my brother and kin is always where my allegiance is gonna lie.
I don”t like the way April”s shoulders sag or hearing her voice go small when she mentions Birch”s visit. Like I said, I”ve never put much energy into the family bullshit, but messing with my girl is a quick way to change that.
”What”d he say to you?” It takes an effort to keep my voice even and I pull April back close to me, my fingers finding a firm grip in those wide hips that”s almost enough to keep me calm.
”Ash and Hyacinth saw me leave with you yesterday,” she tells me.
”Good.” I like knowing they saw her in my truck. That means they saw the kiss I laid on her after she scrambled in. It means they saw her scoot across the bench seat till she was tucked right up against me. It means they know she”s mine.
And if the McAllisters know April”s taken-- then so does every other male on this mountain.
My shoulders straighten and I feel my chest swell with the pride of knowing this woman has been claimed and every asshole up here knows it now.
”So, what”s wrong, baby girl?”
”They just wanted to warn me not to get too attached. Birch seems to think you”re the kind of guy who makes promises he doesn”t plan on keeping.”
Fury burns through my veins and I”ve got a strong desire to go kick Birch”s ass, but I swallow it down. Because the truth is, I”ve got no one to blame for that reputation but myself.
Somewhere under the pissed off feelings, there”s a flicker of respect for the man that was just looking out for April.
That”s the way it”s supposed to work in the community. We look out for each other up here, family feuds or not.
Letting my breath leak out of my lungs in a slow, controlled, sigh, I wrap April up in my arms again. Pulling her so tight to my chest while I”m still leaning on her counter, that she has to push against my chest so she can look me in the eye.
”I understand why he might think that,” I admit, ”but I already told you I wasn”t always a good man, didn”t I?”
We had some hard conversations between us last night. April knows all my secrets now, and she nods to answer me.
”I just want to know what to expect, Raine. Don”t talk to me about weddings and babies just because you think that”s what I want to hear. If this is just temporary, I”d rather know that up front.”
”Hey, April,” I cup the side of her face with my palm. Words aren”t my super power and I”d rather make her believe me with kisses and orgasms but I know it”s important to set the record straight in plain language. ”You are it for me, baby girl. Knew I was about to start a whole new chapter of this life as soon as I saw you back here in your little blue checkered apron. You”re my future now, and with any luck, that future”s going to include a bunch of muddy kids running around. Hopefully, we got started on that yesterday.”
My thumbs slide forward to caress the curve of her belly while I keep my hands wrapped around her hips. Thoughts of my seed already taking root deep in there have my dick thickening and a need to have her coming for me again surges through me so urgently, I really hope we”ve got this point settled.
Pushing us both away from the counter, I reach down and grab April up by the back of her thighs, giving her little choice but to wrap those shapely legs around my waist while I carry her behind the heavy, swinging door that leads to the nearly empty back room.
Setting her ass on top of one of the stainless-steel prep tables in the darkness back here, I”ve got my hands up her skirt and my fingers already easily slipping through her slick folds.
”Fuck, baby, you”re already so wet.” I slide a finger into her while I kiss her senseless.
April”s hands are grappling with my jeans, pulling my belt from the buckle and unbuttoning my fly.
”Tell me you believe me, baby.” I rasp it against her throat and then again, with my face buried between her tits. ”Tell me you still want to be my wife, you”re gonna let me fill you up with babies, and we”re going to do the happy ever after thing together.”
”I believe you.” She pants the words, pulling my dick free and stroking it hungrily. ”I believe you, Raine. I”ll marry you and you can knock me up as many times as you want. Just. Start. Now.”
Glad we got that settled.
Pulling her panties aside, I let April take the lead, pulling me close and lining up my dick with her opening.
”Hello? Ape, are you in here somewhere?”