Chapter 40
CHAPTER FORTY
The Apartment
Brooks brushed a kiss to my bare shoulder. I smiled into the pillow. “Bye. Have a good day at work.”
He kissed my shoulder again. “You’re coming to the ranch with me today.”
“No way,” I mumbled. “It’s still dark out.”
“Muddy made me swear I’d bring you. She promised a home-cooked breakfast.”
With a groan, I rolled over, the covers falling off my breasts.
He reached out to cup one, his thumb stroking across my nipple. I shivered at his touch.
“Come back to bed,” I purred, spreading my legs.
“I can’t,” he whispered. “If I do, we’ll be late.”
“I need you,” I begged.
With a groan, he released my nipple. “I can’t say no to you.”
“That’s the idea.” I eagerly reached for him.
The throbbing between my legs pulsed rapidly with need. And when Brooks slid inside me, he moaned.
“You’re so wet,” he breathed, his lips finding mine.
His fingers glided between our bodies, and I arched my back, wanting to be closer, wanting more of him.
Soon, far too soon, I clenched around him, my release crashing through my body.
He gripped the back of my neck as he thrust into me, over and over before he came.
Panting and sweaty, we separated.
Half an hour later, with wet hair and still in desperate need of caffeine, I collapsed into the passenger seat of Brooks’ truck.
“Rotten,” I muttered.
“You were a morning person not twenty minutes ago,” he said with an amused smile. “What happened?”
“I was getting my rocks off. But I was hoping I could go back to sleep after that.”
He reached over and clasped my thigh with his big hand. “Any second thoughts?”
“About what?” I asked, leaning my head against the seat and closing my eyes.
“About the ring on your finger.”
My thumb stole across the band. “Nope.”
“Good.” He squeezed my thigh and let go. “You gonna call your grandfather today and share the good news?”
I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. The sun had just started to creep up, turning the sky gold and pink.
“That’s a no, then?” he asked.
“It’s more of an, I don’t know what to tell him,” I said.
“You tell him you’re getting married in the spring, and you tell him about me. It’s that simple.”
I raised my brows and glanced at him. “The spring?”
“Spring isn’t my first choice. But we might want to give your grandfather some time to get used to the idea.”
“I don’t think that will matter much. He’s going to be shocked as hell no matter what we decide.”
“If that’s the case, then let’s get married in November.”
“November?” I repeated. “We can’t do November. Wyn doesn’t have Thanksgiving off. And we can’t do anything around Christmas, because Hadley’s supposed to be giving birth on Christmas Day. And who knows if the baby will even stick to her schedule.”
“Babies usually come when they want to come. I know that from foaling.”
I snorted.
“You pick the day and tell me when to show up,” he said. “Whatever makes you happy.”
“Whatever makes me happy, huh?”
He looked over at me and smiled. “Yeah. From now on that’s going to be my only stipulation in life. As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”
I sighed in dreamy elation.
Brooks turned onto the private road to Elk Ridge and a few minutes later he parked the truck. He helped me out of the vehicle, and we headed up the porch. Without bothering to knock, I opened the front door and strode inside.
Hearty coffee and even heartier people greeted us when we entered the house.
Mr. Powell was sitting at the kitchen table with Jane, devouring poached eggs on toast. Muddy was at the stove; an apron tied around her waist as she handed Salem a plate of food.
Salem looked at me on her way to the table, her smile wobbly and unsure.
I leaned in and hugged her with one arm. “We’re good.”
“Who needs a coffee refill?” Muddy called out.
“Me,” Mr. Powell said.
“Poet, will you—”
“Sure thing.” I took the pot and brought it to the table and filled Mr. Powell’s cup.
The front door opened, and Hadley and Declan strode in.
Finally, we were all sitting around the table, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t care that there was a roadblock to my goal. That was life. You climbed over it, dug underneath it, or went around it. I hadn’t figured out a solution yet, but I would.
“Uh, excuse me,” Salem stated, pointing at me. “What is that on your finger?”
“Brooks and I got engaged last night,” I said nonchalantly. “Pass the OJ.”
The entire table fell silent and then Muddy began to cackle.
“Engaged? You’re engaged?” Salem demanded.
“Yep.”
Salem looked at Hadley and then at her husband, who didn’t appear at all surprised by the announcement. “You don’t look shocked.”
“Why would I be shocked?” Cas demanded. “Have you seen the way the two of them act around each other? This was bound to happen.”
Declan nodded in tacit agreement.
I looked at Brooks. “I should call Wyn. I don’t want her to feel left out that she missed the announcement.”
“You can do that if you want,” Brooks said, “but it’s kind of unnecessary.”
“What do you mean?” I asked in confusion.
“She already knows,” Brooks said.
“She does? How?” I queried.
“I called her,” he said as he scooped another bite of hash browns into his mouth.
“When?” I demanded.
“Yesterday,” he said.
“Before or after I went to my bank meeting?”
“During,” he said with a shrug.
“And what did you tell her?” Salem asked.
Brooks turned to look at Salem when he answered. “I told her I was planning on proposing and then I sent her a photo of the ring.”
“Why did you tell her and not us?” Hadley asked.
“Because Wyn already feels like she’s out of the loop,” he explained. “And she’s known Poet a very long time.”
I looked at Brooks, a soft smile on my lips.
“That, right there,” Cas said, pointing to me. “That’s why I’m not shocked by this announcement.”
“I’m not shocked,” Salem lied.
Mr. Powell snorted. “How’s it feel?”
“How does what feel?” Salem asked her dad.
“How does it feel to be blindsided?”
Jane reached over and took Mr. Powell’s hand. He gave her fingers a squeeze.
Salem erupted over his statement.
Mount St. Salem.
Cas and Hadley tried to calm her down, but it only seemed to infuriate her more.
Muddy looked at me and leaned close. “This doesn’t really concern us, does it?”
I shook my head. “It definitely doesn’t.”
“Come on. Let’s sneak out. I want to take you somewhere.”
I glanced over my shoulder at Brooks, who was calmly sipping his orange juice as the Powell family had an epic argument.
“Go,” he said to me with a chin nod.
I rose and discreetly followed Muddy out of the dining room. We made it to the front porch, but even with the door closed we could still hear Salem yelling.
“I love her to death,” Muddy said as she slid into her boots. “But she does not like to have the tables turned on her.”
“I didn’t mean to cause a ruckus.”
I followed her down the porch steps.
“I know. You were very casual about an awfully big announcement.” She peered at me. “You happy, sugar?”
“Stupid happy,” I said with a wry smile. “So happy I almost don’t care that I didn’t get the bank loan.”
“Is that why he proposed?” she asked. “To soften the blow?”
We climbed into her antiquated farm truck, and she started the engine.
“I don’t think so,” I said. “It doesn’t feel that way. Not to me. I just don’t think Brooks could hold the thought inside anymore.”
“He’s been very vocal—and demonstrative—about how he feels about you. I’m not shocked.”
I smiled at her. “Is there anything that shocks you?”
“Not really,” she said with a laugh.
We bounced along a bumpy dirt road for a few minutes when I finally asked, “Where are you taking me?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“I think I’ve had enough of those to last me a while,” I quipped.
She looked at me for a long moment and then turned her attention back to the road. “I don’t think you’re done with surprises.”
“Ah, you speak in such riddles,” I jested. “Care to elaborate on that?”
“Nope.”
“Guess I’ll just have to find out in time.”
“I guess you will.”