35. Theory
"Did she really just banish us to the Stone House?" I whispered to Everly as I peeped out the window beside me.
Targen threw back his head and smiled at me as he carried the last of my luggage toward the SUV in which Ev and I were currently sitting. I waved slightly before biting down hard on my bottom lip and slouching in the seat next to my cousin.
"I'on know if banish is the right word, T. It's a two-story, state-of-the-art stone cottage. We might survive," Everly responded dryly.
I sucked my teeth. "But with men! Granny really entrusting me to a nigga we just met!" I insisted.
"First, I can't stand Real right now, but I trust him. He wouldn't bring anyone around who would hurt you."
I smirked, noticing how quickly she defended him. Cousin had some things to explain. If her sister had her way, the explanations would be starting soon.
"Second, Granny ain't worried cuz she saw what all of us saw."
I frowned as Ev pretended to study her fingernails. I mushed her shoulder, hoping she didn't think she was getting away with that.
"And what did y'all see?" I pressed.
She looked up at me, but not exactly at me. Her eyes were soft and off-center like she was thinking about something.
"The way he looked at you already. He makes me believe in love at first sight, Theory, I swear."
I rolled my eyes, hoping she couldn't see the tiny thrill her words gave me. Targen had me mesmerized, and I was glad I wasn't alone, feeling like this.
"Anyway, I don't think you're too worried about Targen's credentials," she teased.
"I'll show her whatever she wants to see," his deep voice rumbled.
I hadn't even heard the back of the SUV open as he and Real loaded our bags. I gasped, then sank further into the seat. Suddenly, I wished for the old me, the accomplished flirt who would've had a spicy response to his comment.
Look where that got you , I thought before I could help it. Shame swallowed me immediately and I huddled into myself.
"No," Everly said softly, grabbing my hand. "You're not going there."
I gave her a tearful smile and squeezed her hand. Settling against the headrest, I shut my eyes. Doors opened and closed all around the truck, and I heard it shift.
"Everyone buckled up?" Ev asked.
My eyes flew open as I realized her voice was in front of me. Ev was now in the driver's seat and the space next to me was occupied by Targen. He stared at me, concern in his eyes and a small frown line between his brows. I pretended not to see, instead turning to gaze out the window as Ev took off across our grandparents' sizable holdings.
Millers' Farm was a thriving business, and I wasn't sure what all my grandparents produced to sell and what was just for us. Spread over a few thousand acres were all the typical farm animals, peach, pear, and pecan orchards, a small horse rescue outfit, a couple of ponds, and so much more.
But Granny and PawPaw envisioned some kind of family village, too. Their first house was still here, carefully maintained, along with the "Big House" they'd built twenty years ago. They had a guest house, the Stone House, and some of their six children and grandchildren had homes on the property. I was so proud of Granny and PawPaw. The children of domestic workers and sharecroppers had done well for themselves and for us.
Once we reached the Stone House, I decided to take the upstairs masters while Ev took the downstairs one.
"Damn, shorty, our room is nice!" Real exclaimed.
"Montréal, don't play with me. Take ya ass right across that hall," Ev shot back.
I laughed at them as I climbed the stairs. I made my way into the master bedroom before pausing in front of the dresser there. I smoothed a hand over my hair in the mirror just as Targen began to bring my bags in. I glanced up at him.
"Oh! I can help with..."
My words trailed off as he gave me a fierce look. Okay, maybe I can't . I had been the only granddaughter regularly staying at the Big House and I had come for an indefinite time. I didn't know what the words "pack light" meant, but Targen brought all my stuff in two trips, flexing the muscles that had me damn near drooling. When he was done, I glanced at him shyly, then quickly looked away when I found his penetrating gaze stuck on me.
"I'm sorry about what I said earlier, if it came across as inappropriate. I wasn't trying to upset you," he said.
The sincerity in his eyes made me feel bad. I was giving him the wrong impression, letting him only see the fragile, damaged me.
"You were... it wasn't you, Targen. I just get in my head, sometimes," I explained.
It sounded half-hearted to my own ears. He walked closer until he was near enough that I could revel in his delicious scent. I breathed out softly as he stroked my temple.
"Let me in there, too," he murmured.
My eyes widened.
"Wh-what?"
"Let me into this beautiful head. I wanna know you, Theory. What makes you happy. What makes you angry. What makes you horny."
"Targen!"
He smiled before his lips brushed my forehead in a whisper of a kiss.
"And I wanna know what makes you sad, baby, so that I can replace every thought, every memory with ones that make you smile. I'ma make you so?—”
"Theory Grace! Bring your butt down here! It's a Miller Girl meet-up!"
Emory's bossy voice snatched me out of the cocoon Targen's words were building. I looked up at him as words escaped me.
"It's okay. Go get interrogated. I'll talk to you later. I'm taking the room across from yours unless you want me further down the?—”
"Across is fine," I said hurriedly, then felt myself blushing.
Oh, God! Maybe he wouldn't realize I wanted him as close as possible. Peering up into his face, I saw his smug grin. I blushed harder.
Yeah, he realized. Dammit !
* * *
"It was nothing, Em. For real. We had an arrangement, it ran its course, and here I am. You already know that," Everly said with a carefree shrug from her spot next to me on the edge of her bed.
In her usual royal fashion, Em sat prettily in a chair across from us, making the little wingback look like a throne. It didn't help that Hy and Pip stood behind her like bodyguards; I thought back to how Targen described this as an interrogation. He'd read Em correctly after meeting her once. I smiled at the thought, smiled harder at the thought of him—strong, protective, considerate, beautiful, and scarred. He?—
"I'on know what you smiling for. Got a couple of questions for you, too," Emory snapped at me. "But back to you, Everly Love. This was your typical, no-strings-attached situation, but this man looked for you, met with my very scary husband about you, and is here staying with you. Oh, and when you first came home, you cried to Granny and stayed in your room at the house for a week. But the minute y'all see each other, you on that man's dick like you missed it bad. That seems like a lot of strings."
Emory's eyes were laser-focused on her sister. Everly looked uncomfortable but she didn't change her story.
"He didn't like the way I left because he has enemies. Thought I might be an opp or something stupid."
Emory sucked her teeth. "That dude don't believe that. Why don't y'all just admit y'all done caught feelings?—”
Everly waved a hand in protest.
"Cuz that's not it at all, Inspector Gadget. Now, y'all gon' help us unpack? I need to go into town," she said. "We need to make a grocery order. And I gotta go by the pharmacy."
"The pharmacy?" Emory repeated, eyebrow raised.
"Mind the business that pays you, Emory Leigh."
Emory's eyes moved to me. She opened her mouth, and I shook my head.
"Absolutely not," I said, springing up. "I'll order the groceries."
She was not about to quiz me about Targen. Not when I hadn't figured out the answers myself.