24. Dylan
”There we are, son. Eighteen large Granny Smiths, twenty pounds of sweet potatoes, fifteen pounds of beets, twelve pounds of cranberries, twenty pounds of sugar, twenty pounds of onions, and twenty cartons of chicken broth. Did I miss anything?”
”Amazing as always, Granny Braeburn.” I grin, grabbing the heavy box and bags from her before she can set them on the market”s counter. ”Don”t know where the town would be without you. Don”t ever retire, please.”
”Don”t you worry that noggin” of yours.” She giggles and playfully slaps me on the arm.
She has the strength of a yearling bull for someone close to her eighties. I guess it makes sense after raising seven boys.
From the corner of my eye, I see her oldest son, Gabe, rolling his eyes with a lighthearted sigh at our usual banter. ”Sweet talking fellas, you Caldwells.”
”Now, see this charming woman in a white dress working behind the counter—reckon I can get her number?” I continue to tease.
”Oh, hush, Dylan,” she gushes. ”You”re makin” me blush.”
I wink at her. ”Just being honest, Granny Braeburn.”
”Oh, before I forget, got you some homemade apple fritters.” She takes five wrapped packages from the cabinet.
I tip my hat to her, go to my truck, pack everything, and then check my phone.
I have about an hour before I need to get back to the ranch, so I”ll stroll around town. After all, the day before Thanksgiving is the most exciting day of the year here in Wind Dance—well, second next to Christmas, I”ll say.
As I meander through the streets, the excitement of the holidays is in the air. People are quickly scrambling from one shop to another, trying to finish their last-minute ingredients and preparations.
The annual holiday market is also in full swing, with fifty or so booths centered around the water fountain and side streets, each offering unique and enticing products. The town is rearing, with everyone looking forward to the festivities ahead. It”s truly an experience that you wouldn”t want to miss.
The coffee shop is buzzing as people take breaks from their shopping to grab cups of coffee, so I head over, too, for a much-needed hot apple cider.
After placing my order for two large ones, I step to the side and debate what to do next. Maybe I”ll do some early Christmas shopping. I”ll get Lara something. Something she”ll never forget. Something that”s going to knock it out of the park to where nobody can beat it. Especially not that lousy piece of sh?—
The chime on the front door opening brings me back from my evil thoughts of Andrew.
”Oh!”
Lara”s shocked tone lures me, and I”m helpless and turn at the sound of her voice. She”s wearing a grey fleece jacket, perfect for the chilly November. Her braided brunette hair is tucked into a white-knit hat. Her dark blue jeans fit her perfectly, and she”s wearing sturdy hiking boots.
She”s stunning. Like an angel. Like always.
Then I resist the urge to snarl because there”s that fucker she”s been seeing standing next to her. His arm is wrapped around her waist, chest puffed like he”s showing off his trophy wife, and it takes everything in me not to tear his arm off.
I manage a fake smile as I walk up to them.
Why she”s even considering this dude? Why not better?
Why not me?
I flash a smile. ”Howdy, Lara. Didn”t expect to see you here,” I greet, trying not to wince at how cringy I sound because the town is small, and with so many people doing last-minute shopping, it shouldn”t be all that surprising to see her here.
The fucker next to her frowns, but I don”t even spare a glance his way to acknowledge his existence. I refuse to.
Someone clears their throat beside me, and my arm is wrapped between two hands. ”Oh, Dylan, you”re so mean,” Sloan whines at me.
”Yeah,” Tiffany huffs, batting her eyelashes at me.
”Hey, girls,” I greet. ”What”re you all doing here?” I ask stupidly again.
”Doing some last-minute shopping,” Tiffany answers, stepping beside Sloan for me to see what they”re wearing.
Sloan is wearing a puffy lavender jacket, and Tiffany is wearing pastel pink. Both have undone zippers, showing off their matching black crop tops that expose their midriffs above their black leggings.
”We bumped into Lara and Andrew wandering around the market and decided to join for lattes,” Sloan chimes in. ”Hey, why haven”t you been replying to any of my messages?” She pokes me in the ribs. ”Have you been purposely ignoring me?”
Wow, she doesn”t know how to hold back punches, and I awkwardly clear my throat while racking my brain for some excuse. While I wasn”t ignoring her purposefully, I wasn”t with the idea of hanging out with her in my free time.
”I”m going to order,” Lara grumbles.
”Get me an iced expresso, sexy. I”ll grab a seat,” Andrew says, smacking her ass before walking off.
Seriously?
My fists ball up, and I”m grinding my teeth so hard I”m surprised they don”t crack from the pressure. I don”t know what excuse I make in my mood, but thankfully, it”s enough for Sloan and Tiffany not to continue pushing me. But the two give me their coffee orders for me to purchase and go tittering off to sit with Andrew.
I take a breath and head to the counter. At least they will be too busy with Andew and leave me alone.
I order Sloan and Tiffany”s drinks, and the poor barista looks close to tears. I know it”ll be a long wait with the stacks and stacks of cups laid out on the counter still waiting to be made—including the two apple ciders I placed a few minutes ago.
I scoot beside Lara and clear my throat. ”I see you”re still seeing… him.” It comes out with more hostility than I”d like, but it”s too late.
Lara tenses, crossing her arms. She focuses on the barista, and it pains me that as time passes, it”s like we”re standing on opposite banks of a river, and with every second, the distance between us widens.
”Yeah… and?” she eventually snidely remarks.
”So, uh—you officially together now?”
She pauses.
”We”re not together,” she says.
Okay. Fun—that”s what she means.
Hesitation is in her eyes, though. As I study her face, I can”t help but notice how beautiful she is again. And despite the tension between us, that surge of affection and desire for her is still blazing.
”I get it,” I say, keeping my tone light. ”Just be careful.”
She nods, and I see the appreciation in her expression of my concern. ”I don”t think I”ll be seeing him long. He”s not my ty?—”
”I have an order for two large apple ciders for Dylan.”
”Um, yep. That”s me,” I murmur, grabbing the two cups. When I see Lara eyeing my drinks, I don”t think twice before handing one over to her with a smile. ”Here. I know how much you like cider.”
She stares at me for a moment and then frowns. ”I don”t need your pity coffee, Dylan. Why don”t you give it to Sloan or Tiffany?”
”That”s not what this is,” I say. ”Anyway, I”ve already ordered them their fancy lattes. Come on. Take it.”
That does it as she stares at the offered drink for a few seconds before accepting it and smiling.
”Thanks.”
As she sips the cider, a wicked idea pops into my brain, and I recall what she said earlier before she was cut off, and suddenly, I want to show Lara how much fun she can have without hanging out with a loser like that fucker. Who isn”t her type.
”So, you like fun?” I whisper.
Her eyes are full of interest in what I”m about to suggest, and she bites her lip almost to stop herself from grinning.
I hold out my hand. ”Trust me?”
She breathes in and takes my hand.
”Run,” I say deeply, and we bolt out of the coffee shop with me dragging her.
Lara”s laugh echoes behind me, transporting me back when things were simpler and happier.
Sloan and Tiffany call our names, but I ignore them and run toward my truck with Lara.
”You”re freaking crazy!” she cries, trying not to spill her drink.
”Get in!”
As we scramble into the truck, my heart races with the thrill of the moment coursing through my veins. Glancing behind us as I place my cider into the cup holder, I see Sloan, Tiffany, and Andrew hot on our heels.
I”m not worried. We”ll outrun them.
I start the engine and hit the gas. The truck lurches forward as we speed away from town.
Once I get to the lake right outside of town, I pull into the empty parking lot, and we get out and lean against the truck, sipping our drinks and giggling.
The rich aroma of cinnamon, cloves, and allspice fills my mouth, warming me. Or maybe that”s because I”m next to Lara, I”m not sure.
Suddenly, a flock of geese parades by, their honking echoing through the stillness as they head for the lake. We watch them waddle onward, their feathers ruffling in the gentle breeze, and a sense of peace washes over me as I take in the moment.
We enjoy the view in silence. Sometimes, words aren”t necessary to appreciate what”s around us.
I want to ask how she is, but… it”s a touchy subject, and I don”t think talking about her fling is any better, no matter how much I want to persuade her to drop him and pick me.
Suddenly, she steps in front of me and presses against me. ”Is this the part where I show you how to have real fun instead?” she purrs, and I blink a few times in shock.
I don”t dare wonder whatshe means exactly, but the growing restraint inside my jeans is speaking for sure.
”W-what do you—” I don”t get to finish when she slides her arms around my neck, knocking my hat off and bringing her lips to mine.
Holy hell.
The apple cider cup tumbles from my hand and hits the pavement, but I can”t process anything besides her sweet and downright intoxicating kisses.
For a moment, I consider stopping her. But—wow, I didn”t expect her to be so bold.
My lips move against hers before my tongue darts out to lick her lower lip. She gasps, and I use the opportunity to slip my tongue inside her mouth. Her little moans vibrate from her chest, and I greedily swallow them and let that pleasure course into my aching dick.
Her hands grip onto my upper arms and dig into my flesh.
So fucking feisty and so damn cute.
It doesn”t take long until the kiss becomes more heated, and I cup her butt and rock against her as she rubs her breasts across my chest. She whimpers and jolts each time I pull her against me.
Occasionally, we move apart for air before we go at each other again.
Her soft hands caress my stubble-covered jaw, thumbs stroking across the softer patch near my cheekbones, and I”m almost ashamed to admit how close I am to coming apart at the seams from just her kisses.
A moan of displeasure seeps through my parted lips when her mouth leaves mine—but I don”t stay disappointed for long as the next thing I know, she”s kneeling on the ground before me and looking up at me with those eyes.
My heart climbs to my throat and suffocates me.
What”s she—is she?—
My dick thickens and throbs as she kisses across my jeans.
I stop breathing as she undoes my belt and my jeans and pulls me through my boxes enough to free my dick.
I”ve gotten some blowjobs before… and it”s not to brag, just the truth. But the moment her mouth finds my shaft, my balls tighten, and my dick throbs like it”s the first time a girl”s tongue has ever touched it.
Pleasure shoots through me from where her mouth is firmly around my arousal. One of her hands caresses the side of my thigh as she works me.
I moan, letting my head roll to the side as she slides me down her throat.
I almost die.
”Mmm,” she hums, and the vibration causes me to shudder.
Sliding my fingers across her cheek and then to the base of her neck, I begin to pump into her mouth as carefully and slowly as I can. Not only to prolong the inevitable and sear the image into my mind forever but so I don”t ruin this magic she”s weaving.
But I can”t help wanting more, and I can”t stop as I drive deeper and faster into her mouth, which ruins me with pleasure. But oh, it”s her eyes that almost make me come undone. They capture and hold me, never leaving, and the universe completely stops.
The hot suction of her mouth, paired with the whimpers falling from her lips, is driving me mad and sends a zap up my spine. It”s enough to push me over the edge as I choke out a grunt, spilling into her mouth.
When I open my eyes, I register what just happened as she slides my boxers back and licks her lips with a mischievous grin. ”That”s how you have some fun.”
And she doesn”t let me say another word before grabbing a few of my apple fritters and heading back to the town center on foot, making me feel like an idiot.
I don”t even understand what?—
Shit!