Chapter Five
Tina Marie
“It’s not apple,” is the first thing I blurt out once Braden opens the door to the cabin he calls home. It’s the one we have designated for the foreperson, to give them some room away from the rest of the crew and a larger space if they have a family. His son is currently at school, making this a perfect time for my visit.
He smirks at the box in my hand and shakes his head. His large frame blocks me from entering, a strategic move on his part. I might have tried the pie trick a few times before. If there’s one thing the O’Neals are known for, it’s their tenacity.
Not to be deterred, I push my way in and stroll into the living room. Braden might be made of granite, but I know his weak spot. This is a man who not only knows what to do with a pair of double Fs, he loves them… especially if they’re clad in a tight tank top and pressed against his yummy chest.
“In my defense, who runs an orchard and doesn’t like apples?” I huff, rolling my eyes as I place the pie on the wooden coffee table.
Braden is right behind, having no choice but to follow me in. We’ve done this dance too many times to count. “A lot of people work with things—and people—they don’t like,” he says. His deep, warm voice makes me wish it was winter instead of spring so I could have him read out loud to me from dirty books while we were curled up under a blanket.
His thinly veiled jab isn’t lost on me, but just like my mama, he’s spouting nonsense. Doesn’t like me, my foot. The man is currently staring at my ass so hard and heated that I’m afraid I might burst into flames.
“Bullshit,” I say, planting myself right up in his personal space. “You like me… maybe a little too much. That’s why you avoid me all the time. Sending messages through Colton like a scared child.” My arms are around his neck now, my nails raking through the scuff on the back of his head.
Rising on my toes, I lift myself until my mouth reaches his ear. “Don’t worry, sugar, I’ll only bite if you ask.” Who said a virgin can’t be a sex kitten? This one plans on having her man flat on his back, taking his seed deep inside before the day is over. I want babies and lots of them.
A shudder goes through his body as the top of my tongue traces a path down his ear. I’ve never been this bold before. Normally, I stop at brushing my body against his or lightly stroking his chest. Mouth-to-skin contact is new.
Braden hisses a word my daddy only used when he was super mad. However, I don’t think that’s the emotion Braden’s feeling right now. My pussy clenches as I watch raw need paint his cheeks crimson and darken his once playful, light brown eyes. I push closer, eliminating any air between our chests, causing another shudder to rock his massive frame, almost knocking me off my feet.
Ever the gentleman, Braden finally touches me, lifting his beefy arms to hold me steady. They land on my ass, and, as if they had a mind of their own, begin to squeeze and massage the round globes, pulling a groan from both our lips. Once again, that dirty four-letter word leaves his lips, this time whispered like a prayer… a plea. So, I answer.
“Yes, please. I thought you’d never ask.” With one hop, I wrap my legs around his waist, clinging on for dear life. Because this is a matter of life or death. If he rejects me now… I don’t even wanna think about it.
“Tina Marie,” he growls in warning but maintains his hold on my ass cheeks, even going as far as to walk us over to the couch to sit. “I thought I told you to leave this alone.”
I shift my legs around, getting on my knees so I can straddle him properly, placing my core snugly against his hard member. That’s the this he’s referring to—his obvious attraction to me. It’s that attraction that makes him push me away whenever we’ve gotten close.
“And I thought I told you, you’re mine. Now I made you a strawberry-rhubarb pie this time. You’ll love it.”
“You sound mighty sure of yourself, angel.”
Angel. That’s what he calls me when his defenses are down… when he stops resisting us so hard. Braden insists he is too old for me, fighting our inevitable happily ever after with all his might. Like an eleven-year difference is such a big deal. If we don’t care, why should anyone else?
“I am. Bear told me it was your favorite.” After many failed attempts to find a flavor he likes, I finally asked his son, who was all too happy to spill the beans. That little boy loves me to pieces and l love him right back.
“You spoke to Bear?”
“Yep. I had to do something… you wouldn’t tell me.” I prattle on, paying no mind to the hard expression on Braden’s face, too distracted by the way his pecs are testing the limits of his worn tank top undershirt. “Think of all the fruit I wasted. Apple, cherry, blackberry… You’re a tough man to bake for, Braden McClain.”
“You spoke to my son?” he loud rumble.
That got my attention. I glance up in shock, lost as to what has him so upset. I don’t have to wonder for long.
Braden’s hands slide up from my backside to my waist. He might be a little irritated but still can’t let me go. “I told him not to bother you. He shouldn’t be going behind my back, giving away my likes and dislikes.”
“Yeah, I know all about your silly ‘don’t bother the locals’ rule. I told Bear not to worry about it. He can speak to people all he wants. The boy has to make friends. This is his home, after all.”
The poor child is afraid to talk to anyone and sits in school all day miserable as all get-out. Braden has him convinced that this is a temporary move. Since his wife left them for his best friend, he has become quite the wanderer.
“Is this how it’s going to be, Tina Marie? I tell our kids something and you tell them to ignore it because if that’s the case—” The rest of his speech is lost on me. All I can focus on are the two sweetest words ever spoken.
“What are you smiling about?” Does he even have to ask?
“Our kids… you said our kids.” My heart skips a beat, and butterflies explode in my stomach as I repeat his words.
Braden does what he always does when he accidentally gives me a ray of hope—takes it away, along with his warmth. My waist is now cold, missing his touch. “Shit, Tina Marie, I didn’t mean it. It was a slip of the tongue, I got excited and lost my head. I’m old enough to be your father, for Pete’s sake.”
“My, you must have been a very active eleven-year-old, then.”
“You know what I mean,” he groans, running a calloused hand through his short brown hair. “You should be out with boys your age, living life, not saddled with a husband and son old enough to be your brother.”
I’ve heard those words before, but they hit me differently this time. I love Braden, but I can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep chasing some man that clearly doesn’t want forever with me. If he truly wants to be with me, our age difference shouldn’t matter.
“You know what Braden McClain, you’re right. I can have any man I want. Instead, I’m wasting my time chasing one who’s too scared to be caught. And I’m sick and tired of it. I’m taking my pie and going elsewhere. Tell Bear I’m sorry I got him in trouble. I’d do it, but I’m not allowed to talk to your precious son.” Speech over, I climb off his lap and grab my pie, intent on walking out of his life forever. Well, not forever. I do still have to work with him.
“What did you say?” Great, now he wants a repeat.
“I said—”
“I heard what you said. What do you mean by my son, and where are you going with my pie?”
“I’m taking it to Colton, if you must know. He loves strawberry-rhubarb. Well, peach is his favorite, but this is a second best.”
“How the hell do you know what his favorite pie is? You been making pies for other men? You better tell me right here and right now, Tina Marie McClain, that you haven’t been making pies for other men or so help me, I’ll rid this town of every man breathing.”
“What? Braden, have you lost your mind?” I stop short at the door. Tina Marie McClain! No. We’ve been here before, not two seconds ago, and I refuse to get excited over another slip of the tongue.
“You heard me. And Bear is our son. You’ve been saying that since day one, no sense in stopping now. Now put my pie down and get your sweet ass into the bedroom. I’m putting a baby in you today. Maybe then you’ll calm your happy pie-making ass down.”