Chapter 21
LAWSON
The biggest smiles light up Rubes’s and Gracie’s faces as I’m ambushed with exuberant hugs. Gracie’s ever-growing belly prods my side and Rubes all but strangles me as I drop the bags and hug them so damn tight.
“I missed you two.”
Gracie leans back, her hands sinking into her back. “You should come home more often, then.”
Yeah, right. Who’s going to distract me on every flight when I’m traveling solo?
“You packed for an entire family, Laws?” Rubes asks as she scans the two luggage bags and two carry-ons. Her pretty browns narrow, and it’s then she notices the woman to my right. “Oh, hey. I’m Ruby. You must be Carlie. Lawson didn’t tell us you were coming.”
“Hi,” Carlie says, her face lit by ecstatic wonder. She is fangirling big-time over Rubes. It’s kind of funny. She holds out a hand, but Ruby waves it away before pulling her into a hug. “It’s lovely to finally meet you. Lawson hasn’t shut up about you since he started the new job.”
“You’re choking her, Rubes,” I say with a chuckle, and she releases her.
“Sorry, it’s just that Laws never brings anyone home.” Ruby tilts her head, alternating her gaze between us.
“We’re so excited to have you here.” Gracie holds out her hand and Carlie shakes it. “The hugs are a bit awkward. Maybe next time?”
“Mackie-boy let you out of his sight? Or did Rubes steal you?” I ask, knowing how protective my little brother is of his wife. Always has been.
“The last one. But I text him so he doesn’t freak out.” She smiles, resting a hand over her belly. Gracie being ten years younger than Mack and them meeting the way they did after everything they both went through, Mack has every right to be protective of his wife.
She’s in good hands with Rubes.
“Let’s go home, Laws. Reed will be dying to meet your plus-one the second he reads his texts. I can’t wait to see the look on their faces when we get back.”
“Should I be worried?” Carlie whispers as she leans into my side.
“Nah, you’ll be fine. Just don’t piss Harry off.”
“Oh, does that happen often?”
I chuckle. “Only if you’re Rubes.”
We follow the girls to Reed’s big black truck, and Rubes helps stash the bags in the back before we head for home. “You and Carlie have a cabin by the stream. We are booked up, so you have to share.” Her and Gracie share a conspiratorial glance.
Gracie clears her throat. “Sorry, with your plus-one, you’re better off with your own space, Laws.”
Nice work, girls.
It’s not like Carlie and I haven’t shared a space before.
We do it every day at work. And the retreat was a success, in close quarters.
But the kiss on the plane lingers on my mouth.
The feel of her elegant hands around my jawline.
Her breath mixing with mine and the soft sound she made as we parted.
I didn’t imagine the chemistry there.
I couldn’t have. I’ve never felt anything like it before.
Carlie doesn’t look at me, sitting in the back seat with me as Gracie rides shotgun and Rubes drives. Carlie is watching Ruby as if she can’t believe she’s in the same space as the great Ruby Robbins. I’m saving that particular story to tell Rubes later.
I’ve never been prouder of my sister than the moment I realized how big of a deal she was on the New York event planning scene. Okay, maybe the day she put Harry in his place was that day, but . . . The way Carlie speaks about her, I have no doubt Rubes accomplished all that and more.
“How long does it take to get to the ranch?” Carlie asks.
“An hour and a half,” Rubes replies.
Carlie’s smile wraps around her face as she leans over and says softly, “Thank you for bringing me.”
I turn my head, my lips to her ear. “As if I would have left you behind on Thanksgiving, Lamont.”
A small huffy breath puffs against my cheek when I pull away, and she’s frowning.
I slip my phone from my pocket and send her a text.
What’s with the long face?
Long face?
Why are you frowning, Carlie?
You called me Lamont.
You don’t like Princess, so . . .
I need a new nickname, Cowboy.
Guess we’ll have to figure that out this weekend, too.
Guess so.
I can’t get those plane kisses out of my head, so I hedge my bets and tap out another message.
My family can be a bit much sometimes. So, if you’re in need of distracting this weekend, I owe you one. Well, two actually.
I’ll hold you to that
Yes ma’am.
She glances at me sideways.
Keep that up, and I’ll have to collect before we even make it to the ranch.
I huff a chuckle, and Gracie turns back to meet my gaze. “You good?”
“Yeah.”
She smiles at me and takes a quick glance at Carlie, who’s tapping on her phone.
My phone vibrates and I look down at the screen.
If the road gets too rough, I might have to collect.
Sweet Jesus.
Come on, Rubes, do a guy a solid and hit a pothole.
That all it takes?
Maybe . . .
The truck does in fact hit a pothole, and Rubes swears under her breath. My sister is more and more like my brother every damn day. She worries over his big black shiny truck just the same.
Carlie’s hand slides underneath mine. I close my fingers around hers.
I text back.
You’re serious?
I don’t like not being the one in control when it comes to cars.
Figures.
She runs every aspect of her life like clockwork. I always thought that was driven by ambition. Maybe it’s fear of failing, instead?
“You two good back there, or do I need to pull this truck over?” Rubes says.
“Hey, that’s my line.” Gracie laughs, her hand rubbing her belly. “Got to practice beforehand, you know.”
She’s going to be a great mama.
“No, we’re good,” Carlie says, retracting her hand. The loss of her touch is immediate, and I hate it.
I’m way past the friend zone. And after the flight, those moments of distraction . . .
Miles was right, I’m a goner. I’ve gone and fallen for the one woman I can’t have. I shouldn’t want. We’re competing for the same position.
She doesn’t date.
We can’t afford any distractions from the disaster threatening to end Serenity for good, leaving women and children vulnerable.
And the last, but still very real, aspect of this scenario—eight short weeks ago, this woman hated me.
We loathed each other.
What happens if it doesn’t work out? Does hate rear its ugly head again, only to leave me broken?
The white cabins with their red trim on R & R Ranch are spectacular. This time of year, as fall turns the landscape around them a pretty orange hue, even more so. I carry our bags up the few steps and onto the small porch.
Carlie follows, our carry-ons in her hands.
I push through the door and set the luggage down as I take in the space.
The guest cabin is separated by a wall. The living and dining area is open.
The only door to the bedroom sits to the left of the dividing wall.
One of Gracie’s landscape oil paintings of the mountains outside hangs on the wall.
The sofa, flat-screen, and fireplace fill the right, and the small ranch style kitchenette fills the left.
Carlie wanders through the door to the bedroom, looking around. I follow, hands in my pockets as she takes in the quaint space Rubes created for guests.
“Ruby and Reed built this place into the guest ranch. My brothers and father built the cabins and renovated the largest barn, which you’ll see tomorrow night. Rubes has an eye for decorating.”
“That she does,” Carlie says, running a hand over the blankets before she backs up to the side of the bed, her calves hitting the mattress. She flops down starfish-style and waves her arms up and down the covers. “This place is incredible, Lawson.”
“It is. You tired?”
She yawns as the words leave my mouth. I could curl up on this bed and recreate our hours tangled together when she was sick. Less the sick part, that is.
“I’m wiped. What do we do for dinner?” she asks.
“Rubes texted. She’s going to drop a welcome basket off later. Fruit and snacks and the like.”
“Oh, that will be perfect. Maybe I’ll just nap until tomorrow.” She sits up and pats the bed beside her. “Come here.”
It feels like the tension between us has changed. Everything is more familiar. More heightened.
I pad to where she is but don’t sit. Instead, I look down, trying to find the words I’ve been wanting to say for hours. Since the plane landed.
“What?” she says, a rare shy smile gracing her face.
“I—” I study her face. I can’t ruin the working relationship we have. But every day I spend with this woman is more intense, more tortuous than the last. Deciding words won’t cut it, I palm her face. Her lips part as her brown eyes tighten. “How about instead of Princess, I just call you mine?”
Her little gasp has her head jerk back from my hands.
Fuck.
Too much.
Too soon.
You idiot.
I resist the urge to step away. Carlie stands, her hands hanging by her side. “I want to try something,” she whispers.
I stand still, waiting as I swallow against the rock in my throat.
“You’re not needing a distraction, right?” she asks.
“Well, that depends . . .”
The blood racing south says I absolutely do. Anything to take my mind off the stunning woman in front of me.
“I mean, you’re good. This is not just a coping mechanism?”
Fuck.
She means . . .
“I’m good,” I rasp.
Her hands cup my face before dragging my mouth close. Her lips brush over mine. “You sure?”
I nod before pressing my forehead to hers. I couldn’t fight this moment off if I tried. How many weeks have I imagined touching her, kissing her, takin—
“Stop thinking, Lawson.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Fuck, when you talk like that . . .”
My mouth tips in a crooked smile. “How’d you mean, darlin’?”
“God above.” A hand sliding behind my neck, she pulls my mouth down to hers.
I can’t control what happens next. Cupping her face, I pull her up off the bed and spin her round. We’re all heat, dancing around each other, and she meets me where I’m at. Fine fingers glide up my neck and into my hair.
One hand presses over my heart as she herds me backward to the edge of the bed. Dropping onto the mattress, I slide my hands down her neck, losing contact for a second before I grip her hips, and she crawls onto my lap.
Rocking forward, she moans a little. The sound is goddamn intoxicating.
Just as needy for this as I am, she devours my mouth, her hands weaving their way through my hair.
I’m rock fucking hard underneath her.
Sweet Christ, this woman is my version of heaven.
She is heaven, period.
I may as well have died and left this earth for all I care. I take everything she offers up, my hands wandering up her ribs, and she breaks away.
“We should . . .”
Her lips are parted, her breaths now short choppy bursts, color flushing her features. She’s stunning, freshly kissed and out of breath. I can only imagine how incredible she looks freshly fucked.
I press my forehead to her chest with a groan.
She chuckles, running a hand through my hair. “Thank god for turbulence.”
“Fucking hell,” I breathe. I can’t do anything more, only exist, trying to catch my breath around her.
“Laws—”
The front door rattles under a hard knock.
Timing, Reed, timing.
“Hello?” my youngest brother calls, back from being out on his tractor, no doubt. Rubes probably texted him to come home since I arrived with Carlie and had made a point of not telling my family ahead of time. Easier that way.
Ma would make it a big deal and all. I want Carlie’s weekend to be great and productive. None of those things can happen with my meddling family. They mean well, but—
“Is that Reed?” Carlie’s face lights up.
“Yep. Come on, we should get this over with.”
“I heard that, Laws.” Reed’s voice is muted through the door.
Carlie chuckles, tossing her head back. I dot a kiss to her sternum and her laughter fades, brown eyes settling back on my face as all amusement disappears, replaced by a sliver of the need it was just captivated by.
She runs a thumb over my bottom lip before closing her eyes briefly and rising from my lap.
Shifting myself in my jeans, I head for the door and swing it open. “Reedsy, how’s things, bud?”
He opens the screen door and walks in. I tug him into a one-armed hug, and he smacks the side of my head. “You know Rubes needs a heads-up if you’re bringing a pretty girl.”
Carlie walks up, stopping by my side. “Hi.”
“Howdy.” Reed beams, folding her into a hug before I have a chance to tell him not to. As he releases her, he glances at me, fixing his hat. “Well, aren’t you the prettiest surprise we’ve had around here in a long while.”
Carlie huffs a laugh and smiles. “Thank you, glad to be of service.”
“Oh, I like this one, Laws.”
I roll my eyes at him. This one, like there have been others.
“Alright, I’ll let you go back to . . . whatever. The boss wants me home for supper. You’re welcome to join us.” Reed tips his hat before stepping outside.
“The boss?” Carlie asks, glancing at my brother.
He gives her his best grin. “Rubes.”
Her eyes light up as she pulls her bottom lip through her teeth. “Oh, dinner with Ruby Robbins . . . Can we?”
“I’m going to need that request in writing,” I tease.
She raises an eyebrow but pads to her handbag, rifling through it and mumbling a phrase under her breath before returning with a pink sticky note and placing it on my forehead.
Reed cackles where he stands as I peel it off and hold it out to read.
Scrawled over the square pink paper is Please, Cowboy, I’ll owe you one.
I shift my gaze back to catch hers as desperation twists her face. She’s absolutely gone over meeting Rubes. It’s damn adorable.
I know the feeling of being gone all too well as warmth floods my chest with her plea.