Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ERIN
“ O kay, I appreciate the protectiveness that this has brought to the surface, but really, maybe I should just move out for a while. I can easily commute back and forth to help with the kids, and that way I’m not putting anyone in danger all the time.”
“No.”
“But it would be the logical thing to do. You and I both know it. At least until we get everything figured out. I’m sure I could stay at my cousin Drew’s condo. It’s up on the ski hill, and the building has excellent security.”
“No.”
I blow out a breath and climb off his lap.
“You’re being stubborn.”
Remington simply lifts an eyebrow, as if he’s saying, “And?”
“I get it,” I say and start to pace because I’m full of nervous energy. “I know that you needed to bring your whole family in here because this could potentially be a problem for everyone, not just me. I mean, sure, it was a bit jarring to walk in and see the whole lot of you here, but I get it. It would go down the same way in my family. You stick together, and you work through things as a team.”
I blow a stray piece of hair out of my eyes.
“The responsible thing for me to do is to move into town.”
“No.”
“Jesus, Grumpy.” I turn, prop my hands on my hips, and frown at him. “Sure, I’ll miss the sex, too, but it’s just sex. We can live without it for a little while until this is resolved.”
The room goes still as Rem’s eyes narrow. Slowly, he lifts himself out of the chair and moves to stand just a couple of feet away from me.
“ Just sex?” he repeats. “Do you think that what’s been going on here is just…sex?”
“I mean, it is sex.” I feel my pulse speed up.
His eyes drop to my neck. “The way your heartbeat quickens, thumping away there in your throat, and I haven’t even touched you yet.”
I swallow hard, unable to reply as he reaches out and drags his fingertip over my pulse. He leans in and brushes his nose over the apple of my cheek, then drifts lower to my ear.
“The way your breath catches when I touch you like this.”
His hands push under my new dress, skimming up my thighs and my sides, and he lifts it up, over my head and arms, and lets it drop to the floor.
And he’s right, my breath does catch.
“You have goose bumps,” he continues, his voice still soft and crooning as he lets the backs of his knuckles trail up and down my stomach, up to my breasts, and around to unfasten my bra, dropping it to the floor, as well. “Your cheeks flush, but that’s not all that turns a pretty pink.”
“Rem—”
“Shh.”
I reach for him, but he spins me around in a circle, boosts me up onto his desk, and spreads my legs so he can stand between them.
Once again, I reach for his pants, but he takes my hands in his, kisses them, and places them on his desk at my side.
“I don’t get to touch you?”
“I’m not done making my point,” he says and squats in front of me. With one finger, he nudges my panties to the side. “Put your feet on my shoulders.”
As I do, he lowers his mouth to me, and I fall back on my elbows, already lost to him. Jesus, he eats me like he was born for it, and every single time, I see stars.
I cry out and move to grab onto his hair, but he quickly ducks out of the way.
“Elbow on the desk,” he says, his hazel eyes on fire. “Now.”
With my eyes on his, I follow his command, which makes him grin.
“Good girl.”
You know, I always thought I’d deck the first guy to say good girl to me like that, but it turns out that it’s hot as fuck.
He goes back to work, and once I’ve fallen apart, not just once, but twice , he kisses his way up my body and nibbles on my lips.
“The way I can make you fucking lose your mind is not just sex, Erin.” He unfastens his jeans, and tugs them down past his hips, and then pushes inside of me, and I moan, delirious for more of him. “The way I fit inside of you, so goddamn snug and perfect, as if you were made for me.”
He begins to move in long, easy thrusts and then picks up the pace, as if he just can’t hold himself back any longer.
“The way I lose myself in you every time,” he growls into my ear. “Don’t you see that I’m falling in love with you? It fucking scares me, but it’s true.”
I have to wrap my arms around him now, and he lifts me, bracing me against the wall, and continues to pound me, as if he’s punishing us both for ever having the audacity to think that this was ever just about sex.
“Rem,” is all I can say as I hold on tight and succumb once more to the absolute bliss of an orgasm gifted to me by this man.
He follows me over, then leans his forehead on mine and works to catch his breath, watching me steadily.
“You’ll stay,” he says at last. “Because you leaving isn’t a motherfucking option.”
“No.” I swallow hard, also fighting to catch my breath. “Leaving isn’t an option for either of us.”
“Why is Bruiser with us?” Holly asks from the back seat as I take them to school the next morning.
“He’s just helping me out with something,” I reply and offer Bruiser a smile.
“Does Dad know?” Johnny asks. “Because Bruiser’s real important in the barn and stuff.”
I can’t help but laugh at that and look at Johnny in the rearview mirror. “Of course, your dad knows. He’s the one who suggested it.”
“I don’t do much that your daddy doesn’t know about,” Bruiser assures Johnny. I pull through the drop-off line and say goodbye to the kids, then pull out again.
“I think it’s silly that you had to take time out of your day just for this ride,” I say to the man sitting next to me. “It’s literally a drop-off.”
“I do what I’m told,” Bruiser replies.
“Is Bruiser your real name?”
“Nope.”
“What is your real name?”
“Theodore.”
I feel my eyes go wide, and I turn to him in surprise. “Bruiser suits you better.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
My phone rings, and I answer it with the tap of a finger on the display. “Hi, Millie.”
“Erin?” My blood runs cold at the sound of her voice.
“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
“I’m sick,” she replies. “Stupid cold or something. I’m supposed to have the late shift at the coffee shop today, but I can’t go like this. I’m disgusting, and I’ll just get everyone sick. Can you cover for me?”
“I—” I glance at Bruiser, who nods. “Sure. I’ll head that way now.”
“You’re the best ever ,” she says. “I’m sorry to do that to you. Is someone with you?”
“Bruiser’s here. He’ll stay with me today.”
“You’re the best, Bruiser. I owe you one. Now I’m gonna go die.”
She hangs up, and I let out a gusty sigh. “I’m sorry. I know this takes a whole day away from you.”
“I’ve been told to stick close to you. I’ll just let the boss know where we’ll be.”
He places the call to Remington while I get us turned around and headed back to town and to the coffee shop. I’m not wearing my usual Bitterroot Valley Coffee Co. T-shirt, but I’m in jeans. Since I’m filling in, I’m sure it’ll be okay.
“Thank God you’re here,” Marion says with a relieved sigh as I walk in. “Thank you so much for covering for Millie. That poor girl sounds awful.”
“It’s not a big deal at all. I just don’t have the right shirt.”
“I think you look great,” she replies with a wide smile. She glances over at Bruiser, who takes a seat in the corner of the café. “Is he bothering you?”
“No, definitely not. He’ll be hanging out today as my own personal bodyguard. Marion, I don’t know if Millie told you, but?—”
“She filled me in on what I need to know, and Chase came in, as well, with a photo and pertinent information,” Marion assures me. “I’m glad you have someone to protect you. I’m having all the locks changed here, and I’m installing some cameras.”
I feel tears spring to my eyes. “Oh, you don’t have to do that.”
“I should have done it years ago,” she says, shaking her head. “This was a reminder for me. You know that I just love you to pieces, and I’m going to do everything I can to keep you safe and comfortable here at work.”
“How did I get so lucky to have such an awesome community of people around me?”
“You moved to Bitterroot Valley,” she says with a wink. “We take care of our own here. Now, it was busy first thing, as it normally is, but it’s calmed down a bit. If you can handle things out here, I’ll go back and make some calls about those cameras and locks. I have to run payroll, as well.”
“I can definitely handle it.”
“Great. Holler if you need help. I’m just back in the office.”
Before she turns to leave, Marion pulls me in for a quick hug, then hurries away.
“Marion isn’t a hugger.”
I jump and spin at the voice and then grin at Brooks. “You’re right about that. It surprised me, but in a good way. How are you doing, Brooks?”
“I’m great.” His eyes are serious as he watches me. “I’m also keeping my eyes and ears open. No one will get to you in this town, Erin. It’s too small, and like Marion said, we take care of each other here.”
“I’m learning that,” I reply with a nod. “And I appreciate it more than you know. To be honest, it’s embarrassing.”
“Why?” Brooks frowns over at me. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“No, I didn’t.” I take a deep breath and let my tense shoulders drop. “You know what? You’re right. I’m no longer allowing myself to be embarrassed about something I didn’t do.”
“Excellent. Now, I’ll take a black coffee and some of that huckleberry-lemon bread.”
“Oh, that sounds good, doesn’t it?” I get to work pouring his coffee and then slide a slice of the bread into a little paper sleeve. “I think I’ll have to snag a piece of this for myself. I had no idea what I was missing before I moved here, never having tried huckleberries.”
“Montana gold,” he says with a wink.
“Is it true that people have been shot over the huckleberries they’ve picked?”
“Unfortunately, yes. Many people carry protection when they go out to pick. The berries are worth so much money, and it takes so long to pick them, that sometimes the pickers are robbed.”
“That’s crazy to me,” I murmur with a frown. “They’re just berries. ”
Brooks laughs. “Be careful who you say that to. Like I said, they’re Montana gold.”
“What makes them so special?”
“They don’t grow just anywhere, so it’s difficult to transplant the bushes. They only like higher elevations, over thirty-five hundred feet, and they’re picky about humidity and sunshine.”
“It’s a wonder we have any of them at all,” I reply with a laugh.
“Remington has lots of bushes out at his ranch,” Brooks says. “You’ll have to go picking this summer. Just watch for bears.”
“Bears?” I stare at him, stunned.
“They like the berries more than we do, and that’s saying a lot.” Brooks winks and then turns to walk away. “I’d better get back to work. You have a good day.”
“You, too!”
I glance over at Bruiser, who just gives me a nod. I walk over to him and smile.
“What kind of coffee can I make you?”
“Oh, I don’t need anything.”
“It’s on the house, Bruiser. Seriously. Let me do something for you.”
He nods slowly. “I’d take a caramel mocha and one of those slices of huck bread.”
“You got it.”
I glance up through the windows before turning away and feel my heart catch as I squint, trying to get a better look.
Could that be him?
There’s a man across the street, looking this way. It could be, if he’d grown six inches in five years and dyed his hair red, but that’s unlikely. A woman comes running up to him, and he kisses her, and off they go.
“What’s wrong?” Bruiser asks, following my gaze.
“Nothing, I’m just being paranoid.”
I wander back to the counter and make Bruiser’s order, and once I’ve delivered it to him, I get to work with the mid-day cleanup of the machines and refilling supplies like napkins and cups. The creamer and half-and-half containers need to be refilled, as well.
Marion did have a busy morning.
Hearing the bell over the door, I turn to greet my next customer and find the new guy in town, Clay, frowning over at me.
“Erin?” he asks as he approaches. “I thought Millie worked today.”
“She usually does,” I reply. The kid has a crush on Millie. Not that I can blame him; she’s beautiful and the sweetest there is. “But she wasn’t feeling well, so I’m filling in. Are you settling into town well?”
“Yeah, I like it,” he says, that southern twang heavy in his voice. “It’s real nice.”
“I hear you’re renting from Roger.”
His head comes up, and he narrows his eyes.
“I used to rent that apartment,” I explain with a laugh. “And I still see Roger often. He’s the nicest guy in the world. Do you like the apartment?”
“Uh, yeah.” He clears his throat. “It’s a good place. It was nice that it came furnished.”
“Right? So convenient. Anyway, I’ll stop talking your ear off. What’ll it be today?”
Clay places his order and then moves down to the pickup area, his nose in his phone. A few more customers start to wander in, and the next couple of hours go by fast.
“You’re a rockstar,” Marion says with a smile as she joins me, ready to help. “I got so much accomplished back there. Thanks.”
“It’s no problem; the day is moving fast. Everything good with you?”
“Oh, yeah, everything’s fine.”
“I’m just going to run to the restroom really quick,” I tell her and move to walk to the break room, but the hair on the back of my neck stands up, and I turn to the door.
In walks Summer with a bouquet of roses.
“Shit,” I whisper and close my eyes. Like lightning, Bruiser is at the counter, taking the flowers from Summer.
He passes me the card.
“Sir, those are for Erin,” Summer says, ready to knock Bruiser for a loop.
“He’s with me,” I tell her quickly. I open the card and feel my stomach sink.
I can’t wait to marry you.
“Oh, Erin,” Marion says as I crumple the card in my fist.
“I didn’t think I should throw them away,” Summer says. “I called Chase, like he asked me to do, and brought them over to you.”
I close my eyes, ready to break down into sobs, but that won’t solve anything.
“Don’t throw that away,” Marion advises, taking the card from me. “Come on now, and sit down.”
“I can’t do this,” I whisper, shaking my head. I’m surrounded by the two women and Bruiser, and other customers are watching with interest. “I just can’t do this, Marion.”
“Oh, honey,” Marion says, but I take her hand in mine, my eyes pleading with her to understand.
“I need to take some time off, Marion. I know this leaves you in a bind, and I’m so sorry, but I just can’t deal with this every time I’m here.”
“I understand,” Marion replies, and I can tell by the tone of her voice that she means it. “Don’t worry, I’ll get your shifts covered. And this isn’t you resigning, sweet girl. This is a sabbatical until all of this is resolved.”
It feels like all I’ve done is cry over the past few days, but more tears well in my eyes.
“You know I’ll want to come back,” I say. “I love it here too much to stay away.”
“Good.” Marion smiles bravely, but I see the worry there, too. “Everything’s going to work out, honey. You just wait and see.”
“I know.” I nod, wipe at the tears on my cheeks, and stand to get back to work. “I’ll finish out today.”
“Oh, I’ve got this now that my office work is done,” Marion assures me. “You go on home, where you feel safe.”
The sound of that is music to my ears. There’s nothing I want more in the world right now than to be out at the ranch.
Bruiser’s been on the phone this whole time, likely with Remington, and he’s just hanging up when I turn to him.
“We’ll have to come back in an hour to get the kids.”
“Ms. Joy will pick up the kids today,” Bruiser says. “Let’s get on out to the ranch.”
“Okay.” I instinctively reach out and hug Marion. “Thank you. I’ll keep you posted.”
“You take care of you ,” she says sternly. “Drop in once in a while for a coffee.”
“I’ll do that.” I hurry into the back and hang up my apron, grab my purse and keys, and walk back out to Bruiser. “Okay, let’s go.”
“You should know,” Bruiser says when we’re on the highway, heading toward the ranch, “Chase will be meeting us out at the ranch to talk to you.”
“I figured.”
“And Remington isn’t too happy.”
“He’s frustrated,” I reply. “And I don’t blame him because I’m frustrated, too. Thanks for being there with me today. You really put me at ease.”
“When you weren’t busy worrying that the boogeyman was going to jump out and get you,” he replies and shrugs when I glance over at him. “You don’t have a poker face.”
“Yeah, there is that.”