Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Laney
It’s been twelve days since Ayden flew home, and I’ve missed him like crazy.
Since I spend my days training and nights packing, I’m exhausted by the time nine rolls around.
On the days Serena doesn’t come to the store with me, my neighbor, Mrs. Johnston, watches her.
Apparently, Serena blurted out everything that’s happened, and now most of the town knows what’s going on since Mrs. Johnston is the town gossip.
Not that I even care anymore since we’re moving in two days, but now rumors are spreading about Mr. Carson.
Between that and Ayden’s plan, I fear it’s only a matter of time before he shows up again.
As I lie in the tub, I FaceTime Ayden since I couldn’t earlier when he called Serena. Though we’ve texted throughout the day, it’s not the same as seeing his face.
“Hello, my love.” He smiles wide when he picks up.
“Hey.” He looks like he just got out of the shower. “Bad time?”
“Are you kiddin’? I’ve been waitin’ all day to see your face. What’re ya doin’?”
“Soakin’ my sore muscles. Being on my feet all day and then packin’ after supper has me exhausted.”
Today was my last day at the store since I need to finish packing tomorrow and then on Tuesday we fly out.
“I wish I were there to help, sweetheart. Let me hire a company to finish that for y’all. You have enough going on.”
“I don’t want strangers in my house when I’m not around. Plus, I’m donatin’ stuff, so it’s just a matter of me going through it all. It’s just one more day. I can handle it.”
“Fine, but we can buy new things for the house when it’s time,” he reassures me. “So only pack what’s crucial. Give away the rest.”
Ayden found out a week ago that Garrett’s offer to sell him land for us to build on is still on the table. After I pack up my house, Mama’s gonna help clean and stage it. Then once it sells, we’ll have the down payment and can get the process started.
“I’m tryin’,” I tell him. “Serena’s already made a Pinterest board of how she wants her room decorated and paint colors. So she’s only bringin’ her essentials.”
I love how excited she is. This is a big change for all of us, and though we’re leaving behind the only place we’ve ever known, it’s worth it for all of us to be happy.
“I already know our master suite is gonna have a huge tub for both of us.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask. “You have plans for us in this tub?”
“You bet your sweet ass I do. Too bad I’m not there now to take care of ya.”
“Hmm...what would you do if you were?”
“You got Mr. Bullet nearby?”
Laughing, I reach over to my towel stack and grab it. “Right here.”
“Good. Turn it on and do what I say.”
I arch a brow, intrigued by this side of him. Pressing the button, it vibrates to life. “Now what?”
“Spread your legs and put it on your clit.”
I do as he says and immediately groan when I feel it.
“Imagine I’m playin’ with your tits. Rollin’ and bitin’ your nipple between my lips.”
“Mmm...yes.” I close my eyes.
“How’s it feel, baby?”
“So good.”
“Slide your vibrator inside your tight pussy and use it like it’s my cock.”
“God. You’re gonna make me drop my damn phone.”
“No doin’ that. I need to see your gorgeous face when you come. Now do it.”
His deep, demanding drawl has me following orders without complaint. The bullet glides in with ease, and my breath hitches at the intrusion. Once I’m used to the feel of it, I slide it out and back in.
“That’s my good girl. Keep goin’. Ride it hard and fast.”
I do as he says repeatedly. My pussy squeezes as I increase my pace.
“I’m so close,” I murmur, my eyes glossed over as I meet his gaze through the screen.
“Now put it on your clit, baby. I’m about to come watchin’ you.”
He angles the phone so I can see he’s stroking himself. It feeds my desire even more, and as soon as I see pre-come on his tip, I explode. My body shakes as I ride the waves of pleasure and moan out his name.
“Fuck...” He grunts out his own release, and I open my eyes just in time to see him come all over his lower stomach.
Once I turn off the vibrator and set it aside, I slide deeper into the water and watch as he cleans himself.
“That was hot.” He smirks.
“It was. I’ve never done that before.”
“Me neither.”
“Look at us, ten years later, and still discoverin’ each other’s firsts.”
“That’s because it’s always only been you, darlin’. Just wait till you get here. Gonna fuck you on every surface of my house. Then when we move into our new house, gonna christen every room in that one, too.”
My cheeks hurt from smiling. “You’re too much.”
Shooting me a wicked grin, he says, “Yeah, but you love me anyway.”
“That I do.”
As I finish up in the bath, he gives me a quick update on the PI he hired. Although I’m not sure how everything’s going to pan out, I trust he knows what he’s doing. I fully support whatever he needs to do to take down his dad. It’s been a long time coming.
“Before I move there, you need to tell me one thing first,” I say once I change into comfy sleep clothes.
Furrowing his brow, he asks, “What’s that?”
“I need the story on you and Wilder.”
He barks out a laugh as he gets comfy in bed. “You really need to hear that story, huh?”
“Yep, especially if I’m gonna see him all the time. I’d rather know than be kept wonderin’.”
“It’s not really a big thing, but Wilder made it into one. He’s such a playboy, he can’t handle the thought of another guy pickin’ up chicks he’s interested in. Except I wasn’t interested. I just made him think it was like that.”
I blink, more confused than I was before.
“Okay, start from the beginnin’ because I understood none of that.”
“A bunch of us ranch hands went out to a bar in town. Lots of tourists, single ladies were there, and he was tryin’ to pick up these two blondes.
They were clearly out of their minds blitzed but all he cared about was gettin’ them to his place.
Well, one of their friends who was much more sober asked if I’d take the girls back to their hotel because she was worried they’d try to drive.
Since I’m a gentleman and didn’t want Wilder takin’ advantage, I agreed.
Except as soon as I got the girls in my truck, they said they couldn’t go back to their hotel because they were on some college dance trip, and if their coach saw them return that drunk, they’d get kicked off. ”
“Oh my God, how old were these girls?”
“Twenty-one.” He shakes his head.
“Geez. Okay, go on...” I begin my skincare routine after I prop my phone up on the mirror.
“So I take the girls to my house and get them settled into the spare room. In the meantime, someone tells Wilder I took both girls home to sleep with them.”
“And you didn’t bother to clarify?”
“Nah. I wanted him to think he lost two girls—to me. The little shit is such a womanizer, he needed his ego knocked down a few points.”
Chuckling, I continue washing my face. “So what happened when you saw him next?”
“Well, as luck would have it, the mornin’ after—when the three of us walk out to my truck so I can take them back to their hotel—Wilder comes out of his place and sees us. So I make some crude gestures and shoot him a wink. Then I get the girls in my truck and flip him the bird once I drive off.”
I shake my head as the scene he describes plays in my head like a movie. “Are y’all sixteen?”
“Hey, this is how Wilder plays. You either put him in his place and play along or get stepped on by his giant boots. Plus, it gave me some good cred on top of pissin’ him off. Double win.”
“Great, so now he thinks my boyfriend had a threesome, and he’s gonna try to sleep with me to get even with you.”
“Yep, which is why he’s gonna be even more pissed when he finds out you and I are together and have a kid. As soon as he finds out you’re back, he’ll be on you like Chicken Pox.”
“Damn. Good thing I’m vaccinated.”
His head falls back as laughter erupts from his throat. “This is why I miss ya so damn much. Always sayin’ funny shit to put me in a good mood.”
“Be even funnier if you let me flirt with him back, and then you walk in and kiss me right in front of him.”
“You don’t know how badly I wanted to do that the first time he laid eyes on you. Then the second time when I walked into The Lodge, and he was all flirty, I wanted to carry you over my shoulder and stake my claim.”
“Okay, caveman.” I roll my eyes and snort. “I would’ve been so embarrassed and never shown my face again.”
“That’s a shame because you’re too gorgeous to be hidin’.”
“Hush up,” I deadpan, and he bursts out laughing at my mud face mask.
“I mean it. Serena clearly takes after you. I hope our next baby does too.”
“Or we could have a boy, and he could be just like you.”
“Charmin’ and good lookin’, right?”
I chuckle, brushing out my hair before putting it into a braid. “Yeah, but also a sweet and carin’ gentleman.”
“He’d be the cutest little boy in a cowboy hat and boots. Then he’d grow up stealin’ hearts left and right.”
The corner of my lips tilts up as I picture the two of us having another baby to raise together. “You better hurry and knock me up.”
His mouth drops open. “Excuse me. As you may recall, I tried a few times when I was there. My boys went where they were supposed to. The rest is up to your lady parts.”
“My lady parts? Yeah, this is why I have to give Serena ‘the talk.’ Perhaps you should be there and get a lesson yourself.”
His amused chuckle echoes through the room. “Oh, I know plenty about your body. I could draw a map usin’ my tongue and with my eyes closed.”
“You’ll have to prove that.”
“I will.” He waggles his brows and then quickly furrows them. “Shit. Zane’s callin’ me. I’m gonna take it, then I’ll text ya.”
“Okay,” I say as he hangs up.
Ayden hired a security team, and they’ve stayed parked outside my store while I work and at my house until nine.
Zane’s a big guy, one I wouldn’t want to mess with, but he seems good at his job.
Ayden wanted it as a precautionary while he’s away and if I’m being honest, it’s helped ease my concerns about Mr. Carson.
I’m exhausted, so when I crawl into bed and close my eyes, I pass out before I can wait up for his good night text.
Loud knocking has me jerking awake in the pitch-black room. Blinking a few times, I feel for my phone and see it’s only been thirty minutes since I spoke to Ayden, but there are several messages and missed calls from him.
Ayden
Get out of the house. Don’t go to your mom’s.
Ayden
I booked y’all a room at the Twins Hotel.
Ayden
Once you get there, lock the door and don’t open it for anyone.
Ayden
Laney, let me know you’re getting these! This is urgent, baby.
Ayden
I’m sending Zane over. Call me as soon as you’re in the car.
What is happening? I jump out of bed and look through the peephole of the front door, finding Zane standing on my porch. “What’s goin’ on?” I ask him as I open it.
“Mr. Carson got a tip about his warrant and now no one can find him. You need to leave, ma’am.”
“As soon as I get my daughter.”
Fuck, this isn’t good.
Zane nods and waits while I rush to Serena’s room. She’s sound asleep, and I hate that I have to wake her.
“Serena, sweetheart.” I shake her a little, and she startles awake. “Sorry, baby, we gotta leave.”
“Where?”
“A hotel. I’ll explain later, okay?”
She nods, and I pick her up. Next, I slide on my shoes and grab my phone. Then I meet Zane in the kitchen who has the door to the garage open for me.
Once I dig my keys out of my purse, I throw it over my shoulder. Zane walks out with us and locks up. I help Serena into the back seat and buckle her, and then get into the driver’s side.
“I’ll follow you to the hotel and make sure it’s secure before I come back here,” Zane tells me as I get situated in my seat.
“Thank you, Zane.”
I press the button to open the garage door, then click on Ayden’s name on my Bluetooth and reverse out of the garage. It rings twice before a loud boom rattles the car, and my ears ring at the sound of an explosion.
Then my vision goes white, and everything fades.