Chapter 32
THIRTY-TWO
MEREDITH
I stay in bed like the obedient girl I turn into around Calder, but I get achy from resting for too long.
I haven’t read so much in years. For dinner, I make a hamburger and potato hot dish.
The guys aren’t home, and I have no idea if they’ll like it, but I’m craving a hearty meal.
After eating, I head back upstairs. The shower is calling my name, so I dig through my drawers.
My phone vibrates on the nightstand. I abandon my fresh pajamas in the drawer to see who’s calling.
No name pops up, but the number is local. Someone who didn’t make the funeral?
“Hello?”
“Meredith, hey.” A deep voice flows through the line.
“Hi?”
Whoever it is lets out a light chuckle. If I weren’t already addicted to Calder’s voice, I might’ve had an eargasm. “Sorry to catch you by surprise. It’s Duncan. Duncan Sterling.”
Surprised, I plop my butt on the edge of the bed. How did he get my number—
Oh. Beth.
“It is a surprise. How’s it going?”
“I’ve heard some chatter that you might be on the market, job-wise. If you are, I have an offer.”
“I’m an owner now.” I’d love to say it with pride, but I might be on the job market soon. How long am I going to insist the brothers think about everything? Will I make things better or worse for all of them? Am I being selfish?
“No kidding?” His voice really is pleasing, but it only makes me miss Calder. “Well, just in case, let me make my pitch. I want to start a brewery.”
“In Scandal?”
“No.” He laughs. “Much as I’d love to see the consternation in the Crosses if I built a place across the road, I’m not a foolish businessman. I have some land outside Dickinson. A working ranch that I can make a guest ranch, with a brewery to draw in customers all year. I need a master brewer.”
And he thought of me? Pride glows from my insides out. Ransom often told me he didn’t know what he’d do without me, but he wasn’t the gushing type.
“You know your craft beer, Meredith. I could see how much the customers liked you, and I’ve heard a ton about your work ethic over the years.”
“Thank you. I mean it—it’s flattering.” I soak up the compliments like the ground during a spring rain. Ransom patiently taught me everything he knew and unlocked a passion inside of me that I made into a career. “But there are no plans to close Jules Creek.”
“Will you get to work on your own line?”
I clamp my teeth into my lower lip as longing roars through me.
What would Calder and his brothers say if I asked to work on different recipes?
My intuition says they’ll want to keep all the products based on Julia’s recipes.
I’ve wanted to create a witbier and play with the spiciness and fruitiness of the Belgium-based beer.
Julia also never invented a decent pilsner recipe, and I’m dying to design a recipe for an Irish red ale.
Holly used to drink Killian’s Irish red.
After I started at Jules Creek, I told her I’d make her one.
I’ll never forget her sympathetic smile when she said, Maybe one day, but don’t stress if you can’t.
At first, I thought she was worried she wouldn’t like the Irish red I created.
Then I understood. I’d have to make a home brew. It’d never be done through Jules Creek.
“No plans on new lines yet,” I say lightly. “It’ll be business as usual until everything settles.”
“It’ll always be business as usual.” He makes a regretful sound. “Keep me in mind. Even if I find someone, I’ll always make room for you.”
“I’m honored.” The gravity of my words sinks in.
Duncan barely knows me more than my reputation.
He used to order a Jules Creek product on tap and pepper me with questions about it, but what he drank didn’t originate from my idea, and wasn’t that part of the fun for every brewer?
I’ve been in the field too long. Of course I want to see what I can do, and how widespread the beer I make can be.
I want to play with limited-release beers and hype a newly invented product.
Ransom kiboshed all those plans. Play with what we’ve got and remember the name of the place, Mer.
“And I’m disappointed. Like I said, keep my offer in mind. Pay will be more than competitive. I know you’re not getting compensated enough, and you’d have full rein. Oh, and Meredith?”
“Yeah?” My mind’s whirring over his offer and the strength of my excitement.
“Don’t be afraid to tell the guys exactly what we discussed. Have a good night.” He hangs up.
A thin laugh leaves me. I won’t be telling Calder or his brothers about this call.
I don’t need more drama. Unless… Would my rejection of the offer show them I’m serious about Jules Creek?
Will the thought of a Sterling launching their own brewery make them want to keep this place?
And if it does, will it make them more likely to agree with my recommendations?
I am rejecting Duncan’s offer, right? Yes. Of course. But full rein of the place… I’m an owner of Jules Creek, and I still won’t get that here.
No. I’m not entertaining Duncan’s proposal. Intrigued? Yes. Wistful? Yes. But I’m loyal to the brewery that picked me up when I was down.
I gather my pajamas and head to the shower. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day. I’m going to help work cattle after I see the shipments off and finish a brew. Calder texted earlier and said everything was ready for me.
In the bathroom, I run a nice warm shower and climb inside. I run through washing my hair and my body, mindful that Calder and Bowen might want to shower and need hot water. Landry’s still not staying at the house, but the cost of the hotel in Williston is probably pocket change for him.
The door cracks open, and I freeze. Warm water pummels my back. The house is locked.
“Saws?”
“Nope,” Calder says.
A shiver ghosts over my skin, and goose bumps erupt everywhere. He’s home early. “Calder.”
“Expecting someone else?” There’s humor in his voice, and the rustle of clothing.
“I’m never expecting someone else when I’m in the bathroom.” I cover my chest. Then my crotch. The light is way too damn bright.
He curls his fingers around the edge of the curtain, but he doesn’t pull it back. “Want me to leave?”
No! Yes. “The lights are on.”
“Good. I’m dying to see the exact shade of pink your nipples are.”
I glance down. “They’re more of a reddish-brown.”
“They’re as red as your cheeks are right now, aren’t they?” His groan resonates through the bathroom. “I want to see them so bad. You’re killing me, rosy.”
I’m the one dying. Panic fills me. I’ve never been so self-conscious, but he’s only seen me in the dark. I’ve been in clothes otherwise, and it wasn’t sexy lingerie.
“Are you… are you naked?”
“Not a stitch of clothing, Meredith. And I’m really fucking hard too.”
The shudder that racks my body is pure anticipation. “Condoms?” I ask hopefully. I may be insecure, but I won’t miss an opportunity.
“No condoms, but I’ve got plans.”
“I want quid pro quo.” I wring my hands together. That was basically inviting him in to see me in all my wet-cat glory. My hair’s tangled around my shoulders, and I have a better start at a farmer’s tan than Calder on my arms, and old swimsuit lines from last summer.
He slowly pulls the curtain to the side.
“Oh wow,” I breathe. He’s a chiseled, cut man, from his trimmed hair to the flex of his calves I can see at the tub’s edge.
Muscles ripple down his abs to an impressive cock jutting straight out.
Those big thighs are as massive as his jeans suggested.
And his erection’s straining so hard the veins are nearly flat. He’s turned-on. For me.
I forget to shrink in on myself, but when I realize I’m still a drowned rat under the water spray, I move my hands to cover as much as possible.
“Don’t.” He steps in and flings the curtain shut behind him.
I plaster myself against the wall. My nipples are tight, and heat is exploding all over my body, but god, his looks are intimidating. “Sorry. It’s such a small bathtub.”
The corner of his mouth tips up. “It’s the one I grew up using, but I’ve never been in here with a girl.” He gathers my wrists in a large hand and pins them above my head. “Now, hold still so I can look my fill.”
I squirm under his inspection. The tip of his cock brushes against my belly, sending the butterflies into a flurry.
“I want to taste every sweet inch of you, Meredith.” He strokes the sensitive inside of my wrist with his thumb. Droplets track down his face, roll down his neck, and trail a path over his chest. I lick my lips, imagining how I’d trace their trek with my tongue.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs.
He doesn’t need to say that to get laid. He knows that, right? Condom or not, the words “fuck it” are on the tip of my tongue. What would he feel like inside me, filling me, moving with me?
He releases my wrists and trails his fingers along my arm. I shiver when he lightly runs them down to follow the curve of my breasts.
“You don’t know how beautiful you are. How the men stare at you in the bar. You don’t know why that fucker cheated on you.”
I jerk at the reminder of my ex when I’m crowded in a tub with Calder. “Why?”
“You intimidated him. Your brains. Your beauty. Your confidence. He knew he didn’t measure up, and that scared him.”
“I’m intimated by you, but I’d never do that to someone.” If I had Calder, I’d never want another man to touch me for the rest of my life. I’d never think of anyone but him.
He takes my hand and puts it on his chest. I spread my fingers against his wet pecs. “I’m just a man.”
He dips his head and catches my mouth. His erection presses into my stomach as he deepens the kiss and pushes his tongue inside.
I’m throbbing, wishing he could fill me.
I whimper when he abandons my mouth with one last swirl of his tongue to kiss his way down my neck. Then he’s lowering to his knees.
I put my hand under his chin to hold him still. “I want to touch you too.” I’m not missing out this time.
I want to weep at the thought of stopping him, but I want this.
He straightens to tower over me and puts a hand on the wall by my head. “Then touch me, rosy.”
Water sluices down his chest, and he angles himself to block the worst of the spray.
I swallow and tentatively rest my fingertips on his chest. I follow a droplet down, farther and farther.
His abs clench, and then I’m at the broad tip of his cock.
Dancing my fingers down his shaft, I bite my lip when he twitches.
I wrap my hand around him and give him a tug.
He groans and drops his forehead. “Fuck, Meredith. I’m about to shoot off like a rocket, and you’ve barely touched me.”
I push down his length to cup his heavy ballsack and run my hand up to the tip. His stomach tightens again. I continue, running my thumb over the slick tip of his erection. I have this man at the tip of my finger. Calder Cross is at my mercy.
Until he skates his hand through the water streaming down my torso to cup my pussy. My wide gaze shoots to his. His face is all edges and shadow, and the scruff of his jaw is more prominent now he’s so close.
He pushes his fingers through my seam as his mouth hovers millimeters above mine. “You’re soaked.” He circles my clit with his thumb.
A whimper leaves me, and I grip him tighter.
He kisses me again, sliding a finger to my entrance and pushing in.
I grind against him and keep working his shaft.
He’s filling me with his tongue and his finger, synchronizing their movements with his thumb on my clit until I’m barely conscious of what I’m doing.
He’s rocking into my hold, I’m writhing against him, and our teeth clash together as we strive to get closer to each other.
Soon, I’m panting into his mouth, energy coiling tighter and tighter inside me, but he’s not fazed, pumping in and out of me, pulsing in my hand. Pressure’s building inside me, pushing at my seams, demanding release. I’m not ready. How am I going to stay upright?
“Calder.”
He grunts, the thrust of his hips growing erratic. “Come for me. Let me feel you explode.”
The first swell of an orgasm hits me. “Yes.”
He growls. “Give it to me. Show me how tight you’ll be with my cock inside you.”
My fist is so tight around him I can barely pump, but he’s doing all the work. I start shaking as wave after wave of pleasure rocks me. He’s the only thing holding me up.
“Calder!”
“Fuck, Meredith. You feeling so fucking good.” A hot jet hits my wrist, and another streams onto my belly. I barely notice as swells of ecstasy roll through me.
“Oh my god. Yes!” My cries turn to gibberish, and I come hard. He’s jerking into my hand, his dick still pulsating. Then, with one last pump, a long groan leaves him, and he sags against me while keeping me stable.
I’m holding him, and his fingers are still inside me. We don’t move until the water turns cool, and then cold. Shivers dance over my skin.
He slowly pulls out of me, giving me a kiss, and reaches for the washcloth.
Adjusting the spray away from me before he wipes me down, he washes both of us.
My teeth are chattering when he flips the water off, but I don’t want to leave the cocoon he’s made.
Then I might have to ask myself what the hell I’m thinking, climbing all over Calder like this.
I’m thinking that, for once, it’s nice to forget about what the future holds.
“Bowen’s going to be pissed there’s no hot water.” He grabs a yellow towel from the hook outside the curtain and wraps it around me.
Alarm dulls my post-orgasmic glow. “Oh no. Do you think he heard us?”
“Not this time. He’s not home yet.”
“Not this time?” Horror washes more cold through me.
Calder chuckles and presses a kiss to my lips. “Let’s get you tucked in. I’ll get a bite to eat, and then I’m coming to bed to feast on you.”