Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
HARPER
“ I t’s chilly up here at night,” I say as I snuggle down in the hoodie that Blake let me borrow.
He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s not getting this back. It smells like him, and it’s so soft and warm. It’s my new favorite thing.
We’re sitting on Adirondack chairs on a huge patio around a firepit fueled by gas, so there’s no smoke. But it lets off a good amount of heat, and it’s pretty out here in the dark.
The stars are out, and I’m reminded just how brilliant they are here. There’s no light noise to drown them out.
We’re sitting out here with a few other couples. Some of the guys went inside to play pool in the pub. Others took their kids up to bed. We’re truly spread out all over this resort, breaking it in.
“I think I just saw a shooting star,” Millie says. She’s sitting in her husband’s lap, her head back on his shoulder, looking up. “Ry, was it a shooting star?”
Ryan is her brother, and he’s sitting to her right. Even I’ve heard of Ryan Wild. It’s unbelievable that I’m just casually hanging out with a couple of billionaires over the next few days.
Whose life is this?
“I didn’t see it,” he replies. “And I’m not psychic, so I don’t know.”
“You’re the star guy.” Millie glances over at me. “He has a whole conservatory on the roof of his house. It’s amazing.”
“It sounds amazing.”
“We’ll have pool parties this summer,” Polly, Ryan’s wife, says with a happy sigh. “And when you come, we’ll show you.”
I lift an eyebrow. They’re already including me in pool parties.
It’s like Blake decided I’m his, and all of these people just followed suit as if it’s the most normal thing in the world. It’s overwhelming, but it feels good to be accepted by them. To be a part of this group of people.
Blake reaches over and brushes his hand over my hair.
“You okay, sugar?”
“I’m great. It’s nice out here.”
We’ve spent an hour out here by the fire, and I love that no one has been shy about asking me questions about myself. I talked about being a nurse, being from Silver Springs, and living with the Hendrix family. They’re curious about me, and Blake was right when he said that everyone is nice.
They remind me of my own family, and that makes me feel at home.
“Can you ride a horse?” Holden asks me.
“I was raised on a ranch.” Holden smiles at me, and it hits me in the solar plexus.
I mean, every man here is incredible , including my brothers, but there’s something about Holden, with all of his tattoos and that cocky grin, that does something for me.
He makes me nervous because he’s so attractive.
“Of course, I can ride a horse. I can fix fences, I can bail hay, I can do a lot. But I’m not looking for a job. ”
Holden laughs and shakes his head. “I was just curious. We have some rescue horses at the ranch that need the mileage, so if you want to ride, you’re welcome.”
All of a sudden, there’s a splash at the pool and some giggling, and we all strain our necks to see who’s swimming at this time of night.
“Jake! There are people over there.”
Holden smirks over at Ryan. “Your boy is making the moves on his girlfriend in the pool.”
Blake laughs beside me. “The kid is eighteen. I’m sure he’s made quite a few moves on that girl.”
“We try not to think about it.” Polly cringes. “Christ, I don’t want to be a grandma. I’m too young.”
Ryan kisses her on the head. “He’s being responsible.”
“I don’t want to know,” Polly insists. “He’s an innocent boy who loves me and would never touch that girl. ”
Now we all laugh at that.
“I come bearing midnight snacks,” Ava announces, carrying a tray. Billie’s right behind her with another tray. “Cookies and hot chocolate.”
They pass the goodies around, and Ava collapses in a chair next to me.
“And I brought the Irish cream.” Connor joins us, passing the bottle around so we can add it if we want it.
I totally want it.
Blake passes and then presses his mouth to my ear.
“Don’t get drunk, Harper. You’re going to be completely sober when I fuck you later.”
Looks like I’ll only be having one drink.
I glance over at him, and he smirks before he turns to have a conversation with Brooks, who also just joined us.
Something swoops through the air above us, and I press my lips together.
“Huh,” Billie says, looking up with a frown. “I didn’t know that birds fly around at night.”
I look at Blake, and we both smile.
“That’s not a bird, angel,” Connor says, kissing her temple. “That’s a bat.”
Dead silence.
No one moves.
“ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?” Billie yells, making us all laugh.
“No, I’m not kidding,” Connor replies. “We’re in the wilderness, even if it’s bougie wilderness.”
“You can’t exterminate everything at the top of a mountain,” Brooks reminds his sister. “Don’t worry, they don’t want you.”
“This is legit the best thing I’ve ever been invited to,” Ava says as she clinks her mug against mine, keeping one eye on the sky and potentially more bats.
“How are things with Joe?” I ask her, and Billie, Polly, and Millie all come to attention.
“You’re holding out on me.” Billie scowls at Ava. “Who’s Joe? Tell us everything.”
“I want to know,” Millie adds, and Polly nods. Ava scowls at me.
“What?” I shrug a shoulder. “You didn’t say that vanilla Joe was a secret.”
“ Vanilla Joe?” Polly asks.
“He’s not terribly … adventurous , if you know what I mean,” I reply, and Millie snorts.
Ava stares at me in horror, and I laugh.
“What? You announced to my entire cafeteria at work that he wouldn’t even pull your hair and that you prefer to be spanked. These people are our friends, not strangers.”
Blake snorts next to me, and I look over at him, catching him smiling at me.
“Tell us about vanilla Joe,” Polly urges Ava. “Use the dirty words.”
“There’s really nothing to tell.” Ava sighs. “I showed up at his office the other day, during an appointment slot that I scheduled, by the way, and told him to fuck me on his desk.”
Holden chokes on his cookie .
“Oh, stop,” Millie tells her husband. “You’ve fucked me on your desk more times than I can count.”
“I don’t want to know this,” Ryan says, then glares at Holden. “Keep your hands off my sister.”
“She’s my wife ,” Holden reminds him.
“Anyway,” Ava continues. “He was so scandalized that he choked on his Fanta, and I told him we were too different to make it work. Too bad. I was hoping to corrupt him a little.”
“I’m sorry.” I reach over and pat my friend on the shoulder. “Someone else will pull your hair and smack your ass.”
“Jesus,” Brooks says. “Is this what they talk about when men aren’t around?”
“Oh, this is tame,” Millie says. “We haven’t even started talking about positions and toys yet.”
“You talk about toys?” Holden demands. He stands and picks his wife up. “Say good night, wife.”
“Good night,” Millie says, grinning at all of us over Holden’s shoulder as he carries her inside.
“They’re adorable together,” Polly says with a happy sigh. “I’m so glad they finally found their way back to each other.”
“Why do I think there’s a story there?” I ask.
“Oh, it’s a long, dramatic story,” Polly confirms. “I’ll tell you all about it the next time we have girls’ night.”
More giggling comes from the pool area, and Polly climbs off her husband’s lap.
“It’s time for us to go,” she says. “I can’t listen to my kid like that. No way. ”
“We’re off,” Ryan says and takes her hand. “Good night, everyone.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“I’m ready to go, too,” I tell Blake around a big yawn. “I’m tired.”
My man stands, takes my hand, and pulls me to my feet. After we say our goodbyes, we take the stairs to the second floor, and once we’re in the room, I turn to him with a smile.
“I’m not really tired. I was just ready to have you all to myself.”
The predatory smile that spreads over his face is fucking lethal.
“I want you naked, sugar. Right. Now.”