Chapter Ten
On Saturday afternoon, Presley sat in her cabin listening to the rain tapping on the tin roof. Josie had called earlier to tell her they had canceled the trip to town. However, the dance would still take place as scheduled. The trips to town were every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and Presley enjoyed seeing the quaint little towns. It was like stepping back in time with the old brick buildings and sidewalks made of wooden planks. Tuesday was the trip to Spring City, Thursday was Clifton, and Saturday was Hartland.
The towns boasted antique stores, feed stores, dress shops, and Spring City had a department store called Walton’s. She’d been through all the stores at least twice, she was beginning to love the small town, and the people were so friendly. One place she’d really enjoyed was the Clifton Diner. She had never had a better tasting burger. Smiling, she thought back to meeting Priscilla and Lucy Callahan on one of the excursions to Spring City.
“Hi, are you with the group from Bur Oak?”
asked a beautiful woman with copper- colored hair and eyes the color of summer grass.
“Yes, I am.”
Presley smiled.
“I’m Priscilla Callahan, and this is Lucy Callahan,”
she said as she stuck her hand out. “I’m married to Roark, and Lucy is married to Reid.”
“Presley Reynolds. It’s nice to meet you both,”
Presley said. Lucy was just as beautiful with her dark hair and bright blue eyes.
“Are you enjoying your time at the ranch?”
Lucy asked her.
“I am. I have two and a half weeks then I go home to Idaho Falls,”
she said, and her heart seemed to skip a beat at the thought of leaving Jaxon.
“Maybe we can come to the ranch and have lunch together? We try to get out there once a week to have lunch with Willa.”
“I’d love it. I’d better get going. I don’t want the van to leave without me. It was great meeting you both.”
Presley smiled then frowned when the two women tilted their heads together and grinned. What were they grinning about?
She’d mentioned it to Jaxon, and he’d laughed telling her that Willa had probably told them about her and Jaxon seeing each other. When she’d blushed, he pulled her to him and kissed her temple.
“Don’t worry about it. ”
“Easy for you to say. You didn’t see the way they looked at me.”
Jaxon hugged her. “They’re great women. They mean no harm.”
Thinking back, she wondered if they thought she was going to stick around instead of going home. After all, two of them had stayed in Spring City after coming here, and once they met the Callahans, they had no desire to leave. Both Priscilla and Willa were from California, but Lucy grew up in the small town.
“They seemed nice. Both are beautiful.”
“Yes. Lucy and Reid were just married in June. She has a little boy from her first marriage. He’s such a cute little boy, and he adores Reid.”
“What happened to her first husband?”
“Zeke died in an accident at a rodeo. The damn bull threw him then stomped on him. Zeke was Reid’s best friend. Reid has loved Lucy since Zeke first introduced her to him. Thing is, she blamed Reid for Zeke’s death because he’d talked him into going one more time so Reid always stayed away. Well, Reid came home last Christmas, they saw each other again, and Lucy fell in love with him. We’re all happy for them. We know how much Reid loves her. Now he has her and a son. Reid loves little Zeke as if he were his own. ”
A knock on her door startled her and brought her back to the present. Who in the world would be out in this weather? Pushing herself up from the sofa, she walked to the door and peered out the window to see Jaxon standing on the porch. She opened the door to him.
“What are you doing out in this weather?”
“Gee, Mom, I’m sorry,”
he said grinning.
“Don’t be a smartass.”
His teeth flashed in a grin, and it made her think back to when she’d first seen him here on the ranch and had wanted to see his smile. It was just so gorgeous.
“Extra candles,”
he said as he held a bag out to her.
Frowning, she looked at the bag then up at him. “I didn’t use the last ones.”
“Really? Well, I guess I wasted a trip.”
“Are you taking candles to other guests?”
she asked suspiciously.
“Nope.”
Reaching out, she grabbed the belt at the top of his jeans and pulled him into the cabin then pressed her lips to his. He kicked the door shut behind him, dropped the bag onto the sofa then walked her backward to the wall and leaned into her. His tongue entered her mouth, and he moaned when she sucked on it .
“I want you so much,”
she said against his lips as she lifted his T-shirt off over his head.
Reaching for the bottom of her tank top, he lifted it up over her head then he growled low in his throat when he saw she wasn’t wearing a bra. He pushed down her sweatpants and panties then dropped to his knees in front of her. Presley grabbed fistfuls of his hair as he used the pads of his thumbs to pull her slit apart. Leaning forward, he flicked his tongue against her clitoris. She tilted her head back against the wall. His hands moved to the cheeks of her ass and he pulled her to him then sucked on her.
“Jaxon.”
She gasped.
“What is it, baby?’ he murmured.
“I need…”
She moaned.
“What do you need? Tell me, and I’ll give it to you.”
Her belly clenched, and she couldn’t breathe as her orgasm ripped her into a thousand pieces. Screaming his name, she pulled his hair.
Jaxon stood, and Presley reached for his buckle and quickly unhooked it, then unsnapped his jeans and drew the zipper down. She laughed when he hissed in a breath.
“You’re damn lucky you didn’t catch something in the zipper,”
he said then lifted her up as she pushed his jeans and boxer briefs down.
“I’d never do that,”
she said then gasped when he thrust into her hard.
“Hang on, darlin’.”
He thrust in and out of her so hard that her head hit the wall.
Presley started laughing. “You’re going to knock me out.”
Jaxon laughed. “Too bad for you. I’m not stopping.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she bit him lightly on the neck. “Shame on you.”
“Hey, I got you off, didn’t I?”
He lifted his head from her neck and stared into her eyes. “But I plan to again.”
Presley moaned as he pounded into her and he was taking her there again so quickly. Burying her face in his neck, she screamed as she came hard and she knew Jaxon followed her over the edge when he groaned, and she could feel him throbbing inside her. He leaned his forehead against hers as they both tried to catch their breaths.
“I’d like candles every day, please,”
she said in a breathless voice.
Jaxon laughed. “I’m not sure I could survive this every day.”
When she put her legs down, her knees almost gave out but Jaxon caught her.
“You might have to carry me to bed,”
she said, smiling .
Holding her against the wall with his body, he pulled his jeans up then tossed her over his shoulder.
“I think today would be a wonderful day to spend in bed,”
he said as he carried her down the hall then kicked the bedroom door closed behind them.
Once they got to the bedroom, Presley noticed the chain around his neck and frowned. He looked down at it, then lifted it over his head, and stuck it in his pocket. She was happy she didn’t have to say anything because she was sure a fight would have ensued if she had. At least, he removed it himself.
****
Jaxon woke up a while later to the sound of thunder. He was up against Presley’s back with his arm around her waist, and she was snuggled back against him. Pushing her hair off her shoulder, he pressed his lips there and when she moaned, his dick shot straight up. He groaned low in his throat when she wiggled her butt against his cock.
“You’re asking for it, darlin’.”
Presley laughed low in her throat. “You have more…candles?”
Jaxon burst out laughing. “If that’s what you want to call it.”
Moving his hand down her stomach, he slipped it between her legs and pushed his finger between her slit. When her hand moved between them and wrapped around his cock, he almost shot off the bed. She lifted her leg, hooked it over his hip, and rubbed the head of his cock between her legs. Jaxon wrapped his hand around hers to guide him and slid inside her. Presley’s hips moved back against his and they set a rhythm. Jaxon rubbed his thumb against her clitoris and it wasn’t long before he could feel her clenching around his cock. She cried out his name as he groaned and came with her. He couldn’t stop himself from nipping her shoulder, but then kissing the spot.
She leaned her head back and kissed him. “God, that was so good.”
“It’s always good—”
“Don’t think about it, Jaxon.”
“It’s a little hard not to, Presley. You know how I feel.”
“Could we just not talk about it right now? Would you…tell me about your accident, please.”
“It was a car accident.”
“Tell me. All I know is it was a bad accident.”
Sighing, he pulled her back against him. “We were on our way home. I was driving, and Bethany was sleeping. I had just won the buckle at the bull riding event and I was tired. Maybe I shouldn’t have been driving…I don’t kn ow. Bethany drove a lot when we made road trips, but she said she could barely keep her eyes open so I drove. We were planning to make a few stops on the way home to spend some time together. I think she fell asleep before we even made it out of the city limits and the next thing I knew, a car crossed the centerline and hit us head-on. He struck us so hard that our car spun around and slammed into a tree on my side, and I broke my hip and femur. According to the truck behind us, the drunk driver crossed the centerline going at an incredibly high rate of speed. Airbags didn’t help. Bethany hit her head against the side window, and her legs were pinned under the seat but the brain injury is what killed her.”
He stopped and Presley heard him swallow hard. “They couldn’t get her out. She told me she knew she wouldn’t get out of the car alive. I still wish it had been me.”
“If it was, would you want her to go on?”
she asked softly.
“Of course. I know where you’re going with this, Presley, but even if I did want more with you, you’re leaving.”
“We could—”
“No, we couldn’t. It’s better this way.”
“This way? Meaning just sex?”
“Yes. ”
Pushing away from him, she swung her legs over the bed and stood to find her clothes.
“I’m so sorry you went through that, but you do need to move on. Even if it’s not with me, I think you should.”
Jaxon sat up and reached for his jeans. “That’s big of you.”
“Don’t be a dick. It’s been two years. Do you want to be alone for the rest of your life?”
“It’s my fucking life. If I want to be alone, what is it to you?”
“You’re exactly right. It’s nothing to me. You need to go now.”
Pulling up his jeans, he zipped them, then pulled his T-shirt over his head.
“I’m so fucking tired of doing this again, and again with you,”
he growled.
“Fine, then go and don’t come back. You think you’re tired? I’m tired of competing with a dead woman.”
Sucking in a breath, he glared at her. “You could never compete with her. Alive or dead.”
After pulling on his boots, he strode down the hallway. Presley listened to his boot heels clack down the hall and then the door opening and closing. Sighing, she headed for the bathroom to shower and try to talk herself out of going to the dance tonight. There were only two more dances for her but after the argument they’d just had, she wasn’t sure she wanted to see him again.
At nine that evening, she walked out of her cabin and headed down the road toward the barn. She could hear the band tuning up, and the aroma from the buffet had her stomach growling. The ranch seemed to love going all out for the guests’ last night. Would Jaxon show up? If he would just ask her to stay, but would she stay if he did? Shaking her head, she honestly didn’t know anymore. Every time she spent time with him, the thought of leaving ripped a little more of her heart out. Maybe it had been fate that she came here and found him. Especially after the feelings she had when she first saw him in the ER two years ago. Her feelings had been so torn back then because she knew he’d just lost his wife but she had never seen a sexier man, and she wanted him the minute she’d set eyes on him. Entering the barn, she saw almost all the tables were taken. She saw Christina waving at her. Presley smiled and made her way through the tables. When she reached the table, a good-looking man stood.
“Hi, Presley. This is my husband, Brad. Hon, this is Presley Reynolds. Please sit with us,”
Christina said as she smiled up at her.
“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you, Brad. ”
“You too, Presley.”
He sat after she did. He was tall, around six foot with dark blond hair and blue eyes. “Can I get you ladies something to drink?”
“I’d like a beer, hon. How about you, Presley?”
“I’m good, thank you. I’ll get something when I hit that buffet shortly. I’m starving.”
“I can’t believe all the food. This is so nice of the ranch to do this for the guests leaving. I hate to go.”
Christina laughed.
Brad stood. “I’ll be right back.”
Presley glanced around but didn’t see Jaxon. Just like the first dance, she was here for. Did he like making an entrance or something? She noticed Devin and Willa entering the barn with several couples following them, and she knew they had to be Callahans. The men were all tall with black hair, same build, and gorgeous. They headed toward a table along the wall. Would Jaxon sit over there with them and ignore her? Nibbling on her lip, she really hoped not. She’d hate to be pissed with just two weeks left on her stay.
“Wow. Who are they?”
Christina asked as she looked at the family.
“Those are the cousins of Jaxon and Devin Callahan. I’ve met the wives but none of the men. I believe the older couples are aunts and uncles. I did meet Jaxon’s parents recently.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I love my husband, but damn. Those are some gorgeous men. It must run in the family.”
Presley chuckled. “I totally agree.”
She waved back when Willa waved to her.
Then she saw him. Jaxon came from behind the band stage like before and stopped to talk with his family then he glanced around. He turned back to Willa when she said something to him and pointed in her direction. Presley saw him frown then he spotted her. Her heart hit her stomach. How was she going to leave this man? She saw Willa wave for her to come over. Taking a deep breath, she stood.
“I’ll be back,”
she told Christina.
Christina winked at her. “I somehow doubt that but have fun. We’re here if you want to come back. Though I don’t think I would.”
Presley smiled, then made her way through the tables. Willa met her halfway and took her hand.
“Come meet everyone,”
she said, then led her to the table. All the men stood.
“These are the cousins and their wives, Roark and Priscilla, Reid and Lucy. Everyone, this is Presley Reynolds. ”
“Hi. I’ve met Priscilla and Lucy. How are you?”
“We’re great,”
Priscilla said then looked at Roark.
Presley couldn’t believe how hot all the Callahan men were.
“Do you want to sit here?”
Willa asked her.
“Oh, I don’t want to intrude.”
“You’re not intruding. Please sit with me.”
Willa pulled a chair out and nodded for Presley to sit. After taking a deep breath, she took a seat but refused to look at Jaxon. He’d moved down the table to sit on the other side of Roark.
“Nice to see you again. Let’s have lunch this week,”
Willa said and smiled at her.
“I’d love to. Tuesday?”
Presley ignored the pain of Jaxon moving away from her. He didn’t want to be close to her.
“Sounds good.”
Willa turned to Devin. “I need food, but then you and I are going to work it off on the dance floor.”
“I’d rather work it off other ways,”
Devin said then kissed her temple.
“Stop. God, you are so bad.”
“One reason you love me.”
Devin winked at her.
Presley loved all the banter going on. She’d never been around a big family before, and she found she loved it. The feeling of love was so strong she could feel it. Blinking back tears, she knew she’d never have this. Her time here was almost up. Her time of seeing Jaxon was coming to an end. A swift end. She knew the next two weeks would fly by and she’d leave here. Him. She’d leave him.
“Are you hungry?”
Willa asked her.
“Yes,”
she whispered.
“Are you all right?”
Willa frowned at her.
Pasting on a fake smile, she nodded. “Sure. Let’s go before all the food is gone.”
“I don’t see that happening.”
Willa stood and led her to the buffet.
Once in line, they moved down the buffet and loaded their plates then headed back to the table. After she took her seat, Devin asked what she wanted to drink then went to get it for her. She couldn’t keep her eyes from shifting to Jaxon, but he had no problem ignoring her. He stood and moved toward the buffet. She noticed a few women sitting at a table stop him, and she knew they were flirting with him by the way they were smiling up at him. Her hands fisted, and her nails bit into her palms. She’d never been a jealous person until Jaxon Callahan came into her life.
“Are you having fun, Presley?”
Turning, she saw Lucy Callahan smiling at her .
“Yes. I can’t believe my time is almost up. I had four weeks of vacation saved up, and I needed some time to think about a job offer.”
Lucy frowned at her. “Job offer?”
“Yes, I’m an ER nurse in Idaho Falls, and I’ve been offered a job in the Recovery Unit.”
“I see,”
Lucy murmured.
Wanting to change the subject, Presley asked Lucy about Reid.
“Jaxon told me you and Reid were just recently married.”
Wanting to change the subject, Presley asked Lucy about Reid.
“Jaxon told me you and Reid were just recently married.”
“Yes. Roark and Priscilla were married in July, and so was Devin and Willa. Reid and I are the only ones who didn’t have a quick wedding, but the Callahan men don’t like waiting. Priscilla told Roark she didn’t want to wait, so he got it together very quickly. Same with Devin and Willa. Once he got her back from California, he threw a wedding together.”
“I’m so sorry about your first husband. Jaxon told me about him.”
“Don’t be. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Zeke was Reid’s best friend, and they decided to do another rodeo together. A bull killed Zeke. I was pregnant at the time, but Zeke didn’t know. The only thing that really saddens me is that he will never know his son. A son who is the spitting image of him, by the way.”
Lucy leaned forward and whispered. “Reid had been in love with me for years but I never knew. I love that man so much and I know he’s the one I’m meant to spend the rest of my life with, and he adores little Zeke. Calls him Z-man and Zeke loves it. All the Callahans call him that.”
“Jaxon mentioned that about Reid loving you. I can see how much you and Reid love each other. Like now. He can’t take his eyes off you.”
Presley nodded toward Reid, and Lucy turned to see Reid looking at her. When Reid winked at her, Presley saw a blush move into her cheeks.
“Callahan men love deep. Remember that.”
Lucy put her hand over hers.
Presley nodded. “It won’t do me any good. Jaxon isn’t interested in a long-term relationship, and I’m going back to Idaho Falls.”
Jaxon walked back toward her carrying his food and a beer. The band began to play, and Presley watched as people moved to the dance floor. They started with a fast song by Kenny Chesney, She’s Got It All and Devin took Willa’s hand and led her to the floor. Presley smiled as she watched them. They both had big grins on their faces as Devin spun her around.
“I’m sorry what I said about you competing with Bethany. I was wrong to say that,”
Jaxon said from beside her.
“It’s how you felt.”
She couldn’t look at him.
“It seems I’m always apologizing to you.”
“Same here.”
“I just can’t give you what you want, Presley.”
“I know,”
she whispered.
“I’m not good at fast dancing,”
Jaxon said close to her ear.
“That’s okay.”
Her heart was breaking.
Jaxon sighed. “We all think Dev’s the only one who got the fast dancing gene.”
Presley laughed. “I noticed no one else is out there.”
“Nope, but wait until a slow song plays then all the Callahans will be out there.”
A slow song started, and everyone rose and headed for the dance floor. She could feel Jaxon looking at her.
“Do you want to dance?”
he asked her.
“Yes.”
She smiled sadly as he took her hand and led her to the floor. The band played Feels So Right by Alabama. It did feel so right to be in Jaxon’s arms. The only place she wanted to be .
“Will you come home with me tonight?”
he whispered.
Looking up at him. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
“No, but as I said, I can’t seem to stay away from you. If you say no, I’ll respect that.”
She knew she should tell him no because staying away from him was best for both of them.
“I can’t stay away from you, either.”
What? Glutton for punishment. Plain and simple.
Jaxon smiled at her. “All right.”
“Who are the other aunts and uncles?”
“Aunt Catherina and Uncle Declan are Reid’s parents. Aunt Bridgett and Uncle Arden are Roark’s and Jackie Butler and Uncle Liam are engaged and getting married soon.”
Jaxon grinned. “Jackie is Priscilla’s mother. Jackie and Uncle Liam met at Priscilla and Roark’s wedding.”
“Oh, my God. That is wonderful.”
She smiled. “I bet you love your big family.”
“I do. We’re all close. Since the cousins are all close in age, we grew up running around together—”
“And getting into trouble together.”
“You have no idea how true that is.”
The song ended, and everyone walked back to the table. Killian and Darcy Callahan smiled at her. Could she feel any more self-conscious? However, Darcy had sat across from her and talked to her a good bit of the night and never once made Presley feel uncomfortable.
Another fast song was played, She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy by Kenny Chesney, and Presley was surprised when Devin asked her to dance. She quickly looked at Willa, who smiled and nodded. She stood, and Devin took her hand in his and led her to the dance floor. She laughed so much her cheeks hurt because Devin spun her all around the floor. He was great. When the song ended, they made their way back to the table and she collapsed onto her chair.
“He’s good, Willa, but I don’t think I could take more than one dance with him,”
she said, laughing.
“He can go all night,”
Willa said then blushed when everyone burst out laughing.
Too soon, the dance wound down, and everyone started leaving. The guests who were going home the next day shook hands with Devin and Jaxon. Christina hugged her and gave her a card with her name and email on it. One thing about the time she’d been here, Presley had made a lot of friends. Think of how many you’d make if you stayed. No! You can’t think that way .
“You ready to go?”
Jaxon asked her close to her ear.
Suppressing a shiver, she nodded. “Should we help clean up?”
Jaxon blew out a breath. “Yeah, I will. You go on up to the house. I’ll be up soon.”
“I don’t mind helping.”
“No, just go. I’ll get more done knowing you’re up there waiting for me.”
He kissed her quickly on the lips, turned her toward the doorway and gave her a little push. “Please.”
Smiling, Presley walked out to head to his home, all the while wondering why she kept torturing herself like this .