Chapter Fifteen
Alice
“S often your lips,” Ryanne instructs gently, holding a tube of pink tinted lipgloss in her hand.
I do as she says, allowing her to swipe the gooey moisture all over my lips.
We have spent the better part of the morning in her room getting ready for the town’s cookout we are attending today, something I’m incredibly nervous about.
Not only for the threat that shadows our every move, but because it’s foreign territory.
Besides the shopping trip, I haven’t left the seclusion of this farm.
It’s become my safe haven as much as the man who brought me here.
A man I am falling harder for with each passing day, especially after last night.
The memory of Braxten’s touch dances its way through my heart. It was everything I imagined it would be and more. He not only brought pleasure to my body, but healing to my soul and it irrevocably altered our relationship.
It was bound to happen. This connection, pull—whatever you want to call it—could only go on for so long before we surrendered to it.
It was as inevitable as it was unstoppable.
As beautiful as it was liberating.
The feelings I have for him should terrify me, but for some reason they don’t. Maybe because when I’m with him everything wrong in my world seems to right itself.
It’s a beautiful place to be and one I want to live in forever…
“Perfect.” Ryanne beams, bringing me back to the present. “Now for some blush and we’ll be all done.” She grabs a few more items from her bag, trading in the lip gloss for a black compact and a makeup brush.
“Thank you again for all your help,” I murmur, trying to remain still as she brushes some rose color on my cheek bones. “I’d have been lost with all of this, if not for you.”
I’m getting better at doing the every day things, but I don’t own any makeup and even if I did, I wouldn’t know where to begin.
“It’s my pleasure,” she says warmly. “Besides, I love having another woman to do this with. Not only is my daughter much too young, but she’d rather hang out with her uncles and father than do girly things with me.” By the affection in her voice, she’s clearly not bothered by it.
“I must admit she fits in rather well with the three of them.”
“That she does,” she agrees, a smile forming on her face. “I swear, she has each of them wrapped around her little finger, something I didn’t even know was possible before she came along.”
I have a feeling that little girl could shine light into the darkest soul. Her relationship with the three men only proves that.
It’s one of the reasons why I agreed to do the three legged race with her today since Ryanne can’t. When the little girl asked me to be her partner, her eyes wide and hopeful, I couldn’t say no. Not when she has shown me nothing but kindness and acceptance since I’ve arrived.
“Okay, I think we’re finished.” Ryanne steps back, giving me a once over. “Go ahead and take a look.” She gestures over to the floor length mirror across the room. “If there is anything you want me to fix just let me know.”
Climbing off the stool, I walk over and come to a quick stop, shocked at the reflection peering back at me.
Any remaining bruises I have are now covered with the makeup that Ryanne expertly applied, as if they never existed at all.
The champagne eye shadow she used enhances my blue eyes, making them stand out even more than usual.
My freshly glossed lips are full and shiny, showcasing the natural pink hue.
Add in my long, blonde hair tousled with waves and the long, peach colored sundress I’m wearing, I look nothing like the person who left the hospital a couple of weeks ago.
In this moment I look confident, happy…pretty even.
“Wow,” I murmur softly. “I look so…different.”
“You look beautiful.”
I turn back to find Ryanne watching me with a kind smile that triggers my own.
“Thanks. Think I’ll fit in and not look as lost as I feel?” I joke, but there is no hiding my insecurity.
“Sorry to break it to you, but you’re showing up with a Creed which means you definitely won’t fit in.
” There’s a note of sarcasm in her voice as she takes a seat at her makeup table and does some finishing touches of her own.
“They always manage to stick out like a sore thumb, drawing attention wherever they go.”
“I believe it,” I grumble, dropping down to sit on her bed. “The one time I went to town with Braxten, everyone stared at me like I had two heads.”
“Don’t take it personally. It comes with the territory,” she says. “Sometimes it’ll be over envy, other times resentment. The people in this town either love the boys or hate them, there is no in between.”
I shake my head, dumbfounded by that knowledge. “I honestly can’t fathom how anyone could hate them.”
At first glance they may come off arrogant, intimidating, threatening even, but if you actually take the time to get to know them, you will find out very quickly there is so much more to them than that. There’s a love, loyalty, and strength that can’t be denied.
“There’s a lot of history in this town, especially with Thatcher,” Ryanne explains.
“People never approved of him taking in the boys and it only added to the animosity. Though, I’ll admit the three of them didn’t get off to a great start either.
They got into a lot of trouble when they first moved here and they have garnered quite the reputation, especially among the women. ”
“So I heard,” I murmur before I can think better of it.
Ryanne stops her task at hand, her eyes snapping up to meet mine in the mirror. The conflicting emotions there has guilt quickly taking over.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“No, it’s okay.” Putting down her makeup brush, she walks over to the bed and sits down next to me.
“I guess I’m not surprised you heard about it and to be honest, you will probably hear more.
Some of it true, some of it not, but no matter what you hear, Alice, just know they’re good people. They always have been.”
“I know. Nothing anyone will ever say can change my mind about that.”
“Good, because the bond the boys share is more than anyone knows. More than anyone could even begin to understand.”
Not for the first time I wonder just how much she knows about it.
The question must show in my expression because a sad smile suddenly claims her lips. “Justice’s and my relationship changed the bond and I have a feeling it changed again when you came along.”
I think back to the confrontation the other day between Braxten and Knox in the living room and still can’t help but feel guilty about it all.
“He likes you a lot you know,” she adds. “I can tell.”
“I like him too,” I confess quietly.
Probably more than I should, but I decide to keep that part to myself.
“There’s so much I’m uncertain about in my life right now, but my feelings for him are about the only thing I am sure about. Even if I do feel completely out of my league.”
She snorts. “I’m married to Justice and still feel like that.”
We share a laugh before it softens into smiles.
“Thanks again, Ryanne. It’s nice having someone to talk to.”
“I’m really glad you’re here, Alice.” Reaching over, she gives me a hug and it only adds to the comfort invading my heart. “Try not to worry about today. We’ll have fun, you’ll see.”
I hope she’s right because knowing whoever is doing this could possibly be there watching our every move is absolutely terrifying.
“And who knows, maybe you will come home a champ from winning that race with my daughter,” she says, bumping my shoulder.
“Oh man, I don’t know about that.” I laugh. “I just hope I don’t embarrass her and take us down right at the start.”
“Trust me, it takes a lot to embarrass Hannah. You got this.”
The sound of the front door opening and closing breaks up our conversation.
“Ryanne!” Braxten calls out, the deep sound of his voice causing my heart to somersault in my chest.
“Up here!”
His booted footsteps coming up the stairs have us both standing from the bed. I run my hands nervously down the front of my dress, smoothing out any possible wrinkles before he appears in the doorway.
“Your husband is—” Braxten’s words stop mid-sentence as he gets his first look at me. “Whoa.”
The blatant reaction has a heat creeping into my cheeks.
“You were saying what about my husband?” Ryanne asks, barely holding back a laugh.
“He’s waiting outside for you.” His heated gaze never leaves mine as he answers.
“I guess that’s my cue.” Ryanne turns to me. “I’ll see you there?”
At my nod, she leaves the room, patting Braxten on the shoulder as she does, looking rather proud of herself.
He doesn’t spare her a glance, his dark gaze still riveted on me, anchoring me where I stand.
The heat embedded there is the same one I witnessed last night.
It hums along my senses, claiming every part of my beating heart.
“Say something,” I whisper. “You’re making me nervous.”
“If you knew what I was thinking right now, you’d be even more nervous.”
His shameless confession has a shy smile floating across my lips.
With just a few strides, he closes the distance between us, pulling me into his arms for a heart-stopping kiss. One that lights up my very soul, giving it new life. The kind I am not sure I could ever live without now that I know just how powerful it can be.
His lips slow their restless assault before he pulls back, resting his forehead on mine.
My eyes remain closed as I bask in the intimacy of this moment for just a little while longer, loving the peace it brings. When I finally reopen them I’m met with all the beautiful emotions that reflect my own, but one manages to overshadow them all, darkening the moment.
“You sure you’re up for this?” he asks. “Because if not, just say the word and we will stay back here, just the two of us.”
I shake my head, refusing to take the out he graciously offers. “It’s important that we go. It could be our only chance at catching whoever is doing this. Besides, I just spent hours in here getting ready, I can’t let that all go to waste.”
The joke is amiss, his eyes remaining tortured with whatever he’s battling at the moment.
“I want to do this, Braxten,” I tell him.
“I need to do this. Not only to help find the threat, but I want to experience this. I want to know what it’s like to go to a cookout.
I want to know what it’s like to do a three legged race.
” Pausing, I swallow thickly. “I want to know what it’s like to feel normal, even if it’s just for a few hours. ”
Whatever he sees on my face has him relenting. “All right, but I want you within arms reach of one of us at all times, do you understand? You go nowhere alone. Not even to the bathroom.”
I nod. “I understand.”
His thumb strokes my cheek as he gazes back at me. “I got you, Alice. You know that, right?”
I lean into his touch. “Yes, with my whole heart and soul.”
That response seems to please him. “Come on, let’s get this over with.”
Taking his hand, I follow him out of the room.
Hopefully, whoever is doing this shows up today and the police can catch him so we can finally put this behind us once and for all.