Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Monroe
The vintage dresser I found at an antique online auction is sitting in the middle of the nursery in near-perfect condition.
The same seller offered to deliver it to my door and even helped me bring it upstairs when they realized I was pregnant.
He was a sweet gentleman in his sixties, and I almost felt bad for making him carry it up the stairs, but he’d insisted.
Told me I remind him of his granddaughter, who’s just had her fourth boy.
The chill that spread up my spine at the thought of four children was alarming.
The thought brings my mind back to Jase. I lay awake in bed this morning, staring at the ceiling, and replaying every second of last night, and again this morning, unable to believe it was my reality. I had sex with Jameson King again.
More than just sex, what we did was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.
The way Jase’s hands had felt on my skin, like he knew exactly how to make me feel everything all at once. The low rasp of his voice in my ear, the warmth of his chest pressed against mine. How his lips felt as he kissed me like he’d been starving, and I was the only thing he craved.
Most importantly, the way he drove me absolutely mad with his cock, thrusting in and out of me as I rode him to my own orgasms—as in multiple.
God, I’d missed him, and it had been all but forty minutes since he’d left.
Last night wasn’t just about once again being physical.
Every time he touched me, it wasn’t about selfishly taking from me to make himself feel good.
It was about giving me the pleasure I begged him for.
He made me feel safe and loved and, although he may not have outright said it, but my name on his lips as he came inside me, the same way I screamed his name as I found my release, sounded a bit too much like love.
Jase wasn’t gentle, treating me like a fragile flower.
He took from me as much as he gave and showed me what being with me did to him.
It made him crazed, feral with lust. But it was how he made me feel seen every moment of the day and wanted with every look and gentle caress that scared me more than anything.
Especially after the intimate moment we had this morning when he felt our baby kick for the first time.
He’d never been so close to our baby, and I was both captivated and terrified of how much I liked it. Giving in to this pull between us was dangerous enough, but letting myself want him this much was a risk I didn’t know if I was strong enough to take.
My phone chimes, bringing me out of my daydream, notifying me that there’s someone at the front door. When I look at the camera on my phone, I see Raven standing there carrying two lattes and wearing a grin that means trouble as she smiles into the doorbell.
“Honey, I’m home,” she singsongs, making me laugh. Her dark hair is up in a messy bun, and she’s wearing jean cutoffs and a black tank top, looking like she’s ready to be put to work.
There’s a lot on my list today if this nursery is going to be ready in time for our Little Bear’s arrival.
“There’s a key in the fake flower bed to your left,” I tell her through the speaker. She picks up the key and lets herself in, joining me upstairs.
“Well, look at you, nesting already.”
I roll my eyes but take the coffee from her.
“Don’t start.” She and this coffee is a godsend.
I didn’t get to make my latte today since Jase and I didn’t get out of bed until nearly lunchtime.
Only because I was expecting the delivery and needed to shower, and he had to go in for his double shift today.
“Too late,” she said, peeking at some sketches I made while waiting. “God, you’re so good. This is going to be perfect.”
“I hope so, but there’s still so much to do.”
She lets out a low gasp as her eyes roam the room, taking in the colors and patterns of the space. Her eyes shoot wide as she looks back at me. “I see a lot of blues,” she says questioningly. “Does that mean?”
I understand her question without her asking.
She’s wondering if this means we’re having a boy.
I told Jase I wanted it to be a surprise, so we won’t be finding out the gender tomorrow.
The pregnancy was a surprise, and so has this thing that’s blossomed between us.
It only makes sense that our Little Beat surprises us with their arrival.
Though I can’t say the color choice was random. I’ve had an inkling—more like a gut feeling—for a while. “We’re not finding out. We want to be surprised, but I can’t lie and say that I don’t picture a baby boy every time I think about it.”
“Oh, Moe. This is so exciting. I can't believe you're having a baby in less than three months.”
I can’t help but smile that spreads across my face. I’m in such a good mood today it’s almost alarming. And something tells me Raven thinks so too.
“You fucked him?” She asks ever so subtly.
“Excuse you?” I can’t help but laugh, only further proves her suspicion.
“You slept with Jase again.”
“I…I didn’t,” I stutter, not helping my case. Just then, my phone chimes with an incoming text message from Billie in our group chat. I open the message and realize that aside from Billie and Bailey, this one also includes Raven and Brynn.
Billie: You naughty little mamacita.
Brynn: Oh my God! I’m going to have so many nieces and nephews.
My eyes flick up to Raven, who smiles brightly like she’s not at all ashamed of snitching.
Billie: I’m waiting. Don’t make me drive over there.
Monroe: You’re all insane.
Billie: And you’re deflecting. Which means something we’re right.
Brynn: OMG, SHE’S NOT DENYING IT.
Raven: Screenshot this moment.
Bille: Monroe Bishop, if you don’t tell us everything right now!
The last time the girls and I spoke about Jase, I may have accidentally let it slip out that we hadn’t been intimate.
They almost suspected something was up since we made everyone believe we’re together, but I was quick to make up a lie and tell them we wanted to really get to know each other again before we let our obvious connection cloud anything.
Raven: You girls should see the blush on her face right now.
Brynn: Did he kiss you, or did you kiss him?
Billie: Or did you jump his bones?
Bailey: Oh, God. Please don’t give us all the details.
Brynn: Was it on the kitchen counter when Mama left? Oh god please say yes!
Monroe: Fine. Yes. We spent the night together.
Brynn: AHHHHHHHH!
Raven: Finally.
Billie: Details. Now.
Monroe: Absolutely not.
Billie: Bet he was good.
Bailey: Don’t answer that!
Raven: DEAD.
Billie: Cancel everything. We need brunch.
Brynn: Agreed, emergency mimosas.
Monroe: You’re all impossible.
Bailey: And you’re in love. Don’t fight this.
I toss my phone onto the dresser with a groan. “This is all your fault, Raven Dawson.”
The woman has the audacity to look offended. “Hey, don’t blame me. You’re the one whose look gave her away. You’re glowing in a way that says, ‘I just had the best sex of my life’.”
Just as Raven finishes her thought, we hear a loud groan in the doorway.
Monty’s standing underneath the door dressed in his usual dark Wranglers, white t-shirt under a sherpa flannel jacket, and a pair of rugged cowboy boots that have seen better days.
He’s swapped out his cowboy hat for an old Vanderbilt baseball cap, but he still looks every bit the brooding cowboy he is with his hands tucked in his pockets as he glares at Raven and me.
“I don’t want to hear either of you say those words again,” he grunts in his usual gravelly and brooding tone.
Raven’s cheeks heat, but she plays it off smoothly.
The girl was born to flirt flawlessly. “What happened, Cowboy,” she coos, “can’t handle a little sex talk.
Or does the word sex make you break out in hives?
” She enunciates the word, making sure every letter is crisp, and it only seems to piss Monty off further.
I can’t help laughing at the look of disgust on my brother’s face. “What the hell, Monty, you don’t have to act like such a prude. I’m well aware you’ve slept your way around Colton County, preferring to keep all your escapades out of Crossroads.”
He glares in my direction, not denying it, but still annoyed. “Since you’re here,” I say now that I have the two of them in the same room. “I wanted to bring up the promise you made to me.”
“What promise?” he asks, suspicion written on his face as he looks between Raven and me.
“The one where you promised your favorite little sister you’d let her best friend stay at the ranch?
” I try to be coy but fail and end up sounding childish.
Regardless, he’s not impressed. The veins in his temple tighten, and I can visibly see him swallow whatever nasty retort he was about to throw our way.
“No,” he says matter-of-factly as he turns and exits.
“Monty,” I call out, chasing after him, but he’s too fast. In a matter of seconds, he’s down the stairs and approaching the front door. “Hold up, you big grump.”
He lets out a long, tired breath. “Monroe, I don’t want to argue with you.”
“Then don’t. Just agree to let Raven stay at the ranch. You know it's big enough that you won’t even have to see her. Give her my old room. It’s downstairs and out of your way. I promised her I’d help her find a place. Her leaving town isn’t an option.”
He turns to me and shrugs his shoulders as if that would solve this dilemma. “Why not?”
“For one, I like her very much. And secondly, she works for Bailey. I can’t let her lose her favorite employee.”
“Then have Beau take her in. He has a thing for strays.” A loud gasp sounds behind us, and we both turn to find Raven standing at the top of the stairs. Her mouth is gaping open, eyes wide as she glares at Monty, who’s just referred to her as a stray.
“Rae,” I call out apologetically, but she ignores me and heads back toward the nursery.
“What the hell did she ever do to you?” I ask, frustrated that he’s hurt my friend's feelings. “She’s one of the nicest people I know. Everyone loves her, and according to her, you have made your dislike pretty damn obvious.”
Visibly frustrated by my antics, he runs a hand over his beard, and I can physically see his jaw clenching tighter the longer he stands there.
He heads over to me and kisses the top of my head.
“Find someone else to take your friend in. I don’t have time for any charity cases.
I’ll stop by later today to help you move the rest of the furniture upstairs. ”
I have no idea where this newfound hatred of Raven is coming from. Not only is what I said about Raven true about being one of the kindest people I know, but Monty has never been cruel to anyone.
I return to the room to find Raven leaning against the dresser, looking slightly embarrassed. “I have a proposition for you,” I tell her, and instantly her eyes perk up in curiosity.
“Keep talking,” she says, clearly interested in what I have to say.
“When the baby is born, I’m going to need someone to temporarily take over Monroe Avenue’s contract with Montgomery Builds.
My brother has a few projects already lined up for the next few months, and I can’t let those clients down.
I think it will be a perfect opportunity for you.
And having to work so closely with Monty, it will only make sense for him to let you stay on the ranch.
We can move my office to the ranch so that you don’t have to leave.
I’d offer to let you stay with Beau, but he’s got a lot going on right now, and I wouldn't want to put you in the middle of all of that. But if this plan fails, then I’m sure Beau would gladly let you stay with him. ”
She watches me suspiciously, like all of it sounds too good to be true. “What’s the catch?”
“No catch, only a favor.”
“I’m not going to like this, am I?”
I shake my head, but if I'm going to get my brooding oldest brother to stop being so grumpy all the time, there’s only one solution. He needs to find a woman who will slap the scowl off his pretty face. “I think you’ll be perfect for the job.”
“Which is?” she asks, now more curious than annoyed.
“Finding Monty a girlfriend. My dear older brother needs to get laid. Maybe it’ll take the stick out of his ass. And there’s no better girl for the job than you, Raven Dawson.”