Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
I pulled Stratton’s sweater over my head. It fell to the middle of my thighs.
Stratton, with a towel still around his waist, chuckled and then rolled up the sleeves for me.
While he was getting into comfortable clothes, I went back into the kitchen to heat up the barbecue that had long since gotten cold.
Not that I was complaining.
“You know,” I said as he came to meet me. “This day started off really sucky. Funny how you never know how things will turn out.”
“Funny,” he agreed. “Who knew a little gremlin would charge into a bakery in a wedding dress. You caused quite the ruckus.”
“Ruckuses are good,” I said.
The microwave beeped and I pulled out the plate and handed it to Stratton.
“Do you think I have an appetite of a moose?” he asked in amusement when he saw the pile of food on his plate.
“Protein.” I waggled my brows at him. “Gotta keep up your stamina for tonight.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Let’s share this.”
We settled onto the couch and he placed the plate on the coffee table.
“You only got one fork,” I said, intending to rise.
His hand on my bare thigh stopped me. “I’ll feed you.”
“That’s ridiculous,” I said with an eye roll. “Let me just get another fork.”
“Yeah, you definitely can’t follow directions,” he quipped. “I want to feed you. Let me take care of you.”
My insides melted. “Okay.”
He scooped up a bite of brisket and held it out to me. I chomped it and then made a noise of excitement. Then I opened my mouth for another bite immediately.
Chuckling, Stratton fed me another bite.
“Damn, that’s good,” I said.
“The best,” he agreed.
“So, husband,” I quipped. “Tell me about the ghosts of relationships past.”
“You really want to hear about other women, wife?”
“Well, no,” I said. “But I do want to know how you turned out to be you. For that, I think that means the discussion of past girlfriends.”
“Never had any serious relationships.”
“What?” I asked in shock.
“I had a few . . . interludes when I was younger. I worked all the time, and the people I was around viewed me as the help, Maisie. Big, strapping help. And over time bored, rich women who weren’t satisfied with their husbands made it known that they wanted me.
A dirty little secret with dirty hands.” He shook his head.
“That’s the real reason I left Jackson Hole.
I knew I had to get out of there or I’d always be seen that way. You know?”
I swallowed. “So, were you? With them, I mean?”
He paused for a moment. “Yeah, I was. I was young and dumb, but eventually it made me feel cheap and used. And the people I worked for knew everyone in town so there was no hiding it after a while. So, I left.”
“Oh,” I said softly. “Sometimes rich people have more money than sense.”
“Boy, isn’t that the truth. At least the Calhouns aren’t that way. They’re good people.” He took a bite of pulled pork. He chewed and swallowed before talking again. “Anyway, that’s the nut of it. Not much to report in that regard.”
I nodded.
“What about you?” he asked.
“What about me?” I repeated.
“What about your past?”
“You know about my past,” I drawled. “Until this afternoon it was my present.”
His brow furrowed. “Wait, are you saying—”
“Ethan’s the only one I’ve ever been with, Stratton.” I boldly met his gaze. “But you’re the only one who’s ever made me come.”
He took a deep breath. “Fuck, gremlin.”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“You’ve got a lot to make up for,” he said.
“Don’t I know it,” I said with a rueful smile. “Now that I know what it’s supposed to be like, I’m addicted.”
He held up a bite of sausage to me.
I raised my eyebrows. “Really?”
He frowned in confusion and then understanding dawned. He laughed. “Total accident, I swear.”
I bit into the sausage. It squirted and dribbled down my chin.
“Oh, come on,” he said, laughing and wiping the grease from my chin.
My phone pinged and I looked around for it.
“Nightstand,” he said. “You did put my number into your phone, right?”
“Yes.” I got up and went to retrieve my cell.
“You didn’t text me,” he stated. “So, I don’t have your number.”
“I was about to text you, but then Arden called. And I got distracted.” I picked up my cell and glanced at the screen. “Ah, speak of the devil.”
I unlocked my phone and went to our text thread. “She sent some photos from the shoot.”
“Yeah? I want to see.”
I went back to the couch and sat close to him, our knees touching. We scrolled through the pictures together.
“Holy hell, these are good,” I said in awe.
“Better than good,” he said. “They look like real wedding photos. We look good together.”
I stared at the photo of us standing next to Honeysuckle. Stratton was looking at me like he wanted to devour me whole. I looked like I was about to let him.
“What do you think we were talking about in this shot?” I asked, glancing at him.
“Babies.”
My breath hitched. “Oh, right. Babies.”
“Does that scare you?” he asked, pushing a strand of wet hair behind my ear.
“No. Does that scare you?”
“I’m the one who brought it up,” he pointed out. “Both times.”
“I guess that’s a no.” I smiled at him.
He leaned down and kissed the corner of my mouth. “Barbecue sauce.”
My phone buzzed again with another text from Arden.
Arden
When will I see you tomorrow?
“She wants to know when I’ll be back in town,” I said.
His brow wrinkled as he pondered my question. “Tell her ten.”
My heart deflated at the idea of our time together ending.
“Oh, okay.” I hoped my disappointment didn’t show.
“Tell her ten,” he repeated. “And you guys can catch up while you pack.”
I frowned. “Huh? Pack?”
“Pack,” he repeated. “You’re moving in with me, gremlin.”
“I can’t,” I protested, but it sounded weak to my own ears.
“Why not?”
“Because I—you—we—”
“Laugh together, have great sex, and want babies,” he finished. “So, what’s the problem?”
“You’re nuts.”
“About you? Absolutely.” He scooped up another bite of food. “Try the pulled pork.”
I pushed the fork away from my mouth. “Stratton, be real for one second.”
“I’ll be real for a few seconds.” He set the fork down and then turned to me to grasp my upper arms. “I want you, Maise. I want you for longer than a day and one night. I want you in my bed, in my cabin, in my town. I want you forever and I don’t care one bit that I just met you. Now stop being stubborn.”
I’d spent years in a relationship that had been going nowhere. That never made me feel half as alive as Stratton had made me feel in just a few hours.
“My parents are going to flip their shit,” I muttered.
“We’ll tell them together.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips across mine. “After all, they should get to know your husband sooner rather than later.”
“You’re not my husband,” I giggled.
“Not yet,” he said with a heated smile. “But I will be.”