21. Gemma
21
Gemma
T here are still several hours left in the day when we get back to Sunflower Springs. Brooks decides he better use the time to check in with the guys and do what he can on the ranch. I knew being away had to be eating him up. He is such a workaholic. But instead of just heading straight to the barn, he walks me to my room and captures my mouth in a kiss that makes me want to pull him in and not let him leave. “Mmmm. On that note, why don’t you stay at my place tonight? I’m not letting you sleep alone, and we wouldn’t wanna wake my parents when I make you scream now would we?”
I can feel the blush heat my cheeks. “Brooks!” I smack him.
“Just thinking ahead.” He shrugs.
I can’t help but giggle. “Okay I will get a couple of things together to stay over tonight. But if you don’t get out of here and stop kissing me like that it isn’t gonna matter. I’m gonna end up pulling you into this room right now and your parents are about to get an entirely different opinion of me.”
My turn to take him off guard. I get a little smug satisfaction from that.
“Okay, okay I’m leaving. I’ll be back at 7 to pick you up. Get some sleep. You’ll need it.” he winks.
I laugh and walk into my room. That man has planted a permanent smile on my face, and I don’t ever want to let him go.
I know he’s right. I should probably try to get a nap in before tonight. It has been a long couple of days, and I don’t want to get tired and boring too early. But I’m too wired to sleep. It’s not like he’s getting any rest. He’s going to work the field. So, he can’t get too mad at me, can he?
After debating a little longer, I decide being invited to a town thing is a great excuse to do some shopping. Even with the few things I’ve picked up at shops here and there during my stay, I’m tired of the clothes I have with me. I also love the idea of Brooks picking me up and getting to see me in something new.
Maybe I should pick up a little something to wear tonight too. Of course, if I buy anything lingerie related in this tiny town there will be talk. Normally that would be enough to change my mind instantly. But the way Brooks dismisses the town gossip and doesn’t let it get to him, I kind of get a thrill at the idea.
After several hours of browsing the little shops, I finally feel satisfied with the ripped jean shorts and sunflower springs T-shirt I have chosen for tonight. I’m even more satisfied with the lingerie set I picked up. The shop owner showed me her newest arrivals and I couldn’t resist the sunflower print. I think Brooks will get a kick out of it. He’s the one who decided to call me sunflower after all.
I head back to the ranch house and still have a little over an hour to shower and get ready. By the time I hear Brooks knocking on my door, I am feeling hot and ready to wow him. The face he gives me when he looks me up and down does not disappoint.
“I know I said not to get all gussied up and you did it anyway,” he says with a smirk. “But you look hot as fuck Gemma.” He pulls me towards him and starts peppering kisses down my neck. My entire body tingles with each one and I melt into him. “Makes me not want to share you tonight. I just want to throw you down on that bed and have my way with you instead.” He moves to the other side of my neck. “And then throw you over my shoulder, get you back to my place, and have you some more.”
For a moment I almost beg him to do just that. But he steps back and looks me up and down again. That tiny bit of space clears my head enough to remember we have plans tonight. So, as he starts back in on my neck, his hands sliding down to squeeze my ass, I lean in and whisper, “If you like this outfit, just wait ‘til you see what I bought to wear for your eyes only.”
His breath hitches and I take that moment to wiggle out of his arms. I am almost puzzled by the look on his face, but I grab his hand and pull him towards the door. “But you don’t get to see it until after the party. So, let’s go.”
It’s a short ride to the creek but I soak up every minute. I have come to love the sound of the gravel crunching beneath the tires of this old truck. It’s so comforting. The wild sunflowers laced through the barbed wire fences are a view I will never get over.
Before I know it, we have reached the creek. Brooks pulls into some tall grass and backs the truck up until it sits in a loose circle formation with the others. He does it so effortlessly that I wonder if he’s done it 100 times. I wish we had these small-town traditions back home.
We hop out of the truck, and he grabs a blanket and a small ice chest out of the back seat. He lowers the tailgate and spreads the blanket out for us to sit and grabs a spiked seltzer out of the ice chest and hands it to me. My smile must take over my entire face. I have never met a man as thoughtful as Brooks in my life.
In the middle of the truck circle sits a fire pit that looks very well used. There are remnants of charred wood and old cans below the fresh wood that must have been placed for tonight. A couple of guys I recognize from the ranch are working on getting the fire started. Brooks glances at them and then looks back at me.
“Go hang out!” I say laughing. “I promise you don’t need to babysit me. The sun is about to set, and it looks like Lorelai has the perfect view. I’m gonna go join her for a bit.”
There's that sexy half smile again. He slides his hand on the small of my back and leans in for a quick kiss. “Alright Sunflower. See ya in a few.” I smile back and reach up on my tip toes for a second kiss before leaving him.
Lorelai is perched on an old log that extends over the creek. When I get close enough to ask if she minds company, she beats me to it and speaks first.
“I’ve never seen him act like that ya know,” she says, patting the spot on the log next to her.
I make my way to her and dangle my feet until my toes are in the water. “Like what?”
“Like he’s a lovesick puppy.”
I choke on my seltzer. “What? No, it’s just … we’re just … I mean–”
“Gemma, I know you’re new around here but I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors. Brooks doesn’t date. He may have a hookup here or there, but he’s always said he doesn’t have the time to waste on relationships. The girls around here chase him for sport just to see if they can be the one to change his mind.”
I open my mouth to say something but then close it again.
“But he acts like you’re the reason the sun comes up each morning. The town has been buzzing about it since you came into town. I figured it was just gossip. But when he called me about bringing you to the farm, I knew this was different.”
My mind is reeling. I mean sure I know how I feel about him. I want to spend every waking minute with him and in his arms is my absolute favorite place to be. He makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. But I didn’t think that I had the same effect on him.
“I don’t even know what to say.” I pause trying to make my thoughts make sense.
Lorelai lets out a laugh. “You don’t have to say anything. Sorry to get so deep out of nowhere. I really just wanted to say thank you. Brooks is like a younger brother to me. He annoys the hell out of me, and I try to do the same to him every chance I get. But seeing him so happy is amazing.” She pauses and seems to weigh her next words. “I just...worry. Have you two talked about what happens when you leave?”
Just like that the air deflates from my lungs. “Not really,” I admit. “If I’m honest I’ve tried to push it as far out of my mind as I can. He makes me so incredibly happy, Lorelai. Imagining one day without seeing him makes me want to cry.” My chest starts to feel tight at the thought and I take a deep breath. “But it’s not that far. It’s an easy drive. We can make it work. No big deal. And definitely no need to talk about it tonight. Tonight is for fun.”
Lorelai must sense my shift in mood because her concerned features quickly shift into encouragement. She leans over to bump my shoulder with hers. “You’re right, cousin . It’s time to have some fun!”
Just the word lifts my spirits. Lorelai is one of my favorite people in this town and she is my real blood relative. She’s like a piece I didn’t know I was missing until now. Just as much as Brooks is.
That thought scares me a little. But I know in my gut that I’m where I’m supposed to be. I was always meant to meet Brooks. Things feel too right with him to have been an accident. There go those deep thoughts again. Party Gemma! You’re at a party! Drink. Have fun. Go home with your hot rancher. Those are your only goals.
Repeating my goals a couple more times in my head, I smile at Lorelai. “Yes cousin , let’s go have some fun.”
With that, we both make our way back to the bonfire which is fully lit now and surrounded by a group of loud voices and laughter. I say hi to a few people I hadn’t seen yet and watch Lorelai melt into her group of friends. But then my eyes wander to where we parked the truck and stop on the gorgeous man sitting on the tailgate.
I realize there are several people gathered around him talking and hanging out. I take in the scene and how relaxed and happy he looks. I absolutely love this version of him. Not as much as I love the version I get when I have him alone, but it’s definitely a close second. As if he feels me staring at him, he pauses mid conversation and looks my way. Our eyes lock and suddenly everything falls away but him.
I beeline straight over to him, and he reaches one arm out to scoop me towards him until I’m standing between his open legs. He wraps his other arm around me and lifts. In one swift movement I’m sitting on the tailgate between his legs and snuggled against his chest. Holy hell the way he can throw me around with those arms will never get old.
Brooks doesn’t miss a beat. His conversation continues as if I had not just crashed it. In fact, I’m absorbed into it instantly. I marvel at the fact that I never feel like an outsider here.
I also marvel at the fact that Brooks can carry on a conversation right now. My mind is reeling with him this close. Being between his strong thighs makes me want to turn around and straddle him. Focus Gemma. You will have your time with him later. You do not need to make a scene right now.
I really am interested in hearing more of Shane’s firefighting stories. But Brooks is absent-mindedly rubbing the bottom of my bra line with his thumb and no matter how hard I try to focus; it has my thoughts drifting to having his mouth all over me. Brooks on the other hand looks entirely unaffected by any of this.
His ability to look cool, calm and collected at all times is awe-inspiring and annoying at the same time. Normally I would be irritated and even hurt knowing I’m barely keeping it together and he isn’t distracted at all. But the throbbing bulge in his jeans my back is resting against tells me that he is just as ready to take me as I am to be taken.