Epilogue
Brody runs his hands down my body, pulling me in close to him as he devours me with kisses.
“Someone’s in a good mood this morning.” I giggle as he throws me down on my bed. He spent the night here again.
“What’s not to be in a good mood about? The sun’s shining, we’ve had two profitable months at the hotel, your wedding calendar is fully booked, not to mention the corporate events are busier than they have ever been. And you’re finally going to agree to move in with me.”
I smirk back at him sassily, trying not to laugh. Every week since we officially told everyone we were a couple he’s asked me to move to the ranch with him. And every week I have told him that it’s too early for us to even consider moving in together. “You know my answer.” I smirk, finding it harder and harder to say no.
“I talked to Emerson. Your lease was month to month, and it runs out in two weeks. Then what are you going to do?”
“Renew it?” I shrug like it’s not a big deal. It’s kind of fun messing with him over this.
He shakes his head. “No chance in hell, sweet pea. I know you think it’s too early, but we spend every night together anyway, either at this place or mine.” He pulls me into him again. “What are you afraid of?”
Spoiling everything. I let out a sigh. “If I move in with you, the magic will disappear, and we will be just a regular old boring couple.”
“We could never be just some boring regular couple.” He kisses just below my ear, sending thrills over my body. “If I even suspect it’s getting stale, I can think of plenty of ways to spice it up.” He kisses me again. “I need you with me.”
I stare into his eyes, knowing it’s what I want as well. I have this whole time, but I didn’t want to rush. “So clingy, Mr. Alexander.”
“I could just make sure Emerson doesn’t lease it to you again,” he says more seriously. And I know he would try it, just to get his own way. He’s still just as controlling.
I pout, trying to play along. “Your sister loves me, she’s not going to turn me down.” I consider him, trying to work out what’s best. I desperately want to be with him all the time. It’s why we don’t spend any time apart. But I’m scared; moving in together feels so grown-up and real.
He stands with determination. He heads to my closet, grabs my overnight bag, and opens the top drawer of my dressing table.
“What are you doing?”
“Packing your stuff. I’m not staying here where Paisley could walk in on us at any moment to fill us in on her latest dating debacle. You know she told Parker she can hear us through the walls.”
I laugh at his dramatics. “This place is pretty old, she probably can.”
“She has a big mouth,” he grumbles. The two of them are trying to get along better, but she loves to mess with him and riles him up so easily. It’s a good laugh for me and Mae.
“She does. But the girls would miss us. I think they secretly like having your grumpy ass around.”
He glares at me as he opens the second drawer and starts packing items in the bag. “Do you have another bag somewhere?” he asks, ignoring my reasoning. He’s deadly serious this time. He’s kind of adorable when he makes his mind up about something, and he wants it so much.
“Alright,” I say, unable to help the smirk that creeps onto my face.
Pausing his packing, he evaluates me with his determined gaze. “Alright, you have another bag for me to pack?”
“Alright I’ll move out to the ranch with you.” I laugh. I couldn’t wait any longer even if I wanted to. And at this point, I’m really just trying to mess with him anyway. He drops the bag, removes his shirt and boxers in one go, then scrambles onto my bed. He pins me beneath his large body, showering me with kisses. I love it when he’s playful like this. I wrap my legs around him instinctively, pulling his body closer to mine, feeling his massive hard cock dig into me.
He pulls my shirt over my head, grinding into me and showing me just how hard he is already. “I’m going to make you scream so fucking loud for teasing me,” he warns me, his tone serious.
I giggle. “We have to be quiet, the girls will be up already,” I warn him.
“No fucking way, sweet pea.”
We hear the front door slam then heavy stomping up the stairs.
He looks to me wild-eyed. “Another Paisley drama?”
“I should probably go and check on her.” I sigh, realizing that Paisley has been even more unsettled lately than usual. I cant figure out whats happening with her, but shes been acting strange. It seems like shes feeling down about something but isnt willing to confide in any of us. Then she flip-flops and has some crazy big night out that always ends in some drama.
Footsteps stomp up the stairs, then before we know what’s happening, Paisley bursts through my bedroom door.
Brody grabs a pillow to cover his junk, and I scramble to pull up the sheets. “Jesus, Paisley, do you know how to knock?”
“What, were you guys in the middle of it? Sorry.” She shrugs, not caring that she’s just walked in on us. “You’re never going to believe what happened to me last night,” she says, her hands going to her hips. She’s in a killer red dress and sky-high heels.
“Are you just getting home?”
“I don’t think that’s the question here. What are you doing barging in here at this hour?” Brody grumbles in her direction.
“It’s eight in the morning. It’s not early, you two should be up,” she sasses, coming into my room and leaning against my dressing table, no interest in letting us be.
Brody glares daggers at her. He’s pissed his fun got cut short, and I can see his point from earlier. The girl really has no boundaries. “It’s fucking Sunday, Paisley.”
With a playful smile, she raises a brow while looking him over. “Geez, girl, you didn’t say how hot Brody’s body was.” She’s trying to get a rise out of him.
“Sure is,” I answer cheekily, smiling at Brody, who looks at me, mortified that I’m not getting rid of her. But what can I do? I feel kind of bad for her, and I think she needs me.
“Paisley, get out, you girls can talk about this later. Preferably when I’m not around.” He shoos her with his free hand.
“I need to tell you my story.” She pouts. “This time I’m really never dating again.”
He grabs a pillow and throws it at her. It hits her in the face, messing up her hair. She blows a strand over her face. “So maybe after breakfast?” she says, hopeful.
I nod. “We’ll have a shower then be right down,” I assure her. I really am worried about her. She looks so lost.
Twenty minutes later, I leave Brody to shower alone while I make my way into the kitchen in search of the girls. I’m kind of dying to hear her story. I’ve gotten used to the dose of weekly drama she brings to my life. No one else would ever experience the same unfortunate events that happen to her. She’s like a magnet for asshole guys. I find Paisley and Mae in the living room, curtains drawn back.
“What are you guys doing?” I ask as I come down the stairs into our living room.
“Checking out the hottie moving in next door. Tattooed arms, sculpted back and torso, and look at that ass in a pair of blue jeans. Girl, you can tell he works out.” Paisley fans her face, she’s practically drooling.
I move in between them so I can check him out for myself. I see what she’s talking about, he’s got a nice bod. “Not bad at all,” I agree.
“Not bad! He’s divine. I think I’m in love,” Paisley gushes, shoving me out of the way so she can get a better look.
Mae laughs, rolling her eyes in my direction. “Just need him to turn around so you can see his face,” she jokes. “It’s like one of those cartoons where the privates are covered by an object so you can’t see them, but in this case, it’s his face. There has been a lamp, a microwave box with a toaster on top, and now it’s a massive pile of linen.”
“I know,” Paisley agrees more seriously. “I have been waiting for a good ten minutes. He’s got to turn around without a box soon, right?” she says, sounding so hopeful. She must be over her drama from this morning already.
I shake my head at the two of them. “And when he does, you two will look like the creepy neighbors peeping through the window. Perfect story to tell your grandkids.” I laugh, wandering through to the kitchen to make a couple of coffees.
Brody joins me. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he kisses my cheek. “After breakfast you are spending the day at my place so we can finish what we started. No interruptions.”
I swivel in his arms, checking him out. He’s in a pair of dark jeans and a button-up, looking gorgeous as ever with his hair still a little wet. I rise on my tippytoes to kiss him. “Sounds like a plan.”
I hand him his coffee. “What’s all the commotion out there?” he asks, looking in the girls’ direction.
“Paisley’s losing her shit over our hot new neighbor.” I laugh, walking with him back into the living room.
“Oh, really.” He smirks, placing his coffee down on the table and joining them, shoving the curtain back further. “Think you might need to get your eyes checked, Paisley. That there is Noah Harrington. Don’t you hate his guts?” He chuckles, throwing me a cheeky wink.
Oh shit. I panic for her. This is bad.
She rushes to the front window, pulling back the drapes, squinting right as he turns around to wipe his sweaty face with his shirt. We all see it as realization dawns on her.
I stifle a laugh with my hand. This shit could only happen to her.
“You have got to be shitting me. He’s moving back to town?” she asks, looking between us, utterly mortified. “Why am I the last to know about this?”
“Not just back to town, but he’s your new neighbor. Maybe you should do something neighborly and bake him a pie. Peach cobbler’s his favorite.” Brody chuckles again, enjoying this way too much.
I give him a playful slap. “Brody.”
“She deserves it for all the shit she gives me.” He smirks, enjoying her discomfort way too much. He knew this was happening, for sure.
Paisley marches right out the front door and over to his yard. She’s changed out of her red dress from last night and is now in a pair of jeans and a cream sweater, her wild curls flowing around her like a mane.
The three of us follow her onto the porch so we can have front-row seats to the show.
Brody wraps his arms around me. “Did you know about this?” I ask him.
“For months. I helped him with the paperwork. Didn’t think it was a big deal.”
I turn to Mae. “What does she think she’s going to do demand he not move in next door?”
She giggles. “Have you met her? I’d say that’s exactly what she’s about to do.”
She marches up his driveway and right up to him, hands on her hips, glaring daggers in his direction. We can’t hear what is being said, but she sounds furious.
“Why does she hate him so much?” I ask Mae.
She purses her lips like she’s trying to decide if she should tell us or not. “Honestly, I have no idea. She’s always hated him.”
The end