Fourteen.
Duke
I stand with my arms crossed over my chest while Maci looks over the used, but new, Ford Explorer. It’s got winter tires, low miles, good gas mileage, all-wheel-drive, a family-grade vehicle with a five-star crash test rating, and it’s available in blue or red—which is also very important, apparently.
She thinks they lowered the price by five grand, but what she doesn’t know, is I called ahead to the salesman early this morning. Based on everything she showed me last night in her price range, I know she’s trying to keep her payments low. But I’ve got the money. And giving a chunk of change for a car that’ll keep her and the baby safe seems like a damn good investment to me. I’ve looked this thing over with a fine-tooth comb—it’s in great shape for the price they’re (now) asking.
“What do you think?” I ask.
“It’s nice,” she says, sitting in the driver’s seat. She’s already test-driven it, and I can tell she likes it, but she doesn’t seem sold. “Why do you think they lowered the price?”
I shrug. “They’re getting in new inventory. End of the year sort of thing.”
Maci nods as the salesman, Steve, who I used to go to high school with, strides over with a bright smile. “So, what’s the verdict?” he asks, playing along just like I told him to.
I raise a brow at Maci staring at me with nervous doe eyes. “It’s a good deal. And a damn good car to be riding around in with the baby.”
“Baby?” Steve beams. “Congratulations, you two. I didn’t know.”
Maci’s face twists uncomfortably. “Um, thanks. Anyway, what, uh, is the down payment?”
I knew she’d ask this. Which is why I told Steve to tell her a low-ball offer. I don’t know her financial situation, but from what I can tell, she’s trying to conserve. Whether that’s for rent or baby stuff—probably both.
Maci decides to make the deal, and if I could fist bump the air—or Steve—without looking suspicious, I would. We go through the motions of trading her old car in. Unfortunately, with her having to switch her plates to Montana and no current address, she’s looking at a hold-up on the deal.
“You can use my address,” I tell her when Steve walks away to check with someone about her out-of-state driver’s license.
“Are you sure?” she asks, scrunching her nose in the way I adore.
I throw my arm behind her chair and jerk her closer. “Yes,” I say, kissing her possessively. It takes me a moment to get a grip and realize we’re in a public place. But Maci doesn’t miss a beat or question my actions, she falls into me, kissing me back with just as much heat.
We part, and she leans into me with a smile. “Thank you.”
After Maci signs on the dotted line and we make plans to pick up her new car tomorrow afternoon. Hand in hand we walk to my truck when she gets a phone call. “Hello?” I hold the door for her to climb in, unable to help myself from smacking her ass as she does. Her swat back at me has me chuckling before I jog around to get in the driver’s seat. “Really? When? Yes, I’ll be there. Thank you so much, Cassidy. I will. Bye.”
“What’d she say?” I ask when she hangs up.
“Peggy Cup, the owner of Cup O’ Joe, asked if I could come in to meet her tomorrow morning,” she says, checking her email for the third time in the last hour.
I pull out and head toward the shop so we can clear out her car. “That’s a good thing, right?”
“Yeah, I mean, it is.” She sighs. “It’s just… None of these apartments are getting back to me. They all said ‘move-in ready’ and ‘available now,’ but no one is returning my call.”
“It’s still early in the week. You only reached out to them yesterday,” I try to assure her as she drops her phone into her purse. “So, where do you want to take your stuff? The motel?”
“I don’t have anywhere else to take it yet.”
Coming to a stop at a red light, I rub my face and ponder the best way to approach this with her. “It’s Monday.”
“Yes, it is.” She giggles.
I grin. “No, angel, it’s Monday. You only have the room until Wednesday.”
“Thursday, technically,” she corrects. “I have to be checked out of there by Thursday morning at the latest.”
“All right, well, that’s not leaving you a lot of time to be out of there,” I say. “You need a backup plan if nothing comes through.”
“Are there any other motels around here?”
“No. You’re at the only one in town,” I grunt. “There’s the hotel at the resort, but their prices are high due to the holiday season.” Maci puts a protective hand over her stomach, a telltale sign she’s getting upset. “If you can’t find a place by Wednesday, you can stay with me at the rental cabin.”
She leans her head against the seat. “I can’t ask you to do that, Duke. I’m a big girl, I’ll figure it out.”
She’s missing the point. I wasn’t asking. “I won’t sit by and watch you stress over finding a place in three days when I’ve got room. It’s not good for you, or the baby.”
“Duke…”
“Maci,” I warn, regarding her and her defensive tone. She won’t win this fight with me. If I have to drag her suitcase with her attached to it, I will. “We’ve spent the last two nights together. You’ll have a car tomorrow to get wherever you need to go. It’s a one-bedroom, one-bathroom cabin. It’s not much, but you’ll be with me, and…it’s somewhere safe,” I add, my chest tied up in knots.
Safe.
That damnable word…
“You’re sure that’s a good idea?” she asks quietly.
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
She frowns. “Two words: four days.”
“And?” I scoff. “I trust you not to smother me in my sleep. We get along great. I sleep better than I have in years when I’m with you. So, no, I don’t see the problem. Actually, I think it’s a damn good idea.”
Her emerald gaze softens. “Is that why you stayed last night?”
I huff, glancing at her, then back to the road. No sense in denying it now. “Yeah. I love being in that bed with you—no matter what we’re doing. I like…having you close.”
A teasing smile blooms across her lips. “You don’t snore when you’re on your side, but you do this weird wheeze.” She giggles. “Also, there’s no such thing as shoving you over. You’re a boulder when you sleep.”
I boom with laughter. “Fuck, really? A wheeze?”
“Yes.” She laughs. “It’s not bad, but you could use those nighttime nasal strips that open your nose better. They’d probably help.”
“All right, fine, if I get the nasal strips, you’ll come stay with me then?” I don’t want to push her too hard, but I need to know so I can ask my mom to clean the place beforehand.
Don’t judge.
“Only if you let me pay you something for staying with you,” she counters, and I grin. “Not in blow jobs either.” My smile fades. “Please. I don’t like handouts, and you’ve already done so much for me these last few days.”
I pull into the diner down the street and park. “Fine, but I’m buying lunch. And whatever craving you have on request tonight.”
“Are you…staying again tonight?” she asks.
“Do you want me to?” I’ll sleep outside her door in my truck to be close to her if I have to.
She leans over the center console and pouts her plump lips at me. My cock surges at the visual of pushing my length between those lips. “Yes, please,” she whispers seductively, and I fall toward her. Claiming her mouth in a searing kiss. I don’t think my heart has ever soared higher.
Maci Montgomery.
Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
After working late at the shop, I crashed hard at the motel with Maci. She wasn’t feeling well, but I was more than glad to take care of her. I offered to take her to the coffee shop to meet Peggy in the morning, but Cassidy already said she’d swing by and get her on the way.
We texted all day, but that didn’t curb my desire to see her—to be with her. After skipping out of work early, we picked up her new car. She was much more excited about it, but she still seemed upset over the apartment search being a dud—I, however, am not.
I stayed with her again last night at the motel. We had amazing sex in the shower and went to bed like we’d been together for years.
She started training at Cup O’ Joe this morning, had a meeting with Rick at Rick’s Gym this afternoon about starting yoga classes, then headed to the laundromat before we meet to head up to the cabin in another hour—it’s finally Wednesday, and I can’t wait to get her moved in.
Maci’s eleven weeks pregnant as of yesterday, and doing some quick math, I’ve figured her due date is roughly the end of June. I’ll be in my house no later than the end of May at the rate Rhett and Levi are going; that’s enough time to convince Maci to give us a real shot.
Dating isn’t on her radar, and I doubt starting a serious relationship while throwing a newborn baby into the mix is something she’s going to be keen on doing, but I have to try. We’re already there as far as I’m concerned.
I want her. And I want that baby with her.
I want it all.
A heavy knock on my open office door brings me back to the present. “Hey,” Butch grunts. “Got a minute?”
I glare at him and lean back in my desk chair, remembering the last time I saw him and how well that went.
He takes the seat across from me and scratches his bearded chin—a nervous tick he’s had since grade school. “Listen, Duke, I didn’t mean to piss you off the other night at Ma’s,” he grumbles, “but I don’t like where we’ve gotten. I’m a fish out of water here, all right? You’re the one who fixes this shit before we end up ripping each other’s throats out.”
“Yeah, I always am,” I snarl. “How’s it being on the other end? Not very fun, is it?”
Butch scowls. “I didn’t come here to argue with you.”
“Then why did you come here?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. “To find out what the fuck I’m doing with my goddamn life and report back to the family.”
“No.” He sighs. “I came here to invite you and Maci over for dinner Friday night. Cassidy already tried talking to Maci about it, but she said she’d have to talk to you. Didn’t want to step on any toes or some bullshit.”
I huff in frustration.
“Cass likes Maci,” he tells me. “And apparently, I’m fucking up her chance at having a pregnant best friend she can go through all this shit with, and that’s a big deal.”
I can’t help but chuckle at my moron of a brother. It’s a wonder how he scored Cassidy in the first place. “Yeah, that’ll do it.”
“So, you’ll come?” he asks, hopeful. “Dinner, Friday night.”
As much as I’d enjoy watching him squirm in the dog house with his future wife, I’d hate to find out later I’m doing the same thing to Maci. “I’ll be there,” I say. “I can’t guarantee Maci will, but I’ll talk to her.”
He nods. “Sounds good.”
I rub the back of my neck as something else comes to mind… “What did you end up getting Cassidy for Christmas?”
He barks a laugh. “I was about to ask you the same thing. If I was smart, I would’ve waited to ask her to marry me on Christmas. Killed two birds with one stone.”
I snort at his cheap ass. “Yeah, I don’t know if I should get Maci something or not.”
“You’re not dating, are you?”
“We’re…a little more than friends,” I admit, hoping I don’t regret telling him later. “It’s been so long since I had to buy a woman anything with meaning, I don’t even know where I’d start.”
We hem and haw for a few minutes, neither of us coming up with anything good. “Jewelry is always the way to go, right?” my brother asks.
I shrug. “For you, that’d work. Earrings or whatever. I doubt I could get away without that gettin’ taken the wrong way.”
Butch stands. “Nice. Well, thanks for the help, bro. I’ve got some earrings to find.”
“Hey.” I throw my hands up. “Where the hell is my brotherly advice?”
“Don’t look at me. I don’t fall for fuck buddies. That’s all you, brother,” he says with a smirk, strolling out the door. “See you Friday.”
Asshole.
I grab my keys and close up. Five minutes later, I’m at the motel catching Maci walking out with a bag in hand. Her smile lights up at the sight of me, and it hits me like a shot to the heart. I jump out and stalk toward her, taking the bag first. “Hey,” I say, leaning down for a kiss—not caring who sees. “This everything?”
“Almost,” she says, blushing even in the cold.
I load the rest of her belongings and the few groceries she’s gathered through the week, then have her follow my lead up the mountain to one of Beau’s two rental cabins. I park out front of the smaller cabin, a quaint covered porch that matches the one on the back. The cabin next door is twice the size with the same rustic, mountain vacation feel.
I unlock the door, and we step inside with a flick of the overhead light.
To the left is the small kitchen-dining area and a sliding glass door that leads to the back porch. The four-seater table feeds into the living space where there’s a couch and a coffee table across from the stone fireplace. To the right is the bedroom where I’ve somehow crammed in a king-sized bed, a dresser, and a flatscreen setup. The tight bathroom is attached to the bedroom from there.
I wonder how she’s going to feel when she sees there’s no door to the bathroom—or all the red flannel and black bear décor my mother decorated this place with.
“This is cute,” Maci says, looking around.
“Bedroom is through there,” I say, pointing to the open doorway. “I’ll get the rest of your stuff.” Once everything is inside, I start putting away the groceries while she organizes her things.
“Where’s the bathroom door?” she shouts from the bedroom, mortified.
I chuckle to myself as she comes back out and stares at me, waiting for an answer.
“Duke,” she says. “We need a bathroom door.”
“I know, I know,” I huff. “Ma already chewed my ass for not telling her it broke a few months back.”
“How’d it break?” she asks, wheeling her luggage into the bedroom.
“I fell into it,” I reply. “Tripped on the bathmat.”
Her faint laugh drifts from the other room. “There is no bathmat.”
“I threw it in the closet.” I grin. “I’ll get Rhett or Levi out here to fix it sometime next week.”
Maci comes out of the bedroom, hanging up her coat on the hook by the door—right next to mine. Where her boots are neatly set off to the side—right next to mine. Fuck, this feels good.
While she’s in the shower, I move a few things between my dresser and the closet, trying to clear space for her. If she feels welcome, she’ll stay, right? She’s not a dog, you moron. Doesn’t hurt to try.
“Did you want to go to dinner at Butch and Cassidy’s on Friday?” I ask when she steps into the bedroom to get dressed—a single towel wrapped around her sexy frame, hair dripping wet.
My cock weeps with joy that she’s here. And all mine.
“We don’t have to go if you don’t want—” She squeaks as I snatch the towel away, her hands flying to cup her breasts. As if I haven’t worshiped them countless times in the last few days. “Duke!”
I drop the towel and scoop her up. Her laughter a soothing melody to my aching heart. “Have I told you how happy I am that you’re here?” I growl, laying her down on my bed. I kneel on the edge and lean over her, my fists on either side of her head as she gazes up at me with lustful eyes.
“You haven’t showered yet,” she whispers as I brush a damp strand of hair from her face. I trail her features, absorbing this moment and committing it to memory.
I dip to her lips and leave a feather-light kiss. A breathy moan escapes her as she slides her arms around my neck. “I…” My mouth works before my right mind has time to catch up. Words I haven’t spoken in years lodge in my throat like an anchor.
Don’t say it, my past warns. No good can come from it.
It’s too soon.
“…should shower,” I say instead. Pussy.
There’s a small crease between her brow as she watches me—knows me. I’ve never been good with hiding my emotions like my brothers—Butch and Beau are the experts in that department.
She nods, pulling me in for another lingering kiss before I stand and force my legs to move away from her while she gets ready for bed.
The pounding heat and clouding steam from the shower aid to block out the war going on inside my head. What I feel—real versus lust. What’s coincidence over what’s meant to be…
Fate, I stubbornly recall.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say I’m starting to believe it.