Chapter Three
Three Days Later
Shae had a serious case of blue balls.
Peyton was in his bed every single night. Each day, he woke up when she did, got ready, drove her to her bakery, left her there until six at night, then picked her up.
She did not have much of a life and he didn’t like it. He had known she didn’t do anything but dedicate her life to the bakery, he just didn’t realize how much time.
She worked her ass off, and he did believe she worked harder than any man on his ranch, which was just fucking insane. He admired her dedication.
At night, they enjoyed a meal together, which he got a local chef to cook. William was a damn good cook, and he also happened to own the diner and didn’t have a problem cooking for him on the spot, for Peyton.
Shae had already made sure his men gave the people of Fort a warning, that Peyton was in no way to suffer for what her sister had done. As far as they were concerned, he was dating Peyton, not that she was aware of it.
His men would make sure her business continued to flourish.
She deserved it. The first day, his men had reported to him that business had slowed dramatically.
People had been avoiding her shop, and he knew it was because he conducted business there.
That was when he made the people of Fort aware that Peyton belonged to him.
She was under his protection, and they started to go back to the shop.
Each night, he would send her for a shower, and for the last three nights, he would kiss her and make love to her body, by licking her pussy, and he couldn’t get enough of her. He wanted to fuck her so damn badly, but he also didn’t want to terrify her.
Which is why he was now standing in the small apartment she had been renting since Lily-May sold their parents’ house. He had asked for the key from her that morning so he could go and get her some things.
Looking around the small apartment, he saw Peyton had very little. There was a single chair in the sitting room. No television. Some books on a small bookshelf, mostly cookery and bakery books from the titles. No lamps. Several pictures hung on the walls, but they were of her family.
Her kitchen was all but bare. A few pans and saucepans, some bowls, but nothing of any real substance. Her fridge was also bare. The milk had spoiled since she had not been there the past few days.
Moving to her bedroom, he saw she had a small bed, neatly made from three days ago.
In her small closet hung a handful of clothes.
Taking out a couple of suitcases, he couldn’t believe he was able to pack her entire apartment away in them.
He got a couple of men to take some of the furniture, and together, they completely cleared it out.
He gave the key to the landlord and got her a refund on the rent she had paid upfront. He doubted the man ever did that for anyone else, but he wasn’t just dealing with anyone. Shae always got what he wanted.
Packing it up in his truck, he made his way back to the ranch and unloaded absolutely everything. He put her chair in his office so she could sit there when she wanted.
He put several pictures of her family in spots around his ranch, and he hung all of her clothes in his closet. Shae had more clothes than she did. He would rectify that very soon. Picking out a dress, he carried it down to his truck and saw it had taken him until exactly five-thirty to do this.
He got back in his truck, gave his men the instructions they needed, then headed back to town.
Arriving at the bakery, just as Peyton was about to step out, he reached for the dress, which he had kept on the hanger, and went straight to her.
Peyton stopped and he nudged her back inside.
“Go and put this on,” he said.
“You took my dress?”
“I took all of your stuff. It’s now at the ranch.” He shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled out the cash. “This is for you.”
“What did you do?” Peyton asked.
“You’re not living in that piece of shit apartment.”
“What the—Shae, this is not funny. I need that apartment.”
“No, you don’t.”
She took a deep breath and held onto the money. “It was a good place to live, and do you have any idea what the cost of housing is in Fort? It’s expensive, and finding a good place is hard—”
He kissed her. She looked so damn cute when she was angry and frustrated.
She didn’t have any idea what it meant to be frustrated, but he did.
His balls were so freaking blue, he couldn’t fucking see straight.
He knew he could have taken her multiple times by now, but he didn’t want to just fuck her.
No, he wanted to get under her skin and into her head, and .
.. he wanted to claim her heart. He had a feeling the moment he was in her heart, he had finally gotten her.
This was not going to be a one-month, or even a one-year deal.
Peyton was his until death they parted. He was in this for the long haul.
“You’re living with me,” he said, pulling away from the kiss. “You don’t need to worry about finding another place.”
“What about when this is over?” she asked.
“I’ve not even fucked you yet, and I told you, this will be over when I say it is over.”
Fifty-plus years wouldn’t even be enough with her. He wanted a lifetime. Ten fucking lifetimes. And he intended to get it.
“Now, go and get dressed. I’m taking you dancing.”
“Dancing?”
“Yes.”
She looked at the dress and he waited for her to argue.
Peyton didn’t argue, but took the dress from him, and he grabbed her bag and keys.
He waited as she went out into the back, and he checked the time. Less than five minutes later, she came back, carrying the clothes she wore, and wearing the black dress with the white little flowers all over. She looked so fucking beautiful. He couldn’t get enough of her.
The bodice had some kind of elastic beneath the bust, but it molded to her curves beautifully and flared out at the hips. It fell to her knees, and the sleeves were short.
Pulling off his jacket, he placed it over her shoulders. He expected her to argue, only she didn’t, and instead thanked him for the jacket. He gave her a single nod and walked her back to the truck. He helped her inside and rounded to the driver’s side.
Turning over the ignition, he fired up the engine, then pulled out and headed to Wade’s place, which he called Fort Paradise.
It was the only bar in town, and the best place to be on a Friday night.
Usually he had a live band, and this was no exception.
The music was thick, heavy, and it was already busy.
Parking his truck, he climbed out and Peyton knew by now not to climb out without him.
He might have scolded her on the first day, that he was a gentleman and would treat her accordingly.
Helping her out of the truck also meant he got to feel her body pressed against his, and that was a damn good feeling to have. He loved when she was close to him.
Stepping into the bar, people stepped out of his way. Women looked in their direction, and the moment they caught him with Peyton, he saw the disappointment and the spite, and he didn’t give a shit. If anyone caused her trouble, he’d deal with it.
Wade was working the bar. They were friends and had been since they were kids. Wade had settled down with his high school sweetheart and already had seven kids, with another on the way. That man did not like his wife to be anything but pregnant.
It was cute how desperate he was. Wade and Carla started dating when they were ten years old, and at prom, she was seven months pregnant with his first child. Shae was at their wedding, and he was godfather to all of their children.
“Shae, my man, it has been too long since I saw you in here,” Wade said. “I heard a little rumor about you and a certain bak—”
“Wade, let me introduce you to my date. Peyton Bride, meet my good friend, Wade Liamson.”
His friend went a bright shade of red. “We already know each other. Carla goes into the shop every Saturday.”
“Yes, the bribery run,” Peyton said.
Shae didn’t like it because for the last three days, he had been the perfect gentleman to Peyton. He’d been nice and polite, licking her pussy as well. Not once had he gotten a smile from her pretty lips.
“Do you have a bathroom?” Peyton asked.
“You never been here before?” he asked, not entirely surprised, seeing as she was also a virgin.
She turned her attention back to him. “Er, no, I ... haven’t.”
“Just across the room, right there,” Wade said. “And it’s clean.”
Shae let her go, and watched as she made her way across the room, aware of men looking her way. She was stunning and didn’t even realize it. She was going to drive him crazy. Of that, he had no doubt.
“You and Peyton?” Wade asked.
“Shut the fuck up.”
“No, I heard the rumors, but seeing as you didn’t come and tell me, I figured they were exactly that.”
“Rumors?”
“You know, you and your men turning up at the bakery. A lot of people figured Peyton owed you, or Lily-May was causing trouble.”
He wasn’t about to tell Wade their private business.
“What can I get you?” Wade asked, already knowing he wasn’t going to get answers.
“A beer and a soda,” he said. “And you can tell me how I can get her to do that.”
Wade looked up at him. “Do what?”
“Smile?”
Wade frowned and then smirked. “Okay, hold up a damn minute, Peyton’s your date, and we already know she’s staying at your ranch.
I also know you don’t allow any woman to stay with you.
Like, no one stays at your ranch or even goes to your ranch.
I also know that based on what your daddy used to say, when you found a woman, you and that woman would be together for life. ”
Shae looked to his friend, and it was the first time he wanted to knock that smile right off his face, because he looked way too smug.
“Shut the fuck up.”
“Give me a minute, all right, to bask in knowing that my best friend knows exactly how I feel about Carla.”