Chapter 13
I Can Take Him
Ryan
“Hi, Mrs. Hayes,” I say when Charlie’s mom opens the door.
She gives me a warm smile. “Hi, Ryan. Let me go get Charlie.” She disappears back into the house, shouting for Charlie.
I’m only waiting probably thirty seconds before Mr. Hayes comes to the door to greet me.
He shakes my hand, but I can tell by the way he’s glancing behind me, he has ulterior motives.
I step to the side to give him a better view of the big-ass Explorer I borrowed from Trey.
I glance at the car, then back at Charlie’s dad. “It’s very safe.”
He gives me a small smile and a nod. “Have fun you two,” he says when Charlie approaches. She gives him a kiss on the cheek and holds her hand out to me. It’s funny, I would have expected this feeling to wane, and maybe it will eventually, but every time she touches me, it’s electric.
“Hi,” I say, as I lead her to the SUV. I’m openly ogling her ass-hugging blue jeans—thank you Levi Strauss—and tight pink tank that sets off her eyes, so they glow like tiny emerald gems. “You look beautiful.”
She grins and bites her lip. It’s so damn sexy; I’m seriously considering canceling all our plans and taking her back to my place where I can fuck her brains out all night.
I help her into the truck, enjoying the view of her perfect little ass as she climbs in.
Then, unable to control myself any longer, I lean into her, so my lips barely brush the shell of her ear and whisper, “I’m so looking forward to peeling this off of you tonight.
” I hook my index finger along the collar of her top and run my knuckle along the smooth skin.
Her lips part and a shiver snakes up her spine.
I’m helpless against the draw of that plump lower lip and reach up to stroke it with the pad of my thumb.
The tip of her tongue darts out, tasting me and I have to whip my hand away before I lose my shit completely and defile her here on her front curb.
Fuck, I’m already hard and I’ve barely touched her.
She gives me a smile that says she knows exactly what she’s doing to me. I shut her door then run around the front of the truck and climb into the driver’s seat. Giving her thigh a little squeeze, I ask, “You ready for this?”
Charlie scooches across the seat until she’s snuggled up against my side, then she gives me a kiss, and I start the Explorer.
Thirty minutes later, we’re pulling onto the dirt road that leads to my brothers’ house.
It’s a tiny white ranch that was in foreclosure, and an absolute dump when we first bought it, but over the years bit by bit we fixed it up into a nice little home.
The real reason we bought the place wasn’t for the house though.
It was for the big, beautiful barn that serves as a workshop for Trey and Garrett’s custom bikes.
I pause in the front yard and face Charlie, grasping her hands in mine at our sides. “Before we go any further, I need to tell you something, okay?”
He eyes crease with concern, but she simply responds, “Okay.”
I take a deep breath. “When I told you my mom was killed in a car wreck, that was a lie.” I toe the grass, eyes following the movement—this is hard enough to say as it is.
If I have to look at her, I’m not sure I’ll be able to speak.
“She was a drug addict, died of an overdose. I also spent a year in foster care before Trey turned eighteen and got custody of Garrett and me.” I sneak a peek at Charlie’s face, relieved to see her soft smile instead of shock and horror.
She pushes up onto her tippy toes and brushes a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you for telling me.”
I nod, the corner of my mouth ticking up into a half smile. “Let’s go.”
Charlie and I bypass the house altogether and walk around back to where Garrett and Trey are hunched over the smoker. The scent of mesquite-smoked pork sets my mouth watering.
“God that smells good,” Charlie says. I nod in agreement.
My brothers are too intent on whatever ridiculous argument they’re having to notice us, at first. Finally, Garrett’s head pops up, and a smile stretches across his face.
“Charlie.” He throws his arms apart and pulls her into a hug.
She giggles and pats his back in response and Garrett winks at me over her shoulder.
Asshole.
“It’s nice to see you too,” Charlie says, her whole face lit up into a beaming smile that sets off fireworks in my chest.
Trey, being the less touchy-feely type, thrusts out his hand for her to shake.
Charlie’s eyes widen as she takes in his size, tilting her head back, until it’s almost horizontal, just so she can see his face.
To her credit, her smile never wavers, even when she realizes his hand is too big for her to wrap her fingers around. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Likewise,” Trey replies, giving her a toothy grin.
Garrett holds out his elbow. “Milady.” She threads her arm through his, chuckling as he gives her a walking tour of our backyard—which goes something like: “tree, tree, bush, rock, snake.” She jumps at the last one and Garrett laughs his ass off.
Charlie just gives him a friendly smack on the arm before letting him lead her off again.
Trey stands beside me, watching the two of them act like idiots. “I like her,” he says, and though I’d never admit it, his approval means a lot to me.
I stuff my hands in my pockets and sigh. “Me too.”
“That’s good.” Trey claps me on the back. “Try not to fuck it up.”
I rest my hand on my heart. “Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Bro. Really. I mean that.”
He laughs and we make our way over to where Garrett is still entertaining my girlfriend with his stupid antics. “Hey, dumbass,” I say, taking Charlie’s hand. “Can I have my girl back now?”
Garrett takes Charlie’s other hand and squats down to rest his head on her shoulder.
Charlie rolls her eyes. “Sorry, Ry,” Garrett says.
“She’s my girl now.” Charlie’s eyes bug out, and she presses her lips together as if physically trying to hold back her laughter.
Garrett just continues, deadpan. “She told me your thingy…” He wiggles his pinky finger.
I go to smack him, but Trey beats me to it, smacking him upside the head. “Stop mooching Ryan’s girl and give me a hand dickwad.”
Garrett releases Charlie’s hand to rub his sore head, then follows Trey back to the smoker saying, “Dickwad? I do not know this dickwad, you speak of.”
Charlie’s laughing so hard, tears are running down her face. “He’s such a goof.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, but he’s probably only half-joking about stealing you away from me so just keep that in mind.”
Charlie wraps her arms around my waist and looks up at me with a knowing smirk on her face. “Are you jealous, Ryan Morgan?”
“Of that jackass?” I jab my thumb at the smoker, where my brothers have resumed arguing. “Nah. I can take him,” I say, grinning as I absently twirl a lock of Charlie’s hair around my finger.
She lays her palms flat against my chest, her eyes two emerald pools I would happily drown in. “Well, you don’t have to worry about him because I’m all yours.”
Those words hit me like a hammer to the heart and I find that I’m strangely breathless when I reply, “Say it again.”
That beautiful smile lights up her face. She presses a soft kiss to my chest and gazes up at me, her eyes reflecting all the things I can’t say. “I’m yours, Ryan Morgan.
“Damn straight,” I say and press another kiss to her soft, sweet lips.
If this is a dream, I hope I never wake up.
Thank you for reading Never Giving In!