Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
shay
August’s words echo through the silence. My mouth opens and closes before I can find the words to properly express my confusion.
“What in the hell does that mean? Are you… Did you… But you have a dick!” I can’t help looking at the soft bulge beneath his jeans as I voice that last thought out loud.
Ridge laughs, but he tries to cover it with a cough.
Aug’s hands go to his hips as his head drops back. He stares up at the ceiling, softly muttering something under his breath.
I rush to add, “For the record, I’m not judging. But I do have questions.”
Memphis laughs.
Lyon’s entire body shakes.
Jules’ men just look confused.
Charlotte’s still covering her ears.
Ronnie and Ashley are rolling their eyes in exasperation.
“Eden Foxx is my pen name, Shay. I’m the author of those books.”
The entire group of women gasps. My eyes widen, darting to the mamas beside me.
Ash grips my hand. “He’s telling the truth. He’s been writing for years now. But as you can imagine, women aren’t eager to accept a man in the romance space. So he used a pseudonym.”
My brow furrows, hurt sneaking into my heart. “But why would you feel like you had to keep that from me?”
“I’m not used to opening up about that part of my life. It’s been a secret from the beginning, and the guys only found out after the first package arrived here. I was always going to tell you, I swear.”
I have so many questions that I’m struggling to organize in my brain, but then another thought pops to the forefront.
“So who’s mailing you those boxes?”
The guys share a resigned look before Aug turns back to me.
“About a year or so ago, I started receiving packages from a fan. Except they weren’t delivered to my PO box, but to my home address, and they were addressed to me, not Eden.
It worried me enough that I made the move here to get away from it all, and for nine months, it was quiet.
Just after you came to stay at the house, another package arrived. They’ve apparently found me again.”
Memphis jumps into the conversation. “We didn’t want to worry you, and we all voted to give August a couple of weeks to see if he could ferret out the culprit. So far, he hasn’t had much luck. We were going to explain it all to you tonight.”
Their words bounce around my brain, and I have to admit it all makes sense.
I’m still upset that they couldn’t be upfront with me, but I’m also smart enough to understand why they’d do what they did.
How many times have I admitted to myself that this all happened so fast it’s barely left much time to process everything?
Part of me wants to hold onto my anger, but the other wonders what the point would be. It wasn’t a malicious decision. There isn’t another woman. And sure, there’s apparently some super creepy stalker in the picture, but I have to believe we can face that together.
“Am I in any sort of danger?”
August shakes his head, but he’s cut off by a smaller voice from beside me.
“No, dear, you’re not in any danger.”
My eyes whip to Lucy, the lovely older woman who pushes her large glasses up her nose.
“Lucy, how could you possibly know that?”
“Because I’m the one sending the packages.”
“What the fuck?” Aug mutters loudly.
She turns to August with a sheepish grin.
“I’m so sorry. I never meant to worry or scare you.
I’m just a huge fan. Your books got me through the almost all-consuming depression after my husband passed, and I got a little carried away with my gratitude.
Crocheting is another passion of mine, and it felt right to share that part of me with you after all you’ve done for me.
Why not make creations based on my favorite scenes from my favorite books? ”
Poor August looks like he’s seconds away from combusting.
“So let me get this straight.” Closing my eyes, I suck my lips between my teeth to try to get control of the overwhelming amusement that is starting to bubble up inside me.
When I’m pretty sure I’m not going to burst into giggles, I say, “You write smut under a pen name, are apparently quite popular with the ladies in Darling,” my hand waves around the room, “including your mother and aunt, by the way, and you’ve been freaking out over the mysterious gifts that contain naughty items and some rather explicit visual imagery from scenes in your books that were really just from your number one fan, Lucy, over here? ”
He sighs. “Laugh it up, firecracker.”
Planting a hand on my hip, I ready myself. There’s one last thing to clear up before I’m completely unpissed off. “And what about my house? I didn’t give anyone approval to make any repairs. I refuse to be bulldozed into these types of things without being consulted or asked for my opinion. I—”
“It was my courting gift,” Aug says softly, infusing every ounce of what he’s feeling into the words.
“It was going to be a surprise, but then everything spiraled. I didn’t have time to explain that they’re only doing the structural work so you will never have to worry about it again.
You will have full say and control over all the aesthetic parts.
I’d never intentionally take away your voice. ”
The little bit of anger that was still flickering inside is immediately snuffed out. “You did all that for me?”
It sounds like a stupid question, considering that’s what the man just said, but hearing the reasoning behind the gesture is giving me all the warm fuzzies, which is apparently making me ask idiotic questions like I’m in a romantic comedy.
“I did, because I love you, baby.”
“I love y’all too.”
“Does this mean everything’s okay? We can go home now?” Memphis asks, eyeing his mama and aunt. “As much as I want to continue this conversation, I’d prefer to do it in privacy—not somewhere I have to think about my mother and aunt reading my cousin’s dirty sex scenes.”
“I take back what I said earlier,” Sally hedges. “You’re all welcome to stay as long as August promises to come to one meeting a month so we can discuss his inspiration and writing process.”
“I bet his new books will draw inspiration from real life,” Lucy quips, shooting me a wink.
That’s all it takes. I lose it, laughter spilling from my lips.
“But you all have to promise that our secret stays within these walls,” Sally quickly interjects. Then she points at August. “Or we tell the world who Eden Foxx really is.”
The guys mime zipping their lips.
All of a sudden, footsteps pound down the stairs. Iris comes rushing in, clothes slightly askew, her cheeks pink, and her hair a mess on top of her head.
“I’m so sorry I’m late. Something came up at the…” She’s adjusting her overalls when she comes to a sliding halt at the edge of the room. “What the hell did I miss?”
“Too fucking much.” I laugh.
“Let’s just say August is a kinky bastard, and I’m now going to force all of my men to read a few of his books because Shay is a lucky broad.”
Her guys all growl, cursing August.
“What does kinky mean?” Charlotte asks.
Jule and I lose it, but I’m suddenly picked up and thrown over a wide shoulder.
“That’s it. I’ve endured enough public humiliation for one day. Time to go, firecracker. We still have shit to discuss.”
He carts me through the large crowd that has assembled in the basement, past the rest of the guys, and heads for the stairs.
“Mr. August, don’t lose Aunt Shay again, okay?”
“You got it, Charlotte. Now ask your daddies for the definition of kinky, and you can explain it to me next time.”
“Dammit, August,” Kash growls.
Jules laughs. “Well played, August.”
It isn’t until we’re walking out into the quiet of town square with darkness surrounding us and only the old-fashioned street lamps shining brightly that he finally sets me on his feet.
We’re standing beside his bike when his hands are suddenly spearing through my hair and forcing my eyes to meet his.
“Tell me we’re okay, baby. I need to hear you say the words because the thought of you walking away has been eating me up inside since I realized you had discovered my secret.”
I wish I could give him a little more shit, just because it’s so fun to see him squirm, but there will be plenty of time for all of that later, years in fact.
“We’re okay, August. I’m not thrilled you all kept something important from me, but I understand why you did.”
“Thank fuck.” Then his lips smash into mine.
The kiss is hot and needy, starting a flashfire in my blood. One hand slides down my back to take a handful of my ass and drag my body against his.
“This what you call courting, August Young?” a voice says from a few feet away. We break apart, our heads turning to Old Man Morris, who’s walking down the sidewalk. “Looks more like public indecency to me. Maybe I should call the sheriff.”
“Beau, what are you doing over here?”
“Got a text from my girl that Bible study was over early tonight, so I came to walk her home.”
My head tilts. “Your girl?”
“Yeah. Lucy.”
August’s forehead hits my shoulder with a groan.
A surprised laugh escapes. “Makes sense. Good for you, ol’ man.”
“She’s something, let me tell ya.”
“Please don’t,” Aug mutters into my shirt.
I chuckle. “She should be out in just a few. We’re gonna head home too.”
“Looks more like he was trying to slide into home plate, if you know what I mean.” He waggles his eyebrows, and I laugh again.
The sound of boots on cement hits my ears, and I see the guys making their way down the front steps.
“Thank fuck. Can we please get the hell out of here,” August begs.
“My bike’s here. I’ll follow you.”
The Alpha shakes his head. “Ride with me. We’ll grab your bike tomorrow.”
Studying his eyes, I can tell how much he really needs this right now. “Okay.”
Memphis walks up, carefully gauging the situation before handing me my helmet—he must’ve grabbed it from next to my chair downstairs. “See you at the house?”
Walking over, I go up on my tiptoes and give him a peck on his lips. “Yup.”
His purr is enough to let me know I did the right thing. He needed a little reassurance, and I gave him that. When I’m pulled into a massive chest and a hand fists my hair, forcing my head back, I find myself staring up into serious brown eyes.
“I love you, baby girl,” Lyon murmurs, then presses his lips against mine.
He’s practically vibrating, his entire body strung tight with whatever he’s holding back.
Before I can respond, Ridge pulls me into his arms despite Lyon’s growl.
“We’ll see you at home, sweetheart.” He kisses my forehead, then guides my hand into August’s.
The others walk over to the SUV Jules’ guys are climbing into.
“Y’all came together?”
“We panicked when we couldn’t find you.”
He says it so nonchalantly, but now the tension I’m sensing is making even more sense. “Were you worried something happened?”
His forehead drops to mine. “We weren’t sure. Not until Aunt Ronnie said you were here. I needed to get my hands on you to calm my instincts down, so we raced over.”
Brushing my fingers along his jaw, hazel eyes stare into mine. “I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for. That’s on us. If we had been honest, we could’ve avoided all of this.”
“C’mon. Take me home, nips.”
He straightens just as another voice comes from behind us.
“I wanted to apologize, August,” Lucy says as she stops beside Old Man Morris at the base of the steps. Morris takes her handbag and loops her arm through his elbow. “I never stopped to think what that would look like from your perspective.”
He sighs, a little more of the tension easing from his shoulders. “It’s no big deal. Truly. I’m just relieved to know it’s you and not some crazy person. Though I am a little worried you were able to get a hold of my addresses so easily.”
“My son works for the DMV. I told a couple white lies about needing your address for the work you commissioned from me, first because the one you’d given me had a typo, then again when you moved. But please, I don’t want him to get in trouble. He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, you see.”
August’s eyes meet mine, and I bite my bottom lip to stop my grin. “It’s fine, Lucy. Really. Thank you for reading my books.”
“Of course. They’re currently giving me all sorts of inspiration for my newly renewed sex life.” She waggles her brows, then turns to Old Man Morris. “Ready?”
“Are you kidding? I’ve been ready since you sent me that picture earlier.”
I gag, covering my ears. “Ewwww. I don’t need to know that.”
“And I don’t need to see your men slobbering all over you in public,” he barks back. “At least we keep our intimate moments behind closed doors. Where the hell is the decorum these days, I swear.”
“And on that note, we’re gonna go,” August gripes, throwing his leg over his bike.
I follow suit, sliding my helmet on and wrapping my arms around his waist.
“Enjoy the rest of your night,” Old Man Morris calls out as Aug starts the engine. “I know we will.”
The bike kicks into gear, then we’re riding through town toward the guys’ ranch. Anticipation begins to bubble up inside, but for what, I’m not entirely sure. Something tells me I’ll find out soon.