Chapter Six #2
“Someone’s hungry,” Scarlett says as she passes me a plate of green beans.
That’s the kind of remark that would earn her a witty reply and a long kiss if it weren’t for the crowd in front of us.
As it is, all I can do is slip my hand under the table and give her upper thigh a squeeze, letting her know exactly what it is I’m really hungry for.
“So, Ryker,” Sawyer starts. “Exactly how much older than my sister are you?” The man asks, staring me down from across the table.
Scarlett huffs and starts to stir next to me, but I just give her leg another squeeze and shoot her a reassuring smile. “Well, I turned thirty-eight last July and I know our Scarlett here turned twenty-two not long ago, so that would be about sixteen years I believe,” I tell him with a smile.
Our age difference doesn’t bother me and I know it doesn’t bother her.
Over lunch one day while I was telling Scarlett about some of my adventures in the Marine Corps, she told me she liked that I had so much life experience.
She hasn’t traveled much herself, something I would love to do with her, but she’s wiser than her years, probably due to losing her parents at such a young age and having to fight her brothers tooth and nail since.
Sawyer stares me down before looking over at Scarlett.
“You know, seems like someone who is as good with numbers as you are would realize that is a fairly large gap, Lettie. That’s a lot of years between two people,” he says before cutting into his steak.
By the look on his face, I can only imagine it’s my face he’s picturing as he does.
“You always told me age was just a number,” his wife Hannah says next to him, her expression hurt. “Was that a lie? Do you really care that I’m eleven years younger than you?”
Sawyer’s eyes widen in panic and he wraps an arm around his wife. “Of course I didn’t lie. You’re perfect for me, sweetheart,” he vows.
Hannah smiles up at him sweetly. “Then I guess Scarlett and Ryker’s age difference doesn’t matter either, does it?” She asks, winking slyly over to our side of the table.
“I-I guess not,” Sawyer sputters before kissing the top of his wife’s head. He looks over at me and seems a little put out by his wife derailing his argument, but when she leans in and snuggles closer to him, his expression clears and he smiles at her.
“Well, age aside, there is the whole matter of lying about having a boyfriend and sneaking out to go see him,” her brother Brooks chimes in as he bounces his little boy in his arms.
His wife, Lacey, drops her fork and stares at her husband in shock.
“Remind me again what you told me when I had amnesia after my car accident?” Brooks opens and closes his mouth like a fish, and when he says nothing his wife continues.
“Oh, that’s right. You lied and said we were engaged so I would come home with you. ”
“That’s different,” Brooks grumbles before looking over at Scarlett and smiling sadly. “Not that different, I guess.”
“Exactly,” Lacey says before smiling at Scarlett and me. It’s nice to see that even as her brothers try to find reasons for us not to be together, her sisters-in-law have her back. The wide grin on Scarlett’s face tells me she’s just as grateful for it as I am.
Mav clears his throat. “How serious is this? It’s not like you’ve known each other long.”
Mav’s wife clutches at her pregnant belly and laughs out loud. “We literally met and married not one month after a mail-order bride site matched us together, so stow that argument right now mister,” she commands.
Mav shrugs a shoulder. “Worth a shot,” he says before leaning over and kissing his wife on the lips. When he’s done, his along with every other head at the table swivels over to the youngest brother, Wyatt.
For his part, Wyatt just chuckles and shakes his head, wrapping an arm around his wife and pulling her closer to him. “Oh no. I already stepped in it plenty of times with my wife, no need to remind her all about it by trying to make a stupid point right now.”
Georgie leans up and kisses his cheek. “Smart man,” she says, patting his chest before feeding him a bite of cornbread.
Scarlett clears her throat and all attention turns to her.
“Now that you’re done with your little interrogation, can we please enjoy our meal and you can get to know Ryker without all the male posturing?
He’s not going anywhere, so you all need to get used to that,” she says defiantly, jutting her chin out as she stares down each and every one of her brothers.
“Sorry, Lettie,” they all say in unison before we dig back into our delicious meal.
The rest of the evening unfolds in a much more relaxed manner than it began. As we eat, Scarlett’s family asks about my family, my time in the military, and my plans for the future.
“I’m not sure exactly what the future holds for me as far as a career goes.
I have a few ideas, but nothing solid just yet,” I tell them.
“All I know is that whatever I do, I want this one by my side as I do it. She’s smart, strong, and beautiful to boot.
Your sister is one of the good ones, and I thank you for looking after as long as you did. It’s my turn now though.”
Scarlett smiles up at me and her brothers nod in approval. I’m not sure I won them all over exactly, but they can tell how much I love their sister already, so hopefully that’s enough for now.
After dinner, everyone starts to move over to the fire pit to make s’mores for dessert, but the sweetness I’m craving has nothing to do with chocolate, marshmallows, or graham crackers. As if she’s on the same wavelength I am, Scarlett pulls me aside and whispers in my ear.
“The only dessert I want right now is you,” she says, her breath brushing against my skin and causing me to shiver. Honest to God, I have never shivered from anything but the cold a day in my life. Yet here I am, swooning over my little Firecracker.
My eyes find hers and I see the heat in her gaze. “Then let’s go make our excuses and get back to my motel room,” I tell her, leaning down to nibble on the lobe of her ear. “I will happily pay a fee for the noise complaint when you’re begging me to make you come.”
Scarlett sighs, her body sagging into mine for a moment before she straightens out. Her eyes narrow and a smirk plays across her face. “Oh, honey bear, it’s you who’s going to be doing the begging.”
As she saunters off towards her family, I watch her ass wiggle as she walks. I groan and follow after, knowing that she’s right. I will be on my hands and knees every day begging for her attention, and I couldn’t be more excited about it.