Chapter 38
Amelia
“Iknew it was a matter of time before you finally said yes.” Melody hugged me tight like she hadn't seen me in ages. Although we pretty much talked every day, promising that I would see her when my life wasn’t taking all my energy or a man that won’t let me out of bed.
“That man has been smitten with you since the day at the hospital. I saw it,” Sadie, Melody’s friend and quickly became one of mine, said. A tall, beautiful woman that could bring any man to his knees but she wasn’t one to settle down. She was a free spirit, something I was a little envious about.
I took a sip of my ginger ale, but having Mexican food the night before a family barbecue wasn’t the best idea.
And I felt like my period was coming on, you know the moment when your boobs hurt and not from the nipple clamps that Shooter kept in his room.
“You couldn’t have known. Not everything in romance is like the books where it’s happily ever after. ”
“And yet I bet you’re getting that happily ever after every night.” Sadie wiggled her eyebrows.
I snorted. “I mean, I’m not saying no.”
“You both look good happy.” Melody laughed.
“Yeah. I started to feel that.”
“So when’s the wedding,” Sadie joked. But Melody and I both froze. “I’m sorry, did I miss something?” Sadie asked.
I started to fiddle with my necklace, “Um. Well.”
Melody looked at me, flicking her eyes to Sadie. Before I could continue, Melody simplified it for Sadie. “She’s toward the end of a divorce but dipshit won’t sign the papers until his conditions are met.” I was thankful that she didn’t expand on the other horrific aspect of my pending divorce.
“What the hell is that? I’m sorry, he won’t do it because of what? Children? Money?”
“Money.” I said, sorrowful.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Sadie reached and took my hand. “How long?”
“Been trying to divorce him for four and a half years.”
“What. The. Fuck.” Sadie’s exclamation echoed my sentiments exactly.
I waved my hands, trying to get off the subject, knowing that the truth was going to come out more.
I was just the one to control every little detail.
And the only other person that knew everything was the man across the yard laughing with his brothers trying to steal moments to gawk at me like I hung the moon.
“Listen. Life dealt me a shitty hand, but,” I found Shooter’s eyes, “my luck turned around and if I’m lucky enough to ever have the chance again to say vows again, well it will be my last time.
I fell out of love, or what was love long ago and I will never want to go back.
I have someone worth taking another chance with. ”
Melody sniffed, tears welling up in her eyes. “Damn it. I promised myself I wouldn’t cry at mushy stuff anymore.”
“That’s impossible for you,” Sadie joked. “Don’t let her fool you, she cries at every romance movie we see, even the ones she’s already seen.”
Melody shoved her. “You set me up for failure.”
“Well, since there’s no ring for Mia yet, how about you and Hound Dog?” Sadie pinned the question back to her.
Melody’s cheek flushed. “Time will tell.”
“Melody Rae,” Sadie said sternly.
“The man hasn’t asked yet. I swear it’s like he’s edging me,” Melody growled out.
“Mm. Don’t tempt me, songbird.” Hound Dog’s strong presence stood behind her, leaning down placing his hands beside her, trapping her at the table.
“Baby…” she whined. “Not here.”
He leaned to her ear, whispering something that turned her whole cheeks into a newer shade of red. He softly pressed a kiss on her cheek and walked away.
And I thought Shooter was the shameless flirt out of his brothers. I stood corrected.
Sadie and I turned back to Melody after watching him walk away. Sadie smirked. “So are you getting a happily ever after tonight?”
She nodded.
I busted out laughing, my abdomen started clenching from the movements of the laugh. It felt good to laugh, to breathe without feeling like someone was watching me.
“So tell me, what’s he really like?” Sadie took a sip of her drink.
“Shooter?”
They both nodded.
“I mean, he’s funny. He makes me laugh. He’s sweet to me, without having to ask for anything in return. He’s protective, and just not me, but with his brothers, with the people he cares about. But he can be bloodthirsty. Sometimes like he wants to balance the scales.”
Sadie bit her lip. “What a man.”
“He doesn’t always let that side be shown.”
He dropped his guard with me. That’s all that mattered.
“And girl, what the… You know.” Sadie flicked her eyes up and down.
“Oh, yes I want to know. Please tell me Hound Dog’s not the only one that can be a giver?” Melody rested her chin on her hands.
Now I was the one blushing, revisiting the moments that we tried different things, explored more than just each others’ body, the nights that heaven felt very close.
“One look from him, and he knows what I want,” I simply said.
“And what she wants is some food because she needs to try to eat something.” His husky voice pulled my attention. And honestly, I was starting to get hungry. Shooter walked over with a plate of food, and scooted in beside me at the table. “Hi peaches.” He placed it down and leaned to kiss me.
I stared at the plate of food, packed with pulled pork with the sweet sauce, pineapples, watermelon, and a medley of veggies. I looked at him, with a pout, “No mac and cheese?”
“Not until I see you actually eat some stuff with substance." He booped my nose.
“No fair.” I pouted as I stuffed a piece of watermelon in my mouth. “And it’s Melody’s mac and cheese, I know it.”
“And I’ll get you a plate full after you’ve had a portion of these. I can’t afford you getting sick on me.”
I cozied up to him. “But you could be my nurse.”
“Don’t tempt me with a good time.” He popped a pineapple in his mouth halfway then leaned over hovering over my lips.
This man was ravenous. The sweet juice of the pineapple tickled my lips before snatching the other half with my teeth taking a bite of it.
This brought a whole new meaning to sharing a meal.
He brushed a kiss on my lips, the tanginess from the fruit still on his lips. Sparks flew down to my vagina, almost begging to be whisked away from the crowd and back into our own little world.
He pulled away, his eyes had darkened a little with desire. “Such a sweet girl.”
“I want one of him,” I heard Sadie say in the background.
“There’s only one of him, and he’s mine,” I said, almost too possessively. My hand landed on his thigh, gripping it. I could be a little temptress and play along with him, but I chose to behave. At least until I could get him alone.
“You ready for your fight?” Melody asked.
He pulled his attention away from me, his eyes soft, “I will be. I certainly have someone to fight for. Right by me at ring side.”
“I’ll be a distraction,” I said, continuing to stuff my face with food. I almost missed his reaction, but his fingers found the edge of my shorts, toying with the material.
“Not a distraction, more inspiration.”
“I’ll make sure I’m off in time.”
“Oh I know, I made sure you were getting off in the afternoon that way you had time to come home and shower,” he said, nonchalantly as he drank his beer he had brought.
“And how did you do that?”
“I have my way, peaches.” He lifted his eyebrows.
“Shooter.”
“Amelia.”
“I had it under control.”
“I’m sure you did. I made sure in case someone didn’t understand where you wanted to be on that day.” His fingers continued to trail along my shorts, right toward the zipper. Instinctively, I crossed my legs, trapping his fingers. I quickly realized the errors of my ways.
He stared at me. “Think we need to have a little talk?” Shooter suggested.
I shook my head. “Um, nope. I’m so hungry. I need to finish this plate.”
“Mia, you looking a little flushed there, my friend,” Melody teased.
“Must be this Tennessee heat,” I faked the laugh.
“I think I need to cool you down, inside,” Shooter said before standing up, and cradled me into his chest. “Excuse us, ladies, I must take care of my girl.”
Well, I now knew to trap his fingers more often.