Chapter Five
Amelia
I don’t know if it’s the comfort of the house, being surrounded by nature, or both, but I’ve slept so well the past two nights. Sam and Lily slept like angels, which means I didn’t get woken up by Sam’s alien nightmares.
Amazing how a spa day and eight hours of sleep can change a person.
Although I’m not going on today’s fishing trip, I asked Colton to wake me before they leave, so I can say goodbye to Sam and remind him to be on his best behavior.
I’m not worried about his attitude as much as I am about him running off again.
Granted, we’re in a secluded area, and they’ll be nearby, but that fear as a Mom really never goes away.
“Mom…” Sam groans, throwing his head back. “We gotta go before the fish are gone!”
He’s antsy about going, so I kiss his forehead and release him. “I packed you some snacks, but don’t eat ’em all at once.”
“I won’t!” He rushes down the stairs toward Bodie, who’s waiting in the truck.
“Don’t run!” I shout, but it’s too late. He’s already tuned me out.
“He’s gonna be fine,” Colton promises, standing in front of me. His lips curve up into a handsome smile. “My brothers and I were ten times worse, trust me. I dunno how my mother kept us alive.”
Sighing, my shoulders sag. “I swear, he’s gonna put me in an early grave.”
“Do you want me to text you updates or photos? Maybe that’d help ease some of your anxiety.”
“Sure, I mean, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. But…” He pulls out his phone. “I need your number.”
My eyes widen at the realization that we never exchanged them, and that once he has mine, there’s no way to take it back.
But he should have it in case of an emergency, so I tell him the digits, and we say goodbye.
Bellamy shows up shortly after while I’m cooking breakfast. Lily’s at the table coloring as she waits, but immediately perks up when she sees Colton’s sister.
Sam isn’t the only one I should be worried about getting attached to the Langstons.
“Have you heard anythin’ from Wilder or Delilah yet?” Bellamy asks while she eats the biscuits and gravy I made us.
“No, but I suspect I won’t until Monday or Tuesday when they meet up with the sheriff again. I think Maddox is there now, though.”
“I’m guessin’ you’ve never met him, right?”
“No, but after what they told me, I’m kinda scared to.”
She snorts, shoving more food in her mouth. “He’s a teddy bear when he’s not bashin’ your skull in.”
A piece of biscuit gets lodged in my throat.
“Oh shit, I was only kiddin’.” Bellamy pats my back until it goes down. “I mean, sorta.”
Taking a drink of my coffee, I scowl over the rim. “At this rate, I’m startin’ to feel bad for whoever’s stalkin’ me ’cause they have no idea who they’re about to meet.”
“The Jamisons are nice, but I wouldn’t wanna get on their bad side. Even being related. No one’s safe if you betray the family.”
“The more I hear ’bout ’em, the more I’m convinced they’re the Southern mob. But like, some organized crime shit.”
“Hm…they’re just well-respected in Stonehaven Falls. Everyone knows you don’t fuck with ’em, and most people are smart enough not to.”
“Yep, that’s the very definition of the mob.”
Bellamy laughs, and soon, I am too. Lily’s clueless about what’s going on, but she starts giggling with us, too.
“He’s good-lookin’. Wanna see a pic of him?”
“Should you be sayin’ that about your cousin?” I taunt.
“Second cousin,” she corrects. “And it’s not like I said hot or the type of man I’d throw all my values out the window for. He’s conventionally a decent lookin’ man.”
I smirk at the way she’s all flustered. “Oh, but there is someone you’d do that for?”
“Absolutely not. No man is worth it.”
This time, I full-on belly laugh, nearly losing my stomach in the process. “You sound just like me. Too bad I didn’t learn it at your age. Although if I had, I wouldn’t have Lily.”
Watching her shove more strawberries in her mouth, I beam at how much of a blessing she is and how she changed my life for the better.
“As far as I know, Maddox is single, so if you and Colt don’t work out, you should ask him out.”
“What?”
“Oh, please.” She raises a brow. “I know y’all hooked up last year.”
My eyes bug out. “He told you?”
“Yeah, right. Posey did. Colt doesn’t know I know, but Posey and I share everythin’. Even if she hadn’t, I would’ve figured it out eventually by the way you two eye-fuck each other.”
“We do not!”
“Girl. C’mon,” she deadpans. “I’m twenty-five with amazin’ vision.”
I scoff, but don’t have the desire to argue about it.
“He thinks I don’t remember,” I blurt. “And we never talked ’bout it.”
“Doesn’t surprise me. Colt doesn’t do random hookups. I’m not even sure when he last had a date. If I didn’t see with my own two eyes the way he looks at you, I would’ve assumed he took a vow of abstinence.”
“Really? He’s a handsome guy with a great job and owns a house. He’s a rare breed at his age. I’m surprised he’s not off the market already.”
“He’s picky, but mostly, he’s not the sleep-around type. Unlike me, he wants to settle down and start a family.”
My stomach turns because I figured that was the case, and it’s another reason I had to leave his hotel room before he woke up—no point in giving him false hope when there was no future between us.
“I can tell he’d be good at it—being a husband and dad. But it’d be too complicated to try and be anythin’ more than friends.”
“Why?” she asks, pouring herself more coffee.
“My life is two hours away, and his is here.”
“He’d probably move for you, if he knew you felt the same way, that is.”
“I couldn’t ask him to do that when his job and family are here. It wouldn’t be fair. I’d feel guilty and worried he’d resent me for it someday.”
“Then…move here.” She sits across from me, adding more sugar to her mug. “We need more women than men in the Langston family.”
“What ’bout when you and Bodie get married?” I ask, hoping to take the attention off me for a moment. “They’ll be five of each, then.”
“Oh, no…I’m never gettin’ married. Like ever. So once Colt and Bodie get hitched, that’s it. We’ll have more women than men for once. I’ll be the cool aunt who gifts candy and condoms.”
“Candy! Me want some candy,” Lily squeals, bouncing in her seat.
“No, sweetie. Maybe later,” I say, giving Bellamy a look.
Lily was quiet and distracted with her blocks two seconds ago. Now she’s going to hyperfixate on this until she gets what she wants.
“Sorry,” she mouths.
“Candy for me. Pwease?”
“I don’t have any, baby. And it’s too early. You just had breakfast.”
“But if you’re a good girl, we can find some after your nap.” Bellamy grins, her gaze bouncing between mine and Lily’s as if she’s hoping she said the right thing.
Eh, close enough. No use fighting a battle I won’t win.
When Colton’s truck rumbles up the driveway, Remy and I anxiously wait on the deck for Sam to tell me all about his day. But when Colton opens the back door, he lifts him out and carries him up the steps.
“Oh wow, you knocked him out.”
“He was too excited to sleep last night, so he’s exhausted.”
“Aww…poor kid. Want me to take him to bed so you can grab the rest of your gear? Lily’s already nappin’ in there.”
“Nah, I’ve got it.” He winks, then opens the door and goes inside. Remy follows behind, probably missing Sam, too.
Bodie’s large frame walks up with a cooler in his arms, looking as tuckered out as Sam.
“How’d he do?”
“Kid’s a freakin’ nautral. Caught more sea bass than Colt and I combined.”
“You’re jokin’…”
“Nope. Put us both to shame.”
“Are you sure y’all didn’t let him catch more?” I ask skeptically and open the door for him. “Did y’all even put your lines in?”
“Ours might’ve gone in without bait, but…” He laughs when I shake my head. I just know Sam had the best day catching them all by himself.
Colton meets us in the kitchen, and I sit at the breakfast bar while Bodie opens the lid of the cooler. The smell of dead fish immediately hit my nose, and I quickly pull my shirt up over my face.
“No wonder Bellamy wanted to leave before y’all got back.”
“It’s not that bad,” Colton says, washing his hands.
“My eyes waterin’ beg to differ.”
“Not a country girl, eh?” Bodie taunts, grabbing a cutting board and knife.
“Hm…what gave it away?” I deadpan, crossing my arms as he teases me.
“Here, put these on.” Colton sets a pair of gloves in front of me.
“What for?”
“You’re gonna learn how to clean and make sea bass.”
“That’s funny,” I say humorlessly.
“Bodie, tell her the rule…” Colton’s eyes don’t waver from mine, and I see the glimmer of amusement in them.
“You either catch or cook if you wanna eat ’em,” Bodie recites.
“That’s a silly rule.” Reluctantly, I pull my hair up and slide on the gloves. “This better be the best damn bass I’ve ever had.”
Colton chuckles. “That depends on you, chef.”
Bodie sets a bowl in the sink, fills it with water, puts a couple of the fish in, then hands me a spoon.
“What am I doin’ with this?” I ask, cluelessly holding it up.
“It’s easier to scale ’em with a spoon in the water so they don’t fly up everywhere,” Colton explains.
“Okay…and how do I do that?”
Bodie excuses himself to use the bathroom, leaving Colton and me alone.
“Hold ’em in the water and scrape the spoon against the grain. They’ll come right off.”
“Are you sure you don’t wanna do this?”
“You’ll be fine. As long as you don’t put your finger near its mouth.”
Glaring, I look up at him. “Wow, you’re a real comedian.”
“I’ve had you laughin’ plenty.”
“Oh, you’re mistaken…I was laughin’ at you.”
“Hey, I’ll take it.”
I roll my eyes at his inability to be insulted.
“Okay, go ahead…” He nods toward the spoon.
As soon as I glide it up, my whole body shivers. And not in the sexy kind of way.
“Oh, that feels gross.”
“You can go a little harder. Ain’t gonna hurt it.”
I scowl at his attempt at being funny again, but I’ve never touched a fish, so it’s making me squeamish to hold a dead one with its beady eyes staring up at me.
“Don’t think I can,” I admit, my stomach bottoming out.
“Breathe through your mouth, Amelia. You can do it,” he encourages sweetly, and although I appreciate that he believes in me, my breakfast is threatening to resurface.
“I swear I’m not this much of a wuss, but the texture of the scales gratin’ against the spoon is a sensory trigger.”
“You don’t gotta do it, darlin’. It’s okay. Let me.” He gently nudges my arm, but I don’t move.
The way that word slips so easily from his lips makes me wonder if he says it to women often or just me.
“No, no…I got this far, I wanna keep tryin’. Or at least, until I throw up.”
“Try to avoid doin’ that. Chunks aren’t a good added seasonin’ to bass.”
“Y’know, you have a smart mouth on you.”
“Too bad you lost your memory of the first night we met. Otherwise, you’d know plenty ’bout my mouth.”
My spine straightens as tingles sprint up my back. Is he trying to kill me?
“Mm-hmm…I’m sure you were witty and pleasant,” I say dryly. “As much as you’re being right now.”
He inches closer, pressing his chest against my back, and then brushes his mouth over my ear.
“Let me show you how to do this.” His arms wrap around mine, covering my hands with his, then moving them together. “Good girl. Now we can do the other side.”
Memories of him saying those words to me in bed flash through my mind, and when his body tenses, I know he’s thinking about it too.
He wasn’t the only vocal one that night, but everything he said has played on a loop for several months.
When I get ten minutes of alone time with my vibrator, usually in the shower, it’s spent reminiscing about all the ways he touched and praised me.
But he doesn’t need to know all that.
Hardly breathing, I give in and let him control my movements until we’ve scaled five.
Each one gets easier since I’m barely doing any of the work, but it’s impossible to focus with him so close.
And although he smells like dirty lake water, there’s a hint of his musky shampoo that hits my senses and puts me in a trance.
“How’s it goin’?” Bodie reappears, as if reminding us he’s here. Either he took his sweet time in the bathroom or he purposely gave us alone time.
“These’re done. Can we cook ’em now?” I ask, finally exhaling when Colton steps back.
“Not quite…we gotta rip out the guts first.”
“Oh my God…” I cover my mouth and rush out of the kitchen.
“Fuck,” Colton mutters, footsteps echoing behind me as I rush to the toilet.
As soon as I lift the seat, my own guts come pouring out.
“Shit, I’m sorry for sayin’ that.” He holds back my hair as I humiliate myself until there’s nothing left in my stomach.
“I’m done,” I murmur, sitting back on my heels as the queasiness settles. “Don’t think that was from the fish.”
“Whaddya mean?” He turns on the faucet, then returns with a cup and wet cloth. He brings the water to my lips, and I swish it around before spitting it out.
“I think I’m sick. Must’ve caught somethin’ back home and now it’s hittin’ me.”
He rubs the washcloth over my forehead, and I hum at how good it feels against my skin.
“Let’s get you to bed, then. If you are sick, you need rest. I’ll—”
“No, Lily’s nap is almost over, and then Sam will wake up soon. I-I’ll be fine. As long as I stay away from the kitchen.”
“Amelia, you might have the flu, and if that’s the case, sleep is the best thing for you.”
“You can’t watch both kids at the same time. They can be a lot. Especially at night.”
“Don’t worry ’bout us. I’ll figure it out.”
Before I can argue again, he wraps his arms around my body and lifts me off the floor. I hang onto him as he walks us out the door.
“Colton, what’re—”
“Puttin’ your stubborn ass to bed. You can either go willingly or I’ll handcuff you to the headboard. Either way, you’re stayin’ in there.”
“You seriously have handcuffs?” I ask, intrigued at the thought.
Chuckling, his mouth stretches with amusement. Then he plants me on my feet and pulls back the covers. “If you’re a good girl and listen to me, maybe someday I’ll show you ’em.”
“You can’t bribe me like I’m a child.” I pout, secretly wishing he would.
“No?”
I scowl, having no energy to defend myself.
“What ’bout your job? Don’t you work tomorrow?” I ask when he motions for me to climb under the comforter. With today being Sunday, I assume he does.
He pulls the covers over my body, gently tucking me in.
“I work mostly from home, remember? Plus, I have employees, so I can delegate some tasks.”
“You’ll come get me if the kids need me?”
He flicks off the lamp on the nightstand, and my eyes are already too heavy to keep them open.
“Of course.” His knuckle brushes over my cheek, sending warmth and comfort through my blood.
“Thank you,” I murmur, sinking deeper into the mattress.
“I’ll be back with a bucket, just in case, and some fresh water.”
“Okay, but no fish, please.”
He chuckles, pressing his lips to my forehead. “No fish.”