Chapter 32
THIRTY-TWO | COLTEN
Ipull my truck around the circular driveway to the front of the house and park behind our SUV, turning off the ignition. Taryn and Tristan hop out of the vehicle in front of me, and she rounds the other side to Elena’s door.
I watch them for a moment.
Recently, I always seem to be watching.
Their interactions. Their expressions when they’re around each other. It’s mesmerizing and fuels the unfamiliar flame billowing in my chest.
She opens the rear door—the top half of her body disappearing into the cab. The illumination from my headlights kisses the muscles in her toned legs. Her feet shuffle on the pavement, her body appearing to be struggling.
What is she doing?
I don’t even know why I bother asking the question because she’s doing something that will probably drive a hedge hammer straight into the barrier I’ve maintained all these years.
And I’m fucking right.
She lifts Elena out of her car seat. My little sister’s arms weave around Taryn’s neck tightly, her legs secured around Taryn’s waist.
Tristan maneuvers around her, grabs some plastic bags out of the back seat, and shuts the door for her.
Their mouths move, their blurred voices barely reaching my ears.
The conversation easily flows between them as if they’ve known each other longer than a couple of months.
Tristan laughs, a vibrant and lively sound muted by glass, but it buries itself into my bones as if I were standing before him, witnessing it for myself.
Goddamn, I wish I could develop superhuman hearing at times like this.
Absentmindedly, I lift my fingers to my breastbone, massaging away the unwelcome ache. Jesus Christ, I wish these spasms constricting my chest would go away. It’s only been present at certain times during the day, whenever she happens to be around. Or I think about her.
I should be relieved it’s not the signs of a heart attack. I already went down that rabbit hole searching for symptoms on the internet.
Unfortunately, chest pain when a woman is around isn’t a sign of one.
Whatever feelings I have toward her have been implanted somewhere out of reach—an isolated sanctuary deep within the recesses of my mind where they don’t want to be tainted by all the valid reasons why she can’t ever be mine.
I’ve tried to disregard them. Ignore the part of me that wants to feed the urges and consider what we could be if I somehow pulled my head out of my ass.
But if I don’t acknowledge the what-ifs, I won’t have to admit that I like her being here.
That I like the way she is with them.
That I love the way she is with me.
Taryn pauses, repositioning Elena’s frame so her weight sits comfortably on her hip.
Opening my door, I exit the car and hustle over to her, shoving my keys in my pocket before holding my arms out.
“Let me carry her,” I insist.
Her eyes twinkle in the glow from the headlights as she contemplates my offer since they have yet to shut off. She grips Elena tighter, nuzzling their heads together, and a lump lodges in my throat.
“I’ve got her.” She walks quicker, passing me as we stroll down the sidewalk.
“Let me at least get the door for you.”
“Is your driving time your reflection time? Because you are being awfully gentlemanly right now.” I can’t help but clear my throat to suppress the laugh slithering up my throat.
“I figured you’d be arrogant when you got out of the car and order me to get the kids to bed so you can tie me to yours or something like that. ”
Blood rushes to my groin, my cock swelling at the thought of her all tangled up and restrained—ready for me to take what I want; however I want.
I want that.
All of that.
It was her idea, not mine.
To my delight, Tristan is ahead of us and has already entered the house. By Elena’s pouty lips and open mouth, I know she is asleep. I quicken my pace to catch up to Taryn as she reaches the porch steps.
“Is that what our marriage would be like, Little Ghost?” slips out before I can fucking think about it.
Can’t take that back, dumbass.
Her shoulders solidify, her movements slowing. Taryn’s side-eye glare pierces straight through my sternum, forcing my heart into a staccato rhythm that presses against my lungs.
Her plush lips flatten into a line, but the pink flush in her cheeks is unmistakable.
I grasp the handle and open the front door, waiting for her to put me out of my misery and respond to my remark.
She swallows. “Uh…I mean—”
“It’s about time! We thought you guys would be home when we got back,” Cameron sighs, lounging on the couch with an arm draped over the cushion and a beer in his hand.
Oh, sweet fuck.
Of course, as I’m imagining securing her to my bed and having my way with her again tonight, these two idiots come home a day early.
I won. I found her. I deserve to have her soft lips wrapped around my cock before I bury myself inside her again.
Taryn shifts Elena’s weight in her arms and smiles at my brothers. “Did Tristan head up to bed?”
Cameron nods. “He said to tell you he left the rocks on the kitchen counter. Do we want to know why you needed to buy rocks?” He furrows his brow. “There are plenty around the garden beds outside.”
“I guess you’ll just have to wait and see,” Taryn teases, a feeble smile playing on her lips. She moves toward the stairs, her gaze bouncing between my brothers and me. “I’m going to get her to bed.”
She disappears, leaving me to drag my hands over my face in irritation. “You two weren’t supposed to be home until tomorrow night.”
Brennan heaves a sigh from the recliner. “Yeah, well, little sister instantly hit it off with her new roommate and didn’t want us around.”
“She practically forgot we were even there,” Cameron adds, bringing his beer to his lips.
“We offered to help her finish setting up her dorm room, but she told us it was fine if we wanted to leave early. A load of shit if you ask me. They giggled and whispered about attending a party tonight when Cam and I walked into the room with the last few boxes.”
Cameron’s head inclines as he changes the subject a little too fervently. “How’s everything been going here? You two seem—more acquainted.”
My muscles constrict in response to his statement.
You have no idea, brother.
Their eyes bore into my head from two separate sides of the room. The shifting tension whirling in the air tells me they know exactly what happened between us while they were gone.
And I’m eager to acquaint myself with her more, but it looks like my little bros are cockblocking me tonight.
“Everything’s been good,” I reply. “She wanted to take them to Cascade Springs today to buy some new art supplies for that rock project they’re working on.”
Brennan’s brows shoot up. “And you let her go?”
I bury my hands in my pockets and shrug.
Cameron places his empty beer glass on the coffee table, then rests his elbows on his knees. “Yeah, what’s that about? What do they need rocks for?”
“Shit, if I know. But Elena and Tristan are happy, so who am I to interfere with that?”
My brothers’ heads tilt as they peer at something behind me.
My deep tone rattles my chest. “What?”
They pin me in place with a glare as the back door shuts and the wood floor beneath my boots vibrates, further anchoring me in place.
Cameron rises off the couch, snatches his glass off the coffee table, and struts past me. “I need another beer.”
My skin itches with eagerness to talk to Taryn and finish our conversation. I assume she has headed outside to see Rossco.
I hike a thumb over my shoulder. “I—” Brennan gapes at me as I fumble for words. “Need a shower.”
His scrutinizing scowl makes me uneasy. “Okay…Can you come back after? Cam and I want to discuss sales strategy with you before our marketing meeting tomorrow. And we need to talk about soil testing and decide what variety we want to replace section eight with.”
We are already well in over our heads with suppliers. Everyone already knows our name and the brand, so I’m not entirely sure why we need to keep pushing. Is it not already enough that our produce appears in nearly every goddamn market across the country?
Marketing may be vital for every business, but when they see our brand, they don’t think they have great apples.
No. My dad fucked that up. Now, they see us and think about the trial.
They think about the months authorities spent searching for my mother.
They think about the vile man who returned to his kids with blood on his hands but came back without a wife.
Buying produce at the store is routine and straightforward. It’s clockwork. And we have no problems whatsoever getting our product out. However, I understand their perspective. Marketing is demanding. I just wish we didn’t have to do it.
“We already agreed on the new variety for section eight. Cripps Pink,” I tell him, clearing my throat.
Cameron speaks up, brushing past my shoulder to reclaim his spot on the couch. “About that…”
Great. Here we go.
I enjoy working with my brothers, but sometimes, when decisions need to be made, it takes us a hell of a lot longer than necessary. Three different opinions. Three obstinate temperaments.
It’s fucking painful sometimes, but at the end of the day, they’re still here. And though I may not always act like it, I’m grateful. For them. For all the shit we’ve gone through together over the years.
By age fifteen, I knew I never wanted to leave Lindenvale Hill.
My grades slipped in school because I was too busy playing sports, partying, or slipping my dick into some girl I grew up with up with since Cedar Creek is a speck on the map.
I didn’t need college, so succeeding in academics didn’t matter.
I passed, but because my priority was football, and I was too smart to completely suck. That was an advantage.