Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
S ince her family was as bad as the townsfolk about keeping secrets, Hallie called an emergency meeting of the Holiday Secret Sisterhood as soon as she woke up the following morning. She hoped they could just Zoom. That way she wouldn’t have to see her sisters’ disappointed faces up close and personal. But since they had yet to initiate Sunny into the club, Sweetie thought Sunny and Noelle should come into town and the sisters all meet in the hayloft that night.
The rest of the day, Hallie was on pins and needles. Jace called, but she didn’t answer. Instead, she sent him a text telling him she would call him later. She knew she was avoiding him and he probably knew it too, but she needed time to think without her brain being sex fogged.
Now that her mind was clearing, she realized starting something up with Jace was a bad idea. In fact, it was the worst idea ever. It couldn’t go anywhere. He was leaving. She was leaving. He had no goals for the future. She had one she wasn’t even sure she wanted anymore.
In the last two months, she hadn’t brewed one bottle of beer. Her plan for making a spectacular autumn beer that she could give to Corbin and say, “Here! This is why I want to brew my own beer,” had not come to fruition. In fact, she and Corbin hadn’t even talked about her business again. Instead, they had talked about her ideas to improve the ranch. And once Corbin hired Reid—and he’d be stupid if he didn’t—there would be no reason for them to talk about the ranch again.
There would be no reason for her to stay.
She had no explanation for the sadness that settled over her. She had never planned to stay. She and her daddy argued over everything . . . and yet, they had formed some kind of a truce in the last couple months. They still argued, but there was a softer tone to it. She didn’t know if he had grown softer or she had. Whatever the reason, their arguments no longer stung as much as they did when she was younger. She no longer saw him as a judgmental father she couldn’t impress. She saw him as a man who’d had the weight of an entire ranch on his shoulders and had handled it the best he knew how.
But she was a strong, independent woman and strong, independent women didn’t live at home with their parents.
Even if they wanted to.
The sisters started arriving in the afternoon. Tickled to have her girls all back home, Mama made a big dinner and they ate it out on the back picnic table like they had so many times in the past. Hallie didn’t talk much. Nor did she eat much. Her stomach was tied into too many knots at the thought of telling her sisters about breaking her oath.
When supper was over, she volunteered to do the dishes, a ploy to prolong the inevitable, but Mimi shooed her out of the kitchen.
“You go on now. I’m sure you have some catching up to do with your sisters.” Hallie figured her grandmother knew about the sisters’ secret meetings.
On the way to the barn, Hallie stopped by the cellar and grabbed a couple bottles of Mimi’s homemade elderberry wine. She had a feeling she was going to need it.
When they all got into the barn, they realized there was a problem with their plan to meet in the hayloft.
Or two problems.
“I’m not sure I’m going to fit,” Cloe said as she stood at the bottom of the ladder, looking up. Since she had an earlier due date, her stomach was much bigger than Sweetie’s, and Hallie agreed that it would be a problem getting her through the opening that led to the hayloft.
“You and Sweetie shouldn’t be climbing the ladder anyway,” Belle said.
“Belle’s right.” Liberty jumped in. “We can just meet here in the barn. Hallie and Noelle, help me place those hay bales in a circle.”
Once everyone was seated, Sweetie called the meeting to order.
“I called this meeting to welcome our newest member.” She smiled at Sunny who looked like she was about to burst from happy. “Welcome to the Sisterhood, Sunshine Brook Whitlock. We’re just tickled pink to have a new sister join us.” She looked at Hallie. “Why don’t you divvy up that wine, Hal, so we can toast our new member.”
Hallie cleared the guilt from her throat. “I will in a minute, but first there’s something I need to say.”
All her sisters and Sunny looked at her expectedly and she figured the best way to explain what happened was the same way you took off a Band-Aid.
Rip it off.
“I had sex with Jace Carson.”
There were a lot of wide-eyed stunned looks, but not from Sweetie. She didn’t look surprised at all. In fact, she smiled.
“I know.”
Hallie sighed. “I guess Mama or Mimi told you about me being with him last night.”
“No. Jace did. He came over today and we had a long talk.”
“Jace told you we had sex?”
“No. He told me that he wanted to date you and asked me how I felt about that.”
Noelle jumped in. “Okay, let me get this straight.” She pointed a finger at Sweetie. “You got with Jace’s cousin and now Jace is getting with our sister. Liberty got with Jesse and then Belle got with Jesse’s brother.” She shook her head. “I’m really starting to worry about how close knit this family is getting.”
“To make things perfectly clear, I’m not getting with Jace,” Hallie said. “It was just an error in judgment. Nothing more. He’s leaving town and I’m heading back to Austin to start my own brewery. We aren’t dating and there will be no more hooking up. That’s that. I’m truly sorry I broke the secret sister vow.”
Sweetie softly smiled. “I’m thinking that maybe it’s time to get rid of that vow.”
“I agree,” Cloe seconded.
Liberty and Belle quickly put in their votes of agreement, but Noelle held up her hand. “Hold on. That’s easy for y’all. You’ve found your matches. But what about the rest of us. What if Hallie, Sunny, and I like the same guy?”
Sunny turned to her. “I don’t need to take an oath, Elle. I’d never ever poach on one of your beaus.” She glanced at Hallie. “And while I think Jace is cute, I’m not into jocks. Lately, I’ve been more into ranchers. Casey Remington, to be exact. And y’all aren’t interested in him.” She looked back at Noelle and lifted her eyebrows. “Right?”
Noelle scowled. “As if I would ever be into that arrogant cowboy.”
“Well, since that’s settled, maybe we should move onto my initiation.” Sunny’s brown eyes sparkled with excitement. “Does it involve blood? Standing up in church and belting out ‘Ninety-nine Bottles of Beer on the Wall’? Streaking down Main Street? Whatever it is, I’m up for it.”
Hallie could tell by Sweetie’s panicked look that she was scrambling to figure out an initiation to give Sunny. One glance at the huge harvest moon shining outside the open hayloft hatch door and Hallie had the perfect initiation.
“What do you say, ladies? Shall we show Sunny the wild side of the Secret Sisterhood?”
Skinny-dipping at Cooper Springs wasn’t always a good idea. Especially in the dead of winter. But in September when the water was warm and the moon full, it was the best of ideas. Especially now that Hallie no longer had the burden of breaking her oath. Her sisters seemed to have forgiven and forgotten.
Hallie only wished she could forget as easily. But she knew she would never forget the morning and night she’d spent in Jace’s arms. Every second was imprinted on her brain. And maybe that was why she felt so scared. How would any other man ever match up?
They stayed at Cooper Springs until well after midnight, then they walked back to the ranch arm in arm. When they got home, Sweetie pulled her off to the side.
“Have you told Jace that you’re leaving, Hal? He didn’t act like he knew when he came over.”
“He knows. He just doesn’t know I’m leaving Monday morning.”
Sweetie stared at her. “Monday?”
She nodded. “I think it’s for the best. Reid can handle the ranch. And Jace is leaving soon too.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Sweetie said. “He didn’t mention leaving once when he talked to me and Decker.”
“That’s good. I hope he does stay. He belongs here.”
Sweetie studied her with sad eyes. “So do you, Hal.”
Hallie didn’t argue. Probably because she no longer knew where she belonged. She felt torn between wanting to be her own person and starting a brewery in Austin and wanting to stay and help with the ranch. But neither Daddy or Corbin had asked her to stay on and help with the ranch. And even if they had, she didn’t think she could. She had proven she couldn’t stay away from Jace and spending more time with him would only make the feelings she had for him stronger.
“It’s best for everyone if I leave, Sweetie,” she said.
Sweetie sighed. “Okay. But you need to tell Jace. He’s had numerous people in his life run off without telling him goodbye.” She hesitated. “Me included. That’s just not right.”
Hallie woke the following morning with every intention of heading over to Mrs. Stokes’. But as it turned out, she didn’t need to go anywhere. When she walked into the kitchen for breakfast, she discovered Jace sitting at the table with Daddy, Mama, and Mimi.
He looked like he was ready for church. He’d gotten a haircut, he’d shaved off his scruff, and his western shirt looked brand new. When those grayish-blue eyes landed on her, her heart felt like a helium balloon trying to burst right out of her chest. She didn’t know how long they stood there staring at each other. It must have been a while because Daddy finally cleared his throat.
“Well, don’t just stand there, Hallie. Come sit down.”
Jace jumped to his feet, bumping the table and causing all the cups of coffee and glasses of orange juice to shake. He steadied the table before he pulled out a chair for her. As she crossed the room, she wished she didn’t have bad bed head and wore something other than a pair of baggy flannel pajama bottoms and a stretched-out faded T-shirt with bleach stains covering the beer logo.
“Good mornin’,” he said as she sat down in the chair.
Why did those two words sound so damn sexy? And why was she suddenly feeling so out of breath and dizzy?
She kept her gaze on the plate of sausage and waffles in the middle of the table. “Good mornin’.”
He helped her push in the chair before he sat back down. Too close. Much too close. His knee brushed hers and sent a shower of sensations skittering through her. She jerked her knee back and tried to act like she didn’t have a bonfire raging in her panties as her mama spoke.
“Jace brought you flowers.” Darla pointed to the bouquet of multicolored roses in the center of the table. “Isn’t that nice?”
“That is nice. But since we don’t have a floral shop in town, I’m betting he stole those from Mrs. Stokes’ garden.”
“Halloween Holiday!” her mama chastised.
But before she could apologize, Jace tipped back his head and laughed. All she wanted to do was crawl onto those hard, muscled thighs and place her lips on his and suck all the laughter inside her. When he stopped laughing and looked at her, he must have read her thoughts because his eyes darkened and his lips parted in a puff of air.
It took Mimi’s chuckling to pull their gazes away from each other.
“Like I said, you just don’t know how the good Lord is going to answer prayers.” She bowed her head and held out her hands. “Now let’s thank him for that and this food.”
Jace bowed his head and took Hallie’s hand. It was like a lightning bolt shot straight up her arm to her heart. It was a relief when the prayer ended and she could jerk her hand free.
Jace didn’t seem to have the same problem. While she felt like she was about to combust with desire, he calmly chatted with Daddy about ranching and football, with Mama about how much he loved her buttermilk waffles, and with Mimi about her garden and what kind of vegetables had done well this year.
Every time he caught her gaze, his eyes were the color of steam rising from a whistling teakettle. She tried not to look at him, but her gaze seemed to have a will of its own. By the time breakfast was over, she felt like those eyes had steam ironed her like a wrinkled pair of linen pants. It was a relief when Jace got to his feet and made his excuses.
“Well, thank y’all for breakfast, but I should get going. I have game film to watch.”
Hallie jumped up. “I’ll walk you out.”
On the way to the door, she went over what she planned to say. I think we both know that starting something is just plain stupid when we’re both planning on leaving. So it’s best if we just stay friends—friends who keep their distance from each other.
As soon as they stepped out onto the porch and Jace had pulled the door closed behind them, she turned to give her speech. But all the words disappeared beneath his hot gaze. She stood there for only a second before she launched herself at him.
He caught her and his lips met hers with the same hungry need. Before she knew it, he had her pinned against the side of the house and one hand slid under the elastic waistband of her pajama bottoms. They both sucked in their breaths when his fingers slipped between her legs.
He pulled back, his eyes wide. “The entire breakfast you didn’t have on any panties? What are you trying to do to me, Hallie Holiday?”
“Drive you as wild as you make me, Jace Carson.”
“Well, you’re doing a good job. I couldn’t sleep last night for wanting this.” He dipped deeper into her moist heat and her head lolled back. He kissed his way down her neck as his fingers worked their magic. The sound of chairs scraping across wood floors came out the open kitchen window and Jace quickly removed his hand from her pants and stepped back. His hair was messed from her fingers and his eyes looked dazed. She wanted nothing more than to jump him all over again.
“We’d better wait—”
“Like hell, we will.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him down the porch steps. Once inside the barn, she pushed him back against the wall and ripped open the snaps of his shirt to reveal his muscled chest.
“What are you doing? Your daddy—”
“Will be getting ready for church with the rest of the family.” She stripped off her shirt and tossed it away before pushing down her pajama bottoms and stepping out of them. “Now are you going to finish what you started or not, Jace the Ace?”
Jace’s gaze ran over her naked body as a smile tipped the corners of his mouth. “Oh, I’m gonna finish what I started and then some, Hallie Girl.” He lowered to his knees and looked up at her with eyes that held a promise that stole her breath. “Come here.”
She did.
Twice.
After he made her see stars with his greedy mouth and talented tongue, he pressed her up against the wall of the barn and slid deep inside her. There was something so hot about being completely naked while Jace was mostly clothed. The rough denim of his jeans brushed her in all the right places as he pumped out his desire. When he was close, he reached between them and helped her along. Her second climax was more explosive than her first. She would have easily slipped to the ground if Jace hadn’t been holding her.
He rested his forehead against hers. “I’m thinking I’m going to need a lot more of that. What are your plans for the day?”
“I planned to break things off with you.”
He drew back. “I planned the same thing. We’re both leaving and it seems—”
“Stupid to get more involved.”
He nodded. “But I think we’re already past the stupid point, Hallie.”
She sighed. “I guess that only leaves one thing.”
“What’s that?”
She shrugged. “Enjoy our stupidity.”
They did enjoy it. After they went to church with her family, they headed back to Mrs. Stokes’ guesthouse where they spent hours in bed. In the late afternoon, they returned to the ranch and saddled up the horses. She had forgotten how well Jace rode . . . and how good it felt to ride along with him like they’d done so many times in the past. They talked about everything—Mrs. Stokes catching Jace cutting her roses and smiling knowingly when he told her who they were for. Football and her ideas for improving the ranch. Her sisters finding out about them getting together.
“So how did the Secret Sisterhood take it?” he asked.
She turned in her saddle and stared at him. “You know about the Secret Sisterhood?”
He laughed. “I’ve known about it ever since I walked into the barn when I was fifteen and heard y’all whispering in the hayloft. I snuck up the ladder and listened to the entire meeting.” He lifted his gaze in thought. “I think it had to do with how cute the stupid Jonas Brothers were.”
She reached out and socked him in the arm. “Hey, watch it. Don’t ever talk badly about the Jonas Brothers. I love them.”
He shot her an evil look. “But can a Jonas brother give you multiple orgasms beneath a bright blue Texas sky?” Before she could ask him what he was talking about, he pulled her out of her saddle and onto his lap . . . and showed her.