The Way We Loved Read online

  Calvin walks me back out to Beau’s truck and kisses me again before shutting the door.

  “You staying here tonight?” I ask.

  “I suppose.”

  “Okay.”

  “You gonna be able to find your way out here on your own?” We both know I could drive this road blindfolded, but I don’t say that.

  “I might need some help. It’s been a while.”

  “I could drive you back, if you want?” he offers, running his hand across my exposed knee.

  “Would you mind?” I ask demurely.

  “Slide over.”

  He climbs in the cab of the truck with me and starts the engine. The headlights cut across the lawn as he circles around and heads down the drive. I try to focus on the road, on the stars in the night sky, on the bobble head dancing on the hood, but my mind is stuck on Cal. Sliding across the seat, I curl under his arm and lay my head against him.

  I let my hand fall to his thigh, and then, when he lays his arm across my shoulder, I start to draw small circles along his thigh, up, up, up, and then down, down, down. His breath turns shallow and my heart skips into overdrive. Tilting back, I place my lips on his neck and kiss him there light as a feather, then again higher along his jaw.

  “Fuck, Blake. You’re gonna make me wreck this damn truck.”

  “Pull over.”

  He steers the truck to the shoulder of the road and shoves the gear shift into park. I kick off my shoes and crawl into his lap, my hands pulling at his belt buckle before I’ve even fully settled. I don’t know what’s come over me, but declaring to him that I wanted him, not Brad and not anyone else, has left me vulnerable and aching for him in a way I don’t know how to describe.

  His warm chocolate eyes gaze up at me, and he blinks slowly once . . . twice. I have no idea what he’s thinking. No clue what he’s searching my face for. Then his mouth crushes to mine, and I don’t think at all. I let my instincts lead me to touch him, feel him. When he lays me on the seat of the truck and slides into me, I fall apart in his arms. My body convulses, shattering around him with an intensity that takes my breath away. Afterward, I pull my dress back down and curl back into his arms where I stay for the rest of the drive home.

  20

  #sorrybeau

  Calvin

  “Beau is going to kill me,” Blake says, giggling. She’s so fucking perfect I don’t know how I’ve lived without her.

  “Nah.”

  “You don’t understand. When I asked to borrow the truck, he specifically said, ‘As long as you don’t plan to have sex in it.’ ”

  “Oh, damn.”

  “In my defense, I didn’t plan anything. It just happened. Right?”

  “You should have been a lawyer. You’re pretty good at finding loopholes.”

  I cut the lights when we pull in the driveway and coast the truck to the front yard. I climb out the passenger side and meet her at the hood.

  “Come up with me?” she asks.

  I don’t reply, choosing to grab her hand and lead her upstairs instead. I toss my boots inside the door and watch Blake pull the dress over her head and toss it on the couch.

  “I need a shower. Feel free to join me.”

  She doesn’t have to ask me twice. I’ve spent the last ten years wanting her. Anytime she offers, I will show.

  She’s already in when I undress and make my way to the shower. Steam billows, filling the bathroom and blocking my ability to see more than a few feet in front of me.

  I step into the spray of water, letting it wash away sweat and nastiness from the day. Reaching for a loofa, I squirt some body wash and latter it until bubbles are falling from it, then I run it along Blake’s shoulder, down her arms, and back up, repeating with the next arm. Then I drop the luffa and use my hands on her stomach and chest, liking the way her skin feels beneath my hands. Soft and smooth.

  My cock hardens again, and this time, she drops to her knees and spends an ungodly length of time torturing me with her sweet mouth. It takes all of my strength to not come.

  I can’t get enough of her. It’s like my body is hell-bent on making up for lost time. As long as she is willing, I don’t see a problem with it. When we fall into the bed later that night, she’s asleep before her head hits the pillow. I lie next to her, trailing my fingers up and down her naked body, praying she meant what she said earlier.

  I didn’t want to hope, didn’t want to give her the chance to crush me again, but the heart wants what the heart wants, and mine has always wanted her.

  21

  #sweetandsore

  Blake

  When I wake the next morning, it’s to the most exquisite soreness I’ve felt in a long time. I roll over and pat the bed, searching for Calvin, but the bed is empty and cold where the night before, it dipped with the weight of his body.

  I sit up and look around the room, searching. My eyes see a note folded across the pillow. Opening it, I smile and fall back.

  Good morning, beautiful. Went to feed the horses. See you soon (:

  I climb from the bed and slide on a pair of jeans. I don’t know the last time I ran through bathroom business so fast, but I’m in a hurry to get outside and not just because I want to see Calvin.

  Today, I’m going live and showing off some more of the ranch. Since I got the website up and running yesterday, I’ll be able to tag PRR in my video and hopefully drive some traffic to the site. With a little bit of luck, we’ll have steady traffic coming through by the beginning of next month. We still need to hire a few people, one for lessons and a couple to give rides along the trails, but until we know what kind of reaction there will be, it’s hard to justify that expense.

  Calvin is bent over scooping feed into a bucket when I walk in. I stand by the door, admiring his fine toned ass until he straightens, turning toward me. Samson neighs, and I pull some loose hay from a bale and pass it to him, giving him the love he wants.

  “That horse has you wrapped.”

  “You’re just jealous.”

  “Damn straight, I am. He’s already got two kisses from you. Meanwhile, I’m over here working my ass off and got none.”

  “Poor baby,” I say, stepping to him and wrapping my arms around his neck.

  “’Bout fucking time.” I didn’t even hear Beau come in. I was so caught up in the moment with Calvin. I blush and Calvin pulls me closer. Slapping his chest, I make him release me.

  “What do we have planned today, Boss Lady?”

  “You with us today?”

  “Yeah, I’ve got Billy checking the cows, so I’m all yours. Do you need me to do anything?”

  “Yes. This is great. I’d love to introduce you and Cal today when I bring up the ranch. I think it would be good to put a face to a name for the followers.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  “Sweet. I’m gonna let Samson out for a little while, but I'll hunt you down before I start the video.”

  “Hunt us down. I’m stealing this one from you for a few, if that’s all right?”

  “Yeah, no problem.” I grab a lead line and hook it to Samson’s halter before unlatching his stall door. He’s more than ready to get outside and tries to pull ahead of me, but I hold him to a steady pace.

  He runs in circles when I release him into the pasture, kicking his hind legs up. You’d think he was never allowed out with the way he acts, but I let him play almost every day. Silly horse.

  While Samson plays, I set up my laptop and get everything ready to go online. I grab my phone to see if Shelly had called yet and see six missed calls and a dozen missed texts from Brad. I open the messages first and read through them.

  I miss you.

  Wyd?

  I tap the message box and type out a message for him. I should have already handled this, but truthfully, I was more concerned with finding Cal and righting that wrong than I was with Brad.

  Me: We should talk. I’ll meet you at Joe’s tonight at 8.

  He texts right back like he’s
been sitting waiting for my reply. I almost feel bad, but I shake it off.

  Brad: I can’t wait to see you.

  Me: 8:00

  With that handled, I call Shelly and check in. Our daily check-in has become every few days since I’ve been gone. She’s handling things fine without me there dictating every move, and I’m starting to realize how much of a control freak I was. It’s nice to step back and know everything’s still being taken care of. I’m not ready to turn over the reins completely, but taking a step back and letting the staff I had handpicked do the job I’d chosen them for is a nice change of pace.

  With business handled, I check the time and head back in the house to find something to put in my stomach. Skipping coffee and breakfast didn’t sit well. Lucky for me, Beau went to the store a few days ago and I’m able to snag a blueberry muffin and banana off the counter.

  22

  #hardtalk

  Calvin

  Beau doesn’t actually need help with anything. A fact I discover about five minutes after leaving Blake. He dragged me away on the pretense of work so he could give me the third degree on Blake.

  “What are you doing, Cal?”

  “What do you mean? I’m helping you with an imaginary project.”

  “Stop the shit. You know what I mean. That girl has been through hell recently, and you need to be sure you’re in this for the right reasons before jumping headfirst.”

  “You think I don’t know that? Oh, that’s right. You kept up with her so you think you know her better? I know what she’s been through. I’m not adding more shit to her plate.”

  “Aren’t you, though? Running off, leaving her without a word. Is that your way of paying her back for leaving you?”

  “Fuck you, Beau. You know me better than that.”

  “I thought I did. But then I never would have expected you to leave her high and dry either.”

  “I fucked up. I know that. I thought she was going back to that fuck wad and I didn’t want to see it happen. I couldn’t watch her walk away again.”

  “I know what you were thinking. Hell, I know why you were thinking it, but that still doesn’t make your actions okay.”

  “I know. I won’t leave her again. I don’t care what happens. I won’t hurt her.”

  “Make sure you don’t. You and Blake, y’all had something, and hell, maybe you can again, but that girl is like a sister to me and I’ll be damned if I see her hurt, even if you are my best friend.”

  “I love her, Beau. I always have. Fuck, I think I always will. Even if she up and left me again right this second, I’d still love her.”

  “Maybe try not to let her run off again.”

  “She can run if she wants, but this time, I’ll be chasing her.”

  “Good. Now that’s out of the way, let’s track this crazy chick down and see if we can’t sell the hell out of this new idea of hers.”

  23

  #hesmine

  Blake

  The guys were a hit. I mean a HIT. I thought I would have a hard time building up the following for PRR, but after getting a look at the two sexy as sin men running the place, the comments section filled faster than I could keep up with.

  The website already had over three thousand subscribers and was steadily climbing.

  “Were going to need to look into hiring some people sooner rather than later.”

  “You think so?” Beau asks.

  “Um, yeah. I’ve got over a hundred people wanting lessons and at least double that interested in um . . . rides.” I cough a little, reading a particularly interesting comment asking whether Beau was available for personal ride. I don’t think she meant on a horse, either.

  “I’ll stop by and post the flyer this afternoon. Should swing by and let Marcy know the hotel might see some customers here soon.”

  “Good idea.”

  “Actually, I think I’ll head there now. Unless you need me for something else?”

  “Nope. I think I’m good here,” I say, scrolling through the comments. Some of this shit makes me want to blush. But the ones about Cal have my hackles raising. I want to reply, Sorry, ladies, that one is mine, but things are so fresh and new with him I don’t even know what the hell you would call us. I know I’m happy and I want to be with him. I shouldn’t be feeling that way yet. Especially after ending my relationship with Brad less than four months ago, but the heart wants what it wants.

  The problem is, I don’t know how serious he wants us to be, and until I do, I can’t stake a claim. No matter how badly I want to.

  “What’s got that crease popping up between your brows?” Calvin asks, leaning over my shoulder. When he sees the comments, he pulls my phone from my hand.

  “What’s this? Calvin can pull a whip on me anytime he likes. Calvin can take me for a ride anywhere. Are you jealous, Sugar?”

  “No. I just don’t like the thought of you guys being objectified. Now give me my phone back so I can delete the comments.”

  “Uh-uh. I know the green monster when I see him. And right now, he’s eating you alive.”

  “Shut up.” I reach for my phone, jumping on my tiptoes, but he holds it just out of my reach.

  “Let me see if I can figure out how to work this thing,” he says, clicking the Image button. The camera opens facing us, and he pulls me in for a kiss that leaves my toes curled in my boots.

  “There. Problem solved.” I open the app and look for the photo he took. He caught the kiss perfectly. And then I see the caption.

  Sorry, ladies. He’s taken.

  My heart swells until I think it might burst from my chest. I guess that answers my question. We are officially together. Instagram official, even. I toss my phone to the side and jump into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist. I kiss him.

  “Speaking of jealousy, I wanted to let you know I’m meeting Brad later.” He pulls back. I can tell he’s trying to decide how to respond. I might find it funny if I hadn’t just been about to delete my whole account to keep from seeing lustful comments about him. And those women hadn’t ever even met him. I was engaged to Brad.

  “He’s been texting and calling. I told him I would meet him at eight tonight. I need to lay it out for him now that the pain and shock of catching him have faded. he’s hanging on to the idea of an us, but there isn’t one. I just thought it would be better to tell him in person. That way, he can’t claim that he misunderstood.”

  By the time I finish explaining it to him, he’s nodding in understanding. “Then I was thinking you could buy me a drink and we could make it Greentown official too.”

  “Yeah? You want me to tag along with you?”

  “Of course. I mean, I’ll talk to Brad alone. There’s no reason to ruffle feathers or rub us in his face. I’m not trying to be mean or hateful.”

  “I’ll stay at the bar, and I won’t interfere at all unless he steps out of line, then all bets are off.”

  “Deal.” With that handled, I head inside to freshen up.

  24

  #thisguyagain

  Calvin

  Brad is waiting for her when we walk in. I head straight for the bar and don’t look back. She wants to handle this on her own, and I plan to let her. The last thing I want is for her to think I’m some overbearing ass who can’t trust her.

  Joe’s is busier than usual for a Thursday night. The bar is just about full, but I find a seat at the end where I can watch Blake without it being obvious.

  “Beer, Cal?” Janie asks, and I nod, pulling out my wallet. “Why don’t you gimme a shot of Jack with it too?” She pulls the bottle from the back wall and tilts it into a fresh glass.

  “Want a bite to eat?” she asks, reaching for the menu. I shake my head.

  “Nah. I’m okay right now,” I say and glance to where Blake is sitting.

  “Damn, what’s happening over there?”

  I shrug. Even knowing, I’m not one to pass around other people’s business. Janie watches them for a minute before having her at
tention pulled to another customer. I take a sip of my beer and then toss back the shot.

  Brad grips Blake’s hand, and even from here I can see the pleading look on his face. I don’t blame him for begging. Hell, if I thought I was about to lose her, I’d be on my hands and knees, begging. What he doesn’t know, and I’m sure she isn’t telling him, is that Blake couldn’t marry him even if he hadn’t decided to sleep with her best friend.

  Eleven years ago, she ran from this town as fast as her car would take her. Running from the pain and heartache losing her mom had caused and chasing dreams bigger than even she could comprehend. She took everything she owned and piled it in that car, but she left her heart here.

  Maybe she wouldn’t have ever realized it if he hadn’t shaken her beliefs to the core, but I’d like to believe she would have. She’d been sending pieces of herself back for months before she caught him. First with that damn brute of a horse and then with her ideas. Whether she knew it or not, she was coming home. Brad just gave her a nice swift kick in the ass.

  “You want another?” Janie asks, stepping back by. “Yeah, I think so, but pour me two glasses.”

  “Two? You got company coming?” she asks at the same time Brad stands, kicking his chair back under the table. Blake doesn’t even flinch. She stands and tells him goodbye and then meets my gaze.

  “No. She’s already here.” I see the moment it clicks for her and then she pierces the air with a whistle.

  “Hell, yeah.”

  I pass Blake her glass of whisky and grab my own, offering a cheer.

  “What are we toasting to?” she asks.