Page 6 of Back in the Country
I know, baby. I screwed up, but I promise to make it better.
I wanted to wait till Sorren came home and got settled before I started anything with Marlee, but that look in her eyes alone is enough to make me lose my damn mind.
Ishouldwait.
Instead, I hear myself say, “Can I take you to dinner tomorrow?”
“Waylon Thayer, are you askin’ me out on a date?” Her country drawl is a heavy purr as it leaves her glossy lips.
I lick mine, and she tracks the movement.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Well then,”—her green eyes move to my blue ones— “you got yourself a date.”
Shoving my hands in my pockets, I rock back on my heels. My heart is pounding in my chest. If I’m not careful, I’ll be hikin’ her up onto my work bench and kissin’ the hell outta her.
“I’m going to head over to the house and unpack.” She backs up slow and flirty, like sheknowswhat I’m tryin’ not to do. “See you at Mama’s for dinner?”
“I’ll be there.”
“Good.” She’s almost to the door when she looks back at me over her shoulder. “You look good, Way.”
Marlee doesn’t wait for a response, but there’sdefinitelyan extra swing to her hips as she disappears out of the barn. I groan into the cavernous space as I adjust myself in my jeans.
I’ve basically had blue balls since the day after I took her virginity. It fucking gutted me to walk away, and every single day since then, I wondered if I was making the right decision. She’s still so young, and the idea of her being tied down here in Clementine Creek—to me—makes my chest ache with uncertainty.
She’smydream. I just don’t know if I’m hers.
With too much nervous energy running through my veins, I clean up my space and make my way back to my trailer on the edge of Mama and Daddy’s property. The pep in my step is nothing compared to the grin I can’t seem to wipe off my face.
I almost don’t notice the new assortment of flowers lining the window boxes as I open the door. Case must have stopped by and changed them out. My younger brother is something of a horticultural savant and no one knows how he does it.
He’d double majored in engineering and horticultural science and come home to open Twinscapes with his twin, Otto. Otto wanted to name itTwinscapinglikemanscaping,and Case had put his foot down. It doesn’t stop Otto from telling everyone who will listen though.
Those two are hell on wheels when they are together. But where Otto is our gregarious extrovert, Case is selective about when and why he chooses to be outgoing.
Shaking my head, I make a mental note to tell him how nice it looks. Despite his easygoing demeanor, Case is sensitive about his flowers.
Inside the trailer, I drop my boots by the door and then systematically strip off my clothes on the way to the shower, depositing the entire bundle in the hamper in the bathroom. Living alone, I discovered really quick that if I didn’t keep my small space clean, it looked and smelledworse than a locker room.
The light-blue walls of the bathroom greet me as I bypass the mirror to crank the shower on. IknowI look like a giddy bastard—I don’t need the mirror to confirm that.
Even though I’ve known Marlee’s been coming home in connection with Sorren’s return, I almost wasn’t prepared to see her today. Her long blonde hair is still midway down her back with waves and natural highlights that would make any woman envious. Her entire aura is bright and fun and full of sass. At least a dozen of my gray hairs are from shit she’s pulled over the years, but despite all that, she’s absolutely intoxicating.
With steam filling the enclosed space, I pull open the glass door and step into the spray. The water is damn near scalding, but it feels amazing after a long day. Just seeing Marlee for a few minutes has my body humming with anticipation, and I need to take the edge off if I’m going to be around my family for the next few hours.
I’d love to say that Ididn’tjerk off to my best friend’s little sister, but that would be a bald-faced lie. Her body is still sinfully sweet, especially now that she’s grown-up. At twenty-four she is my fantasy come to life.
My cock twitches, and I slam the water all the way to freezing. The drastic temperature change forces my balls into hiding, but it’s necessary to rein myself in. Washing off quickly, I kill the water and then wrap myself in the dark blue bath sheet that Rhea got me for Christmas.
My sister honestly gives the best presents you didn’t know you needed. As a guy, I could probably drip-dry around my house and not give a damn about the mess, but this towel is fucking heaven. I have no idea who made bath sheets, but they’re a Goddamn genius.
They’re massive, like a hug right out of the shower.
Plus, Rhea made sure that it’s the right combination of softness and absorbency.
She is going to make some guy insanely lucky one day, and if he doesn’t appreciate all her awesomeness—like her ability to pick bomb-ass towels—I’ll gut him, and they’ll never find the body.
