Page 68 of Back in the Country
“You’ve been ignoring me, and I’m sick of waiting around for you to grow up and leave this hick town.”
His voice drips with disdain and I wonder, not for the first time, if he’d always been like this and I just hadn’t noticed or if this was something new.
“I’m ignoring you becausewe broke upand I have nothing to say to you. You have to stop this.”
His lip curls, and not in a sexy way.
“You know how you get. I’ve been waiting for you to come to your senses and come home.”
“Iamhome. And fuck you for thinking that you can come here and act like you’re better than this place and whisk me away. I wasn’t happy in Nashville. I’m happy here.”
“You’re just upset,” he says, lowering his voice to something placating. “We can wait to get married. I know you felt rushed, and I can wait.”
He looks around and makes a face before schooling his features.
“We can even visit more. I’ll make an effort.” He smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
Was he even listening? I try again.
“We’re not right for each other, Caleb, and I’m not sure we ever were. We had some good times—I’m not saying we didn’t—but I’m not the person who likes going clubbing and sitting in every VIP lounge.” I wave my hands around. “This isme. I’d rather grab tacos from a food truck and dance in a field under the stars.”
He looks horrified at the prospect, and I almost smile. The differences between us have never been more glaringly obvious, and I feel validated in my decision that he wasn’t right for me.
“God,”—he runs his hand through his country club haircut—“you could do so much better than this place. You’re so much better than them.”
“They. Are. My. Family,” I seethe. “I need to go and so do you.”
I don’t wait for his answer before turning and climbing into the front seat of my car. I crank the wheel hard, and dirt sprays as I peel out of the driveway.
I don’t look back. I don’t want to. I just want to leave my past in the rearview mirror—exactly where it belongs.
The roads around Clementine Creek aren’t busy, and I’m thankful for the reprieve. I have no idea if Caleb left, and I don’t want to chance running into him again. Hell, he’s lucky Sorren wasn’t around when he dropped in unannounced.
That would have been an unmitigated disaster. My lips twitch at the image of Caleb cowering in the face of my brother. Even though it would have been well deserved, it’s still a headache I didn’t need.
It takes me another hour cruising through the back roads with the windows down before I’m calm enough to head home. Pulling into Waylon’s driveway, I breathe a sigh of relief when I don’t see Caleb’s car lurking anywhere.
Grabbing the laundry basket, I make my way inside. I put everything away on autopilot before I hear the rumble of a truck pull up outside. My whole body sags against the counter knowing who is about to walk into the kitchen.
“Hey, baby.” Waylon smiles softly as the screen door bangs shut, the noise bouncing around the inside of the trailer.
I smile back. I love this man with every ounce of my being, and I don’t need anything else. We haven’t said the words, but I know he loves me just as much as I love him.
Seeing Caleb today has rattled me, and one glance of Waylon hot and dirty from a day of hard work is like a balm for my frantic heart.
I know I need to tell him about my uninvited visitor, but I need something else more. Talk of Caleb will have to wait.
“Are you tired?” I saunter to him and place a lingering kiss on his lips. His body is humming in the space between us.
“Yeah, but I got a lot done today.”
“That’s real good, Way,” I say before giving him a flirty look and lowering to my knees in front of him. His chest moves with the rapid inhale and exhale of his breath. I love that I can do this to him.
“Marlee.”
He watches me so intensely that I can barely breathe. Undoing his belt and jeans, I pull him from the denim and stroke his length. His cock jumps at my touch, and it sends a shot of pleasure between my legs. It was never like this with Caleb.
But with Waylon?
