Текст книги "Saved"

Автор книги: Kelly Elliott

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He shook his head and walked over to me. He slapped me on the back and then sat back down.

“The only thing is…you’re a Mathews. It’s in your goddamn blood, just like it’s still in mine. When I sit here, I smell the country air and hear the noises of this ranch, and it takes every part of me not to go saddle up a damn horse and rope me calf.” He laughed again.

“Dad…I don’t even know what to say. I’m stunned. I never knew that the story of you and Gramps or how you really felt about the ranch. Why didn’t you just tell me?”

“Oh shit, Drew. Someday when you and Ellie have kids, you’ll see the stupid shit you do, thinking you’re doing the right thing for them. I thought I was doing what was best for you, but in my heart, I knew all along that I was keeping you from your dream. I was just too full of pride to admit that I was wrong.”

“All those years, Dad…they were just wasted.”

He nodded his head. “When Garrett told me where you were getting married… well, I think that was the beginning of my heart attack,” He said with a gruff laugh.

“What?” I asked, completely confused.

He turned and looked at me, I saw a tear rolling down his cheek.

“Drew, you got married under the same tree that you and I had sat under when you were five. I was that same tree where you’d declared to me you were gonna become a rancher and then marry you a girl in that very spot.”

I felt a chill run up and down my spine. No fucking way.

“When I was growing up, I used to ride my horse out to that big ol’ oak tree I’d just there for hours. It was my place to think. I knew you also went there a lot when you were growing up. Your Gramps told me plenty of times when he saw you sitting under that tree.”

“Dad…I don’t even…” I couldn’t even finish my thought.

He stood up.

“I’m so damn proud of you, son. I know that I’ve never once led you to believe that I was proud of you, but I truly am. You knew what you wanted. You knew what your dreams were, and you went for it, even when your stubborn, stupid old man tried to hold you back from it. And Ellie…you lucky son of a bitch…you sure did take after me in that area. You sure as shit know how to pick the right woman, son. I just had to look at the two of you to know how perfect you are for each other. I’m sorry that I wasn’t here for your wedding, but, if you’ll have me, I loved to be here for you to help with the ranch and to someday….” As his voice cracked, he paused to clear his throat.

“Someday, I’d like nothing more than to sit under that same tree with my grandson and granddaughter say how proud I am of their daddy and the man he has become.”

I stood up, and grabbed my father, and hugged him. I had never in my life felt as complete as I did in this very moment.

It almost felt like a huge weight had just been lifted off my shoulders.

“Dad, please don’t ever push me away again.”

“Never again, Gunner...never again.”

It wasn’t lost on me that my father just called me Gunner.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

ELLIE

Grace and I started to head out to the front porch. I had seen Jack come out here and knew Gunner was outside. I wondered if they had a chance to talk yet.

I was following Grace out the screen door when I slammed right into her. Before I knew it, her hand was covering my mouth.

What the hell is she doing? I looked at her and then followed her gaze. Gunner and Jack were standing there…hugging?!

Fuck a duck.

Oh. My. God. My eyes grew bigger as I glanced back at Grace, who was smiling at me. She motioned her head, silently tell me to go back inside, so I slowly started to back up as she removed her hand from my mouth.

“You don’t have to leave, Grace,” Jack said with a laugh. We both stopped dead in our tracks as Grace smiled at me.

As we walked out, I saw Gunner quickly wiping his eyes. As soon as Grace went up to Jack, he picked her up and kissed her so passionately that I had to look away. I looked over at Gunner. He was watching his parents with the biggest smile on his face. He reached out, grabbing me, as he pulled me to him.

He whispered into my ear, “Let’s go home, and try to make a baby.”

Okay!

“Sounds like a wonderful idea.”

***

We said good night to everyone and made our way back to the cabin. Gunner told me all about his talk with his father, and my heart was overfilled with love and happiness. I’d never seen Gunner so happy in my life.

When we got back to the cabin, he flew out of the truck, running over to my side. I opened the door, he reached in, picked me up and carried me into the cabin.

My heart was beating a mile a minute. I wondered if we would always be this way, filled with so much passion.

After we made our way over to the bed, Gunner slowly put me back down on the ground. As he started to kiss me, I reached up and ran my hands through his hair. He let out a moan that I swore caused a flood in my panties.

He slowly walked me back to the bed. He never broke our kiss, except to take off my T-shirt. As soon as it was over my head, he captured my lips again and kissed me with so much love that I felt like I was going to explode at any moment.

“Ellie, sweetheart, I’m going to make sweet love to you now.”

Oh. My. God. My heart was beating like it was my first time all over again.

He slowly unbutton my jean shorts and then slid the zipper down. The moment his hand slipped inside my panties, I let out a gasp.

“So ready for me, Ells. You’re always so ready, baby.”

“Gunner…” I could hardly think to even compose any words. I pushed my hips into his hand to help ease the ache. God, I want him so much.

Then, he started to take off my shorts in that oh-so-slow way of his. After my panties came off, I was left standing there, wearing only my bra, while his hungry eyes traveled up and down my body. He placed his hands on my shoulders and turned me around. The next thing I knew, my bra was off, and he was kissing my neck.

My whole body started to shake.

“I love what my touch does to you, Ellie.”

Oh god, me, too.

“Lie down, Ellie.”

I crawled onto the bed and turned over to lay my back. Gunner slowly placed gentle kisses starting on my feet and then moved his lips up my legs, to my stomach to, my chest… oh my god.

By the time his sweet, soft lips landed on my mine, I was about ready to beg him to be inside me. He slowly eased himself into me, and with each kiss, he went just a little farther.

After he was all the way inside me, he slowly started to move while he continued to kiss me all over my face, neck, and chest.

“Oh god, Gunner.”

“I know, baby. You feel so good.”

Before I knew it, I was having one of the most intense orgasms of my life. I swore that it was never going to end. I didn’t even remember moving, but the next thing I knew, I was on top. I smiled down at the love on my life as he gave me that crooked smile of his.

I loved him so much that it almost hurt.

As I started to move slowly his hands were on my waist, gripping me harder, while he was trying his best to hold off.

“Ellie, you’re so beautiful, sweetheart.”

“I love you, Drew, so much.”

Leaning up, he put his head on my chest as he wrapped his arms around me. I’d never felt so secure in my life.

I knew the moment I let go, he was going to come with me. This was one of our most amazing moments together. It was then that I knew this man would always make me feel so loved and wanted.

I collapsed on top of him and tried my best to catch my breath.

Gunner let out a laugh and pulled my body closer to him.

“Sweetheart, you need to start running with me.”

Sitting up, I laughed and hit him on the chest. Bastard! I made a mental note to myself that when Gunner went out for the morning feedings, I would start running. Maybe I could see if Ari wanted to start hiking around the ranch more often. I knew she missed the gym, and now, with her being pregnant, she’d have to make sure she was getting exercise to stay healthy.

I wondered if Gunner and I just made a baby. I stopped taking my pills the moment he asked me to. Could it happen that fast? It did for Ari, so why couldn’t it for us?

I rolled over, lying next to Gunner, and I put my hands on my stomach. Rolling over onto his side to face me, he placed his hand on mine and smiled at me.

“It’ll happen sweetheart, when it’s meant to happen. Don’t stress about it, okay?”

I tried to smile at him, but I had the strangest feeling come over me. Why do I think this is not going to be as easy as we both thought it would be?

“I love you, Drew. I love you so much.”

Gunner leaned down and gently kissed me on the nose and then on my lips.

“I love you too Baby, more than you’ll ever know.”

I didn’t think it was possible so soon, but before I knew it, he moved on top of me, and I was lost again in his sweet love making.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

JEFF

Josh had insisted on coming out with me to make the food rounds this morning. I knew it was only because he didn’t want to be at the house with Ari and Heather. I tried to get him to talk, but I ended up just letting him sulk for about thirty minutes.

A new stud horse, Romeo, had arrived yesterday. I was mucking out his stale, when I saw Josh walking into the barn. He looked like hell.

“What the fuck, Josh? What happened yesterday when you went to talk to Heather?”

“Fuck if I know. I asked her if she still wanted to talk. At first, I thought she was going to, then Lynda called around the corner, asking if we were still on for heading into town for lunch. I’m not even sure where the hell that came from since I didn’t even ask Lynda to lunch. I simply told Lynda that I would talk to her in a minute, and when I turned around, I swear Heather had steam coming from her ears. Then, she accused me of moving on fast. Moving on from what? She was the one who said there was no future for us and that we were just friends. I’m so fucking confused right now. I don’t know which way is up and which way is down for Christ’s sake.”

I shook my head and closed Romeo’s stall, while he was trying to push his damn way out. Shit, this horse is a feisty bastard. Ari had begged me to let her ride him last night. There was no way in hell I was letting her get on this horse.

“Josh, listen to me, dude. Women are…fuck, I don’t really know how women are. I just know that at least more than half the time, when they say something, they really mean the opposite. I don’t why. God made ‘em that way, and I ain’t about to question God on it. I really think you need to talk to her and get it out there before Gunner’s cousin moves in and tries to eat you alive.”

Josh started laughing. “Yeah, Lynda is something else. I like her. I mean, if Heather wasn’t in the picture, I could probably see myself dating Lynda. She just moved to Austin to finish school at UT. I don’t know. Maybe I just need to just move on since Heather only wants to be friends.”

“If you think that’s what she really wants, then maybe you should,” I said, raising my eye-brows at him.

“Well, that’s what she keeps repeating to me so, I guess that means I need to move on.”

***

By the time we made it back to the house, Josh was in an even worse mood. I was guessing that the idea of walking away from any kind of relationship with Heather just pissed him off. It was either that or it was because Romeo nipped at his hand.

I walked into the kitchen to see Heather and Ari sitting at the kitchen island. Ari looked up at me and gave me that smile that I swore could bring me to my knees every damn time. I smiled back at her and looked down to see she was drinking orange juice and not coffee. That was two days in a row now.

“What’s wrong with the coffee?” I asked as I walked over to pour myself a cup.

Josh followed and poured some into his mug.

I leaned down to give Ari a kiss. She let out a small moan, and I just about grabbed her and hauled her ass into our bedroom. Fuck. She smelled so damn good. I nipped at her bottom lip, and then I pulled away, so I could sit down next to her.

Josh leaned up against the kitchen counter and looked everywhere but at Heather.

Ari just busted out with, “So, what the hell is going on with you two anyway?”

Heather choked on her coffee, and Josh looked like he was about to kill Ari. It took everything out of me not to laugh. Ari never was one to beat around the bush. That was one of the things I loved about her. She was a no-bullshit kind of girl.

“Ari! I can’t believe you,” Heather said giving Ari a go-to-hell look.

Josh seemed to compose himself, but then I saw a look in his eyes. It was that same look he used to get when he was putting on his game face.

“There’s nothing going on but friendship. Ain’t that right, Heather?” Josh said.

Oh fuck.

“Um…I um.”

“Heather, didn’t you want to talk to Josh about something?” Ari said, her eyes pleading with Heather.

“I, um.” Heather looked over at Josh.

He actually looked pissed. What the hell?

“I think you made your self clear yesterday as well as the other day. Or is there something else you needed to tell me besides to fuck off?”

Ah, shit. This is going south. I looked at Ari, who was staring at Josh in shock. Then, she glanced at Heather, who also had a shocked look on her face. This seemed to be turning into something I was not used to seeing on Heather.

Suddenly, she appeared to be very pissed-off as her hands were balled up in fists. I tried to decide who I was putting my money on.

Getting up from the bar stool, Heather just glared at Josh.

“To think that I even thought.”

“You even thought what, Heather? I know it wasn’t about a relationship with me. ‘The bastard manwhore.’ I believe those were your words to me yesterday.”

“You had just made plans to go have lunch with Lynda, yet there you were, trying to talk to me! Are you kidding me right now, Josh?”

“Okay, hold on a second here, y’all. Let’s just calm down and talk about this,” Ari said as she stood up and walked over toward Heather.

“There’s nothing to talk about, Ari. Heather made herself pretty fucking clear where she stood with me. Isn’t that right, Heather?”

Josh gave Heather a smirk,

Then he glanced over at me. I was completely stunned as to why he was being such a prick.

For a second, it looked like Heather might cry. I watched Josh’s whole body sink when he saw the same thing I did.

Josh said, “Heather, I didn’t.”

“No, Josh you’re completely right. I did tell you where I stood, and you told me if you walked out the door, then that was it. So, we’re done. There’s nothing left to talk about. If you’ll excuse me...”

Heather’s voice cracked as she started to back out of the kitchen.

“I think I’ll get ready and then head up to see if Emma needs any help before the party.”

Heather turned, leaving as fast as she could. Ari looked at Josh and just shook her head.

“She pushed you away because she got scared, Josh. She wanted to tell you she didn’t mean anything she had said, you fuckwad! You just blew probably the best thing that’ll ever happen to you because you had to run into the arms of the first girl you came across.”

“Wait…what? First off, how do you know she didn’t mean any of it? And what the hell do you mean I ran into the arms of the first girl I came across? I haven’t been with anyone in months!” Josh yelled.

“I know because she sat there and cried to Ellie and me about how much she cared about you and how she messed things up with you. But you didn’t let her explain that, did you?”

Ari started to walk out of the kitchen, but then she stopped and turned back around.

“Lynda, you stupid ass. You made plans with Lynda, and she made sure to tell us how you said you would only dance with her at the party.”Ari turned her back to us as she was leaving the kitchen. “I’m going to see if Heather is okay.”

Josh was now leaning over with his hands on his knees.

“Josh…dude, you okay?” I walked over and helped him sit down.

He looked up at me and started to shake his head. “I’m so fucking confused that I can’t even think straight. I never asked Lynda out to lunch yesterday. She kept asking me if I was going to dance with her. I never said I was only going to dance with her. They must have misunderstood her. I don’t…” Josh paused, standing up. “I’m heading up to Garrett and Emma’s place. I know Drake needs help with the tables and shit. I’ll talk to you later, dude.”

As Josh was leaving, he walked right into Heather who was also heading toward the front door. They both just stood there and stared at each other. Josh was the first to move. He stepped around her and headed out. Heather turned to me and gave me a weak smile before she left.

Holy hell. If this is any indication, this was going to be a very interesting party.

***

Ari walked back into the kitchen a few minutes later. The moment I saw her, I had to catch my breath.

Damn. She was dressed in a white shirt with a pink tank top underneath. She had on a pair of jean shorts and a belt with a buckle that was so damn big and blingy that I just had to smile at her. As I moved my eyes down her body, I noticed the pink cowboy boots. My cowgirl sure the hell knows how to dress.

“Baby, those shorts…maybe you should…”

Ari turned and gave me a look that said I should know better than to say anything about what she was wearing.

“I’m just sayin’ that they’re are kinda short, baby.”

“They are not short, Jeff. These are the longest damn pair of shorts I have that still fit me. I think I’m getting bigger already.”

“Already? What do you mean by that? Isn’t it supposed to be we get married, you get happy, and then start getting bigger because you’re so damn happy with me?” I said with a laugh.

Ari looked like as pale as a ghost.

“Ari, I’m just kidding, baby. You look amazing.” I walked up to her and pulled her into my arms.

She instantly relaxed and started to run her hands through my hair. She pushed her hips into me, and that was the only sign I needed. I picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around me as I started to walk her into the bedroom.

“Oh god Jeff. I need you so bad.”

I let her slide down my body while I took her mouth in mine. She let out a moan, and I couldn’t wait anymore. I pulled my mouth away from her to take her shirt off.

Just then, someone knocked at the door.

“Motherfucker!” Ari and I both yelled at the same time.

“Just ignore it, Jeff. Please just ignore it,” Ari said nearly begging.

I pulled her shirt over her head and then put my hand up under the tank top. God, she felt so good. She slowly started to back up to the bed. When she was lying down, I crawled on top of her and captured her lips with mine again. Reaching my hands down, I started to unbuckle her belt. Then, I thought I heard the front door open.

Ari pulled back and whispered,

“Did someone just come in?”

“Jeff? Ari?” Garrett called out.

We heard him walking down the hall-way. Ari pushed me away and rolled over, landing on the floor next to the bed.

I just leaned over and looked at her.

“What the hell are you doing?” I whispered to her.

“Go talk to him! Shit! I don’t want him walking into our room to see me half dressed!”

I was confused because she was still wearing her tank top and shorts. I crawled off the bed, I could hear Garrett in the kitchen.

I adjusted my harder-than-rock-hard dick while I made my way out to see what was going on. I made a mental note to always make sure the front and side doors were locked from this point on.

I walked into the kitchen to see Garrett pouring himself a cup of coffee.

“Hey, Garrett, what’s up?” I asked.

“Hey, son. Gunner asked me to come fetch you to help set up the tables and all that shit for the party this afternoon. Your front door was open, so I just helped myself.”

I tried really hard to smile as I made another mental note. The next time I had enough beers in me I as gonna have a talk with Garrett about him walking into the house. While I was making all these damn mental notes, I better make one to warn Gunner.

Just then, Ari came running in through the front door. What the hell? How did she…?

“Hey, Gramps! What’s shaking?” Ari said as she bounced up to give him a hug and a kiss.

He grinned and gave her a look that I didn’t understand. She shook her head, and he gave her a faint smile back.

“Get it done, kid,” he said to her.

Then, he slapped me on the back and told me to get my ass in his truck. Ari started laughing and then grabbed my arm as we headed outside.

I pulled her back for second. “How the hell did you get outside?”

She looked at me like I had just asked her the stupidest question ever. “I climbed out the bedroom window.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t want Garrett to think we were messing around. If I came out from the bedroom, he would have.”

I just stared at her. She made it sound so logical. I leaned down to kiss her as she let out a giggle.

“God, I love you, baby!” I barely pulled my lips away from hers.

“We’ll pick up where we left off later,” I said as I smacked her ass.

“Sounds good. Um, Jeff, I really need to talk to you about something. It’s really important.”

As I looked down at her, I ran the back of hand down the side of her face.

“Do we need to talk now, baby? I can just tell Garrett that I’ll be up in a little bit.”

“No, they need help, and this is Garrett and Emma’s big day. We can talk after the party.”

“Okay, baby, if you’re sure. Is everything okay, Ari?”

She smiled at me, and the spark that was in her eyes made me smile back at her.

“Yeah, at least, I um…yeah…no, really, it’s fine. Come on, let’s go.”

I took Ari’s hand as we made our way outside. Garrett was waiting for us, leaning up against his truck.

“Hey, Garrett, I’ll just follow you. That way when it’s time to leave, I won’t have to ask anyone for a ride.” I said as I held open the truck door open for Ari.

He nodded and got in his truck.

***

We spent the morning setting up tables and chairs for the party. Gunner was practically flying high after working from with his father. Ellie was so in her environment, and I was glad to see her smiling as much as she was. She adored Emma, and Emma adored her. Grace seemed to be falling right into the role of mother-in-law perfectly. She and Ellie got along so well. And at times, my heart just wanted to burst because I was so happy for Ellie.

Heather seemed to be slipping further into a funk, especially with Lynda following Josh around. Josh just seemed…shit, I don’t know how Josh seemed. Fucked-up is the only way I could describe it. It wasn’t a good sign that he had already started drinking around lunch-time.

Sitting on one of the hay bales, I tried to listen to Gunner going on about something with the cattle, but I couldn’t pull my eyes away from Ari. My beautiful Ari. She looked happy, but at the same time, she looked so lost. She had such a beautiful glow about her, I lost my breath just watching her.

She was now arguing with Josh about where he was going to put the washers game. Josh looked like he was about to pull his hair out. I should really be a better friend and go save him from my beautiful, outspoken future bride.

I decided it was kind of fun just sitting here, watching the two of them.

Ari put her hands on her hips and tilted her head at him. I watched the whole thing play out. Ari tilted her head and put her hands on her hips. She just looked at him with that look of hers, and the next thing I saw was Josh moving the game.

I smiled, and just then, Ari looked over at me. Her frown turned into that goddamn smile of hers. If I had been standing up, my knees would have buckle.

Gunner nudged me with his shoulder, and I moved my gaze away from Ari to look at him.

“Dude, you do know how lucky you are to have her, right?”

I smiled as I looked back at Ari, who was still looking at me. Her face seemed….concerned. I knew she wanted to talk to me about something, she seemed excited about it but nervous as hell also.

She started to walk toward us, I instantly felt my body react to her. As she reached me, she lowered her head, looking at me through those beautiful long eye lashes of hers. It was almost like she knew how much I wanted her.

I turned back to Gunner and smiled.

“Yeah, dude….I know.”