Embrace (Evolve Series #2) (24 page)

“You know I didn’t.” I close my eyes, rubbing my
nose behind her ear, burying my face in her silky, fragrant hair…where no one
can find me.

“You see where I’m going with this, right?”

“I see where you’re going, Laney!” Sawyer and his super
hearing yell from the front of the plane. Not the very front, like cockpit, God
help us, but he’s at the front so we can have privacy in the back.

“It wasn’t fair. My idea, my path, my wild
life-loathing…his payment. I can’t forgive myself and I was so afraid you’d see
the damage I’ve done and leave me. I was a terrible person, but I swear, Laney,
I will do nothing but keep you safe, always.”

“Stop.” She quiets me with two fingers on my lips. “Believe
in me. Trust me to love you no matter what, like I trust you. I gave it all to
you, everything I am and will be, leaving behind what I was. I’m asking you to
do the same.”

“You have no idea how much I love you, Laney.” She
lifts her fingers, my words now clear. “You are the best thing about me. The
only thing in the whole world more beautiful than you is my love for you.”

She melts in my arms, boneless, and her tiny hands
begin to roam. I know she can feel what she’s doing to me, which encourages her
more, her ass swirling and bearing down as her fingers explore.

“Baby,” I groan, jerking when her hand finds my bare
stomach under my shirt. “We have to stop. I’m about to fill you up, gorgeous,
gonna have to, and I really don’t want Sawyer to watch.”

Her giggle into my neck does
not
help
matters. “We can be quiet.” She feathers kisses along my pulse point now,
testing my every resolve.

“I would never,” nip on her earlobe, “
ever,
let
another man take any part in your pleasure. “All mine,” I growl in her ear,
tonguing it like I want to her body.

“Then stop doing that.” Her throaty plea almost changes
my mind,
almost
.

“Want you so bad, baby, but not here, not now.”

“Fine,” she pouts, “Let’s talk then,” she moves back
into her own seat, sparing us from voyeurism at its finest. She knew as well as
I did that Sawyer would have run back here… His sixth sense would have picked
up on the first button popping open.

“Tell me about visiting your mom, what brought that
on?”

“It was good, cool. She switches from third to first
person and past to present tense when she talks, but she loves me. She has a
bunch of pictures of me everywhere and a pretty cool scrapbook.”

“So you’re glad you went?” I lift her hand, kissing
every finger and then her palm, softly.

“I am.” She nods resolutely. “I think I’ll go back.
If they’ll let you, I’d like for you to come with me.”

“They’ll let me, and I’ll be there.” I wink,
reassuring her she need not worry, I have ways and will be right by her side
next time.

“I almost forgot,” she crawls back in my lap, which
tells me undoubtedly she wants something. It’s pretty cute really, she has yet
to figure out she need not persuade; she asks—it’s hers. “You’re paying for Samantha
and Andy’s in vitro when they’re ready, okay? I really think that’s the deeper
reason for Sam’s anger. She wants kids, and Andy can’t, well, and—”

“Done, baby. Nothing would please me more. I will
pay for them to have a whole damn bunch.”

“I knew you would.” She smirks, as pleased with
herself as she is with me. “You’re magnificent like that.” Satisfied, she
burrows into my chest, her arms around my waist. “Big day; tired,” she says
with a yawns.

“I got you, gorgeous,” my lips find her hair, my hand
her back, “get some sleep.”

She sleeps against my chest, graceful, beautiful,
and truly all mine. All this time I’ve lived with my guilt, hiding it from her,
full of fear she’d find out and leave me. All that time wasted, shame I didn’t
have to bear alone; she supported and loved me through it, despite it. She has
my back no matter what, and I know, more so than ever now, that she always
will.

Landed, lighter than I’ve felt in years, I carry my
sleeping girl from plane to car, car to bed.

Chapter 27

This Little Piggy…

~Evan~

“
W
hat song is that? I love it!”

“Yeah?” Yes, I may have snuck a ringtone for myself
onto her phone, one of my “things” I’m willing to keep doing. Every guy has one—this
is my special way of peeing on her leg.

“Oh my God! Yes, it’s beautiful. I wanna look it up
and hear the rest of it, what is it?”

“‘Hey Pretty Girl’ by Kip Moore.”

 “Ohhh,” she coos, the sweet sound pleasing me to no
end.

  Yup, perfect ringtone. Gonna have to call her more
instead of text to make sure she hears it and thinks of me…lots.

“What are you doing today?”

“I have Larks practice in a little while, but after
that I’m free, why?”

“I was thinking of heading to see Parker later. I’m
done with classes at one, and nothing tomorrow until weights at 11, so if
you’ve got a block, I thought maybe you’d want to go with me?”

Parker needs to
meet
her. The introduction at
the funeral had been short and probably didn’t register with him or Angie. It’s
time to do it right. And if we happen to swing by and say hi to my parents,
well, that’s just because we’re in town and it’s convenient and all.

“You want me to go home with you?”

“Yeah, Whit, I do.”

The pause is killing me; too much too soon?
Shit!
I could have sworn she’s feeling me like I am her. About the same second my
heart decides to drop to my stomach, her breathy voice comes back.

“That’d be wonderful, Evan. You just wanna pick me
up at the Amp after your class?”

No, I wanna pick you up right this damn minute.

“I’ll be there. You need me to load anything or grab
your bag or whatever?’

“Are we spending the night?”

I hadn’t planned that far ahead. We could spend the
night at my parent’s, where they’d make her sleep in a different room for sure,
which is proper and exactly what I should be thinking…which isn’t even close to
what I’m thinking. Parker would more than let us stay there, but how tacky is
that?
I know I’m in town, parents, but I’m gonna sleep at Jones’ instead
cause he doesn’t cockblock. 

“Um, how about we pack for it and play it by ear?”
Yes, this was the gentleman answer.

“K,” she exhales.

I’m pretty sure she was holding her breath, waiting
for my answer, but I have no idea what she wanted the answer to be. Glad I went
neutral.

“I’ll just bring my bag with me to practice then.”

“All right, so I’ll see ya at the Amp ‘bout 1:15.
Sound good?”

“Perfect.”

W
e head to Parker’s first, since I figure
it’s probably a good idea to
ease
her into meeting my hometown
importants, aka let her get warmed up before taking her to my parents. My mom
has a tendency to, well, mother.

Angie opens the door to us, looking more put
together than the last time I saw her, but desolation is still lingering in her
eyes that I think probably won’t ever totally disappear. “Evan, come on in!” She
props the door open with her back to grab me in a hug. “And who is this
beautiful young lady?” she asks affectionately when she spots Whitley waiting
timidly behind me.

“Angie Jones, this is Whitley Thompson, my
girlfriend.” I beam, grasping Whitley’s hand and pulling her forward. “Whitley,
this is Parker’s mama, Angie.”

“It’s a pleasure,” Whitley offers her dainty hand,
“thank you for having us. This is for you.” She presents Angie with a red box.

Where had that come from?

“Look at the manners on you!” Angie pats her cheek.
“You make sure to rub off on my Parker. He’s not near as sweet as Evan here.” She
laughs. “Y’all come in now. Parker and Hayden just went to check cattle, they
should be back soon.”

I step back and let Whitley go first, my hand at her
back. We take a seat in the living room and Angie remembers the gift in her
hand. “Now what in the world could this be, Miss Whitley? Bringing me a
present,” she says, then playfully tsks at her.

I’m anxious to see what it is too and can’t possibly
restrain my chuckle when Angie lifts the lid to reveal a large, wrapped circle
of cheese, complete with crackers along the edges and a fancy little silver
knife thing with a bow on it. “Well, my goodness!” Angie exclaims, as delighted
as she is shocked, I’m sure. “Whitley, you shouldn’t have, really.”

“It was the least I could do, having us in your
home, especially on short notice. I hope you enjoy it.”

“Oh, Evan, honey,” Angie smirks at me, “she’s gonna
whip you right into shape, isn’t she? Unless, of course, you get her over to
the country side first.”

“I was thinking we’d meet somewhere in the middle.”
I wink at Whitley, thinking how precious she is.

Only Whitley brings a gourmet cheese circle to a
farmer’s wife on her first visit. And speaking of short notice—where the hell
does Whitley spring these gifts from, one for any and every occasion? She must
have a secret closet in her house filled with “just in case” presents.

“That’s usually the best place.” Angie smiles. “So
Whitley, have you ever been on a farm?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Evan! Go grab one of the four wheelers and show
this girl around. Something tells me she’ll love it.”

“You wanna go check it out?” I ask her, hopeful
brows raised.

She nods eagerly, eyes shining with excitement.

“Well, come on then.” I give her my hand. “If Parker
beats us back, tell him we won’t be long.”

“Will do. You kids have fun. Oh, and Evan?” she
calls, and I turn back. “Show her Dale’s favorite oak tree, why don’t ya?”

With that comment, I know Whitley has a true fan in
Angie.

Whitley skips beside me to the barn, so full of
life, so accepting of new things. Her naïve innocence and carefree zest is
contagious, spurring me to run up behind her and haul her up in my arms.

“You’re awful excited,” I comment, smiling down at
her.

“I’ve kinda been floating since you called me your
girlfriend. There’s not much that wouldn’t make me happy right now.”

“You caught that, huh?”

“Uh huh.” Her teeth grip her bottom lip with nervous
excitement.

“You good with that?”

“Very.” Now she adds the tip of her tongue, wetting
said lip.

I bounce her up, catching her around the hips and
she knows just what to do, wrapping her legs around my waist and arms around my
neck with a squeal.

“You make me happy, Whit,” I sigh, resting my
forehead on hers, “more than I thought would be possible again. Better even.”

It’s true what they say—if you look for the really
freaking amazing in people, that’s what you’ll find.

Found it.

Her lips crash to mine, ravenous and greedy…she did
not
learn how to kiss in her mother’s refining classes. I try to keep up, lick
for lick and nip for nip, simultaneously keeping my balance and tilting my hips
back so I don’t
poke
send the wrong message. Luckily, I could walk this
barn in my sleep, so I’m able to navigate us, joined and hungry, to one of the
bays, setting her down on top of the half door.

“Uh,” she whines into my mouth, clenching onto me
tighter.

“Let me, ahhh,” okay just a little more, “get us out
of here,” one more taste, “killing me.” Fuck it, so what if we get caught?

Sebastian must feel the electricity in the air,
letting out a loud whinny.

“Ahh!” Whitley startles and shrieks, “what was
that?”

“Oh, Whit,” I snort, keeling over in painful
laughter but keeping one hand on her so she doesn’t fall. “It was a horse,”
still hee-hawing at her, I try to catch my breath, “down there.” I point down
the row. “Woman, you crack me up.”

“Can we go see him?”

Suffice it to say our heated moment has passed,
every part of me already craving the next one.

“Of course.” I grip her hips and help her down,
leading her to Sebastian’s stall. “You ever ridden a horse?”

“When I was little, my mother tried to put me in
some kind of lessons. But those horses were stuffy,” she wrinkles her nose, “they
didn’t run or jump or anything; they just kinda walked around beside the
teacher.”

“Did you have to wear the little jacket and hat?” I
tease her.

“Ugh, yes.”

I was kidding; my bad.

“Well, Sebastian here loves to run and jump. I’ll
show you one day. And he’s a sucker for pretty girls, aren’t ya, boy?” I let
him nuzzle my hand. “Look in the bucket over there. He’s
really
a sucker
for pretty girls who give him treats.”

She reaches in the pail and scoops up a handful of
honeyed oats, his favorite, extending out her arm as far away from her body as
possible. I slide in behind her, pressing up against her. “He won’t hurt you.”
I scoot us, as one, closer. “Flatten your hand. It’s okay if some spills, he
likes your hand flat.”

“It tickles!” She giggles when Sebastian eats from
her hand…I think. I have no idea what’s happening really, having gotten lost in
her silky blonde strands and the sweet smell of strawberries.

“Evan?”

I love strawberries.

“Evan?”

“Hmm?”

“He ate it all.”

“Oh,” I straighten, “right, okay. You ready to go
see the farm then?”

“Yes!”

I place her to the side and back the four wheeler
out, patting the spot between my legs for her to sit.

“Do I get to drive?” she asks hopefully, blue eyes
as clear and bright as I’ve ever seen them.

I’m thinking country looks real good on her.

“We’ll see.” I wink, scooting flush against her once
she’s seated. “Hold on tight.”

Now I admit, once again, I’m a bit of a romantic,
but any tough guy who thinks he’s not… I’m thinking he’s never given a sexy
girl her first farm tour. Every time she gasps, wiggling her little ass into my
crotch while she points to some new sight excitedly, well, it does something to
a man; I don’t care who you are.

Sharing this with her all but takes away the trace
of sadness in me when I get to thinking about Dale. He loved this place, his
land and home, and made sure to make it all it could be for his family. I will
always miss him, but I know he’s watching (hopefully not the part in the barn earlier)
and I know he would get a kick out of my girl here.

I show her the creek, the cows, all the chicken
coops and the king of the farm, Mufasa, the Jones’ prize Angus bull. Whitley
doesn’t much care for him and begs me to drive away quickly. Next stop--the pig
pens. Now this… For this, she jumps off the four wheeler and splashes through
the mud. It seems some babies have joined the farm and Whitley spots them right
away.

One would think, upon first meeting Whitley, of
which even I was guilty, that the only way to get this girl to “oooh” and
“ahhhh” would be to take her to Tiffany’s or maybe shoe shopping. But no, all
it takes to elicit the sweetest sounds and smiles you’ve ever seen from Whitley
Suzanne Thompson are muddy, squealing baby pigs.

When I heard Laney tell Dane she loved him, I
thought
bullshit, not possible, too soon
… I’m not sure what it is I’m
feeling right now, but I am sure that I understand Laney’s predicament a tad
better now. Maybe your true self only thrives in the accompaniment of the one
made to bring it out in you.

Hmmm.

“Evan! Come over here and look at these precious
little babies!”

I saunter over,
not
splashing mud everywhere.
The vision of Whitley tugs at my heart. She seems blissfully unaware that she’s
covered, on her knees in a swamp of…well, pig shit, and that one big sow really
wants her to unhand those babies. “Whit, we probably need to go. You’re making
their mama real uncomfortable, sugar. ‘Bout time to meet Parker, too,
after
we get you cleaned up.”

“What do they do with their pigs, Evan?”

They don’t rub them against their cheeks and blow on
their bellies, of that I’m sure. She’s definitely not gonna like my answer.

“Well, they sell some,” I rub the back of my neck
nervously, “and they…um, some I guess probably serve as food.”

The response you’re expecting, girl goes crazeballs at
the thought of her “precious babies” being eaten…that’s exactly what happened.
There’s a few tears, some wailing and stomping (all of which I find
mesmerizingly hot) but mostly one pissed off, brooding female the whole ride
back to the house. She doesn’t smell great, either.