Haley & Bentley (Falling for Bentley #2.5) (5 page)

I LAY ON Bentley’s chest, watching the sunrise from our bedroom window, twirling my fingers in his chest hair. We must have been lying there for an hour, saying nothing, just lost in our own thoughts.

I hope he knows what he does to me. Every part of me wants him, needs him, and craves him. Every time I look into his eyes, I fall in love all over again. If he only knew the beating of his heart is my home, even on that night we first made love.

“Every time you twirl my chest hair around your fingers, I can feel your love for me.” I turned my head to look at him, wondering how he could know exactly what I was thinking. I put my head back down as Bentley began to run his fingers through my hair.

“That’s because I do love you.” I know it was simple, but it didn’t need any more.

“Haley, I have never in my life felt this close to anyone.
I love you
will never be enough. I want to hear your dreams, see your dreams, and touch your dreams.”

The tears refused to remain at bay. I closed my eyes and let them fall. “I love you Bentley; today, tomorrow, and forever.”

“God, I hope so, Hales.”

BENTLEY AND I decided we didn’t want a bachelor and bachelorette party, much to Carleigh and Travis’s dismay. They acted like we were putting them out. Both Bentley and I were fed up with their insistence.

“Travis, I am only going to say this one last time. I do not want a bachelor party.”

“Why?”

“I just don’t. I don’t need a reason. I’d rather steal a night out with Haley somewhere, than spending it driving your drunk ass around.”

“Well it’s dumb if you ask me. First Curtis goes off and gets married before we can throw him one, and now you don’t want one.”

“I’ll tell you what, little brother. When it’s your time to have one, I will throw you the wildest bachelor party ever.”

“With topless waitresses?”

Bentley shook his head as he laughed, “Yes, even with topless waitresses.”

I stepped back onto the deck with Emerson on my hip. “Dada!”

Emerson leaned down so Bentley could gather him in his arms, “Hey buddy, did you have a good time with Papa Ben?”

“Yes.”

Travis stood and took Emerson from his brother, “Come see Uncle Travis. I’ve missed you since I’ve been in school. What have you been doing?”

“Cows!” Emerson shouted and Travis laughed.

“Glad to hear you’ve been watching them for me. You’re going to be a great help when you get a bit older, you know.”

“Me help!”

Travis ruffled his hair, “You bet, bud.”

The phone in the kitchen rang. I left the boys to continue their cute conversation.

“Hello?” I asked picking up the phone.

“Hey, Haley, its Jerad. I wanted to let you know we got a late start leaving the city; we are about an hour behind.”

“That’s okay, don’t rush on our account. We’ll put the steaks on when you guys get here.”

I heard rustling in the background before Carleigh started speaking, “We’re late because Jerad was getting the best blow job of his life.”

“Carleigh, really?” I said, smirking, knowing her comment was going to annoy Jerad.

“Why would you tell her that?” I heard him ask from the background.

“Because it’s the truth.”

“She doesn’t need to know that.”

I tried holding in my laugh, “It’s okay, Jerad, I understand a good blow job is hard to pass up.”

“I knew she’d get it,” Carleigh said before taking over the phone call.

“Why do you do that to him?” I asked with a laugh.

“I like to see him blush, and it gets him worked up. It’s fun and I’ll probably get a spank for it later.”

“You do realize you are spending the night here with my son sleeping in the room next to yours, right?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll figure something out.” I could hear her smirking.

“You always do. Drive safe, see you in a few hours.”

“If we stop again, I’ll text you.”

Hanging up the phone, I stopped by the fridge to grab two new beers before heading back outside.

“That was Carleigh and Jerad, they are running about an hour behind.”

“That’s fine, Whitney just texted she’ll be a bit longer at the diner anyways,” Travis said, moving Emerson around on his lap, making him jump up and down.

I passed Bentley his beer and set Travis’s on the table.

“Emmison drink?”

“What would you like to drink, bud?” Bentley asked getting up.

“Mowk.”

“M-i-l-k.” Bentley pronounced properly.

“I’ll get it,” I said.

Bentley put his hand on mine. “I got it, I’ve got to take a leak anyways,” Bentley said and ushered me into his patio chair and kissed me before going into the house.

“THANK YOU FOR dinner Haley, it was great,” Loran said as she dried the dishes.

“Thanks for helping with the dishes, ladies.” I smiled while putting a plate into the cupboard.

“I really need the recipe for your Grams’ sweet tea,” Whitney said as she walked into the kitchen with the last of the dirty dishes.

“Actually, the recipe will be tucked into the wedding favors; we’re getting koozies made.”

“Mrs. Wells is actually giving out her recipe? I don’t believe it.” Loran fanned herself dramatically.

“I was surprised when she suggested it, too.”

“Travis and the guys will be so excited when I make it for them whenever they pop over.”

“Whitney, you know Grams’ will always taste better, right? Even if we all make the same tea?”

“I know, but I’m still excited.”

“Babe, where’s the pad of paper we have the wedding things planned out on?” Bentley yelled from the office.

“In the file folder marked
wedding
. It’s sitting on top of the printer, why?”

“Curtis wants to see them.”

“I tell you, that guy is overly excited when it comes to weddings. I swear if I didn’t marry him, I would have thought he was gay,” Loran laughed about her husband.

“We better get out there then, before Curtis makes it a bigger affair than what we want,” I said turning to the living room.

“Twenty-five people, that’s all your having?” asked Travis, stunned.

“That’s all Haley wants; a small private wedding,” Bentley answered as I sat beside him.

“He’s right, I want something small, with only the people that mean the world to us.”

“Is that Darryl Buchanan’s name on the list?” Curtis asked almost squealing.

Everyone looked at him and started laughing.

“You’re beginning to weird me out with all this acting like a high school chick going into heat,” Bentley teased before I thumped him in the head with a couch cushion.

“Let’s get down to the main points,” Loran said getting us all back to track. “You have your dress and the bridesmaid have theirs, right?”

“Yes, my dress is in, and I’ve had my first fitting already. I believe the girls have everything they need, too,” I answered.

“Okay, we can mark that off the list,” Loran said, taking the paper from Curtis and checking it off. “Next, Bentley, do you have what you are wearing yet?”

“Yeah, I went last week to finalize our attire.”

“Good,” Whitney smiled.

“What are we wearing?” asked Curtis.

“We are wearing black slacks, white dress shirts with grey vests, and I’m going to be wearing a shiny green tie.”

“Sounds nice,” said Whitney.

“Justice of the peace—is that booked?” Loran asked, still looking at the checklist.

“Yes, Grams and I talked to the priest at church last Sunday to see who he would recommend, and he actually offered to do it.”

“Perfect. Food?”

“We are going to have wine and appetizers after the ceremony.”

“Cake?”

“I asked Grams to make her pumpkin pound cake.”

“Hales, are you sure you don’t want a real wedding cake?” Bentley asked me again.

“No, I really don’t. I know you guys won’t understand, and I know Grams doesn’t as many times as I’ve tried to tell her. Anytime I came to visit as a kid, or something upsetting came along, Grams always had this cake waiting for me because she knows it is my favorite. This cake has been there through thick and thin, and I want it there on the happiest day of my life.”

Bentley pulled me to his side and kissed the top of my head, “I didn’t realize the cake meant that much to you.”

“I guess I just never explained it that way before,” I said, shrugging.

He kissed the top of my head once more, “Then pumpkin cake it is. Loran you can mark cake off the list.”

Carleigh walked into the living room with Jerad by her side.

“What happened to your hair?” I asked, surprised it looked like a rat’s nest.

“Your son,” she replied flatly as she flopped on the couch beside me.

“What were y’all playing?” asked Bentley, “We could hear him squealing with laughter since supper.”

“A little of this and a little of that. Make a tower, pile on top of Auntie Carleigh to tickle her to death, hide and seek…” Jerad rattled off the list of activities.

“Which we might have played a little too long because we found him in the hamper, sound asleep.” Carleigh said, letting Jerad snuggle in beside her from the arm of the couch.

“Did you put his pajamas on, brush his teeth, and change his diaper?” Bentley asked, getting up to do that.

“Were we supposed to do that?” teased Carleigh.

“It’s okay, I’ll go and change his diaper at least.” Bentley started to get up.

“I’m kidding Bentley, we made sure all of that was done before we played hide and seek.” She pointed to Jerad’s shirt, “See, he even missed the sink and spit toothpaste on his shirt.”

“Thanks guys,” Bentley said settling back into the couch.

“He’s fun, Bentley. I understand why Carleigh always talks about him when I can’t make it out,” Jerad offered.

“That he is,” Bentley agreed.

“Let’s get back to wedding planning, people,” Loran said tapping the table.

“You in a hurry?” Travis teased.

“Actually we kinda are,” Curtis said.

“Got something more important than planning my wedding?” Bentley joked.

“We decided to start trying to have a baby.”

All of us girls started screaming and congratulating Loran.

“Calm your asses down, women, and bring the crazy back in. Don’t get so carried away, nothing has even happened yet.” Curtis waved around before wrapping his arms around his wife.

I swatted his arm, “Shut up, Curtis, this is exciting.”

Loran put up her hands, “Thank you, we’re pretty excited too, hopefully it doesn’t take too long to get pregnant.”

“Let’s get back to wedding planning, shall we?” Curtis suggested, as if he couldn’t get out of here fast enough. I laughed to myself, knowing it was exactly the case.

“Dresses are done, tuxes or whatever are done, justice of the peace is done, food is done, and the location—is it still at the Wells’ Ranch?”

“Yes,” I confirmed.

“Good another thing to cross off. Next is photographer,” Loran continued.

“I think you should use Netty’s Photography. Her price is a little higher, but her pictures always turn out amazing,” Whitney suggested.

“I’m with Whitney. She took my girlfriend’s wedding pictures last summer, and they were astounding. I just wish she hadn’t been booked so we could have used her for our wedding,” agreed Loran.

“You think we could get her?” I asked.

“It’s early enough in the wedding season, I don’t think you should have too much of an issue. I have her contact information at home. I’ll send her an email and include you in it tomorrow morning.”

“Thanks, Loran.”

“You and Bentley need to go to the courthouse a week before the wedding and apply to get your marriage license.”

“Okay,” Bentley said, entering the info into his phone and set a reminder.

“Looks like that’s it for the main stuff, now we just need to decide on invitations, decorations, and if y’all are having a dance?”

“I decided I am going to design and print off the wedding invitations here at home, and then have my classroom kids put them together with glue, add a ribbon and put a few gems on it.”

“That’s nice,” Carleigh said.

“It’s not every day your teacher gets married. I thought it was a fun, simple way they could all be a part of it.”