“Is that when y’all had to take Jessie to the hospital? You said it was just cramping and nothing was wrong, right?” I slipped my hand under the sheet and moved my fingers up and down her thigh.
“Yeah, it was right after she got upset, but everything is fine. It breaks my heart because if she had only just stayed and not run away…”
I let out a breath and nodded my head. “I know, but I also know how much Scott loves her, and he’s not going to let anything come between them. I mean, look at how he beat the shit out of his brother. I know a lot of that was anger toward Chelsea, but damn. If Gunner and Jeff hadn’t pulled him off Bryce, I’d hate to see what would have happened.”
She gave me a weak smile. “Yeah. I just hope Jessie and Scott can work everything out with the baby coming and all. They love each other so much and…” Her eyes filled with tears.
“Baby, don’t worry. They’re gonna work it out. I know they will.”
Just then, Heather’s cell phone went off. I had brought our phones upstairs in case my mom and dad needed us for anything.
Heather grabbed her phone and looked at me. “It’s from Jessie.”
I glanced at the clock. It was almost ten. “This late?” I asked.
I watched Heather’s face light up as she read the text message. She turned to me and jumped up. Then, she leaned down and kissed the shit out of me.
“Gesh…read it again!” I said with a laugh.
“Oh, Josh! They worked everything out! Jessie said she would fill me in tomorrow, but she said everything is perfect. They are home, and Scott is snuggled up next to her, sleeping with his hand on her stomach!”
I had to laugh at how excited Heather was. I knew how much she cared about both Scott and Jessie, and she just wanted everyone to find the same kind of love and happiness we had found.
The look on her face turned, and she bit down on her lower lip. She placed her hands on my chest and gently pushed me onto my back. “Now, what’s this about making love to me all night long, Mr. Hayes?”
She leaned down and kissed me gently on the lips as she slowly sank down on me. The moment I filled her body, she let out the sexiest moan I’d ever heard. I rolled her over and slowly began to make love to her.
“Josh, I love you. I love you so much,” she whispered.
I watched a tear roll down her face. I used my thumb to wipe it away as I said, “I love you more times infinity.”
I hit End on my cell phone and looked over at Jessie, who was sitting on a hay bale with her knees tucked up under her chin.
“I don’t want to go,” she whined.
I let out a laugh. “Baby, we have to. We’ve told everyone but them.”
She threw her head back and let out a frustrated moan. “Ugh, Scott, they already don’t like me. Now, add me running off for five weeks, causing their baby boy heartache, on top of me not being the girl they wanted you to marry.”
“I don’t give a fuck who they wanted me to marry. I want to marry you, the love of my life and the woman who is having my child.”
She stood up and pouted. “But they’ve never liked me. Amanda has told me horror stories about her in-laws. What if that’s how this is going to be? I mean, I don’t come from money, and my name is Jessie, not Chelsea.”
I walked over to her and used my finger to pull up her chin. I looked into her eyes, and they sparkled when I smiled at her.
“I. Don’t. Care.” I leaned down and kissed her.
She opened her mouth, and our tongues immediately began to explore each other. I was so lost in the kiss that I didn’t want to hear the person clearing his throat behind me.
Jessie pulled slightly away and smiled. “Someone’s here, babe.”
“Go away,” I said, without bothering to turn around to see whom it was.
“Fuck you, asshole,” Lark said from behind me.
I smiled and looked over my shoulder. “I’m glad you changed your mind and showed up a day earlier.” I walked up to him and reached my hand out to shake his hand.
He shook it and then tipped his cowboy hat at Jessie.
“My god…I would have never imagined you as a cowboy, Lark,” Jessie said with a chuckle.
Lark grinned and slammed his right hand over his heart. “Oh, Jessie, you wound me. I grew up on a sixteen-section ranch in south Texas. I put the meaning in the word cowboy.”
“Wow. What is that? Like, ten-thousand acres?” Jessie asked.
I wrapped my arms around her and rested my chin on top of her head. Shit, the smell of her shampoo drives me crazy. I can’t seem to get enough of her.
“Ten thousand two hundred and forty, if you want to get down to the nuts of it.”
I rolled my eyes and laughed. “Lark’s dad owns one of the biggest and best hunting ranches in Texas.”
“Ah, so I bet your house is probably loaded with dead animals,” Jessie said with a laugh.
Lark shook his head. “Nope. I live in a condo in downtown Austin.”
“Yeah, except when his crazier-than-rich boss calls him to duty. Communications, my ass. You better not be into anything illegal, Lark.”
Lark let out a sigh. “Scott, Skip works for the U.S. government. He’s sort of like a…contractor. That’s how I got the job with him.”
“And what do you do besides fly his helicopter?” Jessie asked.
Lark gave her that smile that would melt any girl’s heart. “Oh, I help out in areas of expertise. I learned a lot during the short amount of time I was in the Marines,” he said with a wink.
“Fair enough,” Jessie said. She turned and looked at me as she whispered, “All secretive and shit. I can see why he’s a ladies’ man.”
Lark laughed. “Shit. Speaking of…any new chicks since the last time I was here?”
“Damn it, Lark. You need to stow your dick for just a few days. I promise, it won’t kill ya.” I grabbed Jessie’s hand, and we made our way back toward the house.
“Bullshit. Country ass is the best kind of ass…sorry, Jessie.”
I just looked at him. “You’ll never change.”
Jessie laughed. “Oh, he’ll change the moment he meets the love of his life.”
Lark let out a loud laugh. “Well then, Scott is right. I ain’t ever gonna change ’cause there is no way in hell this boy is settling down with just one pu—ah…um, girl. No way I’m just settling with one girl for the rest of my life.”
Jessie smiled and turned. She walked backward and faced both Lark and me. “We’ll see. I’ll make ya a bet—by this time next year, you’ll be head over heels in love with a girl, and you’ll want to ask her to spend the rest of her life with you. Yep…that’s right, Lark. You’re gonna be a one-pussy kind of guy by next Christmas.”
She turned and walked into the house as Lark and I both stopped dead in our tracks. I glanced over at Lark.
He had his mouth hanging open as he slowly turned his head and looked at me. “Jesus, dude. I think I’m in love with your girl.”
I smacked him on the shoulder and made my way into the house. I walked up to Jessie, who was now filling up three glasses with tea.
I leaned down and whispered in her ear, “I want to be inside you…right now.”
She smiled as she poured the last glass of tea and then turned to face me. “Can’t. We have to go to your parents’ house. Remember?”
I closed my eyes and silently cursed my own parents. I whispered, “Fuck.”
Jessie giggled as she shook her head and looked toward Lark. “So, you get to pick which guest room you want to stay in. I have a friend from college who’s coming to spend a week with us also.”
Lark raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Oh yeah?”
“Oh no…no way. You are not allowed anywhere near her. She is pure. And when I say pure, I mean, P.U.R.E. Lark, don’t even think about it,” Jessie said as she put her hands on her hips.
“Wait—she’s a virgin?” Lark asked with a Cheshire cat smile on his face. “I haven’t popped a cherry in a while.”
“Ugh. Oh my god. You are just…ugh.” Jessie rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Scott, control your friend!” She looked at me. “Make sure he stays away from Azurdee.”