CHAPTER 1
Gloomy white skies threatened of snow as the town’s people of McKenzie Ridge circled the graveside of one of their own – one of their beloved – creating the heavy somber mood resting on each of their shoulders. Everly took in the tear-filled eyes and hiccupping sobs as Pastor Henry gave his final words while they lay to rest a dear woman, a town favorite. McKenzie Ridge would sorely miss such a well-liked member of their small community.
Evie scanned the crowd, taking in her friends, each at her side. Their emotions were raw but more visible than her own. Friends who were family in every way that mattered, they supported each other, and loved each other through every high and every low. This was most certainly the lowest of lows they had been through together.
It was odd. As painful as this loss was for the town, Everly’s sorrow was trapped somewhere deep inside her. The flawless timing had its way with her this time. Unsure whether to feel sorry or relieved, for the number that was called to the beyond, Everly had no trouble recognizing her feelings of guilt as she thanked God it was her
inside that coffin, instead.
She struggled with that thought, it was deranged and ugly, but it was Everly’s truth…at least for now.
Who thinks like that? A person who had struggled with loss her entire life, closing herself off to avoid moments like this very one. The tears were absent because she had trained herself years ago not to emotionally invest – to keep everyone at arm’s length. The sting was less that way when life happened and the heavens came calling.
Pastor Henry opened the gathering to those who wanted to share kind thoughts, words, or memories. This was the part where bleeding hearts were laid out for all to see. Where the flood gates cracked wide open – a real bitch for those who didn’t wear the right mascara. Another reason Everly didn’t do the crying thing.
She faded away in thought, drifting back to where life played its little trick, shouting plot twist
, as she remembered how she came to know about the death of the dear woman laying six feet deep in front of her.
Two days earlier in Portland…
With his large strong hands trailing up her thighs, he kissed a path that left his intentions undeniable. Everly Shaw was ready to lose her composure and give in to ecstasy before they had really begun. The sheer thought of what Doctor Mason Charles was about to do to her had her breathless as her body hummed. She was anxious for his mouth to find her heated hungry bundle of nerves that would scream orgasm with a single stroke if she wasn’t careful.
Doc Charles was handsome, smart, kind – the kind of guy you take home to meet the family, and marry. That was all nice and sweet and entirely not
for Evie. It was his intimate knowledge of her female anatomy that kept her coming back for more – making him a god in bed – which was where they had spent every spare moment over the last week.
Evie was an independent, no non-sense girl who took charge in everything she did, always willing to take a risk and live on the edge. Except in bed, with the man who rocked her world. Doc made her putty with a simple sultry look or the teasing hand that rested just on the small of her back, at the high side of her ass. He played her like one of his instruments, and played her well, making beautiful breathless music as he did.
With her legs wide, draping over his broad shoulders, her moans were getting deeper, breath pitchier when he added a finger, then two to his assault. In and out, he stroked her as his tongue lashed against her swollen bud over and over, circling and sucking as he did. She started to move against him, unable to control the blazing desire he was tormenting her with, making him smile.
For good measure, his free hand quickly yanked her bra down exposing her full breasts and hardened nipples. He twisted and pinched, pulling her rosy peaks as he went, driving her straight to the edge.
He suddenly pulled his mouth from her and said, “Don’t get greedy baby. You know what happens when you finish before I’m done.”
The deep threatening tone of his voice, playful as it was intended, was nearly her undoing. She wanted him to show her what would happen, again and again. As if he could read her wicked mind, Doc pulled his fingers from her, causing her to cry out, before grabbing her hips and pulling her to the edge of the bed where he flipped her over.
Standing at the edge of the bed, leaning over her backside, he said, “Nice try sweetheart. Is this what you want?”
His hands slowly slid down her back before gripping her hips and lifting her to her knees with her head still down. Yes…this was exactly
what she wanted. Doc down and dirty, threatening with the kind of punishment
a girl on the edge of bliss begged for.
Pressing against her from behind, he teased her opening with his hot hard length before he entered her with one quick lunge, causing her to cry out in pleasure. His generous length and weighty girth filled her to the point of just enough friction to offer the aching delight of a joyful ride. He was perfect, and she couldn’t get enough.
The intensity built with every plunge, faster and harder with each pleasing movement. Evie was lost in him and everything he made her feel. Gripping the sheets with white knuckles, she moved against him, grinding, unable to control the desire he was manipulating. He reached around and stroked that one little spot that held all of the cards – he knew what she wanted – he heard it in her cries and moans for more.
Unable to control her urge, her back arched at his touch and her knee’s spread wider to gain more of him. Doc grazed her back, with a subtle touch that left a trail of goosebumps. He reached the nape of her neck, digging his fingers into her hair and grabbing a handful of her golden locks.
Like a puppet with her master, she pushed up on her hands, gaining the leverage she needed to mirror his every move. Her hips were grinding, pounding against him with as much force as he delivered in return. Her breathy sighs became seductive OHs,
bringing her closer to the edge before finally coming undone around him.
She fell back down to the bed, exhausted from the lust filled ride, with Doc falling right behind her. He rolled them to their sides and pulled her into him where he held her close peppering her with kisses. Never losing their connection, they rode the waves left by their passionate lovemaking.
“Wow…you’re really good at that,” Everly said, still a bit breathless, causing him to chuckle.
“We should high five over that one! I mean, I was
great…I really need a cape. It’s super hero worthy. Man of steel, right?” he joked.
Evie laughed, covering her face. “Aaand, he’s back folks! Dirty Doc has left the building and we are now left with dorky Doc and all of his bad jokes. Hear that? The crowd is chanting…they want dirty Doc back.”
“You’re not too bad yourself, Shaw.” He planted a long drawn out kiss on the back of her neck before finishing, “All this practice has been paying off.”
“I could get used to this, ya know? Just coming and going as we please, no sneaking around…just…being us,” she admitted.
“We don’t have to sneak around back home either. You know that right? We can do whatever we want, wherever you want. Besides, McKenzie Ridge isn’t exactly the place for secrets…I’m pretty sure we aren’t as under the radar as you think, Ev.”
“We do
need to sneak around at home. We’ve talked about this, Doc.”
He sighed. “You’ve talked about it. I’m game for holding hands, kissing in public, and letting everyone know when I’m sleeping over at your place.”
“Which is why we sleep at your place. If Gran saw your car in the driveway at my place, in the middle of the night, she’d have us married and making babies by morning.”
“And what’s so wrong with that. Maybe I should stop by for a…check up one night. I’ll honk first, let you know I’m there…Gran too.”
She turned to him, eyes wide and jaw dropped. “You wouldn’t!”
“It’d serve you right. That’s what you get for living next door to your Grandmother who happens to also be the town bugle.” His voice softened as he dropped another kiss on her neck. “I wouldn’t mind it at all…I’d love for everyone to know you’re mine.”
She hesitated for a moment, enjoying his heated kisses and sentiment before whispering back, “You know why we can’t. This isn’t forever, Doc.”
He pulled away, breaking their connection, disappointment hanging in the room. “I know…I get it. I guess we’ll just have to make the most of the last few days here and find more medical conferences to escape to for more of this!”
He smacked her ass and turned her to her back, pulling her to the edge of the bed where he leaned over her. Wrapping her long tone legs around his waist, she drew him closer to her and accepted the deep arousing kiss he was offering. Her body was humming again. She was noticing a distinct pattern.
Doc turned her on with a simple steamy kiss that made her want to do really bad things with him, to him, and receive them from him. He had turned her into a libidinous wanton sex fiend. She wasn’t complaining, she really could get used to this. Damn her for being her own worst enemy when it came to relationships.
Doc interrupted her thoughts, suspicious of her change in demeanor. “Race you to the shower.”
“I have a better idea.” She wrapped her arms around his neck with her legs still around him, “Take me there, Doc.”
He smiled and lifted her from the bed, walking them to the large marble bathroom in their suite. Just outside the oversized glass shower, lips locked, she was already grinding against him when there was a loud knock at the door.
Pausing for only a moment, Doc sat her on the vanity counter and went back to kissing her when another loud knock came.
“Maybe we should get it, Mason,” Ev said with slight concern.
In between kisses around her collarbone, he said, “I hung the sign…do not disturb…they’ll go away.”
Everly’s head rolled back and she let out a silent oh
as she thoroughly enjoyed the attention Doc was giving her.
Pounding louder, a deep voice followed with, “EEEV…DOOOC. Open up!”
Doc straightened and turned toward the door, shielding Ev in a protective manner. “What the fuck? Who is that?”
“C’mon guys.” the man yelled. “I’m coming in, you better have clothes on.”
“O’Reilly! Oh, geez, it’s Wylie!” Ev said full of surprise.
Doc squinted his eyes, confusion crossing his expression. “Carigan’s brother?”
Carigan O’Reilly was a friend from home, in McKenzie Ridge. She was an EMT who partnered with Dawson Tayler, all part of the same family-like group of friends. Her brothers, all five of them, lived in Portland, where as she lived in McKenzie Ridge – a solid five hours away from their overly protective ways.
“Do you know anyone else named Wylie O’Reilly
? C’mon…he means it. He’ll open the door!” she said in a hushed voice as she jumped off the counter, covering her body as if he could see her.
“Shit! Hang on!” Doc shouted to Wylie through the door, before handing Everly the robe and panties he had peeled off of her earlier that afternoon. “Throw these on.”
He pulled on a pair of sweats that hung low around his narrow hips, putting his well sculpted abs on display, and went to the door. Looking back to make sure she was covered – he wasn’t sharing peeks of his girl – he caught her licking her lips as she scanned him head to toe. With a shake of his head and raise of his brow, he let out a low chuckle before he opened the door to a giant.