Honey

I hadn’t gone to Jake’s room after reading Jamie a story. She had asked me the most startling question. She wanted me to be her mommy. She said her dad told her not to ask me. But she said me being her mommy was what was in her heart.

Jake, Jamie, and Ford had been heaven sent. I was thanking my lucky stars when I opened my door. There sitting on my bed was Jake.

He waved me over and I went. The damn man was way too sexy to say no to. He pulled me in his lap.

“What’s it with you and me on your lap.”

He moved his hips, his erection evident on my ass.

“Why do you think?”

God, this man.

“Sugar—”

“Dammit, I love it when you call me that.”

His voice was rough and husky.

“Sugar… sugar… sugar,” I taunted.

“Stop talking.”

He drew my head down to ravage my mouth. His tongue swept in with purpose and determination. His punishing kiss was like a brand, marking me as his.

“You’re mine, Honey. Now and forever.”

Then he tipped back, taking me with him. Stealthy, he rolled me underneath him to grind that very male part of him between my thighs. Then he was nudging my legs open to settle in between them.

“I need you,” I begged.

It was one of those times where pride didn’t matter. His teasing was only making me needy, more than I’d ever been before.

“Please,” I cried again.

He wasn’t an egomaniac, but a damn smirk that was far too sexy bloomed on his face.

“Please what?”

“Fuck me,” I said in the crudest way.

Apparently, he liked it and didn’t wasting time either. My clothes disappeared like he was a magician. Then after protecting us from who shall not be named, he was inside me.

I couldn’t get enough of this man and the way he made not only my body feel, but my heart. I didn’t think I’d ever been so happy.

When I came, he swallowed my screams at the same time healing my heart with his love. What was I waiting for? All I needed to do was say yes, and my life would be complete. But the words didn’t come. I hoped they would before he gave up on me.

A week or so later, when Jake stirred early as usual, I reached for him, not ready for him to go.

“Come with me this afternoon?”

I reluctantly opened my eyes. “Where?” I asked sleepily.

“I need you with me.”

Jake didn’t often ask for anything. So even without an answer to my question, I couldn’t say no. Then he was gone and it was time for my day to begin.

After breakfast, I dusted, passing the time.

Ford so far hadn’t needed me full time for care. In fact, he’d started to do little projects around the house to keep his mind busy. As I worked on a grocery list for us and the hands’ bunkhouse, he came over to the counter and sat on a bar stool.

“I think it’s time to buy new furniture,” he announced.

That was random. At first I feared he’d slipped into the past as he sometimes did.

“Tired of the old furniture?” I asked.

Ford and all his wisdom held my gaze. “It’s time you and Jake make this your home.”

I didn’t correct him that I was still a paid employee and had yet to agree to Jake’s proposal.

“There are so many memories, good and bad. Maybe a remodel and redesign will do this house some good,” he said.

I laughed, though the idea appealed. “Have you been binge watching HGTV again?”

“Only when you are,” he joked.

There was a twinkle of mischief in his eye that I liked. It was like he had new purpose and wasn’t giving up on this life. But his words turned somber.

“Jake isn’t sleeping in his room. We both know why.” That went without saying. “I could trade with him, but I think he wouldn’t like being with you in his parent’s room.”

Though Jake hadn’t talked about it, the memory of being drugged haunted him. And like Ford, I wanted to do something to help ease his mind.

He drifted off to another topic. “I’m not afraid of dying anymore.”

That came out of nowhere.

“Ford—”

He held up a hand. “I don’t have a death wish, Honey. Though I wouldn’t mind seeing my Martha again.” He took a long pause. “It’s just when I go, I know Jake will be fine because of you.”

Talk about choking up with tears. I rounded the island to hug the man.

“I love you, Ford,” I said and kissed his cheek.

“Oh, don’t tell my son. He’ll be jealous,” he teased.

Then the man himself came in. “Dad,” he said, straight-faced. “Are you flirting with my woman?”

“Of course I am,” Ford said.

I gave Jake’s dad another hug before I walked over to Jake, still choked up over his earlier statement.

Outside, I searched for Jamie and found her in the horse pen with Ed. Though Jake would have checked on her before we left, it was instinct for me to.

When we drove off, I asked, “Where are we going?”

He took my hand. “Do you trust me?”

I nodded and squeezed his and left the questions to answer themselves when we arrived at our destination.

The ride took us along a winding, bumpy road, but it wasn’t a terribly long journey. We arrived in front of a two-story house that reminded me of moderate-sized, old plantation houses with columns. It wasn’t as eye-catching as Jake’s ranch, but that was my taste.

Interesting, I thought. Not sure whose place it was.

He parked right up front in the circular drive. Before we got out, Jacque came out the double doors, answering my question. Then Jake was on my side, holding out a hand to help me out. But he didn’t let go once I got out. He held on as we approached the short stairs that led to the wraparound porch.

“I was wondering when you’d come to gloat,” Jacque announced.

Jake and I just stared at the woman. He seemed to be as surprised as I was by her statement, which only made me more curious as to why he’d brought me. Had he changed his mind about me doing the talking to her about loan papers and a possible sale?

“I guess you’re speechless that you can’t bring me the news. Sorry, I got that for myself. I agreed to sale to someone else. I’ll admit it was to spite you. But you had the last laugh, didn’t you?”

“Jacque,” Jake began.

“Don’t bother to explain. My lawyer called me the other day and said there was a lien on the house. Furthermore, according to the documents, your family already owns this place by default.”

Had Ford gone and told someone or filed the paperwork?

She wasn’t done. “A twenty-year-old debt with compounding interest is one I can’t pay, not without selling. My lawyer said someone down in the courthouse had messed up and this should have been brought up during the reading of Woodrow’s will before the land was deeded to me. Someone should have checked for a lien. It had been properly filed years before I was married to the man.”

Well, Woodrow had been a standup guy. He must have had his lawyer file the loan and lien papers without Ford knowing.

“Look, I’m still willing to buy the land,” Jake offered.

She laughed. “How can you buy land you already own?” When Jake attempted to answer, she stopped him. “Look, I know what you think of me. But I’m not Tara. I didn’t marry Woodrow for his land or his money. I loved him. He was good to me. Yes, he was older, but he always treated me kindly.”

She glanced my way and sighed. “Karma is a bitch and it bit me in the ass. I was jealous that Jake didn’t want me and I said some rotten things to you. For that I apologize. He’s a good man, a good catch. Any woman would truly be lucky to have him.”

I wasn’t sure what to make of the woman, but I nodded graciously.

“Now, Jake.” She paused. “The land is yours, but the house is mine.” She let that sink in. “Technically, I owe you rent.”

Jake interrupted. “I’ll buy the house.”

She waggled a finger at him. “The house isn’t worth as much as the land. So don’t you try to do that white knight thing. My lawyer told me what it was worth. It’s enough. He’s sending the proposal to Landry. And with that money, I’m going to buy a salon in town and make something of myself. I’m tired of being the talk of the town and not in a good way. I’m going to be respectable.”

I couldn’t help but respect her if she was being truthful, which it seemed like.

“I didn’t want this,” she said.

“I know.” She pursed her lips. “If there’s one thing I know is you didn’t do this. Woodrow did. It will be fine. I’ll be fine. The only thing I ask is if you can find a place for my hands. Some of them have family to take care of.”

Jake nodded. “I will.”

Before we left, I said to her, “Good luck with your salon.” I fluffed my hair. “I really need a place close I can get my hair done.”

She smiled at me. “The first cut is on the house. Now if you excuse me, I’ve got packing to do.”

We all turned to go our respective ways.

On the ride home, I asked Jake, “Are you okay?”

He squeezed my hand that he hadn’t let go of except to get into the car.

“I guess I have to be. It still feels like stealing.”

I understood Jake’s reluctance. He didn’t feel as though he’d earned the property.

“At least she’s okay with it,” I said.

He nodded but didn’t say much on the ride back to his house.

Over the next few weeks, things seemed to settle down. Jake, though, had been a little distant. When he called me out to the back porch after Ford and Jamie had gone to bed, I worried he was going to tell me he was done waiting and was moving on.

When I arrived, I couldn’t have been more surprised if zombies walked by. The screened in porch was lit with flickering candles that surrounded him as he waited on bended knee. I lost my breath, saying the only word I could.

“Sugar.”

His smile made my heart kick into gear.

“When you Ubered into my life, I couldn’t have guessed how much you’d change my life for the better.” He pulled out a box and flipped it open. “It’s not new. It’s my mother’s ring. She wanted me to give it to the woman I gave the rest of my life to.”

Tears ran like rivers down my cheeks and I was powerless to stop them.

“Sugar,” I said again like it was a prayer.

“I want you to be my wife. No.” He stopped and I panicked. “No, I don’t want you to be my wife.” Surely I wasn’t hearing him correctly. “I need you to be my wife. I can’t live this life without you. What do you say?”

For weeks I waited for a sign that things were moving too fast. What I realized was I was moving too slow. I needed to catch up.

“Yes,” I said, sobbing and reaching for him.

“Yes, what?”

I knew what he wanted to hear.

“Yes, Sugar, I’ll marry you.”