“Luke…please get Grace’s foot out of your mouth.”
I reached down and picked Grace up and out of her bouncy chair.
I looked over toward Josh and Heather. Heather was holding Will and laughing at something Jeff was saying. Josh was holding Libby and dancing with her as he sang in her ear. My heart just melted.
Damn that boy. He sure has Gunner beat in the whole romance department.
Then, Gunner caught my eye. I smiled as I watched him run after Alex, and then he grabbed her. He brought her face up to his and smiled. I thought that even his one-year-old daughter was smitten with him.
Stupid good-looking bastard.
I watched Gunner smile at his daughter as she grabbed his face and practically bit him while she was trying to give him kisses. With the way he was looking at her, I just knew there wasn’t a thing he wouldn’t do for her.
Poor thing. I sure feel sorry for her when she starts dating.
Jeff walked up to me and kissed me on the cheek. He took Grace from my arms and walked back toward Heather and Josh. I sat there and watched my husband with our daughter. I’d been through a flood of emotions the last few months—overwhelming happiness to sadness to nothing but anger. During the last two weeks, I’d finally felt normal. I thought back to when my mother and I had had lunch a month after Grace was born. She’d insisted that I had postpartum depression.
I shook my head and took a deep breath. I couldn’t pull my eyes from Jeff. Luke came up and started pulling on my shirt, trying to get my attention. I leaned down and whispered for him to go attack Gunner.
When I looked back up, I saw Jeff walking with Grace. He was talking to her, and she was just staring back at him.
What is he saying to her?
I watched him walk away from everyone. I quickly glanced over to Gunner and saw him chasing Luke and Alex. I started to make my way over to where Jeff was sitting on the tree swing with Grace. I snuck up and stood behind another tree as I listened to him talk to her.
“Oh, Grace Hope, I don’t think you’ll ever know how much I love you and how you’ll always be my baby girl. Your mommy says you’ve already got me wrapped around your little finger, and even though I’ll never admit it…you do. You’re so precious, and you look so much like your mommy. Your mother is so beautiful, Grace, and she takes my breath away with just one look at her.”
Oh. My. God. My heart was beating so hard, and I felt the tears beginning to sting my eyes.
“Even when she leans over in the morning with her terrible, yucky bad breath as she says good morning to me, she still captivates me.”
Bastard!
“I love her so much, and I love you and Luke so much, too. The three of you are my whole world, but you…you are my special little gift. Your big sister brought you to us, and I know she’ll always be with you—just like she’s with your mom and your big brother and me.”
I grabbed my angel necklace as I put my head against the tree, and I just let the tears fall.
“You see, Grace, I made a terrible mistake one day, and I walked away from your mommy when she needed me the most. I’ll never forgive myself for that. Your mommy has…but I won’t.”
No…oh, Jeff, no. I felt my heart slam in my chest, and I placed my hand over my mouth to keep from crying harder. I looked back up and continued to watch Jeff talk to Grace.
“Then, you came along. And just with that first sight of you in your mommy’s tummy, I had the strangest feeling come over me.”
Jeff held Grace out in front of him, and she just stared at him, like she was looking into his soul. It was all I could do to just stand there and watch it all unfold.
“You healed me, Grace Hope. Mommy says everything happens for a reason, and I think she’s right. But shhh…don’t ever tell her I said that. It’ll go to her head.”
I grinned as I watched a little smile move across Grace’s face. I sucked in a breath of air. If I hadn’t known any better, I would swear she knew what he was saying.
“Now, this might be a little too early to talk to you about this, but someday…” He started to shake his head as he sat Grace down on his lap. “Someday, some nasty boy is going to come along and try to take you from me, and you’re going to want to go with him. It’s going to break my heart for sure, but I’m going to have to let you go. I can only hope that you have the heart of your mother.”
He let out a laugh as Grace started hopping up and down, making noises.
“Oh, Grace…your mother is a firecracker. She’s tough as nails, but at the same time, she’s the sweetest angel from God. I pray every night that you’ll be like her. Don’t ever take any crap from anyone. If a boy ever makes you feel less than what you are, walk away. No…first, kick him in the balls for making you feel that way, and then walk away.”
I held my hand tight against my mouth. I was unsure if I should be crying harder or laughing.
“You need someone like Gunner. Your Aunt Ellie is so lucky to have your daddy’s best friend as her husband. He loves her so much, and he treats her so good. He is just a good ole country boy. I’ll never, ever tell him this…but I admire him. He makes me want to be a better father and husband. But the stupid bastard is overly romantic, and sometimes, I’d like to knock the hell out of him. And now…now, Josh is the same way.” Jeff took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “But I love them both like brothers, and I know they would kill anyone who hurt any of y’all.”
Grace let out another little laugh. Jeff stood up as he brought her up to his chest, and he started slowly dancing with her. I couldn’t possibly love him any more than I did in this very moment. As he started to sing “My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw to Grace, I slid down the tree. I buried my face as I listened to my husband serenade our daughter, and I fell more in love with him as the seconds passed by.
“I think we should get back to the birthday party. What do you say? Your mama is gonna wonder where we went.”
I stood and wiped the tears from my eyes. I watched as he started to head back toward the house. I tried to call for him, but nothing would come out.
“Jeff!” I finally shouted.
He jumped, and Grace started laughing, thinking he was bouncing her.
“Motherfucker! Ari, you scared the shit out of me,” he said.
I walked up to him, and then I reached up and smacked him on the head. “Don’t swear in front of her like that! You want her to walk around, cursing like Luke?”
Jeff shook his head and gave me that smile that still made my knees weak.
“Jeff, I love you so much, and right now, I just want to go home and make love to you.”
Jeff’s smile dropped as Grace started leaning out for me to take her. Before I could reach for her, Jeff put his hand behind my neck and pulled me closer to him. He brought his lips down to mine and kissed me. I felt like I was floating on a cloud just from his kiss. As he slowly pulled away, our eyes caught.
“I love you, Ari.”
I shook my head and smiled. “I want you, Jeff. I need you.”
He closed his eyes and licked his lips.
Oh god…I just want those lips all over my body.
“There y’all are! Your father and I have been looking everywhere for you. Now, give me my granddaughter, so I can love on her properly.”
I looked around Jeff and saw my mother walking up to us. I smiled at her and watched her take Grace from Jeff’s arms. As she made her way back toward everyone else, I glanced back at Jeff. He had the biggest grin on his face, and I followed his eyes as he looked over toward the barn.
I laughed and shook my head. “No! Are you kidding me? Everyone is just right here. No. I’m not having sex in Gunner and Ellie’s barn.”
“Oh, come on, baby. Just think of the last time we had sex in a barn.” Jeff wiggled his eyebrows up and down. “The barn is far enough away from the house that no one could possibly hear us. I mean, you’ll have to keep your screams of pleasure down and all.”
I instantly felt the wetness between my legs. I quickly looked back at the house before turning and walking toward the barn.
“I’m so going to hell for this,” I said as I heard Jeff say, “Oh, hell yes!”
I hadn’t even walked into the barn before he grabbed me and spun me around. He pulled me to him and lifted me up as I wrapped my legs around him. He backed us up and leaned me against the wall. His hand moved up and under my shirt. The moment I felt him push up my bra and then squeeze my nipple, I almost came on the spot.
“Jeff…oh god,” I whispered.
He slowly let me down to unbutton my jeans.
“Jesus, Ari…you drive me crazy. Do you know that?” he asked.
I watched him pull my pants and then my panties down. I lifted each leg as he took my sneakers off, and then he pulled off the pants and panties. He quickly undid his pants, and I felt my breathing pick up as I watched him push his pants down, his erection springing free. I licked my lips and looked up into his eyes.
“Fuck…” Jeff said as he picked me back up.
I wrapped my legs around him again. In one movement, he slammed his dick into me, and I let out a small whimper. I threw my head back and bit my lip… attempting not to yell out in pleasure. Nothing felt as good as having Jeff inside me.
“Ah…Ari…baby, come on,” Jeff said as he moved in and out of me.
I tried so hard to hold off, so I could just enjoy the feel of him inside me.
“Baby…”
That was it—his pleading voice was my undoing. I snapped my head forward, and our eyes met.
“Jeff…I’m gonna come.”
He let out a grunt and whispered, “Yes.”
I bit hard on my lower lip as Jeff closed his eyes. I swore I could feel every ounce of him pouring into my body. I’d never felt so damn sexy in my life as I did at this very moment with my husband holding me up after making such passionate love to me. He stood there, panting to catch his breath, still inside me.
I smiled as I leaned in and grabbed his lower lip with my teeth.
“Ah hell, Ari. I could totally do that again if you’d just give me a few minutes.”
I started laughing and then instantly stopped. I could hear someone talking.
I looked at Jeff as we both said, “No fucking way!”
Jeff dropped me and pulled up his pants. Then, he reached down and grabbed my pants, panties, and shoes before quickly taking my arm and walking me over to Big Roy’s stall. He opened it and pushed me inside.
“Get down!” he whispered as he zipped up his pants.
“What? I’m half-fucking-naked in a horse stall, and you want me to get down?”
Just then, we heard Garrett call out, “Ari? Jeff?”
Jeff turned back and pushed my head down before spinning around and walking away.
Big Roy walked up to me and kept trying to nudge me with his head.
I looked at Big Roy as I tried to get him to stop. “Stop it, boy. No! We aren’t going for a ride.” I rolled my eyes and hurried like hell to get my clothes back on.
Big Roy took a few steps back, and I was finally able to get my panties on. I heard Jeff talking to Garrett, but I couldn’t tell what they were saying.
How does this man always know when we’re having sex?
Just then, Big Roy pushed me hard on my back, making me fall forward…right into a pile of horse shit.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, that did not just happen to me!
I turned and looked at him. He was moving his head up and down.
“It’s true—y’all are nothing but big fucking dogs! You’re supposed to be on my side, you bastard—not standing there, laughing at me in your horse way,” I whispered.
Then, I heard them talking.
“Ellie was looking for you and Ari. They’re fixin’ to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Alex, and Gunner told me to check the barn for you and Ari,” Garrett said.
I slowly got up and moved away from the giant pile of shit as I shook my head. Gunner! Oh…oh…your ass is mine. He must have seen Jeff and me heading down here.
“Awesome! Thanks, Garrett. Yeah, I, um…I’ve been looking for Ari. I’ll give her a few minutes, and if she doesn’t show up, I’ll head on up.”
Garrett said something else to Jeff that I couldn’t make out. I closed my eyes and began to plot my revenge on Gunner.
“What in the fuck?” Jeff said.
I looked up at him. I was itching everywhere, and I had horse shit all over my shirt. My warm and happy just-fucked feeling was gone, completely and utterly gone.
“Yep. I was trying to get dressed, and this little fucker here pushed me into his own shit! My warm and happy just-fucked feeling is gone!” I yelled out.
Big Roy started bouncing his head up and down again.
I jumped up and said, “Look! He’s laughing at me. I swear to you, he did it on purpose.”
Jeff looked toward Big Roy, then down at the shit, and then back up at me. He busted out laughing. I just stood there with my mouth hanging open, wearing a shit-covered shirt and red polka-dot panties, while my own husband laughed at me.
“You think it’s funny?” I asked.
He started to nod. I reached down and picked up my shoes. Jeff opened the stall door, still laughing his ass off.
“I’m sorry, baby, but I can’t let you near the kids with horse shit all over you!” Jeff said as he placed his hands on his knees and continued to laugh.
Uh-huh, I see how this is going to be. “Is that a fact? You think this is pretty funny, huh?”
“Holy shit, Ari! Oh man,” Jeff said as he wiped away the tears.
Tears! He is laughing so hard that he has tears.
I slowly smiled and started laughing.
“See! You can’t help but laugh, too,” Jeff said.
I quickly walked up to him and slammed my body against his. I wrapped my arms around him and held on for dear life.
“What in the hell, Ari? Get off of me!”
Jeff tried like hell to get me off of him, but I was holding on like my life depended on it. We ended up losing our balance, and we fell to ground where I crawled on top of him and pushed his hands down and over his head. He slowly smiled as I felt his erection up against me.
He said, “He’s ready again.”
I couldn’t help but smile back as I rubbed myself against him. Oh god…I could totally—
“Ari…what in the hell are you doing?”
I snapped my head up and saw my father standing there with his hands on his hips, looking rather pissed.
Jeff pushed me off of him. He jumped up and took about three steps away from me.
Pussy.
“Dad, um…I was…well, we were…”
I looked at Jeff, who was clearly not going to offer to help me out with an explanation. It was then that I realized I was standing in my panties. Shit! Shit! Shit! I quickly pulled on my jeans and slipped my sneakers back on.
The whole time, my dad was giving the dirtiest looks to Jeff. I couldn’t help but giggle.
“Jeff and I came down to see the horses, and I…I, um…”
My dad walked closer and stopped right in front of me. “Is that…horse shit on you?” He looked over at Jeff. “And why in the hell is it on you, too? What in the world were you two doing?” He instantly stopped talking.
He closed his eyes and let out a breath as he shook his head. “Okay, I understand you’re married with two kids now…but really? Sex in the barn…at your niece’s first birthday party?” He turned and looked at Jeff. “What in the hell is wrong with you, Johnson?”
Jeff’s mouth dropped open, and that was when I knew I was in trouble.
Don’t talk. Just don’t talk, Jeff.
“What? Why do you always assume it’s my fault?” Jeff asked.
I stepped in between Jeff and my father. “It’s okay, Jeff. Let’s just head on back up—”
My dad gently pushed me out of the way as he pointed his finger at Jeff. “Because, nine times out of ten, it is your fault.”
“Oh…oh, real nice. Well, it just so happens that it wasn’t my fault this time,” Jeff said.
I tried desperately to get him to stop talking. “Jeff, it’s okay, really. I’m sure Ells and Gunner can give us a change of clothes, and—”
“Why do you both have horse shit on you? And why was my daughter sitting on top of you, half-naked, you ass?”
Oh shit. Jeff has that look.
“First off, it was your daughter who propositioned me for sex in the first place.”
My mouth dropped open, and I couldn’t move. He did not just say that!
“Being the good husband that I am, I wasn’t about to let her down, so I brought her to the barn.”
Stop. Talking.
“We heard Garrett, and Ari was half-naked, so I pushed her into Big Roy’s stall before Garrett walked in. Roy was obviously in a playful mood, and he nudged Ari. She…well, she…she lost her balance and went into the…”
He’s gonna start laughing! Oh my god. He’s actually going to start laughing again.
Even though he tried to contain it, Jeff let out a small laugh. I didn’t know what to be more pissed about—the fact that he’d just told my father we’d fucked in the barn or that he was laughing because I had fallen in horse shit.
My dad stood there for a second, just staring at Jeff. “Jeff…son…there are some things you just don’t tell the father of your wife. You’ll start to understand this more when Grace grows up, but in the meantime, from now on…let’s just keep you and my daughter’s sexual encounters to yourself, shall we?”
My father turned and walked away. I put my hands on hips and gave Jeff a what-the-fuck look. I shook my head as he shrugged his shoulders.
“What? The man scares me. He’s threatened my life before, so excuse me for panicking. I felt the best thing to do was to come clean, but…” Jeff took a deep breath and quickly let it out. “But I see I was wrong.”
“Ya think? Dickwad.”
I started making my way out of the barn and up toward the house. I walked up to Ellie, who was standing on the porch.
She just looked at me. “What happened?”
“Trust me, you don’t want to know. Have y’all sung ‘Happy Birthday’ yet?”
Ellie smiled and shook her head. “Why don’t you go take a quick shower and change into something of mine?”
“Oh god, thank you, Ellie. This horse shit stinks. Jeff will need to take a shower, too, and borrow something of Gunner’s.”
“I don’t even want to know,” Ellie said as she looked over at Jeff.
“No, you don’t, but I will say that your brother sure can make me happy one minute and so pissed-off the next.”
Ellie put her fingers up to her ears. “Eww…eww…stop! Yuck!”
I started to walk away when I heard Ellie say to Jeff, “Oh no, you horny ass. You go shower in the guest bathroom. I’ll bring you a pair of sweats and a T-shirt.”
I turned and looked over my shoulder at Jeff.
He smiled and winked at me. Then, he mouthed, Sorry.
I couldn’t help but laugh. Yep. Stupid, romantic dickwad.