Chapter Eleven

Landon

I was sitting on my back deck, waiting for someone from the insurance company to arrive. The fire had started in the kitchen and I’d lost the kitchen, living room, and part of the bathroom before local firefighters were able to contain it. We suspected the cabin was no longer structurally sound and I’d have to tear it down and start from scratch again.

It wasn’t the things I’d miss the most. It was the memories. My brother and buddies and I had done a lot of the work ourselves. Not because I couldn’t afford to hire someone, but because this had been a labor of love. And a distraction. It felt like I went from one off-season to the next looking for distractions to fill the voids in my life.

I wanted love. I wanted a wife and a family. But not just any woman would do. I wanted Olivia.

I turned my useless cell phone over in my hand. No service. That was the message I’d been getting. I was usually okay with being off the grid when I was up here, but I missed Olivia. I needed to hear her voice. I’d had to leave her so abruptly when I heard about the fire I still didn’t know where the hell we stood.

I heard a car pull in the gravel drive and sighed as I made my way around the remaining structure. I expected to see the older man I’d talked to on the phone climbing out of the car, not a sexy blonde wearing ass kicking boots, tight jeans, and a naughty grin.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, sweeping her up in my arms.

“I thought you might need me.”

“You have no idea.” I kissed her passionately, barely giving her a chance to catch her breath before I started peppering her jaw and neck with moist kisses.

“I’d ask if you were happy to see me,” she said, grinding her hips against mine. “But I think you already answered that question.”

“I’d show you just how happy I am to see you, but I have company coming in a few minutes.”

“Oh yeah?” She stepped back, crossing her arms. “Should I be jealous?”

The thought of this woman, the love of my life, being possessive of me again, made me grin like an idiot. “Our entire cheerleading squad could strip naked and parade in front of me and I wouldn’t give them a second look as long as I’ve got you.”

“Good answer,” she said, looking satisfied as she curled against my chest with my arms closing around her. “So, who are you expecting?”

“Some dude from the insurance company. He’s supposed to get the ball rolling on my claim now that the Fire Marshall’s office has deemed it an accident.”

She looked up at the charred structure behind me. “I’m so sorry, Landon. I know how much you loved this place. It’s got to make you sick seeing it like this.”

Not as sick as it had a few minutes ago. Something about seeing her again made everything look better. “It’ll take time, but I’ll get it back to what it was. I’m not worried.” And maybe she’d even want some input during the rebuilding phase. Put her feminine touch on the place. I had to believe she was here because she wanted to try again.

“I hope you don’t mind that your brother told me where I could find you,” she said, tipping her glasses up on her head when the sun slipped beneath a cloud.

“Mind?” I chuckled. “Remind me to buy him a new truck for Christmas.”

She smiled, curling her hands around my face. I hadn’t shaved since I’d last seen her, but she didn’t seem to mind as she drew her mouth to mine for another passionate kiss.

“I’ve missed you,” she breathed against my lips. “I know it’s only been a few days, but I’ve really missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.” That was an understatement, but I was trying to rein myself in. She already knew how I felt about her. I had to let her make the next move.

“I stopped by the Bed and Breakfast up the road first,” she said, pointing in the direction of my new home away from home. “But they said you left early this morning. They thought you might be here.”

“I wanted to be close to the cabin,” I explained. “Which meant taking a room in town wasn’t an option, but I sure as hell have missed my connection with the outside world.” I ran my hands down her back and over her ass. “I normally appreciate the time alone up here with my thoughts but it wasn’t like that this time.”

“No?” she asked, looking curious and mischievous at the same time. “Why is that?”

I smacked her ass soundly, making her jump and giggle. “You know why. I was thinking about you. And us. And I hated not being able to call or text or…” I could have called from the B&B, but the only landlines in the house were in common areas and I wanted privacy to call her.

“That’s why I figured I’d better come up here,” she said, biting her lip. “You said some things the last time we were together.” She ran her hands over my chest. “Or one thing specifically that’s been playing on my mind a lot.”

I wanted to growl in frustration when a dark blue SUV pulled into the drive. Nothing was more important to me than hearing her tell me how she felt about the things I’d said to her that night in my hotel room.

The claims adjuster, a man in his mid-sixties, got out of his truck and looked up at the cabin. “Shame,” he said, shaking his head. “Great piece of property.” He whistled. “And would you look at that view. Doesn’t get much better than that, does it?”

“No sir.” I smiled as I shook his hand. “I’m Landon Harris and this is my… friend, Olivia.” I immediately regretted my choice of words when she stepped away, forcing me to drop the hand I’d had on her back. Damn it. She was so much more than a friend to me, but I didn’t want to over-step by calling her my girlfriend.

“Pleasure to meet you,” Mr. Moore said to Olivia, obviously not picking up on the sudden tension. “You know, Mr. Harris, my grandson is a big fan. You think I could trouble you to sign something for him?”

“Sure.” I was hoping it would give me a minute to apologize to Olivia if he had to go back to the truck to retrieve something.

He opened an old-fashioned leather bound clipboard and handed it over along with a pen. Just my luck. “What’s your grandson’s name?” I asked, trying to be polite as I glanced at Olivia out of the corner of my eye.

“Michael.”

“Ah,” I said, adding a few words between my name and his. “That’s my brother’s name.” I hated always having to be on. Especially when something happened to throw me off. “Uh, Mr. Moore, I need to have a quick word with Olivia. Why don’t you head inside and I’ll be right behind you.”

“Oh, no need,” Olivia said, raising her hand. “I have things to do anyhow. You just take care of business here, Landon. Don’t give me another thought.”

She opened her car door and slid in, but before she could close it, I blocked her. Leaning over, I asked between clenched teeth, “Where the hell are you going?”

She smiled sweetly, like she didn’t have a care in the world. “I just have a few things to take care of. A few friends I need to connect with.”

Motherfucker. “Don’t do this,” I said, kneeling down so I was between her and the door. “Don’t leave like this. We need to talk.”

“I’m sure we will. When the time is right.” She waved at Mr. Moore. “It was a pleasure to meet you. You drive safe now.”

I had no choice but to let her go or look like a fool begging her to stay. But as her little black Audi drove off spitting up gravel my cabin wasn’t the only thing in ashes. It suddenly felt like my life was too.

***

Olivia

I drove up and down the picturesque streets of Nederland, the nearest small town, and tried to decide what to do. I was hurt that Landon had referred to me as a friend, but I didn’t want to make too much of it. I’d driven two hours to see him, to tell him how I felt. Did I really want to leave without seeing him again? And was I so insecure and undecided that a few choice words had made me question everything?

It was starting to rain heavily when I spotted a luxury inn. I pulled into the parking lot and turned my car off as I stared straight ahead at the sign. It looked like the kind of place families might visit when they were planning a weekend at the local ski resort.

I didn’t want to check in alone, but I wasn’t ready to head back to Landon’s or leave town. So I didn’t have much choice. I sighed as I hauled the small suitcase out of my trunk and tried to make a run for the main entrance without getting soaked through.

It was a large log building with high ceilings and lots of natural light thanks to the huge windows dominating each wall. There were cozy conversation areas at each end of the lobby, one punctuated by a stone fireplace. It looked welcoming and cozy, but it was the last place I’d expected to spend the night.

The desk clerk was friendly, telling me how lucky I was that it wasn’t peak season because they had a few vacancies.

I smiled politely while swiping my credit card, keeping the fact that I didn’t feel very lucky to myself. I hauled my butt up to the second floor, forgoing the elevator, because I could hear my sister’s voice telling me I needed to move my lazy ass once in a while.

I’d just set my bag inside the door when my cell phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number, but swiped to answer it anyways. “Hello?”

“Where. Are. You?”

Landon. And he didn’t sound happy. Too bad. I wasn’t too happy with him either. “I just checked into an inn in Nederland. Something Creek Lodge, I think.” I crossed the small room to look out the window. I had to admit, the views were pretty, even if I was too bummed to appreciate them.

“Why would you do that? Why wouldn’t you come back here so we—”

“I knew you’d be busy with the insurance adjuster for a while,” I lied. “I was tired. I needed to take a nap. And a bath.”

“Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

He must have been calling from the B&B where he’d been staying. His voice was low, like he didn’t want to be overheard, but I couldn’t miss the urgency. He seemed anxious to see me, to work this out.

Leaving now would be a really bitchy thing to do, I thought, collapsing on the bed and flinging my arms over my head. But referring to me as a friend had been a pretty shitty thing to do too. It’s not like he introduced me to a girl who was hot for him as a friend. Moore was just an insurance adjuster who could probably care less about the nature of our relationship but it still stung. And I knew why. I didn’t want to be Landon’s friend. I wanted to publically claim him as mine. And I wanted him to do the same.

I fired off a couple of texts to my sister and Justin, to let them know I’d arrived safely, then I unlaced my boots and turned the TV on. I really wanted that bath… then I had an idea. Punish him. Make him realize the mistake he’d made, friend-zoning me.

I ran into the bathroom, thrilled to see an old-fashioned claw-foot tub. I turned the water on, as hot as I could stand it and poured some of the complimentary lavender bubble bath into the swirling water.

I slipped out of my clothes, tucked a towel under my arms, and fluffed up my hair. Just in time to get a text from him.

In the lobby. Which room?

212

On my way up.

I waited by the door, but I forced myself to wait a full twenty seconds after he knocked.

“Hey,” I said, opening the door. I didn’t give him a chance to respond as I walked away. “Sorry, I have the water running. Wouldn’t want it to overflow.”

He followed me into the bathroom, his eyes roaming my body when I dropped the towel and slipped in to the water, bunching my hair to rest over the edge of the tub.

“Why did you leave like that?” he asked, his voice sounding harsh as he stared at me.

“Would you get that?” I asked, pointing with my toe to the taps. My body was covered in suds and there were beads of perspiration dotting my hairline, but I was pretty confident I looked hot. The way his eyes narrowed and nostrils flared when he did as I asked confirmed it.

“Would you answer my question?” he asked, his voice sounding strained. “Why did you leave me?”

Why did you leave me? My heart reacted to the question because I realized leaving him was the last thing I wanted to do. “Why did you put me in the friend zone?” I countered.

He took his jacket off and tossed it aside before pulling his long sleeved T-shirt over his head and leaning over the tub. “You’re kidding me right now, aren’t you?” His eyes travelled over my body and my breasts were now exposed where the bubbles had disappeared. “You know I don’t think of you as a friend. Never have. Never will.” He shook his head. “That’s not true. I want you to be my friend. But I want more than that. Shit, Olivia. You know what I want.”

I felt bad for torturing him, but it was time for both of us to lay our cards on the table. “Maybe you should tell me.”

“I want to fuck you senseless right now.” He drew a deep breath, his big calloused hands curling around the edge of the tub. “I want to get out all the frustration that’s been building since I had to leave you. Then I want to make love to you.” His lips quirked when mine fell open, waiting for more. “Soft and slow… while I tell you how much I love you.”

Tears burned my eyes as I reached for his hand, holding it against my cheek. “I’m sorry I left, but hearing you call me a friend made me realize I want more than that.”

“Oh yeah?” He withdrew his hand, skimming my tits before it disappeared below the bubbles. “Then maybe you should tell me what you want.”

He was orbiting my clit with his fingertip, making me whimper. I knew he wouldn’t give me what I wanted until I’d given him what he wanted. “I want you.”

“Go on.” He dipped a finger inside of me, but not far enough.

“I want you to be…” I gasped as he drew his thick finger up and down my slit as my legs fell open as far as the small tub would allow. “Mine.”

“Hmm, I like the sound of that.”

He rewarded me by dipping two fingers inside and thrusting just enough to get me close. But not close enough. Damn him. “I want to be yours.”

“Now you’re talking. Tell me more.”

He looked so smug and so sexy, like he knew he had what it took to drive me crazy and intended to use his powers to do just that. “I want you inside me,” I panted. “Only you.”

“Only me,” he repeated, his light eyes darkening with lust.

“I want you to be the only one who…” I could barely breathe when he swirled his finger around my clit like that before driving his fingers inside me again. “Touches me.” I was getting desperate. I needed him to finish me off. “Makes love to me.” He was going faster, obviously driven by what he heard. “Tastes me.”

He growled. “You don’t know how bad I need you right now.”

Those words were all it took to drive me right over the cliff. “Yessss….” I pressed my neck into the back of the tub as I elevated my hips while clutching his wrist.

He pressed the lever to drain the tub and helped me up when he was certain my legs were stable, holding out a fluffy white towel to dry me. He wrapped it around me and I leaned against his chest before whispering, “I need to tell you something.”

His big body stiffened when he said, “Okay. What is it?”

“I’m…” I drew a deep breath. “Falling in love with you. Again.”

I could feel his smile against my bare shoulder. “Good. Means I’ll already be there to catch you when you fall.”

He was telling me that he was already certain. He was in love with me. “So, um, titles?” I felt like a silly little high schooler asking to wear his class ring. But I had to hear him say it. I needed to be sure this meant we were in a committed relationship.

“You want me to give you a title?” he asked, dropping the towel and letting me rest against his bare chest. “How about mine? My woman. My girlfriend.”

I thought back to what he said the last time we were alone together in a hotel room. He wanted me to be his best friend. His fiancé. His wife. I shuddered when I considered the possibility that my first love, my only love, the man I’d lost my virginity to could one day be my husband and the father of my children. It still seemed surreal.

“I can’t lose you again,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “If you tell me you love me, that you want me to be yours, you can’t change your mind again. That would kill me.”

He glanced at our reflection in the mirror, his eyes boring into mine. “I would die if I lost you again.”

I’d only seen Landon cry one other time before. When he broke up with me. “I’m so scared,” I whispered.

His hands drifted down to my belly as his hot mouth shifted to my ear. “I want to get you pregnant.” I sucked in a sharp breath as he continued. “Right now, tonight, if we could.”

That was an outrageous idea. We’d only been back together a minute, but I knew if he was serious, I’d actually consider taking that leap of faith with him.

“That’s how sure I am about us,” he continued. “I’m ready to do something that would bind us together for the rest of our lives. All you have to do is say the word.”

It was so hot when he talked like that, especially since I could imagine the kind of father he’d be. Strong. Protective. Supportive. Just like he’d always been with me.

His voice was raspy when he said, “Say you want me to come inside you. Say you want to have my baby and I’ll make love to you as often as I can until we make it happen.”

I couldn’t speak, I could only stare at him and try to make sense of what he was saying.

“I could put a ring on your finger. We could take the vows. And you have to know how much I want that. But nothing would join us like a baby would because you know if you have my baby you’re stuck with me for life. I’d never leave them and I’d never leave you.”

That was the kind of man Landon was. Loyal. He honored his commitments and put the people he loved first. Just like he’d put me first all those years ago. “I do want to have your babies,” I whispered, making him smile. “But I want to do it right. Call me old-fashioned, but I want to wear the big white wedding dress without my belly leading me down the aisle.”

His eyes twinkled with amusement. “Fair enough. I just want you to know that you have nothing to be afraid of. I could commit to you right now. Tonight. Or we can wait six months to make it official. It doesn’t matter. Because if being without you these past fifteen years taught me one thing, it’s that I don’t want to be.”