Chapter Twenty

The days tumbled into each other, from one to the next. Before he knew it, Beck found himself up to his boots in Walker get-togethers, including Tom’s favorite. The Fourth of July Chuckwagon Extravaganza had surpassed his expectations in every way. Of course, he’d never been on a trail ride or eaten an authentic chuckwagon dinner around a bonfire before. First time for everything. The bonfire crackled, sending red and orange sparks into the night sky. Beck closed his eyes, lulled into a lazy, half-asleep limbo. A cowboy strummed his guitar strings while a chorus of crickets and those crazy-loud bugs Charlie called katydids played backup.

He shifted his butt around, trying to get comfortable. Sitting in a saddle for the two-hour ride to their dinner location had left him feeling sore and slightly chafed. No wonder the cowboys he’d seen on TV always looked bowlegged. Charlie told him this was a family-only Fourth of July celebration. By the time they’d all gathered at the Walker ranch and saddled up, they looked more like a band of pioneers moving out across the Mormon Trail than an extended family get-together.

He’d also learned one thing about the Walkers. When any of them said “family,” it usually meant the entire town of Holiday. About a dozen wagons circled the fire, some of them in better shape than others. His stomach gurgled, probably struggling to digest the three helpings of barbecue chicken, cowboy beans, cheesy potatoes, and homemade biscuits he’d forced down.

Charlie stood from where she’d been sitting next to him, grabbed his hand, and pulled him to his feet. “Come on.”

“Where are we going?” he whispered.

She stopped by the old-fashioned covered wagon her dad had driven to pick up a blanket. “Don’t you want to see the fireworks?”

“Sure, but can’t we see them from where we were sitting by the fire?”

“Not if we want to make out while we’re watching.”

Beck smiled. With the promise of getting his hands on Charlie, his body roused from the edge of sleepiness. They’d been working such long hours at the Rose over the past couple weeks they hadn’t been able to spend much time alone. Seemed like someone was always knocking on the office door or pulling her away to settle some argument or problem. Now that he’d finally decided to stop fighting the laws of attraction and give in to them, ironically, they’d seen each other less than they did when they were bickering all the time.

Charlie finally stopped at the door of a dilapidated old barn they’d passed on their ride in.

“Here?”

“No. Up in the hay loft.” She pointed the flashlight she’d brought at a ladder along the far wall.

“You sure this is safe?” He glanced up. Half of the roof had either rotted or blown away, leaving them exposed to a night sky full of stars.

“Safer than getting caught by my dad or brothers.”

“Good point.”

Beck held the ladder while she climbed up ahead of him. When he reached the top, she spread out the blanket.

“You naughty, naughty girl.” He sank to a squat, waiting for her to finish. “What would your daddy say if he knew you led me away to try to take advantage of me?”

“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Now, are you gonna kiss me or what?”

“What if I want to do more than kiss you?” He leaned into her, nudging her onto her back.

“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down on top of her.

He wanted to stop time and freeze that moment—with thousands of stars twinkling overhead, soft music drifting all the way over from the fire, and the woman he’d spent a lifetime waiting for in his arms.

“What are you thinking about?” She propped her head on her elbow and slid her hand under his shirt.

How could he think about anything with her this close? With her hands on his skin? With the taste of her on his lips?

“You.”

She pushed on his abs. “Liar.”

“Always you, Charlie.”

He’d never before experienced the kind of feelings he had for Charlie. She infiltrated his thoughts every waking moment of every day. He even dreamed about her at night. At least the nights when she’d let him sleep. The sex wasn’t just great, it was fucking fantastic. Deep down, a part of him knew they couldn’t go on like this forever. At some point, he’d have to tell her he wouldn’t be able to stay. But not yet. This thing between them was too fragile, and he needed to see where it might lead. He could always come back and check in on things. His dad would need someone to keep tabs on the Rose, and maybe he could split his time between New York and Holiday. There was still a chance they could find a way to make this work.

He leaned over and showed her with his mouth what he couldn’t yet put into words. She responded, her kisses landing like sparks from the bonfire on his skin. He couldn’t see a thing but recognized the sound of her lowering her zipper. He’d been hard since she took his hand by the fire. Didn’t take much to get him turned on since he’d moved to Holiday. He struggled out of his jeans and tossed them to the side.

Charlie’s fingers skimmed his abs, trailing lower to wrap around him. He almost bucked off the blanket when she took him in her mouth. She straddled his thighs and bent over him. He could barely make out her silhouette as she moved her head up and down, taking him deeper into her mouth each time. He could come right now if he wanted. She barely had to touch him, and he could free-fall into a release.

But he preferred to watch her when they made love. That little O of surprise always hit her right before she came undone. He felt around for his jeans and slid the condom from his pocket. Since he’d started spending time around Charlie, he’d learned to always be prepared. She’d caught him off guard more than once.

She shifted, taking the condom and unrolling it onto him with practiced hands. He flipped her onto her back and pushed inside. She was always ready for him. Slick and hot and tight. So fucking tight he almost lost it.

“Now, Beck. Now.”

The sky exploded above them. With every boom overhead, he and Charlie let loose their own noises of pleasure. Her nails dug into his back, urging him faster, deeper, harder. He thrust, giving her his all, everything he had, everything she needed. Her mouth formed into the little O, and her hips stilled. He pulled out slow, just the way she liked it, then eased in again, building momentum. She buried her mouth in his chest, muffling her gasps, letting herself tumble over the edge. He waited for her to come down from her high. Then she opened her eyes and watched him climax. The fireworks reflected in her eyes. Purples, yellows, blues, and reds burst into the sky, then faded away, growing dimmer and dimmer until it was just her and him and…oh God, something crawling over his butt cheek.

* * *

“I still don’t understand how Beck got stung by a scorpion on the butt. What were y’all doin’ again?” Presley tilted his head, playing dumber than everyone already thought he was, and winked at Charlie across the kitchen island of their parents’ house.

“We must have stumbled across a nest or something. It was dark. I don’t know.” Her face burned like she’d been the one to suffer from the sting instead of poor Beck. Her family didn’t need to know what they’d been doing. Or that she’d started to fall so hard for him she didn’t know how she’d survive when he’d inevitably leave at the end of the summer.

She tossed a glance toward Beck. “How are you feeling?”

The poor man leaned on his elbows on the counter, his jeans pulled down to expose a swollen, red knot on his left butt cheek. “I guess I’m doing as well as can be expected seeing as how my girlfriend’s mother has her hands all over my rear.”

“Oh, hush. One butt is like the next. With five boys, I guarantee you, this is nothing new.” Her mama spread a paste of meat tenderizer and water onto the bite, then blew on it to get it to set.

Charlie bit her lip to keep from laughing.

Beck growled. “Don’t you laugh, Charlie. This isn’t funny. Have you ever been stung by a scorpion?”

Mama clucked her tongue. “Stop your wigglin’ unless you want this stuff smeared all over your pants too.”

“Yes, I have been stung by a scorpion before. And bit by a snake. So there. Suck it up, Manhattan.” She rounded the island and covered his hand with hers.

“Hell, that snake was a tiny garter snake. Barely took a nip at you.” Presley snapped a picture with his phone. “This is gonna look great online.”

“Would you give me that?” Beck reached for the phone, but Presley skittered away.

“Presley, you stop that nonsense right now. And, Beck, if you move on me again, I’ll take you over my knee and turn your other cheek just as red as this one. Presley, hand me that damn phone.”

“Sorry, Mama.” Presley turned over the phone with a bashful grin.

“Charlie, delete that picture, then you can take over. It’s one o’clock in the morning, and I need my beauty sleep.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She took the phone and opened up the camera app. With the press of a button, the image disappeared and was replaced by a photo of Presley with two half-naked redheads draped over him. She tossed the phone on the island like she’d been burned. “Presley, you’re going to hell.”

“What’s he done now?” Beck craned his neck to see.

“Nothin’ I ain’t done before. Y’all have a good night now.” He blew a kiss to each of them and disappeared through the kitchen door.

“If that boy hasn’t been the death of me yet, I suppose there’s still hope.” Mama wrapped Charlie in a hug and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “You keep an eye on that bite. He hasn’t had a reaction yet, so I’m sure he’s in the clear. But if his tongue starts to swell or he has trouble breathing, get him to the hospital right away.”

“What do you mean my tongue might swell? Can I die from this?”

Mama placed a hand on Beck’s arm. “You’re going to be fine. Stay away from scorpions, okay?”

He nodded and rested his head in his hands. “Can we go now? I think I passed my limit for embarrassing situations about an hour ago when your grandma pinched my ass.”

“You gotta admit that was funny. Poor Nana hasn’t seen a fine cut of prime rump roast since Pawpaw died in ’96.”

Beck groaned. “I’m so glad I could accommodate her. Can we go?”

“Sure.” Charlie helped him to the truck, where he sprawled out on his stomach over the back bench seat. Nothing like seeing her family examine her boyfriend’s bare butt to put a damper on the evening. They’d been having a good time. No, a great time. Despite a few rough starts, Beck fit in like he’d been in Holiday his whole life. Every once in a while his city roots shone through. Like how stiff he sat in the saddle. But for the most part, he’d managed to charm the locals and even earn back their respect after that unfortunate mishap with the beer.

“You taking me back to your place?” His voice drifted over the seat.

“Yeah. My mom said I better keep an eye on you. How are you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been bit on the ass by a prehistoric insect. Do you think anyone bought the whole ‘maybe we stumbled across a nest’ story?”

“They might have been more inclined if you hadn’t run around the bonfire with your jeans around your ankles.”

There had been some wild stories coming out of the Chuckwagon Extravaganza over the years, but Charlie was fairly certain they’d be talking about this one for decades. After Beck had jumped up and raced away, she’d pulled on her pants, grabbed their stuff, and caught up to him at the bonfire. Her mom had shone a flashlight app on his bare ass, and they’d tossed him on a horse and hightailed it back to the ranch. She might not ever get him on the back of a horse again.

He let out another groan. “Can we pretend tonight never happened?”

“I don’t think my nana will let you.” She looked over her shoulder and caught a glimpse of him hiding his head under his arm.

“Would you agree I suffered from complete mortification this evening?”

“Um, yes. No doubt about that.”

“And you want to make me feel better?”

Where was he going with this? Leave it to Beck to twist any situation into a favorable outcome for him. “Sure.”

“You’re coming to New York with me then, right? I want you all to myself, even if it’s only for a weekend. What do you say?”

He hadn’t brought up the trip since the night he’d asked. She’d sometimes wondered if she’d dreamed the offer. She didn’t know why, couldn’t seem to put words to the nagging feeling of apprehension about leaving town. It was probably nothing. Now that she and Beck had grown closer and spent so much time together, there was no logical reason for her to say no. And it would be an amazing opportunity to get a taste of his life, what he was like on his home turf.

She took in a deep breath and answered on an exhale. “Okay.”

“You will?” He shot to a seated position and kissed her cheek from behind. “We’re going to have a great time, I promise.”

He settled back on the seat, cussing under his breath as he tried to get comfortable again. Charlie took in a wobbly breath. There. No more flip-flopping or queasy stomachaches. She’d made up her mind. She and Beck were going to New York, taking the next step in their relationship. How could it possibly be a bad decision?