CHAPTER 10
Fall in McKenzie Ridge boasted sunny clear days, albeit crisp – perfect for a nice drive which was exactly what Carigan and BJ were doing. It was far too cold to picnic along the creek, but the perfect spot along the banks and the scenery while eating a packed lunch from BJ’s truck was actually pretty romantic – and warm. Alone time had been sparse, and both were missing each other. So a spontaneous almost picnic was perfect.
McKenzie Ridge was surrounded by beauty around every turn. Green pine trees, fall colors, snow-capped mountains all around, and nature in all of its glory – that was McKenzie. The stunning sunrises were only challenged by the breathtaking sunsets and the clear starry night skies. It was home for Carigan, and she hoped it would be for BJ too.
The couple sat along the creek, snacking on delicious yet practical finger foods BJ had put together.
“I’ve really missed this,” Carigan said in between bites.
“My cooking?”
Carigan shrugged and smiled. “Well, yeah, that…but I meant us.”
“I know, just giving you a hard time. I’ve missed you too.”
“I wish the boys would just go home, but sounds like they are planning on staying through Thanksgiving. Yay.” Her cheer lacked enthusiasm and carried more annoyance than anything.
“Hey,” he said, reaching a hand to her face and holding it, “it’s okay, Cari. You know they don’t bother me, right? We don’t have to sneak around like teenagers.”
She leaned into his hold, closing her eyes, accepting the affection and comfort. “I know. They just make me feel like…like a kid! And I don’t want them giving you a hard time. They can be unbearable at times.”
A chuckle escaped him. “That’s very sweet, but we aren’t
kids anymore and the best they can do is give me shit. They can’t dunk my head in the toilet for a swirly, or kick my ass behind the school. It’s okay, babe. You know I’ll respect whatever you want and go along with however you want to deal with this, but I’m really not intimidated by them at all. I actually kind of like them.”
“Did they threaten you?” She sat up straight, squinting her emerald eyes, cheeks darkening with anger. “You don’t have to listen to them you know!”
He erupted in laughter, finding her fiery side amusing. “You really are adorable when you get mad. I promise. They haven’t said a word…really.”
“Well…what do we do then. Sneaking off on a picnic feels ridiculous.”
BJ leaned in, resting his hand behind Carigan’s neck, pulling her in for a long sweet kiss. “We don’t have to sneak off, Cari. We can do whatever we want. Right now, I want you.”
Eyes wide, with surprise and a warm thrill rushing through her, she pulled him closer. Happy to oblige, he slid across the bench seat of his truck. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to act like a couple of teenagers again for a steamy afternoon in the backseat – or front seat – neither were picky.
He leaned her back, reclining the seat as far as it would go to make room for what he wanted to do to her, and what she was more than hungry for. Unbuttoning her green flannel top and pushing it off along with the black down vest she was wearing, he kissed a trail from her collarbone to the top of her breasts. Pulling her bra down, freeing her full breasts, he feasted on each, pulling and biting as he went.
“So damn beautiful. Lift your ass, baby.” She did as he asked so he could push down the black leggings she was wearing, giving him access to where she ached for him most.
His hand trailed up her thigh, slowly causing her ache to become a deep needy throb that had her so sensitive, just his light touch at her center had her breathy and crying out. Her legs fell open to him showing him what she needed from him. He stroked her with his fingers, swirling her core before slipping inside of her while still having his way with her breasts.
She reached for his belt, undoing each barrier until she reached what she wanted. Freeing him from his pants, she held him in her hand and began to stroke him, completely in sync with his own movements. The intensity hot, the pleasure sweet, they worked each other over fast and hard.
Without warning, he sat back down at her side, sliding one arm behind her when he lifted her so he could slide underneath her. He plunged into her as she fell to his lap facing away from him and she began to ride. The space was small, but they made due – her gripping the dash, him with one hand tugging and pinching at her hardened buds while the other hand stroked the sensitive knot between her legs.
He worked her over and ground her hips back into him, picking up the pace until both of them spilled over into a passion driven bliss. They sat that way for several minutes before he slowly slid her bra back into place, kissing her shoulders as he did. Then her shirt was next, but left open. He laid her carefully to the side and helped her bring her leggings back up, then hovering over her, kissed her slow and sweet.
“I love you, Carigan O’Reilly. I’ve always loved you,” he whispered into her ear.
Her breath caught, and she pulled away placing her hands on either side of his face, searching his eyes. She found sincerity and warmth, and maybe something that said forever. She was ready to speak her heart when the sound of an approaching vehicle startled them both.
“Oh, my God! There is a car coming!” she panicked, “Put your…thing away!”
He chuckled at her reference, but did as she said, while trying to see who was coming. “I can’t tell who it is yet, they haven’t rounded that corner…might be a truck? What are the odd’s someone just happened to wander down this old road to this spot?”
“I don’t know, but…” She stilled for a moment, closed her eyes and let out a deep annoyed breath. “I’d bet you money I don’t have that I know who is about to round that corner! Are you all buttoned up…oh, my God!”
BJ had a feeling he knew who it was too, and her reaction to that had him laughing. “If it’s the boys, maybe we should stay half dressed. It would make a point.”
“What?! Out here? No witnesses? They know how to get rid of a body! No thanks! It is
them!!!”
Carigan charged out of BJ’s truck and rushed to her brother’s vehicle as it pulled up behind them. She stood in a wide stance, hands on her hips, with a look that could kill. BJ got out behind her and leaned against the truck, ready for the show. Carigan’s brothers got out of the vehicle, one by one, and walked to the back of it.
“What the hell are you
guys doing here?” she demanded.
“Hey, nature boy, how’s it going?” Wylie asked BJ with a friendly nod. “Hey, sis…fancy meeting you here!”
“Yeah…right…what a coincidence.
So, what are you doing here?”
Luke was the first to walk from the back of their truck with a fishing pole and tackle box in hand. He held it up and said, “Fishing!”
“Yeah! Fish for dinner, Squirt!” Dace followed.
“In the middle of fall, when it’s ready to snow? Fishing? It’s not even fishing season…it’s illegal if you catch anything,” she replied, proud of her come back. They were caught. Or were they?
“Oh, we’re just fishin’ for fun! We were sitting around and thought, wow it’s been forever since we’d all been fishin’ together,
so here we are! We’ll just throw what we catch back…you know, for sport!” Wylie offered up, sarcasm lining his story.
“But I thought you were catching dinner? How does that work if you are just going to throw them back?” she asked, finding all of the holes in their story.
“You want fish for dinner, Squirt?” Liam asked, like it was her idea to eat fish in the first place. “We can grab some at the store back in town.”
“Great idea,” Dace chimed, “Family dinner night…fish fry!”
“Dec, do something!” she begged of her eldest brother who just smiled, leaning against his truck.
“I think you got this one, kid,” he said.
“Hey Bart, you got any good fish recipes?”
“BJ!” Carigan yelled, correcting her brother. “How did you find us out here? This isn’t your old fishing spot and I’ve never known you guys to come this far out!”
“Oh…” Wylie laughed. “Heard it was a good spot so we followed…the trail out here.”
“Followed? Are you serious?! Are you tracking my phone again? You have got to be kidding me! I’m getting a new number, and none of you get it.”
Liam the hacker laughed at her confession. “Like I need the number to find you! Good one, kid. But that’s not how we found…this spot.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
Wylie looked at BJ with an ornery smile, shaking his head before tossing a thumb Carigan’s way. “It’s like she forgets who she’s talking to! How did we find her
? Ha!”
The brothers were making their way past Carigan and BJ, following each other down to the creek’s edge. Carigan stood there, watching each walk by, keeping a suspicious eye on each of them. Declan was the last to pass and dropped a subtle glance at the bumper of BJ’s truck. Not one to miss a single detail, having grown up with this bunch, Carigan caught the clue.
She quickly turned, squatting behind BJ’s truck, looking under the vehicle. She reached underneath, sliding her hands back and forth searching for something.
BJ squatted down next to her, with a half amused expression. “What are you doing Cari?”
“Finding it. They followed you –
they probably have been. They are trying to catch us.”
“Catch us, what?”
“Catch us…AHA! Found it!” Biting her bottom lip, Carigan placed both hands in the same spot under the bumper and tugged so hard she fell backward in the dirt. Quick to her feet, she stomped down to the creeks edge where her brothers stood, not one with a line in the water, and showed them her prize.
“You want to fish? Fish for this!” She threw the tracking device she found on BJ’s truck as far as she could into the center of the widest part of the frigid creek.
“Hey! Those aren’t cheap!” Liam reasoned.
“Good! Now leave us alone!” She hiked back up the slight embankment to where BJ was standing, a proud smile on his face.
“Hey, Granola?” Luke said, referring to BJ. “We’re doing some special Search and Rescue training while we’re here. Snow’s coming so time for a refresher. You should come, we’ll make a man out of ya.”
“Yeah, we can all sit around and braid each other’s hair when we are done. Or you can teach us how to do that bun thing.” Wylie chuckled, swirling a finger over his head indicating the bun that BJ was currently wearing.
BJ added his own sense of humor to the hippy punch line, earning him several impressed grins and brows raising. “Sure! When and where? I’ll pack organic, whole food, sustainable lunches! Lots
of phytonutrients.”
Turning a finger to BJ, Carigan scolded, “Don’t you start too. Get in the truck, we’re out of here.”
“C’mon kid, this is all for your own good. We need to be sure this guy can take care of you,” Liam reasoned.
“You’re going to kill him! First football, then a ten-mile run…up
the ridge, you gave him a shotgun at the shooting range and forgot
to mention the kickback one of those packs when fired. Now you want him climbing up the side of a mountain, or rappelling down the side of one…at your
hands? You’ll probably push him off the cliff!”
“Good idea, Squirt! Teach him to take a good fall! And it’s not our fault he fizzles out at around seven miles.” Wylie’s taunting ways were riding Carigan’s last nerve.
BJ put his hands on each of her shoulders and had her undivided attention immediately. “It’s okay, babe. I want to go – might be fun.”
He dropped his voice to a near whisper, “And if they know I’m not scared of them, they might go away.”
She smiled, this was definitely her man. She winked, and said, “Fine! Give me your keys, I have to pick up the girls. You ride with them and I’ll meet you there.”
BJ handed her his keys, tossed her a proud smile in lieu of a high five, they were playing the game right back. To add insult to injury, she pulled him in hard and laid a long, hard, sultry kiss full of roaming hands and even a smack to BJ’s ass. Her brothers were mortified. Mission accomplished.
Rounding BJ’s truck to leave, she stopped and looked at her brothers. “I’m calling Ma and telling her what you’re up to. Be careful, no funny business before I get there! If you boys aren’t careful, I’m going to run off and marry this guy in the middle of the night.”
She slammed the door, started the truck and spun her tires, hauling ass out of there. Carigan O’Reilly had spoken.
“Let’s go, boys!” BJ said, helping himself to the front seat of the remaining vehicle.