“What does the calendar look like for next month?” Jules shoves a bite of salad into her mouth as she perches on the counter. We locked up about a half hour ago but I’m so swamped during the day that this is the only time we have to sit down together and go over things.
“Busy,” I huff. “Busier than this month.” I pull out a contract I got today and wag it at her, grinning.
“What is that?” She yanks it from my hands, dropping her fork into her bowl and her eyes go wide. “Holy shit, Mackenzie! This is the Walters’ wedding!”
I beam, taking the contract back from her. The Waters family is made of money and power. Her father a politician, her mother a lawyer and the groom a fortune five hundred business owner means this wedding is going to be exquisite. The reception is at West House and I know Ford’s already stressing about the remodel that needs to be finished up in the bathrooms beforehand but I know they’ll get it done. The wedding’s being rushed through because of a pregnancy they don’t want anyone to know about yet, so on Christmas Eve this year I happened to be the only able bakery in town to create the masterpiece they wanted. Thank God for that, because we need the money.
“We’re going to be busy as hell though. We only just signed the papers this morning and already word’s spreading and we have more people contacting us about holiday parties than ever before.”
“Well that’s amazing. Good. We need it.” She picks back up her salad and finishes it off as I pencil in the other twenty or so jobs over the next few weeks.
“You all packed for the flight?” I ask her, closing the books and noticing the snow starting to fall from the sky. Thanksgiving’s tomorrow and this is pretty early for snow but I’m not complaining. Jules is flying out an hour before us to head home to her family’s house for the holiday and Ford and I are leaving right after her to head to my parents’ house. It’s going to be a quick trip home but my mom wouldn’t have it any other way this year.
“I am. Are you? I saw you rushing around this morning trying to shove stuff into a suitcase.” She grins at me and hops off the counter.
“I’m all packed. Ford’s all packed. He’s picking us up at five.”
“I’m still shocked you asked him to come back home with you.” She shrugs. “Think maybe he’s a keeper?”
“He is leaving his family for the first time ever on a massive holiday to be with mine. So I’d say he’s up there on the list of things I’d like to keep.”
“You love him?”
I let out a small laugh and get back to work on the books, ignoring her. I’d love to get this done before heading out tonight. She clears her throat and I look at up her and she’s got her head cocked at me. “What?”
“You love him.” It’s a statement this time and I raise my eyebrows and bite my lip to stop myself from smiling too big.
“Maybe,” I say, grinning. I do. I love him way too much and it scares me, because the man’s still unstable.
“Have you told him yet?”
“I’m not going to be the first one to say it. Especially since it’s only been a couple months.”
“Hey, when you know you know.” She shrugs and heads out of the office.
She’s right, though. And I knew early on that Ford was it for me… I just fought it. Hard.
“I’m not a fan of airplane rides,” Ford whispers in my ear as the seatbelt buckle sign dings on. “Maybe you should sit in my lap.” He leans closer so the old lady on the other side of him can’t hear. “Without your pants,” he whispers, his breath warm on my neck and his hand on my knee. Even in the middle of a crowded airplane the man can make me wet for him.
“Stop,” I whisper, giggling and pushing him away. “I refuse to be that couple on YouTube, fucking like rabbits in the middle of an airplane.”
He barks out a laugh and relaxes back into his seat. As the plane takes off his hand grips tightly to mine and I can tell he’s nervous as hell but he’s handling it nicely. I’ve always loved flying. My parents took me on my first airplane ride at five years old and ever since I’ve had the itch to be in the air more than my wallet can afford.
This trip my parents are paying to fly me home. Ford paid his own way and I’m shocked that he’s here right now, but I’m trying not to let my nerves show.
The only man I’ve ever brought home to Mom and Dad was Eric and we all know how well that turned out. Ford giving up this holiday with his family is huge. He’s a family guy, and for good reason because his family is the epitome of perfect little American Family. Mine’s not too bad, but I’m an only child. It’s a different dynamic.
“I have to hit the bathroom,” I tell him after we’ve been in the air for a little over an hour. He smirks at me and I unbuckle, giving him a weird glance.
“Enjoy yourself,” he whispers.
I walk to the bathroom, past the rows of screaming children and annoyed fliers and as I push the door closed, someone pushes it open behind me. I spin, wide eyed when Ford squeezes his way into the bathroom, grinning. I touch his dimple, pressing my lips together and trying not to laugh.
“What’re you doing?” I bite my lip, knowing the look on his face.
“You wanna join the mile high club?” he asks with a sly smile that reaches all the way to his eyes. I look up and meet his eyes and I see the desire all over his face and all I can do nod my head in approval, not even considering the people sitting right outside this small room. Ford pulls me closer and presses my hand to his erection.
“Do you feel how fucking hard I am for you right now?” All I can do is stare up at him while my right hand feels his rock hard dick. I want to shove his pants and shimmy his boxer’s off, but we’re in this small ass bathroom at thirty thousand-ish feet in the air and I know this won’t be an easy feat. Ford starts to kiss my ear and it’s sending goose bumps up my spine. Right now I would let this man do anything to me, and I’m pretty sure there are people outside this door waiting to get in. I grow bold for a minute as Ford is peppering kisses down my neck and I reach for his zipper. I pull his dick out and hear him groan, the noise empowering me to take this further. I can feel him smile as he continues to assault my neck with kisses, gentle bites and soothing licks. “This isn’t gonna be easy, but it’s going to be so fucking good. If you want me to stop you’re gonna have to tell me now.”
Do I want him to stop?
Hell no.
I can’t form words so I nod and smile and he takes my hint and hikes my skirt up.
“Rest your legs on the sink.” His tone turns me on more than it should and I try my best to do what he asks, but this space is so fucking small I think I might break something. Ford reaches down and moves my underwear aside. After pushing his fingers inside me, driving me crazy with need, he pulls them out rubs his dick with my juices. His lips slam to mine and he thrusts into me like it’s the easiest thing in the world. I want to scream and gasp, but at the same time I don’t want anyone to hear us. Ford keeps pumping in and out of me while he kisses me and I swear I might come, but then he slows it down for a beat and looks at me. “What’s wrong?” I say breathy, his eyes searching mine.
“You’re fucking perfect,” he whispers, then reaches between us hitting his elbow on the hand dryer. I chuckle, then when his fingers press against my clit the laughter stops. I feel like I could scream out and I almost do, but before I can get the sound out Ford covers his mouth with mine swallowing my cries of pleasure. The sensation of his thumb pressing into my clit coupled with the fact that he’s relentless in his fucking and his lips are pressed to mine is too much to handle. I thread my fingers in his hair and push my lips harder to his, moaning into his mouth while riding out my orgasm. Ford starts to pump faster and faster and my butt keeps hitting the wall but I’m not worried about any noise we may be making. I can’t be with something this hot. I kiss Ford’s neck as he comes and sighs into the crook of my neck. We carefully untangle ourselves and it’s a hot mess of bumping into things and trying not to make a lot of noise, but I think we’ve managed not to get ourselves caught. I’d think if they knew what was going on in here they’d have made us stop.
“Now we just have to get out of here without anyone noticing,” I whisper, giggling as I shimmy my skirt down into place. He smirks and presses his lips to mine again while zipping himself up.
“Fuck ‘em,” he whispers, winking then heading out the door and closing it behind him. I hear him mutter to someone about it being occupied and I almost die from embarrassment.
Almost. But it was way worth it because holy hell that was hot.
When I exit the bathroom there’s a man standing, waiting and grinning at me, then winks to me before he dips his head and steps into the tiny room, closing the door behind him. My cheeks are burning from embarrassment…either that or it’s the post orgasm bliss on my face, but when I return to my seat Ford’s grinning from ear to ear.
“Almost there,” he whispers, his hand gripping mine. “Seatbelt light just went back on.”
“Takeoff and landing are my favorite parts!” I buckle my seatbelt and right my seat, making sure everything’s tucked away nicely.
“I hate it. So much.” He grumbles, buckling his belt.
I giggle, too happy and too sated, still coming down from that experience, to worry about his stress over a plane landing.
“Are you excited?” I say, trying to take his mind off it.
“Nervous,” he nods. “I haven’t been asked to meet a girl’s parents in years.” He lets out a chuckle and I can tell he’s nervous. He never chuckles like that. I give his hand a gentle squeeze and smile softly at him.
“They’re going to love you.” I push my lips to his cheek and rest my head on his shoulder.
We make it to my parents’ house by nine and I’m exhausted. When my mom swings the door open her eyes are bright and when she wraps her arms around me I feel like the weight of the world’s been taken from me. She’s good like that. Supportive. Loving. She lives way too far away.
“Hi Mom,” I say, trying to break free from her grasp but she’s not letting go. My eyes hit Ford’s and his smile lifts so bright it makes me wrap my arms around my mom and close my eyes. “I’ve missed you,” I whisper, enjoying the feeling.
“I’m so happy you’re here.” She clears her throat and finally pulls away, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “I’ve missed you, Mackenzie.” Her hand cups my cheek and my dad appears in the doorway, smiling.
“Dad!” I shriek and wrap my arms around his neck. “It feels so good to be home,” I murmur into his shirt as he hugs me tightly. I pull back and smile at Ford. “Mom, Dad. This is Ford West.”
“Nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Mueller.” Ford extends a hand to my dad and he takes it with a smile still on his face, then my mom pushes his hand away and hugs him. I smile at Ford whose surprised expression is quickly masked.
“We’re so happy you two are here. Come on in, we just made some drinks.” My dad heads back to the kitchen and I take Ford’s hand in mine, following my parents inside.
“Ford doesn’t drink, Dad,” I say and grab an empty glass from the counter. “And I’m just going to have some water.”
“Suit yourself. These Mai Tai’s are to die for, though.” My dad brings the straw to his lips and I can’t help but laugh.
“You two have a great place right on the beach,” Ford says from the back door that’s currently wide open. Fall here in Florida never gets too cold. Hell, neither does winter. It’s nice, but I’m kind of sad we left the cold weather of Illinois.
“Thank you. Been here almost thirty years now.” My mom smiles, watching me drink my water and lifting an eyebrow at me. She’s going to ask about babies. Not now, when Ford’s within hearing distance, but I know she’s going to since I chose not to drink tonight. I just don’t feel right drinking around him when he is doing so well. Other than that one setback, he hasn’t had a drop of alcohol. I’d like to think he’s getting better at it, but I still get calls and texts every now and then to help him through a nightmare or a bad time. I’m not sure if he’ll ever be ‘over it’. I just hope he can learn to live with it. Really live.
My parents got the guest bedroom ready for Ford to sleep in. They’re pretty traditional parents so that didn’t surprise either of us when they showed him to his room. I warned him it would probably happen and he was completely understanding.
Lying here in my old bed, staring at the teeny bopper posters that I never took down, even when I was well out of that phase, I can’t help but wonder how I got here. With an awesome boyfriend that I’m fairly certain I love, back at my parents’ house, in a state I wasn’t sure a few months ago I’d ever be back in.
My phone dings about a half hour after Ford and I came to our separate rooms and I grin at the text.
Ford: Hey you
Me: How’s life at the other end of the house? ;)
Ford: Lonely. These wave noises aren’t going to let me sleep tonight. Can you turn off the ocean please?
I laugh, typing out my reply.
Me: Sorry. My parents love the sound of it. You can close the window if you need to.
Ford: Nah. Given ya a hard time. How’s that tiny bed of yours?
Me: Sucks. I need more space.
Ford: I have this big ol’ queen bed all to myself…
I bite my lip and glance at my door. This is the first time I’ve brought a boy home to stay the night here. I wonder…
I slide my phone under my pillow and hop off my bed. Checking the hallway, my parents’ bedroom light is off and their door closed tight. The spare bedroom is on the other end of the house so I tiptoe my way to his door and turn the handle. When I slip inside, my eyes hit Ford who’s lying on the bed completely naked and smirking at me.
“Why are you naked!” I whisper, giggling.
“It’s fuckin’ hot in Florida, Mack. You got a problem with it?” He raises an eyebrow at me and pats the bed next to him.
“I…” I laugh, “am way too turned on right now to have a problem with much.” I walk over to the bed and stand at the bedside, my eyes trailing his body. “Why do you have to look like this? How do you look like this?” I reach down and let my fingers trail the definition in his abs and he tightens the muscles under my touch. I let my finger trail a line straight down to the base of his dick, then back up to his nipple. He’s hard already and my panties are soaked from just seeing how much I can turn him on.
“Mack,” he whispers, his eyes hitting mine. I grin at him and let my fingernail trace a line around his nipple. He takes a sharp breath when I let it slide over the top of his nipple and I grin, biting my lip.
“Yes, Ford?”
His eyebrows pull together and in an instant, he’s grabbed my wrist and spun me to the bed, pinning me underneath him. His eyes hit mine and it looks like he wants to say something. That same look he gave me in the airplane. But he doesn’t. He presses his lips to mine, and as quietly as we can, push off my shorts and underwear while devouring each other’s bodies.
When he slides into me, he pushes his chest to mine and lets his lips flutter along my jawline, ending on my neck. As he thrusts into me, so slowly, I feel everything. Every inch, every twitch. Every fucking thing, and it sets me on fire. He’s slow, relentless, and absolutely perfect bringing me to the brink of orgasm before I know it.
“Fuck, Mackenzie,” he whispers low in my ear, his hips dipping harder and faster. The bed’s squeaking but neither of us care enough to slow it down. He groans, pushing into me fast and hard and as I feel my orgasm start to shred me and want to scream out, he slams his lips to mine and releases into me. I moan into the kiss, my fingernails digging into his shoulders and my legs tight around him and I don’t want to let go.
Ever.
He rolls to the side of me and pulls me into his arms. God, this man feels like home.
“Babe,” he whispers in my ear. I groan and push back into his erection, grinning. “Mackenzie,” he warns, but I don’t relent.
“Morning, Ford,” I mumble, eyes still closed.
That is, until I remember where we are.
I shoot up in bed and spin to look at him, eyes wide. He’s grinning ear to ear.
“Oh my God what time is it?” My parents wake up around six. Maybe I can make it back to my room before they realize…
“Seven.” Ford nods. “They’re going to hate me for corrupting their baby girl.” A sly grin spreads across his face and he reaches up, giving my nipple a gentle tweak before I can swat him away.
“God, we must have been exhausted. I don’t even remember falling asleep!” I stand from the bed and find my underwear and shorts and pull them on.
He stands and pulls on a pair of grey sweatpants while I try to figure out how to get out of here without them seeing me.
“Hey,” he says, grabbing my wrist before I open the door. I turn and look at him. His bedhead perfectly mussed on the top of his head and that sloppy grin on his face that lets that damn dimple show itself. He looks at me again and pauses like he has a few times these past few days. Before he can say anything, we hear a noise from the kitchen and I groan, slumping my shoulders.
“There’s no way out,” I say. He flicks his eyes to the window then grins.
“I think there is.” He walks over to the window and slides the screen up. “You up for a walk on the beach?” He’s smirking at me and I smile back.
“You’re a brilliant man, Ford West.” I walk by him and press my lips to his, then climb out the window as gracefully as I can. He follows and we’re able to sneak over to the beach before my parents realize what’s going on.
“I can’t believe you never told me you grew up on the beach.” His hand is tight in mine and we’re walking along the shoreline as the sun comes up on the east horizon. It’s beautiful and romantic. I’ve seen this view hundreds of times before, but it’s never been like this.
“It never really came up. I guess this is kind of like you taking for granted you live in the hometown of Abraham Lincoln.” I shrug and he bursts out a laugh.
“Please. No. It’s totally different.” He sighs, pausing in the walk and stretching his arms out to the beach in front of us. “This is prime vacation spot, Mack!”
“I used to run these beaches in high school before school. Before the sun would come up. The crabs and turtles… I loved it.” I smile, bending to pick up a shell. “Life out here seemed simpler than it is now. That’s for sure.”
He shoves his hands into his pocket, watching the waves lap in. The way his sweat pants hang on his hips and that V dips below his waistband have me thirsty for something other than coffee this morning. He didn’t put a shirt on, but I’m not complaining. He glances at me as I stand there staring and playing with the shell in my hand then cocks his head.
“You staring at me?”
“I’ve been on this beach thousands of times. But I’ve never seen anything that I’ve liked as much as watching you stand here with me,” I whisper. “Ford… I think I’m in love with you.” I pull my eyebrows together. The words just spilled out, but I mean them. I know I’m in love with him. But now I’m terrified at the way he’s looking at me. He blinks a few times and when he glances back out at the ocean, my heart starts to fracture.
He doesn’t love me.
“Mackenzie, you…” He sighs. “You make me feel more than any girl’s ever made me feel.” His eyes move to mine and he shrugs. “Ever.”
“Ever?”
He nods slowly, then steps closer to me.
“Ever. I didn’t know I could feel something this strong for someone when I was a teenager,” he says, shrugging then cups my face in his hands. “You’re the glue to my wrecked, unstable life, Mack. You’re the bright in all of my dark days. You’re absolutely perfect, and I’m so in love with you it scares me. I’ve lost a lot in my life. I can’t lose you.”
Now it’s my turn to blink…but this time I’m blinking away tears. I smile, letting out a laugh and when he presses his lips to mine, everything feels absolutely perfect. I’m not worried about my parents finding us. I’m not worried about the bakery failing. I’m not worried about Eric or any of that drama.
All there is right here in this moment is us, the waves lapping against the shore, and his lips on mine. That’s all that matters.
“You’re not going to lose me, Ford,” I whisper. He swipes away my tears with his thumb and smiles at me.
“Why are you crying?”
“I don’t know,” I laugh, wiping my face. “Hearing you say those words… I was terrified you didn’t feel the same way. And when you said them, it was like… Whoa.” I smile and laugh, taking his hand. “This beach hasn’t ever felt this happy before.”
I think back to the times Eric and I visited here and even then, it wasn’t this nice. It wasn’t this perfect and peaceful.
“Let’s head back to your parents’. I need some coffee.” He holds my hand tightly and we start walking back. “I brought one of my mugs. You think they’d be offended if I used it?”
I laugh loud. “You didn’t bring your own mug, did you?”
“You’ll see.” He winks and I laugh harder.
“You’re insane.”
“That’s why you love me.” He nudges me and my heart skips a beat.
“I do. I really do.”
He wraps his arm around my waist and as we walk up to my parents’ house and around to the back porch, he drops his arm and grips my hand.
“You two were out and about early,” my dad says, coffee in hand and smile on his face. He’s aged in the two years since I’ve been gone but even still he’s the same old man I Ieft here when I moved to Illinois. Old, cuddly, and sweet as a bar of chocolate. My parents tried for years to have kids so when I finally came around, they were almost in their mid-forties. They never tried for more. I was sort of their miracle baby, and I think all of that is why I feel like I’ve always had such a great relationship with them. They wanted me. Badly.
“I wanted to show him the sunrise on the beach. Tonight I’m showing him the sunset.” I smile up at Ford whose eyes are twinkling down at me. I want to kiss him. I never want to stop kissing him. But I’m not sure my parents would appreciate that.
“That’s so romantic,” my mom says, sighing. “Ford, dear. Would you like some coffee? We just finished brewing a pot.”
“That would be great.” He steps up onto the porch and when my mom moves to get up from her chair, I stop her.
“Mom, I can help him.”
“Nonsense. We’ll bring you out a cup. You sit and visit with your father.” She stands and pats my cheek, her smile bright on her face and when Ford and she disappear into the house, I take a seat next to my dad.
“You guys have the best back porch,” I say, watching the water.
“Do you love him?” my dad asks, taking me by surprise. I turn and look at him.
“Ford?” I ask, smiling. My dad nods, stern faced. “I do, Daddy. A lot. More than I maybe should.”
His jaw twitches and his eyes go back to the water.
“Did you love that Eric tool?”
My eyes go wide and I can’t help but snort out a laugh at my dad’s choice of words.
“I thought I did. But I didn’t know him, Dad. Looking back, there were signs. I never met any family. I didn’t see him that often.” I shrug. “You can’t love someone you don’t know, Dad.”
My dad nods, then smiles at me. “Ford seems like a great guy, Mackenzie. I just worry about my girl.”
“There’s nothing to worry about. He’s an amazing guy. And I’ve met his entire family and friends and everyone. I know he’s the one for me, Dad.” I can’t stop smiling today but I also can’t help but feel that knot in my throat. All the emotions today are taking a toll on my system and I think I got so giddy I worked my stomach into knots.
“I hope one day your mother and I can meet them.”
“You should come up for a visit! I’d love to show you around town.”
“Maybe we’ll do that.”
“Ok you two! Let’s start cooking this Thanksgiving dinner!” Ford announces as he bursts through the front door with his own coffee mug in hand.
“I can’t believe you actually brought it!” I laugh, taking one from him.
“I simply brought your parents a ‘thank you for having me’ gift.” He looks so proud and when my mom walks out with her own ‘You’re Bacon me Crazy’ mug, I laugh even harder.
“Mom!”
“This is the cutest mug I’ve ever had!”
My dad chuckles and lifts his plain black mug to his lips.
“Don’t worry, Dan. We have one for you too.” Ford winks at him, earning a chuckle from my dad.
“You guys are insane.” I smile at Ford and take a drink of coffee.
I was worried about nothing. Ford’s a huge hit with my parents.
“That was the best vacation I’ve had in a long ass time, Mackenzie,” Ford says, sighing and falling to the couch. Yellow runs over and attacks him with so much love I almost feel bad for not bringing the dog with us to Florida.
“I think my mom wants to move here just to be closer to you.” I lie on top of him and he wraps his arms around me. When Yellow jumps on top of us and starts licking and nuzzling his way between us, I shriek and the three of us fall off the couch into a pile of laughter.
“What’s on the agenda for this weekend?” I push my lips to his neck as we lie on the ground and he groans. We just got back in town an hour ago after an extended stay at my parents’ and the weekend is almost already here again.
“Lincoln’s birthday bash. I think Reagan’s got something big planned. Hopefully.” His arms wrap around me again.
“At a bar?” I furrow my brows, holding on to him and resting my head on his chest.
“Maybe.” He chuckles. “Don’t worry so much, Mack.”
“I’ll always worry about you, Ford.”
“I love you, Mackenzie.”
“I love you, Ford. And I have to go into the shop tonight if you want to come with me.” I nudge him when he holds me against him tighter. “Free cookies?”
“Hell. Fucking. Yes.” He hops up. “Come on, let’s do this.” He pulls me up and heads to the bedroom. “Let me get changed!”
I head for the bathroom and while I’m sitting there I notice the box of tampons he got for me to keep here. That…that was a while ago.
Those are still unopened…
My brows furrow and I start to count backwards to my last period…but I can’t. I can’t remember it.
Holy shit.