Every stretch of the road on the Davis property is lined with a stark white fence. Clayton explained that when his father had been running things, they had cattle roaming their lands. The Davises raised some of the best, but it was a business Clayton never saw for the future of the ranch. Since they no longer use the majority of their land for cattle, they farm out unused parts of those pastures for hay so that they can gain that resource for the horses.
Clayton tells me he owns pastures that have some of the best views in all of Texas, but since you have to travel by horse to get there, I haven't seen those yet. He's been working so hard to get me comfortable around the big beasts, but there's just something about those huge black eyes watching your every move that makes me uneasy.
I honk at Drew, the ranch foreman, when I see him working on one of the fence rails near the turnoff from Maverick and Leigh's road to ours. He pulls his hat off and waves it in the air before wiping his brow and bending back over to continue his work. Not far after that, I see two other hands do the same, and I give them a honk of my horn as well.
Right before the turn into the ranch house, I see a few cows in the distance, smack-dab in the middle of the road. The rancher who owns the land on the other side of the road has so many head of cattle, they're always dotting the landscape, but this is the first time I've seen wayward cattle making a break for it.
I continue down our drive, reaching for my phone in my purse. I pull up Clayton's number and give him a call, climbing out of the car while it rings.
"Linney," he answers in that deep way of his that's almost breathy but too manly to be called such. The sound goes straight through me, bathing my whole body in warmth.
"Hey, honey." I smile into the bright sun, walking up the porch steps and into the house. "I know you're busy, but I wanted to let you know some of the Larkins' cows are makin' a break for it. I saw them when I was turnin' in farther down the road."
"I'll give Todd a call."
"I figured you would. Are you goin' to be home for supper tonight?"
I can only imagine how tired he is, seeing that he left before sunup this morning to deliver some horses to a buyer out in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He made it sound like no big deal, but I can't imagine making a five-plus-hour drive one way and not being wiped by the time I got home.
"I should be at the ranch in about an hour, darlin'. Why don't we head into town for something?"
"Are you sure you don't want to just have a relaxin' night at home? You've been on the road all day."
He laughs. "No, I want to take my girlfriend out. Might not be as fancy as what we'd get if we drive into Dallas, but I don't take you out enough as it is."
"Clayton," I say with a smile, "you know I don't need all that." And I don't. I know he's busy with things at the ranch and his hours are long and taxing. I don't want him working his tail off all day only to get home and think I need him to take me out in order to show me a good time. All I want is to be near him. There're no distractions when you're getting undivided one-on-one time.
"I know, darlin', but I'm still feelin' the itch to show you off."
I roll my eyes, walking through the house toward the stairs so I can go get ready now that it looks like we're not going to be staying in.
"I was just visitin' over at Maverick and Leighton's. I know Quinn is on bed rest, but why don't you give Tate a call and see if he'll okay a trip to town for dinner? I'll ring Leigh and see if she and Maverick want to join. They don't have much time left before the babies are here. As much as I love our time with just the two of us, I think we should have a family dinner before the little ones come."
A noise comes over the line that makes me pause in pulling off my leggings. "I like hearin' you refer to them as family."
"Well, they are your family, Clayton. What else would I call them?" I laugh awkwardly.
"And seein' as we're buildin' our future, they're yours too, Linney."
"Clayton." I gulp.
"Don't go sayin' my name like that when I'm too far away to do somethin' about it. One day soon, we're gonna sit down and talk so you know exactly what I see for us down the road and I can make sure you don't have any doubts as to where I'm standin'. Get ready, baby, I'll be home soon."
He hangs up before I can say anything else, but since he's rendered me speechless, that's just fine with me. I'm not stupid: I know he wouldn't have moved me into his home if he didn't see a future for us, but knowing how his last relationship ended, I worry he might not want the same things for his life as I do for mine--a family. There isn't much in this world that would make me willingly give up what I have with Clayton Davis, but the fact that he doesn't want kids might just be one of them. Which is the very reason I've been dreading the moment he wanted to have this talk.
What will I do if he only changes how he feels about marriage but not children? Can I stay with a man who can only give me his love but not his babies? I'm honestly not sure.
15
CAROLINE
"Tennessee Whiskey" by Chris Stapleton
"Would you stop?" Quinn snaps, yanking her husband's plate back toward her so she can continue to pick off it, having already polished off her food. "Do you want to be the reason your child starves, Starch?"
He smirks, his handsome face more boyish than those of the other men at our table. If I wasn't already tumbling head over heels for a certain dark cowboy, I might find Tate Montgomery attractive. He shrugs and I hear Leighton snicker from across the round table. My gaze moves to her and she winks before mouthing something about waiting for it. I frown in confusion before she points to the two Montgomerys.
"Grease, there's no way my baby is starvin' in there," he jokes, pointing to her very big stomach. I know he meant it harmlessly, but judging by the expression on Quinn's beautiful face, she doesn't feel the same way. "Now, don't go lookin' at me like that, Quinn. You know that's not what I meant."
"Oh really?" she asks, crossing her arms over her chest, which is no easy feat, seeing as she's top-heavy and belly-heavy.
"You know I love your body," Tate tells her sincerely, but she doesn't stop leveling him with a glare.
"You mean the body that keeps growin' as big as a house, keepin' your baby from starvin' because I'm storin' food in there for him, or somethin'?"
Tate looks up at the ceiling and I hear Leighton chuckle a little louder.
"Give it a break, Hell-raiser," Maverick mumbles around a forkful of barbecue. "You know damn well he didn't mean what you're implyin'. Just because you're in a shit mood, don't take it out on your man."
"He's the one who put me in jail!"
This time, Leighton doesn't keep her hilarity down. She starts laughing so hard, I can't stop watching her belly with worry that she's shaking her baby up in there. Surely it's not good for it to move that much. "He didn't put you in jail, Q! Don't be such a drama queen."
Quinn turns her narrowed eyes at Leighton. "You aren't the one stuck talkin' to herself while her husband is off playin' inside other women's vaginas."
My eyes widen and I feel my cheeks heat as heads start turning in our direction. Maverick has his fork frozen halfway to his mouth, staring at his sister in shock. Leigh is hooting even harder now. Tate, having clearly heard this many times, just looks down at his plate with a smirk. When I look up at Clayton, he's wearing the same expression as his brother.
I try to ignore the stares as Quinn continues to grumble about her vagina-poking husband, but it's almost impossible when it feels like the whole place can't take their eyes off our table. I'm used to the curious looks when I'm out with Clayton or even the girls, but they're never as bad as when all six of us are together. When you factor in Quinn's shameless way of saying whatever is on her mind, it really does feel like we're on display.
"You get used to it," Maverick grumbles, and I look to my right to see him studying me with understanding. "Took me a while when I got back to Pine Oak. I forgot what it was like to live in a town where everyone treated other people's
lives like a soap opera."
"How do you ignore the stares?"
He shrugs. "You just stop carin' what they think. Only person whose opinion matters to me is my wife's. They're gonna think what they want regardless of the truth, so you might as well just pretend they don't exist."
"But doesn't it bother you when you hear them talkin' about you and it's not true?"
His mouth moves, not into a full smile, but it's not a hard line anymore. "They're not ever gonna spread the truth when they can stretch it and fill in the less interestin' parts with lies. You just live your life and make sure you keep yourself happy. The rest of that shit can go to hell."
I lean back in my chair and look around. Just like Maverick, everyone eating with us is oblivious to the stares from the tables surrounding us in the packed restaurant. Just like when we're at the PieHole or even grabbing groceries, people have no qualms about gawking.
The Davis family is Pine Oak royalty, so it shouldn't be a shock, but for someone like me, who isn't used to it, it's a struggle. I never did look at the attention with such an untroubled and relaxed mind-set as Maverick does, though. In my mind, I'm still afraid of what they think, but in reality, what does it matter? I've got a great man, his family welcomes me with open arms, and other than the uncertainty of where I'll reopen The Sequel, life is perfect.
I turn to see Clayton regarding me in silence and feel the last tiny part of unease fall to the wayside. A wide smile forms on my face, and I direct all the newfound freedom I feel at him. It's his affections, after all, that have shown me how to complete the puzzle inside of me--that have allowed me to finally shed the past and start living.
The chatter at our table fades away when I see his eyes flash. I know we haven't said those three special words, but when he gives me this unguarded focus, I have no doubts that they're there.
I never stood a chance at keeping my heart from him. Not when he makes me feel like nothing is impossible.
"Hey! Earth to the lovebirds," Quinn yells across the table, breaking the moment with her snapping fingers. "Did you tell her yet?"
"Shut up, Quinnie," Clayton scolds, frowning at his sister.
"What?" She glances around, taking a bite of her husband's sandwich. "You didn't say it was some big secret."
"What are you talkin' about?" I ask.
Clayton sighs, glaring at her a second longer before turning to look at me. "I planned to surprise you later, but since my sister has a mouth the size of Texas, might as well do it now."
"Oh, come on! You didn't tell me not to say anything. How was I supposed to know?"
"I don't know, Quinn, maybe because I said don't tell Linney so I can make sure it's what she wants before you get excited?"
She waves a hand in the air. "Potato, potahto, big brother."
Clayton sighs, but smiles at his sister.
"Well, now that you two got that out of the way, how about one of you spill the beans so everyone else--including Caroline--can know what's goin' on?" Leigh jokes.
"I have a place I think would be great for The Sequel," Clayton tells me.
Of all the things I thought he'd say, that didn't even cross my mind. My heart picks up as happiness fills me to the point of bursting with the knowledge that even with how busy he's been, he's been looking for something better than the Jordans' place next to the salon.
"Really?" I gasp with excitement.
"The buildin' next to Davis Auto Works went up for sale a few years back. We bought it with plans to either use it for storage or expand, but never really had time to deal with either. I think you'll find it's perfect, but I wanted to run it by Quinn before I said anything. The last time we talked about it, we'd decided that D.A.W. didn't need anything bigger, and the setup we have now for storage works. I had every intention of listin' it but never got around to it. Feels like one of those meant-to-be things, sweetness," he explains with a shrug of his shoulders, downplaying just how huge this actually is.
"You want me to buy it from you?" I question, excitement bubbling through me even more. "I'd love to see the space, but I trust you. Given that it's in my budget and all."
His face gets soft and he gives me his knee-weakening grin. "Linney, you think I'm gonna take a single penny from you, you've lost your mind." Clearly seeing the argument forming, he raises a hand and closes it over my mouth. "Another one of those things we're buildin', darlin'. The Sequel is a part of you, and you are a part of me. You get that fire bubblin' over the teacup and I'm gonna have fun showin' you another way to toss that sass around."
My mouth moves, but he doesn't take his hand away, so the words just come out garbled.
"You gonna let me do this if you like the space?"
I shake my head and narrow my eyes.
"You need me to love you bad and change your answer?" he smarts off with a low rumble of his voice, eyes dancing with amusement.
I pause long enough to show him that I'm not unaffected by that in the least. He throws back his head, a booming laugh rocking his body before he drops his hand.
"You are not givin' me a buildin'," I finally say when he quiets down. "You can't just give someone somethin' as big as a buildin' and think that's okay."
He leans toward me till we're nose-to-nose and effectively kills any chance I had at arguing logic with him. "Caroline Michaels, you gave me back a life worth livin'. The way I see it, a buildin' isn't even close to big enough to make us even."
Everyone laughs when I lean back in my chair and shut my mouth. Even being the butt of their laughter, I don't feel the old feelings of nervous unease. Not now. All I feel is contentment so deep in my bones I don't think I'll ever be afraid of my own shadow again.
I'm finally living a life free of trepidation and wild with adoration. Who would've thought that one night with a dark cowboy would heal my soul of fear?
I'm still riding the high of having my own space thirty minutes later when we leave the restaurant, Clayton and I following the other two couples. His arm is over my shoulders, pressing me tight to his side as we walk. I have one behind his back and one resting against his abs. When we stop next to his truck, I lift the hand off his stomach and bring it to his neck, pulling him down and pressing my mouth to his. He doesn't pause, deepening our kiss instantly. I hear the others talking as they move to their vehicles, but don't pull away. When Clayton turns us and moves my front to press more firmly against his, with both his hands on my bottom, I smile against his mouth and lift my head to look up at him.
"What was that for?" he asks, his voice thick with the same pleasure I feel shooting through me.
"Thank you," I answer simply.
His expression changes into one that makes my heart pick up speed. He's gazing down at me like I just gave him the world in the palm of my hand. His eyes are shining bright, the swirls of green so luminous that they look like the clearest emerald stone. His whole face is smiling. One hand leaves my butt, grabs the hand not holding his neck, and pulls it to his chest. His heartbeat hits my palm with a frantic tempo as his gaze holds mine.
I open my mouth to give him every last piece of me, but before I can, the magical moment is shattered. I hear my name called in a vile tone that belongs to one woman and one woman alone. Only unlike the last time, I don't feel the same panic that had me bolting--not with Clayton's arms safely enveloping me.
"Well, well, looks like some things never change. Left town a whore and come back as one. At least you're movin' up in the world now that you've wrangled a Davis man."
I can hear the slur in her voice, but I don't let that excuse her behavior. She'd say the same thing if she were sober.
"What the fuck did you just say?" Clayton seethes angrily.
"I'm talkin' to my daughter, not you."
"No, you're talkin' to my Caroline, not yours. She isn't anything to you."
Since I haven't turned yet, I see Quinn and Leighton with their husbands gaping at the scene my mother is creating. When I look up at Clayton, his rage making the
muscles in his jaw clench and jump, I frame his face in my hands and force him to look away from Misty Michaels.
"I need to do this without you actin' like my shield, honey." I see the refusal on the tip of his tongue but shake my head before he can voice it. "I need this to finally move on."
His chest swells with a deep breath and I know it costs him, but he nods sharply. I turn, his grip only loosening enough to allow me to face her before tightening again. He'll give me his silence and allow me to fight my own battle here, but that doesn't mean he's won't make his support known.
I address her in a strong and clear voice. "What do you want?"
She sneers at me, teeth bared, making her weathered face look as evil as I know her to be. "That's no way to speak to your mother."
"You're right," I agree. "But you stopped bein' that a long time ago. So I'll ask you again, Misty. What do you want?"
Her head jerks back as her scowl deepens. "You little ungrateful bitch!"
Clayton's arm spasms, and I know he's close to losing his mind. I reach behind and pat his thigh. I can see a small crowd forming near the restaurant's entrance, but I don't care that people are openly gawking. I'm not going back to the woman who was afraid of what they thought. I'm not the one in the wrong here.
"I'm waiting. Say what you need to, but know this is the only chance I'll allow you the freedom of doin' so."
"I shoulda had the doctor suck you outta me the second he told me I was pregnant. Now I'm stuck with my whore daughter and her disrespectful tongue. You should be thankin' me for keepin' you."
I lean my head against Clayton's chest and laugh. "You have some nerve callin' me a whore when you can't even recall who knocked you up in the first place." I lower my voice, not wanting the whole town to know by morning what I say next. "I've been with two men in my life, Misty. One who almost broke me because I was naive enough to think he could follow through on his promise to help me get away, and one who healed me after the first did his best to ruin what you hadn't already. Seein' that the latter is also goin' to be the last man I give myself to, I'd say I'm pretty dadgum close to sainthood. You want to believe I'm a whore, then you do so, but when I crawl into bed at night with the man I love with every fiber of my bein', I'm gonna do that knowin' that my life is finally perfect and your opinion no longer matters."