Page 65 of Call it Fate

“Go with him?” Teagan suggested.

“And do what with The Dogtrot? Mama can’t run it on her own. We’d have to hire help, and I don’t think we can afford that.”

“So, you should give up your chance for happiness?” Meg asked.

She made it sound so simple. Surely, she, of all my friends, would understand having a family legacy to hold on to, the need to strengthen it and make it better before passing it down to another generation.

“I don’t know, Em. I think things will work out if they’re meant to be. Sometimes, that means sacrifices.” Cam tossed her shoulders. “It’s like building a house. You’re already a little out of order. You guys definitely seem to have all the electricity in place.” She winked. “Now, you have to go back and rebuild on the foundation. If it’s strong enough, you can frame it the way you guys think works best for both of you, but that framing only comes when the two of you have good communication. That’s been lacking between you guys because of circumstances.

“Honestly, if you had better communication to start with, you might have saved yourself some of the heartache to begin with. Be honest with him, and maybe even more importantly, be honest with yourself. If you want this with Zach, give it a try. I think you’ll end up regretting it if you don’t. Just don’t rush. If you build on a wet foundation, the house is going to fall.”

“Wow, that’s rather poetic, even if it’s alcohol inspired. Who knew you had it in you?” Teagan smirked, and Cam saluted her with her glass. “But honestly, hon, her advice is good. If you don’t want a relationship with Zach, then define the boundaries, knowing that your life is still going to change. If you want a relationship with Zach, go for it, also knowing your life is going to change. Either way, nothing is the same anymore, but you do get to decide what kind of change you want. We’re gonna be here for you, cheering you on, no matter what you decide.”

I sniffled. I was lucky to have such good friends who would have my back, no matter what.

Now, I just had to decide what it was I wanted, and if I was strong enough to live with that decision.

CHAPTER28

Zach

Ikept flicking through the channels, trying to find a sports game or movie that could hold my attention. I knew Em was out with her friends and Iain was with his grandmother at the farm. I’d put my heart on the line when I poured out my feelings a few days before. It was hard to be patient, but I spent the rest of our time together doing my best not to touch her, to keep things lighthearted and fun.

A flash of car lights glanced across my screen. I looked toward the window. My rental wasn’t in a remote area, but the driveway was long enough the light couldn’t have come from the road. A door slammed, causing me to frown. A quick glance confirmed it was almost eleven. Who could possibly be here this late? I peered through the window to the side of the front door, wrenching the door open as soon as I saw who it was.

“Emalee! Is everything all right? Is Iain okay?”

She stared at me, her eyes wide and almost wild. Her coat was unbuttoned, revealing she was dressed in fleece pants that flared at her feet and a T-shirt I hadn’t seen before that declared hedgehogs should just share the hedge. Ordinarily, it would have made me laugh. I reached for her to draw her inside, but she held fast.

“I need to know.”

“Know what, sunshine?”

Her eyes bored into me. “Do we have a solid enough foundation? Or is it too wet and everything we try is destined to sink or fall apart?”

My mind raced to interpret what she meant. “Interesting analogy, but I think I follow. Here’s what I think. We poured the foundation a long time ago, but we didn’t take time to let it dry before we tried to build on it. Those things fell apart, but sweetheart, that foundation is solid.” I grinned. “That sounded sappy, didn’t it? But I hope you get my drift.”

She held my gaze, honey-colored pools searching for something in mine. Whatever it was, she must have found it, because suddenly, she launched herself at me. Her arms looped around my neck as her lips found mine, lighting up something inside me I never wanted to burn out. I stumbled the few steps back into my house, carrying her with me, never allowing our kiss to be disrupted. My hands slipped over the curves of her ass, and, with barely a lift, her legs hugged my hips.

“Have you been drinking?”

She nodded and my heart sank. I didn’t want to be a sloppy, drunken regret in the morning. She captured my cheek in her hand. “But that was a while ago. I went home until I was clear-headed. I promise, I want to be here.”

I carried her to the couch, sitting with her straddled across my lap while I cupped her face in my palms, taking over the kiss that she had so passionately started. My dick strained in my jeans, wanting to get closer to the warmth that had settled over my zipper where she sat. She tasted like wine and chocolate and my sunshine.

She uttered a small moan that I felt all the way to my groin, earning an answering groan in return. Her hair was still in a braid, but my fingers pulled the band out and unraveled the strands until I could sink my fingers into their silky lengths. I gathered them and pulled her head back, only missing her warm lips for a second before I trailed a path down her neck, sucking and nibbling once I found a spot that made her gasp.

“Zach!” She panted my name, hissing when I moved one of my hands to the front of her T-shirt and squeezed her breast.

“This is cute,” I said as I tugged on her T-shirt, “but it has to go.”

She lifted her arms with a smile as I bunched the material in my hands and slid it upward, making sure to run my hands along her bared skin as I went. Through the lace of her bra, I could see her puckered nipples, and my head fell forward to nip and soothe with my tongue through the lace.

This time, she didn’t wait for me. With a grin, she reached between her breasts, and with a quick twist, the triangle scraps fell open and her breasts fell heavily into my hands. Grateful for front clasps, I paid homage to each one with my hands and mouth until she was wriggling and grinding on my lap.

My dick was screaming for relief. I once again scooped her up and headed toward my bedroom, which, thankfully, was on the first floor. Otherwise, she would have learned what it meant to be taken on the stairs, and that wasn’t how I wanted our second first-time to be. I kept my eyes on her the entire short distance, wanting to make sure this is what she wanted.

Her golden hair fanned out as I laid her on my bed. I was already barefoot, so I made quick work of pulling off my shirt and sliding my pants and briefs down in one move. Her eyes were glued to my dick that bobbed long and proud, the tip already gleaming with the pearly proof of desire that couldn’t be contained.

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