Page 93 of Forever in the Country

And she wasn’t the only one. It’d only been a couple of days since I talked to Mama, but things were already starting to happen. I’d heard all the businesses flipped their signs from open to closed on Main Street when they caught sight of my parents.

This morning, I’d driven through on the way to Vetted Paws and witnessed all the shop owners standing in front of their businesses—arms crossed—and blocking entry to Michael and Vivian. Miss Thelma had not so subtly informed me that all hotels within a twenty-mile radius were unexpectedly booked, and I’d caught a glimpse of luggage in their rented car.

They looked tired, and I couldn’t stop the wave of gratitude from blooming in my chest. The town had rallied, and it was a debt I’d never be able to repay.

“She’s strong. Resilient. You should definitely be proud,” Rhea says, pulling me back to the present.

“I am.”

“And I’m proud ofyoufor respecting her boundaries.”

“Is that like when I told you I needed space and you threw out my brownies and replaced them with oatmeal raisin cookies?”

“Those things are completely unrelated.” Her eyes widen innocently, and I place the book on the nightstand with my reading glasses.

“I’m going to make you clean all the kennels when the dogs finally get here.”

She rolls her eyes as I pull her chest flush against mine and hike her leg over my hip. “Like I haven’t been cleaning up after animals my entire life.”

“Um, out of the two of us, I’m the only one who has used your vacuum in the last year.” My hand clamps down on her ass as she rocks her core against my hardening dick.

“And you look so sexy wielding the hose.” I lick my lips and she tracks the movement.

“Ah, but Sunshine,”—I roll my hips into her, and her eyelids flutter the slightest bit—“the only sucking power I’m concerned with is yours.”

Throwing her head back, she laughs and I can’t help doing the same.

“Thank you,” I say quietly as I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear, “for not giving up on me.”

“Still doesn’t get you out of apologizing to Colt.”

“While I have you almost naked in bed,”—grabbing her ass, I roll her on top of me and then grind her cotton-covered pussy against my length—“we will not speak of him.”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“Besides, Waylon is gonna make something real nice for him.”

“Sorren—”

I pinch her clit between my thumb and forefinger as she gasps. “Trust me, Sunshine, he’ll like it just fine.” I grin and she shakes her head.

“We still need to talk.”

All playfulness gone, I cup her face in my hands and bring her down to meet my gaze.

“I know. I just want to have the conversation with Marlee first.” She nods and presses a soft kiss to my lips.

“I’ll be waiting.”

42

SORREN

“Took you long enough,” Marlee says the next morning as she all but hauls me onto the back porch of our grandparents’ home.

Her home.

We’d grown up within these walls that had given us life and happiness and love when we’d been without for so long.

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