Page 19 of Rett

“Love is never too soon, baby,” said Ruby. “It’s a precious gift that is given freely by the giver but not always received.”

“What do you mean?” asked Finley. “If I give it, it’s received by someone, right?”

“Baby, did you give love to your mama and daddy when you were little?” Finley gave a small nod. “Did they receive it? Did they receive it and send it back to you?”

“No,” she whispered. “No, they didn’t.”

“Not everyone is capable of such a selfless act. But lovin’ a man is somethin’ a woman knows the minute he touches her. She can feel it in her heart, in her body, down low where it gets warm and wet, gettin’ ready for him.”

“My mother used to tell me God blows a kiss on a boy and girl when they’re born, making it easier for them to find one another as they get older. I didn’t believe that until I met Rett. I knew when I saw him that he was meant for me,” said Casey. Liz smiled at the young woman, nodding her head.

“Would you like to learn more?” asked Ruby with a sly grin.

“Yes,” said all of the women in the garden. She’d developed quite an audience, and that made her very happy.

“Alright, let’s talk about what you can do for him. I’m gonna show you how you can make a man black out from your touch.”

Finley frowned at the woman, looking around at the others. They all seemed giddy with anticipation, excited by the thought of it all. But if Dan blacked out, how could he perform sexual intercourse with her?

“Do I want him to black out?”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Oh, shit. That can’t be good,” frowned Luke, staring at the circle of women around Ruby.

“Speak for yourself, asshole,” smirked Dan. “I’ve married a very naïve yet very curious woman. Miss Ruby knows her way around a man’s body and a woman’s body. If our wives are listening to her, we’re in for a very good night.”

“It’s odd that Casey is with them,” frowned Rett.

“Odd? Boy, I’d say that’s a good thing,” laughed Hex. “That means she’s curious and has intentions of her own. You might want to handle that situation if you want her to stay put.”

“What do you mean? Did she say she was leaving?” he asked in a panicked voice. He started to walk toward them, and Luke grabbed his arm, pulling him back.

“No,” laughed Luke. “No one is leaving. But Hex is right. If she’s curious about whatever Ruby is talking about, then I’d say that will probably benefit you. It’s obvious that you have feelings for her. Don’t let this shit with Ramos make you miss your chance.”

“What if I convince her to stay and something happens? What if I uproot her life, change it forever, and Ramos gets to me? Or her?! What if I fall in love with her?”

Kiel smirked at his son, then looked toward his father. Zeke stepped forward along with Baptiste. Rett just shook his head at the two older men.

“I can’t risk her life,” he whispered, shaking his head.

“That only tells me that you’re in love with her,” said Baptiste. “I felt the same about Grandma Rose. She was so brave, going back to face her abuser while she was carrying your mother. I thought I would die if anything, even a scratch, happened to her.”

“We were all the same,” said Zeke. “I knew Grandma Noelle’s stalker was coming right here for her. I knew he was in the city. I knew he was coming up the river to find her. I thought I would lose my mind, Rett. But I wasn’t willing to lose her.”

“You know what you’re doing, Rett,” said Luke. “We all do. We’ll protect her and you if necessary. Just let her know how you feel, Rett. If you don’t, she might find a reason to leave.”

He looked back toward the grove, noticing that the women were breaking up, moving back toward the cafeteria. Casey looked up, smiling at Rett as she gave a wave. With a shove at his shoulders from his grandfathers, Rett began walking toward her, then turned to the group of men.

“Thank you,” he smiled.

“Go get your girl,” smiled his father. They all watched him walking toward Casey and the big smile on her beautiful face. Kiel shook his head, turning to the others. “Were we all that stupid when it came to the women?”

“We were way more stupid,” laughed Zeke. “At least, I know I was.”

Rett couldn’t help but feel the nerves churning in his stomach. He was running what he would say through his head, making sure he didn’t screw it all up. When he looked up, Casey was moving toward him much faster, then suddenly her arms were wrapped around him, her head against his chest.

“Wow, that’s a good greeting,” he laughed. “I could use more of those.”

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