Chapter 11

Kerry-Ann

I could’ve killed Dawson for his behavior this morning. How embarrassing was that? Luckily, Carson seemed to let it roll off his shoulder, and take it in stride. After all, as he stated clearly, he’s used to unruly siblings. Thank God for that. Imagine, after sleeping with a guy for the first time, the mere mention of marriage would send said guy packing faster than you can blink. Not Carson, no, he sloughed it off. He’s one in a million. He left while Dawson was still here, as he was eager to get back to the ranch, so he could help Hawk with something. We had a little kiss at the door, outside, where Dawson couldn’t overhear, and he told me he loved me again. I’ll never get tired of hearing that.

We’re leaving for Houston tonight, driving halfway, getting some sleep, and then driving the rest of the way, so we’re set to be there just after lunch. The plan is to stay for the long weekend and leave on Monday at lunch time to come home. Part of me is so excited to have Carson meet my family, but part of me is also terrified. It’s been since my ex, Ian, that I brought anyone home to meet my family. It’s silly, and I know that Carson has already had a taste of what my family is all about, but we’re just so new. Half of me wonders if Carson just agreed to come meet them just to appease Dawson, but then he tells me that he can’t stand the thought of going three days without seeing me, and that’s why he wants to come.

“Aren’t you a sweet thing.” I compliment, as he drives. His hand has barely left mine since we left El Paso three hours ago.

“Not sweet. Honest.” He corrects. “Besides, I think this will be fun, and then you won’t feel so awkward meeting my family.”

“True. Nothing can top what Dawson said, though.” I point out.

He looks at me. “Would you?”

“Would I what?”

“If we got married…would you take my name?”

Whoa. “Err…I hadn’t really thought of that. But seeing as I’m an old-fashioned kind of gal, I’d have to say yes.”

He seems pleased with my response. He brings my hand to his lips and kisses it. “It doesn’t bother me, you know.”

“What doesn’t bother you?”

“Talking about marriage and starting a family. Some men squirm, but my folks got married fast, and had kids just as fast. And same with my two brothers and my sister.” He looks at me. “So that kind of talk doesn’t scare me at all.”

“And don’t forget about your other brother, Hawk, who’s just about to tie the knot, too.”

“Yeah…” he nods once. “There’s that.”

“So, it really doesn’t scare you.” I say as if testing the idea on my own tongue. “I suppose it doesn’t scare me, either. Although it should, considering I almost married my ex.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” I nod, scoffing. “But then, he was afraid of marriage, and I should have known that on account of how long we were together, without even bringing the subject up. Sometimes I think he cheated on me just to get out.”

“Probably did. He probably felt better having you leave than him. Some guys are cowards.”

“That’s putting it mildly.”

We hit a stop light. “Hey.” He looks at me, leaning in for a kiss. We kiss until the cars behind us start honking.

“Are we going to do that every time? Because it’s an awfully long drive, Carson.” I chuckle.

“We’re far enough out of town. Nobody knows us.” He winks.

We stop at a hotel for some sleep just after two in the morning, and both of us hit the pillows with just a quick kiss goodnight. Like rocks, we sleep, not waking up until our wake-up call at seven. We’re both exhausted, and Carson goes to grab us our continental breakfast while I shower, and then I eat while he showers, and we’re on the road again before eight. I sleep for another two hours, and then take over driving, so he can do the same, and we’re both well rested by the time we arrive at my parents’ place, just after noon, as planned.

My daddy and mama take well to Carson, as well as my brothers, and it all goes off without a hitch, as we play card games together, catch up, and then mama makes a huge dinner that I help her prepare. Dawson sneaks out with one of my brothers, and I know that they’re chipping in for a present for me. Turns out it’s as lame as I figured; a gift card for my favorite sports clothing store. I’ll take it, though, considering I’m due for a shopping spree. Mama and daddy give me a beautiful new bedspread, since the one I have on my bed is old and tattered, and I haven’t got a clue what’s good to buy.

After I open presents and we have cake, we’re just about to sit down to another game of cards, when Carson’s phone rings. “Sorry, darlin’, I’ve got to take this, it’s my brother-in-law, Chad.”

“Sure, sweetie. You go on in the other room if you want, for privacy.”

He nods and leaves the room, while daddy deals the deck of cards. We carry on the conversation, so it doesn’t seem rude, like we’re trying to listen in on Carson. When he comes back a couple of minutes later, he has a serious look on his face. “Err…can I talk to you for a moment, darlin’?” he asks me.

“Sure.” I get up and follow him to the living room.

“It was Chad, my sister Rachel’s husband. There’s a problem with the pregnancy. She’s in the hospital. They may have to deliver the baby via c-section if things don’t look better in the next few hours.”

“Oh, shoot. I hope she’s going to be alright.”

“I’m not sure, darlin’. But if it’s okay with you I’d like to head on out to Dallas. Can you get a ride with your brother Dawson, back to El Paso?”

“Is it okay if I come with you?”

“Oh, babe, I don’t want to ruin your weekend with your family.” He says apologetically. “You stay with them, okay? I’ll keep in touch and we’ll figure things out from there.”

I nod. “Okay.”

“Maybe if things go well and the baby’s born, I’ll come back here for the rest of the weekend. Dallas is only about three hours from here.”

“You don’t have to do that, Carson. You stay with your sister. Make sure that she’s okay.” I pause. “Is the rest of your family going?”

“Yeah, actually. They’re all on their way now, which is why Chad called me first. Mama told him that I’d be here, and much closer to them from here. Grayson and Kurt are there, too, but Rachel’s been fixing to see me since I’ve been well again.”

“Okay, doll. You go on then. I’ll see you soon.” She kisses my lips. “I’ll explain what happened.”

“I’ll just pop my head in and at least say goodbye.”

“Okay.”

Carson explains that there’s a family emergency, and that I’ll fill in all the details, so he can get on the road, and he’s off.

…and I miss him already.

 

***

Carson

I get to the hospital just in time. The baby couldn’t wait another minute. Rachel’s baby girl is born so fast once I get there, it’s like she’d been waiting on me. Rachel is so happy to see me, she almost breaks the nurse’s arm when she tells me I have to leave because they’re going to deliver the baby, and only Chad is allowed in the room with her. The kid is out so fast I barely get a chance to go take a leak before we hear her squealing at the top of her lungs. Rachel suits motherhood. She’s immediately in love with that kid. So is Chad for that matter.

Grayson and Kurt get to hold her first, since I have the least experience in that department. Rachel drifts off to sleep for a while, and Chad hands her off to me, with his supervision, of course. Before we know it, mama, Luke and Hawk are here, leaving Mitch at home, with the hands, to tend to the ranch while we’re away temporarily. Before long, Rachel’s room is filled with both ours and Chad’s family, and the inevitable happens: we all get kicked out. Rachel needs her rest, anyway, so we head back to Laura’s ranch with Grayson.

“How have you been feeling, buddy?” Grayson asks as we get inside Kelsey Ranch.

“Great, actually. I’m as fit as a fiddle.”

“That’s excellent, Carson.” Laura comments, grabbing little Grant, as he squeals at the dog. “Are you going back to Afghanistan?”

I shake my head definitively. “No, ma’am. I’m back on American soil for good now.”

“Oh? And what are you going to do now? Can you work on one of the local bases?”

“Sure, I can. But I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet.” I look at Hawk. “I’m kind of enjoying staying on the ranch, frankly. It’s been a while.”

Mama interjects. “We’re building another house on the land, Carson. We could sure use your help.”

“Yeah,” Hawk interrupts. “We have many more houses and we can call ourselves a goddamn resort.”

That gets a chuckle out of the room.

“No harm in having something like that, son.” Mama argues, good-naturedly. “But I was thinking more so that my family can stay with me.”

“Oh, I know that, mama.” Hawk says, hugging her. “We’ll get your house built. We can build as many as you like. We can even build you a dang resort if that suits you. We’ve got enough parcels of land and we can buy more parcels if the need arises.”

“That’s a grand idea, actually.” I say. “We need to talk more about that, Hawk.”

“Sure, we can.” He agrees.

“Okay.” Laura claps her hands together. “Who’s sleeping where? We’ve got plenty of room and I’m spent. I need to take this baby to bed or else I’ll pay for that in the morning.”

“I should head on home to Lisa. Let her know what’s going on.” Kurt says. “She and the baby were out like a light when I left, but I imagine he’s awake now.”

“I can sleep anywhere.” I shrug.

Hawk looks at me. “What did you do with Kerry-Ann?”

“Oh, she stayed back. She hadn’t seen her family in a while.”

“Who’s Kerry-Ann?” Laura asks, and Luke can’t help but whistle, teasingly.

I smile at him knowingly, and then I smile at Laura. “She’s my girl.”

“Your girl?” Laura grins, beaming. “And when do we get to meet ‘your girl’?”

“You almost did. But I figure it was best that she stayed with her folks. Maybe y’all will meet her at Hawk’s wedding.”

“You set a date yet, Hawk?” Laura asks.

“Now that Rachel’s had her baby, we can do it any time. I just…didn’t want any complications.”

“I hear that.” I agree, so does Laura. I stay the night and go visit Rachel and the baby the next day, but then I head home that night, driving all night, and I catch up with Chase, who I ditched for all this, since I know that Kerry-Ann’s not due back until Monday night. Chase looks great. Hasn’t changed a bit save for him also letting his hair grow out some. “So, what brings you out to Texas, man?” I ask, clapping him on the back.

“Oh, had myself a bit of trouble. But I’m past it now, so moving on.”

I get the feeling that he doesn’t want to talk about it, so I don’t press. We take a seat at a table in the bar and order ourselves a plate of wings each, plus a beer. Chase gives the waitress a once-over. “Man, they don’t look like that where I’m from.”

“What do you mean?” I scoff, smiling, taking a sip of beer.

“That whole ‘don’t fuck with me, but I’ll fuck you nicely’ kind of look.”

“And by fucking nicely you mean fucking nicely, not actually fucking you over.”

“Exactly.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “I take it this trouble you’re speaking of has to do with a woman back home.”

“What other trouble is there, man?”

“Ain’t that the truth.” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “Well, until y’all find the right one, anyway.”

“You ever get back with that chick…Missy…was it?” he asks, snapping his fingers, going for total recall.

“Na, man, she and I split years ago. That whole thing was a farce since the beginning.” I think it over, and I’m not sure how he’s going to take me and Kerry-Ann being an item, on account of his recent lady troubles.

“Isn’t that how it always is though, man…just a fucking farce.” Chase comments, draining his beer. He looks like he needed a night out badly. “Take this chick I was with. She had me eating out of the palm of her hand, you know? Bought a house together and everything, and then it was over, the bitch.”

“You bought a house with her out here in Texas?”

“Yep. That’s where she wanted to move. Had this big dream in her stupid head. When one little thing went wrong, all hell broke loose, and she jumped ship. Left me to pick up the pieces.”

“Did you lose your shirt, man? You in it too deep?”

“Na, man, I’ve got the bread for it. I think she knew it, that was half the problem. You just make sure that whatever woman you meet, that she’s in it for you, not for your fucking wallet. That’s the mistake I made.”

“Sorry to hear that, man. We’ve been pretty lucky in my family. Nobody’s been taken like that.”

He changes the subject. “You remember way back when…when we went to that bar? I paid that chick to give you a blow job?”

I smile, remembering. “Yeah. It was a long time ago.”

“You were so happy you looked like you slept with a hanger in your mouth after that, man.” He chuckles as the waitress brings us our plates. I nod in thanks and order another round for Chase.

I don’t know how else to respond, so I just smile and start digging in. The wings are fantastic and go great with the beer.

“You remember that other chick who tended bar in that other place? Man, you were being all friendly-like with her. You had such a thing for her, you didn’t even pay attention to the strippers.” He chuckles, teasing. “You ever end up doing her, man?”

“Yeah.” I nod.

“You old dog, you.” He’s impressed. “I didn’t think you had it in you. I thought you were hell bent on being faithful to the old lady back at home.”

“I was faithful.”

He looks confused, but he’s still smiling. “Did you get her to give you a blow job, too? Because I think that still counts as cheating. At least, where I’m from, it is. I don’t know about you Texans though.”

“No, I…I’m seeing her.”

“Like…now?” he blurts.

“Uh huh. Turns out she moved to El Paso. She’s in business with her brother, who just happened to be my orthopedic surgeon when I came home all busted up from Afghanistan.”

His jaw drops and his eyes widen. “You’re shitting me.”

I shake my head. “Nope. I was just with her a couple of nights ago. I’m fixing to see her when she gets home from Houston tomorrow.”

“Well, I’ll be damned. It’s a small world after all, man.”

“You can say that again.”

He gives me a ‘level with me’ sort of look. “So, is this the real thing, man? Are you two, like, together?”

“We’re in love. We both said as much.”

“No shit.” He’s in awe. “I had a feeling there was more to it than meets the eye back then. You were glued to her like white on rice.”

“I was in love then, too, just didn’t know it.”

“I knew it.” He high fives me. “I’m happy for you, brother.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Hey, she wouldn’t happen to have a sister she can set me up with, does she?”

I chuckle after taking a sip of beer. “No, she’s the only girl. And from the sounds of it, man, it would do you some good to stay away from the ladies for a bit. Get rid of all that leftover anger and shit.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right about that.” He admits, eating a wing.

“Hey, man, you need any help? You know, after all the bullshit? I’m in a bit of limbo right now, to be honest.”

“Na, I’m good. But thanks for offering.”

“Hey, what are you doing for a living now, you know? After Afghanistan.”

“Starting up a business making guns, just like we were trained to do overseas. Only these are just street guns. Fancy ones. Decorative almost. It’s forecasted to be a big trend, especially in Texas, which is why Cathy wanted to move out here and start it, be in the heart of it all.”

“And what made her bail?”

“Cold feet. That and she met a guy who had a bigger wallet than me, but as she said it, he had a bigger dick. The bitch.”

“Easy killer.” I scoff, only half joking. “How’s business going?”

“Pretty good, actually. She was a fool for leaving. Cathy grew up with guns. Her father was a police officer and took her to the shooting range since she was a kid. Been doing this just over a year and it looks promising.”

“Yeah? You got an opening?”

“To be honest, that’s kind of why I looked you up.”

“I had a feeling.”

He takes another sip, and after a beat, says. “You think you might be interested? At least you’ll be able to use the skills you learned back in Afghanistan.”

“True. You mind if I think about it for a day or two?”

“Think about it for as long as you want. Come see the place, too, if it strikes your fancy.”

“Sure. I’ll come check it out.”

He changes the subject. “So, what’s Kerry-Ann doing in Houston? Visiting her folks?”

“Yeah, it’s her birthday. I was with her, but then I got called out to Dallas for my sister having her baby.”

“Oh, nice.” He smiles. “Her birthday, you say? If I recall, isn’t your birthday this month as well?”

I smile. “Man, your memory’s better than mine. Yeah, mine’s this coming weekend.”

“Doing anything special…aside from Kerry-Ann, that is.” He jokes.

I scoff a laugh. “I should, on account of it being my thirtieth, but no.”

“Your family doing anything?”

“With Rachel just having the baby, they’ve all forgotten, I’m sure. It’s cool, man. I’m just happy to be alive enough to see it come.”

He nods and we finish eating our wings. There’s a game on the television hung on the wall, so we watch that, and then bid each other adieu. I make arrangements to go see his plant and I head home. Surprising me, Kerry-Ann calls me in the early morning hours, saying that she’s home, so I go see her.

“Baby, what are you doing home already?”

“Oh, Dawson got into it with one of my brothers, and we had to leave. It was a real mess.” She explains. “He drove all night. We stopped twice. He’s so upset.”

“Shoot. I’m sorry to hear that, darlin’. I hope everything is going to work out.”

“It’s okay. It was coming. I’m just glad you weren’t there to witness it like I was. And then I got to listen to it again…for the next ten hours.”

I hold her close. “I’m sorry, love.”

She wraps her arms around my neck as we snuggle close. “I missed you.” I murmur in her ear, and then kiss her head.

“I missed you, too.” She squeezes me and I squeeze her tighter, and then release her, so I can give her a kiss. “I’ve got some baby pictures if you think that might cheer you up.”

“Sure. Come. Sit.”

We cuddle on the couch together for a while, as I show her pictures and catch her up, telling her what happened with Chase, and then we’re both tired, so we go to her bedroom and lay down for a while. I’m not a napper, but sleeping with her is lethal, and I’m tired from her waking me practically in the middle of the night. We sleep until the sun beating in from the window wakes us. She stretches, slinking herself close to me. We’re both naked, and her body touching mine is waking me up on a whole other level.

“Good morning.” I say, not wasting any time, as I invite myself to crawl on top of her.

“You’re awfully good at making mornings good, Carson Thomas.”

I smile as I lay a thigh-searing kiss on her lips, lining our sexes up, rubbing my already hardened cock over her clit, making her breathe in sharply. Her hands go to my rear as she spreads her legs wide and upward, guiding the head to her entrance. I sidestep, avoiding it slipping in by accident, as I angle downward, sucking her breasts.

“You don’t play fair.” She whispers, chuckling.

“I would, but I don’t have a condom on, darlin’.”

“I liked it better before…when you’re in…how do they call it?” she asks, her voice is sexy as hell.

“Raw.” I interject. “And I can do that, so long as you don’t mind me making a mess again.”

“I don’t mind.” She kisses me hungrily, making me even harder. “But I’d like to try something first.”

“Whatever you want, baby, just say the word.”

She smiles mischievously, pushing on my chest, indicating that she wants up. I roll over onto my back, wondering what she’s got up her sleeve. Surprising the shit out of me, she goes right down below my belt, and starts sucking on it, making me hiss instantly. “You are a vixen, darlin’.”

She winks at me, and then stuffs me all the way in her mouth, and I can’t look…it’s too good. One hand is at the hilt, while the other is squeezing one of my nipples, and she’s driving me nuts in seconds. Her mouth takes me all the way in, sucking me so good, making me squirm and writhe at her touch, and then as if I didn’t think it could get any better, she picks up speed, swallowing to maintain the friction, making me lose my fucking mind. The noises coming out of me are inhuman and I don’t recognize my own voice.

When I feel like she’s going to suck the cum right out of me, I sit upright, grabbing her before I blow my wad right in her mouth, and I plant her back into the mattress, burying myself deep inside her, hitting her magical spot, on contact, driving into her quickly, making her climb fast. It’s so intense, her fingernails are digging into my shoulders and her back is practically off the mattress as she absorbs the immense pleasure. We’re both moaning, panting, feeling every inch of each other, as the bed squeaks at its loudest yet.

It’s like we haven’t seen each other in months when it’s only been days, and then her body clenches, surprising me, and I think it surprises her, too, because her mouth opens wide and she cries out loudly. The feel of her coming while I’m inside her pushes me over the edge, and I come hard with her, slapping my body into hers, feeling as much intensity as she does, and as the rhythm slows, her back rests on the mattress, and I bury my head in her shoulder. Our chests are rising and falling quickly as we catch our breath, coming down from the most intense orgasm I think either of us have ever experienced.

After a beat, I swallow, lifting my head to kiss her. “God, I love you, baby.”

“I love you, too.” She kisses me back.

Then it occurs to me and I shut my eyes tight. “Shit.”

“What’s the matter?”

I rest my forehead on her chest. “Dang, baby, you got me so…” I catch my breath, “so riled up…I forgot to put a condom on…and to pull out, too.”

“Uh oh.”

I lick my lips, lifting my head. “Not that I’m blaming you, doll. Don’t get me wrong.”

“No, it’s okay. It takes two, like they say, sweetheart.”

“Yeah.” I lick my lips again, and kiss her, almost apologetically. “I’m sorry.”

“Carson, don’t you apologize.” She insists. “It’s both of our responsibilities. We got…caught up in the moment. It happens. It’s okay.”

I search her eyes. “God, I love you to bits, darlin’. I thought I couldn’t love you more, but I do.”

She smiles. “You are the sweetest man. I love you to the moon and back.”

“You make me feel like anything is possible, baby. Like it doesn’t matter what happens, as long as we’re together, we’ll make it through.”

“I feel the same way, Carson.”

She grins and then bites her lip. “I have a confession to make.”

I smile, chuckling. “What’s that, baby?”

“My family were all nosing around, wondering stuff about you, so I showed them your Facebook profile.”

Another chuckle. “Baby, I haven’t been on there in years. I don’t do social media.”

“I know. The profile picture was from years ago. Probably from your first year in Afghanistan.”

“Yeah, probably.”

“I just have one question.”

“What’s that, darlin?”

“When were you going to tell me that it’s your thirtieth birthday next weekend?”

 

***

 

I went to check out Chase’s plant yesterday and I must say that I’m very impressed. The place is like a well-oiled machine and he’s only been in business for a year. I spent almost the entire day with him, going through forecasts, current projects, financial data, the works, and I’m really interested in going in with him. I just need to talk to my family and to Kerry-Ann, to see how they all feel about me going into business with guns. I suppose they always knew that I would, considering that that’s what I was studying while I was overseas, but I feel that it’s best to talk it out first, with the people that I’m closest to.

Chase is tickled knowing how impressed I am. I don’t hear from him until Saturday again, and as I pick up the phone, I smile. “Hey, buddy, how’s it hanging? You still recovering from spending the whole day talking shop with me the other day?” I chuckle.

His voice is weak, ragged, like he’s about to cry. “Carson….please….help me….”

…and the line goes dead.