Chapter Twenty
Lauren
I Googled.
I should not have Googled.
A 10-26 is a fatal vehicle accident. Fatal.
And on Shephard’s Pass!
They close that road for a reason. Everyone in town knows better than to try and drive on Shephard’s Pass in any kind of weather.
It’s also been four hours. And I haven’t had any response from Brad. I even text Miriam, she hasn’t heard from him either.
I also should not have done that. Now she’s worried too.
Fuck! Why did I ignore him? What if something happened and the last thing I said to him was that I couldn’t be in his life anymore?
Oh, my God, what if what I said distracted him from paying attention on his way up the mountain?
No. No, Lauren. You can’t spiral like this.
My phone dings from the couch next to me, and I grab it so quickly I punch myself in the leg.
Lacey: Girls, how are we all doing?
I try not to be disappointed, I should be grateful I have friends that check in on each other. That care how the others are doing. But my heart needed it to be Brad.
Ding. Ding. Ding. This time I don’t rush. I give my heart a moment to settle from the panic of not hearing from Brad. I should have let him explain. The accident was traumatic for him and Abigail. I should have known that there was stuff he kept from me so I didn’t worry more than I was already at the time.
Scarlett: Just lost power. But we’ve got a fire in the fireplace, a stack of smut, a man willing to try the spicy scenes, and a lazy ass lab in my lap. winking emoji
Addy : Still good here. Limbs are coming down but luckily we don’t have tons of trees near the house.
Willow : Me? Oh, stuck in the house with four freaking Keaton men. Why did I think it was a good idea to tell Gunnar’s brothers not to risk driving home today? Anyone remember why I cared earlier? I could use the reminder.
Oh poor Willow. Gunnar and his brothers are something else when they’re together. I can’t imagine being cooped up with them. They’re probably acting like four teenage boys in her home right now.
Me: I’m good. Alone, unlike Willow. Feel free to walk down if you need a break, girl.
Willow: Don’t tempt me. It wouldn’t take me long and I’d risk life and limb for a moment of peace to read some smut. Don’t worry, Lauren, I wouldn’t make you try the scenes with me. laughing emoji
Lacey: Don’t go now, Willow. Be strong. I have Oliver and three of his friends. One. Two. Three. What the hell was I thinking?
The group chat makes me chuckle as they all go on about their nights. It’s working as a minor distraction from worrying about Brad. But I still pull up the Lupine Valley scanner page on social media, scouring anything I can find to tell me Brad is okay.
We have a rule that whenever there’s an emergency situation like this he checks in once an hour, and if he’s in the middle of a call, he texts me immediately after. It’s now been five hours since I’ve heard anything.
Do I deserve it after how I’ve treated him this week, or what I said to him before he left? Probably not.
I sigh, snuggle under my blanket deeper, and put my phone within eyesight as another Christmas movie plays on Hallmark.
Then just a moment later I’m submerged in darkness with only the glow of the embers in my wood stove.
It’s been three days without power. Or cell service. The town is destroyed from the ice storm. Trees still lay across roads, massive limbs lean on power lines and I still haven’t heard from Brad.
I tried to walk to the police station yesterday, but I couldn’t. It’s too slippery and too cold. Since the original freezing rain, it’s dropped to single digits. There are inches of ice on the roads and sidewalks.
I’m just about to snuggle into the couch with another book when there’s a pounding on the door.
I run to the door and whip it open. “Brad!”
“Uh, nope. Sorry. Just me.” Colton stands sheepishly at the door, like he’s wishing he announced himself instead of just knocking.
“Sorry, Colton. I just haven’t heard from Brad since the night we lost power. And I couldn’t get to the station yesterday, because I landed on my ass every five steps. I have the bruises to prove it.” I rub my ass cheek absentmindedly, the softball size purple bruise a nice reminder.
“Well, I’m here to save you. Gunnar got power back at The Bar this morning. Showers. Hot food. Beer. And people.” He laughs at his own joke.
“A shower? A real, hot shower? Don’t tease me now.” I cross my arms over my chest. A hot shower sounds like actual heaven right now.
“Yup. And he’s making up pizzas as we speak. I think Willow demanded he get his brothers out of their space. Unfortunately the only way there is by snowmobile.” He steps to the side, opening his arm out to show me how he arrived here.
“Right. Come in, gosh I’m sorry. Do you mind waiting a minute while I grab stuff to shower and some clean clothes?”
He steps in and snow falls from his boots, instantly melting on my floor. “Take your time. Lace is showering now. We spent the morning bringing Oliver’s friends home. It was nice for him to have kids to play with, but three days with no power and that many kids? One of the parents showed up this morning on his sled and we realized what a great way to get these kids home and around town.”
“I can imagine she’s enjoying that shower in peace. I’ll be quick though!”
I skip to my room to pack a bag in less than five minutes and then I start bundling up in all my snow gear. Thankful more than ever that Brad always drags me out in the winter on some adventure. I at least have all the gear I need to go for a negative temperature snowmobile ride.
“Ready!” I appear back in my living room with not an inch of skin showing from under all my gear. The snow pants, jacket, fleece balaclava covering my whole face, beanie, and gloves leave absolutely no exposed skin to get frostbit by the negative temperatures.
Colton laughs, “Come on Michelin Man. Let’s go.”
I follow him out and hand him my bag so I can lock up behind us. I feel giddy at the thought of a hot shower, food, and my friends. It’s just the pick me up I needed today. But if people can get around on the sleds, why hasn’t Brad come by? Surely someone would have told me if anything happened? I’m going to cling to that hope.
Before we get on the sled, Colton turns to me. “I probably should have said this earlier, but I’m a guy who was just cooped with multiple children for three days so don’t be too mean to me, but I did see Brad out on the police sled this morning. He’s out checking on some of the electricity crews, but he’s off finally after that. Some of the other deputies are coming in to relieve this crew now that they can get around a bit on the sleds.”
I smack him on the chest, not that my muffled hit did much through the many layers of clothing. “Yeah you should have fucking started with that! Is he coming to Gunnar’s?”
“I doubt it, the bags under his eyes were pretty deep and dark, I think the adrenaline of the storm is wearing off and he’s probably going to crash immediately.”
“Oh.” I don’t want to admit what a disappointment that is. I need to see him. I need to know he’s safe, and that someone is taking care of him, or at least that he’s taking care of himself. He’s so selfless, he would keep working until he literally passes out. I need to touch him to let the reality of him being okay sink in, then I need to apologize for not trusting him.
Colton loads us up on the sled, and he speeds off to The Bar. A line of snowmobiles are parked out front where the usual cars should be.
I see Darlene heading into the diner, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith heading into the general store.
“Hey Lauren!” Darlene has owned the diner for as long as I can remember.
“Hey! You opening up?”
“Sure am. Lupine Valley needs their coffee! Plus, I’m going a little stir crazy sitting at home. I finished twelve books!” Wow. I only got through five.
The sounds of snowmobiles, four wheelers, and generators battle in the air. I wave to Darlene and head into The Bar. I feel like a kid let loose in a candy shop at the thought of that hot water spraying down on me, washing away three days worth of sugar binging and napping.
Thankfully, Lace is out when we get there, and I don’t have to wait long for my fantasy of a hot shower.
I was right. That shower was divine. Quick, because I didn’t want to hog all the shower time, but slipping on a clean pair of leggings over my freshly shaven legs, with a nice thick pair of wool socks and a baggy crewneck. Mmm. Nothing better.
I walk back down the stairs to The Bar, and the smell of garlic, mixed with cheese and dough mingles in the air. I step into the bar area and let Colton know the shower is free for him. Unsurprising, Lacey follows him. A pang of jealousy pulls at my gut.
“Lauren, gorgeous as ever,” Wyatt Keaton says to me.
I finish piling my hair into a damp bun on top of my head, “And Wyatt, flirty as ever, I see.”
He winks at me, “You know it. Ain’t no other way to be. G just took out some fresh pizzas, you care to join me?”
I’ve met Wyatt a few times, he’s the biggest flirt, but completely harmless. I hold out my hand to him, “Of course, please show me to my hot, fresh pizza.”
“I got something hot and fresh for you,” Wyatt throws his head back laughing at his own joke.
I roll my eyes, and against my judgment laugh along with him. He pulls out a chair at a table with his other brothers for me, and Liam hands me a plate.
“Mmm this smells so good.” I inhale deeply letting the garlic and basil scents fill my senses.
I let Gunnar’s brothers regale me with tales from their inn while I demolish half a pizza by myself. I’m not even embarrassed.
Wyatt is leaning over to whisper in my ear, something making fun of Liam with a customer he tried to hit on, when her husband came in. I laugh at his joke and Liam scowls at us.
Liam is the most serious of all the brothers, and I gather that he is the most shy. Something that the other Keaton brothers don’t possess. Wyatt doesn’t have a shy bone in his body.
The door to the bar shuts letting a cold blast permeate through the dining room. Brad walks in looking like a disheveled mess.
His hair is sticking straight up, probably from tugging on the ends, a nervous habit he’s had since high school. And Colton was right, the bags under his eyes are worse than I imagined. A deep purple appears sunken into his skin.
He doesn’t even look in my direction before trudging over to Gunnar.
I hear him ask if anyone is in the shower and then he drags his feet slowly up the stairs.
My heart pangs seeing him so worn out and every fiber of my body wants to go help him shower and slide into bed.
After a quick five minutes he is back downstairs sliding into a bar stool, but his eyes catch on something.
And that something is Wyatt’s arm around the back of my chair.
With as much energy as he can muster he stalks over to us before picking up Wyatt’s arm and dropping it in his lap.
“Brad, what are you doing? You need to be sleeping, not here,” I plead.
“No. What I need is you. Every part of you. All of you. All the time. L. I’ve had nothing but time to think about you these last few days, and I’ve tried to get to you, but the trees, and then the calls, and it was so goddamn busy that for the first time in my life, I hated my job.”
“Brad—”
“No. Let me get this out. You can’t just tell me that we’re done. That you can’t be in my life anymore, then tell me that you love me, when all this time I thought I was in the friend zone, trying to find a way out of it. Then, then, you—you just drop this perfect opportunity right in my lap when you told your Mom that we’re dating. And I take it. And I run with it. Did you—did you know that your parents know?” he asks.
“I only found out on the last day. Mom told me,” I admit.
“Your Dad. He’s a sneaky old bastard. I'll give him that. They’ve known since dinner at my parents’ house. Momma called yours immediately. They knew we were lying. But your Dad, you know what that man made me promise?”
“What?” It comes out as a breathy whisper.
He stalks toward me, and pulls me into his arms. “He made me promise to keep you happy. And I told him, always. I will always keep you happy because your happiness means more to me than anything on this planet. And then you cut me out. And then you confess that you love me. And you know what, you beautiful, stubborn, pain in my ass?” He smiles down at me. “I fucking love you with every breath I take, with every beat of my heart. I have loved you since we were kids. Since high school. And I plan to love you until the day my heart doesn’t beat again. You are my whole world. So there is no fucking end here.”
His lips smash to mine, in a hungry all encompassing, soul crushing kiss.
I’m acutely aware of all the hooting surrounding us, but I don’t care. Not one bit.
His lips leave mine, and he uses his arm to pin me tighter to him. He looks pointedly at Wyatt.
“She,” he says pointing to me, “is mine.”
Wyatt holds up his hands in defense, “Got it dude, I’m backing away.”
I glance back at Wyatt who gives me a thumbs up. Now I’m wondering if all the flirting was a ploy. Something that, of course, the Harper girls put him up to.
“Can we go home now?” he asks. “I promise I will tell you everything you want to know the moment I wake up.”
“Absolutely!”
I gather up all my things, and get dressed again in all my gear. I’ve barely pulled the goggles over my eyes before Brad is dragging me out the door.
I wrap my body around his on his snowmobile, my arms grasping tightly around his stomach, our bodies perfectly pressed together as he speeds to my house.
As much as I’d like to say that Brad took me home and ravished my body all night long, I’d be lying. He slept for sixteen hours straight. My body nestled up against his on the couch by the wood stove for most of it.
A necessity more than a luxury for him. He had been on shift the whole time catching cat naps here and there.
I’m holding out hope that we’re next for power to come back on. The neighbors across the street got it back not too long ago. Phones still aren’t working though, which while I’ve been with Brad, has been nice. No nosey friends texting me questions.
I make an attempt to get out of bed in search of breakfast, but Brad tightens his hold on me.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asks with sleep still lacing his voice.
“To the kitchen. I think I’m out of pop-tarts.” I may have used the excuse of not being able to cook anything else so that’s what I ate. But reality is, I love those things. They’re probably the reason for my ass being as big as it is.
Brad pulls me to him and leans his forearms over my body, “How about I just eat you for breakfast?” A wicked grin takes over his face.
Before I can answer he’s disappearing down my body.
He drags my panties down my legs slowly, torturously slow. He kisses my inner thigh, working his way up my leg.
“I missed this,” he confesses. “I missed you.”
He places each of his hands under my ass and lifts me up to his face.
“Just so we’re clear.” He looks up at me. “You are mine now. No one else. Just mine.”
“Do you really—”
He cuts me off. “No, no. We will discuss this after. Just needed to make sure you knew you were mine. All mine, and this is mine, forever.”
He drops his head and darts out his tongue to lick me straight up my slit. His teeth nip lightly at my clit, causing my hips to buck off his hands, which only pushes his face further into me. He licks and sucks at my sensitive bundle of nerves pushing me closer and closer to the edge.
“Fuck, I missed how responsive you are to me,” he whispers without getting too far from me.
“Brad. Please. Give me more, I need you. Inside of me.” I pull at his hair, then his shoulders, trying to get him back up my body so he can be inside of me, I need to feel him fill me.
“No ma’am.” He plunges two fingers deep inside, and places his lips back over my clit. Circling with his tongue. He curves his fingers so he hits my G-Spot just right, and I’m done for after just a few more strokes and licks.
My orgasm ricochets throughout my body and he doesn’t stop, drawing out every last bit of it he can.
When the tremors stop, he leans back on his knees, my legs on either side of his body. That wicked grin comes back.
“God, you are so fucking gorgeous.”
He stands, removing his boxers, and strokes his cock a few times, getting ready for me.
I scramble to get up and remove my own shirt but his large hands stop me and he seamlessly pulls the shirt over my head on his own.
He kneels back on to the couch we used as bed. I’ve never been so thankful to have bought the largest couch I could find with an ottoman. It’s basically a king size bed when put together.
He lowers his body back over mine. I reach around him, feeling the muscles ripple in his back. He leans down, crashing his lips to mine. A desperate plea for all the years we wasted, and the week we missed each other’s bodies.
I let my hands travel down his stomach, feeling each muscle affected by my touch, until I reach his cock. I grasp the base and squeeze lightly before I move my hand down his length.
He sucks in a breath at my touch.
“You can’t do that. I won’t last. It’s been too long since I’ve felt your body.”
I chuckle. “It’s only been a week.”
“I waited years to feel you, and once I got a taste, it was like a drug. So yes, a week is too long.” He hooks my legs in his elbows and moves them to his shoulders.
He plunges his cock inside me just like I begged for earlier. The feeling is euphoric and he’s right, a week was too long.
He moves deliciously slow, pulling out and slamming back. I reach down to touch myself, I need the friction.
His gaze follows my every move. “What are you doing?”
“I need…just…I need more,” I pant out.
I circle my clit, giving myself the pressure I need.
His gaze is stuck on my fingers. “Fuck, gorgeous. Do you know what watching you touch yourself while I slide in and out of your beautiful body does to me?”
I bite my bottom lip. “No.”
“It’s the fucking hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”
I writhe under my own touch and his cock filling me. He reaches out and rolls my nipple between his fingers.
“Oh, God. Brad, faster,” I beg.
He picks up his pace, and every time he slams into my body he pinches my nipple. My fingers move faster around my clit and the orgasm slams through my body. As soon as I start pulsing around Brad’s cock he goes over the edge with me. He collapses on top of my body, stilling inside me while my tremors pull every last bit of his orgasm.
He lifts his body up a bit, wiping the hair out of my face. “I love you, L.”
I kiss him, pulling him to me. I want to feel his weight on me.
We make out and cuddle a bit more until I break the silence. “Brad, can we talk now?”
I sit up, and he sits with me, facing each other with only the sounds of the fire crackling in the background.
“You want to know what I’m hiding about the accident.”
“Yes. I do.”
He reaches out to grasp my hands in his. “I just need you to know that I wasn’t hiding it because it was bad. I was hiding it to protect you. I don’t want you shouldering any of the guilt I have been. So knowing that, do you still want to know the whole truth?”
“Yes. I need to.”