Heart of the Hunter (109 page)

The sheriff’s son, Phil, and his buddies were also at the bar and Forrester was on good terms with all of them also, despite the fact that he’d beat them up on multiple occasions.

Even things with Gris had seemed to work out. Elle had been kind to him when she said goodbye. She’d encouraged him to become a better man and treat his future women better, and it seemed to have worked. Last time his name came up, Elle said he’d sent her a message to say he was sorry and that he wouldn’t be bothering her anymore.

Forrester watched Phil and his buddies and his mind wandered to Kelly. She was a nice girl, beautiful, confident. He wondered why she was still single. Her situation was a little complicated. She’d sort of adopted her younger brother, and put a lot into looking after him. It was almost as if she had a child of her own, given the amount of time she spent with the kid. Forrester knew that sometimes, guys were scared off by commitments like that. It was too much responsibility for them. That was probably the reason Kelly hadn’t found love yet in Stone Peak. But as he watched Phil and his buddies, he knew that none of them was the man for her. She was a passionate girl, feisty, and she’d been through a lot. It would take a real man to tame a girl like her. Forrester wondered if such a man would ever come to Stone Peak and find her.

When he saw the girls coming into the bar he got up to greet them. Elle was with Kelly and Grace, and they were all dressed beautifully. They were having a meal together to celebrate the good news of the baby. Forrester wondered if it might also be a little bit of a goodbye dinner. He’d spoken to Elle of visiting his family back in California and it was something that was going to happen pretty soon. It would just be a visit, it wouldn’t be goodbye forever, but he knew that Grace and Kelly would be sorry to see Elle go, even if it was just for a short time.

“You ladies look absolutely stunning,” Forrester said.

“Thank you, Forrester,” Elle said.

Kelly and Grace nodded. Forrester helped Grace into the booth, offered a hand to Kelly, and then lifted Elle up off her feet and put her down on his side of the booth, getting in next to her.

“A bottle of champagne, Harry,” Forrester said.

“Not for me,” Elle said.

“Oh, sorry, love. I totally forgot. And some sparkling water too, with lemon.”

Elle smiled. Forrester looked at her and couldn’t take his eyes off her. She drove him wild now. If someone had told him a month ago that he could be even more attracted to her than he had been at that point, he’d have laughed and told them it wasn’t possible. Now, he knew just how real his love for Elle was, and it was deeper and stronger than he’d ever have imagined possible. The knowledge that she was giving him a baby, it almost made his heart burst. She was going to do all that, just for him. She was going to allow her body to be transformed, she would carry his child, go through all that physical change, and then go through the pain of childbirth, all out of nothing but love for him. It was overwhelming. He prayed he was worthy of all that love and sacrifice. And he prayed that he could somehow repay Elle for that gift, through the love he gave her in return, and the effort he would put into ensuring her happiness, every single day of his life.

He smiled at the girls. They were talking about what they were going to order and when Harry came over they gave him their orders. Forrester ordered a steak and fries.

“Kelly,” he said, when Harry left, “can I ask you something a little personal?”

Kelly looked at Elle. “I’m not sure, Forrester. That depends on what it is.”

Grace laughed. “I know what it is,” she said.

Forrester nodded at her. In his experience, Grace was usually right when she had a hunch.

“He’s going to ask what a beautiful girl like you is doing, being single,” Grace said.

Kelly blushed. She was shy. Forrester felt bad for embarrassing her. “You don’t have to answer,” he said.

“No,” she said. “It’s fine, it’s just, it’s complicated. It’s a very long story, Forrester. I’m not sure I could get into it tonight.”

“I totally understand,” he said.

“Maybe one day, when we have more time, I can tell you my whole story.”

“I’d like that,” Forrester said.

Elle smiled. Forrester was pretty sure he’d just put his foot in it. There was more to Kelly’s situation than he’d realized. It was painfully obvious to him that all three of the women knew far more about it than he ever would.

Elle came to his rescue, dispelling the awkwardness he’d created.

“So, Forrester, husband to be?”

He smiled when she said that. It made his heart beat harder. It also made his cock stiffen for her.

“When are you going to take me to meet your family?”

“Really?” Forrester said in surprise.

He wanted nothing more than to take her back to the Socorro Valley, but he’d been afraid she wouldn’t want to go. He wasn’t sure why he’d thought that. Maybe because Elle seemed so happy at the diner.

“You really want to go meet them.”

“Silly, I’m dying to meet them. They’re going to be my new family.”

“Yes they are,” Forrester said, and put his arms around her and pulled her in close.

Chapter 49

Elle

E
LLE’S EYES GREW WIDER AND
wider as Forrester drove her through the Californian mountains and down toward the coast.

“This is so beautiful, Forrester.”

He put his hand on her lap and smiled at her.

“You’re not nervous, are you?” he said, reassuringly.

She shook her head. She should have been nervous, but the truth was, Forrester was so protective of her and so attentive, that she felt perfectly comfortable.

“I had no idea you were from such a nice place,” she said.

“Well, I’m from Stone Peak. But this is where I learned how to be a man, thanks to Lacey and her father and the rest of the Brotherhood.”

Elle smiled. “Forrester,” she said, “what exactly is the Brotherhood.”

“Well,” Forrester said, “I know that’s a question that I’ve been dancing around for the past few weeks, and I know it’s something that you need to know about, but I want Jackson to be the one to tell you about it.”

“Why Jackson?”

“Because his path crossed with yours once before. Not that either of you knew it. But he and Faith were once involved in something that I think you’d be interested to hear about. They’re going to be the best people to explain the Brotherhood to you.”

Elle nodded. It was all very mysterious but she didn’t mind. She trusted Forrester. She knew he was a good man. He wasn’t an angel, and she had no illusion that the Brotherhood was something sweet and innocent, but she could tell it wasn’t something she needed to worry about.

When the truck came to the crest of the mountain pass and she saw for the first time, the immense and startling beauty of the Pacific Ocean in front of her, it took her breath away.

“Forrester, this is beautiful,” she said.

“It’s all yours if you want it,” he said.

She had to take a deep breath. She knew Forrester had family there, and she just had a job as a waitress back in Stone Peak, so she wasn’t opposed to the idea of settling in the Socorro Valley. She still hadn’t made up her mind, though. She’d have to see the place first. And what about Kelly and Grace? One thing made it all very easy for her. Forrester had made it amply clear that they would live where
she
wanted, and would raise their family in the way she felt was best, so she knew she wouldn’t be pressured into anything. She just had to see the place, meet the Brotherhood, and make up her own mind.

She felt excited as they wound their way down into the mountain valleys. For the first time in weeks, she felt warm. It was a lot warmer along the California coast than the Rocky Mountains had been. She took off her jacket and nestled into Forrester, who had a habit of driving his truck with one arm around her shoulders, which she loved.

When they pulled down the driveway of his house, she again had her breath taken away.

“Forrester, you never told me you were rich.”

Forrester shrugged and said simply, “You have no idea, sweet heart.”

She shook her head. The house at the end of the road was a Spanish style, colonial mansion, surrounded by gently sloping hills that were covered in fine vineyards. In front of the mansion was a huge fountain, and she could see the edge of a pool off to the back. In the courtyard were old pickup trucks, but also some vintage looking ones, as well as motorcycles, expensive luxury cars, and sports cars. There was no doubt that the Brotherhood had money.

“You’re the most eligible bachelor I’ve ever met,” she gasped.

“I’m not just a bachelor, sweet heart, I’m your fiancé, and your baby daddy. You’ve got me for life.”

“Most eligible baby daddy,” she said, and laughed. “I like the sound of that.”

“Come on,” he said, parking the truck. “I can’t wait to introduce you to the gang.”

Elle was touched by how excited he was. It really was a dream come true. She felt like a princess in a fairy tale. Here she was, being brought to what was essentially a castle, by a man who was essentially a prince, and she was having his baby and getting married to him. It was something any girl would kill for. And it was all happening to her, the girl who’d come from nothing, the girl who’d believed that no one on earth would ever love her, the girl who’d been sold by her own mother.

“I’m so lucky,” she said, as Forrester helped her out of the truck.

“I’m the lucky one,” he said, and then pulled her out of the truck and into his arms.

“What are you doing?” she gasped.

“I’m bringing you across the threshold. You’re not my wife yet, but this is my home, and I’ll be damned if I let you walk in.”

Elle felt like she would have swooned if she’d been on her own feet. As it was, she clung to Forrester, nestling her face into his beautiful neck.

“Whoa,” someone said from the direction of the mansion. “Look who’s here.”

When Elle looked up, she saw that his entire family was standing on the front steps, waiting to greet her. It made her heart flutter to see how welcoming they all looked.

“Hey,” Forrester said, seeing them for the first time in over a month.

“Family, this is my fiancée and future mother of my baby, Elle Barclay.”

They all spoke up in greeting.

“And Elle, this is my family, or should I say, our family.”

Chapter 50

Elle

F
ROM THE MOMENT ELLE SET
foot in the mansion, she loved the place. She felt welcomed and safe there in a way that she’d never felt in her entire life. Every single member of Forrester’s family had generously welcomed her into their life.

Lacey had been the first, hugging her so tightly she felt like a long lost family member. Lacey also kissed her cheeks and Elle felt a pang at her heartstrings when she saw that Lacey was crying. Faith was also crying.

“You’re so beautiful,” Lacey said.

Elle didn’t know what to say when Faith pulled her close to her and gave her the warmest, most welcoming hug she’d ever felt.

“Thank you,” Elle managed.

“You’ve made Forrester so happy,” Lacey said. “Even just through the phone I can tell. It’s like night and day.”

“Really?” Elle said, flattered that they thought so highly of her already.

“Oh yes,” Faith said. “You’re exactly the thing that man needed. He was like a wild animal when he left. Now, all I have to do is look at him to see the difference.”

Elle looked at Forrester. He was hugging his brothers, Jackson, Grant and Grady, and Elle smiled. She hadn’t realized she’d had such a noticeable impact on him. She thought back to the day she’d first seen him.

Was he really that different then from how he was now?

Jackson was the first of the men to greet her. He lifted her up into his powerful arms and hugged her tightly. Without even letting her feet touch the ground, Grant took her from Jackson and hugged her. Finally Grady, who was younger and a little shyer, gave her a slightly more timid hug, although it was still very warm.

The women were both holding babies and Elle kissed them both and hugged Sam, who was Faith and Jackson’s son.

“You’re pretty,” Sam said to her.

Elle blushed, although she felt a little silly being so sensitive to the compliments of a twelve year old.

“She sure is,” Grady said.

Everyone looked at Grady. He was the last brother who was still single.

“What? She is,” he said, shrugging.

Forrester could tell she was a little overwhelmed and took her by the hand and led her up the stairs. Everywhere Elle looked, she saw beauty and style. The house was a mansion, a real mansion. It was like something out of a movie, with marble pillars, wrapped staircases, perfect decor, and views over the vineyards that people would pay a lot of money for. It was so beautiful.

He led her up to his room, and she gasped when she saw it. It looked more like the presidential suite at a luxury hotel than the bedroom of a man Forrester’s age.

“This place is incredible,” Elle said.

“Did you like my family?”

“I loved them,” she said. “Forrester, they’re so beautiful. They’re so welcoming. This almost feels too good to be true.”

Forrester nodded. “That’s how I felt when I first got here too,” he said. “I was just a kid. I’d been through hell and back in my life. I’d been in and out of every institution in the system, all over Montana. When Lacey’s father brought me here, I thought I was dreaming. For the first six months I kept looking for the catch. It really did seem too good to be true. I caused a lot of trouble during those first few months.”

“But it was true?” Elle said, almost desperate to know the truth for herself.

He nodded. “It was true,” he said. “You know, sometimes there are people in the world that defy your expectations, Elle. They give you more than you ever imagined anyone giving you. More love, more opportunity, more happiness.”

“I see that,” she said.

“Like you, Elle. That’s what you did for me.”

“Me? What do you mean?”

“From the moment you met me, Elle, you did nothing but give. You gave me your trust first of all. Then, when I was locked up in the jail in Stone Peak, you gave me your loyalty and faith. You didn’t give up on me. You waited. You searched. You believed in me. Then, once we were reunited, you gave me the most exquisite pleasure a man could ever imagine. I mean it. Your pussy is like a national treasure, babe.”