No More Secrets: A Small Town Love Story (The Pierce Brothers Book 1) (18 page)

Her breath caught, and then their gazes.

She felt the tall, liquid wall building, cresting inside her.

“Carter,” she whispered, frantic with need and fear.

“I’m with you,” he said, nuzzling her neck. “Let it happen, Summer.”

The dam broke, and she felt the climax flood every cell of her body. Carter was with her, pouring into her. They became one, the aftershocks forging them together.

It felt like hours later when Summer finally brought herself back to life. Carter was passed out on his stomach, an arm outstretched anchoring her to his side.

She reached for her phone on the nightstand and squinted at the screen.

“It’s ten o’clock!” She shook Carter’s shoulder.

His hand blindly reached out until it found her forehead and shoved her head back down on the pillow.

“Carter.” Her voice was muffled by the hand that now covered her mouth.

She wriggled free and crawled on top of him to press her face to his. “We slept in,” she whispered.

He opened an eye and then closed it.

She pinched him. He growled.

“Don’t we have work to do?”

“I fed all the animals and paid Jax fifty bucks to turn off the irrigation systems so we could sleep in. Figured you were probably tired since we didn’t get much sleep the night before last.”

“You’re the most amazing man on the planet. I’m going to make you breakfast,” she announced. Summer pressed a kiss to his cheek and slid off of the bed. She pulled on the shirt he had worn the night before and padded out of the room.

Carter dragged himself out of bed. He’d better go save his kitchen.

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hey had oatmeal and fresh juice on the side porch, enjoying the rainy morning.

“What time do you have to leave tomorrow?” Carter asked.

“I have a production meeting at two at the office. So I’ll need to leave here by ten.”

“I was thinking we could have dinner just the two of us tonight.”

“That would be perfect. I’d love that.”

“You didn’t let me finish. It turns out that my mother has other plans. We’re having everyone over tonight and grilling.”

“One last hurrah,” Summer said sadly.

“It won’t be the last,” he promised.

She sipped the juice and swallowed hard. Tomorrow night she’d be in her own bed in her own apartment, three hours away from the farm, from Blue Moon, from Carter.

She thought she’d be excited about going home. It was where she belonged. Lord knew she had more than enough work to catch up on. And a good story to write. But there was no Carter Pierce in the city. And there was no senior editor job in Blue Moon.

They would just see where things went.

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hey spent the rest of the day in companionable silence, both working in Carter’s office upstairs. Summer made headway on the article and handled magazine-related tasks while Carter muttered over spreadsheets and certifications.

They packed it in around four when the rain broke. With a kiss on her forehead, Carter left to take care of some things outside.

Summer used the opportunity to half-heartedly pack what she could. Choosing an outfit for tonight and laying out what she would wear in the morning. She carefully folded pants and shirts, tucking them into her suitcase.

She spotted the shirt Carter had worn the night before on the floor of the closet and with only a moment’s hesitation tucked it into the bottom of her suitcase.

She would give it back. Eventually.

In the meantime it would be her little secret.

She dressed for dinner in a white cotton sundress topped with her new denim shirt and proudly pulled on her boots for one last wear on the farm.
Would she have the occasion to wear them in the city?
she wondered.

She clattered down the stairs just as Carter came through the front door carrying two covered bowls. He looked at her wolfishly.

“What?” Summer asked.

He dumped the bowls on the hallway table and snatched her off of the stairs. Carrying her into the formal living room, Carter pinned her against the wall. “You look good enough to eat,” he whispered against her ear, teeth snagging on her earlobe.

She shivered against him as his hands skimmed her curves. The front door opened again, but neither of them moved.

“I see Carter didn’t get very far with the food.” Phoebe’s voice carried into the living room.

Summer couldn’t quite catch her breath as Carter, ever so gently, lowered his mouth to hers. Completely at his mercy, she poured herself into the kiss. It was like touching the sun. The heat of it warmed her blood.

“What was that for?” she gasped, when he pulled back.

“In case I don’t get to do it again for the next few hours.” He tucked her hair behind her ears. “Now get out of here. I can’t get un-hard with you looking at me like that. And if I go into the kitchen with a raging hard-on I’m going to scar my family for life.”

Summer glanced down at the crotch of his jeans. “Later? Please?”

“I promise.”

She moved out of his grasp, away from the wall. “Oh, and Carter?”

“Yeah, honey?”

“I’m not wearing underwear.”

She heard the sharp intake of his breath as she skirted around the corner into the foyer. She was still grinning when she delivered the covered bowls to Phoebe and Franklin in the kitchen.

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hey gathered en masse on the farm for Summer’s last night there.

Even Joey graced them with her presence, though she kept a safe distance between her and Jax at all times. Undeterred, Jax made it his mission to get as close to her as possible. To Summer, it was like watching a slow motion chase.

Phoebe and Franklin canoodled by the stove in the kitchen while Beckett glared at them until Carter dragged his brother outside to help with the grill.

When the food was ready, they opened the doors of the little barn to eat at the enormous wood plank table. They stacked drinks and dessert on a smaller table against the wall. Citronella candles kept the bugs away and made for a more festive feel.

There was grilled chicken a la Beckett for the meat-eaters and tasty veggie kebabs with a tangy marinade. Garden salad, pasta salad, coleslaw, and baked beans rounded out the evening’s menu.

Carter took the seat on her right, his hand resting high on her bare thigh at the very edge of her dress hem.

“What are you doing?” she whispered to him as dishes were passed around the table.

“Torturing you the way you torture me.” His eyes glinted with lust.

Summer stifled a gasp when his hand moved another inch higher under the skirt of her dress. “Carter Pierce! You behave yourself at the dinner table,” she hissed.

He took her hand and brought it between his legs, pressed it against his hard cock. “Do you see what you do to me, Summer?”

Conversations flowed around them as his erection throbbed under her hand.

“Should I see if I have the same effect on you?” His hand slid another inch higher, his fingers stroking her inner thigh.

Summer’s eyes went wide. She was shaking her head when someone passed her the coleslaw. Summer very nearly bobbled the dish when Carter traced a long finger over her very slick folds.

She felt her muscles quiver, demanding more. Needing to be filled.

One-handed, he took the dish from her.

Another brush from the pads of his finger had her knees opening to take more. He withdrew his hand.

“More later, baby,” he whispered, spooning coleslaw on to her plate.

Summer shut her legs and her mouth and tried to get a grasp on her sanity.

Joey had scored a position at the end of the table next to Beckett. But when he got up to get another beer, Jax slid neatly into his place and swapped their plates. Joey pretended not to notice, but scooted further away until she was teetering on the edge of the bench.

“Jax, quit crowding Joey,” Phoebe ordered. “Where are your manners?”

“We were literally raised in a barn, Mom,” Jax teased. But he slid an inch or two away from Joey.

“Who wants dessert?” Joey demanded, jumping up from the bench. She hurried over to the other table and away from Jax.

Phoebe sighed and shook her head.

After generous portions of Joey’s homemade apple crisp were sampled, the first murmurs of going home started.

“Before anyone leaves,” Summer said, pushing back from the table. “I have a little something for all of you.”

She rose and pulled the small gift bags out from under the beer table where she had stashed them. “I just wanted to thank all of you for welcoming me into your home. I never thought I’d say this, but I can’t wait to come back to the farm next month.”

She rounded the table handing out the bags.

One-by-one they each pulled out forest green t-shirts with the new Pierce Acres logo on them.

“Summer, these are wonderful,” Phoebe said, holding her shirt up to admire.

“She designed the logo herself,” Carter said, grinning. He got up and dropped a kiss on Summer’s cheek. “Let’s see how they fit.”

He pulled off his shirt and stuffed it in the bag.

Beckett and Jax followed suit. Joey gave her a thumbs up from across the table. Three shirtless Pierce brothers made for an impressive sight.

Summer had snuck a peek at tags for Carter and Jax, but she’d guessed for Beckett. Thankfully, they all fit.

Phoebe hugged her. “You’re a sweet girl. Look how happy you’ve made my boys,” she said, grinning at her sons. “Especially that one.”

“Thank you for being so welcoming. I’m going to miss you,” Summer said.

Phoebe hugged her again. “We’ll be seeing you again. I’m sure of it.” She moved to help Franklin pull his t-shirt over the polo he wore.

“Got one for Franklin, too, huh?” Beckett grumbled.

On impulse, Summer rose on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss on his cheek. “I’m going to miss you, Mr. Mayor.”

“Come back and see us soon,” he said, his face softening into a grin. He squeezed her arm. “And if you ever decide to upgrade your Pierce brother, give me a call.”

“Beat it, Beckett,” Joey teased. She held her t-shirt, logo up, in her hands. “Thanks for this,” she said to Summer. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“You’re welcome. I was thinking about getting you one that said Future Mrs. Pierce that you could wear around town.”

Joey’s eyes narrowed. “Very funny. I’ll be sure to send you a clip of the ‘I want to have six babies with Carter Pierce’ article that’s due out soon.”

“Appreciate that. I’ll frame it and hang it at work to remind me what real journalism looks like.”

Joey frowned, as if sensing danger. And Summer realized Jax was approaching.

“Well, I’ll see you around,” Joey said hastily. “I think I’m going to head home.”

“Say hi to the horses for me,” Summer called after her.

“Bring your boots next month. We’ll go for a ride,” Joey said over her shoulder.

“I should probably walk her home,” Jax said, watching her go.

Summer put her hand on his chest and held him in place. “What you should probably do is give her some space instead of stalking her like a jungle cat.”

“I gave her eight years of space.”

“Give her time to get used to you being here.”

Exasperated, he ran a hand through his hair.

“Jax, honey, will you help me pack up the leftovers?” Phoebe called from the table.

“Sure, Mom.” He turned back to Summer. “I’ll see you in the morning before you go, right?”

“I’ll be here.”

Jax leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll miss you when it’s just me and that bearded lug here.”

“Get your mouth off my girl,” Carter ordered, wrapping his arms around Summer from behind.

“What can I say, you’ve got good taste,” Jax winked.

“Carter, honey, we’re going to pack up the leftovers in the kitchen and head out,” Phoebe called, her arms full of plates and platters.

“Leave the dishes in the sink. Summer and I will clean up out here and take care of them later.” He gave Phoebe a peck on the cheek and shook Franklin’s hand.

Franklin pulled Summer in for a one-armed hug. “It was a pleasure meeting you, even under the unfortunate roof and robe circumstances.”

“You make a mean ziti, Franklin. I’ll be thinking of you when I’m back in New York trying to find a good Italian place.”

“Anytime you get hungry, just come on back,” he chuckled.

And just like that they were alone in the barn.

Wordlessly, Carter slid the door closed and turned to face her.

Lit only by candles, the room flickered with shadow and flame. He looked like equal parts angel and devil. How could something so breathtakingly perfect belong to her?

Summer didn’t realize she was backing away until she felt the rough edge of the table behind her.

“You look beautiful tonight.” He said it quietly. He hadn’t touched her yet and already her blood was humming.

“You look pretty good yourself,” she said, smoothing the t-shirt over his chest to break some of the tension she felt rising in her body. It fit just as she’d imagined it would. Soft cotton layered over hard muscle.

He brought his hands to her waist and moved between her legs. She opened her thighs wider for him, dragging her hemline higher.

“Thank you for the shirts,” he said softly.

“Thank you for ... everything, Carter.” She meant it. The past week had taken her to places she never expected. Sparked feelings she didn’t know she was capable of having. She felt ... hope. She wasn’t ready for it to end.

Carter brought his fingertips to her face. Tracing along her jaw, her neck, they threaded into her hair.

“Kiss me, Summer.” His whisper brought a tremor to her body.

She leaned into him, laying her lips on his, savoring the taste and texture of the raw power that he kept leashed.

He let her lead, let her gently deepen the kiss until it bloomed like a flower under the sun.

She ran her hands up his arms, over his chest, gripping his shoulders.

She felt him harden against her and cuddled into him closer.

“Do you know what I thought about all evening?”