Accidental Mail Order Bride by J. S. Cooper

Chapter Twenty-Five

“Kayaking was so much fun.”I looked in awe at Austin, as we made our way to the large cloth he put down on the grass. Beau was unpacking a hamper that Amelia had made for our lunch, and Olivia was helping him by unpacking paper plates and plastic forks and knives.

“You had fun, huh?” Austin said as he stroked my hair.

“I had a lot of fun.” I nodded. “Thanks for bringing me.”

“Well, it wasn’t really my idea. It was Beau’s.” He laughed.

“You shouldn’t be playing with my hair, though. What if Beau sees?”

“So what?” Austin shrugged. “I hate to break it to you, Lucy, but he seems more interested in your friend.”

“Oh no,” I pouted. “What am I going to do?”

“You don’t care, do you?” He looked worried and nervous.

“What do you mean, ‘do I care’?”

“I mean, are you upset that Beau’s not interested in you?”

“Why would I be upset?”

“I don’t know. Maybe because—”

“Austin, I like you. You have to know that, after everything that we’ve done.”

“I wasn’t sure, maybe, if you wanted me and my brother or—”

“I just want you, Austin, but I think we should talk to your mom. We have to let her know that Beau and I don’t have feelings for each other like that, and that you and I do.” I paused. “I mean, if you do, of course.”

“I know you’re not seriously asking me if I have feelings for you.”

“I am asking because—”

“Lucy Kensington, I adore you.”

Without any warning, he picked me up, threw me over his shoulder, and began running back to the picnic.

“What are you doing? Austin!” I giggled as I swatted him on the shoulders. “Put me down!”

“No, I won’t,” he huffed, not slowing down.

“I’m heavy, you can’t keep running with me. We’re both going to fall.”

“You’re as light as a feather, Lucy, my love.”

He eventually reached the other two and Beau and Olivia looked at me in surprise. Beau blinked as Austin putting me down.

“What’s going on, guys?”

“Nothing much,” Austin said. “I was just telling Lucy how much I like her.

“What?” Beau looked at me and then his brother. “I don’t understand.”

“What don’t you understand?” Austin raised his eyebrows at his brother, then pulled me into his arms and kissed me hard. I kissed him back and then pulled away, flustered. I looked at Beau and Olivia. Olivia was grinning at me, but Beau just looked confused.

“This wasn’t exactly how I’d planned on telling you, Beau,” I said, “but Austin and I kind of have a connection, and—”

“I see.” Beau blinked, looking like he didn’t know what to say. Austin cleared his throat.

“Look, brother, I’m pretty sure you know this, but Lucy is not a good match for you. And you should be thanking me because you guys would not have been the perfect couple. Lucy is perfect for me in every way. And so, she’s mine and that’s all there is to it.

“Okay, then.” Beau nodded slowly. “So, you guys are together or what?”

“Isn’t it clear?” Austin said. “Yes. We’re dating.”

“And Mom knows?” Beau asked.

“We’re going to tell her later.”

“Okay, I think you better tell her soon,” Beau grinned, “Because Mom pulled out her wedding dress this morning. And I heard her telling Dad that she thinks it’s going to fit Lucy perfectly.”

“Oh, my gosh!” My face felt like it was on fire. “Oh no, this is a hot mess. I feel horrible. How am I going to tell her that it didn’t work out? She really, really wanted us to get married.” Beau looked away from me. “You’re not hurt, are you Beau? Or upset?” He turned to face me, then shook his head.

“I’m not upset at all. You’re a beautiful lady, Lucy, but we didn’t have that spark.” A wide smile crossed his face. “And now I know why. I guess you had it with my little brother.”

“Yeah, she does,” Austin said. “So don’t worry about it.”

“I’m not worried about it. I think you guys should just tell Mom when we get back because I have a feeling that she’s going to have a lot to say.”

“Well, she can say whatever she wants.” Austin shrugged. “I mean, I know she has the best intentions for all of us, and I know she wanted you two to be together, but does it really matter if Lucy is with you or if she’s with me?” He grimaced. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that how it came out.”

“No, it’s okay. I understand what you mean.” I rubbed his shoulder.

“I’m just so glad that we can be open and honest with everyone now. I’m sorry, Beau. It’s just that Austin and I, we’ve had a connection from the very first time we met.”

“Yep. Lucy fell for me as soon as she saw my big, gorgeous green eyes.”

“Whatever, Austin,” I laughed. “You’re so full of yourself.”

“Maybe,” he leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. And then he whispered in my ear, “But I’d like you to be full of me more than that.”

I blushed and shook my head. “You’re absolutely crazy.”

“What? You know I want you.”

“I know you want me, but your brother is right there. And so is Olivia.”

“What are you guys whispering about?” Beau said, chuckling. “I can’t hear a word you’re saying.”

“I don’t think Lucy would want you to hear what I was saying,” Austin said with a laugh. “Would you, Lucy?”

“No, I would not. Now shall we eat, guys? I think we’re all hungry.”

“Well, I’m definitely hungry,” Olivia spoke up. She was grinning from ear to ear.

“Okay. Well, we’ll be there in a second.” Austin said, grabbing my hand and pulling me to the side.

“What are you doing?” I asked as he walked me over to another field.

“I just wanted to gather some more flowers for you.”

“Oh?” I looked in surprise.

“I bet you didn’t know we had a sunflower field here.”

“Wow, they’re beautiful,” I said, staring out at the field of tall, beautiful golden sunflowers.

“I remember you told me that your mom really loved them, right?”

“Yeah. They were her favorite flower.”

“So let’s pick some,” he said, “To remember your mom.”

“You’re so sweet, Austin.” I stared at him in surprise. “When I met you that first time, I never would have guessed.”

“What? That I had a heart of gold?”

“Yeah. I never would have guessed you have a heart of gold.”

“And you know what else I have, Lucy?”

“No, what?”

“I have a cock of rock.”

I groaned. “Really, Austin? Are you going to ruin this beautiful moment with that?”

“With what? A cock of rock? You don’t think that’s amazing? You don’t think that’s the most brilliant thing you’ve ever heard in your life?”

“No, I don’t.” I laughed. And then, because I couldn’t stop myself, I reached over and grabbed his hard cock through his jeans. He froze as my fingers pressed through the material and squeeze what was definitely a very large cock.

“What are you doing, Lucy?”

“Well, I wanted to see just how rock-like it felt.”

“You can’t just—”

“I can’t just what?” I interrupted him, as I undid his belt buckle and popped open the top of his jeans.

“Lucy, what are you doing?” His eyes were wide now.

“What do you think?” I said as I unzipped his pants and then I slipped my hand down the front of his jeans through his boxers and squeezed his cock, skin to skin.

“Oh, Lucy …” he moaned. “That feels amazing.”

“Good.” I stroked him for a few more seconds then I pulled my hand out. “Okay, I’m done. Let’s pick the sunflowers now.”

He groaned. “What do you mean you’re done? Are you joking?” He looked at me. “I want you so badly right now. I just want to lay down in the fields and—”

“Oh, Austin, do you really think I’m going to sleep with you for the first time in a field of sunflowers with your brother and my best friend literally a hundred yards away?”

“I was hoping so.”

“Not going to happen.” I zipped his jeans back up, buckled his belt, and then stepped back. “Now, come on. Let’s pick some sunflowers, and then go and eat. I’m very, very hungry.”

“Well, I’m hungry too. And it’s not for the food on that table, believe you me.”

He looked me up and down, and I just smiled at him sweetly. I loved that I turned him on and I loved that he wanted me so badly, but this was not where we were going to make love for the first time. No matter how badly I also wanted him as well.