Burning Desire by Marie Harte

Chapter Twenty-One

Tex cleaned his home to within an inch of its life, knowing Wyatt had been screwing with him by leaving deliberate messes all over the place. The same way he had growing up.

Tex laughed. Such a dick. But Wyatt looked good. He seemed healthy, and he’d been back to his old, protective self, keeping an eye on Josh. And Bubbles.

The sadness remained, but it didn’t feel as sharp. He could smile a little, thinking about how much Bubbles was going to love his momma. Sara Ann loved animals, and he knew she’d carry a soft spot for the bright-eyed, affectionate canine. His daddy too would fall all over himself for the dog while acting like he didn’t much care. Yeah, not a bad life at all that Bubbles was heading to.

Tex rubbed his eyes and wished he didn’t feel like such a heel for crying. He had a right to cry, sad over losing his dog. Not that she ever had been. Technically, he’d been fostering Bubbles. But they’d bonded. He hadn’t had a dog in years, not since old Cricket had passed and they’d buried her on Old Dog Hill at home. He’d loved the beagle and cried a river when she’d died.

At least this wasn’t a death. But…Bree had seen him lose it. He’d cried on her shoulder. Though most women said they wanted a sensitive guy, did they want one who cried over a dog? Would she dump him and kill their relationship over it?

Then again, in his opinion, dogs were just about the best things on the planet. If she couldn’t understand that, then maybe she wasn’t the woman he thought she was. But she’d held him. And she’d cried too.

Damn it. Bree belonged with him. They had to get past this holding pattern to the next level. He had to commit to taking her to see the guys. She hadn’t said no, but he hadn’t made more than a general request that they all get together.

And now they wanted to meet her and talk to her, get to know her.

Reggie worried him the most. Brad would be cool. Mack would flirt a little, but he already liked her. Reggie would be the tough nut to crack, the man still hurting from a hard fall, having given his heart to a woman who didn’t want it. What if Reggie said something that offended her? Or Bree decided that dealing with four guys instead of just the one she wanted was too much?

“Fuck.”

His phone buzzed. With a groan, he put the basket of laundry down—how many towels had Wyatt used, anyway?—and answered. “Brad?”

“Hey, Tex. You okay?”

Tex sighed. “Yeah. It was tough.”

“Missing Wyatt and Josh already?”

“Missing Bubbles.” He added, “And them, I guess.”

Brad laughed. “She’ll be good with your folks. Your brother and cousin looked great. I can’t believe Josh is old enough to join the Marine Corps.”

Tex smiled. “I know. I guess I’m getting old.”

“Yeah, almost thirty, aren’t you?”

“Over the hill, you mean?”

“Up yours.”

Tex grinned.

“You want to come over to Reggie’s for dinner? I’m bringing the beer. Avery’s making enchiladas, and Mack’s making his mom’s famous potato salad.”

“What’s Reggie making?”

“He said he’s hosting, and we should get off his back about cooking and dating—should the subject come up.”

“Sounds like Reggie.” Tex couldn’t wait to give his pal some crap about both. “Sure. What time?”

“Five thirty. Avery wants to eat early, and Reggie agrees.”

“Sex marathon later?”

“If she’s lucky,” Brad said, sounding way too smug.

“Ew. Gross, Brad.”

Brad chuckled. “I’ll count you in for dinner.” He paused. “Unless you were bringing a plus-one?”

“I would, but Bree is meeting her friend tonight.”

“No problem. We can meet her next week.”

“Whatever.” That will be great. The guys will love her. So why are my hands sweating?

“See you tonight. And bring some of that root beer Wyatt was drinking the other night, would you? And some vanilla ice cream. I have a hankering for root beer floats.”

“Gotcha. See you in a few.”

They disconnected, and Tex felt better about life. He had a hot girlfriend with plans to canoodle later in the evening. A great group of friends he happily called brothers. Family caring for each other and his dog, and a job he loved. What more could he want?

***

Bree had no idea why Carrie canceling happy hour bothered her so much. She knew Carrie had been telling the truth about an emergency meeting with a client. Carrie never lied about work, and she certainly wouldn’t use such a sad excuse to get out of a personal confrontation with Bree. Carrie would just up and admit she didn’t want to do dinner.

But that left Bree with nothing to do until meeting up later with Tex.

She should give him time to be alone. He’d had a long week with his family and a tough day saying goodbye.

But she couldn’t get his tearstained face out of her mind. He’d been so open, so vulnerable.

And so amazingly beautiful in that moment. She regretted not having that image on film, because it would have reached into hearts everywhere and squeezed. Just one shot of Tex’s tearstained face while clutching Bubbles. Of his face hidden against Bree’s shoulder while he let the tears fall.

She would never have taken his picture and shared it, rather she wanted to look at it and remember his pain. To know he could feel so deeply for something or someone he loved.

She sniffed, not allowing herself to cry and ruin her mascara. Geez, even she missed Bubbles. The house would feel so empty without her.

Pausing in thought, she wondered which house she referred to, his or hers? Then realized it didn’t matter. She felt at home with Tex in both places.

What the hell did that mean?

At loose ends,she texted Tex. Change of plans. Want to do dinner or are you busy until later?

He texted immediately back. Have plans. Want to join me?

Yes!

Great. Come to this address. Hope you’re hungry.

Hmm. Maybe she should have asked about his plans before blindly agreeing to join him.

An hour after she’d arrived, she seconded that idea.

“So,” Reggie Morgan said, scrutinizing her from head to toe. “What have you been up to, Bree Gilchrist? And why has it taken you this long to run the gauntlet?”

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

***

Reggie didn’t often interfere in his friends’ personal lives. Oh, sure, he teased and generally tortured Mack on a daily basis, but that was all in good fun. He and the guys knew they had each other’s backs. He loved them all. Brad with his stern approach to life, now regularly easing into chill mode thanks to his family and Avery.

Then there was Mack, the happy-go-lucky prankster without a care in the world other than his Chevelle. Everyone loved Mack. Everyone also loved to get one over on Mack. Of all their crew, though it would kill Tex to admit it, Mack was the man the other teams always accepted as a substitute. Simply because, of the four of them, he was the most affable. Tex, despite his easygoing temperament, could be a real hardcase. Probably why he’d made such a good Marine.

And speaking of McGovern, the aw-shucks master of understatement, the fast-moving Southern boy who laughed and loved with abandon, girls here and gone on a weekly or monthly basis, was smart at his job, could “charm the dew right off the honeysuckle” (he’d once heard Tex’s mom describe), and strong—physically, mentally, and emotionally—the guy was nervous, Reggie could tell.

Reggie had been through heartbreak. He still hadn’t fully healed. No way in hell he’d let Tex suffer that same fate, not when the guy had been head-over-heels for Bree Gilchrist from the jump.

In all the years Reggie had known Tex, he’d never seen Tex get so smitten for so long. By Reggie’s calculations, Tex had been bonkers for this woman for nearly a year. A year. That was a new record, considering the longest Tex had ever even dated a woman was for maybe a few months.

He studied Bree, knowing at once what Tex saw in her. On the surface, she had long legs, boobs, a face that had literally graced magazines, and a quick intelligence. But beyond that, Reggie saw compassion, laughter, wit, and an elegance not often found in the young and beautiful.

Oh, yeah. This woman had the power to crush his friend’s soul, no question.

“So,” he said, scrutinizing her from head to toe. “What have you been up to, Bree Gilchrist? And why has it taken you this long to run the gauntlet?”

She just looked at him. “Gauntlet?”

He nodded. “You know what I’m talking about.”

“I do?”

“Pick your poison.” He nodded over his shoulder at the open game cabinet, waiting.

She tensed before spotting Mack waving at the open cabinet and doing his best Vanna White.

“And what do we have here, Pat?” Mack asked the crowd. “Why, we have Scrabble! We have Parcheesi. Hmm. I see Monopoly and Clue. And, what’s this? Pictionary. What a night for game play!”

Bree laughed. “He’s such a goof.”

“No kidding.” Reggie turned to see Mack wiggling his brows. “Would you get off the cabinet door, you idiot? It’s not meant to be hung on. You’re not a kid, you know.”

“Words hurt, Reggie. All I’m saying.”

Tex and the others laughed. The Texan eyeballed his woman, saw she was handling everything just fine, and turned back to his conversation with Avery.

“Okay. Let me see.” Bree went to the cabinet and pulled out one of Reggie’s favorite games tucked behind the others. She raised a brow at him. “The gauntlet, hmm? Well, Mr. Morgan? Time to play.”

Two hours later, the scary woman had beaten them at Rummikub four times out of five. The game was played with two to four people, so Brad and Avery had paired up to make one team, and Tex and Bree to make another, leaving Reggie and Mack on their own. Each team picked numbered tiles and hid them in a tile rack that only they should be able to see. The teams played in turn, the goal to set down all of one’s tiles first for the maximum number of points, eventually playing off the opponent’s tiles.

The guys and he never played for points, just to see who could go out first.

But between many rounds of beer, nachos, some ugly table talk—thank you, Avery and Bree—and some ribald humor even Reggie found hilarious, Reggie was having a blast.

Like Avery, their newest addition to the group, Bree liked to win. She had smarts, and she could manipulate her opponents by acting one way while playing another.

He liked that in an adversary. He also liked the way she and Tex argued about little things. They didn’t agree on everything, which he’d never considered healthy. Avery and Brad got along but not so much they didn’t snap at each other occasionally, keeping their relationship tight.

He watched, as did the others, though they were less obvious about it. Tex didn’t let Bree have her way with everything, but he did cave to many of her decisions, allowing them their wins.

“Seriously, you guys have to be cheating.” Reggie frowned. “No way you keep getting all the good tiles.”

Tex chuckled. “Reggie, even if I wanted to, there’s no way I could be cheating. First of all, you scrambled all the tiles so much that even Brad couldn’t get what he wanted. I know, because I looked.”

“Hey.”

“And second, Bree has her meaty claws hooked so hard into the rack, I can’t get close enough to play our tiles any more than I could play yours. Oh, and by our, I meant hers.” He nodded at his scowling girlfriend.

“Back off, cowboy. This is my game. You can have the next one.” She added under her breath, loudly enough for them all to hear, “If you can manage to win without me helping.”

“Ha. I heard that,” Tex growled at her.

“All bark and no bite. Play like you have a pair,” she growled back then stuck her tongue out at him.

“Oh, you’ll pay, Goldie.”

She blushed. “Would you shut up and quit stalling the game?”

He gave a dark laugh and drank more beer.

Reggie hated to admit it, but they balanced each other nicely. One seemed to know when to give so the other could take. Conversation, game play, just being there for each other and enjoying the other’s company. It was clear.

Tex might be mooning over the battalion chief’s daughter, but she was mooning over their Texan Romeo right back.

Mack leaned close as if to whisper and said in a loud voice, “Aren’t they just the cutest?”

Tex spit beer over himself, making Bree and the others laugh.

Reggie groaned. “Why does the mess always happen at my house?”

Everyone pointed at Mack, who shrugged. “What? Something I said?”

Reggie couldn’t help but laugh. “Go get a rag.”

“I hear, and I obey.”

“If only.”

By the time the night wound down, everyone but Tex and Bree had left. As they started out the door, Reggie pulled Bree back. “What? No hug?”

“Hug?” Her eyes brightened. “Are you kidding? Heck, yeah.” She smiled and held onto him with the grip of a grizzly before easing away. “Thanks for such a fun time, Reggie. You guys had me laughing so hard, my stomach hurts.” Then she leaned closer and whispered, “So did I pass the gauntlet?”

“With flying colors.” He kissed her cheek. “Try not to hurt him too much, okay?”

She looked puzzled.

“You’ll fight and make up and fight again. He’s from Texas and has a hard head. It’ll happen.”

She chuckled. “Okay.”

Tex had stepped away and returned. Reggie didn’t want to think the guy might have been pissing on his lawn.

With a leer at Bree’s legs, Tex asked, “What’d I miss?”

“Nothing, cowboy. Go wait in the truck, okay?” She clicked the fob of his keychain. “I’m driving.”

“Sure thing, sugar lips.” He laughed as he walked on unsteady feet to the truck.

“Sugar lips?” Reggie tried not to laugh and failed.

“That’s a new one. Courtesy of your many bottles of beer.”

“Hey, I was having root beer floats.” He sighed, not wanting to have to say it but needing to. “Bree, we know the pressure you two are under to keep this quiet, but if you’re going to get serious, it can’t just stay between you two. Unless you become hermits. Or hobbits.”

“Hobbits?”

He grinned. “Sure. On your journey to Middle Earth, may you find love and happiness. Live long and prosper.”

“Mixing up your fantasy and sci-fi should be a crime against nature.”

“Aw, man. If Tex doesn’t stick, remember my number,” he teased, knowing he’d never date a brother’s ex. It went against the guy code.

She knew it too, because she rolled her eyes. “Oh, sure. Tease me, why don’t you.” Then she grew serious. “I know we have decisions to make, but it means a lot that you guys care. Thanks, Reggie.”

“Drive safe.”

She nodded and joined her drunk, now singing cowboy in the truck.

“Friends in Low Places” drawled down the street as they left, and Reggie watched until the truck’s lights vanished.

“Good luck, Tex. You deserve to be happy.” He sighed, rubbing the ache in his heart, feeling alone once more. “Because the alternative is such a bitch.”

***

Tex woke in the morning with the absolute worst hangover. It tasted as if something had died in his mouth.

“Well, look who’s awake? Hello, princess.”

He groaned at all the damn noise. Was she using a megaphone or what?

“It’s eight o’clock in the morning.” Bree laughed and bounced on his bed. That didn’t have that kind of bounce.

Her bed?

He blinked up at her sitting on her knees over him, unfortunately dressed. The sight of her weird chandelier-looking overhead light fixture clearly told him he was in the wrong house.

“I’m not…home?”

“Man, did you have a lot to drink. What, was that two cases that took you down?”

“Five beers too close together, I think.” He groaned again. “Why do I feel so terrible?” He left the bed for the bathroom and, after doing his business, decided to shower. The hot water felt good, as did using what felt like half a tube of Bree’s toothpaste as he brushed his teeth with his finger.

The night’s events started to filter back. Having so much fun with the guys and Avery. Watching Bree fit in as if she’d always been a part of the group, a part of him. Letting her drive his precious truck while he sat next to her and marveled at her beauty.

Then coming into her home, taking forever to pee in the bathroom, focusing super hard on not hitting anywhere but the actual toilet.

Her putting him to bed while he told her how incredible, lovely, and sweet she was. Talk about being a lovin’ kind of drunk.

And then waking up to her smiling, super cheerful, annoying face. Hey, he could love the hell out of her. Still didn’t make him a morning person.

Now feeling minty fresh and awake, he toweled off, wrapped the towel around his waist, and walked back into the bedroom.

Only to find a topless Bree lounging on the bed.

A woman he hadn’t slept with in way too long.

Tex dropped the towel and felt his dick swell, as if the caress of her gaze wrapped around him and squeezed.

“My, my. Someone sure seems pent up.”

He walked toward her, watching her watching him. Her gaze seemed glued to his dick. Perfect.

“Is this the part of my dream where you prove what a good girl you are?”

“Is the part where you lick me until I scream?”

“Am I hearing a shout-out for a sixty-nine?”

She laughed. “Maybe.”

“But, darlin,’ panties don’t work in a sixty-nine.”

She scooted back on the bed and shimmied out of her panties. Then she spread her legs and fingered herself.

I’m in heaven.“Oh, yeah. That’s it. Get nice and wet.”

She moaned and showed him just what he’d been missing. But before he could dive in, she put out a hand to stop him. “No way. You said sixty-nine. Stick to your guns.”

“Hey, I’m happy to make you scream. I can wait.”

“Maybe I can’t.” She crooked her finger at him and, when he neared, yanked him down for a kiss. Her lips destroyed him, and her small hand wrapped around his cock. Thoughts became too much. She could lead him anywhere she wanted if she’d squeeze a little harder.

She pulled back to nip at his lower lip. “Turn around. Let’s race.”

“Fuck, yeah.” He kissed her again, so in love with the woman, it wasn’t funny. “Winner gets to torture the other for a while longer.”

“Deal.”

He moved on top of her and turned around. In seconds he felt hands on his cock then a warm, wet mouth sucking. It wouldn’t be long for him at all.

Desperate to please her, he zeroed in on her sex and started kissing, licking, and sucking in time to the magical mouth between his legs. Her drive increased his own, and they were both soon moaning and gyrating as passion overwhelmed any sense of a challenge.

Her groans vibrated around his cock. And then the little witch started dragging her fingernails over his inner thighs. She cupped his balls, playing with the taut sac, sending him right to the edge as her tongue worked its own magic.

He thrust a finger inside her, working her with his mouth and hands, so close, he couldn’t stop. And then she was coming, taking him right along with her as she sucked and wouldn’t let go. Tex let the release wash over him, drowning in her scent as he shot down her throat. Ecstasy entwined with the love he felt for this woman who could take him places he’d never before been.

When she gave him a gentle push, he withdrew from her mouth and pulled away from her swollen clit. With a last kiss, he crawled off and collapsed beside her, a sudden shiver of sensation working its way out of him.

“Oh my God.” She put her head on his chest, her breaths coming in soft puffs over his nipples, stirring him anew though his body demanded a rest. “That was so good. I needed that.”

“You and me both.” He blew out a breath, contemplating the glorious morning. “You need more protein though.”

“Oh, do I?” She laughed. “You must have been pent up. I nearly drowned.”

“That’s because I’m hung like an elephant. I’m my own fireman, putting out fires with the mighty power of my massive hose.”

“Okay, I’ve heard enough.”

He laughed. “Good, because I was starting to gross myself out. So, who won, do you think?”

“I did come first, so technically, you won.”

“I really did. You sucked so hard, when you came, and I was just…gone.” He kissed her hair then pulled her over him, bringing her close so he could access her mouth. After a while, he sighed and ran his fingers through her soft hair.

“Does it bother you?” she asked, her cheeks rosy.

“What?”

“Tasting yourself on my lips.”

“I think it’s sexy as hell. Does it bother you when you tasted yourself on my mouth?”

“Not at all. I’m amazing.”

He smiled. “Bree, I feel so damn good when I’m with you.” I don’t want the world to interfere. But I know one of these days it will. He didn’t want to have the future talk with her, not now. But they’d need it soon. “What do you say I try to make you breakfast this time? After I get up and get dressed.”

“Sounds great.” She leaned back to kiss him again. “And by the way, next time you go down on me, brush your teeth again first. The minty thing you were doing was out of this world.”

He smirked. “So, I guess we’re both winners.”

“Sure, sure. But if there’s no number one, we just have a lot of number twos. And I’m not awarding you a participation trophy anytime soon, so keep working on your game.”

He barked a laugh and left for the bathroom.

***

After darting into the hall bath to do a quick cleanup, Bree hurriedly dressed in loungewear for the day in a pair of loose, cotton shorts and an oversize sweatshirt and skipped into the kitchen to make a pot of much-needed coffee. She’d love for Tex to try to make her breakfast, but she was taking no chances on her caffeine.

After downing a cup, she poured him one and started to take it to him. What was he doing back there, anyway? She listened and chuckled. Another shower? My, he certainly did like getting dirty and cleaning up. She wondered if she messed her man up again, would he go for a bath next time? Maybe he was part dolphin. Or a merman who liked seducing mortal women.

He’d surely seduced her out of a few brain cells.

The doorbell rang.

She glanced at the clock on the mantle. Eight thirty on a Saturday? What the heck? Sure, she’d normally be up and moving by now, but it seemed a little early for someone to be calling on her. She put the cups down and moved to the door.

The doorknob twisted.

Frozen, she watched in horror as the door slowly opened, not sure what to do. But she had a six-foot-four fireman not far away.

Then her father walked through with a tray of coffee in one hand and a paper bag clenched between his teeth, his hand on the key. He saw her and smiled, the key in his pocket once more, the bag and coffee in hand.

“Hey there, sweetheart. I’m sorry to barge in on you like this but…” John Gilchrist trailed off as a whistling, bare-chested Tex walked down the hall towel-drying his hair. He wore shorts at least, but the happy grin on his face and lack of clothing spoke volumes.

“Bree, did you—” The sight of her father stopped Tex in his tracks. To his credit, he didn’t bolt or turn pale. Instead, he nodded. “Morning, Chief. Bree, uh, could I talk to you for a sec?”

“Sure. I’ll be right back, Dad.” She darted down the hallway, following a fast-moving Tex, and shut the bedroom door behind them. Her bedroom. With Tex. Probably not the best move she could have made.

“So, um, that’s your dad.”

“Yep.” She tried to figure out what to do. “He saw us. You. Me. Well, really, first me, then you.” I’m twenty-seven, for heaven’s sake. Why do I feel like I’m eleven again, caught getting my first kiss?

“Bree?”

“What?”

Tex gave her a soft kiss and smiled. “I think the cat’s out of the bag. Why don’t you go talk to your dad while I put a shirt on? I’ll be right out to back you up.”

“Are you sure?”

“I am.”

“Okay then.” Time to confront the dragon guarding his nonvirgin of a daughter.

Won’t this be fun?