Tempting Brooke: A Big Sky Novella Read online

  “He’s a good kid,” I reply. “He’s been driving it for me for a year, and I’ve never had a problem. He’s never been late for a shift, and he’s never called out sick.”

  “Wow,” he says in surprise. “That’s more than I can say about some of my engineers.”

  “His work ethic is incredible, and he’s a great kid.”

  He also needs this job so he can help support his mother because his dad is a piece of shit.

  But I don’t say that to Brody. That’s not my story to tell.

  I pull in behind the truck at the wedding venue. It’s an old barn at the base of the mountain with a killer view of the lake and the nearby mountains.

  If I ever get married, it’ll be here.

  I’m pleased to see the tables are set up inside the barn, already covered in linens, so we can set up centerpieces.

  “Hey, Brooke,” Dean Hernandez says with a wave.

  “Hi, Dean.” I smile brightly and offer the man a hug, then turn to introduce him to Brody. “This is—”

  “Brody Chabot,” Dean says with a grin, shaking Brody’s hand. “Man, I haven’t seen you in a long-ass time. How have you been, Brody?”

  “Great, thanks. How about you? What are you doing out here?”

  “I own this place,” Dean says, holding his hands out at his sides and looking around. “I don’t raise cattle, so I decided to make it an event space.”

  “It’s the perfect place,” I add with a grin. “And Dean’s a dream to work with.”

  “I have the fridge cleared out for the flowers that’ll go outside tomorrow,” Dean says. “Feel free to load it up.”

  “I will, thanks.”

  Dean nods, then shakes Brody’s hand again. “It sure was great to see you, Brody. I hope I’ll be seeing you around.”

  Brody doesn’t reply as Dean walks off, probably headed out to see to more wedding chores for tomorrow.

  “Okay, Micah, go ahead and put as many of the outdoor flowers as you can in the fridge. It’s air conditioned in here, so the centerpieces will be fine overnight.”

  With his marching orders, Micah takes off to get his work done, and I do the same. “Come on, Brody. This is going to be fun.”

  * * * *

  “I don’t remember the last time I was this exhausted,” Brody says as he follows me into my house and collapses on the couch, staring at me with glassy eyes. “You do this every week?”

  “You get used to it,” I assure him.

  “I won’t,” he says with a small smile. “And with all due respect, thank God for it because while I enjoy helping for a bit here and there, I don’t think weddings are my thing.”

  “It’s not for everyone,” I reply and sit next to him. We’re not touching, but the electricity has been humming between us all damn day. He would steal a touch here or there as he’d pass by me.

  I’d send him coy smiles.

  It’s been a full day of foreplay.

  And now we’re both too exhausted to do anything about it.

  Damn it.

  I’ve thought of little else besides that kiss in this living room the other day. I’d like a repeat with far less clothing.

  Our time is running out. Brody leaves Sunday.

  And that just depresses me, so I push the thought aside, refusing to think about it.

  “Your wheels are turning awfully fast for an exhausted person.”

  I chuckle and turn my head to look at him. His face is inches from mine. He smells earthy, from being outside most of the day.

  Surprisingly, he doesn’t smell bad.

  Which he should because we also sweated our asses off in this summer heat.

  But no, not Brody. He’s too sexy to smell.

  The thought makes me wrinkle my nose.

  “See?” he asks, reaching up to smooth his thumb over my nose. “You’re thinking hard.”

  “I need to stop thinking and go take a shower. I’m gross.”

  “Me too,” he says with a sigh.

  “You’re not gross, and I’m not sure how you pulled that off.”

  “Trust me,” he says. “I’m gross.”

  “I have two bathrooms,” I offer. “You can use my guest bathroom if you want.”

  “Your hot water heater will support two of us in the shower at the same time?”

  You could just come get in with me.

  But instead, I just nod. “It’s a new one. It should be fine.”

  Without giving it further thought, he stands and walks away, pulling his dirty shirt over his head. “Thank you.”

  Good lord, look at him go.

  The back side of Brody isn’t a hardship to watch in the least. Before I get myself all worked up into a tizzy, I walk into my own bathroom, start the shower, and shed my sticky, dirty clothes.

  I turn the music on my phone on, as I always do when I’m in the shower, set the phone against the wall on the vanity, and then get under the cool spray of water, letting it wash away the grime from today.

  Taylor Swift is shaking it off through my speakers as I push my head under the water and lather up my hair.

  I have a lot of hair, but it’s fine, so it’ll dry quickly in this heat.

  Once I’m rinsed and clean, I shut off the water and reach for a towel, but then realize that I washed towels yesterday and forgot to return them to the bathroom.

  Crap.

  Maybe Brody isn’t out of the shower yet and I can just dart over to the dryer and get one.

  I bite my lip as I open my bathroom door, walk through the bedroom, and poke my head out the door.

  The coast is clear.

  I hurry across the hardwood floor, leaving water droplets that I’ll have to remember to soak up later. Just as I turn the corner to the laundry room, Brody walks out of the bathroom, covered only in a towel.

  We both come to a screeching halt, and his gaze immediately falls over my body, setting me on fire all over again.

  “Shit,” I mutter and cover myself the best I can. “Sorry, I didn’t have a towel.”

  He doesn’t reply. He just rushes to me, lifts me in his arms, covers my mouth with his, and carries me directly to my bedroom.

  Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.

  “Fucking hell, do you know what you do to me?” he growls as he lowers me to the bed. His towel fell off somewhere in the hallway, and all I can see is Brody’s body as he moves over me, each muscle flexing with his movements.

  “Wow, you’re sexy.”

  I feel my eyes go wide at the realization that I just said that out loud, but then I don’t care when he plants one leg between mine, cups his hand over my left breast, and kisses me like he hasn’t eaten in months and I’m an all-you-can-eat buffet.

  Thank the baby Jesus.

  He raises that knee and presses it against my core. I have no shame in grinding against him, moaning as my clit sends zings up my spine.

  “You’re so fucking sweet,” he mutters, kissing down my neck to my collarbone. “I’ve done my best to stay away from you the past few days.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Because I want to do this, and I didn’t want you to think I was a forward asshole, but I just don’t care right now, Brooke. I can’t keep my hands to myself. Your body is what dreams are made of.”

  “No complaints,” I assure him with a smile and dig my fingers into his wet hair, pulling him closer to me. “Touch me all you want as long as I get to return the favor.”

  “Tell me you have condoms.”

  I freeze, and then cuss under my breath. “I have an IUD, and haven’t needed condoms in a very long time. They’d be expired by now.”

  His smile is instant and wolfish. “I’m clean. I promise.”

  I just smile and grind against him again, making us both sigh in delight. He plucks my nipple between his lips, then sinks in, sucking and biting the tender nub.

  My hands are planted squarely on Brody’s ass as he kiss up my neck to my mouth. He’s hard, and I love the way hi
s muscles flex as he moves.

  Now, if only he’d shift between my thighs and sink inside me because I’m going crazy.

  “God, you taste good,” he says, working his way back down my chest to pay the other breast the same attention. “You’ve had me in knots, sweetheart.”

  “Same.” I lick my lips. My hips officially have a mind of their own, circling and pulsing as he grinds against me, rubbing that smooth skin on mine.

  He’s not even inside me yet, and I feel like I’m going to explode into a thousand pieces.

  “This first time might be fast,” he warns me, his voice full of apology. “I’m sorry. We’ll take our time later.”

  “Fast or slow, I don’t care, as long as it’s now.”

  He bites the skin above my breast and smiles up at me as he finally settles between my thighs. I move to put my legs up on his shoulders, but he shakes his head and untangles himself, easily moving into the traditional missionary position and framing my face in his hands.

  “I want to see your face when I sink inside you the first time. Up close.”

  My breath hitches when he presses just the tip inside, waiting for me to adjust to him.

  “You’re beautiful.”

  “No, you are.”

  He smiles against my lips and pushes farther.

  “Fuck me, Brooke, you feel so damn good.”

  “So good,” I agree as he pushes the rest of the way, buried balls-deep inside of me.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Never been so good,” I assure him, and smile when I flex around him and he cringes.

  “If you keep that up, this will go faster than I thought.”

  I repeat the motion, and he swears again, then begins to move. It’s slow and steady at first, but I cup his ass again, hitch my thighs a bit higher, and we both lose it.

  He picks up the speed and I hang on for dear life as the orgasm builds, shooting through me and leaving me completely boneless.

  Brody joins me, grunting my name, and then collapsing next to me.

  “I’m going back for round two in just a couple of minutes,” he warns me, making me laugh.

  But we’re both exhausted, and within seconds, Brody is snoring next to me. I kiss his cheek, then ease out of bed to clean myself up, turn the music off on my phone, and curl up next to him.

  With my head on his chest, I fall into the deepest sleep of my life.

  Chapter Seven

  ~Brody~

  “Come on, sleepy head.”

  Someone pokes a finger into my cheek and then laughs when I brush it away. I’m hungover. I must have had too much to drink last night because my mouth is full of cotton and I have a splitting headache.

  And who the fuck is the woman? I don’t bring women home.

  Ever.

  “Brody, we really have to go soon.”

  I crack an eye open, and everything comes back to me. I’m in Montana, in Brooke’s bedroom, and I had the best sex of my thirty years last night.

  “Come here.” I crook a finger at her, but she just grins and shakes her head no.

  “There’s no time to play,” she says, and I notice that she’s fully dressed in a flowy pink top, short black jeans, and her hair has been teased into a smooth twist at the back of her head.

  She looks breezy and professional.

  And she’d look better naked, with my hands fisted in her hair.

  “I promised you round two,” I mutter.

  “And I’ll have to collect later because we have a full day ahead of us and I’m already late.”

  I frown and reach for my phone to check the time.

  “Jesus, it’s nine.”

  “You were really tired.”

  I sit up, rub my hands over my face, and smile when Brooke offers me a steaming mug of coffee.

  “Bless you.”

  “Drink it fast,” she says with a laugh. “I need to get back over to the wedding this morning to give the bride her bouquet and make sure everything is perfect. Then, Maisey will show up to set up the cake, and I always help her. Cake is heavy.”

  “It’s not an evening wedding?”

  Brooke shakes her head no and then shrugs. “Like I said yesterday, thank goodness the barn is air conditioned.”

  “I’ve never heard of an air conditioned barn.”

  “Dean had it installed when he decided to remodel the barn and make it an event space. That A/C was worth every penny, especially with hot summers. So, the ceremony is outside, but the reception is inside. The ceremony begins at one, so we need to get a move on.”

  “Okay,” I reply and try to clear my head. Apparently sweaty work and amazing sex leads to hangover-like symptoms the next day.

  Who knew?

  “I need food,” I say and take a sip of my coffee. I already feel five percent better as I eye her over the rim. She’s a little flushed from the early morning heat, and her eyes are happy as she watches me.

  They flick down to my arms, then back up to my face.

  I set my mug aside, then yank her to me, pinning her under me on her bed.

  “Brody, my hair was done!”

  “I give less than one fuck,” I reply as I bury my face in her neck and nibble her there, careful not to leave marks. “You’re too damn sexy for your own good.”

  “We don’t have time for sex and food.”

  “Sex it is, then.”

  * * * *

  “Oh, Brooke.” The bride’s eyes fill with tears as she takes her bouquet. “This is just so pretty.”

  “Don’t cry, Kelly,” Brooke says, reaching in her pocket for a tissue. “Your makeup is perfect, and we can’t have it running down your face.”

  “I’ve cried six times today,” she sniffs and then shakes her head and tries to laugh it off, blinking her eyes furiously. “Okay, I’m not crying. Thank you so much. Everything looks beautiful.”

  “It’s going to be a gorgeous day,” Brooke promises her. “Micah’s bringing in the bridesmaids’ bouquets now. I’m going to head out to double and triple check everything and to help Maisey with your cake.”

  “Oh, I can’t wait to see the cake,” Kelly says, getting excited.

  “I can’t wait to taste the cake,” a bridesmaid chimes in, making us all laugh.

  “You’re in for a treat,” Brooke replies and gives Kelly a careful hug. “Now, relax for a bit, and enjoy your day.”

  “Thank you, Brooke. Really.”

  “You’re welcome.” Brooke winks and then leads me back into the barn from the small house reserved for brides that shares the property. “It’s already so damn hot.”

  “Here’s hoping the ceremony is a quick one,” I agree. “Do we stay for that?”

  “No,” Brooke says. “We’re almost done. Once we help Maisey with the cake and I just make sure the flowers look perfect, we jet out of here. It’ll look like the flower fairies did their job.”

  “You’re pretty incredible. You know that, right?”

  She smiles, glances down, and her cheeks redden. She’s so fucking sweet. It’s no wonder that I’ve fallen for her this week. I’ve never known anyone like her, before or since she was in my life when we were kids.

  We make our rounds of the tables, checking bouquets. She runs outside to take a look at Micah’s handiwork on the outdoor arrangements. And just when she’s finished, Maisey arrives with the cake.

  I’m surprised to see that it’s in several boxes, laying flat in the very back of Maisey’s SUV.

  “We have to move fast,” Maisey says. “This heat will make the cakes sweat, and that’s not pretty for photos. Be careful.”

  “Jesus, they’re heavy.” I take the biggest tier and hurry inside the barn to the far corner where the cake table is set up. The two women are behind me, carrying the last two tiers.

  Maisey works like a woman possessed, opening the boxes and getting the cake assembled perfectly.

  “Do you have my flowers?” she asks Brooke.

  “Yep, they’re in the fr
idge. I’ll be right back.”

  Brooke sprints away, and as Maisey puts the finishing touches on the cake, she glances up at me. “How are you doing?”

  “I’m great.”

  She frowns, and glances to the doorway Brooke disappeared through, then lowers her voice. “I know you and my sister have something going on. I’m not stupid. I also think it’s pretty great, as long as you’re not a complete dick about it.”

  I’m not exactly sure what to say, so I shove my hands in my pockets and frown at the woman who resembles her sister so closely. “Okay.”

  “Do you plan to be a dick?”

  “No, I can’t say that I do.”

  “Good. See that you don’t.”

  Brooke hurries back with a small bouquet of flowers that match the bride’s bouquet, and the two arrange the blooms on the cake. It looks random, but I know every placement is strategic.

  “Our work here is done,” Maisey says with a proud smile. “It’s seriously gorgeous in here.”

  “I know.” Brooke looks around, takes a deep breath, and I know in this very minute exactly what I’m going to do with my building.

  “Do you want to take photos for your portfolios?” I ask.

  “No, we’ll get professional photos from the photographer,” Brooke replies. “But thanks for thinking of it.”

  “I’m not selling,” I announce, and two pairs of brown eyes fly to my face in shock.

  “Really?” Brooke asks, practically jumping up and down.

  “Really. Look, you’ve done what you set out to do. Brooke’s Blooms is essential to this community, and with Maisey taking the space next door, you can expand both of your operations. Besides, the building is a good investment. We both win.”

  “I thought you wanted to cut all ties to Cunningham Falls,” Maisey says.

  “I’ve reconsidered.”

  They look at each other, high five, and then Maisey surprises the hell out of me by rushing at me, wrapping her arms around my neck, and laying a big, smacking kiss on my cheek.

  Brooke follows suit, but her kiss lands square on my lips.

  As if she remembers where we are, she pulls away, smooths her hands down her shirt and then walks toward the doors. Micah’s waiting for us. “You can head out. You did a great job, Micah. Thank you.”