A Chance for Us (Willow Creek Valley Book 4) Read online

  Why not? Hmm, I don’t really have an answer for that. It just seemed sensible. “Because . . . we need to avoid getting caught up in it.”

  Oliver steps forward, and I have nowhere to retreat. “Maren, we had some fantastic sex, and I have been fighting a raging hard on all day with you in the car. I want you in every way as many times as you’ll let me have you. If you want boundaries, we can find other ways, but I want you. I want you, and I am pretty sure you want me just as much.”

  My throat goes dry, and I nod, unable to deny it. I want him, which is why I was hoping we could have the rules. “I do, but . . .”

  His body presses against mine, and my hand grips the doorknob behind me. “But?”

  I lift up a little, no longer caring much about rules or boundaries and very much caring about Oliver’s body touching mine. My fingers slide against the strands of his hair. “We can make the rules up later.” I pull his mouth to mine and kiss him deeply.

  Oliver pushes the door open so we stumble inside. Then he shoves me against the wall, pulling my shirt over my head. Our mouths find each other again as the frantic need builds faster.

  We kiss, only stopping to remove an item of clothing for the other.

  His hand hooks under my leg, lifting it as he shoves my skirt up. “No underwear?” he asks as his mouth finds my neck.

  “I told you, I don’t wear any.”

  “I’m going to enjoy this.”

  I very much think that’s true for the both of us.

  Smiling, I pull his mouth back to mine as he slips his finger into me. I moan when his thumb grazes my clit.

  Oliver pushes me higher, not playing or teasing. It’s frantic, hot, and I am desperate for him.

  “Please,” I beg.

  “I can’t . . .” he says, almost regretfully. “I can’t fucking wait.”

  “Don’t wait.”

  It doesn’t matter that we’re in the foyer, I need him so much. I want to lose myself in him—in us.

  “Maren, I—”

  I take his face in my hands, staring at him. “Take me, Oliver. Now.”

  He lifts me a little and then slams into me. My head falls back against the wall as he sets an unrelenting pace. He fucks me so hard that, before I can grab ahold of any semblance of restraint, the orgasm hits.

  I scream his name, clawing at his back as he pumps deeper.

  As I’m coming down from my high, he lets out a deep groan and follows me over the edge. He shudders a second before his legs give out and we sink to the floor with him still inside me.

  “That was . . .”

  “Reckless,” I finish for him, feeling the stickiness between us.

  He looks down, realizing the same thing that I just did. “Fuck! Shit! How the hell could I—”

  “It’s okay. I have an IUD, so we don’t have to worry about that, and I’m clean. I get tested religiously.”

  “I’m clean too.”

  I sigh. “Good, then we have nothing to worry about.”

  “Let’s get dressed and . . . see the house.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Once we’re cleaned up, we grab the bags we left by the door and go deeper into the house. The view from the living room is breathtaking. There are floor-to-ceiling windows that take up the entire back wall of the house, giving an almost uninterrupted view of the ocean.

  “This is amazing,” Oliver says, standing beside me.

  “I love this house. She had it redone about two years ago so it was more in line with current trends. Even before she did that, this place was special. There’s something so calming about the ocean. It’s probably why I love where I live now.”

  “My family owned a beach house in North Carolina my whole life. I didn’t spend a ton of time there. We went once a summer, but I’ve always felt more at home in the mountains.”

  Another thing we’re opposites on. I tuck that little fact away for later when I try to remember why I shouldn’t want more.

  “I loved the resort, but I can’t imagine not hearing the waves.”

  He shrugs. “I can’t imagine not being in the forest. However, this, being here now, is really great.”

  I lean my head against his shoulder. “Why is that?”

  “Because I’ve been killing myself with the resort. All of us have been going nonstop for months, trying to get things done. Since I’m the only one who isn’t married with kids, I’ve had a heavier load to bear.”

  Almost everyone at Cole Security Forces is married with kids. Jackson and Mark have growing families and put a lot of emphasis on how important it is to balance. Natalie works from home a lot of the time when Liam is deployed or when she just needs to be there for her kids. Gretchen and Ben are on rotating shifts so one of them is always home with the kids, and there are no set hours, so everyone just does what works best for their situation. The only thing they ask is that we show up when we’re needed.

  It’s great, and I fully support their priorities, but being single—it sucks. I’m always there. I work a lot, and sometimes it feels like the expectation for me to fill the gaps is greater because there is no one relying on me at home. I can be available to the company.

  “It’s hard when people think all you have is work, and that, because you’re single, you should always be the one to sacrifice.” I understand that sentiment all too well.

  “They never say it is that way.”

  “But you still feel it.”

  He laughs once. “We’re a pair, huh?”

  “Overachievers with a high sense of responsibility?”

  “That’s one way to put it.” He wraps his arm around me, pulling me against his side. “How about for the next five days we don’t think about work or family or anything but having a good time?”

  I look up into his blue eyes. “Do you think we can?”

  “I think I can focus on much better things.”

  My stomach flutters at the lusty look in his eyes. “And where would you direct all that attention?”

  He shifts me so I’m standing in front of him, looking up at his face. “You.”

  “Me?”

  “You.”

  “Well, I think I can get on board with that.”

  Twenty

  OLIVER

  I wake up to the blaring noise of my phone ringing. When I roll over, Maren isn’t in the bed, which is odd, but I don’t dwell on it when I see it’s Alex calling and it’s almost noon.

  “Alex,” I say with a huff.

  “Married?”

  “Egypt?”

  My brother is a good guy, smart, funny, and not all that good-looking. He loved what he went to school for and absolutely hated our parents forcing him to work for our dad’s inns.

  After we walked away from the family company, he ended up taking a job offer that took him to Egypt. That means, we are down a Parkerson and Alex is out of the loop.

  “Say what you want, I think my going to Egypt was a less surprising thing than you getting married.”

  “I’m assuming you know the whole story.”

  I sit up, rubbing my hands over my face.

  “I know some of it. Josh was my source, so you know it’s probably half bullshit. But I hear she’s hot.”

  “Hey, that’s my wife you’re talking about.”

  Alex chuckles. “So, are you going to tell me everything or just let me make up my own version?”

  “Your own version sounds fine.”

  “Ollie, stop being your normal joke-away-serious-things-guy idiot and tell me what the hell happened.”

  After throwing my legs over the side of the bed, I fill him in on how Maren and I came to be and how every stitch in our ridiculously sewn plan came undone. When I say it all aloud, I feel like a dumbass. This was destined to fail from the beginning.

  “Sounds like we can blame Stella for this mess.”

  I nod, feeling vindicated. “Yes, yes we can. I said no, and she got all up in my feelings about doing the right thing. It is her f
ault.”

  “Agree.”

  “Now that we have that settled, I feel better.”

  “I’m sure you do.” Alex snorts. “You shouldn’t because, while you’re cleaning up your mess of a life, she’s happy with her husband.”

  “Still, I get to blame her, which we all know she hates.”

  “This is true. Do you like her?”

  I jerk my head quickly. “Stella? Of course. She’s our sister.”

  “You know I meant your wife.”

  I look toward the door, wondering where she is and if she can hear me. “I like her a lot. She’s great, and . . . if we didn’t do such a bang-up job fucking this up from the beginning, who knows . . .”

  That’s a lie. I know. I never would have allowed myself the possibility of a relationship. I really want no part in it. I’m happy alone. I’m safe alone. I don’t have to worry or wonder if the girl I’m head over heels in love with wants to boink someone else. There’s a lot of ease in that kind of living. I’ve had less stress, sex, and misery thanks to it.

  Although, the sex part isn’t exactly true anymore.

  “Sorry to hear that, man. I didn’t just call to bust your balls though,” Alex says before he clears his throat.

  “Oh? Did you finally decide to come home?”

  “Nope. I am actually staying here. For good. I met someone, and . . . she’s amazing. She’s like, legit royalty. Her family isn’t too happy she’s falling in love with an American, but she’s happy, so they’re allowing it for now.”

  Jesus. Him too? “Dude, it’s been like, a few months?”

  “You married a girl after two weeks, let’s not judge.”

  “You’re getting married?”

  “Not yet, but we will. She’s the one, Oliver.”

  This is great, but I’m also sad. I hoped that Alex would go to Egypt, live his dream, realize it wasn’t actually his dream, and come home. I know that makes me a selfish dick, but part of the excitement of opening the resort was us doing it together.

  Regardless, my brother deserves to be happy and if that means Egypt, then so be it.

  “Then hold on to her, Alex. With both hands.”

  “I plan to. I’m going to let everyone else know soon so I need you to keep this between us.”

  “Of course.”

  “Listen, I know it’s early and you’re on your honeymoon, so I’ll let you go. Just . . . I talked to Delia yesterday, and she seems to think there’s more to you and your new bride than you’re admitting. Take your own advice and hold on if there’s a chance it could work.”

  “Look at you, the world-traveling philosopher. Thanks for the call, we’ll talk more when I get back.”

  “You got it.”

  I toss my phone to the nightstand and go to find the woman who should be in bed where I can do rude things to her. Today is the first day of our vacation. I refuse to call it a honeymoon because that would mean we’re really married and I’m going to end up divorced. So, I’d rather not go there. This is a vacation. That’s it.

  I find Maren sitting out on the deck that overlooks the ocean with a book in her hand. She’s so damn gorgeous. Even doing nothing.

  “Hey,” I say as I walk out by her.

  She looks up, shoves the book behind her back, and smiles. “Hey, Sleepyhead. I was wondering if you were going to wake up anytime soon.”

  I grin. “Well, someone kept me up all night.”

  “And that someone isn’t even sorry about that.”

  I take a step closer to her. “What are you reading?”

  “Reading? I’m not reading anything.”

  I raise one brow. “You had a book.”

  “Oh, this? Yeah, it’s nothing. Come on, we can walk the beach and then take the golf cart into town.”

  “Why are you being so elusive?”

  “I’m not,” she says a bit too quickly. Maren stands, holding the book behind her.

  “Okay.” It’s clear she doesn’t want me to see what she’s reading. “I’m going to grab my shoes and we can head out.”

  “Great.”

  Maren turns, and I pounce on her, grabbing the book.

  “Hey!”

  Being that she’s a half foot shorter than I am, it isn’t hard to keep it out of her reach while I read the title. A Guide to Him Giving You What You Need in Bed Without Asking.

  I stare, reading it over again. “Do you . . .” I clear my throat. “Have complaints?”

  I know for a fact that I am not selfish in bed. I make sure she’s satisfied before I find my release.

  Maren covers her face with her hands. “Ugh! This is like the worst few weeks of my life!” She drops her hands and looks at me. “Okay, so remember that I packed for my wedding and honeymoon before you ended up as the groom. So, I didn’t get that book for you, I got it for the other Oliver. And, no, I have zero fucking complaints. Like, not even a blip of a complaint. I just didn’t bring anything else to read, and well, I bought it, so I figured . . .”

  I toss it over on the table and laugh. “So, you’re reading it for fun?”

  “It’s very educational.”

  “And unnecessary.”

  “How so? Are you going to be my lifelong sex partner?”

  I shrug. “We could always do that.”

  Maren huffs. “Stop it.”

  “I’m saying it’s unnecessary because, if you want something—anything—you just have to ask me or tell me. Any guy who has the privilege of being with you should want to do the same thing—to give you joy and pleasure. If your ex didn’t, well, it’s a good thing you didn’t marry him.”

  “Believe me, it was just one more thing I was worried about.”

  “Sex was that bad?”

  “It wasn’t bad,” she defends. “It just was . . . boring. From the beginning, it was strange, and if I compare it at all to us, it’s not even in the same universe.”

  “What you’re saying is that I’m a sex god?”

  She rolls her eyes. “With an ego the size of Texas.”

  “I didn’t hear you say no.”

  “Fine, you’re a sex god with impressive skills and a dick that is perfect. Happy now?”

  “Yes,” I answer with a grin. “Quite.”

  “Let’s go before something else mortifying happens.”

  “Do you have more goodies in your bag?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Maren smirks.

  Yes, I very much would.

  My stomach rumbles, and she laughs. “Go get dressed and we’ll get you fed.”

  “Food is good, but sex is better.”

  “Food is necessary and sex is later.” She gives me a kiss on my cheek. “I’ll see you in a few.”

  I get dressed and meet her downstairs. We head to the golf cart. It’s pretty cool that we can get around this little town on just that. We’re outside of the main tourist area, but Maren says there’s still a lot to do here, which works fine for me.

  “Where to, wife?”

  She grins. “Let’s go to the right, there’s a bar and I know the owners. They have the best drinks and appetizers anywhere.”

  “Your wish is my command.”

  When we pass other golf carts, the driver honks, so I honk back and offer a wave.

  “Is that normal?”

  “No,” Maren says as the next person we pass does it.

  “Okay, then what the hell is going on?”

  “I have no idea.”

  I pull over, wondering if maybe something is wrong with the cart or it’s some alert system I’ve never heard of. When I get around to the front, I see what it is.

  “Your aunt must’ve been busy,” I say, staring at the bumper.

  “What? Why?” She comes out to stand beside me. “Oh dear God.”

  Yeah. Painted on the front is: Just Married.

  “Congrats!” Another golf cart driver yells before the guy in the back calls out. “Kiss her!”

  It’s like being at the wedding again. Howeve
r, kissing Maren isn’t something I mind doing, so I pull her to me before dipping her back and planting my lips on hers.

  When I pull her up, she’s laughing. “You know, when you do that, it makes it look like we’re really married.”

  “We might be.”

  That is something I should be furious about, but I can’t seem to muster the energy to care. Maybe it’s the sea air. Maybe it’s because I’m having a shitload of fun. Maybe it’s the girl in my arms, but I feel at ease.

  Maren and I have no expectations, and whatever the hell we’re doing, it’s not a chore. It’s nice to be with her, and the sex is fucking fantastic—even without the help of a book.

  “We’ll get everything taken care of. I promise.”

  I try to come up with a response, but Maren’s phone rings and her face goes pale. “It’s Linda.”

  Please don’t let this be the call. I don’t want to see her cry and hurt.

  She swipes the screen, and I take her hand in mine. “Hi,” she says carefully.

  A long breath leaves her lungs, and she smiles, looking at me. “Yes, Daddy, we’re having fun. We are heading to Maggie’s bar. Yes.” She pauses. “I know. I’m glad you called. I wanted to ask you about the farm.” Maren looks to me before shaking her head. “How? Why didn’t you ever tell me?” Her eyes mist over before she pulls the phone down to relay information to me. “Apparently, he bought it a while back with the contingent that I could only get it once I was married.”

  Wow. “Seems there was more than one reason your dad wanted you to get married.”

  She nods and then goes back to the call. “I love you for this and I can never thank you enough. More importantly, Daddy, how are you feeling?”

  They talk for a bit longer, and the relief I feel is immense. I really like her father. He’s a good man who clearly loves his little girl. My father doesn’t have a tenth of that much love for his kids.

  “Sure, he’s right here.” Maren hands me the phone mouthing sorry.

  I clear my throat. “Hi, Mr. McVee.”

  “None of that, son, we’re family now.”

  “Of course. How was the trip home?”

  “It was fine, Linda and I took our time, exploring as we drove. I just want to say how happy I am to have gained you as a son-in-law. It’s clear how much you love Maren, and . . . well, Linda and I were beyond honored to grant you guys the deed to the farm. It has been in Maren’s family for a very long time. I know you have your resort, and she has her job, but the farm has been well cared for, and I’m confident you two will enjoy it.”