Saving You

  “Garrett intends on taking me to Florida. Why in the world would I want to go to Florida? That man is crazy if he thinks he is dragging me away from my garden for two whole weeks.”

  I smiled as I glanced over to Alex. She was rocking away as she focused on the women surrounding us. She looked over to me and smiled as she shook her head.

  “Grams, you’d have a lovely time in Florida,” my mother said with a sweet smile.

  Grams shook her head. “Heather darling, have you ever been on a plane with Garrett?”

  Smiling, my mother shook her head. “No, I can’t say I have, Emma.”

  Ellie started giggling. “Emma, tell them about the time Garrett passed out on the plane.” Alex quickly turned and looked at her mother. “What? Gramps passed out on a plane?”

  Grams slowly nodded her head and was about to say something when Gramps cleared his throat. I turned around to see, Gramps, Alex’s dad Gunner, my father, Luke, Will, and Colt all walking up from the main barn.

  “Why good afternoon, gentlemen,” Grams said with a smile. “What a fine group of handsome men we have here. Isn’t that right, ladies?”

  Smiling, I looked each of them over. Good lord. It should be sinful to have six good-looking men all standing together like this. Gramps held his own with his blue eyes and gray hair. Gunner was beyond breathtaking and Colt was a mini version of Gunner. Except Colt had that ever present five o’clock shadow that fit him perfectly. Will was the spitting image of my father, handsome as hell. He smiled as he looked adoringly at Alex. My father smiled and winked at my mother, causing me to turn and look at her. When her face flushed I looked away. Their love affair, as she called it, seemed more on fire than ever before. Will and I had walked in on them last night in the kitchen. Of course they were just kissing, but Will declared to have the image burned forever in his memory.

  Glancing back, my eyes locked onto the most beautiful green eyes. My heart fluttered and it felt as if the energy in the air changed. Luke was staring at me with the most breathtaking smile I’d ever seen. In less than a week, we’d all be heading back to school and the idea of living in the same house, waking up every morning wrapped in his arms, thrilled me beyond belief.

  “Libby? Hello? Libby, darling are you even listening to me?”

  I shook my head and turned to Ellie. “I’m sorry, Ellie. I was, um, lost in thought.”

  She smiled sweetly and then continued on. “We’ve made plans to have dinner with all of you before you leave. Tomorrow night, seven sharp at your parents’ house. There are some—things we’d like to discuss with all of y’all. The idea of us buying the house in College Station was a good idea, but now that two of y’all are couples. We’d like to go over some ground rules.”

  I nodded my head and peeked over to Alex. Her face was flushed and she looked down. This wasn’t going to be fun. It was sure to be awkward as hell. Gunner cleared his throat. “We’ve already chatted with the boys.”

  Luke let out a deep laugh. “Chatted? I wouldn’t necessarily say threatening to end our lives is chatting.” Alex stood up. “Daddy, you didn’t!”

  Gunner smiled. “Oh yes, I did. Two boys, four girls, all under one roof, what the hell were we thinking?”

  My mother stood up, leaned down and kissed Grams on the cheek and then turned toward the guys. “We were thinking that they are all adults, we raised them right and that Will, Luke, and Colt will do nothing but always respect and protect our girls.”

  Gunner and my father both turned and looked at Luke. Daddy raised his eyebrow at Luke. “That was before Luke started dating my baby girl.”

  My mother slapped my father lightly on the chest. “Stop it. Come on, let’s head on back. I’ve got a roast in the crock pot.” Ellie kissed Colt on the cheek. “Don’t be out too late; you leave to go back to A&M tomorrow.”

  Colt returned a gentle kiss on Ellie’s face. He had to report to A&M a few weeks ago for football, but was home for a few days.

  Taking my hand in his, Luke pulled me to him. “Want to go for a ride? I can saddle up a few horses.” I nodded my head and smiled. I loved spending time with Luke. It was nothing like when we were best friends. It was a million times better.

  “Gramps, Lib and I are going to take a couple horses for a ride,” Luke shouted for Gramps to hear. Raising his hand, Gramps called out, “Have fun!”

  Luke and I quickly walked to the barn and saddled up two horses and made our way onto one of the many trails that ran over the ranch. Since we were little kids we had been riding all over this property.

  When we got a good ways away from the house, I looked at Luke. “So how horrible was my father to you?”

  Luke looked over my way and gave me that naughty smile of his. “Let’s see, he told me if I hurt you, got you pregnant, made your grades slip, slept in the same room as you, got you pregnant—”

  I giggled. “You said that twice.”

  “Only because he said it like six times. After of course, he gave me the lecture about always using protection, making sure my number one goal was keeping you safe.”

  My eyes widened in horror. “Please tell me you’re kidding?”

  Luke pursed his lips and looked up. “Nope. I had to sit there with your brother on one side of me, who by the way, has also threatened to cut off my balls if I hurt you in any way. Yeah, with Will glaring at me from the side, your daddy came full force. Right out of the gate, he was telling me how he could kill me and make it look like an accident.”

  I covered my mouth, stopped my horse, and let out a moan. “Oh, Luke, I’m so sorry.”

  He stopped his horse and looked deep into my eyes. “I’m not, Libby. It just shows how much they love you. If Grace was to bring a guy home tomorrow, I’d take him out to the barn and show him how accurate of a shot I am. I have no problem spending the rest of my life in jail for having to shoot someone for hurting my sister. Or you.”

  Smiling, I glanced away. Sometimes Luke’s eyes looked so deep into my soul it scared me. I heard him getting off of his horse. Looking back I asked, “What are you doing?”

  Luke tied up the reins and let Starlight graze. “I want to kiss you.”

  I threw my leg over the saddle and jumped down. “Really? I’ll take that kiss.”

  Luke reached up with his hands and cupped my face as he brought his lips to mine. He placed quick, soft kisses to my lips. “I love you, Libby. I love you so much.”

  The kiss grew deeper as he pushed me against Bear. The horse didn’t budge. He stood steadfast in his spot. Luke’s hand went under my shirt and pushed my bra up, finding my nipple. He began twisting and pulling it gently as he practically kissed my breath away. “Luke,” I whispered as my hands went to his beautiful brown hair. I tugged on it as Luke let out a moan. “I want you, Luke.”

  His lips moved from my lips, down to my neck. My body was on fire, my core clenching with the idea of Luke filling my body to the max.

  “Libby,” Luke panted as he moved his hand from my nipple down. He was about to slip his hand into my pants when Bear took a few steps and caused us to lose our balance. I fell and Luke landed on top of me. I lifted my hips and pressed his hard dick between my legs. I was breathless. All those years of built up desire seemed to explode when we were near each other.

  “Libby, I can’t seem to get enough of you,” Luke whispered against my lips.

  “Get off of her, Luke. And for Pete’s sake, help the poor girl up.”

  Luke pulled his lips from mine as we turned and looked up. Jeff and Ari were both perched up on horses. Ari was smiling as she looked down at Luke and me. I felt the heat move across my face as Luke’s hard dick was still pressed against me.

  “Nothing like your parents riding up on horseback to kill the mood,” Luke said as he got up and held out his hand to help me up.

  I started wiping grass off myself when Jeff laughed. “Jesus, I swear I’m looking at you and me, Ari.”

  Ari giggled. “I was just thinking the same thing.” br />
  I bit my lip and looked away. Jeff and Ari were like second parents to me. I was internally fist pumping Luke and I hadn’t made it any further than kissing.

  Ari jumped off her horse and walked over to me. She held out her arm and I accepted it as she began walking me away from Luke and Jeff.

  “Wow, what we rode up on was some pretty hot and heavy kissing.”

  Smiling, I looked down at the ground. “Yeah.”

  “I have to tell you, Libby. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my son walking on cloud nine like he has ever since y’all came back from the beach. I’ve never seen him so happy.”

  My eyes snapped over to Ari. “Really?” I asked.

  She chuckled. “Really. I’ve also never seen such a glow on your face.”

  My heart stopped. The practical joke. Oh Shit. Did Luke ever tell Jeff he was kidding?

  “I’m not pregnant, Ari. I swear. It was a joke Luke wanted to play on Jeff and I went along with it. I swear to you that we always use protection when we have sex.” My hand went up to my mouth as I gasped. “Oh God. I just told you we have sex all the time.”

  The corner of Ari’s mouth rose. “You didn’t say all the time.”

  I moaned. “Um … well no it’s not like we’re having sex all the time.” I giggled nervously. “Just whenever we can make it happen and—” Oh God shut up, Libby. Stop talking.

  I stopped walking and placed my hands on my knees as I bent over and inhaled a deep breath. “Where is the closest rock?”

  Ari leaned over and looked up at me. “Libby, take a deep breath and stand back up, sweetheart.”

  I did as she said. “Ari, I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to say all that. It’s just. Well, to be honest with you, sometimes this just feels like a dream.” I wrapped my arms around myself as I thought about the last few weeks with Luke. The romantic picnics, the passionate lovemaking in the bed of his truck, the long walks along the river just talking. “I never thought in my wildest dreams love would be so, amazing!”

  Ari chuckled. “It is pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Ari motioned for me to sit down on a rock next to her.

  “To be in love with your best friend, and to share such—” I looked over at Luke’s mother and blushed.

  She smiled and said, “Go on.”

  “Well, to share such passionate moments with him where he just sweeps me off my feet. I don’t want it to ever end. Please tell me it never stops being this way.”

  Ari pulled back and made a funny face. “My son sweeps you off your feet, huh?”

  Smiling, I nodded my head. “All the time.”

  “Really? He must have learned that from me!”

  We both giggled as Ari took my hand. “It never ends, darling. Sure, that new love phase wears off, but the key is to keep it alive. Even after all these years when, Jeff walks up behind me and wraps his arms around me, my stomach just drops.”

  I sighed as I listened to Ari talk about her and Jeff’s love. “And the smile. Oh lord, Jeff has this smile that I swear about drops me to my knees.”

  “Yes! Luke does, too. I feel butterflies when he smiles at me like that. It’s like I’m his …”

  “Everything.”

  Ari and I both threw our heads back and laughed when we spoke at the same time.

  When we finally stopped laughing, I took in a deep breath. “May I ask you something, Ari?”

  Ari looked into my eyes with nothing but love. “Of course, Libby. I’m always here for you, sweetheart.”

  I began chewing on my lower lip. “Did you ever feel scared? What I mean is, by your love for Jeff. Did it ever scare you? I love Luke so much it scares me. I keep wondering if the floor is going to fall out from underneath me or if he is going to change his mind and leave me. I’ve tried to push these stupid feelings away but the thought of losing him—I don’t think I could stand a day in this world without him.”

  Ari looked away quickly and then slowly turned back to me. Her eyes were filled with tears. She wiped a tear away and squeezed my hand. “First off, Luke is one lucky son-of-a-bitch to have a woman like you love him.”

  I felt the tears building in my eyes as Ari smiled at me. “Yes, Libby. I was scared to death and I still am. There are days that Jeff will be gone and I won’t see him and I feel like I will burst if I’m not in his arms soon. It doesn’t have to be sexual, Libby. It’s about sitting next to a fire while he holds you in his arms and talks about his day. When you walk into a room and he looks at you and his smile lights up like his whole day just got brighter. His unexpected touch ignites your body on fire and all you want is for him to kiss you like it’s your last kiss. The feeling of him making love to you and you’re so overcome with love that it brings you to tears.”

  I felt my tears rolling down my face. “Yes,” I whispered.

  “Love is a crazy emotion, Libby. Hang on, baby girl.” Ari chuckled. “Hang on for dear life!”

  I SET THE last box down in Grace’s room and collapsed onto her bed. “Holy hell, Grace. Did you bring everything you own?”

  Giggling she fell onto the bed next to me. “I thought about it, but decided not to.”

  I smiled at my baby sister. “Are you happy, Sweet Pea?” Her smile faded but she quickly plastered on a fake one. “Of course I am, Luke. I’m glad we are here together. I hated UT with a passion. I think I’m really going to like A&M.”

  Nodding my head I said, “I think you will. Plus, I can keep my eye on you.”

  She reached over and slapped my arm. “I’m a big girl you know. The cherry was popped a few years back.” Grace jumped up and headed toward her closet.

  I sat up and balled my fists. “You know, Grace, you can’t say shit like that to me. It makes me want to kill someone.”

  She looked over her shoulder and winked. “You know what I think is funny?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “What?”

  “That Alex moved most of her stuff in here, and Libby moved most of her stuff in Lauren’s room, yet they have no intention of ever staying in their rooms.” Grace used air quotes around the word rooms.

  I smiled. “We’ll try to keep it down for you since my room is right next to yours.”

  Grace’s mouth dropped open as she stared at me while I backed out of the room with a smile on my face. “I hate you, Luke Johnson. I hate that you just put that in my head!”

  I turned and headed back downstairs to help Lauren with her stuff. I thought back to the night our parents all sat down and talked to us about our living arrangements.

  WE ALL LOOKED at each other as our parents sat across from us. Gunner and Ellie were holding hands. Josh and Heather were sitting on the sofa with Heather snuggled into Josh’s side. My father and mother were sitting on the love seat. Dad’s arm was wrapped around my mother and they both oozed love.

  Gunner spoke first. “Since Colt is going to be in the dorms because he’s playing football, we have decided to go ahead and just stick with the one house. Will, Luke, y’all will still have your rooms and the girls have decided to bunk up together.”

  Heather spoke next. “Libby and Lauren are bunking together and Alex and Grace will be in the fourth bedroom.”

  Josh was staring at me, kind of like how Gunner was staring at Will. I swallowed hard. Surely they had to know that was not how this was going to play out.

  Josh cleared his throat. “One thing y’all need to know is we’re not stupid. Will, Alex you’re engaged.” Turning, Josh looked at Libby and then me. Libby squeezed my hand tighter. “Luke, Libby—you’re dating each other and I get that. Just know if anything happens, Luke, I will hunt you down and hurt you.”

  I SHUDDERED JUST thinking about the look in Josh’s eyes. Lauren walked up and handed me a box. “Here ya go!” She turned and skipped back to her car. I smiled as I turned and headed back into the house. Alex was coming down the stairs when she stopped and smiled at me.

  “Hey!” she said with a smile.

  She looked beyond happy. “Hey there, little
cousin.”

  She had a worried look on her face as she looked over my shoulder. “Are you nervous about living with Libby?”

  I tilted my head and looked at her. “No. Are you nervous about living with Will?”

  She quickly nodded her head. “What if I snore? Or worse yet, fart in my sleep or something.”

  I busted out laughing. “Fart in your sleep? Holy hell, I was not expecting that comment, Alex.” Rolling her eyes, she let out a sigh. “Alex, do you love Will?”

  She smiled sweetly. “More than anything, Luke.”

  “I know for a fact he loves you more than anything. I also know that if you do happen to—fart in the middle of the night. He’s still going to love you.”

  Alex wrapped her arms around me as I held Lauren’s box to the side. “I love you, Luke Johnson. Take care of Libby.”

  “Oh, I intend to,” I said with a smile.

  “I AM SO full I think if I sneezed I’d bust open. I never want to eat pizza again!”

  I laughed as I looked over at Libby sprawled out across my bed. My dick jumped at the idea of making love to Libby tonight. Finally, we were together. I couldn’t wait to fall asleep every night with her in my arms and wake up every morning tangled up together.

  Libby rolled onto her stomach and rested her chin on her hands. “You know what I’m most excited about?”

  “What are you most excited about, baby?”

  Wiggling her eyebrows up and down she purred, “Falling asleep wrapped up in your arms. Having your heartbeat lull me to sleep every night.” She got up onto her hands and knees and slowly moved closer to me as she licked her lips. “Making love to you any … time … I … want.”

  Letting out a moan, I stood and moved over to the bed. “Lib, you drive my body crazy do you know that?”