“Agreed. Listen, I better get back inside. She was tryin’ to explain things to her mom, and I don’t want to leave her alone long.”
“Sure. One more thing. You, ugh, you talk to Mrs. Robinson? She’s waiting on the final approval for her playground project.”
I’ve been putting off the playground project for way too long. It’s not that I don’t want it approved. It’s that I don’t have the bandwidth to deal with all the red tape that goes alongwith making someone’s private residence a public playground. I know her heart is in the right place, and the people of Rugged Mountain seem to want it, but there are so many aspects that need to be taken into account. Liability issues, property damage, security risks, zoning, noise and traffic. It’s… it’s been a real fucking headache.
“We have a few more things to settle, but it should be done soon,” I huff. “I better run. I’ll get my guys on the Chaos Brothers, though. We’ll get some answers.” We disconnect the line, and I make my way back to Kelsi’s side. She’s in the kitchen leaning against the back counter, laughing about something with her mom.
“What did I miss?”
Kelsi glances toward me with a sheen on her eyes, as though she’s been crying. “When you were outside, Mom’s picture of her and dad next to the truck fell off the shelf. You think it’s a coincidence, or you think Dad really did plan all of this?”
I’m not one to get chills or believe in paranormal happenings. Hell, I barely believed in love until I met Kelsi, but I don’t want to crush whatever hope they’re holding on to. I bend down and pick up the frame. The glass is shattered, and the picture is crooked. I stare at the scene for a moment, trying to figure out how to respond to Kelsi’s question. But as I study the frame, I see a quote etched into the wood behind the photo.
“Have you seen this?” I walk toward the trash, discarding the glass quickly before pulling out the photo to reveal the words her father inscribed in the frame.
“No, what is it?” Her mother stands from the couch and gathers with Kelsi and I in the kitchen.
“Eyes on the road ahead, the rest will follow.”Her mom rubs her fingertip against the grooves, following the words as her voice shakes when she says, “He used to say this all the time,especially when I got overthinking things.” Tears fall as she looks toward Kelsi and I. “This was meant for you to see. He’s with us. He’s always with us.”
Kelsi grips her mother’s hand and wipes away a tear of her own. “I think it was meant for you too, Mom. He wants you to move on. He wants you to be happy again.”
Leaning forward, I hold them both as we stare down at the message her father carved into a frame years ago. I’m still not sure if I believe in ghosts, or a power from the beyond, but I’m not sure any of that matters. His quote still means something. His words still hold true. I will follow the road ahead, and I’ll love and protect his daughter until the day I die, because that is what I was put on this Earth to do. No doubt about it.
Epilogue
Kelsi
Six Months Later
“Don’t stop!” Brooks holds my ankle on his shoulder and thumps into me hard and fast.
“That’s right. Beg for me.” His free hand lands on the side of my face as he bends forward and slides in deeper.
I’m not sure I’ve ever felt anything so good in my life. The people that say size doesn’t matter, haven’t had size. I love the way he stretches me wide. The way he reaches deep inside of me. The way his weight feels so massive against my body.
I close my eyes before flashing them open again quickly, desperate to watch every last facial expression he makes. My favorite is the one where he takes me hard and fast, like his resistance is gone and he can’t take it anymore. He looks like a werewolf when he gets like that.
“Is that your mom?” He glances out the side window of his cabin with a tone in his voice as though he’s shocked. It’s not shocking that my mother is here. She’d planned to come over for dinner. It’s our play session that was impromptu, so I can’t figure why he’s surprised.
I squint out the window as Brooks stays inside of me, realizing right away where the surprise is coming from. “Holy cow. She’s in a new truck!” I glance back toward him and smile. “She actually did it.”
He leans down and kisses my lips gently before pulling out with a growl. “We’re finishing this later.”
“Yes, we are!” I smile and roll up off the bed, wondering how I’m going to make it through dinner with a throbbing, soaking wet pussy. Lately, I’ve been insatiably horny. I think it has to do with the pregnancy.
The first trimester was so hard. Everything made me sick, especially the smell of saw dust, which kind of sucked considering we were renovating our cabin. Thankfully, Brooks has loads of buddies that didn’t mind helping, and we officially finished everything last month, just in time for me to hit the hypersexual phase of pregnancy.
He rubs his rough hands over my bare stomach and leans into my lips, kissing me with a ragged groan. “You smell so ready for me. How am I supposed to wait all night?”
An excited knock taps on the door, and though I want Brooks to toss me on the bed and finish us both off, I know that’s no longer an option.
“This can’t take more than a few hours, tops. Then we’re right back here.”
He moans as though he’s dissatisfied, kisses my head again, and grabs my dress from the dresser, pulling it down over my frame carefully. “I guess I can be patient. Two hours… then you’re mine again. Got it?”
I smile and tip up onto my toes, landing a kiss on his lips. “Got it.” I love how wanted I feel with this man. He’s not good at emotional stuff, he’ll be the first to tell anyone that, but the way he treats me, the way he loves me, the way he touches me… I never doubt how valuable or wanted I am.
He opens the bedroom door, and we step out into the main living space. I still can’t get over how great this place looks. He’s built custom shelves, and he picked every single river rock himself for the fireplace wall.
