Finding Hayes (Magnolia Falls #5)

by Laura Pavlov

“Now, do your husband a solid, and sit on my face. I want you to smother me. I want you to come so hard, you can’t think of anything but my mouth on your pussy.”

His lips turned up in the corners. When Hayes smiled, there was something extra sexy about it. He didn’t offer this to everyone, and you knew when he smiled at you that you were lucky.

“I missed you, Hayes,” I said the words so softly I wasn’t sure he’d even heard me. But then he tugged me closer, wrapped his arms around me, and kissed the top of my head. He’d definitely heard me. And I knew he missed me, too.

“You’re in such a hurry,” I said, as I clicked on the link and waited for Dad to sign in. Hayes leaned close to my ear. “The thought of making you come in the shower is all I can think of.”

Romeo No one would love to go viral more than King. King Have you seen my six-pack? No one gives a shit about your six-pack. King I think your sister would disagree. <winky face emoji> <middle finger emoji

love how King teases Hayes 🤣

we’d traded more orgasms than one could imagine, but we hadn’t had sex. And I didn’t even know why we were holding back anymore. Even she’d suggested we just tear off the bandage. It was me who was afraid to take that step. And it made no fucking sense. We were both on the same page. We were having fun. We knew how this would end. We’d agreed we’d stay friends after our very amicable divorce, but right now, playing house was a lot of fucking fun. Our attraction was impossible to miss. We wanted each other. We were two consenting adults. She wanted it. I wanted it. And I was done holding back. It was time for me and my wife to take things to the next level.

this fake relationship would go down in the books as the best relationship I’d ever had. Hayes and I may have spent years apart, but he was still my best friend. That hadn’t changed at all. And the fact that he gave me orgasms every night I spent in his bed only made things all the better.

“Did something happen?” “Yeah. You happened.” “I happened?” I raised a brow. “Yeah. You happened.” He nodded slowly, his tongue slipping out and moving along his bottom lip. “I got the job. And all I wanted to do was talk to you. See you.”

“You seem so tense. Shouldn’t we be celebrating?” “I’m tense because I couldn’t wait to get here and tell you.” “And that’s a bad thing?” He huffed out a breath. “I can’t sleep in our bed another night without burying myself in you. It’s all I fucking think about, Sav. How badly I want you. And I don’t want to fuck up this friendship, because I’ve missed you so much, and I don’t know how to deal with all of it. How to deal with the way I feel about you.” It came out in a flustered burst of words, like he couldn’t hold them in anymore. I was stunned, because Hayes wasn’t big on feelings, nor was he a man that liked to talk things out. So this was—unexpected.

“I’ve been good on my own for a long time, and now you’re here, and you’re all I see. Maybe it was always you, and that’s why nothing else ever worked when you were gone. Maybe you’ve been what’s missing all along.” A lump formed in my throat, making it hard to breathe as I forced my voice to work. “You got your best friend back.” “You’re more than my best friend, Sav. I like coming home to you. I like knowing you’re in my bed, even when I’m not there with you. Knowing that you’re waiting for me. Knowing that everyone thinks you’re mine. Because you are mine, Savannah Woodson. And I know you only married me because you had to, and I’m not the guy you’d choose in a different situation because I can’t give you all the things that you want. But I fucking love you. And even if you divorce me in a few months, I’d still want to date you.”

I don’t know how this ends. How we go back to being just friends.” “Why do we have to? Hell, I’d stay married to you if I knew you wanted that. I don’t want this to end, Sav. Now that I’ve got you back, I don’t want to let you go. Not now, not in another month, not in another year. I. Want. You. Whatever way I can have you.” A tear rolled down my cheek, and he swiped it away with the pad of his thumb. “You have me. We don’t have to figure everything out right now. We did things backward, and that’s probably made things confusing, but who cares? At the end of the day, we want to be together.”

“I dream about these tits. About this body. About your perfect peach-shaped ass,” he whispered, his gaze on mine now. “I’ve memorized the sounds you make when you come. The way your honey-brown eyes light up when I take you over the edge. The way your lips part when you gasp. The way your skin blushes when I touch you. The way you rub my earlobe when you kiss me, and scrape your nails along my scalp when you want more. I’ve memorized all of it, Sav.”

“I know I don’t deserve you. I know you want a family and the fairy tale with the white picket fence. And I can’t give you that, baby. I’m not the right man for that life. But I can love you with everything I have for as long as you want me to.”

“I love you, Hayes Woodson. And this is exactly where I want to be. So don’t worry about the future right now. We’ll always be okay, because we’re Hayes and Sav, right? Peas and carrots.” My voice shook. “So how about you just stay true to your word and love me with everything you have today?” “I can do that.”

My heart pounded at the way this strong, powerful man had just been vulnerable with me. For me. I loved him. Loved him in a way I’d never loved anyone. I wanted that to be enough. And tonight, it was enough.

“Goddamn, baby. You’re fucking perfect. Now ride me until you come all over my cock.” “I love your filthy mouth, husband.” “And I love your tight pussy, wife.” Oh my. We found our pace, our rhythm. Like we’d done this a million times. We moved together as one. We weren’t in a hurry, savoring every minute of this ecstasy.

I have news. River I think this is the first time in the history of our group text chain that Hayes has started the conversation. Romeo What’s up, brother? I’m in love with my wife. Nash Are you just now realizing this? I’m just now telling you assholes so you stop giving me a hard time. You were right.

How about something that will make it more obvious that it’s him? Romeo I can’t wait for this. King I didn’t sleep at all last night because I’m trying to put a baby in my wife. I will come over there and put your fucking head in the toilet and flush until your perfectly coifed hair is covered in toilet water and you can’t breathe. Do not talk about putting a baby in my sister again, motherfucker. Nash It’s definitely him. King So glad you’re safe, brother. <laughing face emoji>

haha love their banter

This may have started out fake, but it was anything but now. I didn’t know what the future held, but I knew that I loved my wife. That I wanted her and only her. I’d even agreed to give her five more letters from the box, and she’d tortured me by reading them aloud in bed after we’d had sex that first night. And now that I’d had her, I couldn’t get enough.

We were like two horny teens having sex for the first time. We didn’t leave the house the next day, as we stayed in bed all day. We’d ordered food, which we ate between having sex in the bed and then followed it up with sex in the shower. I was ravenous when it came to this woman. I’d never been like this, and I was done questioning it. We were living in the moment. So anyone who wanted to question our relationship could suck a dick. I was crazy about her, and I wasn’t hiding it. Nor was I acting.

She set the crock pot on the counter and pushed up onto her tiptoes to kiss me. Like it was just so natural to do it. There was an easiness about her that had been missing from my life all the years we’d been apart. And now that I had it back, I realized how much I needed it. Needed her.

“How’d I get so lucky to marry you?” I whispered against her ear. “I didn’t give you a choice,” she said, as she pulled back and smiled up at me. “But maybe this was all part of our journey, huh?” “Maybe it was, Shortcake.” Because I’d do it all again, if I ended up right here with her.

I could see it. Hayes as a father. But I also didn’t believe in forcing your desires on someone else. People should live their lives and be true to who they are. That’s what I was determined to do. So I wouldn’t convince a man who didn’t want children that he’d be a good father. He’d have to decide that on his own. And we weren’t going that far into the future. We were living in the moment. I’d never hold him back, and he’d never hold me back. We loved each other too much to do that.

“My Sunny is the best doctor and the best baker and the best mama around,” Cutler said, and I didn’t miss the way Emerson’s hand went to her chest as if she were overwhelmed by the sentiment.

He's the best😍

I felt that same pull with Hayes. Like he was what had been missing in my life for the longest time. Ever since I’d left this town, it had felt like there’d been this hole that I couldn’t fill, and somehow he’d filled it. But not everything good lasted forever, and I knew that better than anyone. I had job offers in the city that I would have killed for a few months ago. I was having fun with the social media design stuff right now, but that was temporary. Like my marriage was supposed to be. My husband wanted to date me, not spend his life with me. I wanted a family. He didn’t.

“Uncle Hayes told me you were different.” “He did?” I asked, checking my phone timer to see how much longer he had to wait. “Yep. Remember how I was real sad that I didn’t get to go to your wedding?” “I remember. You know how bad we feel about it, right?” “That’s okay, Savvy. You’re my girl now. But Uncle Hayes, he explained it to me,” Cutler said, as he looked down and gasped when I peeled back the paper so he could see the words temporarily inked on his arm. His eyes were wide, and he waggled his brows when he looked up at me. “You know, my uncle Hayes never thought he’d get married. But he said he couldn’t wait one more second to marry you because you were different. He said you were always different.”

He told me that you were his best friend, and then you left, and he was real sad, Savvy. And that when he had the chance to marry you when you came back, he was afraid if he waited, you’d leave again. And he said losing you once was terrible.” He threw his arms in the air. “Just terrible! But losing you twice would be too much. That’s why I wasn’t mad anymore. He’d waited for you, and you came back.” He smiled up at me with his pink round cheeks and those chocolate eyes that could melt anyone’s heart. And his words melted mine.

who knew my husband was so sweet?” I said, my voice all tease as I pushed the lump in my throat away. Cutler’s head fell back in laughter. “Nobody calls Uncle Hayes sweet ‘cept you and me. I know he loves you and me, Savvy. And we know Uncle Hayes can be sweet, right?” “Yeah, we do,” I said, as I peeled the paper away on my own arm, and we both admired our matching tattoos. “I like you with my uncle.” “Me, too,” I said, tapping the tip of his little nose. “That means you’re my girl forever.” “Yep. You’re stuck with me, Beefcake.” I took his little hand in mine, and we made our way back out to the party.

I turned down our street and saw the house in the distance. And for whatever reason, I started jogging. My booties clacked against the pavement in a rhythmic sound. Because suddenly, I couldn’t wait to get there. To him. Home.

This is me telling you that I’m crazy about you. It doesn’t matter where you are, because you live here, Sav. Right fucking here.” I reached for her hand and placed it over my heart. “I know I’m not good at this. I know I’ll probably fuck it all up. But I love you. So giving you these letters is my way of showing you all of me. There’s shit in there that I don’t want to remember, but maybe it’ll show you why I am the way that I am.”

She lunged forward and hugged me. My arms came around her, wanting to keep her close. “I love you exactly the way you are, Hayes.” “I know you do. But that’s not what I’m talking about.” She pulled back, blinking several times to try to keep the tears at bay. “What are you talking about?” “I’m talking about a life together. I want you to stay here. With me. I can back you in opening your own business right here in Magnolia Falls.”

“That ring you’re wearing isn’t worthy of you.” I chuckled, because we’d gotten it off of Amazon for twenty bucks, because we just needed something to look the part for appearance’s sake. “I want my ring on your finger. I know we want different things, but maybe none of that matters as much as we think it does. Maybe all that matters is you and me. Because when I’m with you, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. And I know it’s selfish to ask you to be with me when someone else can give you everything you want. But I’m a selfish man when it comes to you. I don’t want to let you go.” My voice shook, which startled me. I wasn’t used to being vulnerable, but I knew it was necessary. I didn’t want her to move. I didn’t want her to leave Magnolia Falls. I don’t want her to leave me.

“I’m not doing this because I’m afraid we’ll lose touch. I’m doing this because I can’t live without you. I don’t want to be friends who hook up. I want you to be mine. I want to grow old with you. I want to watch you chase your dreams and support you every step of the way. I want you, Sav. I want us.” I used the pads of my thumbs to swipe the falling tears away. “I want a life with you.”

“I thought you never wanted to be married for real? Never wanted forever with anyone.” “I thought so, too.” I shrugged. “But then you came back to town like a blazing wildfire and brought me back to life. Setting my world on fire. And I know without question that we belong together. We might not be perfect, and things might get messy, but I’ll fight for us every goddamn day if you take this chance with me.” “I’ll take that chance with you,” she whispered. “Because you are all I want, Hayes Woodson. You are all I need. You are enough.” Those were words I never thought I’d hear.

“I need you to know that if it’s just you and me for the rest of this lifetime, I can live with that, Hayes. I just needed to know that you felt the same way. You are my family, and that’s enough for me.” Her voice wobbled, and I knew what she was saying. She’d give up her dream of a family for me. And I was the selfish prick who was going to let her do it. Because I loved her that much. “We don’t need to decide anything today. All we need to know is that we’re going to make this work. Whatever it takes.

“So, I’m staying in Magnolia Falls. We’re really doing this.” “Fuck yeah, we are. If you want this, Sav, I will be by your side. However you need me.” She nodded, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip. “I want this.” “That’s all I need to hear.” I tipped her back and tickled her as her laughter filled the air around us.

“I just want to help you. I want to be a team. You aren’t in this alone.” “I know that.” She held up her hand and then reached for the box of letters and tapped it. “You’ve given me more than you realize.” I just hope it will be enough.

“Thanks for bringing me back to life, Sav,” he said, his voice quiet and calming. “I wish I’d come back and found you sooner.” “It didn’t matter when you came. I was always yours.” He kissed the top of my head. “I’m going to do my best to be the husband that you deserve.” “You already are,” I whispered. And that was the last thing I remembered before sleep took me.

I folded up the paper and set it back in the box, lying back on the bed and processing what I’d read. He had a lot of anger toward his parents, and rightfully so. He’d needed me, and I hadn’t been there. But we’d found our way back to one another, and I wouldn’t allow anything to come between us again.

This house was no longer just a bachelor pad where I crashed when I was home. She’d changed everything about it. It smelled good. There were colorful pillows on the couch and curtains on the windows. It was a home now. The transformation reminded me a little of myself. I was no longer a shell of a man. I was different in a way, too, as if she’d put colorful pillows and curtains on my soul. Savannah Woodson had a gift for bringing everyone around her to life.

life is about healing, Hayes. And you and me, together, we’re healing.” How did she do that? Every fucking time? I couldn’t even be mad around this woman because she made too much fucking sense. And she was good to her core, so it was hard to fault her for trying to make my life better. “I’m healed as long as I have you. That’s all that matters to me.” It was the fucking truth.

Hayes spiraled after you left.” My mother’s words had me turning to look at her like she had three heads. “What are you talking about? I wasn’t even living with you.” “I know. But you changed. You lost your safe place, I guess. It wasn’t because you were staying with Nash and his father. It wasn’t because you were separated from Saylor. It wasn’t because Romeo and River were sent away. It was because Savvy was your person, and she was gone.”

you came back home eventually. Saylor came back home with you. Romeo and River came home. But you were never the same, Hayes. And I think it’s because you two were one another’s person, and you lost that.

I never thought I would want to work on things with my mother. I was used to being let down by people. Used to putting up my walls. But maybe Savannah was right. Maybe some people deserved a second chance. “Keep trying, Mom. It’s nice to see this side of you.” Savannah clapped her hands together in celebration. My mother laughed, and I rolled my eyes. But I was happy, even if I pretended to be annoyed. I never planned on being happy. But here I was. Living it.

“We all know the dude hates parties,” Nash said as Cutler stood beside him. “Not anymore. My uncle likes anything our girl Savvy does.” Cutler beamed. He was wearing a white tee, a black leather coat, and a pair of jeans and boots. His hair was slicked back with extra gel, and he was the cutest little guy I’d ever laid eyes on. “You know it, little dude.” Hayes high-fived him.

We made our way out, and everyone took turns holding our new pup, but Hayes kept taking him back, keeping him close. He loved him already, and I hoped that this was the start of many more birthdays together that he allowed me to celebrate him.

We sang “Happy Birthday,” and Hayes pretended to be annoyed, but I saw beneath it all. He loved it. The way his eyes kept finding mine, and his lips turned up just the slightest bit in the corners as everyone sang.

“You didn’t make a wish,” Kingston said. “I forgot you two and your dandelions are all about the wishes. Maybe mine already came true.” Hayes winked at me.

“Did you name him Roddy like the puppy?” Cutler asked, rubbing his eyes as his father held him on his hip. “No.” Romeo chuckled and turned to look at my husband. “His name is Hayes Pierce Heart Knight. The little dude’s got a lot to live up to. He’s got your namesake in there, too, Beefcake. And I’m hoping you’ll come up with a cool handle for him when he gets a little older.” They’d found a way to incorporate all the guys as well as Cutler.

aw🥹

I looked over at Hayes, and he was standing there staring at Romeo, eyes wet with emotion, and I could see he was overwhelmed by the gesture. “Honored that my son will share a birthday and a name with you, Hayes. If he’s half the man you are, he’ll be winning at life.” Romeo pulled him in for one more hug before telling us all we could go down to the nursery and take a quick peek before we headed home. And that’s exactly what we did. My husband just stared through the glass at that little boy, like he’d never seen anything more perfect.