Crazy (The Gibson Boys, #4)

by Adriana Locke

His name screams from my lips as a rush of fire floods my veins. He presses harder, faster, driving me into the mattress as he finds his end. “Fuck,” he groans. He stills inside me.

He drops the charred meat on the cutting board. “So much for impressing you with a nice meal.”

“Everything is fine.” I lean against his back, resting my cheek to him. “You wanted to impress me?” “Yeah, but I screwed it up.” “You sure did.” I slip around him, coming between him and the steaks. “In the best of ways.” With wide eyes and a big sassy grin, I ask, “Want to go screw up again?” I reach up and rub his shoulders. “I was thinking we could try your bed this time.”

“How do you feel about the shower?” I tug him toward his room. “Better get me dirty first.” “We’ll be getting dirty all right.” Lifting me, he puts me over his shoulder and smacks my ass. “I wasn’t hungry for food anyway.”

“I’m famished. For you.”

“Peck Ward, you have some explaining to do.” Nana brandishes a wooden spoon my way. “Why wasn’t your butt in a church pew this morning, young man?” “Let me get in the house first. Geez,” I say, closing the door behind me.

Nana turns back to the stove. “Well, if Peck was entertaining a lady last night”—she pauses and looks at Lance as if to make a point—“and that lady was Dylan, then he gets a pass.”

“Peck is a good boy. He shows up for Jesus every week without fail.” She sets the spoon down and looks at me. “So were you with Dylan last night?”

“Nana … no,” I say. My response only makes my cousins laugh louder. “We really don’t need to discuss this.” “I don’t want to discuss it. I know the mechanics of having sex, Peck,” she says. I think Machlan is going to piss himself. “All I’m asking is if you were having sex with Dylan,” she says calmly. My hands go in the air as I walk in a circle. “I have no idea what happened to this family. It’s like y’all went off and lost your damn minds.”

It was a good night of fucking. I know that. I’ll probably go home today, and she’ll act like nothing happened. But as I lay there in the early morning hours with her wrapped around me, her hair in my face and arms tucked around me, it felt like something happened beyond a few amazing orgasms. It felt like … I wanted to do it again. Not just the fucking, but the rest of it too.

fuzzy feeling fills my chest as I think for a split second what it might be like to have a Sawyer of my own. To have children and a wife that the rest of my family could ask about and want to see. To have a little blond-headed, maybe green-eyed kid running around, asking me to go fishing too. I shake my head. Too fast. Way too fast, Peck.

“You boys are too good to me.” She reaches up and kisses my cheek. “But I do wish you had brought Dylan.” “Nana …” She swipes her towel at me. “She’s a nice girl. And it’s clear she’s smitten with you.” “Oh, she is not.” My stomach clenches. I open the refrigerator and pretend to look for something just so my cousins don’t see my face. Dylan isn’t smitten with me. Is she? What does smitten even mean, anyway?

Her face pops up in my memories—her head thrown back, mouth forming a sexy little ‘o’ as she dropped all her reservations and gave herself to me. As if she can read my mind, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I take it out and look at the screen.

The only thing missing from this scene is Dylan. I wish she were here. He catches my eye. The joking from earlier has subsided and in its place is a knowing look. It wasn’t that long ago that Walker was in my place and trying to decide how to deal with things with Sienna. I wasn’t sure he’d figure it out. But he did. Maybe there’s hope for me. For us.

My heart leaps in my chest as I place my palm in his. He rubs his thumb over the top of my hand and grins. “You are blissfully unaware, aren’t you?” he asks. “Of what?” He laughs. “So let’s get the elephant in the room out in the open.”

“I know you’re wondering what’s happening between us the same as I am. And if you aren’t, well, I guess I look like a pussy now.” I grin. “I guess if that’s the case, you’ll just have to prove your manhood.” He shakes his head, trying to hide his smile. “But, yes, I have wondered a time or sixteen thousand today,” I admit. “Last night was kind of amazing …”

“No, that’s better than awesome.” He chuckles. “And if we want space and room to sort of do our own thing, then that’s perfectly fine. But I like having you around, Hawkeye.”

“Well,” I say, batting my lashes. “I don’t actually know that to be true or not. But we could remedy that.” “Name the place and time, sweetheart.” I unwind my hand from his and take a step back. His eyes grow wide as I grin lasciviously. “How about right here, right now?” I ask. “I like it.” “You will. I promise,” I say, working at his belt. “You will.” His hands capture mine. He brings them to the small of my back as he tugs me close to him again. He kisses the tip of my nose. “I’m going to hold you to that little promise,” he whispers. “But can I just kiss you first?”

“Dylan, sweetheart, I’m going to tell you something. And this is a fact with my hand up.” She waits for me to look at her. “That’s not love.” I try to speak, but my mouth is too dry. “You don’t have to earn someone’s love. Their respect? Yes. Their loyalty? Absolutely. But true love comes freely. You can’t stop it or start it. You have no control over

The veins sit at the top of her skin as she squeezes me with the grip of a baby. “You can’t start or stop love, honey,” she says. “It’s just there, or it’s not, and it’s present between you and Peck. Everyone can see it. Maybe not you yet because it’s a scary thing to finally see. It took Walker forever.” She laughs. “But you will. You can’t deny it forever.” “Okay …” “Just … love him. Like you, he’s never really had someone love him unconditionally but me, and I don’t count.” She smiles like she’s won a prize. “I promise you that he’ll be patient with you. He’ll be kind. He’ll drive you crazy with his incessant need to make sure you’re all right.” She laughs. “Please just be the same to him. For me.”

He leans forward, his lips hovering over the shell of my ear. “You look so damn good that it’s hard not to put you on that island and bury myself inside you.” “Stop it,” I whisper. He plants a kiss behind my ear. “I think today is a fun day.” “What’s that mean?” I bend away from him so I can see his face. “That means when you’re done doing whatever it is here, we have plans.” “Doing what?” “It’s a surprise.”

Peck gives me the sweetest smile. “I like that.” He looks at Nana. “You good with that?” “I’m great with it,” she says. I pick up his drill. His eyes go wide. “Is that my drill?” he asks. I hit the trigger, making it spin. “Yup.” “We need some boundaries, woman,” he says. “You never take a man’s drill.” I turn my back so Nana can’t see my face. “I’ll make it up to you later.” He grins, and all is right in my world.

Her laughter fills the truck. It even drowns out the roar of my diesel. While I love few things more than hearing an engine roar, the sound of her laughter would be one. My lips twist into an amused smile as I hammer the gas.

The vision of Dylan and Nana together comes back to me as the truck slows. To say I was blown away today by this woman sitting beside me would be an understatement. What kind of girl spends her afternoon helping out an old lady rearrange her cabinets? Out of the kindness of her heart? I look over my shoulder to see that woman gazing out the window.

My spirits are high. Things are just … good. Damn good. Better than I ever imagined things could be.

Dylan giggles beside me, her hand on the ceiling as she tries to keep herself pressed in the seat. I take every chance I can get to take a quick peek at her. The excitement in her eyes is worth every bit of time it’ll take tomorrow to clean this fucker. “This … is … awesome,” she says, her voice vibrating with the movements of the truck. “Yeah?” “Yes!” I maneuver the truck through the last bit of mud and coast up the other side. Adrenaline races through my veins. I’m not sure if it’s from the mudding or because Dylan is beside me. … In the mud.

My handful of mud finds its target and sticks to the front of her chest. She screams, the sound embedded with a laugh, as she launches her own ball haphazardly. It misses. “Maybe I should give you a new nickname,” I say, scooping up another handful of gunk. “Something like—hey!” A glob of mud smashes me in the side of the face. Dylan cheers, jumping up and down. She’s filthy and downright, absolutely gorgeous. I lunge forward and am in front of her before she knows what’s happening. Pinning her to the filthy tailgate, I take in the wildness in her eyes. I haven’t seen them this lively before. It’s amazing to witness.

“Eh, maybe.” She palms the back of my head and tries to lower my mouth to hers, but I resist. It takes everything I have, but I manage it. “Kiss me,” she says again. “Please?” “On one condition.” “What’s that?”

“When we get home,” I say, letting my finger trace the side of her face. A dark brown streak is left in its wake. “You have to take a bath with me. Not a shower,” I say, thwarting her interjection, “but a bubble bath.” “Let’s think about that for a second. Do you want to sit in a mud bath?” “I’d sit anywhere with you.” She grins. “But,” I say, “fair point. Shower first to get the mud off. Then a bubble bath.” She acts as though she’s considering it. “Think fast,” I prod. “Fine,” she gushes. “I guess—” I stop her words with the kiss she wanted. I halt all the overthinking we’re both about to do with my tongue. I pause all thoughts of anything besides her and me right here, right now, with my body up against hers and kiss her until the sun sets behind the tree line. Then, and only then, do I take her home.

I watch her little nose scrunch up as she sorts through her choices. There’s still a piece of mud stuck in her hairline. I almost tell her but don’t. I like thinking of the fun we had tonight every time I see it. I’ve never seen Dylan this carefree. This happy.

It’s as if she’s at peace. Settled. Maybe even content. It’s my most favorite look on her—even better than the flush of an orgasm or the mischief of a smartass remark. Those are both memorable but not my favorite. This little grin plastered across her cheeks tonight is the best one.

“Breathe, Dylan,” I tease. She smiles, and I forget all about the popcorn. I mosey my way across the room. She’s wrapped up in a giant blue towel. Her hair hangs straight and is damp from our hour-long bath. My hands go on either side of her, locking her in place. She scoots to the end of the counter and presses her lips to my forehead before resting the top of her head against mine.

All I know is that I’m in serious fucking trouble with this girl. In a short time, she’s rearranged my entire life. And not just my kitchen cabinets, which she has plans to do tomorrow, apparently. The nights I’d spend alone at Crave, listening to Machlan or Navie jabber on about their lives, are now spent doing things like having a mud fight on Bluebird Hill or playing tic-tac-toe on the shower wall with bathroom chalk—something I’m not sure how or why I even own. But I do. Or she does. Either way, I love it.

“Just thinking that you’re a giant pain in my ass.” She laughs, pulling away. She brushes a stray lock of hair off my face. “I don’t believe that’s true.” “You don’t, huh?” I grin.

“My robe is on the chair. Slip that on,” I offer. She grins and drops the towel right where she stands. Her body is round and full, and seeing her breasts hang—full and voluptous—makes me hard. “Dylan …”

Her attempt at being reasonable knocks the wind out of me. I pull her into me and kiss the top of her head. Something washes over me. It’s a feeling I’ve never had before. It’s the best, warmest, quietest feeling that’s also the most powerful thing I’ve ever felt. I feel … calm. Which is completely at odds with this circumstance.

Irritation claws at my brain as I try to stay calm. I just want to get back in there with Hawkeye and watch our stupid romantic comedy and eat popcorn that will make my stomach hurt all night.

My body pulls toward the house. The popcorn is probably done by now, and Dylan’s probably watching the previews. I glance over my shoulder. The lights are all on, and the girl I can’t get enough of is inside. She’s waiting on me, knowing I’m out here with another woman.

“I do. I like Dylan a lot.” “Do you love her?” I stretch my legs out in front of me. The question somehow tightens every muscle in my body. But, for whatever reason, it doesn’t get an automatic no from me. I almost lean toward yes.

I reach for her. She lets me take her hand and pull her against me. I wrap my arms around her as tightly as I can and nuzzle my face into her hair.

The thought makes me smile. I’m a total dick. “Well, so you know, because it’s important to me that you do know—I told her not to come by. Or call. Or text. Or be a jerk to you or anyone else, actually.” I feel her smile against my chest.

I lean back and brush the hair out of her face so I can see into her eyes. I feel it again, stronger than ever. It’s that rush of comfort, of being perfectly content with your life. With your partner. With the woman you love.

I tug her hand and guide her to my room. To our room. I just have to figure out how to make that happen. We climb in bed. She snuggles up against me, her hand flat against my heart.

I truly am a dick because that makes me feel pretty darn good. But I won’t leave her hanging. Even I have limits on dickiness.

kiss the top of her head. “But I did tell her that things have changed. For the better. For you.” And me. I feel her smile against my shoulder, and nothing feels better than this moment. Dylan in my arms. In my bed. In our bed.

It doesn’t take long before she’s sleeping peacefully. I grab my phone and dim the light and type in, ‘How to tell someone you love them.’ Because what the hell do I know about this? Not a damn thing. I’m not even sure if this is the right thing to do. I look down at her and smile. Even if it’s not the right thing, I’m going to try anyway.

The door swings open. With a furrowed brow, I step inside. A banging sound followed by a thud comes from Dylan’s room. “What the hell?” I walk down the hallway with my senses on high alert. Peeking in her bedroom, I spot a large box from the barn on her bed … and her standing at the foot. She looks up. Her eyes are vulnerable yet guarded. It’s not the Dylan I know. “Hey,” I say. She smiles. Sort of.

“Well, it was never in the plan to have you sleeping in my bed either, but I’m not arguing that.”

“I do. That’s why I’m doing this.” She makes no sense. She’s lost her damn mind. Leaving me because she wants to be with me … She never said that. “Dylan, do you want to be with me?”

“Yeah. I would. But if it drives you this fucking crazy, I won’t anymore. Ever again.”