Tempting Fate (A Rolling Hills Romance Book 1) Read online

“Charlotte!” Uncle Nolan yells looking around worriedly.

  “I’m right here.” I call and go to him. As soon as I’m standing in front of him, he looks me over then pulls me in for a tight hug.

  “I didn’t know what happened. Someone mentioned it was you that had called and I had to make sure you were okay.” He says against the side of my head.

  “I’m okay Uncle Nolan. I swear.”

  He releases me and looks over at Beau who walks over and stands beside me. He looks between the two of us and I blush. “What happened?” He asks.

  “Charlotte and I were on a hike when we heard barking. When I got there, Megan was propped up against a tree with her dog sitting beside her barking. From what Megan could tell me she was on a hike when she suffered a panic attack. She ended up tripping over a branch, twisting her ankle and hitting her head on a rock in the process. Her service dog stayed with her and alerted us that she was in trouble.”

  “Hiking?” Uncle Nolan turns and asks me.

  I shrug my shoulders. “It sounded like a good idea at the time.”

  He shakes his head. “Well it’s a good thing y’all were out here. Who knows what would have happened if you hadn’t gotten to her in time?”

  “Ma’am, animals are not permitted in the ambulance.” One of the EMT’s says, loud enough to catch our attention. Uncle Nolan shakes his head. “I’ll be back. I need to sort his ass out.”

  Uncle Nolan goes and has words with the EMT. The poor guy's eyes go wide in shock as he realizes who my uncle is. A minute later the dog is placed in the ambulance, on the stretcher near Megan’s legs where he rests his head on her knees.

  “I hope she’s going to be okay.”

  Beau wraps his arm around my shoulders. “I’m sure she’ll be okay. The injuries aren’t too serious.”

  “I still feel bad that she got hurt though. It’s a good thing she had her service dog with her.”

  “Did you know her?” Beau asks.

  I shake my head. “I’ve never seen her before. Rolling Hills is such a small town I know almost everyone, but I have no idea who she is.”

  “She just bought the old bakery across the street from your shop.” Detective Hollis Major says walking up.

  “Oooh. I saw the for-sale sign had been taken down. Do you know what she plans to do with it?”

  “Heard she was going to restore it to its former glory.”

  “Good to hear. We’ve needed a good bakery in town since Mrs. Kimber passed away. I’ll keep an eye out for Megan and drop in to see if she needs anything.” I tell Hollis.

  He nods then looks over at my uncle as he walks up to us.

  “Charlotte, we’re going to take off and follow Miss Megan over to the hospital and get her statement. Detective Granger come to my office first thing tomorrow morning. I believe we have some things to discuss.” He says then looks over at me making my stomach sink.

  “Yes sir.” Beau says, sounding confused.

  My uncle and Hollis leave, following the ambulance. It’s quiet for a few minutes until Beau and I try talking at the same time, making us both laugh.

  “Would you like to come over for lunch?” Beau asks.

  Worrying my bottom lip between my teeth, I shrug. “Do you think that’s a good idea? Maybe you should wait and talk to my uncle first.”

  “Why would I need to talk to your uncle? What does our talk have to do with you coming over to my place for lunch?” Beau asks.

  Crossing my arms over my chest I start to pace in front of him. “I wasn’t completely honest with you last night.”

  Beau’s brows pull together. “What are you talking about?”

  “When you asked me about boyfriends. When I turned eighteen my uncle forbade any of his officers from dating me. I only found out when I overheard my aunt and uncle arguing about it. It wasn’t a big deal to me because I wasn’t interested in dating anyone. I just don’t want you to get in trouble because of me. Maybe we should see how your talk with him goes tomorrow, then you can decide if this is something that you still want to pursue.”

  Beau stands with his hands on his hips looking at me with wide eyes. “You know he can’t tell me I can’t date you, don’t you? He could get into trouble for that.”

  “Be that as it may, he’s your boss. He’s a good man, but he’s stubborn. I don’t want him to make things difficult for you.”

  “Charlotte, do you hear what you’re saying?”

  I nod and look away feeling foolish.

  “Darlin’, people are free to date and marry whoever they want to. Your uncle can’t tell me not to be with you.” Beau says, in a soothing tone.

  “I don’t want there to be any problems. I like to keep the peace.” I say shrugging my shoulders.

  “Even at the price of your happiness? Charlotte, you’re a hell of a catch, so I’m ecstatic no one snatched you up before I did, but this is asinine.” He goes to my door and opens it for me. Before getting in I put my hand on his arm. “I’m sorry Beau. I wasn’t trying to upset you.”

  “Charlotte, answer me this. If your uncle calls me into his office tomorrow morning and tells me not to see you anymore, what will you do? Are you going to let him keep telling you who you can and cannot date? Because I sure as hell won’t cower to that.”

  I look away from him for a moment trying to figure out what to tell him, but nothing sounds right.

  “Forget it. Drive home safe.” Beau tells me in a cold tone that makes my chest ache.

  I get into my Jeep and roll down the window. “I know you probably won’t understand this, but he raised me Beau. He’s like my father. I can’t lose him too.”

  “Jesus Charlotte! You’re a twenty-five-year-old woman. You can’t keep walking on eggshells hoping not to piss him off. He’s not going to get rid of you if you do something he doesn’t like!” He goes to his truck with Thor following behind.

  I’m tempted to say something in hopes of smoothing things over, but I’m too embarrassed. Beau’s right, but it doesn’t make this any easier. Instead, I pull out of the parking area and drive home. The sky opens up as I drive with rain pounding against the glass drowning out the music I was trying to listen to, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I never thought Beau would mean so much to me in only a couple of days.

  I spend the rest of the afternoon trying to figure out what I want. Beau wasn’t the first officer to ask me out, but he was the first I said yes to. There have been a handful of guys who came into my salon and tried sweet-talking me into breaking my uncle’s rule. I always laughed it off and told them no. The more I think about how crazy my uncle’s rule is, the more stupid I feel. Was I really going to throw away what could be between Beau and I just because he told me to? Realizing what I might have done, I get back into my Jeep ready to set this right.

  Chapter Five

  Beau

  I’m not one to wait around. After I leave the state park, I go to the police station and wait for Captain Reece to get back from the hospital.

  “Beau, what are you doing here?” He asks, surprised to see him in his office.

  “Figured we could have that talk now if you had a few minutes.”

  Captain Reece looks at his watch and then nods at me. “Come on in.”

  Before he has a chance to say anything I start. “I’m falling in love with your niece. I’m going to marry her. While I don’t need your permission, I know it would mean everything to her if you approved.”

  “Marry her? You just met her for fuck sakes!”

  “I know it’s crazy. I knew it when she walked up to me in her salon Friday night.”

  “You’re telling me that in three days you know you want her for the rest of your life?”

  I nod. “She’s everything I wasn’t even looking for. She fills that empty part of my soul with her brightness. She’s special and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep her. I’m in love with her.”

  Captain Reece’s eyes go wide and whistles low. He takes a seat at his desk and
looks at me, weighing his words carefully. “What if she doesn’t feel the same way about you?”

  “She does. She wouldn’t have broken that stupid rule you have in place about not dating officers.”

  He starts laughing, getting louder and louder the longer he keeps laughing. “She told you about that? I didn’t even know that she knew about it.”

  I sit down in one of the seats in front of his desk. “She did. Why is it so funny?”

  “She was young and had already been through a lot. I don’t know if she told you, but my wife and I raised her as our own when her parents died.”

  “She did.”

  He nods. “I had a lot of young officers on the force at the time and I didn’t need them dicking around with her, breaking her heart. You know how stupid men can be in their early twenties. I knew I couldn’t enforce it, but they were young and stupid, wanting to impress me. As far as I know, it kept the guys away and Charlotte was able to focus on building her life.”

  “So you don’t have a problem with me dating Charlotte?”

  “Dating her? No, I don’t have a problem with that Beau. You’ve got your head on straight and you’re a good man. Maybe give it some time before marrying her though?” He asks and reaches his hand out to shake mine.

  “I can’t promise you that, but I’ll try.” I answer, shaking his hand.

  He shakes his head at me and tells me good luck as I leave his office.

  Leaving the station, I go home trying to figure out what I need to do about Charlotte. It pisses me off that she was willing to let us go if her uncle wanted her to. At the same time, I can understand not wanting to lose another parent.

  She might not think we’re together at this point. Hell, we’ve only been out on one date. In my mind, she’s all mine and I need her to know it. I decide to drop Thor off at home before driving over to Charlotte’s place to talk to her.

  I’m surprised when I pull up and see her Jeep parked in my driveway and Charlotte sitting on my front porch steps. She stands when I park and waits for me. Getting out of my truck, I walk up to her as she stands. “How did you know where I live?”

  “It’s a small town Beau, people talk,” She says shrugging her shoulder.

  “Right. I keep forgetting what it’s like to live here again. Are you okay? What are you doing here?”

  She studies my face and for a moment I fear she’s going to try and walk away. “I needed to tell you something.”

  I nod and wait for her to continue.

  She breathes out a long breath. “I need you to know that I don’t care what my Uncle Nolan says. You were right before. When you asked me what I would do if he said we couldn’t be together, I panicked. But what I wanted to say was I want to be with you no matter the consequences.”

  “Is that right?” I ask, a grin forming on my face.

  “You’re too important to me Beau. It’s crazy, how fast this all happened, but it’s true. I’m going to go have a talk with him after I leave here. I wanted to talk to you first.”

  I take a step closer to her so that I’m on the bottom step, standing below her. At this angle, I’m only a couple of inches taller than her. “You don’t have to do that.”

  She scrunches up her face. “Why not?”

  “I just left his office.”

  “Oh. Well what happened? Never mind, don’t tell me. It doesn’t matter.”

  “It matters darlin’.” Holding her face in the palms of my hands I kiss her lips softly. “I told him I was in love with you and I was going to marry you.”

  “You did? You are?” She asks in shock.

  “If you’ll have me.”

  Her arms wrap around my neck and she holds me tight. “I love you too Beau.”

  Picking her up, I carry her to my door, and unlock it before walking us inside. Kicking the door shut, I walk her down the hall to my bedroom, but stop to push her against the wall and kiss her deeply.

  “You left Thor outside,” she says gasping from our kiss.

  “Shit.” I groan then kiss her again, unable to stop. “He’ll be okay,” I tell her as I pull her tank top, sports bra thing over her head and toss it to the ground. Her round tits are full and waiting for my attention.

  With Charlotte pressed against the wall, I slide my knee between her thighs to keep her propped against the wall, then suck one of her delicious nipples into my mouth. I roll my tongue around the soft bud, before sucking it hard, making Charlotte moan and pull at my hair.

  “Feel good darlin’?”

  “So good,” she moans as I switch to her other nipple. She pulls at my shirt, trying to get it off of me. Reaching behind me, I grab the back of my shirt and quickly pull it over my head before tossing it to the ground and getting back to what is most important. Us. Her expressive eyes travel over my chest as her hand rubs up my abs and around my neck. She pulls my face down for a kiss and moans when she rubs her hot pussy against my knee.

  Wrapping her luscious legs around my waist I carry her into the bedroom where I set her down beside the bed. “Take them off.” I tell her, motioning to the leggings that have been driving me crazy all damn day.

  “Only if you take yours off first.” She says, biting her swollen bottom lip. Her eyes are heavy with lust as she watches me.

  I’ll gladly go first if this is what it takes to get her under me. I kick off my shoes and socks, then slip my thumbs under the band of my gym shorts. I pull them and my boxer briefs down my thighs and kick them out of the way.

  Charlotte’s hazel eyes are almost green, sparkling in a way I've never seen before. Stroking my hard dick, I watch and wait for her to get naked for me. It’s been close to ten years since I’ve touched a woman and my only regret is I didn’t wait for her. Since I met her a few days ago, Charlotte is the only woman I see, the only woman I’ll ever need. There is no question in my mind that I’ve found my soul mate and I can’t wait to learn everything about her, starting with the sound she makes when she comes.

  She watches my hand closely as I stroke my shaft back and forth. Ever so slowly she slides her leggings over her ass, down her thick thighs and past her calves before stepping out of them so that she’s bare before me. Jesus, I’ve never seen a more perfect woman in my entire life. Everything about her is perfect. Yet she’s looking anywhere but at me.

  “Eyes on me darlin’.”

  Her head snaps up and her eyes go to mine. I hate seeing her so unsure. I’m making it my mission from this day forward to never see this look on her face ever again.

  Stepping forward, I lift her chin to keep her eyes on me. “You are the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen Charlotte.” Reaching out, I slide my knuckles against her feather soft skin. “Not only are you beautiful, but you’re smart, and sassy, and funny as hell.”

  “Thank you.” She says blushing.

  Starting from the side of her breast down to the dip of her waist and swell of her hips, I memorize every inch of her body. “I want to know everything there is to know about you.”

  “Everything?” She asks, looking up at me through her lashes.

  “Mmm, every single thing.” Sliding my hand from her hip over her stomach, I run my hand over her neatly trimmed curls to her dripping wet pussy. I quirk my eyebrow. “No panties?”

  She shakes her head, pink tinging her cheeks. “I don’t like to wear them.” She says in a breathy voice then gasps when I slide two fingers through her wet lips.

  Clicking my tongue, I shake my head slowly and step up to her so her breasts are pressed against my chest. “You’re so wet that your girl cum is running down your thighs.” I say into her ear, then rub circles over her throbbing clit making her gasp and moan loudly.

  “I need you to do one thing for me darlin’.”

  “Mmm?”

  “Don’t let me catch you without panties when you’re in a dress,” I growl then take her lips in a demanding kiss as I hold her tightly, never wanting to let her go. I drop to my knees at her feet and run my hands up he
r shapely calves. Her scent is calling to me, begging me to get a taste, but when I look up into her eyes there’s something different about her, something less sure than before. “We don’t have to do this. I won’t be mad if-” I say right before Charlotte presses a finger against my lips and shakes her head.

  “Shh, I want to. I want this with you more than anything. Maybe slow down a little?” She asks hesitantly.

  Standing, I look into Charlotte’s eyes and know I can do anything for her. The hormone fueled frenzy raging inside me, calms to a hot simmer. “I can do slow,” I murmur, before pulling her hair band out of her hair, releasing her long curly locks. Combing my fingers through her hair, I push it out of her face and behind her shoulders.

  “You’re so beautiful.” I say, kissing her lips softly.

  “Beau, I didn’t mean you had to-”

  “Mmm mmm darlin’. You were right. I need to savor you, every single inch.” I tell her as I pull her hair to the side and hold it in my fist.

  From the moment I laid eyes on Charlotte I knew I’d be right where I’m standing, minutes from claiming her as mine, all mine.

  I press open mouthed kisses against her soft skin, down her jaw, and against the curve of her neck. I lift her into my arms and gently place her on the bed. Lying side by side, I hold her curvy body against mine as I make love to her mouth, needing nothing more than what she’s giving me at this moment. When she pulls her plump lips away, gasping for air I’ve never been more turned on. How am I going to make it through this without devouring her? Slowly, that’s how.

  I kiss down her body and slide between her parted thighs. Kneeling in front of her, my eyes are on hers as I reach under her, grip her ass, and pull her sweet pussy up to my waiting lips. I start by placing a kiss against her pussy, making her tremble. Darting my tongue between my lips, I pause, knowing in the next moment I’m going to taste heaven. Sliding my tongue between her lips, I groan as her taste hits my tongue for the very first time. Heaven.

  I slide to the floor on my knees, still holding her ass in my hands. Our eyes are still locked on one another’s, our bodies in tune, our hearts beating to the same rhythm. I don’t know how I got this lucky, but I did and I’m thankful as fuck. Using my thumbs, I spread her open and swipe my tongue up her center and around her clit, before pushing one and then two fingers inside her. She moves around so much I have to hold her down with my forearm as I eat her sweet pussy for all it’s worth until she’s coming on my tongue.