Wild E-Book

Ashley Bostock

• Herausgeber: Ashley Bostock
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

Ever since my divorce became final, I decided to start putting myself first. The problem is when I think of putting myself first, I think of my son’s biological father, Thatcher Patterson. The man that wanted nothing to do with me when he found out I was pregnant.
When he left me, he took my heart with him and I’ve never gotten it back.

Suddenly my son and I are forced to live with Thatcher indefinitely and it’s difficult to remember all the reasons why I don’t trust him. The way he looks at me, the way he is with our son and the way he makes me feel are all the reasons I’m running toward him instead of away from him.

But if I run toward him, how long will it take for him to up and run the other way from us, much like he did before?

~~
I’ve never stopped loving Abigail Murphy or wishing I could be the perfect dad to my son. So, when a stipulation in my late grandfather’s will states that I must have an heir to claim my inheritance, it’s the push I need to get them in my life.

Because I need them as much as I need that money. With my business in the red, I have no other option. As the deadline creeps closer, I never counted on the guilt I would feel at trying to get a two for one deal. When the two of them move in with me, I’m reminded of all the wonderful things this woman has to offer and all the emotions she makes me feel.

She makes me feel worthy. Wanted. Loved. She makes me feel like I could be the man she needs and just maybe I could be the father my son deserves – the father I’ve been so afraid to be.

Leseprobe

Wild

Love in Lone Star

Ashley Bostock

Copyright © 2017 by Ashley Bostock

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are being used fictitiously. Any references to such are entirely coincidental and are used for merely the telling of a fictional story.

eBook ISBN: 978-1-948402-04-0

Ruby.

Someday you won’t have to sneak glances when I’m writing, you will be old enough to read them all.

Everything I do is for you!

Contents

Not To Miss!

1. Thatcher

2. Abigail

3. Thatcher

4. Abigail

5. Thatcher

6. Abigail

7. Thatcher

8. Abigail

9. Thatcher

10. Abigail

11. Thatcher

12. Abigail

13. Thatcher

14. Abigail

15. Thatcher

16. Abigail

17. Thatcher

18. Abigail

19. Thatcher

20. Abigail

Wicked - Book 3 - Love in Lone Star Series

Irresistible Billionaires

Not To Miss!

Also by Ashley Bostock

About the Author

Not To Miss!

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Goodreads

One

Thatcher

My shop bell did its standard ding-a-ling signaling another customer. At nine in the morning on a Saturday, it could be any one of my friends here to shoot the shit or any one of the old farmers. Hefting one of the last three bags of milk replacer onto the back counter, I yelled out that I’d be up front in just a second. Thatcher’s Feed Store was located on the main drag of Lone Star. Like any other older building in town on Main, Thatcher’s Feed was an old brick building with a bay of windows overlooking the street. A small but useful parking lot that I used for the obvious as well as a place to keep fence posts and other larger items that I didn’t have room for inside could be seen from the bay of windows. In the warehouse where I was now, there were three square windows, a back door and another door that led back into the store front.

No one responded and I became curious who was out there. Most likely not a local. Anyone who lived around here never had a problem coming to the back to find me, as if they owned the place. I stuck my head out of the door opening that separated the back warehouse from the store part and seeing no one, I called out.

“Hello?”

I saw the blond mop of hair just before impact. Umph. Right into my leg, I maneuvered enough to grab the little boy and when he looked up into my eyes, I froze. The subject of my grandfather’s will stood in front of me. I couldn’t breathe. He was oblivious to my world stopping as he kept on going, holding a tiny green tractor in his hand, making what I thought were great tractor sounds.

He looked just like me. At least what I looked like when I was his age. The fluffy blond hair and large blue eyes. He even had dimples just like mine. Seeing him was like a sucker punch to my gut. A desperate ache clung to my heart and I wanted to go after him. Sit on the floor and play with him and his green tractor. It’d been almost three months since I’d last seen him. As I stood in awe at having him in here, the conditions of my grandad’s will sat heavy on my heart as I contemplated how I was going to pull this off.

“Sorry. We just came to get a few things.”

I turned at the polite tone in Abby’s voice as she came up next to me. She was wearing jeans riddled with holes and an oversized t-shirt claiming that she’d rather be reading, which her body was practically swimming in. I knew hidden beneath that sweatshirt were expanses of soft, delicate skin and curves that my hands could get lost upon. I’d seen her with her glasses and without, but today she wore small square ones with purple frames. Fucking hot. Her reddish-blonde hair was piled on top of her head and I had the urge to pull out the band and feel those locks all over my fingers. It’d been a long time since I’d held a woman in my arms. Too long. It had been longer since I’d held this particular woman.

“It’s okay,” I managed. “Y’all are welcome here anytime.”

“I know. It’s just, well, I, uh, yeah. I’ll just get what we need and go. He’ll tear the place up if you let him.”

“I don’t care. Let him.” I could still hear his tractor sounds but I was having a difficult time tearing my gaze away from his mother to see where the little guy was. Every time I saw her, she entranced me. Her hair made her skin look even paler than it actually was, and those green eyes of hers were so deep in color, I never got tired of losing myself in them. Did she still shave the matching-colored hair between her legs?

“What’d y’all come looking for?” I managed to ask.

“A cage,” Thayer exclaimed running around the corner. “For my turtle.” He browsed through some of the shelves he could see at his level before taking off again down one of the aisles.

“I let him get a turtle, but that little pet store on sixth said they’d sold their only two cages today and that I might check here in the meantime. They’re getting more in tomorrow or the next day.” I could tell she was nervous standing there by the way her eyes kept darting around the store. Like she wanted to look anywhere but at me.

“Does it need to live in water? I don't have any aquariums.”

“No. It’s just a box turtle. It doesn’t live in water. Right now, the little guy’s in a cardboard box and every time Thayer feeds him, well, it's making a terrible mess of the box.”

I couldn't help but smile as I imagined Thayer, my son, playing with this turtle.

“You’re in luck. I think I may have something we can use for this new turtle’s home. Follow me.”

I led the way to the back of my store, trying not to think about the hair between her legs or lack thereof, as Abby called for Thayer. “Thatcher might have a home for the turtle. Such a nice gentleman, right?”

I resisted the urge to laugh as she told her son what a nice gentleman I was. Would such a nice gentleman put her in the position of being a single mother? Hook her up with his best friend so they could marry one another and pretend he was Thayer’s father? Probably not. Would a nice gentleman be entertaining the thought of taking her son away from her in order to meet the terms of his grandfather’s will? I didn’t think so.

With the two of them trailing behind me, I led them to the grain bins I had in stock. They came in a variety of sizes and I was sure one of them could do the job of housing his pet turtle.

“A bin?” Abby asked me.

“Why not? No different than a glass cage, except these are larger. The turtle will have much more room to stretch. Don't you think buddy?” I got onto my knees and pulled one of the bins out from under the shelving. Thayer got on to his knees too, making sure to be seated exactly like me and pride swelled in my chest. Abby joined us on the floor, too and I liked how she didn't give a second glance about the not-so-clean floor.

“I think this one might work best. It's fairly shallow but not so much that he could crawl out-”

“What’s shallow?” Thayer asked.

“Shallow means it isn’t very deep. See here. Look at this bin compared to this one. This one is deep and this one is shallow.”

I shifted the bins for his inspection and Thayer seemed satisfied with my explanation. When I caught sight of Abby watching us, a sharp pain stabbed me right in my gut. Her furrowed brows had me guessing that she no doubt was wondering what our lives would’ve been like if things were different. Heck, I was wondering that myself right now as Thayer brushed up against my leg, almost settling into me so he could examine his new turtle’s home. This was as close as we’d ever been as a family. This moment, this proximity to one another, making a decision families made all the time regarding new pets.

If I leaned over just enough, I could pull the two of them in for a family hug. Nuzzle my days old beard into Abby’s delicate neck and tousle Thayer’s blond hair with my fingertips. It was an urge I’d never experienced and seeing the look on Abby’s face, I knew she was thinking along the same lines as me. Why? Why couldn't we be a family? Why couldn't we try? Because if she found out I was going to push to gain custody of Thayer, she’d run as far away from me as she could get.

I swallowed, “How’s Adrian doing?”

“He’s good. He’s out of town for a few days right now.”

“Daddy’s gone but he’ll be back to see my turtle, right Mama?”

That stabbing pain I felt only moments ago resurfaced and settled into my chest as I watched Thayer’s face light up with excitement at the thought of showing his dad his turtle. His dad. Not me. It would never be me because I’d given up that right five years ago when Abby told me she was pregnant with him.

“Yeah, of course buddy. He’ll be home in two days for you to show him.”

She wouldn't look at me and I couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking about. Did she resent me as much as I resented myself? No. She was happy with Adrian. They made their relationship work. The few times I've run into her around Lone Star, she was always happy. Always smiling, always giddy with excitement and I couldn't help but think about her when she was my girl. How she’d rarely, if ever, gotten angry at people because she was genuinely happy all the time. I’d never met anyone like her.

I'd stayed as far away from her and Thayer as I could because, well, for the obvious reasons. I had to give them up. The more I saw of Abby, the more that flame burned deep inside me, begging for Abby to be the one to extinguish it. I’ve been doing a great job of ignoring it so far.

“Do you think this will work then?”

“I think so. Do you Thayer?”

“Yes, Mama.” Thayer placed his tiny hand over my arm and squeezed me in excitement. I couldn't tear my eyes away from his hand resting on me. It was so tiny and pale the way it lay sprawled over the dark ink of my tattoo and so innocent. At four years old, I bet he believed everyone was good. He did if he was anything like his mother. Was she still the same woman I remembered? Had her marriage and life changed her innocence and outlook on life? Or was she still that sweet and caring, maddeningly horny woman who couldn’t get enough of sex?

“Does this turtle have a name y’all or are we just going to keep calling him The Turtle?”

“He needs a name. I've been thinking Mr. Turtle, Turtle Turtle, and Spider-Man.”

I laughed, “Why Spider-Man?”

He hadn't moved his hand from my arm and I sat there, stone-still, loving the coldness of his little fingers as they absentmindedly brushed through the hairs on my forearm. I’d met Thayer before, been around him on some special occasions but I’d never been with him like this. This close, relaxing together, naming pets with one another and admiring how beautiful his mother was. Shit, I did that last bit every time I saw Abby. I shouldn't though, considering how she’s been married to Adrian for the past five years. There was always something about her though, that pulled me to her: her beauty, her motherly ways, and all of those things I’d glimpsed underneath the surface and wondered whether or not they were still there. If Adrian got to experience all of those wonderful things I’d immersed myself with and currently longed for. Asshole. It was hard not to be jealous of him even though I was the real asshole.

“Because he’s my favorite super hero.”

“Mine, too!”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really.”

“Wow, mom. Isn't that cool?”

Abby smiled at Thayer, eyeing me warily over his head. “Yes, that is so cool.”

“What should we name him then?” That voice resurfaced whispering to me how big of a deal this was to sit with these two and share in this moment of helping Thayer name his turtle.

“I really like Spider-Man. Don't you, Thayer?”

“I do! Alright! His name is Spider-Man. Isn't that great, mama?”

“It's perfect,” she smiled, tousling his hair like my fingers itched to do. She glanced up at me.

“What?” I asked her, my voice clogged with emotion.

“This is…different.”

“Good different or bad different?”

“Good different,” she laughed. “And a little unsettling, too.”

“Why unsettling?”

“Seeing you two this way…”

“And you,” I told her.

“And me?” She cocked her head to the side, not understanding.

“You’re part of this, too. The three of us…”

“I know.”

We sat there watching each other for what felt like forever as our son pushed his tractor around the inside of the plastic bin. Neither one of us were willing to look away this time. Not even her as a light pink blush fanned across her cheeks. Even though we didn’t talk on a regular basis – she is married to one of my best friends after all, there were still things between us. Lots of unspoken things. Unfinished things. Things I'm not sure we would ever be able to discuss. But there they were anyway. Filling the space between us, pulling us in to one another like it had since our last night together when I gave away my rights to her and our child.

Now, it’d come down to this. I had only a short amount of time to produce an heir in order to receive the lump sum of money from my grandpa’s will. The money would no doubt get me out of the red for Thatcher’s Feed Store up in Deer Creek.

Two

Abigail

Thatcher was always so intense; it drove me wild. Quiet, mostly, but every time his blue eyes roamed all over me, it was like they held a promise of all these delicious and naughty things he’d like to do to me. He studied me like I was a precious gemstone that he wanted to feel with his hands.

The way he was with Thayer just then, had me melting in my spot. He vexed me like no other man I’d ever met in my life. There was always something about him that shook me up a bit. He was the opposite of suit-wearing Adrian – Thatcher was tall and handsome with a laidback style; down-right country in his worn denim jeans and flannel work shirt all the way to his steel-toed work boots. That tattoo along his forearm that my mama would always say was a work of the devil but got my insides acting all crazy anyway. He was just plain naughty giving me all these dirty thoughts. Or maybe it was me who was naughty.

“When’s daddy coming home?”

“In two days, remember?”

I tore my thoughts away from Thayer’s father long enough to drive us through Lone Star and pull into the driveway. Home. They say home is where the heart is but I feel like I just left my heart back there at the feed store and well, no one is living there so I don't know if I’ve got the meaning of that saying down correctly.

“Got your bin, Thayer?”

“It's a turtle house, mama.”

“Yes, I suppose it is a turtle house. Let's go on in and get that turtle into his new home.”

It was more than difficult to push Thatcher out of my mind when I was constantly around his spitting image. Anyone with half a brain on their head could see the similarities, even if Thayer had blond hair opposite Thatcher’s dark brown hair. With similar names, which Adrian and I did intentionally, it couldn’t be that hard to figure out. Could it? I’m sure there were plenty of people who remembered Thatcher and I joined at the hips at one point. No one ever questioned it though. I'm sure the whole town speculated on who was Thayer’s father because he didn't look a thing like Adrian. Since I was married and not knocked-up, I guess no one cared who Thayer’s real daddy was. Which is exactly what was best at the time.

It didn’t bother me much. I’d long gotten over Thatcher and whatever his shift in attitude toward me was when I wound up pregnant. In fact, I was certain he didn’t deserve me no matter how crazy he made me feel. The three of us had all been great friends in high school with Thatcher and I always on the brink of exploring something more. We’d never committed ourselves to each other, but it was like an unspoken agreement that he and I were a couple. Even our last two years in high school when we hadn’t yet kissed or done anything like that, it was evident to all the guys my heart belonged to him.

Then one summer not too long after high school when it finally happened, we’d spent many nights underneath those country stars.

When I told him I was pregnant, the next thing I knew was Adrian was stepping up to the plate promising me a scandal-free life in this small town. Not one to disappoint my mama, I agreed whole-heartedly to the opportunity. Thatcher though, as resentful as I was toward him, still managed to have a hold of my heart.

“Here, Mama, you take Spider-Man.”

Thayer peeked into the box at his pet. He’d only held him a few times, still getting used to the feel of the reptile and the way he would push on his hands with his legs as he tried to get away. I couldn’t help but be enthralled with the reptile, too. Sometimes in the quiet when Thayer was laying down for a nap, I’d hold the turtle finding comfort in the small, barely there pulses on the underside of his shell.

“He’s happy to be in his new home.” I told Thayer as the little turtle moved around the bin Thatcher happily provided for us. I moved his water dish over as Thayer dumped some bedding mulch into the bin.

“I think he likes it.”

“I agree. I have to go get the mail, do you want to come with or would you like Mama to get you some milk and cookies and you can watch a cartoon before your nap?”

“Milk and cookies, of course.”

“Of course. Come on, little guy.”

Our kitchen was small and I’d decorated it black and white. Somewhere along the way, the black and white had become cow-themed and I now had cow paraphernalia almost everywhere. Cow flour and sugar canisters, salt and pepper shakers and a decorative sign I’d picked up at a garage sale that read ‘An udder day in paradise.’

My kitchen wasn’t anything fancy, white appliances and dark gray laminate countertops. When we’d bought the house, we’d installed new cabinets and instead of the old dark wood that came out of the seventies, they were now a light honey-oak color. I washed my hands, grabbed the cookies and milk from the fridge and poured Thayer his milk, setting a handful of cookies on a napkin to go with it.

“Thayer, go wash your hands first.”

Thayer jumped up from his turtle enclosure and ran down the hall. Satisfied at hearing the faucet running, I waited patiently for the little guy to come out. He sat down at his table ready for his snack. Another garage sale item. I was a stickler for those. Passing up something that was almost new simply because it wasn’t wanted or needed anymore was good enough for me not to have to fork over crazy amounts of money. Who cares if it was used? So long as it was gently used, I didn’t mind. Adrian used to make fun of me all the time about my garage sale finds. Rightfully so. If I came from a family such as his, I’d probably frown upon used things too.

The mail carrier was just pulling away as I stepped outside. The weather was exceptionally cool today for the beginning of August. I was equally excited and sad that Thayer would be starting pre-school in another week. It seemed like yesterday I’d come home with him bundled in my arms.

“Beautiful day out, isn’t it?” Mr. Hansen, my neighbor, was retrieving his mail at the same time.

“Yes, it is. How are you doing today?”

“Pretty good. I get hip surgery next week that I’m not looking forward to.”

“You’ll be fine. It’ll make you feel better I can promise you that. I’ll make your favorite and bring it over to you. Still Key Lime Pie?”

“Sure is. Why thank you. How’d I get so lucky to have a neighbor that loves old people?”

“How’d I get so lucky to have old people for neighbors?” I asked as I got the mail out of my box.

He laughed and waved at me. “Take care of yourself.”

“You too. See you next week.”

I thumbed through my mail. Junk mostly. My divorce papers indicating it was now final. It hadn’t been as grueling of a process as I’d thought it would be with Adrian not being Thayer’s biological father. It had been mostly pain-free. Except for the fact that Thayer wasn’t exactly sure what was happening and I had no clue what I should say to him to try to get him to understand.

“Mama, I’m done with my cookies. Can I have some more?” Thayer asked from the open screen door.

“You can have one more, Thayer.”

I hustled in, setting all the mail on the counter, and fished out another cookie for Thayer. Once he was finished, I coaxed him into a nap. He had more energy than any child I knew. Must just be boys cause my sister’s daughter, Claire, she wasn’t near as wound up as Thayer could be. At least that’s what she claimed when we talked. Claire didn’t live around here so she and I never chatted much. I read him a quick story and before I was finished, the little guy was asleep. I shut the book and kissed his forehead, pulling his Spider-Man blanket up to his chin.

Ring! I quickly shut Thayer’s bedroom door before the ringing of the phone woke him up. Rushing over, I picked it up on the second ring.

“Hello?”

“Abby. It’s Adrian.”

“Hi. Are you on your way home?”

“No, actually. I’m going to have to stay down here for another week. We’re close to getting this deal but I don’t think it’s going to happen overnight. Could be back sooner, but I don’t know. Hey listen, I was calling because I wanted to let you know that Rachel and I secured a place. We’ll be moving out of the loft once I can get back.”

“Okay. I got the papers this afternoon.”

“That was fast. I guess we didn’t have much to argue about like some.”

This was true. He’d obligingly handed over the house. Instead of alimony, we’d agreed he would pay the monthly mortgage on the house for me. With my job as a receptionist at Lone Star’s newspaper, I didn’t make a whole lot of money. Enough for essentials but not that and a mortgage. Especially without Adrian’s help.

“No, I suppose not. Is there anything else you wanted?”

He sighed, both of us silent. “I’m sorry, Abby. You can’t help who you love and I couldn’t keep pretending.”

“Look Adrian, you don’t have to keep apologizing. I totally understand.” Thatcher in his button-downed shirt and the look on his face when Thayer ran into him that morning popped into my head. Definitely couldn’t help it. But I wasn’t about to bring that up. Especially when I didn’t love Thatcher Patterson.

Period.

“You say that now, but I know when we planned to do this, we envisioned doing it forever. I’m worried about Thayer.”

“Me too. You’ll still be in his life though. You’re the only dad he’s ever known.”

“Has he asked for me?”

“He mentioned you this morning, couldn’t wait for you to get home.”

“He’ll have to come see our place once I get back.”

“I’m sure he’ll like that. Will you be there for his first day?”

“I think so. As long as I’m not here. Speaking of which, what about Thatcher?”

An unwanted tingle spread through my insides at the mention of Thayer’s father. Funny as it was, I’d been thinking the same thing.

“Thayer and I went and bought a bin from his place earlier and I didn’t mention a thing.”

I don’t know why I felt the way I did as we spoke about him. I didn’t want to feel this way. I shouldn’t, that was for certain. He’d made it clear he didn’t want me or to marry me so I shouldn’t be feeling all tingly and breathless thinking about how he looked today. How the corners of his eyes crinkled when he smiled, the unique way in which his tattoo snaked around his forearm and how that made me wild, too. Adrian was cleaned and polished. Thatcher was rugged and wasn’t afraid to get dirty. Down and dirty. I shivered.

“We have to tell him, Abby.”

“We don’t have to tell Thatcher anything. This is our business, not his.”

“He’s been a really good friend of mine since middle school. He’s the reason we got married. I owe it to him to tell him.”

“I’m not ready to tell him or anyone else, Adrian.” As long as he didn’t know, I wouldn’t have to fight off his advances toward me. Cause I knew that look in Thatcher’s eyes better than anyone. That look that blazed in his eyes only minutes ago. Those forearms. I shivered at the naughty direction my thoughts were headed.

“Abby,” he said exasperated, “I’m already out of the house. He’s going to figure this out sooner or later. Especially when Rachel and I move from the loft to our rental. It’s a wonder he didn’t see me moving out of the house the first time! Look, if you don’t tell him by the time I come back to Lone Star, I’ll tell him. It’s guy code. I owe it to him to tell him.”

“We owe it to him? Come on Adrian. We don’t owe it to him. You married me and did me a favor because he was too chicken shit to step up to the plate!” I regretted the words immediately, knowing how petty I sounded. It’d been five years and it still riled me up something fierce.

“Abby, Lone Star is a small town. Once I get back, someone is bound to notice. That is, if someone hasn’t already.”

“Well, I still have a week then.”

“Fine. A week. When I come back, I’m going to have to tell him. It’s common courtesy if nothing else.”

“Whatever. Fine. Enjoy your week. Call back tonight if you can. Thayer will be waiting to hear from you.”

“Of course. Bye.”

“Bye.”

Ugh! I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs. Thatcher made me so damn mad. Had he taken responsibility like a normal man, had he wanted me just enough, I wouldn’t be a new divorcee right now. On second thought, maybe I would be. As Thatcher’s ex-wife. And that thought stung much more than it should. More than being Adrian’s did and I knew that was completely unfair.

Adrian was right though. With the divorced finalized, the people in Lone Star were bound to find out sooner or later. At least anyone that knew us anyway. Thankfully Mama already knew and she’d been sworn to secrecy, otherwise if she didn’t know she’d be fit to be tied once she found out. I only had a handful of friends, which I suspected might change once Thayer started pre-school and I was certain they all suspected Adrian and I weren’t head-over-boots in love, but I would tell them soon. Soon enough.

Possibly I should tell Thatcher first. But I didn’t want to. My refusal to let him in on this big change, I suspected, was fueled by the fact that he made his bed by making it clear he didn’t want me and this was my selfish way of somehow getting back at him. Hoping it would hurt him by not confiding in him, like he’d hurt me when he gave us up. It was utterly selfish, but there were some things I just couldn’t help.

Being a hundred percent honest, those looks Thatcher was giving me earlier, I was afraid of those looks. Afraid I would succumb to the thoughts behind them and let him back into my bed. There was something thrilling about the possibility of having a grown man Thatcher in my bed versus the younger, not-so-experienced Thatcher, who in my mind, had been amazing too. What would the current Thatcher do to me?

I damn near orgasmed on the spot.

There were times I’d never think of him: not those rough hands and the memories of how large they looked as they embraced my thighs. Not the idea of whether his lips, still firm and demanding, were even more experienced than they were five years ago. But then there were times like now, where Thatcher Patterson completely took me over. So badly that my girl parts clenched in want, in needed relief from all thoughts of him and how possibly, five years later, he was more manly, tattooed, and fully-grown and how he probably changed all of his wicked ways into new, wildly delicious ways.

With Thayer fast asleep, I went to my room and retrieved my one and only toy that had been relieving my sexual frustrations for five years now. Curling up next to the headboard of my bed, I pulled my bottoms down to my ankles and slide the toy right in. Seeing Thatcher and memorizing his sexy looks coupled with the pulsing vibrations along my sweet spot, I orgasmed without any difficulty.

I daydreamed about what it would be like to have a real man instead of what I was currently using. Mostly it was Thatcher who invaded these special moments, to touch me, to worship me and make me feel like a woman. A woman that desperately needed the feel of a man’s rough skin against hers, the feel of his stubble tickling the sensitive skin between her legs. It’d been so long; I’d practically forgotten what it was like.

I cherished these times when I was alone. Thinking of those small moments where Thatcher brushed up against my arm, or when I grasped his wrist thanking him for his help today. How he always somehow managed to touch me, whether it was a small brush on the arm or his large hand nestling into my back, I knew he was still attracted to me after all this time. The way his eyes would get serious on me but I could see something behind them – something that was meant for only me and was a promise of so much more than I could let him give me. Even the glint of excitement in his eyes when the three of us sat on the ground and how we couldn’t dare voice these issues because I was married to Adrian.

Small things that went unnoticed by most people but ran through my head over and over as I lay here feeding the frenzy within me. It was always his large, working hands that got me all shook up and how it would feel to have him capture me and press me up against his body much like he does with all those bags of food and boxes of inventory at his store. The way his forearms flex tight and that tattoo of his had me wondering what sort of naughty things he’d do to me, how he would do them. I envisioned looking down at him between my thighs with his hands between my legs.

Thinking how that mouth of his and his cupid’s bow – it was more defined than mine – coupled with the small amount of stubble that graced his face circling his mouth underneath his nose and along his chin, would feel as it grazed along my thighs up to the point of no return. What would it feel like to run my fingertips along his lips and face? To trace the line of his lips? To feel those short hairs tickling my fingers and even my mouth as I kissed him? Another orgasm took hold of me and I embraced it, praying that someday I’d have a real man who would bring me to orgasm.

A man that would be good to my son. Adrian was great to Thayer and I knew he always would be. But I also knew he and Rachel would soon have kids of their own and because Adrian didn’t have legal claims over Thayer, his responsibilities toward Rachel and his new family would come first. As it should.

After righting my clothes back into place and cleaning my toy, placing it on the shelf in my closet, I went out to the kitchen for a cup of tea. Spider-Man seemed to be enjoying his new space and I tried really hard not to think of Thatcher. Adrian was right though. About telling him. Shit was going to hit the fan once he found out about our divorce. I don’t know if Thatcher thought much about our relationship but Adrian and I had never been in love our entire marriage so he couldn’t be that shocked, could he? Somewhere he had to have a clue, didn’t he?

Adrian was a salesman for agricultural chemicals and Rachel was Adrian’s assistant and when she started there two years ago, I wondered if Adrian and she were beginning to have feelings for one another. Having never had sex with Adrian, I didn’t feel cheated on in the general sense of the word, when he told me about her. What could I do? Us getting married sounded like a great idea when I was pregnant, but keeping Adrian from having a life with someone he had fallen in love with, seemed too much for me to keep up this charade.

Yeah, Thatcher was going to blow a gasket. I chuckled at the thought. I liked to push his buttons. When and if I could anyway. I didn’t always get the chance of course but when I did, I pushed. I grabbed the phone and called my mama.

“Hey Mama!”

“Abigail girl, how’s my baby?”

“I’m fine, Mama. How are you doing?”

“I’m doing good. Just getting ready to go out and feed the horses.”

“When you going to stop working so hard?”

“When I’m dead.”

This was me and my mama’s standard introduction. She lived about ten miles north of Lone Star out in the country and I’d since given up on trying to get her to move back into town where she wouldn’t have to worry about anything but a small yard and her three dogs.

“Oh mama, I got the divorce papers today.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Adrian was such a good man.”

“He still is a good man, Mama.”

“A good man would stay with the woman he married. Not gallivant around with his assistant.”

“Mama, we’ve done been through this! Adrian is a good man and he always will be. He’ll be there for Thayer as long as my son needs him.”

“It’s you I’m worried about.”

I thought of my non-existent sex life and rolled my eyes. “Mama, Adrian has done a good job taking care of us. Much more than I could have ever asked for. And do not bring up Thatcher, you hear me? I can’t take much more of him today.”

“You talked to him? What did he say?”

“I haven’t told him yet. I saw him at the feed store. We had to get Thayer something to house his turtle.”

“How’s that fine young gentleman doing?”

I rolled my eyes again. How could she be so hard on Adrian when this was all Thatcher’s fault? She acted like Thatcher was God’s gift to women. I ignored the acceleration of my heart at that idea.

“He’s fine, Mama. Looks the same as always.”

“He saw Thayer?”

“Of course he did. Little guy ran right into him. He liked it.”

“Thatcher or Thayer?”

“Thatcher, of course. I could see it in his eyes.”

“You know he gave y’all up for a good reason, don’t ya?”

“No Mama, he didn’t. I’m not in the mood to go over this again with you. It’s like you want to bring this issue up every few months. I can’t do it today.”

“You mark my words Abigail Layne, Thatcher gave you up for a damned good reason and I know, I just know, that he’s more of a hero than you think.”