Back to Texas (14 page)

Adam brushed her hair away from her shoulder, fully exposing her neck. The back of his fingers lightly grazed her skin sending a tingle of anticipation down to her core. “If nothing else, I’d be satisfied just holding you tonight.”

“Now you’re saying the words every woman longs to hear.” Bridgett winked, tasting her food. “No man is every satisfied with cuddling.”

Adam waved a chicken drum at her. “You’re right. We would like a little nookie before the cuddling, but it’s not a requirement. Heck, I’m happy with this.”

“You sure about that?” Bridgett wiped her hands and set her plate next to her. She wound her fingers in his shirt, pulling herself up and across his lap until she straddled him. “Try to resist me,” she whispered against his mouth.

Adam set his own plate aside. “I can’t.” He slid her jacket from her shoulders as their kiss deepened. He released her, and Bridgett stood, lifting her dress over her head. She turned her back to him, silently asking him to unclasp her bra. He groaned as she slid it from her arms, tossed it on the floor, and then faced him again. Satin ribbons held her turquoise blue panties in place. “May I?” Adam’s eyes met hers, and then trailed down her body. He slowly tugged the ends, watching them slip from her hips.

“I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful in my life.” Adam drew her to him, tasting each breast. Bridgett arched her back, allowing him full access to her body.

Adam rose before her, leading her to the bed. “Are you sure?”

Bridgett nodded. She hadn’t been this certain of anything or anyone in all her life.

* * *

B
RIDGETT
AWOKE
STILL
wrapped in Adam’s arms. Her body hummed from the past few hours. She chastised herself for any doubts she’d had about staying in Ramblewood. She’d not only given Adam her body, she’d given him her heart. He completed her.

The battery-operated bedside clock beamed 4:00 a.m. in the dimly lit trailer. Adam snored softly as Bridgett traced her fingers along a blue cobra tattoo covering his bicep. The artwork was stunning, but it seemed extremely out of character for Adam to have a snake with blood dripping from its fangs, as if it had just finished off a victim. She had noticed it earlier when he’d removed his shirt, but hadn’t seen it clearly until now. She’d never had an opportunity to see his bare upper arms until tonight. It didn’t matter, it was part of him and she loved every square inch. Bridgett shifted slightly and kissed his chest, trailing her way to his magnificently toned abs. Ranch work definitely did him good.

Adam’s fingers ran through her hair. “What are you doing awake?”

Bridgett sought his mouth and kissed him. “I hate to break this up, but I have to be at The Magpie in an hour to start preparing for the charity lunch we’re hosting today. And I need to stop by the Bed & Biscuit to shower and change first. Mazie’s probably wondering where I’ve been all night.”

“She’s not wondering.” Adam stretched. “Shane said if the Mustang was still at the ranch last night, Lexi would call Mazie and explain.”

“The Lawson and Langtry families know we had sex. Wonderful.” Bridgett pulled the pillow across her face.

“Only some of them.” Adam lifted the sheet away, exposing her naked flesh to his view. “You’ve heard what they say about morning sex, right?”

“Supposedly it’s the best there is.” Bridgett rolled onto her back. “Care to see if we can top last night?”

“We don’t have much time, but I’m willing to try.”

Bridgett’s eyes trailed down Adam’s abdomen. “What are you waiting for? Let’s put the theory to the test.”

Adam definitely put to good use the short amount of time they had. Bridgett’s legs shook like jelly as they walked to the truck. Bridgett fished in her bag for a rubber band, and loosely pulled her hair back into a ponytail. Bone-weary from their night together, Bridgett closed her eyes and rested her head against Adam’s shoulder during their ride back. “I almost forgot, Happy Thanksgiving. Today I’m thankful for you.” She opened her eyes and gazed up at him.

Adam kissed the top of her head. “I’m thankful for the greatest gift I ever could’ve received. The gift of a future with the woman I love. I never thought it was possible.”

Love?
Okay, it wasn’t an outright
I love you
, but she’d take it.

Bridgett had detected a hint of sadness in his voice, and she wondered how badly he’d been hurt in the past. Not that the past mattered anymore. They had a future with one another and Bridgett finally allowed herself to believe in happily-ever-after.

Chapter Ten

After Adam dropped Bridgett off, he showered and met her back at The Magpie. He had offered to serve food for the Ramblewood Food Bank’s annual Thanksgiving lunch for the less fortunate.

He tried to wrap his head around the decision he’d made while Bridgett was sleeping. Tonight, after Thanksgiving dinner with Abby and Clay’s family, he would tell Bridgett the truth. He’d thought about telling her last night, but hadn’t wanted to upset her right before she met Abby’s parents and brother. He’d promised to stand beside her at dinner tonight, and he intended to keep that promise. At least that was the reason he gave himself for not coming clean when he had the perfect opportunity. He was scared to lose her and he never should have slept with her without full disclosure.

There was zero chance Bridgett would warmly welcome his revelation and Adam was fully prepared to leave Ramblewood—temporarily—if she asked him to. Once his identity became public knowledge, he’d have to leave his job at Bridle Dance and he did still need to head back to Los Angeles to handle a few financial matters in person.

Hopefully he’d be welcome in Ramblewood, but if he wasn’t, one thing was for certain: LA was in his past. Spending a month and a half with Bridgett and the folks of Ramblewood had taught him how much he truly missed his Texas roots. He’d texted Lizzy earlier and told her he planned to tell Bridgett tonight and the rest of the world within a day or two.

“You’re awfully pensive this morning.” Bridgett wrapped her arms around Adam’s waist from behind. “Still thinking about last night?”

Adam fought to hide the guilt and misery that threatened to shatter him. He looked down at Bridgett’s hands clasped in front of him and attempted to commit the feeling of her body against his to memory—in case this was one of the last times they shared together. Turning into her embrace, Adam wrapped his arms around her. He studied Bridgett’s face, wanting to remember her happy and content.

If Bridgett didn’t forgive him, he would do whatever it took to win her heart again. They’d cemented their connection last night, and though she hadn’t actually said so, Bridgett’s love for him radiated off her. The words weren’t necessary.

Adam’s chest tightened. He dreaded tonight. He had all these new friends and a new life where people welcomed him into their homes and hearts, yet he couldn’t completely do the same. He had become more of an imposter today than he’d been during his years in the band. The guilt gutted him. How deep could Bridgett’s forgiveness possibly go? How much could she take before she didn’t have any forgiveness left in her heart?

“Um, okay.” Bridgett disengaged herself from his arms. “Did I misread us? I thought after last night we had moved forward but now I’m not so sure.”

“What?” Adam shook his head and dragged himself to the present. “Bridgett, my feelings for you haven’t lessened. They’ve definitely grown. I don’t want to let you down.”

“You won’t. I have faith in—”

“Oh, my God!” Maggie shrieked from the kitchen. “Someone call 911.”

Adam pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed as he and Bridgett ran into the kitchen. Maggie knelt before Bert, frantically wrapping towels around the bloodied hand he cradled.

“What happened?” Bridgett ran to Bert’s side.

“The knife slipped.” Bert swallowed hard. “It went into my palm and down into my wrist. I think I’m going to pass out.”

“The ambulance is on the way.” Adam moved the cooling racks out-of-the-way so the paramedics could freely enter the kitchen. “Hold his hand above his heart and put pressure on the cut.”

Lark ran to the sink and wet some rags. Carrying them to Bert, she gently wiped his face in an attempt to calm him. Within seconds they heard sirens out front. They were lucky the ambulance corps was only two blocks away.

“Adam, can you unlock the front door and let them in?” Bridgett asked.

The paramedics quickly stabilized Bert and readied him for transport to the hospital, leaving the four of them staring down at the mess on the floor and the counter.

“What am I going to do?” Maggie ran her hands down her face. “I don’t have a chef. And I should really go to the hospital with him.”

“You have a chef. Me.” Bridgett grabbed a mop and bucket from the storage room. “Maggie, go. I’ll handle this. I’ll just call the volunteers in a little early. We need to clean this mess up and sterilize everything. Are you okay to drive or do you want Lark to take you?”

“No, I’m okay.” Maggie gave Bridgett a quick hug goodbye. “I’ll call from the hospital.”

Bridgett pulled on a pair of latex gloves. “Don’t worry, I’ve got this covered.”

Adam couldn’t have been more impressed. An hour later, Bridgett had them back on schedule and a team of charity volunteers in place ahead of time, headed by none other than Abby. Bridgett took command of the kitchen and proved to be a solid leader. He didn’t understand why Maggie hadn’t used her in this capacity sooner.

“How are you holding up?” Adam whispered in Bridgett’s ear as she peeled potatoes across from Abby who continued to chatter away about her upcoming wedding to anyone who’d listen. “Say the word and I’ll trade you carrot duty.”

Bridgett shook her head. “She actually does have good ideas. You should hear what she’s planning to do to Slater’s Mill on New Year’s Eve. Somewhere in the midst of all of this I agreed to be her maid of honor.”

“There’s progress I hadn’t expected.” Adam playfully nudged Bridgett’s arm. “Maybe you two will end up being the best of friends.”

“Don’t push your luck.” Bridgett held up her potato peeler. “Baby steps here. Lord knows I’m trying.”

“Well, I’m proud of you.” Adam held his arms wide. “You have this place rockin’ and rollin’ in perfect rhythm.” Adam inwardly winced at his choice of words.

“Interesting analogy.” Bridgett tilted her head. “I guess I do. I love this sort of thing. I love to cook, and getting everyone together like this, especially when it it’s for the food bank. Helping these families in need makes working on my day off worthwhile.”

“This is your niche, Bridgett.” Adam glanced around the kitchen. “You deserve your own restaurant, and if I have my way, one day you’ll get it.”

* * *

“T
HAT
MAN
HAS
it bad for you,” Abby said when Adam left the kitchen. “Clay told me you stayed the night in a travel trailer way out on the ranch.”

“That didn’t take long to get around.” Bridgett groaned. Great, she’d given Ramblewood something new to talk about. “If you’re looking for gossip, Abby, I don’t kiss and tell.”

“I don’t want to hear about the kissing,” Abby whispered. “Skip to the good stuff.”

“I am not about to tell you what went on between the two of us last night.”

“I seem to remember a certain someone asking me what I was doing out all night long a couple months ago.” Abby pouted. “You said you wanted to live vicariously through me. Well, the shoe is on the other foot.”

“That was different. You had a sex life and I didn’t.”

“Ah ha, so you did sleep with him last night. Way to go, sister.” Abby high-fived Bridgett. “And for the record, when you asked me I had no sex life to speak of. Though one followed shortly afterward. If you can’t talk to your sister about sex, who can you talk to?”

“It’s real, isn’t it?” Bridgett put down her potato peeler. “We truly are family.”

“It’s nice to see you accepting it,” Abby said with a hint of satisfaction to her voice. “Maybe you’ll let me in a little.” Hurt shone in Abby’s eyes—for once, she hadn’t tried to hide it.

“Nothing about this has been easy, Abby. And I still don’t have all the answers, but please understand, I never meant to hurt you.”

“I know you didn’t.”

Abby kept her distance and didn’t push Bridgett too far. She appreciated the gesture and understood where it came from, but she wanted to hug her sister. Though if she did, she’d turn into a blubbering mess and get the potatoes salty. “Truce?”

“Truce.” Abby smiled and her eyes welled with tears. “I barreled into your town and turned your world upside down. I’m sorry, but I don’t regret a single second of it. I’m glad you’re my sister.”

“Just don’t expect me to call you my
big
sister, especially since you’re a foot shorter than me.”

“I am not a foot shorter. Half a foot maybe.” Abby squared her shoulders and straightened her spine to gain as much height as she possibly could, then glanced at Bridgett. “Okay, maybe it’s more like nine inches, but I am still older and you must respect your elders.”

“You’re older by thirty minutes. It doesn’t count.”

“And that’s probably because your giraffe legs pushed me out. You only have yourself to blame for this.”

Bridgett looked at Abby and the two women began laughing hysterically.

“You’re probably right.” Bridgett wiped her eyes. “I guess this year I should give thanks for you.”

“You should give thanks for that hottie you’ve got going on over there in the corner.” Bridgett followed Abby’s eyes to Adam’s backside. “When you get over yourself, you really need to tell me what happened last night.”

“Hey, get your eyes off my man.” Bridgett hip-checked Abby. “You have your wannabe Blake Shelton fiancé to drool over. You do kind of resemble Miranda Lambert. Although, I think she’s taller than you.”

“That’s just not right. I sure wish I could sing like her.”

“That night you and Clay kissed onstage in front of half the town, you two sure sounded like Blake and Miranda.”

“First of all, he kissed me. And second, we were singing a duet between Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow.”

“And that was the night we all knew you two were destined for one another.” Bridgett wondered if anyone other than Abby looked at her and Adam thinking they were destined for one another, too. “I hope he means it when he says he doesn’t plan on moving back to Katy.”

“I get the impression he’s here to stay.” Abby said.

Bridgett shrugged. “But when he came to town he was embarking on a cross-country trip he never took.”

Abby defiantly stared up at Bridgett. “Why don’t you admit what really happened? As clichéd as it sounds, Adam had a falling out with his family and in the process of finding himself, he found you. He belongs here. He belongs with you. Accept it, Bridgett, and stop being so self-sabotaging.”

Self-sabotaging? There was a phrase Bridgett hadn’t associated with herself before. She wanted to deny the insult, but Abby was right. If anyone else had said those words to her, she would have come out fighting. Maybe she really needed to give this twin-sister thing a chance.

“How do you constantly stay positive?” Bridgett asked.

“When you’ve worked with the number of injured and disabled patients I have, you realize things could be much worse. I am grateful for everything I have. In a few hours, we’ll feed so many people who couldn’t afford to feed their families this Thanksgiving. People who can barely afford to feed their children on a daily basis. Compare their situation to ours and I can’t see one reason not to have a positive outlook on life.”

Well, that stung. Bridgett hadn’t thought of herself as someone who wallowed in self-pity, but it was exactly what she’d done when she’d found out the truth about her family. Adam had done his best to say the same thing in a more delicate manner. But it had required Abby’s take-no-prisoners attitude to jar her into reality.

Bridgett’s family had grown to include a new sister and future brother-in-law. With them came a whole set of in-laws. She’d gone from her mom only to a very large family practically overnight.

Bridgett removed another turkey from the oven. When she thought about Lexi’s mixed family, Abby and Bridgett’s situation wasn’t that unique. Painful, yes, but Bridgett bet many twins had been separated at birth and never knew it.

Bridgett peeked through the kitchen pass-through at Adam who was mid-conversation with Abby’s brother, Wyatt. Adam smiled and winked when he noticed her watching him.
Life happens.
And this was Bridgett’s life, flaws and all. For the first time since she had discovered the truth about her parentage, Bridgett was okay with the situation. She was okay.
Why had it taken her this long to realize she could survive a little bump in the road?

“It won’t be today, but if you’re still up for us sitting down with Darren together, I’m game. I can’t promise how I’ll react, but I will give him a chance to explain his side.”

“Really?” Abby dropped her potato peeler and threw her arms around Bridgett’s waist. “Thank you! You’ve made my day. First agreeing to be my maid of honor and now this.”

Stunned by the smothering reaction she’d created, Bridgett began to laugh. Hugging her sister in return, Bridgett had to admit these moments with Abby had managed to make her smile. What was the old saying? If you can’t beat them, join them. Bridgett had officially become a joiner.

* * *

A
DAM
HAD
BEEN
surprised when he’d walked into the kitchen and found Bridgett and Abby “hugging it out.”
They had finally resolved their differences.

Stepping outside, Adam dialed Lizzy.

“Happy Thanksgiving,” Lizzy answered. “It’s nice to actually hear from my brother on the holiday.”

“Happy Thanksgiving, sis.” Adam knew Lizzy was leery of his calls. “I’m not going to attempt to call Mom and Dad, but if you see them later please tell them I said Happy Thanksgiving, too. Did you get my text earlier?”

“I will and yes, I did. Good luck tonight.” Skepticism was evident in Lizzy’s voice. “I’ll keep my phone on me in case you need me.”

“Thank you. I’m sure I will.” Adam didn’t know if he should end the conversation or attempt normalcy with his sister. When he had called her in the past, it was either to tell her about himself or ask her to do something for him. “Are you spending the day with your boyfriend? What was his name again?”

“Allen. We’re going to his parents’ at noon and Mom and Dad’s later tonight.”

Adam smiled as he remembered the days of dating as a teenager and doing the double holiday meal. He’d never thought about doing it as an adult. Then again, the band had usually been on tour over the holidays.