Indulgence (47 page)

Butch practically jumped out the window in his haste to
leave the car. Once we opened the door he shot off like an arrow, his target a
gaggle of geese in the distance. Hank laughed as we exited. The air around us
smelled fresh with a hint of spring flowers. I heard a babbling brook or creek
not far in the distance. It was incredible and I stared in wonder at the large
ranch home.

“Hank … this is, wow. It’s stunning.”

He pulled his hands around my waist from behind and snuggled
his chin into the crook of my neck. “Welcome to your home away from home,
Angel. Come. I want to show you around.”

He led me up the wooden stairs that creaked upon receiving
our weight. Everyone followed us up the steps and into the home. The inside was
dark and Hank’s Mother rushed over to open the curtains letting in the light.

“I asked that boy to come over and open them windows to let
some air run through. Must’ve forgot.” Julia shook her head and pulled open the
windows letting the summer breeze snake through the room.

It was a large living room with old furniture and throw
blankets everywhere. One wall was packed floor to ceiling with bookcases. I was
surprised to see so many books gracing the shelves. I knew Hank liked to read
by the amount of paperbacks he had stacked on dresser in the spare room back
home. This though was half a room filled with different colored spines of books
that looked to be well-loved. Julia followed where I was looking. “My Hank here
loves to read. Used to want to be a writer. He wrote the best detective novels
as a youngster.”

Hank shrugged and rolled his eyes. I placed a finger along
the shelves and scanned some of the titles. A huge section was devoted to
Grisham and Koontz novels but two shelves were filled with books on
architecture and design. Hank hooked my elbow with his large hand. “Hey, you
can check out my collection later. I want to get your bags settled and show you
something.”

We were led up the stairs. The first room was a guest
bathroom decorated in garish flowers. They covered every available surface with
wallpaper to match. Oliver and I looked at one another horrified. “Ma designed
it. She thought it needed a woman’s touch.” I nodded but didn’t offer an
opinion. Oliver kept his thoughts to himself as well. Dean didn’t seem fazed by
it at all. The man was gay with an eye for hair and makeup but he definitely
was not an effeminate male.

“This is one of the guest rooms you fellas could stay in …
unless you want two?” Hank hedged.

Oliver looked at Hank like he’d grown horns. “You know we
live together, right Cowboy?”

Dean shoved Oliver in the shoulder. “Hank, thank you. One
room will be just fine.” They entered the room.

I could hear Dean scolding Oliver playfully. “Southern
charm. Manners, Oleander. I can’t take you anywhere,” was the last thing I
heard Dean say when they shut the door to get settled in.

Hank and I both grinned at one another. “And this right here
is our room.” It was the way he said
our
room that made me melt into his
side. He opened the double doors to a large room. The space was bright with
dark chocolate plantation shutters. The room was denim blue with white
baseboards and crown molding.

In the middle of the room sat a wooden mahogany four-poster
bed. A polar opposite to my sleigh bed in the Penthouse back in New York. Each
spindle of the bed had an ornate carving. The grooves set deep into the wood
when I ran my fingers against them.

“Beautiful bed,” I gasped.

“My Grandfather made it. One of the last things he made
before he passed several years back.” Hank’s tone was tinged with sadness but
he smiled as I inspected the etchings more closely.

“It’s lovely, Hank.”

“I can’t wait to get you into it,” he smirked and I grinned.

Off to the side of the room was a bathroom. An old fashioned
claw foot tub sat next to an ultra-modern walk-in shower. The shower didn’t
have any doors. It only had three tiled walls decorated with tiny little mosaic
tiles in varying shades of crème and gold and a rain style shower-head dropped
from the ceiling. I liked seeing something so antique as the tub proudly
displayed along something so opulent and modern. It reminded me of Hank and me.
He was old-fashioned and I was contemporary. And in this circumstance, it fit
so well. Could that be possible in life and love too? The answer was still lost
on me.

“You ready to go downstairs? I want to show you something,”
he reminded me.

“Sure.” Though I looked over at the bed with longing,
wishing we were going to have a romp then a nap after a long travel day.

He caught onto what I was staring at. “Oh, Darlin’, I’m
going to take you good and hard in that there bed tonight.” His lips descended
on mine, his tongue entering my mouth swiftly. I groaned and rolled my tongue
against his. We had been right next to one another all day but I still felt as
though I missed him, clutching his broad chest to mine. Large hands cupped and
massaged my bum, pressing his erection into my groin.

“Hank …” I warned with a stiff press of my own hips.

He grunted like an animal. “Alright, alright. Let’s go
downstairs. I heard the truck roll up.” I looked at him, mouth pinched in
concentration. “Means my brother and his family is here,” he said with
excitement.

Hank clasped my hand and pulled me down the other side of
the stairs. You could get to the upstairs through the living room or coming
down the backside which opened to the kitchen. The kitchen was a good size,
again, not as large as mine but charming. It was a bright yellow with white
distressed cabinets and twisted spurs for handles on each cupboard. Very shabby
chic. He pulled open a set of French doors that opened onto a huge raised
patio.
Oh. My. God.

I stood there with my mouth hanging wide open. I’d never
seen anything like it.

She stood there mouth agape gasping like a fish. I pulled my
arms around her from behind and hugged her back against my chest. “So, what do
you think?”

“When can I move in?” she gasped and I laughed.

“Oh, Angel. I told you, this is your home away from home.”

“What does that mean to you, Hank?” she whispered as she
took in the view of the entire ranch. I held her close and thought about it
while looking out into the distance. The view is what sold the ranch for me.
Green land spread out as far as the eye could see, dotted with trees and
flowers galore. Rolling hills and a creek filled the landscape with texture. My
red barn stood way off to one side not polluting or obstructing the view but
adding to its beauty. A big “J” was painted in white at the peak of it.

“Well, that means I want you with me wherever I am. Right
now, home is here. When we’re in New York, home is the Penthouse.” It seemed
such a simple idea but not knowing how she perceived us, it did dampen things a
little. “Angel, don’t you know?”

She turned to face me. Her blue eyes bouncing off the blue
of the sky making them seem endless. “Know what, Hank?”

“You’re it for me. I lo--” was cut off by my body being
propelled forward. I knocked heads with Aspen briefly before I caught hold of
the force that was pushing me into her. Two identical heads looked up at me all
brown hair and big green eyes. Aspen and I both rubbed the spots on our
foreheads where we collided. “You okay, Darlin’”

She laughed. “Yeah, Stud. I’m fine. Who are these little
rascals,” she patted both boys’ heads at the same time.

“Uncle Hank, Uncle Hank! They both screamed in unison.”
Their bright smiles a sight for sore eyes.

I hefted them both up onto the crook of each arm. My wounded
shoulder protested a little but not too much. They weren’t that heavy. “This
here is Hunter, and this little guy is Holt,” I gestured to each boy.

“Wow, you two are surely identical. It’s nice to meet you.
Your Uncle Hank has told me all about you!” their eyes widened and without a
second thought, they both jumped down to the ground and clasped Aspen’s legs in
a hug. She gasped in surprise and then cuddled them against her small body. She
looked damn fine with a couple of Jensen boys wrapped around her. Sent my
imagination into a tailspin wondering what she’d look like with a couple of our
own children clamoring for her attention.

Holt looked at Hunter and they whispered something. “You’re
purdy.” Again they said in unison. Then they turned to me, “Any presents for
us?” they started to hop up and down and squeal with delight.

I had forgotten to get the rug rats a gift. I looked up and
bit my lip about to let them down cold. “Of course we have presents for the
world’s best little boys,” Aspen chimed in. “And after we are all settled and
dinner is served, you will be certain to have them.”

My eyes sought hers. She winked and smiled. Shit. I was a
goner. The woman was damned near perfect.

“Holt, Hunter, where in God’s name are you!” a booming voice
sounded through the open kitchen door.

“Out here,” I yelled.

My brother made his way out, tipping the large cowboy hat
under the doorframe. He may have been my baby brother but he was taller than me
by an inch, add the Stetson and he was a few inches taller. His long arms
pulled me in for a hug slapping me on the back. I returned the hug, having
missed my brother something awful.

“Damn near scared the dickens out of Ma,” he scolded. “How’s
the shoulder healin’ up anyhow?”

“Good. Real good. Ain’t nothin’ to worry ‘bout. Sides’ my
girl has been takin’ good care of me.”

“So you’re the purdy little thing Ma’s been going on and on
about. Come over here girl!” He yanked Aspen into a hug. Her startled surprise
was priceless. My brother was probably the only man I’d let manhandle my girl
into a hug.

“It’s good to meet you, Heath. Hank has said such nice
things about you and your wife.”

“You pay her to say that?” Heath hooked his thumb at Aspen.

Jess entered the patio in a flowing skirt and tank top. Long
dark hair blowing in the wind. Her tanned athletic body and matching chocolate
brown eyes suited her just fine. My brother was a lucky man. Not as lucky as me
but she was easy on the eyes. “Angel, this is Jess. Jess, this is Aspen.”

“Pen, please. Everyone but Hank calls me Pen.”

Everyone shook hands and then we settled in at the patio
table. Ma was already in the kitchen. Before long she brought out fresh
lemonade and cheese and crackers.

“Jess, you’re really beautiful, have you ever thought about
modeling?” Aspen asked my brother’s wife.

“Oh no, no. You’re too kind. I’m just a country girl living
the country life. Sides’ helping Heath run the family business is just fine. I
get to be with the boys and participate in our livelihood.”

“Well, if you ever change your mind, you have striking bone
structure …” after a little while I started to tune out the conversation. The
shit women talked about was dead boring sometimes.

My dad finally made it over and another round of
introductions were made. By this time the men had made it down from their room
looking freshly showered and content.

Aspen looked over at Oliver, a twinkle in her eye. The
pipsqueak grinned from ear to ear. I knew what that meant. It meant I’d be
burning those sheets in the guest room after they left. Aspen laughed and then
pouted and shook her head. Oliver rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders.
The silent communication between them was much more interesting to watch. It
was like they were having an entire conversation without ever having to open
their mouths.

“So Aspen, Ma here tells us that you’re stinkin’ rich,” Old
man Henry said.

My gaze swung over to his. “What the hell, Pops?”

“Just makin’ conversation is all.” He took a pull from his
Coors.

“It’s okay, Hank.” Her hand patted mine then pulled it into
her lap. “You know, I’ve worked really hard to get to where I am today and yes,
it’s paid off. It’s paid off very well in fact.”

“I saw your name in a magazine at the local supermarket.
Said somethin’ ‘bout you being on some list of real important people in the
fashion and entertainment industry,” Jess added, eyes alight with admiration. I
always did like that Jess.

“Probably, true. Oliver could speak better to it since he
plans and organizes all of my functions. I do photo shoots a couple of times a
month for one magazine or another. Usually it’s talking about an upcoming
model, or agent, a new film star that type of thing.” Aspen was answering
without conceit or even malice, though I wanted to holler at Old Man Henry for
starting such a conversation.

“So then, what’s your thoughts on having a family and bein’
a wife if you work so much?” My Pops was going to get a punch to the gut. Of
course I’d pay dearly for it because he had a mean right hook and my mother
alone would kill me for striking Dad, but the man was off his rocker.

Aspen was finally affected. I saw her jaw clench and back
stiffen. She let go of my hand, took a sip of her lemonade and then I heard her
suck in a steadying breath. Either she was going to let him have it or I was.
“I haven’t been in the position to really think about it, Henry. I’d never been
in a relationship with a man that wanted such things,” she looked up at me her
teeth biting down on her lip.

“Until now,” I confirmed and looped my arm over her
shoulders to sidle her in next to me.

She smiled. “Until now, yes.” She relaxed a little and I
rubbed the back of her neck the way she liked. I could hear a subtle hum at the
back of her throat. The sound made my wranglers a bit too tight exciting other
parts of my body.

“I see. Well, then you better get to thinkin’ 'bout it then,
'cause I’m expecting some more grandbabies out of this lug,” Henry laughed. It
eased the tension throughout the table but not in my girl. She was still stiff
as a board. She’d been here only a couple hours and was already asked about her
money, her career, and whether or not she was ready to settle down and be my
wife and give my parents grandbabies.