Red Lines (18 page)

The sky started getting dark when she looked up from her task, and she realized she had spent her entire day organizing, tossing out things, and sorting piles to take with her on the jet or to keep here.

She was surprised the pile to take was the largest of the three. However, the longer she stayed at the ranch, the more she wanted to weave herself into its fabric. She wanted pictures from college and her favorite candles. She wanted her old poetry notebook and the dried bouquet from her cousin’s wedding. They were small things, but they were enough to make the master suite feel like it was her room too, not just Evan’s.

She wanted to be back at her parents’ house when her mother got home, so she left the mess she had made and locked up.

She would head back to the cottage tomorrow and continue the process.

Maura’s car was already in the driveway when Haven pulled up. She tossed the keys in her purse when she heard her phone ring.

“Hey.” She squeezed the phone against her ear as if Evan would feel it.

“Hey, darlin’, how’s everything going out there?”

She dropped her head to the steering wheel. “Terrible, but not really.”

“You ok? How’s your mama doing?”

She smiled at his accent; it always had a way of making her feel warmer than before she heard his deep voice. “She just got back from seeing an attorney. I was getting ready to go in and talk to her.”

“Attorney? Sounds like things are moving fast.”

“They are. I don’t think there’s any chance they’re going to reconcile.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do? You want me to try to make it out there this weekend?”

“No, you can’t do that. I’m probably not staying long. I’ll head back Sunday.”

“You sure? I bet I could call up Shug and rent Silver Belle out.”

A smile slipped on her face. She would have to drive by the campground on her way off the island. Maybe text him a picture of the summer paradise.

“Or,” he continued. “We could just hang out at your place all weekend and listen to the waves crash. Open all the sliding doors.”

She thought about telling him about her secret packing project, but decided to keep it to herself for now. It wasn’t as if she had completely decided they should move in together. She was just packing up some things. Making her space at the ranch more familiar. For now, she’d think of them as little touches of home.

“Evan, it’s really sweet and I do want to hang out with you here, but don’t go through all that trouble when I’m just going to turn around and leave. It’s too far for you to fly coast to coast like that.”

“Darlin’, no distance is too far to travel if it means putting a smile on your face.”

She sighed into the phone, knowing he meant every syllable of what he said.

“That’s sweet, but…”

“All right. I get it. But I do have a surprise for you.”

“What is it?”

“I think I’m going to get a break next weekend.”

“Really? As in, the kind of break you can take time off?”

“Yeah, we’ve been pushing it pretty hard here, and we’ll get a four-day break. How about I meet you at the ranch?”

She closed her eyes and counted how many days it would be until next weekend. “Yes, that would be awesome.” There were squeals desperate to come out, but she wanted to act somewhat rational.

“I heard it might be a special weekend for you.”

“And who told you that?” she teased.

“I might have a few connections. You don’t think I’d miss your birthday do you?”

She hadn’t wanted to say anything, thinking it was impossible for them to spend her birthday together, but secretly she was dying to make plans with him.

“I can’t wait to see you, baby. I have missed you since the second you left L.A.”

“Me too.”

“Look, they’re calling us back in to wrap up the last scene for the day, but I can text you later.”

“Ok, I’ve got to help with dinner anyway.” She stepped out of the car.

“Bye, baby.”

“Bye.” She tucked the phone into her pocket. There were at least some good things on the horizon, she thought as she climbed the stairs.

D
ESPITE THE
flight attendant’s warnings, Evan stood near the exit door of the plane. He couldn’t get his boots on the tarmac fast enough. Haven was waiting at the ranch. After almost another two weeks apart, he couldn’t think of anything else but holding her in his arms.

“It was a pleasure flying with you today, Mr. Carlson.” She smiled then pushed the door open for him.

He jogged down the stairs and ran into the terminal, his heels sliding on the slick floors. Someone could deliver the luggage later. He didn’t have time to wait. He grabbed the keys from the valet and hopped in the car ready to take on even the fastest NASCAR driver on the way to the ranch.

The tires kicked gravel onto the curb as he spun away from the terminal. Evan cranked up his favorite country station and rolled down the windows. Thank God, he was away from California. This was real air.

The longhorns and his neighbors’ ranches blurred past him. Finally, he saw the C up ahead, and slowed the car enough to make a hard turn into the front of the ranch. He was pleasantly surprised the entrance was clear. With word out that
Red Lines
was being filmed in L.A., the paparazzi pack had stayed away from the ranch.

There was no guarantee they wouldn’t be here by the end of the weekend, but this was the kind of welcome home party he enjoyed. Silence at the front entrance.

He waved at one of the guards at the gate and waited for the doors to swing open before speeding down the dirt road. Home never looked so good.

He didn’t bother to pull into the garage, but parked the car short of the doors, jumped out, and ran through the kitchen door. There was a girl he had to see, or else he was going to break down every door in this house.

Before he saw her, he heard her laughter. Clear and light, coming from the kitchen. He emerged in the kitchen to see Haven sitting on the counter, leaning over Lenny’s shoulder.

“Hey, darlin’.” He had this eerie feeling he was interrupting something, but he didn’t give a damn. He picked her up off the counter and wrapped his arms around her.

“Hey.” She smiled. “I didn’t think you were going to be home for another two hours.” She looked uncomfortable and glanced toward Lenny.

“Heavy tailwind and I might have pushed up our takeoff.” His thumb ran along her cheek. “When did you cut your hair?”

“What do you think? It was Carly’s idea.” She fluffed it in the back.

“It’s great. Real pretty.” He placed her back on the counter reluctantly. All he wanted was to be alone with her. His heart was aching for her.

“You don’t like it, do you? I know it’s drastic, but I needed something different. New place. New career. New hair.”

He ran his fingers through the ends. It was shorter. He already missed the long tresses that would fall around her shoulders. He thought about the times she would hover over him, making a curtain that they could hide and love behind.

“You look gorgeous.”

Lenny had turned to the cutting board and was chopping fiercely on the other side of the kitchen. The knife hitting the board made a hollow sound in the oversized kitchen.

“Lenny’s making a special dinner for us tonight.” Haven beamed. “It’s going to be amazing, like everything he cooks. We’ve been planning it all week.”

“Sounds good, darlin’.” Evan threaded his fingers through hers, pressing his palm along the softness of her skin. “Why don’t we let him have the kitchen so he can work?”

She tilted her head to the side as if she was considering the offer, but he had a feeling she was only toying with him. Haven hopped to the floor. “All right. Bye, Lenny. See you for dinner.”

“Bye. Let me know if you need anything.” Lenny never took his eyes off the green onions he minced.

Evan tugged on Haven’s hand, pulling her down the hall and up the stairs. There was probably a stack of mail that needed his attention, but he bypassed the office without looking inside.

“In a hurry?” She giggled.

“Something like that.” He pushed open the bedroom door, and then locked it behind them. “I have missed you.”

As soon as the words hung between them, he devoured her lips with hungry kisses. Pulling, sucking, searing his mouth into hers. Her lips were like wine. He drank, moving his mouth against hers, dipping his tongue, tasting more, wanting more.

He fell on the bed, Haven draped against him purring under the kisses. He looked into her eyes, trying to memorize all the flecks of blue.

“You’re kissing me like you’re getting ready to leave. You just got here,” she whispered.

“I’m kissing you like I’m never leaving again.” He claimed her mouth, fiercely toying against the softness of her skin. He had to pull back and rein in the urges that were powering through his fingertips. The nearness of her drove him crazy.

“You know how many times I’ve thought about this?” He tucked one of her short strands of hair behind her ear. He’d get used to the new look.

“As much as me.” She kissed his neck, firing heat throughout his body.

“More,” he growled. His hands snaked their way under her shirt. He flicked the clasp on her bra, and pulled it off with her shirt, grinning at the site of her breasts over him.

He leaned toward her. The tan lines from summer were fading, but he could still see traces against the silkiness of her skin. His tongue lashed at the faint lines until he couldn’t resist taking her in his mouth.

Her hands fisted in his hair, tugging harder the quicker his tongue licked and sucked, making her hard in his mouth. His teeth clamped down, waiting for her to buck against him. She always loved it when he did that. From their first night together, he had learned she yearned for what he could do to her as much as he did. Her innocent eyes drew him in, but in the dark, she was a vixen taking everything he had.

Her hips rocked against his, making him match her need. He rolled her underneath him, and then swiftly pulled her jeans over her legs. He dropped his pants, eyeing her, wanting her to know what she was doing to him, and what he was getting ready to do.

“You’re so damn beautiful.” He grabbed her by the hips and pulled her to the edge of the bed.

She smiled, raising her hands over her head.

He leaned down and kissed her breasts again, swollen and red from his mouth. He’d never seen anyone so fucking sexy. He pushed her knees forward, locking his eyes on her expression. Part of him thought this should be tender and romantic, but he had been away from her too long and he saw the look in her eyes.

“Tell me,” he whispered. He didn’t know if he could wait for a response.

“I’m already yours.” She pierced him with her blue yes. “Take me.”

No sooner were the words over her lips then he pushed deep inside her, filling her, taking them both to a place they had craved for weeks. She arched off the bed while wrapping her legs around his waist. In that second, he wanted to get lost in her like he never had. He drove harder, faster, and then slowed to an easy pace. It couldn’t be over that fast. He had waited for this. He could savor the feel of her a little longer.

Haven smiled at him. “I like it when you do that.” She rose to meet him, searing the sensation into his skin, almost bringing him to his knees.

“How about this?” He unhooked her ankles and crawled over top of her. He needed more. He needed to feel her skin against his.

“Yes, this.” She nodded.

He leaned down and kissed her as he thrust forward. She wrapped her entire body around him, pulsing into him. Her breath against his ear, the heat of her breasts burning his chest. The moans coming from her throat. That look in her eyes. He didn’t think there was any better homecoming in the world.

T
HE NEXT
morning, Evan watched her sleep before deciding he should jump in the shower. Time at home was limited, and he might be able to knock off a few things on his to-do list before she awakened.

He quietly pushed back the covers and slid his feet to the floor. Their clothes were everywhere. Although, when were clothes neatly stacked and folded after a night like that?