Slim To None (Cedar Tree #1) (27 page)

"Gus" She breathed out when her eyes finally reached his face. "I was coming after you."

*****

P
icking up her groceries and pulling her and her walker to the side of the door, he turned to her.

"Good to know, Peach, cause I decided I couldn't leave, so I was coming back to you. Prepared to tie you down and carry you off if I had to."

"I'm sorry... " They both started at the same time.

"I need to go first." Emma said. "I was angry, and had reason to be angry, but I should've explained what the reason was. Instead I let you think up your own reasons and they were probably way worse than the truth. I didn't want you to leave for good, Gus. I just needed space to cool down. I was mad. Not done." Putting her hand up to his cheek, she claimed his full attention. "I didn't stop loving you."

He dropped his forehead against hers, not once losing eye contact.

"I'm an idiot." She snorted at that. "I know, everybody has told me so, myself included. But you kind of go with what you have been taught to expect, you know? And that's not a reflection on you, it is on me. My head knows this, my heart seems to need a little time to get used to things, it's way out of practise, you see." He gave her a little wink and wrapped her in his arms, his back against the wall.

"You know, I had some time to think in the car alone, on my way to Grand Junction. By the time I got to Monticello, I knew I was making a mistake, running off the way I was. So I was coming back to fight for you. For just about the best thing ever to happen to me. And all the way here, I was thinking of a way to run my business from Cedar Tree, even part of the time. I like it there, if you don't mind me hanging around." Emma looked up at him with shiny eyes, and he took the invitation to kiss the stuffing out of her. Until someone very loudly cleared their throat. When Gus looked up, an older couple was standing a few feet away, eyeing them with obvious disapproval. Huffing once more, they stalked off into the store, leaving Emma and him chuckling.

"I guess this isn't the most romantic of places for a make-up make out session, is it?" He concluded.

"Oh, I don't know, the name is pretty enough - Dove Creek - I just found that out. It has a romantic ring to it I think."

"Either way, we should probably get out of here. Head back to Cedar Tree and put everyone's mind at rest? And my mind and certain other parts of my anatomy could use some attention as well." He smirked.

"I'll call pest control." Was Emma's retort, jumping to get out of his way when he tried to tickle her side in retribution.

"By the way, Big Guy, how come you happened to stop here?" She wanted to know.

"Was coming to grab a drink and a chocolate bar, for energy."

"Really? I've got some, I'll share."

Looking down at Emma standing beside her Escape, Gus can't help but wonder out loud.

"Three weeks ago, who'd have thought ..."

Stroking her cheek with the back of his hand, he leans in to kiss her sweetly.

"What are the odds. Hey Peach?"

"H
ello?"

"Hey, you ..." She heard a deep sleepy man's voice.

"Uhm ...hi? Do I know you?" She asked, grinning, knowing full well who was on the other end.

"I sure fucking hope so." He growled back at her, obviously not amused. "I have my hand full with a hard-on here, with your name on it, woman. And by all accounts that pussy of yours should be getting wet right now by the sound of my voice - and no one else's."

"Hmmmm, gonna have to check the validity of that statement, darlin'. Oh yeah, my fingers are sliding through all these delicious juices, just waiting for your tongue." She can't hold back the little groan that leaves her lips, as her fingers encounter the hard little nub of her clit, proudly peeking out from her slick sex.

"Fuck, Emma, you're killing me here. I was just supposed to call to let you know I'll be leaving shortly. I have the U-Haul already hooked up and am ready to go, but now I have this raging hard-on to rub out."

"Payback is only fair, Big Guy. Remember I have had my little pink toys to keep me company these last few weeks while you've been packing up your shit. Although fun enough, they don't near measure up to the real thing. You hear me? I need you. Badly."

"Darlin' save it for me, please. I'm heading out now. No stops. And when I get there, get the wedges ready, be naked, 'cause I'm coming straight for you. Can't fucking wait to be home, for good."

A smile on her face, Emma countered, "Can't wait for you to get here. Hurry. I love you"

"Love you, Peach. Be ready, I'm not done with you."

After hanging up, Emma grabbed her cane and made her way in to the kitchen. She poured herself another cup of coffee before pulling out her bag of flour and the mixing bowls. The crate of peaches Arlene just dropped off yesterday is still sitting on the porch. Baking is a good way to kill some time. And Gus would love to have a choice for dessert, she thought with a grin.

A
bout the Author:

Freya has always been creative. Involved in music and dance when she was younger, she followed it up with cake design, quilting, and has most recently added cover design. Now the Dutch-born Canadian mother of two has found her voice - writing.

Freya Barker is the pen name for a well-respected reviewer/blogger, to who as an avid reader, the next step to pen a book of her own seemed only natural. 

Driven to make her stories about 'real' people, Freya's characters are perhaps less than perfect, but just as deserving of romance, hot monkey sex and some thrills and chills in their lives! 

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