Authors: Cheyenne McCray
After Angel sat back down, one by one their sons said what they were grateful for. Reese made everyone laugh by saying he was most grateful for his Aunt Del’s rum cake and the opportunity to kick ass in today’s game.
And then it came time for Garrett to stand. By his expression, it looked like it was one of the most painful things he’d ever done and she had the most absurd desire to giggle.
He took off his ball cap and pushed his fingers through his hair before he settled his cap back on his head, tugged down on the brim. “I’m thankful for potential opportunities,” he said before sitting down again.
Family members clapped and some of them looked at Ricki and she blinked. He hadn’t been talking about her.
Had he?
“You’re next, Ricki.” Angel brought Ricki out of her thoughts as Garrett sat down.
Garrett leaned close. “Sorry, honey. Should have warned you.”
She nodded, her throat constricting as she stood. Her skin tingled and her smile felt tacked on. “I’m grateful for my store and the opportunity to get to do something I love and meet so many of Prescott’s residents.” She took a little breath. “And I appreciate you all letting me come to your family celebration.”
“We love having you here, Ricki,” one of the guys called out, but she wasn’t sure who’d said it. Applause followed like it did for everyone else who’d spoken.
When she sat down, Garrett’s hand found hers beneath the table, giving her a warm feeling that traveled straight through her. She looked at him and he gave her a little smile. “You did great,” he said.
The sharing continued on. Almost thirty family members were present so everyone kept it pretty short. When it came time for Creed to say what he was thankful for, he brought Danica up to stand with him.
“Now that I’ve retired from the bull riding circuit…” Creed met Danica’s gaze before looking at those gathered round, “we’ve decided to start a family.” A grin split his face as he put his hand on Danica’s belly. “We’re pregnant.”
Cheers and exclamations rose up from the tables, congratulations all the way around. The soon-to-be mom and dad beamed, and his parents, Del and Bull, stood to hug them.
When the crowd quieted, Creed’s brothers and their wives finished up with the things that they were grateful for. Ryan and Megan were last to go out of the bunch gathered in the park.
After they stood, Ryan said with a broad grin, “Not to upstage Creed and Danica, but Megan and I are having twins.”
The group erupted again and this time, now that each person was finished, everyone stood and gathered around the two expectant couples, hugs and kisses all the way around.
Pressure built at the backs of Ricki’s eyes as she felt the desire to cry with happiness for the couples. With Garrett at her side she went to congratulate Danica and Creed, and then Megan and Ryan.
When the crowd settled, Hal said above the crowd, “Now let’s get down to business.”
A sprinkle plopped on Ricki’s nose followed by another on her cheek. She glanced up at the cloudy gray sky and a droplet landed on her eyelid. She breathed in the clean scent of rain and looked around her to see family members continuing to laugh and chat and carry on, ignoring the sprinkles.
Leftover food was covered and carried back to the cars and trucks and Ricki was gratified to see that almost all of the Easter cookies had been devoured.
Softballs, gloves, bats, and bases were fetched from the vehicles and carried to the field. Umbrellas were retrieved, too, for those who would be sitting on the bleachers. By the time everything was settled, there were nine players on each team with everyone else on the bleachers.
Hal, Bull, Hart, Henry, and Gus McBride were brothers and apparently they’d had the rivalry going from the time their sons were little. They’d had smaller teams that had gradually grown as more and more McBride sons grew to be old enough to play. The McBrides had mostly boys, but there were a couple of girls mixed in.
Hal’s team had his four sons plus Gus’s three sons and Henry’s two. Bull’s team had his five sons plus Hart’s four.
Ricki sat on the “home” team bleachers since this year Garrett’s family was designated the home team. Angel sat beside Ricki and held a red umbrella over the two of them.
Angel laughed as she pushed damp hair out of her eyes. “There’s so much testosterone raging around here during the Easter game.”
“Do the women ever play?” Ricki asked.
Angel shook her head. “Early on there hadn’t been any women around save Del, a couple of other sister-in-laws, and me, and we hadn’t wanted to get in the middle of this male-bonding thing. Now that Del and Bull’s sons have all married, the number of women has changed, but the game hasn’t.”
Ricki nodded. “I’m not sure I’d want to be out there. You can feel the competitiveness between the men from here.”
“You ain’t seen nothin’ yet, honey,” Angel said with a grin in a mock redneck tone.
By the time the teams were ready, the rain was coming down harder. It wouldn’t be long ’til everyone on each of the teams was soaked, not to mention those in the bleachers without umbrellas.
Garrett’s brother, Reese, was the home team captain and they took to the field while the other team, captained by Tate, was up at bat. Garrett played third base, close to where Ricki was sitting in the bleachers.
A sense of excitement went through Ricki, the thrill of the start to a game.
Creed took the first at bat and hit a line drive. John caught the ball in left field and threw the ball to Mike who had first base. Mike caught the ball and practically tackled Creed as he slid into first base but Creed was declared safe by one of the referees.
Immediately, Ricki could see and feel the fierce competition between the two teams. They were having fun, but they were serious about the game, too. Gage came up at bat next and hit a pop-up fly to third and Garrett easily caught it. Ryan struck out, but Blake nearly hit the ball out of the park. John dove for the ball and landed on his hip and slid through the mud as he barely caught the ball when it skipped on the ground. He rolled to his feet and threw the ball to home plate. The runners stopped at second and third bases.
Everyone on the bleachers cheered and shouted. Ricki found herself shouting just as loud as Angel during the game.
Rain was coming down harder now, thrumming on top of the umbrella that Angel held over herself and Ricki.
Out on the field, John had mud up one side of body from his shoulder to his hip from hitting the ground. Everyone on the field had muddy shoes, some with mud-streaked faces, and all with soaked T-shirts and jeans. None of the players seemed to notice or care. Instead they trash-talked and went after the game like they were playing for their lives.
After a single by Tate, Creed scored but Garrett tagged out Blake for the third out to end the first half of the first inning.
Garrett was third up at bat with no runs, two outs, and one man on base. Ricki felt a thrill in her belly just watching the man whose soaked T-shirt clung to his muscular body, a fierce expression on his handsome face. She realized she was holding her breath and let it out slowly as Garrett gained two strikes against him. On the third pitch, he swung and the crack of his bat was loud as the wood connected solidly with the ball.
Angel and Ricki both stood and cheered as Garrett ran the bases and Ryan chased the ball. He scooped it up then threw it toward third. Garrett slid into third base, barely making contact with the base before Creed had the chance to tag him out. Ricki grinned as she saw that a good deal of Garrett’s body was now covered in mud.
Garrett had batted John in and the game was tied one-one when Reese hit a fly ball that Ryan caught easily for the third out in the bottom of the first.
The game was long but exciting as the teams went the full nine innings. In the bottom of the ninth, the teams were tied ten-ten. Everyone on the bleachers was on his or her feet cheering the teams on. Ricki’s throat hurt from yelling so much.
After two outs, Reese hit a home run to end the game and win the game for the “home” team.
Ricki climbed off the bleachers, leaving the canopy of the umbrella to go to Garrett and congratulate him. The moment he saw her, he caught her by surprise as he swept her up in his arms and swung her around. He grinned as he set her down, leaving her smeared with mud. She looked down and wiped a clump of mud off her T-shirt. In a sudden surge of impishness, she took the mud and reached up to run her fingers down his nose, coating it in the stuff.
He gave her a wicked grin, flung her over his shoulder and spanked her with a muddy hand.
She caught her breath, her eyes wide. “Let me down, you big oaf,” she cried out as he swatted her again.
He laughed and let her slide down his body. Sudden erotic sensations went through her as he lowered her against his body until she was on her feet again. She stared up at him and swallowed as she saw his expression had gone from playful to dark and sensual.
Rain poured down on them, washing mud from their faces as they stared at each other. In that moment all she could think about was his lips moving over hers, kissing her like he had the night they’d gone out on the date. She could see in his eyes that he wanted it as much as she did.
Instead of kissing her, he said in a husky voice, “Let’s get out of the rain and get you home.”
She nodded. Yeah, home. She wanted him to take her home and take her in every way possible. He wanted it too…there was no doubt in her mind that he did.
He put his arm around her shoulders, holding her close to him as if not wanting to let her go. They made their goodbyes and then they were in his truck heading to her house.
The moment they walked in the door to Ricki’s home, Garrett slammed the door hard behind him and grabbed her up in his arms. He grasped her ass and pressed her hard against him as his mouth took hers.
A shiver went through her that had nothing to do with her soaked clothing, and everything to do with the way he was kissing her. It was hungry and almost harsh, his lips bruising hers.
She responded with her own hunger for him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing herself as close to him as she could, even closer than he already had her. His cock was so hard against her belly that it sent a thrill through her, straight to that place between her thighs. She’d never wanted a man like she wanted Garrett, and she was finally going to have him.
The next thing she knew, her head was spinning as he took her down to the floor and onto a thick rug in the entryway. His baseball cap dropped to the rug as he kissed her, and she hooked her thighs around his hips as he pressed his jean-clad cock against her center. She squirmed beneath him as she moaned with need.
They were still coated with mud, their clothing soaked through. She didn’t care if he took off his clothes—she just wanted to feel him inside her as soon and as fast as possible.
“Damn, but you’re fine.” He pushed up her T-shirt, grabbed her red bra, and jerked it below her large breasts. “I’ve got to have you.”
She gasped as cool air tightened her nipples and then his warm mouth latched onto her. He thrust his hips as if taking her, his cock rock hard against her through their clothing.
Desire and need coursed through her and she whimpered to be even closer to him. She moved both of her hands down between them and fumbled until she unbuttoned his jeans. She slid her hand into the waistband of his jeans and his underwear, and wrapped her fingers around his cock.
He groaned and moved his hips as she eased her hand up and down his length. He was thick and long and she gave another soft moan, imagining how it would feel once his cock was inside her.
“Garrett.” She sighed his name as she begged him. “Please.”
His mouth found hers again and his muscular chest pressed against her chest, his T-shirt abrading her bare nipples. Her eyes were closed as she became lost in the kiss, loving the way he was taking control and the unleashed power he was exerting over her.
He stilled, then moved his mouth from hers as he pulled back. She opened her eyes and found him looking down at her with pain and anger in his expression, his hands braced to either side of her head.
Confused, she furrowed her brow. “What’s wrong, Garrett?”
He didn’t answer. Instead he pushed himself to his knees between her thighs, pulled her bra back over her breasts and tugged down her T-shirt. He got to his feet and taking her by the hands, brought her up with him.
The anger in his expression almost frightened her. “I’m sorry, Ricki.” He released her hands and took a step back as he fastened his jeans. “I shouldn’t have touched you.”
Her mind was still reeling from his kisses and the feel of his body against hers. “Did I do something wrong?”
“I did.” He turned and took the two steps from the entryway rug to the front door. He grasped the door handle, lowered his head, and paused for a moment. Then he straightened, and without looking at her again, he jerked open the door. He walked through the opening and closed the door solidly behind him.
She stared at the door, bewildered. What had just happened? It was like she was lost in some kind of dream.
A sharp ache shot through her midsection. She held her arms to her belly, unable to comprehend. He’d wanted her, she was sure of that. And God knew she wanted him.
So why had he stopped? Why had he looked so angry?
It had to be her. There was something wrong with her.
Tears welled up in her eyes and then started rolling down her cheeks. The tears felt hot against her skin that was cool and damp from the rain. She brushed them away with the backs of her hands and felt mud smear across her cheeks.
She turned and almost tripped over his cap. She picked it up and stared at it for a long moment then spun and flung the cap at the door where it hit with a soft thump and dropped to the floor.
Ricki crossed her arms over her chest and stared blindly up at the ceiling when she felt something soft against her leg. Startled, she looked down to see Xena with her head against Ricki’s thigh. Xena’s eyes looked big and brown and soulful. She could clearly see that Ricki was hurting.