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Chapter Seven

RED

I ’m standing in my closet looking at my clothes like I’ve never seen them before. I scratch my beard and wonder how a thirty-three-year-old man only owns one fucking suit, which is currently at the dry cleaners.

“You look perplexed, boy.” I turn to see my Pa watching with a rather amused look on his face.

“I gotta date,” I turn back to my selection of jeans, flannels, and boots, praying that something else has appeared.

“Oh? Where are you taking her?” Another great question that I haven’t figured out.

This town has exactly two places worth eating at, and we’ve already had bad memories of both.

“Any suggestions?” Pa chuckles behind me, and I brace myself for his savagery.

“I’d start by not wearing that towel.” I roll my eyes.

“Ha, ha, old man. Any useful ones?” I turn when he slaps his hand on my shoulder.

“Son, you’ve never bothered with any woman like this before. Is she special?” I’m unable to vocalize an answer, so I nod once.

“Well, then. You need a suit and flowers. The first I can help with. I’m sure your Ma won’t mind you snipping some of her roses. Come on,” I follow him through to his side of the house.

We subdivided the huge farmhouse three years ago so that we had our own space. The downstairs is exactly the same, but upstairs, there are private living suites now.

I find myself in my parents’ bedroom, looking at a wardrobe full of designer suits.

“Pa, it looks like GQ and Forbes threw up in here.” He shrugs as I flip through the different colors and cuts.

“Your Ma likes me to dress up.” I look over my shoulder at him and arch an eyebrow.

“You never go anywhere.” His eyebrow raises in a challenge.

“Never mind.” I do not need to know what my parents do or do not do in their private time.

“I’ll call in a reservation for you while you get dressed,” I mumble a thank you as I take a classic navy suit back to my room to change.

I’m fussing with my tie when Ma comes in with a vase of white roses in her hand.

“Here let me.” She places the bouquet on my dresser and takes over for me.

“You boys never did learn how to do this properly no matter how many times I taught ya,” she smiles as she finishes and turns me to look at the mirror.

“Hey Ma, what’s for dinner?” Kit stops talking when he sees us.

He lets out one long whistle, and I catch his signature grin.

“A little old to be going to Prom, aren’t ya?” I take a deep breath and ignore his jab.

I’m not ruining Pa’s suit with his blood tonight.

“Kit, behave,” Ma hisses, and I snort.

“Wishful thinking, Ma. Thank you for the roses.” I kiss her cheek, and she puts a slip of paper in my hand.

“Here’s the address to the restaurant. Ya’ll have fun tonight.” I take the vase and carefully move past Kit, who doesn’t bother to move out of my way.

“Don’t forget condoms,” he says as I clear the doorway.

“CHRISTOPHER!” I hear Ma slapping him and chuckling when he starts apologizing.

I put the vase on the floorboard of my truck and pin it with my work bag and lunch box so it doesn’t tip. Then, I make my way across town to her hotel.

I check myself in the mirror before taking the flowers inside the hotel and stopping to check with the front desk to get her room number before I’m standing ready to knock on her door. I tap it twice and step back.

I rub my head, feeling naked without my Stetson, and drop my hand when the door opens.

Cami has her hair pinned up on both sides with crystal flower pins, and her makeup is flawless. Her curves are on full display in a tight white dress with a daisy pattern that stops a few inches above her knees. Her shapely legs end in a pair of…

“What are those?” I gasp at the monstrosities on her feet.

“Cowboy boots?” I shake my head.

“No. Those are a glitter and bedazzled bomb gone wrong.” Where the fuck did she get them from?

“They have a matching hat.” She turns and points over her shoulder to the bed that does indeed have a matching cowboy hat lying on the covers.

“NO,” I take her hand and drag her into the room.

“These are for you.” I place the vase down on the coffee table and find her closet.

I start searching through her shit, looking for those heels she had on earlier.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I ignore her as my eyes find red lace, and I forget the shoes altogether.

“Mmm, now I do hope you’re wearing something like this under that dress.

I let the thong twirl on the tip of my finger as she jumps to try and get it back. Without the heels, she’s at least a foot shorter than me.

“Drop that!” she squeals, and my eyes dart to the way her ample breasts move as she hops again.

Fucking hell. No bra.

I hand her the scrape of lace she considers underwear, and I can’t even be made if she is wearing any right now. It’ll hardly stop much of anything and won’t stand a chance against my teeth.

I clear my throat and my thoughts as I spot the heels by the bed.

“Come here,” I take her by the shoulders and turn her to walk out of the closet.

“Sit.” She lets a little growl out at me.

“I AM NOT A DOG.” I smirk and push her to sit down.

“No, Darlin’, you are many things, but a dog is not one.” I drop to my knee and grab the heel of one boot.

She gasps as I lift her leg to remove the boot, and her hands fly to the dress to hold it down, but she’s two seconds too late. I decided to ignore what I saw or better say what I didn’t see cause I’m a gentleman.

When I want to be anyway.

I repeat the process with her other foot and then place the heels on her feet before standing and looking down at her. Her head is level with my hard cock, and the perfect image of her bare cunt is plastered in my mind where it will stay all night, I’m sure.

“Now you’re ready. Leave the hat.” I offer her my hand, and she takes it, standing to her full height plus the six inches the heels give her.

Her head is level with my chin now, and I enjoy the look in her eyes when she raises her chin to look at me.

“I take it we aren’t going to your local bar.” I shake my head.

“I’ll grab my purse.” I retake her hand and walk us to the door.

“You won’t need it.” She tries to stop me.

“Red, I need my wallet!” I close her door without acknowledging her.

“Dammit, I need my ID, room key, my money!” She tries again, and I stop.

“No, we won’t be drinking ‘cause I won’t have you blaming shit on alcohol tonight. You are not paying, so no money is needed, and I have a room key.” I produced the plastic card I stopped at the front desk for.

“How did you get that?” She gasps.

I wink and continue our route to the front door.

“Y’all have a good night, Mr. Justice!” The front desk clerk says as we exit.

I open the passenger side door of my truck and wait for her to climb in.

“Um,” she looks around and bites her lip.

“Need a lift?” I try to hide my smug smile.

“Yes, you asshole.” I chuckle as I grab her by the hips and lift her up, setting her gently on the seat.

She has her knees clamped together so she doesn’t flash anyone. I have to stop myself from prying them open and burying my face between them.

“Now, be a good girl, and don’t ruin my seats.” I wink at her, and her face turns beet red.

I close her door and laugh to myself.

I climb in and start the truck before looking over at her. She’s a vision tonight, and I could just shoot myself in the foot for not saying so earlier, but those boots robbed me of any politeness my Ma ingrained in me.

“You look beautiful, Cami.” She turns to look at me with a sharp response on her lips, but for some reason, she swallows it back.

I’m unsure what she sees on my face, but she blushes again and nods.

“Thank you.” She fidgets some more once she breaks eye contact, and the cab of my truck seems to shrink.

“Hope you like steak.” She snorts and shakes her head in disbelief.

“Of course, we’re going to a steak house.” I smile as I pull out of the parking lot.

“It is Texas, Darlin’.”