Page 40 of That One Night (The Heartbreak Brothers Next Generation #4)

“Sweet babycorn, you must be Only Farms,” Maisie said, flinging the door open to her apartment. Her eyes scanned Hendrix from head to toe, spending extra time on his flexed biceps. They bulged perfectly as he carried one of Emery’s very overfull boxes into Maisie’s apartment.

Hendrix lifted a brow, glancing over at Emery. She shrugged, trying not to smile. “I only mentioned calling you it once.”

“It’s the perfect nickname,” Maisie told him. “Those arms deserve their own zipcode. Or possibly their own kingdom.” She winked at Emery, who shook her head.

“Can I come in, or would you like to take a few photos?” Hendrix asked, his voice full of amusement.

“I’m absolutely going to need some photos,” Maisie teased, but she stepped aside and let him walk in, squealing as she ran to Emery and gave her the biggest of hugs. “Oh my God, you didn’t tell me he’s from the GQ farm.”

“You’ve seen him on FaceTime,” Emery reminded her dryly, but she couldn’t keep the smile off her face. She hadn’t seen her best friend for months, after all, and she was just so damn happy she was back from her trip. Maisie was glowing, her skin tan, her eyes sparkling.

“Yeah, but the screen distorts things. Like the way it makes Tom Cruise look like he’s tall.

” She slid her arm through Emery’s, leading her to the living room where Hendrix had put down the box he’d been carrying.

There were six more in his truck, waiting to be unloaded.

And it felt bittersweet, because the summer was coming to an end and school was right over the horizon.

She loved her students. She loved teaching. But she hated that she and Hendrix were going to be apart during the week.

He’d made it clear he was happy to do the long-distance thing for as long as she needed him to. She’d drive home to see him on the weekends, and when she couldn’t, he’d drive here to see her.

And in the meantime she’d look for a school that was closer, and talk to her principal about finding a replacement here for her.

It made sense for her to move back home where he was, along with her mom and his family.

But for now she was so grateful that Maisie was letting her stay in her guest bedroom, so that she had the flexibility to move home at anytime.

“I’ll go grab the next box,” Hendrix told Emery. Tonight, he’d stay with her and tomorrow he’d leave early, because there was way too much to do on the farm. “You stay here and catch up.”

“Wait!” Maisie said, walking toward him, a mischevious expression on her face. “I need to hug you first.”

Before Hendrix could say anything else, she threw her arms around him. Over his shoulder, her eyes met Emery’s. “It’s like hugging a steel column,” Maisie mock-whispered, before she looked up at Hendrix, grinning. “Do you have any friends you can introduce me to?”

“There’s always Frank,” Hendrix said deadpan.

Emery bit down a smile. There was something so damn sweet about her boyfriend and best friend getting along. For one, they were going to be seeing a lot of each other over the next few months – whenever Hendrix came to stay.

But also because they were two of the most important people in the world to her. And she needed them in her life.

Maisie released Hendrix, her face turning suddenly serious. “Thank you,” she said.

“You’re welcome. I’m available for steel hugs anytime.”

She pushed his chest, then winced, like it hurt her hand. “I mean for bringing my friend back. For making her happy. For completing her list.”

His eyes locked with Emery’s. She smiled softly at him, feeling the familiar warmth wash through her. This man did complete her. In every way.

“Yeah, well she completed my list, too,” he said gruffly.

“You didn’t have a list,” Emery pointed out.

“Not one I knew about,” he said, still staring at her. “But it was there, waiting for you to come into my life.”

“Okay, now you two are getting sickly sweet.” Maisie shook her head, though she was still smiling. Like she was delighted for her friend. “Go get some more boxes, Only Farms. I’ll have my camera ready.”

“She’s joking, right?” he asked Emery.

“I think so.” She shrugged.

When he walked out of the apartment, heading down to his truck, Maisie turned to Emery, her mouth open with excitement.

“Oh my God, Em, he’s perfect.” She grabbed Emery’s hands, squeezing them with delight. “And he’s so in love with you. He can’t stop looking at you. I’m jealous and ecstatic all at the same time. I’m so happy for you both, but I’m so sad I only get you for a little while longer.”

“I promise you can come visit anytime you like once I’ve moved back home,” Emery told her. “And we have the long summers too.”

“Thank God.” She tipped her head to the side. “If I come and see you, will you introduce me to Frank? I bet he’s hot.”

Emery couldn’t help it, she burst into laughter.

“What’s so funny?” Maisie asked her.

“Frank’s a goat. Hendrix’s goat. The flirtiest little sex-driven animal you’ll ever meet.”

“A goat?” Maisie frowned. “Why that little…”

“I’m ready for my close up,” Hendrix said, walking into the living room with another box in his arms.

“I got a bone to pick with you,” Maisie told him. “I know who Frank is. And I’m not happy about it.

Hendrix didn’t miss a beat as he put the box on top of the first. “Hey, you asked if I had friends. I didn’t say they were human.”

Maisie narrowed her eyes. “You’re lucky you’re pretty.”

As Hendrix disappeared down the stairs again, Maisie gave her one last squeeze. “Seriously, Em. I know you’ll be leaving again, but it’s different this time. You’ve got your forever waiting back home.”

Emery nodded, her chest swelling with something that felt like peace. “Yeah,” she said softly. “I really do.”

Maisie sniffed and wiped her eyes with dramatic flair. “Ugh, stop making me cry. I’m trying to look cute for when Biceps McFarmerson walks back in.”

They both started giggling as Hendrix’s boots echoed up the stairwell again.

And just like that, everything felt exactly right.

The next year…

“What time is it?” Emery murmured, rolling over in their bed. She could hear the sounds of the animals outside, like they were just waking up. But she wanted to keep sleeping. It was the country air. It was better than any sleeping pill she’d ever tried.

“Almost six. Time to get up, sleepyhead.” Hendrix kissed her cheek.

She looked up to see him fully awake, golden rays of sun spilling through the curtains, illuminating his smooth skin.

He was wearing a pair of boxers and nothing else – his usual nighttime clothes, if he wore any at all – and she took a moment to enjoy the view.

“Eyes off the body, Reed,” he told her. “You don’t want to be late for work.”

“I have an hour and a half before I need to be there,” she protested. “Now come here and wake me up properly.”

He smiled at her. “When did you get so insatiable?” Not that he seemed to care.

He was the insatiable one of the two of them.

Grabbing her for kisses whenever he walked past her, pulling her into the shower with him when he got home after a hard day on the farm, carrying her to bed at night then loving her until she was screaming out his name.

“You unleashed the beast,” she whispered, as he crawled over her, leaning down to kiss her. “It’s your fault.”

“Maybe I like the beast.” He ran his hand down her silky nightgown, dipping his finger beneath the hem. He groaned when he felt her bare beneath it. “Christ, you’re wet.”

“I was having a good dream,” she murmured, letting out a gasp as he slid his finger along her. “A dream you interrupted.”

“Was it about me?” he asked.

She rolled her eyes as he slid a finger inside of her. “Of course.”

“What was I doing to you?” He kissed the corner of her lip, her jaw, then trailed his mouth down her neck to the swell of her breasts.

He started to circle her with his thumb, repeating the rhythm with his mouth as he kissed his way down her chest, using his nose to nudge the neckline of her nightgown down, exposing her breast.

He captured her nipple between his lips and she gasped.

“Nothing.”

“Uhuh.” She could feel him smile against her. “Was I doing this?” He curled his fingers inside of her. Finding the right spot that made her thighs start to tremble.

“No,” she managed to stutter. “But it feels good.”

“So what was I doing?” he whispered against her breast.

“Unloading the dishwasher,” she said, deadpan. “It’s so sexy.”

He started to laugh, looking up until her eyes met his.

“Okay, you were inside of me,” she said softly. “You had my legs on your shoulders. You were rough.”

“And you liked that?” He lifted a brow.

“So much.” Truth was, she liked him any way. Hard, soft, anywhere in between.

“Well, baby,” he told her. “We don’t have time for me to take you rough right now. But you be a good girl at work…” He pressed his thumb harder against her, enough to make her cry out. “ And I’ll show you just how rough I can be.”

He scraped his teeth against her nipple, like it was a promise, then kissed his way up to her lips, claiming her mouth as he brought her to the edge with his fingers. And when she tipped over, he held her, kissing her, whispering her name, telling her how beautiful she was.

She clenched around him as he slowly brought her back down to earth, sliding his fingers out from inside of her, then slipping them into his mouth like the dirty man he was.

“Your turn…” She reached for him. But he stepped back.

“Nope. Tonight. Leave me hanging. You know that’s how I like it.” He grinned at her. “Now get in the shower and get yourself clean. You have a busy day.”

The man was so giving. That was the first thing she’d noticed after she moved in with him two months ago. He simply liked giving pleasure. Yes, he liked receiving too, but the giving was always his favorite part.

She could live with that kind of generosity. Selflessness wasn’t what she’d expected from Hendrix Hartson. But it was what she got.