Page 31 of When It Reins (Three Rivers Trevors Ranch #5)

juniper

Things don’t shock me very often.

I was a firm roll-with-the-punches type of gal.

However, when the email from Felicity’s label lands in my inbox two hours before the charity concert is set to begin, it’s safe to say I’m standing in pure shock at the sight of it.

There is an offer.

An actual, firm offer to record an EP album with them. I can’t believe my eyes, so when a hand grabs me from behind, I’m quick to spin around, unsure who is grabbing me and why. Thea stares in surprise at my reaction, and I press a hand to my chest, hoping my heart will calm down.

“Whoa. Sorry, baby sister. I didn’t mean to scare you.” Thea smiles sweetly at me and nods to the end of the bar. “Your security is here.”

I glance down and see Mitch standing there, his attention not on me but the men he brought with him. I also have an inkling the Cash brothers plus CT are going to be keeping a careful watch on things tonight.

Luella is watching the one-year-olds for a while so that Thea, Logan, Felicity, and Jax could be here tonight.

It is looking like everyone who is related or even semi-related to me is showing up to support what we are doing tonight. The concert doesn’t start for a couple of hours, but everyone is here to help set up like it is a wedding all over again.

Fond memories from throwing Thea and Logan’s wedding here hit me, and I wonder how that felt to have the man she loves declare it in front of all these people.

Mitch turns then, catching my eye, and I feel my heart leap in my chest. I love him. There is no denying it—even to myself.

But am I ready to admit it to him? Not yet.

I know Mitch needs easing into new things. It took two years for him to come around to the idea of dating me, and I am sure that hearing that I love him is going to be a bit of a shock to hear.

I want to tell him because I can feel every inkling of that love flowing through my bones. He tilts his head to his friends and then aims his smile in my direction. My heart pounds, and the people around me fade as I make my way closer to him.

Like electricity, I feel his touch before he even grasps my hand in his, and he pulls me in tight, holding my body to his own.

I feel him take a deep breath and wonder if holding me feels like this is the only time he can properly breathe, or if that is just me.

I am attached to the man, that is for sure. I don’t know exactly what I am going to do with that, but I know it to be true.

“I missed you.” I blurt the words before I can fully think them through, and I feel him lean back, tilting his head down to smile at me. “Sorry, I don’t want you to think?—”

“I missed you too, Little Starling.” He places a finger underneath my jaw and tilts my head up to give him better access. I close my eyes as his lips descend on my own, and I feel my heart leaping with joy again in my chest at the touch and feeling and love I have for this man.

Everything around me ceases to exist. Every person, every sound, every responsibility. I want to just stay wrapped up in his arms forever.

Alas, sounds do eventually creep in, and I sigh when the music starts becoming louder with the sound checks that are going on. I glance around, seeing Rosemary bark orders at the MC members who are here to help, and I smile.

“I don’t think you’ll have any trouble keeping them in line with her around, or any of us, for that matter.” I laugh when one of the men flinches as Rosemary points something out.

“She’s a force,” Mitch says, but his eyes are still on me.

“Definitely, but she’s helped so much with this event. I don’t know what I would do without her.”

For a moment, Mitch doesn’t reply. His eyes just stay attached to my face, and I fight off the blush that’s dying to come out. “What is it?”

He smirks, shaking his head back and forth and pulling my body a little closer. “Nothing. Just can’t believe you put all of this together for people you don’t even know.”

Okay, the blush is now inevitable. I dismiss his comment with a wave of my hand and scoff. “Anyone would do it. What these people have gone through is wrong.”

“Anyone wouldn’t do it, Starling.” Mitch squeezes me again, and for a moment, he just stands there staring at me. Something in his gaze makes me think he wants to say something, but then he sighs and says, “We better get to work.”

I laugh and nod, wanting to steer us away from the praise he is serving me. “You’re right, unless you want to be on the receiving end of Rosemary’s glares.”

He shivers and moves quickly to help his brothers.

The music is loud, and the crowd is practically bouncing on the dance floor to the music. Couples are swing-dancing, and singles are line dancing. The drinks are flowing heavily, and the line is out the door.

The concert is going better than I could have imagined, and Bottle Grounds is the busiest it’s ever been.

“June!” Annmarie calls from down the bar, and I wipe my forehead with the back of my wrist. The heat level in this place is skyrocketing, and no amount of AC can keep up.

I hustle down to the end, and she taps the keg underneath her. I nod and grab the empty, knowing full well this is going to take a minute.

I head to the back storage room and set the empty down before I grab the dolly. I start to move the heavy keg onto the dolly when a shadow falls across the doorway. I glance up, startled, and smile when I see who it is.

“You scared me.” I stand straight, stretching my back as Mitch smirks and comes to finish the job for me. He is no stranger to lifting kegs around here, and at the moment, when I am pretty sure I am more sweat than human, I am grateful for the help.

He stands and turns to me. In the small space, my back is already pushed against the shelves that are lined with inventory, but he steps closer still, until his body is encompassing mine.

Mitch doesn’t speak, and I let out a little chuckle as my eyes shift from one of his to the other.

His eyes are soft and sweet as he looks at me.

He reaches up, and his rough, calloused hand cups my jaw, tilting it up.

His other hand interlocks our fingers, and he raises our hands back above my head.

I hold on to the wrist of the hand holding my jaw and feel my breath tick up. My body is vibrating with anticipation, and I don’t have to wait long until his lips finally connect with my own. The soft way he kisses me is not what I expect.

It is like he is kissing me for the first time. Every movement, every stroke, is meticulous and planned. Nothing about it is sloppy.

He tilts his head as his hips meet mine, and my body instinctively wants to climb his. But I can’t move. I home in on the way he feels against me, the way his lips are telling me more than I ever hoped to hear from Mitch.

The kiss slows, and the sounds from outside the door start to filter back in. My eyes are still closed when I feel his lips kiss each one, and I let out a little gasp at the sweet move.

“Starling.” His voice is a rough whisper, and finally I flutter my eyes open, our hands still desperately clinging to each other.

When I meet his eyes, they’re serious but sure, and he roughly whispers the words that I’ve been wanting to hear but fully not expecting. “I love you, Little Starling.”

I startle and let out a little laugh, squeezing his hands tighter. “I was going to say it first.”

He grins, leaning closer until our foreheads rest on each other’s. “When?”

I shrug a little, still holding in the bubbling laughter that threatens to come out. I didn’t expect hearing that would make me giddy, but here I am, unable to hold it together. “When I thought you were ready.”

He shakes his head, his eyes on fire with what I now know is love for me. “I’m ready, Starling. Ready for all of it.”

“All of it?” My words are a whisper, my eyes holding his.

He nods, holding me tight. “All of it.”