Page 40 of Where the Blacktop Ends (Whitewood Creek Farm #1)

Light filters through the blinds in Georgia’s room, gently waking me.

I blink, turning my head just enough to see the clock on her bedside table.?

It’s already six in the morning. The last time I slept this late was… well, I can’t even remember.?

Instinctively, I reach for my phone but freeze when I catch sight of Georgia’s face. She’s nestled against my chest, fast asleep, her expression peaceful and content.

She doesn’t know the real me. She thinks I’m just her boss, that I’m some hardened, career-driven man who doesn’t have the time or heart for anything beyond my work.

She doesn’t know how many things I’ve buried under the weight of those responsibilities.

I almost want to let her see it all, but…

I’m scared. Scared she’ll walk away the moment she sees the mess I’ve made of my life.

Yet here she is, in her most vulnerable state, pulling closer into my side.

Wanting more of me. I wonder if when she realizes all the baggage that comes along with being mine, she’ll still want me.

If she will still look at me with trusting eyes when she understands the number of responsibilities that I carry on my shoulders.

I shake that thought away and pull out my phone to scroll through endless emails—requests for comments, urgent texts from clients.

It’s always the same, a constant stream of people needing, taking, demanding from me.

But right now, I want to shut it all out.

Forget about the chaos and enjoy this rare moment of peace, lying beside the one person who’s never asked anything from me except to make her come.

Before I make any moves to get out of bed, I already know what my next move will be. Quietly, in the early morning light, I type out a message to Diane. She shoots back a confirmation for three plane tickets almost immediately. Now, I just need to convince Georgia to come home with me.

I need to head to North Carolina to meet with Colt’s lawyer before his appeal gets denied and see where we can put pressure on the courts to reconsider.

I also need to prepare him for the worst, face my siblings who’ll be rightfully angry and hurt, and handle Diane’s request to meet with state lawmakers and lobbyists for the upcoming election.

The list of responsibilities is endless.

Yet today I’m allowing myself the simple pleasure of staying in bed with Georgia, something I haven’t done with any woman in over twenty years.

I didn’t think I could sleep like this, let alone next to someone.

But everything about Georgia has surprised me.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” I whisper.

“Mm, hey,” she responds, her voice thick with rest.

Under the covers, her hands start to move, and I already know what she’s after.

I chuckle as she finds me, already stiff in my loose boxers.

I told her I wouldn’t have sex with her, and I meant it, even if all eight inches of me is aching to let go inside of her hot, tight pussy.

And though I know I should stop her from going any further, my body and mind are at war.

I want her touch as badly as I want to be inside of her.

She tries to wrap her hand around my shaft and then lets out a soft, defeated sigh.

“You’re so thick. I love your cock.”

I chuckle, the sound rough. “Don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing that.”

“I’d love to be ruined by it, too,” she whispers, turning those big eyes up at me.

I lean down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “I can’t do that to you...not yet.”

She groans, flopping back against the pillow, only to shoot up a second later. “Oh my god! Is Liam about to get dropped off?”

She scrambles out of bed, almost tripping as the blood rushes to her head.

I stay put, hand behind my head, watching her as she frantically dresses.

Her breasts bounce as she fumbles with her clothes, and I can’t help but smile at this scene.

I could get used to waking up every morning next to her while she frantically gets ready.

“Eleanor said he’ll be here in fifteen minutes,” I say calmly, “but that’s not why I woke you.”

Her brow furrows. “Why?”

“Because I’m taking a trip.”

“Oh…?” Her facial expression falls slightly, and I don’t miss.

“With Liam. And you. If you’ll join us.”

Her eyes widen. “Oh?”

“Back to North Carolina, my hometown of Whitewood Creek. My dad’s been asking to see his great grandson, and I’ve got some things to take care of with the governor’s race. Politics, mostly, but also... Colt. The chances of his appeal getting approved aren’t looking good.”

“Oh… yeah that’s probably a good idea.”

“Will you come? With Liam and I?”

She’s quiet as she thinks carefully and then nods slowly. “It won’t be weird for your family if I come along?”

“Why would it be weird?”

“Did you ever fly Eleanor with you when you took Liam or Max back to visit?”

No, but Eleanor isn’t the woman I intend on marrying someday. The one that already feels like mine.

My family will accept Georgia because of me and, well, because everyone who gets to meet her, loves her. But more than that, they’ll accept her once they see the place she holds in my life—the place I intend for her to stay.

“No, I didn’t. But it won’t be weird. My siblings can be a pain, but I’ll keep them in line,” I say, trying to reassure her and downplay things.

She finally gives me a genuine smile, and my heart skips a beat. My siblings might give me a hard time, but they’re the most important people in my life, and I hope that Georgia will like them too.

“I don’t have any siblings, so this is exciting.”

I smile. “I’m glad you think so. I’ll let you pack.

I’m gonna throw a few things in a bag and make some coffee for us.

” I stand up and stretch my arms overhead.

Forty years old and even though I slept well, my body still wakes up stiff and sore most mornings.

I notice her eyes watching me hungrily, lingering on the fact that I’m still shirtless and only in boxers, with an unmistakable tent between my thighs due to her little hand job.

I’d like to put it in her but I’m patient and I will, soon .

She groans, “You’re killing me, Governor Marshall.”

I freeze. “No.”

Her wicked grin widens. “Papa?”

“Absolutely not. That’s reserved for Liam.”

“Daddy?”

I swallow hard, wetting my lips before stepping forward and taking both of her ass cheeks into my hands and squeezing firmly. She gasps. “No.”

“Big Papa?” she whispers, testing the waters. There’s a teasing tone to her question but I can tell she wants this too. A special nickname just between us that makes it feel real.

“I’ll allow it.” I lean down, brushing a soft kiss across the top of her head as she sighs in contentment.

A few minutes later, I’ve managed to avoid sneaking back into her bedroom to fuck her, packed a small bag for our trip and Georgia’s joined me in the kitchen for coffee when Liam bursts through the front door.

“Papa!” he squeals, running into the kitchen and wrapping his arms around my legs as high as he can reach.

“You’re not working today?” Eleanor asks.

“Hey, buddy,” I say, bending down to scoop him up into a hug and kiss. “Nope, not today. I took the day off because guess what—we’re taking a trip!”

“Where?” His big brown eyes widen with excitement.

“To see your great grandpa Marshall, and your great uncles and aunts in North Carolina.”

Eleanor smiles from the doorway, her grey brows raising in surprise. “You’re going too?” she asks Georgia.

Georgia smiles, nodding as she hoists her and Liam’s bags over her shoulder. Before she can take a step, I move toward her, taking the bags from her hands and grabbing my own.

“She is,” I confirm.

“Well, shit if this isn’t the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Eleanor mutters, and I swear she wipes at a tear as I chuckle, guiding them both out the door to the town car waiting to take us to the airport.