Angel Falling (Falling #1)(66)
“What’s that now?” I asked.
“Oh, Punky, you have to come to our summer barbecue. Remember, we have it every year at this time. You just surprised us by bein’ home in time for it! Everyone’s goin’ to be there!” she was alight with excitement. I liked seeing Ma so happy.
“Angel?”
“Of course. We’re here, let’s party!” she picked up her biscuit and took a huge bite. The dreaded foodgasms started again. She really loved Ma’s cookin’. I couldn’t blame her, though; there was none better in my opinion.
I leaned over and whispered in her ear. “You keep up those sounds and I’m going to be doing something real indecent to you here directly.” She grinned and took another huge bite on a groan. My eyebrow went sky high with the challenge. She tilted her head to assess me. I took that moment to slide my hand along her bare thigh and under her loose red shorts. My fingers crept along her seam and she gasped.
“Don’t test me, Angel.” I pressed my fingers against her damp panties. She moaned and shoved a bite of bacon in her mouth letting her hair fall in her face. I decided to have mercy on her and pulled away, letting my hand cup and tickle her kneecap instead. She breathed deep. I loved how affected she was by my touch. Excited me to no end.
“So it’s settled then. And of course, you guys must come too,” Ma directed her pointed gaze at Dean and Oliver.
“A real Southern shindig? Is it like a hoe-down? Please tell me it’s like a hoe-down! I have the perfect outfit,” Oliver exclaimed happily. The pipsqueak was a jumble of excitement today. Most of the table laughed enjoying his crazy. Dean shook his head as if he was exasperated.
The day went on and I was in pure heaven. Aspen and I took my brothers boys to ride the horses. She actually had experience riding. Said her parents made her learn as a kid, and damn if she didn’t look good up on a horse. Her red cowboy boots, tiny red shorts, and white ruffled top about made my knees buckle. Her pale legs looked impossibly long. She even took Hunter, one of the twins, up on her horse. He took a real liking to her. Holt preferred to be with the men, so I pulled his small body up onto the front of the horse with me and we took off around my land.
We stopped every so often to give the horses a drink of fresh water from the creek and let the boys explore.
The day couldn’t have been more perfect. We dropped off the boys and went to get ready for the gathering at Ma’s.
Later that evening, my girl came down the stairs looking like a vision. She wasn’t wearing one of her men’s suits, or tight form-hugging skirts and silk blouses. She was wearing a white sundress. It had little flower shapes with tons of little holes, like a doily you’d find at my Grandma’s house. It was held up by two thin straps on each shoulder. On her, the simple look was devastatingly beautiful.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Her golden hair was pulled back into some type of clip, leaving half her hair to hang down her open back.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?” she asked shyly.
“You really are an Angel. I love you in white.” My throat was dry and scratchy. She smiled a secret smile and then looped her arms around my neck to kiss me. Her mouth slid along mine, softly, just a hint of tongue to whet my palate before she pulled away.
“Shall we, Stud?”
I nodded, still unable to say anything.
When we hit Ma’s, the party was in full swing. My cousin’s band was playing top forty country hits off to the side of the yard; a wooden dance floor finished the section. Old Man Henry was at a huge six foot by four foot grill that boasted everything from chicken, to dogs, burgers, and corn right on the flame. My mouth watered at the sight, not having eaten since breakfast. The entire yard had about twenty tables, checkerboard print spread throughout where people were mingling and carrying on.
My mother and father both greeted Aspen and me. Pops was even so kind as to shake Oliver’s hand and clasp Dean on the back with a manly whack. Dean grinned and gave as good as he got, pounding on my Pops’ back and asking what the score was of the latest baseball game.
Oliver was practically bouncing in front of us, taking in the entire yard. He had on a fitted plaid shirt tucked into a pair of fancy pants jeans. Poor fella didn’t know that cowboys pretty much only wore Levis and Wranglers. Those Calvin Klein numbers he went on and on about were doing nothin’ but making him stick out like a sore thumb. Didn’t matter. As long as he stuck with me, I’d stare down anyone who tried to throw a harsh word at my little buddy.
“Holy shit, Pen. That’s a real motherf*ckin’ cow!” Oliver squealed with delight and ran over to the guard fence.
Even though Mom and Pops were retired, they still had a heap of cattle on their land. It helped Heath and Jess with overflow when the herds were mating and pushing out calves left and right.
“You’ve made him so happy.” Aspen hugged my side and watched Oliver. Dean just shook his head a huge smile on his face as he watched the man he loved try to pet cattle.
Heath and Jess made their way over with a couple of drinks and handed them to us. A beer for me, spritzer for Aspen.
“What’s got your attention?” Heath asked and I pointed over to Oliver, whose electric blue cowboy boots were dangling out in the air as he tried to balance on a rung and touch the cattle. “Shit for brains! What the hell’s he doin’?” We all laughed, but Heath went over to save him. I could see my brother pulling at some hay being used as seats and whistling over the nearest cattle. Oliver was enjoying every second of it.