Simmons Brothers Series: Boxed Set Read online

  “You’re blushing,” Pete said, one dark eyebrow raised in question.

  “Sorry,” she said. “Just thinking.”

  “About?”

  “Something personal,” she said, raising her own eyebrows in challenge.

  “Alright,” Pete said, his hands lifted in mock surrender. “I get it, lay off.”

  They left with packages of food and full stomachs. Sated by the meal, they didn’t talk but remained close to each other. Pete took Lana’s hand, interlacing their fingers as they walked. The sky had darkened to a deep orange and as they reached the outskirts of town, Pete stopped.

  “Want to see something cool?” he said, his eyes shining.

  Lana nodded, elated at seeing his look of childlike eagerness. He pulled her to the side until they came to a slightly elevated area through which they had a great view of the sunset. She stared, her eyes wide and she had the sudden urge to draw it. To capture this moment with him.

  “This is…” Lana said. “Wow.”

  They had sat down, watching the red ball go slowly down, filling the sky with its hue of colors.

  “I used to come here all the time,” Pete said.

  “Alone?” she blurted.

  The thought of someone being here, sharing the moment, made it feel weird, made her unhappy.

  “Yes,” he said softly. “You are the only one to ever see it with me.”

  She turned to look at him and saw that he was doing the same. And suddenly she was all too aware that they were alone; there were no brothers who would come upon them. They were completely on their own and it was nerve-racking and exciting all at the same time.

  She didn’t know who had made the first move but suddenly they were kissing, hands clutching each other before softening into a firmer grip. She felt the elation, and the rush of heat going through her, muddling her head until she couldn’t think anymore and she was happy. Happier than she had been for a while.

  By the time they had broken apart, the sun had set and they were breathing heavily, staring at each other. She didn’t want to be the one to say it but she wanted to know if he thought it was a mistake because she didn’t at all.

  “Let’s go home,” he said but made no move to get up.

  She got up and he followed, taking her hand as they walked back to the path to go back to the ranch.

  Pete didn’t let go of her hand, even as they neared the house.

  “How was your trip?” Mark asked as she walked into the farm house ahead of his brother.

  No one had known that they had gone together so she just smiled and said,

  “It was great. I’m pretty tired though, so I’m going to go to my room.”

  She left the food and walked upstairs as she heard Pete enter. Heart beating wildly, she entered her room and closed the door, wondering what to do. But she was barely ten minutes into her feverish thoughts before there was a knock on the door and she opened it to see Pete.

  “I forgot something,” he said.

  Her mind went blank and she said, “What?”

  “This.”

  And he kissed her again, holding her close to him as he did.

  Lana knew that whatever this was, it was something she desperately wanted. Wrapping her arms around Pete’s neck, she pressed her body closer, straining to be nearer to him.

  “Lana,” he breathed, his mouth finding the succulent flesh of her neck. Her soft gasp only fueled his need for her.

  Before either of them recognized the fever of their frenzy, Lana was stripped to her underwear and Pete was quickly catching up.

  “Pete,” she said, her dark eyes shining in the lamplight. “I haven’t had much experience.”

  “It isn’t something I’m used to keeping track of,” he said. “I don’t keep score, Lana.”

  “I just don’t want to mess up,” she said nervously.

  “You won’t,” he said, all but yanking her closer.

  Later, he’d wonder if she’d regret what they’d done come morning. But holding her now, he couldn’t bring himself to feel bad. Even knowing that he was her first, he didn’t feel bad. He treasured her innocence and the way she’d clung to him. When he turned to ask her if she was okay, Pete noticed that her breathing was even and her eyes had the shuttered look of sleep. Pulling her closer he covered their bodies with a blanket and drifted off into the best sleep he’d had since she’d arrived.

  Chapter Nine

  The next afternoon, Pete found Lana working hard in the kitchen. Coming up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against him.

  “Pete!” Lana exclaimed. “Someone is going to come in!”

  “Let them,” he said, nuzzling her neck.

  Lana threw a nervous glance to the door which was mercifully closed. Pete wasn’t helping during her cooking process and she was scared that someone would come in and see them playing touchy-feely in the kitchen. He had certainly become more affectionate and she couldn’t deny that she liked the attention.

  “I’m serious!” she said. “I have to finish cooking or else they’ll fire me.”

  “You know they won’t, they really like you now. And I won’t let them.”

  That was true. It had been a month and a half since she had started working with them and the other three had really warmed to her. Lana had vastly improved in her skills and she could at least adjust recipes now to suit the tastes of everyone else. But there was something else that she wanted to try which she hadn’t been able to because of Pete. Their relationship had really progressed fast, from shy friends to close lovers. But the thing about Pete was that he reveled in physical affection as well as emotional connection so he sneaked kisses here and there. He did say that he didn’t care if anyone else found out and she didn’t really either because she knew that they were good people who wouldn’t judge her.

  “You aren’t even working,” Pete complained as she took the pot off the stove.

  “Okay, you have me there,” she admitted, grinning.

  His hands wrapped around her again and she squealed as he turned her toward the table and hoisted her up on it, peppering her neck with kisses.

  “Stop it!” she giggled as he tickled her. “We eat here.”

  “I’m starving,” he said with a devilish light in his eyes.

  “Not that type of hunger,” she said and gave him a little peck. The challenge in his eyes made her swallow hard before he took her mouth again. This time it wasn’t light and playful. It was the kiss of a man who wanted to please and be pleasured in return.

  “Let me have you, Lana.”

  “Pete,” she breathed, even as his hands lifted the hem of her skirt. As her eyes closed, she heard the tearing of fabric as Pete tore the panties off her hips. His rough hands grabbed her hips and pulled her to the edge of the table. Instinctively she wrapped her legs around Pete’s narrow hips, her hands gripping the hard muscles in his arms as he leaned her back. She’d discovered rather quickly that Pete, once he set his mind to something, was nearly immovable. Squeezing her legs tighter, Lana moaned when he filled her on that first, hard thrust. The pain was much less than before as Lana gave herself up to the heated frenzy of their lovemaking. His mouth clamped over the fabric of her shirt to tease the tight bud of her breast and Lana began to meet him, her own body now demanding release.

  “Take me,” Lana breathed, her system teetering on the edge of climax. Her hips bucked hard against Pete as he met her, thrusting deep and fast as he took her over. Her orgasm screamed through her as her wet pussy clenched down hard on his pulsing cock. Soon, Lana felt Pete’s body stiffen as he spent himself inside her. He pressed his brow to hers as he pulled her up, nuzzling her neck as he tenderly held her.

  He was just fixing his jeans when they heard a noise at the door.

  Thankfully Pete had moved away from her far enough to not seem suspicious. Drew greeted the two, oblivious to the foray that had just taken place on their kitchen table.

  “I am famished,�
�� he said, practically falling into a chair near Lana.

  “I have food ready,” Lana said, still trying to catch her breath. She wadded up the panties that were still in her hand, clenching them in her fist.

  “Let the others come in first,” said Drew.

  This was what she loved about the family, they never did anything without each other and she couldn’t remember having felt this warmth in her own family. There had always been a degree of formality with them, they had never talked about their feelings or made any effort to do special occasions. The four brothers were as close as they could be, respectful of their business and kind to everyone.

  Pete pulled her to sit down as everyone else trailed in and they ate amid chatters.

  “Pete, I am going to need you to come with me,” Jaime said. “That goes for all of you.”

  “Why?” Pete asked.

  “There’s a review going on at the market. We should see if anything changes,” Jaime said.

  “Alright,” Drew agreed.

  Pete threw her pathetic glances as he left and she couldn’t help but laugh quietly to herself as they headed out. He was so much like a petulant child sometimes. At least she had some to time to herself. Now she could make the cookies that she had wanted to give to him, all of them really. But if she was being honest, she wanted to give Pete something special, for all the experiences he’d given to her. Pete had always hung around throughout the weeks and she loved it but she wanted to surprise him. Now that she was at least kind of confident on her ability, she wanted to try it.

  She had the recipe written out and she looked at it as she put the butter and sugar in a bowl.

  “Beat the butter and sugar until it is pale and fluffy,” she read. This was going to be hard.

  Two hours later, she proudly stared at the tray filled with cookies. They smelled delicious and although she had trouble with the terminology like beating the eggs and folding, it had turned out well. She let it cool and went to freshen up.

  By the time she was back, it had cooled and she started to put them in the jar that she had found. Now they could have those cookies whenever they wanted, hopefully Pete would like them.

  “It smells like cookies,” Mark said, coming in and surprising her.

  “I made some,” she said shyly, peeking around him to see if Pete was there.

  “They are on their way inside,” Mark said. “I should take one before Pete eats all of them.”

  He took one and bit into it before saying,

  “Not bad, not as good as my mom’s but no one is ever going to get close to hers.”

  He grinned at Lana and went upstairs. Drew appeared and so did Jaime but there was no Pete. They passed on the cookies, promising to have some later and went upstairs. She sat by the counter and waited for Pete until he finally arrived.

  “Hi,” he said and kissed her.

  “Hey,” she said, suddenly shy. “I made something.”

  “What is it?” he asked curiously.

  She showed him the jar and the way his eyes lit up made her smile wider. He took one and ate it, smiling slowly.

  “These are great,” he said. “You did it for me?”

  “I wanted to try something new,” she said. “I can do some baking now.”

  “You’re a fast learner, to think what your dishes used to be when you first started,” Pete kissed her again. “Thank you.”

  “My mom would be shocked if she saw me now,” she said.

  Pete grew serious. She didn’t talk about her parents often but he knew the situation. He knew she missed them.

  “Don’t you miss them?”

  “Yeah I do but that’s in the past. Besides, they’re probably busy with the store and everything,” Lana said. She stretched and continued,

  “I think I am going to go up and sketch a bit. I’ll see you later.” She stopped and kissed him before heading upstairs.

  She left and Pete stood by the counter, eating a couple of the cookies but an idea began to settle in his mind and he left the house with a clear direction in mind.

  He had no idea if Lana would approve but he had to risk it.

  Lana was making cookies again.

  He really was a cookie monster, he had demolished the entire jar in three days and she was now making double the batch so that she could fill the jar. She was enjoying the cooking now. She couldn’t say the same about the laundry and cleaning but it was a job. It felt good to have some money and not to think about anything else, but being happy.

  Though she did think about her initial plan to leave. That had been her objective but it didn’t matter now that she had found a home. It had been more about finding people who liked her for her and enjoying her freedom rather than doing something else.

  Besides, she was happy just where she was.

  “Baking again?” Drew asked, coming in.

  “Pete ate everything,” Lana said, laughing.

  “I don’t blame him. They were good cookies,” Drew said.

  They chatted a bit as she pulled the cookies out of the oven. They were still chatting when they heard the sound of a car.

  “Did someone go out?” Drew wondered.

  “Maybe it’s Jaimie,” Lana suggested.

  There was a knock on the door and that was weird because no one knocked on the door. Drew opened the door and Lana stumbled back, a look of horror on her face when she saw who was on the other side.

  “Lana,” her mother, Cara Jones, said.

  “What are you doing here?” she shrieked.

  “We came to find you,” her father, Jimmy Jones, replied.

  “But how did you know I was here?” she asked still shocked, unaware of Drew who was watching the exchange curiously.

  “After Pete Simmons called us…” her father said and that was when everything else he said became noise, because all she could think about was that Pete had called them here.

  He had betrayed her.

  Pete was battling with his own conflicting thoughts.

  He hadn’t wanted to call her parents but he knew that she missed them and that they were probably worried about her, about where she was and how she was doing. It was something that he felt they needed to know, Lana couldn’t run away from her parents forever.

  But he knew she would hate him for it and he would take it for her if he had to because he didn’t want her to regret it later.

  He saw the car first and knew that they had come and as he walked up the stairs he heard Lana’s voice.

  “I am not going back with you! I don’t care what you say!”

  “Don’t be stupid,” a new voice was saying who he took to be her father.

  “I am not being stupid, you are being pushy I have my own life to live now,” Lana retorted.

  He saw them inside, her parents seated with Drew in the corner while Lana stood over them, her face red. Her mother had the same hair as she did, fiery red sprinkled with gray, but a much more mature face. Her father had darker hair with a lined face and hard eyes. As he entered, her eyes turned to him and she glared at him before turning back to her parents.

  “I don’t care what you have in mind. You can’t make me leave and I won’t leave.”

  “We’ll talk tomorrow,” her father cut in. “We’ll be at the local inn. Meet us for lunch tomorrow.”

  They got up and left, muttering a greeting to him as they passed him. Lana turned to Drew and said,

  “I am sorry you had to witness that,” she said and then ignoring Pete, she went upstairs.

  “Family drama,” Drew commented. “Isn’t it just wonderful?”

  Pete couldn’t say anything, understanding that maybe he had made the wrong decision after all.

  She was waiting in his room for him and once he entered, she said,

  “I can’t believe you did that.”

  “I thought-”

  “I don’t care what you thought!” she shouted. “I wanted to be free from them! I wanted to have my own life and you told them where I a
m? How could you do that to me?”

  “I didn’t want you to have a broken relationship with your parents,” he said helplessly.

  “That wasn’t your call to make Pete,” she said. “It was mine and you took it from me.”

  “I was trying to do what-”

  “Was best for me?” she finished bitterly. “No, you went along with how your family is. My family is nothing like that; I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to take me with them tomorrow.”

  He paled at that, the thought of her leaving left him with a bitter taste in his mouth and a sharp pain in his chest.

  “You’re not leaving, are you?” he said.

  “I might as well seeing as the one person who I trusted betrayed me,” she said scornfully and left the room, leaving him devastated.

  Lana avoided him like the plague for the rest of the day, speaking in short sentences to everyone and pretending that he in particular did not exist. He could see her point now and he was too ashamed to apologize to her. He wanted to let her cool off before he dared to say he was sorry, that he’d been wrong.

  The others had noticed but they didn’t say anything. He knew they were waiting for confirmation from the two of them that everything was fine.

  He tried talking to her the next morning but that ended in failure.

  “Lana,” he said but she kept on walking upstairs.

  “Wait, wait,” he said, taking her hand. “I’m sorry about calling your parents. I was honestly only trying to help.”

  “Don’t even say that, you don’t have the right,” she snapped.

  “I have every right, when it was my mistake.”

  “I have to go now,” she said and pulled her hand away from his, continuing upwards.

  He groaned and left the house, frustrated and angry with himself.

  Chapter Ten

  Mark came to see him an hour later at his office.

  Pete knew that Mark was going to scold him from the look on his face and just leaned back saying,

  “Why don’t you just say it?”