Finally Found (Doms of Destiny, Colorado 10)

The breeze was still warm, though the sun had set thirty minutes ago. He had enjoyed spending time with Carrie at her family’s barbeque. The more he got to know her, the more enamored he became. And their date today had blown him away completely. He’d never enjoyed anything as much as their picnic. Carrie was playful and adventurous. Smart and gorgeous. Genuine and caring. No woman had ever had such an impact on him before. The sex had been vanilla and yet so incredible. He loved every one of her curves and the feel of her silky skin.

He sensed she had a submissive streak inside her that he would love to dominate if given the chance, but they were just at the very beginning. Even though everything inside him wanted to dive in head first, he believed it was best to take this nice and slow with Carrie.

He grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I hope you enjoyed our date today.”

She squeezed back. “It was wonderful. Thank you.”

Jacob took her other hand. “Josh and I came up with another plan.”

She grinned, looking more beautiful than ever. “Oh you did, did you?”

“We did,” Josh said. “Did I tell you I’m a pilot?”

“You did. You work for TBK, besides helping out at your parent’s restaurant.”

“My bosses, Eric and Scott Knight, agreed to let me take the company plane tomorrow night. Carrie, what do you think about the three of us having dinner in Red River, New Mexico? There’s an incredible steakhouse there.”

“Oh that would be exciting. I’ve never been in a plane before.”

“Not only will you be in the plane, you’re going to sit next to the pilot.”

Jacob laughed. “Where does that leave me?”

“You’ll be our navigator, buddy.”

“I never navigated no planes before, mister,” Jacob said in a thick southern accent.

They all laughed.

“It’ll only take three minutes to learn,” he said. “You’ll be great.”

“It’s a date then,” Carrie said, giving them both kisses on the cheek.

They all leaned back in the swing and continued enjoying the evening. Tomorrow would be their second date, one of many more if he had his way. He wanted to spend as much time with Carrie as possible, and he was certain Jacob did also.

“Guys, I can’t tell you how different being here in Destiny is for me. It’s like another world.”

Even though they were having fun, he and Jacob could sense that there was more on her mind, more she was struggling with.

“Carrie, have you ever seen such a night in your life?” he asked, gazing into the heavens, hoping to ease her worries. “There are so many stars out here.”

“Only a few times,” she answered. “When I lived in Bronte, Texas, as a young girl, a sweet lady who had a porch very much like this one sat with me and taught me about the Big Dipper and Orion’s Belt. Until now, it was the happiest time of my life. Mrs. Kearns and her husband owned a horse ranch. That’s where I learned to ride and love horses. But as usual, Willie snapped me up out of there.”

Josh recalled what she’d told him and Jacob on the horseback ride about the bastard preacher. He couldn’t imagine the hell she’d been through having grown up in the happy home of his parents, Hiro and Melissa Phong. But Jacob’s childhood had been very different, and no doubt he related to her past.

“Why did he keep moving you around?” Jacob obviously was in tune with her feelings, hoping to get her to open up more to them.

“Willie was a con artist. We only stayed in any one place for a short time so that he never got caught.”

Josh stroked her hair. “What kind of schemes, Carrie?”

“He was a thief.” She lowered her head as if she was in deep thought. Then after several seconds of silence, she lifted her head.

He could see the tears in her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

She sighed. “I’m holding a secret that I need to tell someone.”

“You can trust us, sweetheart.”