Rough Country (Tannen Boys 3)

I move behind Willow and press the button on the screen to flip her camera. Framing both of us, I look to the screen and see her surprise at seeing us together like this. With her eyes on me, I take the picture. Then she smiles at the camera, and I turn to her, letting every bit of what I feel shine through. I might not be able to find the right words easily, but I know what I’m feeling. It’s early, but it’s the beginning of something deep and powerful.

I know she sees it in the resulting shot because she looks back to me, her eyes wide and unguarded. Without her walls up, I can see the doubts lurking in their swirling depths. “Willow.” I start to say something, though I don’t know what, but instead I see the screen flash out of the corner of my eyes as she takes another shot.

“I know,” she says softly, just between us. “I want a picture of this moment right here so I always remember the moment I knew.”

Fuck. She gets me. Even without words, she gets me. I wrap my arms around her, hugging her tight as though I could crawl into her skin through our clothes, right here in the heat of this summer night.

Somehow, the Earth’s axis hasn’t shifted for anyone else. They’re playing on as though nothing significant has happened, though I know good and well that it has.

Brutal wins his game against Luke, but ultimately, it’s a final match-up between Rix and Mama Louise. Any of the rest of us would let Mama Louise win. Not Rix. She’s hardcore at everything she does, always fighting to be taken seriously as a female mechanic and racer, and she never takes her foot off the gas. Not even for Mama Louise.

We all celebrate Rix’s win, including Brody, who gives her a big kiss. Cooper whispers, “Yuck,” and we all chuckle, telling him to just wait, and if he’s lucky, one day, he’ll get to congratulate his girl with a kiss too. He shakes his head vehemently, deeming it ‘disgusting’.

Slowly, we all start to make moves toward home. Luke and Shayanne head to their loft over the barn, where they like to be because it’s close to the horses. Mark and Katelyn go to their house on the other side of the hill behind the Bennett pond. James, Sophie, and Cindy Lou already went to their house in town to get some much-needed rest. Brutal, Allyson, and Cooper go to their house on the east side of what used to be our farm. Brody and Rix head to our family home, where I sleep too. Mama Louise gives me a nod, seeing the intent in my eyes. “Will you make sure the candles are all out before you leave tonight?”

There are torches out in the yard, closer to the cornhole area to keep it bug-free while we play, and a single citronella candle on the porch giving it a warm glow. I dip my chin in agreement, simultaneously thanking her for letting Willow and me have this time and space for a bit longer.

Alone, I take Willow’s hand in mine, brushing along her skin with my thumb. Even the small contact is driving me crazy. She is driving me crazy, gorgeously unaware of what she’s doing to me with every sweet little smile, every kind word, every peek into her mind and heart.

“Today was fun,” she says quietly. “I’m so glad I came, though Shayanne didn’t give me much of a choice.” Her laugh is muted, and I wonder how much finessing Shay had to do to get Willow to agree.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been gladder that Shay sticks her nose in every damn thing. Seeing you across the field today was . . .” I stumble over the words, not sure how to describe that moment. The best I can do is . . . “It felt right. Like this place had been missing something, and I didn’t even know it. But it was finally right.”

I don’t know what I expected her to say to that, but I know she surprises me again by leaning over and kissing me. She’s been responsive every time, that’s for sure, but I’ve initiated each time our lips have met. That she does it this time soothes something inside me that’s been ruffled since I saw her behind the bar.

Our lips dance, and somewhere in the breath between us, she whispers, “Thank you.”

I have no idea what for, and I’m far too lost in her to figure it out right now.

My tongue swipes along her lower lip and she opens for me. I tease along her tongue slowly, gently prodding her to let me in deeper. Into her mouth, into her mind, into her heart.