Besting Brady: Hearts of Hollis Read online

  I’m tucking my jeans in my boots when I notice Lilly. She looks so damn adorable in a pair of ripped jeans and brown lace-up boots. Her hair is pulled back in a tight braid.

  “You walk here?” I ask her when I don’t see her car anywhere.

  “Yeah, it wasn’t too far. I’m pretty sure I could walk everywhere in Hollis,” she says with a smile.

  Then it seems like she looks me over, taking in my jeans and long-sleeved black tee. I return her gaze, surprised at her attire.

  “Camo?” I ask, eyeing her long-sleeved shirt.

  “Jade let me borrow it,” she explains. “So, this is Jack’s field?”

  “Yeah,” I answer. “Kind of the catch-all for a hangout spot in Hollis.”

  “It’s muddy.” She makes a face and laughs.

  “Well, it did rain yesterday and a little this morning. That’s why it’s perfect for mudding. We can go ahead and get a little dirty if you want,” I say with a wink.

  “Why do I get the feeling you’re not talking about mudding anymore?” she questions, a slight grin on her face.

  Before I can respond, the rest of our group shows up. Jade must’ve also loaned Amelia some clothes because she’s dressed similarly in jeans, boots, and a long-sleeved green tee. I’m pretty certain Amelia doesn’t own any clothes like that. She’s a city girl just like Lilly is.

  “Do you Dallas boys know how to drive ATVs, or do you need tutorials?” I joke.

  After my impromptu invite to Madden, we decided to have Keegan, Amelia, and Landon tag along before the three of them head back to Dallas.

  “I’m surprised you just said ‘tutorials’.” Landon laughs and climbs on one of the Hondas. He cranks it up and then takes off, laughing over his shoulder as mud flies up behind him.

  Keegan takes Caleb’s Yamaha and helps Amelia climb on behind him. Madden and Jade get the other Honda.

  “Looks like you’re with me,” I tell Lilly as I get on my Yamaha. I hold my hand out for her, and she climbs on behind me. “Hold on tight, Lilly.”

  I hear her squeal in my ear as I take off. Her arms wrap tightly around my waist as I speed through the field, mud flying all around us. I can hear the other ATVs around us, but it feels like it’s just us. Exactly the way I want it.

  “There’s hay!” Lilly warns.

  I laugh as I drive over it, maneuvering over the small amount of hay. Lilly’s grip tightens, but she laughs. I drive toward Madden, Keegan, and Landon and issue a challenge. Of course, they all agree to it.

  “An obstacle course?” Jade questions, raising an eyebrow.

  “Why not? We have hay bales, and Jack has some reindeer decorations for Christmas. We can set them up,” I explain.

  “Won’t Jack get mad that you’re using his Christmas decorations?” Lilly asks, and I laugh.

  “He hasn’t used them in over ten years,” I inform her and run to grab them from his barn. The guys help me set up the reindeer, and after a few minutes, we have our makeshift obstacle course.

  “Speed is the game, boys. Fastest one wins.”

  “Wins what?” Landon asks.

  They all look at me like I’m supposed to have the answers. “Shit, I don’t know. Everyone puts in twenty bucks.” They all agree to that, and then we start arguing over who is going first. “Since it was my idea, I should decide.”

  “Bullshit,” Madden argues.

  “Screw you, Brady,” Landon tosses in.

  “Why don’t you all pick a number between one and ten. Closest to the number goes first, so on and so forth. I’ll tell Jade and Amelia the number, so no one thinks I’m cheating,” Lilly offers.

  We agree on this, and by chance, Keegan goes first. He grumbles as he gets on the Yamaha. He sets the record at thirty-two seconds. Not bad. Landon beats it with thirty-one seconds.

  I grin as I get on my Yamaha. “That’s the best you Dallas boys can do?” I joke. I kick their asses when I come back with twenty-nine seconds. “You’re up, Madden.”

  I cross my arms and watch him take the course. Amelia is keeping the time on her phone, and I curse when he ties me.

  “Fucking tie-breaker!” Madden says the moment he’s told his time.

  “Hell yes!” I agree, not willing to tie with him.

  “Not so fast!” Jade cuts in. “It’s my turn.”

  Madden and I both look at Jade and burst out laughing. She scowls but walks over to my Yamaha.

  “Baby, do you know how to drive that thing?” Madden heads over to her, talking to her in a hushed voice.

  Lilly nudges my side. “She does know how to drive it, doesn’t she?”

  “Of course,” I answer.

  Jade takes off as Madden throws his hands up in defeat. He comes to stand beside me, mumbling ‘stubborn woman’ as he crosses his arms.

  Amelia starts the timer the second Jade takes off. She maneuvers the four-wheeler around the obstacles, mud slinging, and comes back with a grin on her face.

  “How’d I do?” she asks, and Amelia starts laughing.

  “Twenty-eight seconds!” she yells.

  “No fucking way!” I say and grab the timer. Sure enough, it reads twenty-eight seconds.

  “Ante up, losers!” Jade laughs, and Amelia and Lilly join her. I pull out my twenty and push it into her muddy hand. Now when she and Madden ride again, she drives.

  “Do you want to learn, Lilly?” I ask and she looks a little timid. “Come on.” I help her on and then climb on behind her. “This is an automatic transmission, so it’s really easy. Put it in drive here and then press the throttle here.”

  I show her where and she follows my instructions. The four-wheeler shifts forward. She drives slowly at first, but then she starts to pick up the pace as she gets comfortable. I let my hands rest on her sides as she drives.

  “You’re doing good,” I encourage. “It’s honestly pretty fucking sexy.”

  She drives a little more and then heads back toward my truck. Everyone else is already parked and getting ready to leave.

  “We’re leaving early for Dallas tomorrow, so we have to head back,” Keegan explains.

  I check the time and realize it’s almost nine p.m. I had no idea we’d been at it so long. Time flies when you’re having fun, I guess. We say our goodbyes, and I watch them drive off after putting towels down on their seats. I look at Lilly and laugh at the amount of mud caked up on her.

  “Come with me,” I say and hold out my hand. She takes it, and I lead her over to Jack’s water hose.

  “I don’t think so,” she immediately says, shaking her head.

  “Trust me, the water that comes out of this hose is always warm. I don’t know how, but it is,” I promise.

  I turn it on and let her feel it. Satisfied, we take our dirty shoes off and clean those first, creating a pool of muddy water at our feet. She takes her hair down and undoes her braid. We’re both quiet as I hose us down, each scrubbing the mud from our clothes as best as we can. I hold the hose over my head and run my hand through my hair.

  I move the hose to her hair and see the dirty water cascade down her neck. She wrings her hair out and then rests her hands on my chest. I wonder if she can feel my heart pounding. I drop the hose to the ground and then press my lips to hers. I wrap one arm around her waist and cup the back of her head with the other.

  We’re both dripping wet, our soaking clothes clinging to our skin, but I don’t care. I need this, and I’m pretty damn sure she does too. Our mouths meld together, tongues tasting each other in a heated kiss. I don’t want any other woman. This is who I want. I slowly break the kiss and let my forehead rest against hers. We’re both breathless. Both still holding on to each other.

  “Come home with me, Lilly.”

  She gazes up at me, her green eyes piercing straight through me. I know then that I would give up every other woman for her. Despite how badly that scares me, I’ll do it. I’ll do it for however long she’s in Hollis. I just have to have her. I have to have Lilly Benson.

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nbsp; Chapter Twenty-Four

  Lillian

  I try to remember all the reasons we shouldn’t be doing this. I’m not staying in Hollis. He’s a player. He bet his friends he could sleep with me. His lips feel incredible. He tastes so damn good.

  Wait, where was I going with this?

  “Lilly?”

  I nod, unable to answer. He takes my hand and pulls me toward his truck, not caring about the shoes we leave behind. I laugh as we run, the urgency between us so clear, so undeniable. We make it as far as his tailgate when he turns and crashes his mouth to mine again.

  His body slams against me, pressing me against his truck. I know we should tone this down, get in the cab and drive to his place or even mine, but my body simply isn’t listening.

  I’ve been fighting this attraction to him long enough. Telling myself I don’t want him and that it’s wrong to feel the way I do. That I shouldn’t act on this. I am done fighting.

  I reach for the hem of his shirt and pull it over his head, tossing it behind me. He smirks when it lands on the back of his truck. With a quirk of his eyebrow, he climbs over the side, and I watch with anticipation as he spreads out a blanket, pushing away the thought that he somehow planned this. He holds his hand out for me and helps me up. I stumble a little, but he catches me, tugging me close to him.

  “I get the feeling you’ve done this before,” I say as he grips my hips, moving me as if we’re dancing although there’s no music playing.

  “Not like this.”

  “What does that mean?”

  He sighs. “I don’t know. Just means it’s different. This is different.”

  I let him pull my shirt off, and he tosses it down beside his. The night air is cool against my damp skin, goosebumps rising over my flesh. He leans down and kisses my shoulder, soft and sweet.

  “I’m not going to stay in Hollis too much longer.”

  “I know,” he replies, unclasping my bra and letting it drop.

  He kneels in front of me, looking up as his hands go to the button of my jeans. I look down into those beautiful eyes of his, and I’m suddenly afraid. Afraid of what tomorrow is going to bring.

  “Brady, I can’t just be like Kelly. I know this isn’t serious, but I don’t want there to be anyone else while we’re doing this.”

  My words don’t seem to bother him at all as he flicks the button open. “That’s not what I want either, Lilly. As long as you’re here in town, I’m all yours.”

  He slowly lowers the zipper on my jeans and stares up at me devilishly. I’m not sure why I’m even still talking when he’s looking at me like that.

  “No one else? Not even Kelly?”

  “No one else. Now, will you hush so I can eat your pussy?”

  “Oh, um, yes. I can do that.”

  He wrestles my wet jeans down my legs, taking my panties down with them, and I steady my hands on his shoulders as I step out of them. He motions for me to lie down, and I do, surprised at how the softness of the blanket cushions the bed of his truck.

  I open my mouth to tell him he’s a tad overdressed when he settles between my legs, his mouth on my core. All coherent thought leaves my brain as his tongue flicks over my clit. I arch my back, pressing into him, and dive my fingers into his hair. Brady swirls his tongue in circles, then up and down, even slipping a finger inside me.

  “Oh, Jesus!” I yell out. “God! Oh my God!”

  I had no clue this could feel so good, so damn incredible. What were the other guys doing to me down there? Whatever it was, it was not like this. My entire body starts to shake, heat washes over me, and for a moment, I fear I’m going to pass out. My eyes roll in the back of my head, and I’m fairly sure I’m shouting something, but if it makes any sense, I wouldn’t know.

  “Damn, Lilly,” Brady says, sitting up with this huge grin on his face. His hair is mussed from my fingers, my juices all over his face. “Was that your first orgasm?”

  “What?” I ask, propping up on my elbows. “Of course not.”

  I’m quick to issue the denial, but I don’t recall anyone I’ve been with in the past, which has only been three other guys, ever making me feel that way. Come to think of it, I’ve never even made myself feel that way.

  “Is something wrong with me?” I ask, suddenly overcome with shame and embarrassment. “Oh my God, there’s something wrong with me.”

  I lie back with my hand over my face, not wanting him to look at me as tears spring to my eyes. After a minute, Brady lays over me, kissing his way up my tummy and stopping at each nipple before pushing my hand away and kissing the tip of my nose.

  “There is absolutely nothing wrong with you,” he assures me. “There is something wrong with any man who has not been able to make you come. And don’t worry, we’re not done yet.”

  I don’t know if I believe him as I lie there with my eyes still closed. I hear the sound of a foil wrapper. Feel him moving around. Then, he takes my hand, entwining our fingers, and uses his other to reach down between us. The head of his dick slides inside me and back out, teasing me. Then, Brady takes my other hand and holds them above my head as he rocks into me, gliding himself all the way in to the hilt.

  “Fuck, that feels good,” he murmurs with a groan. “You okay?”

  I nod and start to move with him, raising my pelvis to meet him thrust for thrust. His truck rocks with our rhythm as he fucks me harder, this slight creaking noise the only sound aside from the crickets and frogs around us.

  This entire experience is new for me. Where we are. Who I’m with. How I feel. I just hope it means as much to him as it does to me. That I’m more to him than winning a bet.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Brady

  I trail my fingertips over Lilly’s bare stomach, watching the goosebumps as they rise over her flesh. I trace the outline of her taut pink nipples and hear her suck in a breath. It’s almost one a.m., and I have no idea how long we’ve been lying like this. I thought I would’ve gotten cold by now, or she would have, but neither of us has moved to get dressed yet.

  “Why’d you come to Hollis?” I ask quietly. “I mean, it’s not a vacation destination.”

  Her green eyes lower from my face to where my fingers are still making silly designs on her skin. She takes my hand with her own and turns her body to face me. Her lips brush against mine for a moment before she sits up and starts gathering her clothes that are scattered around the bed of my truck.

  “Hmm...someone’s deflecting,” I tease.

  “Avoiding or deflecting?” she grins and then shrugs her shoulders. “I guess it’s the same thing. I came to Hollis because I wanted to come to Hollis.”

  “There you go with those bullshit answers again,” I deadpan, somewhat annoyed she doesn’t want to answer me after what just happened between us. “I get it. You don’t want to talk about it.”

  Lilly stands and struggles to get her cold, wet jeans up. It was worth it, though. I start gathering my clothes as well and stand beside her while I get dressed.

  “I’ll tell you when I’m ready,” she admits.

  “Okay, I won’t argue with that, and I won’t push.”

  “Did you mean what you said?” she questions. “I mean, about it just being the two of us?”

  She looks nervous and unsure of herself as she asks this, and it’s honestly a look I don’t like on her. I button my jeans and pull my shirt over my head before resting my hands on her hips.

  “Yes, Lilly. While you’re here, it’s just us,” I promise.

  I lean down and give her a kiss that lets her know I’m serious. I don’t need Kelly or anyone else as long as she’s here. When we break apart, I climb down from my truck and then reach up to help her down.

  “I’ll come back for the four-wheelers later,” I say and open the passenger door to my truck. “Let me run and get our shoes, and I’ll be right back.”

  When I return, I hear the message indicator on my phone. I check it but ignore the thirty-two text messages from Kell
y. Thirty-two. Fucking hell. Shaking my head, I toss my phone onto the dash and motion for Lilly to come closer. She plays with the radio while I drive to her place. It isn’t long before another message comes through.

  “Someone obviously needs to get in touch with you,” Lilly muses.

  “Nope,” I respond. “I’m with you, and I don’t need to talk to anyone else.”

  She arches her eyebrow as if she has a feeling about who it is, but she doesn’t say anything. Instead, she reaches up and kisses my cheek. I entwine my fingers with hers and feel relieved that she didn’t give me the third degree about Kelly. It’s nice not to hear the who, what, where, why questions I’m typically bombarded with.

  Once I get to the bar, I open the door and let her out on my side. I think to myself that she just might turn into a country girl after all.

  “You’re walking me inside?” she asks, seemingly surprised.

  “My mom did raise me to be a gentleman.”

  “Is that so?” she smiles.

  I walk her right up to her door and gently peck her lips.

  “Yep. Goodnight, Lilly.”

  “If you were a gentleman, you’d come inside and help me to bed, Brady Thompson,” Lilly states, a gleam in her eye.

  I sweep her into my arms, and she lets out a giggle. I step into her apartment and kick the door shut with my foot.

  “I am definitely a gentleman, Lilly Benson.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Lillian

  Pretty sure it’s been established that I am not a morning person. But morning sex might be my thing. I thought coffee was the way to wake up in the morning, but I was wrong. It’s an orgasm. Definitely an orgasm.

  I sigh, already wondering what the hell I’m going to do for those when I leave Hollis. I ignore the nagging voice in my head that says I don’t necessarily have to leave. That’s the Kelly voice. She says I don’t have to leave Hollis because I’m falling in love with Brady, and he’s falling in love with me, and we can live happily ever after. I don’t listen to that voice. That voice is crazy.

  I’m on the verge of talking to myself out loud about how crazy that voice is when my phone rings. I stare at the screen a moment, unsure if I should answer. I’ve hardly spoken to either of my parents since I left for my fake trip to Europe.