Everywhere and Every Way - Jennifer Probst Page 0,43

the wedding, he admitted that he couldn’t bear a future without his own children. The gossip had fueled the town for a long while, and Morgan once again struggled to find her way past the humiliation. “Married?” she clipped out.

“Yes.”

“Three point five children?”

“Three with another on the way.”

“Is his wife pretty?”

Her mama cocked her head and considered. “Five out of a ten. She’s an outsider and talks in a horrible accent. Already the Woman’s Design group decided she wouldn’t be a good fit with us. Plus, they bought the old Magnolia mansion, so you know their taste is excruciating.”

“Hmm, they’re wannabes.” The Magnolia mansion had been vacated by a popular reality-star couple who ended up in jail for tax evasion. Their taste ran the gamut of animal prints, Elvis trinkets, and lots of gold. Their home was famous in town for its history, bad taste, and central location. Morgan couldn’t imagine stuffy Elias living there, but maybe his wife had convinced him. Or maybe they’d renovate.

“Did he get fat?”

Her mama sighed. “No. But he’s almost bald.”

Their gazes met and they burst into laughter. “Good enough for me.”

“Just remember, baby, he was never good enough for you. Goodness gracious, he probably wouldn’t have wanted you to work! Can you imagine being stuck doing nothing but charity benefits and hosting dinners for his boring clients?”

“I love you, Mama.”

“Love you, too, baby. Get some sleep. Kiss more boys.”

She blew kisses to the screen and clicked off.

Morgan changed into her soft cotton pj’s, pulled on socks for her constantly cold feet, and snuggled under the luxurious Egyptian-cotton sheets. Elias had broken her heart. When he rejected her because she couldn’t mother his children, it confirmed her worst fears. Men wouldn’t want her. For the second time in her life, she struggled with feelings of inadequacy and not being a real woman for losing a part of her body that was essential.

Once again her mama had realized it was not a regular heartbreak but ran so much deeper. On her urging, Morgan found a great therapist and joined a support group where other women struggled with the same issues. And she rebuilt herself for the second time.

Now, at thirty years old, she looked at the world differently. She no longer thought of herself as less and knew the right man would love her for everything she was and nothing she wasn’t. Elias had never been meant for her. And Morgan didn’t waste time wondering where Mr. Right was. She was too busy living her life.

She picked up her Kindle. Now done with Nora Roberts, she opened up her new BDSM erotic series and read for the next hour. Finally she clicked off the light and snuggled against the pillow. The clean scent of cotton rose to her nostrils, and an image of a shirtless Caleb Pierce drifted past her vision. Rock-hard muscles and tight abs. Eyes that glinted like charcoal and burned like fire. Strong hands that caressed with a leashed power able to break her. She imagined him as a delicious dom type, stripping her, laying her out on the bed, and fucking her hard. Her body shivered, and her pussy throbbed with need. His kiss told her the type of lover he’d be. Controlling but patient. Thorough but demanding. Raw and dirty yet tender. Her nipples peaked into hard points, and her skin grew hot and itchy with desire.

Morgan slid her hand down her body and under her panties. Already wet and needy, she closed her eyes and let her fingers bring her temporary relief while the fantasy of Caleb Pierce took her away.

And she came with his name on her lips.

chapter eight

* * *

For God’s sake, where is everybody?”

Cal tore off his hard hat and scratched his head. Sweat ran down his neck and back in tiny rivulets, so that his T-shirt clung to him. His jeans stuck to his legs, crusted with dried dirt, and he cursed as he stalked over to Jason, the only guy left on the job. Foo Fighters screamed from the boom box, and Caleb stopped in front of the ladder, motioning to Jason to stop hammering.

“Why are we the only ones here?” he yelled up at him.

Jason dragged his forearm across his brow. “Dude, the crew went out to Harry’s last night for dinner. I think they got blasted.”

Temper bit him like a rattlesnake. “I don’t give a shit what they do on their time, but with this deadline, I can’t lose four of my guys.