Finding Hayes: A Small Town, Marriage of Convenience Romance (Magnolia Falls Series Book 5)

“Hayes, are you up?” Sav’s voice was sexy as hell, and I looked up to see her crawl onto the bed.

“Hey, what are you doing in here?”

“Can’t a girl come see her husband?” she asked, as her hand stroked my dick right over the joggers I was wearing.

“Of course, she can.”

“I was just missing you and wanted to see if you were up. And clearly, part of you is,” she said, her teeth sinking into that pouty bottom lip.

She continued stroking me, and I groaned.

I wanted more.

I wanted her.

“What are you doing, baby?” My voice was gruff.

“What? We’re married, right? I wanted to come in here and wake my husband up properly. Do you have a problem with that?”

“Never. What did you have in mind?”

Before the words were out, she was reaching for the waistband of my sweats and tugging them down. I wasn’t wearing boxers, and she smiled up at me as my dick stood straight up, pointing at her like he’d been looking for her his entire life.

“I’ve been dying to taste you, Hayes,” she whispered.

“You won’t get an argument here,” I said, as her hand wrapped around my cock and stroked up and down a few times.

“I’ve been dying to taste you, too. It’s all I fucking think about,” I said, my voice barely recognizable.

“Tell me more,” she whispered, before she leaned down and flicked the tip of my dick with her tongue and then circled the head.

“I think about how badly I want to bury my head between your thighs. How sweet you’ll taste. I think about licking you and tasting you until you come on my lips. How desperate I am to see you go over the edge just one fucking time, Sav. To taste every fucking inch of you.”

“Well, you’re going to have to wait your turn, because I asked first, and we know how chivalrous my husband is.” Her heated gaze found mine, and then she dipped down, wrapping her sweet mouth around my dick.

She bobbed up and down, somehow taking me all the way in without gagging. Nothing had ever felt so good.

“Such a good girl, Sav. Just like that.” My fingers tangled in her hair as I bucked up into her mouth.

Warm and sweet and perfect.

“Hayes, are you decent?” Her voice was further away now.

There was a knock on the door.

“Hello? Can I come in?”

My eyes shot open, and I realized I was alone. My own hand wrapped around my cock.

Fuck me.

“One second,” I called out, jumping to my feet and tucking myself in before walking to the door and keeping my lower body behind the door so she wouldn’t notice my raging boner. “Hey.”

“Hey? Are you okay? You look flush.” She put the back of her hand on my forehead.

“I’m fine. I was just waking up.”

“All right. Food trucks are here, and everything is ready. I just came to make sure you were up.”

“I’m up.” Literally and figuratively. My gaze moved to the black sweater she was wearing, one side falling off her shoulder and exposing her tan skin before I trailed down to the fitted jeans hugging her curves just right. “You look great.”

“Yeah? I wasn’t sure what to wear to our first work party as a married couple.” She chuckled.

Goddamn, I wanted to pull her up against me and crash my mouth into hers.

That fucking dream was messing with my head.

“I think you pulled it off, Shortcake. Give me ten minutes. I’ll grab a quick shower and be ready.” I tried to keep my voice light, even though I felt anything but.

Her eyes flickered, and she nodded. Was she struggling as much as I was?

We’d just gotten back on track. I’d lost her for all those years, and I wasn’t about to fuck it all up again.

I was the last guy who should cross the line. Especially with a girl that meant the world to me.

This would pass.

“Okay. I’ll see you soon, husband.”

I winked and closed the door. I made my way to the bathroom and turned on the water. I was in desperate need of relief, and it was hardly a crime to get off to thoughts of your wife, right?

Even if our marriage was based on a lie. I’d gone a while without sex, and I was human. She walked around this place looking like a fucking goddess.

I couldn’t help myself.

I had my sixth or seventh slider and took a long pull from my beer bottle. I’d never seen anything like this.

My wife was a fucking rock star.

The house looked like St. Valentine vomited all over the place, and everyone was eating it up. We had two food trucks, one with sliders and one with tacos and a dude running a karaoke machine in the living room, where people were singing and dancing.

Everyone was having a great time. And I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.

My woman.

I didn’t even have to fake it. We’d sang a few ridiculous karaoke songs together, and everyone was laughing their asses off. We’d been hand in hand earlier, and I fucking loved it.

I’d never been that guy who wanted to show off his woman. But damn, I was proud as hell that everyone thought she was my wife.

When was the last time I felt that kind of pride?

Savannah had gone off to grab some sparklers from the office that she’d gotten for everyone to take outside in the backyard. I noticed Kimber standing alone. She’d been pouting most of the night, and her husband was three sheets to the wind last I checked. He wasn’t handling the fact that Cap and Clara had spent so much time talking with me and Savannah. He didn’t hide his irritation as he’d glared over at me a few times and then came over and tried to interrupt the conversation.

Clara hadn’t missed a beat when she answered his question quickly and turned her attention back to my wife. Lenny had stalked off, and I saw him taking shots at the bar.

“I still think a fundraiser would have been smart. Kill two birds with one stone,” Kimber said, as she moseyed over to me.

I glanced up to see Beebs and Stinky belting out the worst attempt at a Taylor Swift song, and I chuckled. All the guys were singing along and cheering them on.

“Savannah and I just wanted to have a party. There were no birds to kill tonight, Kimber.” I arched a brow and continued scanning the room, noting there was no sign of Lenny. “Excuse me.”

I walked away and made my way to my office to look for Savannah.

I heard her voice when I was a few feet away, and I didn’t miss the irritation laced in her tone, which made me walk faster on instinct.

And then I heard him. That fucker must have followed her down the hallway.

“I’m good. You should get back out there. I’ve got this,” Savannah said, and I paused outside the doorway for a moment.

“How is such a beautiful woman married to such an asshole?” Lenny’s words slurred.

Just as I stepped forward, Savannah replied.

“You have some nerve coming into our home and disrespecting my husband like that. You can get the fuck out of here now.” She didn’t hide her disgust, and I fucking loved it.

“Oh, I just wasn’t sure if the Abbott still fell far from the tree. If memory serves, your mother liked to mess around on your father, didn’t she?” he said, and I saw red.

I stormed into the room before I could stop myself, and Savannah’s eyes widened as Lenny slowly turned and startled when he saw me.

“Get the fuck away from my wife,” I growled, as I moved across the room and stood beside her.

“Easy, buddy. I’m just seeing if she needs help to carry anything.” He held his hands up. “I was just messing around and having a little fun.”

“If you don’t want a fist down your throat, I suggest you go get your wife and get the fuck out of my house.” I stepped closer, and Savannah put a hand on my forearm, probably in an attempt to calm me down.

“Yeah, sure. This party seems to have slowed down anyway. Time to move the party to my house,” he said.

Yeah, good luck with that. Your wife looks like she’s had enough of your shit for one day.

“Hey, Lenny,” Savannah said as he turned to leave the room.

“Yeah, beautiful. What can I do for you?”

“Well, for starters, never insult my husband again in my presence, or I’ll be happy to show you my master karate skills.” She held up a finger when he chuckled and started to interrupt. And then she moved closer to him, and I followed like a fucking shadow. “And the Abbott joke—it’s run its course, don’t you think? It’s juvenile and stupid. And for the record, my last name is Woodson. So find some new material, asshole.”

Let’s fucking go.

Savannah Abbott-Woodson was a badass, and I was fucking here for it.

Lenny stormed out of the office.

“You all right, Shortcake?”

“Yes, of course. Did you doubt my mad skills?” she asked, getting into her best karate kid stance, and I laughed.

“Never. But I’d kill him if he touched you.”

“Such a protective hubby,” she said, moving closer, her hands on my chest. She smelled like peaches and vodka, and it turned me the hell on.

Her cheeks were a little flush, as she clearly had a slight buzz going.

She’d never been a big drinker, and that seemed to hold true. We were similar in that way. We both always wanted to be in control.

“Always when it comes to you. Fake or real, I’ve got you. You know that.” I kept my voice low, my eyes landing on her mouth.

Those soft pink, plump lips that I thought about every fucking day.

“I do.” She smiled, her honey-brown gaze locking with mine. “We lost a lot of time, didn’t we?”

“We did. But we’re here now, right?” I pushed the long, dark waves away from her pretty face.

“Yes. That’s what matters. Thanks for everything you’re doing for me,” she whispered.

Damn. I wanted to kiss her so fucking bad I couldn’t see straight.

What was this woman doing to me?

This. Is. Not. Real.

You’ve just missed her. She’s your best friend.

Off-limits.

I wasn’t about to risk losing her for another decade by crossing the line while knowing it couldn’t go anywhere.

I wasn’t that guy. And she deserved a hell of a lot better.

The most I had to offer was a fake marriage and some mind-blowing sex.

Some would consider that a great offer. But Savannah wasn’t one who would.

She’d always wanted more for herself.

Hell, I wanted her to have everything she wanted.

“I’d do anything for you.”

“I know you would. That’s how I got you to do that Elton John and Keekee Dee duet with me.” She chuckled as she turned to grab the box of sparklers.

“Don’t remind me.”

“Come on. Let’s go pass out sparklers before everyone leaves.”

And that’s exactly what we did.

The guys were having a great time, and Cap yelled out, “Let’s call it a night, boys! Don’t make these young lovebirds kick you out. They’re newlyweds. They don’t want a bunch of firefighters passing out on their couch.”

I chuckled as he clapped me on the shoulder and leaned in. “I like this side of you, son. She’s good for you. Don’t fuck it up.”

“I don’t plan to.” The lie slipped from my lips so easily, and I wondered how we’d pull all of this off when it came to an end.

“Come see me before your shift next week. I want to discuss a few things about my exit and what’s to come.”

I nodded. “All right. Sounds good.”

Hopefully, it was good news. Because I had no intention of working for Lenny. Ever. It wouldn’t happen.

The guys all made their way out, hugging Savannah one at a time, and each one of the assholes waggled their brows at me over her shoulder, which made me laugh.

Once everyone was gone, we closed the door, and she fell against it.

“That was a success.”

“Yeah, aside from Lenny being a dickhead.”

She chuckled just as someone knocked at the door. She tossed me a wink. “Someone must not want the party to end.”

She pulled the door open, and I immediately moved forward and stepped in front of her because I didn’t recognize the middle-aged man standing on the other side.

“Can I help you?” My tone was hard because a stranger being here this late was never a good thing.

“Is Savannah Abbott-Woodson here?” He glanced over my shoulder at her.

“Yes. That’s my wife.”

“You’ve been served. Have a nice evening.” He held the envelope in front of him, and I snatched it from his hand before slamming the door.

“What do you think it is?”

“No idea,” I said, handing the envelope to her.

She tore it open and stared down at it. “Sheana Wilson is suing me for the inheritance and asking for a second look at Abe’s will. I should have expected this. She preyed on a lonely elderly man, and she walked away with a lot of money. But she clearly wants more.”

“I’ll call River. We’ll figure this out. Don’t worry about it. There’s a will for a reason.” I pulled out my phone and typed out a text to River.

“I already started the process for my dad to get into the trial.”

“Sav,” I said, my voice serious, and she turned to look at me, and I saw the concern in her honey-brown gaze. “We’ve got this. I promise.”

And I didn’t care what it took, it was a promise I intended to keep.