Here With Me: An Ex-boyfriend’s Dad, Age Gap Small Town Romance (Sugarland Creek Book 1)

Fisher’s focus is intense as I watch with bated breath. I can’t move as the bull whirls him around, and he hangs on with just his thighs.

Thighs I want to climb on and ride like my own personal cowboy.

I don’t know how he’s doing it, but I’m impressed as hell.

My voice gets caught in my throat as my brothers shout and cheer him on. I focus on each movement as if it’s happening in slow motion. His muscles flex with each second that passes, and for a moment, the chaos around me fades away, and it’s just us.

As soon as the buzzer blasts, everyone jumps and hollers, knocking me out of my trance.

Finally, I scream and celebrate with them.

My brothers continue chanting his name as he climbs off and walks out. I smile wide at him, and he winks.

“Dude, that was awesome!” Tripp yells, smacking his shoulder.

The rest of my annoying brothers crowd him, but Fisher keeps his gaze on mine over their heads. I suck in my lower lip, wishing I could smash my mouth to his.

When they finally give him room to breathe and Waylon goes to take his turn, Fisher stands behind me.

“Want another drink?” he murmurs in my ear. His warm breath sends an electric current through my body, and I lean back to get closer.

When I turn my head, our mouths are only inches apart. “I dunno. Am I allowed to?”

“As much as I enjoy your sass, I’m holdin’ on by a thread here, Goldie. So if you want one, just say the word, and I’ll drive ya home later.”

I like the idea of him tucking me into bed instead of him dropping me off at my car, so I tell him yes.

He squeezes my hip. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

Magnolia’s too busy drooling over Tripp to notice our secret moment, but inside I’m dying.

Waylon makes it seven seconds before he’s whipped to the ground. Tripp goes next, and Magnolia screams.

“I think you blew my eardrum,” I tease.

She rolls her eyes and inches closer. “You gonna invite Fisher over tonight?”

Even though he’s technically driving me to my house, that’s not what she’s referring to.

“I wish.” I pout.

She waggles her brows. “I won’t tell.”

“You’re a bad influence!” My voice is teasing as I scold her.

“Well, duh. You’ve been a good girl for twenty-two years. Now, it’s time to live a little while you’re still young and hot.”

I burst out laughing. “Gee, thanks for the pep talk.”

Fisher returns with a Long Island Iced Tea, and I nearly squeal at finally getting one. “Thank you!”

“Be careful. There’s lots of alcohol in that,” he warns in a deep baritone that has me squeezing my legs together.

“Worried ya can’t handle me drunk?” I smirk around the straw as I take a drink.

Fisher leans in until his tongue swipes along my neck, and goose bumps cover my skin. “Sweetheart, I handled you just fine when I had you bent over my bed, your pussy spread wide open for my cock as you choked on your own moans. I had you comin’ in eight seconds, remember? So no, I’m not worried.”

My feet stay frozen in place as I wrap my brain around his words that have every inch of me burning hot.

Once my brothers finish, they try to get Magnolia to ride the bull, but she tells them to fuck off. I laugh as they tease her because she doesn’t have an athletic bone in her body, and she wouldn’t be caught dead riding one.

“I’m gettin’ a drink!” she announces. “Then we dance!”

The next couple of hours includes dancing, more drinking, and Fisher glaring at me from the bar. He can’t be on the dance floor with me without my brothers getting suspicious, so instead, he’s drinking water and watching me like an overbearing bodyguard.

“If Tripp looked at me like that, I’d be on my knees in a heartbeat,” Magnolia says as we move to the music.

“Shoulda heard what he said to me earlier.” I blush when I think about it and shrug. “Too bad we can’t.”

“I dunno what kinda delusional universe y’all livin’ in, but there’s no way one of you won’t crack bein’ around each other every day. It’s just a matter of when.”

I want to argue, but she’s right.

Although what we shared feels like more than just a random one-night stand, there’s still so much we don’t know about each other, but the more I do learn, the more I want him.

“Should we show him what he’s missin’ out on?” Magnolia swipes the tip of her tongue along her bottom lip. She’s up to something.

Before I can argue, she grabs a nearby guy and positions him between us.

“Hey, I’m Magnolia!” she shouts over the music. “That’s my friend, Noah!”

“Derik!” he responds.

“I’m givin’ you full consent to touch us wherever you want as long as we can do the same to you,” Magnolia tells him.

Oh my God. I want to smack her final two brain cells together, but that wouldn’t stop her at this point. Either she’s trying to make Fisher jealous on my behalf or hoping Tripp will take notice.

My heart thuds when I glance over Derik’s shoulder and see Fisher glaring with his arms crossed over his broad chest. Dark hair strands stick to his face, almost shadowing his features in a way that makes him look like a scary mob boss.

Magnolia hits my arm, grabbing my attention.

“Don’t look at him,” she scolds.

I roll my eyes because I don’t want to make him jealous or mad, but that shouldn’t stop me from enjoying myself. I love dancing and haven’t gone out in months, so I’m taking full advantage of this night, even if we’re sandwiching a stranger.

When my favorite rap song starts, I go feral and lose my mind. I’m primarily a country music girly, but one artist can make me go from hoedown line dancing to jumping up and down screaming the lyrics at the top of my lungs.

As the alcohol takes over, I wave my arms above my head. Derik’s hands find my hips. He moves with me as I sing along and whip my head back and forth. When his hardness presses into my back, I turn around so I can tell him to put Derik Jr. away.

But when I look up and see Fisher, my eyes widen, and a sharp gasp escapes me. I quickly scan our surroundings to make sure my brothers aren’t nearby.

“They’re playin’ pool in the back,” he says.

Glancing toward Magnolia, I can practically hear her internal squealing in my head by the oh my God expression on her face. But I return the same one because she’s with Derik, letting him cop a feel of her ass.

“You’re sure you should be touchin’ me, Mr. Underwood?” I taunt, resting my palms on his chest as I continue to move my hips to the music. He removed the suit coat before we came inside, so now there’s only a thin button-down shirt between us.

“I’m not sure I can stop.”

His sexy bedroom eyes scan down my body as he grips my dress and pulls me closer.

My tongue peeks out between my teeth before I suck in my bottom lip, wishing he’d lean in and put me out of my misery.

“Why’re ya torturin’ me with that mouth I can’t kiss?” He plucks my lip with his thumb, then shoves it inside. “It’s bad enough I want somethin’ I can’t have. Even if I could, I wouldn’t deserve you, anyway.”

I grimace at his words because I hate that he thinks that way. The odds are stacked against us, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve to find love.

A new song starts playing, and our bodies continue moving together. When he buries his face in my neck, his warm breath tickles my bare skin, and I shiver. It’s well over ninety degrees in here, and I’m a sweaty mess, so it’s not from being cold.

“You tempt me, Goldie. I wanna slide my hand between your thighs and feel how wet you are for me. No one’s ever had that effect on me before, especially in the middle of a dance floor surrounded by strangers.”

And with so many people who could catch us.

My mouth breaches his ear as I wrap a hand around his neck and keep his body pressed to mine. “No one has to know, Fisher.”

“You deserve more than a secret fling.”

“We’d only have to keep it a secret until we’re ready to tell people,” I explain. “We can explore our relationship in private before decidin’ what to do next and announcin’ it.”

With the music blasting, we’re practically shouting at each other, but there’s no way anyone else can hear with how close we are.

Before Fisher can respond, I’m shoved to the side and almost lose my footing before Derik catches me.

“Brother alert!” Magnolia yells, taking my place and nodding for me to follow suit as she grinds on Fisher.

I grab Derik’s shoulders and form an unstable rhythm. Fisher meets my eyes as he scowls at Magnolia, who’s shaking her ass.

With a smirk, I nod at him to go along with it. Hesitantly, he does and just barely touches her hip.

“Hey!” Landen comes over. “Y’all seen Wilder? We lost him.”

Magnolia and I shake our heads.

“Fuck.” He scrubs a hand over his face before smacking Fisher’s shoulder. “She’s a little young for ya, bro.”

Landen laughs as he walks away, and my heart sinks at Fisher’s expression.

“Whew, that was close!” Magnolia says. “Y’all need to be more careful.”

Once we’re certain Landen’s out of view, Magnolia returns to Derik, and I follow Fisher when he walks to the bar.

“What would ya like?” he asks, nodding toward the alcohol bottles.

Blinking, I stare into his defeated eyes. “You.”

He swallows hard, stepping closer. “You drive me crazy. And maybe I’m going crazy because of it.”

“Ignore what my brother said,” I urge because I can see it’s bothering him.

“How can I?”

“Kiss me, Fisher. Please.” I’m not above getting on my knees and begging. “Let me prove our ages don’t matter.”

“I’m not takin’ advantage when you’ve been drinkin’.”

I tilt my head. “I’m like sixty-nine percent sober.”

A small grin forms on his face. “Although sixty-nine is a good number ask me when you’re at zero.”

“Well, that’s not fair. I didn’t know that’d be a barrier, or I woulda stuck with water.” I pout.

“I’m glad you’re havin’ fun. Go ahead, order somethin’.”

“Okay, fine. Order me a Buttery Nipple.”

When his gaze drops to my chest, I know he’s thinking about my piercings, and I smirk in victory.

“I think it’d taste even better on my skin. Should I pour it here and see?” I ask innocently, slowly sliding my strap off my shoulder.

He shakes his head as he grabs the bartender’s attention, but I see the amusement in his eyes. I watch as the bartender pours Fisher his water and makes my shot.

Fisher hands it to me, and before I take it, we lock eyes. His throat flexes as he watches me shoot it down. His hand grips his glass so tight, I wouldn’t be surprised if it imploded and shattered everywhere.

“Mm. That was good. Wanna taste?” I trace my top lip with my tongue.

Tempting him is dangerous, but since he’s admitted how much he wants me, all I can focus on is breaking him.

Before he can reject me, Magnolia pummels between us, gasping for air. “Can I have some of that?” she asks Fisher, her eyes lasering in on his water.

Silently, he hands it over, and she gulps it down.

She releases a satisfied moan once she’s chugged half of it. “Thanks. Derik invited me back to his place, so we’re headin’ out.”

“You think that’s a good idea?” Fisher asks before I can.

“Yeah, Mags. You just met him. He could be a serial killer, for all you know. Or has a murder kink.”

“That’s hilarious comin’ from the moral police duo.” She snorts, glancing back and forth between Fisher and me.

“At least share your location with me,” I tell her. “Make it easy for me to find your body.”

“Yes, Mother.” She takes out her phone and does what I asked. “Now call me a train because I’m about to get railed,” she singsongs and then mimics a train whistle. “Love you, bye.” When she hugs me, I remind her to be careful. Then she takes Derik’s hand and leaves.

“She’s…somethin’ else.” Fisher scratches his scruffy cheek as if he’s still confused about what just happened.

“At least someone’s gettin’ their pussy licked tonight,” I mutter.

He grabs my hip and pulls me into his chest, and I suck in a breath at the quick, unexpected movement. My hand squeezes his arm to stabilize myself. People crowd the bar around us, so it wouldn’t take much to fall on my ass.

“That night in the food truck with your cunt in my face plays on repeat in my head. Your scent and taste are still ingrained in my mind, so don’t confuse me denyin’ you with not wanting you. But if I get close enough to tongue-fuck you again, I won’t be able to stop.”

Then, as if on cue, his cock jerks and pushes into me. I arch a brow and smirk at his failed attempt to look unaffected.

“And why would we have to stop?”

“Because bein’ together could hurt people. Before you decide you want this, you should know what you’re gettin’ into first.”

My head spins with how the discovery of our relationship would hurt him more than me, yet he’s asking me to decide.

“The risk is higher for you. Shouldn’t I be askin’ you to decide?”

His finger traces my jawline as he studies my features. He brushes over my cheekbone, then goes down between my eyebrows and over the arch of my nose before he rounds my other cheek and ends at my chin.

“The decision was made for me the moment we met. I didn’t know who you were or why I was hell-bent on watchin’ you in the crowd, but the second my heart decided, there was no goin’ back for me. Even though I try like hell to ignore these feelings, the pull to be near you is too strong to ignore. If you wanna stay just friends, then I’ll respect that and keep my hands off you. But if you want more, I’m all in to give this a shot.”

My heart flips as butterflies invade my stomach. His touch is soft but tender, and I can’t help leaning into his embrace. He’s willing to take this leap with me, knowing it could blow up his life, and that has me concerned.

“Just promise you won’t resent me if this goes wrong.” More specifically, he loses his son forever, and I’d be to blame for that.

“I have a lot of regrets in my life, Noah. Lovin’ you would never be on that list. I wanna know you beyond our physical attraction.”

Goose bumps cover my skin as a shiver rolls through me. His past is still somewhat of a mystery, and exploring the deeper parts of a relationship will make me fall even harder for him.

“So you wanna be hands-off while we get to know each other?”

His fingers dig into my skin as if he’s fighting with his thoughts. “I want us to go…slow.”

I blow out a breath because I’ll take whatever I can get as long as we’re on the same page.

“Alright, so we stay on the DL for now and figure out the rest as we go.”

“If that means not goin’ public, then yes.”

I laugh because we’re very much in public right now and were basically dry humping on the dance floor.

“Then you better keep your hands to yourself, Mr. Underwood.” I motion with my eyes to remind him we’re not alone.

“Fuck. We better go, then, because if I have to watch another man grind his dick all over you, I’ll break it in half.”

“Ouch.” I snort. “I’ll let my brothers know you’re takin’ me home.”

“I’ll go with you,” he says, following before I can argue it’s a bad idea. One look at Fisher’s tented slacks and they’re going to suspect something’s up besides his boner.

“You’re not very good at this discreet thing.”

“I’m not lettin’ you out of my sight in here.”

“Worried someone’s gonna kidnap me and make me come in seven seconds?” I tease as we make our way to the pool table area.

He curses under his breath, and I chuckle. When we find them, Wilder’s leaning over the table with his pool stick. Guess they found him.

“Don’t miss!” I shout just as he takes his shot.

“Goddammit, Noah!” He shoves me, which pushes me into Fisher. He wasn’t lying about not leaving my side.

“Shit, sorry,” Wilder says to Fisher.

“What ’bout me, jerk?”

“You made me miss, so no.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re too drunk to play anyway.”

“Then why am I winnin’, huh?” He leans his smug face closer to mine. “I’m up a hundred bucks.”

“Wow, they must be takin’ pity on ya,” I taunt.

“You wanna play me next and see?”

“Nah, I just came to tell y’all we’re headin’ out. Y’all have rides?”

Tripp comes over, and his eyes scan above my head to Fisher standing suspiciously close to me. “I’m drivin’. I stopped drinkin’ a couple hours ago.”

“Where’s your truck?” Landen asks me.

“At the restaurant. Figured we didn’t need to both drive when we’re goin’ to the same place.” I shrug, hoping they don’t ask any more questions. It was awkward enough having to explain why I was going to a fancy restaurant with my ex and his dad in the first place.

“You never told us how dinner went with your two dates…” Waylon muses as if Fisher isn’t here.

“Oh, because that’s none of your damn business.” I cross my arms, hoping they get the hint to shut the hell up.

Wilder chuckles. “Because your ex is dryer than a loaf of expired bread.”

“Dude!” I smack his shoulder. “Don’t be rude.”

“Yeah, Wilder…manners,” Landen singsongs in a mocking high-pitched tone meant to mimic our mother. If anyone’s getting yelled at by our mother, it’s always Wilder.

“Alright, I’m leavin’. Y’all bein’ assholes.”

“Fisher, you sober?” Tripp shoves his hands in his pockets and watches him.

“I had one drink at the restaurant hours ago and have had only water since then.”

Tripp nods with approval and then asks, “Where’s Magnolia?”

“Went to some dude named Derik’s house.”

Tripp’s jaw sets as his lips tighten, and he shifts between his feet.

And because I want to see his reaction, I add, “He was hot, too. She was halfway to gettin’ knocked up on the dance floor before they finally left.”

Tripp turns and walks around the pool table, then grabs a pool stick. I halfway wait for him to snap it in two.

A part of me feels bad, but if he has a problem with Magnolia hooking up with guys, then he needs to finally admit he likes her.

“Ready?” Fisher asks me.

“God, yes.” I wave goodbye and follow him to the exit.

“Tripp didn’t look happy,” he says, placing his hand on my lower back as we walk to my truck.

“I knew that’d piss him off, but he deserved it.”

“So if she likes him and he seemingly likes her, why aren’t they datin’?” He opens my door and helps me hop inside.

“That’s the question of the century.”

Once he gets into the driver’s side and starts it, he takes me by surprise when he leans over.

He cups my jaw, tilting up my face until our eyes meet. It’s dark inside the cab, with minimal lighting from the parking lot, but his hold on me is firm and serious. “I wanna make sure I’m clear about one thing. Just because we’re takin’ things slow and not tellin’ anyone, doesn’t mean you aren’t mine.” Then he brushes the pad of his thumb and leans in.