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Chapter 21: Charlie
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2022-10-26 14:22:02Related chapters
The Journey Collection Chapter 22: Sarah
I couldn't get him out of my mind. And that kiss. As far as kisses go, the steam level might not have been that great for anyone else, but for this girl-who'd never been kissed-it was amazing. Not only was it a welcome relief from all of the worry, all of the stress that had weighed me down the past few months, but it was Charlie freaking Burin. His mouth had touched mine; his tongue had parted my lips; his fingers had dug into my neck. It was just-ah. A girl could die happy after that exchange. Charlie had managed to nudge his way into my world without my really noticing that he'd come in, and he'd never left. It was Charlie who encouraged me through physical therapy. It was Charlie who picked me up when I was down. It was Charlie who believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. At my lowest points, he was always there to get me through. He marked every bit of progress as a triumph, and he tallied all the wins. One unassisted step at a time. And while it might not have bee
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Journey Collection Chapter 23: Sarah
There was a hint of animosity in his tone when he said my little sister's name, but I let it go. She wasn't high on anyone's list these days, but I still hadn't figured out what was going on. And anytime I tried to get information, Austin would snap at me, Daddy would find a way to change the subject or leave the room, and Charlie didn't know any more than I did. Or I didn't think he did. "You didn't have to say it back, you know?" He broke the silence, but I wasn't sure what he referred to. I looked over at him, furrowing my brow. "What do you mean?" I was lost. "Didn't have to say what?" "It." His ears were pink, and it was easy to see he was flustered-I just had no idea why. "I didn't want you to feel obligated." "Charlie, I'm not following you." "The other day after physical therapy-" I thought back to what he might be referring to, and there was only one culprit. "When you told me that you loved me?" And now I was flustered. If I'd
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Journey Collection Chapter 24: Sarah
"The surgery went well, and her stats look good." The doctor's voice was clear, but I doubted I'd remember anything he said; everything was hazy. "The nurses are going to watch her for a bit, but once the sedation wears off, she should be good to go home." I nodded and hoped to God someone else was listening. My head was swimming, and I wouldn't retain anything. Daddy and Charlie were here; surely, they were taking notes. My eyes kept drifting closed, and I'd snap them open to find Charlie grinning at me like he thought it was cute. "I'm going to write her another prescription for oxycodone and one for an antibiotic. Use the oxycodone as needed for pain. The antibiotic is twice a day for ten days. It's just a precaution, but infection is a risk we don't need to take." I just wanted him to stop talking and let me sleep. I could read a bottle when I got home; I didn't need a rundown on pain meds and prescriptions. I'd done this before. I took a deep breath and
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Journey Collection Chapter 25: Sarah
His gaze flitted up, and I wondered if he had realized what he'd started and now wanted to back out. Yet that wasn't at all what I saw when my eyes met his. Charlie's chest heaved, and I finally let go of the air I'd held and hoped he couldn't feel my erratic pulse. With care and tenderness, he spread my top open and exposed my marred skin. I didn't glance down; I knew what I looked like. What was once a creamy, smooth surface now looked like a battlefield. Charlie dropped his gaze and one by one, he kissed every mark. I took deep breaths each time his lips met a battle wound, and I attempted to relax, but having Charlie Burin this close kept me in a constant state of arousal. The mattress dipped as Charlie moved the blankets and situated himself between my thighs. And when he dragged his fingers from my knee to my waist, my cotton shorts bunched at the top of my thigh. He squeezed my hipbone just a bit and then grazed my side over my ribs until his thumb rested under
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Journey Collection Chapter 26: Sarah
It was a beautiful day, although that was true of most days in Texas. But today the heat wasn't quite as sweltering, and a nice breeze flowed. That light wind carried the smell of Mason Belle with it, and one thing I'd learned to appreciate after months of captivity was the thing that reminded me of home. Hay had a distinct aroma just like freshly cut grass, and the cattle were unique as well, but it was homecooked food that lingered on a breeze and the honeysuckle that made my heart sing. Because those were the smells of my childhood. The only thing that made them any better was experiencing them at night when I could see the lightning bugs in the fields. The sun had already started to dip in the sky, and the temperatures had dropped to bearable, in fact, it was a bit cool. I'd grabbed a jacket on the way out to Charlie's truck, although I doubted I'd need it. I was just so excited to be moving more on my own that I found myself wandering for no particular reason at all, whic
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Journey Collection Chapter 27: Sarah
He shifted to see my face-cradling me-and chuckled when he realized I'd been staring at him. "You hungry, sunshine?" "Not overly." That wasn't exactly true. I wasn't ready for food, but I wished Charlie would feast on me. I pulled him down by the back of his neck to bring his lips to mine. It took so little to coax Charlie into affection, and I loved that I never had to ask or tell him what I wanted. One kiss was all it took, and he picked up from there. Today was no different. As gentle as the breeze around us and as peaceful as the water, Charlie's touch warmed me like the sun. With his mouth on mine and his hands in my hair, the world around us faded. I didn't worry about getting caught when we removed our clothes, and I didn't consider anything outside of us when he made love to me under that tree. He devoured my cries of pleasure and filled my ears with groans of his own. And when he'd taken me to the highest place possible, we fell over the cliff of ecsta
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Journey Collection Chapter 28: Sarah
It took a couple of weeks for the reality of the engagement to set in. I'd felt like a celebrity around town with all the congratulations and people asking to see my ring. I couldn't go to the gas station without a girl I went to high school with asking how I'd roped Charlie. I took it all in stride until Chasity-Randi's best friend-reminded me that my little sister wouldn't be around to be my maid of honor, and I didn't have Mama around to help me plan. That wasn't really how any of that conversation had taken place because Chasity wasn't a mean girl; nevertheless, that was the end result. Truth be told, Chasity was heartbroken her best friend had up and left without so much as a goodbye, and I think she'd hoped I might know how to reach her. The only problem was, I didn't. Daddy said he didn't know where she'd gone-which I found odd, but when I tried to dig, he got angry-and I didn't know where to look. I'd become obsessed with finding my little sister. Come hell or high wate
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Journey Collection Chapter 29: Charlie
"Sarah, you need to go to the doctor. This isn't normal." She'd been sick since she'd gotten in touch with her sister. For any other woman, depression might not be an issue that caused that great a concern after only a couple days, but with Sarah, it was always something that kept me on high alert. And when the vomiting starting without a fever or any other symptom, I insisted she see a physician. Her body had started to lock up on her, and she had a hard time walking. She was stiff and uncomfortable, and I hated seeing her unable to move. "You're overreacting, Charlie. I'm fine." She rolled her neck to face me. "Don't you have work to do at your parent's house?" I did. More than I'd ever catch up on, but Sarah was and always would be my priority. Twin Creeks could wait, and there were other men there to help. They'd been making do without me since Sarah's accident; another day wouldn't hurt. "Sarcasm doesn't suit you, sunshine." I jerked my head toward the porch. "Come
Last Updated : 2022-10-26
Latest chapter
The Journey Collection Chapter 105: Jack-Epilogue-Five years later
I threw the truck in park, glanced at the clock, and then jumped out, slamming the door behind me. It had been over an hour since I'd gotten the call, and I hadn't been able to reach Austin since. My feet refused to carry me as fast as I wanted them to move, and the second I made it inside the emergency room, I came to a halt. A flood of memories hit me, and they weren't the good kind.The last time I'd stood in this room, I was blind with rage. It was also the day Austin became a man, and I lost my little girl to the person who owned her heart. It took guts for him to step in front of her that day. Almost as much as it took for him to confront me when he got back from New York. I'd hoped that day would never come, but I prayed for it all the same. In order to atone for a sin, I had to confess it...and then deal with the punishment. Austin had made damn certain I understood that if I ever raised a hand to Randi again, there wouldn't be a hound in the world who'd sniff out my remains.
The Journey Collection Chapter 104: Austin
My phone rang for the fourth time since I'd left for work this morning. I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face seeing Randi's name flash across my screen. Her calls came at inconvenient times, but damn if it didn't make my day. I slid my hand from the glove I was wearing to swipe my finger across the screen. "Hey, sweetheart." "What are you doing?" The boredom in her voice was palpable, and it caused me to snicker when I responded."I'm working. The same thing I was doing the other three times you called.""Oh... I'm sorry. I'll let you go."I tucked the phone between my shoulder and my ear so I could talk to her and at least make it appear like I was working to anyone who might see me. "Everything okay?" "Yeah, I'm just bored."We'd had this conversation several times in the last few days. "Why don't you get out of the house? Go into town. If nothing else, go grocery shopping." She was afraid of the reactions she'd get without me, Sarah, or Jack at he
The Journey Collection Chapter 103: Austin
There'd never been a day in all the years I'd been coming to Cross Acres that I'd dreaded it. Even when Randi had shown up unexpectedly, it was never the ranch I didn't want to be near. For years, this place had been my solace. Today, however, I had to have a conversation I wasn't keen on having with a man I'd respected my entire life. Not even the sound of the gravel under my tires soothed the ache in my chest.I'd debated on whether or not to go straight to the farmhouse or get the guys out working before I pulled Jack aside. I'd opted for the second. If there were a scene, no one needed to be around to witness it. I didn't care if Jack had deeded the ranch over to me; this was still his home, and these men respected him.It had taken me a little over an hour to get everyone out of earshot, and once I had, I climbed the steps to the front porch. At a little after six, there was no doubt in my mind Jack was awake-it was in his blood. He'd get up when the rooster crowed for the res
The Journey Collection Chapter 102: Miranda
The four-day drive back to Mason Belle turned into seven. Austin and I used the time to catch up; although, not a lot had gone on in either of our lives. Our greatest sticking point had been my relationship with Eason. It took a FaceTime call to him and Garrett to get Austin to relax about the security of our friendships. By the time we'd hung up, Garrett had Austin howling with laughter and Eason shaking his head in the background. Austin and Eason would need to get to know each other, and that could happen over time. For now, they seemed to appreciate what the other brought to my life and left the mutual understanding at that.After stopping at the airport to pick up his truck, we arrived at Austin's house before lunch, and he'd insisted we go inside to eat before he went to Cross Acres. Unable to convince him that food and a nervous stomach didn't make a happy union, I gave in. It dawned on me that it wasn't his refrigerator he wanted to show off. Austin was proud of the two-story
The Journey Collection Chapter 101: Miranda
Every inch of my body coiled, and each step I took required more effort than the last. I'd left Austin to explore New York-well, the bagel shop at the corner-while I went to have a conversation with my best friend and boss. My stiletto-clad foot slipped on the marble floors in the lobby, and an older gentleman kindly prevented my fall. Heat rose in my cheeks, and embarrassment gripped what little hold I had on reality. "Don't worry, sweetheart. Happens to me all the time." He lifted his hand, and a nervous giggle passed my lips. Even at his age, he was spry, and I found humor in the cane he showed off with pride. I wondered if women found that attractive later in life, although I didn't ask. Instead, I patted his hand and thanked him. He then shooed off my apology. "A girl as pretty as you, the pleasure was all mine." Yeah, this guy definitely played the geriatric field. The man straightened his suit jacket, tipped his cane to the up arrow, and then pressed the button to ca
The Journey Collection Chapter 100: Miranda
It took me a moment to recognize the arms wrapped around me and realize the heat behind me wasn't a blazing inferno I needed to escape before the house burned to the ground. In the haze of waking, last night was more like a dream than reality, and his embrace reminded me that life didn't always follow an expected path. I wiggled free without rousing him and rolled to my side. As soon as I did, I regretted losing the comfort that being close to him provided. Although, the view made up for the loss of contact. Austin's disheveled hair gave him a boyish appeal in direct contrast to the maturity that age had given his body. My heart swelled, knowing I could think about him and not feel like a dagger had pierced my chest. He had the capacity to forgive, and despite the unknowns, that trait had the power to heal. Couple it with devotion and love, and somehow, we would get through this together. Austin stirred in front of me, and my picture of perfection came to life when he moved. His
The Journey Collection Chapter 99: Austin
We had talked late into the night. I didn't know where her roommate was, but I was glad he hadn't interrupted. Eason would throw a monkey wrench into any progress I made once she realized she hadn't factored him into the equation. By the time she had convinced me to spend the night, I didn't have a commitment from her to come home with me. She had, however, admitted that she wanted to be together. If that meant I needed to sell my house in Mason Belle and relocate to New York, then I'd do what I had to do. Life without Randi was no longer an option.She held my hand and led me down a dark hallway and up a flight of stairs. Randi didn't bother flicking on a light until we stepped into her room. Her life had changed drastically while she'd been in New York. Her family had money by Mason Belle standards-at least they had while she lived there-but she lived in luxury here. Her bedroom was the size of my den and kitchen combined, her king-sized bed overflowed with pillows, and while I did
The Journey Collection Chapter 98: Austin
I'd made it this far without nerves taking over or second-guessing my trip, not even on the flight from hell where I swore the masks were going to fall out of the overhead compartment at any given moment. Oddly, I'd been most apprehensive over leaving my truck in an uncovered parking lot at the airport. Now, standing on Miranda and Eason's doorstep, I hesitated to lift my fist to knock.For two days, I'd tried to reach Miranda, and for two days her phone went to voicemail, even after I assumed she'd gone back to work. That same lost feeling I'd experienced when she left the first time had returned, except this time, I wasn't willing to accept her decision as my fate. I didn't ask Sarah where she lived. I didn't talk to Jack about where I was going when I told him I needed a couple of days off. Not even my parents were aware I'd left the state. I made the choice to chase her, and no outside influence would alter my plans, so there was no point in discussing it. It proved a tad diff
The Journey Collection Chapter 97: Austin
I'd expected her to call. After the things Miranda had admitted, I thought she'd use my number when she got up. The minutes and hours barely moved on the clock. Exhausted wasn't a good way to spend a day on a ranch. The work was physical, the sun was brutal, and I needed it to end. Hearing from Miranda would have broken up the monotony, and I'd hoped the two of us could sit down to talk. The few hours of rest I'd had last night were spent mulling over every word she'd said. The things she had confessed brought on more questions than answers. I doubted I wanted the answers, but in the end, I'd need them. Since she hadn't called, it was clear, I would have to force the conversation. She needed to get her rental car from The Hut which gave me an excuse to be alone with her without making an issue out of it.But when I got back to the barn, the only vehicles there were mine and Brock's. I'd successfully avoided him all day, and if I played my cards right, I'd get out unnoticed. I didn
