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Chapter 20: Scarlett
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2022-11-24 14:09:48Related chapters
The Love Barn Chapter 21: Cole
Cole GLARED AT Garth blocking his path. Scarlett had already darted out of view in the growing warren of vehicles lined up for the game."Stay away from my sister," Garth said."Or what?" Cole crossed his arms over his chest, unimpressed with the bully before him."Hey." Benji hooked his arm around his older brother's neck, catching the man by surprise. "What's going on over here?"Benji's smile was too sharp, his hold on his brother too tight. How much of the exchange had he seen?"Get off of me." Garth pushed his brother away. His face was twisted into a scowl."You sitting with us?" Benji's focus remained on Garth, the hostile vibe intensifying."No." Garth gave Cole another glance. His stay away message telegraphed without words. He turned and stalked away.For a moment both Benji and Cole watched him until the crowed swallowed Garth."Is he always an asshole?" Cole asked."No. I mean, he's overprotective and a stick in the mud, but this is all new. Something's
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 22: Cole
Cole's thoughts weren't focused on the food. Far from it."Thanks for helping me." Scarlett took a spoon."Are those the stadium lights?" He squinted at the brightness in town."It is." She scooped out a bite."The game's still going on? Do you want to go back? Maybe catch the end?""No." She shook her head. "There's always next year.""You sure?" He didn't like knowing she was missing out on something she enjoyed. Something that brought people together."I need to start thinking about tomorrow. It's going to be a long day and we'll be at capacity.""When will it all start?""Well, the chairs for the ceremony are scheduled to be here by eight. Garth will oversee that. The ceremony is happening over there. You can almost see the stone we laid down to make a center aisle and room for the attendants." She gestured further off in the darkness."They're having it outside?""Yeah, if the weather's nice it makes for a beautiful ceremony. It's just a lot to set up for and
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 23: Cole
Cole HAD TO get in the car. All he could think about was Scarlett in all the ways he wanted her. That wasn't being friends."Cole? Cole, wait.""No, Scarlett." He kept going, curling his hands into fists so he couldn't reach for her.Footsteps rustled the grass and fallen leaves. He could feel her coming closer.She grabbed his elbow and yanked. She wasn't strong enough to stop him, but he gave in anyway. Because he wasn't ready to walk away from her yet."What?" He turned toward her, his whole being vibrating with the need to touch her.For another long moment they stared at each other, her face lined with emotion he couldn't name. She felt too deeply. It was there in her eyes. She knew what she wanted, and he was barely figuring his shit out. He'd very likely hurt her if this kept going.He closed his eyes and inhaled the night air, catching the sweeter scent of the vanilla candles still clinging to her skin."Scarlett-"Her hand gripped his shoulder and then her mo
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 24: Cole
Cole eased back, breaking the kiss and dragged his hands down her body. The bra stayed on, for now, but the panties had to go. He hooked his fingers in them and dragged the down her hips and legs."Lie back," he said."Why?""I'm going to show you why being this sensitive can be fun." He dropped her panties to the floor and sat back on his heels.She stared at him with wide eyes.Yeah, he was going to show her how sexy she was and enjoy every minute of it.Cole bent and kissed her knee, his hand running up her other shin and knee. He urged her legs apart, and she relented. Her muscles remained tense, not quite ready to trust him. That was okay. He was going to enjoy coaxing Scarlett.He nibbled his way up her thighs, kissing the sensitive skin all while drawing closer to his goal. She eased back onto her hands, still watching him. The tension was easing, but not gone yet. He'd have to work for her trust and he was okay with that.When he finally reached the apex of her
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 25: Scarlett
Scarlett LEANED AGAINST the back wall of the barn and watched the bride spin around the dance floor. Benji's parody song of the B52's Love Shack played through the speakers.The day was almost over.She couldn't believe how many times they'd had a near disaster, starting with the surprise flower arch the bride had thrown at her first thing in the morning. Scarlett had realized too late this bride's methods, how she'd manipulated Scarlett into going above, beyond and farther than was reasonable.Her phone vibrated, and she snatched it out of her pocket. After two outfit changes due to mishaps she'd given up and put on jeans, not caring if she showed up in the background looking casual.She stared down at the text, her second of the day: Bad day. Hope yours was better. Want to do dinner?Cole included a picture of a wine bottle and a six pack of beer.Right now that was her kind of dinner.She'd wanted to hear from him all day. Last night had been intense, to say the least.
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 26: Scarlett
"What happened?" she asked. Had Allie shown up? Was there bad news about the search for his siblings?"We had to put down two dogs today," he whispered."Oh, no." Her heart ached, and she squeezed him tighter."Yeah, one darted out in the road and the other...""I'm sorry.""Me, too." Cole kissed her forehead and patted her back."Come on." She took a step away from him and reached for his hand."Let me grab the food."They gathered the bags and together carried the bounty inside. Cole took over laying out the ingredients and pouring her a glass of wine."We could just heat up a pizza," she said."Spaghetti is my comfort food." He glanced up at her and smiled. Sadness still tinged his eyes. "How was the wedding?""More work than I expected." She rolled her eyes. "It went off well, though we had several bridesmaids get sick.""Yuck.""You're telling me." She wrinkled her nose. "It was beautiful though. They did the ceremony over under the oaks with flower arche
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 27: Cole
Cole WAS SURPRISED by how quiet Monday was. It was as though the universe had used up all its ill will on Saturday and Sunday. He'd made three emergency after hours house calls, something Dr. Green vowed wasn't normal."Mrs. Billy?" He leaned around the corner and stopped when he saw the two male silhouettes standing at the desk."Dr. Odell." Mrs. Billy swiveled toward him and thumbed at the two men. "The Lively brothers are here to see you."They didn't have pets or livestock which meant this was not a professional call. He'd been wondering when this chat might happen."Come around and I'll meet you in my office," Cole said.He wasn't thrilled that this conversation was going down at his place of work, but it was good to get it over with. Now that he and Scarlett were on the same page he intended to spend a lot of time with her. Since she came with a tight-knit family that meant including them to some degree. It was best if they all got on the same page now. Besides, he had
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 28: Scarlett
Scarlett PLACED THE two drinks on the tall boy table and slid onto a stool. The Watering Hole was standard busy with locals stopping in for a happy hour drink after a long day.Cole stared at the wall without seeing it. There was a nervous energy coming off him, but the brightness behind his eyes said he was excited.She was excited for him. Family had always been a core part of her life, and if she could discover a whole new branch of them, it would thrill her. Since that wasn't going to happen, she was happy to sit on the sidelines as Cole rediscovered the man who was his brother."Here." She nudged the pint toward him and picked up her cider. "To family."His gaze slid to her, and he blinked a few times. A slow smile spread across his lips and her knees threatened to go a little weak. Good thing she was sitting. She could have wound up on the floor if he didn't use that look responsibly.Dang, the man could smile.They clinked glasses and took a drink. This would only be
Last Updated : 2022-11-24
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The Love Barn Chapter 167: Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER...SCARLETT SAT STRETCHED OUT on the old, wooden swing content to watch the circus going on over in the flower garden.Mom threw her hands up and said something Scarlett couldn't hear. She chuckled and knew the others were likely beside themselves trying to figure out how to make Mom happy.They all called Noemi's mother Mom now. It just felt right. Garth stood next to Mom, shaking his head at the others. Noemi bent, fussing no doubt over the way the blankets lay or how the bow sat.Benji and Dixie had the whole light kit out and three cameras.All the attention was focused on the bundle of joy currently sleeping soundly in the cradle Garth had carefully restored. It was one of a handful of old things he'd found in the barn and kept. Judging by the initials on the bottom of the old crib, generations of Livelys had slept in that thing.And now so would her baby.Scarlett smiled and sank further into the cushions Cole had set up for her. She was still ex
The Love Barn Chapter 166: Noemi
Noemi WHIPPED HER CAR into the driveway. With it being so early and since everyone had family visiting the street was packed with cars. Garth's truck barely fit in the one open spot.Where the hell was he?What was he doing?Why was he talking to Ángel?A Jeep pulled across the drive behind her, Cole and Scarlett getting out."Why can't you answer your phone?" Scarlett demanded.Noemi threw up her hand as she caught the sound of a deep, rumbling voice."Benji? Hey, we're already here." Scarlett's voice faded as Noemi crept toward the fence and the gate her mother always left open between the two properties.Ángel sat in the swiveling chair at the head of the table on his parent's patio.Garth had a tight grip on one of the other chairs, his back toward her. He was leaning forward, his entire focus on Ángel, who was staring back at Garth like he'd just sprouted a second head or something."You're only going to get one shot at this. If she's decided to give you anothe
The Love Barn Chapter 165: Garth
Garth HAD ALWAYS THOUGHT the hardest thing he'd ever done was bury his parents and accept responsibility for Benji and Scarlett.That had been easy. A simple process and an obvious life altering decision.Neither of those moments had anything on what he was about to do.Garth stood on the front porch of the brick house and glanced to his left, where Noemi was likely sleeping. He hoped that she was getting rest. She never took off except for holidays and if he remembered correctly, she had events this weekend. With any luck, she'd have someone in her corner that would look after her properly.He turned his attention back to the door. There was one of the new, electronic doorbells. He pressed it, listened to the chime and waited.It was early still, but he hadn't been able to make himself wait any longer.After a few moments the locks clanked and the door swung open.Ángel stood on the welcome mat in sweatpants, a T-shirt and a hoodie draped over his shoulders. His hair was
The Love Barn Chapter 164: Noemi
Noemi HADN'T SLEPT ALL night. Most of the time when she wasn't sleeping it was because she was up at all hours trying to pull the last bits of a wedding together. There was purpose to the sleepless nights.All she'd done since getting home around two was sit in the guest chair at her desk and stare at the clear surface. She couldn't claim to have done a lot of thinking in those hours. Mostly she'd sat, stared and let her mind wander. She'd poked at corners she normally ignored, examining her feelings, her thoughts and all the other uncomfortable bits of her life.She excelled at leaving relationships.There were only two men in her life who had ever left her.Her father.And Ángel.Noemi had left every other man before he could get tired of her. She'd known she had the habit, but she hadn't paused to think it through like this until tonight. It was easy to pretend that she didn't have time for men and relationships that weren't going somewhere. She could spin all the excuse
The Love Barn Chapter 163: Garth
Garth GRIPPED THE WHEEL of his truck and drew in a deep breath. He knew it was his imagination. Noemi's perfume wasn't really lingering, he just wished it were.Another car rolled up to the stop sign at the bottom of the hill. Garth waved and pressed the accelerator, heading into town.It was tradition for the guys to meet up at The Hole in town for beers on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Benji had already texted, wondering where he was. Scarlett and the girls were up to something. All the normal things were underway. Except for him.Garth felt stuck. Like he couldn't move.He rolled the problem around in his head as The Hole came into view.The little parking lot was full and people had taken to finding spots along the street. It would no doubt be loud in there, full of people ready to start talking about the Christmas tours, when they were bringing the tractors to Main Street to help decorate and so forth.He just wasn't in the mood.Garth turned the wheel away from the
The Love Barn Chapter 162: Noemi
Noemi KNEW TODAY WASN'T her best work. She'd gone through the whole day in a fog that had nothing to do with the large, Thanksgiving meal she'd eaten yesterday or the Black Friday shopping she'd done that morning.Once again she had to wonder at a bride choosing to have her wedding the day after Thanksgiving. If Noemi was going to have a wedding-No.Not going there.She shook her head and turned her attention back to packing up the arch and removing the flowers. She had about an hour to get the rental pieces ready to go while the wedding party ate dinner. There were still a few things to make sure went off without a hitch. The cake needed cutting and the bride wanted Noemi to keep the speeches short, but there was time before that got started.It felt like she'd lived in a daze the last forty-eight hours.Wednesday night she'd chosen to not go to the annual meal her family had with Ángel's. She couldn't be in the same room with him and act like she wanted to be there. Not
The Love Barn Chapter 161: Garth
Both Garth and Noemi glanced at the door.Benji laughed loudly and a single pair of heavy footsteps came creaking up the stairs mixed with Dixie's softer voice.Noemi covered her mouth with her hand and glanced at Garth. Her eyebrows were almost at her hairline.He just shook his head as something-probably one of the pictures on the landing-clattered to the ground. Another burst of laughter followed by hurried footsteps into Benji's room and the slam of a door."Well, I guess no one knows we're in here," Noemi said dryly."No they do not." Garth put thoughts of his brother out of his mind. It wasn't the first time he'd ignored his brother's antics. "What's really going on, No-No?"She blew out a breath and let go of his hand. For a moment she fussed with her boots, unzipping them and getting more comfortable, sitting cross legged in the middle of his bed. He didn't say anything, just watched her face, how lines developed and went away as she thought through what was botheri
The Love Barn Chapter 160: Garth
Garth STARED DOWN AT where he'd thought he'd seen Noemi.Except Noemi didn't wear flannel. He could count on one hand the number of times he'd seen her wearing jeans and have fingers leftover. But he was fairly certain that had been her."Garth?" Adeline's voice brought him back to the moment.He blinked down at this funny, sweet woman, but she didn't stir anything in him. Not like Noemi."Adeline?" He took her hand in his. "It was a pleasure meeting you and I hope we see you around. Scarlett's intentions introducing us were good, but..."She smiled a knowing smile and turned her hand in his so she could give it a friendly shake. "I can tell. She's a special woman. I appreciate the history lesson.""Thanks, Adeline."If he'd met her at another point in his life, he'd have been interested. But it wasn't the burning connection he'd had with Noemi. Nothing could compare to that.Garth headed for the stairs, taking them two and three at a time. He skirted the tables between
The Love Barn Chapter 159: Noemi
Noemi PARKED HER CAR out on the grass along with all the other cars.She could do this.Hopefully Garth wasn't angry with her. Well, he could be a little angry. She'd deserve that much. She just hoped he'd hear her.Noemi began walking with the crowd, toward the festival clustered around the barn. Her heart gave a twinge as she got closer to the houses.She hadn't told anyone she was showing up, partly because she was nervous and feared she'd chicken out. Through all the jumble of thoughts, the one thing she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was that she loved Garth.As the crowd folded her into their midst, Noemi realized there were a lot more people there than she anticipated. How was she going to find Garth in all this?"Noemi?" a familiar voice called out.She turned and saw Scarlett standing with a basket of something hanging from one arm and a toddler perched on her hip looking at Noemi with wide eyes."Hey." Noemi fidgeted with the hem of her T-shirt.Scarlett gr
