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Chapter 22
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The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 23
Renegade"Are you okay with not sitting with your family?" I take Whitney's hand in mine as we wait for the fireworks to start. We're sitting on the tailgate of my truck, in the back of the football field away from everyone, but still where we can be a part of the celebration.Around us families are eating leftover bar-b-que, kids are running around with sparklers, dogs are giving them chase, and parents are taking a few minutes to breathe, knowing this is a safe spot for those kids. Someone's set up a kiddie pool and slide to the left of us, and I laugh as I see Holden take his shirt off, taking a ride down the slip-n-slide. Something about the summer air and the Fourth of July makes everyone festive."Yeah, I think we both need to have our own separate conversations with Trevor, but tonight I'm not up for it."I can tell, she looks like she's wilting in the heat. "You look like you're about to fall over," I offer her the bottle of water I'm drinking."It's just been a long
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 24
RenegadeI'm sort of surprised when I show up at the station to get into our car the next morning and see Tank already there. I figured he'd call in or get someone to switch with him instead of being stuck with me for the day."Morning," I hand him the cup of coffee I always bring both of us.He grunts something to me that may be morning back, but I'm not sure. If this is any indication on how this ride is going to go, maybe I ought to turn around and go back home. For the first three hours, we ride in complete silence. When my cell phone chimes with a new text message, I'm excited that it gives me someone to talk to.W: Hey handsome! How's it going with my brother?R: We haven't said but two words to one another. He took my coffee though, so maybe it's a good sign? How are you today? You were sleeping hard when I left this morning.W: It's because someone wore me out last night.R: No, I'm pretty sure that was you humping my dick in the back of my truck, and then you giv
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 25
WhitneyAugust"Thanks for picking me up," I lean in, buckling my lap band, kissing Ryan on the cheek.I'd had a meeting with a client at The Café in town, and instead of driving two cars, I'd had Trevor drop me off on his way to work and gotten Ryan to pick me up. Today, we get to find out what our baby is going to be."Like you had to ask me twice to pick you up? You're vibrating with excitement," he laughs as he eases his truck into traffic, putting his arm around my shoulders."I'm so excited, I could barely sleep last night. It was bad enough you weren't there," I put my hand on his thigh as we drive through downtown. Even though it's almost noon, it's not yet bustling with activity."Well, trust me, working the night shift last night sucked. I don't like riding with Ace as much as I like riding with Tank, but luckily it was a slow night either way. I had trouble sleeping last night, too," he indicates the back seat of the crew cab. "Totally packed a bag for tonight. I
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 26
Renegade"Truth or lie?" I ask her, running my hand along her shoulder. It's hot tonight, and we're both still sweating from the workout we just put in with one another. But I know we're both energized and neither one of us will be sleeping for a while. Back to playing our game."Umm," she rolls closer to me, tugging the sheet up to her chest before she scrunches her nose in the most adorable way. "Sometimes I love the elaborate lies you make up, but I want a truth tonight.""Ahhh," I throw my head back against the pillow, wondering what kind of truth I should tell her. "How old does the truth have to be?"She sucks that full bottom lip in between her teeth and sits up crisscrossing her legs while she makes sure the sheet still covers her bare breasts. "Teenage truth," she throws down the gauntlet."Shhiiitttt," I breathe out, sitting up myself, but I lean against her headboard. I go back through my teenager years, trying to figure out what the hell I want to tell her. So muc
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 27
Whitney"Everything's ready for her to be here, Ryan."I spin in a circle, eyeing what will be Stella's nursery when she decides to come in December. Who cares if I'm a few months early. Before I know it, September will be over and I'll be looking down the barrel of my thirty-sixth birthday, wondering where all the time went. If I can get as much done now as possible, that's less I have to do later.It looks exactly like I planned for it to. Pink, white, and grey chevron on one wall, the other three walls alternating those colors. The hardwood floor has the huge pink shag rug I wanted, a chandelier hangs from the ceiling. The dresser and changing table are set up, the closet has clothes ready for her to wear. Trevor, myself, and Ryan have done a lot of work, almost completely on our own. It's been fun, watching their friendship evolve."The only thing we're missing is a crib." I put my hands on my hips, with a frown on my face. It's all we need to make this room perfect."It'
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 28
Renegade"Please don't hurt yourselves," Whitney looks at Tank and me over the top of her sunglasses."We're cleaning out your gutters and taking care of your fall yardwork," Tank shoots her a look. "How in the world do you think we're going to hurt ourselves? We're in great shape.""That cocky attitude is it right there," she puts her hands on her hips, giving him a stare down. Showing her own attitude."Don't worry about us. Go hang out with your friends, take their gifts, and when you get home, we'll put them in the nursery and then we'll relax," I send her off with a kiss on the cheek as she strolls over to her SUV."How in the hell did you get out of a baby shower?" Tank asks as he watches her leave.I turn, a sly grin on my face. "No fuckin' clue dude. All I know is the second week of September, somebody called, and said that they thought it'd be too difficult to do a baby shower with her birthday next month, Thanksgiving, and then Christmas. Since all of us think she
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 29
RenegadeI'm nervous this morning, even though Whitney has been banging around the house since she woke up. I think it's because she assumes this day will be like all her other birthdays. What she doesn't know is this is a game changer. I've gone to a lot of trouble to surprise her and make this day special. I hope like hell I've done enough.Two weeks before"I hope you don't mind," I tell the Trumbolt family. I've asked them to meet me for lunch when I know Whitney's made a trip to Birmingham. The last thing I need for her is come upon this meeting of the minds, so to speak, and figure out what the hell I'm doing for her."I know you all like to do a party for her, and it's kind of a tradition, but she told me she wants to go to the Alabama game her birthday weekend. I got lucky and got tickets," I show them the tickets to prove I really do have them. "But I don't want to step on anyone's toes.""She'll love it," Tank answers first. "She's always wanted to go to a game, but
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 30
Renegade"I'm still not sure about this," I pull the truck into the brick building, shutting it off as I look over at Whitney.She laughs and like always it grabs me by the heart. I love to hear her laugh. I love a lot of things about her, but her laugh is in the top three. "Why are you so scared? We'll get to see what she looks like."I shrug, running my hands over the steering wheel. "It freaks me out slightly. What if she looks like an alien? I don't know if I'm prepared for it.""Chances are she'll be born in the next month, Ryan. I have a feeling she's going to look now exactly like she will then. Don't you want to make sure she looks like a Stella before she becomes a Stella?"Whitney has a point. We don't want to stick her with a name that doesn't scream it's her name, but we can figure that out after she's born – right? "I guess."She gets out of the truck and comes over to the driver's side, opening the door. Pulling at me, she gets me out of the driver's seat and
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The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 214
CruiseFive Years Later"Molly's asleep." I press my wife up against the door to our bedroom, spreading open-mouth kisses along her neck as we grind against one another. Pulling back, I push my hands up her tank top, palming her breasts, moaning as I feel her nipples peak against her bra. "I paid Kelsea her stupid-ass babysitting fee, she's gone. We're alone." I can hear the annoyance in my voice. It's been an on-going argument between the two of us, how I'd watched her for free as a kid, and now she charges us.We've been out with friends and family, had a DD, and both of us have had a little too much to drink. Her with the margaritas she likes to indulge in with the ladies, and me with the whiskey Morgan and I were shooting straight with my dad."God, I want you." She rakes her nails across my neck, down my back, and fists my shirt in her hands.I want her too. Molly is three now, born within the first two years of us getting married, and we've finally got this parenting th
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 213
Ruby"Where are you taking me?" I watch as Caleb drives through the streets of downtown. This fall night is cool as rain falls from the sky. It's not sheets like the day he shot the armed man, but a steady drumming against the roof of the Jeep."You'll see." His deep voice has a secretive lilt to it, one that I've come to know well in the year we've been together. He's not great at keeping secrets, but when he does, they're the best kind.As he turns in front of The Café, I grin. No matter what's happened inside the building or in front of it, this is still one of our favorite places to go, to be. On any given night, we can walk inside and find any number of friends or family inside. It's darkish in there tonight, but I figure maybe the electricity is flickering because of the rain storm we're in. Earlier in the day, the school had lost power.He snags a parking spot near the door. "Don't touch the door, I'll come around for you. I don't want you get wet."Since the first nig
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 212
RubySeptemberBack when I bought this dress so many months ago, I had assumed I would wear it for Valentine's Day, but because of Caleb's schedule we were never able to make a special date work. He never did take me to that dinner, but we've had so many other special moments that I truly can't complain. Tonight, however, I'm thrilled to be wearing this dress to watch him get an award for bravery."You look absolutely gorgeous." He comes up behind me in the mirror as I'm applying a layer of lipstick."You don't look so bad yourself." I turn around in his arms, helping to straighten his dress uniform.I don't think Caleb has ever looked as hot as he does right now. There's something about him being so buttoned-up that I'm loving. "It's cutting off my circulation." He pulls at the fabric around his neck."You're fine." I slap his hands away. "Are you nervous?""Not really," he says with a shake of his head. "Nerves was playing for the college football championship. This is
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 211
RubyI'm lying on my couch, re-watching some TV show I've seen a million times, trying to figure out how to get through to Caleb when the doorbell rings. At first I ignore it, not wanting to disturb my brooding, but then I hear his voice."Red?" It's unsure and soft as he knocks on the door this time. "I know I don't deserve for you to let me in, but I'm asking you to. Please?"For a moment I think about ignoring him, I think about letting him sit out there and sweat. Give him the same type of reaction he's given me, but I realize quickly one of us has to be the bigger person. That person is me, because I know he's hurting and I know he's dealt with the situation he's been thrust into the best way he knows how.Opening the door, I stand there with my arms crossed. Until I see what he's carrying in his hands.The ugliest looking cupcakes I've ever seen in my life."I finally realized why he made them, even though they looked like shit," he gives me a slight smile. "It's the
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 210
Cruise"How'd you get in here?"My dad is waiting on me, probably ready to rip me a new one, just like Ruby did. I'm so not in the mood for it tonight."You don't need to know how I got in here." He gets up from where he's sitting on my couch. "Instead, what we need to do is talk about how we're going to get you to where you need to be.""What the fuck is that supposed to mean? This is me.""This isn't you, we both know that. I didn't raise you to be a fuck face. You haven't been answering my calls, your mom's, Kelsea's, or come to find out Ruby's, so let's talk about this Caleb. What the fuck is going on?""Nothing." I grind my teeth together, not wanting to do this with him."We've done this once before son, and we won't do it again. Do you remember when your friend died? Remember when you pushed everyone away? How'd that work out for you?""How does having a murderer for a son work out for you?" I fire back at him. "Because I'm on administrative leave for committing
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 209
RubyI'm sitting in my car watching Morgan and Caleb eat through The Café window. This is what I've been reduced to. It's been a week since the shooting, and so far, Caleb's refused to see me. I went to see him the other night, and it was a bad scene."What are you doing here?" Caleb opens his door, arms crossed over his chest. "I figured me not answering any of your calls let you know I'm not up to talking to anyone right now. Including you."Not gonna lie, this hurts. Seeing him like this hurts, hearing him talk to me the way he is hurts. But I won't give up on him. I promised Kelsea months ago that I would be here if he needed me, that I could handle whatever was thrown at me."You need me," I talk against the tightness in my throat."I need to be left the fuck alone. You. Mom. Dad. You all need to leave me the fuck alone.""We won't," I shake my head standing my ground. "We won't leave you alone to deal with this by yourself.""Fine, then if you won't leave, I will."
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 208
CruiseThe July sun is beating down on the pavement as I make my drive around the streets that make up Laurel Springs. It's been a boring day, for the most part, but I'm not stupid enough to think it'll last. Lately it's been slow and I've been feeling a lot like the other shoe might drop. This nagging feeling hasn't let go for the last week, but I know eventually either that shoe will drop or I'll get over it.Rain came through over an hour ago, but it did nothing to cool the day down. It's now a sauna outside. In certain parts there's actually steam coming up off the road. Behind the sun that's moved in, you can see more clouds behind. A dark hazy threat looming in the background, more storms are moving in. The stillness of the day threatens to break wide open when they do.Because of the heat that's been baking the ground and asphalt for days, most people are inside this afternoon, enjoying the air conditioning and not wanting to have heatstroke. Probably one of the reasons th
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 207
CruiseI love the smile on Kelsea's face, love even more that I'm the one who put it there. "You excited Kels?" I grin into the rearview as we make the drive to Birmingham."So excited, like I knew you knew him." She bounces in her seat. "But I didn't really know!"Him references my college roommate Slater Harlow, known by everyone who watches professional baseball as Savage. He's a formidable force on the baseball diamond, having the best season of his career. We're not as close as we once were, because life took us two totally different directions, but we still hang out every once in a while. Typically I like to keep the fact I know him from just about everyone, because I know he values his privacy. Now though? Kels is old enough to go to a major league game, and I'm doing my best to impress Ruby."I've known him a long time." I think back to our college days, how both of us had been so damn homesick. Him more than me, since I could at least head home on the weekend. Slater w
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 206
RubyIt's a hot summer day, as I walk onto the practice field. Since school let out in early June, I've been catching up on sleep, taking a summer class, and spending as much time with the man in my life as I can. Neither Mason nor Caleb are here today. Both are on duty, so another parent has offered to help the girls practice. Karina is sick with a summer cold and me? I'm here, not sure what the hell I've gotten myself into. Kelsea and I are spending the afternoon together, beginning with me picking her up. So we'll see how this goes."Ruby!" I hear as I shield my eyes and look out along the field. Kelsea is running toward me, her backpack bouncing as she runs."Hey Kels," I greet her, a real smile on my face. She and I haven't had a ton of time with one another, but as Caleb and I have gotten closer, the same has been true for the two of us. "You ready?" I wave to today's coach as she walks beside me."I am, it's hot out here." She pushes her hair back from her forehead.Ta
