Happy New Year to all! I hope you enjoy chapter two! Thanks to everyone that read the last chapter - it means a lot to know people are reading and hopefully enjoying this story. I hope to have the next chapter up soon. - B


Chapter 2:

Looking back Charlotte could clearly point to the moment things went wrong and if pressed, she might, under severe duress, admit… what could be considered her 'fault' in what happened next…

For a moment Charlotte sat atop the old grey stunned. Bass had finally made a move! She wanted to scream, or sing, or something; mostly she wanted to head straight to that bed he was offering and not leave the room until the snow had melted. Her months of fantasies could not have prepared her for the warmth spreading throughout her or the giddiness that seemed to be creeping into her heart. It was kind of what she imagined those girls in the romance novels were feeling – those books that bore not even a passing connection to her own world or experiences, but were fun to read and she kept treasured in her pack. Of course, the stunned look on her mother's face was also priceless! And it was, as she was processing all of these thoughts, that her silence might have led to what happened next…

Laughing Jock stepped in front of Bass and grabbed a stunned Charlotte lifting her off the horse and setting her on the ground. Turning back toward Bass, without removing his arm from Charlotte's shoulder, he said, "Don't worry pops I can take good care of your daughter. No need to lock her up in your room. In fact, I hear some of the local grandmas in town can get a little frisky – probably won't even keep you up too late." Then turning to Connor, "You want to come along? We've got a whole crew and many of the women are a little tired of the same faces… bet you'd do pretty well…"

Miles had choked and snickered watching Bass sputter. Though it was when Bass reached for his gun, after the arrogant boy had turned to invite Connor, that Miles lunged forward and disarmed his best friend before pushing him back toward the hotel with one hand covering the growling mouth. Calling back, Miles added "She's my daughter and good luck, you're gonna need it."

As Connor watched Miles force his dad away he examined his options – help his father and the clearly stunned Charlie or force her to play along and get laid – yeah, not even a question – get laid. "Sounds great Jock." Then giving Charlie a look to play along, "I am gotta believe both Charlie and I would have a real blast with your crew."

Waking up to what was happening, Charlie pushed away from the handsie, arrogant lunatic that had just marked himself for death and added, "Actually, you go ahead Connor. I'm going to follow Miles," then temporarily turning to the moron, "the dark haired one that is my actual father, and the 'all the man I will ever want' sandy blonde that you called old, and see if I can't distract him enough to prevent him from killing you, during what I am pretty sure is going to be an epic meltdown."


As Charlie took off in a run toward the hotel, yelling to her mom to take care of the horses, she heard Aaron snort and say, "That just made every single 'Staypuft' worth it." Then turning toward Pricilla and seeing her frown, "What?! He called him old, and implied he had a bedtime. How can I be expected to do anything other than enjoy that?"

As Charlotte entered the lobby, she was impressed by the rustic décor that looked a little too perfect to have actually been post-blackout – clearly this had been a very affluent place before the lights when out, and the locals had maintained it for some reason. Just off to the side Miles was continuing to attempt to reason with Bass while the few workers present watched in confusion and horror. Charlotte strode toward the elderly man behind the desk and declared, "Do you have a honeymoon suite?" When she got no response, Charlotte waved her fingers in front of the man's face and repeatedly snapped her fingers to get his attention. "I need your best, most romantic room; and the rest of my party will need rooms as well – 2, no I guess 3 additional rooms because my soon-to-be step-son is unlikely to get lucky; so 3 additional rooms plus the romantic suite I mentioned."

The man redirected his eyes and repeatedly nodded before answering, "Just sign here…" as he pointed toward the registry and then turned grabbing several keys. "This one is the honeymoon suite, top floor; these are the other rooms."

Charlotte smiled before grabbing the keys, "Thank you." Then she turned toward her father and Bass and strode over before proclaiming, "Dad, I got this. Go find Rachel and give out these keys." Then turning her attention to Bass, "You, cut it out – I have been waiting for you to make a move for months; calm down and get that perfect ass upstairs and naked, now!"

Bass stood there stunned by Charlie's words and Miles grumbled something about never unseeing or unhearing that; before she grabbed Bass' arm and started walking him toward the stairs. Her command of the situation appeared to take the sails out of his anger, and Bass followed her through the door and up the stairs. They had climbed two flights up before he finally found his voice, grumbling he said, "I'm not old! I don't need or want some frisky grandma and I can go all night. You know me! I don't needs some early bedtime unless it involves hours of sex while we are in that bed."

Continuing to pull Bass up the stairs, Charlotte patted his shoulder before saying, "I have no doubt you can perform, in-fact I am looking forward to FINALLY finding out how well you perform; so can you walk a little faster?"

At the realization of what Charlotte said, Bass stumbled on the stair in front of him before righting himself. Looking up at the sexiest, most incredible woman he had ever met, Bass asked, "Did you just announce in front of your father – my best friend, that you were taking me up to the honeymoon suite to have hours – and trust me hours – of sex?"

Smiling she responded, "Yes I did."

"And you called Connor your son-in-law?" Bass asked.

Broadening her grin, "Yes I did."

The wind completely knocked out of him, Bass sat on the step before him and tried to process what had happened. Charlotte sat next to him and leaned into his shoulder, but said nothing. Long moments later Bass asked, "I know why I want to marry you… but I am…"

Cutting him off Charlotte declared, "Just to be clear, if you say old I will beat you and you know I am completely capable of doing it." Bass only nodded, and so she continued, "I'm in love with you. I am hoping you feel the same…"

Bass slipped his hands into her hair to cradle her head, "I've never connected to anyone the way I connect to you, the way I love you; and I want to marry you. I've spent my whole life wanting, searching for a family; I want that with you."

Laughing Charlotte asked, "Like a farm with animals and a whole pack of little kids running around the house kind of family?"

Bass leaned in and kissed her, possessing her lips, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth before nipping and then releasing her to say, "Would you want that? I mean if I said I hate the Texas heat and I wanted a farm someplace that has seasons and a whole house full of children… how would you feel about that idea?"

A genuine laugh escaped Charlotte's lips before she stood, "I would say that there is a honeymoon suite waiting for us up this last flight of stairs and you better find a priest to marry us soon, or my father will hurt you. He won't want his grandchildren to be born before his little girl gets married."

God he loved this woman! Bass stood and followed her up the remaining steps to the top floor. As they walked down the hall she noticed the thick pillar candles in the class lamps, stopping in front of one she reached up and lifted the glass before removing the lit candle, "We might need this." Charlotte handed him the key, and watched him unlock the door before pushing passed him to explore the room. The light from the candle cast a glow in the room and she scanned their surroundings. The far wall had an entire bank of windows, giving an incredible view of the snow covered town. The bed was huge, with a pine green metal headboard that gave the appearance of a dozen different curving trees with leaves rising up from behind the pillows. With reverence Charlotte whispered, "Pillows!" The quilt covering the bed was a patchwork of fabrics and looked thick and warm. Turning toward the far wall, she noticed the fireplace was dormant, but full of wood so the room would be comfortable; and directly in front of the fireplace was a massive white bear skin rug. "White?"

Bass grinned, "I'll start the fire. In case you are wondering, the bear skin rug is a fake – a decorator's idea, but I'll bet it is warm and soft; and I am positive you will love how it feels against your skin while I am worshiping every inch of your perfect body."


Next up: a little 1 on 1 time for our favorite couple...