Laying down next to Lucas in his room I wrapped my arms around him, tucking him in tight.

"Sleep well baby, I hope you have sweet dreams."  I kissed him forehead and he smiled lazily.

"I will ma'am.  But what if I have a nightmare?"  I knelt over and threw one of my legs over the side of the bed like a protective barrier.

"We'll be just out front in the dirt road.  If you have a bad dream baby you come and get me and I'll stay with you till you fall asleep again."  He nodded and started to yawn.  Rolling over he pulled the covers up to his nose.  Mr. Tickles close by.  Caleb and brought him back and gave him over after dinner.  "I love you."  I said again.  I got a tiered love you, and I left him to his dreams.

Entering my room I went over to where Peyton was bouncing up and down in her crib laughing.  It seemed harder and harder to get her to go to sleep every night instead of just playing in there.

"Oh you little girl. You're supposed to be sleeping."  She laughed and reached out for me.  Her fingers straining to touch me.  I went over and picked her up, cuddling her close and placing kisses all over her face.  She laughed and then leaned on me, putting her hands in my loose curls.  "You can't sleep on me love, I gotta celebrate tonight.  We made some pretty good money today."

Sitting down on my mattress I rested her there as she started mumbling in her little baby gibberish.  She loved talking, and I had a feeling that right after her first birthday she would be talking pretty quick.

Peyton first birthday.

I remembered that it wasn't to far away, and knew I had to do something for it.  

"My little girl..you'll be a year here soon."  She yawned then and I heard a light knock on my door.  It was ajar slightly and I saw Caleb peek inside.

"Hey."

"Hey."  I smiled and looked down to Peyton.  "Did you need something?"  He shook his head and walked into my room slowly, taking in the color and minor mess I kept it in.

"Your room?"

"Yeah."  I blushed and turned my head away, but I knew that didn't matter.  He knew the thoughts going through my head.

"I did come up to tell you that the party is starting and that Maggie and Guy are here.  Jason got a call and had to head out to see about a disturbance, but he will be back sense it's his day off.  Wanted me to tell you he'd bring some Jack back."  By now he was sitting on my bed next to me, watching as Peyton drifted slowly.  She watched him and reached out to touch him as well.  She took the finger he held out for her and fell asleep.

"So you did need something."  He chuckled lightly and leaned over so that it was easier on my arm.

"That and I was curious to see your room."  I shook my head laughing lightly, standing and placing Peyton down in her crib.  I brought the blankets up to her chin and watched her a moment to make sure she truly was asleep.

"Your little girl loves you."

"She is my girl."  I said in a small whisper.

"You're a good mother Harper.  I don't know how you do it, working so much.  But you show them so much love."  His statement took me off guard for a moment, and looking into his eyes I could see that he truly meant it.

"Thank you, Caleb, I haven't heard anyone other then my mother say that."  His face grew from serious to charming, taking my breath away.  He truly knew how to work his looks.

"You're welcome.  Now come on.  Everyone's waiting."  Taking my hand he started to lead me out, but not after I got the baby monitor set up and with me.  We had to make sure that if she woke up I could come running.

Once down and outside I saw that Guy was already working on the fire.  Placing a few large logs in a giant tepee.  I had thought that a bone fire was a bit much for our small group, but seeing it now it seemed appropriate. It was going to be a blast.

My mother, Maggie and Diana were all setting up chairs.  As I went to join them I saw that Diana didn't seem to comfortable. 

"Diana?"  She looked up at me with a smile.

"Yeah?"

"Do you want a change of cloths?"  She looked down at her pencil skirt and blouse and then around at everyone else.  "It will be getting a little chilly later on...and I didn't think you'd want to ruin such nice cloths...we are about the same size I think."  I traded lightly not knowing if she would take offence to that at all.

Scuffing she debated for a moment.  I could see her foot tapping, but once the mental argument was over she nodded and followed me inside.  I got her a pare of jeans, boots, and a nice pull over thinking that it would be warmer.  And I assured her that I didn't mind if it got dirty.  I lived in the dirt, so it was no problem.

"Thanks Harper.  You really are sweet."  I gave her a light tap on the shoulder.

"No problem. I'll see you down there."  I left her to head back out and saw that they started cracking out the beers.  

Making sure to get one that was still cold I sat down in a chair and watched as the flames started to grow.  It was beautiful and warm against the crisp air.

"So nice to see that you and Mr. Dragon are getting along so well."  Maggie plopped down next to me and with a short laugh I nodded.

"Yeah.  It definitely took a turn I didn't expect."  Looking over to him I saw him with Guy, chatting up a storm about some we couldn't hear.  They were carving sticks into pokers and started wrapping bacon and sausage onto the ends of them, setting them up so that when someone wanted one we could go grab it for the fire.

I heard Maggie sigh heavily as she adjusted in her seat.  She leaned in close and gave me the eye I knew so well.  It was the, spill it, look.

"Spill it."  See, I knew it.  I laughed lightly trying to hide the fact that it was something I didn't want to talk about, but knowing her she wormed it out of me, to every last detail (but there were some I kept to myself. No way was I telling her about the passion), including the kiss we shared that morning.

"So wait...your tell me, that you two had a one night stand, and he's still here? Kissing you, and what not?"  I nodded.

"That's what I see it as."

"Are you sure that's what he sees it as?"  Now that I thought about it I didn't.  I looked at Maggie for some clarification, which meant her rolling her eyes.  "Girl, you really have been out of it too long.  He kissed you this morning.  He caresses you. And the way that he looks at you?  Yeah. He thinks theirs more to it."  I felt so stupid for not seeing it, but as I looked over to him again I saw that he was now watching me.  The fire was in full bloom, and the colors lit up his green eyes.  They were on fire and they were scorching me.

"It couldn't last Maggie...he'll be leaving once he's done with Jimmy."  She nodded and leaned back into her seat.  

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

"Hmm."  Taking the last of what was in my beer bottle I took it as an excuse to get up and get another.

In the time that Maggie and I had spoke I saw that Diana had rejoined us, and was talking with my mother. Her smile reassured me that she was enjoying herself. 

Jason was just pulling up as I got another beer, and before I knew it we were all doing shots of whisky around the fire.  We hooted and we hollered, making Caleb and Diana laugh, but they soon joined in as well.  Enjoying the wild life, they took it head on.

Music started to play as Jason turned it from his truck and we all started dancing.  I had a good buzz going, my head swaying, that it just felt right doing this.  I had my friends and my mother.  It couldn't get better then that, but Caleb seemed to be keeping his distance, which I found odd, but made it a point to dance with him and he eased back up.  Taking my hips and turning me around.

The baby monitor was attached to my belt, and as I heard the small whimpers of little Peyton I excused myself to set her at ease.  Caleb followed me, having not let go of my hand, and I didn't mind.  His touch excited me, and I wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing just yet.

Putting Peyton back down was easy enough, making sure that she had her bottle, but I hadn't expected Caleb to pull me into the kitchen on our retreat back down the satires.  I stumbled as he pulled me back, and laughed when he took both my arms in his hands steadying me.

"What are you doing?"

"Harper, I have to talk to you."

"We've been talking most of the night Caleb." I laughed and thought to myself that I might have had one to many.

"I mean about us Harper.  I want to talk about what happened last week."  I had started to lean into him, the sway of the alcohol moving over me, but stopped and looked up into his eyes.  I still couldn't believe how green they were.

"What happened last week."  He nodded.

"You having gone home with me."  Taking a deep breath I closed my eyes and steadied myself on my own two feet. Or at least tried too.  I hadn't expected to be confronted about this twice in one night.

"We are both adults Caleb.  The chemistry between us is there..."  I trailed off as he ran a hand down my arm, setting it ablaze.

"It's not just there Harper.  Its explosive."  He had a point.  But I wanted to be clear on one thing.

"You're going to leave Caleb.  I know you will."

"That doesn't mean anything."

"It means everything."  My head started to clear as adrenaline coursed through my veins.  I didn't know how to handle this.  "What happened between us, that was blowing off the steam.  The attraction that was built up."  I kept my eyes closed for I didn't want to see his reaction.  "We are not the same kind of people Caleb...you will, go back. And I will stay here."  There was a moment of silence, and braving it, I opened my eyes to see him watching me.  Calculating.

"Your saying that there can be nothing between us."

"Yes."  I whispered.

"Yet, you couldn't look at me while you said it."  He took a step toward me.  He was so powerful.  The power seeping from his very pours. "That usually means that you yourself don't like the idea."  He took another step, placing himself right in front of me.

"Stupid attorney."  I muttered.  He could read me like an open book.

"I may be, but I'm not stupid when it comes to you Harper.  I know you want me.  And I want you."  He took my face into one of his hands and made me look up at him. "Let me stay here with you tonight when everyone has gone."

~

Ah, I know that sounds like my kinda night! lol

I know I leave you with a bit of a cliff hanger, but I swear that it is worth it my lovely readers!  I don't like to change point of views within chapters in this story, so I have to stick to it even if it'll be a few days before you see the rest of the sean play out.  It will be Caleb's thoughts coming up, and much much more juicy love talk as someone I knows would say lol. (love you hun)!

I did want to take a moment though, and thank everyone who has read, and so far, kept up with my story and enjoyed it.  I haven't had a story of mine boom like this before in only a few days, and it truly means the world to me.  Jumping up by 3x amount of reads in a day?!  It made me want to shed tears of happiness!

I truly love all of my readers, thank you thank you thank you.

Thank you everyone, and enjoy.