Last Name

Chapter Nine

Charli's POV

I couldn't help but laugh at the story Mama Becky was telling me that the boys had pulled when they were younger. To say those two were a handful was putting it lightly. We had driven into Athens today to go shopping and have lunch. The last week had been quiet. Or at least I had made it that way once I shut my phone off. I sent Daddy an email letting him know that Stephen wouldn't stop calling. He knew to get in touch with Brantley if he needed me and I'd told Savannah the same. Yea, that had almost burst my afterglow bubble the next morning when the insistent ringing had started.

It was like he didn't want me anymore but didn't like the fact that I was with Brantley either. Though I didn't know what to define what we were doing other than not being able to keep or hands off each other. I had stumbled out the front door earlier when Mama Becky had honked the horn hobbling to put my sandals on and trying to smooth my hair back down after an impromptu make out session on the kitchen counter. I had turned a bright shade of red last week when I had been sitting on the couch answering emails and ignoring my grandmother when Kolby and Brantley had come struggling through the front door arguing and cussing balancing a new wooden door between them.

I had a feeling that I wouldn't be living that down anytime soon. I took a sip of my tea as her phone rang on the table. Mama Becky answered it then passed the phone to me.

"Hello..." I drawled figuring it was Brantley. He and Kolby had something planned to fix today but I had forgotten what.

"Sassy Belle," PJ said with a sigh. I couldn't help but snicker and wink at Mama Becky.

"What trouble has he gotten into now?" I asked making her giggle. I handed the waiter my card as I waited on PJ to answer me.

"Darlin," he said with a sigh. "I need y'all to get home now please. Like right now. Tell Ms. Becky to drive careful and you text me when y'all are almost here so I can open the gates."

"What's going on?" I questioned him as my heart pounded. "Everything okay?"

"We'll explain when you get here," PJ replied before hanging up. I handed the phone back over with a shaky hand.

"We've got to go," I said quietly as she nodded, and I got my card, signed the receipt and headed to the door.

When we were fives minutes out I texted PJ then noticed why he wanted me to do this when we got closer to the gate. My jaw dropped when I saw the reporters scattered around it with cameras just a clicking or typing away on their phones. Shit, I thought with a wince as the gates swung open and Mama floored it to make it inside before anyone could follow her. I mean, that wouldn't be the best idea ever. You would get shot. I knew without a shadow of a doubt Brantley was going to be pissed when he saw this.

We pulled up parking and I looked around not seeing Brantley's truck. I jumped out heading inside with Mama Becky on my heels. I walked into the living room to see PJ pacing and Jeff typing like a lunatic on his phone.

"What the hell is going on?" I snapped making them both jump and look at us. Before I could get an answer the front door slammed and I heard rushing footsteps. Brantley strode into the room with Kolby following him tugging his sunglasses off.

"Someone want to fucking explain why there are vultures at my front gates!" he snarled looking at PJ and Jeff. "Y'all tell me to haul my ass home. I was trying to fish out at Potts. Then I pull up and see those bastards. Should have pulled the trigger."

"Fuck BG....." Jeff moaned. "How many of them did you threaten?"

"One...maybe two," he grumbled. "Its my damn property. They are trespassing. One tall fucker probably needs to get his foot looked at. Can't help it if he stepped in front of the truck."

"Dammit," Jeff said with a sigh then pulled up his tablet. Brantley went to take a seat in his recliner dragging down into his lap. Jeff looked over at both of us. "Alright, the long and the short of it is the press now knows Charli is here in Georgia. Looks like the asshole opened his mouth. Stephen is playing up being the wronged man. Charli sweetie, I will be honest, they are having a field day with wild stories about you. What's worse is they've some how gotten ahold of the divorce decree. So that coupled with the photos popping back up, there is a lot of speculation about you two. Looking at the two of you, well if y'all get seen together, it's gonna be worse."

"Like I give a fuck," Brantley grumbled settling a big hand on my leg as he propped his chin on my shoulder. I sighed and laid my hand on top of his. "It's our own business not anyone else's."

"Boss..." PJ grumbled crossing his arms looking at him. "Know you don't but think about Charli. It's her they are gonna chase after because they know better than to push you."

"What do y'all suggest?" he asked with a sigh. I felt bad. His whole life and the few weeks he had to relax were being disrupted by me. I turned my head looking at him and was about to speak when he cut me off with a finger over my lips. "Don't you dare apologize to me Charli. This is not your fault."

"Get out of town," Jeff said nodding at us. "That is what I am gonna suggest. Scott has got the label's PR working on it. I know they leave you alone for the most part at home BG but I fear that's not going to be the case this time and I really don't need to bail you out of jail for shooting someone."

"Just a toe," Brantley countered with a dark smile as he gave me a wink. "Or a finger. I'd be good with just a finger." Mama Becky cleared her throat and glared at him. "Fine...... there's the....."

"The cabin is listed and with a little digging can be found," PJ said shaking his head. "The farm has its own damn website so through process of elimination they'd find you."

"Well fuck," Brantley grumbled under his breath as everyone started tossing out options at once. I sighed and turned my head to look at him. He narrowed his eyes as he reached a hand up to rub over his beard. "I'm not gonna like what you are about to say am I?"

"I can go to Savannah's parents or Daddy's house on base," I said quietly. "No one would bother me at either of those. I can throw them off of you by making a post about me being in Nashville or something. You'd be able to spend your last week or so relaxing like you wanted to. Know the rest of the summer is pretty busy for you."

"And what if you want you around?" Brantley questioned leaning his head closer to mine. "Did you think about that? Because I do Charli. I really do."

I sighed shaking my head as I pushed out of his lap and turned to head up the stairs. This would be the right thing to do whether he liked it or not. I heard Brantley tell Jeff he would be right back as I walked into his room. I busied myself gathering my stuff to put in my suitcase when I felt an arm slip around my waist as a big hand settled over mine stopping me. I closed my eyes leaning back against his chest with a sigh.

"You know it's what I need to do," I murmured feeling his arms band around me tightly. Brantley pushed my low ponytail to the side and kissed the side of my neck before trailing his way to my ear. I closed my eyes to the feeling and felt any and all resolve I had only wanting to leave waning.

"You're right," he murmured flicking his tongue over the shell of my ear. "You do need to pack. But not going anywhere without me. I'll let you finish up because I need to do the same. I came up with an idea."

"Brantley," I sighed pushing away and stepping out of his arms. I turned to look at him. "What are we doing? We are in the middle of a divorce, the press is now hounding our asses because Stephen is an asshole, and you and I can't keep our hands off each other. What are we doing?"

"Charli," he said softly as he stepped in front of me sliding both big hands up to cup my cheeks making me look at him. "I don't have an answer. I really wish I did, but I don't know anymore than you do darlin. All I know is that I want you around. Do you honestly think I would be able to relax if you went somewhere else? Hell no, I'd be worried that a repeat of what happened in Nashville would happen. Baby, I don't know what is going to happen. But what I do know is that whether I get five minutes, five months, or five decades of your time, I'm gonna take it and enjoy it." I gasped at his words before he lowered his head searing his lips to mine as I lifted my hands clinging to his arms to stay upright. I couldn't help but whimper when he bit my bottom lip gently before lifting his head to wink at me. "Now get to packing so we can go, or I won't be responsible for my actions when I toss you on this bed and make you scream my name. Guaranteed to make you and my mama both blush."