by Lara Swann
That’s all I want. To be left in peace.
“That’s ridiculous, Kelsey, we’re all adults here—”
“Hey! There you are!”
I blink and glance over as Liam’s voice interrupts Tyson, surprised to see him walking toward us.
Did we agree to meet at the Fair?
“I got your ice cream.” He continues, walking right up to me as if I wasn’t in the middle of talking to Tyson and throwing an arm - hand holding an ice cream and all - around my shoulder.
That’s enough to take me by surprise - he doesn’t usually touch me like that at all - but before I get a chance to process it, he’s leaning down and…kissing me.
Oh my fucking god.
His lips press against mine, warm and sweet and totally inviting, making me feel for one moment that I’ve stepped into one of those super secret fantasies I’ve been having. Everything else disappears as heat rushes through my body and I find myself responding before my mind has caught up, my head tilting and my body relaxing just a little against his arm as it deepens for just a few moments.
Then, before it gets to fulfill any of those slowly building promises, it’s over as suddenly as it started - Liam stepping back, his hungry gaze traveling over my face before he turns almost nonchalantly to Tyson and Jessie, who are standing there almost open-mouthed with shock. I’d forgotten they were there at all.
“Oh, sorry, did I interrupt?” He asks casually, turning to me before they can react. I’m no better, but he doesn’t seem to need anything from me here. “We should probably go and find Maya though, before the face-painters finish and she runs off somewhere else.”
He gives them both a little wave, then steers me away before Tyson can try to say anything else, and the total disbelief on his face is enough to have some of the irritation disintegrate into amusement inside me, even through my own shock.
My cheeks are still red from that kiss, I’m sure, and Liam’s arm doesn’t leave my shoulder as we walk away.
“Sorry.” He gives me a cocky smile that doesn’t seem ‘sorry’ at all, heated amusement dancing in his eyes. “It looked like you could use an escape.”
I blink a little, half my mind still stuck in the idea that Liam kissed me, even as the rest of me starts catching up.
“And you…ah…” I cough a little, barely covering the laugh as I give him a sidelong look. “You thought kissing me was the best way out?”
“Wasn’t it?” He winks at me, that panty-melting grin still spread across his face, making it that much harder to start getting over the tingle I’m still feeling.
“Is that how you solve all your problems?”
“Isn’t that what all those fairytale movies teach us? Whatever sticky situation you’re in, a kiss will make it all work out, right?”
Well, I can’t deny it worked. It finally got me away from Tyson.
This time I don’t try to cover the laugh, relaxing back into the familiarity of his usual banter, even though I can’t deny the slight twist of disappointment that that’s what this was about.
Not that I want anything else from him, I remind myself. But still…that kiss.
I can still feel it on my lips, the tempting heat and the moment when both our mouths shifted, opened for more—just before he cut it off.
Damn it.
Guys might be more trouble than they’re worth most of the time…but I can’t deny they have some advantages. Like kissing. Maybe I miss kissing more than I thought.
I take a lick of the ice cream, hoping it might cool some of that heat and give me a chance to get my head on straight again.
“Well, I’ll give it to you, it definitely worked there.” I offer, smirking up at him. The way his eyes linger on mine…it makes me question whether that kiss really was just an excuse to get me away from them - and throw something back in their faces too, I guess - but I stop myself before the thought goes too far. It’s easier not to think about that. “Though…I’m not sure you realize what you’ve just started. That kiss is going to spread around town like wildfire.”
“Maybe that was the point.” He says, grinning. “I could use a little breathing room from all the comments I get in the store about my eligibility. Mutual benefits, hm?”
I laugh again, shaking my head.
Yeah. He has no clue what he’s gotten himself into.
I’m not going to be the one to point that out, though.
“Well either way, thanks Liam.” I say, my tone sobering a little. “The escape was more than welcome.”
“Anytime.” He says, and the way his gaze drops down to my mouth again has me swallowing slightly.
Damn, what is it about this man? His arm is still so comfortable on my shoulder, too, and neither of us seem inclined to change that.
He doesn’t ask what was going on back there, which I appreciate, but I find myself continuing anyway. Either it just seems so easy to talk to Liam, or I need to get some of it off my chest. Or both, I guess.
“That was my ex.” I say, shrugging slightly. “I’m over him and all of that, but it doesn’t exactly mean I want to stand around making pleasantries with his new fiancee - or take a photo of the happy couple.”
“He asked you to do that?” Liam says, his expression incredulous - and I see him shoot a dark look behind us, even though Tyson and Jessie will be long gone by now.
“Heh, yeah. He wasn’t quite so much of a dick when we were together.”
Liam just grunts, but his arm tightens around me and the small squeeze he gives my shoulder makes the knot in my chest loosen a little.
“Well, if that was your ex…” He says, his voice a low rumble that goes right down to my toes. “I’m doubly glad I decided a kiss was the best way to interrupt.”
That makes me laugh again and I turn to look at him, my smile reaching my eyes this time. “God, me too. The look on his face…”
Serves him right for everything he was saying about jealousy…
Liam’s laughter joins mine and I press closer to him for a brief moment, enjoying the sense of companionship I’d been missing only moments before.
Hell, I don’t need a relationship. Just a good friend at the right moment.
I take another lick around the ice cream, catching semi-melted parts, before glancing over at the other in Liam’s hand and belatedly realizing he hasn’t touched it.
“That’s for Maya, isn’t it?” I ask, my gaze narrowing in suspicion. “This one was your ice cream, wasn’t it?”
He glances at the half-eaten cone in my hand, before smiling softly. “I think you needed it more than me.”
My smile deepens, a buzz of warmth and appreciation running through me, even as I give him a half-guilty look.
“Do you want to explore the Fair with Maya and me?” Liam asks instead, apparently far more generous with ice cream than I tend to be. Then again, he runs a cupcake store. If he had my level of self-discipline he’d probably be bankrupt already. “Show us all the good bits?”
“Yeah.” I say, nodding. “That sounds…wonderful.”
It really does. It was great fun going around with my family this morning, but the idea of spending it with Maya and Liam, introducing them both to their first Ashton Summer Fair…that’s a good feeling. Especially, for some reason, after seeing Tyson again. I don’t investigate that thought pattern too carefully as we reach the face-painting booth and Liam tries to offer Maya a half-melted ice cream.
Her face screws up in doubt, before she finally shakes her head and graciously says he can have it. I try not to laugh at the exasperated look he shoots in my direction, and instead exclaim over Maya’s transformation into a butterfly before we start walking around the rest of the Fair.
It’s one of the best afternoons I can remember having here - and by the end of it any thought I’d had about the years I’d spent here with Tyson have faded completely.
That was all I needed. To make new memories.
The only thing that interrupts our good time is
when everyone gathers around the center of the field to hear the Mayor address the town. He welcomes everyone and talks about the Fair for a short while, highlighting all the attractions we’ve brought together this year, before starting to talk about the town and the things he’s working on for us all.
I spend the whole time watching him carefully, trying to sense anything like what I heard in the town archives - but there’s nothing. He’s the stalwart, genial man he’s always been. Confident, reassuring, poised.
No trace of the fear I swear I remember hearing - no sign of the exhaustion or weariness that was so obvious then, or the slightest hint that he’s anything other than pleased and proud to be able to serve the town as Mayor. Nothing feels off and it’s enough to make me question it all again. It feels like I’m questioning everything, these days, but there has to be something going on here. It’s just so hard to believe as I look at him now, though.
“And lastly, I know none of you want to hear too much about this topic with the delicious scents of corn dogs, cotton candy and funnel cakes around here - but for those of you in suspense, I can reassure you that with the money you’ve generously raised a specialist team of drainage engineers will be starting work on our sewage problem within the next couple of weeks. It should take a few weeks to clear - and we’d recommend avoiding certain parts of town while they do - but it’s a huge relief, to me at least, to know that we’ve got this under control.” He looks around with a satisfied smile, gesturing out at the large group gathered while I take a few photos. I want to concentrate, but I figure Anderson will want these, too…and maybe they’ll even be useful for me. Maybe. “So thank you all very much. Please, let’s give everyone here a round of applause, because this town has never failed to step up when it’s needed, and your generosity has made so much possible for Ashton.”
There’s nothing about it - nothing - that seems suspicious or unusual or strange. I don’t know whether to be frustrated or reassured by that, but I definitely feel uncomfortable as everyone starts clapping, looking around at each other with pleased expressions.
I reluctantly join in, even as my stomach twists again at the thought that everyone here might be being misled. That we really might be as gullible as that awful man the Mayor met with implied.
Only might. You don’t know anything, not yet. Not for certain.
But the fact that it’s so hard to come by any concrete information isn’t making me feel any better, either.
“He seems like a great guy.” Liam comments from beside me, smiling as he glances around. “I haven’t met the man yet, but no one has anything but good things to say. I’m starting to see why people here voted the way they did on those property rates - hey, if it happened again, even I might.”
That just makes me feel worse, and I mumble something in response, taking a few more photos more to hide my expression than anything else.
The music starts up again and the Mayor leaves the stage, while I’m still looking around for the hint of a scary, leather-jacket-clad guy…or even Margaret. I didn’t exactly expect to see her here - she hasn’t attended in the last couple of years - but there was always a chance…
“Can we get hot dogs now, Daddy?”
Maya interrupts before my mood can fully sour, and I’m suddenly very grateful for her seeming addiction to hot dogs.
I grin at them both as we walk away to chase down the hot dog stand, trying to put the image of the Mayor out of my mind. I’ll work on that another time - and if something is going on, I’ll find out about it.
For today, though, I’m just going to enjoy the Fair. With two people who are quickly becoming one of the best parts about this town.
Chapter Twelve
Liam
“Okay, you might have been right.” I say, slightly ruefully as I stand on Kelsey’s doorstep.
My heart did a strange jump when she opened the door - and my eyes went straight to her lips. I can’t help it. I’ve been thinking about that kiss since it happened yesterday, remembering the softness of her mouth pressed against mine, her surprise obvious from the initial stiffness, before it gave way to something else entirely…something warm and hot and—
Stop god-damn fantasizing.
I tell myself sharply as I feel my cock start to stir yet again. That’s not what I’m here for. Not at all. Not unless…
“About what?” She asks, a smile playing over her lips. Those gorgeous lips. Sweet and pink and—
Stop!
“The rumors.” I admit, as I firmly curb those thoughts and bring my attention back to her eyes. While mostly not thinking about the uniquely changeable shade of green they are and instead trying to concentrate on what I came around to talk about. “I might have had a question or comment about that kiss from pretty much every person that walked into the cupcake store today.”
Kelsey laughs, the melodic sound that I liked from the start, and god damn it why can’t I get all of this out of my head now?
I have no idea what possessed me to kiss her. Or, well, maybe I have a very good idea - but I definitely wasn’t going to actually do it. When I saw that look of frustration and distress on her face, I was walking over to help her out before I’d even thought about it.
Help, not kiss.
It’s just that when I got there…I don’t know whether it was the vibe between the three of them, or the expression on her face, but I couldn’t help myself. All I remember thinking was that I wanted to make her feel better - give her something to smile about again, and light up that face the way I’m used to seeing it.
How my brain thought a kiss was the right answer, I have no idea. Some wires got crossed there, I’m sure, and suddenly it was my cock talking instead of my head. I managed to brush it off well enough - not at all prepared to deal with that potential threat to our friendship - but since then…I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it, either.
And even knowing I’m deliberately not looking for this, I can’t help wondering if she feels the same.
“I did try to warn you.” She says in a mournful tone, obviously teasing me and making me grin.
“Not before I kissed you, you didn’t.” I point out.
There’s something about those words - I kissed you - that lingers on my tongue and goes straight to my cock, but I’m glad I can say it casually. It’s not hard to mention or joke around with.
“Well maybe next time if you run it by me first, we can come up with a list of pros and cons together.”
“Next time?” I repeat, feeling the heat in my voice as I smirk at her. I’m not sure I heard much beyond that.
“Yeah, next time you need to rescue me from an awkward conversation.” She elaborates, just enough to get out of it being a suggestion, tilting her head at me as our eyes meet.
She might be acting amused, talking casually and joking about it, but the light in her eyes makes me think of something else entirely. For one long moment I’m caught there, wanting to step forward and sweep her thick, slightly curled hair back from her face and bring her mouth to mine again. Whatever wrapping she puts around it, I can feel the idea of next time hovering right there between us, almost tangible, the air holding an energy of its own.
I hesitate on the edge of that thought for a heart beat…two…before jerking myself back from it. It’s so tempting - and despite all Kelsey’s restraint, I don’t feel like she’d resist - but I haven’t thought this through. I know that.
I could reach out and take what I’ve been tempted by this whole time…but then I have no fucking clue what happens next.
Kelsey’s friendship has been one of the best things we’ve gained from moving here, and risking that because that accidental kiss was so good and I’ve been horny since is just stupid. For both me and Maya.
I have my little girl to think about now. I can’t go around letting my cock make decisions for me and fuck the consequences - probably quite literally. I learned that lesson the night I hooked up with Maya’s Mom.
“Okay,
next time we’ll work it all out in advance.” I say, resigning myself to leaving the curious tension sizzling between us and leaning against the arch of her porch instead. I fold my arms and run a hand over my face, putting a little despair into my tone as I continue. “But that doesn’t answer how we deal with what we’ve already created.”
“We?” Kelsey raises an eyebrow, still looking amused.
“Okay, the situation I created.” I acknowledge, and her mouth curves into a smile. “Any advice?”
That was what I came for, after all. To wallow in our joint dilemma and create a battle-plan capable of withstanding the small-town gossip I completely underestimated. Certainly not for any thought of next time.
“What have you done so far?”
“Mostly tried to dodge the question.” I say, with a slight laugh. “Non-answers and hedged comments.”
“Nah, none of that.” Kelsey responds immediately, and I raise an eyebrow at her. “Just deny it. Full, blanket denial. Nothing ever happened. Job done.”
“But it did happen.” I point out. “People saw it.”
She grins, and if I didn’t know better I’d think she was actually enjoying this.
“Doesn’t matter. If you dance around it, people are just going to think you’re being coy or shy - they’ll poke and prod until you come out with something - tell them it didn’t happen and keep saying it, eventually they’ll get bored. Not much they can say to that if you stick to it.”
“Hmm…” I frown, but I can’t deny there’s something to that. I’ve never been one for bald-faced lies, but…
“And it’s not like anything is going on.” She continues. “They’ll watch and wait for something else to happen, rumors will fly around, but then when nothing does, it’ll die down. It’s just a waiting game, Liam. Deny it, do nothing and wait.”
Deny it. Do nothing. Wait.
None of the things that have ever come naturally to me, but what she’s saying makes a strange sort of sense.