by L. B. Dunbar
“You have a nice place here,” I say, taking in the worn-paneling and roughened tile. It’s quaint, if tired looking.
“Where you from?” Dolores asks.
“Chicago.”
Her brow rises. “And you know Giant…?” Her voice drifts, suggesting I provide an answer.
“It’s complicated,” I say, waving a hand to dismiss the subject.
“Those Harringtons are.” She chuckles lightly and pats my forearm. “You let Hollilyn know what you need. Enjoy your stay.”
I order a breakfast of eggs and bacon and check my phone again. No response from Giant. I’ve also noticed my service goes in and out.
I randomly scroll through social media and my emails until Hollilyn returns with my food. A few minutes later, a man enters the diner and greets Hollilyn. While I eat, I have the strangest sense of them watching me. Finally, I look up and Hollilyn approaches.
“I didn’t want to disturb you, but this is Jaxson Rathstone. He’s Giant’s nephew and works with him at the brewery.”
Jaxson tensely smiles and extends a hand. It’s clear he doesn’t want to be introduced to me as he tersely greets me. “Nice to meet you.”
“She says she’s staying with your uncle,” Hollilyn offers.
“Hollilyn,” he hisses. He’s a good-looking man, and I’m guessing late twenties for his age. His eyes are all Harrington. Dark and intense.
“What? I just thought you’d like to meet her.” Hollilyn turns to me, and Jaxson mouths, “I’m sorry,” from behind her. I smile and shake my head.
“Have you seen your uncle this morning?” I pick up my phone as way of excuse. “Having trouble with reception.”
“He’s still at the warehouse. I’m heading over there after I grab a coffee. To go.” He reaches for Hollilyn’s elbow, and she steps away from the table, catching the hint to fetch his drink. As she walks away, he tips his head toward her. “Sorry about that.”
“No worries.” I pause. “I’d drive to the warehouse, but I don’t have a car.” I don’t know why I offer this information, but Hollilyn must have sonic ears because from her place near the coffeepot, she hollers, “Jaxson can give you a ride.”
I look up, taking pity on the mid-twenties man. With his dark brown hair and matching eyes, I can see a slight resemblance to his uncle and wonder what Giant looked like as a younger man. “I bet your mother warned you about stranger danger. You don’t need to give me a ride. I’ll just find an Uber.” The words tumble out before I know if Blue Ridge even offers the service.
“You’ll be hard pressed to find that here.” He chuckles. “And my mother also warned me about one-night stands and look where it got me.” He winks as he nods in the direction of Hollilyn.
I’d be taken aback by the insult if Hollilyn hadn’t approached, swatted Jaxson on the arm, and then said, “You love me.”
He chuckles without directly answering her, but his eyes light up, and I imagine he does love her.
“I can give you a ride. You look innocent enough.” He winks again, and I decide charming must be a trait of Harrington men.
21
Oktoberfest
[Giant]
“Letty?” My tone rings surprised as I see her standing in my office door, a bit disheveled, with my nephew next to her. Charlie turns in his seat. We’ve been discussing a few things—legal stuff—and I note the time on my phone. I’m two hours later than I planned to be. I also have a few missed messages from her. She’s been waiting for me.
Shit.
Thankfully, she doesn’t look pissed.
“Imagine my surprise at finding this pretty lady at the diner,” my nephew says, all flirtatious for someone about to have a baby with a girl he won’t admit he loves. “And she says she’s staying with you.”
“How did you get to the diner?”
“I walked.” She leans against the doorjamb, crossing her arms, which only emphasizes the outline of her body. Thick breasts. Hourglass hips. Her hair sits in a messy bun at the base of her neck. She looks edible, and I’m upset again that I didn’t take the opportunity last night. My head got in the way of my heart, and I became overwhelmed with her in my place. Letty is so vibrant and energetic, and I like having her here. We should have had sex all night, but my bedroom shut me down, and I wonder if it’s the picture of Clara in my dresser.
Or was it guilt that I’d finally moved on?
Charlie had been giving me a pep talk before Letty arrived.
“How you doing with Letty here?”
“Wonderful.” I sighed.
“And it’s not strange in the house?”
“It’s very strange but in a good way.” I smiled, thinking of our romantic dinner on my porch. I pulled out all the stops, surprising myself at how much I wanted everything perfect for her.
“Mati said she had trouble with it.” Charlie means our younger sister whose new love was an old friend. My sister lost her husband in a car accident over a year ago. Needless to say, she moved on much sooner than I did.
“You know Mama’s going to have a field day with this.”
Yes, my mother who called only a few days ago to arrange another dinner between myself and Alyce Wright. I’m worried I’m feeding Letty to the bears, but I also think my mother’s going to love her.
“And your relationship is open, right?” My brother’s marriage was full of deceit, so I’m certain he means honesty, not a relationship where we see other people. At least, I hope we aren’t seeing other people. I’m not seeing anyone else, and I don’t want Letty to either. Like I told her, we’ll work this distance thing out.
I spent several months each year apart from my wife throughout our twenty years of marriage, sometimes up to eighteen months back during the Iraq War.
And how well did that really work? my heart whispers.
It made us distant and lonely even in the presence of each other. We loved one another, but we didn’t know one another after my years of service and separation.
“Letty,” Charlie says, standing from his seat and offering a hand to her. “I’m Charlie.”
“The mayor brother,” she confirms, and her cheeks flush. She must be thinking about her phone call to his office.
“Sure.” He chuckles.
“There are so many of you. I keep it straight by associating your profession with your name.”
“Oh goodness, what’s his profession?” Charlie teases, glancing over at me.
“Resident sex god.”
I choke on air.
Charlie stammers.
Jaxson bursts out laughing.
“Giant, she’s a definite keeper,” Jaxson says once he settles his laughter, sounding like James, the biker brother.
“Well, uhm…on that note. I’ll leave you to it,” Charlie says, turning red around the collar. “I mean, I’ll leave you to do it.” His eyes widen. “I mean—”
“I think we get it,” I say, standing.
“I didn’t mean to clear the room,” Letty says, a sly grin on her face.
“Oh, we were only hiding out from Billy. Pub owner brother,” Charlie clarifies. “He’s a pain in the ass today.”
“I can’t wait to meet him,” Letty teases as I reach her, and she steps under my offered arm.
“Don’t be too eager,” I say, leaning to kiss her forehead.
“Aww, you two are just the cutest,” Jaxson drawls, sounding more like his mother, my sister.
“Mama’s gonna have a field day,” Charlie repeats, pushing my nephew out the door and pulling the door closed behind him.
“I really didn’t mean to interrupt,” Letty says, looking up at me. I reach around her and lock the door.
“And I really didn’t mean to be gone so long. I’m sorry.” We only have so much time together, and I should be hanging out with her, not my brother. I can be with him on the days she isn’t here.
“So sex god, huh?”
“That was too much, wasn’t it?”
“Maybe we
should test it out.” I lean forward and kiss her, urgent and earnest. Why didn’t I make love to her last night? In my office, I’m as turned on as she always makes me, and within seconds, I’m moving her toward my desk.
“You said you never kissed a bearded man before,” I tease, keeping my mouth against hers. “How about desk sex?”
“Here?” she chokes, excitement mingling with her surprise. I love surprising her, and I love how she surprises me by letting me do what I want with her body. You love her, my heart screams, but I ignore it. It’s too much, too fast. I can’t.
I hitch Letty up onto the edge of my desk.
“You walked to town? I’m a terrible host.”
“I was getting antsy. Too much energy waiting for you.”
“And how ready are you for me?” I slip my hand between her thighs and palm her over her yoga pants, but it isn’t enough. She tilts up her hips, and I tug down her pants, underwear too. Sliding a finger into her wet center, I find my answer. So ready for me. I rush to undo my belt and lower my pants. “God, you make me do crazy things.” I exhale as I drag myself against her wet folds, readying myself to enter her. She tips back on her elbows, her legs spread wide.
“You make me crazy, too,” she hums, a pleasant sound mixing with her words. I slip into her, and she falls to her back. Her legs hitch up and wrap around my hips, and I lean forward, bracing my hands on either side of her. I thrust up and pull back, setting a rhythm to keep us attached.
“I’m kind of a mess,” she softly says, her hair falling loose of the messy bun as her hands reach above her for the opposite edge of my desk. Papers slip to the floor.
“You’re fucking gorgeous,” I say, straining as my pace increases. I slip my thumb between us, watching as I play with her clit while I disappear inside her. “I love to watch this. Watch us.”
I look up to find her eyes bright and intense on me. She licks her lips as if she wants to speak but fights it.
I love you, my heart hammers. Tell me you love me, too.
I shake the thought, falling deeper into her body. Letty closes her eyes, her head tipping to the side as she bites her lip.
“Finish, Letty,” I growl, wanting her orgasm on my desk where I’ll remember her and this moment each time I sit here. Her back arches as she stills. Clenching me brings the result I desire. I let go inside her, feeling free of the hesitation I felt in my home.
Maybe we should just stay in my office.
Maybe I should just get my head together.
+ + +
That evening, we have dinner inside the Blue Ridge Microbrewery and Pub although the festivities are primarily outside. Billy is insanely busy, along with my sister, Mati, working the tent. Charlie’s making his mayoral rounds. Even James and a few of his cronies are present on the outer periphery. But the most important people for Letty to meet are my parents.
George Harrington Jr. is a good judge of character. Elaina Harrington is just judgmental.
“Giant.” My mother breathes out my name as though she hasn’t seen me in years. It’s the same sound of relief she had each time I returned home unharmed. Even when I was harmed, her relief came with the fact I lived.
“And who is this pretty young thing?” my father teases, reaching out to kiss Letty’s cheek. Letty offers it and blushes.
“I’m Olivet Pierson. But you can call me Letty.”
“And you can call me George.” His warm smile eases the tension I didn’t know she was holding in. Her shoulders relax. Was she nervous to meet my parents? I guess I’m anxious as well because I exhale when my mother beams a smile at me.
“She’s lovely,” she mouths as if Letty isn’t present and can’t hear her. They join us for dinner and unknowingly grill Letty, but she takes all their questions in stride. Good thing she likes to chat and doesn’t seem to mind the rapid-fire inquiries coming from my mother.
“Elaina, honey, I think you’ve asked enough. My only question is which beer do you like best?” my father jokes, cutting off my mother when she gets to question thirty-seven in what is clearly an unwritten list of are you good enough for my son? I think I’ll make my own decision, thank you very much, Mama.
“Time for the tent,” I suggest, and we head out to the overcrowded canopy set up between the pub and the bookstore named BookEnds on the opposite street. The covering takes up the first block of Third Avenue.
“Let me introduce you to a few people,” I shout over the volume of beer drinkers slowly getting hammered on Giant Beer. I walk Letty through the crowd, introducing her to Cora Conrad, Mati’s best friend, and Alyce Wright, who smiles without hurt feelings when she sees I’ve got a girl on my arm. I point at James, who nods at Letty, and then we make our way to the temporary bar.
“Billy,” I call out. “This is Letty.”
My brother has streaks of silver in his hair while the scruff on his jaw remains jet black, and we tease him that he must color it. His eyes sparkle when he sees Letty, and he wipes his hands on a rag before coming to the end of the bar and pulling her into a hug. He holds on a second longer than my liking, and I force my hand between them.
“She feels nice,” he teases, and I want to punch him even though he’s only looking to get a rise out of me. He’s my brother, and I know he’d never, ever go after my girl, but I don’t like the thought that some other man might want her too. When I push him back by the shoulder, he chuckles with a gleam in his eyes.
“I see how it is,” he says with a clap of his hands and then rubs them together. Letty laughs, and Billy smiles deeper.
“What’s your flavor, honey? I’ll let you taste anything you like.” The innuendo in my brother’s voice raises the hairs on the back of my neck.
“William Forrest Harrington,” I warn.
Letty looks back and forth between us a second. “I don’t understand that one.”
Billy’s expression slowly falls, and he tilts his head. “What do you mean, love?”
“Roald Dahl,” Letty explains, and Billy’s eyes shoot up to me.
“You told her the family secret?” He’s aghast. “She really must be special.”
I glare at my brother, not liking the direction of his comment.
“Roald Dahl?” a feminine voice says at my side, and I turn to see Roxanne McAllister, owner of the bookstore and my brother’s nemesis. One brow rises in question as she glares at Billy. No one understands the deal between these two. They act like they hate each other. Roxanne glances over at Letty. “Billy is the name of a character in a short story called ‘The Minpins’ by Roald Dahl. It’s a cautionary tale about not going into the woods.” Roxanne glances back at Billy with malice in her eyes. “Seems appropriate.”
Letty covers her lips with two fingers, biting back a chuckle. “Oh my,” she says under her breath, and I tug her to me.
“What would you know about playing in the woods?” Billy mocks.
“More than you’d know about reading a book,” Roxanne snaps.
Letty’s mouth falls open, and I watch as the two spar.
“Oh, good one.” Billy covers his chest over his heart with both hands. “Ouch, I’m hurt that I don’t read.”
“It’s better than being anywhere near your wood,” Roxanne retorts. Her eyes narrow on Billy.
“Go away,” he stammers, shooing her with the back of his hand.
“With pleasure.” Then she turns to Letty. “If you need a good book, come visit me.”
“And if she needs good wood, she can come to me,” Billy adds, puffing up his chest as he bellows his comeback. Only I’m not liking what he said one bit.
“Fuck that,” I say, glaring at my brother.
“I didn’t mean…” Billy turns red, which isn’t easily accomplished on him, and Roxanne chuckles as she turns and walks away.
“That woman…” he groans, turning back for the bar.
“Well, they certainly sound familiar.” Letty chuckles, and I peer down at her.
“What do you mean?”
She responds by pointing back and forth between us.
22
Hot tubs are hot.
[Letty]
Tipsy and tired at first, I have renewed energy when we return to Giant’s home. I’m not going to be able to fall asleep so easily tonight.
“Mind if I try out that hot tub downstairs?” I ask, my words a bit slow but not too slurred.
“Mind if I join you?”
I’m happy he asked. We’ve had a good night. Lots of laughs and him holding me under his arm. He’s been kissing my temple and making a real show of me as his to this town. People have given us a knowing smile all night, and I feel like they know more than me, but by the time I was three beers in, I no longer cared. I still don’t. I just want to continue enjoying him.
We decide to strip naked for the hot tub, and I sink into the bubbly warmth. With the crisp fall air coming through the screens, the juxtaposition of heat from the water is soothing. Giant and I sit opposite each other, shyly smiling while our toes brush underneath the water. Eventually, he grips my ankle and pulls my foot to his mouth. He bites the pad, which causes my knee to jerk, but I’m not as repulsed as when he suggested kissing my feet while we were camping.
“You should put one of these up on the mountain. Maybe at your cabin.”
“There is one.”
I don’t recall seeing it, but I didn’t get a good look at his place. In fact, I haven’t even seen the inside.
“That place is special to you.” He’s already explained the inheritance from his pap.
“The house was so dilapidated when Pap gifted it to me. I think he knew I’d need the project when I got home. I’d need the solitude of the woods and the work with my hands. Idle minds are not good for those with dark memories.”
My eyes fall to the wound on his shoulder, and my chest aches. I can’t imagine him not in the world. Not in my life either. I want to keep him.
“You’ll have to show me sometime.”
“You really miss it?” he teases, but there’s something more in the question.