Sienna laughs around a swallow of her beer, and I relax a little.
“Just for that, I’m going to carve a pumpkin that will kick your pumpkins ass,” Ben says to Sienna.
She just smiles. “You’re on.”
The adults whip into a fury of insults and taunts as they gather reams of newspaper and open their carving tools. Sofie and Livvie have already finished theirs with the kids, so they’re elected as judges.
“The boys are all set up out back.” Jack says as he hunkers down with his pumpkin. “You guys are going down.”
“You wish,” Sienna retorts, causing me to grin. She chugs down the rest of her ale and sets it aside. With her tongue between her teeth, she sorts through the stencil book and selects her pumpkin face. I’m so busy watching her, I get stuck with the shittiest stencil, but it’s okay. I’m just enjoying the hell out of watching her.
Sofie and Livvie are overcome by laughter and they sputter out a “Ready, Set, Go!” in between giggles.
I thought she was gorgeous the first night I met her when she came out of her house wearing little more than her robe and barely-there pajamas, but I was wrong. Dead wrong. Then I only thought of her as a vaguely interesting women with a hot body and an attitude. Now I know her, and I am completely awestruck but how amazing the woman is.
She must feel me staring, because she looks up at me, her face split wide in a grin and the world slows to a stop as our gazes meet. In the end, no one wins the pumpkin contents. We all vote for our significant other, and it is a four-way tie.
* * *
“That was amazing. I can’t remember when I last had that much fun.” Rocky jumps from the truck and tangles around our legs as we head back to her house. “Thank you so much for inviting me.”
“Anytime.”
She looks back at me as she unlocks her door. “You seem quiet,” she says, but her voice is light and her limbs are loose as she toes off her shoes and throws herself onto the side chair.
I make sure to do up the locks for the front door and follow after her. When I don’t answer right away, her smile fades and she sits up. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I tug her to her feet and then arrange her in my lap after I sit down on the chair. “I couldn’t be better.”
“I can’t believe you cheated,” she says, giggling. “Mine was clearly a lost cause.”
“Best pumpkin there,” I insist.
She turns in my lap so her mouth is nearly touching mine, and I want her so bad it wipes out every craving I’ve ever had for just one more drink.
“We get something to eat,” I say, but my voice is strangled.
Her eyes flick from my lips to my intense gaze. “I’m not hungry,” she says breathily.
Her hands come up to my chest, and I suck in a breath, stopping her leisurely path up to my shoulders with my own. “C’mon, we can go back out for something to eat.”
She shakes her head adamantly. “Not hungry,” she repeats.
I groan as she dips her head to press her lips to my throat. “Sienna,” I say, but my voice has gone as rough as gravel. “C’mon.”
“Shh," she says. “I want you.” Her words end as her lips reach mine. “I want to taste you. Please.”
Giving in, I angle my mouth over hers, spreading her open with one thrust of my tongue. She meets me, no indication of hesitance this time. She’s more potent than the finest liquor.
When she breaks the kiss, I gasp for air, wondering when she got the upper hand. She trails the kisses down my chest over the material of my shirt, and I just give up on breathing altogether.
With a heated glance at me, she slides off the chair and before I can say a word otherwise, her hands are at my belt, unbuckling and unbuttoning. She gives an insistent tug at my jeans and boxers until I lift up for her to peel them down to my ankles.
She starts to lean toward me, but as much as I want her mouth on me, I need her to be as mindless as I am more.
“Are you sure?” I ask, even though it pains me.
Instead of answering, she shoves me back and her mouth is on me in a wordless response. My fingers clench on the material of the armrests to keep from tugging at her hair.
She has me pinned by the ferocity of my reaction to her hot, wet heat around me. Her eyes meet mine and she takes the base of my cock in one hand, squeezing as she licks the underside.
Unable to hold back my release, I tangle my hands in her hair to hold her still and she keeps going until I slump back into the seat, completely bowled over.
When I regain feeling in my limbs, she helps me up. When I start to undress her, she stops me.
“No, this was for you this time.”
After a second, I buckle my jeans, too exhausted to argue. “What for?”
“I wanted you. I wanted to make you happy.”
I kiss her as she comes to sit in my lap again. “Not complaining, but you don’t have to go down on me to make me happy.”
She grins. “I did that because I wanted to.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear it.”
“Will you stay the night?” It’s the first time she’s asked instead of acquiescing when I demand it for her safety.
“As long as you don’t make me sleep on the couch,” I tell her.
Piper
It’s a beautiful day and I should be enjoying it. There’s no reason for me not to. And yet here I am, wracked with indecision as I stare out at freedom on the other side of my screen door.
The influx of last-minute vacationers determined to wring the final remnants of summer before the coming of fall have kept me busy for the last two weeks. So busy, I told Diane not to worry about giving me any off time. I could use the money and the work as well as the distraction. She didn’t like it, but she agreed because the inn had been packed without fail, the whole time. As September started to draw to a close, guests gradually began to trickle down to a more manageable number until I couldn’t keep putting her offer of downtime off.
When I’m not working, I’m at the little bungalow with it’s cheerful paint job and quaint furniture dusting, refinishing, or relaxing with Logan, who’s essentially moved into mine since his is still filled with unpacked boxes. Once she saw the many improvements I made on the bungalow, I convinced Diane to let me help with the renovations on the other rentals, too.
But now there are no chores for me to do. There are no guests with urgent demands, and Diane put off my last plea with a stern shake of her head and a pointed look. For weeks, I’d been dreading this moment. It’s all too easy to think about the things I’ve left behind when I pause long enough for them to catch up with me.
As I’m turning away with a promise to myself to try again on my next day off, a loud knock comes at the door. In the following silence, it echoes through the empty hall. Logan’s asleep, and I don’t want to wake him, but I pause anyway. We haven’t actually slept together, but he sleeps in my bed every night, anyway, and we spend those nights doing things that make me blush just thinking about them.
The knock comes again, and in the deep porch shadows, a shape shifts. Panic flares molten hot, and instinct tells me to escape into the recesses of the house.
I whirl around, heart in my throat, blood rushing in my ears. How could I be so stupid? I’ve only been here a short while, and I’m already letting myself get too comfortable. The first thing I should have done when I heard the knock was plan a quick exit. It’s what I always done when I get a bad vibe. Instead I stood there like a damn scared little bunny. I pivot, heading for either the bedroom to wake Logan or to the backdoor to book it.
“Shit.” The familiar voice stops me in my tracks, and I feel like an idiot as I press myself against the wall.
“Chloe?” I cross the short distance to the door and swing it open. “What are you doing here?”
Chloe tugs me into her arms, and I wrap mine around her shoulders. I pull back after a few seconds and look her over. She hasn’t changed in the months since I’ve seen her, aside fro
m the protruding and heavily pregnant belly.
I stare, eyes rounded. “When did this happened?”
She places a protective hand on her stomach and laughs. “Why don’t you invite me in, and I’ll give you all the dirty details.”
Gesturing with one hand and pushing the door open with another, I grin, chastised. “Of course, of course. Guess I’ve forgotten my manners.”
Chloe stands in the hall, her summer dress swishing around her legs in the gentle breeze from the open door. “This is a cute place you’ve got here.”
“Thank you. Why don’t you come sit down on the couch?”
Chloe flicks me a look. “You sound just like Gabe.”
“How is the father-to-be?” I take a seat opposite her on the couch.
She laughs. “You’d think it’s his first time being a father. He’s so excited he doesn’t know what to do with himself.” She pauses, her face growing serious. “But that’s not why I’m here.”
My good mood at seeing her sours. “Chloe,” I warn.
She holds up her hands. “I come in peace! It’s just you’ve had a couple months, and I couldn’t wait any longer. Ben said you’ve even been to his house!”
My stern expression softens, and I put my hand over hers. “I’m sorry. I’ve just been so busy here with work.”
Her eyes sparkle. “And? I hear you and Logan hit it off after all.”
“Yes, and if you don’t keep your mouth closed, you’re going to wake him up.” She glances around and notes some of his things around the living room. Before she can squeal in excitement, I cut her off. “Don’t freak out about it yet, but yes, he’s been staying here.”
She raises her eyebrows. “Is that so? As in he’s been staying here as a round the clock guard / police protection or he’s been ‘staying here’?” She wiggles her eyebrows on the last two words
“You’re terrible.” I shake my head.
“Well, I’m happy for you.”
To escape her knowing gaze, I get to my feet. “We should feed you. Why don’t I go get my purse and we can spend my first day off from work with lunch? My treat.”
Chloe gets to her feet, which turns out to be a laborious process. “These days, I don’t ever turn down food.”
Logan ambles in then clad only in boxer briefs and a cup of coffee. Momentarily stricken by all the glorious skin put on display, I can’t seem to form words. It’s been a long couple of weeks settling into the new closeness, but the sight of his magnificent body still has the ability to leave me breathless.
I manage to tear my eyes away from his abs, all three hundred and twenty-nine of them, and cross the room to give him a kiss. “Chloe and I are going to go out to eat,” I say, when he finally releases me and I hope I’m not blushing.
Logan glances over my shoulder and gives Chloe and easy smile. “Nice to meet you again. Make sure you take care of her.”
Chloe fans herself with one hand and grins. “You bet.”
With one last kiss from Logan, I follow her out of the front door and double check, then triple check, my locks. I can feel her eyes on me as I turn around, but she doesn’t say anything and I’m grateful. Chloe is a great friend.
“You know the area better than I do,” I say once we’re in Chloe’s car. “Why don’t you give me a tour and then we can find somewhere for lunch?”
“If I weren’t about to pop, I’d beat you for not telling me about this sooner.”
“Yeah, let’s not. I’d hate to be responsible for sending you into labor.”
She backs out of the drive, and I almost laugh at how comical it is for her to maneuver around her belly. “Oh my God,” she exclaims, distracting me from musing how I could have been pregnant or with children of my own. The car come to an abrupt stop at the end of the drive.
I follow her gaze to Logan who’s on the porch now, though he pulled on shorts, tossing a ball to Rocky. “What is it?”
“I’m happily married, but damn, that’s one sexy ass man.”
My neck swivels to keep him in my line of sight as she finishes backing out of the driveway. He’s got his shirt off, baring his deep tan to the sunlight.
When I turn back around as the trees along the roadside block him from sight, I find Chloe studying me.
“What?”
“I’ve just never seen you like this. You were literally staring at him with a smile on your face.”
“Then let’s not jinx it, okay?”
She turns onto the main road and risks a glance back at me. “Fine, but I want all the dirty details over lunch.”
“I don’t think so,” I say with a laugh.
“I told you everything when I started dating Gabe!” Chloe shoots me a meaningful look.
I swallow back a laugh. “One thing at a time, okay?”
For the next few hours, Chloe directs the car through the winding streets of Nassau. It’s a small town, so it shouldn’t take long, but Chloe ends up chatting about her family, who’ve always lived here. Then she moves on to her husband Gabe and her step-daughter Emily.
As she talks, I relax into the cool leather seats and let her voice wash over me. Much as I try to admit otherwise, I’ve missed talking to her, and am a little sad when we pull into a small restaurant’s parking lot.
“I didn’t realize how much I missed this place,” she says as she tilts her face to the blue sky and takes a deep breath.
“You don’t come back here often?” I follow her into the restaurant.
“Not as much as I’d like. Ever since this little guy made his presence known, I haven’t had much energy. Besides, the business . . .” she trails away, her wide eyes coming to mine as the hostess seats us at a table.
I balk, blocking the foot traffic. The hostess glances at me with questions in her impatient eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I say, refusing to sit. “Do you mind seating us at a table facing the front door, please?”
“I—” The hostess catches herself and pastes on a forced smile. “Of course. Please follow me.”
I offer Chloe my arm and a pained look. “I’m sorry, it’s a habit.”
“You don’t have to apologize, Sienna.” Chloe takes her seat at the new table with a perfect view of the front door. Luckily, it’s also located next to the back exit.
We both order drinks from the waiter who appears and disappears a few seconds later.
I sip my ice water as Chloe peruses the menu. “How is the business going?”
Chloe pauses her search, nibbling on her bottom lip. “The business? Oh, it’s going great.” She hesitates and then comes to a decision. “I never thanked you properly for what you did for me.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” I wave away her comment.
Her dark curls swing around her face as she shakes her head. “No, I really do. The travel agency was your baby.”
“Then, I left my baby in very capable hands.”
“You know you can always come back.” Chloe sets her menu to the side and gives me her full attention. “Since you’re back in Florida and everything. I don’t want you to think I’m trying to keep you away from it.”
The waiter comes back and takes our order. Chloe gets two appetizers, an entrée, and orders the desert ahead of time without batting an eye.
When she catches my amused look she smiles, unrepentant. “Eating for two.”
I shake my head, biting back a laugh. “Convenient. I don’t seem to remember any excuses when you ate like this in college.”
“I have a great metabolism.”
As the light mood fades I clear my throat. “I know you aren’t keeping the business from me. I don’t want it, honestly, and I know you’re the only one who will love it as much as I do. I can’t go back there. I thought maybe, with time, but I realized it’s just not what I want anymore. I’m happy here.”
Chloe nods and nibbles a piece of fresh bread from a basket on the center of the table. “I understand. I don’t know if I told you how much I appreciate it,
especially when you let me uproot it to live near Gabe.”
“That’s what friends are for.” I try to keep my tone light.
“I’m glad you’re settling in here. You seem happier than I’ve seen you in a long time.”
When I smile again, it’s sincere. “I am. This place is exactly what I needed. It’s beautiful here. I don’t know how you left.”
Before she can respond, there’s a flurry of activity at the front door and two beautiful women enter. One with deep auburn hair holds the hand of a little boy. The other, a sloe-eyed brunette, is flanked by two teenage boys with identical coloring and wide, toothy smiles. Beside me, Chloe raises a hand and waves them over. Sofie and Livvie wave back and start to head our way.
“Since you already met Sofie and Livvie, I thought it would be fun to make it a girl’s day out.” Chloe pushes back her chair to greet the two women.
Two waiters appear out of nowhere to push another table against ours and rearrange the chairs to make room for the new additions. I take a deep gulp of my water, wishing I was something stronger. It was easier making friends when Logan was by my side.
The women take seats, one on either side of Chloe, and their children next to them leaving me between one of the teenagers and the younger boy.
“I’m Donnie,” the teenager says as he gets to his seat. “We didn’t get to meet since these two,” he jerks his thumb at the older boy who must be Rafe, and the younger who must be Cole, “kept me running around when we did pumpkins.”
“Sienna.”
Both teenagers give me identical smiles and this time my own smile is genuine.
“Nice to meet you all.”
Livvie drops her purse next to her chair and fluffs her hair. “I’m so glad you called. I needed to get out of the house.”
Chloe laughs, one hand on her belly. “My cousin driving you crazy?”
“Always,” Livvie says, but she’s grinning good-naturedly. “Logan got a new motorcycle, so naturally he and Ben have been mooning over it. Ben’s trying to convince me he needs a new one.”
“Really?” The other teenager sits up a little straighter in his seat.
Savior (First to Fight Book 4) Page 16