Just Like This

by Rebecca Gallo

  “You still have the T-shirt from our first concert together,” I called out.

  “Yeah,” he replied curtly, effectively ending our conversation. That was disappointing.

  Before I could respond, the lights in the stadium turned off, and the crowd started to cheer wildly. My excitement overwhelmed me, and I sprang to my feet. I started to cheer wildly with everyone else in the stadium. My heart beat loudly in my chest, and I turned back toward Garrett, grinning. I reached out and latched onto his hands, shaking them before I cried out, “Oh my god!” right as the band began to play the first chords of their opening song.

  Garrett’s hands snaked around my waist as he joined me in singing loudly and dancing. Being at the concert itself was unbelievable but sharing this moment with Garrett was something entirely new and wonderful. I rocked in the circle of his embrace and sang along loudly, letting Garrett’s touch and the music fill me with joy.

  When the first song ended, I realized I had completely forgotten about Garrett’s anxiety. “Are you okay?” I asked, searching for tension in his jaw and stiffness in his body. Instead, I found him relaxed and happy.

  “I’m perfect,” he shouted with a wide grin, bringing me back against his chest.

  The second song started, and Garrett’s hold on me tightened. I relished the feeling of having his arms wrapped around me. I danced and sang in the comfortable space he provided, but he was always close, ready and willing to pull me right back against him. And then it happened. Magic.

  “Turn around,” he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. Nervous butterflies sprang to life inside my belly as I stepped to face him. He lifted my arms until they were around his neck, and his hands were firm on my hips. We swayed together to the rhythm of the song. I sang along softly as I rested my head against his chest. I felt a vibration in his chest and knew that he was doing the same. This was magic, this was the truth, and he was the only person in the entire world that I wanted. Since we’d met, he had been in my head, and now he was finding his way into my heart.

  I felt his hands slide up my back and then tangle into my hair. He tugged lightly, and I lifted my face to meet his heated gaze. That first kiss we had shared was fierce and desperate. This kiss happened both slowly and quickly. It seemed to take forever for our lips to connect, but when they did, my entire body ignited, and I couldn’t get enough. I molded myself against his body, and he tightened his hold on me. I could feel his erection hard against my belly, and I moaned slightly. God, I wanted him so badly that it was frustrating. I guess I would finally find out if good things really did come to those who waited. He growled as I tried to pull away and shook his head before his lips devoured me in a final, searing kiss.

  As we broke apart, I caught sight of Palmer staring at us. His jaw was set, and there was an angry glint in his eye. I took a step back away from Garrett. I had gotten carried away, lost in my emotions, and had forgotten the boundaries I set. I’d forgotten there was another person whose emotions mattered in this complicated equation. I should have instantly regretted my actions and apologized for my behavior, but I didn’t. I couldn’t because my heart and brain were both in sync and were both screaming more, more, more.

  Chapter Eight

  Garrett

  I didn’t want the night to end. I wanted to remain firmly planted in that spot with Cami, dancing and singing and kissing. She had made me feel calm. The concert could have turned into a complete nightmare for me, but instead, it had been a blessing. Her excitement was infectious, which helped. I’d found myself focusing solely on the way she danced and sang, at her elation when her favorite songs were performed. And when I’d felt that sinking feeling start to creep up, I had reached out, and she’d been there, ready to be an anchor for me.

  “Hey, are you two ready to go?” Palmer asked. There was a scowl on his face, and suddenly, I understood why Cami backed away. Palmer had witnessed our kiss. For a moment, I felt a twinge of guilt. I wasn’t trying to keep pouring salt in a wound that had only started to heal, but damn, it felt so good to have my lips pressed against hers. She was heaven in my arms, and every inch of my body screamed more, more, more.

  “I think we’re going to wait until it clears out,” I told him.

  “Suit yourself,” he said.

  I wanted more time to be alone with Cami. I didn’t want to have to worry about Nikki or Palmer or anyone else. I wanted to stay put and kiss her sweet, soft lips until the stadium emptied. And then I wanted to take her back to the car and fog up the windows of my rental.

  “Hey.” Cami reached out and touched Palmer’s hand. He stopped and looked down as if her touch had burned him. “Why don’t you and Jackson come back to my house?”

  “Are you sure?” I was more than a little disappointed that she didn’t want to spend time alone with me.

  “Yeah. It’ll be fun.” She looked up at Palmer expectantly, as if to apologize in her own way. “Are you in?”

  Palmer deferred to Jackson, who replied, “I’m in.”

  “What about me?” Nikki whined, threading her arms through Palmer’s. “Can I come too?”

  Palmer turned to Cami and gave her an expectant look. “Sure,” she seemed to agree reluctantly.

  “See you there,” Palmer said finally before brushing past us.

  “You didn’t have to invite Nikki,” I said to Cami as we followed the last of the crowd out of the stadium.

  “It would have been rude not to invite her,” she answered.

  “She was rude to you the entire night.”

  “Was she? I hardly noticed,” she teased, grinning up at me before stopping to place a light kiss on my cheek. “This was an amazing first date.”

  “What are you doing tomorrow night?”

  She was silent for a moment before she replied, “I think I’m free.”

  “Now you’re not. We’re going out,” I stated matter-of-factly.

  We made it out of the stadium and into the parking lot where I directed her toward where we had parked. As soon as I caught sight of my rental car, I felt hungry. I needed to be close to her again. I pinned Cami against the passenger side of the car, and she looked up at me with a similar expression. Slowly, I closed the millimeters of space between us. Toe-to-toe, I leaned forward and brushed my lips against hers. I held her waist firmly as she arched her back, pressing her breasts into my chest. Her hands lifted to cup my cheeks as she reciprocated with light, fluttering kisses.

  “I want more,” I growled with frustration when I couldn’t take anymore. I pulled away, attempting to clear my head. Cami looked confused. So I explained further. “I don’t want to rush you into anything, Cami. You’re the first woman I’ve met who I want to go slow with. I want to do everything right.”

  She nodded as her hands fell away from my face. “I understand.” She bit her lower lip before she flicked her heated gaze on me. Her desire mirrored my own. Her small hands reached out and pressed against my chest before traveling lower. She grasped my belt in her tiny fingers and tugged before letting go. “But everything with you feels right.”

  Holy fuck. The angel inside her drew me close. But deep down, she seemed to have a devilish streak. The only way to know for sure was to press her buttons.

  I took a step forward, closing in on her, and let my hands drift down the front of her shirt until I hit the waistband of her shorts. My fingers slipped under it and brushed against the warm, smooth skin of her stomach. She sucked in a sharp breath, which only emboldened me.

  “How right does this feel?” I brushed her lips with a teasing kiss as I moved my hands from the waistband of her shorts to the frayed edges. Why were cutoffs so damn sexy? My fingers drifted under the material to the soft skin of her inner thigh. She trembled against me as I continued my exploration, moving my fingers farther up her thigh until I brushed just the edge of her underwear. She moaned her answer and closed her eyes. “Open your eyes, Cami, and look at me.”

  I withdrew my hand, and her eyes popped open.
She wanted more, maybe even expected it, but I wasn’t going to give it to her. “Cami, I’m not going to fuck you against my rental car in some stadium parking lot. You mean more to me than that. But I’ll happily indulge you once we’re in private.”

  Cami exhaled loudly, and her entire body seemed to relax. “I feel different around you, Garrett. But you’re right, we don’t need to rush anything.” She looked around the parking lot, which was still pretty busy, and seemed to realize what could have happened. “We should probably go.”

  The car ride back to Gig Harbor was unremarkable. We made small talk. I asked her about her dad’s illness, which she didn’t want to discuss.

  “Can I ask you a question?” she inquired.

  “Sure.”

  “Where did you go after breakfast at Palmer’s?”

  “I had changed my flight after his party the night before and went home to see my family.”

  “Why?”

  I shifted uncomfortably in the seat. If I said I didn’t want to talk about why I left Palmer’s, then we’d have nothing to discuss. “I didn’t like being around a lot of strangers. Even though I’m home, back in the States, my body was still on alert. I was constantly waiting for someone to blow us all up.”

  “Did you feel that way at the concert?”

  “Yes. You know I did, but things were different.”

  “Why?”

  “Because of you, Cami. You make me feel grounded. I’ve never met a woman like you before.” She was the first woman I had ever wanted to claim completely as mine. Deep inside my soul, I wanted her more than I wanted anything in my entire life.

  From the corner of my eye, I saw Cami pick up her hand and examine it, turning it over and holding it up against the passing streetlights. “I know what you mean.”

  The ride turned silent again until Cami asked, “Is it like this for everyone? Do you think most people feel something like this?”

  “I thought you said you weren’t innocent and inexperienced,” I joked.

  “I’m being serious!”

  “Fine.” I took a moment to think about what she was asking me. Do most people feel what we’ve experienced? “I’m not sure, Cami. I think this is … different.”

  She sighed and said, “I thought so.”

  As we reached the outskirts of Tacoma, Cami asked me about my family. “Palmer said your family owns a winery. Does that mean you grew up in Napa Valley?”

  “Sort of. I grew up in Healdsburg, which is a little west of Napa Valley. That’s where my family’s winery is located.”

  “And you went there after Palmer’s?”

  I nodded. “I’d planned on going back there anyway while I’m on leave. I just went earlier.”

  “Are you close to your family?”

  I battled with myself over how much I wanted to share. If I wanted her to open up to me about her father, then I’d have to show her some honesty. “I wouldn’t say we’re close. My father has always been a little closed off from all of us. He’s strict. He expected me to take over the family business.”

  “But you didn’t want that?”

  “I do want it. Now. But when I was eighteen, I didn’t. I needed to figure it out for myself instead of having him constantly tell me what was expected of me. Planned for me. So, I enlisted.”

  “Your dad wasn’t happy about that?”

  “He screamed at me for hours after I told him. And then he went cold. And I stopped going home.”

  “Why?” I thought that all of her questions would be awkward to answer, that I’d have a hard time with telling her the truth, but Cami made it all so easy. I wanted to share everything with her.

  “My mom died. I was a complete mama’s boy. Probably still am. She loved the land, the vines, and the earth. When she died, I didn’t want to be reminded of what I’d lost. So, I stayed away. I traveled. I’ve been to almost every wine-producing region in the world. And I’ve enjoyed being in the Army. I like leading my men.”

  Cami reached over and placed her hand on my thigh. I removed one hand from the steering wheel and covered hers with mine. “Thank you for telling me all of this,” she whispered.

  “Tell me about your dad,” I pushed, hoping she would open up.

  “He and Palmer’s dad are in business together. They build homes, and Dad had no intention of slowing down until he got sick. After he was diagnosed, I quit my job as a pastry chef in Seattle, rented out my condo, and moved back home.”

  “When did he get sick?”

  “Two years ago. This most recent surgery was pretty much our last hope.”

  “And did it work?”

  “I don’t think so. He won’t talk about it.”

  “What about your mom?”

  Cami withdrew her hand from my leg, and I saw her shift closer to the door. “I think that’s a topic left for another day, Garrett.”

  I didn’t press her for more because we were crossing over the Narrows Bridge and heading toward Gig Harbor. Instead, I asked, “So what are you going to make for everyone tonight?”

  “Pancakes,” she answered.

  My laughter filled the car. “Pancakes? Are you serious?”

  “It’s my favorite late-night snack.”

  I reached across the console that separated us and grabbed her hand and brought it up to my lips. “I can’t wait.”

  Cami directed me to her house, and surprisingly, we were the first ones to arrive. Her house was a sprawling ranch painted white and situated right on the bay. She led me down the concrete path to the front door where I had almost kissed her senseless a few nights ago. She unlocked the door, and we stepped into the dark interior. Even though none of the interior lights had been left on, the house was awash in moonlight from the numerous windows on the back of the house that overlooked the water. She easily navigated the house, turning on lights as she went, until we ended up in a pristine white kitchen.

  “I’ll wait until everyone else gets here before I start making pancakes,” she informed me as she opened cabinets and pulled out the ingredients. She turned toward me and nodded toward the fireplace that sat in one corner. “Can you get that going?”

  Even though it was summer, a fire sounded nice. I got to work stacking logs in the hearth. After I lit the kindling, I looked up and caught her watching me as I blew out the long fireplace match. “You’re staring,” I said.

  “I know,” she replied with a husky voice.

  “Cami … don’t. Palmer and everyone else will be here soon.”

  As if on cue, the sound of car doors slamming shut cut the tension, snapping us both to attention. The doorbell rang, and I left Cami in the kitchen to answer it. Palmer entered first with Jackson and Nikki trailing after.

  “Garrett.” Nikki whined my name, and I cringed because she was clearly drunk. “I thought we were going to the concert together. You hardly talked to me all night. I miss spending time with you.”

  Nikki gave me her best siren smile before molding herself to me. She stood on her tiptoes and nipped my ear with her teeth. This was too much. I knew what I wanted, and it wasn’t her anymore. Maybe it was never. I put my hands up between us and pushed her away.

  “I’m sorry you thought that,” I informed her, my tone devoid of remorse.

  She scrunched up her nose in disgust. “What’s gotten into Garrett? Is it that girl? That nobody? She doesn’t have a clue what to do with a man like you.”

  Nikki lunged at me again. I dodged her attempt to embrace me but caught her before she could tumble to the hardwood floor. It was time for her to leave. I walked her over to a nearby couch and sat her down.

  “I’ll be right back,” I told her in a stern voice. “Don’t move.”

  I walked back into the kitchen where Palmer and Jackson were seated at the large island, talking about the highlights of the concert with Cami, who was whisking ingredients together in a large bowl.

  “What the hell? She wasn’t this drunk when you left the stadium.”

  Palmer
looked impassive. “We stopped on our way back and had a few drinks.”

  “A few drinks? Nikki is a mess. You have to take her back to wherever she’s staying.”

  Palmer reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He tossed them to me and said, “Can you do it? Cami’s about to make us some of her confetti pancakes, and I don’t want to miss out.”

  I looked up at Cami who didn’t look happy with Palmer at all. “Palmer,” she interjected. “Garrett doesn’t know how to get around Gig Harbor, and if she’s that drunk, she’s not going to be able to tell him where she’s staying. She can sleep it off in the guest house.”

  Cami pulled open a drawer and reached inside for a set of keys. She tossed them to me, and I pocketed them. “It’s just across the driveway. Hard to miss.”

  I placed Palmer’s car keys on the counter and walked back to the living room. Nikki was sprawled on the couch, sound asleep. I nudged her awake and helped her stand. With one arm wrapped around her waist, we stumbled to the front door and out into the night. This was one walk I didn’t want to take.

  Chapter Nine

  Cami

  I wanted to murder Palmer for asking Garrett to drive Nikki home. I didn’t want her in my guest house either, but I couldn’t stand the thought of Garrett alone with her for more than ten minutes. Jealousy was an unfamiliar emotion, and with each glance at the clock, my patience started to fray, and I inched closer to complete irrationality.

  “Jesus, how long is this going to take?” I hissed as I flipped another confetti pancake.

  “If you don’t want to make pancakes, Cami, you don’t have to,” Palmer told me through a mouthful of pancake.