Sisters of Summer’s End

by Lori Foster

  His mouth firmed and his chin jutted. “Yeah, some colleges let anyone in as long as they pay tuition.”

  God, she’d been insulting. Protecting herself at his expense...well, that made her a not-very-nice person. “I didn’t mean it that way. I just didn’t realize—”

  “I have an associate degree in business,” Daron explained, his brows still pulled tight. “Nothing too fancy, but it’s useful now and then.”

  “But...you’ve been working here for so long—”

  He shrugged. “I was in college when Coop hired me. This is a full-time job, so it put me behind a little, but I eventually finished up.”

  Maris remembered telling him that he didn’t know her, and that was true, but did she know him any better? Curious, she offered him a cookie, took one for herself, then leaned on the counter. “Business, huh?”

  He smirked. “Yeah, not like I’ll use a degree here, right?”

  “I didn’t mean that. A business degree would probably come in handy lots of places.” Heck, she wished she had one, but education hadn’t been high on her list. Independence had been her basic goal.

  “I could put it to use somewhere else. That was actually the original plan. But I like it here. Actually, I love it here. The park suits me.”

  Yes, it did. Would Cooper’s Charm even seem the same without Daron?

  No, it would not.

  Enjoying this new insight into him as a man, Maris said, “And you have a house?”

  “It’s small. Three bedrooms, one and a half baths, quarter-acre lot.”

  He called that small? To her, it was an unattainable dream.

  “I figured it was an investment, right?” he continued. “Rent doesn’t earn equity, but property does.”

  She nibbled at the edge of her cookie, feeling pretty low, before admitting, “I’d love to get a house. Right now I’m dumping everything into savings. Well, that and making improvements to this place. Eventually, I hope to buy my own home. It’s just not in the cards yet.” There were days, sometimes weeks, when it felt like it’d never happen.

  Daron reached past her—bringing the heat of his nearness and the scent of the fresh outdoors—right past her nose as he pilfered another cookie. “You run a good business.”

  The but hung loud in the air. She felt defensive, but said, “I’m open to advice.”

  “No,” he stated firmly, “you aren’t. Not ever. Especially not from me.”

  True enough. Before this minute, she might have bit his face off if he’d offered an opinion, because she would have taken it as criticism.

  The truth didn’t set well with her, but she faced it all the same.

  She’d been terrible.

  It would be best to start over, and that could more easily begin with another kiss. When he started to take another bite of his cookie, she stopped him, blocking his hand, then stepped into his space, close enough that her body pressed all along his.

  His mellow brown eyes widened and he went very still. “Maris?”

  An actual apology stuck in her throat, but she managed to ask, “Is the dinner offer still open? Maybe tomorrow night around seven?”

  With his gaze on her mouth, he nodded, followed with a fast, “Yes.”

  Bless the man, he was far more forgiving and flexible than she’d ever been. “Perfect. Rule number one, my work comes first.” When he started to speak, she touched his chest. “Rule number two, never underestimate me—and going forward, I’ll give you the same respect, I promise.”

  His arms looped around the small of her back. “Rule number three, always be yourself, because I like you, Maris. A lot.”

  She was starting to believe that he did. “These are my rules,” she reminded him with a smile.

  “Well, that one should be included.” Without waiting, he turned his head and fit his mouth to hers in a cookie-sweet kiss that left her crowded against him, and a little carried away.

  As she caught her breath, she said, “Rule number four, no sex on a first date.”

  His slow grin did crazy things to her insides. “I think you just made that up because you’re tempted.”

  “Daron—” she tried to object...even if he was right.

  “Hey, as long as there’s a second date, I can live with number four.”

  Well, damn. He could live with it.

  But could she?

  Chapter Nine

  Joy shivered as she cut construction paper into shapes inside the lodge. Glancing toward the window, she saw the flurries coming down, just as Daron had predicted. Ohio weather was nothing if not unpredictable. Too many times, over too many years, snow fouled up Halloween, then went away again.

  She hoped this wouldn’t be one of those years.

  Not long after she’d picked Jack up from school the day had turned gray and gloomy. She wondered if Phoenix and Daron had finished their work.

  Just then the lodge door opened and before she’d even finished turning, Chaos bolted in. Jack looked up from his task and squealed. Together, he and Chaos made a fair ruckus, reuniting like friends long separated.

  Royce stomped his feet a few times, then stepped in and shut the door. His cheeks were ruddy from the cold, his dark hair mussed, and he wore a coat rather than a jacket.

  He looked good enough to eat.

  While Jack and Chaos greeted each other, Joy went to him. “I didn’t expect you.”

  “Hope you don’t mind us dropping in. I returned a tool to Daron and since I was here—”

  “Of course I don’t mind.” She reached up to smooth his hair into place. “Coffee?”

  He shook his head. “I just had hot chocolate at the camp store. I wanted to see if you two were free for dinner.”

  Her heart jumped but she tried to suppress any outward reaction. No, it wasn’t alone time with him, but it was terribly sweet of him to include Jack again.

  She thought of the chops she had marinating, but they’d keep. Turning to Jack, she asked, “Would you like to go to dinner with Mr. Nakirk?”

  Jack cheered, and that got Chaos running in circles.

  Grinning, Royce said, “Obviously, it’ll be at my house since I can’t leave Chaos alone. I’d planned on steaks off the grill, but it might be too cold for you.”

  Steaks sounded amazing. “I’ll bundle up,” she promised.

  He stuffed his hands in his pockets, and said low, “Do you know how hard it is not to touch you?”

  Warmth spread through her. “Oh, I have a guess, since I so badly want you to.”

  “When can we get together again?”

  Thrilled that he’d sought her out to ask, she said, “It depends on how together you want to be.” Before Royce could take that the wrong way, she explained, “I can eke out an hour or two most afternoons, while Jack is in school, especially now with things so slow. Any more marathons, though, I’d need to arrange for Maris to watch him again.”

  His mouth quirked. “It was a marathon, wasn’t it? Should have tided me over for a day or two, but I swear the minute I got home, I wanted you again.” With a warm smile, he murmured, “Your scent was on my sheets, but then, so was a lot of dog hair, so I had to wash them.”

  Joy laughed. “I think it’s sweet that you let Chaos sleep with you.”

  “I didn’t really have a choice. That first night, he damn near slept on my head. I didn’t have the heart to put him out of the bed.”

  He’d probably cuddled the dog, she thought, knowing how good he was to Chaos. “I’m glad.”

  At the sound of laughter, they both looked over to see Jack darting around a table, Chaos hot on his heels.

  “Good news, though. Daron suggested that I get him a doghouse, with his own cushy bed in it. It’s an indoor thing that almost looks like furniture. I put it in the corner of the bedroom and added a few of his favorite toys. He
seems to like it. Last night he started out with me, but middle of the night he went to his own bed.”

  While Jack was occupied, Joy stepped up against Royce. “So we might not need a dog sitter next time?”

  “Next time,” he whispered. “I like the sound of that.” He, too, glanced at Jack, then stole a quick kiss. “Chaos isn’t there yet, so yeah, I might still ask Daron to lend a hand. He agreed to help train Chaos, but he’ll still know why I’m asking.”

  Joy gave that quick thought, and decided it didn’t matter. Not to her, anyway. “Will it bother you for others to know?”

  “Not if you’re okay with it.”

  Always so considerate. “Thank you.”

  “I just remembered. The school called and they want to do a field trip to the drive-in sometime after the season ends.”

  “I suggested it, but I didn’t know they’d made a decision.” Her brain started to buzz with ideas. “I’ll volunteer as a chaperone, and maybe we could do some activity for the kids while they’re there. A short animated movie inside so they could see how it works.”

  Royce nodded. “I like it. I figured I’d give each kid a little bag of popcorn, but I don’t know about drinks.”

  “We’ll take care of it. The school and I, I mean. Let me think on it and I’ll get some ideas together.”

  Jack skidded up next to them, and Chaos tumbled right over Joy’s feet. Laughing, she bent down to stroke the dog’s downy ears, and then gave her attention to Jack.

  “Can me and Chaos go outside?”

  The correction for his grammar was on the tip of her tongue when a memory from the past hit her. She hadn’t been much older than Jack when she asked about going to the school’s haunted house. Suddenly she could see her mother’s face, the disapproval pinching her features. Yes, she’d gone to the school function, and the next day she had a speech tutor.

  “Mom?” Jack asked, a little more uncertain.

  Royce was looking at her, too, so she smiled. Actually, she had so much to smile about it was easy to do.

  “I need to clean up this mess—”

  “I’ll help,” Royce offered.

  “Awww,” Jack complained, clearly disappointed by a delay. “Chaos has to go.”

  They all turned to see the dog actively sniffing the floor. Royce quickly scooped him up. “How about I take these hoodlums outside, and you can join us as soon as you’re done?”

  Jack cheered, taking her agreement for granted, and ran off to grab his coat.

  “Hat, too,” she called to her son, pleased to see his excitement, and then to Royce, she said, “I’ll only be five minutes.”

  “If you’re done here, we could go to my place straightaway.”

  She looked around at her half-finished project, but there wasn’t anything critical that had to be done. Actually, it felt nice to concentrate on something besides work, to have a reason to put it aside.

  The dog did more squirming, so she said, “That sounds perfect. I’ll finish up here, grab a warmer coat upstairs and be out before either of you can get too cold.”

  * * *

  Two hours later, as Royce put the last few dishes in the dishwasher, Joy stood nearby drinking hot chocolate. Her nose and cheeks were no longer pink from the cold, but either way, she looked beautiful to him.

  The snow had fallen steadily, accumulating two or three inches, but Joy and Jack had both stuck with him in the yard, bundled up in hats and scarves, boots and mittens, while he’d grilled steaks and potatoes.

  As the weather conditions had worsened, he’d tried to talk her into going inside, especially when she started shivering. Instead, she’d scooted closer to him, soaking up the warmth of the grill. In between turning steaks, Royce had hugged her—and Jack didn’t even seem to notice.

  As if impervious to the cold, he and Chaos had raced the perimeter of the fenced yard, slipping and sliding in the snow.

  Everything about that had felt intrinsically right: small talk with Joy, her nearness, the sounds of Jack’s happiness and Chaos’s excitement.

  For once, his run-down little house had felt like a home.

  A happy home.

  Had he been craving that without even knowing it?

  Of course they’d eaten inside, and though she’d worn knee-high boots outside, Joy had them off now so that he could see her thick socks. She’d also removed Jack’s snow-caked boots, and even dusted off Chaos’s paws.

  Going by what Daron suggested, Royce fed Chaos a cup of doggy chow while they ate at his small table.

  Apparently the dog and Jack had worn each other out, because once they’d both finished, they crashed in the living room to watch a TV-edited version of Toy Story. Side by side on the floor, Jack, with his elbows bent, braced his head on his hands, and Chaos rolled to his back against Jack’s side, occasionally snuffling against him.

  “They’ll both be out shortly,” Joy predicted.

  “Jack, maybe.” Royce had his doubts about the dog. “Daron thinks Chaos needs more exercise to burn off energy.”

  Smiling, Joy said, “Why do you think I take Jack to the playground almost every day?”

  Ha. So it worked for kids and animals alike, huh? “I’ll try some walks in the morning and evening.” Royce looked out the window. “That is, when the weather cooperates.”

  Joy bit her bottom lip, glanced in at Jack and then set her empty mug in the sink and pulled him to the side.

  He saw it in her eyes, what she wanted, what she would do, and damned if he didn’t react to it. As her hands slid up his chest to his shoulders, he clasped her waist and drew her body flush to his. He bent down as she tilted her face up, and they met in the middle with a kiss that started slow and easy and advanced from there. Twice they stopped, only to come right back for more. He threaded his fingers into her hair close to her scalp and fit their mouths together for a deeper, hotter taste.

  His forehead to hers, Royce said, “Soon, Joy. I don’t think I can last much longer.”

  She gazed at his mouth and nodded. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let that get out of hand.”

  He tipped her face up again. “That’s not on you, babe. Not even close.”

  “I started things.”

  And she’d quickly melted against him, so Royce quirked a smile. “Okay, so it’s partly your fault. If you weren’t so damned sexy—”

  She gave a strangled laugh.

  “And so irresistible, I might be able to keep it together.”

  “I could say the same for you.” She touched his mouth with her fingertips and sighed. “I think about you, about being with you again, far too often.”

  “Good to know.” He smiled.

  “I had no idea a fling would be so difficult to maneuver.”

  A fling. Well, hell, that was a sobering thought. She stared up at him with those incredible green-gold eyes full of sincerity, and called this, their time together, a fling.

  It’s what he’d told her he wanted. Just because he’d maybe changed his mind didn’t mean she felt any differently.

  He needed to get his thoughts in order. One thing at a time, he decided, and the first thing was a softer, gentler kiss. “I don’t mean to complicate your life.”

  The smile came quickly, followed by a quiet laugh. “Hot sex, a night out, a friend—trust me, those are not complications.”

  Still relegated as a friend? Shit. He tried not to let that bother him. “No?”

  “I’d call them improvements.”

  For him, definitely. “Let’s see what we can do about repeat performances, okay?”

  “We’ll make it happen,” she promised. “If you find yourself with time while Jack is in school, let me know. If I have ten minutes’ notice, I can be ready.”

  He didn’t know if he could find someone—or at least someone he knew well enough to trust�
�to watch Chaos during the day, but he’d give it a try. Daron’s time with the dog would be more toward evening, so it wouldn’t interrupt his own work at the park.

  Just then Jack appeared in the kitchen doorway, Chaos at his side. The boy looked first at his mom, then at Royce, who slowly stepped away so he wouldn’t appear too guilty.

  Curiosity had Jack’s brows twitching, but all he said was, “Your phone’s buzzing, Mom.”

  “Oh, thank you, sweetie.” She brushed a hand over Jack’s hair as she hurried past him, heading to the couch where she’d left her purse.

  Jack stood there still studying Royce. He rubbed his nose, his mouth shifted to the side and he stared some more.

  The kid was smart, no two ways around that.

  “Blast,” Joy said, poking her head back into the kitchen. “It was a call from Maris and I missed it. Do you mind if I take a minute to call her back?”

  “No problem.” Royce gestured at the table. “Jack and I will grab some dessert.”

  “Thanks.” Joy disappeared back into the living room.

  Coming forward and climbing into a chair, Jack said, “You were hugging my mom.”

  Yup, not much got past the kid. “Hugged her outside, too, because it was cold.” Royce poured a cup of milk and got a packaged cookie from the cabinet, setting both in front of Jack.

  “It’s not cold in here.”

  Unsure what else to say, Royce shrugged. “Guess not.”

  “I think you just like hugging her.”

  Very true. Royce enjoyed talking with her, touching her, hugging her—and so much more. “You like hugging her, too, right?”

  Jack said, “Yeah, but she’s my mom,” like maybe Royce had forgotten.

  He tried a different approach. “Do you mind that I hugged her?”

  “No.” Then, being a sly little boy, he asked, “Does that mean I can come here and play with Chaos again?”

  Oh, the workings of a five-year-old mind. Royce laughed. “Sure, if your mom’s okay with it.”

  That seemed to solve everything, at least for Jack.

  For Royce, it wasn’t quite that easy.