by Elena Aitken
“What are you thinking about?”
Mitch shook his head in a futile effort to pull himself together. There was no way he was going to tell her, especially if they wanted this friendship thing to work.
“Can I get you a beer?” It was better to change the subject altogether.
She shook her head and then shrugged. “I don’t usually drink beer,” she said. “In fact, I can’t remember the last time I had one.”
“Oh.” Disappointment flashed through him. He wanted to please her in the craziest way. “I wish I would’ve known that. I would’ve got something else. You know what? I should have known.”
She tilted her head and eyed him. “Why should you have known that?”
“You don’t really seem like a beer type of woman.” She really didn’t. But judging by the way her face transformed, she was definitely going to take that as a challenge. Something else that didn’t surprise him.
“I can be a beer type of woman if I want,” she said with the sassiest edge of defiance. “Besides, I kind of like it.” She took the beer from his hand and took a little sip.
Mitch pretended not to notice the little grimace she made when the liquid hit her lips. It was cute, and not a lot about Jade was cute. She was too damn sexy to be cute.
“Well, I’m glad you’re open to it,” he said. “Because fireworks just aren’t the same without a drink. And I’ll be honest with you, the best way to watch fireworks in the middle of the lake is with a cold beer.”
She laughed. “It sure sounds like you’re an expert at fireworks watching.”
“I haven’t done this in years,” he admitted. “But it used to be one of my favorite parts of summer.” In truth, Mitch had been looking forward to the Fourth of July from the moment he got back to town, for this very reason. When he was a kid, going out in the boat to watch the fireworks was almost a rite of passage. Their mom would only let them go when they were old enough to be responsible. For Mitch, that meant thirteen but only because Ian was fifteen and responsible enough for the both of them.
He could still remember that night when Mom had given them permission. They’d felt so grown up, like such big men full of the responsibility, when in reality they’d been so nervous that they were going to get lost or lose their way that they didn’t even go all the way down the lake toward town where the fireworks viewing would be the best. They stayed close to their home dock and only caught glimpses of the highest explosions.
But it meant that they got back safely, Mom had been happy, and they still went to bed that night thrilled with the responsibility they’d been given. In the years following, taking the boat out on the water on the Fourth became more of a group event with their friends from town and a few girls.
Oh, the girls.
Mitch always had a girlfriend for the summer and taking them out on the boat with him, sitting on the back just the way he was doing with Jade right now—with his arm around their shoulders in the dark as the bright lights burst overhead—always guaranteed him a kiss. He wasn’t expecting a kiss from Jade tonight, not that it wouldn’t be welcome. But he was determined to behave. He wasn’t a teenager anymore; he could control himself. He could make the right decision. And dammit, he would prove that to himself.
“So what do you think about your first boat experience?” He took a sip of his own beer and watched her face light up with a smile. “I know it’s kind of strange for your first time to be at night, and we will have to correct that with a ride in the daylight. I promise it will be very different. But just as awesome.”
“It’s fantastic,” she said. “Thank you.” She stared at him for a minute, as if she was going to say something else. But right then, the first firecracker shot into the air with a streak of red and burst into a bright explosion overhead. Jade squealed and grabbed his hand.
“It’s starting. Look up.” They tilted their heads back together as the light show began in earnest. Green, blue, yellow, orange, red. The explosions came one after another, lighting up the night sky and obliterating the stars for their colorful show. Next to him, Jade was oohing and ahhing, totally lost in the show overhead.
“Mitch, this is awesome.” Her face was lit up with color, but it was her smile that mesmerized him. “It’s like we have our own private show.” She looked back up to the sky, the smile in her face only getting bigger.
For a woman as mature and sophisticated as Jade was, something about her was still so innocent, as though she hadn’t experienced life. And in that moment, Mitch knew—friends or lovers—he wanted to show her things. He wanted to show her life. The fireworks show was forgotten as he watched her instead. At one point, his hand slid across the seat and covered hers but she didn’t shake it off. In fact, she turned it over and wrapped her fingers around his. It sent a thrill through his body. And it might’ve just been the fireworks, or the dark, or the beers, but it didn’t matter. The moment was right and before he could talk himself out of it, or remind himself they were only supposed to be friends, he leaned over, slid one hand behind her head and pulled her to his lips.
He expected her to push him away; after all, they’d made such a big deal about only wanting to be friends. But the second their lips touched, the heat he remembered from the summer solstice festival was back. She made a small groaning sound and just like that, Mitch was lost. His other hand left hers to wrap around her body and pulled her closer to him. Jade was just as hungry for his touch as he was for hers. Her hands slid down his back, leaving trails of heat and fire behind them.
The fireworks continued to blast overhead, illuminating their passion.
“I know we’re friends.”
Jade nodded. “Friends,” she agreed. “But maybe…just for tonight…”
“Tonight we can be really good friends. I mean, just for tonight.” He dropped his mouth to her neck and sucked just below her earlobe. A move that elicited a shiver and another groan. “Because sometimes friends are really close.” He knew he was talking shit, but the effort to justify what they were doing and what they were about to do seemed important.
“I agree.” She let out a moan as Mitch went back to kissing her neck.
He liked to make her moan. It was one of the sexiest sounds he’d ever heard.
There were too many clothes between them. Pulling away just far enough to rip his T-shirt off and toss it in the bottom of the boat, he turned his attentions to her blouse, tugging at her buttons.
“Easy, easy.” She laughed, and took control of sliding the buttons out. With her blouse open, her breasts clothed only in a lacy white bra and her pink nipples standing at attention, Mitch thought it might be the undoing of him altogether.
“You are so damn sexy.” With both his hands, he slipped her blouse off her shoulders and tossed it to the bottom of the boat with his T-shirt. And because he couldn’t wait one more second, he pulled her close and nestled his face between her breasts, inhaling the intoxicating scent of her—letting it fill him, letting it fuel him. He turned his attention to one breast, sucking her nipples into his mouth through the lacy fabric. She groaned and arched her back, encouraging him. With his free hand, he flicked his thumb over her other nipple while his tongue worked, sucked, and pulled more moans from within her.
Fireworks continued to pop and bang above them, but neither of them had any attention to spare.
“Mitch, I need you.”
He didn’t have to be asked twice. He needed her just as badly. Reluctantly, he left her breasts and sat up to pull her back on the bench just far enough to lay her down comfortably. Aware of her sore foot, Mitch slipped her shorts gingerly over her legs and discarded them with the rest of the clothing before he shucked his own shorts.
He knelt between her legs and let his hands travel up the inside of her smooth, long legs. He briefly teased her with his fingers, but the need growing between them was only getting stronger. She reached out to find his dick, hard and at attention.
The touch of her on his skin made him cra
zy. “Damn, woman. You are… Just… Damn.”
“The feeling is more than mutual. Now get down here.”
“You’re so damn bossy.” He grinned, but they both knew he wasn’t going to disobey. She liked to be in charge, that was clear. Not that he didn’t like it, but Mitch’s mind ran wild with thoughts of what it would be like to have her beneath him, totally at his mercy, to tease, to please, to make scream. Yes, he couldn’t think of anything hotter than showing her who could really be in control.
But the reality in front of him was pretty fucking sexy, too.
“I know what I want,” she breathed. Her breasts heaved, straining at the lace of her bra. “And I want you, now.”
He moved until he was over her, his cock poised at her entrance. Supporting himself on one hand, he reached up and pulled the lace of her bra down, under each breast, exposing them to the night air…and his eyes. Beneath him, Jade wiggled and pressed her hips up to meet him. With one thrust, he was inside her. She was so hot, so tight, so perfect.
“Yes. You feel so good.” Jade tipped her head back, her eyes open and looking into his.
Mitch knew he wasn’t going to last long. But it didn’t matter, because he knew they would both come together. Jade’s hand clenched his ass; her fingers dug into his flesh as he moved inside her. Together they found a rhythm and it wasn’t long before Mitch felt the familiar tightening in his groin. One look at Jade’s face, and he knew she was right there with him.
The grand finale of fireworks boomed and burst overhead as together, they found their release in a crashing climax.
Afterward, when the last traces of color in the sky had faded, and the night was once more black, they shared another beer together under the stars. Mitch pointed out various constellations, and listed all the highlights of spending the summer at the lake. Being with Jade was comfortable and in the dark of the night, in the afterglow of amazing sex, it was a little too easy to forget all the reasons they shouldn’t be together.
When Mitch drove the boat back to the marina and helped her onto the dock, she gave him a quick hug. “Thank you for showing me the fireworks,” she said. “It really was…special. But I should get some rest. I have a meeting in the morning and my to-do list certainly won’t take care of itself. Good-night, Mitch.”
Her attitude and tone shifted so quickly, it took Mitch a minute to catch up. When finally he found his words, she’d already hobbled halfway down the dock, toward the great lawn, and away from him and what they’d shared. He wanted to call her back and tell her to hell with being friends, they could make it work being a whole lot more, but instead he let her go. And just for good measure, even though he knew he was being an asshole, he called out after her, “Thanks for the good time, friend.”
Chapter Four
Jade took one more look in the mirror and adjusted her pressed black slacks and her teal sleeveless blouse that she tucked into her waistband. She smoothed her hair back off her face and examined her makeup. Perfect. Not that she needed to look perfect for her meeting with Gwen, but it was more of a habit than anything else. The need to present herself in a certain way was something her mother had drilled into her. It was a habit that had become exhausting; she couldn’t seem to ever let herself relax.
Mitch said something about lake clothes or more specifically, lake shoes.
Mitch.
Had it really been four days already? Four days since she’d thrown all of her self-imposed rules out the window and slept with him, again?
It had been four days. Four days for her to self-reflect about that choice. It definitely seemed like a good decision at the time. But there was no point in having regrets. It was just time to move on.
And move on was exactly what she was going to do, because she had so much to do. She had no time for a man in her life, let alone a man like Mitch.
Which was exactly why she needed to stay in control. In this meeting with Gwen, and with everything. She liked being in Cedar Springs. She liked it a lot. But she couldn’t make it all work unless she stayed in control.
Satisfied with what she saw in the mirror, Jade turned away, grabbed her purse and headed out of the restroom to the table where Gwen sat.
“Hey there.” Gwen greeted her with a warm smile. “I thought I was early, but here you are in the bathroom the whole time. I should’ve known.” She laughed. It’d become a joke that Jade wasn’t on time unless she was early. It was a joke for Gwen, but that was just the way Jade lived.
“Sorry,” Jade apologized as she slid into the booth across from Gwen. “I actually meant to be sitting here and possibly have some drinks ordered by the time you got here.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Sometimes I wonder if Samantha minds us using her bar as a meeting room. Maybe we should find an actual meeting space?”
Gwen waved her hand in the air, dismissing Jade. “No way. Sam loves it. As long as we’re not taking up tables during the busy time, we’re fine. Plus I think she wants mention on the show, or maybe even a cameo.” Gwen laughed again.
Jade loved spending time with Gwen. She was always so happy, it was contagious. But it hadn’t always been that way. It wasn’t that long ago when Gwen’s happiness was tempered with angst. She’d been lying to Ian about who she really was, and that type of deception can really do a number on a girl. But now that everything was out in the open, and had worked out for the better, Gwen was positively glowing. It was great to be around, and the more she was around that, Jade couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like for her to feel that way.
It had to be love. It was the only thing that could put a smile like that on a woman’s face. Maybe not the only thing.
No. She was not going to think of Mitch like that, or the way he made her feel, or the smile that he could put on her face. It was time to focus.
“I think we could arrange that,” Jade said, referring to including Samantha in the show. “In fact, maybe she would let us film some scenes in her bar?”
“My bar?” Samantha appeared with a tray in her hand. “I was just coming to see if you girls wanted some drinks, but this conversation sounds more interesting.”
Gwen patted the seat next to her and Sam slid into the booth. “Jade was just worried that you might not be happy with us meeting in your bar all the time.”
“Not at all.” Sam’s smile was genuine, just like she was. The bar and restaurant owner had been one of the first people Jade had met when she first came to town. And one of the nicest. Not that everyone in Cedar Springs wasn’t perfectly welcoming. It really was one of the friendliest places Jade had ever been. “You guys are totally welcome to meet here,” Sam said.
“That’s what I told her,” Gwen said. “I promise we won’t take up space when it gets busy. Not unless we’re here socially, and if that’s the case, then you and Trent better be sitting here with us.”
“Sounds like a deal to me.” Sam slapped her hand on the table. “Now, what can I get you girls to drink?”
Jade ordered coffee, black, no sugar and Gwen, a green tea. She built her entire brand on the fact that she’d lost a hundred pounds and changed her life. And although Jade had seen her sneak a treat in once in a while, Gwen was pretty dedicated to her health and fitness, and of course the fans who had built her career.
Once the drinks came, they spent the next forty-five minutes talking about the show: the casting, locations that they were going to use, and of course the script Gwen was working on. Jade had yet to see a draft, and that was starting to make her nervous. She had no doubt that Gwen would come through, but Jade’s control freak was in fine form. They’d never worked on a project quite as big as the one they were dealing with now.
With the last sip of her green tea, Gwen declared the meeting over and put her cup down with force. She put her arms on the table and stared at Jade. “So are you going to tell me, or am I going to have to pull it out of you?”
Jade blinked, taken off guard by the change of topic. “What are you talking about?”
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Gwen raised her eyebrows and tilted her head. “Mitch.”
At the mere mention of his name, her body flushed with heat. Jade took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, hoping Gwen hadn’t noticed the shift in her. “I don’t know why you keep asking me about him.”
“Right.” Gwen rolled her eyes. “I saw the two of you talking the other night. What’s going on with you two?”
Right to the point, huh? If Gwen ever wanted to consider a career change, perhaps investigative reporter or lawyer would be a good choice. She was anything but subtle. With Mitch being Ian’s brother, the last thing Jade needed was any kind of misunderstanding or mix-up. Especially considering there was nothing going on between them. Direct and honest was going to be the best approach. “Nothing,” she answered.
Okay, it was mostly honest.
“There’s no way I believe that.” Gwen shook her head. She tried to hide it, but Jade could see the hurt look in her eyes. They were supposed to be friends. At least, Jade wanted to be friends, and she was pretty sure Gwen did too.
Being honest was something friends did. Besides, it might be nice to have someone to confide in. Jade took a breath and let it out slowly. “I wasn’t sure if I should say anything…”
“About Mitch?” Gwen sat up at attention, her ponytail swinging behind her. “Because he’s Ian’s brother?” Jade nodded slightly. “Don’t be silly. We’re friends, right?”
The word warmed her heart more than she’d expected it to. Jade couldn’t hide her smile. “We are.”
“Good.” Gwen reached across the table and took Jade’s hand. “Then please don’t worry about the fact that they’re brothers. It doesn’t matter. Not when it comes to this stuff.” She gestured between them and took her hand back, clasping them together in front of her. “Now spill. What’s going on?”
“I can’t believe how busy it is in here, Mitch.” Ian snapped the lid of the laptop closed and looked up at his brother with a grin. “You’ve done great. I don’t know how to say thank-you.”