by Jill Sanders
Her eyes traveled lower, to where his jeans rode low. Desperate to touch him there, she tried to focus on the task at hand, drying the liquid from his back using short little dabs so as not to hurt him further.
“How does it feel?” she asked after straightening up.
He was silent for a while, then answered in a husky voice, “Fine.” He stood suddenly and reached for his shirt. Noticing the dried blood, he walked towards the back door and tossed it in the washing machine in the small laundry area. Then he grabbed a black T-shirt and pulled it on over his head. “Thanks,” he said as he rolled his shoulders. She watched the movement like her life depended on it.
“I… was going to grab some lunch,” she said out loud before she could stop herself. “Let me buy you a burger… to make up for…” She motioned towards his back.
“Turning me into shredded meat?” he said with a slight smile. The fact that he could laugh about the ordeal told her that he wasn’t hurt that badly. “I was going to just have a sandwich alone but enjoying a burger with you… sounds much more appealing.”
Chapter Six
Sitting across from Scarlett at the Sunset Café, one of the best places in town to grab a burger, excluding the camp, he tried to ignore the sting on his back. The pain kept him from leaning back in the booth. He didn’t mind, since it brought him closer to Scarlett.
Still, since overhearing her sister on the phone last night, he’d come to a decision. After their drinks had been delivered and their meals ordered, he told her of it.
“I’ve decided to take a job in Destin,” he said, and watched her reaction. It was instant, the hurt that crossed her eyes. She tried to hide it, but he knew that look too well.
“Why?” she asked with a slight frown.
“I think you know why,” he answered after taking a sip of his drink. Since she’d driven, and he needed something to dull the pain, he’d ordered a rum and Coke. She’d stuck to drinking her standard drink, a club soda.
“Where?” she asked after a moment.
He shrugged, a move he told himself he had to avoid until his back could heal after feeling his skin tug and open again. Thankfully, he’d pulled on a black T-shirt, which would hide any more bleeding.
“I haven’t decided yet,” he admitted.
“You have offers?”
“No.” He sighed. “Haven’t even applied anywhere else.” He thought about the possibilities and what it would take for him to make the drive into town on a daily basis. Mainly, he’d need a new car. Something more reliable.
Scarlett relaxed slightly.
“Don’t leave River Camps,” she said easily. “Not on my account.”
“There are other reasons.” He thought about his future and knew that if he didn’t get away from her, he’d never be able to move on. Hell, who was he kidding? No matter what, he’d have a hard time moving on from her. Especially after that kiss.
She leaned back and watched him. “Name one other reason.”
Since he couldn’t come up with anything, he took a slow drink and tried to shrug casually.
“Everyone knows there’s more money across the bridge.” It was true. Jobs in Destin or other popular tourist areas usually paid more than ones across the bay, further away from public beaches.
“I’m not buying it.” She shook her head.
“It’s my choice,” he added, then waited until their food was delivered. “What about you?”
“Me?”
“Sure.” He waved a fry in her direction before dipping it in the spicy mustard sauce. “You can’t seriously be planning on living the rest of your life sharing an apartment with your friends.”
“Friend,” she corrected, before taking one of her own fries. “It’s just me an Aub in the apartment now.”
“Right,” he said between bites. “Still…” He let the question of her future hang between them.
“For now, I’m completely happy,” she answered, yet he could see doubt behind her eyes.
“What if you want… company? If I remember correctly that apartment is pretty close quarters.” He’d helped Aiden fix up the second bathroom, the one he knew the friends had shared when they’d all lived there together.
“It used to be. Now I’ve got the main room and Aubrey’s got Elle’s old room.” She glanced around, avoiding his eyes as she spoke.
“What about you? What if you want… company? You still live with your grandmother,” she pointed out.
“That’s different.”
“How?”
He thought about the last time he’d gone out on a date. The last time he’d been with a woman.
“It must be nice, seeing all your friends move on. Find love. Get engaged.” He knew he was changing the subject, but had to know her thoughts on it. Several of his buddies had taken the leap in the past few years too. Two of them were even expecting or had kids already, something he was extremely jealous of.
“It is.” Again, her eyes remained dull as she smiled across the table at him. “Why all the questions?” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Are you planning on getting hitched?”
He chuckled. “No, just curious as to what’s going on in your life.” He thought about it, then added, “So, your mother and Reed?”
When she rolled her eyes, he knew he’d pushed his luck talking about relationships.
“If you decide to get another job, just let one of us know. We’d hate to lose you but understand that not everyone can cut it at the camp.”
He laughed. “Is that a challenge?”
“Just an observation.” She nudged her plate aside after finishing only half of the food on it.
Since he’d cleaned his own, he pulled it towards himself and started finishing off the rest of her burger and fries.
“You won’t be the first employee to leave,” she added.
“No.” He thought back to the scare they’d had with Ryan.
“How’s that all going anyway?” he asked, knowing about the lawsuit the crazed woman had filed against the camp after she’d been fired shortly after pulling a gun on Dylan and Zoey.
“With Ryan?” she asked, shrugging. “Haven’t heard hide nor hair from the woman since she stabbed Hannah. We heard that she spent a few months in prison after the multiple assaults against the camp. Thank goodness.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “The last update from the Costa’s lawyer was that she was broke and working in some dive bar in California, since no one else would hire her. After Leo Costa returned home and denied ever having met the woman, she’s been… quiet.”
“Do you think she’s done or just hibernating until another reason to torment you five comes up?” he asked.
She sighed. “God, I hope she’s done. I mean, there is no more fuel for her fire. Leo’s back in town. From what Zoey and the others have said, Leo was her real target. Him and the Costa money that is tied up in Owen’s new venture, Hammock Cove.”
“That’s right.” He perked up slightly. “That new subdivision is set to open soon.”
“They’ve already built the two model homes. You should drive by there and see it. They’re absolutely gorgeous.”
Owen had purchased the land near the outskirts of town and had created a huge subdivision, complete with golf course, multiple swimming pools, tennis courts, and more. He’d meant to swing by and check it out earlier but had been too busy fixing up his gran’s place.
“I’ll drive by tomorrow and check it out,” he agreed, knowing he had the following day to himself. Due to his mood earlier, he’d finished almost every task on his to-do list.
Somehow, that thought got him thinking about the sisters’ attitude towards him. The hurt from hearing their conversation last night surfaced again. Normally, he wouldn’t have thought anything about it, but just knowing that Scarlett’s first inclination was to turn away from a friend, which he had thought they were first and foremost, stung.
He’d promised himself last night that he was going to stop trying so
hard with her, to distance himself. It was the reason he’d mentioned the possibility of the job change.
Looking at her now, remembering the way she’d responded to the kiss, he had to know the real reason she was trying to convince him to stay at the camp. Maybe he was torturing himself, but the thought that she might care had him asking.
“Why did you really stop by today?” he asked after Scarlett paid and they’d stepped outside. He’d tried to pay, but he knew better than to argue with Scarlett on some things. This was one of them.
She turned towards him; her brown eyebrows arched up in question. “I told you…” She started to make an excuse; he could almost see it on the tip of her tongue.
“I overheard your sister talking to you last night.” Her face paled slightly.
“You… did?”
“I’m not a charity case,” he added, his voice low.
“No.” She shook her head quickly. “Of course not.”
His eyes narrowed as he saw something close to pain and embarrassment cross her eyes. “Well, you can go back and tell your sister you did your duty.” He turned away, totally prepared to walk back home, since it was only a few blocks away.
“You’re bleeding again.” She gasped and then rushed to his side, turning him away from her, lifting his shirt slightly. He could feel the material stick to his skin, thanks to the dried blood, which made him wince with pain. “Seriously, how can I be sure you won’t bleed all over the place,” she scolded him. She took his arm. “Come with me.”
“I’m fine.” He tried to jerk out of her hands, but she held on and pulled him across the street. “Scarlett,” he warned, but she shushed him and continued to tug on his arm until he followed her.
He was so engulfed in his sour mood that he hadn’t realized she’d taken him to the house she shared with her friends until they were on the front porch. The massive place was one of the oldest in town, a historic landmark, a beacon for all that was Pelican Bluff. He knew that the place sat empty often now, since the other Wildflowers had other living arrangements.
Stepping through the front door behind her, he got a moment to glance around the place. The setup was a lot like his grandmother’s place, with the exception of the massive staircase that led up to the bedrooms. He could see a large formal dining room between the living area and the kitchen, which looked twice the size of his grandmother’s.
The place could use a little work, but it was tidy and kept up. Even if the furniture was older and the style was late nineties, he was impressed.
“Nice place,” he said when she shoved him on the sofa.
“Thanks,” she said, moving out of the room into what he presumed was a bathroom. He heard her rummaging around. “Shirt off,” she said when she came back into the room.
“I’m—” he started, but her eyes moved up to his and narrowed until they were just slits.
“Now,” she said, and he knew she meant it.
He would have chuckled, but he was still reeling.
Pulling off his shirt, he hissed as the material once again stuck to his skin.
“Here,” she said, rushing over to him. She nudged him until he was lying face down on the cushions. “Wow, I didn’t think these would bleed this bad.”
It was his fault. He had sat back several times in the booth, scraping the cuts on the seat.
He closed his eyes and waited as she cleaned his back.
As with earlier, it was complete torture having her fingers lightly play over his bare skin. It was extremely difficult to focus on anything other than how wonderful it was for her to touch him.
He must have made a sound, because she spoke softly to him, as one would with an injured child. Her soft voice soothed him, and he felt himself relaxing completely.
When he opened his eyes, the light had changed. He could see the soft hues of a sunset flooding the room with colors.
He shifted and glanced around and noticed that the room was empty. He sat up, thankful that he hadn’t drooled on the sofa pillow. Finding his shirt tossed over the back of a chair, he pulled it on.
“Good.” Scarlett came into the room, smiling. “You’re awake.”
“Sorry,” he mumbled, still a little groggy. “I must have dozed off.”
Her eyes moved over his face. “You had a rough morning.” She set a tray of cookies and tea down on the coffee table. “Sit.” She motioned towards the sofa.
“I’d better…” he started, but she stopped him.
“Levi, sit. I think it’s past time we had a talk.” She sat down in a large leather chair and started pouring the drink.
“I’m not a big tea drinker,” he admitted.
“Neither am I; this is hot chocolate.” She smiled at him.
“In August?” He shook his head but took the mug from her.
“It goes great with Betty’s s’more cookies.” She held the plate out for him.
“Seriously?” He looked down at the cookies and felt his stomach growl. “How did you get these?” He glanced up at her after taking a bite.
“Betty likes me.” She shrugged. Scarlett leaned forward slightly. “She thinks I’m too skinny.”
“She thinks everyone is too skinny,” he agreed. “She gave me an entire pan of brownies when she first met me.”
“Our second-best hire, after Isaac, of course,” Scarlett joked as she finished off a cookie and handed him the plate to grab another one.
He waited for her to start talking as he enjoyed the treat. The room went darker, signally he’d slept the entire afternoon away. It wasn’t any wonder; he’d barely had any sleep the night before, thinking about her, about his position in life. His options.
When the plate was empty and his hot chocolate was gone, she continued to look across at him as if she was waiting for him to speak.
He tried to lean back without causing his back too much discomfort. “This is your show.”
Chapter Seven
He wasn’t going to make this easy for her. She should have known. Nothing with him ever was.
She’d tortured herself by bringing him back to her place, but she felt so much responsibility for his injuries, she couldn’t just let him walk away bleeding.
Then he’d gone and fallen asleep while she’d cleaned his cuts, giving her plenty of time to admire how sexy he was. Even more so when his blond lashes lay on his cheeks as his breath leveled while he slept.
Her first instinct had been to shake him awake, but then she remembered how tired he’d looked during lunch. She’d assumed it was pain, but looking back, she realized she’d seen him like that before, when the crew had pulled an all-night repair to fix a cabin’s roof after a storm.
Was it a sign that she could read his moods more than she could her own?
Zoey had been correct—he’d been hurting and needed a friend. She’d seen the change in him over the past few months.
“I didn’t stop by today because my sister forced me to,” she started, watching him closely. When his eyebrows slowly moved up, she sighed. “I didn’t.”
“Okay, then why?” he asked.
Why had she? Because she’d tried to get him out of her head all day yesterday and had failed miserably.
“You’re making this extremely hard,” she said under her breath. The corners of his mouth twitched, showing off those sexy dimples of his. Her heart did a little flutter. Why was she denying it? She’d fallen hard long ago for him and had never really gotten over him. “Fine, I wanted to check in on you, because there is something between us.” She motioned between them. “I’m not entirely happy about it, but… there it is.”
His smile grew. “Why aren’t you happy about it?”
This, this was why she’d denied it all this time. The smug look he was giving her made her back teeth grind together.
“Because you hurt me,” she ground out.
His look changed. Everything about him changed. He softened and moved closer to her.
“I’m sorry for whatever it is I did
,” he said softly.
“You don’t remember.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement.
“I don’t,” he admitted, “and for that, I’m even more sorry.” He reached across the space and touched her hand, a move that caused her to soften and relax. “When you’re ready, I’d love to hear what I did so I can properly apologize.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, wondering if he was playing a game. Not trusting her voice, she nodded and took the last sip of her drink.
His eyes were moving over her, and she could tell that he was trying to assess her mood.
“Thanks for letting me crash at your place.” He chuckled. “I hope I didn’t put you out too much.”
“No, not at all,” she admitted, unwilling to tell him that she’d sat across from him the entire time, watching him sleep while pretending to read a book.
He glanced over at the grandfather clock that sat to the left of the fireplace, then whistled. “Wow.” He stood up slowly. “I can’t believe I slept so long. Gran will be worried about me.” He pulled out his phone from his back pocket then waved it. “She has dinner ready and is wondering where I am,” he said while typing a reply to her message.
“You love her.” She didn’t know what caused her to say it as she stood.
“Yeah, the only woman who has ever loved me right back.” He winked and tucked his phone away. “Listen, I owe you, for… fixing me up.” She watched as he moved a little closer. “What do you say to me treating you to some of the best home cooking in the Panhandle?”
She laughed. “I get that each day at work.”
“Isaac can’t hold a candle to my gran. She made chicken parm tonight.” He leaned slightly towards her. “Isaac’s been begging her for the recipe since he tried it out himself last year.”
She thought about her dinner plans. As with before, they involved a bottle of wine, a book, maybe a frozen meal and… herself.
She liked Levi’s grandmother, Mary Lynn. The woman was one of the nicest people in town and a huge supporter of the camp.
“Sure,” she agreed. The thought of a quiet evening alone hadn’t interested her. She’d been left alone all day yesterday with her thoughts about Levi, and after the lunch and seeing his sexy body half naked, she doubted she could ever get her mind off of him. The distraction of dinner with his grandmother might be helpful. “I can drive…” she started.