by Jill Sanders
He’d had his pick of jobs in his life, but he’d never had another employer as relaxed as the camp. He knew that some employees were handled differently than the ones that were trusted. He liked the reward system the friends had set up the first year the camp had been opened. They’d tweaked it a few times, but now it just worked.
Security had gotten a little tighter around the grounds, especially after the whole Ryan issue. Not to mention Hannah’s kidnapping from a dinner party. Now guests were given key cards and had to show them to security that moved around the grounds. Employees had colored badges they had to wear around their necks, which, in his opinion, helped guests out because it helped them stand out to guests who had questions.
He’d been concerned when Hannah had been hurt and kidnapped. After all, he considered all the Wildflowers close friends. But part of him kept playing over in his mind how he would have handled it if it had been Scarlett.
He knew his feelings cut deep. They always had. Even though for years he tried to hide and deny it, he was completely gone for her.
The fact that she didn’t appear to feel the same way about him was a challenge. After all, at one point in her life she’d been crazy for him. They’d been crazy for one another. And there was no doubt in his mind that he was a better man than he’d been as a teenager. Still, what she’d said about him hurting her had him questioning things, especially after last weekend.
He racked his brain as he worked out, trying to play over the last summer they’d spent together. How things had progressed physically with them. They hadn’t crossed the line of having actual sex, not for his lack of trying. But he wasn’t a pushy person and she’d made it clear to him she wasn’t ready… yet. Still, he’d gone as far as he could and had enjoyed every moment of his time with her.
Over the years, he’d built her up in his mind. She was every fantasy come true. Better. She was the woman who had gotten away. Dreams paled to kissing her again, to touching her. He knew he had to have more, he just needed time to come up with a plan. One where, if she kept her distance from him emotionally, he wouldn’t end up getting hurt.
He’d just finished his last set and was finally feeling a little better when the bane of his thoughts strolled in the open garage door looking sexy as hell in tight shorts and a tank top.
“What are you doing here?” he asked softly, trying to block his sour mood from returning. He tried to avoid looking at her and focused on putting his weights away instead.
“Your grandmother told me I could find you out here.” She looked around. “Your fortress of solitude?” she asked, moving around.
Years ago, when he’d been a teenager, he’d hung up posters around the old garage. He’d hauled an old fridge out there and kept it stocked with water and beer. At one point, he’d even dragged his grandmother’s old TV and chair out there. They were still sitting in the corner where he watched sports when his gran wanted to watch her shows inside.
“I guess so.” He shrugged and set his weight onto the racks. When he was done cleaning up, he turned to her and asked in a quiet voice, “What are you doing here, Sassy?”
She stopped walking around and shrugged her shoulders. “I… came by to see how you’re doing.”
He almost laughed, but instead answered, “I’m fine.” He walked over to the fridge and started to pull out a water, then switched to a beer instead. “Want one?” he asked over his shoulder.
“Sure,” she agreed and moved closer to him.
Using the countertop, he popped the tops on both bottles and handed one to her, then downed half of his before turning back towards her.
“What are you really doing here?” he asked, his eyes locked with hers.
She opened her mouth and he could tell whatever she was going to say was an excuse, so he raised his eyebrows and she shut her mouth into a cute little pout. He waited, watching her struggle with telling him the truth or coming up with something believable. He knew the moment the truth won out.
Her eyes changed slightly, and she sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, causing his dick to jump in response.
“I was worried about you. You’ve acted pretty… strange in the last week,” she finally said.
He was silent as he thought. Sure, he’d been acting strange. Of course, he had. How was he supposed to act normal after what had happened last weekend? What he’d asked of her and she’d denied.
He knew all about her trust issues because of her father. He and Zoey had talked about how much Scar had been hurt when their father had left the family. Abandonment issues, hell, they both had them. Still, he focused on the good influences in his life, like his grandmother.
Scarlett had her mother and Zoey, not to mention the other Wildflowers, who stuck by her through everything.
Still, after last weekend, he’d hunted down her sister to find out just who Jenny Carpenter was and what he had done to cause Scarlett so much pain.
Zoey hadn’t been much help. Not that she didn’t want to be. He could tell that she’d wanted to give him more information, but she’d glanced around nervously, telling him that she was under direct orders not to say anything.
“I’ll leave you with this one hint,” she’d said, leaning closer to him and lowering her tone. “Jenny was Scar’s arch nemesis and, after that summer… Jenny sent Scar a text message. An image.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Of you and her.”
Since then, he’d racked his brain for what he’d done shortly after Scar had left to go back home that summer. He’d come up with a blank. He didn’t remember Jenny Carpenter from camp, nor was she anyone he’d gone to school with.
Whatever he’d done to piss Scarlett off, he’d either blocked it from his mind or it had never happened, and Jenny had fabricated a story that had put a wedge between him and the woman of his dreams.
“I think I have a right to how I’ve behaved.” He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the counter. The fact that her eyes watched his arms as he moved told him that the extra set that he’d done that evening had done its job.
Scarlett looked hungry. Which, of course, had him smiling.
When her eyes jumped back to his, he almost laughed.
“Problem?” he asked smoothly.
“No.” Her eyes narrowed in annoyance. “If you’re sure you’re okay…” She turned to go, but then jerked around again. “You know what, no.” She set her beer down and moved closer to him until she was a breath away. “You don’t get to run hot one moment…”—she waved her hands in the air as if that was enough explanation, then poked him in the chest with her fingernail—“then go cold on me and ignore me all week as if nothing happened.”
“Nothing did happen,” he reminded her, enjoying watching her get agitated and riled up. Her cheeks were glowing pink as she marched back and forth in front of him, going over how hurt she was about something. It wasn’t until she stopped directly in front of him again that he realized she was talking about the big event that must have happened with Jenny Carpenter.
“Sassy.” He took her shoulders in his hands to stop her movement. “I really don’t remember any Jenny Carpenter. Whatever she said or did, it was all a lie.”
Instead of his statement having a calming effect, it seemed to piss her off even more. Her entire body vibrated as she jerked her shoulders free.
“I saw the pictures…” she said, her eyes narrowing.
He chuckled, which was apparently the wrong move. “Sorry,” he said quickly. “Pictures can lie. There were lots of kids taking pictures at the parties I used to go to. I’m sure I’m in more than a few of those. The fall and winter after you left, I did everything I could to get the taste of you out of my head.” His hands went to her arms as he pulled her closer, his body and mind already remembering the feel, the taste, the desire to be closer to her. “You left me.” He sighed. “Then, when I tried to contact you less than a week later”—he sighed— “your dad and…” he started.
“You talked to my dad?�
�� She jerked in his arms.
“He was the one who answered your phone.”
“What did he say?” she asked, frowning slightly.
“It doesn’t matter.” He pulled her closer as his hands moved up and down her arms. “I didn’t keep my promise to stay in touch with you.”
Her eyes met his. “No, you didn’t, and it hurt.”
“I’m so sorry. I was young and stupid.” He smiled down at her. “Trust me when I say that I won’t be making that mistake again.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry I pulled away this week. I needed time to figure things out.”
“Did you?” she asked.
He pulled back and looked down at her. “Yes, I still want more…” She opened her mouth, but he stopped her by covering it with his own in a soft kiss. “But I’m willing to start things off slowly and see where we go from there. If you’re willing.”
He held his breath as she thought things through. When she finally nodded, he released the breath.
“Good.” He smiled. “How about I walk you home?” He reached down and took her hand.
“You really don’t remember Jenny?” she asked once they were outside.
He glanced sideways at her. “No, should I?”
“She was the one who pushed me off the pier. Her and her friends.”
He narrowed his eyes and thought. “The blond-haired one that always wore tight things two sizes too small for her?”
“Yes,” Scarlett said, then stopped and looked up at him. “You and her never…”
He shook his head. “God no, she was a bitch.”
Scarlett’s eyes narrowed as she looked at him. Then she burst out laughing. “I’ve been so hurt and angry at you for years.” Then she gasped. “Jenny did that on purpose.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it.” He took her hand and pulled her close again. “She was out for your blood that entire summer.” Then he stopped, pulling her to a stop. “You believed her.” It wasn’t a question as much as an accusation.
“I did.” She sighed and shook her head. “My dad left us less than a month after we returned from camp. Things were… emotional for us that summer. I guess she caught me at a very vulnerable time.” She tilted her head.
“And yet, for the past two years since you returned, you chose to believe a lie?” he asked, a little hurt that she’d held a grudge for so long. Then again, it had only been a few months after she’d left that he’d started dating someone else.
“How long?” she asked and moved closer. “How long was it before you found someone to replace me?”
He smiled and cupped her chin, then dipped down to run his lips over hers. “I never found someone to replace you. I’ve dreamed of these lips since the last time I kissed them.” He sighed and then kissed her again.
“Kiss up,” she said with a chuckle.
“Is it working?” he asked, pulling her closer, enjoying the way her body fit against his.
“I’ll let you know, later,” she teased, causing him to grow even harder next to her. “I have tomorrow off,” she said, then smiled. “I traded my day off yesterday with Aubrey so she could go shopping with us today.” She shrugged. “Maybe we can do something?”
Thoughts of spending the night with her wrapped around him flashed in his mind. God, how long had he wanted that? How long had he wanted her?
“How about I pick you up in the morning, and we can grab some breakfast and head to the beach?” he heard himself asking.
They were at the end of her walkway, and she turned towards him.
“The beach tomorrow sounds wonderful, but I was hoping you’d like to come inside… stay a while.” She pushed her body against his and his dick took over his brain as he kissed her.
In the back of his mind, he kept telling himself that he’d just promised he’d take things slow with her. He still believed that if he slept with her now, at least in her mind, it would be just sex.
And he was even more determined now that this was going to go far beyond just sex. If his plan to get her to fall in love with him was going to work, he had to stick to his no sex rule.
But as her body rubbed against his and Scarlett took the kiss deeper, he decided that there was a difference between sex and having some fun sex time.
Pulling her up into his arms, he carried her up the front steps of the house and inside, determined to have as much fun sex time as he could, without crossing the line he’d drawn.
Chapter Eleven
Scarlett had gone her entire life waiting to be romantically carried up a set of stairs. Holding onto Levi, she nuzzled his neck as they stepped into the house. But when he stopped just inside the front door, she glanced up at him.
“My bedroom’s upstairs,” she hinted.
He frowned at the stairs. “I know. I’m thinking.” He quickly turned away from the stairs and moved to the sofa instead.
When she opened her mouth to protest, he kissed her until she forgot all about not being carried upstairs. Her entire body melted as he ran his hands over her hips.
When he tugged her shirt over her head, she held her breath as he ran his eyes up and down her exposed skin. His fingers traced across her, sending bumps rising everywhere as he slowly explored her skin.
“Levi,” she begged, reaching for his shirt, only to have him step away from her.
“No, I just worked out. I probably stink. For now, I’m going to enjoy myself with you.” His eyes met hers. “This is what compromise means,” he warned, then he dipped his head down and ran his mouth over the curve of her breast. She opened her mouth to argue, but he nudged her bra aside suddenly. Her knees went weak when his tongue dipped below to trace her nipple.
Crying his name, her fingers tangled in his hair, she remembered the first time she’d held onto him like this. How he had kissed her, pushed her shorts down, and slid a finger into her. She’d come instantly, not really knowing what was happening, but enjoying it so much she wanted more.
“Levi.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held on as he slowly undressed her.
“Yes, Sassy?” He chuckled against her belly button as his fingers worked the clasp of her shorts. When they dropped to the ground, she lost her ability to think. His mouth ran over her silk underwear, heating her, soaking her skin.
“Please,” she begged. They had never crossed into full sex, back at camp all those years ago. Even though she’d enjoyed him touching her, getting her to orgasm, she had never once made him feel the way he had made her feel.
She’d promised herself not to be such a selfish lover this time. But when she reached for him, he gripped her wrists and nudged her down onto the sofa.
“Hold still,” he warned her as he knelt between her legs.
“Levi, I want…” she started, but then she gasped as his mouth covered her silk panties. Her legs wrapped around his shoulders, and she held on when he nudged them aside to slide his mouth over her.
“Oh god,” she moaned, her fingers getting lost in his hair as she arched into his kisses.
“My god,” he agreed. “You taste like spring. I’ve dreamed…” He moaned and ran his mouth over her again. When he dipped a finger into her this time, she tried to convince herself to hold out, to wait until she could please him, but it was too much. It felt too wonderful. He felt too wonderful. She felt too much for him, even though she wanted to deny it. She couldn’t stop her body from building up.
“Sassy, let go,” he said against her thigh. “I need this.”
“No, Levi, I want…” Then he did something with his thumb, brushing it against her clit as his fingers worked inside her and stars exploded behind her eye lids as she cried out his name.
“Yes, that’s it,” he encouraged her. “Please,” he said, kissing her again.
She was in a daze. She was pretty sure that he wrapped a blanket around her and then held onto her until she fell asleep. The long day of shopping caught up with her, causing her to drift off in his arms.
When
she woke several hours later, Levi was gone. She found a note on the coffee table, scribbled on one of the bookmarks she’d picked up from the library.
“I’ll be here to pick you up at eight. Goodnight, Levi.”
“Damn him.” She tossed the bookmark down and sat up. She didn’t realize that she was still completely naked under the blanket until she stood up.
Grabbing up her clothes, she marched up the stairs, mumbling the entire way about stupid unrealistic romantic notions in books and movies as she went.
When she glanced at the clock, she realized it was only half past midnight. What the hell was she supposed to do with herself now?
Then an idea came to her. Starting a bath, she tossed in one of her pink bubble packets and lit the candles surrounding the tub.
When she snapped a picture of herself, she made sure that only the non-essential skin was showing. There was no way she was going to send him a picture of anything that could accidently get shared around.
Just her belly button and a little leg showed above of the pink bubbles. She was happy that part of their excursion that day had been an hour filled with pedicures and that she’d picked a hot pink for her toes.
It took a couple tries before she finally got the picture she wanted. When she sent it off to him, she added a short message.
-Looks like you missed a spot.
She chuckled and enjoyed the warm water as she waited for a reply. She didn’t think it would take long and had to only wait about two minutes.
-You’ll pay for that.
She laughed and hugged the phone to her.
-Promise?
-Go to sleep. I’m going to keep you busy all day tomorrow.
-Can’t, I’m too… worked up.
His next response took a little longer.
-Then touch yourself and think of me.
-Is that what you’re doing?
-Now I am.
She smiled and ran her hands over herself, almost dropping her phone in the water as she went.
-I need a picture… to help.
-LOL, nope.