In Your Honor

by Heidi Hutchinson

  Harmony was another matter entirely. That girl simply did not like her.

  Shane had to go back to the house to get a few things, giving Lucy a break, so she took advantage of being able to lie in the sun for a while and rest. Her quiet was immediately disrupted by Harmony's 'effervescence.'

  “I love your bikini! It's so simple, it really suits you.” She flipped her platinum hair over her shoulder as she reclined on the towel next to Lucy. “I don't think I'd be able to wear the same suit everyday, I like variety,” she continued in her sing-song voice as she rubbed oil on her legs and body.

  Lucy couldn't tell if the girl was being sincere or if she was lying through her perfectly orthodontured teeth. Was she trying to be friendly and her social skills were just lacking, or was she being condescending on purpose?

  “How long have you been dating Shane?” Harmony's smile was weird. It was narrow and came to a point in the front, reminding Lucy of the goats she had raised for 4H when she was a child. And then she immediately felt bad for thinking that.

  “Um, not long,” Lucy responded ambiguously. She hated that her guard immediately went up when Harmony was present. She wasn't usually so reserved or distrusting. But something about this girl made her wish she was armed.

  “He's so hot,” Harmony purred next to her as she stretched out on the towel. “What I would give to get a piece of that again.”

  Barf. “Aren't you with Steve...?” Lucy felt like she shouldn't have to point this out.

  “Oh, not anymore,” she said airily, waving her hand like she was bored. “I'm staying with Adam now.”

  That was fast. “Just making your way through the group then?” Lucy clarified dryly.

  “You're so bad!” Harmony laughed loudly and lightly smacked Lucy's leg.

  Lucy's eyes widened. Did she really think she was joking with her? A comment like that back home would have started a full-on bitch brawl. Lucy was beginning to think she wasn't cut out for the California social scene.

  “I was only saying that I know what it's like to be with Shane,” Harmony curled a lip. “You're a lucky girl.”

  “Thanks.”

  Did it make her uncomfortable that Harmony had slept with Shane sometime in the past? Only because Harmony seemed to think she was going to do it again. Shane had already said he had a past he wasn't proud of. Lucy looked over at Harmony... yeah, she wouldn't be proud of that, either.

  “Are you really letting him take you out in the water?” Harmony continued her treasure hunt. Lucy still didn't know what she was looking for.

  “Uh-huh.” Lucy folded her arms over her forehead, blocking the sun from her eyes. So much for relaxing for a minute.

  “Aren't you scared?” Harmony asked, voice dripping with dramatics.

  “Don't you surf?” Lucy felt her face scrunch in a frown.

  “No!” Harmony shook her head. “I only date surfers. I'm more of a pretty girl, not really the butch type.”

  “I would hate to only be needed and wanted for my looks.” It was a dig that Lucy wasn't intending, but didn't regret.

  “That won't happen to you, sweetie. You have to do all those crazy things with the boys to be noticed.”

  Harmony's insult might have gotten to Lucy when she was fifteen, but not now. Now, she found it almost comical. It had never been Lucy's main focus in life to be noticed by all the boys. She just happened to get along with them more easily. Less drama. And suddenly, in that moment, she really missed Lenny.

  Lucy chuckled. “You're right, I'm hideous. Remind me to put a bag over my head when we go back to the house.”

  “What?” Harmony was confused.

  Shane came jogging back to them and Lucy sighed with relief. She was willing to spend the whole rest of the day doing pop-ups if it meant getting away from the blonde who was sucking the energy out of her with each breath of conversation.

  “Hey, beautiful. You wanna go for a swim?” he asked, standing over her, worry lines creasing his forehead as he glanced sideways at Harmony.

  “Sure.” She gave Harmony a slight smirk and stood up. Harmony, for her part, tried to look offended.

  Shane took her hand and led her a little ways down the beach.

  “Is Harmony being mean?” he asked when they were out of earshot.

  “I think she's trying to be, but I kind of don't care.” Lucy smiled up at him, forgetting his ex entirely as she took in all that was Shane Brookings.

  He was in plain blue swimming trunks. His massive shoulders and biceps were turning a gorgeous golden color from their day in the sun. By the end of the week he would resemble a bronzed god. His shaggy brown hair was starting to lighten from the sunlight, giving him a slight halo effect. He really was a magnificent man.

  “What?” he asked, and she realized she'd been staring at him.

  “I was taking time to appreciate you,” she said as she slid her hands around his tight waist and stood on her tiptoes to kiss his chin.

  He caught her face in both of his hands and gazed at her adoringly. “You make me feel important.”

  She let her eyes trace over the planes of his face, the amber intricacies of his eyes, the nearness of his lips. “You are important... especially to me.”

  As his mouth connected with hers, she closed her eyes, letting herself fall for him just a little bit more.

  ***

  On day three, Shane's stomach was queasy as he paddled out into the ocean with Lucy. He checked the items off in his head again, making sure he had taught her what she needed to know. He had. They'd gone over it again and again. He'd been thorough and she had paid attention.

  But Shane knew how unpredictable the water could be, despite any amount of training the rider had undergone. Lucy was inexperienced and Shane was questioning whether this had been a good idea. If something should happen to her, he'd never forgive himself. It was a strange feeling... to want to protect someone so deeply.

  Despite his consternation, the day went relatively easily. Lucy followed all of his instructions. She didn't get very much action, but she was so brave that he was beyond proud of her. She never gave up and she never let the water scare her away.

  They dragged their boards out of the ocean and both collapsed on the beach, completely spent.

  “You did good today, Newton. I'm impressed.” He reached over and held her hand as they stared up at the brilliant sky.

  “I had a good coach,” she replied, squeezing his fingers.

  He rolled up onto his side and looked down at her. Her eyes were closed, her hair wet and slicked back, sand collecting in it the longer she lay there.

  He touched her cheek with his hand and she opened her eyes, her mouth curving into a sweet smile.

  “You were so brave, you never gave up. Not once,” he said, unable to hide his adoration.

  “I trust you,” she answered simply. “I knew you'd save me if it got bad.”

  Shane's heart hammered in his chest. His lips were already drawing towards hers, as if her mouth was where they had made a home. He began to kiss her slowly, achingly determined to remember every movement of this. The taste of her mouth, the feel of her wanting him in return.

  How come he had never known that kissing could be like this?

  ***

  Lucy loved the ocean. She loved surfing even though she really hadn't experienced it to the degree she witnessed the other guys doing it. She loved the beach and California and Serge's pancakes.

  Shane had followed through on his promise for her to have an amazing week.

  Her muscles were tired and sore from all the exertion, but she refused to let it slow her down. Besides, if she got out of the water, Harmony was always waiting on the beach to make another remark about her “simple” upbringing and “backwoodsy” ways.

  Lucy dropped onto her towel, face-down. She only wanted a few minutes' rest, and Harmony was nowhere in sight. It was weird, a girl whose name literally meant a pleasing arrangement of tones or chords had the opposite effect on t
hose around her.

  “You look like you need some extra sunscreen,” she heard Shane say from above her.

  She smiled into her towel. He was finding any excuse he could to touch her and she liked it. A lot. She felt wanted. Desired.

  “Yes, please,” she answered him, and he sank to his knees in the sand next to her without hesitation.

  As he slowly rubbed the lotion across her back, she felt the tension lessening. His hands were warm and powerful, turning her muscles into putty. Each circle he made on her shoulders caused her to melt further into her towel. When he stopped briefly and leaned back on his heels, she peeked one eye open to look at him.

  He was sitting very still, looking peculiarly at her side, and realization swept over her. He saw the tattoo. Her suit must have moved around with all the activity she'd been doing. She'd completely forgotten about it until this moment.

  Well, it was bound to happen eventually.

  “You okay?” she asked him, sitting up slowly. She wasn't sure how he would react and she didn't want to respond until she knew what she was dealing with.

  “You have Blake's name inked on your side,” he said flatly, his face unreadable.

  “Yeah.” She felt her shoulders drop. She hadn't been looking forward to this conversation and suddenly it was here. She couldn't tell what he was thinking and it worried her.

  “I have Lenny's nickname on my arm,” he said with an unexpected chuckle.

  Lucy frowned. She'd seen the Freebird tattoo but hadn't put it together. “You're not... mad?”

  His once expressionless face was now clearly shocked. “Of course not.” He swiftly put his hand under chin, making sure to hold her eyes. “I completely get it. I was only thrown by how much we have in common.”

  Relief washed through her and she smiled. This man continued to amaze and surprise her. She hoped it didn't stop.

  ***

  It was already day six. Shane only had one more night left with Lucy. Then they had to reenter the real world and see if their blossoming relationship had what it took to survive.

  He had loaded the week with activities. He had taken her shopping, snorkeling, sightseeing, all the touristy things. They hadn't had one dull moment, and he was having a ball spoiling the heck out of her. The more he tried to do with her, the faster time moved.

  He sat in one of the white patio chairs out on the stone balcony of their room and closed his eyes. He had immersed himself in her completely this week. The making-out was nearly nonstop. His lips were tender and swollen a majority of the time.

  He hadn't asked for anything more than the kissing, not that he didn't want it. He wouldn't be alive if he didn't want Lucy in every way possible. But he was reasonable enough to know that the circumstances they were in weren't normal and he didn't want to make hasty, passionate decisions in the beginning. He wanted her for the long term. And because of that, he could wait until the time was right.

  He felt her hands slide along his shoulders and come down his chest as she came up behind him. She leaned her head down next to his, her dark hair tumbling in a chocolate waterfall off to the side. He reached up and covered her hands with his own.

  “What are you doing out here?” she asked softly, her lips grazing his ear. Electricity shot through him from her lips' point of contact straight to his gut.

  He always had two reactions to her closeness. He was instantly ready for anything and yet completely relaxed. He pulled her around in front of him onto his lap, she rested her head on his shoulder, and he let out a contented sigh.

  “I can't believe the week is already over,” he said heavily.

  “I know, it went fast,” she sighed against him.

  “The fire almost ready?” he asked. The guys had started building a fire in the pit on the patio out back every night. It was a great way to wind down at the end of the day. Kip had brought out the guitar and he and Lucy would pass it back and forth, leading the group in song.

  “Yeah, they sent me to come and find you.”

  “I don't know if I'm ready to be without you yet,” he confessed. They had grown close over the week. Closer than he thought possible. He was so wrapped up in her, he could hardly think straight.

  “I know what you mean.” Hearing her reciprocate his own feelings caused him to hold her a little tighter.

  “I suppose we better get downstairs,” he said after a few more minutes.

  Lucy fit into his life perfectly. She got along with his friends, which wasn't easy for anyone. She tolerated Harmony, she was always up for an adventure, and she completely adored and trusted him. He was starting to think that she needed to stick around. Permanently.

  The songs and talking went way too late that night; everyone knew that when morning came they'd have to go back to real life. Each of his friends hugged her, saying their goodbyes now since she would have to leave right away in the morning.

  When Shane came out of the bathroom after his shower, she was sitting up in bed waiting for him. He walked towards her slowly, their last kiss goodnight looming before him. He sat on the edge of the bed and tried to take her all in.

  Her dark eyes, her soft smile, the curve of her neck, the way she moved as she crawled across the bed towards him. She stopped very near his face, reaching up to push his hair back.

  “I don't want you to sleep on the couch tonight,” she whispered, and Shane felt his heart kick into overdrive. He didn't respond; instead he waited for her to finish so he didn't jump to any conclusions.

  “Do you think that would be okay? If you slept here, without doing anything?” She watched him earnestly, her eyes reflecting the purity of her question. “It's our last night,” she tried to explain when he didn't answer right away. “I... call me a hopeless romantic, but I would really like to wake up in your arms.”

  Shane pressed his lips together. He wanted that too. He took a deep breath and nodded.

  “Okay, but no funny business,” he leveled at her seriously. More for his own benefit than hers.

  “Okay,” she whispered, trying to hide her smile.

  He stroked her cheek with the pad of his thumb and she closed her eyes. He caught her bottom lip in his mouth and delighted at her sudden intake of air. He usually kissed her slowly, and he'd caught her off guard with his impulsiveness. He framed her face with both hands, determined not to let the kiss get too heated before crawling under the covers with her. But he was a fool to think that any kiss with Lucy could be less than perfect.

  He finally pulled away and gazed at her flushed face and slightly puffy lips. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled at him shyly. His response was to shake his head and take a deep breath. “I'm gonna miss the hell out of those kisses.”

  Her smile widened and she pulled the covers down, beckoning him to join her. She snuggled against his side and he wrapped both arms around her. He wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight, he could already tell.

  He looked down at her peaceful expression. That was all right, it was totally worth it.

  Chapter 16

  Word Forward

  The sun was hot, that went without saying. But Blake had still muttered it numerous times throughout the morning. He came down off the ladder for the final time that day and wiped the sweat off his face with his arm.

  He was filthy, covered in roofing tar and crap from the gutters. But he was happy he could help his mama out so she didn't have to hire someone this year. And it felt good to do something physical.

  After being out at Lucy's grandparents' house a couple of days ago, he began avoiding any more emotionally jarring journeys around town. He thought he had been ready. Now, he wasn't so sure. So he kept busy doing chores around Mama's house.

  She must have suspected him of not being forthright with her when she asked how it went, because she had been loading him up with as much manual labor as she could find. That had been her tactic for getting him to come clean when he was a kid.

  He wanted to believe that he had dealt with the things he n
eeded to. Had faced them, and had come out the other side more or less intact.

  So why did he still feel so... unfinished?

  “You done already?” she asked as she handed him a glass of iced tea.

  “Yup,” he nodded, taking a long drink.

  “Good job.” She took the glass away from him when he was finished and raised an eyebrow. It was the look that only mama's can give to their boys. “Triny Newton called. Said he has some things that need movin' and was wondering if you were still around.”

  Blake avoided her eyes. “I can head over there in a bit.”

  “You never mentioned seein' him. Weird how that didn't come up.”

  “Must have slipped my mind.” His eyes flicked up to hers, and he could tell she wasn't buying it.

  “You want things to be different, Blake, you're gonna have to do somethin' different.” She was cross and probably fed up with his repetitive avoidance.

  “I know, Mama.” He rubbed an arm across the sweat on his face, the dirt smearing across his skin, then readjusted his ball cap. “I didn't know what to say. How do you say, 'Man, I've screwed everything up. That was fun to relive'?”

  “Don't get glib with me, mister,” she replied, giving him the patented Mama-Glare. “You start comin' clean about stuff and you'll find you have a lot less baggage to carry around.”

  He sighed and looked at the ground. She was right. For some reason he never let it all out, he kept packing it down. And it was getting heavier and heavier to carry.

  “Now get your butt over to Triny's and work until you puke. Be home for supper and expect to start tellin' me the truth.” She snapped her fingers at him and he had to hold back a smile. Oh, he had missed his mama.

  On the ride over he wrestled with his internal thoughts. He had come home to settle things. To fix what needed fixing. Why was he still avoiding it, then?

  Mama was right, he needed to start being honest. With everyone.