by J. S. Cooper
“I don’t even think Wade has been in a Trader Joes.” I took a sip as well. “Okay, so I guess my first bet is to try and talk to Gordon and then see what else we can find. There’s a lady that works in the cafe in the village, she’s always warning me about the Hart brothers. Maybe we can talk to her and see what she has to say.”
“It can’t hurt.” Lucy’s eyes were starting to narrow and then she started to yawn. I jumped up and smiled at her.
“Come on, sleepy head. Let’s get you to your room. I’m going to change the sheets while you shower.”
“Oh?”
“I think it’s best if you sleep in my room and I’ll sleep in Wade’s room.” I smiled and then rolled my eyes as she made sex noises. “He’s not there, so it’s not like anything will be happening.”
“I bet you wish it was though.”
“Maybe.” I winked and then whistled at Jolene to get off of the couch. “Come on, you two.” I said as I started to walk out of the room. “Tonight, we all need to get a lot of sleep and then tomorrow we can start afresh with this investigation.”
“Sounds good to me.” Lucy let out a bigger yawn. “Man, that’s the problem with wine. It always accelerates how tired I feel.”
“No worries, girl. We’ve already done a lot today and I’m just so happy that you came up to visit me. I’m really looking forward to showing you around Herne Hill and I can’t wait for you to meet Wade.”
“Trust me, girl, no one is more excited to meet this mystery boss of yours than I am.” Lucy linked arms with me and we sang one of our favorite Disney songs from, Beauty and the Beast as we walked down the corridor. As we got to my room, we heard the loud hooting of an owl and we both jumped and then laughed as we walked into the bedroom. Lucy headed to the bathroom and I started stripping the sheets so that I could change them.
It was then that the owl started hooting again and I felt my body shivering. I walked over to the window and looked out but all that greeted me was the night sky and some stars. What was out there in the woods? Was someone trying to mess with my head or was I letting my imagination run away with me? I didn’t have the answers to those questions, but one thing I did know was that I was more thankful than I’d ever been in my life that Lucy had come to stay with me.
Chapter 8
The sounds of silence greeted me as I woke up the next morning. I snuggled under the sheets and pressed my face against Wade’s pillow, taking in his essence and scent. I felt a little bit creepy doing that, but I loved the feeling of being close to him that it provided me. He wasn’t here, but that was almost better. I could almost pretend that this was a normal situation I was in and that Wade was a normal guy. Almost. And then because it was as if Wade could read my mind, my phone beeped with a text from him.
“Wakey wakey, sleepy head.” I smiled at the text from Wade and a warm feeling spread through me.
“How do you know I’m awake?” I typed back quickly as I stretched.
“Because you just text me back.”
“Wow, you’re a regular Einstein.”
“I’m the smartest man you know.”
“Are you though?”
“Are you still in bed?”
“Why?”
“I just want to know if I should picture you with your hair all over the place or not.”
“Not.”
“Liar.”
“Then why ask?”
“What are you wearing?”
“Don’t you have work to do? Didn’t you go away for business? Shouldn’t you be concentrating on that?”
“I’d rather concentrate on making you come.”
“Okay.”
“Are you touching yourself?”
“Are you?”
“Yes.”
“Well, good for you.”
“I’m touching myself thinking of you.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t want to video chat.”
“Nah, not the best idea.”
“Why not?” I frowned. Why didn’t he want to see me and chat at the same time.
“Because that makes it feel cheap.”
“Makes what feel cheap?”
“Phone sex.”
“Oh, who’s having phone sex?”
“Us.”
“You wish.”
“Don’t you want to make my wishes come true?”
“Am I genie?”
“You can be my genie in a bottle, anytime.”
“Haha.” I found myself laughing out loud at his messages.
“Savannah, you up?” Lucy’s voice sounded from outside the door and she pushed it open and stuck her head inside. “Morning, I knew I heard you laughing.”
“Wade was texting me.” I sat up. “Come in.” I waved her towards the bed and watched as she walked towards me in her nightgown, hair loose and messy. “You’re so pretty.” I grinned at her. “How do you make bedhead look so good?”
“Savannah,” She laughed. “I look a hot mess and you know it.”
“No, you don’t.” I said honestly and gave her a quick hug as she sat on the bed. Jolene jumped up onto the sheets as well and wiggled her way over to me for a rub down.
“So what was Wade saying?”
“I don’t think I should say.” I blushed and she laughed, holding her hand out to me.
“Okay, let me see the messages. I got to know how dirty his dirty talk is.”
“Who said it was dirty talk?”
“Your red cheeks do.” She laughed as she sat back. “So this is Wade’s room?” She looked around. “It’s nice.”
“Yeah, it is. How did you sleep?”
“Like a log.” Lucy stretched. “Your bed is so comfortable. I love it.”
“Yeah, it’s amazing. Want to have breakfast and a morning swim? Then we can go into town and chat with Beryl and see if we can get any more info on Wade?”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” She grinned. “Your phone is blowing up. Are you not going to answer your messages?”
“Wade can wait?”
“Yes, he can.” She laughed. “I bet he’s ready to blow right now, though.”
“What?”
“If I interrupted you while he was pleasuring himself, I bet he’s on the way to blue balls.” She giggled. “His hand is mid cock, wondering when it can start moving again.”
“Lucy, you’re disgusting.”
“Am I though?” She giggled as she made her way off of the bed. “I’m going to have a quick shower and then head to the kitchen. I’ll make the breakfast and then we can swim.”
“Sounds good.” I nodded. “I will have a shower now as well?”
“Before or after you pleasure your man?”
“He’s not my man and I’m not having phone sex with him.”
“But you want to, though!”
“Maybe.” I giggled. “To be honest, I actually would prefer for him to be here and we have some fun in person.” I winked. “That would really make my day.”
“Oh Savannah.” Lucy groaned. “I’m officially jealous. Once we get back to the City, you’re going to help me find a guy. I want a hottie that is going to make me come so hard that I forget my own name.”
“Lucy,” I groaned. “You sound hornier than me.” I laughed. “But I will definitely help you find a guy. I want us both to end up with great guys, and also if Wade turns out to be a dickhead, I’ll be looking for a man for myself as well.” I groaned. “And let’s be real, that’s looking very likely.”
“We’ll see.” Lucy grabbed Jolene off the bed. “Come on girl, let’s go and do a peepee before I shower.” Jolene wagged her tail as Lucy picked her up and I was a little jealous seeing how well they were getting on. They’d bonded a lot and I could tell that Jolene loved Lucy just as much as she loved me now.
“You can leave her with me, if you want.” I held up my hand, but Lucy shook her head.
“You have your fun with Wade and then I’ll hand Jolene back over to you.” Lucy laughed. “I wouldn’t wa
nt innocent little Jolene to witness something she shouldn’t.”
“Lucy,” I groaned as my face went pink. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Uh huh.” She giggled and then started singing. “I don’t see nothing wrong with a little bump and grind and phone sex in the morning.”
“Lucy, out.” I screeched at her and threw a pillow at her. “I will meet you in the kitchen in thirty minutes. Have your swimsuit on.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” She laughed. “Does Wade like it when you’re bossy? Does he like a dominant woman.”
“Out.” I laughed and Lucy giggled her way out of the room. I grabbed the phone to see Wade’s texts and smiled as I read them quickly.
“I was thinking that it would be nice to see you in a sexy lingerie. Order one online so that when I’m back you can model it for me.”
“Did you order it yet?”
“Savannah, did you fall asleep again?”
“Are you pleasuring yourself thinking about me staring at you in your sexy outfit?”
“Savannah?”
“Are you really going to leave me hanging?”
“Or rather, I should say, are you really going to leave my dick hanging?”
“My hard dick.”
“My hard dick that wants to be inside of you.”
“Fuck, is your pussy as wet as I think it is right now?”
“I wish I was there to taste you. Slide my tongue into you and lick up your juices.”
“Savannah, are you mad at me? Do you not like the dirty talk?”
“I can start over? How’s your day going?”
“Planning on doing anything fun?”
“Savannah!!!”
I laughed at the exclamation marks at the end of his last text. I had to admit he’d made me horny. I imagined what it would feel like to be waking up to him going down on me. I was pretty sure it would feel amazing.
“Sorry, I was busy with my other man. He was just getting me off.” I typed back and laughed.
“What other man, you tease? You deserve a spanking for that lie.”
“Oh well, you’re not here, so not going to happen.”
“What were you doing?”
“Nothing.”
“Another spanking for another lie.”
“Whatever.”
“Slip your fingers into your panties.”
“I don’t think so. I’m about to make breakfast and do some work. I still need to go through those files you left for me and type up those letters you wanted to send to the World Bank.”
“I’m glad you’re such a hard worker, but right now I have other things for you to do.”
“Are you saying touching myself is now a part of my job description?”
“Do you want it to be?”
“You can’t control when I touch myself.”
“You want to bet?”
“You’re so full of yourself. I have to go now.”
“Minx.”
“Bye Wade, have a good day.” I turned my phone off and then closed my eyes as I slipped my fingers into my panties and thought of him. I was horny as hell, but I didn’t want him to know that. He had left me hanging, so I was going to do the same thing to him. That didn’t mean I wasn’t going to get mine though. As my fingers touched my wetness, I imagined his tongue on me and my body shuddered in sweet memory of my intimate times with him.
Chapter 9
“So I could get used to this life.” Lucy beamed as we pulled out of the driveway. “Yummy breakfast and a morning swim. What a life.”
“Yeah, thanks for making that omelet this morning. It was delicious.”
“I don’t even feel guilty for the Nutella on toast we had.” Lucy laughed. “That morning swim worked off all the calories.”
“I don’t know about all the calories, but definitely a lot.” I turned on the radio and we were both silent as we listened to the music. I drove slowly into town and I could feel a certain sort of apprehension in my soul as we headed toward the cafe. It was a sort of dread at what we were about to find out.
“You okay, Savannah? I just asked you the same question five times and you still haven’t answered me?”
“Sorry, what?” I flashed her a wry smile. “My mind was occupied.”
“It certainly seems that way.” Lucy turned the radio down. “I was asking if you knew the name of this song, but that doesn’t matter. Why are you so tense?”
“I guess I’m just nervous to hear what Beryl is going to tell us about Wade.” I shrugged. “Like if it’s really bad, what do I do?”
“Girl, first of all, I don’t think we’re going to crack the case so easily. Whoever heard of a detective solving the case by speaking to one person? Doesn’t really seem like that’s going to happen, but if on the off-chance, Beryl happens to be the Miss Marple of the village and is able to tell us absolutely everything, then we leave.”
“We just leave, without giving Wade a chance to explain?”
“To explain what girl? If he’s an asshole, he doesn’t get anything. He doesn’t deserve you to give him a chance to explain.”
“Well, I...”
“Girl, a little bit of loving hasn’t turned you into a first class fool has it?”
“No.” I laughed, even though I didn’t want to. “And just wait until you have sex. You won’t be referring to it as a little bit of loving?”
“Oh yeah, what will I be referring to it as?”
“A whole hunka hunka piece of loving.” I giggled, suddenly feeling lighter again.
“You know that doesn’t even make sense right? What’s a whole hunka hunka?”
“It means a whole lot.”
“I don’t think it does.” Lucy shook her head. “Doesn’t hunka hunka mean like hot or really attractive. Like a hot guy. Didn’t Elvis Presley say it in his song, Burning Love?”
“I don’t know.” I rolled my eyes. “Are you the hunka hunka definition police?”
“I just might be.” Lucy giggled as she started talking in a deep Southern voice. “Let me just put on my blue suede shoes and I’ll give it some thought.”
“Ha ha ha.” I turned into the main road and was pleased to realize that my nerves had subsided. “But you’re right, I’m not going to make any decisions until I have all the facts.”
“I don’t actually think I said that, but whatever, sounds like a good plan to me.”
“Good!” I took a deep breath. “Okay, we’re nearly there. Let’s see what Beryl has to say.”
“Welcome to Herne Hill Village cafe,” Beryl greeted us as we walked in. “A table for two or will others be joining you?” She looked over at Lucy and studied her. “You’re new in town, too?”
“Hi, I’m Lucy, Savannah’s best friend. I just came up to ensure that all is well in the village and that Savannah is safe.” Lucy held out her hand, but Beryl ignored it.
“Well, I’m glad to hear she has a good friend.” Beryl nodded. “I don’t like to see young girls do foolish things. They can get themselves in a whole heap of trouble, you know?” She then looked at me again.
“Actually, that’s why we’re here. I was hoping to talk to you today, Beryl...” I licked my lips nervously and lowered my voice. “About Wade and the Hart men.”
“Oh.” She blinked once and then shrugged. “I don’t really know what I can tell you dear. I’m just a simple waitress in a cafe.”
“Oh.” Disappointment filled me immediately. “I thought...” My words drifted away as she walked back to the counter and picked up a coffee cup without another word to us. “Well that was a fail.” I looked at Lucy, whose eyes were now narrowed. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking we need to go and sit at the counter and order some coffee and maybe some doughnuts. I feel like something sweet right now.”
“But you heard her, she has nothing to say.”
“Savannah, I love you, but you would make the absolute worst detective in the history of detectives. It’s obvious that she has somethi
ng else to say. We’re not just going to walk away.”
“We’re not?”
“Nope.” She walked in front of me. “Hey Beryl, can we sit at the counter? We just want to order some coffee and maybe some pancakes or doughnuts.”
Lucy walked to the counter and took a seat without even waiting for Beryl’s answer. I followed behind her like a puppy dog and sat next to her. I looked over at Beryl and was surprised to see that she had the widest smile on her face that I’d ever seen in my life.
“I’ll be with you in a moment.” Beryl said with a small nod as she walked over to another table. I waited for her to be out of earshot before I whispered to Lucy.
“Do you think this is a good idea?”
“Yes, of course.” She had a faraway look on her face. “You know what I was thinking?” Lucy said, her eyes wide as she leaned in towards me.
“What?”
“What if the house is haunted and what if Wade is actually a ghost?”
“What?” My voice was louder this time. “What are you talking about?”
“All the weird things you’ve been experiencing in the house might be supernatural. And has anyone else ever seen Wade asides from you?”
“Yes, Lucy.” I held back a laugh. “He and I were in here just a couple of weeks ago. Beryl and everyone else that was in here saw him. Are you sure they saw him? Did they talk to him or just to you?”
“Oh my God, why did my best friend have to be a filmmaker?” I shook my head. “This isn’t some Gothic horror movie. And if it is, I want out.”
“How cool would that be though?”
“I don’t really think I want to have lost my virginity to a ghost, so not cool at all.”
“Oh yeah, I almost forgot you guys had sex.” She laughed. “But maybe the house is haunted. Wow, that would be cool. What happened to the last assistant again? Maybe she’s haunting the place to get revenge on Wade for killing her.”
“Uhm…” I stared at her. “That’s even worse. Now Wade has gone from a ghost to a murderer?”
“Well, I’m not saying he’s a murderer, but let’s be real, he’s not worried you’re going to find out he’s secretly donating millions to feed the poor or something. Whatever he’s hiding is dark. Really dark.”