It Happened on Love Street

by Lia Riley

  Rhett’s internal axis flipped its magnetic poles. “Miss Ida May’s with you?” If Everland was a hurricane of gossip, Miss Ida May was the eye at the center.

  “Doing a piece on me for the Back Fence. You’re on speaker, by the way.” An implicit warning not to say anything too offensive about his favorite love-to-hate neighbor.

  “Hey, there, Cupid,” Miss Ida May cooed. “I’m doing a sweet and sexy mayor profile. You’re the next profile, sugar. Date or no, we at the Quilt Guild have our hearts set on you being Mr. Scallywag this year. Would you be amenable to a shirt-off photo shoot? Or no, I can do better. A tight T-shirt spritzed in the front with enough water to show off all those washboard muscles. Why it’s enough to inspire me to do laundry.”

  “Maybe some other time.” Rhett’s tone said when pigs fly. “Hey, man, can you watch my dogs tonight?”

  “Sure thing.”

  “Rhett Valentine, you’re up to something aren’t you?” Miss Ida May butted in. “Might as well come clean, sugar. You can run, but you can’t hide. It’s my mission in life to see you two fine boys properly paired off.”

  “If there’s no smoke, don’t go starting fires,” Rhett replied blandly. “Sorry to be disturbing you at work, mayor.” He clicked off the phone and shoved it in his back pocket before smoothing a hand over his tight jaw.

  That wasn’t anyone’s business but his own and Pepper’s. No one else had any part. They might dare to differ.

  He wanted Pepper for more than a fling. But what sort of date would knock the strappy sandals right off her feet?

  * * *

  The Calypso’s dock lines squeaked and creaked as the sea breeze kissed the back of their necks. Normally the peacefulness of the waves was calming and comforting, but not tonight.

  “Can I pour you another?” Rhett glanced at the bottle of wine.

  “I’m good.” Pepper raised her still full glass.

  “Great.” He leaned against the side of the boat. This was going terribly. He hadn’t been on a first date in a long time. The air was thick with pressure, filled his lungs like concrete.

  Pepper set aside her fork and knife, steak half eaten next to the baked potato and salad. He’d grilled for her on the small barbecue attached off the back. “I like you.”

  He frowned. “There’s a but coming next, isn’t there?”

  The corner of her lip turned up. “But, what’s with this music? I’ve never heard you listen to saxophones. And the meal is wonderful, but I have never seen you drink wine. Do you even like it?”

  “No,” he admitted. Wine never tasted like blackberries, clove or yellow apple to his taste buds. More like bitter acid that left behind an unpleasant film.

  She set down her plate. “Permission to speak freely, Captain.”

  His mouth twitched in the corner. “Go ahead.”

  “Good, I was going to anyway.” She glanced at his speakers. “Is this what you listen to out here?”

  “It’s a playlist that I found online.” It was called “Romantic Dinner,” and the tunes sounded as bland and uninspired as the name.

  “What are you into?”

  “I like music, all kinds, lots of country, folk. The blues. But on the boat, I prefer quiet.”

  She picked up the remote and clicked off the music.

  “Hear that?” Rhett asked. A stout offshore breeze batted the rigging against the mast. Water lapped at the hull. In the distance, waves broke against the harbor mouth. A bird gave a mournful cry. “Oystercatcher.”

  She closed her eyes, going completely still. “In New York, the city sounds became my white noise, helped me think. In a crowd I could become anonymous. Cities are great for introverts. I never had to be the center of attention, but never felt isolated.”

  “I never thought of it that way.” He hooked his arm around her narrow shoulders, drawing her closer as they propped up their feet on a cooler. Venus appeared in the west.

  “I haven’t ever had even the remotest desire to go to New York. Seeing the ball drop on New Year’s in Times Square? No thank you.”

  “Times Square?” She shuddered. “No way would I take you there, avoid it like the plague. Although, want to know a piece of trivia?”

  He grinned. “By all means.”

  She wrinkled her nose at him. “It was the eastern end point for the Lincoln Highway. The first road to span the United States, and one of the earliest transcontinental highways after the invention of cars. It was nicknamed the “Main Street Across America” and crosses thirteen states before ending in San Francisco. It still exists, but the function’s been replaced by I-80. Takes you from San Fran to New Jersey, but it’s not the same. I wish I could do a road trip along an old highway, visit all the towns dotting the way. It’s not the same whizzing along the interstate with the fast food franchises and billboards.”

  “Why don’t you?”

  “Because I don’t have time.”

  “We all have the same twenty-four hours in the day.”

  “But not everyone has the same obligations or is willing to assume the same responsibilities.”

  He brushed the side of her cheek, over her small white scar. “I’ve never asked. What happened here? Chicken pox?”

  She grimaced, her shoulders turning inward. “Gideon’s love bite. He was our neighbor’s guard dog.”

  Along the shore an oystercatcher called again, a keening cry that sent a shiver down his spine.

  “That’s why you were afraid of dogs?” So much made sense, all at once. His mind reeled.

  “Yeah.” Her voice faded into silence.

  “This whole time you never said.”

  She stiffened. “I didn’t need sympathy.”

  “Tell me what happened.”

  She shrugged. “He was big. Mean. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. We lived out in the country. Miles from town. The Francis family had a compound. Lots of trucks that didn’t work. Lots of guns that did. My guess is they had a meth lab or grew pot, something where they didn’t want prowlers. That’s where Gideon came in.

  “Before Mama left she went through a funk. That’s what she called it. But looking back, it was serious depression. One Saturday she didn’t get out of bed no matter what Tuesday and I tried. Dad was out on the property. He was always out then. I think because home was so hard. I must have wandered too close to the property line, looking for him. Gideon went into protective mode and broke his chain. I ran, but he caught me at the gravel road. Dad arrived right as his teeth closed down. It could have been worse. A lot worse. But I still remember how hot his breath was, how much it hurt, and how I couldn’t get him off, no matter how hard I punched and kicked.”

  A shiver moved through him, despite the sultriness of the night air, followed by a burst of anger. It would be a long time before he’d be able to get the image of a young Pepper running through the Maine woods, a no-doubt abused animal closing in behind.

  He rested his cheek on her hair and breathed in the faint apple scent of her shampoo before catching her hand and lacing his fingers through hers.

  She stared at their connection. He did, too, loving to see them joined in a tangible way.

  “I want to make it better,” he murmured.

  “Then how about a beer?” She elbowed him lightly. “I’ve been eyeing the cooler.”

  She danced away from the painful memory, and he understood. Tonight the sky was filled with stars. How many galaxies had died billions of years ago, only now hitting Earth with the last gasps of a fading twinkle? There was a somber magic in the air, fed by the gentle pulse of the sea, lapping the breakwalls in a rhythmic caress. It was easy to buy into the concept of the interconnectedness of all things, the universe tied together, everyone serving a mystical, mysterious purpose.

  What if there were no coincidences? Maybe Pepper had been placed in front of him for a reason. A light in his long darkness. And God help him, he’d put some shine in her world, too.

  He cleared his throat. “I’ve go
t a few types. Want me to list ’em off?”

  “Nah.” She hugged her knees. “Surprise me.”

  “Now you’re talking.” He grinned. “I like a challenge.” He ran his fingers over the different craft beers he and Beau kept in their shared cooler, before settling on the right one. She was more of a lager girl. Crisp. Clean. No-nonsense. “Try this.” He plucked a bottle. “It’s a Czech-style pilsner.”

  “Yes! For real, my favorite.”

  He took out his keychain and popped the top. “Tell me what you think.”

  She took a sip. “Hoppy.”

  “Yeah. I know a few guys who give the variety shit. Say it’s too industrial, that it’s what gets made en masse. But if done right, the taste is perfect in its simplicity.” He drew in to kiss the tip of her nose. “Effervescent. Brilliant in clarity. A little like you.”

  Her pleased laugh came from deep in her throat. “I never knew beer could be romantic.”

  “Neither did I.” God, all he wanted was to remove the bottle from her hand, take her below, and see how bright he could get her, but something she said niggled at him.

  “Tell me more about your mother.”

  Her sigh was soft, barely detectable except for the light brush of heat against his neck. “What’s there to say? She left. A long time ago now. She wanted to look after herself, but that meant there was no one to look after my dad or my sister.”

  “What about you?”

  She bristled at his soft question. “I manage myself fine. It’s the rest of my family that I worry about. I mean, Dad makes maple syrup for a living. It’s not exactly job security, plus if anything happens to him physically, how would he survive? I don’t have a clue what, if anything, he’s saved for retirement. As for Tuesday, up until a few days ago, all she ever wanted to be was a Broadway star. I’d like to have a unicorn and a tree that produces toffee apples, but I live in the real world. Neither of them have any form of safety net…except me. I’m the one who anticipates the future, makes plans. I don’t hope everything will magically work itself out. A person has to make their own luck.”

  “You’re the safety net? That’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself.”

  She took a long pull from the bottle and drew her knees in. “Yeah. They both drive me crazy, but they’re my family and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them. If they fall, someone has to catch them.”

  “And what about you?” he asked softly as he pulled her closer. “Who catches you, Pepper Knight?”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  No one catches me,” Pepper choked down a rising panic. “I’m the one that can’t fail. It’s why this career cul-de-sac has been nothing short of a disaster. There is the real world. The one I planned for. And then there’s Everland. I’ve tumbled down a rabbit hole to a place where nothing makes sense. I don’t like dogs, yet I am falling in love with Kitty. I grew up in a small town and counted the days until I could get away. I dreamed of meeting a city guy, and here I am with you and it’s better than anything. But it’s a dream. A lovely detour. And I can’t stay here forever.”

  “Why?” It’s all he could get out. Otherwise the hurt was too damn much.

  “Because it’s not real life. Not my real life at least. But that doesn’t mean I want it any less.” She slid her arms around his shoulders, his protective heat a shield against the cold night. She’d hold him now, enjoy this moment, because reality was creeping in, and soon these stolen moments would be nothing but a memory. “It doesn’t matter, though. I have to figure out what’s going on with my sister. Start networking for new clerkships. My plan didn’t work. It wasn’t perfect out of the gate, but hey, neither was the U.S. Constitution. I need to make amendments.”

  “You could stay. You’re happy here, and happy is a good look on you.” He smoothed the space between her brows. “There’ve been less wrinkles here.”

  “Word of advice there, buddy,” she playfully nipped his thumb. “Never point out a woman’s wrinkles or gray hair.” Her sigh came from somewhere deep, a resignation she’d never had to accept because it had always been there. “It doesn’t help to talk crazy. I can’t stay. I can’t be Pepper in Everland.”

  “Why? In case you haven’t noticed, we’re all a little crazy around here. You fit right in.”

  “Rhett…” She didn’t know what to say. It was long past time to logic herself to safety. “And even if I am a little crazy—and for the record, I admit nothing—you aren’t.”

  “Ah. That’s where you’re wrong,” he murmured, brushing a thumb over her cheek. “Don’t you see? I am crazy. Crazy for a dog walker who claims she doesn’t like dogs even though she does, who talks too much, recites dead presidents in her sleep, smells like apples, and steals the covers.” The emotion in those easy words touched her deeply.

  What would she do if her life was hers to live, any way she saw fit, free of fear or worry? The notion was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating.

  “Who’re you calling cover stealer?” She gasped as his hand slid under her shirt, palm cool against her skin. The contrast was good, better than good, and brought necessary distraction. Goose bumps broke out even as fire licked her skin.

  “I want.” He traced his tongue over the sensitive shell of her ear, exploring all the tingly nerve endings, not accepting one gasp when he could obtain two. “I want for you to let go. Not forever. Not for the rest of your life. Just tonight. Just for now. Let go, and I’ll promise to catch you.” He nuzzled her neck and pulled her onto his lap, arranging a thigh on either side of his waist. The skirt of her sundress gathered high around her hips, and she found the thin sheer silk of her panties made the rise in his denim more interesting.

  “Can you do that?” he asked. “Trust me to take care of you?”

  “I want to.”

  He kissed like there was no time. Nowhere else to be. Only this moment mattered. His mouth on her skin, pulling at her like the rising tide, his lazy tongue working the curve of her breasts until she had to press her palms through her shirt, over her nipples, to cope with the sweet ache.

  “Someday I want a short dirty fuck out here on the deck while you wear nothing but moonlight.” His gaze scorched. “But tonight,” he rasped. “Tonight, I’m taking you below. Tonight, I’m taking you so hard that you forget everything except for the fact you’re mine. That I’ve got you. That I’m here to keep catching you. Let go for once, see if you fall, or if you fly.”

  He exhaled harshly and stood, clasping her ass and walked to the short flight of stairs, taking each one without hesitation, ducking as they slid into the cabin in the bow. One snug triangle-shaped bed was framed by two small portholes.

  He settled her on the mattress, the springs jolting as he eased on top of her, his braced elbows keeping some weight off as his strong fingers sifted her hair.

  “Pepper.” He claimed her mouth in a fierce kiss, his tongue massaging hers in lush, decadent swirls. Yes. God. But the urge to have those clever hands everywhere grew unbearable.

  “Please, I need…” She trailed off, not even knowing where to begin. God, she needed so much. Her greedy hips pumped as tension wound through her body, pulling so tight she might snap.

  “Let me take over, sweetheart,” he whispered with dominating confidence. “You have one job right now. Lay back and enjoy.”

  “Okay.” She exhaled, still unable to fully relax her tense stomach muscles. This was crazy. Why not sit back and accept someone doing for her, doing to her, wanting nothing more than to give her pleasure, bring her joy, make her quit worrying for two seconds about every single thing?

  A tremble rolled through him. “I didn’t know I’d been waiting. I didn’t know I’d been wanting. Convinced myself what I had was enough. But you, this, I’ll never get enough.”

  His mouth returned to her throat’s hollow, his lips lightly sucking before winding its way along the contours of her shoulders to the plane of her chest, pausing when he provoked even the smallest reaction, attuned to every
caught breath or half-spoken plea. This was heat, sweat-slicked, open-mouthed kissing, soft but unbearably urgent.

  Desire rolled through her like breakers. She floated and sank all at once. The more she let go, the more she sank into what she wanted, opening herself, offering her body without hesitation, self-doubt, or insecurity, the more he took care. Every new sensation felt inevitable, but it didn’t make it less of a surprise.

  Of course he’d do this to her. Of course she’d feel this. Her body was made to feel this way. All her life she’d been waiting to belong to a place, a tangible physical space.

  And here it was.

  Here was home. Where she wanted to be. Where she wanted to stay.

  Forever.

  He captured her mouth with a fierceness, tongue thrusting inside, only to tease, to draw out, to say take it, take what you want because it’s right here waiting for you. It was so much to realize at once. Too much to take in. She tried to pull away but he seized her wrists, pinned them above her head, deepening the kiss. This was to be victory by surrender then. In trusting him with her power, he made her feel more powerful than she’d ever been.

  They’d taken pleasure in each other’s bodies for a fleeting moment. But something was different, deeper, realer. He hadn’t forced her capitulation before, always sensing her natural inherent defenses and never challenging them. Tonight he was making it clear with each inexorable gesture that he intended to plunder, to raze, to tear down her ramparts.

  There was no room for flight or fight. She couldn’t retreat to herself because he was everywhere, and she couldn’t fight back because he dominated her with every gesture. But the whole time she was in control. This was happening because she wanted it. He had the strength but used it in service to her. He took nothing without giving tenfold.

  Her dress had evaporated along with his clothes. The salt-sweet scent of sweat and sex intoxicated her.

  Part of her brain registered her leg plant over his shoulders, his hands skimming down her outer thighs, his face dipping between, pushing his tongue deep in her cleft, probing, tasting exploring. The first lick came slow, and his moan sent vibrations through her sensitized skin. A storm brewed, darkly dangerous and thrilling.