by Quinn, Taryn
Some of the houses weren’t quite as rundown here in Laurel as I remembered. New tenants or people aging out, I wasn’t sure. Either way, it seemed as if my old hometown was making a bit of a comeback. Or maybe it was just fresh eyes.
I’d run far and fast from here, that was for sure.
I pulled up the gravel drive. The familiar bark of Sandy, my parents’ golden retriever, made me smile as I pushed open the door.
“Hiya, girl.” She jumped and spun in circles then gave me a hard lean as she licked my face off.
“Gage? Is that you?”
“Nothing like ruining the surprise,” I muttered to the dog. I smiled as my mom came down the stairs of the porch. “Hey, Ma.”
“What are you doing here?” She rushed across the uneven pavers to catch me in a fierce, hard hug. Nothing quite like a mom hug when you didn’t know what the hell was up with the universe.
I lowered my forehead to her shoulder for a second and dragged in her familiar scent. Dove soap and Estee Lauder. I knew, because I sent her a bottle every year for her birthday.
I squeezed her back and spun her around. Her girlish laugh lifted the rock that I hadn’t realized was sitting on my chest. “How are you, beautiful?”
“I’m happy to have my youngest home.” She stepped away from me enough that she could frame my head in her hands. “That wanderlust is still in your eyes.”
“If that wanderlust means sitting on that huge, perfect recliner in the living room, then you would be correct.”
“You know it’s not.” She frowned. “Well, come on. I just made some banana bread.”
“With chocolate chips?”
“Is there any other kind?”
“Not as far as I’m concerned.” I gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek. “One second. I have something for you.”
“You don’t have to bring me presents every time you come home. This time, it’s not Christmas, Lucas Gage Kramer.”
I winced. “I don’t think this rates my full name.” I ducked into the backseat where I’d buckled in her huge basket. I stepped back and closed the door. Her gasp and quick rush of tears told me I had chosen right.
Or Kathy had.
“All right, no tears, woman.”
“They’re beautiful. And so big.”
“Yeah, well, a woman named Kathy had my number.”
“I just bet that woman did.”
I kissed my mom’s temple and urged her forward. “Some things never change.”
“Does your father know you’re here?”
“Nope. Had to surprise my best girl first.”
My mom gave me a narrow-eyed glance. “Hmm.”
“What?”
“When your charm gets gooey, my mom antennae goes buzzy.”
“Then it should always buzz.”
“It does when it comes to you.”
I laughed, then it turned into a groan at the scent of fresh banana bread. “Man, it’s good to be home.”
“I really am glad you’re home, sweetie.”
I set the flowers down on the large shelf under the picture window in the living room. “Me too, Mom.”
I really hadn’t been aware just how much I needed home until just this second.
And maybe not entirely because of my family and familiar comforts. Perhaps being home would bring some new into my life as well.
Or it already had.
Six
I loved the idea of living alone. The actuality of it sometimes was a bit more than I was prepared for. Especially since my window faced Main Street. Small town life didn’t exactly mean a lot of nightlife or traffic, but oddly, it was the water that freaked me out the most.
I could hear it all the time.
Boats bumping against the dock and water forever swishing. People usually liked that lapping noise. For God’s sake, there were a million sleeping apps that actually accentuated any and all water sounds.
I knew that, because I had all the fucking apps.
Because I didn’t know how to sleep. Insomnia had always been a problem for me. Whenever I did manage to doze off, the water kept sneaking into my dreams. And dreams were forever a worry now.
So, I’d set a trap for myself. Much as I used to as a kid.
Unfortunately, I was too smart in my dreams. I wished the wakeful Rylee was half as brainy.
I curled into the large papasan chair I’d set up in front of the window and tried to chill myself out. Sometimes when there simply wasn’t a place to go, my subconscious would let me sleep. I pulled the light blanket up around me and slipped in my air pods.
Rain app on the go, full moon in the sky over the lake. I just needed a few hours down and I could make it through the day. I resisted the urge to look at the time on my phone. It made sleeping even more difficult.
Don’t fight it.
My eyes got heavier and the moon blurred in the sky.
“I don’t have time for your bullshit, Gage. I told you what you needed to do for Ma.”
“And I’ve been working on the house for the last three days. I’m a fucking driver and mechanic, not a handyman, asshole.”
“Then go fucking be a driver. It’s what you do, right?”
I opened one eye. Gage?
I sat up as the voices lowered and faded. Had I been dreaming of him? Not shocking. I’d had some crazy hot dreams the first few weeks after our hookup.
Well, I was still in the chair. That was one good thing. The sun was streaming into my apartment. I must have slept. And hey, I hadn’t gotten up in the middle of the night.
I hoped.
I climbed out of the chair and looked around for any of the telltale signs. I had a habit of doing weird decorating things. And then I saw my fridge was open. It certainly hadn’t been when I went to bed.
Dammit.
“Great.” I cringed at all the food I’d probably have to throw out.
I stepped around the temple of plastic cups near my door and quickly stacked them to put on my kitchen island for later. Luckily, I’d taken a shower the night before so I just had to brush my teeth and get dressed.
My hair was heinous, but that was what messy buns were for.
I grabbed my bag and hurried down the stairs and out the front door, checking my phone. There were two messages from Kathy already. Shit.
“You come into town, thinking you can just have a good time. Some of us have more to worry about.”
My eyebrows shot up. I wasn’t sure I’d ever heard Dare raise his voice. So, it hadn’t been a dream after all. And they were still arguing.
“Who said anything about a good time? I’ve had sheetrock dust on my clothes for days, fuckhead.” Gage’s usually smooth, flirty voice was harsh and stressed.
Yeah, I didn’t want anything to do with sibling fights. I’d had plenty with my sister.
Besides, I needed to save my energy to deal with Kathy.
I tried to sneak past, but caught Dare’s attention. His face went from snarly to a cool, chilled mask.
“Don’t mind me, guys.”
Gage turned around. “Rylee.” His eyes still fired with temper, but exhaustion lined them. Maybe he wasn’t getting any sleep either. And a beard was quickly forming out of his perpetual scruff.
“I should probably thank you. Your little argument was quite the alarm clock.” I tapped my wrist. “I’ve got to get going.”
Dare’s ears went pink. “I don’t have time for this shit.” He turned on his heel and headed back to the garage.
Gage sighed and turned back to me. “Can I walk you to work?”
“No, I’m good.” I secured my purse on my shoulder and the sidewalk suddenly shifted under me. I tried to catch myself on the back panel of the silver car parked on the street, but a swarm of black dots and Gage’s sharp, “Jesus,” were the last things I was aware of.
Next thing I knew, my cheek was pressed into a very warm neck and I was definitely not on my feet.
“I’ve got you.”
I pre
ssed my lips against the whiskers hidden in the soft material of a collared shirt. The sweet scent of cherries dented the fog, followed by the sharp tang of his cologne.
I knew that scent.
I’d practically climbed inside of it that one night. I couldn’t get enough of him. “Gage?”
“That’s right. You all right?” He shifted me closer. His strong arms strained under my weight.
Oh, God. Too many mocha lattes. The guy was gonna tumble under me like a redwood. “What happened?”
“I think you fainted.”
“I did not.”
“Okay, you just gracefully folded into a human accordion on the street.” He shifted me again. “Is there some sort of way to get into your building? Key or something?”
“I’ve got to go to work.”
“Yeah, well, it’s either up into your place or I bring you into the café.”
“Upstairs.”
“What I thought.”
“Where’s my bag?”
He lifted his shoulder. “Got it.”
I wanted to crawl right into the cracks in the sidewalk. “I’m okay. You can put me down now.”
“Nope. We’re going to get you upstairs and get some sugar into you. You’re not doing one of those stupid juice cleanses or air diets, right?”
“What? You think I need a diet?” What the heck was an air diet anyway?
“God, no. You’re fucking beautiful.”
Slightly mollified, I huffed out a growl. “Then what the hell?”
“Because you fainted on the sidewalk, Ry. You probably didn’t eat.”
Well, he had me there. I hadn’t eaten, but I didn’t even have a headache. I couldn’t be that hungry. And based on the condition of my fridge this morning, I’d definitely eaten something last night. How the hell was I supposed to explain that?
Oh, don’t worry, I’m like a zombie past midnight except I stress-eat PBJs instead of brains. No big.
Rather than address the peanut butter-flavored elephant sitting in my belly, I nodded at my bag still over his shoulder. “My keys have a security fob.”
He backed into the panel and lifted his shoulder to get the keys near the sensor. When the door opened, he maneuvered us inside and up the stairs as if I didn’t weigh a damn thing. His muscles rippled under my thighs and his grip was nice and secure.
I’d never felt so safe in my life.
He needed to put me down now. These definitely were not the feelings I wanted to have for this man.
“Look, I just didn’t sleep great last night.”
“Why? Thinking about me?”
“You wish.”
“I do.” His gaze dropped to my mouth then back to my eyes. “Especially if they’re dirty thoughts.” He grinned. “Door locked?”
“No.”
He sighed. “Not exactly smart.”
“Small town.”
“Still weirdos in small towns. Don’t you watch television?”
“Wait, you mean like weirdos who insist on carrying women around and then ply them with sugar behind closed doors? Guys like that?” I smiled. “Nope, never heard of that sort.”
“Smart ass.” He juggled me enough to get his hand around the doorknob.
“I could stand up.” But he was already on his way inside.
Sack of potatoes for the win.
He kicked the door shut behind us and crossed my apartment in two strides, setting me on the couch. He cupped my face and tipped my chin up so he could look me right in the eyes. “There you are. You don’t resemble a piece of paper anymore. I like the golden color you usually have.”
When he stared at me just a little too long, then his gaze dropped to my mouth again, I batted his hands away. “I’m fine.”
Instead of going in for the kiss I knew he wanted—nope. Not going there again. I would not be swayed.
Probably.
I was almost sure.
He rested his lips against my forehead. “No fever.”
“I have a mom, thanks.”
He gave me a long, level stare. “You do not have maternal or paternal thoughts around me, huntress.”
I shivered, which only made him grin wider.
He set my purse on the floor. “I’ll get you something to drink.”
“Not the milk,” I called after him. That definitely needed to go down the sink. Of course I’d just bought it.
“Got it.” He came back with a soda. “It’s not very cold.”
“I just put it in there.”
“You were running late you said.”
I took the can, but ignored his comment. “Thanks for the assist. I’m not sure what happened.”
He sat next to me, making the couch feel even smaller than usual. Why was he so…big?
Yeah, no need for those sorts of thoughts. First, you started off innocently pondering toned muscles. Then, oh, maybe his hands. Large hands capable of framing your face while you kissed or holding your thighs open, depending where the kiss occurred.
Next thing you knew, you were dwelling on penis size. It was a slope guaranteed to make me slippery.
No, thanks.
“Nice place.”
I opened the can and took a sip of the sweet soda. I’d never had trouble with blood sugar before. I drank until the lingering shakes faded and my brain felt clearer.
“I feel better. I need to get to work.”
“Work? You almost passed out in the middle of the fucking street.”
My cheeks burned. “Thanks for reminding me.”
He stood and paced the very cramped space between my couch and kitchen island. “Jesus, Ry. I think your boss would understand.”
I dug into my purse for my phone. A third call was coming in. “Hi, Kathy.”
“Where are you?”
I winced. “Something came up.”
“Something? That’s unacceptable, Rylee.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I…” I didn’t want to tell her I overslept then fainted. It didn’t sound good.
Gage plucked the phone out of my hand. “Hi, Kathy, is it?”
I stood up and wobbled a little. “Dammit, give me that.”
Gage turned away from me. “I’ll bring Rylee down to the shop in a few minutes. She’s just had a little accident.” He went silent for a minute then said a few mmm-hmms. “I knew you’d understand. She’ll be in as soon as she can. Thanks, you too.” He handed me back the phone. “Have you never called in before?”
I grabbed it and this time, my feet stayed under me even after the quick move. “How dare you?”
“Me? I just got you out of trouble.”
“Oh, sure. You just lied to her. I didn’t have an accident.”
“Technically, you did. I saved you.”
“You—I…” Stunned, I stalked over to him. “Get out.”
“Ah, there’s your color back.”
I had to be red, because I was so mad I was going to rip his eyeballs out.
He curled his arm around my waist. “You scared the crap out of me, Ry.”
I wanted to push him back, but the honest worry on his face stopped me. “It was no big deal. I just haven’t been sleeping well like I told you.”
He grazed his fingers along my cheek to tip my head up. His ridiculously long fingers slipped into the wispy hair falling from my topknot. “Why?”
“I never sleep well.”
“Well, I’ve only spent one night with you and we definitely didn’t sleep.”
I wrapped my fingers around his wrist. “Gage—”
“Well, we didn’t.”
“I thought we weren’t discussing that.”
“No, I think that was your idea. Me? I want to talk about it all day long. All night long. Hell, any hour you want.”
I couldn’t stop the laugh. “Stop trying to be charming.”
“I don’t try. It’s just a God given talent.”
I rolled my eyes, but then he was lowering his mouth. Before I could push him away or evade, his
lips touched mine. Not the hot, hard kisses that we’d shared before.
No, this was soft and sweet.
A barely there kiss, but the memories it stirred made me lightheaded again. I swayed against him and he tugged me closer.
“You’re not going to faint on me again,” he said against my mouth.
“And you ruined it.” I pushed him back.
His laugh was low and rumbly. “So, I just made you swoon then?”
“Go.”
He tugged on my knot and my hair tumbled over my shoulders. “Jesus, you are stunning.”
I wasn’t sure what to say to that. I nibbled on my lower lip and resisted the urge to bring my fingers to my still buzzing mouth.
“I’ll check on you later.” He gave me that half smile that had gotten me into so much trouble to begin with, then he was gone.
I collapsed back on the sofa with a groan. “What are you doing, Rylee?”
Seven
For a minute, I waited in the hall.
Like that parental figure she accused me of being? Or like a boyfriend?
Nah. Like a…friend.
Much better.
I really didn’t want to leave her alone. Watching her crumple like that had taken ten years off me, man. I was used to her railing at me, not going as pale as Casper and sagging as if her bones had dissolved.
I pressed my forehead to her door and inhaled and exhaled until my still-racing heart leveled out. Then I made myself go downstairs.
Rylee was indestructible. A ballbuster with a mouth to match. It had taken everything inside me to get up and walk out after touching her. And not because I wanted to peel her out of those tight jeans and the sweater falling off her shoulder.
Okay, so I always wanted to peel her out of her clothes.
But I also wanted to tuck her in bed and make her sleep away the circles under her eyes. And I wasn’t that guy. Sleepovers meant clinging and expectations and I was never around long enough for that.
But things were changing in my life.
And if my stupid, stubborn brother would give me a chance to help him, I might just find a reason to stick around. I really wished she hadn’t heard us fighting this morning, but then again, if she hadn’t, I wouldn’t have had a chance to be there for her.