by Lily Santana
Adrenaline circumvented his brain and pumped directly into his dick. He felt the familiar tingle and knew he was seconds away from having an embarrassing and unwanted erection.
David snickered. “Emma doesn’t have a wild side. Except, of course, during Pirate Fest when she gets up on—”
She cleared her throat. “Um, why don’t we wait for the rest of the gang inside? It’s a bit chilly out here.”
David smiled at Emma. “After you. The sun went down, and we’re back to the cold.”
With their back to him, Mitch adjusted his jeans until he was sure he was decent or at least less noticeable. Sweat formed on his upper lip.
In the family room, David made himself comfortable on the couch, propping his feet on the coffee table and stretching his arms wide like a peacock. “I came a bit early when I got your cryptic voice mail. It sounded serious. I was hoping we’d get a chance to talk before everyone got here.” The not-so-subtle hint that Mitch’s early arrival was surprising and unwelcome.
“I didn’t have far to go,” Mitch said, his tone suggestive.
Emma’s eyes widened and she shot him a warning look.
David forehead crinkled in confusion, his gaze moving from him to Emma. “I guess that’s true.”
Mitch grinned and shrugged, his hands in his pockets as he studied Emma’s flushed face.
“I could use a drink. Can I get you guys anything?” Her voice sounded hoarse.
David smacked his hands against his thighs and then jumped up. “You still have that bottle of Pinot Noir from our wine-tasting trip last summer? Let’s open that. Do you remember that guy we met at the winery...” His voice trailed off as they headed to the kitchen, leaving Mitch alone in the family room.
Mitch swallowed a chuckle. This was going to be a blast.
* * *
Exhausted, exhilarated and with her head about to explode, Emma stared at the three empty bottles of wine and about a half dozen spent beer bottles on the coffee table. She peeked over at Mitch, who was boldly studying her, as he’d done most of the night. She hugged her knees tight against her chest.
There was no use denying it. She had feelings for Mitch, and it terrified and excited her at the same time. Despite her best effort to remain immune to his charm, she knew she’d failed. The energy humming inside her chest flared hot every time she turned and found his gaze on her. Did everyone else notice the tension in the air or was it just in her mind?
Other than the forced interactions with David, she watched him blend naturally with her friends and tried not to laugh when he almost dropped David’s steak on the floor in his haste to get it off the grill and on his plate. It would have served David right. He hadn’t stopped with his ’em, what about the time we did this’ crap, obviously to make Mitch feel like an outsider. It wasn’t long before everyone else noticed what he was doing and maneuvered the conversations elsewhere.
Nonetheless, David’s petty attempt to alienate Mitch had Emma’s shoulders cramped in a painful knot. She worried Mitch would lose his patience and snap, thereby making it that much harder for her to convince David to be on his side. But Mitch’s expression never wavered from amusement.
But because she’d been on the other end of his fury many times, she recognized the strain around his eyes and the angry way he clenched his jaw.
Emma looked around the room at her group of close friends. Jack had one of his elusive nights off from the Surf & Sand. He sat next to her on the woolly rug, his legs stretched out and a bottle of Pabst Blue Ribbon in his hand. Lorraine and Dorinda were stretched out on the couch behind them, while David sat across on the rocking chair. Mitch stood by the fireplace, maybe wanting to be somewhat separated from the group.
With everyone satiated and with the fire crackling, Lorraine asked the question that was on everyone’s mind. “Mitch, where you been all my life? You planning on staying around after your project’s done, right? Because I love a man who can grill a mean steak.”
Mitch’s eyes crinkled at the corners. He slugged a mouthful of beer before answering. “I’ve been right here.”
“No, really, where are your folks from?” Lorraine persisted.
Emma sipped her cabernet and observed Mitch from beneath her lashes. Would he choose to avert the question? She’d figured out he didn’t like to talk about himself or his family.
“I grew up in Bandon, just south of here. My father and my brother still live there.”
“You have a brother? Is he older or younger?” Lorraine asked.
“Who cares? Is he single?” Dorinda chimed in.
“Down, ladies, please. Give the rest of us locals a chance.” Jack laughed and toasted Emma with his glass.
“Sorry, ladies. Shane’s divorced and has sworn off relationships. Besides, he’s out on his rig more than he’s on land anyway, so I doubt he’s on anyone’s top list of eligible bachelors,” Mitch said.
Lorraine frowned. “What does he do?”
Mitch downed the rest of his beer. “He owns McKenna’s Deep Water Charters.”
“No shit,” Jack said. “Heard of that operation from some of our customers who have gone out on charters. Came back with some serious catch. Nice. Didn’t know he was your brother.”
David cleared his throat. “Is that where you’re headed once you’re done here? Back to Bandon?”
Mitch expelled a long breath before turning his focus on Emma. “Maybe.”
Emma’s heart thundered and she averted Mitch’s pointed look by staring into the smoldering flame.
Lorraine’s singsong voice filled the air. “If you need something to convince you to stay, I’d suggest indulging in our favorite pastime.”
Leave it to Lorraine to ignore subtlety and go straight for the throat. Emma turned her head to face her friend, hoping her telepathic message to shut up came through loud and clear.
A long silence filled the air before Mitch chuckled. “I hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but we have that pastime in Bandon too.”
Emma groaned inside.
Lorraine laughed, a mischievous belly laugh Emma recognized that meant her friend had had one too many glasses of wine. “Not that pastime, but I bet that might do the trick as well.” When she’d managed to catch a breath, she continued, “I’m referring to beachcombing. There are jewels, one-of-a-kind gems out there buried deep in our sand. You might just get lucky and find the one you’ve been searching for.”
David rolled his eyes. Instead of commenting, he leaned in toward Mitch, his expression smug. “What’s the story with the mug shot? Did you really get arrested?”
David’s question quieted the room.
“I did. It was a long time ago.”
“What was the charge?” Apparently, David was on a mission to ruin the evening.
After a lengthy silence, Emma forced a laugh, the effort painful. “To be fair to Mitch, why don’t we switch the subject from him to the plans for this weekend?” Her words suspended the staring match between the two men. “Jack, you still need me to help out, right?”
“If you can, that’d be great,” Jack said before turning to David. “You think you gonna win again this year or are we going to get someone to challenge you?”
David smirked. “I’m a sure bet, my friend.”
Emma’s gaze moved from David, who had a smirk on his face, to Mitch, who simply raised a brow. “David has been the logrolling champion for the last two years,” she explained, realizing Mitch didn’t know the subtext of Jack’s challenge.
“Three years,” David corrected and then turned to Mitch. “Years of surfing have honed my skills.”
“What about Sammy? Will she be back from San Diego? How will she get to the festival if you’re not around?” Lorraine asked, adeptly changing the subject.
“She’s not sure wha
t time she’ll be back, but she can always catch a ride with one of her girlfriends.”
“Sammy is growing up right before our eyes. I bet she’ll turn into a hot babe, like her mother. Boys will be tripping over themselves to take her out,” Jack said.
Heat rose up her neck. “Why, thank you, but unlike her mother at that age, I rather prefer Sammy focus on school rather than boys.”
Dorinda laughed. “Girls grow up so fast nowadays, but Sammy’s always been so shy around boys. Poor kid.”
Lorraine rubbed her hands together. “This weekend should be very interesting. Mitch, are you planning on joining us?”
Emma’s gaze flew to Mitch’s face. She hadn’t thought to ask him to go. By the weekend, she was hoping David would have already made up his mind and their deal would be over.
“My brother and I are one of the sponsors for the event. So, I’ll be there.”
“You’re a sponsor?” Emma asked.
Mitch gave her one of his crooked grins. “That’s right. Don’t sound so surprised. It’s good exposure for Shane’s business and positive press for me. For a change,” he added, causing her to look away awkwardly before she straightened.
Taking Mitch’s cue, the rest of the group unwound from their respective nooks.
David offered Emma his hand. “Here, let me help you. What time should I pick you up on Saturday morning?”
“You’re picking me up?” She glanced awkwardly at everyone, whose eyes were strategically averted.
“I thought we’d decided weeks ago.”
She drew in a breath and smiled at David. “I guess I’d forgotten. How does ten sound?”
“Sounds perfect.”
Jack winked at Emma before giving her a hug. “This was nice.”
She smiled. “Jack, I owe you money from the other night when I left without paying my tab.”
Jack’s eyebrow knitted in confusion. “You left cash.”
She frowned. “No, I didn’t.”
“There was cash on the bar with a nice, fat tip to boot.”
Emma’s gaze flew to Mitch, who was chatting with Dorinda.
Lorraine nudged Jack aside and hugged Emma. “You’ve been lying to me, missy, and I want the juicy details ASAP,” she whispered before winking at Mitch and leaving the room.
Dorinda and Jack carried the empty bottles and glasses to the kitchen. David followed closely behind them. That left her and Mitch alone in the family room.
Emma inhaled the comforting scent of burning wood and savored the heat of the fire licking her face. Her lids felt weighed down and the room tilted a little. Maybe Lorraine wasn’t the only who’d had one too much cabernet.
Emboldened, she held out her hand to Mitch, trying hard to keep her gaze steady and focused. “Thanks for grilling the steaks.”
His warm hand engulfed hers. Funny how dainty her hands were compared to his. How would it feel to have his roughened fingers massaging the knots in her back? The visual imagery sent shivers up her spine.
“You didn’t think I could do it, could you?”
She was thankful she was standing so close to the fire; otherwise, she was sure her face matched her hair color. A smile tugged the corner of her lips. “I had my doubts.”
She tried to pull her hand free from his grasp, but he kept his hold, even as David reentered the room.
Emma manufactured a congenial smile without trying to be obvious that Mitch was still holding her hand. When he finally did let go, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Mitch turned to David. “You walking out?”
“Not quite yet,” David said, surprising her. “I wanted to have a few minutes to chat with Emma.”
Emma shrugged. “Oh? Okay.”
Mitch simply lifted a brow.
David stood behind her as she waved off everyone, including Mitch, who walked across the street to his trailer. She followed him with her gaze and waited until she saw the light turn on before she turned to David. “What’s up?” It was difficult to take the edge off her voice because she thought David had behaved like a jerk tonight.
“I can help you clean up,” he offered in response to her questioning gaze.
She frowned. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to. Besides, we didn’t get a chance to talk earlier.”
Dread filled her stomach. She wasn’t in any condition to discuss anything at the moment. Plus, he’d put her in a bad mood. “I am kind of tired. Maybe we should put it off until tomorrow. I can stop by your office and we can catch up.”
He waited a beat before nodding. “I’d like that. But I still want to chat with you about something important.”
Please don’t let it be that he’d decided to reject Mitch’s plan and he wanted her to be the first to know.
She blinked back her exasperation. “Follow me to the kitchen then.”
Wanting to keep her hands busy, Emma began rinsing the dishes and loading the dishwasher. She glanced at David, who leaned against the fridge, watching her with a strange look in his eyes.
She arched her brow. “What’s on your mind?”
He cleared his throat. “I was serious. You look really stunning tonight, Em. You seem...different.”
She turned off the faucet and dried her hands on a dish towel. “Really? How?”
He shook his head. “I can’t put my finger on what it is. You seem like you’re glowing.”
She chuckled. “I don’t know about that. Except, of course, the sun was out today and I was running around.”
“I was surprised to see Mitch McKenna here tonight.”
Emma kept her face neutral. “Oh.”
He crinkled his brows. “I think it might be better to keep our social circle tight, you know?”
“He’s my neighbor now, David.”
Redness crept up his pale neck. “Maybe for the next couple of months. If that even happens.”
A prickly sensation raced up her spine. David’s smug expression didn’t help alleviate her anxiety. “Why wouldn’t it happen? He told me he’s agreed to our design concessions. The Planning Council will take their recommendation from you. If you say it’ll work, they’ll go along.”
What if Mitch’s project got delayed again and his investor pulled out with the financing? That would mean Mitch wouldn’t come through with his end of the bargain. She tried not to think about the devastating consequences of such a scenario.
David shoved his hands in his pockets. “I haven’t made a decision one way or the other. McKenna’s like a can of worms. He pretty much admitted tonight that he’s a felon.”
Emma cringed, regret eating away at her gut for inciting enough animosity against Mitch with her neighbors that someone would actually go as far as to advertise those stupid mug shots around town.
“And apparently his brother—what’s his name—had his own run-ins with the law. I’m not sure we want any part of that crew building in one of our most pristine lots.”
Emma’s eyes widened. “You’re not seriously thinking of rejecting his plans outright, are you? Mitch was just a kid when he got arrested, for God’s sake.”
“I have to say I’m rather surprised that you’ve become his champion. Just a week ago, you were hell-bent on trying to cut him high and dry. What’s changed?”
“I told you. He agreed to important changes. He doesn’t intend for Bella Del Mar to turn into another Cannon Beach. He understands we want it to remain low-key. His new plans reflect that.”
“Are you sure that’s all there is to it?”
“What else do you think it is?”
David walked over and stood less than a foot from her. “I’m worried about you.”
She took a step back. “Why?”
“I want you to know that I’m
here for you when you need a friend.”
“I know that. You’ve been a wonderful friend to Sammy and me. I am very grateful.”
“It’s the least I could do. Stefan and I were friends. Well, you know that. I’ve always thought Stefan was lucky to have you in his life.” David reached his fingers and touched her hair. “I just didn’t know when you’d be ready again.”
No, no, no. Mitch’s words about David’s romantic interest in her hurled back, causing knots in her stomach. Emma wished she could flush down the sinking feeling that she’d made a mess of everything. “David, I d-don’t know why we’re having this conversation,” she said.
He leaned in. “I’ve been dying to kiss you all night. Is it alright if I kiss you?”
She reeled back. “Kiss me? Why? I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
He frowned. “You must know how I feel about you. I’ve been waiting an entire year to move our relationship to the next level. And I can see now that you’re ready for that.”
She shook her head. “Wait...wait a minute. I think you’ve confused my friendship.”
“I don’t think I have. I think it’ll take time for you to see me in a different light, but I really believe you and I have a lot in common.”
“Yes, we do. You were married to my cousin. We have that in common.”
He managed to look chagrined. “Lisa and I were not compatible. If you weren’t already married, I’d have asked you out. That’s ancient history. You and I have built a strong foundation these last couple of years.”
Mortification brewed in her gut. How did she let this get this far without noticing David had feelings for her? Mitch had been right all along. She’d made fun of his crude observation. She’d even insulted him for not understanding what it meant to be neighborly. Now, she’d have to admit that she’d misjudged him. She might even have to apologize.