Deciding Love (Bloomfield #3)

by Janelle Stalder

  We could throw our towels over our heads. Or go around the long way through the brush instead of the direct path to the parking lot.

  Or we could -

  “Baby sisters!” Rannon shouted.

  Shit.

  I groaned as he started to run toward us.

  “Great,” I muttered.

  Cat looked over apologetically. “Let’s just say we were about to leave,” she suggested.

  God I loved her.

  “You don’t mind?” I asked, worried I was ruining her fun.

  “Don’t get that guilty look,” Cat said. “If I wasn’t willing to leave, I wouldn’t have offered.”

  We both turned as Rannon reached us. My eyes moved to over his shoulder, and my heart stopped. He was a distance away, but Kyle’s entire body was turned to me, and even though I couldn’t see his eyes, I could feel them on me. My skin heated as though I were suddenly on fire, making me wish I wasn’t sitting here in a bathing suit. Even though it was a one piece, the sides were cut out, and the front dipped low in a v, still exposing lots of skin. And I could feel his eyes on every bit of it.

  “Well, well, look what we have here,” Rannon said happily, tearing my gaze away from Kyle.

  “Hello, Rannon,” I said with a weak smile.

  He plopped down across both of our towels, lounging on his side. “Fancy meeting you here. What are you two young’ins up to?”

  “We’re quilting, what the hell does it look like?” Cat said dryly.

  “Easy, kitty cat. Put those claws away.”

  She rolled her eyes at him. I bit back a laugh.

  “Since you’re not doing anything,” he said.

  “I didn’t say that,” Cat injected, but he kept going as if she hadn’t spoken.

  “Why don’t you come over where we are? We’re going to do a bonfire and roast some sausages.”

  “Hey,” Colt said, suddenly appearing. “Is he bothering you girls?”

  Cat replied with, “always” just as I said, “no”.

  “Dude, your sister is way nicer than this one. Briggs should train you better,” said Rannon.

  “Train me?” Cat sputtered. “You’re about to see just how long my claws can get, if you don’t watch it.”

  Rannon just chuckled. “I’m kidding, Kitty cat. Relax.”

  Colt shook his head at his friend. “You going to come over and hang out?” He asked, looking at me.

  “Uh,” I started, suddenly feeling guilty if I said no. I hadn’t hung out with them for so long, it seemed mean not to now that I was back.

  “Actually we were just about to leave,” Cat said, saving me. “But thanks for the invite.”

  “Aw, come on,” Rannon complained. “Just stay for a bit. It’s brother- sister bonding time.”

  “Can I just point out that neither of us are actually your sister?” Cat said.

  He waved her off. “Close enough.” He jumped up, clapping his hands. “Come on. You can leave in an hour if you’re not having fun.”

  I got the impression Rannon was used to getting his way. Cat looked at me questioningly, leaving the decision up to me. With a sigh, I nodded. “Okay, just for an hour.”

  “Just for an hour,” Rannon agreed, his face splitting into a wide grin.

  Fifteen minutes in and I already knew an hour was too long. Cat and I had packed up our stuff and brought it back to my car before joining the rest of them. We’d instantly gone to sit with Olivia, and had fallen into a conversation about Ella’s wedding, and Gage’s apparently hot brothers, which Colt didn’t seem too happy about. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t manage to give the girls my full attention.

  Kyle was on the other side of the pit they’d dug, and I could sense his gaze on me the entire time. My own eyes wanted to look back, but I knew I couldn’t. Because the second I got trapped in his stare, I’d be stuck. And I couldn’t afford to let that happen.

  Why was he even watching me? I thought he was done with me? It didn’t make sense, not that my body seemed to care. Every time he moved, or whenever he spoke to someone, it would react. His voice brought goose bumps to my skin, that deep, rich baritone rolling over it like a caress. His movements making me want to mirror them to see what he was doing.

  It was insane. There was no way my nerves were going to be able to handle an entire hour of this. My stomach was in knots – that butterfly feeling a constant flutter. I couldn’t even eat.

  I tried my best to focus on what Olivia was saying, asking questions about the bridesmaid dresses, and the color scheme. It was going well until I saw Kyle stand out of the corner of my eye, and walk to a cooler to grab a beer.

  I couldn’t stop myself from watching him now that his back was turned. I ate up all those exposed muscles as he reached into the cooler, his back stretched out. When he stood and turned I quickly refocused on Olivia.

  Then the worst thing possible happened. Rannon plopped down in the spot Kyle had been in, leaning over to a guy I didn’t know as they talked about cars, leaving Kyle to find a new spot. He headed toward me and my entire body stiffened as he walked by. And then he sat down - Right. Beside. Me.

  My mind was a complete blur now as I nodded and pretended to listen to Olivia and Cat. Kyle’s scent drifted toward me, and the familiarity of it had my eyes closing. I popped them back open quickly, praying no one had noticed.

  More people arrived then, and it became slightly easier to ignore him. Especially when Olivia started talking about Ella’s little girl, Mae, and pulled out her phone to show us pictures.

  Who was I kidding? I was still aware of him, especially whenever he spoke.

  God I loved his voice. Some guy was asking him about the shop, and I could hear his enthusiasm for it as he talked. When the guy pulled out a folding chair, Kyle moved closer to me to make room, and that’s when things went downhill again.

  How was I supposed to participate in a discussion when I could barely pay attention? He was so close, if I leaned in his direction even slightly, our skin would brush against each other.

  My instincts were screaming at me to do just that. Just one touch, like an addict looking for a fix. Of course my head was having none of it. Because I was smarter than that.

  “You wanna go for a dip?” Cat asked. I realized then that Olivia had walked off to where Colt was. I hadn’t even noticed the conversation was over.

  “Yes,” I said eagerly. Anything to put distance between us.

  Cat rose and I quickly followed as we headed toward the water.

  “You okay?” She asked softly when we were away from everyone.

  I just looked at her, not sure if she could see just how hard this was for me or not. We didn’t talk about Kyle and me, but I knew she understood things weren’t easy for me when it came to him.

  She gave me a small smile. “I didn’t think so.”

  32

  Kyle

  I only half listened to what Greg was saying to me as I watched Chloe walk down to the water. She was going to kill me with that sexy as hell bathing suit. Her skin was more tanned than normal, probably from living on the coast. Her hair was a bit shorter and lighter. She looked beautiful, and I had to sit here and act as though I wasn’t struggling to not reach over and run my hands across her smooth skin.

  I forced myself to look back at Greg as we discussed the tattoo he wanted me to design for him. I was still aware of when she returned though, taking the seat beside me again.

  I glanced back at her since she faced away from me, my eyes following the drops of water clinging to her skin. I wanted to lick every one of them.

  The need was building to a boiling point. Shifting in my seat, I let my arm brush against her back, loving the way she stiffened immediately. I continued to talk with Greg, acting as though it were a simple accident.

  I’d already taken this seat to get closer to her, thankful when Rannon had sat in mine - which I knew wasn’t an accident. Now I was going to have to wear her down little by little until she
cracked. Even if she turned to me and yelled, it was better than being ignored completely.

  Greg and I went back and forth with ideas. I loved this part, creating, collaborating, bringing people’s ideas to life. When I finished my beer, I set the empty bottle down at my feet, letting the back of my hand brush against her leg. She stammered in her speech as she spoke to my sister, but still didn’t acknowledge me.

  Standing, I walked over to grab another beer, and I could have sworn I felt her eyes on me. But when I turned back around, she was only looking at Cat.

  When I walked by, I brushed against her knee before sitting back down. I couldn’t stop from grinning when I caught her almost turning to me before stopping herself.

  “Who’s the hot chick with Cat?” Greg asked, leaning in.

  That had my smile disappearing. “Colt’s sister, so don’t even think about it.”

  “That’s Colt’s sister?” His eyes went back over me to look at her. “Didn’t you date her?”

  I gave him a hard stare that he seemed to understand, dropping the subject, and avoiding looking her way again.

  Colt started to make the fire, so I got up and helped while Rannon got the food out. The bit of work helped to distract me, but never fully enough that I wasn’t aware of her. As the sun started to set, the air grew chillier and Colt worked to get the fire going.

  When I turned, I noticed Chloe was gone, Cat now talking to Olivia. She glanced over at me, and then did something I would have never expected my sister to do. Ever so subtly, she jerked her head toward the parking lot and then went back to talking with Olivia.

  My eyes scanned the distance, finding her retreating form moving toward her car. I started toward the parking lot without hesitation. This was probably going to be my only chance to get her alone.

  Heading to my car first, I grabbed a t-shirt, pulling it over my head, and took a sweater for when it was dark. Then I started back, passing by her car where she was still bent over her open trunk, rummaging through the bags there.

  “You lose something?” I asked, stopping just behind her.

  She stiffened, not looking at me. “No,” she replied. “I’m just trying to find a sweater.”

  She wore a dress now over her swimsuit, but I could see goose bumps on her skin.

  “I have one you can borrow,” I offered.

  Finally, finally, she looked over her shoulder at me.

  “I’ll manage,” she said dismissively.

  My girl had fire and I loved it. I must have started smiling without realizing it, because her brows furrowed and she said, “What are you smirking about?”

  That only made the one on my face widen. I shrugged, unable to stop grinning.

  “Well stop it,” she said.

  She was adorable when she got all pissy.

  “Seriously, Kyle. Stop it. Or just go away.”

  The sound of my name on her lips had my blood heating. My eyes drifted down to her mouth.

  “Kyle, don’t.”

  I met her eyes again. “Don’t what?”

  “Don’t look at me like that,” she said, her breath catching.

  “I can’t help it.”

  She slammed her trunk, turning to face me fully.

  “Yes, you can. Why don’t you go look at some other girl instead? One who doesn’t mind being another notch in your belt for the next two weeks, because I’m not interested. Been there, done that.”

  Then she stormed off.

  She ignored me for the rest of the night. At one point, she’d even borrowed Rannon’s sweater when she got cold. Rannon’s sweater. It had made me grind my teeth to the point where I wouldn’t have been surprised if I broke them.

  And she always stayed far away from me, so there were no more chances for me to “accidentally” touch her. Needless to say, the bonfire sucked. I spent the rest of the weekend in a funk that followed me right through to Monday morning. Cat was already sitting at the counter when I walked in, her greeting bright and cheery. When I’d first hired her, I was worried she would take advantage of the fact that it was my place, and not take it seriously. But Cat was actually a really great receptionist. And she kept the appointment book exceptionally organized. All the artists liked her, and she was willing to stay on even when school started since it was only a half an hour away.

  Right now though, her enthusiasm was just annoying. I grumbled something to her even I didn’t understand, and headed to my office. Of course she followed, because Cat always had to poke when she knew I was in a foul mood.

  “Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning,” she said, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed.

  I sat down behind my desk and turned on my computer, hoping she’d just go away.

  “What’s the matter with you?”

  Guess not.

  “Nothing, I’m just tired.”

  “If you say so.” An annoying ringtone rang out and she jumped.

  “Oh! That’s probably Chlo. She had a job interview this morning.” And then she was gone in the blur of activity that is Cat.

  I sat there for a second in shock that she actually said anything to me that was Chloe related. Then I snapped out of it and got up, stopping in the office doorway to watch her talk on the phone. If I thought she’d tell me what happened when she got off, it didn’t happen.

  From the sounds of it, Chloe got whatever job she’d interviewed for, but Cat didn’t say anything further. She got back to work, and as the other guys came in for their shifts, I returned to my desk to get to work too.

  The next couple of days were like this. And as each day came and went, my mood spiraled lower. I didn’t see Chloe at all. Cat was constantly out during the evenings so I knew she was with her, but they never came by the home or shop.

  On Thursday I was sitting at my desk, staring blankly at the papers in front of me as my mind raced with ways I could see Chloe. None of them seemed realistic. If I just showed up at her house, she was likely to call the cops on me.

  How was I supposed to win her back if I never saw her?

  “Hey, boss man,” Grey said, sticking his head into my office.

  Grey was one of my more popular artists. He and I got along because he was just as silent and brooding as I was. His dark shaved head, and vivid blue eyes, along with all the tattoos that covered both arms, is what made him popular with all the female customers. The guy probably did more tramp stamps than anyone else. I had a feeling most of the girls that came here were coming just to get inked by him, not so much because they wanted a tat.

  “What’s up?” I asked, leaning back in my chair, thankful for the distraction.

  “I was going to head down to Gill’s for lunch. You want to come?”

  “Sure,” I said.

  “Rannon and Greg are going to meet us there.”

  “I swear that guy never works.” Rannon spent more time at my shop than at his uncle’s.

  We walked into Gill’s, the local sports bar, and were led to a booth by a girl who either had something in her eye, or was trying to flirt with us. It was hard to tell. Grey was in his mid-twenties, so he usually didn’t pay much attention to the younger girls that looked at him as if he were some sort of God. This girl was no exception. For all the effort she was making, it was a waste of time. I wasn’t any more interested than he was. All I wanted was Chloe.

  “Your waitress will be right with you,” she said with a wide smile.

  “Thanks, doll,” Grey said, earning a bright blush from the girl. She waltzed off in the mini black shorts all the girls wore in here, an extra sway in her hips.

  I shook my head at him, grinning. Grey shrugged. We grabbed the menus and had just started to look them over when Greg and Rannon joined us.

  “Boys,” Rannon greeted.

  “Oh shit,” Greg said, his eyes wide on something over my shoulder. I started to look just as our waitress came up to our table.

  Oh shit was right.

  Chloe stood beside me, h
olding a pad of paper and wearing a guarded smile. My eyes dropped down the front of her, taking in the way the tight t-shirt hugged her breasts, and how long her legs looked in those tiny as fuck black shorts. Her hair was pulled up into some messy bun that had wisps of hair loose around her face, showing off her long neck.

  And fuck me, her lips were painted bright red. I clenched my fists tightly as I drank her in.

  “Hey guys, welcome to Gill’s,” she said, avoiding my eyes. “I’ll be your waitress today.”

  “Does your brother know you’re dressed like that?” Rannon said, looking her over. I sent him a glare that he chose to ignore.

  Chloe rolled her eyes. “What can I get you to drink?”

  Everyone placed their orders and then her eyes landed on me.

  “And for you, Kyle?”

  “Just a water,” I managed to get out.

  She nodded and then turned to leave us.

  “I know she’s off limits, but damn is she hot,” Greg said.

  “Who is she?” Asked Grey.

  “That’s Colt’s sister,” Greg answered him, pissing me off more from the way he said it.

  “That’s Colt’s sister?”

  “That’s also the reason why our boy here is so miserable,” Rannon said, jerking his head toward me.

  “Fuck off, Ran,” I said.

  Grey gave me a measuring look. “That’s the reason, huh?” His eyes trailed over to where Chloe stood at the bar. “Makes sense.”

  “What does?” I asked, about two seconds away from knocking all three of them out.

  Grey shrugged. “Just that it usually has something to do with a girl. And when it’s one that looks like that?”

  “Whatever,” I muttered, sinking low in my seat.

  Chloe arrived back at our table, delivering our drinks while avoiding my face again. Her scent surrounded us, and all I could think about was what it was like to sleep with her in my arms, my face buried in that scent.

  Everyone ordered their food before she left again. I watched her ass in those shorts, my pants getting uncomfortably tight. The girl had me wound tightly. I wasn’t even sure what I had ordered.