Firefly Duet: New Beginnings and Lasting Love

by Becca Maxton

  “Humph,” Ben responded with a chuckle.

  She opened the oven and put the lasagna on the stove. “I’ll be right back to serve. I just need to wash up myself. It’s so great having my cast off and being able to use both hands again.”

  At dinner, Jim listened as Sofia explained more about a linking object project Doc Cindy gave her an article about. She planned to talk to her mom during her visit about using her photography of her brother’s football teams over the years along with family photos. Sofia shook her head. “When Dr. Wheeler first gave me the article to read, I sort of resented the whole idea.”

  “Why’s that?” Ben asked.

  “It sounded stupid somehow. Like making a scrapbook about someone that died. But then I thought about what your family is doing with the lodge. And it’s so much bigger than a one-time event like a funeral.”

  Jim took in the way his dad was nodding. It didn’t take a genius to understand his brother’s ideas for the lodge offered a similar opportunity. Literally, Jett was linking how to set up the property, including the lodge and new cabins, with the family and their mother’s legacy. I get it. I’ll find a way to work with Jett.

  “They, and we, go on,” Ben said. “Life goes on.”

  “Exactly.” Sofia smiled. “Somewhere along the way, we’ll lose count of how many kids benefit from Anthony’s scholarship.”

  “And the Mannis family will eventually lose count of how many people enjoy time together at Mercy Mountain Lodge,” Jim added.

  “I can’t wait for that day.”

  Ben patted Sofia’s hand. “Me too.”

  After dinner, Jim rinsed dishes as Sofia was in her room packing an overnight bag. His father sat at the table, enjoying a slice of each type of pie.

  “Did I ever tell you how your mother stayed with me at the ranch her second night in Ashnee Valley?”

  “Mom did?” Jim turned his head, his hands still under the running water.

  “It was scandalous at that time in such a small town. Lucky for me, your mother was…” Ben paused to wipe his mouth with his napkin “…ahead of her time.”

  “I guess so.” Jim laughed. “And she asked you to marry her. Who did that in the 70’s?”

  “Who does that now?” Ben said. “She was one of a kind.”

  He turned off the faucet and dried his hands on a towel. “Is that why you never remarried?”

  “It would be easy to say yes to that question.” Ben scratched the top of his head.

  Jim sat down at the table. “But?”

  “I regret not finding someone after your mother died. For a long time, I convinced myself it would be like cheating on her. Or to bring someone else into my life would disrespect her as your mother. I wasn’t confident I could withstand happiness again. That sounds counterintuitive, I know.”

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  “You understand things more clearly at my age. I see a lot of myself in Sofia. She’s sorting through how to go forward herself, plus she wants to carry what would have been Anthony’s life on her shoulders too. I did this when my parents passed away, focusing only on raising my younger brothers. I did this when your mother died, focusing only on trying to keep you kids from falling off a cliff. Meanwhile, I did.”

  “We all got through it the best we could. I don’t want to hurt Sofia. It’ll be hell, but I’ll stay away from her, if that’s what you’re telling me is best.”

  “I’m not telling you that.” Ben sighed. “And she’s not the only one I worry about. I notice how you look at her. It’s funny, it took her coming here for me to grasp how much I’ve hidden behind loyalty to your mother’s memory so I wouldn’t have my heart broken again. Now I’m alone. I wouldn’t want that for any of you kids. Does any of this make sense?”

  “It does.”

  His father pushed his plate forward. “Don’t ever forget you deserve happiness. Fight for it if you need to.”

  It was dark by the time he carried Sofia’s overnight bag to the truck. She followed, balancing two plastic containers filled with pie.

  “Precious cargo,” he said, taking the containers so she could get in the truck.

  She laughed at his silly joke. “Oh, you mean the pie.”

  Jim closed her door, stowed the pie on the floor in the backseat, got in and buckled his seatbelt. His father’s words weighed on his mind as he drove under the Mannis Ranch arch and turned onto the main road. “So, do you think we should talk about anything? First?”

  Sofia tilted her head and smiled his direction. “First?”

  He responded to her faux innocence with a knowing look. “Before we jump each other. Should we talk about anything?”

  “Oh, that. I’m safe. No STDs. You should wear a condom. Okay, your turn.”

  Jim shook his head. “Same. That wasn’t quite where I was going. I meant emotionally. This will change things between us. How do you feel about it?” He glanced her way when she rested her hand on top of her head and closed her eyes.

  “When were you first attracted to me?”

  “You’re a stunning woman. I’d say the moment I met you.”

  “That’s based on looks only. I mean, real attraction.”

  “I knew what you meant.” Jim smiled. “At the cookout at Kai and Leo’s house.”

  Sofia put her hands in her lap and wrinkled her nose at him. “When I cried?”

  “Well, not that exact moment. It was when you were sitting on the floor with all those crazy barrettes Suze put in your hair. You didn’t care about looking silly. I don’t know, I guess that image stuck in my mind. Plus, I was proud of you. You were having a hard day and you stuck it out.”

  “That’s sweet.”

  “How about you? When were you really attracted to me?”

  “On the airplane.”

  “Early.” Jim grinned. “Wow.”

  “For the first time in weeks I didn’t feel heartbroken. You made me laugh and we were a little flirty. It felt normal. I felt safe.” His heart beat hard when she turned to him with a shy smile. “We weren’t each other’s past or each other’s future. There was nowhere else to be than right there. Just us.”

  Us.

  He pulled the truck to a stop in front of his house, got out, and came around to open her door. “Come inside.” He put his hand out. “Tonight, there’s only you and me.”

  Chapter 16

  Sofia leaned on the kitchen doorframe as Jim set the pie on the table and put dinner leftovers in the refrigerator.

  Facing her again, he asked, “Would you like me to get a fire going on the patio?” He rocked his head side to side. “Take things slow, build our way there.”

  She smiled. “I’d like that.”

  “I want to show you something first before we go outside.” He offered his hand, leading her through the living room to a small study at the back of the house. “I found my mother’s sketches and notes. Jett reminded me they were here in the house, not at the lodge.”

  He let go of her hand then pulled a large banker’s box from beneath the desk and placed it on top.

  “Have you seen these before?” Sofia asked, moving closer as he lifted the lid.

  He shook his head. “I do remember she kept them. Sometimes she’d get an idea in the middle of dinner or whatever and wander off.” He chuckled. “She kept a notebook on her bedtable, too, for middle-of-the-night inspirations.”

  Jim handed her a notebook and then picked up another himself.

  “Do you have a favorite of hers?” Sofia asked as she flipped through the pages of sketches and notes. “You never answered that when we were at the lodge.”

  He held the book up to a page with a line drawing of the hawk with a rabbit in its talons. “Remember this one?”

  “I do. It looks just like the drawing.” Sofia came to stand next to Jim. “What does her note say.”

  “This one may upset Kai.” Jim read. “By the date here, Kai would have only been about nine at the time.”

 
“But she didn’t say that about you. That you’d be upset.”

  “It must have been when Kai went through her ‘I want to be a veterinarian’ stage. Animals dying, especially a bunny, was not her thing.”

  “Back to your favorite, which is it?”

  “It wasn’t in the basement. It’s not typical of her usual stuff because it’s not wildlife. I mean, I know she did the sculpture of Cammie that’s on Dragonfly Hill, but she didn’t do a lot of people. It’s me reeling in a fish, leaning back a little with my arms raised.”

  She smiled at his gestures for casting a line in the water then mimicking the fight to bring a fish in.

  “We should try to find her notes on it.”

  “That could take a while.” He pulled sketchbook after sketchbook out of the box and stacked them on the desk. “I have other plans tonight.”

  “Good point.” Sofia placed the book she held on the stack. “How about I pour us each a glass of wine?”

  “Perfect.”

  Sofia turned on the light above the stove when she entered the kitchen, then came back to flip off the too-bright overhead light. With the window open, she could hear crickets chirping in the dark. After she poured two glasses of red wine, she turned to head back only to find Jim leaning on the doorframe. “Can I dance with you?”

  Sofia handed him his glass and then picked hers up from the table and took a sip. “You want to dance here in the kitchen?”

  “More than anything.” Jim walked around her to the counter and turned on the radio. “I need to hold you.”

  She set down her glass and waited, her chest rising with nervous breaths until his hand settled on her lower back, pulling her flush with him.

  “No matter what happens.” He bent his head and whispered in her ear. “Let me love you, sweetheart, with all of me tonight.”

  Sofia looked into his eyes as they swayed. “I wouldn’t be here if that’s not what I wanted too. When this song is over, will you take me upstairs and show me?”

  “Now.” He flipped off the radio. “Bed.”

  When he picked her up, she wrapped her legs around him, loving the fact she reduced this big, strong, smart man to one-word primitive expressions.

  He carried her up the steps. Only a soft glow from a bedside lamp lit the bedroom. They undressed in silence, her hands on his chest as he lifted his shirt over his head. His lips on her neck as she slipped off her jeans. Naked, she scooted backward to the middle of the bed, his gaze darting with every slight movement. She rubbed one foot over the other.

  “Let me see you.” His eyes lowered as he put one knee on the bed, prowling as she moved her legs apart. Hovering, he leaned to kiss her, his finger skimming intimately. “So soft.” He murmured against her lips. “Wet.”

  She turned her head to the side, heat creeping along her neck and cheeks.

  “Hey.” His hand gentle, he turned her to face him directly. “Are you embarrassed?”

  She lifted a shoulder her teeth tugging her bottom lip.

  He kissed her forehead, her warm cheek, her neck. “Don’t you know how sexy that is? The fact that you want me as much as I want you. It makes me crazy.”

  She wrapped her arms around him, giggling as he playfully nuzzled her neck. When he pushed himself up, pulling away from her embrace, she whimpered.

  “I plan to explore every dip and swell.” He moved to the end of the bed. His ascent began at the tips of each toe, moving to kiss the top of her feet and her ankles. His warm hands kneaded the muscles of her calves.

  “The first dip.” He bent one of her legs the slightest bit, his tongue touching the back of her knee. He did the same to her other knee before straightening her legs again, running his hands up, his thumbs pressing the delicate flesh of her inner thighs before pushing her legs farther apart. Rising on his arms, he grinned above her. “Now these dips are some of my favorites.” He skimmed his thumb along the indentation at the top of her thighs. Open-mouthed he followed with his lips along the same route, his warm breath traveling over her sex. One side, then back. She raised her hips.

  “Is there something you wanted?” A grin tugged at the corners of his lips.

  “You missed a swell.” Sofia raised her arms above her head and stretched, arching her back.

  “So helpful.” He growled.

  He placed a firm kiss at the very spot that hid her feminine nerves and she gasped, frustrated when he stopped.

  “Patience, sweetheart.”

  His hand slid from her hip up to her waist. At her breasts he bent, resting his cheek gently. She ran her fingers through his hair. Lovingly tender, romantic, and oh so contented.

  Jim.

  “You’re beautiful.” His voice was deep and ragged as he kissed her collarbone. His erection pressed against her leg and she wasn’t sure if she would ever get enough of this moment. This man.

  “Come inside.” She felt his smile against her neck before he raised his head. Her hands on his face, she pulled him in, pouring everything into her kiss.

  Slowly she guided him to her, caressing gently, stopping momentarily as he slipped on a condom. So slick with desire he entered in one excruciatingly slow, deep thrust. His eyes closed, she gave herself over to him too, intoxicated with the way his hands gripped her thighs, the way his hips undulated. Rocking with his rhythm and his pleasure as much as her own. Eyes open again, he kissed her, resting his hands by her shoulders. She slowed their movements and led the pace before he surged forward again.

  “More.” She pleaded as he pushed farther inside her. “Deeper.”

  “Hold on, honey.” He brought his arms under her thighs, lifting her knees up and around him as his movements became urgent. She enveloped him, so close with every thrust.

  “Oh God.” An orgasm pulsed suddenly, her inner muscles squeezing. Stiffening, he uttered a loud oath and buried his head in her neck.

  She moaned with him when he eventually pulled out, dispensing of the condom and turning off the light before wrapping his arms around her.

  “Let’s sleep, firefly. It won’t be long before I want you again.”

  Jim awoke when he could no longer feel her heat beside him. Sofia sat cross-legged, pie plate on her lap, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders.

  “You’re right,” she mumbled around a mouth full, her teeth purple, “pie with a dollop of sex is the best.”

  He put his arm over his eyes. “Woman you have worn me out.”

  “You want some pie, old man, so you can get your energy back?”

  He peeked out from under his arm as she took another heaping bite. Damn. You are the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. “Old man?”

  “You are several years older than me.”

  “Like seven years. What I lose in a sprint, I can make up for in a marathon. You have to give me that after last night.”

  “Definitely.” She enthusiastically said, digging her fork back into the pie.

  “I want some.” He sat up against the headboard and took the pie plate from her hands, chuckling when she frowned at him. Setting the pie on the night table, he reached for her, lifting her until he situated her straddling his lap. He kissed her, enjoying the newfound blueberry taste.

  It took all of four seconds to grow hard as she moved against him. “God, honey, you’re going to kill me.” She stopped at his words and he delighted in the mischievous look sweeping across her face. Leaning, she picked up the pie and brought it back between them, taking a large forkful and offering it to him.

  “You’ll be proud to know I can do more than one thing at a time.” She wiggled on his lap. “Sort of like walking and chewing gum.”

  “This is nothing like walking and chewing gum.” He opened his mouth taking the bite offered. “It’s pie and fucking and the closest we’ll ever get to heaven on earth.”

  Her blanket slipped from her shoulders, her breasts shaking as she laughed. “Oh my.” She glanced down at his hard on. “We really need to do something about that.”

  He
lifted the plate from her hands and put it back on the table. “Let’s lose the pie.” Sliding down on the bed, his hands gripped her hips as she hovered, lowered, lifted and rocked.

  Chapter 17

  Jim glanced toward Sofia on the passenger side and put his hand palm up on the car seat between them. When she intertwined her fingers with his, all felt right in his world. The morning sun coming through the windshield, the cool September breeze, making love last night.

  “You’re wonderful,” he said taking in her soft smile. “In every way. You know that, right?”

  “Last night was pretty great.”

  “Pretty great?” He chuckled with her when she laughed and squeezed his hand.

  “It was amazing. I’m feeling…I don’t know. Shy, maybe?”

  “With me?”

  “Shy about it. About us. I have a lot of thoughts.”

  “And here I am only thinking about the fact that it’s a real shame you’ll be spending the next several nights at the Sinclair B&B with your mom.”

  “It totally stinks,” Sofia said on a dramatic wistful sigh that made his ego swell and a deep laugh escape.

  He let go her hand to make a turn onto Moon Ridge Road, heading around Mercy Mountain toward the highway to the airport.

  She opened the thermos of coffee he’d prepared for their drive and poured a small amount in the cup. “Do you want some first?”

  “You go ahead. I’ll have some next. Are you looking forward to seeing your mom?”

  Sofia held the cup to her lips and blew on the hot liquid before answering. “I am.”

  The smell of fresh coffee wafted under his nose and he returned her beaming smile.

  “It’s been like another world here,” she continued. “I could use some Mom time. I’m not sure how it will go when I tell her I’m staying longer. Anyway, these few days are going to go fast.”

  He kept his eyes on the road and nodded. “You don’t have to feel obligated to anything but spending time with her. Even dinner Saturday at the ranch. That’s not set in stone.”