Valentine Wishes (Baxter Academy Book 1)

by Jane Charles

  “Did you read the files?” he counters in anger.

  “Yes, I did.” I pour a cup of coffee and take a seat at the table. That was pretty much how I spent this past week, when I wasn’t out with the campers. Instead of learning names and art choice, I read everything the therapists need to know about these kids. It breaks my heart and I wish I didn’t know what some of them have been through, but I do get where Theo is coming from. “You’re right,” I finally say. “These kids deserve more than a few weeks in the summer. It’s not their fault their lives have been crap.”

  Theo relaxes and his defenses disappear. I so do not want to fight with him today, or any day for that matter, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to let it slide that he’s not giving the meds a chance.

  “So, you see why I think there should be a high school?”

  “I do.” I get it and he is right. “I just don’t know how that would even be possible.”

  “What school?” Grandmother puts a plate of pancakes and bacon on the table in front of me.

  Theo explains, getting more excited by the moment with his idea, and that grandmother is intently listening to him while I butter my pancakes and pour syrup on them.

  She nods, fills her mug with more coffee, and sits at the table. “You are so right, Theo.” Then her eyes mist and she smiles sadly. “Your grandfather would be so proud of your dreams.” She pats his hand. “I just don’t know how it would even be possible to create a high school. Or where to even begin.”

  She looks to me. “I don’t know.”

  “You’re in education. You should know.”

  Just because I have a degree in education and I am qualified to teach high school history and social studies doesn’t mean I know the first thing about creating a high school.

  “I’ll call a meeting of your aunts and uncles this afternoon. We can discuss it then.”

  Theo and I share an alarmed look. She has plans this afternoon, even if she doesn’t know it yet.

  Then she grins at me. “I know about the surprise cookout.”

  “How?” Theo and I ask at the same time.

  “After raising eight children, do you really think any of you can hide a thing from me?”

  I swear, sometimes that woman knew what I was up to before I did. “Still, you don’t want to be discussing business matters at a celebration of your birth.” Besides, Brett will be there to meet the family, which kind of makes me ill. He’s not going to want to sit around as a meeting of the Baxter Foundation is formed. Anyone over eighteen is required to be at any family meeting unless they are out of the state or in the hospital.

  “My birthday is not until Monday.” Then she looks at me and then Theo. “And, today would have been your grandfather and my forty-eighth wedding anniversary. He would like Theo’s idea, so in honor my husband, we are going to discuss it.”

  “Wouldn’t tomorrow be better?” I ask, hoping she’ll change her mind.

  Instead, grandmother narrows her gaze on me. “Did you forget what the Baxter Foundation is for?” she demands.

  I shrink back into my seat, prepared for her lecture.

  “Why have all this money if it isn’t used for the betterment of society? That is what we’ve always stood for and now Theo has presented another way to make a difference. Besides, we won’t have everyone tomorrow, but we will have them today.”

  “Of course,” I finally admit. Theo is just sitting there grinning and all I can think about is how to explain all of this to Brett when every adult suddenly goes into a meeting, even if it is at picnic tables while eating ribs, while the older kids watch the younger ones, at a birthday celebration.

  “Uncle Gary had me ask Brett to join us. Maybe I should cancel.”

  “You will do no such thing,” grandmother snaps. She’s very adamant about that topic apparently. “He’s going to be a part of this family one day, mark my words, so he might as well know what he is getting now.”

  I choke on my coffee. “I met him a week ago.”

  “And I see the look in his eyes.” She wags a finger at me. “So don’t even think about arguing with me.”

  “It only takes a moment,” Theo sings with a triumphant grin on his face.

  I just glower at him. Only one more year and I can get a place of my own and nobody will need to know who I date, when I date, or if I even date.

  “So, Mr. FBI is going to be here today.” Theo stands and grabs his cup and walks to the coffee pot.

  “He’s coming by around one and we’re going to go hiking.”

  Theo snorts. “Doesn’t know you very well, does he?”

  “Hey!” I protest. “I can hike.”

  He snorts again.

  “It’s not like he wants to scale the side of a mountain. We’re taking the paths around the lake.”

  He shoots me a disbelieving look. “You, on the paths?”

  Instead of answering I grab a piece of bacon and bite into it.

  “Just be careful and don’t go too far.”

  What an odd thing to say. Since when was walking a dangerous sport?

  “I don’t want him to have to carry you back when you get too tired. Seems like a nice guy and it’d be a shame if you screwed it up on something so stupid.”

  Without responding, I throw my piece of bacon at Theo, but he ducks out the back door laughing.

  I’m really not into hiking or fishing, but as it’s something Brett likes to do, I’ll go along with it. Besides, maybe it’s more fun with someone besides my family. Not that we ever did much of the outdoors stuff and the few times we tried, I was miserable.

  The campers are just sitting down to lunch when Brett pulls in. Today he is driving his own car and not the classic. He stops and gets out. “Ready?”

  “Yep.”

  He walks around, opens the door for me, and I slide in.

  “Did you eat lunch?” He asks after taking his seat.

  “Grabbed a sandwich, why?”

  “I just wanted you to have something of substance before getting ice cream.”

  “I could live on a diet of ice cream.” Especially from the Ice Cream Shack.

  He makes a face. “I’ll be sure and remember that.”

  “What, there aren’t any ice cream badges in the Boy Scouts?”

  “I doubt there are in the Girl Scouts either.” He laughs. “But, they do have a corner on the cookie market.”

  “Thin Mints,” I groan. “It’s a shame we only get them once a year.”

  “Supply and demand. Works to their advantage.”

  The Ice Cream Shack isn’t overly busy and we both get vanilla cones dipped in chocolate, but don’t eat it there. “I thought we could eat while we walk.”

  “Balance,” I respond.

  He lifts a questioning brow as he puts on his seatbelt after handing me his cone.

  “Like getting a fruit cup with biscuits and gravy,” I explain. “They balance or cancel each other out.”

  Brett laughs and starts his car.

  “We should probably park along Baxter Lane. I’d feel guilty eating an ice cream in front of the campers.”

  He pulls down the road and parks where we did the night of our first date. Some of my aunts and uncles are moving the picnic tables together and setting up the fire pit.

  “Should we help them set up instead?” Brett asks.

  He’s going to get to know them soon enough. “They got it.” I wave at them and hand Brett his cone before starting off on the path. “This one will take us behind the camp and through the family cemetery.” I lick the drips that are coming from beneath the hardened chocolate. I need to eat this quickly so I don’t end up with sticky fingers. Love ice cream, hate sticky fingers.

  “Lead on.”

  As soon as we are out of sight of her aunts and uncles, I grab Jackie’s hand. It’s turning into a compulsive need to touch her whenever I can. She entwines her fingers with mine as we weave our way further down the path. It is so peaceful back here. The trees a
re fully leafed out and wildflowers are growing in clusters along the side of the path. It’s as if Jackie and I are alone in the world.

  “Did you spend a lot of time playing back here when you were a kid?”

  She chuckles. “No. My brothers, however, practically lived back here.” She glances around. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we come across former forts they built.”

  “Tree houses?”

  “Probably, along with a few of Grandpa’s missing hammers.”

  “How far do these paths go?”

  She frowns. “Not sure. They do meet up with paths that go through the state park. A lot of them interchanging.”

  “Any camping grounds at the State Park?”

  “Yep. Next to the lake, with a beach, docks for boats and fishing.” She wrinkles her nose in disgust.

  “Not your cup of tea?”

  “The beaches are.” Jackie grins at me.

  I like it back here but should probably forget the idea of camping with Jackie, unless I can arrange a secluded cabin. And, I doubt she’ll want to hunt for dinner.

  “So, how big is your family?” I figure I better be prepared before I meet them all. “Or, how many are going to be there today?”

  “Thinking about making an early exit?” she teases.

  “Just want to be prepared.”

  “Let’s see. Thirteen aunts and uncles, and fifteen cousins.”

  “Wow!”

  “That’s not that big, is it?”

  I shrug. “I guess not. There would be about that many if I got together with my cousins, on both sides of the family at once.”

  “I guess when a couple has eight kids, there tends to be a lot of cousins eventually.” She turns onto a smaller path and walks down a short incline and stops at a stream. It must empty into the lake because the water is flowing in that direction.

  A large tree has fallen and Jackie straddles it and sits. I do the same, facing her. I thought we were going to walk, but this is good too. “Damn you’re beautiful.” Shit, I meant to only think that.

  The left side of her mouth quirks. “Thanks! You ain’t half bad yourself.” Her sage eyes twinkle with mischief.

  “So, any of these close to your age, older, younger?”

  Jackie rolls her eyes. “Unfortunately no. My dad was the oldest. The rest took their time having kids. Theo, is closest. Next would be Eric, Sean and Sophia, who are fifteen.”

  “That leaves you in an odd place. Too young to want to hang out with the adults and too old to hang out with the cousins.”

  “It used to be that way. But, now that I’ve gotten my BA, the aunts and uncles aren’t so bad. They treat me like an adult now.”

  “Your cousins. They are the same age as the campers. Do they go to the camp too or is it just for the underprivileged?”

  “It’s a requirement.”

  They make their kids go? “Requirement?”

  “My family is complicated.” Jackie just shakes her head. “I don’t want to talk about them. It’s bad enough that we have to spend the afternoon with them.”

  I lean in and grin. “Does that mean you’d rather be alone with me?”

  She moves closer and our knees are now against each other. “What do you think?”

  The distance is so slight that I lean in and kiss her. She parts her lips immediately and I delve, tangling her tongue with mine. This is not the best angle to be kissing so I grab her ass and lift, pulling her closer until her legs are over mine. I’m still straddling the log and she’s straddling me. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea because all I can think about is getting inside of her. I did bring condoms, not really expecting to use them since I will be at a family picnic, but didn’t want to be caught unprepared again.

  Her legs go around my hips, bringing her closer and if we were naked, her pussy is in the perfect place for me to enter her. The thought of it only makes me grow harder and she wiggles against me while pushing her breasts against my chest. I slip my hands beneath her shirt and up her soft back and she pulls away from me slightly as if encouraging and I bring my hands around until I’m clutching her breasts. Damn they are perfect but I wish she wasn’t wearing a bra.

  It’s been so long since I’ve attempted this move, but I slip my hand around her back and with a bend and a flick, her bra is undone.

  Jackie sighs and arches, as if she’s glad to be free of the binding.

  Damn she’s hot and making me hotter. I push her shirt up, along with the bra and those glorious boobs are right there for the tasting.

  “Coral. Blush coral.” The color of her nipples.

  I don’t wait for a response and bend, taking one in my mouth while pinching the other.

  Jackie moans again and presses her pussy against my cock.

  Her fingers are in my hair, holding me close and rubbing her pussy against me. If I don’t pull back, I might come in my pants. Not the best look for meeting the family for the first time.

  I let go of her nipple and look up.

  Her green eyes meet mine and before I can blink, she’s jumping away from. That isn’t exactly what I had in mind. I just wanted us to slow down, and cool off.

  Like that would have been possible.

  “Come with me.” She’s holding out her hand and I grab it.

  Jackie runs down the path and along the stream, and toward the lake. Just as the stream widens, she veers up another path and stops before an old shed.

  “My grandfather’s hunting and fishing shack. He used to come out here all the time, spending the night so he could get up early. Theo uses it now sometimes.”

  She pushes the door open and pulls me into a semi-dark room. Fishing poles are on the wall. Tackle boxes and lures are on the shelves, along with a variety of knives for cleaning fish. Against the back wall are two cots. Jackie shuts the door and turns to me. “Condoms?”

  “Yes. You?”

  “IUD since Monday.” With those words, she rips her shirt over her head, the bra going with it and I’m struck speechless. My mouth goes dry at the sight of her and I rip my own shirt over my head, then grab her to me, devouring her mouth and my hands roam her body. Her boobs are fucking perfect and her nipples pebble against my palms. I dip and take one in my mouth again, but instead of holding me to her, she reaches forward and starts messing with the buckle of my belt. I unsnap her jeans and unzip before sliding my fingers down to her nether lips. Jackie’s already wet, which only makes me harder.

  I shove her jeans down her hips and legs. She kicks them away as she pushes mine over my hips.

  My jeans drop, but I grab them quickly and pull my wallet out of the back pocket. After I remove the condom I toss the wallet on the floor. Jackie grasps my cock as I tear open the foil. Her breathing is heavy, like mine, as I roll the latex over the head of my cock.

  Her eyes meet mine as soon as it’s secure and I grasp her by the ass and lift. Her legs go around my hips and I have her against the wall and sink inside. Deep.

  Our lips meet and I thrust, over and over. Jackie rides me, her thighs tightening and loosening. As her vagina walls clench around me, my balls tighten. Just when I think I can’t hold off any longer, she stiffens and squeezes my cock and it’s all over. Just as she goes limp, my knees practically give out and the two of us slide to the floor. I slip out of her and pull Jackie to my lap and she lays her head against my shoulder. Nothing is said and I assume she’s trying to catch her breath and waiting for her heart to calm like me.

  “That was fucking amazing!”

  “Yeah it was,” she agrees.

  Shit, I said that out loud too.

  “I think you just proved you don’t need a king bed.”

  “I’ll just line my bedroom walls with mattresses.” I lean my head back. “Though sleeping might be difficult.”

  She tilts her head up and looks at me. “You never mentioned sleeping in your bed.”

  This is nice. Real nice. It doesn’t matter that I’m sitting bare-assed on the floor with my jeans ar
ound my ankles, Jackie is on my lap, relaxed and playful. Is she always like this after sex and really good fucks? And, that was one hell of a fuck.

  “I should probably get off of you and get dressed again.”

  “Wait.” The tattoo on her left breast is interesting. I noticed it when I first shoved up her shirt, but I had other things on my mind. Tracing my finger around the image of black music notes over pink ballet slippers, I ask, “What is this for?”

  A sad smile comes to her lips. “My dad was a composer and music director and my mother a dancer turned choreographer.”

  “That’s nice.”

  “Do you have any tattoos?”

  Shit! My face gets hot.

  “What? Where is it?” she leans back and studies my body. “On your back.”

  “Not exactly.”

  She moves and looks at my dick. I swear it shrinks further under her gaze and my embarrassment.

  “Come on, I’ll see it eventually,” she coaxes. “You are mostly naked and you can’t sit here forever.”

  “My ass.”

  Jackie scoots of my lap and stands. “Show me.”

  “It’s no big deal. Really.”

  “I showed you mine, you have to show me yours.”

  She is not going to let up until I do, so I pull myself to my feet, turn and bend.

  “A bullet?”

  “If you look close you’ll see the scar tissue.” I give her a moment before I stand and pull my jeans up.

  “You got shot in the ass?”

  I know she’s trying not to laugh, but is not being the most successful. She pulls her jeans back on and I’m kind of disappointed that I didn’t get to see the color of her panties, or her body fully. I didn’t really take the opportunity to stand back and admire. Not that I needed to. I’ve seen enough and if I keep looking I’ll get hard again and we’ll never make it to her family picnic.