Stripped Down

by Erin McCarthy

  That thought ripped him straight back down to reality. Sloane said she wanted a family, but did she want this kind of family? A guy who came with a kid as a package deal?

  “Good call,” River said, holding her hand out. She was rocking on her feet and looking super excited. “I need money.”

  He gave her a twenty and turned to Axl. “I’m an ATM. This is why I can’t get married. I’ll go under financially if I add a wife to the mix.”

  It was a joke. But he was testing the waters, he knew it. He wanted Axl to give him permission to not be a bachelor. Which was stupid. He was a grown-ass man.

  Sloane came over to him. “River wants to ride the Ferris wheel. Let me just wait for Lilly. She’s in the restroom but she can take Finn.”

  “Where’s Sullivan?” Axl asked.

  “Beer tent.” Her face showed her opinion on him drinking at noon.

  “I see her coming,” Rick said. “Here, give me Finn.”

  She handed him the baby and gave him a small smile. Maybe it was just his perception, but she seemed more remote now. Closed off a little.

  Keeping it casual.

  Fuck. He hated that.

  He gave Finn a little bounce and told him, “Man, I hope you have your act together way before you’re our age. We’re a mess.”

  “Speak for yourself,” Axl said. “I’m living the dream over here. I’ve totally got my crap together.”

  That was doubtful but Rick wasn’t about to argue with him because he was watching Sloane get on the Ferris wheel with River. She spotted him and waved, a smile spreading across her face as she got settled in the seat.

  A memory came rushing back to Rick.

  It was the summer after Sloane’s senior year. Eight months after the kiss. He had grown almost three inches and had started working out. Flirting with girls. Enjoying his rising social status.

  Then he’d come to the Fish Festival with the guys and he’d seen Sloane on the Ferris wheel with her boyfriend and everything he’d gained in the last eight months seemed like nothing compared to what he’d lost.

  He knew he would never have Sloane and that had crushed him like nothing else.

  The Ferris wheel started moving and her long dark hair blew back.

  God, she was beautiful.

  He knew the answer to the question then, with total clarity.

  It was love.

  It hit him in the chest like a wrecking ball. Boom.

  He was a complete and total idiot.

  She’d been trying to tell him they could have a future together. That they both wanted the same damn thing. A normal family life with a partner you loved, and she’d been hinting that maybe, they should explore that option together.

  He ran his hand through his beard, agitated. Holy crap, he had seriously blown it.

  “Are you okay?” Axl asked him.

  “No. No, I’m not. I’m a complete idiot.”

  “I could have told you that,” Axl said, giving him a hard time.

  “I need you to take Finn.”

  “Where the hell is Lilly? Or better yet, Finn’s father?” Axl asked. “I’m on duty. I shouldn’t be babysitting.”

  Rick was watching the wheel turn around and around, knowing he had to be there when she got off of it. “Give me a break, seriously. Just take him.”

  Without waiting for an answer, he strode over to the Ferris wheel right as River and Sloane were disembarking.

  “Hey, Sloane, want to ride with me?”

  She shot him an amused look. “Um, I just got off the Ferris wheel. Oh, and hello to you too.”

  What had happened to all his years of easy flirtation and cheesy pick-up lines? He seemed to have forgotten all of it under the weight of the realization that he always had, and always would, love Sloane. “I have a ticket,” he said.

  She eyed him like he was losing it. “Okay, I’ll ride it with you and River.”

  “River is staying with Axl.”

  “What?” River protested. “Why can’t I go another time?”

  “Because it’s my turn.” He had to do this before he changed his mind. The carnival sounds retreated and all he could focus on was Sloane.

  “Ooooh,” River said. “I get it.” She made a heart with her fingers in front of her stomach where Sloane couldn’t see it.

  That made him laugh. He gave her another twenty bucks out of his wallet. “Go buy your funnel cake.”

  “You already gave me twenty dollars.”

  “You’re not supposed to care.”

  River ran off.

  Sloane’s eyes had widened, her plump kissable lips parting slowly. “What is going on here?”

  “I just want to ride the Ferris wheel. Do you know where Lilly is?”

  “She’s still in the restroom. There must be a line. But she can take Finn as soon as she comes back.”

  “I see her coming,” Axl said. “Here, give me Finn and get on the damn ride before Rick pops a vein.”

  Axl knew what was up. Rick could see it on his face. His friend was grinning for all he was worth. Rick wasn’t going to argue with him.

  “Perfect.” Rick took Finn and handed the baby off to Axl. Then he took Sloane’s hand and basically dragged her to the entrance to the Ferris wheel.

  “Are you okay?” she asked. “And do you think we should be holding hands? Anyone might see us.”

  Rick stopped walking and turned back to her. Sloane collided with him.

  “Oomph. Sorry. Why did you stop walking?”

  “Someone might see this too and I don’t care.” Rick cupped her cheeks, bent down and gave her a kiss he felt in the depths of his damn soul.

  She shivered when he pulled back. Her eyelashes fluttered and she glanced around nervously. “I’m really confused.”

  He wasn’t. “I know why.”

  “What?” She looked at him blankly.

  “I know why that kiss was so good in high school.”

  Sloane sucked in a small breath. “Oh, really? Why is that?” She pushed her hair out of her face and eyed him.

  “Just ride the Ferris wheel with me and I’ll tell you.”

  “Sure.” She glanced back. “Lilly has Finn and River. That’s good.”

  “That is good.” He trusted Axl completely but he was on duty. River was old enough to just stand beside the Ferris wheel and wait for him, but they were responsible for Finn since Sullivan was off being an idiot.

  A few seconds later Rick was ushering Sloane onto the ride.

  They were belted in and almost immediately they rose, not to load another swing but to rise all the way up into the warm summer air. They could see all of downtown and sailboats and fishing boats dotting all over the lake.

  But truthfully, all he could see was Sloane.

  “So what’s your answer?” she asked, as she pushed her hair back off her face. She wasn’t smiling.

  He took her hand and laced his fingers through hers. Here went nothing.

  “When I was fifteen the guys and I came to the Fish Festival at night and we ran into you here with your boyfriend.”

  She stared at him, looking a little puzzled. “I don’t really remember that. But I came to the festival every year. What does that have to do with anything?”

  “You don’t remember it because it was no big deal. It was like any other day. But I stood down there and I watched you riding the Ferris wheel with what’s-his-name and you were making out with him. And I told myself that I was a fucking idiot because I’d had that one shot. That one kiss in the dark bathroom and it was amazing. It was… everything. And I just let you go. I let you walk away and go on with your life and that night, I watched you with that guy, knowing you were leaving for college. And I swore to myself if I was ever lucky enough to have a chance with you, I would never let you go.”

  Sloane made a sound in the back of her throat. Her expression softened, her eyes growing glassy. “What does that mean?”

  “It means that I don’t want to be a secret. It means
I’m an idiot for not picking up on what you were asking in the park. But I was afraid, you know? Afraid you like Rick the stripper and not Little Dickie. Afraid that somehow I’ll become my dad, and I won’t be worthy of you.”

  She turned as much as the car would allow her to and reached out and touched his face, running her hands through his beard. “I like you. The man inside. I liked you then and I like you even more now. I appreciate the muscles, but they don’t make the man. Remember that. I watch you with River and it’s amazing.”

  “And I see you with Finn and Kate and your family and those dogs at the kennel and I think you’re amazing.”

  She smiled. “You still haven’t answered the question. Why was that kiss so hot?”

  “Because we’re perfect for each other. Always have been.”

  Her eyes widened and suddenly there were tears there. He ran his fingers through her hair, drew his thumb under her eyes to ease the tears away. “I don’t want to be just a guy who gets you off. I mean, I want to do that too.” Fuck. He was botching this. “I want more. I want you. And me.”

  Her hair hit him in the forehead as they came around and were on the downswing. He held her hair down on either side of her face and he threw it all out there, just like the night he’d climbed in the bathroom window. She was worth the risk.

  “Sloane, I love you.”

  Fourteen

  Sloane stared at Rick, disbelieving what she was hearing. Rick loved her? Like real love? Like what she was feeling?

  This was unexpected and insane and totally irrational.

  Or maybe it made complete and total sense.

  Her body had known at seventeen what she had been too stupid and stubborn to see.

  She and Rick were meant for each other.

  He was staring at her intently, those green eyes dark and filled with love. He was squeezing her cheeks, hard, and she was getting dizzy from the Ferris wheel whipping back up into the summer sky, her legs dangling.

  “Are you going to say anything?” he murmured.

  There were a million things Sloane wanted to say. She wanted to gush and laugh and cry and ask him how they could do this. But then she realized all she really needed was to tell him how she felt. She nodded, raising her hands to place them over his. “Yes. I love you, too.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What do you mean, what do I mean?” She laughed. “I love you. What response were you expecting when you said you love me?”

  “I thought you were going to say you want to try dating out in the open.” He studied her, eyes boring into hers. He kissed her. “I didn’t think you were going to stay that. But damn, I am grateful.”

  Sloane closed her eyes and gave in to the wild freedom of the bucket spinning around and around and Rick’s lips on hers, and love.

  Unrestrained, unapologetic, love for a man.

  When they broke apart, breathless, Sloane laughed. “The ride stopped.”

  They were one seat away from the exit platform and a glance down showed that a crowd had gathered. Her brother, Lilly, River, Axl, and her father were all there, watching them. Axl put his fingers to his lips and gave a loud whistle. Her brother shoved him. Her father was shielding his eyes against the sun and giving a little nod of approval. River looked smug. Lilly appeared astonished, holding Finn tightly.

  “It did stop. And we have an audience.” He dropped his hands. “They can say whatever they want and it still won’t ruin this.”

  Except it wasn’t words they used as they got down and walked through the turnstile. Her brother swung before either of them could react. She screamed, Rick managed to duck, but Sullivan still got him on the side of the jaw.

  “What are you doing?” she shrieked, rushing her brother with a shoulder. They collided and went careening backwards into a garbage can. “Are you nuts? You have a baby two feet away!”

  Finn had started to cry. River had big wet tears in her eyes and she looked terrified, clutching her funnel cake.

  Rick was rubbing his jaw but he didn’t swing back. He just said, “Sullivan. Back off, man. This isn’t the time or the place.”

  “But it was the place for you to make out with my sister?”

  Sloane grabbed her brother by the arm. “Get over here. Now. I want to talk to you.”

  “Get off me.” He tried to shake her off but she held on tight.

  She yanked him toward the back of the lemonade stand. “Thanks for making us look like a Jerry Springer episode,” she snapped. “What is going on with you? Why do you care if I date Rick?”

  Sullivan bent over and ran his hands down the front of his jeans. He took a deep, shuddering breath. “You don’t understand.”

  “That’s why I’m asking. We have to talk about stuff. For the first time in our entire lives, we need to talk about our feelings.” She bent over too so she was more on his level.

  He glanced over at her. “I miss Kendra.”

  Her heart squeezed. “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “I don’t ever want you to feel this pain. I feel like I’m drowning. Like I keep grabbing for the surface and I can’t find it. The current just drags me back under.”

  Sloane ran her hand over her brother’s back, tears rising in her eyes. “But Sul, would you have rather never met Kendra? Would you have missed out on that love if you could have?”

  He stood back up, pressing his fingers to his forehead. “No. I wouldn’t.”

  “Then let me have that. I’ve never had that.” Her voice caught. “I was married almost as long as you and I never had one one thousandth of that kind of love. I can have that with Rick. And if I get hurt, at least I tried. At least I feel something. I’ve been numb for years.”

  It was true. She felt like for the first time ever she was actually alive and living.

  “Did it have to be Rick?” He pulled a face.

  “Better him than some guy you won’t like. Think how convenient this will be.” She nudged him. “I won’t interfere with poker night, I promise.”

  “Fuck. Are you really happy?”

  She nodded.

  “Damn it. Then I’m happy for you. The idiot has been in love with you since the tenth grade.”

  “Remember when he kissed me in the bathroom?” she asked, wanting her brother to understand. “I flipped out because the truth was it was the best kiss I’d ever had. Fireworks, baby.”

  Sullivan snorted. “Now that’s funny. I have to admit.”

  “It is. Now let’s enjoy the damn Fish Festival, please.”

  “I guess I have to apologize, don’t I?”

  “That would be helpful.”

  Rick was holding River against his chest and wiping the tears from her eyes. “Don’t worry. Sullivan and I are still friends.” He looked over at him. “Right?”

  Her brother swallowed. “Of course. I’m sorry. That was out of line. If you want to date out of your league, go for it.”

  Rick laughed. “Thanks. I will.”

  Her father was holding Finn now and he looked at her closely. “You good? Everyone good?”

  That almost made her roll her eyes. That emotion thing was going to take some working on in her family. “Yes, Dad. I’m good. And yes, Rick and I are together. So everyone just be happy and let’s move on. Now I am going to go get a pickle on a stick.”

  Rick grinned. “You’re so romantic, beautiful.”

  For some reason, she blushed. She made eye contact with him and she legitimately blushed. There was just something about the way he looked at her that made her giddy and she could not wait to be alone with him again.

  * * *

  Rick held Sloane in his arms and sighed in contentment. They were out on Axl’s boat, enjoying a view of the Fish Festival fireworks being shot off a barge way out on the lake. The boat was gently rocking, the water inky, moonlight and the flares from the fireworks illuminating the surface. He was sitting on the back bench, Sloane between his legs, leaning against his chest.

  Finn was asleep on L
iam’s shoulder, his little life preserver engulfing him.

  River was reading a book by flashlight. Normally he would have forced her to put it away and enjoy the moment, but he was too happy to worry about it right now.

  “On a scale of one to ten how happy are you right now?” Rick asked Sloane.

  “An eleven.”

  That was the perfect answer. “Good. I’m an eight.”

  “What? Why only an eight?”

  “Because we’re not alone. We’re going to have to figure out how to sneak away later,” he murmured in her ear. “And have ‘I love you’ sex.”

  Sloane wiggled her body against his and turned to give him a sassy look. “I already had a pickle today. I’m good.”

  She’d come out to play. He laughed. “Oh, you’re going to pay for that when I get you home.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  Damn. She was everything he wanted in a woman, and then some.

  Lilly leaned over several feet away and said, “I think we should make the charity event an annual thing. Sloane, you don’t care if Rick does another Tap That Dancers routine, do you?”

  “Of course not. It’s for a good cause and he really, really likes to strut it.”

  Oh, yeah, she was practically begging for a spanking. “If you’ve got it, flaunt it,” he said with a grin. “I’ll just make it very clear I am off the market.” He kissed the top of Sloane’s head.

  Forever.

  “I’ve always been taken,” he murmured in her ear.

  “I love you,” Sloane said with a fervor that made him want to take her below deck.

  “I love you, too.”

  Sometimes, all you need to do is strip it down to see what was always there.

  * * *

  Thanks for reading STRIPPED DOWN! I hope you enjoyed Sloane and Rick’s story.

  Want more of the sexy TAP THAT guys?

  * * *

  STRIP SEARCH is out October 29th with cop Axl!

  An introverted rich girl.