by Kimi Flores
I reached over and took her hand this time. We both paused and looked at the connection as I swiped my thumb across the back of her palm. My heart beat a little faster and all I wanted to do was make the sad look on her face disappear.
“He came home that night as I was packing and had the nerve to act surprised.” I could feel her finger rub the side of my thumb, as if the constant motion kept her centered while telling her story. “It was one big-ass wake up call for me. That was not the life I wanted, so when I told him that I quit right before we launched a huge presentation I’d headed up, he threatened to sue me if I didn’t complete the duties. And then he said everything I designed while working for his dad belonged to the company, whether I was working on my personal time or not.” Her shoulders slumped as she stared at the table with a solemn look on her face.
God, I wanted to find that asshole and beat the shit out of him. There had to be something I could do to help. “That doesn’t sound right. If you weren’t on the clock, then those were your designs.”
Puffing out a breath, she sounded exasperated. “It wasn’t worth fighting about. I had no idea what kind of legal ground I had to stand on, but I knew he had plenty of lawyers by his side, just waiting to destroy anyone he wanted.”
“What did you do?” My hand lingered on hers, still wanting that connection.
Her sad eyes turned up to mine. “I took every penny I had, went to a paralegal and had them draft up a contract that basically said once I’d given my presentation, we were legally cutting ties and he couldn’t go after me. He was smart, though, and amended that once I gave the ‘correct’ presentation ‘without any funny business’ then we would cut ties.”
I subconsciously reached over to see if Fritz would let me pet him, but my gesture was greeted with a hiss. “Remind me to never piss you two off, okay?”
She smiled sadly at me. “Shortly after that, I moved to Hope Falls.”
“Because Aurora and Angel lived here?”
“Yup. And it just felt like home.” Her face glowed when she said the last word.
Looking around the backyard at the huge trees, I said, “I can’t say I blame you. This place is pretty amazing and Angel is one incredible kid.”
Her smile became less sad then. “She keeps us all on our toes.” She slapped her hands on the top of her thighs. “Okay, back to work for me. I’ve gotta get the camper ready for tomorrow’s festival.”
Picking up the trash, she walked over to the garbage while I stacked our dirty dishes. As she made her way back to me, she pointed at the camper on the other side of the fence. “Follow me and I’ll introduce you to my favorite gem.” She patted her leg as she walked and Fritz ran past me to get to her side.
“What do you need to do?” I inquired as I opened the gate for her.
“Clean it. Outside and in.” She walked alongside the small red and white camper until she came to the door. “I use it as a traveling jewelry boutique and part of the festival includes a craft fair.”
Retrieving the key from her pocket, she opened the door, stepped inside and pushed up the flap that covered the window opening. As soon as she had that latched, she pushed a small metal table up and over the bottom edge, latching each side in place. Leaning her head out of the newly exposed window, she started to chant, “Get your peanuts here, hot dogs, pizza, we got it all, step on up.”
“You’re a nut, do you know that?” I shook my head as I stepped inside and looked around.
She slipped her hands in the back pockets of her jean shorts. “It was pretty trashed and a very bright yellow when I first bought it from my neighbor back in Sacramento. He’d been using it to sell records at swap meets until he was able to open his own store.” She patted the side with pride, like she had saved it from the junkyard.
I stuck my head out and saw the hind end of Fritz as he placed his front paws inside the door to get a better look. “He makes a living selling albums?”
“It’s actually one of those hip coffee shops that sell books and albums. He also features local artists’ work so the artsy crowd loves it. Anyway, as you can see, it’s in need of a little cleaning.” She swiped her finger along one of the ledges.
“I’ll help.”
She tilted her head to the side. “Don’t you have some studying to do?”
If she was going to be out here wearing god only knows what, showing off her beautiful toned legs while she sprayed this thing down, there was no way I would be getting any studying done. “Naw, I’m done for the day. Why don’t we take care of the trailer together and head over to JT’s? Kyle messaged me saying they’d be there tonight.”
“Kyle messaged you, huh?” She grinned playfully. “Sounds like maybe you've got a little bromance going on with my best friend’s husband.” She turned and started for the door, barely squeezing past me as she slapped my ass. It might’ve been my imagination but I’m pretty sure there was a little squeeze before she moved her hand away. “Okay surfer boy, I won’t turn down free help. Let’s scrub now so you can have your bromanantic date later.” Giggling, she disappeared out the entryway and picked up her cat.
Fuck me, that was hot. I stood frozen, watching her every move.
After a few seconds, she came back to the camper, stuck her head in the doorway while she stroked Fritz. “By the way, I know you kept bobbing him on the butt to get my attention this week.” Giggling again, she turned and headed into the house.
She was going to be the death of me, but I couldn’t think of a nicer way to die. My heart finally restarted and I took off running to catch up with her, plotting every way to get my revenge with a water hose and a bucket of soap.
An image of her covered in nothing more than foamy bubbles popped in my head and I knew I was definitely screwed.
Chapter Seven
Blaine
“So, I hear we’ve got a little something going on.” Kyle pointed the neck of his beer bottle between him and me from across the square table.
Aurora punched his arm as the sound of pool balls smacking each other echoed through the bar. “You weren’t supposed to repeat that.”
Both Kyle and Andie asked at the same time, “Why not?” Then they busted up.
No way was I letting her get away with that. I took a long pull from my beer, then stared directly at Andie. “I’m surprised she’s willing to share me after getting a nice handful of my ass today.”
With mischief in her eyes, she smiled back and squeezed my thigh under the table. “Well, I wouldn’t want to deprive anyone else of that nice butt you’re sporting.”
We continued to stare at each other until Kyle cleared his throat. Simultaneously, we looked across the table to see his and Aurora’s smug faces.
“Should we leave you two alone?” Kyle smirked, bringing his beer back to his mouth.
I was about to say yes when Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” began to play. Shelby came bouncing over from the jukebox in the corner. “You wanna dance?” She looked expectantly at the two women at our table. “Blaine said you loved this song, Andie. I had no idea.”
Groaning, Andie got off her stool and glared at me. “I’m not going to get this song out of my head for the next week.”
I snickered, “I know.”
I’d heard it start to play the other day when she was working and after she'd given an affirmative, ‘oh hell no’, the song was changed.
“I’d ask you to join us, but I wouldn’t want to interrupt your little playdate.” She wrinkled her nose and strolled off to the makeshift dance area by the jukebox with her friends.
My eyes were glued to Andie’s every move. She wasn’t just beautiful out there, she was a dream, way too hot to touch. Her loose off-the-shoulder top exposed just enough skin and gathered around her curvy waist. Her jeans hugged her luscious hips and ass before disappearing in her black leather boots.
She teased me, glancing over her bare shoulder at me while she swayed. It only took a simple scoot in my seat to feel the zipper
on my jeans rub against the result of my body’s reaction.
“Hey, you want anything from the bar?” Kyle asked, pulling me out of my lust stupor as he stood and grabbed the empty bottles from the table.
My voice was suddenly high-pitched. “No. I’m good.” I cleared my throat, “I mean, I still have plenty.”
Shaking his head and snickering, he walked away.
I could’ve stayed there all night, watching her rouse me, but decided to join the guys at the bar. Giving her one more glance to make sure she was fine, I saw her bend forward, reaching out to me with one arm. She curled her finger as she sang out the words to the song.
Now I wasn’t going to get that damn song—or the vision of her—out of my head anytime soon.
She hadn’t drank anything but root beer so I wasn’t sure what had gotten into her tonight. But I had to admit, I wasn’t hating it. To say that was the hottest invitation I had gotten in a long time would be an understatement. But I also wasn’t her pet. Damn, but she was hot…Yeah, I was sticking to my guns and getting a fresh beer before I started to purr like Fritz did under her touch.
Heading toward the bar, I joined Kyle and Shelby’s husband, Levi. They both shook their heads as they watched our small cluster of women dancing together.
Levi stood taller and looked past us. “Great, just what I need tonight. Another band of drunk assholes on their way through town.”
Glancing to the far end of the room, I watched all four guys seated at the table take notice of the dance area. Or more importantly, who was in the dance area. Several seemed to be obnoxiously egging one of them on by shoving him away from the table. With a sharp look, he dusted each shoulder with his hands then headed straight to where I feared he would.
I knew in my gut exactly who he had his sights set on before he stepped up behind Andie and began to gyrate his hips. I was half a second away from hauling ass toward her when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
“Give it a second,” Kyle warned me.
What? Why the fuck would I give it a second?
He offered me a confident look. “Listen man, my first instinct is to go pummel that guy, too, whether he was behind Aurora or not, but those three women are exactly the same.”
I raised an impatient eyebrow. “Meaning?”
One side of his mouth quirked up.
I gritted my teeth as I watched the motherfucker place his hands on Andie’s hips. But she spun around, pushed him hard enough to make him stumble back and if I was reading her lips correctly, told him to ‘fuck off’. Everything in me wanted to do much worse to him for even touching her.
He shook his head and mouthed, “Your loss, bitch.” Then he stalked away with his tail between his legs.
My fingers curled into my palms and my blood raced through my body. The tension in my clenched jaw was so tight, I thought I heard something crack. “Fucking douchebag,” I said under my breath.
When I realized I’d said it aloud, I cleared my throat and took a long swig of my beer. Why had I overreacted like that?
“You’ve got it as bad as I thought,” Levi said with a chuckle. “That took a lot less time than we thought it would.”
“What’re you talking about?” I asked when I spotted the same asshole nearing the table with his heckling friends. With guys like that hanging out at bars, no wonder girls thought we were all dogs.
Kyle gave me a slap on the back before announcing, “You have feelings for Andie. Can’t say I blame you, she’s a great girl and you two have similar characters and sense of humor. You two fit together.”
Levi leaned in as he wiped down the bar. “But aren’t you leaving town soon?”
Staring at the cracks on the old rustic bar top, I began to trace them with my finger. “Yeah, I leave in a few days.”
“Oh,” I heard behind me. Andie.
Damn it.
Spinning to face her, I took in the stunned look on her face. Blinking quickly, she tucked a few blonde strands of hair behind her ear as she smiled shakily like she was trying to cover her feelings. “I didn’t realize it was coming up already.”
“Yeah, it kind of snuck up on me, too.” I leaned back against the bar, feeling the beer churn in my stomach.
The lost look on her face stirred that all too familiar sense of guilt that I’d been able to tame over the last several weeks.
The last thing I’d ever wanted to do was disappoint Andie, but I couldn’t just forget everything I’d worked so hard for, either.
Stepping closer, she stood in front of me staring into my eyes like she was debating her next move. Not a word was spoken as she leaned in, grabbed my face and kissed me on the lips. I was too stupefied to react before she pulled away. Her eyes widened in horror as she covered her mouth with her hand. “Ohmygod. I’m so sorry. I have to go.” She ran to the table, grabbed her stuff and was out the door in record time.
Still in shock, I scanned the crowd around me before jumping off the barstool. “See you guys later, I have to go get my girl.” I didn’t need to see him to know Kyle had an arrogant smile on his face.
Rushing outside, I saw Andie talking to the guy Levi had said was his brother. The one who happened to be an MMA champion. He motioned for her to get in his car.
“Andie, wait!” I ran up to the passenger side as the guy was opening the door for her. He was already massive but stood a little taller and hid her behind his body as I got closer.
“Can I help you?” he asked assertively, puffing out his chest.
“Please, Andie. Can we talk?” I spoke around him, catching a glimpse of her downcast eyes.
Lowering her head further, she placed her hand on his back. “It’s okay, Lucas. Thanks for offering me a ride, though.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Lucas asked her and, although I wished he wasn’t in the middle of this, I was thankful Andie had people here who were willing to stand up and protect her.
“Yeah. This is Blaine.” She bit her lip like she was trying to keep it from trembling then cleared her throat. “He’s staying at my house right now.”
Lucas stepped aside. “Okay, but don’t hesitate to let me know if you need anything.”
“I won’t. Thanks again.”
He watched grudgingly as I reached for Andie’s hand and pulled her toward me. Touching her cheeks with the palms of my hand, I looked into her teary eyes. “Why’d you run away from me?”
“I guess, I was just a bit embarrassed by my rashness. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to kiss you like that in front of everyone.” She bit her lower lip again to stop it from quivering, which only drew my attention to her mouth.
I could feel my throat tighten. “I didn't mind. The only thing that worried me was how spooked you got over it. Why’d you really run?”
She lowered her head again. “I…”
God, she looked so incredible in the moonlight. “Andie, you’re killing me here. Look at me.”
Her eyes slowly made their way up my face until she was staring into my eyes once more. I saw the vulnerability in her expression and all I wanted to do was offer up my heart on a silver platter.
“I was so wrapped up in all the fun we were having and forgot we were on a timeline. I knew better than to let myself get carried away, but somehow it happened anyway and I didn’t want it to end.” Her shoulders dropped. “But reality is, you have a life to go back to and mine is here.”
I pulled her close, held her cheek to my chest and kissed the top of her head as my internal battle launched in full force. No matter what my brother had said, I couldn't leave him high and dry. Justin was a handful and Peter was going to need the extra help to take care of him, plus I had a job and hopefully a promotion to go back to.
“I love having you at my house.” She squeezed me and I looked up to the sky. I’d come here to find some space because my world had been so crowded, I needed breathing room to think. Now, as I held my perfect woman in my arms, I cursed the distance that would be between us when I left.
/> She let out a deep breath and relaxed further into me. “I’m used to everyone looking out for each other here, but there’s something about you that makes me feel so safe. I’m afraid of losing that feeling.”
Holy hell, if she only knew what those words were doing to me. No other woman had ever said anything like that to make me feel validated.
As I cradled her head gently in my hands, I knew I was holding something so precious. Softly raising her face to mine, I prompted her to look at me. After a soft kiss on the tip of her nose, I kissed the trail of tears down each of her cheeks. Her eyes closed, but the expression on her face begged for more so I lowered my lips to hers, giving her a few tender pecks. Before either of us knew what was happening she was opening her mouth and I didn’t hesitate to accept her invitation.
With our tongues dancing to what could only be called our own song, I kissed her with everything I had.
Her hands grabbed my shirt and pulled me closer, as if any space between us would threaten the spell we were under. I don’t know how long we stayed like that, but it would’ve never been enough for me. After a few more minutes, the reality of our situation crashed through me like a wrecking ball.
We both must’ve sensed it at the same time because we pulled away simultaneously.
Placing my forehead on hers, I closed my eyes. “God, Andie, if there was any other way, I wouldn’t leave.”
“I know.” She sniffed.
I took a moment to catch my breath and heard hers begin to regulate as well. When my heart finally settled, I asked, “Would you go on one date with me before I have to leave? Tomorrow night after the festival?”
She nodded. “I’d really like that.”
“Tomorrow’s a busy day. How about I get you home.” I held onto her hand and pulled her toward my Jeep.