“They sound awesome,” Zoey said as she picked up her wine and tasted it.
“They are,” I replied, smiling at the thought of them.
“What kind of bar do they run?”
“I’d say it’s half biker bar, half sports bar. A lot of guys dad used to hang with come in a lot, and with word of mouth, the clientele grew. They have a bunch of my jerseys and stuff on the walls, and if there’s a game televised, they’re showing it. I guess it’s a pretty unique place. A family bar.”
“I’d love to see it,” she said offhandedly.
“I’d love for you to see it, and to meet them, my parents.”
Her big eyes sought mine and she asked, “Really?”
I reached out and took her hand in mine, my thumb caressing her knuckles.
“Really.” I decided to just go for it. “We have a get together over Labor Day weekend. Maybe you could come?”
“I’ll have to check my calendar, make sure I don’t have anything going on, or due to my publisher, but if I can, I’d love to.”
“Yeah?” I asked, feeling as if my heart was soaring and not even caring how mushy and sentimental that sounded.
“Yes,” Zoey replied, leaning toward me over the pizza in invitation.
I accepted and met her halfway, laying a kiss on her that I hoped conveyed the depths to which I had already fallen.
Chapter Twenty-Six ~ Zoey
It had been another long day. I’d felt nervous and unsure, even though Gabe had pretty much laid it out that he wanted me to spend the night with him, when I crept into his cabin and snuggled against his sleeping body. He’d rolled over, cuddled into me, and slipped deeper into sleep.
I’d laid there, grinning like a loon, unable to find sleep for a while.
I was crazy happy.
Like, crazy … I’d never imagined I’d be at this point with Gabe so soon. We hadn’t even known each other two weeks and were already making plans for me to go home with him and meet his family.
It was inconceivable.
This didn’t happen in real life, did it?
Can a geeky, awkward, woman-child like me really end up with a guy like Gabe? Everything that I knew about him so far was perfect. The way he was with family, with the kids, the life he’d led that made him the man he was today … it was all perfect. For me. It was like we’d both had to live our lives and make it to this point, so that we would be ready for each other.
I was certain, no matter what he said, that had we met in college, or our twenties, we wouldn’t have given each other a second glance. Either of us. But now, in this time, I felt like the luckiest woman in the world.
Thank God I mixed up the camp dates, was my last thought before finally drifting off to sleep.
By the time I woke up, Gabe was already off on his run, so I’d showered and left to go meet Chris. The day was another long and fun-filled one, ending with the football game, barbecue, and bonfire.
The kids were all stoked, and I had to admit, I was too.
I brought my camera and a notebook to the game.
The camera so I could get pictures of Chris for Chloe, and quite possibly sneak some of Gabe for myself.
The notebook was so I could observe the players during the game and in between plays so I could note their interactions with each other, and the coaches, and just basically get ideas for new quirks and mannerisms for future characters.
Luckily, since teenagers, and my nephew, surrounded us, Gabe was not playing in the game. He was coaching.
Even though I had no idea what was going on, I enjoyed watching them play. The easy banter, the competitiveness, the constant slapping. It moved fast and the evening sky was filled with shouts and laughter.
I was struck by what a great thing Gabe had done here. He’d obviously put a lot of thought and hard work into making this dream of his a reality. Some may argue that it was easy for him, since he’d made a lot of money playing football and had the funds to do it. Although I would agree that was definitely an advantage, the fact that he had chosen to do something that was positive and fulfilling, not just for him, but for teenage kids who shared his passion, was a beautiful thing.
I watched the boys waiting patiently on the bench for their turn on the field, the coaches yelling out corrections and encouragement, and when I saw Georgia running as fast as lightning toward one end of the field, her hands thrown in the air when she reached her goal untouched, I stood up and cheered.
I had no idea what happened, but it sure was exciting.
I made a mental note to give her, and the other girls in my cabin, a gift of some sort for being such badass examples for teenaged girls everywhere.
By the time I got to the barbecue, the kids were happily eating their burgers and dogs as they went over the highlights of the game.
I saw Gabe and Reardon standing off to the side, their heads together as they talked. I was about to give them privacy while I grabbed a plate, when Gabe spotted me and waved me over.
“What’s up, Zoey?” Reardon asked when I reached them. “We were just going over tomorrow’s ropes course. Will you be joining us again?”
I gave a dry laugh in response and shook my head.
“I think I’ll pass.”
“You sure?” Gabe asked with a grin, then threw his arm over my shoulder when I gave him a dirty look. “Just kidding. We’ll be busy with the kids for most of the day. It should give you a lot of alone time to get some work done.”
“I’m looking forward to that, actually. Chris asked if I wanted to come watch him on the course, but I think I’d be more nervous watching him up there than when I was up there myself. I trust you guys to take care of him,” I added with a meaningful look for both of them.
“Of course,” Gabe replied.
“Your boy is safe with us,” Reardon promised. Then looked around and said, “I’ll be sad to leave day after tomorrow.”
“Me too,” I said, trying to keep the sadness out of my voice so Reardon didn’t think I was some crazy, clingy woman who’d attached myself to his cousin.
Obviously Gabe wasn’t worried about that because he said, “I’m trying to get her to come for Labor Day.”
Surprise was evident on Reardon’s face when he asked, “Really?”
“Yup, I think she’ll love Cherry Springs.”
Reardon looked at Gabe for a minute, then must have made the decision to just go with it, because he said, “You will, Zoey. It’s a great town, filled with wonderful people. Although, I have to warn you, when the whole family is together, we can be quite a handful.”
“Well, I hope it works out, because that sounds amazing.”
Reardon’s face relaxed and I knew I’d said the right thing. Cherry Springs, and his family, obviously meant the world to Gabe’s Viking cousin. His initial reaction made me wonder if he’d had a problem getting the women he’d dated to embrace small-town life.
We grabbed some plates and food, the men piling theirs high, while I stuck with a cheeseburger, potato salad, and baked beans.
Reardon and Gabe talked about Cherry Springs while we ate. About Reardon’s law office downtown, Gabe’s parents’ bar right on the outskirts, and the family business that Dillon and Jasmine had mentioned they both worked.
“Lewis Sporting Goods is a small chain, mostly in the Midwest, and that’s due mostly to Dillon and Jasmine. They’ve really turned that place around since they took over.”
“Wow, I had no idea, that’s wonderful,” I gushed, excited at the thought of seeing all of the places they described. “What about Serena?”
“Well, as you know, she’s an artist. She also works in an art studio in Chicago, to help pay the bills. We all keep telling her that she needs to move back and open her own studio in Cherry Springs, but she hasn’t succumbed to the pressure yet.”
“I think she will,” Reardon said. “She was talking about how much she missed living by family before she left.”
“I hope so,” Gabe said. “It w
ould be good to have her there when I come home.”
“Speaking of, when are you going to make Cherry Springs your home base again?” Reardon asked.
Gabe looked at me, his expression soft, and shrugged.
“I guess we’ll see what happens.”
Suddenly feeling the pressure and uncertainty of our lightning-speed relationship, I hopped up, gathered my trash and said, “I’ll see you both at the bonfire.”
Gabe grabbed my wrist before I could dart off and asked, “You okay?”
“Yup, peachy,” I lied, then scampered off to get a little alone time and figure out what the hell I was doing.
Chapter Twenty-Seven ~ Gabe
I knew I’d freaked Zoey out with my honesty. So I decided to lay off on being so vocal about my intentions and give her a break during the bonfire. She already knew where I was coming from, and what I wanted, so I figured we could just enjoy the moment, and not focus on what was going to happen tomorrow.
At first, I was worried that she may go into hiding and not come to the bonfire, but rather than chase after her, I waited, and felt a rush of pleasure when I saw her moving through the darkness toward the orange flames.
Choosing to be optimistic, I’d saved her a spot.
Zoey looked around, searching through the crowd of bodies, so I lifted my hand. When her eyes found me and she started in my direction, the knot of worry that I hadn’t realized I was holding, loosened in my belly.
She sat next to me and I reached my arm out to pull her just a little closer. When I had her tucked in, I leaned in and asked, “You ready for s’mores and ghost stories?”
Her smile was timid when she replied, “Always,” and I knew she was still in her head, freaking out.
Hoping to throw her off balance and get her to stop fretting, I lowered my voice so only she could hear me.
“Have I ever told you how much I like your legs?”
Zoey blinked, my words taking her off-guard, then her lip curved a bit in a purely feminine response.
“No.”
She was wearing shorts, a tank top, and flip-flops. I placed a hand on her thigh and began to caress it lightly with my thumb.
“They’re really sexy,” I murmured. “Long, lean, toned. Every time I see them, I imagine them wrapped around me.”
Zoey gasped and looked around her anxiously.
“Gabe, there are children present,” she admonished.
“They aren’t paying attention to us,” I replied, and they really weren’t. I’d gotten us a seat outside of the pack, and the campers were all chattering happily as they passed the makings for s’mores around and the fire roared in the center of us all.
“I like your hands too.”
“My hands?”
“The way they look typing away as you’re writing. The strength in them. And the way those long fingers look when they’re wrapped around my cock.”
I noticed Zoey’s breaths getting shorter, deeper, so I brought my lips to her ears and kept going, my eyes on our surroundings so I would be aware of anyone’s approach.
“I like that spot where your neck meets your shoulder…”
I kissed her briefly there, flicking my tongue out quickly. She emitted a soft moan that made my hardening cock jump in anticipation.
I decided to back off a bit. I didn’t want to take it so far that we gave ourselves away, knowing that would embarrass the hell out of Zoey. And embarrassment was definitely not my goal.
“Shhh,” I breathed in her ear, then put a little distance between us, leaving my hand on her thigh.
“Look at me,” I commanded. When I had her gaze I added, “I love your eyes. The way they convey your thoughts and feelings, and show the sweetness and intelligence within.”
“Gabe,” she said, almost like my name was a plea.
“And your voice.” This time I had to bite back a groan. “So sexy, Zo.”
“I love your lips,” she said throatily, causing me to grin.
Before I could respond, Reardon’s voice broke in.
“What are you two up to?”
Zoey jumped in her seat and moved an inch away, her face flushing guiltily as she turned to him and insisted, “Nothing.”
Reardon’s eyes crinkled as he chuckled.
“I can see that,” he replied, his voice full of laughter.
I took a deep breath, then turned to my cousin and said, “Just waiting to enjoy some s’mores.”
“Me too,” Reardon replied, then gestured to the seat next to me and asked, “Mind if I join you?”
I was going to kill him…
“Of course not,” Zoey answered.
While Reardon got situated, I leaned in to Zoey and whispered, “We’ll finish this later,” then sat up in my seat and returned my focus to what was happening around us.
Reardon was talking about all the stuff he had to do when he got home, when the marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate made it our way. I went to pass them to Zoey, and noticed she was staring off toward the other side of the fire.
“Zoey?” I asked, trying to get her attention.
“Aren’t they sweet?” she asked. I followed her gaze to see Chris and the curly-haired blonde, Grace, sitting next to each other holding hands and talking, totally captivated by each other.
“Is she the first girl he’s been interested in?”
“As far as I know. He’s never said anything to me about a girl, but I don’t know if he would or not.”
“I think he would.”
“You do?” she asked, her head turning toward me.
“Yeah,” I replied, taking her hand in mine. “It’s obvious you guys share something special. You’re his cool Aunt Z. I bet he tells you everything.”
“He’s such a great kid,” she said, her focus turning back to the young couple. “And so is she. So sweet and quiet. It’s a shame they probably won’t see each other again.”
“Never say never,” I said, smiling at the pair. “I bet they keep in touch via text and Facebook, at least for a while.”
When she didn’t answer, I lifted the bag in my hand and asked, “Care to burn a marshmallow?”
She turned to me with a smirk and answered, “Burnt, no. Perfectly browned, definitely.”
“No way,” I argued. “The best way to roast a marshmallow is to burn it until it’s nice and crispy, so that when you bite into it, you have the crunchy outside and the gooey center.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Prove it.”
“Gladly,” she said, then stood abruptly and walked off.
I watched her walk around and talk to a few kids, then bring three of them over.
“They’re going to judge,” Zoey said as she took the bag from my hand. “We’ll both roast three marshmallows each, and they will decide whose is the best.”
“No contest,” I replied as I stood, then thrust the chocolate and graham crackers at Reardon and said, “Hold this.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” was his sarcastic reply, but I ignored him and went to get two skewers from the refreshment table.
When I got back, I handed one to Zoey, then took a marshmallow out of the bag she held open for me.
We roasted our marshmallows and gave them to the judges, who’d obviously forgotten whose camp they were attending, since they unanimously picked Zoey’s lightly toasted marshmallows for the win.
“You cheated,” I accused when Zoey thrust her arms up in victory.
“Did not,” she replied haughtily, moving those hands to her hips.
“You probably offered them signed books or something.”
“Nobody likes a sore loser.”
Now her hip was cocked, and our judges were snickering.
“I’m not a sore loser, you’re a mean winner.”
Zoey looked at me for a minute, then threw her head back and started laughing.
“You’re a nut,” she said, then moved in to put her arms around my waist and rest her head on my chest.
> “Thanks, guys,” I said to our judges.
As they walked away I placed my lips on Zoey’s head and kissed her briefly.
“You’re a nut,” I said, mimicking her words.
“I guess that means we belong together,” she said softly, tilting her head back to look up at me.
“I guess so,” I replied softly.
1
Chapter Twenty-Eight ~ Zoey
Gabe’s perception of my fears, and absolute ability to put me at ease, had me thinking that he was definitely not real. No one could be that perfect, or rather, that perfect for me.
He must have a weird tick I hadn’t noticed yet.
Or the inability to appreciate eighties music.
Maybe he hated puppies and kittens.
Or thought Eminem was overrated.
I didn’t know what his flaw was yet, but it was bound to come out sooner or later.
I just hoped it was something I could live with. A weird tick would be okay, all of the others would be deal breakers.
I’d spent the morning catching up on emails and social media, working on edits from my publisher, and even got a chapter in on my indulgent work in progress.
I reached for another Red Vine and gasped when I realized the carton was empty. When I went to my bag to grab another one, I saw that I was out.
Well, I guess it’s a good thing I leave tomorrow, I thought, then sighed. It was crazy how sad the thought of leaving made me. The lack of Red Vines notwithstanding, I really liked it here, and was melancholy at the thought of returning home.
Which was super strange, because I loved my space.
If I was honest with myself, the biggest bummer was leaving Gabe, but since I wasn’t ready to be honest with myself I decided to sit back down and get back to work.
I don’t know how long I’d been typing away, when a noise by the door caused me to look up. Jenny was walking in with a brown paper bag in her hand.
“Hi, Zoey,” she said cheerfully. “I don’t want to bother you. I just came here to pick up something, and when Gabe asked if I was coming to the cabin, he asked me to bring you this.” She held up the bag to show me, then crossed the room and put it on the table next to me. “He said you probably haven’t consumed anything other than coffee and Red Vines…” I resisted the urge to fling the empty candy container off the desk as she continued, “So he wanted to make sure you got some sustenance.”
Too Tempting Page 10