by SJ McCoy
“I’m thinking about it.”
“Well, the bathroom’s free.”
“Thanks. Did you make coffee yet?”
Amber laughed. “What would you do if I said no?”
The bedroom door opened, and a bleary-eyed Jade groaned. “I might actually die.”
“Then it’s a good thing I did, isn’t it? Come on, I’ll fix you a cup.”
“That’s okay. I can do it.”
“I’m going to make myself one. I may as well do yours, too.”
“Thanks, sis.” Jade padded after her into the kitchen. “You’re too good to me.”
“I know.”
“I was thinking, do you want to take the day off? Lenny doesn’t need both of us, and you haven’t had a break in weeks.”
Amber frowned. “Are you looking to butter me up so that I’ll owe you one when you want to take off?”
Jade gave her a hurt look. “I want to be offended, but I don’t suppose I can really. You know me too well. But, no, hard as it might be to believe, I worry about you. You haven’t had any fun since we’ve been here. I thought coming to the lake was going to be just what you needed. But nothing’s changed; you’re still so responsible and …” She shrugged. “I’m not criticizing. Don’t think that. I just want to see you happy, and I thought coming here—and getting away from him—might make you happy.”
“It has! I am! Honestly, Jade. I love it here. I’m happy.” She poured two mugs of coffee and Jade sat down at the counter. “I know I’m not out having a wild time or anything, but I’m enjoying life here.”
“I know you’re enjoying taking care of Lenny—as much as she’ll let you—but that’s about all you’ve got going on.”
“That’s not true. I go out as much as you do.”
“Yeah, but only because you go out when I do. You haven’t made any friends … or met a guy.”
Amber tried to hide her smile.
Jade laughed. “You get that look on your face every time you even think about him! But Austin doesn’t count. Sure, you met him, but he’s as bad as you are. Not a single date in … how many months have we been here?”
“Maybe that’s about to change.”
Jade blew out a sigh. “We’ve thought that since he broke up with what’s-her-face but—”
“Hear me out, would you? I didn’t get the chance to tell you last night, but I ran into him—”
Jade leaned forward eagerly. “And …?”
“And it’s a long story—”
“But he asked you out?”
Amber bit her lip. “Kind of. I think.”
“For crying out loud, Amber! He either did or he didn’t. There is no kind of.”
“You tell me which it is, then. I found his dog last night and ended up taking him back to Austin’s office. He gave me a ride back to Lenny’s afterward, and before he dropped me off, he asked if I’d be out tonight. When I said I would, he asked if he could buy me a drink.” She stared at her sister and waited. Jade had much more experience with guys than she did. She’d know whether it counted as asking her out—as a date—or not.
Jade took a sip of her coffee. “What else did you guys talk about while he was driving you home?”
“Not much. It was kind of awkward, to be honest. He asked after Lenny, and how long we plan on staying here, and … that’s about it. Well, he said there was something he’d been wanting to ask me for a while, but then his phone rang and then we got to Lenny’s and …”
Jade smiled. “Going off that, I’d guess that the thing he’s been wanting to ask you is if you’ll go out with him.”
Amber couldn’t help bouncing up and down on her toes. “You think so?”
Jade laughed. “I do. I’ve always thought he liked you, but I couldn’t figure him out. I think he’s like you. He’s more responsible and takes his time to do things right. But yeah. If you add it all up; he asked how long you’re going to be here, said that there’s something he’s been wanting to ask you, and asked if you’ll be out tonight and if he can buy you a drink …” She nodded. “That sounds like a date to me.”
Amber hugged her chest. She couldn’t help it. “Then you have to help me figure out what to wear.”
“No way.” Jade shook her head resolutely. “He likes you—because you’re you. I’ll help you get ready. I’ll do anything I can, anything to help you be more you. I like Austin. He’s nothing like Milo. But if you’re going to start going out with him, then we want to be sure that he’s with you for who you are—not because I made you look like someone else, or because of what he thinks he can get out of it.”
The happy excitement in Amber’s chest fizzled out at the mention of his name. “Austin’s not like that. He’s nothing like him.”
“I know. I’m sorry. That was probably overkill. It’s just when you asked me to help you get ready, it took me back to when you two first got together. I still feel bad.”
“It was hardly your fault.”
“I still feel like it was. But let’s drop it. We’ll do your hair and your makeup your way tonight, and I refuse to lend you any of my clothes. Okay?”
Amber smiled. “Okay, deal. I’m beyond that anyway. I’ve learned a lot since then.”
“Good. And I hope you told Austin that you plan to stay here—for good?”
“How could I? You know Mom and Dad want me to go back.”
“They want you to be happy! Milo’s the one who wants you to go home because he thinks he can get you back if you do. You make his life easier. When you’re there you do more of the work than he does, and he takes all the credit and jokes about you being his little woman who does the books.”
“I know. Can we forget about him?”
“We can. As soon as you tell the folks that you’re not going home. That that lazy shit needs to hire someone to replace you. Once you do that, you can forget all about him and get on with living a happy little life here.”
“I want to, I really do.”
Jade blew out a sigh. “I need to get in the shower, or I’m going to make us late. Let’s take it one step at a time, shall we? Today, we help Lenny. After work, we prepare you for your big date, and then tonight …” She waggled her eyebrows, “you could ask Austin to help you move on.”
“I couldn’t ask him that, it’d mean telling all about—”
Jade set her mug down on the counter and got to her feet. “I meant you could sleep with him!”
“Oh!” Amber felt dumb.
Jade wrapped her in a hug. “Sorry. I shouldn’t tease you like that. I think you and Austin will have a good time together. And for what it’s worth, I don’t think he’s the kind of guy who’d want you to go to bed with him on the first date.”
“Neither do I.”
Jade grinned at her. “And that’s just one of the many reasons that you’re so taken with him, right?”
She nodded happily.
~ ~ ~
Diego slapped Austin on the back as they came out of the title office. “Thanks for all your help.”
“It’s been my pleasure. I’m sorry it took longer than I first expected.”
“That was hardly your fault.” Diego smiled. “I believe everything works out as it should, in its own time.”
Austin nodded. He had a sudden urge to ask the older man why he believed that. Diego had just closed on a house here. He had a new woman in his life, and it sounded as though the two of them were about to get serious. It was hardly his place to ask, though. Diego was his friend Zack’s dad, but Austin didn’t know him that well. Perhaps, if they could sit and chat for a while Diego might be able to give him some advice before his date with Amber tonight. He needed all the advice he could get. His track record with relationships was less than stellar—and he wasn’t even sure that Amber understood that this was a date.
“I’d like to think that, too. What do you say, do you want to come over to the Boathouse for a drink to celebrate?”
“Thanks, but no. I want to get back o
ver to the lodge at Four Mile and bring Izzy back to see the house.”
“Oh. She’s with you?”
Diego nodded.
“I’ll let you get going then.”
“Thanks. Will you be out tomorrow night? Zack said everyone’s coming over here.”
“I will. Though I’m not sure how long I’ll stay.” He couldn’t even think about what he’d be doing tomorrow night until he saw how tonight went—best case he might be taking Amber out again; worst case, he might just have to come out to show his face and let everyone know he hadn’t died of shame after somehow screwing things up.
Diego laughed. “When I was your age, I’d have shut the place down every weekend. You’re young and single, why not make the most of it?”
Austin didn’t know how to answer that.
“Ah. You don’t wish to be single anymore? Who is she?”
Austin laughed. “What makes you think that?”
“I can tell. I’ve watched guys fall by the wayside over the years when they got hooked by a woman.” He smiled. “Now, I’ve fallen, too. I can see it in your eyes. Do you want to tell me about it?”
Austin was tempted to take him up on the offer to talk about it. But he shook his head; he couldn’t be that selfish. “No. You need to get back over to Four Mile, pick up your lady, and bring her back to see your new house. You’ve got a new life to get started on. You don’t need to be hanging around here, listening to my woes. I appreciate the offer, though.”
Diego grasped his shoulder. “Promise me that if you need someone to talk to … someone older.” He smiled. “I can’t claim wiser, or even more experienced …”
Austin raised an eyebrow at that. Everyone knew that Diego had a way with the ladies. Even the girls Austin’s age went gaga over him.
Diego chuckled. “In matters of the heart. If you’re looking for something less complicated, then I’m your expert.”
Austin laughed. “Thanks. I might take you up on the offer someday soon.” Diego had a point; he wasn’t looking for advice about how to be successful with the ladies in general, only with one in particular—he was interested in something meaningful with Amber, not looking for tips on how to get her into bed.
“You have my number. You know where I live. I’ll help you any way I can, any time.”
“Thanks. But for now, you need to get going. I’ll no doubt see you around over the weekend.”
He smiled to himself as he watched Diego hurry back to his car. He wanted to know what it must feel like to be at the beginning of a new chapter in life—to have bought a house and be about to move into it with the new woman in your life.
He gave himself a mental shake. He hadn’t even taken Amber out for the first time yet. He needed to focus on that first.
He looked at his watch. Diego’s closing was the last appointment he’d had scheduled for the day. He had nothing but time on his hands until he came out tonight. He wished that he’d asked Amber if he could pick her up. But he hadn’t. He knew he’d messed the whole thing up—he could have done so much better. But at least he’d left himself a thread to pull.
It was only three-thirty. He could go back to the office and catch up on some paperwork—there was always plenty of that to do. But no. It was Friday afternoon. He’d rather go home and take Roscoe out for a walk—and see what Dallas was up to.
~ ~ ~
“Will I do?” Amber turned to check out her back view in the mirror.
Jade laughed. “Yes, your ass looks great!”
“Well! Why shouldn’t I want to look nice?”
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t. I’m thrilled.”
“I might not be as outgoing as you are, but I’m not some shy little virgin.”
“Oh, I know.”
“Good. I know you feel sorry for me because of the whole Milo thing. But, if you remember, before him, I used to know how to have a good time. I used to date.”
“I don’t feel sorry for you. I just feel protective of you. I don’t think you’re a victim or anything. You just got manipulated by an asshole. That’s all—it happens.”
Amber met her gaze. “Not to you. You’d never have allowed yourself to get stuck in that situation.”
“No.” Jade looked serious, but then she laughed. “Maybe that’s because I am a manipulative asshole?”
“You are not. You’re just strong-willed that’s all.”
“Yeah. But this isn’t about me, it’s about you. Are you happy with your outfit?”
Amber checked the mirror again and smiled. “I am.” She was glad that summer had arrived. It stayed warm enough in the evenings that she could wear one of the strappy dresses she’d bought at Hayes. She wasn’t skinny—not by any means—but she’d never wanted to be. And this dress reminded her why: it gave her an hour-glass figure. It showed off her ass—made it look great, just like Jade had said. And, in front, it did the same for her boobs—without showing too much or allowing them to bounce too freely.
Jade raised an eyebrow at her. “Penny for them?”
“They’re not worth that much.”
“Tell me anyway?”
“Honestly? I was thinking that I’m not that bad at all. In fact,” she patted her hair and pouted, trying to make a joke out of it, “I’m quite attractive, if I do say so myself.”
Jade wasn’t fooled. “You’re gorgeous! And you need to get rid of any lingering doubts or niggles that bastard left in your mind.”
“I wasn’t talking about him.”
“I know. You were talking yourself back up after he tore you down.”
“He never meant to. It’s just the way he is. I truly don’t believe he ever meant me any harm.”
“You may be right. But I’m not interested in what he meant or how he is or in any kind of excuses. What matters to me is the effect he had on you. He stole your shine. And I hate him for that.”
“Hate’s a strong word.”
“And I’m a strong woman.”
Amber chuckled. “Believe me. I know. So does Milo. Thanks, Jade.”
Jade shook her head. “There’s nothing to thank me for. And can we forget about all that now? You’re supposed to be getting excited about your big date.”
Amber pursed her lips. “I am excited. But what if we’re wrong? What if Austin only meant what he said—that he wants to buy me a drink to say thank you for rescuing Roscoe? What if …”
“Would you quit with the what ifs?” Jade began and then her expression softened. “Sorry. I don’t believe that’s the case—not for one minute. The guy lit up the moment he first laid eyes on you. But you’re looking for reassurance, so I’ll offer some. Worst case scenario is that he only wants to buy you a drink to say thank you. But when he sees you looking like that, he’s not going to be able to resist. And if he’s as slow off the mark as he has been up to now, then other guys are going to beat him to it. If he doesn’t make it obvious that you’re with him, other guys are going to make a move on you—don’t look at me like that, I guarantee it. Then you’ll both have a choice to make. Will he be prepared to fight for your attention—and will he still be the one you’re interested in.”
“He’s the only one I’m interested in.” She wasn’t dumb; she knew there were other guys who’d ask her out if she gave them the chance—and some who wouldn’t want to take her out but wouldn’t mind taking her home. But she wasn’t interested in guys. She’d been determined when she came here that she needed to be alone for a good while after everything that had happened with Milo. Austin was worth making an exception for—but he was the only one.
Chapter Four
Austin made sure he got to the Boathouse early. He didn’t want Amber to show up and wonder where he was.
“Hey, Austin. How’s it going?” Kenzie, the bartender greeted him with a smile. “You’re eager tonight, you’re the first one of the gang here.”
He smiled back at her. “I’m good, thanks. How about you? How are you and Chase doing?”
�
�We’re great. I’m glad you’re here, what can I get you? It’s on me. If you don’t mind me picking your brain for a few minutes while we’re quiet.” She laughed. “That sounded wrong. I’ll still get you a drink even if you don’t want me picking your brain.”
“I’m fine with it, and I can get my own anyway. Your tab must be huge. You’re always buying people drinks.”
Kenzie shrugged. “It’s the one thing I know that I can do for people.”
Austin smiled. “They don’t come to you for the drinks. They come for your wisdom.”
She laughed out loud at that. “I am many things, bud, but wise isn’t one of them. You want a glass of that Cab Franc you like?”
He nodded. “Thanks.” Kenzie had had quite a troubled past from what he understood, but she’d been here in Summer Lake for a few years now, and in that time, she’d become a respected member of the community—someone who people sought out for advice. She wasn’t one to sugarcoat anything. She told it like it was, and she’d helped a few of his friends figure their lives out when they’d needed it.
“I’m not going to argue with you—but only because I know I couldn’t win. But if you still can’t see yourself the way the rest of us see you …”
As she set his drink down, her smile told him that she knew what he meant, even if she didn’t want to admit it. “Whatever. This is about me asking you for advice.”
“Go ahead.”
“It’s about the house.”
Austin had half expected it might be. She and her husband, Chase, had rented one of his properties for the last few years. “What about it?”
“Do you think they’d be interested in selling?”
Now, that, he hadn’t expected.
“Aww. Don’t look like that. Is that a no? We’ve been saving so hard and we have enough for a decent down payment now. We could look for somewhere else, but we both love that house.” She smiled. “It’s the first place that’s ever felt like a home to me.”
He held his hand up. “The look on my face wasn’t a no.”
“It wasn’t? You think they might sell then?”