Five Dates Only

by R. L. Kenderson

  Sloan

  Caleb and I drove down a modest-sized driveway to a beautiful log house. It wasn’t large, but it was gorgeous.

  I leaned forward to get a better view out the front window. “This is a lake cabin?” I whistled. “No wonder you want to buy the store. You’d be rich. This is bigger than my house. My one and only house. I feel like we’re on an episode of House Hunters.” I raised my voice and said, “Yes, we’re looking for a second home on the beach, but we only have one million to spend, so our budget is a little tight.”

  Caleb laughed. “It’s not all the store. Ted was in finance before he quit to buy the store. He doesn’t talk about it much. Just that it was stressful and he needed a change of pace, but I assume he made good money doing it. Also, Mary worked for the post office, so two incomes paid for this thing.”

  “Still, it’s very impressive.” I looked at Caleb. “They don’t have any children, right?”

  “Right.”

  “Do you think they’d adopt me?”

  Caleb laughed. “Don’t you have parents?”

  “Yeah. But they don’t have a lake house—emphasis on house because this is not a cabin. I mean, look at that wraparound porch. I want to retire here.”

  Caleb parked, and we got out of his vehicle. We both grabbed our bags from the backseat. I’d packed my swimsuit and an extra pair of clothes just in case. I didn’t know how dirty we’d get out at the lake.

  We walked up the porch stairs just as the front door opened, and Mary came out. “Hey, you two.”

  “Hi, Mary,” I said.

  Caleb kissed her on the cheek. “Hey, Mar.”

  “How was the drive?”

  “Pretty good,” I answered. “Not much traffic.”

  “Well, come in. I was just setting out some snacks for your arrival. Ted’s down by the water. He’ll be back up here soon.”

  I looked behind me to see the water was a nice distance away, probably a couple hundred feet.

  We walked into the house, and of course, the inside was as beautiful as the outside.

  I did a three-sixty with my mouth open in amazement. “How do you not live here year-round? It’s so beautiful.”

  “We’re actually thinking about it once Ted retires. Right now, it’s too far to drive to the store every day.”

  “Oh, yeah, that pesky work thing,” I said.

  Mary laughed. “Speaking of work, how is house-hunting going?”

  “Meh. Caleb is kind of picky.”

  Mary looked at Caleb. “You?”

  “I’m not picky. It’s just that, if I’m going to buy a house, I’m going to buy something I really like.” He made a come here motion. “Give me your bag. I’ll put it in the guest bedroom.”

  “Thanks.” I handed it over.

  Caleb headed down the hall, and Mary and I went into the open kitchen. The kitchen and living room were basically all one big room, and I loved it. It made the area look wide and open.

  “So, is Caleb really that picky?”

  I sat down on the stool at the kitchen island. “Nah. I just like teasing him. I’ve had some clients that were real pains in my as—butt. Caleb is actually pretty easy. He hasn’t really liked anything, but he doesn’t complain.”

  “You know, I read something about couples who tease each other are happier.” Mary pushed the veggie tray she’d laid out toward me. “Eat some.”

  “That’s, uh … interesting,” I replied because I had no idea what else to say. I quickly picked up a carrot, dipped it in some ranch, and shoved it in my mouth, so I wouldn’t have to say another word.

  “Ted’s down by the water?” Caleb said from behind me.

  I turned around, and the sight of Caleb in his swimming shorts and no shirt caused the carrot to fly into the back of my throat.

  The man was gorgeous. Muscular but not too much with a light dusting of chest hair. I liked chest hair. And I caught a glimpse of at least one tattoo. I liked tattoos, too.

  I pounded on my chest a couple of times, and thank God no one noticed.

  Mary was already walking around to my side. “Yes, he’s out there.”

  She opened the door and hollered out Ted’s name just as I got the annoying slice of vegetable to the front of my mouth again.

  “That’s okay,” Caleb said to Mary. “I’ll walk down there.” He looked at me. “Your stuff is in the spare bedroom if you want to change.” His forehead crinkled. “Are you okay? Your face is kind of red.”

  “I’m fine.” I stood. “Is it okay if I get a glass of water?”

  “Oh, yes. Let me get you one,” Mary said.

  “That’s okay. I can get it,” I said quickly. I didn’t want to look at Caleb’s droolworthy body any more than I had to. It was making me want things I hadn’t had in a long time. Like sex.

  “It’s probably time we head down to the water,” Mary said. “After all, it’s why you came here.”

  Mary and I had sat and talked for a good half hour. I really liked her, and we clicked, so finding things to converse about was easy. And I supposed I couldn’t avoid seeing Caleb any longer.

  It wasn’t like I hadn’t seen any attractive guys in the last two years just because I hadn’t had a boyfriend or been physical with anyone, but I hadn’t been pretending to be in a relationship with any of them.

  I didn’t know how I was going to be close to him, touch him, and kiss him without my hormones rising up and protesting. I had two trusty vibrators at home in my bedside drawer, but my body … well, that bitch missed having a real man with a real penis sometimes. It was going to be hard to shut her up.

  “… it’s going to be in the low nineties today.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “I was thinking. What did you say?”

  Mary smiled. “I was saying, we should put on our swimsuits. It’s already in the low eighties outside, and it’s going to be in the low nineties today.”

  “Yeah, I saw that. It’s a good day to be down by the water.”

  “Why don’t you go change, and we’ll walk down together?”

  “Okay.”

  “Bedroom on the left is the guest room.” Mary pointed down the hall.

  I found the room easily enough and pulled out my stuff. I’d worn a sundress today so that I could pull it on and off over my suit. I’d be able to be covered up as long as possible, but if I wanted to get in the water, I’d eventually have to take my dress off.

  As I pulled out my suit, the thought of Caleb seeing me in it made me want to shove it back inside my bag. It was probably as unsexy as any swimming suit could get and still be a swimming suit. It was a plain black two-piece, but the top was long enough to touch the bottoms. I probably would have brought a one-piece, but I hated getting naked just to pee. I’d bought the suit for efficiency, not to look good, and I hadn’t thought twice as I threw it in my bag this morning.

  But, after seeing Caleb looking all sexy, it was making me regret my decision.

  I made a sound of disgust. Who cares what Caleb thinks? You don’t even like him like that, dummy. Ignore the hormones. Men suck, remember?

  I took a deep breath and listened to my brain.

  It didn’t matter what I looked like in my suit. In fact, plain was probably better. Caleb and I weren’t really involved, and I didn’t want to be.

  Right?

  Right.

  Eleven

  Caleb

  I looked up from the Adirondack chair I was relaxing on when I heard Sloan and Mary walking down to the water.

  My first reaction was disappointment. “Why aren’t you in your suit?” I asked Sloan and pointed to the end of the long dock. “We got the boat and Jet Ski out.”

  Mary sat next to Ted while Sloan pulled the strap of her dress off one shoulder. “I’m wearing it underneath.”

  “Oh, good.” I looked down at her other hand. “What do you have there?”

  “Sunblock.” She held out a fair-skinned arm. “I don’t tan. I only burn.”

  My ch
air had a pullout ottoman attached. I patted it. “Sit. I’ll get your back.”

  “Uh …”

  I raised my brow, hoping to communicate that it would be weird for her to not let her fiancé put sunblock on her. Ted and Mary were talking about food or something, but they were going to notice if Sloan turned down my offer.

  When she didn’t make a move, I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t going to do anything inappropriate.

  She sighed and sat down between my legs.

  “Give me the bottle.”

  She squeezed some into her hands and gave it to me. I did the same with the sunblock. Sloan was already putting a good-sized amount on her legs, so I waited until she was done.

  When she sat up, I put my hands on the tops of her shoulders.

  She shivered.

  “Sorry. Is it cold?”

  “A little. I wasn’t expecting it, I guess.”

  I returned to my sunblock job and brushed it all over her back, shoulders, and the back of her neck. Her hair was up in a ponytail, and I didn’t want her to get burned. As my hands rubbed across her skin, I noticed how smooth it was, and that was when I knew my job was done. My swim trunks were starting to fit a little too tight, and I couldn’t be thinking about her like that.

  I dropped my hands and sat back in my seat. “All done.”

  She looked over her shoulder at me and smiled. A real, genuine smile. “Thank you.”

  Her sincere gratitude made me feel funny, and I didn’t like it. I cleared my throat. “You’re welcome.”

  As if she could sense my misery and wanted me to suffer more, she leaned back against me. I could feel her whole body against mine, and I froze underneath her.

  She pulled her phone from the pocket of her dress. I could see what she was doing, and while she didn’t make any attempt to hide it, I looked away to give her privacy.

  A few seconds later, she elbowed me, so I looked down.

  She had opened up her messages and typed something in the box but hadn’t hit Send.

  Relax. I’m your girlfriend, remember?

  She was right, and I commanded my muscles to loosen.

  She repeatedly hit the back button to erase what she’d written. As she did that, I looked up to see that the name she was under was Lover. She hadn’t changed the name I had put on her phone, and I couldn’t help but grin.

  “What’s so funny?” Ted asked.

  I shook my head. “Nothing. Just the name Sloan has for me in her phone.” I looked up at Ted and Mary. “What’s for lunch?” I asked, changing the subject.

  “I’m going to bring the portable grill down here,” Ted said. “I was thinking hot dogs and brats for lunch. Burgers for dinner.”

  “And then we’re going to build a fire in the pit and make s’mores,” Mary added.

  “Yum. I haven’t had s’mores in forever,” Sloan said.

  I looked down at her as a message popped up on her screen from someone named Casey.

  Casey: Bear went into my purse again and ate my ChapStick! I had it hidden in a pocket, and I put my purse up on the shelf. And he still got it!

  Sloan chuckled, and Ted said, “Now, this one’s laughing, too.”

  She looked up. “I’m sorry. My neighbor is watching my dog today, and he always finds her ChapStick. It’s become something of a joke.”

  “Caleb, you didn’t tell us Sloan had a dog. She could have brought him here for the day.”

  Because I didn’t know.

  Apparently, we’d forgotten to discuss pets at our getting-to-know-each-other meeting.

  “Uh …”

  “It’s okay,” Sloan said as she closed out of her messages and opened up her photos. “He’s a Newfoundland-mix dog, so he takes up a lot of room in the truck.” She started flipping through a bunch of photos of a big brown dog.

  “Yeah,” I added. “His name is Bear because he looks like one.”

  “He would love it, but it’s much more relaxing, not bringing him,” Sloan said.

  “What’s he mixed with?” Ted asked.

  “His mom was a Newfoundland, and his dad was a fence-hopper.” Sloan chuckled. “The owners are breeders and were a little surprised to find out their female was pregnant before she was supposed to be. I was more than happy to take one of the mutts off their hands.”

  “Next time, you’ll have to bring him,” Mary said. “We’d love to meet him.”

  Maybe I needed to rethink the five-date deal. On the first, we had gotten engaged. Now, on the second, they wanted to meet her dog. I could only imagine how much deeper this facade was going to get.

  I nudged Sloan, and she sat up.

  “Time to get on the Jet Ski,” I said when she looked at me to see why I’d made her move.

  She jumped up from the chair. “I’m driving.”

  I slowly rose from my seat and looked down at her. “You’re dreaming, sweetheart. When I’m on the Jet Ski, I drive.”

  Sloan pulled her dress over her head and looked at Ted. “Where are the keys?”

  “In the ignition,” I heard Ted say, but I wasn’t looking at him.

  I was admiring Sloan’s long, pale legs. For someone not that tall, she sure had a set on her. She also had a cute little bubble butt. Somehow, I had missed that.

  She looked up at me and grinned, and I quickly moved my eyes from her body to her face.

  “I’ll race you. Whoever gets there first gets to drive,” she said and sprinted toward the dock.

  “Hey,” I called out and went after her. I knew, if I wanted to, I could beat her, but at the last second, I decided to let her win.

  She hopped on the Jet Ski and turned the engine over. “What do you say, Stanton? Are you man enough to let a woman drive?”

  I went over to the boat, grabbed two life jackets, and threw one to her.

  I put mine on and walked back over to her. “You don’t scare me, McCarthy.”

  She scooted forward and nodded toward the back. “Then, get on.”

  “Okay,” I said. I untied the Jet Ski from the dock and got onto the back. “But I have to warn you, adrenaline gives me a hard-on.”

  Sloan laughed. “Now, you’re trying to scare me.” She pushed her ass back into me. “But it’s not going to work.” She revved the engine. “Hang on, big boy.”

  I put my arms around her as she took off.

  Twelve

  Sloan

  I flung my life jacket off. “Oh my God. I could feel your erection the entire time.”

  Caleb laughed as he removed his own life jacket. “I warned you.” He took both the preservers and set them in the boat to dry. “You thought I was trying to scare you, but I was only speaking the truth.”

  We headed back up to the empty beach.

  “I suppose this is my fault then?”

  He shrugged. “You were the one going fast and doing all the crazy moves.”

  “I was not doing crazy moves. I was just having fun,” I said defensively.

  “Whatever you say. I thought maybe we were going to die out there. Hence, the erection.”

  “You’re a jerk,” I told him and pushed him away from me.

  I’d kind of forgotten that we were on a narrow dock, and almost in slow motion, I watched Caleb’s arms flail before he tumbled into the water.

  I put my hand over my mouth in shock, and then I burst out laughing. “Oh my God. That was awesome.”

  Caleb stood up, unamused, and slicked his hair out of his face.

  The water was a tad above his waist, and the sun glinted off the drops of water on him. He looked like a marine god rising from the sea. I felt a betraying tingle between my legs as I remembered his very impressive hard-on poking me in the butt.

  At that moment, I admitted to myself that I’d purposely gone out of my way to do fancy moves. Some to impress Caleb and some to keep feeling his erection. It had been a long time since I felt one, and I kind of missed being close to a real-life one.

  “I swear, I didn’t push you in on purpose,�
� I told him.

  “You didn’t push me on purpose?” he said, his voice full of doubt.

  “I pushed you, yes, but I didn’t mean for you to go in.”

  Despite the time on the Jet Ski, the top halves of us were pretty dry, and I could understand Caleb’s dismay. I didn’t want to get wet either.

  I put my hand out. “Come on, I’ll help you up.”

  He stalked toward me, and I yanked my arm back.

  “Wait. Are you going to pull me in with you?”

  “No. I’m not a child,” he said.

  “Okay.” I tentatively put my hand back out to him. “I’m trusting you.”

  He grasped it in his hand. “Well, that was dumb of you.” And he jerked me forward.

  I screamed all the way down but quickly locked my lips closed before I ended up with a mouthful of lake water going down my throat.

  Caleb still had his hand clasped with mine and hauled me up. But only after I was good and wet.

  I gasped and wiped the water out of my face. “You said you weren’t going to pull me in,” I accused him.

  He grinned. “I lied.” He let go of my hand. “That’s what you get for pushing me in.”

  “Oh, you,” I said and jumped on top of him.

  I tried to push him back under the water, but he just laughed, not budging an inch.

  Caleb wrapped his arms around me, pulling me tightly to his body. “You’d better be careful. You mess with the bull; you get the horns.” He arched his brow. “Do you want to go under the water again?”

  I wiggled against him. “No.”

  His smile fell, and his gaze went to my mouth. “What is it about you that makes me so hard?”

  A soft gasp escaped my lips as his mouth lowered to mine.

  He groaned and slid a hand up to cup the back of my neck.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. I hadn’t gone as long not kissing a man as I had without sex, but it had been a while, and the last person hadn’t really done much for me.

  Not like Caleb.

  I twisted around and tried to rub myself against his dick. It was a brand against my belly, and I wanted it between my thighs.

  Caleb picked me up, and my legs went around his waist. My mouth left his, and I kissed my way down his neck and onto his shoulder. I immediately regretted my decision to be in his arms because, now, my lips couldn’t go any lower. I wanted to taste him all over.