by Harlow James
Once everyone makes their food, we all take a seat at the patio table outside, enjoying the evening air that has cooled off as the sun begins to set. The trees help block out the intense rays as the sun slides behind the mountains in the distance, creating a soft orange glow in the sky that reminds me of a tropical smoothie. Birds chirp and fly through the air, chasing each other across the yard, and the smell of the irises in my mother’s planter waft in the breeze.
“Rachel? Did you play with your cousins growing up?” Grayson asks around a mouthful of cheeseburger.
Waiting to answer until after she finishes chewing, Rachel holds up her finger before swallowing. “Yes, I did. I grew up in New York and I had five cousins. We were all very close in age and lived near each other, so we saw each other all the time until I moved away.”
“My cousins live far away.”
“I know. But that just means you have to make the memories count when you do get to see each other.”
“Yeah, we make sure to play as much as possible,” Brooklyn chimes in.
“That’s perfect. My cousins and I used to go camping with my grandpa every summer, and we continued that tradition even after I moved away. Those weekends are some of my favorite times to look back on,” she says wistfully.
“I didn’t know that,” I add.
Turning to face me, she tips her head to the side. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
“What’s camping? I’ve never been camping. We should go, Daddy!” My son declares, pulling the conversation back to include him.
“Well, we would fish and hike, sleep in a tent, and play in the dirt. But my favorite thing to do was look up at the stars at night through my grandpa’s telescope.”
“What’s a telescope?”
Rachel sweeps her arms out wide in excitement. “It’s like a giant magnifying glass that lets you look far out into space and you can see millions and millions of stars up close.”
“Wow!” His eyes grow wide before he turns to me. “Daddy, can we get a telescope?”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Maybe one day, bud.”
“Awww…” he wines, slinking back into his chair.
“So can you identify any of the constellations?” I ask, trying to learn more about this woman. My family seems to be eating up her story too.
She nods, chewing on a bite of pasta salad. “Yes, quite a few actually. Although it’s been a while. He died when I was sixteen. Gosh, it’s been almost ten years now. Wow.” She looks down at her plate and I can tell she’s getting emotional, so I reach out for her hand, resting mine on top of hers in comfort.
I can feel everyone’s eyes on us, and then I realize that Grayson might be watching as well. As far as he knows though, I’m just comforting Rachel because she’s sad. But internally, all I want to do is hug and kiss her right now.
“That’s amazing, Rachel. I’ve always found outer space to be so fascinating. There’s actually an author I discovered recently who writes stories of women who work at NASA. They are wickedly humorous and steamy. Her name is Sara L. Hudson. You should look her up.” She winks at all of us as her revelation eases some of the tension at the table. A chorus of chuckles breaks out amongst the adults while the children look on dumbfounded.
“My mom is a big romance novel junkie.” I lean over and whisper to Rachel as she grins back at me.
We finish up dinner and leave around eight, past Grayson’s normal bedtime, but it’s in rare instances like these where we get to see family that I bend the routine willingly.
“That was fun,” Rachel says as I plop down next to her on the couch, kicking off my shoes and lifting my feet up on the chase. She snuggles in next to me as I wrap one arm around her.
“It was. My family really likes you.”
“I like them too.”
“You seemed to hit it off with my sister…”
“Oh, gosh! I did! I really love her, Luke,” she exclaims as she sits up. “She’s so sweet and funny, and she gave me great advice about school. She also says she’s friends with one of the elementary teachers at a school in the district and can give me a recommendation when I apply for a job once I’m done.”
Stroking her face with my palm, I can’t help but study her excitement as she speaks. “You’re going to make a fantastic teacher, Rach.”
“Thank you. I can’t wait. School can’t come fast enough. I never thought I’d say that, especially after how long my master’s degree took. But I’m glad I didn’t get my credential in New York, because I’d just have to do this here in Oregon anyway.”
“Yeah, not all of them are transferable, huh?”
She swivels her head. “No. Most states have their own licensing requirements.”
“Well, you’ll be done before you know it, and then Grayson will beg to be in your class.”
Her lips stretch open so fast with those words. “I know. He’s not going to know what to do when I don’t see him every day.”
The thought of what happens when Grayson starts school in just a few short months makes that timeline creep up again. When he’s in school, what will that mean for Rachel and me? Or at least, her job? Will I still need her here in the evenings? It’s hard to say when my schedule can change every semester. And then, we have to consider that when she starts taking classes, her time will be limited too.
Fuck. There’s so many things up in the air, it’s making my chest tighten.
“I’m so tired, Luke. I think I’m going to say good night.” Her sleepy voice pulls me from the panic attack manifesting in my chest as I take in her dreamy eyes and lazy smile.
“Okay, beautiful. Good night. I’ll see you in the morning. And hey… don’t make any plans for next weekend, alright?”
Her head tilts on its side. “Wait. Why?”
I shrug coyly. “No reason. Just leave some time open for me, alright?”
She eyes me suspiciously as she stands. “Okay…” She drags out before bending down and kissing me softly. Pulling away before I can deepen the kiss, she caresses my cheek and then turns for the hall.
“Good night, Luke.”
“Good night, Rach,” I call after her, still anxious, but more so for our weekend together in just a little over a week, and not the uncertainty of our future.
Chapter 18
Rachel
“Hey! What are you guys doing in here tonight?”
It’s my mid-week shift at Tony’s and a few familiar faces have taken residence at one of the high top tables in the back.
“We’re having boys' night,” Cash answers as he, Kane, and Cooper all take a seat. Another man is with them that I haven’t met yet. He shoves his thumb over at his company. “These two are officially on summer vacation and Cooper needs a drink.”
“Rachel, this is Drew, my best friend from work,” Kane introduces me to the stranger, as if he momentarily read my thoughts.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
“Drew, this is Luke’s nanny,” Kane explains as Drew’s eyebrows shoot up.
“Really?”
“Is that so hard to believe?” I admonish.
“No, that’s not what I meant. I mean, I guess I…”
“Just thought you’d put your foot in your mouth?” Cooper interjects as the guys laugh at Drew’s expense.
“Fuck, I’m sorry. I just didn’t expect someone that looks like you.”
“Not making yourself look any better, my friend,” Cash adds.
I shake my head in amusement and then change the subject. “Anyway, what can I get for you boys?” I’m normally behind the bar full time, but tonight one of the cocktail waitresses had a family emergency and Tony needed me to fill in. I’ve watched those girls run circles all over this bar as I filled their orders. How hard could it be?
The men shoot off their requests and then I bee-line back to the bar, filling up steins with frothy beer and lining them up on my tray.
It’s a Thursday night at Tony
’s, and although that’s not my normal shift, I’m working since I was told by my other boss to keep the weekend open. One of the girls offered to switch shifts with me since I’ve returned the favor in the past. So here I am on a Thursday evening, filling glasses to the brim with alcohol and helping the wonderful patrons of Emerson Falls unwind after a hard day.
Tony’s is your typical neighborhood bar—old enough to have charm, but clean enough not to make you question the department of health’s rating on the window. Light wood panels line the walls and the long bar along the furthest wall inside matches in material and color. Pool tables are positioned in one corner and booths line the other walls around the room. High-top tables are scattered around a wooden dance floor where a few couples tap their toes and spin around the surface. There are neon signs on the windows and glass lamps that hang from the ceiling that offer dim lighting, keeping the ambiance slightly dark and broody.
Luke had his last class tonight, but his parents and sister had already arranged for Grayson to stay the weekend with them, a detail I didn’t know until Luke explained it to me yesterday. And with that information, it finally made sense why he wanted me to keep my calendar empty for the next few days—so we could spend some time together, just the two of us. I’m not going to lie and say I’m not nervous for what the weekend could hold or what might transpire. But if his touches have been any indication, I’d say Luke is getting closer to sealing the deal with me.
Patience is not my strong suit, except when it comes to children for some reason. With that being said, it’s been hard to not pounce and ride Luke into giving in and finally having sex with me. But he’s not just any man. He’s a man that I feel so strongly for and understand how delicate his circumstances are despite how badly I want to explore that final hurdle with him. Patience is the only option in our relationship, so I’ve done my best to control myself, although my wild side is going to come out as soon as Luke gives us the green light. I’m dying to feel him inside of me, the thought getting me flustered right now just thinking about it.
Waiting a moment for my blush to subside, I deliver the drinks to the guys, but get surprised by the addition to the table that must have made his way inside while I was daydreaming.
“Luke? What are you doing here?” I stop cold in my tracks, holding the tray up on my shoulder so it doesn’t fall.
That panty-melting grin he possesses stretches across his lips. “I’m having a drink with my friends.”
“I can see that. I mean, why aren’t you at work still?” Placing each glass on the table one at a time, I wait for him to reply.
“My last class wasn’t that big of a deal. The students just needed to turn in a hard copy of their paper to me and fill out the feedback form that the university mandates at the end of each class.”
“Oh. Well, good. I’m glad you could make it out. You deserve this,” I say as I flash my best smile at the group, fighting the urge to rush into his arms and kiss him senseless.
I never thought when I took this extra job that I’d ever see Luke in here while I was working, knowing he’d probably be home with Grayson if I was ever here. But now he’s standing before me—the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up to his elbows showcasing those sexy and toned forearms I love to watch flex, especially when his hand is between my legs. His jaw is lined with the dark scruff that grows thicker throughout the day that I love to run my fingernails through, and the confidence he seems to exude right now as he stands tall with his friends with a pleased grin on his face is making my body buzz with excitement and my core throb at the vision of him in his entirety.
“Thanks. I’ll take a beer please.” He finally breaks the silence of our stand-off, the heat of his gaze as it travels all over my body makes my skin come alive like a live wire.
“You got it.” Turning on my heels I make my way back behind the bar, filling up his glass while trying not to shake. Our secret relationship is getting harder and harder to contain, especially when my body reacts to him the way that it does—beyond my control and with wild abandon.
I drop off his beer and then carry on with my shift, trying not to look over at the table where the guys are seated every five seconds. But I swear, I can feel Luke’s eyes on me as I move around the room, smiling wide for my customers and putting on the slightly flirtatious persona that’s necessary when your slinging booze for tips. Luke pays me well, but this extra cash will come in handy when my classes start and I have to pay for books. I know my father would hand me money with no questions asked, but I feel confident in my stance to be able to take care of myself in any aspect that I can.
“Hi, there. What can I get you gentlemen?” The two men that just sat down twist to face me, my intuition waking up instantly. By the slimy grin the bigger one flashes me, I’d say my gut was right on the money. Sometimes as a woman, you just have to trust that feeling, the one that tells you to be careful around a man that’s giving you the creepy vibes. And the last time I felt this was during my speed dating adventure.
“I’m usually a beer guy, but I think I’ve spotted something else I want a taste of.” Doing my best to avoid his insinuation, I keep the conversation on topic.
“Well, we have hard liquor too.” Twisting around to eye the bottles lined up behind the bar, I start rattling off names of whiskey and rum before his voice pulls my eyes back to him.
“Are you on the menu tonight?” His eyes cascade up and down my body, giving me a far different feeling than I got when Luke did the same movement.
“Nope, just booze. If you need a minute, I can come back…”
“No, you need to keep standing there and looking pretty for a minute while I fantasize about all the ways I could devour you.” He sits back on his stool, explicitly surveying my body as nausea builds in my stomach.
“No thanks,” I say, but not before a large hand grabs me by the waist and spins me around, stealing my breath and then completely depleting me of oxygen when his lips find mind. Quickly and gratefully, I register that the lips that found me were Luke’s, granting me permission to give in to the kiss while the noise in the bar vanishes. His kiss isn’t hard and fast, but slow and sensual and full of passion. He cups my cheek with his other hand and kisses me senseless, a claim for the entire bar to see, a fact that registers in my mind as he pulls away.
“Luke? What… what did you do that for?” I can feel my bulging eyes and slack jaw as I wait for him to respond.
“Gentlemen.” He turns to the men I was just trying to serve. “In case you didn’t see, this woman is mine. So I suggest you tone down your disgusting behavior immediately, or the consequences you’ll suffer won’t be ones you’ll enjoy.”
The sinister guy stands, puffing out his chest in a challenge. “What are you gonna do about it?”
“You better sit the fuck down, Henry, before I throw you out of this bar.” Tony’s deep voice comes from behind us as I notice Cash, Cooper, Kane, and Drew have all made their way over as well.
“No need to get testy. I was just telling the lady here how pretty I thought she was.”
“I’m not sure how your mother raised you, Henry… but what the fuck you just said to Rachel is not how you speak to women, whether you think you’re complimenting them or not.” Luke may seem collected right now, but I can feel how tense his grip is on me still. He’s trying to remain the gentleman he is, but this guy is definitely testing his restraint.
“In other words, stop being a douche and sit the fuck down or leave.” Cash chooses bluntness over class and I can’t help but smile. These guys are standing up for me, and it’s a far cry from the men I’ve encountered in my life back in New York. The clothes and bars were far more sophisticated, but the treatment was demeaning, much like Henry has displayed, only in a much more socially accepted way.
Henry’s eyes jump back and forth between all the men surrounding our table, the conversation in the bar diminishing drastically as everyone watches the drama unfold. And as my heart hammers in my chest,
I realize it’s for two reasons. One, everyone now knows about Luke and me. And two, these people, Luke’s friends, are coming to my defense, and it grants me a sense of belonging that I was so desperately looking for when I made the decision to move out here.
“Fuck this. We’re out.” Henry glances down my body in disgust and then turns to leave, a whoosh of air from my mouth following him.
“Are you okay?” Luke grips my chin and turns my focus back to him.
Nodding, I peer up at his eyes and can’t help but smile. “Yes, thank you. It’s not the first time someone has tried to hit on me, but it’s certainly never been that blatant and derogatory.”
“That guy was out of line.”
“You kissed me… in front of everyone,” I whisper, as Luke smiles wide.
“Yeah, I know. I wanted to. He needed to know that you’re mine.”
“Now everyone else knows that too.”
He shrugs. “I don’t care anymore. They’d all find out tomorrow anyway when I take you out on an official date.”
I can’t help the enthusiasm in my voice. “A date? Where are we going?” Wrapping my arms around his neck, I push up on my toes to kiss him quickly.
“It’s a surprise. I hope you like it.”
“I’m sure I’ll love it because I’ll be with you.”
Luke rests his forehead on mine, the two of us still standing here while murmurs of dialogue filter around us. “You are so amazing, Rachel. I can’t believe someone like you has made their way into my life.”
“I feel the same, Luke.” He kisses me again, for longer this time, and then we part as I go to finish my shift.
Luke and the guys leave around ten and it’s after midnight by the time I get home.
“So I guess I quit tonight?” Dropping my purse on the table by the door, I see Luke sitting on the couch, barely keeping his eyes open.
“Yup.”
“And did you think that should have been my decision?” That wakes him up. I’m giving him a hard time, although after his blatant display of affection tonight, I can’t be that mad at him. But he can’t just make decisions about my life and well-being without consulting me.