On the Rocks

by Sawyer Bennett

Page 16

  She didn’t even bat an eyelash and said, “Not surprised. The way he looked at you when he came over here that morning… Whoa momma… it was hot. ”

  I rolled my eyes at her but then promptly swore her to secrecy, which she gladly gave me. I mean, who would she tell anyway? She’s friends with Casey and Alyssa by mere virtue of the fact she’s my roommate, but she’s not super close friends with them. Besides, Savannah isn’t a gossip. She’d never casually, or intentionally, drop that information.

  Luckily, I’ve managed to avoid any questions from Casey or Alyssa. Oh, I talk to them frequently via phone, text, or email, but they’ve never come right out and asked, “Hey, Gabby… are you screwing anyone nowadays?” They’ve never seen me around Hunter since we started sleeping together, so there’s been nothing to rouse their suspicions.

  So all has been good and well… secret.

  The only other person who may know is Brody. Hunter told me about the conversation he had with him the other day where he pointed out the reason we fought so much was because we had the hots for each other. I still shake my head in wonder thinking of the things that Brody sees, but he hasn’t said a word to me.

  I’m on Hunter’s back deck, along with about twenty other people. Casey and Alyssa are here, as is Hunter’s best friend, Wyatt. I invited Savannah, but she took on another gig with the douche photographer to earn some extra money. The only one of our core group that is conspicuously absent is Brody.

  When I asked Casey where he is, she just shrugs her shoulders and says, “He tries to stay away from drinking. ”

  “He works in a bar,” I point out.

  “I know… the irony is not lost on me, trust me. ”

  Everyone is enjoying the warm weather today, the sun hanging low over the Atlantic, and the cold beer Hunter has supplied. I take a few quick peeks at him while he mans the grill, laughing at something Wyatt says to him.

  He looks utterly gorgeous, his hair windblown and shining in the late afternoon glow. I know I’m not the only one affected, as evidenced by the three girls that also hang close to him while he flips the burgers. They’re dressed no differently than any of the women here, wearing shorts and bikini tops as demanded by the unseasonable for late April, eighty degree weather, but the fact they are standing close to my man… flirting with him shamelessly, has me clenching my teeth together in anger.

  “Geez… who peed in your Wheaties?” Casey asks from beside me.

  I turn around to see her staring at me in interest. Shaking my head and giving her a smile, I say, “Nothing. Just thinking of some things I have to do Monday at Last Call. ”

  Reaching into a nearby bowl of chips, she chews on one thoughtfully. “The project is going well?”

  “Very well. On schedule, and it’s coming together nicely. ”

  “You’ve been busting your ass, girlie. I haven’t even seen you all week. Are we still on for breakfast Monday?”

  Even as I nod at her, I flush with a tiny bit of guilt that we haven’t seen each other all week. Not that we would necessarily hang during the weekday. I mean, sometimes we would, but I feel a tad bit guilty because I know, without a doubt, that had Casey invited me to do something, I would have declined so I could spend my evenings with Hunter. I’m such a horrible friend, made even worse by the fact I’m screwing her brother and haven’t told her about it.

  I give her a wan smile and take another sip of my beer, sneaking another glance at Hunter. He’s got the grill closed and is propped against the deck railing, leaning in close while one of the girls talks to him. His smile is carefree and he seems to be truly interested in what she’s saying, which pisses me off.

  Hunter’s eyes slide briefly to mine, and they crinkle around the edges. He’s amused with me, and I realize that the look on my face must reveal exactly how I’m feeling. I glare at him and turn toward the house, intent on slamming the rest of my beer and getting another. Casey asks me to get her one too, and I just nod in response.

  Oh God, this is torture. Being around Hunter, and yet not being with him. I know I’m the one that wanted to keep this secret, but it’s killing me right now to not be able to talk to him. It’s killing me right now not to be able to nudge my way in between him and the beach bimbo, so his eyes are only on me.

  But this is my bed and I willingly crawled into it, so I have no choice but to put on my big girl panties and live with my choice.

  As soon as I step into Hunter’s house, I run straight into Steve Coursier. He’s a few years old than I am and went to my high school. We occasionally see each other around town. He’s always been friendly, in a goofy sort of way, and he’s really cute on top of that. Steve’s family owns a chain of novelty beach shops called The Shells along the Outer Banks, and he helps to manage them.

  “Hey, Gabby,” he says as he bends over to give me a quick hug. “How’ve you been doing?”

  I give him a warm smile after he releases me. “I’m good. Busy. How about you?”

  He shrugs his shoulders. “Same old. Gearing up for the tourist season. ”

  “I bet,” I tell him, walking by so I can head into the kitchen. “I’m on my way to get a beer—do you want one?”

  He shakes his head, but then he says, “Hey… I’m glad I ran into you. I was wondering if, um… maybe you’d like to go out some time? Dinner—maybe catch a movie or something?”

  My eyebrows raise in shock. I mean, I’ve known Steve for years and we’ve always been casual friends. He’s never once indicated any interest in me that way, so I’m more than surprised about him asking me out on a date.

  My mind goes blank. The unequivocal answer is no. Not because there’s anything wrong with Steve, but because my heart is already being pulled in a million different directions by Hunter. The problem is, I can’t say that—not out loud—and frankly, it’s hard to admit it using my inside voice.

  I open my mouth to start a gentle letdown when I hear, “She’s not interested, Coursier. ”

  Spinning around, I see Hunter standing just inside the doorway that leads out to his back deck. He has a bland smile on his face, but his eyes are hard as they bore into Steve.

  After staring at Hunter for just a moment, Steve says, “If it’s all the same, I’d rather hear it from Gabby. ”

  Hunter shrugs his shoulders in that “whatever dude” sort of way and steps past us. “Fair enough. Gabby, when you get done crushing his heart, do you mind if I talk to you in the kitchen… about the remodel?”

  “Sure,” I say, completely ill at ease that Hunter would take it upon himself to turn down a potential date for me. I mean, I was going to turn him down anyway, but his alpha tendencies are a little annoying.

  Hunter walks into the kitchen, and I turn to Steve with an apologetic look on my face. “I’m sorry. But I’ll have to decline. ”

  He gives me an understanding smile. “No problem. Never hurts to ask, right?”

  “Right,” I tell him, relieved he took that gracefully.

  I start to turn away when he asks, “When did you and Hunter start seeing each other?”

  “What?” I say loudly as I spin back to look at him. I’m sure my eyes are wild with fright that he would say that out loud. “Why would you think that?”

  Steve tilts his head to the side and smirks. “Seriously, Gabby? After he just practically lifted his leg up to pee on you, so he could mark his territory?”

  My face goes beet red, and I start babbling. “No… joking… just Hunter… not serious. ”

  Steve just snorts at me and heads back out to the deck. Leaning back against the wall, I bang my head against it a few times, cursing inwardly that Hunter would do something so stupid.

  Asshole.

  Which I think I’ll give said ass**le a piece of my mind right now.

  I stomp into the kitchen, and he’s waiting for me as I turn the corner. I open my mouth to lay into him but he grasps the back of my head and pulls me in for a hot kiss, causing all of my
thoughts to scatter.

  My hands come up to his chest to push him away, but he feels so damn good in my mouth that my fingers curl into his t-shirt and pull him closer. He gives me a murmur of appreciation and kisses me harder.

  When he pulls away, he places his forehead against mine. “God, I’ve been dying to do that all afternoon. This is killing me having you near but not being able to touch you. ”

  I smile inwardly, because I know exactly what he means. “You looked like you weren’t suffering out there. ”

  “How so?” he asks quietly as he nuzzles against my neck.

  “Your fan club,” I say simply.

  Pulling back slightly, he looks at me in confusion, and then understanding washes over his face. “You’re jealous?”

  “No way,” I assure him. “It was just slightly nauseating to watch. ”

  Hunter throws his head back and laughs, then brings his eyes, which are crinkled in amusement, back to me. “Who would have thought it? My girl’s skin is tinged a little green. ”

  I push away at him, angry that he’d throw that at me like it’s a weakness. “I am not jealous. You can go screw all three of those girls hovering around you for all I care. In fact, I’m thinking that date with Steve is looking mighty fine right about now. ”

  My efforts are futile because Hunter doesn’t budge, managing only to pull me in closer. His other hand comes up and strokes my cheek. “Gabby, I don’t want those other girls. I only want you, and I’ll break Steve’s legs if he so much as gets near you. And that, baby, is jealousy. At least I own up to it. ”

  My lips curl up, so warmed am I by his admission. I even decide to throw him a little bone. “Okay, so maybe I was a little jealous, too. ”

  Hunter gives me a satisfied smile and then leans down to kiss me again, wrapping his arms around my waist. His mouth is like heaven against mine, and I immediately submerse myself into the pleasure of it. His lips are so soft, as is the scruff of his beard when it rubs against me. It makes me want to shout out in joy, but yet I can’t because then everyone would know that Hunter and I were seeing each other.

  That actually makes me jerk away from him at the thought. He looks down at me in confusion.

  “We need to stop,” I tell him. “Someone could walk in and find us. ”

  Understanding crosses his face, but he gives me a devilish grin and pulls me back in. “So what? Let’s just tell everyone. Then we don’t have to hide our feelings or let jealousy swamp us. ”

  He bends down and runs his lips up my neck, giving a slight bite to the corner of my jaw, which has me melting against him. I push back against him again, only halfheartedly this time, and say, “No. I’m not ready. It’s too soon. ”

  There’s no relenting and Hunter moves his mouth over mine again, murmuring against my lips. “It’s silly, Gabs, keeping this a secret. ”

  Then he slips his tongue in my mouth, deepening his kiss with burning need and causing me to moan in response. No longer am I thinking about getting caught, but just that easy, I’m wondering if we could slip away to his bedroom without being seen. I’m just about to suggest the crazy notion, when I hear a gasp from the doorway.

  As if zapped with an electrical current, I jump back from Hunter and turn toward the noise. Alyssa is standing there with her jaw hanging open, looking between the two of us. I sneak a peek up at Hunter and he has a satisfied smirk on his face, which makes me want to slap him.

  I look back to Alyssa with urgency, even as I push Hunter’s hand off my waist and take a step away from him. “I can explain. ”

  “Explain what?” Casey says as she walks into the kitchen. She doesn’t spare any of us a glance and heads to the refrigerator. “I got tired of waiting for you to bring me a beer. ”