Just What I Needed

by Lorelei James

  look at you, Trinity.”

  “Oh.” That was really sweet. “I like what I see when I look at you too.”

  “But that’s not a point in my favor right now, is it? You’re still turning me down for dinner.”

  I set my hand on his chest. As hard and muscular as I remembered. “Yes. Just for tonight, though.”

  “How about lunch tomorrow? A long lunch.”

  He smiled—oh, hello, sexy dimples. I wanted to press my lips to the deep divots and feel his beard tickling my lips. Next time I kissed him, I’d take it slow and explore.

  “So is that a yes?” he pressed.

  My focus snapped back to his eyes. “It depends on where you’re taking me. I’m not a fan of bar food—chicken wings, nachos, all that fried crap.”

  “Got it. Any other things to avoid?”

  “I spend so much time inside that I’d like to enjoy the fresh air—as long as it’s not a hundred degrees in the shade.” I could see the ideas churning in his head and then one clicked.

  “You’re all right with it just being us tomorrow? Not in a restaurant or a bar or surrounded by people?”

  I appreciated that he’d asked and hadn’t assumed. “Sounds good. Where are we meeting?” I knew he probably expected to pick me up, but I needed the option of being able to leave whenever I wanted.

  “I’ll text you around ten and let you know. I have to check on a couple of things before I decide exactly where we’re going.” His eyes roamed my face. “Bring a hat and sunscreen.”

  “Anything else I should bring?”

  “Just your beautiful self.”

  “You are smooth.” I slid my hand up and curled it around his neck, intending to pull his mouth down to mine. But something stopped me.

  “I have no problem with you taking the lead,” he murmured. “Kiss me anytime you get the overwhelming urge again. But this time, it’s my turn.”

  I groaned when our lips met and he swallowed the sound in a hot and hungry kiss. I hadn’t embellished this passion between us. And he seemed determined to remind me of that with every teasing flick of his tongue, with every soft growl, with every angle he moved my head so he could delve deeper into the kiss.

  When he broke the seal of our mouths, my lips tingled and my head buzzed. I’d melted against him and was having a hard time remembering why I couldn’t stay right there forever.

  Oh yeah. I’d opted to give up more of this to go home alone to my quiet house and my neurotic, cranky cat who hated me.

  Sometimes I’m a complete idiot.

  Stepping back, he said, “Got that new number memorized yet?” and pulled out his phone.

  I’d given the number out enough times in the past few days I could rattle it off without writing the digits on my wrist every morning.

  Ten seconds later my phone buzzed in my purse.

  He smirked at me. “Just checking.”

  “I’m glad you see the humor in it.”

  “I do now. But at the start of my day . . . let’s just say being pissed off isn’t always hell on productivity. I finished twice as many set cutouts as I’d planned.”

  “I’m taking credit for that.”

  “See you tomorrow, Trinity.”

  Four

  WALKER

  With energy to spare the next morning, I added two miles to my run. During my cooldown in the kitchen, I made the call.

  My cousin Nolan demanded, “Why in the name of all that’s holy would you call me this early on a Sunday morning?”

  Because I miss you, asshole. “Because you’re a dog and I was providing you with an excuse to shoo the chick in your bed out the door.” I lowered my voice to mimic his. “‘Babe, I’ve gotta help my cousin or he wouldn’t have called so early. Do you mind taking off? But it was great. I’ll call you.’”

  “I don’t sound like that,” Nolan retorted. “And FYI: I was sleeping in because no lovely woman warmed my bed last night or this morning.”

  “No wonder you’re snapping at me.”

  “Whatever. Where were you last night?”

  “Building sets for my Lund Cares Community Outreach volunteer project. It went later than I planned. What did you do that kept you from banging the headboard?”

  “I worked until midnight.”

  I laughed. “Right.”

  “I’m serious.”

  “You were working at LI?”

  “Did you hit yourself in the head with a hammer or something? Of course I was at LI. Where else would I be?”

  “Doing what?” As far as I knew, Nolan didn’t have the same level of responsibilities that Brady did as CFO, or our cousin Ash did as COO.

  “Ash asked me to look into a few things that are usually under Brady’s purview since he’s busy with the Duarte Foods acquisition. And before you ask, yes, Brady is aware of what’s going on. It’s time-consuming.”

  “It’d have to be if you’re burning the midnight oil on the weekend.”

  Nolan sighed. “That’s why I’m hoping if you called so blasted early it’s because you have big plans for us today. Something with hot half-naked chicks and cold beer.”

  “Sorry to disappoint, but my plans with a hot half-naked chick and cold beer don’t include you. I called to tell you I’m taking ‘Devil’s Plaything’ out for the afternoon. First-come basis with notification. That was our deal.” I wiped my face and chest with a towel. “But if you had plans—”

  “I don’t. I might actually stay in bed all day and watch ESPN. The Twins are playing today.”

  I considered myself a sports guy—I loved watching football, hockey, basketball, boxing, soccer and MMA. I played soccer and basketball in high school. I was good enough to be a starter, but not good enough to consider pursuing either one on a higher level after high school. I made it to the slopes to ski and snowboard at least half a dozen times in the winter. But the appeal of baseball eluded me.

  “Why else did you call?” Nolan asked.

  I hated asking for help. Hated it. “So this woman I’m taking to the lake . . . I want to . . .” Just spit it out. “Her ex was a real tool. I’d like to set myself apart from him. What would be a good way to do that?” I held my breath for Nolan’s snarky response, but he didn’t give me one.

  “Taking her out on the boat is a great idea. It’s casual, yet intimate. What are you doing for food?”

  I groaned. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

  “You can’t schlep a cooler of beer and a bag of sunflower seeds if you’re gonna be outside all afternoon. But you need to do something classier than a bucket of fried chicken.” He paused. “You tapping that yet?”

  “No. Why?”

  “If you’re banging her, then food won’t matter because neither of you will be thinking about anything but banging again.”

  True.

  “You have to impress her enough so she knows you put in extra effort picking the food—but skip eats like caviar, champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries. Totally clichéd douchebag move.”

  “Not really my style. But maybe I should stick with sub sandwiches and chips.”

  “Boring. Stop at Surdyk’s. They have an awesome deli and they’ll furnish utensils. Because, dude, there’s a fine line between showing up with classy grub and showing up toting a wicker picnic basket totally kitted out with a tablecloth, wineglasses and matching plates.”

  “No doubt. Thanks, man.”

  “No problem. So do I know this chick?”

  “Nope. Just met her last week.”

  “Where?”

  “Why does that matter?” I said sharply.

  “Because you pick women like you pick building projects. You always go for the ‘unique fixer-uppers.’”

  “Not true.”

  “Keep telling yourself that. And when you figure out her walls are impossible to break down—or, worse, if her foundation crumbles—”

  “I get it, okay?” While I appreciated that my cousin went to bat for me no matter what, I wasn’t b
lameless in any of my failed relationships. I’d always been drawn to women a little left of center.

  “Have you told the posse about her yet?”

  Posse. I bit back a snort. But the term did fit my family. “Just Brady.”

  “Ah. He’s loosened up since Lennox came into the picture. Last night the manager of Flurry texted me a pic of your brother and his woman getting their dirty groove on.”

  “Brady’s got a life outside LI, which is what we were aiming for with the intervention last year.”

  “I don’t begrudge him a second of happiness. I just wish it wasn’t giving the Lund matriarchs matchmaking ideas.”

  “Aunt Edie is trying to set you up with someone?”

  “Yeah. Since Jax has brought forth the lone grandchild, he’s not a target. I am. But it won’t work. I’m completely committed to having no commitment.”

  I laughed. “Bet you don’t say that to her face.”

  “I don’t have a death wish. I’ll bet you’re skirting the issue with Aunt Selka too.”

  “That’d be a sucker bet, cuz. Think Ash is getting the same pressure from Aunt Priscilla?”

  “He mentioned she’s dropped suggestions like he needs to ‘get over Veronica’ and move on.”

  Glad to hear I wasn’t the only one being singled out for not being coupled up. I’d pulled back from Lund family gossip for longer than anyone had noticed, so I was out of the loop. “Thanks for the advice, man. I’ve gotta hit the shower.”

  “No problem.”

  I waited for Nolan to say, “Let’s grab a beer after work one night next week,” like he used to. But he didn’t.

  I wasn’t surprised; I’d gotten used to it.

  —

  I texted Trinity the directions to our meeting place at Christmas Lake. Then I dressed in board shorts and a T-shirt—I’d be ready to swim even if she opted out.

  The female college student who helped me at Surdyk’s had a romantic streak and made tons of suggestions for picnic fare—all of which I was only too happy to follow.

  At the marina, I loaded the cooler onto the boat, then readied the boat for takeoff. I tried not to pace in the parking lot when thirty minutes had passed and she hadn’t shown up.

  I checked my phone. No text messages or voice mail.

  Then she finally pulled in and parked her Toyota 4Runner five spaces down from my truck.

  I played it cool, waiting until she’d exited the vehicle before I approached her. I couldn’t withhold my grin upon seeing her with her hair pulled back and wearing knee-length denim capris and a loose-fitting gauzy white blouse.

  “Hey, pretty lady.” I bent down and kissed her cheek. “You look beautiful and summery.”

  “Thanks. Sorry I’m late. I had trouble finding it.” She wrinkled her nose. “It’s a big lake. How could I have missed it?”

  “No worries. I’m not on a schedule. Are you?”

  She shook her head and slung a large canvas tote bag over her shoulder. She seemed tense. Had she changed her mind about being here? Or being with me?

  Don’t overthink this.

  “If you’ve got everything you need, the boat is ready.”

  “Lead the way, Captain.”

  I snagged her hand and led her across the asphalt parking lot. We passed a few people I knew as we traversed the floating dock and we exchanged the typical comments about the weather. When we reached the dock space, I stepped over the railing first, then held my hand out to help her aboard.

  “This is your boat?”

  “Not entirely mine. My cousin and I own it together. Why?”

  Trinity laughed and her entire demeanor changed.

  “What?”

  “I thought you’d have a fast jet boat or one of those fancy boats that are used for wakeboarding and competition skiing. So I’d prepared myself to spend the day trying to shout over the loud engine noises and white-knuckling my life vest as we zipped around the lake at high speeds. But this—?” She pointed to the pontoon. “Is so much better.”

  “I’m glad you approve. Hand me your bag.” I wasn’t prepared for the weight of it. “What do you have in here, woman? Rocks?”

  “My purse, a life vest, a sun hat, a beach towel, sunscreen, my water bottle, my sketch pad and pencils.” She hopped down but kept ahold of my hand.

  I slid my hand up her arm and curled my fingers around the ball of her shoulder. Her skin was soft and she smelled like apples. “Thanks for coming today, Trinity.”

  “Thanks for asking me. I had no idea what you meant by ‘water fun,’ so I’ve been a little anxious.”

  I couldn’t see her eyes beneath her sunglasses to gauge her level of anxiety. “What was your worst-case scenario?”

  Her lips curled. “A waterslide park.”

  “Not a fan?”

  “Of screaming kids, yelling parents and getting sunburned while eating overpriced food? Not to mention the fear someone will steal your stuff while water jets are shooting into places on your body that only your waxer, gynecologist or significant other should ever see.”

  I laughed and lowered my head to kiss her quickly. “You’re funny.”

  She placed her hand on my cheek and smoothed the tips of her fingers over my beard. “No one ever says that to me. Thank you.”

  For that sweet show of affection, I kissed her again. “I thought we could do a leisurely jaunt around the lake, then pick a place to drop anchor and have lunch.”

  “That sounds fantastic.” She stepped back. “Where do you want me to sit?”

  “Across from me. Once we decide where to stop, you move around.” While she got settled, I unhooked the boat from the dock and backed out of the space. As soon as the boat exited the no-wake zone, I increased the speed.

  The breeze eddied around me and I inhaled deeply. Being on the lake in the summer was my slice of paradise.

  There weren’t a ton of boaters out, but prime time was around three in the afternoon when the sun was high and the air temp stifling. I cruised closer to the shoreline and waved at people out on the docks. Two towheaded boys around ten jumped up and down when they saw the boat. I slowed and the lanky kid clutched the fishing poles while his shorter, stockier buddy held up a stringer with a few smallish fish. I gave them a thumbs-up and watched as they high-fived.

  “Friends of yours?” Trinity asked after we pulled away.

  “I don’t know their names, but they’ve been out on that dock every time I’ve been here this year. They remind me how crazy my cousin and I were for fishing at that age.”

  “The same cousin who owns part of this pontoon?”

  “Yep.”

  “So this is a fishing boat?”