“What are the towels for? Preparing yourself in case I decide to toss you in again?” I teased as we casually strolled over to the dock. I winked at her when she shoved a playful elbow into my side.
“That’s actually why I was a little late. I decided to grab us a few towels at the last minute. It’s still pretty hot out, so I wore my bathing suit under my clothes. I figured we might want to cool off in the lake. That is, well, um…” she stuttered. “That’s assuming you want to.”
I glanced at her, unsure why she suddenly sounded so hesitant. A visible flush crept up her neck until it turned her cheeks pink. Her tongue poked out to skim her bottom lip and I couldn’t help but to slightly smirk. If I wasn’t mistaken, that adorable blush was because she was remembering our kiss from last night.
Bending to set down the bottles of soda and radio on the dock, I flipped the switch to turn on the music. Just as it had on the first night I found her here, U2 flowed from the speakers. I returned to a standing position and faced her.
“Swimming is definitely an option.” I took a step closer and placed my hands beneath each of her elbows to draw her a little nearer. “I was also hoping that a repeat of last night’s kiss might be on the agenda too.”
I worried for a moment that I may have come off too forward, but there was no mistaking the undeniable hope that sparkled in her emerald eyes. Her already flushed cheeks darkened to a deeper shade of crimson.
Fuck, she’s beautiful.
“Sure, maybe. I thought we could watch the sunset first.”
Her tone was guarded like she was unsure about me. Turning her head, she whistled for Dahlia. The dog was sniffing around the edge of the woods, undoubtedly in search of a stick. When she began to plod back toward us, Cadence moved away from me and began to spread the towels out on the dock. I watched her meticulously arrange the terry cloth so that each towel was perfectly square with the other. When she sat down on one of them, I took her cue and moved to join her. However, instead of sitting beside her, I sat behind her. Straddling her hips, I pulled her back to my chest.
“Is this okay?” I asked, hoping to put her more at ease.
She just nodded in response, but still seemed a little tense as she attempted to settle in against me. I breathed deep, inhaling her scent. She smelled sweet with a hint of spice, like cherry vanilla. Her head rested just below my chin, and instead of looking out over the water at the sunset, I found myself studying the braid she had woven into her hair. Varying shades of light and dark yellow intertwined with one another, creating a vibrant crisscross pattern of spun gold.
I softly ran my hands up and down the soft skin of her bare arms, only pausing once to trace my finger over the lines of her dainty shoulder tattoo. We sat in silence, neither one of us saying a word, as we watched the sun slowly settle behind the trees. After a while, Cadence tilted her head up to look at me.
“Just so you know,” she began. “I don’t normally do things like this.”
“Like what?”
“You know, boys. I can honestly say that this is my first real date. I’m new to the whole dating thing.”
Dating? Shit. We couldn’t date. This was just... What exactly was this?
Surely it was nothing more than the beginnings of a summer fling even if she was stirring up all kinds of foreign feelings inside me. Hell, I couldn’t get the girl out of my head, but I couldn’t have anything more than a casual thing with her. I wasn’t allowed to. Leading her to believe otherwise would be wrong. Still, the thought of ending things before they even began caused an ache in my chest, so I chose my words carefully.
“There’s no pressure here, Cadence. No expectations. I just want to spend time with you. I like you, you like me. That’s all this is.”
But was it?
I didn’t want to entertain the thought, so I didn’t say anymore. Besides, she was so damn innocent. Because of that, I’d have to tread very carefully or risk unintentionally destroying her untouched heart.
She turned in my arms to fully face me.
“Is that how it is with other girls too? Like Rachel for example?”
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Her obvious jealousy made me chuckle.
“I already told you. Today was the first time I ever spoke to her. You wouldn’t happen to be jealous now, would you?”
She pursed her lips, appearing annoyed that I called her out on it.
“Maybe a little,” she admitted. “But that’s the weird thing about this. I’ve always been so focused on school and helping my parents with the camp. It’s not that I didn’t have an interest in boys, it was only that there wasn’t time for them. I certainly never had an opportunity to be jealous. Do you know what I mean?”
“Sure.” I shrugged as casually as I could, afraid that the conversation might steer toward shaky ground. And, just as I feared, her next words confirmed it.
“I want to make time for you, Fitz. Considering that just over a week ago I thought you were nothing but trouble, I have to admit that you’ve surprised me. There’s something good about you. And now, all I know is that I can’t seem to stop looking at you. Can’t stop thinking about you. I like you a lot,” she admitted, the words scraping from her throat like a confession.
Fuck.
She stared up at me, her gorgeous green eyes round, innocent, and exposed as she studied me with unabashed honesty. I wanted to tell her that I liked her a lot too, but the words got caught in my throat.
“Cadence, I…” I trailed off, my voice hoarse, as a sudden realization struck me.
It was already too late. Not just for her, but for me as well. She was different. Perfect. And everything I didn’t know I wanted. This girl affected me like no other. I wanted her desperately, and not just as a summer fling. My heart began to pound like it wanted to beat right out of my chest.
Shit. I barely even know this chick.
My conscience nagged at me, telling me to stop before things went any further. But I couldn’t. I had a taste of her, and I already knew that I’d never get my fill.
She leaned in closer, taking me by surprise. Our heads were barely six inches apart. She continued to stare at me with those wide green eyes that had the ability to bring me to my knees. Uncertainty pooled within their depths. Waiting. Watching. Expecting. I was familiar with that look. I had seen it last night.
Leaning in, I closed the remaining distance between us. Wrapping my arms around her slender waist, I crushed my mouth down onto hers. She let out a tiny gasp, surprised by such a demanding kiss. Last night had been sweet and tender, slow movements against her untrained lips. Tonight, I kissed her like I’d never kissed anyone. My desperate tongue slid against hers with a hunger I hadn’t known I possessed. She just tasted so goddamned good. Kissing her was like nothing I’d ever felt before. Sure, I had kissed a lot of other girls, but Cadence made me lose track of the world around me. Time seemed suspended when I was with her, making all my problems and the hell that awaited me completely disappear.
She responded by pulling back just a little to shift her position. Wrapping her legs around my waist, she straddled my hips and ran delicate fingers tentatively up my chest to my shoulders. I traced my tongue over my bottom lip, tasting her and craving more. When our mouths met once again, she came at me eagerly with a pleasing sweetness. My blood turned to gasoline, and the slide of her tongue over mine was the spark.
I cupped her head with one hand while the other roamed down her back until it reached the tiny gap between the hem of her shirt and the waistband of her shorts. Pulling her even tighter against me, I teased the small area of warm skin beneath my fingers. They slid along the hem of her shirt, needing to feel more of her skin.
Desire for her surged through me like lava. I delved deeper. Harder. More demanding. She met me every step of the way. My palm flattened against the warmth of her lower back. I wanted to move up, to feel the delicate curve of her spine, her ribs, her breasts.
I didn’t think it was possible, but my
dick felt ready to explode just from kissing her. And that would be fucking embarrassing. That urgent need caused me to still. Things were getting hot and heavy in a hurry. Sure, I was used to that, but it couldn’t be that way with Cadence. She wasn’t like other girls. She was unique in every way imaginable.
I stifled a groan and slowly broke away. Her pink lips were swollen, making that heart-shaped upper lip even more delectable.
“Sorry,” I panted. “I didn’t mean to be so possessive. I just said that I had no expectations, and then I practically mauled you.”
I laughed lightly, hoping she wouldn’t feel rejection like she had last night. God knew, I really didn’t want to stop. I brought her hand to my mouth and place a feather-light kiss to the backside of it for reassurance, forcing myself to be gentle.
She smiled that shy smile again. She looked surprised, but I also saw a hint of respect.
“I didn’t mind,” she whispered.
This time, I didn’t bother to stifle the groan. This girl would undoubtedly be my undoing.
Dahlia, who had been silent during my lip lock with Cadence, let out a soft whine. She was sitting next to us with a stick in her mouth, her tail wagging expectantly. Using that as a distraction, I took Cadence’s chin in my hand and tilted her head up to look at me.
“How about that swim, sweetheart?” I asked, lightly pecking a kiss to her nose. “I think your poor pup is running out of patience.”
She nodded, and I stood, pulling her to her feet along with me. As I stripped out of my t-shirt, I tried not to stare while she shed her shorts and tank top, but she made it damn near impossible. It wasn’t that she was making a big production out of it. In fact, it was quite the opposite. The way she removed her clothing was hurried, her movements almost jerky. When she quickly snatched up a towel and wrapped it around her petite frame, I was reminded once again of how different she was from the rest. Most girls I’d encountered were like Rachel, brazenly flaunting their bodies every chance they got. The fact that Cadence didn’t do that made me want her all the more.
We walked back up the dock and along the water’s edge. Dahlia trotted along beside us. Every few minutes, I’d toss the stick for her. The pebbled sand was warm underfoot, a sharp contrast to the cool water that would occasionally graze our ankles. Cadence smiled up at me and laced her fingers through mine. The action was innocent and pure, rocking me to my very core.
So many thoughts ran through my head. I needed to tell her about me, about my past, and about what lay in store for me in September. However, each time I opened my mouth to tell her, I swallowed the words. Instead, I tried to think of a way to defy my father’s demands and get out of my predicament. Other than running away to Canada, I had nothing. Besides, there would be no Cadence in Canada.
We walked around the lake until well after the sun had set. We never ended up going for that swim, but that was okay with me. We didn’t talk much either. Neither one of us seemed to have a need to fill space with idle chatter. Instead, we just enjoyed the quiet of the night.
As the moon grew higher in the sky, lightning bugs danced in the air. The occasional hoot from an owl in the woods made me realize how late it was getting, but I couldn’t bring myself to end the night. Our time together already had an expiration date. If I could stay here all night with her, I would. I wanted to soak up every minute I could get.
10
CADENCE
I pushed a hand truck laden with supply boxes toward the stage set. As I approached, I could hear the faint sounds of hammering. When I got closer, the hammering stopped, and the orchestra started up. I smiled when I saw the cast rehearsing the “Make Em’ Laugh” scene from Singin’ in the Rain. It had always been one of my favorite parts.
“Cadence, bring those boxes of brushes over here,” my mother called. She was waving at me to come backstage. When I approached her, she shook her head. “Thanks, honey. The heat has been brutal this year. We’re four weeks into the season, and already we’re behind. Paint is drying on the brushes before it even touches the wood!”
She motioned to the wooden props that were scattered all over backstage. Some were standing upright while others were lying flat. The student set designers moved around them, each one wielding a paintbrush and seemed frustrated over the fast-drying paint. I looked up and shielded my eyes from the hot Virginia sun that was shining down on us.
“What if daddy fashions a curtain of sorts to block the afternoon sun? That might help.”
Her eyes lit up.
“Brilliant idea! Jamison!” she called to my father.
“Yes, dear,” he responded automatically. I looked over toward the sound of his voice. He was on his knees and appeared to be fixing a few of the floorboards stage left. A hammer was in one hand, clearly signifying that he was the one causing the hammering noise I heard a few moments before.
“Is there any way to hang a curtain to shade the backstage area?” my mother asked him.
My father stood and eyed up the rafters above the outdoor stage. He scratched his chin contemplatively for a moment before nodding his head.
“Shouldn’t be a problem. I can use the old stage curtains. I was just going to toss them since we have the new ones, but I’m glad I hung on to them. I’ll get Devon and Fitz over here to help. We can probably have it up within a few hours.”
My belly tightened at the mention of Fitz. The past few weeks with him had been perfect. Every night I had spent with him was like every girl’s dream idea of a perfect date. Sometimes we’d walk hand in hand around the lake for hours, breaking only for the intermittent kiss. Other times, we’d swim or play Frisbee on the beach. On the few occasions when I had to work late at the camp store, I’d brought my homework to the lake. Fitz didn’t seem to mind but simply played fetch with Dahlia while I worked. Just being around me seemed to be enough for him.
“Momma, I’m going to head back to The Flourish if you don’t need anything else.”
“Actually, would you stick around for a few minutes? I could use your eyes. You’re good at seeing things that are out of place. While I’m directing, I’d like you to look at actor stage placement from the audience perspective. There should be windows, so nothing important is blocked.”
This wasn’t an unusual request from her as I had been her test audience for years. Joy had already taken her lunch break, and the store was usually quiet during this time of day. I was sure she’d be okay by herself for a while.
“Sure,” I agreed with a shrug.
“Thanks. Just take a seat second-row, center stage, and I’ll get started.”
As my mother issued instructions to the students, I sat back and watched her. She was a genius at what she did, and I couldn’t help but to notice how captivated the students were by her words. They hung on to everything she said, eager to learn from one of the best. I wished I knew the person she was once upon a time. I had only seen pictures, theater posters, and old newspaper clippings that depicted her fame. My mother had been a beautiful young woman. Her hair had been blond, just like mine, and she always appeared vibrant and bright-eyed. While sixty-two years on this earth may have grayed her hair and added lines to her face, she still looked just as vibrant and beautiful to me.
Once everyone was in their place on stage, my mother signaled to the orchestra conductor. He raised his baton and the musicians poised at the ready. The male student who played the role of Cosmo Brown began his lines, telling the actor playing Don Lockwood about the importance of not giving up.
“Come rain, come shine, come snow, come sleet! The show must go on!” he bellowed. Moving quickly over to the piano on stage right, he sat down and pretended to play. The reality was that there was a pianist in the pit playing the tune. When he began to sing and dance to “Make Em’ Laugh,” I laughed. And hard. His quick feet and abundant silliness were so similar to real the life actor, Donald O’Connor. The kid had major talent.
I glanced over at my mother’s face. She was beaming from ear to ear, a
nd I knew that this year’s cast was destined to be great.
When the scene ended, she asked for my feedback.
“Everything looked great to me, Momma. The sound from the orchestra was good too. A few little blips, but it’s early. They still have time to practice. Once the set design is complete, I think it will come together wonderfully.”
“Excellent! I have one more scene I need you to watch. Again, look closely at their placement on stage. We’ve been struggling with the look and feel of this one. It’s not the acting per se, but...” She trailed off and looked up at the sky for a moment. “Well, I don’t want to influence you. Just watch and tell me what you think.”
Settling back once again, I waited as my mother called the girl who was cast to play the role of Kathy Sheldon. She and the male playing Don Lockwood joined hands. I smiled wistfully when they began to sing a romantic ballad. Trying not to get too caught up in the performance, I looked carefully at their stage placement. Everything seemed okay to me as far as I could tell. My eyes roamed up and over the set, carefully assessing the lighting until my gaze settled on a more than familiar face. Fitz was standing off stage left. He wasn’t watching the actors, but rather he was watching me.
Our gazes locked, and for a moment, it was as if we were the only two present. I could hear the music, but I barely saw the young students dancing in my peripheral. Blinking, I snapped myself to attention and trained my eyes back on the performers. As they tap danced across the stage, I couldn’t help but steal furtive looks back at Fitz. He was still watching me, just waiting for a moment to catch my eye again. When he did, he gave me a little wink. I smiled, somewhat flattered by his attention.
I glanced over at my mother. Much to my dismay, she wasn’t paying one bit of attention to the students. Instead, she was looking straight at Fitz. When her eyes flitted in my direction, her gaze narrowed. I nearly swore aloud, knowing that she had caught our exchange. She was so damn observant.
Determined not to give her more reason for suspicion, I spent the next three minutes looking at nothing else but the performance happening on stage. When it ended, I quickly stood and walked straight over to my mother. Acting as if nothing was amiss, I told her my observations.
Cadence Untouched: A Dahlia Project Novel Page 8
