A Thousand Sunsets (Band of Sisters)

by Rice, Marianne

  Charlie figured their make out session was over and buckled up. He had his hands on the wheel but hadn’t put the truck in drive yet.

  “Are you okay?”

  Owen cast her a sideways glance. “I suck at the dating thing. I don’t know where to bring you.”

  Instead of being offended about him not putting time into planning their day, her heart softened. “Why don’t we come up with an idea together.”

  “What have you wanted to do this summer that you haven’t been able to do yet?”

  Lust filled her veins and she stared at him with a wicked gleam in her eyes. “You really want to know?”

  A mutual desire filled his eyes as well, but he had more manners and blinked it away. “You’re killing me, Charlie.”

  “What.” She shrugged innocently. “You asked.”

  “You’re not shy, are you?” He laughed.

  “Did I ever give you the impression that I was?”

  “No.” He chuckled. “Definitely not.”

  “Okay. Fine then, party pooper,” she muttered under her breath. “Do you want to do something indoors like see a movie or go bowling?”

  “It’s a nice day and I’ve spent the last two months inside homes hanging sheetrock or painting. Outside would be good. Unless you’re tired of it. You’re outside every day.”

  “Which I love. Okay. So outside. A hike?” She’d dressed in comfortable shorts and sneakers. As long as it wasn’t a hike up a steep mountain, she’d be fine.

  “We’d need to pack water and snacks.”

  “Boy Scout?”

  “As much as you’re shy.”

  “Ha. Mini golf?”

  “That’s a possibility.”

  “Is it something you do a lot with Olivia?”

  “A few times a year.”

  “Okay. Let’s come up with something you’ve never done or haven’t done in a while. I don’t even know what’s around here.”

  “Not much.”

  “Is there a disc golf place?”

  “A what?”

  “You’ve never been?” He shook his head. “We’re going.” Charlie took out her phone and did a quick search. “There’s a place about twenty minutes from here. Start driving, cowboy. I’ll show you the way.”

  “I’m sure you will.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “That was fun.” Charlie patted Owen on the shoulder before taking a seat.

  He slid into the chair across from her. “You’re that type, huh?” He nodded and pretended to scowl at her. “The only way to have fun is if you cheat.”

  “I did no such thing.” She swiped the plastic menu from behind napkin holder and held her head high as she read it.

  He chuckled to himself as he took a menu as well. He’d have loved to take her out somewhere nicer than a burger joint, but it’s what she picked.

  “Denial. One of the many signs.”

  “I didn’t take you for a sore loser.” She set the menu down and rested her elbows on the table. “Don’t blame me because you got distracted on the last bucket.”

  Oh, he was distracted alright, and she knew what she was doing. They’d been tied up the entire game and she over-threw twice on the last bucket. When they started out, she’d been helpful, showing him how to throw the disc with a flick of his wrist.

  He’d caught on quickly, and after being down for the first two buckets, his aim got better, and he’d tied up the game. Her cheerful banter turned to fiercely competitive in a matter of seconds.

  It was sexy as hell.

  And then a tree “jumped in front of her disc”, according to Charlie, and she went two strokes over par. The tightness in her jaw would have had him laughing if she hadn’t sidled up to him, ran her hands down his chest, stopping at his belt, and then leaned in for a deep kiss.

  No, deep wasn’t the right word. The kiss had worked its way down to his soul and he never wanted it to end.

  When she tugged at his waist pulling him in tighter, he’d more than willingly complied, taking her mouth with his. And as quickly as she’d put him under her spell, she broke it, pushing off his chest and tossing him a wink.

  “Good luck, cowboy,” she’d said before strutting her way down the hill to wait at the last bucket. She stayed in his sight during his throws. Each time as he got into motion, she either lifted her arms above her head and stretched her body or bent over pretending to tie her shoe. Of course, she’d turned so he had a perfect shot of her perfect backside.

  To say she messed with his head—and other parts—was putting it mildly. He’d overthrown his first shot, then his next.

  It was a tough shot to make anyway and having Charlie as a distraction hadn’t helped at all. She ended up winning by one stroke.

  “I don’t mind losing as long as you make it worthwhile.”

  Her eyebrow shot up and he realized the implication of what he said. “I didn’t mean—”

  “All set to order?” Lousy timing on the waitress.

  He peeked an embarrassed glance at Charlie, who was fighting to contain her grin. Okay, good. He hadn’t offended her.

  They placed their order and when the waitress left, he continued where he left off. “I didn’t mean to imply that you had to...” he cleared away the frog in his throat. “I mean...I don’t...” he scratched along his jawline. How the heck does one apologize for making it sound like he didn’t just tell her she had to put out if he was going to lose anymore?

  “It’s okay.” She laughed and covered his hand with his. “I know what you meant and what you didn’t mean. I’m not bothered by what you said, and I actually don’t mind making you feel better about your loss after dinner.”

  Did she...

  “Here are your drinks. Your salads will be right out.” The waitress set their glasses down and left as quickly as she came.

  An awkward silence fell over the table. Changing the subject would be best if only he could think of another topic to talk about besides Charlie’s lips.

  As if reading his mind, the infuriating woman licked them and dropped her gaze to his mouth. Shifting in the booth, he reached for his straw and tapped it against the table to open the wrapper. He stuck it in his iced tea and drank. And drank.

  Hell, he was thirsty, but for more than the cold beverage. Charlie mimicked him, bringing her straw to her lips and sipping. Only she did so while seducing him with her eyes.

  Cutting him a break, she steered the conversation toward their final few weeks of campers. She’d mentioned moving back to Kennebunk or Portland area and picking shifts at the restaurant she used to waitress at.

  He barely made it through dinner and was thankful when the waitress gave him the check. Once he paid, they slid out of the booth and he took her hand in his as they walked to his truck. The move was instinctive, and he hadn’t given it much thought until he had to let go of her to open the door for her.

  “Thank you,” she said, kissing him lightly on the lips before climbing up into her seat.

  It’s was nearing eight o’clock. Early for most people; probably for Charlie. If his home had been that—a home—and not an eyesore and an embarrassment, he would have invited her back to his place for a drink.

  Or something more. Instead, he headed west toward the camp. When he turned on to the road leading to the camp, Charlie stopped her chatter mid-sentence.

  “You’re bringing me back.”

  “I don’t want to overstay my welcome,” he lied. “I know you have a long day coming up tomorrow.” She hadn’t mentioned the speech she had to give at her old high school, and he hadn’t planned on bringing it up, respecting her privacy.

  “Oh. Yeah. I guess.” She crossed her ankles and stared out her window so he couldn’t read her expression.

  Leave it to Owen to end the night on a bad note. He knew better than to bring up anything related to family. It was the fastest way to ensure a sorrowful mood.

  He parked his truck in the lot next to her car. “I’ll walk you back to your
cabin.”

  Yeah, he was way out of his element here. No need to remind her how long it’d been since he’d been out on a date. He rounded the hood of his truck and helped Charlie out. Again, he laced his fingers with hers as they strolled leisurely down the path to her cabin.

  She climbed one step to the door and turned, resting her wrists on his shoulders. They were the same height now and he stared into her dancing brown eyes.

  “I don’t have any alcohol, but do you want to come inside for a bottle of water? Maybe an energy drink?”

  “It’s kind of late for an energy drink, don’t you think?”

  Again, a mischievous grin escaped her lips as she lowered her mouth to his. “I guess that depends on how much... energy you have right now.”

  He closed his eyes and sunk into the kiss. He may be behind in the dating game, but he was pretty sure he read her cues right.

  “For the record,” she said, breaking the kiss, “I’m not looking for a relationship or any type of commitment. I’ll be gone in less than a month and...” she shrugged her shoulders.

  It was exactly what he needed to hear. He didn’t take sleeping with women lightly. While he knew most wanted some sort of relationship after sex, he avoided those women because he couldn’t follow through.

  It wasn’t that he didn’t want to. It was that he couldn’t. Not until he was done raising Liv.

  “Wheels are spinning. You’re pretty, but I also know there’s a lot going on in here.” She tapped him on the head and then her hands pulled gently on his hair.

  He liked this. Too much. Her hands on him. Her lips on his.

  “I don’t sleep around, but I don’t make promises either.”

  Shit. That didn’t come out right.

  Charlie smirked. “Promises that you don’t sleep around?”

  “I don’t. Not often.”

  “You don’t often sleep around?”

  He pinched her sides until she squealed. “Words aren’t easy for me either.”

  “Geesh. Good to know. I hope you’re better in bed than you are communicating.”

  That was one challenge he would easily take up. Lifting her off her feet, he waited until she wrapped her legs around his waist, and then yanked open the door to the cabin and stormed up the final step.

  He spun around in a quick three-sixty. Two beds. Both twin size and both looked painfully uncomfortable. With the simple frame and a thin mattress atop a wooden board, he prayed the bed would hold them both.

  “Which one?” The bed to the right held a rolled up green sleeping bag, and the one to the left had a blue sleeping bag unrolled already.

  “This one.” She nodded to the left.

  “Will it hold us?”

  “We’re about to find out, cowboy.”

  He brought her down to the bed as he captured her lips with his, kissing her as deeply as she’d kissed him out on the disc golf course. The sun had begun to set over the lake and the shadows of the tall pines made the cabin dark enough to provide some ambiance but light enough to see what they were doing.

  Light enough for him to see Charlie.

  Lifting himself off her lightly, he sat on his heels and stripped off his shirt, tossing it to the floor.

  “Oh. I likey.” She ran her hands up his bare torso, tugging at some of the hairs on his chest.

  “It’s getting hot in here. You should take off yours as well.”

  “I wouldn’t want to overheat.” She shimmed until she sat up, her legs still trapped under him, and in one swift move her top was off and joined his on the floor. “Good or bra too?”

  Owen cocked an eyebrow and licked his lips. “Let me.” He didn’t mean for his words to come out in a soft growl.

  Or maybe he did.

  Lowering his head, he scraped his lips across her bare neck as his hands cupped her breasts before moving to her back where her bra was fastened. “Definitely off,” he whispered in her ear.

  Her body arched into his as he undid the clasp. Slowly, he moved one strap from her shoulder with his teeth, the moved to her other one to do the same with the second strap. When the bra fell into his hands, he let it drop between them so he could cup her breasts.

  Warm, soft, perfect.

  She purred, and he moved back to her mouth, needing the connection. Charlie’s hands gripped at his shoulders, and then her nails scraped his back as she lowered them to the waistband of his pants.

  “Still too hot,” she moaned into his mouth.

  He leaned into her until she lay back on the bed, then undid the button of her shorts and slid them down her legs.

  “Better?”

  “Almost.” She reached for his button and did the same. When they were both completely naked, she sighed. “Much better.”

  The sleeping bag was cool and slippery underneath them but that was the last thing on his mind. The silhouette of her body promised curves, softness, and comfort. Sliding his hands down her sides, he took his time to feel all her curves.

  His mouth followed and he moved even slower to taste every inch of her. There was a sweetness to Charlie underneath her sexy sassiness, and he wasn’t sure which he liked best.

  When he slipped his fingers between her legs, causing her body to arch and she called out his name, he realized which he preferred. She pushed her center against his hand guiding him to where she wanted him to touch, and he let her control the pace and the pressure as well.

  Pleasing Charlie turned out to be one of his most favorite things to do. She was close, so close. Her panting, the way her nails dug into his shoulders, the way she cursed him and God... any second she’d be lifting off the bed.

  He lifted his lips from her breast to watch her face as she bit down on her lips and clutched at the sleeping bag underneath her.

  “God! Owen! Shit!” She thrust her pelvis against his hand as the orgasm shook through her body.

  With her eyes closed, she couldn’t see the satisfied grin on his face. Having Charlie limp and at his mercy shouldn’t make him feel so... satisfied. He was still rock hard and even if she kicked him out now, he’d still call the night one of the best he had in a long, long time.

  Sure, there had been other women. None of Charlie’s caliber though. None who could make him laugh so much. None who occupied his dreams at night. None who made his heart race anytime he thought of them. None who got close to Liv and found a way to his heart as well. None he actually wanted to let in.

  Charlie’s body was lax under him, the only movement coming from her chest as she caught her breath. Her two perky breasts stared up at him and he couldn’t help but give them the attention they deserved. The second his mouth covered her nipple, she stirred.

  “You can’t,” she moaned, gripping his hair with her hands. “I need a minute.”

  “You can have as much time as you need. In the meantime, I’ll keep myself entertained.” He massaged her other breast and rubbed his rock hard erection against her inner thigh.

  “Owen.” She hooked her ankles around his thighs and pulled him into her. “I need you now.”

  “I’m confused.” He propped himself up on his elbows, using all the restraint he could muster not to push himself into her. “You said you needed another minute. I can wait. I’m a patient guy.”

  His lip lifted in a grin. Hell, he prayed she didn’t call his bluff.

  “I can’t believe you haven’t figured me out by now.” She pulled him in with even more force until the tip of his erection touched her core. “I’m not a patient girl. Take me, Owen. Take me now.”

  Not one to leave a woman waiting, he plunged into her, earning another level of satisfaction when she tipped her head back and cursed. They moved in sync with each other, fast, slow, flipping to their sides and intertwining their legs until they were a mess of long, sweaty, naked limbs.

  Somehow during their thrusts, he’d found a moment of control to reach for his jeans and dig out a condom from his wallet. Charlie had rolled it on him and less than ten seconds lat
er he gritted his teeth and pumped into her until he saw more stars and lights than a clear night on the Fourth of July.

  This was perfection. All of it. The entire package. The simple date of disc golf and burgers. The conversation, the flirting, the kisses. The amazing sex. Charlie was everything he’d ever wanted in a woman. It was too bad he couldn’t have her.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Owen rubbed the sleep from his eyes and remembered where he was.

  On Charlie’s narrow, uncomfortable bed. Only he wasn’t as crowded as he should be. He sat up and felt around on the floor for his pants and shirt. Once he was semi-dressed, he slipped his phone from his pocket for some light.

  The promise of a gorgeous sunrise was on the horizon. It had to be close to five in the morning. He hadn’t intended on staying the night. Hell, he hadn’t intended on making love to Charlie all night either.

  When they’d dozed off and woken up around midnight, he’d kissed her goodbye and she pulled him back on top of her.

  That’s when round two started. The second time lasted much longer. Gone was the frenzy to touch everywhere as quickly as possible. They’d teased, laughed, and even talked while making love.

  When Charlie had asked him to stay with her and reminded him it was only a summer fling, he complied. As long as she didn’t think this would develop into something more. She’d taken a blanket out of a tote in the corner while he unzipped the sleeping bag. There was no way they could both fit inside one.

  She’d slept with her body draped over his, which was why he was surprised he hadn’t woken when she left.

  He opened the door and stepped into the cool morning air. He could get used to waking up this way, out in the wild, breathing in the fresh air. Granted, waking with Charlie by his side would have made the morning even more pleasurable.

  There weren’t any lights on in the lodge, so he scanned the woods for her. She could be in the bathhouse, but he didn’t hear any noise coming from that direction. Following the trail to the lodge, he scanned the area and spotted a figure down by the water sitting on the dock.