He started for her and then stopped before he reached the slope to the water. Maybe she had regrets. Or maybe she was annoyed with him for staying the night. This was supposed to be a sex only fling. Morning afters were not supposed to be part of the deal. He turned back to the cabin and yanked the door open. Once inside, he stuffed his feet into his boots and checked the space to make sure he had all his stuff.
With one hand on the doorknob, he paused. Leaving without saying goodbye would be rude. Leaving without saying goodbye was completely acceptable if there were no relationships or strings attached to the sex. He lowered himself to the bed and rested his elbows on his thighs.
There was no etiquette book laying around to help him with this one. He usually avoided morning afters because they meant some sort of commitment. He hadn’t expected to be in the situation where the girl ditched him, and he wanted more. They’d already determined whatever happened between them was a temporary gig and no emotions or feelings would be involved.
He couldn’t risk his heart when he had so much at stake. Charlie was in the same frame of mind as him. This was a no-risk... thing they had between them.
They enjoyed each other’s company. Simple as that.
Going with his gut, he scooped up the blanket they’d wrapped themselves in last night and headed out the door. He’d never make a good ninja, not with his size fourteen heavy work boots.
He stepped on the dock rocking it slightly as it settled on the water. Charlie craned her neck and flashed him a smile.
“Hey, stud.”
Damn. Those eyes. Those lips. She nearly knocked him on his ass with one simple greeting.
“I, uh, don’t mean to intrude. I brought you a blanket. You know... in case, uh, maybe if you were cold or something.” Cool. Real cool, Owen.
The morning air had a slight chill to it but in her sweats and short sleeved shirt, Charlie was probably comfortable enough.
“Thanks.” She tugged on the bottom corner of the blanket. “Have a seat.”
“I don’t want to interrupt if you’re... meditating or something.”
“Ha! Me? Meditate? That’s something Gina would do. She’s into yoga and the chi and herbs kind of stuff.”
“You obviously want to be alone so I’ll—”
“I have plenty of opportunities to be alone. I didn’t want to wake you with my phone, so I came down here.” She waved her cell at him. “Taking notes for my big speech today.”
There were so many questions he wanted to ask. Not to be nosy but because he found himself caring.
“Need any help?” Stupid. Like he had a clue how to write a speech.
“Sure. Sit.” She patted the space next to her. “I don’t know how much you overheard yesterday. In a nutshell, my brother was three years older than me. He died when he was seventeen. Drinking and driving. Our old high school is hosting some kind of teen alcohol awareness day. I guess I’m talking on behalf of my brother. That’s all I know.”
“I’m sorry about your brother. I can’t imagine losing Liv.” His life would be over if anything ever happened to her, which was why he kept such a close eye on her.
“Thanks. It was a long time ago. It doesn’t hurt like it used to, but I still get sad near his birthday and during the holidays. Today will be rough as well.”
“I’m sorry for taking your day away yesterday. I’ll leave you so you can finish writing.”
“No. Don’t go.” She squeezed his forearm. “And yesterday and last night were perfect. You took my mind off of all of this. Thank you.”
“Are Gina or Brooke going with you today?”
She shook her head. “I haven’t told them. I only found out about it yesterday.”
“I’ll get Liv so you can—”
“Actually, I don’t want to tell them.”
“Okay.” Again, he wanted to ask why. And again, he reminded himself it was none of his business. Privacy was important in his life and if he wanted it, he had to also give it.
“Gina’s finally in a good place. She doesn’t need my crap on her mind. And Brooke’s got a busy day preparing for tomorrow’s campers. All I have to do is a grocery store run, which I can do on my way home.”
She made excuses for her friends and for keeping them in the dark, but the thick cloud veiling her eyes made him think she wasn’t being completely honest about wanting to do this alone.
“I’m free today if you want company.” The words slipped from his tongue before he had the chance to contemplate whether or not he should offer his time. He’d have to figure out something for Liv, or even bring her with them.
“It would eat up your entire day. Besides, it’ll be incredibly boring for you.”
“I can think of worse and more boring things to do than spending the day with you.”
“Why, Owen McDougall, here you made me believe you weren’t good with saying sweet words.” She climbed into his lap straddling him and smacked a kiss on his lips. “Are you blushing?” She placed her hands on his cheeks and kissed him again.
Maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t. Charlie straddling him like this was going to make him do something in public they’d both be embarrassed about.
The kiss was more fun than sexy and when she pulled back her teasing grin had turned softer, more serious.
“I appreciate the offer—”
“I want to.” Yes, he really, really did. “You shouldn’t have to do something like this alone.” He wouldn’t admit to hearing the words of her cold-hearted mother on the phone. If that was the kind of treatment she would be facing this afternoon, she’d need someone there to lean on. To support her. To defend her.
“Are you sure?”
“Think Gina would mind hanging out with Liv today? If not, would you mind if she tagged along? She’d be a distraction, which could be good or bad.”
“I kinda like how you distract me.” Charlie ground her pelvis into his growing enthusiasm. “However, if Olivia needs to come with us, I’m okay with that.”
“I don’t like talking or thinking about my sister when you have me in a situation like this.” He spread his fingers across her back and pulled her in for a kiss.
“Oh yeah,” she mumbled into his mouth. “A situation like what?”
“Like this.” He laid back and pulled her down on top of him, melting into her kiss.
SEX ON THE DOCK WOULD have been fantastic so Charlie couldn’t help being a little disappointed when Owen pulled away from the kiss.
“I’m going to head home to shower and change.” He sat up, bringing her with him. “Which will give you some time to write your speech.”
“It’s not exactly a speech. More like a little talk.” She hoped it was true. If it was anything more formal, she’d choke. She wasn’t the shy or nervous type. It was presenting in front of her judgmental parents that freaked her out.
“I also need to check in with Gina and Liv.” Owen stood and offered her his hand.
“I’m going over to the house for breakfast. I can ask then.” She took his hand and got to her feet. “Why don’t you come over as well?”
He rubbed the back of his neck and took a step back distancing himself, literally. And possibly figuratively.
“Nevermind,” she plugged her nose, “you could use a shower. After losing at disc golf and getting all hot and steamy inside the cabin, twice, you should probably go home.”
The tension around his eyes relaxed and a shy grin crept up on his face. Damn, he was beautiful.
“I could say the same for you.”
Charlie gasped and stretched her mouth wide open in astonishment.
“Wait.” Owen’s eyes grew large with realization of what he’d said. “I didn’t mean... I meant you played and—”
“I should push you in the pond.” She playfully shoved at his chest and he caught her hands with his.
“If you do, you’re coming in with me.”
“Oh.” She pursed her lips and lifted a brow. “We should take our clothes
off first.”
His genuine smile came back, followed by his deep laughter. She felt it all the way to her toes. As long as they kept things between them purely sexual and fun, Owen was relaxed. Any hint at commitment, and he clammed right up and put some distance between them.
“You’re a handful.”
“I didn’t hear you complaining about that last night.”
Again, he laughed, and her insides turned all gooey.
“I won’t be long.”
“I don’t know. With those golden locks and all this body to scrub,” she scraped her nails down his chest. “I assume your showers take at least an hour.”
He rolled his eyes and dropped a kiss to her lips. “You’re a brat.”
“Thank you.”
Like he did twice last night, he took her hand as they walked to his truck. “In all seriousness, what time do you need to leave?”
She mentally calculated the two-hour drive and the extra time she’d need to hyperventilate in her car. “By nine-thirty.”
“Okay. See you then.” He kissed her again and climbed into his truck.
When his taillights disappeared around the bend, she dragged herself back to the cabin to get her shower caddy. Even the cold water couldn’t erase the smile on her face.
And an hour later, even with Gina and Brooke’s teasing, she still couldn’t wipe it.
“Another day-long date. Wow. This is serious,” Gina said over breakfast.
“The guy doesn’t get out much. He asked if he could tag along while I go into South Portland to do some errands and stock up on supplies.” Which was sort of true. She had mentioned she’d need to run into Walmart to stock up the pantry at the camp.
“Sounds pretty domestic to me,” Brooke chimed in.
“Boredom most likely. All the guy does is work and hang out with Olivia, who he completely adores. You can’t blame him for wanting some adult time.”
“How much adult time did he get last night?” Brooke teased and she and Gina broke into laughter.
Oliva, who had been chasing Drew with bubbles out on the lawn, came running up the deck steps. “What’s so funny?”
“Brooke told us a silly joke.” Charlie looped her arm around Olivia’s waist tugging her close. “Your brother wanted me to ask you if you’d like to come run some errands with us today or if you’d rather hang out with Gina. You’d be in the car a lot. The places I need to go are a couple hours away.”
“Umm,” she scrunched her face like she really had to think about it. The girl was going to be a handful in her teen years. “I think I’ll play with Gina. She said we can go swimming later and Drew said we could go on the boat again. Will Owen be sad if I don’t go with him?”
“Oh, I don’t think so.” Brooke chuckled.
Charlie rolled her eyes at her friend. “He’ll miss you like crazy. I’m sure he’ll call you soon.”
“He sent me a text message last night and this morning when I woke up. He gets cranky if I don’t respond to him riiight away,” she dramatized.
“That’s because he cares so much about you.”
“Whatever.” She sighed and let her head flop back and forth in her signature dramatic fashion. She ran down the steps and picked up her bottle of bubbles, calling out to Drew.
“Looks like she’s got you all wrapped around her princess finger.”
“Not as tightly as you were wrapped around Owen last night, I’m sure.”
“And you tell me I’ve got a one-track mind,” she said to Brooke.
“While you’re shopping, can you pick up another couple gallons of glue? And hot glue sticks. And maybe a few more reams of white paper.”
“Why don’t you text me a list, Gina?” Charlie didn’t trust herself to remember it all, especially not after seeing her parents. They knew how to numb her just enough to make her look like an idiot.
Hopefully Owen would listen to her when she asked him to run a few errands for her during her talk. While she appreciated his support, having him witness a Kellar family reunion was about as appealing as sugar free frosting.
After a round of hugs, she headed back to the camp to wait for Owen. He was pulling in as she came out of the woods from the path.
She jogged up to his driver side window. “Nice timing.”
“I can wait if you’re not ready.”
“Ready as I’ll ever be. I’ll be right back.” She dashed off toward the cabin to grab her reusable shopping bags.
Once in the truck, she gave him a quick kiss and buckled up. His quietness made her rethink the kiss. Was it too personal? Too cozy? Too much pressure?
Reverting to her sexy talk, she curled one foot under her and patted the console between them. “Too bad it’s not a bench seat. I hear truck sex is pretty fabulous.” She craned her neck and searched the back. “That could work too. Or maybe the bed of the truck.”
“You want to have sex?” He cast her a quick glance before returning his gaze to the road ahead of them.
“You don’t?”
“Like right now?”
“Hey, I’m game whenever.” She shrugged and then squeezed his thigh. “I didn’t take you for the prim and proper type.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” His thigh tightened under her hand.
“Bed sex.”
“What’s wrong with bed sex?”
“Absolutely nothing.”
“You’ve lost me.”
“You don’t sound too keen on the idea of having sex in your truck.”
“Not when I’m driving, no.”
She had no idea where to take this conversation but as long as it put a smile on his face, she’d keep going with it.
“So, when you’re not driving you want to have truck sex?”
He opened his mouth to speak, cast a sideways glance at her, then returned his attention to the road, and closed his mouth again. After a moment, he licked his lips and spoke.
“Sex with you anywhere is bound to be... great.”
“Great? That’s it.” She snorted. “Way to let a girl down easy.” She hoped he picked up on her teasing manner.
“I mean, it’s only been once... twice. It’s not a lot to go by.”
“Are you challenging me?” Okay, she liked where this was going.
“If you’re up for it.”
“Now?” Again, he did that open mouth thing. Saving him, she continued. “I wouldn’t want to get all rumpled before the event. I can think of a few places to pull over on the way home this afternoon.”
“You look nice.” The simple compliment affected her more than it should have.
Her white capri pants and navy top wasn’t exactly fancy attire. The only thing separating her top from a plain old shirt was the cut outs between her shoulder and elbows.
Not much in her life required getting dolled up for. Her dates consisted of meet ups at bars or a restaurant, and camp life required shorts, jeans, and sneakers.
“Thanks. You clean up well too.” He’d changed into dark jeans and a white button-down shirt, rolled up to show his impressive forearms.
The hair hanging below his collar was still damp from his shower.
“Do you want to practice your speech, or would you rather have a distraction?”
“Well now, cowboy, what kind of distraction you talkin’ about?”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Owen couldn’t help but chuckle every time Charlie turned the conversation into something sexual. Which was often. Or rather, all the time. It was one thing when she did it a few months ago when there was no chance of them hooking up.
Now that he’d felt every square inch of her soft, glorious naked body, had kissed her in places most men could only dream about, her flirting brought back images to their night together cramped on her narrow bed.
He’d have loved to have their first time be more romantic—at least on a bigger bed. One with real sheets and a mattress thicker than a Belgium waffle—making love to her in the rustic cabin had been one of
the most euphoric moments of his life.
Granted, his list of epic moments was next to nothing. Still, he wouldn’t have changed a thing about their day and night together. He only hoped she felt the same, and that he could bring her some sort of calm before her speech.
“Turn right at the light.” She’d been giving him directions for the past twenty minutes and had grown quieter as they approached her hometown outside Kennebunk.
“Do you want to get something to eat or drink first?”
“No. I’m good.” She cleared her throat. “So, uh, you don’t have to sit through this thing. I’m pretty sure it will bore you to death. I can text you when I’m done. I can’t imagine it taking more than an hour or so. We’re not far from the coast if you want to hang out there.”
He saw the signs for the high school and turned into the full lot. “I’ll stick around. We can drive out to the ocean after if you’d like.”
She didn’t say anything and with a heavy sigh, unbuckled and hopped out of the truck as soon as he parked. He met her at the tailgate where she avoided eye contact.
“You don’t have to. It’s going to be boring.”
The serious conversation thing with a woman didn’t come naturally, and he prayed he read her signs correctly. She wasn’t pushing him away because she was embarrassed of her family. She was scared. Nervous. He’d bet no one ever used those two words to describe Charlie.
“I want to be there. With you. For you.” Damn. Now he sounded all serious. “Mostly for the sex. I see this as foreplay for the sex we’re going to have in the back of my truck later.”
That did the trick. A trace of a smile escaped her lips, and she lifted her gaze to meet his. “Your backseat isn’t much bigger than my bed.”
“Smaller. But the bed of my truck is plenty big. We can roll around back there.”
Charlie laughed and leaned into him, resting her forehead on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held on tight. This was new too. Hugging a woman for comfort. She snuggled closer and sighed into him, so he figured he must be doing something right.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“About sex? I’m pretty sure I know what I’m getting into.”
A Thousand Sunsets (Band of Sisters) Page 15
