by Tess Oliver
“So, you want me to stay?”
“Damn right I do. There’s still a lot to be done to make this place livable again. And, there’s the bike. Which reminds me, I’ve got the fenders ready to go in for work. I think they’ll fit in you saddle bags. If not, you can take my car. Wickley’s Motorcycle Shop is just in the next town. I told him you knew about bikes and that you rode with a club.”
“Whatever you need me to do, Ben.”
He got up from the table and put his cup in the sink.
“And, thanks for not giving up on me yet. I think I would have dumped my ass out already.”
He pulled his glasses out of his pocket. “You’re too hard on yourself, Cash. Stick this out, and at the end of it, you can see where you’re at. I think you might surprise yourself.” He walked behind me and put a hand on my shoulder. “I got that drywall you needed to patch the laundry room, and while I was at House Mart— well—”
I looked up at him. “Shit, Ben, more decorations?”
“Just a string of twinkling lights to hang in the tree out front. And it’s not my fault. That competitive, old grump across the street slapped me with a backhanded compliment last night. She said ‘Ben, you’ve almost got the holiday spirit back’,” he quoted her in a very impressive impersonation of the woman across the street. “Almost, I’ll give her almost.”
“All right, but don’t blame me when your circuits blow and the entire house goes dark.”
“I’ve got candles if necessary. But it’ll be fine, and the house will be ready just in time for December on the Pier.”
I got up from the table. “December on the Pier?”
He put his hands on his hips. “Do you mean Esme hasn’t asked you to the big dance yet? This Saturday, the entire pier and all the boats will be glittering with lights. Music, dancing, a lot of good food. It’s our big end of the year event.”
“I don’t know if that’s something I should attend. It sounds like a local thing. Those kinds of events aren’t really my thing.”
He shrugged and walked away. “Have it your way.” He stopped and turned back to me. “Just remember that every guy in town will be lined up to dance with Esme if she shows up alone.”
“You’re one crafty old dude, Ben, aren’t you?”
“Yep. Takes years of practice to achieve this level of expertise too. Now get to work on those lights. I want to be the talk of the neighborhood.”
I stepped out onto the porch. A layer of rain clouds had settled over the ocean, but they hadn’t reached the shore yet. Seagulls lined the streetlamps and settled onto front lawns, signaling that it was probably raining just off shore. Three of the birds had plopped down on Ben’s front yard, and they watched me with a careful eye as I uncoiled the lights from the package. Their long necks stretched up at the sound of my phone buzzing in my pocket. I pulled it out. It was Jericho.
“Hey, Richo, what’s up? It’s been weeks.”
“You’re still alive?”
I laughed. “Yeah, shouldn’t I be?”
“Hell, I don’t know. Shit seems to follow you. How’s it going?”
“I got hooked up with a job, that one Mick Campbell turned me onto with his army buddy. Get this— I’m putting up fucking Christmas lights.”
“Shit, you’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Nah, it’s great. I’m fifty yards from the ocean, and Ben is real cool.”
“Come on, bro. How long is something like that going to keep you interested? A lot of the club members want you to come back. We need people like you.”
“People like me?”
“Yeah, fearless fucking monster that you are. It always makes the club stronger when we’ve got people like you protecting the patch.”
“Nah, Richo, I’m done with that, you know? Just want to try something else.”
“Come on, you know once you’re in the club life, breaking free never feels right. We’ve invested in a few bars in Reno, and they’re legit. Lots of half-naked waitresses, free drinks, it’s the life, bro. Come back. It’ll be like old times, you and me chasing every skirt worthy of our attention.”
“You sound like you’ve really got your asshole hat on these days. Thought you were interested in that girl up in Montana.”
“Kristina? She’s not right for me. I’m stale beer to her pink champagne. I grew up with the Bedlam club. They’re family. And you are too, bro. Come back.” As he spoke, Esme came around the corner in a pink sweater and with her hair piled up in a ponytail. She had three dogs on leashes pulling her along. My throat thickened at the sight of her.
“Not right now, Richo.”
He paused. “Fuck, dude, you met someone, didn’t you? Damn, now I’m depressed. I’ve missed the old days of you and me jumping between every pair of silky thighs we came across. We were fucking invincible, buddy. Don’t you miss that?”
“Yeah, I don’t know.” Esme walked toward Ben’s house. “Sometimes it’s kind of nice to lie down between the same silky thighs. This girl is something else, Richo. I’m not ready to give this up yet.”
“Can’t fucking believe it. Cash Tremaine in love. Well, if you get bored, which you usually do, you know where I am.”
“Yep, later, bro, and stay alive.”
“Later, Cash.”
Esme’s cheeks were pink like her sweater making her blue eyes stand out even more. The three dogs, each nearly outweighing their handler, weren’t happy about stopping, but she managed to dragged them to a halt in front of the yard.
I patted the head of the biggest dog. He was panting as if he’d just run a thirty mile marathon. “I guess the question would be who is taking who for a walk?”
“Oh, there is no question,” she said. “These are the Brumbley brothers, and they are the most ornery and lovable trio of dogs ever. And they all like to lead, so they take turns pulling me along like a kite on the end of a string.” She glanced at the lights in my hand and burst out laughing. “I see Operation City Blackout has begun.”
“Yep, Ben really has captured the spirit. He mentioned the infamous December on the Pier too.”
She looked slightly embarrassed. “Welcome to the corniest town on the planet. I hadn’t mentioned it because I figured it was so out of your realm of thinking—”
“If you’re going to be there, then I want to be there. Unless you think it’s not a good idea.”
She smiled. “Hell yes, it’s a good idea. Maybe it won’t be so godawfully dull this year. But only if you’re sure. The decorations are cool and the food is good. They even play some all right music, but I don’t want you come if you’re going to be bored.”
“I’ll be totally honest—” I leaned a little closer. “At the risk of sounding like a totally jealous asshole— I can’t fucking stand the thought of someone else dancing with you.”
“Then you better come.” She brushed a strand of hair off her mouth, and even that small gesture stirred me physically.
I gazed at her for a long moment. “Shit, between that wild head of curls, those plump luscious lips and that tight pink sweater you are making me wish badly that we were back in that motel room.” I stared down at the dogs in front of me. They were giving me the evil eye for stopping their walk. “And if I didn’t have my hands full of twinkling lights and you weren’t surrounded by that massive wall of fur and slobber right now, I would totally pull you into my arms and kiss you.”
“Well poo. I’m going to be bummed about that all day.” She glanced up the street. “I need to finish the walk and get these guys home. Their mommy is fixing them lunch.”
“What time are you off?”
“My shift at the candy shop is over at one, but I have lunch plans.”
“Oh?”
“Boy, you really are taking this jealous asshole thing seriously. I like it. My two best friends, Addison and Olivia, are home for winter break. We were pretty tight in high school. They went to college together.” She dropped her eyes, and a twinge of regret crossed her face. �
��My parents didn’t have the money, so that sort of put an end to it for me. The really shitty thing was that I was a way better student than both of them. They’ll spend the whole lunch telling me about the glory of college life, and I’ll smile and pretend I’m interested and try not to be envious.”
“Sorry about that, sugar peanut. Life is pretty unbalanced.”
Her face brightened. “Anyhow, I don’t start my shift at the restaurant until six, so at precisely three o’clock, I shall walk back over here for that kiss.” The dogs started pulling, and she stomped along quickly behind them. “And since I’m waiting all damn day for it, it better be extra good,” she called over her shoulder.
Chapter 16
Esme
Olivia had cut her hair short, and I wasn’t completely sure how I felt about the new look. Addison looked thinner and she was wearing glasses instead of her contacts.
Olivia hopped up from the table. “Over here, Esme.”
We burst into a group hug. The other customers who knew that the three of us had been inseparable as teens got a big kick out of us making a scene in the middle of the restaurant. We sat down.
“I ordered you a raspberry ice tea,” Olivia said. “God, look at you, Esme. Gorgeous as usual and your hair—” She laughed. “I’ve missed seeing that hair.”
I ran my hands over my curls to smooth them, but it was useless. “I would have done great at Woodstock with all the hippies. Just a flower printed headband and a macramé choker and I’d be in.” I smiled at both of them. “So, how is college life?”
Addison groaned. “Too much homework. But the parties and the frat guys make up for it. Last weekend, Olivia got so drunk, she threw up in this guy’s new Porsche. The guy threw the biggest bitch fit.”
“Glad you led with that story, Addie. Thanks. Lawson is a big crier anyhow. His parents bought him the car, so it’s not like he worked hard for it. Ooh, but there are these two guys, rich too, who are taking Addie and I out to a really expensive restaurant and lavish party for New Years. Shelton is a law student.”
“Shelton?” I asked.
Addison was hiding a grin behind her menu. “Trust me, his name is perfect for him.”
Olivia snapped a scowl in her direction. “Brady isn’t much better. He wears designer sweaters too.”
Addison nodded in agreement. “I’m only going with Brady because of the expensive restaurant and party. Otherwise, I’d go to the frat party, which would, no doubt, be way more fun and I wouldn’t have to get a new dress for the occasion.”
Olivia waved her hand in dismissal. “I’m tiring of those frat parties. They’re only interested in beer and getting girls upstairs to the fantasy room.”
I laughed. “Fantasy room?”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “Yeah, they’ve got it all decorated with mirrors and stuff like that. I’ve been in it twice, and only because I’d had too much to drink. It was a major regret both times.”
Addison stifled a laugh.
I leaned forward. “Now I want to hear. What happened?”
Olivia tightened her lips, so Addie stepped in to help her out. “This one guy, Trenton—” She laughed again. “Let’s just say he was so excited to get Livvie up there, he— well he finished before they even got started.”
“Enough humiliation. I can’t even stand to think about some of it.” Olivia closed her menu. “I don’t know why I bother looking. I’ve been coming in here my whole life, and I always order the club sandwich.”
We gave our order and sipped our teas. Olivia leaned forward and glanced around as if people might be listening, which, of course, they weren’t. “All right, my mom has been filling us in on details. She said that Clint and Jacob are back, and they’re causing a lot of trouble as usual. And she said your brothers and dad are hanging out with them.”
“How is Bodhi, by the way?” Addison asked. She’d had a crush on my brother since we were in junior high.
“Bodhi is fine.” I didn’t want to talk about any of this. “You know me, I’m so busy with my own stuff. I don’t really know what the guys are up to.” I unfolded my napkin and placed it on my lap. “Clint is back, and he hasn’t changed at all.
My two friends knew better than anyone about Clint’s warped obsession with me through high school.
“Has he been bothering you?” Addison asked.
“A little bit, but I can handle myself.”
Olivia looked at Addison knowingly.
“What?” I asked.
“My mom also mentioned that Ben hired some guy to do house repairs. She said he’s a big, dangerous looking guy, and that you’ve been seen hanging out with him.”
“Your mom doesn’t have much to do these days,” I said sharply.
Olivia pulled her lips tight. “It’s a small town, Esme. You should know that since you’re still stuck here.” It was the bitchy reply I’d expected and deserved. Gossip was a major part of the town’s social ring, and with the family I had, I was more than aware of it.
“Will we meet this mystery man at the dance?” Addison was always good about stepping in between Olivia and me when needed.
“There’s no mystery. His name is Cash, and he works for Ben. I think he’ll be coming.”
“Can’t wait to meet him.” Olivia still hadn’t shaken the bitchy attitude. “Will Clint be there too? I understand this new guy and Clint have already had some problems. What’s that phrase? Birds of a feather— or something like that?”
I stared at her and wondered if the whole lunch would be this fun. “Shit, Livvie, do you mean to tell me that your parents are paying eight grand a quarter for you to learn elementary school idioms? And from the sound of it, you aren’t learning them well.”
“Come on,” Addison spoke up. “Let’s get off this subject. We haven’t seen each other since fall.”
“You’re right, Addie. Sorry, and sorry Livvie. I’m really glad that you guys are having so much fun in college and meeting rich guys and everything.”
Olivia’s expression softened. “Yeah sorry, Esme.” She reached over and took my hand. “And college is great, but it would have been so much more fun if you had come too.”
***
As much as I’d looked forward to the lunch with Addison and Olivia, it had made me even more aware of the fact that our lives were stretching further apart. As the conversation had continued, I’d realized we had little in common to talk about. Most of the topics revolved around college. I just nodded and feigned interest, feeling smaller and less significant each moment. Not that they seemed happier than me because that didn’t seem to be the case at all. However, their prospects, their futures seemed to be opening up wide in front of them and mine was still zipped up here with a family that was slowly disintegrating into something I wanted no part of.
The blue feeling made me head straight to Ben’s house. A cloud burst looked imminent, and that only added to my bad mood. Cash was just getting on his bike as I reached the house. He saw me. My heart did its usual wild dance as I watched him lift his long muscular leg over the bike to get back off.
He took off his helmet and pushed his sunglasses up on his head. His mouth turned up on the corner. I raced toward him. He put his helmet on the bike seat, and I jumped into his arms.
“Hey, sugar peanut.” He wrapped his arms around me tightly. “How was lunch?”
“I’ve had better. But now that I’m standing here against you, everything is right with the world again.” I peered up at him. “But you’re on your way somewhere.”
“I’ve got some motorcycle parts to take into town for restoration.”
“Well, I won’t keep you. But I really, really, really need that kiss.”
He sighed. “The shit I’m asked to do.” He smiled and wrapped his arms tighter around me before lowering his mouth to mine. His arms and his kiss wiped away any bad feelings and ugly weather. I could have stayed there pressed against the warmth of his body, breathing in his scent, all day.
We part
ed and that familiar hungry gaze, I’d seen more than once and that always sent erotic heat swirling through me, had returned. “Damn, I think we need to head to that secret place of yours tonight. What time do you get off?”
“I’m off at eleven.”
His brow creased. “Do you walk home alone at that hour?”
“No, I pull out my magic carpet and fly home from the pier.”
He laughed, but his concern was real.
“Sometimes Bodhi comes in to eat just before closing and then I walk home with him. But he hasn’t been coming in lately. They’ve been staying out really late on the boat.”
“Seriously, Esme. You can’t walk home alone with Clint and his creeps lurking in the shadows. I’ll come by and walk you home. What about the lighthouse? It’s killing me that we don’t have a place to go where it’s just you and me.”
“It’ll be dark and cold.” I wanted to go just as badly.
“Flashlight and blankets,” he suggested.
“I’ll put them in the jeep and have it ready to go after my strong, hunky biker walks me home.”
“Sounds good. Now hop on, lollipop, and I’ll give you a ride to your house.”
He fired up his bike and rode me around the corner to my street. I kissed him once. “See you later.”
He drove off, and as the rumbling sound of his bike faded, I heard loud voices coming from the kitchen. It was my dad and brothers and no one sounded happy. I sat on the porch, deciding not to jump into the fray. I could hear them clearly through the cracked kitchen window.
“I’m just saying, if we back out now, they’ll think we’re going to turn on them. And that’s the worst thing we can do.” Seton’s voice sounded weak and unfamiliar.
“Clint said one run and then we’d get the five grand and be done with this whole thing. And why the fuck did we get involved with that slime bag anyhow? Remember what he did to Esme?” Lately, of the three, Bodhi had become the voice of reason.
