Country At Heart

by Mandy Magro

  Fiona watched him disappear behind the en suite door. ‘Ain’t he the best?’

  ‘He sure is.’

  Fiona pointed to the balcony. ‘Let’s go hang out on the day bed and you can tell me all about it, hey?’

  Summer gave her mate an appreciative smile. ‘What would I do without you?’

  Fiona smiled. ‘You’d do the same for me.’

  CHAPTER

  14

  Tightening the bolt on the oversized showerhead, Dean reached out and turned the taps, overjoyed when it spluttered for a few seconds then spilled water from above. He grinned through the grime on his face, quietly pleased with himself. After slaving away beneath the cottage for most of the day he’d successfully fixed the plumbing, another big job he could tick off his list. The beach shack was beginning to feel more like a home, his home, and the very thought filled him with pride. All he had to do now was finish off a few odds and ends, and then he could use some of his savings to go out and buy some new furniture and necessities for the kitchen, and also a ripper of a barbecue.

  Unperturbed by the fact he was fully dressed, he leant his aching body against the shower wall, the spray of warm water welcome against his sweaty skin. Tipping his head back, he opened his mouth, the water quenching his thirst and invigorating his body and mind. Feeling spontaneous, he removed his jeans, deciding he might as well shower now that he was wet through. Besides, it was coming on dusk – nature’s way of reminding him it was time to wind down and call it a day.

  With his tired body slowly relaxing, his thoughts once again turned to Summer. The gorgeous woman had barely left his mind since he’d first laid eyes on her less than two weeks ago. And in that time, everything between them had seemed perfect – that was, until last night. Her father had made it crystal clear he didn’t feel Dean was the right man for Summer. Furthermore, he was positive, after the way he had reacted to Marcus in the heat of the moment, Donald wasn’t ever going to make it easy for them to be together. Dean understood Summer’s father was being protective, but trying to buy him off was just downright insulting. It wasn’t his or Summer’s fault that their parents had a past. And just because he wasn’t wealthy, didn’t mean he couldn’t give Summer the world. Which, given half a chance, he would. He would do anything to make her the happiest woman alive.

  And Summer’s response when he’d thought they were about to make love for the first time had shocked him, thrown him completely off balance. He’d misjudged the situation. The thought that she might now think he was like most blokes – just after one thing – troubled him. Surely she knew there was more to his feelings for her than that? He just longed to be at one with her, to intimately show her how very deep his love went for her. With only two days left before he went back to Afghanistan, he didn’t have much time to make it up to her. Had he fucked everything? Sighing, he closed his eyes, the water drowning out the thump of a car door outside.

  Summer’s heart rate was out of control, the adrenaline careening through her body only intensifying the sensitivity of her skin as the floaty, knee-length summer dress she was wearing brushed against it. Resolute with her decision after talking at lengths with Fiona, she stormed up the steps, relieved to see the front door ajar, for if it had been shut, she might have hesitated and turned around. Stepping through the doorway, she stopped and sucked in a breath, inhaling a mixture of paint, newly cut timber and the subtle scent of soap. Her ears rang in the silence and time seemed to stand still. Then she heard the soft pitter-patter of a shower.

  Noticing the steam floating beneath the bathroom door, she hurried towards it, giving herself no time to change her mind. She was here, and she wasn’t leaving until she got what she came for: mad, passionate, take-your-breath-away lovemaking with Dean. Last night had been a disaster, and she wanted to make up for it before he went back to war. She couldn’t bear the thought of him thinking it was his fault she had pulled back.

  Overwhelming fear had almost prevented her from coming, but she was determined to put Dean’s mind to rest and at the same time mend any rift she may have caused with her harsh rejection of his advances last night. Yes, they had sat in each other’s arms for hours on the beach, and kissed for what felt like an eternity at midnight, but when he had said good night to her, she could tell by the dispirited look in his eyes that he was far from all right. She couldn’t bear the memory of how pained his expression had been when she had stepped away from him. He deserved better than being treated like that – way better. And she was prepared to give everything to him, to show him just how much she was in love with him. In fact, she ached for it, for him.

  Stepping through the bathroom door, the steam enveloped her, bringing with it the intoxicating scent of what could only be described as man – her man. Outside, the sun had sunk behind the distant mountaintops, leaving the beach shack cloaked in dusky darkness. Without removing her clothes, she ripped open the shower curtain, her breathing uneven as she drank in Dean’s naked body in all its manly exquisiteness. Tattoos snaked their way around his tanned and muscled physique, his shoulders so broad they seemed as if he could carry the weight of the world. And his butt, so tight, so perfectly shaped. She craved to just reach out and touch it. He turned to face her, his hand over his crotch, the powerful look in his eyes when they came to rest on hers stealing every bit of air from her lungs.

  No words were spoken as she fell into his open arms, their lips meeting in fervent union, their tongues speaking the language of love without a word having to pass their lips. Although she had savoured Dean’s kisses before, he had never kissed her like this, the depth of passion unfathomable. This was all she’d ever dreamed of, and more.

  In mere seconds her dress was soaked through, and stuck tantalisingly to her skin. Dean placed his hands on her thighs and lifted her from the floor, his breathing ragged. She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, their kisses making her quiver from deep within. It was as though he was caressing her soul with his every touch. With both of them groaning in pleasure, Dean ran his lips down the front of her throat, the warmth from his mouth sending her desire into overdrive. God, how she wanted this man, wanted to give all of herself to him, to feel him at one with her. She cried out his name as she tipped her head back and arched her body even further into his as he seductively caressed her erect nipples with his tongue and lips through the sheer material of her dress.

  Dean felt like he was dreaming. One minute he was standing alone in his shower, stressing over how Summer felt about him, and the next she was throwing herself into his arms, her hunger for him intense. Stumbling from the shower while still kissing her, he headed towards the bedroom, the sensation of her legs wrapped around his waist, of her sweet heaven pressing into him, making it almost impossible to think. All he wanted to do right now was feel her – her touch, her kiss, her sweet breath upon his skin – and most of all, experience her love for him in the most potent of ways. Summer Milton was all that mattered to him now, always and forever.

  Slowly, he placed her down on the bed, his eyes never leaving hers, water still dripping from his body. She began to writhe out of her dress and then her lacy pants, her luxurious olive skin making him crave to caress it with his mouth. Every inch of him ached to be inside her, to be at one with her, for them to morph into one being. For he knew, without even having experienced it yet, that once they made love they would be committed to each other forever. He would never find another woman who would be able to move him in the ways Summer did. This, right here, was true, eternal, love.

  Sitting down beside her on the bed, he placed his hand over her heart, loving the feeling of it beating beneath his fingertips. ‘Are you sure you’re ready, beautiful? Please don’t make yourself if you’re not.’

  Biting her bottom lip, Summer nodded. ‘I want this, I want you.’

  Dean smiled, his dimples prominent. ‘Good, because so do I. I love you so much, Summer.’

  Slowly, he climbed on top of her, kissing her f
rom her toes all the way up her legs, and then began to lick the inside of her thighs. Gradually, with teasing strokes of his tongue, he made his way closer and closer to her heaven, licking her outer lips before kissing them in just the same way he kissed her mouth, his tongue twirling and licking, his lips dragging and sucking. Summer grabbed his head, pushing herself against him, her hips writhing beneath him, her breathing coming out in short, sharp gasps. Dean shivered as he felt her begin to tighten and pulse beneath his lips, her cries of pleasure filling the room. He continued to lick her, savouring her sweet-as-honey nectar. Then, with her taste still in his mouth, he seductively traced his tongue up her stomach, over her breasts – stopping to gently bite her nipples – and then to her lips, kissing her deeply.

  Summer gasped. ‘Please, I need you inside me, now!’

  Sitting up, Dean ran the tip of his cock over her, sliding just an inch inside her before pulling out and doing it all over again, until he could take no more. Clasping their hands above their heads, he slowly pushed deep inside her, inch by inch, as they held each other’s gaze, the intense sensation of finally being at one with Summer stealing his breath and bringing tears to his eyes.

  Once inside her, he stopped, lying back down to kiss her, savouring the feeling of her pulsing around him. She tried to move her hips but he stopped her, wanting to connect with her through their kisses as their hands explored one another’s bodies. Covering her eyes with his fingers, he licked her lips and then brought his mouth down upon her neck, nibbling his way to her ear before breathing deeply and circling his tongue inside. Goose bumps covered her skin and it was then that he began to unhurriedly thrust his hips, her body moving in union with his. This was the most intense feeling he’d ever had in his life, the rush of love he had for her like a raging river.

  Pushing Dean’s chest, Summer motioned for him to roll onto his back. She moved with him until she was straddling him, still deep within her. His hands came up to caress her breasts and she began to sway her hips, her hair falling around her face as she took great satisfaction from Dean’s pleasure-filled groans. His hands ran down her stomach, pushing into the area above her pelvic bone, the sensation taking her to heights she’d never imagined by intensifying the feeling of him inside her. Their movements quickening, Dean’s body began to tremble beneath her, his eyes never leaving hers as he began to gasp for breath. She felt herself on the brink, but she held back, wanting to fall over the edge of ecstasy with him. Then, crying out in pleasure, Dean gripped her hips and she allowed herself to fall with him, her entire body pulsing, tingling, shivering, as they floated in a euphoric land that only they could reach.

  Breathing heavily, her skin still blissfully sensitive, Summer collapsed into his arms, burying her head in his chest as she breathed him in. Never in her life had she imagined making love could be so consuming, so intense, and so ethereally beautiful.

  Dean smiled as he brushed loose hair from her cheek. ‘That was amazing, baby. If I had my life to live over again, I would find you sooner so I could love you longer.’

  Summer reached out and traced her fingers down his face. ‘I’ve got the fairy-tale ending with you. I could never love another after feeling this with you. I’m yours, Dean Lockwood, forever.’

  Pulling her into him, Dean rested his chin on her head, the love between them tremendous. It was exactly as he’d imagined, their bond strengthened beyond words. Summer and he were soul mates, no doubts about it, and he was going to love her for the rest of his life and into the next. Closing his eyes, he allowed his body to drift into a contented sleep, as Summer joined him in the land of dreams.

  Sitting on the back steps of the beach shack, Summer took a sip from her beer, her hand resting on Dean’s leg. Silence sat comfortably between them as they watched the setting sun. Beneath the crimson expanse, Fonzie and Matilda played on the back lawn, Matilda trying with all her might to catch a stealthy Fonzie, the miniature pooch always finding a way to somehow escape between her front legs and then whizz off into the garden at the speed of a Formula One driver. Fonzie would then reappear by pouncing back out of the Bangkok rose bushes, darting all over the lawn like a hockey ball, before once again enticing Matilda into a tussle.

  Summer smiled at the two dogs before sighing, her heart aching. ‘I can’t believe you leave tomorrow. Is Kimmy taking you to the airport?’

  ‘She sure is. Do you want to come along?’

  ‘I’d love to, although I’m warning you, I’m going to be a blithering mess saying goodbye to you.’

  Dean put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to him. ‘I don’t want to think about it. It hurts too much to know I won’t be able to see you, or get one of your yummy kisses, for three whole months.’

  ‘Uh huh, it’s gonna suck not being able to kiss you.’ Summer traced her finger over his mouth, a tingle racing through her from the sensation. ‘Your lips are like a drug, and I’m addicted.’

  Dean grinned and then gave her a lingering smooch, his eyes full of emotion as he pulled back to gaze at her. ‘I love you, Summer Milton.’

  ‘Love you too, Dean Lockwood.’ She gave him a tight hug.

  Dean’s belly rumbled loudly.

  Summer giggled. ‘Geez, you’re hungry by the sounds of it.’

  ‘Yup, I’m bloody starving.’

  ‘Well, I’ll just go to the loo, and give Mum a quick ring to let her know I won’t be home for dinner, and then we can crank the barbecue up if you like.’

  ‘Sounds like a plan to me,’ Dean said, rubbing his grumbling belly.

  Summer stood. ‘What time are Kimmy and Max getting here? I’m looking forward to hanging out with them again. I really like Kimmy, and Max is just adorable.’

  Dean smiled. ‘I’m glad you get on so well with them.’ He looked at his watch. ‘They should be here in about half an hour. I’ll go over and make sure the old man’s up from his afternoon nap and get the barbie started. Meet you over at his place, okay?’

  ‘Yep, won’t be too long,’ Summer said, as she disappeared into the beach shack.

  Washing her hands at the bathroom sink before ringing her mum, Summer noticed Dean’s button-up shirt hanging from the corner of the towel rack. Smiling dreamily, she grabbed it, burying her face into the fabric as she inhaled his manly scent. She was almost tempted to stuff it in her bag, wondering if he’d miss the shirt if she took it home to sleep in while he was away. There was no way she was going to ask him if she could borrow it – he’d probably think she was a weirdo. Laughing at herself, she hung it back up, a scrunched-up piece of paper falling from the pocket as she did so. Picking it up from the floor, she realised it was a cheque, the familiar handwriting baffling her. With shaking hands she unfolded it further. Then, reading it, she sucked in a deep breath and covered her gaping mouth with her hand. Slowly, she shook her head, her heart feeling as though someone was gripping it. The recollection of Dean quickly putting something in his pocket on New Year’s Eve came flooding back to her. Squeezing her eyes shut, she silently begged for it not to be true, feeling as though her world was collapsing around her. This couldn’t be happening.

  The room spun beneath her and Summer dropped the cheque and grabbed the sink, her legs threatening to give way. She knew her father all too well, so she had a very good idea what this cheque meant. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she fought to control her breathing, her heart hammering. She ran for the front door of the shack, relieved Fonzie was still there playing with Matilda. She scooped him up in one swoop, her bare feet hurting as she sprinted across the gravel driveway and towards the front gate of Whispering Meadows, commanding that Matilda stay put over her shoulder. Thank God the border collie obeyed.

  Once out near the road, Summer fell to her knees in the grass trying her hardest to make sense of what she’d just seen. Fuck it all! Just when she thought everything was going along perfectly between them, life had to throw a curve ball her way. She thought of her meddlesome father and her blood boiled. He had a lot
to answer for, and so did Dean, for that matter. But she needed some time to think. She couldn’t face Dean right now, afraid he might tell her something she didn’t want to hear. She was so tired of all the fighting lately; all she wanted to do right now was flee from everything and everyone and find some inner peace. The only place she was going to find time and space was at Fiona and Phillip’s. Making herself stand, she began running towards her parents’ holiday house.

  CHAPTER

  15

  With the sausages and onions sizzling away on the barbecue and the garden salad in the middle of the table, Dean began to wonder where Summer had gotten to. Surely she wouldn’t still be on the phone to her mum? He grinned. Brad Paisley’s song ‘Waiting on a Woman’ was playing on the stereo – fitting. Such wonderful lyrics of unconditional love that rang so true for him and Summer. He would wait forever for her, and then some. One day he hoped he could make her his wife and then they could make a family together. With this deep soul love they shared, it was a given. And then his life would forever feel complete.

  Whistling in tune to the music, he slipped on his thongs and padded down the front steps, beer in hand, heading towards the beach shack and leaving his dad in charge of dinner until he returned. Kimmy and Max pulled up as he crossed the lawn and he gave them a quick wave, before ducking beneath a heavily laden bush lemon tree and out of sight. Instinctively, he knew something was wrong when Matilda bounded to his feet, no Fonzie in sight.

  Racing up the steps, he spotted Summer’s thongs so he called out her name, worried she might have somehow hurt herself, only to be met with a deafening silence. After checking the bedroom, lounge room and kitchen, he raced to the bathroom and switched on the light, his eyes spotting the open cheque on the floor. His chest tightened as time stood suffocatingly still. Fuck! Summer had found it, and he could only imagine what she was thinking right now.