Torch: The Wildwood Series

by Karen Erickson

  They were back in his SUV after spending a few hours at the lake. Swimming. Lounging on the beach stretched out on the giant towels. Sending secret smiles at each other before they launched into some ridiculous conversation about life or politics or whether Harper and West should elope or not. Always in the back of her mind was that kiss. That one simple yet staggering kiss had seared her from the inside out.

  Oh, and left her wanting more, though he hadn’t delivered. Damn him.

  “Let’s go to the BFD for a burger.” He sent her a look. “If you’re okay with that.”

  Her smile was smug, considering she won the first swimming race. And the second. The man was a good swimmer, but she was better, after being trained by her brothers her entire life.

  “I’m fine with that. You’re paying after all.” He shook his head and muttered something under his breath, which only made her laugh. And he smiled too, though it was more of a smirk. A cute smirk. He was a little sunburned, his cheeks and nose red, his hair a mess and sticking up everywhere, and wow, she never thought she’d seen him look better.

  She sat up straighter when she realized she was staring, but he didn’t notice. He was too busy concentrating on driving, which was a good thing. A very good thing. If she’d been driving she probably would’ve wrecked the car, and the reason would’ve been so incredibly lame.

  Oh, sorry, Lane—because it would definitely be her brother who came upon the accident scene first—I was too entranced with Tate’s male beauty, and I crashed the car.

  Yeah. Lame. So lame.

  “I had no idea you were such a good swimmer,” Tate said, his gaze still fixed on the road.

  “There are lots of things you don’t know about me.” She sounded flirtatious. The entire afternoon had felt like foreplay. Fun, yummy, sort of sexual but sort of not sexual foreplay. What would happen when they returned to his place? She already felt like she was lit from within. One look from Tate and he sent her into a slow burn. If he touched her again—or even better, kissed her again—she’d probably combust.

  “True,” he said, his voice low and rumbly. It sent her nerve endings into a quiver. “Though I’d like to find all of those things out.”

  If she could get away with fanning herself, she would. But she restrained her hands beneath her legs and pretended what he just said hadn’t set her on fire.

  Lord help her, she was in deep, deep trouble.

  They pulled into the BFD parking lot and nerves flapped in her stomach like giant bats. She might run into Harper while they were there, but she could handle it. Right? Harper would most likely make suggestive comments and pull her aside to gush that they made a cute couple, but Wren would just blow her off. Or at least, she should blow her off.

  Because whatever they were doing was temporary. He’d helped her forget about the fire and what she lost, but it all came roaring back in this very moment. Heck, she was half-inclined to pack up what little she owned in the world and move somewhere else just because she could. She had no obligations, nothing tying her down besides her various accounting jobs. But she would give enough notice so everyone had time to replace her. Some of the work she could do from anywhere, meaning she wouldn’t have to quit at all. She could just . . .

  Be somewhere else.

  “Finally.” He shifted the car into Park and cut the engine, turning to smile at her. He reached over, touching her cheek, his fingers drifting across her skin, and she pressed her lips together to prevent him from seeing them tremble. “I’ve had a good time with you today.”

  His touch rendered her speechless. All she could do was nod.

  “Hope to have a good time with you tonight too.” His eyes grew dark, and her mouth grew dry.

  Temporary. No matter how much fun they were having and how much she was growing to like him—really like him—she needed to remind herself of that.

  Frequently.

  THE MOMENT THEY walked into the restaurant, Wren knew something was up. She could feel it in the air. A sort of electricity that crackled and hummed, though she couldn’t place it. Harper’s eyes went wide when she caught sight of them, and she rushed over, a fake smile plastered on her face as she steered them toward the doors that led outside to the patio.

  “I don’t want to eat outside,” Wren protested with a shake of her head.

  “It’s such a nice evening though.” The pleading look Harper sent her couldn’t be mistaken.

  “It’s still over one hundred degrees outside,” Tate pointed out gently, tipping his head toward the many empty tables in the diner. “We’d rather sit in here. Right, Wren?”

  “Definitely,” Wren said, surprised that he actually called her by her name. Though he had been all afternoon, throwing in the occasional Dove to balance it out. She didn’t mind anymore. Not really.

  “I’m going to use the restroom,” Tate said to Wren, offering her a gentle smile that she felt all the way down to her toes. “I’ll be right back.”

  The moment he walked away, Harper turned toward Wren, her expression serious, her voice hushed. “You need to get out of here.”

  “Wait. What?” What was Harper’s problem? “Are you refusing to serve us? What the hell, Harp?”

  Harper grabbed hold of Wren’s arm and pulled her closer to the front of the restaurant where no one else was around. “Someone’s here, and I don’t want you to see them.”

  “See who?” Curiosity made her try to look around Harper to see whom she could be talking about.

  “Stop looking around! God, you’re so obvious.” Harper blew out a frustrated breath. “Fine, it’s Levi.”

  Wren went completely still. “Levi? My Levi?” She hadn’t referred to him like that in forever. She hadn’t thought of him as hers in years. Yet here she was, first mention of him and falling back into old habits. He’d been her Levi once upon a time.

  Until he wasn’t.

  “Yes. He came in a few minutes ago with his parents.” Harper sent her a pointed look. “I’m sure you don’t want to run into him while you’re with Tate.”

  “I don’t mind.” The thought actually filled her with excitement. She could show Levi she’d moved on, right? Tate was gorgeous. Even Levi would have to acknowledge that. To look like she was involved with Tate would put on quite the I’m-so-over-you show for Levi. He’d get the message loud and clear.

  And she was over Levi. She had been for years. Yes, he’d broken her heart in high school. Yes, she never talked about him. Like, ever. But there was a reason for that. She didn’t like to latch on to the past. It did her no favors and usually ended up hurting her more than anything else. She couldn’t even remember the last time she saw Levi in the flesh—fine, she’d stalked his Facebook profile a long time ago—so what was the big deal?

  “You should mind.” Harper leaned in and murmured, “He asked about you.”

  Her heart started to race. “Really?” She cleared her throat to get rid of the squeak. The pointed look Harper sent her wasn’t helping matters. “What did he say?”

  “He asked if you still lived here, and I said of course.” Harper raised her brows. “Then he said he’d love to see you while he was visiting.”

  “How long is he visiting?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t really care. And neither should you.” Harper grabbed Wren’s arm again and gave it a little shake. “Don’t forget what he did to you.”

  “That happened years ago.” Wren carefully pulled her arm out of Harper’s grip. “I’m over it. You know me. I don’t hold grudges.”

  “When it comes to Levi, maybe you should,” Harper muttered.

  “I’m not going to hide from him. Just . . . seat us, and if we happen to see each other, then so be it. If not, no biggie. I’ll be fine,” Wren said.

  With a put-upon sigh, Harper led Wren over to a table. “He’s on the other side of the restaurant. Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Harper said snippily before she strode away.

  Wren kept her head bent, flipping open the menu even
though she already knew what she would order. She was so tempted to glance over her shoulder, scan the room in search of Levi, but she didn’t want him to catch her looking.

  So stupid.

  Tate slid into the booth within minutes, oblivious to everything that just happened. “Already know what you want to order?”

  She closed the menu and lifted her head to smile at him. “Always.”

  “Good. Me too.” The waitress chose that moment to appear by their table, taking their drink and food orders before she snatched up the menus and walked away.

  “She usually flirts with me,” Tate said once the waitress was gone. “I guess bringing you here just blew any chance I might’ve had with her.” When her smile faded, so did his. “I was kidding. Seriously.”

  His words, the way he looked at her, sent a shiver down a spine. “Okay,” Wren said slowly, though he was probably right. All the women of Wildwood seemed to trip over themselves whenever they were in Tate’s presence. Young or old, single or attached. “I think pretty much every woman in this town would give you a second chance. Or a third. Or a fourth . . . ”

  “Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, Dove.” He took a packet of sugar out of the container and started to play with it, batting it back and forth across the table between his hands. “Would you ever consider giving me a second chance?”

  He almost sounded nervous asking the question. She couldn’t help but find that sweet. “I’m pretty sure I’ve never even given you a real chance yet,” she teased, her voice soft. Though she vaguely remembered saying he’d blown his chance with her before . . .

  “Would you? Give me a chance?” He lifted his head, aiming that piercing green gaze right at her, and she blinked, stunned at his words, her heart picking up speed when he said nothing else.

  “Are you asking for one?”

  Tate smiled and reached across the table, taking her hand in his and entwining their fingers. She shivered at his touch, not even caring if anyone saw the two of them holding hands in the middle of the BFD. She sort of didn’t want this moment to end. The entire day had been magical thanks to Tate. “When it comes to you, I’d ask for just about anything.”

  Wren parted her lips, ready to answer, to tease him a little more, to tell him they should forget the stupid burgers and go back to his place, when a familiar male voice called her name. Her heart in her throat, she slowly turned her head to find Levi Hamilton standing in front of their table.

  Oh, crap.

  Looking better than ever.

  THE DUDE WAS staring at Wren like he had stars in his eyes. Worse, like he was the luckiest damn bastard in the entire universe because he just discovered her. As if she were some sort of foreign land he’d been in search of and dying to conquer for his entire life.

  Tate knew that look. Had been experiencing the many confusing emotions behind it for weeks, quietly desperate to claim Wren-land for himself.

  “Levi,” she breathed, her voice . . . changing. She never talked to Tate like that, all breathless and light, her tone full of nostalgia and fond memories. “It’s—good to see you.”

  Wren pulled her hand from his and slid out of the booth without any prompting, stepping into the stranger’s arms. He was around their age, maybe a little older than Wren but probably younger than Tate, with golden-brown hair cropped close on the sides and longish on top and wearing a pale blue polo shirt and khaki shorts, not one fucking wrinkle in sight.

  The asshole could’ve walked straight out of a Ralph Lauren ad. Tate hated him on sight.

  Levi squeezed her tight, his eyes closing for the briefest moment before he released his hold on her. Tate could only sit there gaping at the two of them, trying his best to fight the jealousy churning in his gut.

  “How are you?” Levi asked as she slowly pulled away from him, his hands still clinging to her arms. His smile was huge, his eyes only for Wren. “You look amazing. It’s been way too long since I’ve seen you, Wrennie.”

  Wrennie? What the fuck? Who was this guy?

  “I’m great. Well, sort of.” She laughed, waved her hands around as if she didn’t know what to do with them. Adorably awkward with her flushed cheeks and helpless expression. “I don’t know if you heard . . . ”

  “Your house burned down.” Levi’s expression went solemn, and he reached out to clasp her hand, entwining their fingers. “My parents told me. That’s so . . . awful. I’m sorry that happened to you. What are you going to do? Where are you living?”

  “Don’t worry about me. I’ve got it all figured out.” She sounded like a liar, even to Tate. She had nothing figured out. Tate knew she was still completely overwhelmed by all that she needed to take care of.

  “I do worry about you. I think about you all the time.” His gaze briefly flickered to Tate before returning to Wren, completely dismissing him. “I still like to think of me being the guy who was always there for you.”

  She laughed, the sound nervous and just the slightest bit . . . irritated? “Right. I figured you forgot all about me once you left town.”

  “Never.” The gentle smile Levi offered Wren made Tate’s blood boil.

  Anger surged within him. Who was this asshole to tell Wren he’d be there for her? Tate was the one who’d been there for her from the very start. She lived with him. Not this guy who appeared out of nowhere and got to hug her too close and stare at her like he wanted to devour her whole.

  Fuck this guy and his supposed good intentions.

  Tate was about to stand and tell the guy to fuck off when Wren pulled her hand from Levi’s, turning to look at Tate, a nervous smile on her face. “Levi, this is my friend, Tate.”

  Friend. Nice one, Wrennie.

  “Nice to meet you.” Tate rose to his feet, noting that he towered over the guy. Good. He thrust out his hand and squeezed Levi’s extra hard.

  “Likewise.” Levi sized him up with a glance, dismissing him when they released hands, and Tate sat back down, his attention all for Wren. Again. “We need to get together before I leave.”

  “How long are you here for?” she asked as she settled back into the booth across from Tate. Thank Christ. Tate was afraid she might’ve left with this asshole.

  She’d never ditch you.

  Tate frowned. He couldn’t be too sure of that.

  “A few more days. Told my parents we had to stop by the BFD. I haven’t been here in what feels like forever.” Levi smiled and rocked back on his heels. Jackass acted like he was in no hurry to leave.

  Tate stewed, chewing on his lips so he wouldn’t snarl and say something rude. Like, Get the fuck out of here.

  “Hasn’t changed much has it?” Wren laughed.

  “No, it hasn’t. I have good memories of this place.” Levi’s voice dropped. “I’m sure you remember.”

  Okay, that was it. Tate squeezed his hands into fists, ready to use them if necessary when, lucky for Levi, the waitress appeared with their drinks. She plunked down Tate’s iced tea and Wren’s Sprite before she scurried away. The interruption seemed to be just what Levi needed.

  “I should get going. But call me, okay? I mean it, Wrennie. We need to catch up. And my parents’ number hasn’t changed, so I’m sure you remember it. You called it enough times over the years.” Levi chuckled, but Wren said nothing. She at least had the decency to appear uncomfortable.

  Levi barely looked in Tate’s direction. “Nice meeting you,” he muttered.

  “Same,” Tate said tightly.

  Levi hesitated, then leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to Wren’s cheek before he backed away from the booth. “See ya around, Wrennie.”

  The moment he was gone, Tate leaned back in his seat, relief making him feel weak. “Wrennie? Seriously? And you have the nerve to complain to me about the bird names?”

  “Stop. Please. We’ve known each other forever.” Wren’s face was flaming red, and she grabbed her Sprite, taking a huge drink. Most likely trying to avoid any more conversation, Tate guessed.

  “Who is he
anyway?” He was proud of his calm, even voice, like nothing could bother him. Deep down, his stomach was twisted into knots, and his appetite had pretty much evaporated.

  He’d really been looking forward to a BFD cheeseburger basket too, damn it.

  “Levi’s my ex-boyfriend from high school. He graduated a year before I did, and we broke up—it was messy. Stupid. We were young. It was for the best.” She shook her head, her cheeks still pink, her eyes . . . full of longing? Hell, he hoped not. “We haven’t seen each other in forever.”

  “Really.” His voice was flat, his stomach twisting harder.

  “Really.” She glanced toward the entrance, her gaze lingering on the door. What, did she wish she’d left with her high school ex? “He’s nothing.”

  Tate didn’t argue. What was the point? She’d just deny whatever he had to say.

  But he did know one thing. That Levi asshole didn’t look like nothing.

  No, he looked more like competition.

  Chapter Thirteen

  SEXUAL FRUSTRATION RUINED a man’s mood like nothing else. Tate was a walking, talking, breathing example of it on this very shitty morning as he made his appearance at the fire station. On his day off, when he could be sleeping in with a fine-looking woman wrapped around him.

  Not that any of that particular scenario happened. Damn it.

  “What do you know about Levi Hamilton?” Tate tried his best to keep a straight face, not wanting to reveal even a hint of emotion in his voice or expression. If West noticed anything unusual, he’d jump all over it.

  And he’d never stop giving Tate shit—one of West’s favorite things to do.

  West turned to look at him, his eyebrows raised. “Levi Hamilton? Now there’s a blast from the past. I haven’t seen that guy in years. Pretty much forgot he even existed.”

  Just the sort of answer Tate wanted to hear. He’d come by the fire station for a scheduled meeting with Josh Bailey, the arson investigator. He was giving them an update on the recent fires—specifically, details on Wren’s house. Tate promised he’d let Wren know whatever information he could find out.