“So you think that’s what happened? He left town?” But Julianne could see the words were difficult for Drea to handle. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to answer that.”
Drea handed her back her credit card. “I went through all this with Brent. I hope he comes up with the answers.”
Julianne left it at that and made her way back to the B&B. On the drive, she tried to judge whether or not the florist had come across as honest. But then she realized Drea had been six years old at the time, no older than the children in her class. Eleanor’s suicide and the way it happened had to weigh heavily on Drea’s young mind. Julianne shook her head. Simply put, some women weren’t mother material.
After getting back, she almost chunked the whole night. What was the point of getting dressed up to go to a dance without a date? It was only after Nick and Jordan played the guilt card that she went upstairs to her room and changed clothes.
She put on her sexiest outfit that showed off her skin tone and dark hair—a short Aztec-patterned skirt, a blue silk top, and a bright red cuffed blazer. She added a layer of beaded chains around her neck, a clunky bracelet to match and three-inch feathered earrings that swung from her ears.
Slipping her feet into a pair of dark blue, four-inch, sling-back heels, she posed in front of the mirror. She beamed in approval. If she did say so herself, she looked ready to party.
Downstairs she was shocked to see Ryder standing in the foyer. He was decked out in a jacket, a button-down shirt tucked into a pair of crisp blue jeans. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to surprise you. Turns out Zach wanted to earn some extra cash. He took over guard duty for me tonight.”
“Remind me to find a way to thank Zach.”
It was all that dark hair cascading down her shoulders that had Ryder taking her by the hand, twirling her around. “Wow, you look fantastic. I should issue an advance warning. Wearing that outfit, don’t expect me to keep my hands off you.”
She leaned in and whispered, “I’m counting on it.”
Jordan came out of the kitchen, carrying the vase full of flowers. She was also in the process of giving last minute instructions to Emma Colter, the woman pulling babysitting detail for them tonight.
Julianne waited for her opening. “Before we go, there’s something I’d like to talk to both of you about.” She watched Nick trail Jordan who finally took a breath and stopped to arrange the bouquet in a prominent position on the table in the entryway.
“What’s that?” Nick said absently as he looked around for his keys. “We all really need to get moving. We’re running late as it is.”
“This won’t take long I promise.” With that, Julianne went into a spiel about her ideas for the summer once she got to town—concerts on the pier using local talent and movie night in the common area. “But what I really noticed right off was that the area in question isn’t really a park at all. It doesn’t even have a name. That space between Murphy’s Market and the bank is just wasted space. With a little work it could be an honest-to-goodness park. And if that happened, it would need a name. What I’d really like to do is propose to the town council that it be named for Scott. Make it Phillips Park or whatever you two think would be appropriate.”
Julianne immediately recognized her mistake when she saw Jordan stutter to a stop and her eyes grow watery. Even the flowers she’d thought would lessen the blow didn’t do the trick. A heavy silence followed. Even Nick seemed upset that she’d brought it up and blinked back at her with a sad expression on his face.
“Oh my God, what a wonderful idea!” Jordan exclaimed in a burst of emotion, wiping the tears away from her cheeks.
“Really?”
“It’s perfect. How wonderful that you thought of something like that for Scott, for Hutton. Why didn’t we?” she said, turning to her husband.
Nick nodded in agreement. “I’ll see to it first thing Monday that you’re slated to address the council at the very next meeting. You’ll want to make sure and stay for the vote.”
Once they reached the truck, Ryder turned her into his arms. “That was a good thing you did back there.”
“For one long, drawn-out minute, I wasn’t so sure.”
“I’ve been waiting to do this all day.” He covered her mouth, had the blood pumping in an instant, drawing out the need.
The only thing that had them moving again was when Nick and Jordan flew out the door behind them.
“I’d suggest blowing this whole dance thing off but too many people are expecting us to show up.”
Ryder opened the door to the passenger side, helped her maneuver into the seat in the short skirt. “I’m not sure I’ve ever been to a dance in the park before. How does this work?”
“From what I understand, the food booths line one side of the park on the bank side, the dancing on the other next to Murphy’s Market. I don’t know. Maybe people drift out into the street to dance.”
Once they got to town, Julianne turned in the seat and said, “It’s silly I know, but I’d like to put a name to my little bungalow.”
“Why’s that silly? Logan refers to that place on the hill as Sea Glass Cottage.”
“He does? It was Scott who actually inspired the idea. He had me thinking about all the famous ghosts. Casper. Canterville. Grey Lady. Remember the house in that movie, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir? They called that one, Gull Cottage.”
“You’ve obviously put some thought into this, so toss me some ideas.”
She pitched out a few, but none hit a homerun. “I’m still thinking it through.”
Ryder found a parking place the pickup would fit into on Ocean Street. They passed the wharf, heard the water slapping against the wooden pillars below.
Before they ever reached the park, they heard the music. The band Blue Skies had already tuned up and tested the sound by playing a lively tune that reverberated in between the buildings. The guitar refrain from Dwight Yoakum’s, Guitars, Cadillacs had couples pairing up, stepping and strutting in time to the beat.
As they approached the entrance to the common area, Julianne pictured the future, the concrete sign with Scott’s name carved on it, maybe a few more benches, even a swing or two, and a larger grassy area where the kids could play.
Just as they had thought, the crowd overflowed onto the street. The dance floor was a bump and grind where space allowed. Among the masses she recognized Troy and Bree—wondered how the waitress had talked McCready into letting her have the night off. Ethan and Hayden were dancing with the baby sandwiched in-between them. Julianne decided their babysitter must’ve backed out. She spotted River and Brent two-stepping in each other’s arms. Even Logan and Kinsey had wanted a night out and brought their two-week-old twins nestled inside a double stroller.
Julianne couldn’t resist leaning in and taking a peek at the newborn faces, the little fists, the soft pink and baby blue outfits.
“You both did a good job there,” she told the new parents.
“We did, didn’t we?” Kinsey said in agreement.
“They’re beautiful, kind of like their mom and dad. You look fantastic, Kinsey.”
“Now that little white lie just makes me like you all the more,” the new mom admitted. “But don’t stop. I love hearing it.”
“They got the beautiful genes from her,” Logan said, planting a kiss on his wife’s mouth. “So how many teacher slots have we left to fill?”
“Two. River gave me a lead on two out-of-town candidates in Santa Fe willing to relocate. I’m doing a phone interview next week with both. I’ll let you know how it goes.”
“Sorry to break up this talking shop, but I’ve been chomping at the bit to dance with my date. Come on,” Ryder said. Taking Julianne’s hand in his, he led her out to the makeshift dance floor, a stretch of framed plywood, painted and arranged over the grass. They moved and swayed while the fiddle led them into Wild and Blue. Keeping time to the beat, they rocked into Ricky Oden’s version of Seven Year Ache before sai
ling into Guitar Town. The throng weaved, twirled, until the band slowed down the tempo with A Thousand Miles from Nowhere.
They made another pass around the floor while the rendition of Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk played in the background. The song had Ryder leaning in, whispering, “Have we been here long enough yet? Can we get out of here now?”
“And go where? Last time we tried your place, we were interrupted by a cow emergency. I’m not taking that chance again. We can’t go back to my room at the B&B. Emma Colter’s there babysitting. I won’t traipse through the living room and sneak you into my room. I’d feel uncomfortable with her right downstairs.”
“Then what do you suggest?”
She poked a finger into his ribs, murmured, “The only place I know where we’ll have total privacy is my house.”
“Back in Santa Cruz? That’ll work.”
“Can you last until we get there?”
He nibbled her ear. “Can you? I’m willing to try.” The consent in her eyes had him wasting no time moving through the swarm of people. “Then let’s get out of here.”
Like a man on a mission, he drew her along the streets, down Main, up Beach toward the pier. On the rush back to the car, Julianne breathed air deep. “I smell rain.”
“Wishful thinking. I smell grilled burgers.”
She laughed and it echoed out into the night. They didn’t say another word until they climbed into the truck. The drive seemed to take forever. But when Ryder finally came to a stop in front of the house, he admitted, “My palms are actually sweating.”
“Why?”
“I haven’t been with a woman in two years. You had to know that after…that woman…I refuse to say her name tonight and ruin this moment. But you had to know I’d sworn off women.”
She looked at him long and hard, sleeked her hand along his arm. “I don’t think a certain part of your anatomy ever got that memo.”
“Not with you around.” They locked fingers. “Julianne?”
“What?”
“I can’t wait to be inside you.”
“Then why are we just sitting here.”
He trailed after her to the front door, waited while she stuck the key into the lock. If he didn’t get his hands on her soon he thought he might explode. So he reached out, fingered her hair, brushed several strands to the side. He ran his tongue along her neck. She tasted like sweet orange blossoms.
She spun around, used both hands to angle his head down to her mouth.
Weeks of waiting, the tender kiss became fierce, needy. They stumbled over the threshold, bumped into the wall wrapped in each other, lips fused.
He barely kicked the door closed before running his hands inside her blazer, yanked it down her arms and off. In one fluid motion, he went after her silky top. Like a magnet, the sexy bra she wore drew his fingers to the red lace. Underneath, he saw her nipples go taut at the foreplay.
Kicking out of her shoes, she reached around to undo the skirt in the back, slithered out of the mini fabric. She got him rolling out of his jacket, couldn’t work the buttons on his shirt fast enough.
Eyeing the black and red army tattoo, she ran her nails over it and along his arm. “Let me see if I can find a way to thank you properly for your service.”
He snagged her around the waist, boosted her up and off her feet.
“Which way?”
“Down the hall.”
Mouths fed off each other. Teeth scraped against skin like hungry vampires savoring the soft sweet flesh just before a bite. Tongues tagged and played a game of hide-and-seek.
As soon as they reached the bed, he dropped her on the mattress, skimmed his hands up her thighs and ripped down her panties.
“Red. I really like red.”
“Good to know,” she drawled, kicking out of them. She ran her hands across his chest as he dispatched her bra. She rose up again, guided his rough fingers to her breasts. Her head fell back as pleasure slammed into her. She arched her body, urged him to lick his way around curves, find his way to each nipple.
His fingers roamed to stroke, to wet, to slick. While sensations triggered every nerve from head to toe, she purred out encouragement, one slow chord at a time. “Ryder. You. Do. That. Oh. Oh. So. Well.” The last chorus drew out into more than one syllable.
It was that music to his ears that had him doubling down. His goal was to taste and lick the skin along her lean belly, travel down to satiny thighs.
Another rush of pleasure took hold, dug in. It twirled in circles of gilded light and shimmered in rippled explosions. She wanted more and lifted her hips, realized he was still wearing his pants.
He dealt with the shoes while her fingers found the snap of his jeans, worked it open. She tugged downward on the boxers, wrestled them over his hips and pleaded, “Now, Ryder! Now!”
He sunk into her body, watched her soulful eyes shimmer in heat as the join became complete. Hands spread, their fingers locked, their breath warm and close.
As he moved to cover her mouth, she threw her legs around his waist. Her nails scored along his back, felt each muscle bunch as he drove them toward the peak, the whirlpool, that riptide that drew them under and then over.
Body to body, she raked her fingers through his hair.
Sweaty and spent, breathing hard, Ryder grunted, “I’ll move in a sec.”
“S’okay.”
“No, I must be squashing you. You’re so tiny.”
She puffed out a laugh, bumped his chest with hers. “Right this minute, no complaints about where you are.”
He found that funny and rolled to his back. “I’m pretty happy about it, too.” With a free arm, he wrapped it around her shoulders and brought her into him. “We should’ve thought to bring food. That way we wouldn’t have to get out of bed.”
“Ah. We forgot to eat.”
“I was too focused on this, on you.”
“Same here. We could get up, explore what’s in the kitchen. I don’t have much as I’ve been busy going back and forth between two places and haven’t had a lot of time to shop. I’m out of my routine.”
Ryder didn’t want to let her go, hated to move from this spot, but after his stomach rumbled once too often, he sat up.
“I think I have cereal or maybe some eggs,” she said. “I wouldn’t want you to starve.”
“That’ll work.”
She went to the closet, found a robe. Not the frumpy, functional one she wore in winter to bundle up against the chill but the short silky one that showed off her form.
As he stuck one leg into his jeans, Ryder noticed. His head whipped up. “Who knew the teacher was so fond of red?”
“I like color.”
“I like that you like color.”
He followed that laugh again as it rang out, down the hallway and into the kitchen.
“There’s not much here,” Ryder said as he perused the refrigerator. He opened the carton of milk, did the sniff test. “Milk’s okay.”
She retrieved a box of Frosted Mini-Wheats out of the cabinet and two bowls, two spoons.
They sat down at the table and dug in.
Just before taking her first bite, she looked over at his bare chest. “You know it’s a long way back to Pelican Pointe.”
“I was thinking the same thing. Look how long it took us to get here.”
“Exactly. It’s even farther back to the farm. You could call Troy, see if he’d do the morning milking for you. That way…”
“This time of night, it’s best to send him a text.”
Troy and Bree had just left the dance in his GMC Canyon pickup and were headed out to his apartment when Ryder’s text came in.
“Who’s that?” Bree wanted to know.
“Ryder. Looks like he finally experienced ‘touchdown’ with Julianne. He wants me to take over his milking chores in the morning.”
Bree snickered in delight at the idea of Ryder and Julianne spending the night together. “You won’t say no, will you?”
&nb
sp; “I’d have to get up at the crack of dawn. And I have my own plans for tonight.” Troy lifted her hand, brought it to his lips.
“It’s all for love. I’ll help you.”
“But… I wanted you to spend the night with me tonight.”
From the passenger side of the truck, she turned in her seat, tilted her head and ran a finger along his cheek. “Now how would I help you milk cows if I didn’t stay with you tonight and wake up when you wake up?”
Troy’s eyes flicked from the road and lit up. “Really?”
“Yes, really. I’m pretty sure if you play your cards right, you’ll experience the same sort of ‘touchdown’ for yourself as Ryder is right about now.”
The likelihood of that had him stepping on the gas. “I can’t believe Flynn gave you the night off.”
“Oh, I can. I bugged him about it for weeks.”
“Zach and I may not see eye to eye but we do agree on one thing. I don’t like you working at the bar.”
Her back went up. “I’m not listening to this with you too. I have to deal with Zach enough as it is. I’m earning a living doing the only job in town I can get at the moment. Please don’t ruin tonight by giving me a hard time about my job.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just that I want you to know I’ll do everything I can to make this excursion business a reality.”
“I know that. But until I graduate, it’s just a pipe dream and I still have to go into McCready’s whenever he needs me. It pays the bills. So you concentrate on your thing and I’ll work on mine. Deal?”
“Okay. Okay. I don’t want this ruining our night.”
Bree scooted closer, whispered in his ear, “I splurged on new lingerie.”
That had Troy increasing his speed again.
She laid a hand on his arm. “It’s okay. We have all night.”
Chapter Fourteen
Julianne opened one eye to the unmistakable sound of dripping water. But it didn’t sound like the pipes had burst. Could it be rain pounding the roof?
Last Chance Harbor Page 20
