by J. H. Croix
Much as I wanted to go out of my way and rough up the man who betrayed Cammi, I didn’t. I didn’t know what to think about how I’d tapped into a vein of protectiveness I didn’t even know I had.
I remembered Greg dying. I remembered my ex sobbing uncontrollably over the phone, at which point I realized she’d been having an affair with my best friend. I remembered her trying to fix it, but that was it for me. I remembered my physical pain and tumbling into the oblivion of opiates. Those pharmaceutical companies spun a poison type of a scab. Between my physical and emotional pain, it had all been too tempting to lose myself in numbness.
I was thinking about that later when I saw that man look over at Cammi and his eyes lingered for a moment. My hand was resting on her back and I slid it around to curl over her hip possessively. Because she was mine. Even if I wasn’t quite ready to plumb the depths of what mine meant.
I rode the edge of a fierce need all night. By the time Daphne announced the winners of various high-end giveaways, I just needed to get out of there. Because I needed Cammi.
Chapter Twenty
Cammi
It was late, and the stars glittered in the darkness. We drove along the highway with the moonlight shimmering on the ocean’s surface to one side. My body felt fizzy, bubbly with desire and this uncertain emotion centered on Elias. I couldn’t say what I’d expected tonight, but I definitely had not expected him to be so public with me.
Mind you, I didn’t mind the PDA, not one bit. I’d been startled to see Joel there, and his presence could’ve ruined my night, but it hadn’t. While I was well over him, his appearance at my coffee truck and attempt to talk to me had thrown me. I was relieved he’d seen me with Elias because hopefully he knew to leave me alone from now on. It felt deliciously good to be beside Elias with his arm around my waist, holding me almost possessively.
Seeing Joel in the presence of Elias was a neon reminder of everything Joel wasn’t. Elias was like the authentic version of the faded image Joel tried to project. Without any effort, Elias exuded raw, almost primitive masculinity. And oh-my-heart and every cell in my body was the man handsome. My parts were still quivering just from being with him all night.
His energy was intense with an almost pensive quality to it that I wasn’t sure how to interpret as he drove toward home. He reached across the bench seat in his truck—which, by the way, was freaking awesome—and caught my hand and gave it a little tug.
“Come here,” he murmured, his voice low and gravelly.
I didn’t need to be told twice. I unbuckled my seatbelt and slid into the center.
“Buckle up, sweetheart,” he added.
I did, because we were going over sixty miles per hour on the highway heading back to Diamond Creek.
“Thanks for coming tonight.” He slid his palm, strong and sure, over my thigh.
“Thanks for inviting me. The food was amazing, and it was nice. We don’t have many events like that.”
“Daphne will be thrilled. Remind me how long the drive is back to Diamond Creek.”
We’d driven north to Kenai where the event was hosted. “Just under two hours,” I offered.
He made a sound in his throat. I kind of thought it was a growl, but that seemed a little weird. Until he hooked his fingers over the hem of my silky dress and slid the fabric up my thigh. Although it was cool out tonight, I’d known it would be warm inside the crowded event, so I wasn’t even wearing stockings. The feel of his calloused palm on the inside of my thigh had me shivering all over. I was wet, because I’d been wet all night. Elias had that effect on me.
“I can’t wait that long.”
Elias’s voice sent a quiver through me. “Wait that long for what?”
“You.”
His palm slid up further, cupping my mound, his fingers teasing over the damp silk. I couldn’t help the ragged breath that escaped when my pussy clenched. Elias sped up slightly before turning abruptly into a drive that I knew led to a clearing. It might’ve been dark, and I might’ve been half out of my mind with lust, but I knew this road. I could see the map of it in my mind. In the summer, there were picnic tables where people stopped for lunch on pretty days.
The narrow road passed through a cluster of trees and opened up to a small viewing area. Elias turned into a parking spot, and the truck came to a jerky stop. I was sure we were parked outside the lines, but it was deserted, and I didn’t care.
He slid the bench seat back and pulled me into his lap. Kissing him was simply the best. He was kind of bossy about it, but then so was I. He chuckled when I nipped lightly at his bottom lip. Our hands were everywhere, and my dress was in a rumple around my hips. I shimmied off his lap to gain access.
I had his slacks unbuttoned and his zipper down in no time, letting out a happy sigh when I curled my palm over his velvety hot length. His head fell back against the seat as I stroked and rubbed my thumb over the cum beading at the top.
I needed to taste him and leaned over to lick that drop away, a wave of satisfaction rolling through me when he let out a ragged groan as I took him into my mouth. His taste was musky and salty, dancing across my tongue. I teased him for a few moments, sucking deeply and stroking with my fist before his hand tangled in my hair.
“I need to be inside you,” he said bluntly.
I straightened, artlessly shoving my panties down, laughing when they got caught on one ankle. He produced a condom out of his wallet and was smoothing it on as I rose up over him.
“Come here, sweetheart,” he murmured.
I needed no orders, but I absolutely loved when he gave them. In a moment, he was guiding himself into my entrance. I tried to go slow, but I couldn’t help it. I felt half drunk on pleasure as he seated himself deeply inside me. I let out a low hum, my hips rocking instantly.
Elias had one hand curled around my bare hip just under where my dress was rumpled, and the other slid up my back as he levered me forward slightly and caught my lips in a fierce kiss.
When he drew back, my eyes opened, and his were there waiting, hot and intent. My heart gave a hard kick. Then, he was notching into me and filling me again, and we rocked together as I chased my sweet release. I had no sense of time, I was made of sensation and pleasure. The slick fusion of our joining created just enough pressure on my clit that my release was racing upon me. I came in a noisy rush, just as he followed me over the edge. His fingers dug into my skin, and I needed the touch, the pressure to anchor me in the storm of this moment.
Afterward, I was a boneless heap in his lap. He held me in his relaxed hold, and I thought I was just the easiest girl ever when it came to him. I didn’t even know what to do about it. I felt as if I’d been caught in a riptide. This man who had been distant with me for so long turned me into a puddle. I didn’t even know what to do with myself, yet I savored being held by him, cocooned in his strength and protectiveness.
Eventually, we untangled ourselves and put our clothes to rights.
Chapter Twenty-One
Elias
It wasn’t enough to lose myself in the rush of need for Cammi with such fierceness that I had to pull off on the side of the highway and take her in my truck like a teenage boy who didn’t have anywhere private to go. Even after that, I needed her right beside me with her fingers laced through mine where my hand rested on her thigh for the rest of the drive home.
Once again, I texted Flynn and told him I’d meet him at the plane hangar in the morning because I sure as hell wasn’t driving home to sleep without Cammi.
Another evening
“Don’t even,” Gabriel said, narrowing his eyes at Flynn across the table.
Flynn’s lips kicked up at one corner. “Don’t even, what?”
“Win this fucking game,” Gabriel muttered. “I haven’t gotten a good hand yet tonight.”
We were in the kitchen at the resort, playing cards. Tonight, the game of choice was rummy. We’d fallen into this pattern of getting together late once or twice a week after the
guests were all in their rooms.
Diego arced his gaze around the table before laying a winning hand down.
Flynn chuckled. “Here’s what I had. Not likely to win. But you know what they say.”
“I know what you’re gonna tell me,” Gabriel interjected. “It’s not the hand you’re dealt, but how you play it.”
“You’re too impatient,” I offered.
“You don’t win that often,” Gabriel countered.
“True, probably because I don’t really care.” I set my cards down and drained my bottle of beer. Looking to Flynn, I added, “I’m really liking our new relationship with Diamond Creek Brewery.”
“Aren’t we all?” Diego offered from across the table.
Flynn cocked his head to the side as he gathered the cards and began shuffling. “That’s all Daphne’s doing. I never had time to nurture those business connections. Plus, we get a discount because once a month she helps them with their menu planning for free.”
“I think she loves doing that stuff,” Diego chimed in.
“Oh, hell yeah, she does,” Flynn agreed. “I swear, it’s a good thing she loves me the way I am. I’m sure she’d prefer a guy who would seduce her with food conversation. Man, she can talk food for hours.”
We all laughed. “I don’t think you need to worry on that account,” I offered.
Flynn’s gaze sobered as he dealt the cards. “No, I don’t think I do, which still blows my mind almost every day.”
Diego caught my eyes. “You’re on your way, man.”
“On my way to what?” I gathered up my cards, quickly sorting them.
“To being as whipped as Flynn,” Tucker offered with a roll of his eyes.
My heart twisted in my chest the moment I thought of Cammi. I knew my friends might be right, but I wasn’t ready to have a group chat about it. I shrugged lightly instead. “Maybe, maybe not.” When I lifted my eyes again, I remembered why having old friends was challenging occasionally. Every guy at this table knew what happened in the last relationship I’d let go anywhere. The friend who’d ruined it wasn’t here with us—Greg.
We’d all been tight in the Air Force. We had other friends we kept in touch with but this crew here was like family. There’s a reason we all ended up landing here with Flynn. Greg probably would’ve landed here too. Except maybe not because I probably would’ve found out he was fucking my girlfriend on the side, the very girlfriend I’d contemplated asking to marry me. I hadn’t taken that step, but it was out there. And, lo and behold, she was screwing around with one of my best friends on the side. That kind of betrayal stings and cuts both ways—deep. Even worse, Greg had screwed over another one of our friends too.
I never said it out loud, but after that, I figured I wasn’t going to ever trust anybody enough like that. That was the crazy thing about Cammi, I trusted her completely.
Diego held my eyes for a few beats, but he said nothing further. My friends, because they were that fucking solid, didn’t speak aloud the ghost that dashed through our conversation.
We played for a while more and then Flynn went to bed because Daphne was there waiting. Tucker and Gabriel decided to head into town, while Diego and I walked back to the staff house.
We were standing in the kitchen, and I was draining a glass of water when Diego asked, “You let that shit go yet?”
I knew what he meant, but because I could be a stubborn fool, I asked, “What shit?”
“Greg and Sandra.”
I set the water glass down and crossed over to flop onto the couch. Although four guys lived here, we kept it pretty clean. Diego was a bit of a mother hen, always tidying things up. He was also a damn good cook and would cook for us here if we missed dinner over at the resort. He followed me, sitting down at an angle across from me on the giant sectional couch, which was seriously comfortable, by the way.
Because he was a good guy and the best kind of friend, he turned on the news. I knew he wasn’t going to drop the topic, but he would give me the gift of some background noise.
“I think so,” I finally said. “It burns. Greg was my friend. If he’d survived, I could’ve given him hell and then moved on. We probably wouldn’t have stayed close, but I just fucking hate how it all played out. He’s dead, and I still fucking miss him sometimes. But he fucked me over behind my back with my girl. I’m actually more upset with him than her, or I was. With her, I let that go. It is what it is. Cheating is the oldest betrayal in the book.”
Diego had switched the channel to some singing reality show. I was temporarily distracted. “Dude, that singer definitely won’t be winning.”
“Agreed. Yeah, cheating happens to plenty of people. But, it’s not always with a good friend. I just wanna know if you’re going to give Cammi a real shot.”
I silently groaned. Diego was that friend, the one I usually turned to when I needed a good sounding board. The flip side to that was he had opinions, fucking opinions, about emotional shit. He was seriously tight with his family. When he fell, because it was a foregone conclusion he would fall, I sure hoped that girl was ready because this man was fierce.
“I’m gonna try. Is that good enough for you?”
He chuckled. “I think you already have. I just don’t want you to let your baggage get in the way.”
“Anybody ever tell you that you took the wrong career path?”
“What should I be doing?” he countered.
“You should’ve been a therapist. You’re always all up in my business, and not just mine.”
He threw his head back with a laugh. “I think I’d be too blunt for that. It’s only people I love I give a little hell to when it’s necessary.”
“I am forever grateful you’re my friend, man.” I meant it even if he drove me crazy on occasion.
He thumped his fist over his heart. “Same. I know you got my back.”
“Speaking of falling for someone, you know it’s going to be rough when you do. Because your turn will come, it’s only a matter of time.”
Diego’s gaze sobered. “I know. I’ve been in love before, so I know how hard it can bite.”
I wanted to press, but I was honestly tired. “I know damn straight this guy ain’t winning,” I said, shifting away from that heavy topic to the next singer on the show.
“Sure thing. Wanna bet five bucks?”
“Deal. I vote on whoever follows this guy.”
“You’re not even gonna wait to listen?” Diego countered.
“Nope. Speaking of five bucks, Faith told me you owe her,” I said, suddenly remembering my call with her.
Diego chuckled. “Oh, right. She called looking for you, and we bet on the game. I’ll give you extra if you win this bet.”
Turned out I actually won that five dollars, and Diego gave me the five more he owed Faith. Of course, I bought Diego’s coffee the next morning when Cammi refused to charge me for mine, so I didn’t keep it for long.
I paid for mine with a kiss and left her blushing as Diego chuckled, and we headed out for another delivery flight.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Cammi
“Well, underwriting approved it,” Shirley-at-the-bank, as I mentally called her in my head, said.
“They did?” I squeaked.
Susie, who sat beside me across from Shirley, lifted her fists in triumph. “Yes! I knew you were in a good position to do this, and I was right.”
Shirley laughed softly as she looked between us. “She was right. Now, go celebrate.”
“That’s it?” I asked as I looked between them.
“For now. The closing is scheduled for next Friday,” Shirley added.
I almost started crying, but I didn’t want to cry in front of Shirley, so I managed to keep it together. I burst into tears when Susie hugged me in the parking lot a few minutes later.
“Let’s go celebrate with lunch there. The sellers are ecstatic. They wanted somebody local. You’re your own competition now, girl.”
I st
epped back, and Susie produced a small package of tissues from her purse. I took several out and dabbed at my eyes before blowing my nose. Her brown eyes twinkled with her smile as she waited.
“Now, I’ve got to figure out what I’m gonna do with a whole café. I can’t believe it.”
Susie was on the bossy side as friends went, and she bundled me into her car and had me over at Misty Mountain Café inside of a few minutes. The owners weren’t there, but the staff knew I was buying the café and everyone was excited. We snagged a table in the corner, and I ordered my favorite sandwich there, the pesto turkey with gouda cheese.
“I think I’ll stick with their menu at first until I figure everything out. I’m kind of freaking out,” I said as I looked over at Susie.
She tucked her brown curls behind her ears and nodded. “It’ll be all right. I do their accounting so that’s all set. Don’t forget we budgeted that as part of your business plan. The accounting here is more complicated than what you’ve got at your little truck. For now, enjoy your lunch and just breathe. Also, catch me up on Elias.”
My cheeks got hot before I could formulate a reply. Susie burst out laughing. “I knew it!”
“Knew what?”
“That maybe there was a thing with you two.”
I took a breath, willing my blush to fade and knowing it wouldn’t. “Okay, fine, there’s a thing.”
Our sandwiches arrived, and we paused to start eating. Susie only let me have a few bites before she circled her hand in the air.
“Okay, okay. I don’t know what to do about him.”
“How about you fill me in? What’s the status? I know you went to the fundraiser together up in Kenai, but, what else?”
“I’m not gonna give you all the details, but let’s just say he’s great with his hands.”
