The Hookup Hoax (Entangled Lovestruck)

by Heather Thurmeier

  Oh, and reliving his parents’ accident. Nothing major.

  “How are you doing?” he asked.

  “Better than you, by the looks of it. What’s wrong with your back?”

  “I’m used to sitting at a desk, not hammering shingles.” He shrugged then winced. Olivia watched as he attempted to rub the tension out of his shoulders. He finally gave up and sighed with defeat, unable to relieve his discomfort.

  “Come here.” She motioned him over to sit between her legs, facing the lake. “Let me massage your shoulders.”

  For a nanosecond he toyed with the idea of refusing, then peeled himself out of the chair to sit on the deck instead. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a shoulder rub and he wasn’t about to miss out on the opportunity now.

  As her fingers pressed into his tight muscles, he groaned. Her hands on his body felt good, and not because of what they did for his tension. She hadn’t been close to him like this for so long. He missed having her near.

  He wasn’t tired, but he suddenly couldn’t wait to climb into bed for the night.

  Her fingers moved in slow circles, stretching out the tightness. With each press and release, he sank against her more, trying hard not to think about how he was currently between her legs. The last time he’d been between them had been incredible. He could imagine it would be even better the next time—not that she planned on giving him a next time. He’d have to see what he could do about that.

  She stroked up the back of his neck and into his hair, then slowly made her way back down to his shoulders. Over and over again, she teased him with her touch. He longed to have her touch him other places with this same kind of attention and time commitment.

  “God, that feels good, sugar,” he said with a sigh of deep pleasure. “Don’t stop.”

  Her hands stilled, resting on his shoulders. “Sorry. My hands are sore.”

  He mumbled his thanks and twisted slightly so he could rest his head on her thigh. Peering out over the water, he could think of nowhere else he’d rather be than with her in this moment.

  He’d never really been a guy who enjoyed sitting around taking in the scenery at the cabin. He’d rather be out doing something—swimming, drinking, boating on the lake, or making a bonfire. But in his current position, he didn’t want to be anywhere else, with anyone else. He felt perfectly content exactly where he was—with Olivia.

  When Gran suggested dessert a few short minutes later, he could’ve killed her. Olivia was the first to jump at the chance to get everyone a slice of pie and refill of their coffees. She seemed to love helping Gran in the kitchen. He’d heard them in there earlier, chatting and laughing, and it had stirred something up inside him, but he hadn’t figured out what it was yet, exactly.

  After a large slice of apple pie and ice cream, she insisted on washing the dishes, and he took the opportunity to bring in more firewood from the stack out back. The weather was warm during the day, but the nights still dipped into the forties. Gran liked to warm the place up with a fire the last hour or two before everyone turned in for the night. He’d volunteered for duty that evening.

  As he lit the fire, Olivia excused herself for bed. He didn’t try to stop her since he could see the dark shadows under her eyes already.

  “No cuddling on the couch with the little lady tonight?” Tyler asked, flopping down in the armchair a little while later. “Isn’t that what people in love are supposed to do? Cuddle in front of the fireplace.”

  Sawyer fisted his hands and relaxed them again before speaking. The last thing he needed was to deal with Tyler. He didn’t have the energy after the long day. “She’s still recovering from her boat ride with you.”

  “That spin around the lake really got you worked up, didn’t it? Or was that tough guy overreaction for Gran’s benefit? Still trying to convince us all that you actually love her, huh?”

  “My feelings for her are none of your business,” he said in a low voice, barely controlled. “Instead of worrying about my relationship, why don’t you go take care of your pregnant wife?”

  On cue, Sophia called from the bedroom. “Babe, can you bring me a water?” Tyler looked as if he wanted to say more, but instead rose and fetched his wife a drink, leaving Sawyer alone with only the crackle of the fire for company.

  Did he love Olivia? No, but he sure as hell had been scared when he’d heard her screams coming from the lake. Was that simply a symptom of dealing with his parents’ accident after all these years?

  He wandered out to the deck and leaned on the railing, staring out at the black water and the starlight twinkling on the surface. The cabin was the place he felt closest to his parents—as if they were still out there on the water somewhere and if he waited long enough they might come home.

  “What are you doing out here?” Olivia said, joining him.

  “The fire’s already smoldering. A little longer and it’ll be safe to leave it for the night.” He breathed in the cool night air, feeling like he could never get enough of it after all the time he spent in the city.

  Shivering beside him, Olivia rubbed her hands up and down her bare arms. She’d come out in her pajamas, which weren’t warm enough for the temperature drop at night. “It’s beautiful out here. Peaceful.”

  He slipped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his embrace. She stiffened. “Just trying to keep you from freezing, sugar. I can’t have you freezing out here or Gran will never let me hear the end of it.” She relaxed and he went back to watching the water.

  This, he could get used to.

  “I can see why you like it out here.”

  “It’s one of my favorite places. I’m glad you’re here to see it.”

  “Me, too.”

  “I’m sorry about my cousin. He was completely out of line. If I’d known, I would never have let you go.”

  “You can’t stop me from doing something I want to do, and I wanted to go along for the ride. If it were up to you, I would’ve sat around on my ass all day reading.”

  “But it’s such a nice ass,” he teased, fighting the urge to touch the anatomy in question. He sighed. “I don’t mean to be overbearing or a tyrant of a boyfriend. It’s just this lake and the accident and you… I guess I lost my mind for a second.”

  “I get it, and if I’d known Tyler was taking me for a joyride, I never would’ve gone.”

  He ran his hand up her shoulder and into her hair, toying with the silky strands. “If only I could forget. It’s this place. It does something to me. Makes me face the things I don’t necessarily want to deal with. But yet, I love it here.”

  “I completely understand why you would do anything you can to keep it. But even if Tyler gets it, won’t you still be able to come here once in a while?”

  He shrugged. “I doubt it. Tyler is very possessive of his things. I can’t say for sure, but from the way he’s acted so far, I’d say the cabin is just another possession to him, and one he won’t be inclined to share.”

  She peered up at him, twisting slightly in his arms. Her gaze darted into the house, then her hand cupped his jaw, coaxing him toward her. When her lips pressed to his in a light kiss, it felt as if everything in his world clicked into place—her, him, the cool breeze blowing off the lake, the stars in all their glory, and the sweetest, most delicious mouth on his.

  Before the kiss could go further, she pulled away. “Gran’s watching. I think it’s time for bed.” She slipped her hand into his and pulled him to the door leading directly to their bedroom.

  Safely in their room, Olivia crawled under the covers and picked up her book as if she hadn’t just kissed him.

  He slipped off his shirt and dropped it to the floor. “Thanks.”

  “For what?” she asked, setting her book face down on the blankets.

  “For that, out there. You didn’t have to do that to convince Gran.”

  “I know. I wanted…” She bit her lip and picked up her book again, focusing on it. “Never mind.”
/>   Wanted what? To kiss me?

  As much as this whole relationship was an act with her, he enjoyed having her here. She fit in like she’d always been a part of the family. It was…nice. Too nice, probably. The kind of nice that would cause him problems later on.

  But I wanted that kiss, too. And another one.

  His shorts joined his shirt on the floor. No point in trying to prevent them from wrinkling since they were beyond filthy after all the work he’d done today. He climbed into bed with just his boxers on.

  “You’re not coming to bed like that, are you?” she asked, eyeing him from over the top of her book. Her gaze traveled the length of his body and his dick twitched to life. He quickly pulled the blanket over himself, ignoring his awakening desire.

  “I am,” he said. “I usually sleep naked. I could do that if you prefer.”

  Her breasts strained against the thin tank top material, her nipples already beaded.

  Fuck me! He wanted to be with her again so badly it almost hurt. He definitely wouldn’t mind sleeping naked if there was a possibility it would lead to more interesting nighttime activities with Olivia. All she had to do was say the word.

  Her breath hitched. Instead of answering him, she put her book on the nightstand, shut off her light, and laid down on her side. But she faced toward him, not away like he’d expected.

  He sank deeper in the blankets and turned toward her. Her eyes were closed but not yet peaceful. Her breaths still came quickly, wavering softly. A strand of hair across her cheek caught his attention. Without thinking, he tucked it behind her ear.

  Her features relaxed and the creases beside her eyes softened with his touch as he trailed his fingertips along her jaw. Her lips parted with a tiny gasp. He stroked the line of her bottom lip and waited her to say something, or open her eyes to meet his gaze, but she remained still, ignoring his advances.

  Finally, he withdrew his hand and rested it on the bed between them, disappointed at her lack of interest in his touch. A moment later her hand crept out from beneath the covers and settled next to his. For a second her finger gently swept across his knuckles.

  As he listened to her breathing even out in the darkness cocooning them from the rest of the world, he wondered how he’d gotten to this point. He’d never been comfortable sleeping with a woman when it meant actually sleeping. He was a “sleep with a woman and then bail to head home to his own bed” kind of guy. Yet tonight, he couldn’t think of anywhere else he wanted to be. Except maybe wrapped around her body…

  Damn it! He wasn’t supposed to want her this much. He shouldn’t want her this much. It was too complicated for both of them.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Olivia downed half a bottle of water with the last bite of her sandwich. Everyone had taken a break to eat before getting started with the afternoon work. As she cleaned her dishes in the sink, Sawyer walked in with his. She took them and added them to the bubbles.

  “Thank you for helping Gran today. She never complains, but I know she’s finding the work harder this year. I know she appreciated your help.”

  She’d worked non-stop all morning—not that she was complaining—with Gran in the small garden on the side of the house. Just before noon, they’d gotten the last of the seeds planted and the weeds cleaned out. It would still take some weekly maintenance by Gran, but she should get a nice harvest after all their hard work today.

  “No problem. I’m happy to help and keep busy. And I liked working with Gran in the garden. It was more fun than work, actually. She’s such a nice lady.” Feeling like a part of the Sterling family was a perk of their arrangement she’d never expected, and she was reveling in it for as long as she could, even if it meant getting dirt under her nails. “What else can I do this afternoon?”

  “I’d love it if you’d do me a favor,” he said.

  “Name it.” She put the last of the plates onto the dish rack to dry and let the sink drain while she wiped her hands.

  “Go sit in the sun and read for a while,” he said. “I know you want to help, but you’ve already done more than your share. I want you to have some time to relax this weekend.”

  “Will you join me? You need time to relax too you know.” If it was good for her, it was good for him. Only the man’s work ethic—at his regular job and here, apparently—continually got in the way.

  “I need to finish putting on the new window screens,” he said. When she arched an eyebrow, challenging him silently, he sighed and she knew she’d won. “I’ll try to finish up and join you later. Okay?”

  “Deal.” She grabbed an apple from the fridge, craving the crisp, sweet freshness, and gave it a quick rinse as he walked out the door. “But if Gran asks me for help again later, I’m going to stop that whole relaxing thing you mentioned.”

  He chuckled as he walked outside, leaving her alone in the kitchen. If she had some free time on her hands, maybe she’d run down to the lake and wash the garden off herself with a swim.

  Digging a swimsuit out of her bag, she quickly changed then grabbed a towel, sunscreen, her water bottle, and a novel before going out to the deck. The cabin overlooked the lake, which sparkled invitingly as the sunlight reflected off the surface. Wanting a little privacy, she found a tiny, mostly overgrown path and dodged plants along the way. Moments later it opened up to another lake access area, only this one seemed secluded and unused. The grass was long, the small sandy beach was littered with driftwood, and a boat lay upside down just above the shoreline. By how far it was sunken into the sand, she guessed it hadn’t been used in years.

  Figuring she was safe to relax there, she cleared away a section of debris from the beach and unfolded her towel. She sat for a while, peering out over the lake, enjoying the gentle lapping of the waves on the beach. All the tension and stress weighing her down for the last couple of months melted away, and a sense of calmness settled in.

  Soon her skin radiated with heat from soaking in the sun, and the water called to her. She stood and pulled the light sundress she’d worn over her head, laying it carefully on the towel, tucking it under her book so it wouldn’t blow away in the breeze.

  Shrieking as frigid water splashed over her ankles, she considered turning around and heading for her towel again, but without an option for shade, this was the only way to cool off.

  “Holy mother of God, it’s freezing.” She cupped water in her hands and attempted to acclimate herself to the temperature by pouring it over her arms and legs. It didn’t work. Instead she simultaneously shivered and burned up.

  “You’re doing it wrong.”

  She screamed and twisted, almost losing her balance. “What are you doing here?”

  “I could ask you the same thing,” Sawyer said.

  “You told me to relax, so I came for a swim. I thought you’d be happy I was finally out of the way.”

  “Not that you’re overly dramatic or anything.”

  She shook her head and put her hands on her hips. “I wasn’t trying to be dramatic. And I didn’t intend to pull you away from whatever it was you were doing.”

  He moved to her towel and toed off his shoes. “I know you didn’t, but I noticed you disappear down my trail and I figured I should come check on you.”

  Why did he take off his shoes? He’s not staying.

  “Well, I’m okay, if you want to go back.”

  Hint, hint.

  “The lake looks pretty irresistible.” His gaze was solidly locked on hers and nowhere near the lake. “I think I might stay and take a dip, enjoy the sunshine and nice scenery for a bit before I get back to work.”

  She swallowed hard as his shirt came off and joined her dress. The way the sunlight hit his chest, highlighting the dusting of hair, made her body feel fifty times hotter than a moment before. “I didn’t realize you were wearing your swim trunks under your clothes,” she said, trying desperately to focus her thoughts.

  “I’m not.” He unzipped his cargo shorts and let them fall to the ground. Toned
, tanned legs disappeared beneath his tight navy blue boxer briefs and her head suddenly spun like she’d had too much to drink. The form-fitting fabric cupped him, showing off the anatomy she’d been trying so hard to forget.

  As he strode toward her, she wrenched her gaze from his package, finally looking him in the eyes again. When she did, he cocked an eyebrow.

  “What?”

  He smirked. “Nothing, sugar. Nothing at all.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her deeper into the lake.

  Her body reacted to his term of endearment even as her mind rebelled against it. Heat flooded her system, but not from the sun. His words were like kindling to the desire that smoldered deep in her belly every time he was around.

  Icy wetness hit her knees and she squealed again, her mind finally clearing enough to think straight. Submerging sounded like a bad idea, especially since Sawyer was involved. The last thing she wanted to do was be dripping wet and cold to the point of glass-cutting nipples. Wearing her bikini in front of him was bad enough. “I changed my mind. The water is freezing.”

  “Oh no. You got me in here, you have to come too.”

  “You’re the one who interrupted my solitude then stripped down to your skivvies.” Her tone was meant to challenge him, but it didn’t seem to be working, as he pulled her in further.

  “I didn’t think you’d appreciate me skinny dipping, but if you’d prefer, I’d be happy to slip out of these and toss them back on shore.” He dropped her hand and reached for the waistband.

  As much as she wanted to dare him to do it, she held her ground, refusing to give in to temptation. Being with him again would not make her life easier.

  “Let’s do it already,” she said hastily, trying to dissuade him from taking off his remaining clothing.

  “Do it, huh? If you insist.”

  Before she could object, his arms circled her waist and he pulled her body flush to his. His fingers toyed with the edge of her bikini bottoms as if he might slip beneath the material to cup her naked skin. She gasped as intense pleasure rocketed through her.