by Jamie Wesley
“No.” His grin broadened.
She yelped and ran.
He caught up with her in a few strides and threw her over his shoulder. She beat on his back and laughed. “Put me down!”
He tapped her on the butt. “No can do. There’s only one place to solve this. In the water.”
“What?” she shrieked. “If you throw me in the lake, I will kill you.”
He never broke stride.
***
Malcolm closed Val’s cabin door behind him and started the trek back to his cabin with an undeniable lightness to his step. One that would undoubtedly shock his sisters, but one he was happy to indulge in.
A shower with Val was definitely the right way to start the day—even if he’d had to suffer the indignity of getting kicked out of yoga class to make it happen. He’d had no intention of throwing her in the lake, but once the idea of seeing her wet had penetrated his brain, he’d been a man on a mission. So back to her cabin they’d gone.
A joint shower had turned out to be one of the best ideas he’d ever had.
Naked Val was always good. Wet, naked Val was even better. Soaping her up. Worshipping that magnificent body of hers with his hands and mouth. Sliding to the floor of the shower to bring her to climax with his tongue.
Malcolm groaned, thankful there was no one around to hear him. He was having fun. And he hadn’t thought about work since knocking on Val’s door last night. Usually, he would have spent the night obsessing over his visit with the Sex Sells judges and trying to figure out how to make his presentation better. He didn’t regret a moment of not doing that. Because of Val.
His cell phone buzzed. He dug it out of his pocket, already knowing who was on the other end. “Hello, Tori.”
“Hey, Malcolm. I haven’t heard from you in a few days. Just wanted to make sure you were still alive.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m still alive. Still at the place you sent me to.”
“The Sex Sells people called and asked to move up our interviews since they ran into you at the camp. They came by this morning. They said you looked like you were having a great time.”
“Wasn’t that the point of me coming here?”
“Yes. Chill, please. I’m just telling you what they said. They also said when they saw you, you were with someone named Valerie, who’s also a finalist.”
Tori was fishing. But he knew her better than she knew herself. That’s what she got for crawling into his bed so many times as kids because she had to tell her secrets to someone and, according to her, he always listened. But, unlike her, he knew how to keep his trap shut. “Yeah, she’s the dance instructor who’s choreographing our routine for your wedding.”
“Oh, is that it?”
No, that sure as hell wasn’t it. But he wasn’t getting into this with his little sister. Especially since he didn’t know if there was anything to get into. “Yes.”
“Oh.” Her voice perked up. “Well, I showed them some of the ideas you sent me for the presentation. James told me you said weren’t ready to show him the concepts, but I felt like we needed to wet their appetite, so I gave them a little taste. They loved them, so keep on doing what you’re doing. Nature is agreeing with your creativity. This is going to be our big break. I can feel it.”
Tori was right. This contest was his chance to prove he had what it took to coordinate a major marketing plan and take their company to the next level. He just had to continue doing what he was doing. Letting Val be his inspiration.
EIGHT
“Ooh, can we rehearse with him?” Shelley, one of Val’s students said, asked as Malcolm walked into the studio.
“Can we rehearse on him?” Dina, another student, asked in a not-so-quiet tone. “I’ve seen you around.”
Malcolm froze, then looked over his shoulder at the door like he was considering making a run for it.
Val struggled to hold in her laughter. “I don’t think so, ladies. Y’all did great today. Same time, same place tomorrow.”
The women grumbled, but gathered their belongings, and made their way to the door. Gabby shot her a thumbs-up sign behind her back on her way out behind the other women. Val shook her head and turned her attention to her next student.
“How was your day?” Because she could and because she couldn’t help herself, she pecked him on the lips. She stepped back, but he snagged her around the waist and drew her back for a more thorough kiss that left her biting her lip to keep from begging for more.
He knew anyway, if his arrogant grin was any indication. “Now, it’s going great. How was your day?”
She’d missed him. Thought of him way more than she should have. And there was no way she was admitting any of that out loud. “Well, first, I got kicked out of sunrise yoga. Then some guy pretended like he was going to throw me in the lake. Then I taught my classes.”
“Sounds interesting.”
“I bet.” Val started the music and held out her arms. Malcolm stepped effortlessly into position like they’d been partners for years.
“One, two, three.” She counted out the beat and they began to move. “Watch your arms,” she reminded him gently. “What did you do today?”
“I went to Cooking for the Senses class.”
Stunned, she stopped mid-step to stare at him. Mr. Workaholic had participated in a camp activity of his own free will? “You did not.”
“Why do you continuously doubt me, woman?”
Good question. “You’re right. My bad.” She picked up the dance again. “Learn anything?”
He grinned. “Maybe.”
“Ooh, plot twist.”
“You don’t have to perform tonight, right? I looked at the schedule.”
She shook her head. “No, there’s a campfire tonight instead. Your chance to make s’mores.”
“A lifelong dream, I must admit, but why don’t we skip the campfire tonight and go exploring? I’ll show you what I learned in class.”
Valerie missed a step. Twice in two minutes. She never missed a step. “Like a…date?”
“Not like a date. A date exactly.” He continued dancing the routine perfectly like he hadn’t just dropped a bomb on her. If she didn’t find his confidence so enticing, she’d kick him.
“Oh.” A date changed things. Made it seem like whatever they were engaging in was real.
“It’ll be fun,” he said. “You’re the one always telling me to have some fun, remember?”
Indeed, she was. Still, as they twirled around the room, she couldn’t help but feel like she’d been deftly handled by a master manipulator. Or maybe she was telling herself that to distract from the excitement breakdancing through her veins. “Okay, fine. We can skip the campfire.”
When was the last time a guy wanted to take her out on something as normal as a date? She couldn’t remember. And wasn’t that embarrassing? But it would be fine. No need to panic. She’d been on plenty of dates. Sure, not with men like Malcolm, but dates nevertheless. It was so not a big deal.
She was ready to call herself a liar two hours later as she stared at the contents of her closet in dismay. “I have nothing to wear.”
She hadn’t expected to meet a guy here. She hadn’t expected to meet Malcolm. She’d planned on teaching her classes and working on her presentation for the Sex Sells contest. Men were not part of the equation. Yet here she was freaking out because all she had to wear was workout gear, shorts, tank tops, and dance costumes. Nothing sophisticated. Nothing remotely date-worthy. Malcolm would probably break out a three-piece suit.
“Get a grip. He will not.” After all, they were going “exploring.” Was that an Ivy-League euphemism for sex? Val laughed. Well, if it was, it didn’t really matter what she wore. Well, except for cute underwear.
She was cool. She had this. She knew how to handle men. Wardrobe limitations aside, there was no reason she couldn’t dazzle him as best as she could. She grabbed a cute, peach-colored top and a pair of cutoffs that showed off her legs, Malcolm’s f
avorite feature of hers.
When she was ready, she studied herself in the mirror. The shirt was slightly sheer, hinting at what lay underneath. Just enough to hopefully send Malcolm’s imagination into overdrive. Perfect.
Only a couple more steps. Her usual ponytail would not do tonight. She brushed her hair until it shone and left it to fall down her back. She took special care with her makeup, highlighting her eyes and adding a shiny gloss to her lips.
Malcolm’s eyes widened with appreciation when she opened the door. “You look terrific.”
“Thanks. You don’t clean up too bad yourself.” He’d gone casual in a blue, short-sleeved button-down shirt and khaki shorts. He still looked like a J. Crew model. He couldn’t help it. And she liked it. A lot. Ooh, but he hadn’t shaved. He was bringing out the big guns. He knew the way to her heart, err, panties. Definitely not her heart. It was not up for grabs.
“Thank you,” he said. “Ready to go?”
“Yep.” She stepped onto her porch. Faint wisps of smoke curled through the trees. The smell of burning wood tickled her nose. She pointed toward the boathouse. “They’re holding the campfire over there. We should go the other way if we want to avoid people.”
Malcolm followed her down the stairs. “Why do I feel like a teen sneaking out of the house under my parents’ noses? And before you ask, no, I never snuck out of the house.”
“Before you ask, I did.” To get away from her mom and her latest love of her life who would inevitably turn out to be latest weasel of the week.
“But you weren’t with me, so this will be a lot more fun.”
“Keep talking that smooth talk, Harvard. It might get you somewhere someday.” They came to the spot that led to the main lodge. She pointed to another unmarked path. “I’ve never been down this trail. Want to try it?”
“Lead on, camp instructor.” He took her hand. She didn’t pull away. She liked it too much. She was in so much trouble. She had a crush on him. A serious, bona fide crush.
As they wandered down the path, the sounds of laughter and crackling fire got more and more distant. The brush also got more and more unkempt as they traveled farther into the woods. The wind whistled through the trees, while a few birds called to each other. Other than that, it was quiet. Nice. Until a faint whooshing noise reached her ears.
“What’s that?” Malcolm asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Let’s keep going and find out.”
They continued down the path until Malcolm stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Wait. Are we going to be the black people who always get murdered first in horror movies because we were too stupid to stop walking through the dark alley toward the strange noise instead of away from it?”
Valerie’s shoulders shook with laughter. His dry sense of humor got her every time. Every time she thought she had him figured out, he surprised her. “Don’t worry. I’ll save you.”
The whooshing sounds got louder. She picked up the pace. “I think I know what that is.” She’d heard about the falls, but hadn’t seen them yet. They were supposed to be amazing. They rounded the corner and there they were. Firefly Falls. A cluster of three waterfalls, each one more spectacular than the last, fell over a cliff into a pool of water.
“This is kind of incredible,” he said. “I had no idea this was here.”
She bumped him with her hip. “Aren’t you glad we didn’t chicken out? You don’t get to see waterfalls every day in Boston.”
“I am. I’m happier I brought food after that hike.” He held up the wicker picnic basket he’d brought along.
Val snorted. “You’re just saying that so you can show off your culinary skills.”
“I am.”
Val rubbed her hands together. “Let’s see what you got then, big shot.”
He opened the basket and drew out an orange blanket with the camp’s logo emblazoned on it. He shrugged. “Had to work with what I had.” After they settled on the blanket, Malcolm took a bottle of wine and some plastic containers out of the basket. He opened the containers to reveal potato salad, cut veggies, deviled eggs, and chicken salad sandwiches.
Val’s heart skipped a beat. He’ done all this? For her? She drew his head toward her for a soft kiss. “This looks fantastic. Thank you. Did you really make all of this?”
A sheepish grin spread across his face. “As tempting as it is to lie and say yes, no, I didn’t make it. I bribed Meg, the chef, into making dinner for us.” He held up a hand. “But I did make the dessert. I’m saving that for later though.”
He pulled out two plates and piled food on them, then opened the wine. They ate in silence for a few minutes, the sound of the waterfalls offering a romantic soundtrack. When she was done, Val sighed. “Thanks again. That was great.”
“You have room for dessert?”
She opened her eyes wide. “Of course. I can’t wait to taste your masterpiece.”
He reached into the basket and pulled out another container. He opened it and passed it to her.
Val’s mouth dropped open. He’d made the camp’s signature dessert, the firefly, a spun sugar cage in the shape of a bug. He’d even recreated the wings. “You made this?”
He nodded. “With my own two hands.”
Val took a bite of the dessert. The flavors burst onto her tongue in all their sugary glory. She moaned. “This is amazing.”
“Allison, the pastry chef, said I made the best in the class.” He sounded way too pleased with himself.
She studied him, wanting to understand him. Needing to understand him. “That’s important to you. Being the best at whatever you do.”
Malcolm shrugged. “It’s been my mindset for as long as I can remember. My parents instilled a sense of ambition and responsibility in me when I was a kid. I was the oldest. I was expected to live up to the family name.”
“You didn’t find that stifling?”
“He shook his head. “No. For one, it was all I knew. I thought all parents were like that. But even if they weren’t, I would have done it to myself. I’ve always been driven. I have high expectations for myself.”
“That’s how you ended up at Harvard.”
“Yes. I followed in my father’s footsteps. He got business degrees from Harvard, and so did I. He went into corporate marketing, and so did I.”
Val’s head tilted to the side. “Do you love what you do or are you doing it because it’s what your father wanted?”
He blinked like the question had never occurred to him. “Does it matter?”
“Yes, I think it does. You only have one life to live.”
He shrugged. “I like it. I did rebel in one area. I didn’t take a job at his company when I graduated.”
Despite everything he’d just revealed, she wasn’t surprised. “You wanted to forge your own path.”
“Yes. And I did.”
Of that, she had no doubt. But had he ever stopped to enjoy the journey? “So it worked out well for you.”
He grimaced. Shook his head. “It did until I got fired.”
This is what he’d referred to last night, when he mentioned failing, but he’d moved on quickly before she could ask him about it. She laid a hand on his knee. “What happened?”
Malcolm stared off into the distance. “Instead of getting the promotion I’d been working toward for years, I was told my work was no longer acceptable. I didn’t fit the corporate culture and my services would no longer be needed.” His flat tone didn’t disguise his pain.
Her heart squeezed in sympathy. “I’m sorry.”
The turmoil in his eyes ate at her. “It was the first time I’d ever failed at anything. The most humbling experience of my life. The first time being the hardest worker or getting the best grades didn’t get me anywhere.” His head dropped. “I let my parents down.”
Val jerked back in surprise. “What? No, you didn’t. I doubt they expect you to be perfect.”
He shrugged. “Satisfied Lingerie is my second chance. I have to mak
e sure the company succeeds. I have to succeed.” His singlemindedness was plain to see on his face.
She cleared away their plates, then crawled into his lap and wrapped her arm around his shoulders. She laid her head against his chest. “Can I tell you something?”
He squeezed her waist. “Anything.”
“I like you.”
“I know.”
She raised her head to shoot him a look. “I’m sure you do, but do you want to know why?”
He grinned. “I’m always open to compliments.”
“I like you because of who you are, not because of what you do for a living. I like the man who holds his parents in such esteem. The man who works to make his sister’s wedding dream come true even if he can’t stand the man she’s marrying. The man who checks on me when he’s worried about me. You’re too hard on yourself.”
“Thank you.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You’re one to talk though. You know that, right?”
She sighed and settled back against him. “I know.”
“What was your childhood like?”
Val sighed again and drew up the memories she usually tried very hard not to think about. “Not the best. My mom and dad split when I was two. He was never part of my life. I don’t think my mom ever got over him. At least that’s what I told myself as I endured her parade of boyfriends. We didn’t have the best relationship. Maternal instincts weren’t really her thing. I was told I was on my own the day after I graduated from high school. According to her, I was lucky she let me stay that long. I had food and a place to live, but expecting anything more was out of the question.”
“Are you serious?” Anger darkened his tone.
“Oh yeah. But I took it in stride. Or at least that’s what I told myself that’s what I was doing. I wasn’t going to be like her, looking for love in all the wrong places. Except I totally did. Fell for all the lines about how I was their one and only true love.” Val took a deep breath. “When you’re told over and over that you’re only good for sex by people who claim to care about you, it’s hard not to believe them.”
