Dean kept climbing, chasing his breath. “Not much.”
Mercifully, the stairs finally ended, leading to a well-beaten path weaving through the trees. Navigating the thin trail, he suddenly stopped and Evy ran into him from behind.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered, taking his hand.
“Don’t move. Just stay still.”
Something moved in the bushes up ahead, making her pounding heart pound even harder. They were all alone in the woods and something was coming closer. Something big. When it pushed through the brush and stepped out onto the trail, their eyes widened with surprise. Loosening her death grip on Dean’s hand, Evy started breathing again.
“That thing is huge,” she panted, watching a deer pick at a juneberry bush up ahead on the right.
“That’s a ten-point buck,” Dean whispered back, admiring the massive creature. “I thought it was a bear for sure.”
“Me too. It sounded huge.”
Dean looked at her. “We should get some bear spray,” he said, taking her hand and carefully continuing up the trail.
Chewing on some leaves, the deer jerked its oily eyes to them before leaping into the trees. Sharing a smile, they listened to its heavy steps fade away.
“That was awesome,” Dean said, helping Evy over a fallen tree blocking the path.
Around the next bend, a blue neon sign appeared off in the distance, glowing brightly in the shade. “Thank God,” she panted. “My legs are dying.”
“I don’t remember this hill being so steep.”
“Are you sure this place is even open? There’s nobody here.”
Stepping out into a small gravel clearing, Dean scanned the lonely shack. A neon Pabst sign hanging in a window confirmed they had what he was after and the lights were on inside, but the lot was just as empty as the dirt road running out front. “This place is more for the locals than anyone else,” he told her, leading her closer. “Most people don’t even know about it.”
“Did your dad used to take you here?”
“Sometimes, but he didn’t like the stairs.”
“So, you knew about the stairs!”
Stopping at the front door, they peered at a handwritten note taped to the other side of the filmy glass.
Ma fell again and hurt her hip. Off to clinic in town.
Help yourself and leave $ in register.
No cameras here but God is always watchin!
Jr.
“Oh. My. God.” Gravity pulled on Evy’s jawbone. “I love this lake; it’s like living in Mayberry.”
Dean snorted. “We are going to rob this place blind.”
Evy laughed and something inhuman cried out in the trees, silencing her merriment. “What was that?” she asked in a cold whisper, gripping his hand.
“I don’t know,” he replied, opening the door for her. “Come on.”
Inside, the smell of stale fish and popcorn rushed to greet them. The shop was long and narrow. A glowing double cooler sitting at the far end pulled them closer. Weaving through a thin aisle, they passed shelves of overpriced chips, candy bars, and batteries. Off to the side, reels of fishing line, lures, and flashlights lined a long wall – illuminated by a tank of watchful minnows. Dean grabbed a cold twelve pack from the cooler and brought it to the glass counter. Zippos, pocketknives, and pints of bourbon and vodka filled the brightly lit shelves inside. Trading an uncertain look with his wife, he went around and stopped in front of an old-fashioned cash register.
“These people are insane.” He looked up from the open drawer. “Look at all this money!”
Evy stole a piece of popcorn from a red maker on wheels. “If this was Milwaukee,” she said, popping it into her mouth, “everything would already be gone, including the cash register.”
Fishing a money clip from his boardshorts, he deposited a twenty and a five into the correct slots before taking three dollars back. “Yeah, and at twenty-two bucks a twelve pack, turns out we’re the ones getting robbed.”
“We could’ve just waited until we went to the marina for lunch,” Evy told him, spinning a display case of butane lighters shaped like fishing poles and rifles.
“We’ve got a couple hours before lunch and I want to take you to Hangman’s Hollow at the other end of the lake. Trust me, we’ll need some liquid courage for it.”
She looked up. “Hangman’s Hollow?”
“Thirteen people have died there over the years; you’ll love it.” Leaving the drawer open, he leaned against the counter between them. “Well, anything else I can get for you today, Ma’am?” he asked in a hillbilly drawl, sliding the beer across the glass to her.
Evy glanced around the charming shop. “Yeah, do you have any sunscreen? I am getting fried out there today.”
“We sure do,” he answered, coming around the counter and showing her to aisle number two. “I recommend a high SPF on a hot day like this.” He popped the top on a blue bottle of Coppertone Sport. “Now, where exactly does it sting?”
“My shoulders,” she indicated, turning to a window overlooking a swath of tall pines.
“Okay, if y’all just go ahead and remove your shirt, we’ll getcha fixed up in a jiff.”
Staring at his faint reflection in the glass, she furrowed her brow. “My shirt?”
“Just want to make sure we hit all the hard-to-reach-spots, Ma’am.” His reflection winked at her. “No stone unturned as they say.”
“Wow, you people sure like to go out of your way around here,” she said, hesitantly pulling her t-shirt over her head to expose a red bikini beneath.
Squirting sunscreen into a palm, he rubbed his hands together. “We aim ta please,” he said, gently massaging the red skin around her shoulders. “Say, you’re new around here, aren’t ya?”
“I am,” she replied, letting the t-shirt slip from her fingers to the floor when he found her neck. “I’m up here with my husband for his family reunion.”
“Family reunion? Well now, don’t that beat all,” he continued in a country twang, pulling on the lower bikini bow and letting the strings fall down her back.
“Umm,” Evy said, holding the top against her. “That’s probably good enough. Thank you, sir.”
“Just being cautious, Ma’am. It’s hotter than a pickle out there today.”
Shutting her eyes, Evy hung her head and let him smooth the knots in her back. Truth be told, she was sore as hell from hanging onto the wakeboard rope yesterday and this felt wonderful. His slippery fingertips dug into her tight muscles, loosening her from head to foot. “That…feels amazing.”
“What’s your name, little lady?”
“Monica.”
“Monica,” he repeated, kneading her flesh. “That’s a purty name for a purty lady.”
“Thank you.”
“Whereabouts is your husband today anyway?”
“Oh, he’s off playing golf with his cousins,” she answered, melting beneath his magic touch. “Again.”
“Well,” he replied, pulling on her top bow. “Shame he left you all alone on such a beautiful day.”
“Isn’t it? I don’t know what to do with myself.”
His hands slid down her back, making goosebumps spout along her arms. “Good thing you stopped by. I might have an idea or two for ya.”
Holding the bikini top to her chest, her body jerked in rhythm with his probing hands. She was so relaxed and tingly, it felt like she was hovering above the cracked linoleum. “You never told me your name,” she whispered, loving the way his hands felt against her hips.
“Jr,” he replied, pulling her against him and making her gasp. “Been here for over thirty years.”
“That’s a long time, Jr,” she said, rubbing against him.
“Yes Monica, it’s a very long time.” Reaching around and unbuttoning her jeans shorts, he slipped a hand down the front of her bikini.
Monica tipped her head back against him and ran a hand through his hair, letting the bikini top fall to the floor to join her shi
rt. “It must get lonely up here.”
“Oh, it sure does,” Jr whispered in her ear. “Real lonely.”
A sharp intake of air lifted her breasts. “You really are hitting every spot, aren’t you?”
“Your satisfaction is our first priority, Ma’am.” Breathing harder, he massaged her slippery lips, making her legs tremble.
Monica reached behind her and found the bump in his shorts.
“Looks like you found the lunker.”
“Looks like I did,” she said, turning to face him. “Now, if you’re going to fuck me, Jr, you better do it before my husband gets back from playing golf.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be quick.”
“But not too…” A high-pitched shriek bolted past her lips when he picked her up and carried her to the counter. Shoving the twelve -pack aside and setting her on the glass, he pulled her shorts down over her sandals, taking the red bikini bottoms with them. Jr tossed them over his shoulder without looking and kissed her deep and long, head tipping this way and that. His breath hot against her cheek, their tongues danced to the bubbles playing softly inside the tank across the room. Monica drew apart and hurriedly untied his shorts. They slid to the floor and, like a moth to a flame, her hand drew to the cock throbbing between his legs. Peeking over his shoulder at the front door, her greedy strokes quickened his breath.
“You better fuck me good, Jr.”
Jr spread her legs apart and wrestled his dick away from her hand, rubbing it up and down her wetness. “Oh, don’t you worry about that, Monica, I’m going to take real good care of you.”
She threw her head back and screamed when he pushed inside, devouring every inch right out of the gate. Leaning back on the glass, the counter began to shake, rocking the display case of butane fishing poles and rifles. Dispensing with the pleasantries, Jr rested her ankle against his shoulder and drilled her with determined hip thrusts.
“Oh shit,” Monica cried out, trying to keep from falling off the counter. “You’re too big. Stop!”
“Stop what?” Jr panted, slamming even harder into her. “This?” Skin slapped against skin. A fishing pole lighter fell to the ground. The shop lights flickered.
“Slow down.” Monica’s tits bounced up and down, hair swinging through the air behind her.
Jr clenched his teeth and watched her face twist.
“Don’t you cum in me, Jr,” she said, absorbing his arduous blows. “I’m not on the pill!”
Fire burned in his eyes, breath rushing in and out on steamy waves as he pumped faster, desperate for more.
“Jr!” she cried, throwing her arms around his neck and tipping her head back.
“Ahhh!” He smashed into her hard and the display case of lighters fell to the floor with a clatter.
The room spun around Evy in dizzying flashes of light. Clinging to his neck, he buried his pulsating cock inside her and the only thing that wasn’t blurry was his beautiful face staring into her eyes. There was something in there. Something she could only see at a moment like this. Some upside-down universe where the only thing that mattered was the mystical pull between them. A silent understanding that would last a lifetime. He slowed down and the lights flickered back to life, heavy breaths slowly restoring his lungs.
Slowing its gravitational pull, the room came back into focus and Evy blew out a longwinded breath. “Jr? Really?”
“Me?” he panted. “How about Monica? All I could think of was Monica from Friends.”
Evy laughed and nearly fell off the counter but he caught her, just like always. Tipping her chin down, she fell into his eyes, spellbound by this current of electricity running between them. “I love you.”
Dean barely kissed her, a fond look softening his eyes. “I love you.”
Pulling him against her, she shut her eyes and hugged him like it might be the last time. This was perfect and Kirby was right about this place. There was magic in the… Evy opened her eyes and her heart jumped. “Oh my God,” she whispered in Dean’s ear.
Struggling against her bear hug, he twisted around to see a slack jawed man with a gray beard and greasy ballcap staring at them from across the long shop. Lifting a heavy finger, he pointed to the cooler humming softly at the other end. “I just came to get some beer.”
Chapter Nine
SCRABBLE
The fire popped, shooting red embers into the purple sky. Dean kicked his bare feet up on the coffee table and wrapped an arm around Evy. “See?” he said, pulling her against him. “I told you, you wouldn’t die.”
Evy stared into the fire pit and barely shook her head. “I still can’t believe I did that.”
“You were awesome,” he said, passing her a cold bottle of water. “I knew you could do it.”
She tipped the water back and drank, trying to cool her sunburnt skin from the inside out. Sighing, she wiped her chin. “The scariest part is you have to get a running start or you will hit the rocks below.”
“They don’t call it Hangman’s Hollow for nothing.”
“I have never done anything like that in my entire life. I felt so…alive.”
“We can do it again tomorrow if you want.”
“No thanks,” she said, passing him the water back. “I don’t think I can drink beer or jump off another cliff tomorrow.”
Dean cheered her with the sweaty bottle before taking another swig.
Her eyes flared with an idea. “Hey, maybe tomorrow we can hit that carnival we passed on the way in.”
Yawning, he watched the fire spit sparks into the night. “I can win you a stuffed Sponge Bob you can treasure forever.”
Evy inhaled sharply. “Ooh, funnel cake! Let’s do it. Please?”
Her abrupt bubbliness warmed his heart. “As you wish, my lady.” He took another pull of cold water and melted into the couch. Shadows jumped across their faces. The fire popped and a shooting star scratched the sky. He yawned again, pulling one from Evy in return. “I keep seeing that guy’s face at the bait shop.”
Leaning against him, she hid behind a hand. “I have never been so embarrassed in my entire life.”
“I bet he was the only customer all day, too. Right when we’re stepping outside the box.”
“How long do you think he was standing there?”
Dean stared vacantly into the fire. “Probably the whole time.”
Pulling her head from his shoulder, Evy looked up at him. “Was he filming?”
He turned to her. “I think he was!”
Someone yelled out from a campfire across the lake, drawing their eyes. “I don’t ever want to leave this place,” she sighed, rubbing soft circles into his leg.
“The great thing is, we can basically come back whenever we want. This is ours. Forever. Paid in full.”
Locusts and crickets buzzed from within the shadows collecting like snow against an old wooden fence. A fish jumped somewhere in the water as darkness pulled on the tail end of twilight, dragging it into the abyss.
“I could fall asleep right here.” Evy yawned again, watching boat lights slide past in the dark.
“Me too,” Dean agreed, leaning his head back on the couch and shutting his eyes. “I’m so tired, I don’t even think I can get up.”
“This place is way too much fun.” She looked up and rubbed his chest. “Ready for bed?”
“Definitely,” he said, kissing the back of her hand.
“Oh, there y’all are!”
Startling, they turned to see a bright light come bobbing from the trees. The beam bounced closer, accompanied by footsteps whooshing through the grass. Dean held up a hand to block the glare and the flashlight went dark, leaving bright spots floating in his vision.
“Sorry,” Trisha said, stepping onto the patio. “Didn’t mean to scare ya.”
“No bears this time.” Jim gestured with a darkened flashlight, trading an amiable look with his wife. “Just a couple of young kids in love.”
Smiling, she raised a bottle of white wine in each hand.
“We wanted to apologize for Charlie.”
Dean sat up straighter. “Oh, you don’t have to do that.”
Jim set the flashlight on the coffee table between them. “It’s our pleasure, really it is.” Pulling a pair of heather gray slacks up, his dark eyebrows rose into his shiny forehead. “Room for two more?”
Dean and Evy looked at each other, uncertainty pulling on their lips. “Sure,” they replied at the same time.
Trisha set the wine bottles down and sat next to her husband on an adjacent loveseat. Leaning against him, she crossed her legs, making a short summer dress rise beneath her. “That fire feels so good,” she said, looking up to the sky. “I just love it out here at night. The stars are something else.”
Evy rested a hand on Dean’s leg. “I was just telling Dean I never want to leave.”
“Oh, I know! It’s so serene.”
“Serenity now!” Jim smiled, resting an ankle on a knee.
An uncomfortable moment of silence washed over them, broken by an army of frogs croaking along the shoreline. Trisha let a sandal dangle from her red-painted toes, studying Evy and Dean in the firelight glow.
Leaning forward, Dean set his hands on his knees. “Let me grab some glasses,” he said, pushing off the couch.
“I’ll help you,” Evy volunteered, following him into the kitchen and speaking under her breath. “Oh my God, what do we do?”
Dean yanked a drawer back. “I don’t know but I don’t feel like making small talk with a preacher and his wife right now,” he said, grabbing a wine opener. “We were about ready to go to bed!”
“I hate the pop-in.” Evy pulled some wineglasses from a glass cupboard next to the fridge. “Plus, we already quit drinking like two hours ago.”
Leaning against the countertop, Dean hung his head. “And once you get off that train, there’s no getting back on.”
“Especially with chardonnay.”
“I hate chardonnay! It’s too sweet.”
Evy set the glasses on the counter and squished her lips into the side of her face. “Maybe we just have one glass and then start yawning a lot.”
“They’ll understand,” he said, wrapping the wine opener in a fist. “We’ve been out in the sun all day.”
Fate Interrupted_Just Married Page 6
