by Jan Springer
She wriggled her eyebrows up and down a few times before throwing her arms around Emily to give her a comforting hug.
“I’m only teasing you, eh? You have been thinking on it, haven’t you?” She let Emily loose and winked at her.
Emily laughed. “Yes.”
“Good. You wouldn’t be normal if you didn’t think about it,” Jen replied, and Emily found herself smiling at her friend’s bold teasing.
Jen looked over Emily’s shoulder and her eyes twinkled happily as she surveyed Sweet Lies.
“Looks like you hauled in a great catch. Especially for this late in the season. You two do good together. Now let’s get this stuff unloaded. I’ve got me a passel of nervous employees who are sitting on the edges of their seat waiting for a pink slip. Your haul will keep them employed for an extra day or so. You going to be bringing in more weed?”
“As long as the quality and weather hold.”
Jen nodded her approval.
“The workers will appreciate it. It’s not easygoing this late in the season, what with the crazy weather around this time of the year. I have to warn you, there’s a storm that might be heading up this way in a couple of days. A big one. They’re saying it might turn into a hurricane. You might want to keep your ear on the radio.”
“Heard about it.”
“Good.”
Jen headed for the boat and whistled at the fishing net bulging with seaweed as it swayed in the stiff evening breeze. “Did I say you two work great together?”
“Yes, you did,” Emily laughed, suddenly feeling proud of the haul they’d gathered.
“Did I?” Jen grinned. “Well…let’s get’er unloaded, eh?”
* * * * *
Chance couldn’t help but chuckle as he headed down the street. Emily’s friend Jen seemed like a nice woman. Not too many women were so friendly and outspoken on a first meeting. Instincts told him she would be a good friend to have on Emily’s side.
In the past he remembered mention of Emily’s school chum who, shortly after graduation, had hooked up with a guy out west. Apparently the guy had been doing a cross-country stint, taking a year off college to travel Canada and the States. If he remembered right, the couple had met at Jake’s Bar and a few days later Jen had gone with him, sending a postcard every now and then, keeping Emily updated on her whereabouts.
Last he heard, she’d settled out west with the guy and was working there. Obviously she’d come back to her hometown. Funny how old friends lost connections over the years and then suddenly picked up their friendships again. Just as he and Emily had suddenly reconnected again.
Fuck. He shouldn’t have kissed her the other day or today. He should have had more sense. Should have known he wouldn’t have been able to hold back. Sitting on that log, her hair windswept over her blushing cheeks, her legs spread wide, her pussy and soft, curvy breasts exposed to him. She was the most beautiful woman in the world.
He’d stared at her pussy, feasting on her with his eyes, breathing in her aroused scent and couldn’t hold back for an instant longer, diving between her legs like a man possessed. He’d never gone down on her before. Had wanted to go down on her too in the old days. Had held back because of her shyness. But she didn’t seem too shy anymore, Chance mused as he stepped into the local flower shop. Why had he ever thought she was shy in the old days anyway?
They’d slept together on their first date. He’d moved in with her shortly after. Maybe he’d been too shy?
His thoughts returned to Emily. He could still taste her in her mouth. Like spicy honey. Very intoxicating taste indeed. He couldn’t wait to go down on her again. Couldn’t wait to palm her heavy breasts and take her succulent nipples into his mouth again. Or to listen to her aroused breaths as he tongue- and finger-fucked her again. Hell, he couldn’t wait to fuck her.
The thoughts flashed away when the lady in the flower shop asked him if he needed any help. He was crazy getting involved with Emily and dragging her into his dangerous world.
That local kid Skip had sent to follow them today as well as the other night sure as hell wasn’t the guy who’d been following him around yesterday. Why would Skip hire a kid to follow her around? Perhaps it would seem less conspicuous? So why send the other guy who’d followed him in town?
Chance shivered at Garrett’s description of the man. If it was who he suspected, then he really should contact his brothers and tell them there could be trouble. He’d forgotten to do that yesterday, getting sidetracked with the wharf as well as the trip to town and everything else. Tonight. He would wait until Emily was asleep and then he’d put out the call.
* * * * *
After Emily and Jen helped the workers unload the seaweed into the warehouse, she left them to handle the drying-out process. She needed to attend to an errand before heading back to meet Chance.
First and foremost she had to get to the drugstore before it closed. A box of condoms was definitely in order. Just in case they did pick up where they’d left off on the beach today.
She still couldn’t believe it had really happened, she thought as she crossed the street. Couldn’t believe how fast everything was happening. With Skip she’d never had the urge to get condoms. Never had the urge to have sex with him. Maybe if she’d spent more time with him she would have developed that wild attraction she had for Chance?
Oh boy, who was she kidding? She’d allowed herself to be steered into this marriage by Skip and Helena. What had she been thinking not to listen to Jen and Daniel? Emily bit her bottom lip and stepped into the drugstore.
If she was lucky, the owner wouldn’t be working cash tonight. Sometimes Bill worked both his pharmacy and the cash if it wasn’t busy. He probably wouldn’t ask questions but one never knew with the locals. They enjoyed their harmless gossip, just as Emily did. As long as she wasn’t the one being gossiped about. Her tummy hollowed as she spied Bill behind the counter.
Shit! Just her luck.
“Hi, Emily!” he waved. “Long time no see. How’s it going?”
“Fine, Bill. How goes it with you?”
“Oh you know the drill. Getting older. Heard some guy paid a thousand bucks for your pie.”
Shit. Word sure got around.
“Yep, he did.”
“Heard you hired him to help out at your place.”
May as well not deny it or rumors would fly.
“Just for a few days, Bill.”
“He must be crazy or he must have really wanted a date with you, Emily,” he chuckled.
Emily didn’t want to encourage a conversation so she said nothing and kept moving down the aisle.
“Let me know if you need some help with something. I’ll be in the back room.”
Yes. I need condoms. Which size would you suggest? she questioned silently.
Good grief! She hadn’t bought condoms. Ever! Steve had always taken care of that. She blew out an anxious breath as the old floorboards creaked beneath her feet.
Heck, she didn’t even know where the condoms were kept. Maybe she should just get out of here and hope Chance had protection on him?
Yeah right. She knew enough about safe sex to know she shouldn’t be dependent on the guy to supply protection. She should be carrying a couple of condoms in her wallet at all times. Just in case. Acting as if she’d been having wild, passionate sex on the spur-of-the-moment over the past years. Not.
As she started up the next aisle in her quest, she found herself thinking about Chance. She could still feel how fabulous his mouth had melted over her pussy. Oh boy, that orgasm had been so hot! She’d exploded like a bomb.
Emily found herself giving out a little moan as her pussy spasmed in remembrance and quickly checked to make sure no one was around to have heard. No one was around.
Another thought occurred to her. Maybe she could steal the box of condoms? That would certainly save her the aggravation of plopping it down on the counter in front of Bill. They didn’t have security features on these boxes, did t
hey? As if she needed to get caught going through the security device at the front of the store and have all the bells and whistles screeching through the air, branding her a condom thief.
She could just imagine getting caught. That would really go over well with the locals. Really well. Talk about mortifyingly embarrassing.
Okay, so theft was out of the picture. Where the hell did he kept the condoms in this store, anyway?
She glanced back from where she’d just come down the aisle and realized she’d been so deep in thought she’d missed them.
Crud!
Walking back to the end, she glanced up at the round security mirror in the corner just above her. Okay, coast was clear. Bill was still in the back room and no one was in the store. No one was watching her admire all the colorful boxes on display.
God! She was being ridiculous, wasn’t she? People bought condoms all the time. Bill wouldn’t question her. They were both adults.
She saw a box that caught her eye. Made sure it was in the large size. What if Chance wasn’t as big as she’d hoped? Emily thought as she tucked the package into her hand. What if he was bigger?
Oh dear. She had to stop fantasizing and get the box out of here and get back to the boat before Chance got there. She literally breathed a sigh of relief when she spied a teenage girl behind the counter. She didn’t recognize her.
Plopping the box onto the counter, she ignored the girl’s suddenly bright red cheeks. Okay so her own cheeks felt quite warm too. Was she pathetic or what? She was feeling as embarrassed as an inexperienced teenager.
Man, who knew this errand would be so stressful? Paying the girl, Emily grabbed the bag and couldn’t get out of the pharmacy fast enough.
* * * * *
Chance stared down at the tombstone and tried hard to remain emotionless, but it didn’t work. Sadness enveloped him. The person lying beneath the sparkling gray one had sacrificed his life to help him.
He’d been an inmate. On Death Row. With Chance. A man who decided he didn’t want to wait for a chemical injection or death by electrocution to die. Instead, he’d caused a fight that landed Chance in a hospital where his two brothers had found him.
Of course it hadn’t been as simple as that, but Chance preferred not to dwell on how many lucky breaks he’d gotten in order to get his freedom. He knew if he did think about his close call with death and never seeing Emily again, he would surely start screaming and never stop for the rest of his life.
Biting back that familiar panic that sometimes still swept over him whenever he thought about that period of time in his life, he focused on the errand he’d come to do. Exhaling a shuddering breath he knelt onto the yellowing cold lawn beside the gravestone. With shaky hands he placed the bundle of purple lupine flowers intermingled with pink and blue bachelor buttons into the metal vase attached to the stone.
“I finally came to look you up, buddy, and to say thanks,” he said to the stone.
Tears sparked at the back of his eyes, and before he broke down into a washer of emotions, he quickly stood. On wobbly legs he turned from the stone and walked away from that part of his past.
* * * * *
Emily waited until Chance left the cemetery before leaving her hiding spot behind the nearby giant pine tree. She stared down at the tombstone that he had visited. The mysterious grave had appeared late last fall. She’d wondered who he’d been and how he’d died. She’d never seen anyone visit or put flowers on the man’s grave…until today.
She looked at the pretty bouquet of sharp purple lupines and the dainty bachelor buttons. Why would Chance bring this man flowers? There was an inscription etched into the stone too. A good friend. Free At Last. May you rest in peace.
Her gaze wandered to the man’s name, Michael… Was he a friend of Chance’s? He’d been very emotional during the visit.
She removed a daisy from the bouquet she’d brought for her uncle Jeb and placed it into the vase on the stranger’s grave. “I don’t know who you are, mister, but whoever you are, you made some sort of impact on Chance’s life.”
Chapter Twelve
Emily sighed with relief when she spotted Chance turn the corner of the warehouse and stroll casually toward where she stood at the stern of Sweet Lies. There wasn’t a hint of the emotional turmoil she’d seen brewing in him back at the cemetery. If anything, he seemed quite cheerful as he shifted a couple of paper grocery bags in his strong arms and those yummy biceps were surely bulging beneath his sweater, making her knees weaken. Oh boy, this guy was turning her world so upside down in the way he made her feel. And right now just watching him strolling toward her was making her feel nice and hot. Not to mention ready to pick up where they’d left off this afternoon during their lunch break.
Sweet Pete! Even her pussy dripped with anticipation. Okay, she had to stop this. She had to call it off with Skip and cut herself loose with Chance. Oh was she crazy?
Maybe she was making a mistake in following her feelings for this guy? He probably thought she was a little bit of fun and recreation during down time. Okay, pardon the pun about down time, but, boy oh boy, this confusion was eating her up alive.
“Glad you could make it back,” she teased as he hopped onto the deck and she accepted the two bags from him. “Thought I’d have to sail without you.”
“Made a couple of pit stops,” he answered with a heart-thumping grin.
She stretched her neck to peek inside one of the bags, but his amused chuckle and stern warning stopped her cold.
“Don’t look in there. It’s a surprise. Just put them in one of the coolers and I’ll cast off.”
He turned away and began untying the lines while she fought the urge to stick her nose into the bags. His occasional knowing glances tempered her curiosity. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of catching her snooping. Dumping the bags into one of the fish coolers, she climbed the bridge ladder into the wheelhouse where she waited until he was safely onboard before turning the ignition key. The boat roared to life. Pushing the throttle, she eased Sweet Lies away from the slip.
They moved slowly past many other fishing boats, lobster boats and tugs motoring to town to sell their daily catch. Most boats were smaller than hers but just as rusty.
Working in the fishing industry was a tough way to make a living. For most of these people fishing, lobstering and seaweeding were the only work they knew. Their fathers, grandfathers and ancestors before them had worked the ocean. It was in their blood. Just as it was now in hers.
Rain or shine there was always a haul for her to chase. Especially when her workers had bills to pay and food to set on the table. No air-conditioned offices in this neck of the woods. Only the cool breeze off the ocean to keep her company.
Emily recognized many of the men and women in the boats. Most wore the traditional black wool caps to keep their heads warm from the chilly November winds and all waved to her. Even Chance waved cheerfully or shouted a hello from his perch on the bow.
Soon the town was left behind and they were cruising swiftly over the long ocean swells. A stiff breeze had blown up while they were in town and the bow of the tugboat bounced hard over the waves, casting a white, blinding shower of ocean spray along the sides of the boat. If Emily hadn’t spotted Chance sneaking down below earlier, she would have panicked thinking he’d fallen overboard.
The sun struggled slowly past the horizon and she felt the first throes of the cold night air slam into her. Pulling up the collar on her red and black hunting jacket she’d thrown on minutes earlier, she nestled in for the half-hour ride home.
“How does a mug of hot chocolate sound?” Chance’s soft voice caressed her senses and she whirled around to find him standing behind her, an uncertain look glued to his face as he held a steaming mug in one hand and a giant platter of food in the other hand.
“Oh my God! You went to Bernie’s.” Emily laughed as she recognized the variety of homemade square crackers, cheeses, thick slices of fruit and wedges of vegetables
as well as the lobster and cream cheese dip she absolutely loved.
“You approve?”
“Of course I approve. Bernie’s is absolutely my favorite restaurant. But it’s so expensive, Chance. You shouldn’t have.”
That look of uncertainty deepened and she felt guilty at having said that last sentence.
“I’m so glad you did though. I’m absolutely starving.”
He grinned and slid the platter onto the dash beside her.
“It’s to help make up for eating all that food on the night I snuck in. I realized you made it for the fair the next day and felt guilty.”
“I like the way you feel guilty,” Emily laughed.
“I’ll take the helm. You enjoy the hot chocolate before it gets cold.”
They switched places and she eagerly wrapped her hands around the hot mug he held. She inhaled the misty chocolate aroma and then gasped when she spied the miniature marshmallows dancing amidst the thick foam.
“Mr. Donovan, you are spoiling me,” she said as she sipped the hot liquid. Sweetness sparked her taste buds. “Absolutely spoiling me.”
“You deserve to be spoiled. Especially after the hard day you put in today.”
“I did have lots of help. You deserve it just as much as I do.” Impulsively she grabbed a baby Gouda cheese and held it up to his sexy lips. “Open.”
He did and she slipped it between his teeth, watching him chew. His mouth looked so appetizing and she found herself anxiously awaiting another kiss like she’d experienced this afternoon.
When he turned from studying the ocean and saw her watching him, embarrassment rushed through her at the way her thoughts were headed, she quickly avoided his sharp blue gaze and focused her attention back on the giant platter. She didn’t want him to know what she’d been thinking because if he did and they picked up where they’d left off at lunchtime, there sure wouldn’t be any interruptions way out here. Thank God, she’d put a couple of those foiled packets into her pocket before stuffing the remainder of the box of condoms inside one of the drawers in the kitchenette of the tugboat.
Picking up a cracker, she dipped it into the lobster cream cheese and shoved it into her mouth.
