Kissed by the Sun

by Catrina Calloway

  “I never realized how much it meant to her—she wanted to be the next Ida.”

  He snorted. “Yeah. Well, Marlene was about as far from being the next Ida as…well, my mother didn’t trust her. It’s all clear to me now. I think that’s why my mother turned everything over to you.”

  Carlee rose to her feet. For some reason, Ben popped into her mind. That happened on a lot over the last several days. Thoughts of Dan would intrude, too.

  She wondered if it would always be that way, when she thought of one, the other would always be there, too.

  Carlee took a deep breath. “Someone once said to me, and I think it’s true, ‘It’s all water under the bridge.’”

  She smiled, recalling Ben’s words.

  “I don’t think I can be as forgiving as you.”

  Carlee shrugged. “I’m alive. That’s all that matters.”

  “And it matters very much to me.”

  She felt her throat constrict.

  “Is there something else, anything, I can do for you?” Todd walked back to his desk and took a seat in his chair.

  Carlee angled her head. “There is one thing.”

  “What?”

  “Buy me out, Todd.” She swept her hand out in front of her. “This way you can take the whole damned store, the poultry farm, everything.”

  He raised a brow.

  “Just give me one hundred and fifty-two thousand dollars.”

  “That’s nothing, Carlee. If I buy you out, that doesn’t even come close to the money you deserve as your portion.”

  She held up a hand. “It’s all I want. The rest is yours. It always should have been.”

  “Our cousins in Scarsdale and California don’t want a damned thing to do with the Poultry store, either.”

  “Beatrice’s kids never cared. And quite frankly, I never did, either.”

  “Well, if I’m buying them out, I guess I can do the same for you.” He leaned back in his chair, placing his hands on the arms. “What are you going to do with your uh, one hundred and fifty-two thousand dollars?” He smiled, his first, she thought, in quite some time. “That’s an odd amount to ask for.”

  She smiled back. “I’m purchasing a small, run-down cottage in Seaside.”

  “You’re crazy.” He shook his head.

  “I know.”

  He rose, and held out his hand.

  She took it and squeezed his fingers.

  “It’s a deal,” he replied. “We’ll go to the lawyer and draw up the papers.”

  “Thanks.”

  She started to walk out.

  “How about some lunch?”

  She turned to face him. “I can’t. I’ve got a stop to make.”

  “Oh really? Where?”

  “The Montauk Indian Reservation.”

  Chapter Twenty One

  Carlee walked along the beach in Seaside several weeks later. She pulled her woolen hat down over her ears, the cold wind blowing around her. She didn’t really care, for the sun shone high in the sky. Walking along the rocky shore, the gulls flew overhead, squawking all the while.

  She bent to retrieve a few shells, stopping long enough to toss them into the water.

  When she got to the jetty, she walked onto it, standing in the wind, inhaling the fragrance of the ocean.

  She didn’t know how long she stood there, but it felt good, as though the crisp air and salty tang that drifted by her nose cleansed her soul of the horrible events of the last few months.

  Now, if only she could rid her soul of Ben and Dan.

  She hadn’t seen them in quite some time. It was better that way.

  She had been so wrong about so many things.

  Ben was right about one: there was a huge pile of differences between them.

  It was time to move beyond them.

  But it was hard, especially at night. She managed to turn the cottage into a home, but without Ben and Dan, something would always be missing.

  She shivered against the cold.

  Pulling the collar of her jacket around her, she walked back toward shore, climbing down the rocks lining the jetty. When she neared the cottage, she saw two people walking on the beach.

  Her heart skipped a beat.

  She’d know those two, tall forms anywhere…

  Ben and Dan.

  She had no right to show them how much she wanted them, needed them in her life.

  She had screwed up theirs’ enough.

  Carlee stopped walking.

  Soon they stood directly in front of her.

  “Thought we’d find you here,” Dan quipped.

  Ben raised a brow. “Aren’t you cold?”

  She managed to find her voice. “The sun’s out.” She shielded her eyes from its rays, focusing on the two of them.

  Her body temperature rose. Carlee knew why—it wasn’t the sun’s rays—it was Ben and Dan.

  “Can you stay for a little while?” she asked, moving closer to them.

  Dan shoved his hands in his pockets. “Sure.”

  Soon, all three of them walked toward the little cottage.

  “I can offer you green tea and fried tofu.”

  Ben’s face twisted into a look of pure disgust.

  She smiled. “What? You don’t like green tea and tofu?”

  “Yuk,” Dan grumbled.

  She laughed. “Okay, okay…you win. I guess I’ll have to make you a pot of coffee.”

  “Is it organic?” Ben asked, the corners of his mouth curving upwards. “You know I don’t drink anything but organic coffee.”

  “Smart ass.” Carlee squashed the urge to run her finger along his sculpted chin. “And of course, it’s organic.”

  They followed her up the path leading to the cottage.

  She walked across the deck, remembering how Marlene tried to kill her, nearly ending her life. Yet, as with all things, a strange irony existed.

  Carlee felt her life had truly begun that night on the deck.

  For she realized what was truly important.

  She pushed open the sliding French doors.

  Warm air swirled around her.

  She pulled off her hat, letting her wild curls spring free. They cascaded down her shoulders and back. Leaving the guys in the den, she headed for the kitchen.

  “The coffee will be ready in a few minutes!” she called out.

  No answer.

  She slipped off her coat and grabbed a can of coffee off a shelf.

  “Did you hear what I said?”

  Silence.

  Carlee frowned. She walked back into the den.

  Ben and Dan stood there, staring at the paintings that graced the walls.

  She folded her arms under her breasts and smiled. “Like them?”

  “Carlee…” Dan shook his head. “They’re magnificent.”

  Ben was staring at the nude pictures of him and Dan. His face turned scarlet. “That’s some likeness.”

  Her grin widened. “I thought so, too. Funny thing is, though, I would never have turned all those sketches into paintings if it wasn’t for Graham Marks.”

  Ben looked away, but Carlee saw a muscle twitch in his jaw.

  Dan shoved his hands into his pockets.

  “When I moved in here a few weeks ago, Graham came over to see me, my sketch book in his hands.” She ran a finger across Dan’s chest. “I can’t seem to figure out how he got it.”

  He looked away.

  Carlee grabbed his chin between her fingers and made him look at her. “You gave him my sketches, didn’t you?”

  His eyes widened. “Are you nuts? It wasn’t me.”

  She glanced at Ben. “Okay, then it was you.”

  “No.” Ben held up a hand. “Where’d you get that idea?”

  “Graham Marks.”

  “Well, he’s out of his mind,” Dan grumbled.

  She laughed. “You’re just mad because he didn’t ask you out to dinner again.”

  He gave her a dark look. “Don’t remind me,” he
grumbled.

  “Graham told me that he received several sketches of mine, sent to him in the mail, with a note saying that they were being given to him anonymously for his expert opinion.”

  “That’s terrific,” Dan replied. “And what did he say?”

  “That he feels I’ve got great talent.”

  “You do,” Ben stated, his voice soft. He glanced at the paintings.

  “Yes, well, he encouraged me to paint all the sketches. He brought several to a gallery owner he knows. I should be hearing from him soon.”

  Dan smiled. “That’s wonderful, Carlee. You deserve it.”

  Her eyes misted.

  “Well, whether I deserve it or not, remains to be seen. New York’s a tough crowd, they want the best. I just hope my paintings show that—my best work.”

  “It is.” Ben stated, his voice firm. “I feel it here.” He patted his chest.

  “Still, I’m wondering how you managed to get the sketches to him.”

  Dan swallowed. She saw his Adam’s apple rise up and down.

  “Okay. Out with it.” She held several of her fingers together, crooking them in their direction. “How’d you do it?”

  Dan blew out a breath, then looked at Ben.

  “Go on.” Ben motioned with his head. “Tell her. She’ll be like a dog with a bone—she won’t let this go.”

  She almost laughed out loud, but kept silent, her curiosity piqued.

  “That night Marlene tried to kill you, I realized you had to be in shock. You were so cold, so…well, to make a long story short, I went into your bedroom and found a sweater for you.”

  “I remember.” Carlee answered.

  “I was about to leave your room when I saw this pad of paper sticking out from the floor underneath your bed. I took a quick look, saw it was the sketches.”

  “Oh, Dan.” Her voice cracked. “I-I can’t believe it.”

  “Yeah, well. After all the craziness passed, and Ben and I had a chance to really look at them, we mailed them off to Graham.”

  She shook her head. “You know, I just couldn’t figure it out. I searched and searched for my sketchpad before I left the cottage and went back to my Aunt Ida’s house. I thought I must have misplaced it.” She drew her brows together. “I should be mad at the two of you. Stealing my work that way.”

  Ben raised a brow. “Are you? I mean, mad at us.”

  She smiled. “No. I’m not. I’m…grateful, for that and so much more.”

  Tears clogged her throat, but she held them back.

  She walked up to the two of them, kissing each one on the cheek.

  “Come on, I’ll get you that coffee.” She led them into the kitchen.

  “Sit.” She motioned toward the table and chairs.

  They did as she bade.

  She fussed with the coffee, willing her hands to stop shaking.

  “So, how are you getting on here?”

  “Truthfully?”

  Ben nodded. “Truthfully.”

  “I love it. The local college offered me a job teaching art classes. I’ll start in a couple of weeks.”

  But I wish you two were with me!

  “That’s great.” Dan stated.

  Silence ensued.

  Carlee didn’t know how to fill it.

  Dan spoke. “As long as we’re speaking about the truth, there’s something Ben and I want to know.”

  Carlee poured water into the coffee pot. “What is it?”

  Dan patted his thighs. “Come over here, little warrior.”

  At the sound of her pet name, Carlee melted inside. She felt a familiar a zing of pleasure snake down her back. It settled between her legs.

  Carlee walked over to him and slid into his lap.

  He shifted her on his legs, causing her to brace her hands against his chest. “That’s better,” he murmured.

  Ben leaned his elbow on the table, cupping his chin in his hand. His hot look burned through her, making her all warm inside.

  She swallowed. Hard.

  “Here’s what we’d like to know: How come the tribal council let us back in their good graces?” He drummed the fingers of his other hand on the table. “Why did they allow us back into the tribe?”

  She shrugged. “W-well, I’ve heard, and this is the rumor going around town, mind you, that because of your heroic actions here in Seaside the night Marlene tried to kill me, the Montauks feel you’re well, just that. Heroes.”

  “Uh huh.” Ben nodded. “Riiiiiiiiiiiight.”

  She angled her chin. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Dan’s warm breath tickled her ear. “We ran into a friend of yours.”

  She frowned, turning her head slightly to look at him. “Who?”

  “Running Bear’s granddaughter.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous.” Carlee put on her best Ida voice. “I’m not friends with Running Bear’s granddaughter.”

  “Oh really?” Ben nodded. “That’s funny, because she thinks very highly of you.”

  “Oh for Pete’s sake.” Carlee tried to rise, but Dan pulled her back down.

  “Sit there, little warrior.” Ben’s voice brooked no argument. He pointed at Dan’s lap. “You had your turn to ask us something, now it’s ours.”

  “Fine.” She folded her arms under her breasts.

  The little muscle near the corner of her right eye twitched. She rubbed it.

  “Something wrong?” Ben asked.

  “Nothing,” she mumbled, waving a hand toward him. “Go on.”

  “Well.” Ben leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. “We ran into Running Bear’s granddaughter in the emergency room at Montauk General Hospital. She works as a nurse there.”

  She could feel Dan’s cock swell under her bottom.

  Her thong became wet.

  Damn!

  “So um, why were you there?” she managed.

  “One of those hit-and-runs that always happens on Montauk highway. We were there to question the victim who was brought into the emergency room. As it so happens, we saw Running Bear’s granddaughter.”

  “What a coincidence,” Carlee murmured.

  “Yeah, well, after we did what we had to, we stayed and chatted with her for a little while. Had a cup of coffee together—just the three of us.”

  Carlee stiffened. “Is that all?”

  Ben released a bark of laughter. Then he sobered. “Yes, little warrior, that’s all.”

  “Okay.” She waved a hand at him. “Go on with your story.”

  “So, we chat with her, and she tells us that you paid Running Bear a visit at the Reservation. She was there too, it just so happens.”

  Carlee tried to move again. Dan pulled her back down.

  “She’s mistaken.” Her voice wobbled.

  “Is she?” Dan kissed her shoulder.

  Carlee shuddered pleasurably.

  The muscle near her eye twitched again.

  Ben got up and walked over to her. He lifted her from Dan’s lap. She stood toe-to-toe with him. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he tugged her close.

  And closer still.

  She could feel his hard cock push against her thigh.

  “Carlee Davis, you tell us the truth. Were you at the Reservation? Did you go and see Running Bear on our behalf?”

  She shoved him away, afraid she’d dissolve into tears.

  “Yes, I was.” She sniffed. “Happy?” She walked over and poured two cups of coffee. Turning around, she walked back over and placed them down on the table. “Here’s your damned coffee.”

  Dan shook his head. “No changing the subject.”

  “I’ll tell you what happened, little warrior,” Ben interjected. “You went to see Running Bear, to beg him and the council to return us to the tribe. He refused. Running Bear’s granddaughter just happened to be visiting. She had a big fight with him, told him he was wrong. And then she reminded Running Bear of something.”

  Tears flowed from Carlee’s
eyes. She couldn’t stop them.

  “She reminded him of the time you snuck into the reservation. You were about sixteen. It was the influenza epidemic. You brought food, warm blankets…”

  “Medicine.” Dan interjected.

  Ben folded his arms over his chest. “Running Bear’s granddaughter also reminded him that you convinced your Aunt Ida to donate flu vaccines. The following year, and for many years after that, Ida Davis gave the Montauks free flu vaccines. She even donated to the clinic on the reservation.”

  Carlee placed a shaking hand to her lips. “I-I couldn’t stand knowing that you suffered so.” She sniffed, her throat constricting.

  “Carlee.” Ben reached out, stroking her face. “At this last tribal council meeting, Running Bear’s granddaughter got quite a few of the Montauks together. They all petitioned the council to let us back into the tribe, they agreed that all this animosity between the Montauks and the whites had to stop.”

  “It was you, Carlee,” Dan whispered. “You did it.”

  She raised a brow. “Are you mad at me? For doing that?”

  Ben motioned toward Dan with his head. “What do you say, Dan? Are we angry?”

  Dan sat for a few seconds, drumming his fingers on the kitchen table. “Steaming,” he replied.

  Carlee’s mouth hung open. She fisted her hands at her sides. “Of all the nerve! Why I—”

  She narrowed her eyes when she saw them dissolve into laughter. “What’s so funny?”

  “You.” Ben wiped his eyes. “You are such a little fighter.”

  “So that’s funny?” She huffed.

  “No, what’s funny, or maybe so damned ironic, is how life turns and twists,” Ben replied.

  “So, you’re not mad?”

  Dan rose from his chair.

  “Nope.”

  She raised her fingers and skimmed them across Ben’s chest. “If you’re not mad, then what?”

  Ben looked at Dan. She thought she saw them exchange a wink.

  “Well, there is one thing we need to get settled,” Ben told her.

  “What’s that?” She held her breath.

  “It’s this tendency you have not to follow orders.”

  “What are we, in the army?” she wisecracked.

  They advanced, one step at a time.

  She backed up toward the counter by the sink.

  “You little minx!” Dan pointed his finger at her. “You found that phone and called Marlene.”