by J D Worth
“All right. I’ll give it to you straight.” His eyes smolder my way. “You’re the one who said your own family wouldn’t believe you over the shit that went down on the beach. Again, that’s fucked six ways to Sunday! That princess business isn’t ’bout you being naive either. Obviously, you’re an intelligent woman, so don’t be another cog in the machine. No matter what anyone else says, you’re entitled to a life full of whipped cream. You can’t see the big bold world yet.” He tucks the ace into my wallet. “When you do, Princess, you got a key to the kingdom in your pocket.”
Looks as if Mace isn’t afraid to go for all the whipped cream he wants, even if he has another woman in his life.
This down time is supposed to be all about me. For once in my life, I don’t have to listen to anyone telling me what to do. Mace turned up and flipped everything upside down. It scares me how much I crave his firm, unyielding lips against mine again. How I yearn for his callused hands to brush against my soft skin and cradle my neck for another kiss. And how mesmerized I become peering into his tempestuous green eyes.
“Look, I appreciate what you did for me the other night. In all honesty, I’m not sure how I could’ve survived that incident.” I think about my lack of a support system, the opposition of my family, and not having my mother around to help me either.
A lone teardrop falls from my eye, smacking the dinner table. A minuscule teardrop reflects the world back at me, and this one treacherous tear may be my very own undoing. At first, there is a moment of free fall. My insides spilt, and my breath wicks away. I’ve been the Sahara Desert for years. I’m not supposed to cry, especially in public. The well was dry until I came here. I straighten my back and swipe my sleeve across the table, sweeping the tear away. Mace catches me and studies me hard like there’s a test one of us needs to pass.
Dealing with the emotional turn of events has me on edge and on the defense. I meet his stark green eyes again. “Mace, what gives you the right to involve yourself in my life? We don’t even know one another.”
“I let that pretty boy walk off with you. If I had floored him like I wanted, nothing would’ve happened to you. While you’re here, nobody’s gonna lay a finger on you.” He reiterates by stabbing his finger against the table again.
I’m not sure how to respond. Instead, I reach for my iced tea and take a deep, long pull from the glass. The sickening sweetness hits my taste buds. I nearly spit the tea out, but force the drink down anyway.
Mace bursts out laughing. “I never saw someone add so much sugar to sweet tea before,” he says, pleased with himself.
Heat blooms across my cheeks as I shove up from the table. “Very funny. I didn’t know the glass of tea already contained a half-pound of sugar. I assumed the tea was bitter like the kind they serve back in the city. You could’ve warned me.”
“Sorry, Princess.” He laughs. “I couldn’t help myself.”
“Let me give you a hand. Cal is helping me host a dinner tonight. It’s my way of apologizing for disrupting your party Saturday night. I was going to invite you. Now I’m afraid if someone passes me a steak knife, they’ll wind up in jail or worse.” I snatch my keys and wallet from the table. “I am capable of taking care of myself. Didn’t you hear I’m a Southpaw?”
“Yeah, but that broom gave you an awfully hard time. Do you even know how to work a washing machine?” Mace curls his lips up at me. “That’s MIT level of operations. You’re out of luck, Princess.”
“If a Neanderthal can learn, surely I can. I hope at some point you crawl out of your cave,” I reply, arching an eyebrow. He cracks a laugh. “Goodbye, Mace.” I walk past curious patrons who stare at me once again as if I’m gliding on water.
10
When Cal’s truck pulls into my driveway, I bound out of my cottage like a small child, eager to greet him along with Jax and Trent. I offer a cheery, “Hello.”
“Ms. Jack Daniels,” Trent says, “thanks for the Benjamin. Biggest tip I got all night.”
“Thanks for the Jack. That is, until you gave my bottle away.” Glaring at him, I cross my arms.
“That’s right, don’t mess with her Jack!” Cal pretends to shiver, grinning my way.
“Aren’t you supposed to card the younger guests, Mr. Bartender?” I ask. “Or do you enjoy imposing ridiculous pink drinks on Jack Daniels enthusiasts?”
Trent winks at me. “I would’ve cut you off after two.”
“Good to know you are the ever responsible employee,” I say, not willing to let him off the hook yet. “I’m glad to see your makeup washed off.” Cal snorts a laugh. I take in Trent’s black, knee-length shorts, band T-shirt with ripped off sleeves, and heavy boots similar to Mace’s pair. Today his hair is swept back and studs earrings fill his various piercings. His colorful tattooed arm sleeves and neck tattoos are on full display.
“Your grandmomma was the reason I had to wear makeup in the first place.” Trent points at me for emphasis, his finger not far from my sternum. “Do you know how demoralizing that is?” Jax snorts out another laugh with Cal. Trent flips them off with both hands.
“She knows how to put men in their places.” I shrug. “She must’ve thought you needed to be put in yours.” Cal and Jax sputter laughter.
“Mother fucker!” Trent sneezes and blots his nose with his red bandana from his back pocket.
“That’s one way to address your boss.” I smirk.
Trent yanks off his shirt, exposing his built body and all of his ink. He pulls out a joint from behind his ear, ready to light up. I stare like an idiot as I take in his pierced nipples, the first I’ve ever seen. The small silver hoops shine in the sun.
“Nope, you know the rules, bud!” Cal warns Trent who tosses his hands up.
“Come on! I can’t get no relief. My allergies are going haywire.” He puts his joint away in his cigarette pack.
I snicker. “So, you’re that guy.”
“Oh, I’m down for anything…” Trent draws out with a panty-dropping smile.
“A spanking, I see. Yeah, my grandmother saw you a mile away.” Cal and Jax snort laughter.
“Hey, Darlin’. Glad you can stick ’round for a while.” Jax winks at me. Jax is scruffier than Mace with longer chocolate brown hair that curls around his neck. His black T-shirt has the name of a tattoo shop in Northport, and he’s covered in tattoos. The vintage styling flows from one to the next. The tattooed flower of a violet on his neck makes me smile. To love someone so deeply, you’ll mark your skin for the rest of your life, makes me yearn in ways I never thought. He’s also wearing a wide belt buckle engraved with a bull, a pair of worn blue jeans, and cowboy boots.
“Hello, Jax. Love the boots.” Grinning at his footwear, I ask, “Will Violet be joining us soon?”
“Yeah, she’s doing a show in Woodberry. She’ll drop by later with Payton. She’s happy you’ll be ’round. Be prepared, she said the two of you will be great friends. She’s enamored with your fashion knowledge and my boots.” A dopey smile spreads across Jax’s beautiful face. I think Jax and Trent partook in extracurricular activities before Cal picked them up.
Cal perks up. “When, bud?” He has showered, lost the hat, and put on a new green shirt. He added a nice pair of dark jeans that doesn’t look bad with his tan construction boots.
“Show starts at seven, so maybe after nine.”
“Good. I’m glad they can make it tonight,” Cal says, grabbing the bags of food and supplies I pass to him. I hide a smile that Jax catches, sending a lazy one back to me. Everyone recognizes Cal and Payton’s mutual attraction, except Cal and Payton.
Jax smirks at me, sensing I’m behind Cal’s sudden cleaned-up appearance. “Hey, nice shirt, Cal! Didn’t realize we were supposed to get gussied up for this formal affair.”
Trent laughs as he pulls boxes from the back of the truck. “Yeah, Cal, good luck with Miss Grumpy. Payton’s the one in need of a good spanking. Has anyone told Audrey yet that Grumpy com
es with a caution sticker?”
I say, “She’s perfect. She’s fierce and doesn’t put up with jackasses.” I go over to investigate the liquor stash from the wedding.
Trent releases a naughty smile. “No, she’s a sexy little vixen who will stomp on your heart with spiked heels while laughing.”
“Hey, watch your mouth, bud!” Cal yells out. “Audrey, you’ll learn soon enough that Trent needs a caution sticker over his damn mouth.” Cal elbows me. “You hold tight, I don’t want you lugging anything heavy. We’re gonna go next door and grab the picnic table. Head on down and relax.” Cal gives Trent a look to behave as they hop in his truck to park at his cottage
I gather a few more supplies needed for the cookout. Adding my own special treat, I take time preparing the sweet potatoes in foil. My arms are full when I come upon the stone fire pit on the beach where the path to Cal’s cottage and mine meet halfway. Cal plucks the foiled sweet potatoes from my arms and adds them on the grill alongside the steaks. I place everything else on the nearby long picnic table. There are only four Adirondack chairs around the fireplace.
“Cal, you’re welcome to add the two chairs from my cottage around the fire pit too. I appreciate the respectful gesture, but you don’t have to lug the chairs back after every party.” Trent and Jax each add a long bench to each side of the table that’s big enough for a large family.
Cal says, “Guys, you heard the lady, there’s more chairs down yonder.” Trent and Jax disappear down my path, grabbing the chairs that overlook the ocean.
“I’ve always wondered if ‘down yonder’ is a certain measure of distance.”
“Sure, you know. It’s…” Cal says, stretching his hands out to mark the distance between him and the bottom of my beach path, “down yonder.” He gives me a playful smirk.
“I see.” I grin.
“Yes, ma’am.” Cal chuckles. “You’ll like this one too. Your granddaddy had this table built when Miss Charlotte got pregnant with you.” Cal taps the long gray weathered table. “I guess he was hoping for lots of young’uns running under foot. This here is a real family treasure.”
“Really?” I run my hand over the smooth coated wood of the beautiful handcrafted table.
“Miss Charlotte cried when we pulled the set from the hurricane debris. Somehow, all three pieces survived the storm just like the cottages. Your momma said it was a sign. Meant to be. That’s why the table was up at my cottage. I’ve kept the pieces there until I could put another fresh coat of polyurethane on ’em. Funny how I finished just in time for you to wander down here. Your granddaddy built the original fire pit too. The hurricane toppled the pit, so your momma had us rebuild this as well.”
Tears flood my eyes. My mother shared history of my family’s cottages with Cal. He spent that precious time with her while I studied in Italy. I missed so much.
“Audrey,” Cal says, lifting my tear-streaked face to meet his saddened eyes. “Miss Charlotte may not be alive to share this with you now, but she’s still present. Look ’round at how beautiful and serene Haven Cove is. That’s what she wanted. To rebuild this all for you. Can’t you see this is her gift to you?” I nod, letting his comforting words soothe me. “Come here, you goof.” Cal gives me a bear hug and a playful tug of my long hair.
A low whistle strikes from behind. Trent is the first to return, carrying a chair. “You two need a hose down?”
“No!” we state at the same time and laugh. All kidding aside, Cal’s heart has Payton’s name tattooed on it. Trent doesn’t know me well enough to understand, but I’d never cross that line. Not even with Mace. That’s why I left him at the diner once he stepped over that boundary.
“Does that mean you’re unattached, Ms. Daniels?” Trent amps up his charm, his eyes freshly bloodshot.
“Bud, don’t even!” Cal warns. He knows the last thing I need is a guy chasing after me, even if it’s harmless Trent.
“What? Just asking,” Trent replies, a devilish smirk playing on his lips.
Giving Trent a hard look, Cal asks, “Yeah, and are you and Melody on or off this week?” Jax chuckles as he sets down the last chair.
“Bro, you’re breaking my heart here. Hot as sin chick who likes the hard stuff and keeps Benjamins tucked between her—”
“I heard.” Cal pushes Trent back. “Goof, you may wanna lose that ATM you’re carrying ’round.” Cal nods to the front of my stretchy camisole.
“Cal, where else do you keep a tip when you have no pockets?” I say, smoothing my hands down the sides of my yoga pants.
“She’s right, so you can’t blame her for trying.” Trent comes to my defense. “They sure don’t make those workout clothes for practicality. Ms. Daniels, wouldn’t you say women’s fashion has always been sexist?”
I say, “Trent, you’re the one who wears makeup to appease your female boss, what do you think?” Trent displays a stumped look as Jax and Cal howl in the background. He really doesn’t want to go there with me, so I hold up a bag of marshmallows. A giddy smile breaks upon my face. “Did you buy these especially for me, Cal?” He grins as I pry the bag apart, beaming with a youthful enthusiasm I thought I’d lost long ago. Cal points to sticks by the fire pit. Jabbing a marshmallow on the end, I hold mine over the fire, ready to toast my first marshmallow.
Trent shares, “Melody, my ex-girlfriend—”
“More like crazy ex-girlfriend.” Jax groans with a sarcastic grin while rifling through a box of alcohol. His face lights up when he pulls out a bottle of top-shelf tequila.
“No kidding,” Cal says, glancing from Jax to Trent.
Cal and Trent volley gripes over Melody. My marshmallow catches fire. I yank the blistering disaster back, blowing out the flames while frowning. Amused when my new marshmallow catches fire, Jax settles beside me to catch my fabulous new cooking show. He pokes two marshmallows on a stick and toasts them to perfection for me to savor.
I giggle. Hearing about Trent’s tormented romance adds to the fun. With Jax’s help, we arrange the table with the plates and silverware. As a personal touch, I add hemstitch linen napkins from my mother’s vintage collection I found tucked away in the hall closet. Jax includes the hobnail iced tea glasses with an appreciative nod. The rest of my family would be horrified by anything but the finest crystal. It’s a relief to be dining in a place where grocery store glasses are fancy.
My ankle is sore from all the walking I’ve done today, so I sit next to Jax. Resting my swollen foot up on the fire pit wall, I relax while sipping iced tea and begin daydreaming about all the things I’ll arrange for the next get together.
Cal says, “Melody is not welcome here again after she pulled that stunt with Darla. Mace is still pissed!” My attention focuses on the guys, wondering what happened between the two girlfriends. “She owes him big.”
Tossing a cocky grin at Cal, Trent says, “Damn, I forgot ’bout how bad that bender got last time. My bad, brother. Is Mace softening up? He has yet to give me shit ’bout Melody messing with his woman.” Jax winks at me, tipping his head towards Trent. We trade smiles while Jax snickers and sips his tequila.
“Mace is as savage as always,” Cal says. “You didn’t see how Pretty Boy ended up the other night ’cause you were working. Mace wasn’t gonna start something with you at the bar anyways.”
Trent asks, “Is Pretty Boy the same drunk Hal wanted my statement on at the resort? Why did Mace go after him anyway? Did he fuck with Darla?”
Cal points to me. “He fucked with Audrey. He was drunker than a skunk and followed her out to the beach.” I swallow as all three guys look my way. “She sprained her ankle getting away from him. Mace stepped in, and you see where that got Pretty Boy.”
I blink several times, mulling over the fact that Mace didn’t fill in Cal about Chaz’s attempted sexual assault. I study Jax. The girls didn’t spill either. They were trying to protect my dignity even after they thought I returned to the city. That is what real friend
s do for one another. For the first time I feel a part of something special. This close-knit group of friends has welcomed me without wanting anything in return, except for my friendship.
“You’re already on thin ice with him, so watch what lines you cross,” Cal warns. “Now you know why Mace called in your marker the other night.”
Trying to recall that night, Trent squints at Cal. “Refresh why Melody went after Darla again?”
“Melody was madder than a wet hen after you told her to lay off her bickering. Mace had to yank her off when she went after you. To get back at Mace, she caused a heap of trouble and knocked Darla to the ground before she left. Poor Darla got banged up some awful. Mace flipped out and drove Melody all the way back to Northport himself.”
Jax says, “Yeah, and I had to tend to Darla. She got scratched to hell. Haven’t you wondered why Mace hasn’t brought Darla ’round since then?”
