by Emily Bowie
“How about I show you all of Aunt Millie’s stuff.” I lead her away and out of the house, needing the space.
CHAPTER 9
Opening my eyes through the water, they collide with Piper, and I can’t help but smile. I like watching her shocked features as they stare back at me through my bedroom window. Interestingly enough, she doesn’t turn away immediately. I thought I would give her privacy and shower out here while she stayed inside. She keeps making my life intriguing. I can feel myself harden under her watchful expression and am disappointed when she turns away.
I take my time toweling off, imagining her touching herself when I go inside to get her. It takes everything in me not to jerk off after she leaves my sight. When I head inside, she’s nowhere to be found, and I move toward the barn. I promise myself I’ll pretend it didn’t happen and won’t envision what she must have been thinking while she spied on me.
I find her and my cousin in the barn. Piper is talking a mile a minute about Aunt Millie, telling Frankie about the little things Millie likes. I like that my cousin is always willing to help out. She has a heart of gold and feels more like a sister than a cousin. Frankie listens to Piper even though she knows her way around my barn.
It’s obvious Piper has taken a huge liking to my horse with the way she talks about her. I knew hiring her would be the best decision I made.
“Ready to go?” I interrupt when it sounds like she’s finishing up. Again, she’s wearing that hot-ass jean skirt of hers. Her tank top is tight, showing off her perfect bell curve, and her tits are pushed up, making me want to bite them. She’s a smokeshow.
“Is that a gift in your hand?” Piper asks.
I look down at Danger’s wrapped present. I did a great job wrapping; in fact, Frankie pays me to do her Christmas wrapping in the form of cases of beer. I’m a bit of a perfectionist.
“Danger is going to be mad you used the same paper for both our gifts,” Frankie singsongs with a teasing note behind it.
“They don’t make wrapping paper for TVs.” I shrug. But now that she mentions it, I hate that I didn’t think of that earlier. Danger may see this as a win for his sister. Oh well. He should be happy I’m going. This is the most we’ve hung out within a week in over a year.
Piper starts laughing and shaking her head. Her laugh is soft and beautiful, just like her. My phone goes off, and I have to excuse myself, leaving the girls to continue getting to know each other.
“Crash, I have some more information on that opportunity for you,” my realtor informs me. “They’re selling the whole building, as you know. They want to sell to the right person who will take into account Oakport Beach history and the businesses that have been running for years. They’re afraid a big corporation will come and buy it up if they don’t sell locally.”
I nod, even though they can’t see me. “I’ll get back to you on this one.”
I’m incredibly tempted to make an offer, but I want to be sure whatever I place in there is good. Looking into the barn, I consider what my life would be like if I didn’t work all the time. Would I have more nights like tonight? For once, I think I have a glimpse into what my future may one day hold. I know instantly the change in me is because of Piper. I don’t even know if she’ll be here past this month, and I’m already ready to start changing my life around for her. I have to shake my head. I can’t get distracted by someone who has no plans of staying in town. I have to remember eventually all people leave here.
Piper pokes her head out of the entrance. “You ready?” Her smile takes my breath away.
“Sure am. I put this from the two of us,” I inform her, waving the gift as I walk us to the Jeep.
She stops beside the passenger door. “And what did we get your cousin?” I detect playful mocking but ignore it.
“A remote with my face on it,” I answer smugly. It’s the best gift I could think of.
“I was about to say that. It’s so obvious,” she taunts me while laughing.
Without thinking, my hand slides through her perfect hair before shaking my fingers to mess it up. It happens so naturally I don’t even think about it until after the fact. I feel her freeze, and this thickness swarms around us. I can see the look of sheer wonder in her eyes and I hope she feels this too. I inhale a ragged breath before stepping back.
“When Danger hits on you, tell him you’re with me,” I say matter-of-factly, like I hadn’t just invaded her personal space.
“Why would I do that?” She eyes me, mischief laced in her words. She places the tip of her thumb into her mouth as she nibbles on it. Stepping closer to her, I eye her up and down. It’s only fair after she watched me earlier. Her chest rises and falls in short little pants, and hesitantly I touch her again. My fingers trace her collarbone, where her blush normally begins. I’m impressed it hasn’t started yet. Her shoulders move as a shiver works down her body before I step back once again.
“That twinkle in your eye from watching me soap up said it all.” She’s looking at my lips now and visibly swallows. Leaning closer, my lips almost touch her earlobe. “Feel free to join me anytime.”
Slowly, I step away from her, taking in her reaction. Her cheeks look flushed, her eyes vibrant, and that smirk on her face tells me she’s a stranger to backing down. She doesn’t shy away; rather, she winks at me.
“Wouldn’t you be so lucky?”
Damn. Yes, yes, I would. Clearing my throat, I can feel myself getting hard just at the thought of her in my shower.
CHAPTER 10
The whole day is nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. As we walk around the corner, country music plays, and laughter and hollers are mixed in. The smell of BBQ wafts over to us before I see three grills with lids open, keeping the food warm. Sausages, hotdogs, and hamburgers line the surface, while everyone mingles, looking relaxed. No one is stressing about serving or whether people eat or not. In fact, it looks like someone cooked the food then left it there for everyone to eat as they please.
Fold-up chairs are open, and there are little pods of people going back and forth to one another, while others stay as newcomers come to them. It looks like we’re the last ones to show.
The large TV is on display in the middle of the yard, a red bow sitting on the top, not disrupting the screen. Blown-up pictures of Danger and it together sit beside it. There are three of them—one of him hugging it, one of him kissing it, and one of him posing next to it. The table itself has a nice plastic cover and looks to be the spot for gifts. There is a little game that says Guess how many channels, much like guess how many jellybeans without the container of them. There are no gifts on it yet, but it hosts a beer or two.
A guy I assume is Danger comes walking up to us. “Did you get Buster a gift?” he asks Crash, bumping shoulders with him.
He has deep-blue eyes that stand out and the corner of his lids naturally crease when he gives us his wide smile. Scruff lines his strong jawline. He has this outgoing charisma that has me smiling at him.
“I gave your sister one. I know you wouldn’t let me live it down if I didn’t do the same for you,” Crash says drily, bumping Danger back.
“That’s why I love you, man.” He brings himself in, giving Crash a one-handed hug, “And this must be your sexy nurse, Piper.” Both men’s attention turn to me. I watch Crash shut his eyes for a brief second before he rolls them at his cousin. I laugh at both their reactions, causing Danger to wink at me, while I feel Crash pull me in closer to his side.
“Danger,” he officially introduces himself, kissing the top of my hand. Crash’s eyes throw daggers at him, but Danger pretends he isn’t even there. His whole attention is now fully on me. “This guy won’t shut up about you. I’m shocked you stayed once you found out who Aunt Millie is. I told him it was a bad idea, but he never listens to me.” He pauses. “But in this case, I can see I’m wrong.” He winks at me, and Crash grumbles something at my side.
“I can see you’re a better flirt than he is.” I’m not f
azed by Danger’s flirting; it seems like harmless fun to tease his cousin. I glance over to make sure I’m reading the situation right. Crash is looking down at me, and flutters once again invade me.
“I’ve had more practice. He doesn’t leave town much.” Danger lightly taps Crash on the shoulder.
Crash looks like he wants to tell him to fuck off, so I interrupt, “What’s with the names?”
“Crash’s brother’s name is Epic,” Danger informs me while wrapping his arm around my shoulders, pulling me away from Crash and leading farther into the party.
Looking back to Crash, he’s rolling his eyes like this is everyday Danger and gives a shake of his head. “It’s true. But Epic’s name was self-proclaimed. Mine is a family name. Our great uncle was a huge bull rider whose name was Crash.”
“It’s his middle name,” Danger clarifies as if his name isn’t that special.
“So is yours,” Crash argues, shaking his head.
“I think Crash is feeling left out by the two of us. Why don’t I go get you guys a drink, then Crash can have some alone time with you.” Danger says to me nudging my shoulder. I find myself in a constant state of laughter around the guy.
As soon as he steps out of earshot, Crash informs me, “He’s the town’s bicycle, if you know what I mean.”
I laugh harder, wrapping my arm around his. This jealous side of Crash isn’t too bad. I like knowing he wants to put some type of claim on me. I would be doing the same thing if we were with my friends and one of them was hitting on him. I get it. “Don’t worry. I’m not interested in him.”
He looks down at me, and I give him a wink as my hip bumps his.
“You plan on holding that gift all night, or you gonna put it on the table?” he asks, and I realize I’m holding it up to my chest.
“I thought I’d let you do the honors, since it was all your thought and effort that went into it.”
“Thank you all for coming to celebrate Buster’s arrival,” Danger’s voice cuts in, gaining everyone’s attention. Crash and I are arm-to-arm as we lean against the railing of his deck, talking to his friends.
“As you can see, Frankie is not here to share my day with us. But it’s important to note that I named Buster after her dog.” He places a hand on the TV, looking sympathetic, and it’s funny as hell watching him play this whole thing up.
“Buster will be a huge part of my life—” He looks around. “—and all of yours as the years go by, with the baseball parties, football parties, and that magical blazing fire in the Christmas months. Buster will be bringing so much joy to me that my heart feels like it could burst.” The fact that he says this all straight-faced is amazing. It’s like he is referring to a real person.
“Haven is inside and is organizing our first game of today, called Smell the Snack. She tells me it’s similar to the Smell the Poop game for a baby shower, where instead of poop, it’s chocolate bars. This game, you need to identify the smell of the snack in front of you.”
Leaning into Crash’s ear, I ask, “He’s really playing games?”
“He started planning this party as soon as Frankie had her dog shower. Honestly, I think that’s what put him over the edge so he finally bought the TV.”
“Do you find this strange?” I can see the draw to having this, but it’s weird. Or maybe this is the judgmental city vibe that seems to be ingrained in me.
Crash looks out toward his cousin, who’s still chatting away to the crowd. “It’s Danger.” He pauses before looking back at me. “Let’s make a game out of this.”
“I’m listening,” I say.
“Each time someone gets the smell wrong, we tell a deep, dark secret. If I have the same secret, I’ll drink.”
“Pretty sure that’s called never have I ever, but in reverse.”
“Do you have a better idea, summer person?” He’s looking at me with so much mischief in his eyes I have to laugh. I’ve never laughed so much in my life. Being here uplifts me in a way I’ve never felt.
“I’ll let you have your moment. We’ll play your game.”
Watching from the sidelines, it takes until the second round of snacks before someone guesses wrong.
“I spied on you showering,” I confess.
“Not a secret.” He takes a sip of his beer.
“Wait… you’ve spied on me in the shower?”
“What? No.” He’s looking confused as I point to his drink.
“You took a sip.”
“Sorry, old habits. Start again.” He nods, placing his beer away from him so he doesn’t accidentally take a drink.
“I liked spying on you,” I add more bravely.
“I liked it too.”
I bite the inside my cheek, liking this fun, flirty banter we have going on. The rest of the party fades away as Crash and I create our own little bubble. It’s so easy to talk to him. He hangs onto everything I say, not looking bored. I never get the impression he would rather be out talking to anyone else.
“I’m never late,” Crash informs me, looking proud. “I sometimes wait outside for fifteen minutes and walk in late, but only to prove to my friends I can be late.”
I have to bite the inside my lips not to laugh. “I’m always late. My family typically tells me a half-hour before just to have me on time. But once I learned that, I started to be late again.” I pause. “Does that count for a drink?”
“Close enough.” We clink our bottles together, and I take a sip.
We continue our game until Danger puts a baseball game on the new TV that has been moved closer to the house.
Four innings later the game ends and everyone begins to pile into their vehicles heading to the beach. Crash stays by my side the entire time.
“Maybe we should have a welcome party for you,” Crash contemplates, placing his Jeep into Drive as we begin to follow the long line of cars toward the beach.
“I have a feeling this town will pretty much do anything to have a party.”
“Quite the contrary.” He laughs. “Only the most special events get parties.” He winks at me, making my stomach roll with excited nerves.
“From my viewpoint, it seems to me like you’re comparing me with dogs and TVs,” I point out.
His hand pats my naked leg. “Looks may be deceiving. We like to celebrate the important parts of everyone’s lives. Danger getting a new TV is a big step for him. Did you look at his house? He has one couch… and that’s it. It looks like he doesn’t plan to stay there long, and it’s been five years. It took him ten times going through his place before he considered putting in an offer. That man refuses to make any decisions in a short time.”
The wind is blowing my hair all around my face. It feels comfortable with the heat. Even with the sun setting, it’s not cold. The scenery is beautiful, the salt from the water strong in the humid air.
“Then, look at his sister. She’s been engaged two times. She started planning her first wedding at the age of seven. And she’s still no closer to being married. So she got a dog. I do feel it has truly made her happier.”
“Well, when you put it that way….” I look over at him. His eyes are bright, and he looks at me in a way that feels like he can see all of me, like we’ve been friends forever and are just seeing each other for the first time in years.
If I’m being honest, I’ve always had to work for friendships and relationships. I’m not naturally good at them, it’s never come this easy for me.
“It’s settled then. We’ll have a Welcome to Oakport Beach Bonfire to celebrate you moving here.”
“Or we could have an Aunt Millie is Healed Party.” My smile splits across my face, and he gives me another look that feels like a warm hug on a cold day. I like the way he looks at me.
“We could do both,” he says slowly.
“See? Everyone just wants a reason to party around here.”
“Oh, you just wait. By the end of the month, you will be just like us. All indoctrinated into needing excuses to hang out wi
th everyone. We’ve all grown up together; we’re family. Not sure if you noticed, but nothing is open past six, except the tavern, and that closes by eight. Even in the summer with extended hours, the latest thing is eight or nine if we plan a special event.”
A carefree laugh escapes me.
It doesn’t take long before we all park in the public beach parking area. Everyone is piling out with something extra. Some have lawn chairs, coolers, or wood, and music is heard perfectly from someone’s Bluetooth, but I can’t see where it’s coming from. The Bryan Adams song “Summer of ’69” plays, its lyrics fighting against the lap of waves to be heard.
“Here.” Crash tosses me a pair of gray sweatpants that look about three times too large.
At my questioning look, he answers, “You sit close to the fire with bare legs, it’s going feel scorching.”
“So it’s not for bugs?” That’s what I first thought.
“No, those should be fine, unless you’re prone to getting bit?” He goes back to his Jeep, and I see a can of insect repellant in his hand. “Just in case,” he says, holding it up, before he grabs us both chairs.
“Well, thank you.” I debate if I should put the sweatpants on now, but it’s still so hot out.
He nods, taking my hand keeping me close as we follow the crowd. As soon as the group begins to spread out, his hand leaves mine. I hate the loss of contact. The thought alone makes me pause enough that Crash looks back at me. “Everything all good?”
Nodding, I step forward. “I was just admiring how many things you can hold without asking for help.” I steer the conversation elsewhere. “I don’t mind helping,”
He shakes his head. “This is your one day off for a while. Enjoy it.”
The breeze from the water feels good on my skin. We walk across the beach area until there are two small wooden steps up away from the sand. Overlooking the beach and sand is a metal firepit. A round bowl-like structure sits in the ground, its lip smooth and not much more than an inch up from the grass and sand area.
