by Lisa Moreau
“Because I looked down.”
“I told you not to.”
Emily adjusted her footing and perched on a solid-looking branch. Maybe she was high enough to see something.
“Are you okay?” Sydney asked.
“Yes. I’m going to use the zoom on my camera.”
Emily adjusted the dials and slowly scanned the tree, amazed at what came into focus. At least ten vibrant-green lovebirds with gray heads were perched on branches. Before she could press the shutter button, a gust of wind blew through the trees and knocked her off balance. Fear shot through her gut as she fell backward, scrambling to catch branches. She heard someone scream and realized the sound was coming from her own mouth as she plummeted toward the ground. It was one of those things that happen in slow motion. Wafting downward like a feather, Emily didn’t see her life flash before her eyes, but she did remember everything she was thinking.
This is bad. Really bad. It’s gonna hurt something awful. I’m not ready to die. I didn’t even get a chance to kiss Sydney again.
Thud. She hit the dirt hard and felt like a sword had been jabbed into her lower back. Pain. Intense pain. But that was good, right? That meant she wasn’t dead.
Sydney rushed to Emily’s side. “Don’t move. Are you hurt?” Fear tinged Sydney’s voice. And why shouldn’t it? Emily had just fallen God knows how many feet out of a freaking tree. How embarrassing. She was the world’s clumsiest person ever.
Emily tried to sit up, but Sydney held her down. “I’m fine,” Emily said, even though she wasn’t completely convinced.
“Are you in pain?”
Emily peered into worried eyes. Not only was this humiliating, but now she’d upset Sydney. “My back hurts, but it’s not too bad.” Okay. So maybe that was a little white lie. It throbbed something awful.
“You could have a broken bone, a slipped disc, or something worse.”
“I’m fine.” Apparently, Emily was an expert liar now.
Sydney seemed hesitant but reluctantly released her hold. “Okay, but sit up slowly.”
“Oh my God!” Emily patted her chest.
“What’s wrong?”
“Where’s my camera? It must have fallen off my neck.”
“We’ll find it in a minute. Let’s make sure you’re okay first.”
Emily wanted to jump up and scour the area. It was the only Bird Cam she owned or could afford. What would she do if it was damaged? Emily raised her torso, probably too quickly, and yelped when a sharp pain shot through her, making her nauseated.
“Seeee. You are hurt,” Sydney said, sounding halfway pleased that she’d been right. “We need to get you to the ER.”
Emily lay back down. “The hospital? No way.”
“You just fell out of a tree. You need medical attention.” Sydney’s voice rose several octaves. “Now you lie here, and I’ll go back to Fran’s and get something to transport you to the car.”
“You’re leaving me? What if bears or coyotes are out here?”
Sydney looked momentarily concerned. After a few beats she said, “They’ll eat the figs and not you.”
“Wait! Find my camera first.”
Sydney rolled her eyes but searched the area. After a few minutes, she bent down and picked something up.
“Here.” Sydney jabbed the camera into Emily’s hands. “Promise me you won’t move?”
“I promise.”
Emily immediately turned the Bird Cam every which way, inspecting it for damage. She ejected the memory card, blew on it to remove dust, and slid it back in. Everything looked okay, but just to be sure she snapped a few photos of the sky, since she was stuck lying on her back. Relief washed over her when she reviewed the images on the screen. Her prized possession was safe.
With all the ruckus of the accident, Emily had almost forgotten about the lovebirds. She slowly smiled and felt practically giddy. If she wasn’t hurt she would have done a happy dance, prancing on her tiptoes and clapping her hands like a court jester.
Emily attempted to sit up but then plopped back down again. Crap. Maybe she really was hurt. She didn’t have time for this. The lovebirds were right overhead. She needed to be in the tree taking pictures and video. Well, she couldn’t do much now. Hopefully Sydney would be back before dark. Emily felt awfully vulnerable and exposed lying in the middle of nowhere all alone.
After what felt like hours, Emily stiffened when she heard a rattling sound that grew louder by the minute. Were rattlesnakes lurking out here? She turned her head and saw Sydney in the distance, pulling something behind her. What was that? As Sydney came into full view, Emily groaned.
“Seriously? A little red wagon?” Emily asked when Sydney was a few feet away. “You couldn’t find a better means of transportation?”
“It’s a big red wagon and the only thing I could find long enough for you to lie flat in. There’s only one problem.” Sydney pinched her nose.
Emily hated to ask, but curiosity got the better of her. “What?”
Sydney unpinched it. “This is what Fran uses to carry fertilizer in.”
“Manure? You’re going to make me lie in crap?”
“No. Well. Sorta. I cleaned it out. But it still kinda smells.”
Emily sighed. “Could this get any worse?”
Sydney knelt beside Emily. “How are you feeling?”
“Stupid for falling.”
“It wasn’t your fault. That was a massive gust of wind. Let’s see if you can sit up.”
Sydney helped Emily upright, and with some effort she even managed to stand. She was going to protest that she was fine, but considering she still felt like someone had just jabbed a hot poker into her back, she kept her trap shut. Emily mumbled obscenities as she lay down in the wagon that smelled like a horse stable. Talk about feeling like a five-year-old when Sydney pulled her down the path to the car. This really couldn’t get any more embarrassing.
* * *
Sydney fluffed a pillow and gently placed it behind Emily’s back as she sat up in bed. Normally, she wasn’t the nurturing type, but she hated that Emily had gotten hurt and wanted to do anything she could to help her. Emily had been a trouper since the fall, not even complaining when they waited in the ER for over an hour when Sydney knew she must be in agony.
“Has your pain pill kicked in yet?” Sydney asked and pulled a blanket over Emily’s legs.
“Considering I think I could stick a fork in my leg and not even feel it, I’ll say yeah.”
Sydney snorted. “Good. You’re lucky you didn’t break your back or slip a disc. The doc says you’ll be up and running again in a few days.”
“A few days is forever when I just found the lovebirds. What’s that?” Emily motioned to a tube in Sydney’s hand.
“It’s a muscle-relaxant cream. I use it after a day of pole dancing.”
“Thanks. I’ll put some on tomorrow.”
“You should do it now before you go to sleep.”
Emily slouched down in bed. “I can barely lift my arms or keep my eyes open.”
Without thinking, Sydney said, “I’ll do it. Roll over.”
Emily hesitated but then carefully repositioned herself until she was lying on her stomach. Sydney stared into the eyes of two lovebirds on Emily’s flannel PJs, realizing that she’d have to expose skin in order to rub the lotion in. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea after all.
“Is something wrong?” Emily turned her head and surveyed Sydney.
“No,” Sydney responded, much too quickly. “Is it okay if I, you know, adjust your clothing to get to the area?”
“Sure. Do whatever you have to do to make it stop hurting.”
Sydney lifted Emily’s shirt and winced when she saw shades of red, purple, and blue.
“What’s it look like?” Emily asked.
“Like you fell on your back. It’s pretty bruised. Is this where it hurts?” Sydney lightly placed her palm over the injury.
“Yeah. And lover.”
“What?”
“Lower! I meant lower.”
Sydney chuckled. “Nice Freudian slip.”
“These pills are making me loopy.”
“Is it okay if I move your pants down a little?”
“Like I said before, do what you want.”
Sydney gulped. Actually, she wanted to do a lot, most of which included completely ripping the cute lovebird jammies off. Sydney mentally chastised herself. Emily was hurt. This wasn’t a time to get frisky. Sydney ran a finger underneath the waistband and tugged downward, just enough to expose the tops of a perfectly formed rump. Instinctively, she licked her lips. Emily had beautiful skin, smooth and creamy. She couldn’t wait to see what it felt like.
“This might be a little cold,” Sydney said.
She applied the cream, which caused Emily to flinch, and carefully rubbed in small circles. It instantly melted on Emily’s warm body.
“Tell me if I’m pressing too hard.” The last thing Sydney wanted to do was cause Emily more pain.
“It feels good. Can you put some on my hips, too? They feel really sore.”
Sydney glided her hands around and tenderly massaged the softest skin ever. When Emily moaned, Sydney stalled.
“Don’t stop.” Emily’s voice was deep, at least an octave lower than normal.
Sydney resumed stroking, daring to go deeper to knead tense muscles. “Are you sure this isn’t too hard?”
“Not at all. I could let you do this all night.”
Now that was an enticing idea. Sydney would love to touch Emily all night, and not just her back. She used both hands to massage one hip and then the other and practically melted into a puddle when Emily groaned in a way that sounded awfully sensual. Was that what Emily sounded like when she was aroused? Was she vocal during sex or the quiet type? And did she cry out when she had an orgasm? It was suddenly scorching in the cabin, like someone had just blasted the heater. Sydney had better wrap up this mini-massage before she got too carried away.
Sydney pulled Emily’s shirt down and fixed her pants. “All done. I hope it helped.”
“Aww. You’re finished?”
Emily turned over and peered up with droopy eyes. She looked utterly squeezable. Sydney wanted to lean down and place a light kiss on her crimson lips and tuck her into bed.
“Thank you,” Emily said and yawned. “You’ve been amazing.”
“My pleasure.” Emily had no idea how much Sydney had enjoyed touching her.
“I’m going to wash my hands and then hang out here until you fall asleep.” Sydney motioned to a chair in the corner of the bedroom. She bent down and kissed Emily’s forehead. It wasn’t her mouth, but at least it semi-satisfied Sydney’s desire to place her lips somewhere on Emily’s body.
* * *
A sharp stab shot through Emily when she turned over in bed. What the hell was that? Oh, right. Fig tree. Falling. Big ouch. The accident was coming back to her. She halfway opened her eyes and squinted at the clock. It was four a.m. Past time for another pain pill. She grabbed the bottle off the nightstand, popped a pill into her mouth, and took a swig of water. Hopefully it’d kick in fast.
She was about to lie back down when she saw a dark figure slumped in the chair. Sydney. That couldn’t have been comfortable. One leg was over the armrest, and her head was drooping at an odd angle, making her look like a stuffed animal with not enough cotton in its neck. She’d been so sweet to take care of Emily—transporting her to the emergency room, waiting for hours, and helping her into bed. Not to mention the massage. God. That massage.
Emily’s face heated with the memory of Sydney’s hands on her. It had felt amazing and so very sensual. Even injured, she’d longed for Sydney to stroke between her legs and relieve the ache deep within. Though Emily had never had an orgasm with anyone before, she was fairly certain it wouldn’t have taken much to climax under Sydney’s touch. What was that about? Maybe Emily wasn’t so cold after all. Maybe she’d just never been with the right woman before.
“Sydney. Wake up.” No response. “Sydney!” Still nothing. Emily took a pillow and lobbed it, jolting Sydney awake when it plopped on her stomach.
“What’s wrong? Do you need something?” Sydney was beside the bed in seconds.
“What are you still doing in the chair? It’s four o’clock.”
“Guess I fell asleep. Are you okay?”
“Fine. I just took another pain pill.”
Sydney yawned and scratched her head. “All right. I’ll head downstairs to the couch.”
“Like that’s any more comfortable than the chair. We can share the bed.” Emily scooted over.
Sydney hesitated and stared at the empty space beside Emily. The moonlight streaming in from the window cast a pearly glaze over Sydney’s face, making her look breathtakingly beautiful.
“I don’t want to accidentally kick you or something.” Sydney met Emily’s eyes.
“It’s fine unless you do karate in your sleep. This is a king. We won’t even touch.”
Sydney’s gaze bounced from the chair to the door to Emily. Finally, she slipped into bed.
Emily propped on her elbows and gawked at Sydney. “We don’t need another accident.”
“What do you mean?” Sydney furrowed her brow.
“You’re teetering on the edge about to fall over. Are you scared of me?” Emily grinned.
Sydney inched closer, turned on her side, and faced Emily head-on. “I don’t know. Do you plan to kiss me again?”
They both grew suddenly serious, the air between them hot and still. Emily dropped her gaze to Sydney’s mouth. She’d give anything to taste her sweet lips again. Before she did something stupid, Emily flipped over―too quickly considering her back―and said, “We should get some sleep. Good night, Sydney.”
Chapter Eighteen
Three’s Company
Whoever said things always looked better in the morning was full of crap. In fact, things were exactly the same, considering Emily’s back was still sore and she still wanted to kiss Sydney. Emily stared at Sydney’s angelic face as she slept just a few feet away. It’d be so easy to cozy up next to her and nuzzle her awake.
Instead, she sat upright and pressed two fingers against her temples. It was times like this she needed a friend to talk to, or maybe a priest, considering she should probably go to confession. Cheating on a fiancée was most certainly frowned upon. But then again, it wasn’t like she’d had sex with Sydney. But God, she’d wanted to.
I’m going to hell for sure.
Considering Gretchen was her closest friend and she had no idea where to find the nearest priest, she’d have to settle for the next best thing: her mom.
Moving slower than a hundred-and-fifty-year-old tortoise, Emily got out of bed and stood upright. She grabbed her phone, went downstairs, and stepped onto the deck. With shaky fingers, she pressed the speed dial on her cell phone, incredulous that she was actually going to do this. Her mother was a great source of information for questions like how many calories are in a bagel or how many minutes of step aerobics does it take to work off a chocolate fudge sundae, but concerning matters of the heart? Not so much.
Her mother answered on the first ring. “Hello, darling. I’m about to head out. You know I have Pilates every Saturday morning.”
“Oh. Sorry. I forgot.”
“I’ll call you when I get back. We need to review the reception menu.”
“Wait. Don’t hang up. I need to ask you something.” Emily paused, not sure where to start.
“Well?”
Emily heard car keys jingling.
“Have you, I mean, were you ever attracted to anyone other than Dad when you were engaged?”
Silence. Lots of uncomfortable silence. This wasn’t good.
“Mom?”
“Who have you been talking to?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Did your father say something?”
“No. I haven’t…no.”
<
br /> “It was a long time ago, Emily Gail.”
Wait. What? There had been someone else?
“His name was Troy,” her mother said. “I met him around the same time as your father. He was…ahh…a dreamboat…”
Somehow, Emily knew the dreamboat comment referred to Troy and not her father.
“Handsome. Sexy. And reckless. He drove a motorcycle and wanted to travel cross-country, camping and living off the land.”
Emily was aware that her mother’s voice had drastically shifted. Her usually sharp, grating tone was silky and filled with emotion and reverence.
“Did you date him?” Emily asked.
“For a short time.” Her mother’s voice was almost a whisper, then grew louder when she said, “Your grandmother absolutely hated him.”
“Were you in love with him?”
Fast, shallow-sounding breaths came through the receiver. Why hadn’t Emily done FaceTime? She’d give anything to see her mother’s expression right now.
“Head over heels.” Two beats passed before she added, “But he was completely wrong for me. He was wild and impetuous and actually wanted me to run away with him.”
Before Emily could stop herself, she blurted, “You should have!” not realizing she was basically saying that her mother and father shouldn’t have gotten married.
Emily’s mother chuckled. “Grandma would have had a heart attack. I broke it off with him after your father proposed.”
“Did you ever regret it?”
Emily’s mother huffed. “What’s with all these questions? And now you’ve made me miss Pilates. You and Gretchen are going to drive me crazy.”
“What do you mean? What about Gretchen?”
“It’s completely normal to have cold feet before getting married.”
“Gretchen has cold feet?” Emily asked, oddly excited about the prospect. “Because I’ve been thinking maybe we’re rushing into this.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You two are perfect for each other.”
A short time ago, Emily would have wholeheartedly agreed. But now things felt different.
“If I leave now I can catch the second class,” Emily’s mother said. “You get that story written and hurry back here to your fiancée.”
