Her Maine Attraction: A Small Town Romance (Pine Cove Book 1)

by Rebecca Gannon

  “Oh, call me Pam.” She waves. “And of course your friends are welcome here. The more the merrier we say, right, Dave?” She smiles, turning to Jake’s dad.

  “Yes, dear.” He smiles at his wife. “Hello, Ally, it’s so nice to meet you,” Dr. Taylor says, holding his hand out for me to shake.

  “You too, Dr. Taylor.”

  “Oh, it’s Dave, dear. No formalities with us.”

  “My son has been keeping you all to himself,” Mrs. Taylor says, throwing Jake a look. “We’d love to get to know you, Ally.”

  “I’d like that, thank you.”

  “Now, what would you like to drink, dear?” Mr. Taylor asks,

  “Gin and tonic?”

  “I can do that.” He nods, getting to work. “And Jake, your usual?”

  Jake nods, and Dr. Taylor pours some kind of fancy whisky into a cup and adds a couple ice cubes before making my drink.

  “Thanks, dad. We’re going to go grab some food.”

  “Of course, yes, please enjoy yourself, Ally. I’m so glad my son has found you,” Mrs. Taylor says, her eyes glassy.

  “Me, too,” I say, smiling up at Jake.

  “Okay, please stop.” Jake laughs, uncomfortable with the attention. “See you guys later.”

  “Sorry about that,” he says once we’re out of earshot.

  “No, I like them. They’re really sweet.”

  Squeezing my hand, we approach the grill, and the man behind it looks up. “You must be, Ally.” He smiles. “We’ve all been waiting to meet the girl who’s made my brother less of an asshole. I’m Ryan, the older and better-looking brother.”

  “Well, that’s debatable,” I say, looking up at Jake.

  Ryan is hot in his own way, but it’s more in the polished, law enforcement, good boy kind of way. I prefer my rough mountain man.

  “Huh, well, look at that, brother. A beautiful woman has finally found your woodsy, recluse look, appealing.” Ryan laughs, turning the burgers over.

  “Oh, she finds it way more than appealing.” Jake winks down at me, making Ryan laugh.

  “Oh my god,” I groan, downing the rest of my drink. I can’t believe he just said that.

  “Sorry, darlin’.” Jake smiles. “Alright, catch you later, Ry.”

  “It was good meeting you, Ally. Take care of my brother.”

  “I will. I promise,” I assure him, and he nods.

  Jake leads me over towards a group of guys eating at a table next, and as we get closer, I recognize Jack as one of them. Then, when I look closer, I see that all of them are wearing Pine Cove fire department t-shirts.

  “Ty,” Jake calls, and one of them turns around, and all I see is a younger version of Jake with shorter hair.

  “This is Ally.”

  “Hey, Ally,” he says, standing to shake my hand. “I’m Tyler. Good to finally meet the girl who’s been keeping my brother busy all the time.” He smirks.

  “Ty,” Jake warns.

  “It’s okay. It’s true.” I laugh. “Hi, Tyler, good to meet you.”

  “You’re definitely too beautiful for my burly lug of a brother. Why don’t you let me take you out?”

  Laughing, I squeeze Jake’s hand. “Thanks, but I love my burly man.”

  “Alright.” He shrugs. “But let me know if that changes.”

  “It won’t,” Jake snaps, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

  “I tried.” Tyler laughs, holding his hands up in defeat.

  Pulling me away, Jake shakes his head. “Sorry about that.”

  “Why? He’s funny. Both of your brothers are.”

  “They’re assholes is what they are.”

  “You love them.”

  “I guess,” he reluctantly admits. “Well, that’s it for you, darlin’. You survived. You can meet Chris when he gets home on leave in the winter. Was it horrible?”

  “No. It definitely went better than I thought it would. I need another drink, though.”

  “I’ll get it for you. Your friends went over to the pong tables, so I’ll meet you there.”

  “Oh, lord, of course they’re there.”

  “Ally?” I hear a small voice say to my left.

  Turning, I see Dottie standing there and I smile. “Hi, Dottie. How are you?” I ask, hugging her.

  “I’m good, dearie. I see you’re with Jake?” she whispers in my ear so only I can hear.

  “Yes, I am.”

  “I knew you’d be perfect for him.”

  “What?” I ask, but she’s already pulling away and turning towards Jake.

  “My boy.” She smiles, hugging him.

  I watch as Jake’s eyes widen in surprise and then dart over to mine. No doubt she’s whispering something to him as well.

  “You two enjoy yourselves.” Dottie smiles at both of us. “Ally, call me sometime soon so we can have another baking lesson. I’ll teach you how to make Jake’s favorite cookies next.”

  “Sounds good.” I smile, and she walks off towards the tables of food.

  “What did she say to you?”

  “What did she say to you?” he asks right back.

  “I think she fancies herself a matchmaker.”

  “I’m not complaining,” he says, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing me softly. “I’ll go get you another drink.”

  Staring after him for a second, I let my eyes feast on his fine as hell ass in those jeans, and his back muscles bulging through his t-shirt.

  Trying to hide my smile, I head over to the pong tables and am not surprised by what I find.

  “Hey!”

  “No!”

  “Chug that shit, bitch!” Ash yells at Mel across the table.

  Her and Ellie have teamed up against Mel and Courtney, and Ashley tends to get very intense when it comes to drinking games.

  “Looks like Ash and Ellie are kicking your asses,” I say to Mel and Courtney.

  “Yeah, sorry, Courtney.” Mel coughs, trying to breathe after chugging a cup of beer. “I haven’t played since college. Ash, on the other hand, was a frat house junkie and her skills never went away.”

  “Excuse me for wanting to see if any of those boys would use their paddles on me.”

  “Ashley!”

  “Oh, please Ellie, like you never wondered.”

  “Eh.” She shrugs. “Not my thing.”

  “So, you did try it! I knew it! It was that kid Anthony, right?”

  “You remember him? You should use your memory for something else.”

  “I don’t need to. I have room to remember everything. Now, it’s your turn, so go.”

  Watching them play out the game, Jake comes over to hand me another drink and then heads off to hang with Ryan.

  “Meeting everyone went well?” Courtney asks.

  “Yeah, they’re all really nice. His brothers gave me a little bit of a hard time, but I just went with it. I feel like they were testing me.”

  “Boys,” she sighs, rolling her eyes.

  “I know. Well, I’m starving, can we get food now?”

  “Yes!” Ash claps. “I could eat the whole buffet.”

  Walking over to the tables of food, we pile our plates with a little bit of everything, and then make our way to the grill.

  “Holy shit, he’s fucking gorgeous,” Ash whispers behind me.

  “Hey, Ally.” Ryan smiles.

  “Hi, Ryan. These are my friends from back home – Ashley, Melanie, and Elizabeth. Guys, this is Jake’s older brother.”

  “Ladies,” he greets, bowing in a mock gentlemanly manor. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Oh, the pleasure is all mine,” Ashley practically purrs, holding her hand out for him to take. “I’ll have a wiener,” she says, holding her plate out to him. “I like them extra juicy.”

  I don’t know if I’m seeing things, but I think Ryan’s eyes go a shade darker as he and Ash stare at each other.

  Lord have mercy!

  “Um, so I’ll have a cheeseburger, thanks,�
�� I tell him, and he looks away from Ashley, serving up burgers and hot dogs to all of us.

  “Thanks,” I say, forcing a smile as I push Ashley towards a table.

  “Ally! Stop pushing me, what’s your problem?”’

  “You! You’re eye fucking Jake’s brother a second after meeting him.”

  “So? He’s the hottest man I’ve ever seen. He could man my grill anytime.”

  “What does that even mean? Your vagina is a grill? That’s gross. He’s also the sheriff of Pine Cove, so don’t do anything that will get you arrested.”

  “He’s the sheriff?” she asks, a hint of thrill in her voice.

  “Yes, but don’t get any ideas, Trash-ley.”

  “We’ll see.” She shrugs, a suspicious gleam in her eyes.

  “Ash, keep it in your pants,” Ellie chimes in.

  “I say go for it.” Courtney laughs. “He needs some fun in his life.”

  “See, Ally, I’m fun.”

  Shaking my head, I find us an empty table and sit.

  I’ve always envied Ashley’s feminine prowess. If she wants a man, she goes after him without hesitation. But under all of her confidence, I know she’s fragile. She hops from man to man to keep her distracted, but she’s never satisfied. She always claims she’s never going to fall in love because men can never seem to hold her attention for long, but I know she’s going to fall hard and fast one day.

  After we finish eating, we see one of the pong tables is free so we go back over and play another few games. This time, though, Mel decides to watch, and I teamed up with Courtney against Ash and Ellie.

  “Yes! Ha Ha, suck it!” I yell, jumping up and down as Courtney and I soundly kick their asses. “I’m going to get another drink, be right back.”

  “Rematch!” Ash yells after me, and I turn to flip her the bird.

  Looking around as I walk towards the bar, I take in how many more people have showed up since we got here. The yard is packed with probably half the town now, all laughing and having a good time. The Taylor’s sure know how to throw a party.

  Jake’s dad isn’t bartending anymore, so I walk behind the bar and grab a fresh cup of ice, searching for the gin on the table full of liquor.

  “Let me,” Tyler says, coming up next to me and taking my cup. “What’s your poison?”

  “Gin and tonic with extra limes. Thanks.” I smile.

  “No problem. So, you and Jake…”

  “Yes?” I ask tentatively.

  “You make him happy,” Ryan states, coming to stand next to Tyler. “We haven’t seen our brother happy like this in a long time.”

  “He makes me happy, too,” I tell them.

  “Did he tell you about Jen?” Tyler asks bluntly.

  Jake didn’t mention her name, but I’m assuming Jen is his ex. “Yes, and I’m nothing like her. I love Jake.”

  “They were in love, and she fucked him over.”

  “That wasn’t real love. If it was, she never would have hurt him like that.” They both look at each other, a silent conversation happening with just their eyes. “You’re both really important to Jake, and I know that. I’m just hoping you’ll give me a chance.”

  Smiling, they nod.

  “You’re good for him,” Tyler says, making my drink.

  “But don’t think I won’t do a background check on you,” Ryan adds.

  “Uh, what?”

  “Standard procedure.” He smirks.

  “You won’t find anything, so go ahead.” I shrug, not knowing if he’s kidding or not, when I feel a familiar arm snake around my waist.

  “Hey, darlin’,” Jake murmurs, kissing my cheek.

  “Hey.” I smile warmly up at him.

  “Are they bothering you?”

  “No, we’re just discussing my upcoming background check.”

  “Ry, seriously?”

  “No, it’s fine,” I reassure him before he gets worked up. “He’s just doing his due diligence on a new Pine Cove citizen, right?”

  “Right.” He nods, smiling down at me, his eyes showing me his approval.

  “I’m stealing you away, now. Don’t gang up on my woman again,” he tells his brothers.

  Tyler hands me my drink and Jake steers me away. “Jake, they weren’t being mean. They were just being protective brothers, which makes me like them even more.”

  “Really?” He seems surprised.

  “Yes, and I can handle myself with them, so don’t worry about that.” I smile, leaning into him as we walk.

  “They like you.”

  “I know, they told me,” I say smugly, making him laugh.

  We approach the pong tables, and Courtney rolls her eyes when she sees me with Jake. “I guess I’ll have to take Mel back as my partner?”

  “Hey!” Mel yells, making everyone laugh.

  “Sorry, yeah,” I tell her, leaning my head on Jake’s arm.

  “You owe me.”

  “Whatever you say.” Blowing her a kiss, I keep on walking with Jake.

  Nearing the edge of the yard by the water, Jake finds us a quiet spot to sit away from everyone. I settle between his legs and lean back against his chest.

  Sipping my cocktail, I watch as the sun starts its descent into the water. “I painted something this morning,” I confess.

  “What’s it of?” he asks, nuzzling my neck.

  “I was feeling so much this morning that I just had to get it out of me. It’s something special.”

  “Will you show me?”

  Sighing, I lean into him further. “Mhmm. I made it for you. But it’s for your eyes only.”

  Stilling, he turns my chin so he can look into my eyes. “Darlin’, please tell me you painted a nude of yourself for me.” His eyes are a blazing blue, burning into mine.

  “Not quite,” I whisper.

  I painted him and I in the throes of passion as the sun bursts to life around us. Finding each other meant we found the light again, and we no longer need to live in the shadows of our own making.

  I’ve never painted something so intimate before, but it felt right. I wasn’t even embarrassed to show Mel because I knew she’d see the art in it. It’s more than just Jake and I having sex. It shows our souls coming together in a way that can’t be broken.

  “I could take you right here and now, darlin’. I’m so hard just thinking about you painting anything like that for me,” he growls, his deep voice even sexier when he’s turned on.

  Staring into his darkening eyes, I shift my hips and feel him against me. Reaching back, I grip him through his jeans, holding what’s mine as my eyes dart down to his lips, needing a taste.

  Leaning in so he’s just a breath away, Jake rests his forehead against mine.

  “Jake,” I whisper, closing the distance between us, melting into him the second our lips touch.

  Gripping him harder, he groans into my mouth, and slides his other hand up my thigh. When my tongue meets his, the air around us electrifies, and my skin tingles with need.

  Remembering where we are, though, I pull away, my breathing ragged. “You drive me crazy, mountain man. We have to stop before I let your hand go up any farther. It would be hard for me to stop you after that.”

  Flashing me a wicked grin, he grips my thigh and takes my earlobe between his teeth.

  Stifling a moan, I bite my lip, trying not to draw attention to us.

  “I want to hear you scream, darlin’,” he growls.

  “Jake, not here. Please,” I beg.

  “Soon.” Kissing me hard and quick, I look into his eyes and see the dark promises I know he’s going to keep.

  I try and settle back against him like we were before, but I can’t relax. My body is practically buzzing it’s so wound up, and trying to focus on the sunset isn’t helping in the least. Squirming against him to get comfortable, Jake grabs my hips, stopping me.

  “Darlin’, you’re going to have to stop doing that if you want me to behave.”

  Opening my mouth to say somethi
ng, I close it, trying to focus on not moving. But one of his hands drifts down to my leg again, tracing patterns on my bare thigh.

  “Can you figure out what I’m writing?” he murmurs in my ear.

  Focusing all of my efforts on his finger on my thigh, and not his sweet, hot breath on my neck, I smile when I figure it out.

  “I love you, too.”

  Changing his pattern, he starts to write something else. It takes me a while to decipher it, but when I do, I look up at him.

  “Please,” I practically moan.

  “When the fireworks start,” he promises, his molten eyes glowing in the setting sun.

  Nodding, I stare back out at the water, willing the sun to go down faster. But when I don’t think my body can wait another second for what it’s craving, the ocean finally sucks the sun under, and the sky begins to darken.

  “Stand up,” Jake commands, his voice strained.

  Getting up, I smooth my dress down, and he grabs my hand, leading me over to the edge of the tree line. Looking around to see if anyone notices us, Jake takes me into the dark cover of the trees that extends back as far as I can see.

  I have to make sure to watch where I’m stepping so I don’t trip as I’m led deeper into the forest. And when we’re far enough away for privacy, Jake suddenly turns and lifts me, throwing me up against the closest tree, his lips slamming down on mine.

  Wrapping my legs around his waist, I grip his hair in my hands and pull, feeling his low groan vibrate through me. He runs his hands up my thighs and under my dress to grip my ass, squeezing hard enough to leave marks.

  Moaning, I scratch his scalp, and he presses me harder against the tree. Jake quickly undoes his jeans and shoves my panties to the side, sliding into me in one, quick motion.

  My back scrapes up the bark of the tree and I cry out, squeezing Jake inside of me with every muscle I have – the pain and pleasure mixing together in an intoxicating sensation.

  Gripping my hips, Jake pulls out almost completely before slamming back into me, the explosions of the fireworks covering the screams being ripped from my throat.

  Digging my heels into his ass, my back is dragged up and down the tree with every stroke, my skin feeling like it’s on fire.

  Looking into Jake’s eyes, I see them light up with the colors bursting above us, and I know he can feel the pressure in me building, and it drives him to go harder and faster.