Hold Me Tight

by Theresa Leigh

  "It was a good start," she protested.

  "Oh yeah, don't get me wrong, it was a great start. But... it was backwards."

  She raised an eyebrow. "Are you telling me you want to... date?"

  "Isn't that what normal people do?"

  "How the hell would I know?" Brynn laughed. God I fucking loved this girl.

  "Well okay, fair enough. But I want to take you out for a night on the town. I want people — besides fucking Nick Butler — to see us together."

  "Yeah?"

  "Yeah. I want to show off my girl."

  "Your girl," she repeated liked she liked the sound of it. I sure as hell did.

  I reached over and kissed her. "Meet me in the town square tomorrow. We can walk around, find a place that's not too crowded."

  "That'll be a chore. It's the Fourth of July week."

  "We'll find something," I promised her. But even if we didn't, I still didn't care. I was just eager to be seen with her, to hold her fucking hand in public. To be boyfriend and fucking girlfriend. To have something I never thought I could have. I looked down at my feet for a moment, trying to hide how overpowering it was to want something that was so innocent. So... normal.

  She made me feel right.

  She made me feel whole.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Brynn

  July was upon us in full force. I could feel the heat baking up through the thin soles of my flip flops and wondered if they'd melt to the pavement if I stayed in one place for too long.

  Luckily, Rett had me by the hand, which kept me moving along Main Street so fast I my flip flops didn't have time to melt.

  "Slow down!" I laughed as he hauled me along. "I'm like half your height!"

  Rett sort of stumbled in midstride and then looked down a me as if surprised I didn't have his stride length. "How's this?" he asked, shuffling like an old man.

  "You're not used to walking with someone else are you?"

  "No," he sighed, then grinned and lifted my hand to his mouth and brushed a kiss over my knuckles. "But I like it."

  I blushed and looked down. I liked it too.

  Walking with Rett had this weird effect of making the town I'd grown up in seem brand new. I'd been here so long that my eyes sort of glossed over the shops and restaurants in favor of the places I actually frequented. But with Rett I saw them all now.

  Each little bistro was packed to the gills with tourists. "I have no idea where we're going to eat," I observed.

  "Are you hungry?"

  "No, not yet."

  "Come on," he urged me. He pointed down to the new park that Cole was developing down by the waterfront. "Let's go see what Cole was talking about." He grimaced a little. "I've passed by this place almost every day and never found the time to go see what was happening."

  "I know the feeling," I sighed. And I did, once upon a time. But now seemed like the perfect time to start all over again.

  As we crossed the town park, I took note of the new playground, much fancier than anything I'd ever climbed across at Reckless Falls elementary. It was still shiny with bright yellow paint, unscuffed and barely used but for a tourist family with two children. A pretty little shingled hut stood down by the water's edge waiting for next summer when the brand new Town Beach would officially open. "Cole was saying they have to truck in sand," Rett observed, reading my thoughts once again.

  "You mean he's not going to be using the sharp rocks?" I laughed. The old Town Beach was practically unused thanks to the town forefathers making the peculiar decision to spread shards of shale that were thin and razor sharp. "I used to swim in my sandals."

  "I used my dad's old running shoes," Rett nodded. "I'd cut off the toes so they didn't get filled with water."

  I gaped at him. "I was joking when I said it before, but you really are always prepared, aren't you?"

  He just smiled.

  I lowered my voice. "What if I told you I wanted you to tie me up over there, by that tree? Would you be ready?"

  He reached out and grabbed the long necklace that hung from my neck. "Believe me," he growled. "I've already considered it."

  I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. The idea was an appealing one, but the park was filled with wholesome tourist families who probably wouldn't appreciate a show like that. Still... "Glad you'd figured that out," I murmured. "You never know when the mood will strike me."

  "I can take you right down to the beach, behind the tree there," he rasped and I could tell by the tightness in his voice that he was getting worked up. "Lay you down..."

  "On the rocks?" I squeaked.

  He raised an eyebrow.

  "I'm into bondage," I told him loftily. "I'm not into pain." Then I lowered my voice again. "Save that idea for when they get the load of sand delivered."

  "Won't even fuck on jagged rocks," he sighed. "This generation has no idea how spoiled they are."

  "I'm two years younger than you."

  "Whippersnapper."

  I laughed, pulling his arm close to mine. "You're going to make an excellent grumpy old man."

  "Thank you," he said gravely which made me laugh all the harder.

  We traipsed across the broad grassy lawn to the other end of the new park. There, Cole's pride and joy, a new row of shops and restaurants was going up, extending out into the lake on a one hundred foot pier. It was a huge undertaking for the town and yet somehow I hadn't been out to see it yet. Until Rett.

  Everything familiar seemed so new at the same time. And I couldn't seem to stop grinning about it.

  We poked along the half-built strip, Rett watching, amused, as I went right up and peered into the darkened windows and made predictions about what was coming. "Ohh, this one looks like a bakery or a pastry shop with that display case in the corner there!" I announced. "Look, do you think that's what it is?"

  "I'm good over here," Rett shrugged.

  "Meanie." I stuck out my tongue at him. "Aren't you curious?"

  "We'll find out what it's going to be when it's ready."

  I stepped back from the window. "That's like, your life's motto, isn't it?"

  He grabbed my hand and kissed it. "It's working out pretty well, wouldn't you say?"

  I blushed up to my hairline.

  Next to the possible pastry shop was a modern-looking building, all glass and concrete. The interior was still unfinished, but the outside was nearly complete. A very tall man carrying a very tall ladder under his arm came out just as we — well, I — peered into the window.

  "We'll be open Labor day weekend," he said with a grin.

  My eyes glanced over him without really taking note, but then my brain made me look again.

  Funny. Only a few months ago, a man that looked like that would have stopped me in my tracks, and sent me to flirting. But now, with Rett's hand in mine, I was able to observe him in a rather detached manner.

  Thick, wavy hair, a little too long around his ears, check.

  Well muscled forearms, check.

  A crooked smile that he shot in my direction, check.

  But all of those checkmarks in the plus column couldn't add up to the guy who was holding my hand.

  I looked down at my shoes and smiled a private smile, wiggling my toes in my flip-flops. I never thought it was possible to be this happy.

  "Is this the location for Indigo?" Rett asked the guy.

  "You've got it," the guy said, wiping his hands down the front of his jeans and then extending it. "Finn Walker," he said as he clasped Rett's hand and the two of them gave each other manly once-overs. "I'm Jackson Nye's business partner."

  "What brings you to Reckless Falls?" Rett asked.

  Something passed over Finn's handsome face. A softness, maybe a memory. He looked out towards the lake to where Whaleback Mountain's stunted slope dove into it. "I used to vacation here as a kid," he said fondly. "Always wanted to come back." He took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders with the kind of lifted chin three-quarter profile you only see in movies. "
And I finally did it," he sighed happily.

  I felt myself smiling. His enthusiasm was infectious.

  "That's great," Rett said, grinning too. "Welcome back."

  "Welcome home," I added.

  "Thanks," he said sincerely. "I'm happy to be here. Not sure about Jack though."

  "Let me guess. He's not a country guy?" Rett ventured.

  Finn stepped back. "Well, you can ask him yourself. There he is." He waved and motioned for the man inside to come out.

  Jackson Nye. I'd looked him up after Cole had talked about him at dinner. Celebrity chef and restaurant owner. Like Gordon Ramsey's younger, better looking counterpart. And holy crap was he good looking. Here, another man would have knocked my socks off at any other time. Except now.

  He came out of the restaurant, giving Finn a quick glance before he greeted us both, but he saved the sly wink just for me. "Hey there, darling," he drawled with a faint trace of an unidentifiable accent. "I'm working on our dessert menu. You like sweets? Or are you sweet enough?"

  I rolled my eyes inwardly. I heard Rett rumble something under his breath, and squeezed his hand. Oh God, I thought to myself, there's two of them. Couple of players moving in. Remind me never to eat at Indigo.

  I took another look at Rett who was standing with his shoulders square, his feet planted hip distance apart, all buttoned up dignity. Standing next to these two laid-back charmers, he looked like a total prude.

  I looked down at my shoes and grinned. Thinking about how he was anything but. Subconsciously, I traced the line that I had around my wrist. "No, I'm sweet enough," I said. "And I've got something sweet right here too," I declared reaching out and grabbing Rett's hand again.

  Rett looked startled, but as we walked away, I caught him shooting a smug look in Finn's direction.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Everett

  We meandered along the sidewalk back up onto the older part of Main Street, until we suddenly found ourselves stuck behind group of tourists, walking five abreast.

  In the past, this would have pissed me off royally, but with the early evening sun on my shoulders, and Brynn's hand in mine, I didn't mind having to slow down at all.

  "Looks like they're headed to Bob and Lou's now," Brynn sighed. "That was my last hope of where we could get dinner without hitting the crowds."

  We were passing Scoops when I was seized with a sudden impulse. "Let's get ice cream," I suddenly blurted. "Do you want anything?"

  She looked at me askance. "For dinner?"

  "Why not?"

  "Isn't that against some kind of... internal Rett code?"

  I thought for a moment. "I'm already walking through town flaunting the fact that I'm with you. I'm breaking internal Rett codes left and right already, why not go all the way?"

  She sort of stumbled for a second and came to a stop. "What?" I asked.

  "I love you," she exhaled in a rush.

  "I know," I said, tilting her chin up to brush her lips with mine. "I love you too. It's pretty fucking great, isn't it?"

  She giggled then darted a look across the street with a sigh. "Well if you were planning on having Cal find out about us, now's the time. We're right across from his storefront."

  I looked across the street. She was right, the right thing to do right now would be to go over and let him know. But there was a bubble of happiness in my chest that I didn't want to have popped by explanations and dramatic reveals. "Later," I told her. "Right now, ice cream."

  "Who are you?" she marveled.

  "No idea. Take advantage of it. What kind do you want?"

  She smiled. "Whatever you want is fine," she said. "I'm easy."

  I scowled at her. "First off, no you're not," I said, and was rewarded with a cute little blush. "And second off, you know you can't get away with bullshit with me. Tell me what you want."

  She bit her lip, scowled at me, then wrinkling her nose she suddenly blurted, "Rocky Road, two scoops, in a waffle cone."

  I squeezed her hand. "There's my girl," I said, nodding approvingly.

  The seagulls wheeled overhead, filling the air with their cries as I counted over the money and presented her with her gigantic cone. I was then rewarded with the pleasure of watching her pink lips closing over the ice cream, her tongue flicking out to lick it in a way that had me dizzyingly hard almost an instant. I growled as she slurped the last bits from the cone. "Come here," I said, yanking her forward to kiss her.

  She stumbled, and with an awkward yelp, suddenly slid forward. We both looked down. "Oh shit," she muttered, looking down at the broken strap on her flip flop. "Shit, I don't want to have to go home."

  "You don't have to," I pointed out, gesturing across the street. "The outfitters probably has something."

  I wound my hand around her waist and helped her limp her way across the streets to the outfitters. The interior was all wood, with shoes lining the back wall. Brynn hopped over to the women's section, but something caught my eye and I stopped.

  Right there in front of the wall of men's boots.

  Brynn looked over her shoulder. "Oh, for God's sake," she called. "Stop obsessing about the boots. It's over. The prowler probably got bored when he realized I basically spend all my time at home talking to my cat."

  But her voice sounded very far away, because there, there was what I was looking for.

  I walked over and lifted a pair of low rise brown hiking shoes with a distinctive orange reflective stripe across the top. Pulling out my phone from my pocket, I flipped it over and checked the sole side-by-side with the picture I had on my phone.

  "Holy shit," I exhaled.

  Brynn came over, and looked at me curiously. I held up the sole for her to see. "It's a perfect match."

  She froze and her eyes looked suddenly frightened. "What do we do now?" she asked me imploringly.

  I took her hand, something inside of me wanting to make everything better. "I'll find the guy," I promised her. Of course I did. What else could I do, but promised her the world? "It shouldn't be too hard," I went on. "These are pretty damn ugly."

  Several emotions played across her face at once, but the one that settled into place was surprise. She suddenly burst out laughing and, there, in full view of all of the other tourists and townspeople in the store, she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me.

  I growled into her mouth, immediately deepening the kiss, snaking my hand up the back of her head to grab a fistful of her hair, turning her head to the side so that I could explore her mouth with no barrier. She made a faint sound, melting against me, and I slid my hand around her waist holding her flush against me. Immediately I was hard again, rock hard and painful for her. I pulled back, breathless, to see that her eyes were shining in anticipation.

  Without thinking, I reached over to the rack next to the shoe wall and grabbed a packet of shoelaces from the clip that was hanging there. Then I took her by the hand, and led her back to the dressing rooms.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Brynn

  It was amazing how my body was already anticipating it. The downward rush, the searing heat. I knew it was coming, and I craved it like I had never craved anything before. This had gone beyond want and desire, and had ratcheted up to pure addiction.

  All made more acute by the fact that I didn't know what he had planned. He'd grabbed the shoelaces, that's all I knew, but my heart started racing in an instant, a complete Pavlovian reaction.

  But when he led me back to the dressing rooms, I stood there, biting my lip. All around us were the sounds of tourists calling to each other. The wails of a crying child, the bickering husband and wife. His bedroom was one thing, but here? In the open, when anyone could find out?

  Then he yanked me into a dressing room and shut the door behind him, and I had no more time to think. There was just enough time to note the mirror on the back wall, the hook on the side wall and the fact that the walls didn't go all the way down to the floor. This was the furthest thing from private, and
yet...

  "Turn around," he said me, and that was that.

  I turned, obeying him on instinct, feeling the flat of his hand against the small of my back guiding me until I was pressed flush against the side wall. Just on the other side of it, I could hear the sound of someone undressing, the soft grunts and little sighs. Her shadow was visible on the floor underneath me. I was merely inches away from someone else undressing...

  While Rett was undressing me.

  He yanked down on my tank top, reaching into my bra and letting my breasts spill over the top. Palming them in his hands, he ran his thumb over the peak and then pinched down. I stifled a small gasp. "Get your arms up," he ordered me, and I obeyed him instantly, raising my arms over my head.

  I heard the jingle of his belt buckle and nearly swayed place with the force of my need. I caught a glimpse of him in the mirror, his eyes so darkly green they were almost black. He had that look on his face, that calm, composed focus, with all of his attention on the task at hand. There was going to be no denying him, now that he was like this.

  And I fucking loved that.

  I loved him.

  I expected him to pull his cock free once his belt was out of the loop, but instead he wound it around my wrist, threading the tip through the buckle to catch my wrist in a cuff before winding it in a figure eight to catch my other hand. I could hear my breath coming faster now as he wrapped it around the hook for hanging discarded clothes and pulled upward.

  My arms were caught up above my head and a low moan escaped my lips.

  "God I love you like this," Rett said, murmuring against my skin. "When you're like this," he said, reaching down to snake his hand down my thigh, and pressed against my knee, forcing my stance wider. "I don't know whether I should force you to your knees and stuff my cock between your lips, or fall down and worship you instead."

  I heard the crinkle of plastic, and looked down to see that he was unwrapping the package of shoelaces.

  Then I caught a glimpse of my own self in the mirror, cheeks flushed, my breasts spilling from the top of my tank top, and I barely recognized the wanton creature that stared back at me, completely undone. And what was more, I liked seeing it.