The Hometown Hoax (The Hoax Series) (12 page)

“Oh we would.” She picked up the foil packet and toyed with the edge, debating if she should tear it open or not. They couldn’t go any further if she didn’t. “So you presumed you’d get lucky with me today, did you?”

He took the packet from her fingers and tore it open, then rolled it onto his length. She couldn’t help but watch. And squirm with anticipation. His pre-show had been outstanding, but she bet his main event would be even more fantastic.

“I didn’t presume anything, but I’d have to be an idiot not to be prepared in any situation. That’s why my emergency first aid kit has one of these bad boys in it.” He tossed the foil to the side and crawled between her legs, pausing at her entrance while he pulled her legs around his waist.

“In case of emergency hard on, tear foil. That kind of thing?” She practically vibrated while waiting impatiently for him to slide into her heat.

“Yep,” he said simply. He leaned forward and kissed her, taking his time to explore her mouth as he inched into her, achingly slow. Her heat surrounded his length until she felt like she couldn’t take him any further. “I didn’t presume, but I might have hoped like hell.”

With that he withdrew and quickly thrust into her again and again. He reached so deep her head spun. She thrust with him, intensifying each movement. Her nails scratched down his back as she called out his name. He felt so good, so right.

“Stop. Roll over,” she said, between panting for breaths.

He did as she asked, taking her with him. When she settled onto his lap, straddling him, she rocked back and forth. He thrust upward. She made sounds she’d never heard herself make before—primal, guttural, deeply satisfied sounds.

Closing her eyes, she arched back and raised her face to the sky. The sunlight kissed every spot of her body, heating it, while the breeze simultaneously cooled her. She’d never felt more at peace with her life. For once she wasn’t running from the past or searching for her future. She was simply in the moment with Logan.

He grabbed her hips and drove hard and deep, forcing her to take more of him. She swiveled her hips, drawing him in, holding him hostage. Her body suddenly clenched around him as another wave of ecstasy overwhelmed her. He called out her name with his release and his hands fell to the blanket. She waited for her head to stop spinning before moving to curl into his side, her head resting on his chest.

This was what life was supposed to feel like—free, happy, weightless.

She didn’t know how, but she hoped there was some way to hold on to this feeling forever.

Chapter Twelve

“T
his is nice.” Logan sighed loudly, contentedly.

“What is?”

“This. Today. Being out in the fresh air. Being here with you. All of it.”

“It is.” And she meant it more than she thought she would before making the hike. Being up here again reminded her about why she’d longed to see the rest of the world to begin with. This view inspired her to see more.

Being here with Logan, she felt not only inspired by the view but also by the incredible man beside her. He relaxed on the blanket while she sketched and felt calmer than she had in months. Whether it was from being on vacation, or from being with Logan, she didn’t know. But she liked the feeling and she didn’t want it end. She wanted to capture it forever in her sketchbook so one day she could look back on today and remember this feeling of serenity.

“When Travis mentioned there was a job available here and that he might be able to help me get it, I was pretty desperate for the work. I didn’t want to be a trainer at someone else’s gym, and being a private personal trainer is difficult to get started and be successful at. Once New Yorkers find a person they like and who works with their schedule, they’re loyal. It’s great when you’re the one secure in your job, but it’s frustrating when you’re the new guy.”

“I know that feeling.” Every gallery she’d gone to in the city already had their core artists. It didn’t matter that her work fell in line with the style of art they were already showcasing, they simply wouldn’t give her a chance.

She checked her cell phone for a signal. Nothing. She thought it wouldn’t be a problem to get one up on the mountaintop, but it was, which meant she hadn’t gotten her emails all day. Of course, a break from them was probably a good thing. Every time she’d gotten a reply from a gallery, it had been a rejection. Only one hadn’t responded yet and all her hopes were pinned on it.

“Having trouble getting your foot in the door too?” he asked.

“You could say that.”

“If the work you’re showing them is anything like the sketch I saw the other day, then they’re the ones missing out. Your work is incredible.”

“Tell that to my empty bank account.” She smiled weakly.

His compliments were appreciated, but it made her wish that even one of the galleries or studios felt the same. Of course, he’d seen one of the sketches she’d done here, which was completely different than the work she was showing in the city. But all of it was still done by her hand and with her eye for style, light, angle, and detail.

The work she’d shown in the city was new, exciting, and fresh.

She’d done a million sketches of the trees and mountains and lakes. When she’d moved to the city, she’d wanted to try something different so she’d painted the city on her canvases instead. Getting the angles and colors right had been challenging at first, but she was having fun and liked the way her paintings turned out. Too bad no one else did.

“Thanks.” She didn’t want to talk about that stuff right now. Her current situation in the city made her feel like a failure. She didn’t want to feel that today. “Want to see this one?”

Normally, she kept her sketchbook private to everyone, her family included. But Logan had already seen one and liked it, and since this one was about today, maybe he’d like it too. She’d been completely bared to him physically so showing him a sketch couldn’t make her feel anymore exposed.

“Definitely,” he said, rolling onto his side toward her. Thankfully, they’d put on their underwear after fooling around or else she would’ve gotten another eyeful. Not that she would’ve minded the view, but it would’ve made her want to be with him again. And she wasn’t sure if she wanted that or not.

He’d been amazing, outstanding actually, but being with him again would only deepen her feelings and make things harder for her at the end of the week. Of course, looking at his chest made her want to touch it and kiss it and all her logic started seeping out her ears. Good thing he’d only had one condom, which meant there was zero chance of them getting busy again.

She handed him her book and held her breath while he looked over the sketch of himself, lying on the blanket. Instantly, she wished she could grab it back and erase it from his memory. It wasn’t good enough. That line needed to be smoothed and the arch of his eyebrow wasn’t right. Not to mention the angle of his knee was off by at least a couple of degrees, and she couldn’t even look at the shadows on the ground. Those were all wrong.

“This is incredible. You did this today?”

She nodded. “I know there’s a lot to be fixed.”

“Sugar, this is perfect. I love it.” His voice sounded genuine. She mumbled her thanks and took the book back, closing it quickly so she wouldn’t have to look at it anymore.

“Were you sad to leave the city when you got the job here?” She couldn’t imagine going from having everything you could ever desire at your fingertips to being here, where there was nothing but nature for miles.

“No, I was excited. I couldn’t wait to get out of the noise and congestion. Of course, I never knew it would be this rural, but I don’t mind. I love the quiet. I love being able to come to a place like this and not see a single building.”

“But don’t you find it boring after all the excitement there is in the city?”

“No. I grew up with that excitement and after a while it becomes noise. I never felt like I could be alone, even in my apartment. Here, it’s completely different. The first night I stayed in my new place I couldn’t believe how noisy the critters were and how I didn’t hear a single person or vehicle.”

“I like the hustle and bustle of the city. Always having so many people around that no one even takes notice of who you are or what you’re doing. I finally feel like I can be whoever I want to be and not who people expect me to be. I can run to the coffee shop in my slippers and it won’t be the talk of the town the next day. It’s awesome.”

“You go to the coffee shop in your slippers often?” he asked, smirking.

“Never. But the point is, I could, and that is a freedom I never got here.” She grabbed a granola bar from her bag and took a bite and washed it down with a sip of water. “I’m warning you, this town will know everything about you and they’ll tell everyone they know. Before you know it, you’ll wish for the anonymous life in the city again.”

“I was no one in the city my whole life. I didn’t even know my neighbors’ names after living beside them for years. Here, people already say hello to me by name when I walk into the coffee shop. They ask me if I’m settled, if I need anything. It’s nice to feel cared about.”

“Oh they care alright—about your hair, and your new ball cap and the book you’re reading and how often you buy toilet paper. No thanks.”

“Is that why you’re so insistent about not living here? Because people care about you too much?”

When he said it like that it sounded stupid, but it was more than that. “It’s because I’m tired of everyone having a say in how I live my life. It’s about knowing there is more to life than this little town and the people in it. I want to see the world.”

“Can’t you go on vacations like everyone else?” he asked.

“Can’t you mind your own business? Oh, wait, nope, you live in Cutter’s Creek now. I guess that means you’ll start hounding me to stay here too.”

She flopped back onto the blanket, thankful that the sun was behind the trees so she could watch the clouds floating by without getting blinded. Why did he have to be like the rest of them, bugging her about her choices? Why couldn’t he accept her for who she was and what she wanted?

“I obviously hit a sensitive spot and not in the good way like earlier either.” He laughed as if he’d made a joke, but she didn’t laugh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get into your business. I was only making conversation and trying to figure you out.”

The silence between them was suddenly thick with tension. She sighed. “I’m sorry too. The whole issue is a bit of a sore spot for me.”

“I know you have reasons for making your choices, but I wish I understood them.” He shrugged. “If I had a family like yours, I’d do whatever it took to stay nearby.”

“I guess we want different things in life.”

They did want different things in life—he wanted small town community; she wanted big city anonymity. He wanted to settle in and start a business; she wanted to be recognized for her paintings, and not because she was a Cutter in Cutter’s Creek. Their situations were like oil and water. Unmixable.

From now on, she needed to keep that in mind. Sleeping with Logan was a fun distraction from real life, but she wasn’t about to let it change the path she walked toward her future.

L
ogan yawned as he grabbed himself a beer from the small cooler tucked between the lawn chairs. It was only mid-afternoon, but he’d already worked out, hiked up a mountain, had mind-blowing sex with Tessa, and hiked back down the mountain. Honestly, he deserved a nap. But he’d hardly hung out with Travis and the idea of lounging on the dock with a fishing pole was too good to pass up.

“Heard you and Tessa went up to the lookout. Alone.” Travis had that tone in his voice, the one that said he was fishing for more than bass.

“Mary was supposed to join us but I guess she had to do something with James.”

“I noticed you both came back from hiking so you obviously started getting along better. I was worried she might toss you off the cliff if you kept annoying her.”

“We got along great.” That sounded way too enthusiastic. He might have hooked up with Tessa, but that didn’t mean he wanted to tell his buddy about it yet. “Well, better than before. I think she’s finally over the accident and hating me.”

“Sounds like a lot of effort for little pay off. That isn’t an easy hike.”

“Have you seen the view from up there? That alone was worth the trip.”

“What else was worth the trip? Time with Tessa?”

Logan shrugged. He might not want to share all the details with Travis, and he had promised to keep Tessa’s secret about her fake Dick in the city, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t admit to enjoying the view of more than nature up on the mountain. “That part was good too.”

Travis cast his line. “I always thought you’d hit it off with her. I was surprised to see you butting heads, but I guess I shouldn’t have been since that’s the way Tessa communicates with everyone. It’s like she’s always on edge and defensive. I wish she’d chill out.”

A prickle of annoyance took root. “Maybe if she didn’t have you guys always on her case she’d be able to.”

Travis shot him a look that was both amused and confused. “You need a tampon to go with that mood swing?”

Logan took a long gulp of his beer finishing it off. “Sorry,” he finally said as he grabbed a fresh one from the cooler. “Tessa mentioned how much the family wants her to move back and how she wants to try things on her own in the city for awhile. I guess I’m kind of on her side.”

“Did she bitch about us the whole time?”

“No. And I wouldn’t say she bitched about it either. We just talked.”

“Sounds like you did too much talking, in my opinion.”

Logan thought about their time together on the mountain—being inside Tessa, her nails raking down his back, having her call out his name while he pounded balls deep into her heat. “We didn’t talk the whole time.”

“What else is there to do? Bird watching?”

“Skinny dipping.”

Travis turned, a huge smile on his face. “Are you telling me you saw my sister-in-law swimming naked?”

“We were simply sharing a water source to cool off. And no, I didn’t see her swimming naked.”

When I saw her naked, she was about to have her way with me on the blanket, not swimming.
Totally different question than Travis asked, so therefore, not a lie.

“Sounds like a missed opportunity, if you ask me.”

“No one’s asking you anything, and it wasn’t a missed opportunity. It was gentlemanly. Not all of us are looking to get laid all the time.”

Though I did. And it was awesome.

“Most of us are.” Travis laughed. “Well, whatever you did or didn’t do, I’m glad you’re hitting it off with Tessa. She needs someone to keep her in line, and I always thought you’d be a good fit for her.”

“You remember she has a boyfriend, right?” He swallowed his annoyance at having to keep her lie. He didn’t want to pretend there was a guy she cared about, who got to sleep with her on a regular basis. The thought of someone taking up the role of her boyfriend irritated him. “I’m not here to date her.”

“No, no…of course you aren’t, but I’ve known both of you for so long, I’ve always imagined you guys getting along.”

“You make it sound like we’re meant to be together, like you’re setting us up or something.”

Travis downed the rest of his beer and looked out to the water. It wasn’t like his friend to be evasive.

“This isn’t a set up, is it?” Logan asked.

Travis opened his mouth to speak and the glint in his eyes triggered suspicion inside Logan. Before his friend could confirm or deny the question, Martha walked up and interrupted them.

“Hi, boys.”

“Martha,” they both said in unison.

“Listen, I know I mentioned it briefly before, but everyone here takes a turn cooking. Tomorrow morning you and Tessa are on breakfast duty. She’s already agreed to it so I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. I’m sure I can find something to whip up. Although, I might need my blender from my apartment.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem. Tessa’s going into town to get the things she needs so you can go with her. I think she’s heading out in a few minutes.”

Logan reeled in his hook and set the rod on the dock. “I’ll catch up with you later to finish this conversation.”

“Better go get Tessa before you miss her.”

The words were simple enough, but Logan couldn’t help but feel his friend had meant to say them with a double meaning.