Chapter
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.