My Crush’s Brother (Grand Lake Colorado #1)

8. Blake

EIGHT

Blake

I look around at the parking lot full of cars and families gathering coolers and lawn chairs as they make their way toward the parade. I still can’t believe Pearl pulled it off. I just renovated the cabins, she put in countless hours, most unpaid, to get the word out about the cabins. We are booked solid for the next foreseeable future.

I’ve come to notice how helpful and caring Pearl is. She takes the time to listen to my mom tell the same story for the third time in a row, she stops and talks in earnest to all of our tenants, often bringing in fresh baked goods to share with everyone. Don’t get me wrong, her incessant nagging about me drinking enough water while I work gets old and she doesn’t seem to understand space.

I I look up and see her on the porch talking to my mom. She’s pointing out the red, white and blue banners adorning the cabins. She sees me and a soft smile spreads across her lips, it’s different than the one she usually has on her face. This one seems genuine and warm, like it’s meant for me.

I shake my head at the thought, I know better. She sees me as another conduit to Trevor and someone to talk to when she’s out here. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy having her around. She’s been a breath of fresh air in this town. She’s always been here, I just never spent any time around her. Doesn’t matter anyway, I’ll be back on the road soon with my business. I’ve been negotiating a big project in Alaska, set to start next month.

I give her a head nod before turning to head back to my cabin. I need to grab a few things for the parade before I make my way to Main Street.

“Hey Blake, your brother still here?”

“Hey Mayor Higgins, na he had to head back to the big city. Apparently his woman needed him. You know how that goes.”

He lets out a hearty laugh and slaps my shoulder, “That I do son. Well next time you talk to that boy you tell him thank you for the budget software recommendation he made to the comptroller’s office. He was always a smart kid.”

The parade goes off without a hitch, the floats look great, the marching band sounds in tune and the fire department managed to not scare any kids with their sirens this year.

I watch as a few remaining children pick up the leftover pieces of candy still in the street. I feel my chest tighten, if Tracey hadn’t left a year ago I wonder if she and I would be having a little one soon. The few times I brought up children she didn’t seem to eager to indulge in the conversation other than to say she wasn’t ready and it was a long way off.

I make my way back to my cabin and strip down before stepping into the shower. I need to sort through my clothes and try to find something semi “nice” for the barn dance tonight. My wardrobe mostly consists of levis, flannels and work boots but I still have some of the clothes Tracey had bought me a few years back.

I pull on my jeans and start rifling through my closet. I pull out a wrinkled blue button down from the back of my closet and the dark blue vest that Tracey had bought to go with it. “Shit,” I mutter to myself realizing I don’t have an iron. A knock on my door interrupts my thoughts. Without thinking I walk over and pull it open to see Pearl staring back at me.

“Pearl?” She’s standing with her mouth open staring, that’s when I realize I’m shirtless. I look down to see small beads of water still on my skin before inviting her inside.

“Uh, sorry I just got out of the shower. Whatcha need?”

“I wanted to ask you if Trevor was coming in tonight? Last time I spoke to him he mentioned that he might make it back in time for the barn dance but he never confirmed so I was just curious?”

Of course that’s why she’s here. I can’t help but roll my eyes and turn back to duck into my bedroom. “No Pearl, loverboy won’t make it tonight. He said something came up and he’s going to be staying in Chicago for a while.” I turn around to read her face but she’s followed me into my room.

I see her glance at the bed and I can’t help but wonder if she’s remembering that night. I pull a t-shirt over my head.

“You’re not wearing that tonight are you?” She points to my outfit.

“Well...I guess not now. Why? What’s wrong with it?”

“Seriously? Blake you look like you’re going to muck stalls.” She says pushing past me.

“It’s a BARN dance Pearl...as in we are dancing in a barn.”

“Here, what’s wrong with this?” She holds up the shirt and vest combo I had pulled out.

“It’s wrinkled and I don’t have an iron.”

“You do know each cabin comes equipped with an iron and iron board in the hall closet right?”

She walks out of my room and I hear her pull something out of the hall closet. “See!” She holds them up before dipping into the bathroom.

“I can do that,” I say reaching for the iron in her hand.

“I highly doubt that.” I watch out of the corner of my eye as she meticulously gets the tip of the iron in all of the corners and seems of the shirt and vest.

“You’ll make someone a lucky man someday.” The words come out before I even realize I’m saying them.

“Why? Because I can clean and cook and iron? This isn’t the nineteen fifties anymore bud.” She gives me a playful wink before handing me back my perfectly ironed clothes and walking back toward the front door.

“Hey,” I say before she leaves. “Thanks, really appreciate it.” I hold up the shirt.

She gives me that same smile she always does, the one that makes my stomach do a flip.

“Anytime. Oh and Blake, don’t wear work boots with that outfit okay? It’s a barn dance, let’s keep it classy.”

An hour later I sip my beer and lean against the bar watching the people of Grand Lake mingle and have a good time. White lights hang from every exposed beam and banister and the band fills the room with lively music. Last year was one of the last times Tracey and I were together. I remember dancing around the barn thinking things were great, not having the slightest hint that she’d pack her bags and leave two days later.

I finish my beer and turn to set it on the bartop when I see Pearl walk in. Her hair is down, falling over her shoulders and down her back in loose curls. Her alabaster skin looks like it’s glowing under all of the lights. She’s wearing a white dress with little pink flowers on it that falls a few inches above her knees. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her bare legs before, they’re thin and shapely, accented with beautiful gold sandals with a small heel. I see her pull something out of her small handbag and then slick it on her lips. I bet it’s the strawberry gloss she was wearing the night she kissed me. I can still taste it.

Before I can turn away she catches me staring and flashes a smile. She walks up to me so confidently now. Gone is the timid girl that used to run away from me.

“Well, well you clean up nice.” She says, playfully hitting her purse against my chest.

“Thanks, you don’t look so bad yourself. I almost forgot you were a girl.” I realize how stupid it sounds as soon as I say it. In my head it was flirty but once I said it, I sounded like an idiot.

“Ha ha. So who are you creeping on up here at the bar? Anyone catch your eye out there? Maybe Miss Mabel? I hear she’s looking for husband number fiiiiive.” She giggles.

What I want to tell her is that she's the one who’s caught my attention. She’s the one I want to hold tightly against my body and savor each moment with. “Nah, I’ve got two left feet. I wouldn’t want to hurt anyone’s toes with these big ol’ feet.” I gesture to my shoes and I see her smile at the fact that I listened to her and didn’t wear my work boots.

“Now I know for a fact that’s a lie. I’ve heard you know your way around the dance floor and I remember you busting some moves last year.”

Before I can respond she waves at Jade and starts to walk toward her, “Hey, save a dance for me.” She semi shouts before running over to her friend like a schoolgirl.

I can’t stay hidden for long, a few of the local ladies nab me for a twirl around the dance floor and I don’t mind. I think I might have dodged Pearl’s request when she materializes behind me. She taps me on the shoulder and I twirl around.

“I’m ready for that dance now.”

“Ah, you’ve got the wrong brother.” I say tipping my fresh beer bottle at her.

“Come on, be a sport. You know you’ve grown to loooove having me around.” She pokes at my belly until I finally give in.

Of course, as soon as I place my hand over hers and slip my hand around her waist the song changes. The band starts to play, Bob Dylan’s Make You Feel My Love . I pull her in nervously toward me, she doesn’t hesitate pressing herself against me. I will my heart to not race and regulate my breathing before it gives away my nervousness. I can smell the slight hint of strawberry from her lips, my eyes dart to look at her long, slender neck. I can see her pulse beating rapidly, I want to think it’s because I excite her but in reality, I still make her nervous.

Neither of us speak as the song plays on and our bodies sway with the music. I press my hand a little harder against her lower back and I hear her inhale a little sharper. Her body feels right against mine, like she belongs in my arms. Instead of shaking my head clear from the thoughts I let them linger. I let myself wonder what it would be like to pull back and kiss her. To thread my fingers through her beautiful strawberry blonde curls and tell her exactly how I fell.

The song ends and the clapping around me wakes me out of my fantasy. I pull back, putting distance between us just as my phone starts to vibrate in my pocket. I pull it out, answering it without looking at the screen as I head out into the night air to clear my head.

“Hello?”

“Hello? Blake? It’s...it’s Tracey.”