Chapter 23
23
[Genie]
I once read an article that said Thursdays were the sexiest day of the week. Some study showed that cortisol levels are highest on the fourth day of the seven, and thus sex hormones elevate.
First, I’d like to know who runs these studies and how.
Second, I don’t think they’ve met Judd Sylver because being around him, I feel like my cortisol levels and sex hormones have been pinging all over the place every day leading up to this day.
Which happens to be a Thursday, and my first Sterlet meeting.
Minutes before I’m set to leave, accepting an invitation from Vale to meet her and several of her sisters-in-law at Milton Roadhouse for a drink, Judd comes to stand outside the guest room door.
“Hey.” My voice comes out shy. Even though, we shared kisses and a night of only sleep together, I feel even more uncertain about where Judd and I stand. When I woke early this morning, he’d already left his bed. He also left me a note explaining he went for a run, and I decided to spend the day outside.
After the storm, the vegetation around Judd’s place looked like it sprang to full summer bloom overnight. Green was everywhere from the deep forest color to the brightest lime shade, and I could not concentrate again, although an idea had sparked.
A mountain adventure Quirky Girl Calendar had a rough beginning.
Now, Judd sheepishly smiles before lifting his hand and twirling a set of keys around his finger. “I’m giving you a ride.”
“Oh, I can drive myself.” I wave, tugging my crossbody bag over my shoulder. I’m wearing another green dress that ruffles along the collarbone and dips between my breasts. Judd’s gaze follows the line of ruffles before his eyes leap back to my face.
“I don’t want you drinking and driving, so I’ll be your chauffeur for the evening.” The intention is rather thoughtful and sweet, and while I don’t want to put him out, I do appreciate the gesture.
“If you are sure,” I counter.
“I’m sure.” His sheepish smile grows into a crooked grin, and I wonder if he’s been thinking about our night like I have.
The way he kissed me. The way he held my hand as we slept. The secret he shared with me.
The day has not been awkward, but I’ve been a bit anxious around him. The nervous energy more likely a result of the lingering effects of the storm and my continued confusion.
Once we arrive at Milton Roadhouse, Judd parks down the street and comes around to the passenger side to help me out of his truck. He tucks my arm into the crook of his elbow as he walks me the few feet to Milton’s front door.
“Text me about fifteen minutes before you want to come home, and I’ll pick you up at The She Shed.”
Home. He so casually tosses out the word and I glance up at him. The curve of his jaw. The heat in his eyes. The softness of those lips that kissed me last night.
He pauses and I spin before him. When we face one another, he tucks my hair around my ear again and says, “Have a great night.”
Too quickly, he’s releasing my hair and drawing back from me. And I stare after him as he takes one step back and then another while still looking at me.
We don’t separate with a parting kiss which feels like it should naturally happen, and yet everything feels so new, itchy and uncertain.
Couple goals . Always kiss for greetings and goodbyes.
The thought hits me so hard, I stumble on my high heel when I haven’t even moved my foot.
Judd rushes forward again, catching my elbow as if I’m still unsteady on my feet. “You okay?”
I give him a thumbs up because my voice is trapped deep inside me, along with a lot of emotions I’m not ready to evaluate.
With a questioning smile, Judd pulls back again and something inside me says not to let him go. To reach for him and tug him back to me. Give him that kiss. But I don’t. I watch as Judd once again steps back, nodding at the door of Milton’s, like he’ll wait for me to enter the bar before he’ll leave.
The inside of Milton Roadhouse reminds me of an old-time saloon and rumor claims that eons ago this former hotel was once a popular watering hole on Milton Peak. With thick beams in dark wood and the occasional wagon wheel chandelier, the space is large but dimly lit. A square bar is off to the right, with an empty space around it like a wood-floor moat. A smattering of high-top tables made from barrels crowned with oak planks fill the space, while regular tables are scattered around a dance floor and small stage tucked into a corner.
Instantly, I find Vale. Her cornstalk-blonde hair is the lightest color on the spectrum of Sylvers which run from a heavy silver mix to still dark brown with sprinkles of gray. As the youngest, she is roughly mid-thirties. With her tonight is the pregnant Cadence, and her sister, Enya. The sisters look like sisters despite Cadence’s acorn-brown hair being lighter than her sister’s slightly darker tresses. Cadence’s stage hair is blonde.
We’ll meet up with Halle and Mavis a little later at The She Shed, a knitting shop owned by Meredith Mulligan.
“I know Ford said a sex toy wasn’t something necessary, but there’s nothing wrong with toys-as-tools to enhance things,” Cadence is saying as I step up to the table.
Vale groans but having seen me, slides off her stool to hug me.
“Don’t tell me you don’t have sexy Sylver superpowers as well, girl,” Cadence teases Vale.
“Just ignore them. I do when they start discussing the men in their lives, forgetting the sexy superpowers she’s referring to are from my brothers .”
“Cadence,” Enya chides her younger sister.
“I’m just saying, I’m as horny as the day is long with this little one inside me.” She rubs her hand over her baby bump. “And with three little ducks already running around, we need to be creative.”
Vale shakes her head before nodding at a stool next to her to take a seat. The waitress arrives quickly, taking my order for a gin martini.
“Anyway,” Enya groans, cutting off her sister, and turning toward Vale. “How was your last date?”
Vale groans next. “They’re always the same. Same questions. Same answers. I don’t know why I torture myself.”
“I know the feeling,” I chime in.
“But not anymore,” Vale sighs, and I realize my mistake. They all believe Judd and I are engaged, and I glance down at his mother’s ring, remembering our kisses from last night.
“There just isn’t much of a dating pool in this town or the next town over or the next after that.” Her shoulders fall in defeat before she lifts her glass of white wine. “Which is why I need tonight.”
Book club? I’m all in favor of books assisting in the bedroom, especially for a party of one which describes Vale’s relationship status. But a book isn’t the only thing to help stimulate superpowers.
“We aren’t really attending a book club, are we?” I ask the ladies.
Vale looks shocked. Enya only smiles. Cadence laughs, then addresses Vale. “Honey, I keep telling you, the best kept secret in this town is not a kept secret. The best kept secret is what Stone and Emerson Milton are doing with one another.”
“What’s the unkept secret?” I demand playfully. “And Stone and Emerson Milton?” I’m confused and rightfully so as I don’t live here, but I know the Milton family. Everyone knows them. Their family laid claim to this mountain top, and the entire county was named for them. The Miltons have been the ruling government of this town in some form or another for almost a century.
“Emerson is the mayor. Stone’s the town sheriff. It’s a simple equation,” Enya states.
“But are they really just friends with benefits?” Cadence leans in like inquiring minds want to know.
Vale shakes her head. “I live with the man. You’d think I would know but I just don’t. Sure, they are seen together, and seen leaving places together, but I’m not convinced they are more than friends. No benefits.”
Stone Sylver is a good-looking man, and any woman would be a fool not to want benefits with him, but Emerson might have her reasons. Stone might have excuses as well.
“So the secret club?” I want to circle back to my initial question as the waitress returns with something resembling a gin and tonic.
“Meredith Mulligan sells sex toys to supplement her yarn shop,” Enya explains, and I take a hasty sip of my drink. Definitely more gin and tonic than martini, but it will do.
“Oh my.” I sound like a ninny, but I’m eager to learn more. My favorite toy is back in my apartment.
“The book club”—Vale air quotes—“is invite only. Consider yourself invited.” She winks at me.
“Girls Night Out before book club? How quaint.” The blonde bombshell suddenly standing beside our table is none other than Heather.
“Call it like it is, though, ladies. A dildo is a dildo.” Heather’s icy blue eyes latch onto me. “You’ll need one to deal with Judd’s frigidity.”
My mouth falls open, shocked by Heather’s audacity and blatant insult of Judd.
“Tone down your jealousy, darlin’,” Cadence snaps, spinning on her stool. “It’s unbecoming.”
With Heather’s gaze still trained on me, she says, “I have nothing to be jealous of.” She lifts her martini glass like she’s toasting me and takes a sip of a drink I’d like to splash in her face. I hope her martini is actually a gin and tonic as well, and she chokes on the lime.
“You’re OWD is showing, girl,” Cadence adds. “And you were the other woman.”
I chew my lip, both surprised at Cadence’s brazen speech and her lack of fucks.
However, I don’t want an altercation with Heather. Being my mother’s best friend’s daughter has nothing to do with my hesitancy. I’d been hopeful that Heather would come to terms with losing Judd, maybe even realize she didn’t want him. They are so different from one another.
From my history with Heather, there is no way she’s been sympathetic toward Judd’s past, if she even knows the half of it. I might not know all his secrets, but I know some dark details that make my skin crawl and make me believe Judd doesn’t share those stories easily or with just anyone.
Making a derogatory comment about his sexuality so publicly is not appropriate and couldn’t be further from the truth.
Sometimes a bully is a bully, and that’s calling it like it is.
With Heather put in her place by a world-famous music superstar, she huffs and spins on her heels, but not before a final jab at Cadence.
“And to think I used to be your biggest fan.”
Cadence waits a beat for Heather to walk away before she says, “I’m certain one of the nine-hundred ninety-nine thousand and nine-nine-nine behind her will be happy to step forward and claim her crown.”
“Careful.” Enya nudges her sister. “Your stardom is showing.”
Cadence laughs. “Every once in a while, it doesn’t hurt to let your ego glow.” Cadence tosses her hair over her shoulder in a mocking manner. “No one has time for that.” Yet Cadence glances after Heather with a twinge of sympathy on her face.
“How did they ever get together?” I mutter, more to myself than to the group collectively. Plus, Judd told me what happened, so my question is more rhetorical.
“Judd doesn’t want to admit it but he’s more a lover than a fighter,” Vale states nonchalantly.
I choke on a sip of my gin and tonic, reminded once more that Judd eventually told me his family was on a need-to-know basis about his fights, and he didn’t feel they needed to know.
“He’s craved the same deep connection all my brothers, and me, want but have struggled to find,” Vale continues.
“You didn’t have that connection with Hudson’s father?” I ask.
Vale’s son, Hudson, is nearly twelve. From my understanding, Vale has raised him since birth on her own, with mainly Stone’s help.
Vale turns her head and looks longingly across the bar. “No. It doesn’t take deep connection to make a baby.”
I nod feebly, sorry I brought up such a sore subject.
“Making babies can be so much fun, though,” Cadence breaks in, trying to turn the frown on Vale’s face into a smile.
“Who’s that?” I ask, hoping to change the subject as I glance in the direction Vale once did. A broad shouldered, thick armed man sits on a stool at the bar, nursing something dark in a short glass. His hair is dirty blond. His beard thick. He looks like a Viking in modern-day flannel.
Enya twists on her stool. “Isn’t that Cortland Haven?”
Vale doesn’t look back up, almost purposely keeping her head down, but I don’t miss her side-eye the guy for a second before she says, “I don’t know. I don’t think so.”
There’s another story here but I already put my foot in my mouth about Hudson’s dad, so I don’t ask.
The waitress returns to the table with a shot topped with whip cream and sets it before Vale.
“What’s this?” Vale asks, glancing up at the young server.
“The message is ‘bees like something sweet’.” She nods at the mystery man in flannel, who isn’t looking at our table, but keeping his eyes trained on the large screen television with a baseball game on it.
“ What is that?” Enya asks, staring at the concoction.
“A blow job shot.”
I wrinkle my nose. “A bit assumptive, don’t you think?”
I’m ready to defend Vale’s honor but Vale is already shaking her head, fighting the twitch of her lips. Her hand covers mine and stills the sudden desire to cross this bar and give flannel-man a what-for and a fuck-you.
Vale keeps her eyes on the shot, contemplating something, before whispering, “I’ll kill him.” She sets the glass before her, places her hands behind her back, and opens her mouth wide. Leaning forward, she wraps her lips around the shot glass then she tips up her head, swallows down the shot, and then grips the short glass, slamming it down on the table.
“Any responding remarks.” The waitress tweaks her brow, almost enjoying her position as messenger.
Vale hands the shot glass back to the waitress. “Bees sting. That’s all.”
Then Vale focuses on our table. “Let’s get back to that discussion about toys-as-tools for companionship.”
Enya cranes her neck, head swinging from Vale to flannel-man and back, like she knows a bit more about the longing in Vale’s eyes and the mystery behind the man at the bar.
“Yes,” Cadence smacks the table, drawing all of us back to our circle. “I heard sex might motivate this little love to move out.” Cadence runs her hand over her swollen belly once more.
“You’re only five months along. Don’t rush it.” A gentle warning graces Enya’s tone.
“Right. Okay. I just want to have sex with my hot future husband.” Cadence winks at me, as if I understand the superpower of the Sylver males.
Vale groans.
“And you,” she points at Vale. “We need to get you all sexed up.”
“Set up,” Enya corrects.
“That’s what I said,” Cadence smiles, tossing me a wink.
Vale groans again but lifts her glass of wine in a mocking toast.
“God, I miss tequila,” Cadence grouses, but lifts her glass of water to knock against Vale’s.
And I wonder what it would be like to be sexed up for a certain sexy Sylver.
When Judd picks me up at The She Shed, he offers Vale a ride home as well. She’s had a few too many glasses of wine to complement her earlier shot.
Judd opens both the front and back passenger door of his pickup truck, and Vale motions for me to climb into the front seat while she lugs herself into the back.
“I see it’s been a good night,” Judd chuckles, helping me into the front.
“I think she’s a little overserved,” I stage-whisper.
“I’m under served,” Vale announces. “That’s my problem. Under- serviced .”
Judd arches a brow at me before closing my door and then closing his sister’s once he confirms she’s fastened her seat belt. He rounds his truck, effortlessly hopping in, and drives toward his family’s home where Vale lives with Stone.
“Judd,” she leans forward, then falls back at the constriction of the seat belt. She wrestles to release the latch despite Judd’s protesting tone, and then slides herself forward so her head can slip between the front two seats.
“Judd, listen to me. Friendly, sisterly, womanly advice.” She’s tapping his shoulder like an annoying sister might do, wanting his full attention.
“Jesus, Vale. Sit back. Buckle your seat belt,” he chides, giving her a stern look.
“Judd,” she continues, ignoring him. “Make her pleasure your pleasure.” She points between Judd and me. “Make sure she’s pleased before you’re pleased. You get my meaning?”
Judd coughs, shifting in the driver’s seat and keeping his eyes forward. “Got it.”
I fight a smile at how uncomfortable Judd suddenly looks but also how seriously he answers his sister.
“And another thing,” Vale continues. “Make sure she finishes. It isn’t a race. Not a sprint. No circle, circle, fifty-yard dash. Complete the process. Finish line.” While Vale speaks, she motions two fingers in a circular motion, then shoves her arm forward, imitating a dash.
The laugh I want to contain breaks free and Judd tips his head to the side window, shaking it slowly.
“Someone should have cut her off,” Judd mutters.
“That’s the problem. I’ve been cut off too quickly. Men don’t know how to finish what they start. Finish, Judd. Make it worth your Genie’s while. Don’t just rub the lamp. Show her the love.”
I full on snort, covering my mouth with my hand at Vale’s advice to her brother, who looks like he’d like to crawl underneath the seat.
“Okay, now sit back,” Judd says, glancing briefly at his sister who still has her head between the seats, leaning on the edge of mine. “Don’t make me pull over.”
His voice is all tease.
Vale groans and slips backward, refastening the seat belt, and tipping her head to the window like all the steam went out of her.
When we reach Stone’s home, Judd helps his sister out of the truck and walks her up to the door. There, Vale wraps her arms around Judd’s waist, and he hugs her back a second before she pats his back and pulls away to enter the house.
The exchange is sweet and makes me wish for siblings again. A whole brood of them that care about one another and want the best for each other.
When Judd returns to the truck, he glances back at the front porch making certain his sister is in the house even though he just watched her enter.
“Have fun tonight?”
I roll my head on the headrest and stare at him as he reverses his truck. In the reflection of the dashboard lights, I admire his profile. A strong nose. Full lips. Those bright eyes.
“Vale is my new best friend.”
Judd’s mouth curls in a soft way. Not a full smile but a hint that he’s pleased. “I want to be your new best friend.”
“You are my fiancé,” I remind him, stating the word all fancy in a fake French accent, and adding a poke to his arm like his sister had been giving him.
“They can be the same thing.”
I hadn’t really thought about that. I mean, couple goals— be friends with your betrothed —but only days ago, I’d thought friends and fiancé were two separate words, when they really should be synonymous.
“So, what did you do tonight?” He’s had hours of relief from me in his home.
“Waited for you.”
I snort. “Seriously?”
“Seriously. I met Stone for dinner, and we hung out until I got your call.”
That’s strangely sweet .
“I saw Heather tonight,” I report quietly, not really wanting to bring her up and yet still bothered by what she said about Judd.
He turns his head toward me, brows pinching with concern. “Did she say something to you?”
I chew on my lower lip. Heather didn’t so much speak to me as she insulted Judd, and now I’m sorry I mentioned her because I don’t want to share with him the hurtful things she said.
Judd must sense my unease, and he glances at me again before pulling into his gated driveway. “What did she do ?”
I shrug. “Nothing worth repeating.”
“Tell me anyway.”
“It wasn’t nice, Judd. Nor necessary.” She’s just jealous, as Cadence said.
Judd parks in his garage, cuts the engine and turns toward me in his seat. “Tell me.”
“Judd.” I sigh, the sound an admission that I don’t want to tell him.
“Did she call you names? Threaten you in any way?” His voice rises, his agitation growing as he reaches for my hand, his thumb instantly finding the amethyst on his mother’s ring and toying with it.
“No, nothing like that.”
“Just tell me then.” His tone grows sharper, and I glance up at him.
“I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”
Judd continues to stare at me, willing me to speak.
With a heavy sigh, I admit, “She said you were frigid. It was absolutely uncalled for and unnecessary. And before I could defend your honor or pride, Cadence was shooing Heather off like an annoying insect.” I should have said something. I’m his fiancée. I should have been arguing to the contrary.
Judd purses his lips and rocks his head a few times, then releases my hand and pops open the driver’s side door. He rounds his truck as I’m exiting my side and he takes my hand in his again, helping me out of the truck before leading me into the house.
We bypass the guest room and library and then stop inside the great room. Only undercabinet lights in the kitchen area are on, giving the room a warm glow.
Judd and I face off a second, and I’m worried revealing Heather’s jab has hurt Judd’s feelings.
“Did you buy anything tonight?” he asks, noticing a bag in my other hand. His eyes are trained on the paper sack. The blue in them like the bright flame at the first light of a burner.
“Judd,” I whisper, my throat growing dry.
“Can I see it?” He looks me directly in the eye. The heat in them scorching me. The desire a sudden inferno.
With shaky hands, I pull out my new purchase. “It’s called The Pickler.”
Judd stares at the item that I’m holding up like a magic wand and takes in the bulbous wedge and the surprising likeness to both a vegetable and the male anatomy.
“Not a very appealing name,” he mutters as we both stare at the device.
Meredith gave a very detailed and convincing sales job on how to use this product and what it can do to enhance my sex perience.
“Want to show me how it works?” Judd adds, focusing on me.
My head whips in his direction, my heart galloping as well. His question is a cross between asking for permission and an assumption I’d show him how I’d use this product.
I’m also instantly turned on. Darn Thursdays .
“Want to help me?” Toys-as-tools, Cadence said.
“Checking yes.” Judd’s breathless reply has my thighs clenching and another part of me pulsing. Touching myself with this product, while Judd watches or participates or whatever will happen, involves a layer of trust, and instantly, I realize I do trust him.
Snap-crackle-pop . The sexual tension is palpable between us, almost more intense than the thunderstorm last night.
Judd stares at me for another long minute before he demands, “Lose your panties.”