17. Clint
SEVENTEEN
CLINT
I’d always found peace on Huckleberry Creek. Even as a kid, I’d been drawn to the water, to the little river that gave the town its name. This particular spot a few miles out of town had always been my sanctuary when life got complicated. The water tumbling over the rocks made just enough noise to drown out my thoughts—usually. Today, not even the familiar sound could quiet the voice in my head asking if I’d blown everything.
Reeling in the line I’d cast, I whipped the rod, tossing the lure again. I didn’t actually expect to catch anything. Not this time of day. But that wasn’t why I was here. I needed the mindless, meditative repetition of fishing. Maybe by the end of the day, I’d have some clue what to do.
Movement on the bank in my periphery caught my attention.
Or sooner than the end of the day.
I didn’t need to look to know it was Austen. Of course she’d known where to find me. She’d teased me often enough about my “brooding spot” in her letters while I was deployed.
“How’s Rhett?” I kept my eyes on the water, not ready to see pity or regret on her face.
“Healing. Doing surprisingly well, actually.” She moved close enough that I could smell her vanilla shampoo, the same scent that had been on my shirt this morning when I’d put it back on for my walk of shame.
“Did you manage to keep us a secret?” The words came out more bitter than I’d intended.
“No.” Her voice was quiet. “He figured out I wasn’t alone. And that it was you.”
My gut clenched. There it was. The moment I’d been dreading since I first realized I had feelings for my best friend’s sister. I waited for her to tell me… something—anything—about how he’d reacted. Whether I needed to be looking over my shoulder for the foreseeable future.
When she said nothing, I reeled in my line again and sighed. “I guess it’s my turn to go talk to him.”
“At some point. If there’s still something to tell him.”
The words felt like rocks in my gut. I’d known it was too good to be true. Known that letting myself hope would only lead to?—
“Why didn’t you tell me about the pact?”
At her soft question, I went still. “What?”
“Rhett told me. When you made yours, was that about me? Or did this whole favor you did me just postpone you going after the woman you really want?”
Holy shit. I surged to my feet, frustration burning away the ache of rejection.
“Are you serious right now? After everything these past few weeks? After last night?” I raked both hands through my hair. “You really think I could touch you like that, be with you like that, if I was thinking about somebody else?”
Her teeth worried at her lower lip, and damn if I still didn’t want to kiss and make it better. “I don’t know what to think. You never said…”
“Because I’ve spent years trying not to want you. You were Rhett’s little sister. Off limits. But that night, when we were under fire, all I could think about was how I might die without ever telling you how I felt. Without ever knowing if you could feel the same.” I took a step closer, close enough to touch, but I kept my hands at my sides. “And then we got home, and you needed a favor, and I thought maybe… maybe this was my chance. So yeah, these past weeks I haven’t been faking a damned thing. I know that’s not what you signed on for, and maybe you just got carried away. I’ll understand if you don’t feel the same.”
I wouldn’t. But it seemed only fair to give her the out.
Her brows drew together. “You idiot.”
My head kicked back in surprise. “Excuse me?”
“How can you not know I’ve had the world’s biggest crush on you since I was about twelve years old? Of course, I feel the same!”
Hope bloomed in my chest as she crossed the space between us, her hands coming up to rest on my shoulders.
“I’m so sorry about this morning. I panicked. I was trying to protect you from Rhett’s reaction, which was completely stupid because it turns out he’s actually fine with it, and I handled everything completely wrong, and I just...” She took a breath. “Please say something, so I’ll stop talking.”
I caught her face between my palms, drinking in the sight of those earnest brown eyes, the flush in her cheeks, the way her hands fisted in my shirt like she was afraid I’d pull away.
“Twelve, huh?”
She groaned. “That’s what you’re focusing on?”
“Well, it explains why you used to follow me around like a puppy that summer I helped your dad and Rhett build the deck.”
“Oh my God, stop.” She buried her face against my chest.
I wrapped my arms around her, breathing in the scent of her hair, hardly daring to believe this was real. “Never. I plan to milk this for all it’s worth. Does this mean you used to doodle Mrs. Austen Ramsey in your notebooks?”
“I plead the fifth.” But the pink in her cheeks told a different story.
“You did! ” I crowed. The idea of it delighted me and gave me some ideas for later.
With one finger, I tipped her chin up, so she had to look at me. “So, you really want to date me?”
Her look turned impish. “Does that include more of those orgasms? Because you really are book boyfriend material.”
“Sweetheart, I will give you all the orgasms you want for as long as you’ll let me.” I traced my thumb over her lower lip. “And I’m hoping that’s gonna be a good long while.”
“Promise?”
“Cross my heart.” To settle it, I lowered my lips to hers. What started soft and sweet turned far more heated. Austen pressed closer with that little whimper in the back of her throat that drove me wild. I gave half a thought to stripping her naked right here under the trees, loving the fantasy of making love to her outside. But I wasn’t the only person who used this fishing spot, so I dug deep to find the tattered remains of my control.
When I eased back, I found her properly disheveled, her lips kiss-swollen from mine, her eyes glazed with heat. I’d promise her damn near anything to keep that look on her face.
Austen’s fingers flexed on my shoulders. “Take me home?”
Hell, yes.
“What happened to talking to Rhett?”
“I already did, so as far as I’m concerned, he can wait.” She wound her arms around my neck. “I have plans for my book boyfriend that don’t include my brother.”
I couldn’t argue with that logic.
Besides, we had all the time in the world to deal with Rhett. Right now, I had a lifetime of Mrs. Austen Ramsey fantasies to make come true.