Chapter 11
ELEVEN
INDY
‘Occasionally’ might be generous, Lucy doesn’t let me near her food in the kitchen. I’m a notorious food burner, and she’s particular.
“I guess I’ll have to check the place out,” Summer says, taking a bite of her bologna sandwich and stuffing a few chips in her mouth. We eat in silence, even Mama keeps quiet, thank goodness.
Back at the buggy, we climb in and head to Summer's cabin. I don’t bother turning the buggy off, instead I wait for her to get out. When she doesn’t, I turn to look at her. She’s looking at me with a glint in her eye that I can’t, or don’t want to, name.
Slowly, she raises her hands, raking them through her hair and securing the curls in a knot on the top of her head. The bottom half of her head is shaved in an undercut that makes her look even more alluring. I noticed that yesterday, even though I was trying my damndest not to.
It’s not fair, placing someone so perfect in my path who's obviously not attainable long term. She’s walled off, which she proved when she offered to answer my questions and only gave flippant answers.
I asked what I thought would be an easy question, and would confirm she was out of my league, but she didn’t.
What’s your type?
You, Honey.
Even though I want it to be true, I don’t believe her for a second. Not with the generic non-answers she gave last night, and I don’t need anyone in my life that I can’t trust.
Summer’s eyes dart past me, and I blink a few times to clear my mind. Kiri’s locs sway as she jogs over and leans against the buggy’s empty window. “We’re all headin’ out to The Raven later, only two more nights of freedom n’all.”
Shit. I totally forgot about meeting Lucy for dinner tonight.
I can’t postpone, but maybe I could get her to change locations.
The Raven’s our usual spot, since she works at Maxine’s Diner and craves the change of scenery.
But it’s usually packed, especially with the rodeo traffic, so maybe I can convince her to meet me at Maxine’s with a few well placed diversions.
“Go have fun,” I smile, already concocting a plan in my head. “I’m meetin’ Lucy anyway.”
Kiri smiles and taps the metal frame turning to Summer, “You in, Holt?”
Her smile widens and she winks when Summer doesn’t immediately decline, “You’re in, I’ll make sure Santi comes to get ya before we head out.”
She walks off, boots kicking up dust when she comes in contact with the fire pit. I don’t want to look at Summer and her confusing, gorgeous face.
“Lucy, huh?” It sounds like a question, but there’s a modicum of knowing in her cadence. I’m not sure what to say, or if she even wants me to say anything. So we simmer in awkward silence.
I’ve always had a hard time telling people when to leave.
“You know, I met a Lucy one of my first days in town,” she says, running a hand over the shaved part of her head. “She was rather preoccupied in the parking lot of The Raven, and then dinged my door when she tried to exit her truck. Told me to go see her brother.”
That’s Lucy alright, she told me all about the out of towner’s door she dinged up real good after her and Reese got a little too handsy and carried away. Now it makes sense, how Lucy described the stranger.
“Lucy’s my best friend,” I tell her, not because I’m worried she might think there’s more than friendship there, I’m not sure it would even matter to her.
Mainly, I’d like to end this conversation so I can shower before I meet Lucy, because sweat and chores isn’t a pleasant scent.
“And Spencer, her brother, he’ll fix your Jeep. ”
She turns to face me and smiles, lifting one brow. “You already clocked my ride, huh?”
“Don’t flatter yourself, Lucy told me she hit a Jeep.” Rolling my eyes at her eyebrow wiggle, annoyance builds in my gut. “Where did you park it?”
With the exception of River and Santi’s trucks, I’ve not seen any other counselors’ vehicles.
“Your Pops told me to park it near my cabin,” her smile turns into a laugh, and she rubs her hand over her chin. “It’s out by your place.”
“Why?” I ask before remembering she thought my cabin was hers. Well, shit. I hadn’t even noticed. “Have Santi drop you off at my place and you can drive it over to park with the other counselors’ vehicles.”
Leaning into my space, her tongue roams over her bottom lip and she curls it in just slightly, and my legs involuntarily rub together as I imagine what else that tongue could do. She’s gorgeous, and she knows it. The most dangerous type of person.
“Would you invite me in, if I said please, Honey?”
Her fucking voice, the way it caresses the last word, as if it’s dirty, sexy, and an insult all bundled in one… Her blue eyes spark behind her glasses, hand inching closer to my thigh. My whole body freezes, lungs hung on the intake of air that surrounds her.
I cannot be horny right now. I’m a professional, and she is my employee. A deep sultry laugh makes my skin erupt in goosebumps, and then she leans back in her seat. “Don’t worry,” she winks, throwing one of her long legs out of the buggy, “I’d go easy on ya. The first time.”
Just like that, she’s gone, leaping up to the cabin and landing without even touching the steps before disappearing inside.
Swallowing down the embarrassment of whatever just happened, banging my head back on the headrest, I close my eyes and breathe in the air uncontaminated by her alluring scent.
Only it’s not uncontaminated, the remnants of her cling to the space where she left, and all I can smell is crisp green apples and the slightest hint of mint.
Ugh.
Why does she have to smell so good?
Putting the buggy in gear and pressing the gas, I head to my cabin. I’ve got to get ready for tonight, but I’m all worked up, and my pussy’s soaked. So much so that I might have to just get myself off real quick, before I shower when I get home.
Through the trees, the lake shines through, and a calmness settles over me. I can smell the tangy lake from here, and my cabin’s lit by the late afternoon sun.
Parking by my door, I spot her Jeep sitting exactly where I’d park my truck if I drove it all the way up here. Its dark silver paint could use some love, but ultimately it looks pretty sturdy.
Turning the knob I never bother locking, I step into my space and let out a big breath. I lean against the door for a second, before gathering myself together and walking into my bathroom.
The cabin’s small, basically a studio, with a glass shower that you can see into from the whole place. There’s a small half-wall Papa and I installed to give some illusion of privacy from the toilet, and a small sink in the corner.
Stripping off my clothes and stepping into the shower, I try scrubbing away thoughts of Summer, but she continues to take up my brain space. My hair’s lathered in soap, sliding down my body in rivulets.
The bubbles tickle my nipples, before running down my thick stomach. The stretch marks there are lighter than my skin, little stripes of a body well loved.
Swiping a finger through the bubbles, my nipples harden, as if begging to be touched. I can admit I’ve neglected my needs for far too long, and it’s time to remedy that. Trailing my fingers over my body, I use my first two to open my pussy, and laugh at the slickness I find.
“God, I’m a fuckin’ wreck,” I sigh.
Summer’s presence has my starving body weeping for attention. Circling my clit, I lean back against the glass wall and allow my head to rest. Propping my foot up on the small seat in the shower, I press harder circles, but it’s only enough to make me whimper.
I don’t want to think about her, but fuck me if my brain doesn’t conjure her image behind my closed eyes and trick me into thinking I can smell her. She’s invaded my space, and my mind, and maybe… if I can get her out of my system, I can focus on the ranch.
Giving in, I use one hand to pinch my nipple, and continue to use the other to build toward release.
“Fuck,” I whimper, imagining it’s her hand on my clit. Her kneeling before me and watching as she forces me over the edge.
“Honey.”
I can hear her voice in my ear as if she’s here, taking over my body like it’s hers to play with. I imagine how she’d talk me through it, guide me just how she wants.
“Do you want me to fuck you with my fingers?”
My finger slips into my pussy, and I moan, using the heel of my hand to put pressure on my clit, as my chest rises and falls.
“Look at you, so fucking pretty, so ready to come. You can, you know. Come all over my hand, Honey.”
The scene sends me over the edge, riding my hand harder and wringing out every last nerve. My pussy spasms, leg muscles locking as I gasp out a breathy, “Summer.”
Once my body slumps against the glass, my head hanging between my shoulders, I realize what I’ve done.
I just came from imagining one of the employees on my ranch.