Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
GREG
Nate groans as we lay the last humongous tire in place for the final leg of the obstacle course in the field behind the community center.
“All right there, old man?” I joke as we straighten up.
He shoots me a look. “Just ready for lunch.” He jerks his chin toward something over my shoulder, and I look back to see an SUV that’s appeared next to his truck in the parking lot back by the building. “Looks like the girls are here.”
I nod casually, trying not to show too much interest. Because I think I may have overplayed my hand with that Joanie chick already. But fuck if she isn’t hot. And I’m not just talking about the body I couldn’t stop staring at to save my life. It was how forward she was that threw me for a loop. I’ve never found that attractive before. But with Joanie … well, it was such a turn-on that I’m afraid some long unused parts of me took over my brain. But this time, I’m determined to play it cool until I figure out if going after her would be a good thing or a bad thing.
After all, we are on my territory, so if things go south, that’d be hard to escape, especially since I don’t know how long she’ll be around. There’s a reason I don’t date girls in town. I like it here, and small-town plus breakup equals bad news for everyone, including Joanie’s Alpine Ridge resident best friend. The last thing I want to do is create friction between Mia and me because of a hookup with her best friend that has gone wrong. Something that didn’t occur to me until after my dick ran my mouth when we met.
Bringing myself back to the present, I focus on keeping calm as we trudge back through the deep snow, though it’s just far enough to keep the sweat coming under my thick jacket and gloves … yeah, the nervous excitement has nothing to do with it. That’s what I’m telling myself, though I know it’s bullshit.
When we get to the building, we knock the snow and mud off our boots and pants before heading indoors. It’s nice and toasty inside, but as I strip off my jacket, gloves, and hat, goosebumps spread over my skin.
At first, I think it’s just the air hitting my sweat-soaked T-shirt, but then my eyes flick up and meet Joanie’s ice-blue stare. Just like the first time, I feel her sharp gaze X-raying me. I can’t help the grin that pulls at my lips. I swear my body has a fucking mind of its own when it comes to this chick. Because it’s sure as hell not listening to my decision to stay cool around her.
Now done stripping out of his snow gear, Nate doesn’t seem bothered by his sweaty shirt. Or the sexual tension that’s suddenly thickened the air. He starts heading toward the girls but gives me a look when I don’t follow.
I only see it out of my periphery as I don’t actually look at him, unable to look away from Joanie despite my determination to be cool. “I’m going to change my shirt in the office,” I say in Nate’s direction. It takes all my willpower to tear my gaze away and head down the hallway.
I half hope she’ll follow, then kick myself at the thought. That definitely wouldn’t be feeling her out first. Well, there’d be feeling something, but … I mentally slap myself as my mind starts to picture feeling Joanie up. Jesus fucking Christ.
Changing my shirt cools me down but does nothing for the thoughts racing through my head. So, when I return to the room, keeping my eyes to myself is way more difficult than it should be. I look only long enough to notice Mia and Nate seated on one side of the table, with Joanie standing near Mia, chatting.
Food, Greg. Focus on the food. You’re hungry, right? As my eyes settle on the spread of sandwiches, sides, and desserts, it does help divert my focus a little as my stomach rumbles in anticipation. Between the meatball subs dripping with marinara and melted cheese and the array of clearly fresh-baked sweets, it smells fantastic in here. Way better than stale air and sweat, which is what it usually smells like.
But my focus is abruptly broken since I’d been standing there admiring the food a hair too long as Joanie saunters between me and the table. Her tight little ass nearly grazes the front of my jeans as she picks up a plate and starts loading it with sweets before settling in one of the chairs on the other side of the table.
“You know, I made meatball subs just for you,” Mia grumbles to her friend.
Joanie pops a jam tart in her mouth and grins around it. “Sorry,” she mumbles, making an exaggerated yum face. Except it looks pretty much like an O face, so there goes my determination to focus on the food. Though, I may still be drooling, for different reasons now. Not helped at all by Joanie licking her lips and blowing me a kiss.
The little vixen knows exactly what she’s doing.
I smirk and shake my head at her, grabbing a plate for myself and loading it up with a bit of everything before sitting down in the chair next to her, across from Nate.
Food.
Focus. On. The. Fucking. Food.
“I’m on vacation. I’m allowed to eat dessert first,” Joanie declares.
I look over at her without thought, and her eyes move from Mia to meet mine. I hold her gaze as I continue eating. She grins.
“And you did just lose your job. If I were you, I’d eat whatever I wanted, too,” Nate agrees. My eyes flick over to him. She just lost her job? Well, that’s interesting. Then he adds with a thoughtful face, “Actually, I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what I did when I moved here after quitting my job.” He looks at Joanie with concern. “Just … uh … don’t do it for as long as I did.”
Joanie laughs. “What, did your body fat get above ten percent for the first time, hot stuff?” she teases.
Nate blushes, and I hold back a laugh. He was a little softer around the middle back then. Like she heard my thoughts, Joanie’s attention shifts back to me.
“So, Greg,” she says, leaning toward me and wrapping her lips around a cookie. I watch, mesmerized as she licks the crumbs off her lips before continuing. “Tell me all about your mountain man life. Lots of chopping down trees? Skinning animals to sell their fur? Swimming naked in remote lakes?” She bats her eyelashes.
I set down the sub I was working on and wipe my mouth, trying to hold back the smirk. “Yeah, exactly,” I reply. “Just like I’m sure you spent your days lying to defend remorseless criminals and getting paid exorbitant amounts of money to play the justice system.” I meant to point out that she was applying ridiculous stereotypes to me, just like I’m sure people do to her. But as soon as the words are out of my mouth, I realize they may have come off as harsh and judgmental.
To my surprise, she grins and points her fork at me. “That is actually pretty accurate.” Then she takes a bite of the cheesecake on her plate, licking the fork clean. Of course. My eyes track the movement despite trying to pry them away. If she wants to turn me on … well, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t working. Honestly, I’m just relieved I didn’t offend her.
“All right then,” I concede. “No, I don’t skin animals to sell their fur.” I raise an eyebrow, then add with a shrug, “But the rest?” I smirk, leaving her to imagine me chopping down trees and swimming naked in remote lakes.
Just by the look on her face, I know she is. Just like I was imagining feeling up those perky little tits earlier. I shift in my seat, trying to give my dick some relief from the pressure it’s suddenly under.
“Well,” she says, a bit breathlessly. “I hope tree chopping and naked swimming are part of this whole winter festival crap. Because if they are, I may be warming up to the idea.”
Before I can peel an acceptable response from the dirty ones floating through my brain, Mia offers, “There is the Freeze Your Buns Run.” I suspect she’s mostly just trying to move on from talk of naked swimming. I should be grateful. It’s not a great time of year for that. But if it was Joanie swimming naked … I shake myself. You’d think I was eighteen again instead of thirty-eight with all these horny little fantasies.
“Oh?” Joanie asks with interest. “Does that require nudity as well?”
I almost choke on a chip. This woman is going to be the death of me. I cough and take a swig of beer before answering her. “Almost, but not quite. It’s an undies run. In the snow.” I decide to screw with her just a little to get back at her, so I wink at her. “Think you can handle that, city girl?”
She gives me a challenging look. “I can, if you can, mountain man.” She lifts her chin, pink staining her cheeks, presumably in embarrassment at the rhyme.
Nate busts up laughing, but I try my hardest not to since a laugh at her expense seems like a bad idea. Mia looks at Joanie sympathetically, and suddenly, Joanie laughs, too. Relieved, I stop holding back my laughter.
“Good,” I respond. “Because it’s next weekend. Better start practicing.” I finish my food, drink what’s left of my beer, and then give her a wink.
She raises a brow in answer. “Better ease up on the meatball subs and beer if you want to be light enough on your feet to beat me.”
I raise a brow in return, leaning back and lifting my shirt, patting my flat stomach. “Oh, I think I’ll be fine.”
I don’t miss for one second the hungry look in her eyes as she looks at my abs. So, when her gaze rises to meet mine, I give her another wink. She purses her lips. And though I wasn’t lying to her before — I usually like the chase — the anticipation is already killing me.
* * *
I don’t catch more than a few glimpses of Joanie throughout the week. I’m busy organizing the Freeze Your Buns Run, checking the ice-skating pond, and building a platform for the musicians playing Christmas music for the tree lighting ceremony and other events throughout the festival. Nate switches between helping me and going with the girls to post signs, managing decorating the tree, and carving paths in the snow between the events.
But Friday is tree lighting day. And I’m over letting the anticipation build. It’s worse that Joanie hasn’t been around, which is weird because usually, for me, out of sight is out of mind. But I can’t stop thinking about her.
So as twilight descends, I do rounds of the town square, checking the strands of white lights strung between lamp posts, making sure Rae’s cider stand is adequately covered from the elements, and watching as the townsfolk start to show, gazing up at the massive tree in anticipation.
It looks damn good, even unlit. The towering, fifty-foot monstrosity looms darkly in the square, light from the street lamps and Christmas lights glinting off the hundreds of massive baubles strung around its not inconsiderable girth. Staring up at the neat rows of decorations, nostalgia spreads through me. Alpine Ridge hasn’t seen a winter festival in almost thirty years. It brings me back to simpler times.
I shake off the good and bad memories that start to push through. It’s almost showtime. The crowd is now thick, and the line for hot cider winds around half the square.
I see Mia setting a tray of something down on Rae’s table. And next to her is Joanie.
Since she’s not looking at me, I take the opportunity to soak her in. Her tight-fitting fur-lined jacket and snug fleece pants cover her completely, yet she still looks like a wet dream. Sexy as fucking hell. Her dark hair spills around her, and her little bow lips are pursed and a natural peachy color. Her cheeks and nose are red from the cold. An urge to warm her up almost overwhelms me.
Still, I approach casually.
“Hey, city girl.”
She turns, and I grin, self-consciously running a hand through my hair. Which I never do. It’s that X-ray vision of hers, making me feel turned inside out.
Her brows bunch together, and she tips her head to the side, giving me a confused look.
“Oh, yeah, hey, Gary,” she replies evenly.
The smile melts off my face, and I cock an eyebrow. “It’s Greg,” I correct her.
She gives me the fakest smile I think I’ve ever seen. “Ah, yes. Sorry, my mistake.” She bats her eyelashes and returns to the booth, helping Mia and Rae serve drinks and cinnamon twists. “See you around, Gary.”
Rae glances over at Joanie, bemused, just as my douchebag cousin, Ned, steps up to get a drink. And I know Ned. Even without the leering look he’s giving Joanie, I knew he’d go straight for her the second I saw him. And he does.
He slicks back his inky hair, which looks like it’s been dipped in cooking oil, and gives Joanie a sleazy grin as if she’s this year’s Christmas treat. “Hello there, beautiful.” He sounds just as shady as he looks. And then he leans in and winks at her.
Oh, hell no.
But before I can intercede, Joanie does the exact last thing I’d expect, as always.
She leans toward him with an answering wink. “Well, hello,” she says huskily. “Cider?”
He slaps a five on the table. “I don’t know. Do I get a little sugar with that?”
My fists ball at my sides, but Joanie seems unfazed, throwing her head back and laughing. “I don’t know, this might be too much sugar for you to handle, big boy,” she teases with a coy smile. “But the cinnamon twists are good, too.”
When I almost lose it at her response, it clicks — she’s doing it all on purpose: pretending to forget me, calling me Gary, and flirting with Ned.
She’s screwing with me.
“Oh, I can handle it. But maybe we can take this someplace more … private?” he asks, not even bothering to keep his voice down.
And that’s it. That’s my limit. Before I can stop myself, I close the distance and grab Joanie gently yet firmly by the elbow. But my glare is all for Ned.
“Get lost, Edweird,” I grind out, using the nickname he earned when we were kids.
Thankfully, he’s smart enough to look terrified and scamper away without a word, forgetting to take the food he paid for. I think I see a glint of amusement in Joanie’s eyes as she watches him go, but her face is all indignation when she whirls on me.
“Excuse me, but we were talking,” she says haughtily.
I snort and lead her by the elbow out of the booth toward the community center.
“I’m not stupid, Joanie.”
My long strides have her scrambling to keep up as I pull her by the arm. I push open the heavy door and haul her inside. I’m all reaction now. Logic is out the window. I need to make a few things clear to her.
Darkness envelops us as the door closes behind us. With a flick of my wrist, I turn her and push her up against the back of the door, my arms caging her in.
“I never said you were,” she finally replies. Even in the near darkness, I can see her outline, the stubborn set of her jaw, the tension in her body. My head dips down as my eyes take her in. “But I’m also not your property, and I don’t appreciate being dragged in here like I am.”
“If you think I was going to let my piece of shit cousin lay one disgusting finger on you —”
“That guy is your cousin?” she barks out with a laugh.
“Yes,” I reply. “And whatever angle you’re working, don’t work it with him.”
As my eyes adjust to the dimness, our gazes lock. I see fire in her eyes .
“Let me go,” she demands, pushing against my chest.
“Not until you admit you were flirting with him to get on my nerves. Just like you pretended to forget my name.”
She rolls her eyes. “Someone has a big ego. Maybe I did just forget.”
I lean in, my lips parting. “Doubtful. I bet if I fucked you hard against this door, you’d remember whose name to scream when you came all over my dick.” The words shock even me. Not because they’re not true; they most definitely are. But because I’ve never spoken to a woman like that. And because they came from such a primal place of need, I can feel them in every inch of my skin. Just as much as I want to own every inch of hers.
Joanie’s eyes flash. “Maybe you should —”
But I don’t get to hear what she thinks I should do. My mouth claims hers without any forethought. It’s pure need on a level so deeply physical I have no control over it. My tongue invades her mouth. My body crushes hers against the doors. My hips press against her, making the erection I didn’t even realize I had plain to us both.
And she kisses me back with an intensity that matches mine. Our breaths mingle as we gasp for air between each crush of our mouths, as the palpable heat and need build with every stroke of our tongues. She grinds against my cock, but the lust ruling my body isn’t enough to stop me from making her work for it just a little more.
I pull my mouth from hers, keeping her pinned with my hips, my forehead pressed against hers.
“Say my name, Joanie,” I demand.
She bites into her lip to suppress a grin. “Gar —”
I growl and twist my hips in an attempt to crush her defiance with my need for her. Her teeth sink deeper into her bottom lip, but her gaze is insolent.
“Say it, city girl,” I prompt huskily, more softly this time.
“Make me scream it,” she counters. “Like you promised, mountain man.”
My balls tighten in answer, and I open my mouth to spew all the filthy things I want to do to her that will make us both scream, but I’m stopped by an attempted shove at the other side of the door that rattles us both, physically and otherwise.
“What the hell?” Nate’s voice comes through the door, muffled.
I pull Joanie into the room, dropping my arms to my sides as the door opens and Nate and Mia appear, framed in light from the nearly full moon and the faint lights around the square behind them.
An awkward silence descends for a few very long moments.
“Uh, it’s almost time for the ceremony,” Nate finally offers.
I nod and brush past Joanie. “We were just heading out.”
Nate snorts. “Sure you were.”
I shoulder-check him with a smirk but say nothing as we look back at the girls expectantly.
Mia looks at Joanie, also saying nothing. Well, not with words, anyway. Her knowing look, however, speaks volumes.
“What?” Joanie asks innocently, looping her arm through Mia’s.
Mia shakes her head and laughs. “Nothing. Never mind.”
Nate and I let the ladies walk out ahead of us, arm in arm. As I make to follow, Nate stops me with a hand on the chest and gives me a hard look.
“Watch yourself with that one,” he warns me.
My insides tighten for a different reason this time. It doesn’t take me but an instant to recognize the feeling: fear.
“What do you mean?” I ask, playing dumb.
He glances furtively towards the girls. “I know she’s Mia’s best friend, and I don’t want to say anything bad about her. She’s just —”
“Nate?” Mia calls, looking back. “Come on, you’re going to miss it!”
His eyes dart back to me guiltily. “Never mind, let’s just go.”
This time, I’m the one to stop him with a hand to the chest. “Short version then,” I insist.
“Short version?” he parrots with a sigh. “What’s the female version of a player?”
I snort. “You’re worried she’s going to play me?”
He shrugs. “From what you’ve told me, you’re a relationship kind of guy. I just didn’t want you to expect that from her.”
I shake my head and laugh. “I mean, sure, I’ve had a couple of long-term relationships,” I allow. “But it’s not like I’ve never had hookups, dude. And here I was worried that she was clingy or crazy.”
Nate huffs a laugh. “Clingy? I don’t think so. Crazy? Well … if you’re okay with kink, probably not in a way that’s a deal breaker.”
Well, shit, that’s got my attention. “I appreciate your looking out for me, man, but you told me what I wanted to know about her.”
Nate nods knowingly. “Just … suit up, all right, man? Be safe and all that.”
That gets a full belly laugh out of me. “All right, pops,” I tease him with a wink. I like to rib him like he’s an old man, even though he’s only five or six years older than me. But right now, I’m in a pretty good fucking mood. He’s acting like a concerned older brother, and I dig that. But what I dig more is that Joanie may be exactly what I’ve been looking for.