19. Caroline
CHAPTER 19
Caroline
“You’re late.”
I try to look contrite, but Fiona’s lifted brow tells me I’m not pulling it off.
“It’s all my fault,” Cas says, coming up onto the porch behind me.
I’d just pushed the front door to Frannie and Fiona’s house open when Fiona blocked my entrance.
I was supposed to be here for brunch thirty minutes ago. With James and Cas.
It’s Saturday morning, which means I spent the night at their house last night just like a week ago.
And it was just as good, if not better, than the first time.
So was this morning.
Which is why we’re late.
“Oh, I have no doubt it’s at least partly your fault,” Fiona tells him.
“Well, it’s not my fault that Caroline can’t be left alone in the shower,” Cas says. “But it is my fault that her hair got wet, and she had to blow dry it before we left.”
“Why can’t she be left alone in your shower?” Frannie asks, coming up behind Fiona, who is still blocking our way.
Cas’s arm slides around my waist, his big hand splaying over my stomach, and he pulls me back against him. I can only imagine the wicked grin he’s giving them as he says, “Because she can’t reach all the spots that need…rubbing…when she’s naked and soaking wet.”
Frannie’s mouth drops open on a surprised ‘oh’. Fiona’s eyes narrow.
“If you know what I mean,” Cas adds.
I smile.
“I’m very sure they know exactly what you mean,” James says as he comes up beside his husband. “And they probably don’t need to know all of that right before they eat.” He hands Fiona the bowl of mixed fresh fruit and Frannie the mini quiches we brought as our contribution to brunch. The twins, obviously, supplied the baked goods. He gives them a charming smile. “We are very sorry we’re late. That was very rude of us. Thanks for inviting Cas and me along for brunch this morning.”
Fiona leans over to inspect the quiches, then says, “You’re forgiven. This time. Get in here and start drinking mimosas with me. And James, tell me what you think of our new curtains. Caroline has terrible taste in home decor.”
“Hey,” I protest as we all file into the house. “That’s only because I don’t really live anywhere for long, so I don’t think it really matters.”
“What about me?” Cas asks.
Fiona looks over her shoulder at him. “I haven’t known you long enough to know your taste.” She gives him a little smile. “Though you do have great taste in women. And men.”
He chuckles. “That I do.”
Soon we’re out on the back deck, plates loaded with scrumptious food, huge mugs filled with French press coffee and cream, the ocean breeze lifting our hair, and honestly, I feel amazing.
James is laughing at something Frannie just told him, and I flash back to high school. We all got along so great back then and had such a good time and I’m so happy to see that hasn’t changed. Fiona and Frannie were thrilled with the idea that James and Cas would come to brunch. They haven’t seen much of James since he moved back and they want to change that. James readily agreed that they needed to make more of a point of getting together.
High school was filled with movie nights, bonfires, summer afternoons on the boardwalk and working various jobs here in town. Everything from babysitting to lifeguarding to working at the ice cream shop. We had a great childhood here in Honeysuckle Harbor and seeing three of my best friends back together, as if no time has passed, makes me miss them more than I usually do.
I keep in touch with the triplets and James, but I haven’t been with them as a group in years. And I suddenly wonder what Camille, and Brandon, and other friends from our class are doing.
“Frannie, this is amazing,” Cas says, biting into another mini puff pastry. “You two could make a living baking,” he teases.
She laughs. “I should consider that.”
I watch as Cas licks a dollop of cream from his index finger.
I literally can’t look away as his tongue flicks over his finger, then over his bottom lip.
Instantly my pussy flutters and I feel my heart rate kick up. Is my face hot?
Cas licks through the little puff then, parting the flaky pastry, capturing the rest of the cream.
Oh my God. My clit tingles and I feel as if his tongue is actually touching me. Like it did last night. And this morning. He’s so good with his tongue. As happy as he is with his husband, it’s clear Cas has either spent plenty of time with women, or he’s just a natural.
I see his lips curl into a smile and my gaze bounces up to his eyes.
He’s watching me watch him.
That last lick was all for my benefit.
He gives me a wink, as if he knows what I’m thinking about. Then he licks his finger again. I shift on my seat. He knows exactly what I’m thinking about.
“You wanna go to your room?” he asks.
“Yes,” I tell him honestly. It wouldn’t take him more than a few minutes to…
Frannie snaps her fingers and points at us. “No. You’re going to sit there like two normal people and eat breakfast.”
I look around the table. Everyone caught our little exchange.
“We are two normal people,” I protest with a laugh.
“No, you’re two very hot people who are banging each other’s brains out,” she says with a frown.
Cas laughs. “Having hot, amazing sex isn’t normal?”
Frannie sighs. “Not for all of us.”
Fiona shakes her head and looks at me. “You’re going to sit there like you’re a lonely, single person who hasn’t had sex in too many months to count. Like the other two women at this table.”
I laugh. Until a week ago, I was definitely one of them.
“Aw, Fi,” James says. “That’s sad. You’re too awesome to not be having hot, amazing sex.” He looks at Frannie. “You both are.”
Fiona nods. “I agree. But we work a lot and this is Honeysuckle Harbor. The options are few. There are a lot of tourists, but that can be a crapshoot.”
“And kind of dangerous,” Cas inserts. “You shouldn’t be going home with or bringing home a bunch of strangers traveling through town.”
Fiona leans in. “One. I only need one . I don’t need a harem like some people.” She glances at me.
Cas laughs. “It only takes one serial killer to be a problem.”
Fiona sighs. “I know. That’s exactly it.” She looks at her sister. “We don’t all get lucky enough to find hot, grumpy FBI agents who are very interested in our…pastries.”
Cas looks at Frannie, eyebrows up. “Oh? Tell us more.”
Frannie shakes her head. “There’s nothing to tell.”
But we’re all watching her with interest.
She rolls her eyes. “So Ford’s wife, Ivy, well, before she was his wife, was engaged to Brad Richardson. Do you remember him?” she asks James.
He nods. “I know who he is.”
“So they were engaged, Brad got into some trouble, he bought a house here and gave it to Ivy, the Feds were investigating him so they came here to question Ivy, yada, yada, yada, Hunter came in for dinner a few times and…” She shrugs, and blushes. “He likes my desserts.”
“I’ll bet he does,” Cas says.
“Not like that.” Frannie shakes her head. “I wish . He hasn’t asked me out or anything. He’s kind of…”
“Gorgeous. Sexy. Big. Broody. Sexy. Intense. Sexy,” Fiona offers.
“Quiet,” Frannie finally says.
“Quiet?” James asks. “Like shy?”
“No,” Frannie says, but she seems to have trouble coming up with the right word. “He just…” Her cheeks get pinker. “Seems to like watching me.”
Cas whistles. “Nice.”
“He needs to ask me out!” Frannie exclaims. “He can watch me all he wants up close and privately!”
“That’s right,” James says encouragingly. “Why don’t you ask him out?”
“That’s what I said!” Fiona tells them.
“That’s not really my style,” Frannie says.
“But lonely and horny and bored is?” Fiona asks.
They all laugh.
I sit just watching them all, probably grinning like an idiot. I love all of these people and love that they can be friends like this. Even after I leave, they can still get together for brunches and talk about their lives. James and Cas can give the girls pep talks when it comes to men and dating. They can even vet the men. Of course, Frannie and Fiona have their brother Ford for that too, but there are never too many people watching out. The girls can have James and Cas over for dinner parties and Oscar watch parties so they have a social life outside of dad-hood but more low-key than their nightlife in Philly.
It will be so good for them all.
And that sharp stab of envy I feel is nothing to worry about. I’ll be fine. Totally fine.
I did wonder briefly if one of the twins could even fill my role with James and Cas. The casual, fun, sexy role of woman-in-the-middle.
But I don’t think any of them would go for that.
The guys need something very casual. Not someone they’ll run into all the time long term. This isn’t a relationship. It’s a friendship with very, very hot sex as a benefit. And the sex stuff is temporary.
The doorbell rings and Frannie and Fiona look at one another. They both shrug and then get up together and head inside.
“They’re the best,” Cas remarks as he reaches for more fruit.
“They really are. We need to hang out more often,” James says.
See? They’re already making future plans.
I love that.
And I’m jealous as hell. Of all of them. These four people are awesome and I’m going to miss them like crazy.
“Uh, care to explain this ?” Fiona asks from behind me.
I turn to find Frannie carrying an enormous bouquet of flowers.
Wildflowers.
They are an exact replica of the ones Grayson gave me on my last day with Evelyn. Except this is twenty times bigger.
What the hell?
“Who sent those?” I ask.
“I’m asking you ,” Fiona says as she clears space on the smaller deck table and Frannie sets the flowers down.
“Me?”
“Did you guys send her flowers?” Frannie asks James and Cas.
They exchange a look.
“No,” Cas says.
“Should we?” James asks. “Is there etiquette that we’re unaware of?”
“We’ve never had brunch with the woman we’re…” Cas says, trailing off.
“We’ve never seen the woman two weekends in a row,” James points out.
“We’ve never hung out with her two best girlfriends, known her mom and dad, or taken her to Prom either,” Cas says.
I start laughing.
They all look at me.
“There’s no etiquette that you’re messing up, trust me,” I say, pushing up from my chair and going to the flowers. “And clearly these aren’t from them,” I tell the girls. I pull the card from between the leaves.
My heart is pounding. Because I’m ninety-nine percent sure I know who they are from. But I don’t know why.
I pull the card out and read.
Caroline, I need to apologize. The other night did not go the way I intended. I know I should apologize for kissing you, but I’m not sorry for that. I’ve been wanting that since I met you. I will apologize for changing my mind like I did. I shouldn’t have started something I couldn’t finish. I just wanted you to know that Evelyn misses you. And I wish you the best. Grayson Ross
I read it again.
Then laugh.
Oh my God, he signed it with his last name.
As if I wouldn’t know who he was if he just put “Grayson”? And even in this note, he’s a little hot and cold. Not apologizing for kissing me, bringing that back to mind rather than just moving on and letting me forget about it, but then reminding me that he can’t go any further than that.
Why can’t he just let this go?
Evelyn misses me? What about him?
And now I’m wondering how things are going with the new nannies and is Evelyn frowning or smiling at them? And do I want her smiling or frowning?
I want her smiling.
Probably.
I want her to be happy, for sure.
But I want her to like me best.
“Argh!”
“Everything okay?”
I look up from the card, remembering that I’m at brunch. With four other people.
“Oh. Um.” I glance down at the card. “Yeah.”
“Who are those from, and what does that card say?” Fiona demands.
And I want to tell them. I need them to tell me that thinking about Grayson Ross is stupid and I need to just let it all go. And that I need to quit replaying that stupid kiss in my mind. Over and over and over again.
I’m having mind-blowing sex with James and Cas!
I do not need to be thinking about a kiss with Grayson . He doesn’t want more. He doesn’t even want to do that again.
“Grayson,” I tell them, reclaiming my seat at the table. I pass the card to Frannie.
Fiona and James lean in to read it.
James looks up quickly. “You and Grayson kissed?”
Cas leans over and plucks the card from Fiona’s fingers and reads it, then looks at me. “When did this happen?”
I sigh and tell them the whole story.
“He’s messy,” I finally conclude. “His life is messy. His feelings are messy. I do not want that.”
Cas is watching me thoughtfully.
James is nodding.
Fiona and Frannie are studying the flowers.
James says, “Yes you do.”
“Yes, I do what?”
“Want that.”
“I don’t!” I protest. “I’m here temporarily! I’m here to relax and have fun before I leave again.” I sit back in my chair and cross my arms. “Besides, he doesn’t want it. He won’t have sex because it could be complicated.”
James nods again.
Cas leans over and grabs a strawberry. “That doesn’t mean you don’t want it,” he says casually, as he bites into it.
“And Grayson is clearly still thinking about you,” Fiona points out.
“Well, it doesn’t matter.” I tuck the card into my pocket. “It’s not going to happen.”
And I mean that.
Mostly.
My phone buzzes. I pull it out and see it’s a text from Grayson. “Speak of the frustrating man…”
I got the DNA results.
My heart drops into my stomach.
I wait for another text but another one doesn’t follow the first.
What are they???
Three dots appear, then disappear.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit.
“Grayson got the DNA results and now he’s not responding,” I announce. “We need to make sure he’s okay.”
“Just call him,” Fiona says.
I shake my head. “No. He needs support if this is bad news.”
If Evie isn’t his…I can’t even go there in my head.
“Definitely,” James says, leaping up.
Cas pulls out his car keys. “Let’s go.”