20. Devon
DEVON
Iawait the shipment of PVC outside Sleepy Hollow Manor, the morning fog still lingering.
Something has shifted between me and Ember, and it’s hard not to think about the tension that filled the air when I dropped her back at the manor after the hayride a few nights ago.
After walking her to the door like a proper gentleman, I handed her the soap dispenser, leaning in close.
Nothing happened except all the feelings of wanting to kiss her—and more.
Of wanting to sweep her off her feet and charge into the house like a sex-crazed barbarian.
To think we were nearly in that same position weeks ago with so much dislike between us is astonishing.
I don’t know how that was ever possible, and if I’m being honest with myself, I always felt the pull toward her, I just didn’t know what to do with those feelings since they were attached to something that could be the end of my dreams. I’m glad my mother told me to suck it up, letting me see the other side and how I could still be a part of Sleepy Hollow Manor if I’d just decided to work with Ember instead of against her.
A big truck comes down the road, red lights a blur in the fog. It stops with a squeak of the big wheels, and I greet the driver, telling him I’d like the PVC in the front yard. I’ll do the cutting outside, then take the pieces inside to build the haunted house.
Everything couldn’t have worked out more perfectly. Now that the Haunted History Tour has ended, I’m free to use the front yard as my work area.
I help them move pipe after pipe out of the back, laying them in the grass. Afterward, I shake their hands and peel my work gloves off.
It’s impossible to look at Sleepy Hollow Manor and not think of Ember, which is utterly strange since the two were never connected for the longest time. Before, I’d see my grandfather or think of the Lewises, and the well. Always the well.
I don’t know why I haven’t said anything to her about that yet. Shyness maybe. I don’t want her to think it’s dumb.
Ember opens a window on the second floor and leans out with a pink bathrobe on. “You’re here early, Devon.”
I hike my thumb behind me. “I got a call from the PVC people that they wanted to drop our order off.”
She finally sees all the white pipe in her front yard and smiles. “That’s great. I’ll come down and make breakfast unless you already ate.”
“I could use some breakfast,” I tell her, when really, I’ll use any excuse to see her. Hopefully in that same bathrobe so I can dream about what’s underneath it.
This time, she actually does ruin my fantasy when she says, “Just let me get changed.”
“No need,” I tell her with a smirk.
She shakes her head and closes the window behind her. No sense in not letting it be known that I’m attracted to her.
I sit on the porch until her footsteps sound downstairs, then I pop up, making sure I’m there when she opens the door. “Good morning,” I swoop down and kiss her on the cheek before I talk myself out of it. There’s so much more I want to do but we have to start somewhere.
Her cheeks flush. “Well, good morning to you too. I was wondering if you were kicking yourself for not making a move on me the other night.”
“So you thought about it too?”
She walks away, but I spy the smile on her face before she does. “You mean our non-date where everyone in town was rooting for us? Not at all. I already completely wiped it from my memory.”
“I guess I should’ve kissed you. You wouldn’t have been able to erase that.”
“You seem to have a lot of confidence in yourself.” She roots around in the refrigerator and starts bringing out items from the fridge. Eggs, cheese, ham. “Are you good with omelets?”
“Sounds delicious.”
Before she turns back around to peer in the refrigerator again, I grab her hand and pull her toward me. “I’m sorry I didn’t kiss you.”
Her hands settle on my chest. “We probably would’ve had an audience anyway. I think this town is full of stalkers.”
My gaze drops to her lips, then returns to her eyes. I want to kiss her so badly I can’t stand it. For some reason, I hold back. Not sure I’ve done enough to deserve taking our relationship to that next step. “You don’t say.”
“You can stalk me though.”
The hitch in her breath and the fact that she inches forward makes all thought leave my body.
I cradle her head in my palm. “There’s no going back after this.”
She shakes her head slowly.
“Confession.”
“I hope it’s a good one because I’m waiting over here.”
“I’ve been waiting to do this for a long time,” and then I kiss the shit out of her.
Her surprise melts away fast, her mouth giving way to my eager tongue as I sweep inside.
Her hands grip my shirt when I pull her close, almost like she sees me as a lifeline which only bolsters my efforts.
I groan into her mouth, angling the kiss deeper.
My tongue meets hers in a war between two perfectly capable human beings.
She gives as good as she gets, my dick straining in my pants as warmth and need fills my stomach and lower.
We come to a natural end, staring at each other before she pulls away. “The whole town will be talking now.”
She’s not wrong about that, but I don’t care. I peer at her swollen lips, and I can’t stop myself from pulling her back into my arms and capturing her mouth in another soul-searing kiss.
When I let up, she’s breathless. “You were right about not forgetting that.”
We both just stand there. Her chest heaves in front of her.
“I might have to walk away before I do something bold.”
“I’m not sure I should ask but I kind of want to.”
“Don’t because I’ll get us both in trouble. A kiss like that…” I shift, feeling the pressure in my balls. Everything in me says to take this to the next step. That she wants this as much as me. I’m about to tell her to go upstairs, strip down, and wait for me on her bed when she steps back.
“Maybe we should just start with that. Just the kiss.”
“Scared?”
“Terrified,” she says, and she grips the counter like she needs it to steady her.
“Sorry if I came on strong. I just can’t keep you out of my head.”
She licks her lips, her gaze dropping to mine, and I can’t stay away again.
I grab her, pick her up and set her on the counter as I kiss her, pulling her toward me.
She runs her hands through my hair, a small moan slipping into my mouth.
I run my hands up and down her back, feeling the bones of her spine and then her breasts as she arches into me.
“Devon…” she gasps, but it’s more of a whine. “This is not fair. I should’ve known you’d be insufferable once I started to like you. You just have to have it your way all the time.”
“And what do you think I want?”
“I have a good idea it involves being horizontal.”
“It doesn’t have to be,” I tease, grabbing the back of her knees and pulling her toward me until she wraps her ankles behind my back.
“You’re killing me,” she says, after leaning over to kiss me again, her lips moving against my mouth. “I’m trying to do everything right. I don’t want to screw up my life here.”
I pull away a little. “You think getting with your handyman is a bad idea?”
“Since you’re the only one in town and your mom runs off everyone else? Yes.”
I can tell she’s teasing, but her reality slaps me in the face. “I’m not going to leave you high and dry. Promise.”
She swallows. “You certainly run hot and cold, Devon. We haven’t had much in between time where we’re just normal people around each other.”
“I’ve been known to go after what I want. Just like you. I’m trying to be someone you want to go after.”
She runs her hands across the stubble on my chin. “You might have to treat me with kid gloves at first. It’s been a while for me.”
“You think I have ladies lining up for me in Harvest Falls?” I ask, smirking.
“The way you walk around with your backwards hat and toolbelt? I’m certain you could find some ladies who were interested around here.”
I shake my head. “I’ve known the women here all my life. Things are different when you have that kind of baggage. Besides, I like snarky go-getters who play hard to get.”
“Is that what I was doing before?”
“I can’t think of another reason why it took us this long to go on our first date.”
“No? I guess it pays to have a bad memory.” She pushes me back and slips down until her feet hit the floor. “I’m glad you broke the ice though. Now we know where we stand. You want to have your way with me, and I couldn’t care less.”
The look she gives tells me she’s teasing. “I guess I’ll have to keep working on it.”
“By all means,” she says as she turns around and starts making the omelets. I don’t go too far, standing near her and sometimes stroking her hair away from her face while she works. “Let me guess, it was the beautiful dress that did it for you.”
“No, actually, it was that tank top you like to wear where the arm holes run big.” I whisper the next part. “You can see your bra.”
Her mouth drops open, and I shrug.
“You asked. Plus, I happen to like women who pretend not to like me.”
She narrows her gaze playfully. “You just like me for my house.”
“There’s that, too.”
She shakes her head and flips over half of the egg to make the omelet. I’m not really interested in watching her do that though. I can’t stop staring at her ass. Now that I’ve had it in my hands, it’s hard to think of anything else. I really might need to go home and take a cold shower.
She serves me the omelet so at least I have that to distract me as she makes her own.
After finishing, she sits next to me and we have breakfast together.
I get glasses from the cabinet and pour ourselves some orange juice.
We talk about the manor. She also talks a little more about her family, and I tell her a couple of stories about growing up in Harvest Falls.
By the time we’re done, everything feels a little more settled.
“Do you want to go to dinner tonight?”
She frowns. “Bea’s coming over and we’re going to watch horror movies, eat a bunch of junk food, and scare ourselves silly.”
She stands to do the dishes, but I stop her. “I’ve got those. Where I’m from, if you did the cooking, the other does the cleaning.”
“Your mama raised you right.” She sits back. “I’m free tomorrow though, if you want to go to dinner.”
“It’s a date.”
After a few moments, we start talking about the manor again and the plans for the PVC.
It feels surreal that all that just happened.
I probably should’ve gone slower, but I lost myself after fantasizing about her all night and then finally seeing her.
I don’t know how I’m supposed to behave myself now that I know how she kisses though.
It turns out, she must be thinking the same thing because the day consists of sneaking more kisses. Playful ones. Sinful ones. We laugh a lot, and when she leaves for the store to get snacks for her and Bea’s night, I take a deep breath, wondering how I got so lucky.
From the beautiful woman I saw drop her car keys on that first day to the one who just slyly slid her hand over my ass as we said goodbye, things have definitely changed but my attraction toward her hasn’t.
It just took a little detour into feeling sorry for myself, but I’ve finally got my head on straight.
I’m beginning to think more and more that my grandfather was right. The well does work in mysterious ways. If not for wishing for Sleepy Hollow Manor, I’m not sure Ember would’ve shown up in my life.
I take out my phone and text Trav. I read it back with a chuckle when I send it. “You all were right, and I was wrong.”
He sends me a bunch of laughing emojis. Then some crude ones. Or what I think might be crude ones. I’m out of the game when it comes to stuff like that. I’d been spending so much time trying to earn enough money to buy this place that I haven’t even dated in forever.
Now that I’ve met Ember, I’m glad I didn’t. Just another way things work out mysteriously.