7. The star of my dreams
Seven
THE STAR OF MY DREAMS
Luke
“Hey, Josh, get the bowline ready, would ya? And toss over the bumpers!” I call out to my cousin, Josh.
He became my brother during childhood, and therefore is my built in-best friend.
Dropping the throttle, I shift the gear into reverse.
Josh squeezes past the guests on the pontoon boat and dumps the bumper over the side, just as the boat thuds gently against the dock.
He leaps out and ties the ropes around the metal cleats.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Huffman House,” I say.
“Do me a favor and check around for your belongings. Nothing is worse than getting back to your room only to realize you left your room key on the boat—trust me, I’ve done it.
” The guests laugh politely, perusing the ground. Josh helps each person off one by one.
Mr. and Mrs. Johanssen step off the boat first. They’ve got to be in their late seventies or early eighties and have been vacationing with us every summer for as long as I can remember.
Then, a young couple celebrating their first anniversary steps off, and finally, two young twenty-somethings who spent most of the sunset cruise taking selfies and shamelessly trying to flirt with Josh and me.
“Thanks so much for the ride, Luke.” The more aggressive twenty-something, who I think said her name was Chloe, gently squeezes my bicep and bats her eyelashes up at me. She’s cute, in the heavily made-up kind of way.
She pushes out her bikini-clad chest and leans in.
“Let me know if you get bored later. My bestie and I are heading out for drinks, and we’d love for you to join us.
” Letting her hand slide down my arm, nails grazing against my skin, she smiles up at me and then turns, sashaying her hips as she walks to the side of the boat.
Josh helps her off. She collects her friend and then shoots a look over her shoulder and gives me another little wave of her fingers.
Smile and nod, I tell myself. Just smile and nod. I slip my hands into the pockets of my shorts.
“They want us to join them out in town tonight.” Josh climbs back into the boat to help me clean up.
“Yeah, I know. Not interested. I could go for a drink, though. The Tavern later?” I reach for a towel and start wiping down the seats. Josh grabs a trash bag and begins picking up leftover drink cups and cans of High Noon.
“I’m surprised you have to ask. Where else would we be on a Friday night?” He stands, tying off the garbage bag.
“Fair enough.”
“Check it out, it seems some new guests have checked in.” Josh nods his head toward the house. I follow his line of sight, eyes catching on the two women walking across the patio toward a pair of chairs that face the lake, a bottle of rosé and wine glasses in hand.
I suck in a breath.
I know that woman. She’s been the star of my dreams for weeks.
“Hey, you good, brother?” Josh claps me on the back.
“Josh…” I run my fingers through my hair before scrubbing my face with my hand. “That’s the girl from the coffee shop.” I’m whispering now, worried my voice will carry on the breeze. She’s dressed differently than when I saw her in the city. More casual, still breathtaking.
Josh squints. “You sure? I mean, they’re kind of far away. Not so far that I can’t tell they’re a couple of smoke shows, but I also can’t see details. You could be wrong.”
“Your eyesight is shit, and you know it.” I shove him in the shoulder.
“Okay, asshole.” He spins, taking another look around the boat for anything we might have missed, secures the seat cushions over the storage compartments, and grabs our bag.
“I’m not wrong,” I say definitively. Josh is right. They are about thirty yards away, but I feel it in my bones.
It’s her.
It’s like being struck by lightning for a second time.
I remember the first day she walked into Claire’s coffee shop and I spotted her.
I was like a moth to a flame; I couldn’t pull my eyes away.
Golden hair pulled up in a tight ponytail, glasses, and from what I could see, minimal makeup.
She didn’t need it. No lipstick. Instead, she wore gloss—that shiny shit Holly wears—drawing my attention to her perfect pink lips.
She walked into that coffee shop like she owned the place. Carried herself with grace and confidence, and shit, that was probably the sexiest thing about her.
When she locked eyes with me, my heart stopped beating. The adorable blush on her cheeks when she realized she was staring. Lord help me. To say I was completely captivated is an understatement.
“Earth to Lucas Huffman.” Josh waves his hands in front of my face. “I feel like I’ve stepped into an episode of You with the way you’re staring.”
“Shut up. I’m just shocked to see her. I didn’t think I’d ever see her again.”
Josh lets out a hearty laugh, shaking his head.
“Damn, dude. I can’t remember the last time I saw a woman twist you up like this.
Ever since—” He catches himself, scratching the skin under his chin before waving off what he was about to say.
“Anyway, it’s about damn time someone lit a fire under your ass! ”
I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. She’s obviously a guest.”
“Yeah, yeah. Your stupid rules.” Josh huffs. “Tell me again, why are guests off limits? Do you even remember anymore, or are you just afraid you’ll finally find someone?”
“You don’t stop talking and I’m gonna make you close the boat by yourself. Let’s just do this and get out of here, okay?” Preferably before the gorgeous woman on the patio gets up to leave.
Lifting his hands, Josh cuts his eyes. “Whatever, man.”
I sneak a glance at the two women in the rocking Adirondack chairs on the patio. They laugh, and the sound flutters through the air like a butterfly. There’s nothing wrong with getting to know her. I just need to… keep a safe distance.