“Hey,” Bess said from the doorway.
“Hey. Some guard dog you have here,” I replied, unable to move because her dog was jumping at my feet, panting and begging for my attention.
“Brooks Bailey, leave it!” she shouted, and he didn’t hesitate. The dog turned away and bounded down the hill, heeding everything Bess said like every other hot-blooded male.
Alone now, we met halfway on the steps to her porch. She blinked and said, “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Me either.” I pulled her in for a hug and an inhale. She still smelled familiar, but instead of salty ocean air cloaking her this time, it was pine and evergreen.
She pulled back and said, “Welcome to spring in a place that has four seasons. Enjoy the damp and muddy conditions we have to face before we get glorious sunshine.”
I didn’t have a chance to answer because Brooks was back on the porch, now circling both of us with a ball in his mouth.
“Should I throw it?” I asked.
“Only if you plan to spend the rest of your weekend doing that,” Bess said with a laugh. “Come on in.”
We headed through the door into a combined sitting area and kitchen. Loyal and lucky to belong to the brown-haired beauty, Brooks followed right behind Bess, never leaving her side now that I was in their domain. The crackle of the fireplace and the smell of something baking greeted us as we walked inside.
“So, this is my place. Not quite as big as yours and no swimming pool, but we do have zucchini bread baked with chocolate chips.”
“It smells amazing,” I said with an appreciative sniff.
Bess walked toward the oven and waved her hand around while saying, “Make yourself at home.”
I couldn’t move. My feet were like two boulders in the ground when she grabbed oven mitts and bent over to take the bread out. Her ass was just as perfect as a few years ago when I first saw her in the downward dog position. I was transported to that day, and a tidal wave of guilt flooded my stomach at what I was doing.
Lying or deceiving or whatever this was, it was wrong. It had become an evil pattern, one that dug its claws deep within me, and I couldn’t wrestle my way out. Instead, I kept pushing forward, trudging through life with guilt’s stranglehold in place over my heart.
As the bread cooled on the counter, Bess made her way over to me. Studying my expression, she said, “You okay?”
“Absolutely. I just didn’t sleep well last night.” I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
“Oh,” she said into my chest.
I kissed the top of her head and wanted so much more.
She looked up at me, her eyes uncertain. “I was gonna suggest a little hike, but if you just want to chill, that’s cool.”
Placing my index finger under her chin, I tilted her face up toward mine, then I bent and placed my mouth over hers. There was no way to describe what I did next other than I devoured her lips and tongue. I couldn’t bring myself to stop.
Finally, I broke away and said, “A hike sounds perfect.”
