A smile appears on his face as he looks at me. “Can you tell? I’m the better looking one, though, right?”
I can’t deny he is rather good looking, in a sun-kissed surfer style kind of way. He wouldn’t look out-of-place running along the beach with a surfboard. I smile back, as if in agreement.
“So what do you do, Letty?”
“Nothing. I’m in-between jobs.”
“They have jobs going at my place if you’re looking,” one girl shouts.
My ears prick up, and I turn my head. “Where’s that?”
Lucy pulls off her sunglasses. “The supermarket in town. I’ll put a word in if you like.”
“Thanks.” I inhale another long drag. Everything slows down. The lake in front of me blurs like heat from a fire, making everything flicker and sway. This joint is strong. I lift on my elbows and glance around, doing a double take when Jack’s head is buried between Lucy’s thighs. I stare at the two of them. Not believing what my eyes are seeing. She moans. My ears are deceiving me now.
Knuckles stroke the bare skin on my arm, then my collarbone, moving down the valley of my breasts, over my vest top, slowly gliding over my pillowy stomach. “You like to watch?”
My head snaps to Jesse, panted breaths leave my mouth and a moan escapes. I glance down at his hand cupping between my thighs, massaging over the denim. Everything is foggy. Like a dream.
“It’s okay.” His soft voice lulls me as he continues his gentle assault. Heat soars through my body. I’m wound up so tight, desperate for any sort of attention, I can’t seem to say no.
I glance back to the others, both girls making out with the guys, half naked for all to see, and I’m about to let Jesse do the same. My legs widen, allowing him better access. He undoes my zipper. This isn’t me. I’m not usually this easy and I’ve never gone past first base in front of anyone.
I go to speak, but he hushes me as a finger slips down my jeans. The marijuana wearing off a little as the haze lifts and I grab his hand before he can delve further. “No.” My heart beats in my throat as his sunny blue eyes turn cold.
He removes his hand. “Some other time.”
I glance back to the girls lying on the towel sunbathing. Did I just imagine all that? I can’t tell what’s real anymore. I make a mental note to stay off the weed for a while until I’m with people I can trust. One thing I know for certain is I'm desperate for some action. I've been so preoccupied with finding my family, I haven't got myself off in a while.
Max throws the keys to Jesse. “Let’s go.”
Jesse jumps up off the bonnet. “Need a ride?”
I open the map app on my phone. On foot, the farmhouse is one hour away. “Can you take me home?” Home. I've been here less than twenty-four hours and I already feel more at home than I have in years.
“Get in.” Jesse opens the passenger door for me, and I pull myself up and climb in. Why can’t people drive normal cars around here? Jesse sits in the driving seat and the other four pile into the back.
“I’m at work Wednesday, Letty, if you wanna come and see me. I’ll introduce you to the manager. It’s the Millpond supermarket in town.”
“Thanks, I’ll do that.”
Loud music blasts from the stereo, making it difficult to talk. Jesse turns up the long, winding road to the farmhouse. He stops at the dirt road. “Is here all right for you?”
“Sure. Thanks.” I jump down and close the door.
“See you around.” He puts the Discovery in reverse and spins off down the lane.
I can see the house in the distance and wondered why they didn’t just drop me off at my door. Then I remember what Kane said about nobody ever coming up here. I wonder if they were afraid, then shake the ridiculous thought. Kane may look intimidating with all his tattoos, but he’s nice enough and the woman he was with last night didn’t seem afraid to stand up to him.
As I approach the house, his pickup isn’t in the yard. Luckily, the doors are unlocked. He said he doesn’t need to lock-up which I find bizarre. Perhaps that’s how it is out here in the country. It’s certainly not how we do things in the city.
Belle greets me when I open the door. I bend down, letting her sniff me before I enter. The last thing I want is to get my hand bitten off, although she seems a big softie. I can’t imagine her biting anyone.
Wanting to do something nice for Kane after he bought me breakfast and is letting me stay here, I make myself useful and wash the few pots in the sink. A door slams, making me jump. I turn around to Kane, dropping groceries on the dining table.
“Did they drop you off?” His nostrils flare as steel eyes bore into me.
“Yes. I made some friends at the lake and they gave me a ride home.”
