Something is missing. Out of place. And I don’t know what it is.
I keep telling myself it’s because I’m not used to living with people. It will be better soon, when Layne and Kaylie and Scar move into their cottage, and everyone is finally settled in their own home. Just a few more days, and we’ll get there.
But what if they move out, and the shift never comes?
I need to get up, get on with my day, get to work. Get busy. That’s the only way to escape the dread. I’ve learned that over the past year.
But my daily routine, my work, no longer provides the escape that it used to.
Because Sierra Daniels is now all up in it.
Now, I need to first work up the will to face another day battling with that woman. Over the most stupid shit. Fighting her, because I can’t fuck her.
That’s what it comes down to, doesn’t it?
Yes, I want Pier Seven.
My body wantshermore.
I’ve tried to fight my attraction to her. Tried like hell not to get caught up in whatever she’s doing and where and with who. But all week long as we’ve prepared the town center for the festival, I’ve only become more preoccupied with her.
Just laying eyes on her, even knowing she’s around, fucks with my head.
And she’s always around.
In the corner of my eye, coming and going from Pier Seven, stopping to talk to someone outside of Bev & Bill’s. Getting to know the locals. Winning them over. Popping into my bar to ask one of my staff some inane question or bringing them smoothies to “taste test,” like she’s just putting herself in my face to irritate me.
All while ignoringme.
I have no idea if she notices my fixation. But my growing obsession with her hasn’t gone unnoticed by my friends, who continue to bombard me with unsolicited advice.Maybe you should just fuck her and get it over with.(Jace.)Maybe you should just stay away from her and save your sanity.(Evan.)
And my personal favorite:What the fuck is wrong with you, bro? She’s gorgeous.(Layne.)
My brother doesn’t even bother with advice, just makes it clear he thinks I’m being a dumbass. He doesn’t understand my fixation on Pier Seven, or why I wouldn’t be all over Sierra by now. But Layne has already carried on our family’s legacy. He has Kaylie.
What the hell do I really have?
Selfishly, I could flirt with Sierra, try to get her into bed.
But what good would that do for my family?
Layne has no idea of the responsibility I feel as the older brother, the pressure of one day stepping into our grandpa’s shoes. And the shit that I would be willing to give up, sacrifice for him and Kaylie and their future.
I’d give up anything. The woman in my dreams included.
I’m still haunted by memories of the night we spent together, especially at night. Instead of fading in intensity, they’re only getting worse. In my dreams, I’m running my hands over her body all over again, seeking out every sensitive place she’ll let me touch, and savoring her shivers when I find each one.
I wake each morning to the sound of her soft, hungry little moans.
And in the hazy moments between sleeping and fully awake, I’m acutely aware of how much I want her. When I’m alone and hard as hell, and she’s in my head ...
No filter. No stopping the direction of my thoughts before I’ve got my hands wrapped around my cock and I’m stroking, pulling, aching for release. Fantasizing about things we’ve never even done.
Her mouth, teasing and biting my nipple.
My fingers, slipping between her legs and finding her hot, wet, slippery insides as she moans.
My cock, pushing into the back of her throat as my balls—
