Thank you for your continued support and your kind wishes. I appreciate it.
Standard disclaimer.
MERCEDES
Well, this trip was starting off super-awkward.
Sitting in Caleb's Durango, I was seated right next to Sam and I felt like, we were the two annoying kids stuck in the backseat, on a long trip.
Which would make Caleb and Shay our parents. Weird.
An hour and a half into the drive, Shay's nose was deep in her e-Reader, Caleb's thumbs were thrumming along the steering wheel, as he hummed to whatever song was playing, and I was doing my best, not to think about the fact, I'd drunkenly kissed Sam.
Biting down on my lip, I glanced at him and his green eyes were fixed on mine.
Oh crap! I thought he was asleep. I quickly focused on the window and stared out at the rolling green hills and the beautiful blue sky.
Another thing I couldn't stop thinking about, was Sam's visit last night...the way he had looked at me, when I'd opened the door, like he'd really liked what he'd seen.
And what he'd said to me, before he'd gone into the bathroom, and then, how I'd embarrassingly fallen asleep, in that short space of time.
He'd carried me to my bed...actually carried me. Good lord, I was not a small girl. So that was impressive...and hot.
Watching a Mack truck loaded up with logs, zoom passed our SUV, I tried not to think about one of those Final Destination movies.
But that would probably be better, than what was consuming my thoughts.
I was unnerved by how much I was thinking about this. I shouldn't care. This was Sam and he and I could barely call each other friends.
He'd also had his chance with me before and had blown it.
Not that he seemed to remember any of that, or that I'd really given him a chance back then. Wasn't like I'd talked to him, or expressed any inclination, that I wanted to practice making babies with him. So...
Sam tapped my knee, drawing my attention. And my eyes met his.
"What?"
Lifting his hand, he curled a long finger.
"Come here."
My stomach dropped, at the sound of his low, husky voice.
Having no idea what he was up to, I leaned across the space between us, turning my head to the side.
"I haven't been sleeping for a while," he said, his breath dancing along my cheek, sending shivers down my spine. "So..."
"So what?" I had no idea why he felt the need to share that with me.
"You've been staring at me," he whispered, and I started to draw back, denials forming on my tongue, but his arm suddenly moved and curled around the back of my neck, holding me in place. "I don't mind it."
My heart stuttered and then skipped a beat.
'What the...?'
I swallowed hard, my normal, what-I-liked-to-consider-witty-rapport, was nowhere to be found. The only thing that came out of my mouth was a whispered,
"You don't?"
"Yeah." His fingers tangled in my hair, tugging the curls in a delicious way, that sent fiery awareness across my skin. "I just decided that I don't."
"Right now?" I breathed.
Sam shifted his head slightly and when he spoke again, his breath caressed my lips, causing muscles low in my belly to tighten.
"Yep. About two minutes ago, actually."
A soft, surprised laugh came out of me.
"Really. Two whole minutes ago?"
"Maybe five," he teased, and my stomach twisted pleasantly. "Ten minutes might be pushing it, though."
I almost laughed again, but his mouth was so close to mine, that if I shifted a fraction of an inch, our lips would meet.
Suddenly, I really wanted to remember that drunken kiss...and the feel of his soft looking lips.
Sam's fingers found their way through the tangle of my curls and I had no idea what was happening. For the first time in my life, I couldn't speak.
"No sex in the backseat," Caleb announced. "I just cleaned this thing out."
Snapping out of our own little world, I jerked free, wincing, when my hair caught in Sam's hand.
Cheeks heated, I faced forward, as he eased his fingers out of my curls.
In the rear-view mirror, Caleb grinned at me and I flipped him off.
I turned then, my heart thumping unsteadily, and glanced at Sam. And our gazes met again.
Leaning back against the door, he tossed his arm over the back of our seat, a slow smile pulled at his lips.
His stare was intense...piercing, like he wasn't seeing me, but was seeing inside me, scoping out all my secrets.
Flushed, I was the first to look away.
Shay had twisted around, peering into the back seat, something neither Sam or I noticed, until after.
Her gaze flitted from me to Sam and then back, her lips pursed.
"Alrighty then," she said, her face morphing into a smile.
I had absolutely nothing to say, as she flipped back around, tapping the screen on her e-Reader. Nope. I wasn't even thinking anything.
I stared at the back of Caleb's head, totally bewildered by everything.
As my heart started to pound even harder, I knew one thing...this week was going to be really interesting.
After what felt like forever, the Durango's tyres crunched over gravel and as soon as it rolled to a stop, I all but threw open the door and hopped out.
Okay. All ignorant jokes about West Virginia aside...this little piece of the world was stunning and breathtaking.
Tall pine and elm trees scented the air, and although the August sun was oppressively strong, the trees blocked the harsh rays, providing much welcome shade.
Above the leafy branches and green needles, I could see a giant sandstone structure, bursting into the blue, cloudless sky.
The mountain glimmered faintly, and each jagged point, reminded me of a massive hand, trying to grasp at the clouds.
Shay joined me, smiling, as she followed my gaze.
"Those are the Seneca Rocks. I think Caleb wants to check them out, either Wednesday or Thursday. You're more than welcome to join us."
I laughed as I shook my head.
"I don't know. I'm more of a lie-by-the-pool kind of girl, versus getting all up into wildlife."
She nudged me with her hip, as she glanced over her shoulder, to where the guys were grabbing the suitcases, out of the back of the SUV.
"Or maybe a check-out-what's going-on-with-Sam kind of girl?"
I smacked her arm.
"I'm not that either, and you know that."
"Uh-huh." She bit down on her lower lip, as she turned her gaze to mine. "You know, I've always thought he liked you."
"Stop," I sighed.
Shay was forever playing the matchmaker, since she'd settled down with Caleb.
The night I'd left her place, feeling all kinds of butt sore, over what Sam had said to me, she'd started in on how, she truly believed we were secretly in love with one another.
"What?" she challenged. "It's like a typical playground love affair. Instead of you two pulling each other's hair and pushing each other down, you get on each other's nerves on purpose."
"I'd like to think, I'm a bit more mature than that."
Shay arched a dark eyebrow.
I giggled.
"Okay. Maybe not."
"Yeah," she dragged the word out. "You guys have hooked up before, right?"
Shooting her a look, I shook my head.
"No."
A look of doubt crossed her face.
"You've made out, then..."
"No. No, we haven't." I laughed under my breath, because, I was so not counting that kiss. "Why do you think that? He and I have never done anything. I would've told you."
The disbelief didn't fade from her face, and I wondered why in the world she'd still think that, after all this time.
Pushing the conversation out of my head, I dragged in a deep breath and smiled.
I realized, there wasn't a hint of fumes or body odor, or any other nasty street smell that clung to the city, a kind of smell you got used to, until you were out in a place like this.
Clean air. Lord, I'd forgotten how nice that was to breathe.
"Let's go help them," Looping her arm through mine, she slipped her sunglasses down and then led me to the back of the SUV.
Sam had a duffel bag slung over his shoulder, and it boggled my mind, how guys could pack for a week, in a bag I could easily double as a purse.
In his other hand, was my pink and purple polka-dotted suitcase.
Slipping free from Shay, I went to his side.
"You don't have to carry that." I reached for my suitcase.
"I got it." Facing me, I could clearly see myself reflected in the silver aviator-style sunglasses he'd slipped on. Damn, he looked good in them. Air Force pilot hot.
"I can carry it," I insisted while Caleb headed around the SUV. Shay was behind him, carrying an armful of plastic bags.
Sam grinned, as he stepped back, holding the stuffed piece of luggage out of my grasp.
"Grab the leftover bags. I'll carry this." He pivoted around.
We'd stopped at the grocery store in town and there was a load of groceries in the back, enough to feed an army.
Grabbing two paper bags, I lifted them out, eyeing him warily.
"Are you trying to get laid or something? Because, I know going a whole week without, must be hard for you and all," I said.
Sam stopped and then turned back to me. With one brow arched above the rim of his sunglasses, he said,
"Now, come on, Andy. There's no such thing as trying, when it comes to that."
My eyes narrowed, as I walked to where he stood.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
He lowered his head, so that we were almost eye level. His lips tipped up at the corners and he spoke in a voice, only I could hear.
"If I wanted you, I'd have you."
What in the holy hell hotcakes?
My jaw hit the gravel, as I barked out a short laugh.
"Oh, wow. That's cocky."
One shoulder rose.
"Nah, just confident."
I snorted.
"Or really optimistic, in a special kind of dumb way."
He laughed under his breath, as I shifted the bags in my arms.
"Let's make a bet, Andy."
"Stop calling me that," I ordered, but hated...absolutely loathed...the breathlessness of my voice.
I wanted to punch it out of my chest. Or him. Yeah, punching him would be better.
"I'm not making any bets with you, Sam Evans."
I walked around him, stomping on the gravel, with my sandal clad feet. I had only taken a few steps, when he said,
"That's because, you know you'll lose."
He did not just say that. No way.
Halting suddenly, I almost tripped over my own feet. I whipped around, facing him once more.
"Excuse me?"
Sam's grin and walk were full of swagger, as he strolled passed me.
"You heard me. You know you'll be under me by the time we leave this cabin."
Stay safe!