April’s cheeks flamed. “Mom, this is Josh. Josh, this is my mom, June.”
I smiled politely and took her hand for a gentle squeeze, to which her mother flushed.
“Was the drive okay?”
As we walked away, I couldn’t help but notice there was zero resemblance between them. April was on the shorter side, pear-shaped and red hair. Her mother was taller by a few inches, but lean, as if she was heavily into yoga and dressed in designer clothing.
“Come on,” April said, sounding slightly defeated. As she walked away, I gripped onto her hand and entwined our fingers. She glanced down and bit her lip, but we made our way through the fifty-something people making small talk until a spitting image of her mom, only taller, came bouncing across the lawn.
“I thought you said twenty people,” I murmured out of the side of my mouth.
“That’s what I was told.” She did the same back.
“You’re so much more handsome in person than on TV.” June smiled brightly at me. I watched as April subtly rolled her eyes.
I grinned at her. “You’re everything April says.”
April snorted and then coughed to hide her laugh. The inside joke was that she hadn’t told me anything, but clearly her mom had other opinions. Just then, an arm wrapped around April, catching her off guard. April lurched forward in shock.
“Hi May,” April stuttered. She looked stunned by the affection.
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic.” May laughed. A flash of embarrassment crossed April’s eyes. “Why don’t you give Josh a tour. I put you guys in the bunkhouse tonight.”
April’s face morphed into terror as she stuttered, “The bunkhouse?”
Clearly, I’d missed something.
“Yes. The main house is already full. Don’t be so difficult. It was a long time ago.”
April’s eyes widened with fear as she glanced toward asmall wooden house in the back by the water. She swallowed hard. “Fine.”
She grabbed our bags without warning and damn near stomped off toward the back sliding doors. Hauling ass, I trailed behind her, down the deck, across the huge yard towards the water and a large shed-looking building that I assumed was the dreaded bunkhouse. She nudged the door open with her toe and peeked inside before entering.
“Seriously, you need to tell me about this,” I whispered out the side of my mouth, stepping in ahead of her, and locating the light switch. It was a small room with a futon, an old rocking chair, and side table in the corner.
“This seems fine.”
“Sure, until you have to sleep in here as a kid, and your sister and her friends lock you in, terrorizing you by making scratching sounds all night, making me think there was a killer trying to get in,” she said it fast and in one breath; I barely got it all.
I chuckled. She shot me a look that could kill. Still not amused by that. “That’s pretty fucking brutal.”
Her voice shook. “It took me three summers to even get close to this place.”
Instinctively, I closed the gap between us and wrapped her in a tight hug. Her nose nuzzled against my chest. The scent of her shampoo wafted at me and shit, she smelled delicious. Sweet, and sexy, and that was a problem. My arms relaxed against hers.
“No need to be scared, the only noises they’re gonna hear might frighten them this time.” I winked at her.
She playfully swatted at me. “Jesus, do you ever not think about sex?”
“No.”
She shook her head. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Anything you want.” I smirked.
She locked her eyes on mine, a flicker of somethingcrossing through them. She bit the side of her lip, then tapped her hand against my chest. “Not sure you could handle that.”
Now that sounded like a dare.
