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CALEB
"You'll have to thank your neighbor for the apple cake. And other things...." Alex gives me a grin before popping the last bite of apple cake into her mouth. She chews and I watch her lips, thinking about the way they felt on mine. And anticipating the sensation of them on other parts of my body. Every part of my body.
We've used two of the condoms already and I carefully gathered up the rest in a little pile. Alex slants her eyes toward the collection and gives me another grin. "You might want to thank her for those too."
She's certainly no shrinking violet.
I guess I'd thought she'd be some sort of reclusive writer. I chuckle thinking about how Caleb and I both thought she was likely an old woman. She's far from that. Young, nubile. Sweet and saucy.
We're sitting on the blanket, I'm wearing my jeans and she's wearing my shirt. I like the way it looks on her, like she's mine.
Whoa there, Caleb. You're getting way ahead of yourself. You don't know anything about her and she sure doesn't know everything about you.
"I'll be sure to tell her the next time I see her."
She leans forward and touches the inside of my right wrist. "What's this?" she asks, running her fingers over the tattoo there.
"Oh," I say, thinking about how much I can say. "It's the North Star." That's keeping it simple.
"Is that your only tattoo?" she asks, eyeing my bare chest.
"Yes, it is," I reply. "How about you?"
"I don't have any. I've thought about it, but just couldn't think of anything I wanted to put on my body permanently. I guess I have commitment issues." She takes a long drink from a bottle of water. "What made you decide on the North Star?"
I pause, but can't take too long. I don't dare tell her that each of my siblings has one of these tattoos. It's our family bond. The Starr family of North Starr Ranch.
I gaze at her and suddenly I have the urge to tell her everything.
But I don't. Today is too perfect. I don't want to do anything to spoil it.
Coward.
Maybe. But I'm having such a good time just being Caleb, not being Caleb Starr.
I love my family and the tattoo reminds me of that, but for just a few more hours, I want to be anonymous.
"If you know where the North Star is, you can always find your way," I say.
She pauses and looks thoughtful. "I like that," she says. Then she cocks her head and looks at me, her teasing gaze gone. "Have you ever felt lost? Like you needed to find your way?"
I blow out a breath. "Lots of times," I say. "Doesn't everyone?"
She strokes her fingers over the tattoo. The flesh on the inside of my wrist is sensitive and her fingers send sparks through me. I fight back the urge to press her to the ground again and use more condoms.
The expression on her face is wistful as she studies the tattoo.
"You look very serious, Alex. Penny for your thoughts."
She glances up at me, her dark eyes meet mine. "Just thinking about finding my way. I guess that's part of what I'm trying to do here, staying in the cabin and getting away from all the distractions."
I want to ask more about what she's trying to get away from. She's so young. How could she have any worries?
You were only a teenager when your parents and brother died.
I hold back the questions I want to ask. Again, I don't want to spoil this perfect afternoon.
