Текст книги "Love's Secret Torment"

Автор книги: Stacy L. Darnell

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Текущая страница: 6 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

I couldn’t believe Tamron and Alison’s audacity. As I tore off Emmett’s clothes and yanked on my own from the party, I vowed to hold my grudge long enough for them to think about their actions. I took out my phone and Googled cab companies. I found one that looked good and called the number listed.

“Apple Taxi, how may I help you?”

“Hi, I need a cab.”

“Okay, what’s the pick-up address?”

Shit! I don’t know. It’s not like I freaking drove here or paid attention to the house number or street name for that matter.

“Umm, sorry, let me just look a minute.”

I looked around Emmett’s room and saw some papers lying on his dresser. Shuffling through them, I found a piece of mail from Auburn University.

“Okay, it’s 332 Mason Road.”

“All right, I have a driver about ten minutes from that area. I’ll send him over.”

“Thanks.”

I hung up then tossed my phone onto Emmett’s bed. As I glanced at the twisted sheets, my mind flashed back to us tangled up in them. Just the thought of it had me feeling warm and smiling. I’d never been with anyone but Alec. Surprisingly, it didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. My heart still ached at the thought of him at that party and his cruel behavior. But I was moving on. I deserved better.

I opened Emmett’s door only to run smack into his chest . . . again. My gaze meandered up his body to his piercing blue eyes as his hands caught my shoulders, sending tingles down my arms.

He chuckled. “We really gotta stop meeting like this . . . then again, I love the feel of you.”

“Oh,” I gasped. “Sorry. I was just on my way downstairs to wait for a cab.”

“What the hell? No. I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

I looked down and leaned my forehead against his chest, wishing he were shirtless this time, too. “It’s okay I don’t want to inconvenience you, and I’ve already called them anyway.”

“Really, it’s no problem,” he insisted.

Looking up at him again, I stepped back and to the side. “Thanks, but I’m good. I’ll uh, see you around.” I headed downstairs, but was stopped as I opened the front door.

“Sam, what are you doing?” Alison asked.

“Taking a cab back to your place, then getting my car,” I hissed.

“Stop. We’ll take you,” Tamron urged.

“No. If I wanted a ride I would’ve asked. Just leave me alone for a bit.”

“Don’t be mad at us. We’re sorry,” Alison pleaded.

I sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “You two should have thought of that before you decided to make my business yours . . . in front of everyone here, no less.” I stepped through the threshold, closing the heavy door behind me, and waited alone for my cab.

I used the key the girls had given me to get in their apartment. I stepped inside and looked around at the messy living room. I put the sofa bed back together, folded the blanket and left them a note.

Fortunately, there was a Starbucks a couple miles from where they lived. I settled in the lounge area with a latte and stared at my kindle app, while thoughts of Emmett flooded my mind.

A month had gone by, and I was really enjoying life. I pulled into the parking lot at Tamron and Alison’s apartment building. Sam had been staying with me more and more, but still occasionally spent the night with her friends. I smiled when I saw her walk out the door to meet me. My life changed the night I met her. I felt more alive than I ever had in my life.

I hadn’t been with anyone else since then either. I couldn’t even think about being with any other girl but Sam. Turning them away was definitely out of the norm for me. The looks on their faces surprised me. It also made me stop and think about what a dick I must have seemed like. But I never led them on. They knew I wasn’t looking for a relationship.

As Sam walked up to my car, I smiled in anticipation for the day ahead. We were going kayaking on the Tallapoosa River in Wetumpka, Alabama.

“Hey you,” she said as she got into my Camaro. She slipped her hand in mine and smiled.

“Hey,” I replied and pulled her in for a kiss.

“Mmm . . . well, that was a nice hello.” She giggled then motioned to the small pack she’d set at her feet. “I can’t wait to get out on the water. I brought some Gatorade and protein bars.”

“Good idea.” I pulled out onto the road.

“How’d you get today off from work anyway?” she asked.

“A guy I worked with switched days with me. When I saw how nice it was gonna be today, I knew it’d be perfect.”

“Cool, I haven’t gone kayaking in forever . . . I didn’t realize how much I missed it. My sister, Tricia, and I used to kayak the Chattahoochee north of Atlanta as often as we could . . . before she went away for college.”

I pulled in and parked. Getting out, I walked around and opened her door for her. My parents had taught me how to be gentleman, and I wanted her to feel special.

As we were putting our rental kayaks in the water, I watched in surprise as she took her shirt off, exposing the bikini top she wore underneath. She sat down in the kayak, and I pushed it off the bank into the water.

She smiled as I floated mine up to hers. “Ready?”

“Yup, the current’s flowing good too. It’ll be a relaxing float today.”

We came up to some small rapids and she looked over at me and with a lopsided grin on her face. “Are ya scared?”

“Ha! Me? Scared? No, I can handle it. That’s barely a ripple.”

“Okay, I’ll see ya on the other side.” She grinned as she paddled up and rode the rapid.

“Oh! Look, there’s a bigger one,” I said, pointing as I caught up to her.

“Sweet! Let’s go!” she squealed.

We floated easily with the current, and paddled over the rapids. It was an awesome feeling . . . to have easy, normal fun with someone. I found myself feeling happy, content, and excited to be with her.

It felt too good to be true, and I knew all too well that fate had a way of stepping in and screwing things up. But Sam was worth the risk. I’d worry about fate another day.

Time flew by quickly. I managed to transfer from Kennesaw State to Auburn University before the start of school. Thank God Tamron and Alison had talked me into applying to both schools. Even then, it never would have worked out in time, if it weren’t for my dad being an Auburn alumni, and his connections to the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs.

I couldn’t imagine attending Kennesaw State after what Alec had done. There were too many painful memories back home. Going to the school we’d dreamed of together, without him, or even worse, at the risk of seeing him with someone else, would have made me miserable.

I was moving on, spending time with the girls and Emmett. The parties at the frat house were fun. I even picked up a part-time job at Jackson’s Reading Corner, a little bookstore ten-minutes from Emmett’s house. I loved working there, and the owner, Mr. Jackson, didn’t mind if I read occasionally to pass the time, as long as I had everything shelved for the day and was attentive to the customers.

Our days were busy with classes at Auburn. It helped that I didn’t have to stay in a dorm because the out-of-state tuition fees were insanely high. I didn’t even want to know what the room and board cost would be. I was lucky my parents had saved for college since I was born. I marked the application deadline date for financial aid for next year’s tuition to help offset it.

Being with Emmett felt natural. It was easy. Before I knew it, I was staying with Emmett more than I was staying with the girls at their apartment near campus. Of course, at first, they were both very vocal about their concerns regarding my sudden relationship with him. But, luckily for me, he was their boyfriends’ close friend and housemate, so they eventually accepted him, though they were somewhat guarded about my “almost” living with him. Emmett and I talked about that one morning while I was cooking breakfast.

“You know, Peach, I never expected to be in a relationship with anyone. But I love spending time with you. I’m really happy when you stay here with me.”

I giggled at his nickname for me. He’d said I was his sweet Georgia peach and, afterwards, had taken to calling me Peach instead of darlin.’

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” I replied. “I didn’t think I would get close to a guy after the way my ex hurt me . . . but you and I just work. There’s no drama. It feels right. It feels good to be happy and cared for again.”

As he handed me my cup of coffee, he reached behind me for a piece of bacon I’d just cooked. I smacked his hand away.

“What are you doing? You’ll burn your mouth! I just took that out of the pan.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his guilty expression.

“But it smells so damn good. How can you expect me not to eat a piece?”

“Easy. Leave. It. Alone,” I teased.

“Fine,” he sulked.

“Oh geez, just give it a minute to cool off at least. Then you can have all you want.”

I swear, you’d think I’d washed and waxed his Camaro with the smile that appeared on his face.

“Emmett, my parents are on their way into town to visit. They’re going to stay at a hotel near Alison and Tamron’s apartment. Tamron’s mom and dad drove over with them to see the girls, too,” I said. “I’d like for you to meet them.”

“Sounds good, Peach,” he said. “Just let me know when you want to go.”

“They’re almost there. If we head over now, we’ll get there before they do,” I said.

“All right, let me jump in the shower first. Okay?”

“Okay.” I smiled. “You, umm, need any help with that?” I asked

“I always need your help with that,” he said with that sexy smirk of his.

I joined him in the shower. He definitely needed me, in every way possible. He showed me how much, and I lost myself to his wet hands and wandering mouth.

We dressed again and drove over to the girl’s apartment. I was excited to see my parents and have them meet Emmett. I loved him. I just hoped they would too. Pulling up to the girls’ apartment, we saw Quinn’s car parked out front. I released a shaky breath as Emmett took my hand in his.

“Looks like Quinn came to the meet the parents gathering, too,” Emmett teased.

“Yeah, Tamron said she was going to have him come over to meet her parents, as well.”

We got out of the car and heard laughing around the side of the apartment building. Walking around toward the back, we saw Tamron and Quinn in a frantic kiss. I grabbed Emmett’s arm to turn us around and wait out front, but he beat me to it with a catcalling whistle that shocked the couple apart. Tamron, of course, cussed at him right away.

“For fuck’s sake, Emmett! Was that necessary? We’re busy here,” she yelled.

Quinn just shook his head. “It’s okay, babe. He’s just getting me back for interrupting him and Sam yesterday morning. At least we were only kissing. Be glad of that,” he said, shaking his head again.

“Better me than Tamron’s dad, man. I’m sure that’s not the first impression you want to give her parents, y’all nearly tearing each other’s clothes off in an alley.”

Tamron’s face blanched and she smacked Quinn on the shoulder. “You heathen!”

We all busted up laughing just as we heard a car pull into the parking lot.

“I think they’re here, y’all,” I called.

We walked back out front and saw our parents getting out of my dad’s car. Tamron’s dad was in the front with my dad and, as usual, her mom rode in the back with my mom. They did that so they could chat away. I always kind of thought it was old-fashioned, but it made me smile.

I ran up to my parents and gave them both hugs. Tamron swapped with me when I was done, and we each hugged the other’s parents, too.

Tamron stepped back and said, “Mom, Dad, this is Quinn. Quinn, this is my mom and dad.”

Quinn stepped forward and shook both of their hands.

I stepped to the side of Emmett and said, “Mom and Dad, this is my Emmett. Emmett, meet my parents.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Lang,” Emmett said, shaking my dad’s hand and kissing the top of my mom’s.

For a moment, my heart pierced with pain at the memory of Alec doing the same thing when he met my parents, but I pushed it out of my mind. It was over between us, and I wasn’t about to stir up all those emotions. I was happy again.

“Please, Emmett, just Maggie and Vance is fine,” Mom said.

“Well let’s get to it. This old man is hungry,” my dad said.

We all got in our cars and followed Tamron and Quinn to the restaurant. Getting out and walking in hand in hand with Emmett, I caught my mom whispering to my dad, then Dad looking back at us. I don’t know why, but I felt the need to drop Emmett’s hand until my dad smiled at me.

“You’re okay, Princess,” he teased.

Emmett laughed, and I wanted to die. I mean, it’s not like he didn’t know we were serious or even intimate for that matter. They knew we were practically living together. But it’s still not a subject I wanted to discuss at length with my parents.

“It’s okay, Peach. He gets it,” Emmett whispered.

“I know. He just likes to tease me.” I sighed.

We ate dinner and Tamron’s and my parents gave Emmett and Quinn the twenty questions ritual. We understood. They just needed to know we were with good guys. Fortunately for us, we were.

After dinner, we gathered in the parking lot to say our goodbyes.

“Come visit soon, sweetheart. We miss you,” Mom said.

“We will, Mom. I miss y’all, too.” I hugged her tight.

“Vance, Maggie, it was nice meeting you both. We’ll come see you soon,” Emmett said.

I waved to Tamron’s parents as mine were waving goodbye to her.

A few nights later, Emmett got home from work at the lumberyard, and found me outside by the pool, reading a book on my phone as I waited for him. I’d made us raspberry lemonade club sodas. His smile was so adorable, and made me want to get lost in kissing him. He didn’t sit down in the lounge chair beside me, but instead sat down behind me in mine as I scooted forward. He pulled me back onto his lap, turning my head for kiss as he placed a manila envelope in my lap.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“Just open it, Peach.”

My heart raced with anticipation. He was so excited, so I knew it had to be good. I pulled out the contents and saw a reservation slip for The Summit Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida.

I squealed. “Holy crap, Emmett! Are we going to the beach? What about classes?”

He snorted a full belly laugh and nodded. “Yes, Peach, and don’t worry about classes, we’re going for Labor Day weekend. We need to get some supplies though. I’m fairly certain you’ll need a few bathing suits, since I’m sure you won’t want to be constantly putting on and taking off wet ones. That would just be soooo cold,” he said with wink, as he trailed his fingers up the inside of my thigh.

Emmett requested I step out of the changing room and model each bathing suit. I hadn’t thought he would want to sit there and wait while I went through the grueling process of bikini elimination. It didn’t take long for his reasoning to become evident. I stepped out of the stall and peeked around the corner to the cushy waiting chair at the entrance to the fitting room.

His eyes lit with pleasure as I turned around in a slow spin, modeling the fourth garment. He wore a look of hunger as he tried to remain stoic for the store staff. The slight squirming in his seat gave away how much he approved of my selections.

“Well, which ones do you like?” I teased.

“Umm, I . . . I can’t decide. I think you should try them on again.”

I gave him a sideways glance.

“Okay, okay,” he laughed. “Just get all of them. You look incredible.”

I couldn’t stop the smile as it spread wide across my face. It felt good to incite the reaction in him. He cleared his throat as I turned around one last time before slipping around the corner, back to the changing stall.

We made our purchases then stopped in a local superstore and bought some snorkeling gear and body boards, grabbing a few snacks and drinks for the drive.

We counted the states license plates as we made the almost four hour drive from Auburn to Panama City Beach, arriving at The Summit Resort just after lunchtime. After Emmett checked us in, we unloaded our bags and supplies onto a luggage cart and rode the elevator up to our room on the eleventh floor. I was surprised to see it wasn’t so much a standard hotel room but rather more like a condo. It had a warm, home away from home feeling, with a coastal paradise twist.

It was almost dinnertime when Emmett suggested we try a restaurant he’d heard about called Hammerhead Fred’s. The hostess seated us at a booth, and we ordered oysters as an appetizer, we were excited to see it was served on a slab of driftwood nearly as long as the table. As we ate, he told me about a trip his family had taken to the beach when he was ten.

“My little brother, Alby, was eight years old and had a bad ear infection, so he was cranky most of the drive here. I remember feeling so bad I couldn’t help him feel better. I stayed in the room with him though, and didn’t go to the beach until two days later when he was finally feeling better. We were really close, like best friends. He’s my half-brother. My biological father died a couple months after I was born. Mom remarried, and had my brother a couple years later. It sucks not ever having the chance to know my birth father, but our dad was awesome and loved us very much. I’m thankful to have had him raise me, and ended up with the best little brother.”

“Oh, Emmett, that sounds awful for him to have been so sick,” I said, reaching for his hand.

“I always remembered that trip, and wanted to come back to the beach, but Dad’s work was hectic and life was too busy. Then we lost our parents just a few years ago. I just never felt at ease about coming back here.”

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry to hear that. I can’t imagine losing my parents. I wondered why you never brought them up.”

“Anyway, one morning I was lying in bed, playing with your hair, and the idea hit me. So I booked the trip.”

“I’m happy you did. It means so much to me that you’re willing to share this special place with me.”

After we finished with dinner, we walked behind the resort along the beach, watched in awe as the sky began to fill with beautiful shades of yellow, red, and orange.

That night, the balcony door stood open, letting the lightly salted air breeze through the condo. I stood at the railing looking out over the horizon as the sun kissed the water’s edge. He walked up behind me and wrapped me in his arms.

I rested my head back against his chest with a sigh. “It feels so good out here.”

He ran his hands up and down my arms as his lips left a trail of kisses on my neck.

“Yes,” he whispered in my ear. “It does.”

As I turned around to face him, he dropped his arm down beneath me, picking me up in his strong embrace. He kissed me slowly, methodically, as he cradled me to his chest and walked us into the bedroom.

“You’re so beautiful, my Peach. I want to make love to you all night,” he said, then pulled at my bottom lip with his teeth.

I felt the heat in my cheeks, as he looked deep into my eyes.

He reached down and slowly lifted my shirt off. His hands brushing against my skin left a heated trail of tingles.

“Me, too,” I breathed out while he gently laid me on the bed.

He unbuttoned the top of my denim skirt, pulling it down over my hips. As his fingers traced the contours of my leg to the back of my knee, a giggle slipped out.

My hands flew to my mouth as we both chuckled.

“I’m sorry. I know how ticklish you are, but I couldn’t resist the temptation to feel your soft skin.”

“It’s ok.” I whispered, running my fingers underneath the waistband of his shorts and tugging at them.

He lowered and stepped out of his shorts, and I smiled in anticipation at the sight of his tanned, muscular body.

He lay down next to me and kissed me softly, pulling me into his arms. But it soon turned heated and hungry as our passion consumed us. We were like an inferno setting our love ablaze in the night. Afterwards, I snuggled into him and rested my head on his chest.

“I love you, Emmett.”

“I love you, too, Peach,” he replied, kissing the top of my head.

“Thank you for brining me here. It’s beautiful.”

“You’re welcome. I couldn’t wait to get you here and all to myself. I’m a greedy bastard and got sick of sharing your time with the girls.” He laughed.

I smacked his shoulder. “You are not a bastard! Greedy with my time, maybe, but I love that, too.”

We spent the weekend switching between drinks at the tiki-bar by the two Olympic-sized pools and hot tubs to the blue-shaded lounges on the beach. We body surfed and swam to cool off from the hot sun. Every night, we walked along the beach, picking up shells for me to use as charms.

As we lay in bed on the last night of our weekend getaway, wrapped in each other’s arms, Emmett kissed the top of my head and twined his fingers with mine.

“I’m so happy you’re in my life. I’ve never needed anyone this way before. I can’t imagine going back to my cold existence before you,” he whispered.

“Me, too. It scares me sometimes. I feel like I need you as much as my next breath.”

“Don’t worry, Peach. We’ll always have each other.”

I had a flash of pain at those last words. A deep-rooted fear surfaced, a remnant of my days with Alec when he had promised me the same thing, and that had ended in the worst pain of my life. Again, I pushed those thoughts and fears away. I had to live in the now, not the past. I refused to let his actions diminish the happiness I had in my life.