The bell on the door rings, and a cluster of ladies I don’t recognize stroll in chatting loudly.

  “Tourists.” Carmen leans in, speaking low. “Will you be at the softball game tonight? We can sit together if you want.”

  “Sounds fun.” Blake agrees, and Carmen skips back across the room to her spot at the register.

  After waving goodbye, we’re back out on the sidewalk.

  “She’s really sweet.” Blake smiles up at me. “Is she a Hamiltown native, too?”

  “Ruth moved here with Carmen after her divorce. I think they’re originally from New Orleans.”

  “Stinky’d better keep his eye on you. You’re more like the mayor.” Her eyes shine as she teases me. “You know everyone.”

  “I’ve just lived here a long time.”

  “And you’re close to my uncle. He always talked about you like you were his son.”

  I’m not sure what to say to that, but I know how I feel. “I’ll be glad to see him again.”

  We’ve reached the end of the sidewalk, and I’m about to suggest we head back to the house when Blake turns to me.

  “We’ve still got time to kill before you show off your expert pitching skills.”

  “It’s little girls’ softball. I’ll just toss it underhanded.”

  “That’s a letdown.” She shrugs. “Either way, we still have time. What’s your favorite place in Hamiltown? Show it to me–if you have one? I’m sure you do.”

  “Actually…” I catch her hand again. “I have more than one, but I’ll take you to the closest.”

  We head down the hill about a half mile from the main drag to a massive wooden structure nestled in the trees.

  “A barn?” She squints up at me.

  “It’s not just a barn.” Pushing open the wide, wooden doors, I lead her into the massive open space. “It’s the location of all the town activities, the boiled peanut festival, the Frogmore stew competition, the spring dance.”

  She holds up both hands, shaking her head and blinking fast. “What the hell is Frogmore stew? Does it have frogs in it? And a spring dance? Are there cloggers?”

  “This is South Carolina, not Appalachia. They shag here.” Looking down, I pull her to my chest.

  “Is that like having sex?” Her arms circle my waist.

  “It is how some people do it.” I’m liking this little Hamiltown primer. “There are no frogs in Frogmore stew. It’s named after the town. It’s more like a crawfish boil, but with crab claws and shrimp.”

  “Sounds delicious.”

  “I really want to kiss you right now.” That persistent warmth is back, and I can’t ignore my feelings for her.

  A smile curls her lips, and she rises on her toes, lifting her chin. “What are you waiting for?”

  Our mouths seal together, and something shifts. The lust burning between us takes on a different form, like a white-hot blaze settling into a steadily burning fire. I begin to have thoughts like she belongs here. It’s her hometown, and I’ll do what it takes to keep her here.

  These are dangerous thoughts. We’re in the middle of a shitstorm, and catching feelings will only make it harder for both of us. I can’t turn my back on my promise to her uncle, but I can protect myself from third-degree burns.

  15

  Blake

  “Freeze ‘em out, Snow Cones! Freeze ‘em out!” Carmen is beside me clapping her hands in an adult-sized, bright-red Stinky's Snow Cones jersey.

  I confess, I’m crazy-jealous of her Snow Cones fan gear.

  We’re sitting in the bleachers in a mix of red Snow Cones supporters and royal-blue Hot Shot fans, and Hutch has just been announced as the special guest pitcher for the first game of the season.

  “We want a pitcher, not a belly itcher!” Carmen yells, cupping her hands around her mouth, and Hana snorts a laugh from my other side.

  My sister leans into my side and whispers, “I don’t know who she is, but she’s invited to every party from now on.”

  Hutch cuts us an annoyed glance that registers as way too sexy for a children’s softball game, and I hear a few women around me sighing with delight… or lust. He’s delicious in dark jeans that hug his ass and an honorary Snow Cones jersey.

  From her spot beside the pitcher’s mound, Pepper waves at us so fiercely, I’m afraid her little arm will fly off.

  “Go, Pep!” Hana yells, with a volume that surprises me.

  I’ve never heard my sister talk above a Marilyn-Monroe pout, but in Hamiltown, it seems she’s a different person. It makes me question ever returning to the city–for so many reasons besides just solving problems.

  I notice her dark watchdog at the end of the bleachers glancing over at us every few minutes. Scar has become her self-appointed guardian since we got here, but my sister doesn’t seem to find it strange or even notice.

  She lifts her camera to her eye and snaps shots of Pepper, Hutch, the outfield players. “I’m going to go down. Coach Perkins said I could stand on the sidelines if I gave them copies of the prints.”

  “Do it.”

  I watch her climb down the bleachers and make her way to the chain-link fence. The Hot Shots coach motions for her to enter the field, and sure enough, Scar walks over and leans his forearms on the fence to watch.

  “I have never seen that man show interest in anyone in this town.” Carmen leans into my ear, causing me to jump. “He is some kind of tortured soul, but no one, not anyone, has ever gotten close to him. Besides Hutch, of course.”

  Chewing my lip, I study the tall man with the tattoos covering his scars. “Is he dangerous?”

  “I imagine he is.” Carmen’s eyebrows rise. “Just look at all that ink. He’s like Bill fucking Skarsgård.”

  “Who is that?”

  “He’s the other Skarsgård, younger brother to Alexander from True Blood and Big Little Lies?” I nod, and she continues. “You’d think he’d be drop-dead gorgeous with a hot brother like Vampire Eric, and occasionally he is, but mostly he’s creepy as fuck.”

  “I don’t think I know what he looks like.”

  “Creepy clown in the new version of Stephen King’s It.”

  “Oh, god!” I jump back as realization hits me. “I saw that once and I hope I never see it again. That’s Alexander Skarsgård’s brother?”

  “Just goes to show, you never know with siblings. Something went wrong with that one.”

  I shift in my seat, suddenly uncomfortable. “Yes.”

  I clear the knot out of my throat when I see Hutch climbing the bleachers, headed our way. As predicted, we’d watched him toss a very slow, underhanded pitch to a little Hot Shot, who nailed it over right field, sending the little players into chaos.

  Pride swells in my chest as I watch him shake hands and speak to almost everyone before sitting beside me and threading our fingers. I kind of love how he holds my hand like we’re teenagers.

  “Really appreciated the show of support, Carmen.” He leans forward to glower at her.

  “Nice pitch, traitor. They would’ve got a homer if it weren’t for your niece.” Carmen claps back, and I pinch my nose to keep from laughing.

  Green eyes cut up to me, and my stomach tightens deliciously. “Whose side are you on?”

  “Pepper’s!” I answer fast, and his frown melts into a grin.

  Everything about this is so foreign and so fun. We watch Pepper working her little tail off stopping every short hit and getting three girls out in one catch, ending the inning.

  “She’s really good.” I state the obvious as Hutch buys three hotdogs for Carmen, him, and me. “I haven’t seen that much hustle outside Yankee stadium.”

  Hutch cuts his eyes at me, taking a bite that consumes half his hot dog. “Have you seen any games outside Yankee stadium?”

  Taking a more reasonable bite of my dog, I can’t argue. “You got me, but she’s really good. Does she get that from you?”

  “I played some baseball in my day.”

  “Your day!” I laugh, bumping his shoulder with mine. “You’re not even thirty.”

  He leans in and plants a warm kiss on my lips, shooting fire through my belly, through my groin, all the way to my toes. He holds it a beat, no tongue but pulling my bottom lip with his. It’s the best kiss I’ve ever had.

  Leaning back, he meets my eyes. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist. You’ve been too cute all day today.”

  “Don't apologize.” My voice is quiet. “I really liked that. I’d like more.”

  “I’ve got plans for more.”

  I’m about to burst into flames when Carmen lets out a groaning-yell beside me. “Oh my god! You two are so damn cute, I can’t eat my hot dog. It tastes like it’s got sugar on it.”

  Straightening in my seat, I fight a laugh as I scoot away from him. “We should watch the game.” He gives me a heated eyebrow arch, and I clear my throat, turning to face the field and clapping my hands. “Go, Pepper! Kick their butts!”

  It’s not the greatest softball cheer, but it earns me an enthusiastic arm-wave from the hardest-working shortstop in the Little League. Hana is right there on the sidelines snapping photos.

  The Snow Cones pull a 7-2 win over the Hot Shots, and Hutch treats the team to cupcakes at Shirley’s bakery in town. It’s a ten-minute walk from the field, and the girls bounce and squeal, reliving their victory the whole way.

  “They won’t sleep tonight,” I note, holding Hutch’s arm. “They should have these games on Fridays.”

  “Can’t do it. High school football.” He leans closer to my ear. “That was more my game than baseball.”

  Twisting my lips, I picture him in white football pants. “I’d have liked to see that.”

  “We’ll have to find you a cheerleader uniform.”

  “We didn’t have cheerleaders at Bishop.”

  “Still, I’d like to see you in one of those little skirts.”

  The hunger in his tone helps me ignore him being the reason I was sent to that convent school. It sends my mind flying down a rabbit hole of short skirts and football pants and sexy quickies behind the bleachers.

  Twelve happy little girls later, Pepper is tucked in her bed at Hutch’s house, and he’s driving me back to my family estate. “Pony” by Genuine plays softly on the radio of his big, black truck, and I lick my bottom lip, threading my fingers with his on the console.

  Without a warning, he takes a turn off the highway onto a narrow road leading into the pine trees.

  “Where are we going?” I look over at his profile illuminated by the dashboard light.

  “A part of town you’d only know about if you grew up here.”

  He stops the truck on a hill overlooking a slight valley below. It’s semi-secluded, and no other cars are around.

  “Are we getting out?” I watch as he puts the truck in park and kills the engine.

  “Out of these clothes.” A naughty grin curls his cheeks, and he lifts the arm rest, pulling me roughly to him by my waist.

  I exhale a laugh that melts into a sigh as he buries his face in the side of my hair. Electricity races down my shoulders, tingling my core at the touch of his lips on my skin, and I glance out the windows to be sure we’re alone.

  “What is this place?” I gasp as he lifts my sweater, finding my bra and pushing it higher so my breasts spill out, into his waiting hands.

  “Makeout Point.” His hot tongue circles my hard nipple, and I exhale a noise of pleasure. “It used to be more popular when I was a kid. I don’t know what happened. Kids are driving less. Parents are more permissive.”

  He punctuates each sentence with a kiss to my sensitive skin, and his hands drop to my waist jerking at the button on my jeans. It’s hot and aggressive, and I scoot over so I can shimmy out of the restrictive fabric.

  “Tonight would’ve been a good night for that cheerleader skirt,” I mutter, struggling to get the pants off my ankles.

  “Tease.” He grins, whipping his shirt over his head.

  Crawling onto my knees in only my black string bikini panties, I rub my hand over the impressive bulge in his jeans. “Your turn.”

  A condom is between his teeth, and his jeans are below his hips in record time, allowing his erection to rise, bobbing over his belly. Leaning forward, I can’t resist sliding my tongue up the length of his shaft, circling it around the mushroom tip before pulling it between my lips.

  “Fuck, yeah,” he hisses, threading his fingers in the back of my hair.

  Salty precum touches my tongue, and my insides clench, growing slicker with every suck. He’s too big to fit all the way in my mouth, so I grip his shaft, pumping as I lick him and take him as far as I can into my throat. His hips rise, thrusting gently as my head bobs up and down in his lap.

  “Good girl.” It’s a hoarse whisper and his grip tightens in my hair. “You suck me so good.”

  His dirty words make my pussy flutter, and when he sits forward, driving his thick fingers into me, I pop off him with a moan. It’s like fuel to his fire. He grasps my face in both hands, pulling my lips to his in a forceful kiss.

  His tongue captures mine, demanding and dominating, and I grip his neck in response, barely noticing when he hauls me onto his lap in a straddle. I’m ravenous, kissing him desperately, rubbing my tingling nipples against the coarse hair on his chest.

  “I’m going to fuck you now, kitten.” His deep voice is in my ear, and a delicious sting cuts into my legs when he rips my panties away.

  “Oh, God, yes,” I manage to answer just before he drives balls-deep into me with a low, animal groan.

  I’m on top, echoes of that song in my head, and I rock my hips, riding his pony as he grips my ass. He drags me roughly, massaging my clit against his pelvis, causing stars to break out behind my closed eyes.

  My back arches, and I slide my hands up my body, lifting my breasts as I grind.

  “I love your tits.” His hungry tone thrills me. “You are so sexy.”

  I feel sexy. I feel powerful, and as the orgasm blooms hotter in my belly, I ride faster, chasing the pleasure flooding my senses. Sweat trickles along the line of my hair, between my breasts, and I throw my head back as the wave starts to crest.

  Large hands squeeze my ass, drawing me closer, and when his mouth clamps forcefully on my nipple, I scream, coming hard on his cock.

  “That’s my girl.” He thrusts up, teasing my spasms, drawing them out again and again before holding, groaning deeply as he comes.

  “Blake…” It’s the same groan he made in the shower, and a thrill races to my toes.

  Falling forward, I clutch his cheeks again, kissing him firmly, dragging my lips across his and curling our tongues together.

  He feels so good.

  He feels like mine.

  And when he groans my name that way, it makes me believe this could work.

  Driving back to the estate, our fingers are laced, and I’m buzzing with afterglow. “I like makeout point. It might be my top favorite place in Hamiltown.”

  He exhales a chuckle, and I look out at the dark trees passing on the road. My mind drifts to my sister so genuinely happy tonight. She skipped around, posing the young players in their softball gear next to super-girly towers of cupcakes and oversized gerbera daisies.

  The dirty little players with their pigtails and big smiles–some missing teeth–created a cute juxtaposition, and even though she’s only been taking pictures for a short time, my sister has an artistic eye. I can’t wait to see what she’s captured.

  “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Hana so invested in something.” I glance up to catch the muscle in Hutch’s jaw moving. His brow is lowered, and he seems angry. “What?”

  He cuts his eyes at me briefly. “Nothing.”

  It’s dark, but I can tell it’s not nothing. The fizzy glow in my chest cools. “Say it.”

  Shifting in the seat, he releases my hand, putting his on the steering wheel. “I’m not so comfortable with Pepper and Hana getting close.”

  Defensive anger tightens my throat, and I lean back, crossing my arms. “What’s wrong with Hana and Pepper being friends? I’ve only seen good things coming from them spending time together.”

  “For now.”

  “What does that mean?”

  He exhales loudly, looking out the window. “Come on, Blake. Don’t make me say things you don’t want to hear.”

  “I think you’d better, since I’m not a mind reader.”

  “Hana’s a loose cannon. Pepper’s a little girl.” He pinches his top lip, and even if he looks delectable, the anger tightening my chest kills it.

  “You’re saying she’s a bad influence? I disagree. Hana knows Pepper’s only eleven. She wouldn’t do anything irresponsible around her.”

  “It didn’t stop her last night.”

  It’s like a splash of ice water in my face. “What happened last night?”

  Again, his jaw tightens, and he casts me a withering glance. “We got an anonymous tip at the office, and when we went to check it out, she was there with Trip, high as a kite.”

  “And you’re just now telling me?” Frustration and disappointment war in my chest.

  I don’t know if I’m more betrayed Hutch didn’t tell me or if I’m embarrassed I trusted her, defended her, and she’s fallen back into her same old self-destructive habits.

  No, pushing back on that, I won’t let him try and take the moral high ground. “If Hana has a problem, you’re as much to blame for it as anyone else.”

  His fist tightens on the steering wheel, and he exhales a growl. “How do you figure that?”

  “I was the only person protecting her from Victor, and when you sent me to Bishop, that was the end of it. She had no one.”

  “I thought you said he was already…” His voice drops in volume. “Molesting her before you left.”

  “I’d heard rumors, but I didn’t have any proof. Once you removed me from the picture, he had a free hand.”

  Hutch’s chin drops, and he appears remorseful. “I’m sorry that happened to her. If I could go back and help her, I would.” Just as fast, he lifts his chin and green eyes flash at me. “It doesn’t change where we are now. She’s not a good influence on my niece, and I won’t have her misbehaving in my town.”