Hideaway Heart (Cherry Tree Harbor Book 2)
Hideaway Heart: Chapter 16

SPENDING a rainy day stuck in a cabin with a celebrity client would have sounded like torture to me a week ago, but I had to admit, today had been pretty fucking fantastic.

After the kitchen sex, we took a nap, woke up, had bed sex, made lunch, and ate it on the couch while watching a movie. Then we had living room floor sex and a snack, and now we were stretched out on the couch watching a different movie, although I could not have told you what it was about, because I kept dozing off.

Kelly was lying on top of me like I was a mattress, her feet somewhere around my shins, her head on my chest. I’d undressed her completely after the post-nap sex, but it made me happy when she put my sweatshirt back on, along with her underwear and nothing else. I had no idea why it turned me on so much to see her wearing something of mine, but I’d had a hard time keeping my hands off her while we made lunch. And food is like my favorite thing on the planet, but I had to force myself to finish my sandwich before hauling her to the floor, turning her onto her hands and knees, and plowing into her from behind. While I was spent but still inside her, I reached between her legs and quickly got her off with my fingers, enjoying the way I could feel the pulse of her orgasm on my cock.

One of my arms cradled her back and the other was lost in her hair, which felt like silk around my fingers. My eyes closed, and my mind drifted. I wondered what it would be like if she wasn’t Pixie Hart, if she was just a regular person I met in town, maybe a summer tourist or a new neighbor. For a moment, I experienced a quick spike of envy for my brother Austin, who’d lucked out so completely when Veronica knocked on his door.

I’d never really had a long-term girlfriend. Being a Navy SEAL was notoriously tough on relationships, and working private security had kept me away from home a lot. I’d had some friends with benefits over the years, which had suited me fine—I liked my own company perfectly fine and wasn’t prone to feeling lonely—but ever since I moved back home, I’d been thinking more and more about settling down. Getting comfortable. Finding a groove. I liked the idea of being a protector and provider.

It’s just that thinking it was one thing, and doing it was another.

Kelly twitched, and I realized she’d fallen asleep in my arms. In a way, it was kind of amazing that we’d come so far in only three days, but I guess when you’re forced to spend twenty-four seven with someone in a confined space, whatever chemistry you have is going to cause a reaction faster than usual. And our chemistry was pretty damn explosive.

Lying there holding her, I wondered if it would burn out completely by the time she had to leave. Actually, I hoped it would.

Missing someone was the worst.

“Hey.”

I opened my eyes to see Kelly standing at the side of the couch, looking down at me. “Hey.” Groggy, I propped myself up on one elbow. “What time is it?”

“It’s almost five.” She held out my phone. “I got up to get some water and saw your phone over there. You’ve got messages.”

I took it from her and rubbed a hand over my face. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Can I come back where I was?”

“Sure.” I lay back and she stretched out on me again. I held the phone above her head and scrolled through my messages. “Oh. Shit. Devlin and Mabel are in town.”

“Your brother and sister?”

“Yeah. They arrived today. Devlin has some business in the area next week, but he came in a little early. And Mabel just decided on a spontaneous visit. Everyone’s getting together at my dad’s house for dinner at six.”

“You can go if you want. I promise you, I’ll be fine here. And I won’t try to escape.”

I laughed. “No?”

“No.” She picked up her head and smiled at me. “We have an understanding, you and I.”

My insides grew strangely warm when she said that. “You’re invited too,” I told her.

“To dinner at your dad’s?”

“Yes. Do you want to go?”

“I’d love to!” She scrambled off me and popped to her feet. “Do you think I have time to shower?”

“You already showered today.” I glanced at her bare legs. “But please put on some pants.”

“Xander, I showered like seven orgasms ago! I’ve gotten sweaty since then.”

I laughed. “Not sorry. But that’s fine. We’ve got some time.”

She went running down the hall, her bare feet thumping on the wood floor. The water came on in the bathroom, and I heard her pull the curtain aside and get in. Within seconds, she was singing.

I’d probably miss that too.

After dinner, we’d all gathered in the living room for a family game of Pictionary.

“Raccoon!” Devlin shouted while I tried my best to draw a fucking panda bear on a big white dry erase board. (Here’s where I mention that art is not one of my talents.)

“Mouse!” My dad removed his glasses, wiped a lens, and put them back on, like maybe it was a smudge making my giant bear look like a small rodent.

Alas.

I stared at my shitty drawing. Did pandas have bigger ears? Why couldn’t I picture one? I gave him a bushier tail and more black around the eyes.

“Platypus!” yelled Owen, the youngest member of the men’s team.

“What the hell is that thing?” Austin muttered.

“Time!” Mabel called.

“It’s a panda bear.” I shot my team a grumpy look over my shoulder. “Obviously.”

Everyone laughed as I scrubbed at it with the dry erase marker, then took my seat at one end of the L-shaped sectional couch. Austin was next to me, our dad on the other side of him. Owen, in charge of the timer, knelt by the coffee table.

“Okay, who’s up?” Devlin asked, perched on the couch arm next to me, a beer in his hand. He was tall, but built differently than I was. More like a runner—muscular, but long and lean. Not quite as wide through the shoulders. He had dark hair like Austin and me, but he had our mom’s piercing blue eyes, which he was good at using to his advantage. He also had a way with words I’d always envied. Our dad always said he could sell water to a drowning man.

It was not, however, helping us at Pictionary.

My brothers groaned as Mabel’s childhood best friend Ari jumped up and grabbed the marker. The women’s team—Veronica, Kelly, Mabel, Ari, and Adelaide—was crushing the men’s, largely due to the fact that Ari and Mabel obviously spoke some sort of telepathic language.

Owen started the timer. “Go!”

As Ari began to draw, I stole a glance at Kelly, who was seated between Veronica and Mabel on the couch, Adelaide and the dog by her feet. I liked that she’d put my sweatshirt on over her clean clothes after her shower. Now she was laughing at something Veronica had just whispered in her ear. It was like she’d always been around, the way she fit right in with my family. Not that I’d been worried she wouldn’t, but—

“Bunk beds!” Mabel shouted.

“Yes!” Ari jumped up and down excitedly.

“What?” Devlin stared at the dry erase board. “Ari literally drew a bunch of lines and you guessed bunk beds? You guys are cheating!”

“We are not,” said Mabel, pushing her glasses up her nose. She had Devlin’s coloring—the dark hair and blue eyes. “We’re just more talented. You’re lucky there’s no singing and dancing involved.” She gestured toward Veronica and Kelly. “This team is stacked.”

“That’s the game,” my dad said, checking the score sheet. “Women, ten. Men, five.”

My brothers grumbled as Veronica, Kelly, Mabel, Ari, and Adelaide all exchanged high fives.

“I want to be on the women’s team next time,” Owen said.

“Me too,” Devlin chimed in, shoving my shoulder. “Or maybe just whatever team Xander isn’t on. So who’s up for hitting The Broken Spoke?”

“Tonight?” I asked.

“Yeah, why not?”

Because I want to go home and get laid again, that’s why. “It’s kind of late, isn’t it?”

“It’s only nine, Grandpa.”

“It’s Sunday.”

“But it’s a holiday weekend, so it’ll be open late tonight, right?”

“Should be,” said Austin. “Kids are gonna sleep here tonight, so we can go.” He looked at Veronica. “If you want to.”

“Sure!” She looked at Kelly. “What do you think? Too risky for you?”

Kelly looked at me before answering. “Maybe? I don’t know.”

“It’s gonna be packed for sure.” And I honestly didn’t feel like sharing her.

“We can all go in together.” Devlin sounded confident. “Keep her surrounded. It’ll be like she has three bodyguards.”

“Six,” Mabel pointed out. “Ari and I and Veronica can help guard her too.”

“What if you called ahead?” Austin suggested. “Maybe they’d let us reserve that table in the corner.”

“They might have, if I’d done it earlier,” I said. “At this point, I doubt they’d even answer the phone.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine.” Kelly smiled. “I’ll wear a hat and keep my head down.”

“I’ve got a hat I can lend you.” My dad stood up, excited to help out. “Let me replace it.”

She came over and sat next to me, put a hand on my leg. “Is it okay? I don’t have to go if you think it’s a bad idea.”

I liked that she trusted me to make the call. “It’s okay. Let’s head over there, and I’ll assess the situation,” I said. “If I go in and get a bad feeling, we’ll go home.”

“Okay.” She smiled. “Home is fun too.”

“I found one!” My dad shuffled over to us, proudly offering a Two Buckleys Home Improvement cap, much like the one I’d loaned her two nights before, only his was navy.

“Thanks.” Kelly flashed him a grin and pulled the cap onto her head.

My father nodded his approval. “Looks good on you.”

“All that red hair might be kind of recognizable,” said Ari. “Maybe a ponytail?”

“Good idea.” Kelly gathered her long hair at the nape of her neck. “Anyone have a ponytail holder?”

“I do.” Veronica stood up and fished in her pocket, pulling out a little round elastic.

Kelly took it from her and wound it around her hair. Then she stood up and looked at us. “Better?”

Ari laughed. “That sweatshirt is gigantic. You could hide two Pixie Harts in there!”

“Is that yours, Xander?” Mabel asked.

“Yeah.” And maybe I imagined the side-eye that accompanied the question, but I didn’t want to draw any additional attention to the answer. “Let’s head out.”

The Broken Spoke was a few miles outside town, more of a local hot spot than a tourist destination. Kelly and I took our own car, Austin and Veronica took another, and Devlin drove Mabel and Ari. We met up in The Broken Spoke’s gravel parking lot, which was packed, as expected. I scanned the rows of cars looking for the beige Honda with the dent in the left rear panel, but didn’t see it.

As we headed for the door as a group, the women sort of flanked Kelly’s sides while Devlin and I led the way and Austin kept an eye on everything from the rear. I’d called ahead, but as expected, I hadn’t gotten an answer. We could hear the loud thump of the drums and wail of guitars as we approached the building, and after paying our cover fees at the door, we moved like a herd into the bar.

It was a huge rectangular space, a former barn on an old dairy farm. The stage took up most of the back wall, and a double row of round tables rimmed the perimeter of the dance floor in front of it. The bar ran almost the entire length of one side, and high-top tables were scattered near the entrance.

“I see a table emptying out!” Veronica shouted, and with the agility and grace of a dancer, she zigzagged, dodged, and ducked her way through the crowd and managed to snatch a round table at the corner of the dance floor. Reaching it just as a group of couples were leaving, she managed to snag a chair and sit down before anyone else could occupy it.

We made our way toward her, and I looked over the room the way I always did. I didn’t see anything alarming—no phones aimed at us, no suspicious eyes glancing our way, no one young enough to be a Hart Throb squealing with excitement. Arriving at the table, I pulled out the chair I wanted Kelly to sit in and took the one next to her. Austin sat between Kelly and Veronica, with Mabel and Ari on Roni’s other side. Devlin grabbed the seat next to me.

The server stopped by, we put in orders for drinks and some snacks, and I began to relax a little. The band was good, the beer was cold, the place was crowded but not out of control, I was surrounded by family, and I’d had sex more times in the last twenty-four hours than I’d had in a year. And there was more to be had when we got home tonight. I wondered how long we had to hang out here before I could suggest that we head back.

Not that I wasn’t having fun. Veronica pulled Austin out onto the dance floor, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching him try to keep up with her. When he begged to sit down, she tugged Devlin’s arm, and he reluctantly let himself be dragged out there. Ari and Mabel got asked to dance by some old friends from high school, and Kelly watched with obvious envy. “I wish I could dance too,” she said loudly, so I could hear her over the music. “They’re having so much fun.”

Putting an arm around the back of her chair, I spoke in her ear. “Probably best if we just stay at the table.”

“One little two-step? Please?” She clasped her hands beneath her chin.

“I don’t think so.”

“Why not? Don’t you know any moves?”

“I know some moves,” I assured her.

Placing a hand on my leg, she leaned toward me, her smile seductive. “I already know you’ve got rhythm. Don’t you want to show it off? I’ll be extra good to you later.”

I couldn’t resist her. “One song.”

“Yay!” She popped to her feet, whipped off my oversized sweatshirt to reveal a fitted white crop top, and slung it over the back of her chair. Then she took me by the hand.

“We’ll be right back,” I said to Austin, who gave me a smug, knowing look.

The singer counted off the next tune, which, lucky for me, turned out to be an up-tempo song I was familiar with. I’d told Kelly I knew some moves, but really I only knew three—I just kept repeating them in different directions. And not only was Kelly a good dancer, she was excellent at following my lead, so sometimes I could even get her to spin twice before switching to go back the other way. It helped that she was so much shorter than me, since she could easily turn under my arm whichever way I led her. When the song ended, she clapped for the band but turned to me with a hopeful smile. “Can I have another one please?”

I squinted at her. “Now you’re pushing your luck.”

The band struck up a ballad, and she gave me the big eyes from beneath the bill of her Two Buckleys cap. “Please?”

Exhaling, I took her in my arms, careful not to hold her too tightly. Without even looking, I knew my siblings were watching us with hawk eyes.

“You leaving room for Jesus, or what?” she said with a laugh.

“Huh?”

“You’re holding me so far away from you! I feel like I’m back in middle school and boys don’t want to touch me.”

“That is not the case tonight, I promise. I just don’t want to raise any eyebrows.” But I pulled her in closer, tightening my hold around her lower back. My forearm rested along the warm, bare strip of skin between her jeans and her top, my fingers curling automatically around her waist. I could smell her perfume, and heat surged through me.

“You think your family would care?”

“Definitely,” I said. “Austin already suspects.”

“He does?” She arched back and looked up at me, pinning her hips against mine.

“We had a conversation about you yesterday at his house.”

“Oh?” By her smile, I could tell she kind of liked that. “And what was said?”

“He bet me I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off you for two weeks.”

Her head fell back as she laughed, exposing her throat. It took a lot of effort for me not to put my mouth on it. “Did you take it?”

“Fuck no.”

She laughed some more, then pressed close again, her cheek on my chest, her head tucked beneath my chin. I happened to catch Austin’s eye—he grinned wryly and shook his head. Devlin was staring at us like we were a math problem he was trying to figure out, and Mabel and Ari, also back at the table, were whispering back and forth as they observed us with keen-eyed glee.

When the song ended, the band announced they were taking a short break, and Kelly and I returned to the table. I pulled out her chair, and she sat down, fanning her face.

“Ooooh,” she breathed. “Hot out there.”

“Looked like it,” said Veronica. “Hey, Kelly, I have to use the ladies’ room. Would you like to come with me?”

“Yes.” Kelly glanced at me. “I’ll just be a few minutes. Is it okay?”

I stood up again. “I’ll walk you.”

“Xander, it’s literally twenty feet from here,” Mabel said, pointing toward the hallway next to the stage. “You can see the bathroom door.”

Kelly tugged on my arm. “Sit. I’ll be fine, I promise.”

“We’ll be with her the whole time,” Veronica said, rising to her feet. Ari and Mabel popped up too, and the four of them hurried toward the women’s bathroom. Kelly did a good job keeping her head down, but I could have sworn I saw heads turn in her direction as she made her way across the empty dance floor.

“So,” Devlin said when it was just the three guys left at the table. “What’s with you and Pixie Hart?”

“He doesn’t like when you call her that,” Austin said with a grin.

“Because it’s not her name,” I said testily.

“Sorry.” Devlin leaned back in his chair and took a pull on his beer. “What’s with you and Kelly?”

I shrugged. “Nothing much.”

“Doesn’t look like nothing much from where I’m sitting,” Devlin taunted. “You can’t keep your eyes off her.”

“That’s not all he can’t keep off her,” Austin muttered, bringing his beer to his mouth. “And I’m not talking about his hoodie.”

“We’re just having fun together,” I said. “It’s not a big deal.”

“So she’s not in contention of the role of Mrs. Xander Buckley?” Austin asked.

I frowned at my older brother. “What the fuck are you talking about? I just met her three days ago.”

“I know, but I distinctly remember you saying to me earlier this summer that you were looking for a wife.”

Devlin burst out laughing. “Looking for a wife?”

“I never said that,” I argued, but it sounded like the kind of thing I might announce just to mess with him.

“You absolutely said that,” Austin countered. “We were in my garage. It was the night you bet me I wouldn’t be able to stay away from Veronica for two weeks.”

Devlin laughed. “How fast did you lose that one?”

“Lightning fast,” I said. “I don’t think he lasted more than a few days.”

“We’re not talking about me, we’re talking about you.” Austin pointed a finger at me. “You told me you were two-thirds of the way to respectable adulthood, and a wife and some kids were going to be the final third.”

“Maybe you should move out of Dad’s house first,” Devlin joked.

“Fuck off, both of you.” Sweaty from dancing, or maybe the inquisition, I plucked my shirt away from my chest a few times. “All I meant was that I am now mature enough to handle the kind of committed relationship and responsibilities that come with having a wife.”

“So romantic,” Austin joked.

“Yeah, make sure you say it like that when you propose,” Devlin joked. “But add in the part where she’s going to bring you the last third of the way to respectability. That will really seal the deal.”

“Good thinking.” Austin pointed his beer at Devlin.

Devlin tapped his bottle to Austin’s. “If there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s make a pitch.”

“Speaking of pitching, what’s the property you’re in town about?” I asked, eager to change the subject.

“One of our biggest clients, a resort company, wants to acquire Snowberry Lodge.”

“Seriously?” About twenty minutes from Cherry Tree harbor, Snowberry was one of the area’s first ski resorts, maybe even one of the nation’s first ski resorts. I pictured its dated Swiss Miss architecture and rickety old chairlifts. “That place has to be sixty years old. I didn’t even know it was still open.”

“It’s almost eighty years old, and it’s falling apart. Our client would tear it down. They just want the property it sits on for a new luxury hotel and winter sports complex. They’ve already acquired most of what’s around it.”

“Who owns Snowberry?” I wondered.

“The McIntyre family,” said Devlin.

Austin huffed. “Good luck getting them to sell.”

“You don’t think they will?” I asked.

“Dad and I did some restoration work there about five years ago,” said Austin. “They’re just the kind of family that hangs on to the past. They don’t want anything to change. I can’t see them selling their family business to a resort company that’s going to tear it down.”

“They’d be crazy not to,” Devlin said, pushing his wavy hair off his forehead. “Snowberry Lodge is a relic. Sure, it has some charm, but it’s small and antiquated. People are looking for luxury amenities these days, not just decent skiing. They want water parks and arcades, spas and upscale shops, multiple bars and dining options. In the summer, they want golf and tennis. Snowberry can’t compete with the big modern resorts.”

“Still,” Austin said doubtfully, “people are stubborn and sentimental. They don’t want to be told their family’s dream is obsolete.”

“I can bring them around.” Devlin’s tone was brimming with confidence. “The money is good.”

Austin clearly wasn’t convinced. “Money isn’t everything to everyone.”

“It will be something to them,” Devlin insisted. “The fact is, they can’t afford to stay open even two more seasons the way things are going. Why not sell now and at least make a good profit?”

“Pride?” I suggested.

“Pride won’t keep the lights on,” Devlin scoffed.

“I’m pretty sure Snowberry Lodge was the first ski resort in Michigan, maybe in the Midwest,” Austin said. “The state might even have an interest in seeing it preserved.”

“The state is going to like the tax revenue from all the conventions and tourism the new resort will bring. Trust me. Dollar signs are going to talk.” Devlin gave us an easy, winning grin. “Plus, the patriarch of the family died last year, and Snowberry is now mostly owned by the grandmother. Little old ladies love me.”

“Your pitch meeting is with the grandmother?” Austin asked.

He nodded. “I’m taking Granny to lunch on Tuesday. By dinnertime, I’ll have it all wrapped up.”

“Bamboozling little old Granny,” I said. “Nice.”

“I’m not bamboozling her, Xander. I’m trying to give her millions of dollars for something that’s not worth half that.”

“Maybe don’t say it exactly that way,” Austin suggested.

“I know how to say it. Talking people into things is my gift.” Devlin spoke as if victory was already his. “Trust me. My pitch is perfect. This is a done deal.” He rose to his feet. “And now, gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve just spotted a gorgeous brunette at the bar who might also enjoy a swing at my fastball tonight.”

Austin laughed. “Ladies aren’t that impressed with speed, Dev.”

Devlin put a hand on his shoulder as he passed. “Not to worry, brother. Not to worry.”

Just then, Ari and Mabel came out of the bathroom and headed for the bar area. I gave it ten seconds, but Kelly and Veronica didn’t follow.

I got out of my chair too. “I’ll be right back.”