It wasn’t until Shay got in her car and was about to head to Matt’s when she realized she wasn’t exactly sure where he lived. She knew where his parents, his grandparents, and Kate lived, but she had no idea where he lived.
She sent a quick text to him, happy she at least had his number, and he responded almost immediately.
Matt: That would help wouldn’t it? 54 Pine Lake Drive. Only log cabin on the road.
A log cabin seemed fitting for Matt. It was rugged, yet cozy—a perfect combination.
She put the address into her GPS, since she’d never stumbled upon that street before and headed out. She checked her makeup in the mirror as she stopped at the end of her driveway. It was just dinner at his house, but she still wanted to look good, so she opted for neutral colors that made her look fresh-faced and gave a slight glow to her cheeks. Her hair was down, curled at the bottom and sitting just beneath her shoulders. She decided on her favorite jeans and a black long sleeve shirt, since the nights tended to get cold.
It took her a little over ten minutes to get to Pine Lake Drive. She passed just two houses on the way to Matt’s place, which was the only log cabin on the road.
It was like looking at a picture—beautiful and serene. Past the house, trees rose up to the sky and beneath all those trees, a quaint lake shone in the dimming sunshine. A stone path ran from the driveway to the front of the cabin where two steps led to a small porch.
Shay got out of her Mini, grabbing the box of chocolate Frappuccino cupcakes, and headed for the front door when she heard her name. She turned toward the side of the house where a patio led to a deck overlooking the lake. She swallowed at how delicious Matt looked, holding a plate of steaks in one hand and a beer bottle in the other.
“Find the place okay?”
“My GPS did.”
He put the steaks down and held his hand out to her as she walked up the stairs. She graciously took his offer, and when she got to the top she was rewarded with a kiss. “I hope steak’s okay.”
“Steak is perfect. I’m starving.”
“Good.”
“What’s that?” he asked, motioning to the box.
“Dessert.”
“I was hoping,” he said, leaning down and pressing a kiss to her earlobe, “to have you for dessert.” His breath was warm against her skin yet caused a chill to go down her spine, making her body shudder and her toes curl.
“You can have both. What’s dessert if you don’t overindulge?”
“I’ve always liked the way you think. You can put those on the table for now.”
Shay walked over to the table set up in the corner and put the box down. Her eyes drifted across the miles of trees, the glass surface of the lake, and the large boulders on the other side. “This place is beautiful, Matt. Really beautiful.”
“Thanks. There’s nothing better than sitting out here after a long day.”
Shay imagined the two of them lounging on a hammock together, cuddled closely as she read and he played with her hair. A kid or two running around.
Wait. What? Where did that thought even come from?
Yes, he said he never stopped loving her, but that didn’t mean he wanted to marry her and knock her up. Heck, maybe all it meant was he wanted to spend time with her. Besides, she wasn’t that same seventeen-year-old girl anymore. What if he eventually realized he loved who she once was but not who she currently was?
It would break her heart, that she was sure of, but it was a risk she was willing to take. Whatever time they got together she was going to hold on to and cherish.
“Hey,” he said, pressing his finger beneath her chin. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
She forced all the negative thoughts away and focused on the living, breathing gorgeous man in front of her. “Just work stuff. I can never turn it off.”
He leaned down, touching his lips to hers, soft and sweet before slipping his tongue against hers. Her mind fogged and all she could focus on was Matt and the hundreds of fireworks sparking inside of her. Slowly he pulled away. “Did that help?”
“Help what?”
He smiled that adorable smile of his. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He gave her another kiss, this one too quick for her liking, then grabbed the steaks and headed over to the grill. “Do you want a drink? I have white wine in the fridge, red on the counter.”
“I think I’m going to stay away from alcohol for a couple days. Give my liver time to recover.”
He met her gaze and smirked. “That’s probably a good idea.”
She lingered by the grill, watching as he worked. “Do you need help with anything?”
“Nope, I’m good. You just sit down and relax. I’m sure you’ve been on your feet all day at the bakery.”
She shrugged. “I’m used to it.”
“In those heels, no less.”
“Beauty is pain.”
“You’d be beautiful with or without the heels.” Heat exploded in her cheeks at the unexpected compliment.
“But they put me at just the right height.” She walked over to him and tilted her head up. He leaned down and kissed her lips. “See, perfect.”
“Yes, perfect.” He kissed her again then tapped her on the rear with the tongs. “Go relax.”
“A girl can get used to this, you know.”
“You should. You deserve the best.”
Heat fanned across her cheeks, and she bit back a smile as she walked over to one of the four Adirondack chairs facing the lake. She settled into the one closest to the grill and let out a breath as she took in the beautiful surroundings.
The day was fading and pretty soon the sun would set. Shay imagined how beautiful the sky would look as the blue faded to black and filled with thousands of glittering stars.
There was a slight chill in the air as the sun shifted, and she ran a hand up and down her arm. Matt disappeared into the house and came back moments later, draping a red plaid blanket over her shoulders.
“You looked cold.”
“Just a little.”
She pulled the blanket tight around her and took in the faint scent of Matt—a delicious combination of cedar and lemons.
“Dinner should be ready in about five minutes. You want to move inside?”
“She shook her head. No. I love it out here.”
“We can eat outside if you want.”
“I’d love that.”
“You won’t get to see my beautiful table arrangement.”
“Table arrangement?”
“Flowers. The whole nine yards.”
“Really?”
“No,” he said with that adorable smile. “I’m kidding. That’s not my thing. I threw a couple plates down and folded a napkin. That’s about as fancy as I get.”
“Even better,” Shay said. “Fancy isn’t really my thing either.”
“I expected a city girl would be used to those sort of accommodations.”
She shrugged. “I grew up with it. My mother always used the fine china for every meal. I hated it. I was always so afraid of scratching the plate that I could never really enjoy my food.”
“Then you’re going to have no problem enjoying your food tonight because my plates come with scratch marks.”
“Perfect! That’s the way it should be. Proof they’ve been well used.”
“They should sell them that way like they do with jeans. Pay more money for a pair of pants that looks like someone has already worn them.”
Shay snapped her finger and pointed it at him. “I think you’re on to something. I could have a marketing plan together by tomorrow.”
“Is there anything you can’t do?”
“Plenty. While I’m an excellent baker, my cooking skills are a little lackluster. I couldn’t throw a football to save my life.” She nudged her head toward a canoe he had sitting by the edge of the lake. “I don’t know how to row, but I think I could figure it out.”
“I can teach you. It’s easy.”
“Do you row often?”
“Every morning when it’s not frozen solid. It helps me clear my head for the day and I get some exercise in.”
“Is that why you bought this place? For the lake?”
He took the steaks off the grill and transferred them to a plate. “The lake, the view, the privacy. I kind of always wanted a log cabin.”
“I remember,” she said, recalling their once future plans. He told Shay she could have full reign over the décor as long as he could have a log cabin.
“Let’s eat,” he said, placing the steaks on the outside table.
Shay joined him at the table but couldn’t stop thinking about the life they once spoke about. And the more she thought about it, the more she realized that this home shouldn’t just be his, it should be theirs.
If she’d made a different decision, stood up to her mother. If only…
***
Matt hadn’t had many girls over to his place, but the few he did had never wanted to sit outside. It was either too buggy or too chilly. He was always forced to be inside when the one place he loved to be was on his deck overlooking the lake. It was stupid and probably a little silly, but the fact that Shay didn’t want to go inside warmed his heart.
The steaks were cooked perfectly, which Shay took notice of, and the salad and baked potatoes also came out good. Not that anyone could really mess up a salad, but Shay was nice enough to admit that it was possible if they’d accidentally dumped half a bottle of dressing on it, which she had done before.
There were so many insignificant moments in her life that he didn’t know about. He pictured them being in the kitchen together while she got distracted and emptied the bottle of dressing onto a freshly made salad. He imagined they would laugh about it and it would become an inside joke between them.
Shay dropped her fork, slumped back in the chair, and let out a breath like she’d just finished running a marathon.
“I am so full.”
“You have to have room for dessert.”
She moaned. “Maybe later.”
The sun was beginning to set, casting shades of orange and pink across the sky. It was his favorite time of day. Like the day was pulling a cover over its head, blocking out all the light until it was strong enough again in the morning.
Matt rested back in his chair and stared across the table at Shay. She was beautiful with her hair hanging down her shoulders in soft curls and her body surrounded by his plaid blanket. She looked like she belonged there just as much as the trees and the setting sun.
“Do you miss the city?” Matt asked. It was a question that had been on his mind.
She sat up a little in the chair and shrugged. “Not really. Spending my summers here was always the highlight of my year. I was sick of city life. You’re surrounded by thousands of people, yet nobody knows your name. You can go months walking the streets and not pass the same person twice. I was craving a sense of community. I loved how I’d go into town with my grandparents and it would take us an hour to do something that should’ve taken ten minutes because they had to stop and greet everyone they knew. The closest I had to that in the city was my doorman. He was there every day with a smile and a greeting, but if I was honest with myself, I knew he was being paid to be that way. If he wasn’t my doorman, he’d probably never even greet me.”
It was a life Matt knew absolutely nothing about. He grew up surrounded by familiar faces, where everybody knew everybody and their business. Sometimes he craved privacy, which was why he’d bought a house out in the middle of nowhere set away from the rest of the town. It was nice to shut it out every now and again.
“Have you thought any more about getting cameras in the bakery?”
She shook her head, her eyes darting upward. “You’re still on that?”
“I just want to make sure you’re safe. That your shop is safe.”
“Because it’s your job.”
“Because I care about you.”
“Everything has been fine since. Not even a chair out of place. I’m not getting cameras, and it’s not to spite you. I like the sense of freedom here. How I can leave my car unlocked, my house door open and not have to worry. Getting security cameras in my shop would take away everything I love about this place, and I refuse to do that. I hope you can understand and not be mad.”
He understood completely. He might not have agreed with it, but he understood. The state motto was, after all, live free or die, and they were words he lived by.
“I’m not mad.”
A slight smile touched the corner of her lips. “Does that mean you’ll stop harassing me about it?”
He nodded.
“Thank you!” Shay stood up and grabbed his plate.
He instantly protested.
“You cooked, I’m cleaning.”
He loved how she said it as a statement, sure and firm, and not as an offer or a question.
She picked up his beer and held it out to him. “Go relax,” she said with a wink.
“A guy can get used to this, you know.”
“You should. You deserve the best.”
“Stealing my lines?”
“They were good ones. Besides, relationships are about balance and partnership—each giving and taking as much as the other.”
He wrapped his hand around her wrist, stopping her from walking away. Her hazel eyes met his more brown than green today. “Is that what this is? A relationship?”
“It could be. If that’s what you want.”
He stood up, taking the plate out of her hand and placing it back on the table before cupping her face with his hands. Her eyes fluttered before locking on his.
“What do you want?” he asked.
“You.”
“Good, then that settles that.” He ran his hands down her back and grabbed her ass, hoisting her up onto him. She let out a tiny scream of surprise then wrapped her legs securely around his waist. “I think it’s time for dessert,” he said as he walked them into the house and to his bedroom.
Two hours later, after some of the most amazing sex he’d ever had, Shay lay cuddled up against him, her head on his chest, hand wrapped around his waist. He traced small circles on her back as she drifted in and out of sleep. His eyes were growing heavy and pretty soon he’d be knocked out, but he was trying to hold on to this moment for as long as he could.
His phone rang, reminding him he was on call tonight. The last few times not a single call, so of course tonight, when all he wanted to do was stay in bed with Shay, was the night that would change. He searched for his phone on the nightstand.
“Yeah?”
Shay squirmed slightly as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He got the information he needed, said his thanks, and sat up.
“Everything all right?” Shay mumbled.
He leaned down and kissed her head. “Just old man Simpson again. I should be back soon. Get some sleep.”
She nodded gently and was asleep before he even got his pants on. He hurried out to his car, buttoning the last button on his shirt before getting in.
If he was lucky, the old man would be close enough to passing out, and he’d be able to get him in his car, park the tractor on the side of the road, and drive him home. If not, he was in for a long night. If he was a betting man, he’d put his money on the latter.
He pulled onto Main Street. It was completely desolate, the only light coming from the few street lights that lined the road. In the distance, he saw the bright headlights of a tractor coming at him. He veered to the side and got out of his car.
Luckily, the old man’s tractor was so old that it couldn’t get out of its own way. Matt just had to wait for him to make it down toward him, and he could jump up and get it stopped. That wasn’t the hard part though. The hard part would be getting old man Simpson into the car.
Matt waited and when the tractor got close, he made his move. The old man was screaming loud, waving a beer can around in the air, making the beer slosh out the top.
“Hey Bert,” Matt said as he climbed up beside him.
He flashed Matt a big smile, revealing the few teeth he had left in his mouth. “Good evening, young squire. To what do I owe this visit?”
Matt could always tell how drunk he was by how he spoke. Once he started speaking like he belonged at a Renaissance faire, he was a few sips away from blacking out. Never a good thing when he was controlling five thousand pounds of moving steel.
Matt managed to shut the tractor off without the old man getting startled and falling off. “Okay, old man, let’s get down from here.”
“I’m going to find me some woman!” he exclaimed, and Matt had to hold back a laugh. The man was nearing eighty and had never married.
“I think they’re all home sleeping.” Since it was well past midnight and most of the people in the town were early risers.
“That’s what’s wrong with this place. The bar closes too early. Don’t they know people want to be able to get a drink whenever they want? Maybe I didn’t want a drink before nine o’clock. Maybe I want a drink now.”
“I think you’ve had a few already. Wouldn’t want to have to bring you in for drinking and driving.”
“That’s why I left the car at home.”
“Are we really going to do this again?”
“Do what?”
Matt wanted to bang his head against the side of the tractor. He had a beautiful girl at home, in his bed waiting for him, and he was arguing with a drunk eighty-year-old-man. He decided to take a different tactic and try to reason with the old man.
“See, while you’re out here on your search for women, I had to leave mine at home. So, if you could just get down from here, I could drive you home and get back to my girl.”
“Is she pretty?”
“Beautiful.”
“Do I know her?”
Since he’d confirmed their status earlier in the night he figured it was okay to put it out there. Not like the old man would remember come morning. “Shay Michaels. She owns Sweet Dreams Bakery.”
“She’s a looker that one! Got big.” He held his hands up to his chest, and Matt dropped his head not wanting to discuss Shay’s tit size with someone older than her grandfather. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
The old man motioned for Matt to get out of the way, and he lowered himself off the tractor without a drunken fit, leaving Matt dumbfounded. So many nights he’d sat here arguing with the old man, listening to him recite Shakespeare or pretending to be a jester from the sixteenth century all while trying to get him to get down from the damn tractor. If he would have known this was the way to reasoning with the old man, he would have lied before.
“Come on, now. Don’t want to leave a girl like that waiting.”
Matt laughed and jumped into the seat of the tractor, pulling it off to the side of the road. In the morning, he would send one of the deputies down to return it to Bert’s house while he slept it off.
An hour after Matt left his house, he was back and climbing back into bed with Shay. She instantly pulled her body to his, still naked from earlier and wrapped herself around him. He rested his hand under her chin and urged her head up before capturing her mouth with his.
His erection pressed against her thigh, letting her know that he wanted her again. She kissed him harder, fueling the fire that was burning in him. The pressure built until all he could think about was being inside of her.
She moaned as he flipped her beneath him and swiped a finger across her slick folds. He loved how wet she was for him. Her legs trembled as he continued to tease, giving her just enough until she was desperate and begging for more. He slipped a finger inside and she cried out, digging her fingertips into his shoulder.
She rocked against his hand, setting the pace, not afraid to show him what she liked. The confidence in her movements turned him to granite. He ached to slide inside her, but not before he tasted her.
He dipped his head, dragging his tongue across her swollen nub. Her hands slammed down on the mattress, clawing at the navy-blue comforter.
She tasted as sweet as her cupcakes, causing a craving inside him he didn’t think he’d ever satisfy.
Her body arced and he greedily grabbed her hips yanking her closer. She cried out again as his finger and tongue worked in sync, pushing her toward release. She clenched around him, but before she could fall over the edge, he pressed his erection against her sex and thrust inside her.
He kissed her lips, her cheek, then dipped his head taking a tight bead into his mouth. He wanted to taste and touch every inch of her, cause a million explosions to erupt in her body. Drive her to the brink of ecstasy and have them fall over the edge together.
She tightened her hold on him as he moved in slow long strokes until neither could hold out a second longer. Her body shuddered beneath him and he tumbled over the edge with her.