with Kara. That was her on the phone. Apparently, the contractor who’s handling the work on our bathroom isn’t understanding what she wants.” Megan rolled her neck and looked to the guys. “I’m assuming that the three of you will fight to the death over who will drive Rea home.”
I groaned. “Go. You’ve done enough. Dinner soon?”
“Once Kara hears about today, she’ll probably have the wedding china out tomorrow morning.”
I hugged her tight and held on. “Thank you.”
She gagged and pushed me away. “Too much emotion. If you make me cry, I’ll be forced to make things awkward.”
Charlie wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. “We’ll take care of her. Tell Kara I said hi.”
After Megan was gone and I found myself alone with Charlie, August, and Theo, I didn’t know what to do with myself. The potato chip was clean, the area around it was picked up, there was nothing else to do.
“We were going to grab lunch before we decided to help clean. Want to come along?” Charlie looked down at me and those dimples showed as his eyes roamed my face. “Breathe, Rea. It’s just us.”
“I’m breathing.”
August pulled me out of Charlie’s arms and easily lifted me over his shoulder. When I let out a surprised yelp, he just chuckled and patted my ass. “There. Now you don’t have to panic and fret for the next ten minutes about what you should or shouldn’t do.”
I hung down his back with his ass in my face and decided that even though it was ridiculous of him to toss me over his shoulder like I was a sack of potatoes at the potato chip factory, the view was pretty nice. “What if I’m not hungry?”
“Everyone’s always hungry for a piece of pie from Sophie’s.” Sophie’s being Landings’ only competitor.
I cursed at the mention of pie. I’d forgotten all about Pearl’s pie. “I just remembered I need to get home and bake. I’m being blackmailed.”
I suddenly found myself upright, pinned against August’s chest, with three angry faces surrounding me. August had a handful of my ass and his other arm across my back like a steel bar. Even if I’d wanted to, I wasn’t going anywhere. I wiggled with the knowledge that anyone could’ve spotted us in that moment.
“Who’s blackmailing you?”
I shivered as August’s deep voice washed over me, all intense and serious. “Pearl. She saw me leaving the motel and then you three leaving. She just wants baked goods to convince Jonah that she’s a blue-ribbon baker.”
Theo growled. “No. I’ll talk to her. She can’t blackmail you.”
“Not happening. We’ll handle it.” Charlie sounded furious for the first time in all the time I’d known him.
“It’s okay. It’s just Pearl. I’d rather just bake for her and keep her happy.” I wiggled in August’s arms again and felt him harden against me. My eyes widened and I knew my entire face went cherry red. “Um… Anyone could see us.”
August grunted and gripped my ass tighter before tossing me back over his shoulder. “We’ll handle Pearl.”
I crossed my arms and hung upside down silently for the rest of the walk. When he finally put me down, I distanced myself from them and narrowed my eyes. “I’m only going to say this once. I don’t need protecting from Pearl Bearman. You three had better leave her alone. She’s a sweet old lady. Sure, she’s blackmailing me and lying to Jonah in the process, but she’s not bad. If I hear about any one of you being rude to her, I’m going to be so angry.”
August was the first to break. He let out a loud bark of laughter and then doubled over as more poured out of him. If the sound wasn’t so alluring, I would’ve been tempted to punch him. Charlie and Theo joined him, their friendship shining in the way they leaned against each other and egged each other’s laughter on.
I crossed my arms again and narrowed my eyes, trying to look serious, even though I was fighting my own laughter. “I’m not kidding.”
August grinned at me with tear-filled eyes. “Fine. You scared us straight, Rea.”
“I’m walking back to my car. You three are terrible.”
Charlie caught my arm and pulled me into his chest. “What about lunch?”
I made a face. “I’ll starve before eating with you guys. Jerks.”
Theo pulled me away from Charlie and planted a soft kiss on the corner of my mouth, shocking me silent. “I’ve got to get back to work, anyway. Stay sweet, Rea.”
August glanced at his watch and groaned. “Shit. I need to get home and get ready for my shift. Come here.”
I gasped when August swung me into his chest and tangled his hands in my hair before holding my gaze and leaning closer. Just when I thought he was going to kiss me full on, he turned slightly and kissed the other corner of my mouth. I felt a brush of tongue and saw him wink at me before backing away.
“Looks like you’re the lucky one, Charlie.”
Charlie took my hand and nodded. “Thank god for my day off.”
Even though I was there as it happened, I was somehow still surprised when I found myself walking alone with Charlie, grabbing a picnic lunch from Sophie’s, and letting him talk me into taking a hike with him. I had things to do, pies to bake, work to get ready for, but the trail Charlie showed me was one I’d never taken. The picnic area we stopped at was beautiful.
I lost track of time as I enjoyed the hot summer sun and Charlie’s playful side. He told me stories about his time playing football and I filled him in on my time at college. We laughed, and it was fun, hanging out like old friends. Charlie even kept his hands to himself most of the time. The most he did was hold my hand and it gave me butterflies each time.
When we grew hungry again, we grabbed burgers from Landings and sat on the hood of my car in the city hall parking lot. We were the only ones there and despite the activity of town just a street away, our little space felt secluded and secretive. The sun set while we each shared stories about Russ that would’ve embarrassed him to no end.
My heart felt full in a way that only came after spending a day having fun. I couldn’t stop smiling as I talked animatedly about my first time flambéing something. Charlie leaned in, his dimples so deep as he laughed. It was light and innocent, but it didn’t feel that way when a truck pulled up beside us and I looked over to see Russ getting out.
“What the fuck are you two doing? I’ve been trying to call you for hours, Reagan!”
I patted my pockets, unsure of where my phone was. “I’m—”
“She got lost hiking one of the new trails around Bray Canyon. Thankfully, I was up there today. I found her and walked her back here. She’s okay, though.” Charlie lied while refusing to look at me. “As for her phone, I don’t have an answer for that one.”
Anger and hurt hit me. We hadn’t done anything wrong. We’d just been friends that day, but apparently, Charlie didn’t even want to admit that. I scooted off the car and grabbed my trash. “Thankfully, he fed me, too, because I was too stupid to take food with me on my hike today. You know how I am.”
Russ frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me you were hiking? You could’ve gotten hurt, Reagan.”
I gestured towards Charlie without looking back at him. “Your buddy saved the day. Don’t worry. I learned my lesson. I won’t be hiking again.”
Russ sighed and ruffled my hair. “Good. You worried me. Thanks, Charlie. I owe you one, man.”
I couldn’t believe how easily he could pretend like I was nothing but an idiot he’d needed to rescue. I wanted to punch him in the dick more than anything. “I should get home.”
Charlie cleared his throat from behind me. “Goodnight, Reagan. Be careful next time.”
I tried not to yank my car door open. “Don’t worry! There won’t be a next time. See you at home, Russ.”
He nodded and looked over at Charlie. “Hey, I wanted to talk to you about us heading to the lake house in a couple of weeks.”
I didn’t hear anything else they said because I started my car and cranked my radio up, desperate to block out Charlie’s voice. It was either that or run him over. I left the parking lot but I didn’t head home. I was too angry to just settle in my basement hole.
Maybe subconsciously, I knew where I was going. Consciously, I was still shocked when blue lights flicked on behind me.
