A Risk Worth Taking (22 page)

Ford

I
could’ve stood here and kissed her all night. It had nothing to do with sex and
everything to do with the high of hearing her call me her man—and telling her
she was my girl. I’d never had that before—never wanted it. At least, not more
than I wanted the road, the freedom of my own choice. But I did with Summer.

I
tried not to think about the fact that we only had a couple months left. More
and more often, I’d found myself wondering what it might be like if I stayed.
What she’d look like in the snow. Or standing next to a Christmas tree. Or what
expression she’d wear opening a brightly wrapped present. How much fun it’d be
to reseal those greenhouses with her family. All things I’d miss if I left.

When
I left.

Shit.
It was when, not if. But when she kissed me like this, her hands running
through my hair, down my neck, over my chest—leaving seemed pretty distant. And
blurry around the edges. Summer was real and right in front of me. Did I want
to leave and make a life where that wasn’t the case anymore?

When
her hands wandered to the button on my pants, I pulled reluctantly away.  I
wasn’t going to lay her down here. Not that I didn’t want to, but we weren’t
even on the path and it was pitch dark out here. I could hear things crawling
over the leaves. Not to mention the mosquitos were fierce.

“Babe
… let’s go back to the party,” I said.

I
could feel her disappointment, just as sharp as my own. “Yeah, I guess we
should get back,” she said.

I
gave her another quick kiss. I loved that she wanted me just as much as I
wanted her. “We’ll pick this up later,” I said, adding one last kiss along her
ear. She shivered in anticipation.

“I’m
going to hold you to that,” she whispered.

“I
expect nothing less.”

Ford

“The way to love anything is to
realize it may be lost.” - G.K. Chesterton

I
spotted Summer even before Darla made it up the drive. She sat in the porch
swing, her legs dangling so that her toes scraped the wood underneath. My heart
picked up speed at the sight of her. Honey-brown hair hung over her tanned
shoulders in loose waves that begged to be windblown. And those shorts. Dear
God. I bit my lip as I took in the length of tanned legs showing in the cutoffs
she wore. I fucking loved those shorts. I needed a trip to church just to thank
The Man responsible for them.

It
was late enough in the day the humidity had eased off, and I could breathe with
the windows down. I hung an arm out the open window and waved as I parked. She
smiled, the expression lighting her face and reaching all the way into her
eyes. I loved every time I put that smile there. I could spend a lifetime
earning that smile and it still wouldn’t get old.

I
got out and slammed the door a little harder than necessary at the thought.
Lifetimes weren’t on the table. For either one of us. So, where had that
thought come from? I looked up and found Summer standing on the edge of the
porch staring down at me, and I knew. When she looked at me like that,
“forever” seemed like the most reasonable thing in the world. Or the most
natural. With Summer, it was easy to think past today.

Too
easy. I needed to remember the facts. And just enjoy what we had while we had
it.

“Hey,”
I said, stopping in front of the steps where she waited.

“Hey.”
She smiled at me, her eyes sparkling with pleasure.

She
launched herself off the steps and into my arms. I caught her easily and swung
her around. She laughed as I twirled us, her legs kicked out and her face
tipped up to the sky. She looked free. It made my heart feel full to watch it
happen, to know I’d had something to do with creating her happiness. And it
made me glad for the night I had planned.

Yes,
I’d planned our night. It was something you didn’t see every day.

“You
ready?” I asked, sliding her body suggestively down mine as I set her on her
feet.

“Let’s
go.” She kissed me as she slid lower and even the quick peck she laid on me was
enough to get me going. I breathed deeply in and out, trying to expel the
tension—and discourage the little guy in my pants already standing at
attention. It was early for that. We hadn’t even left the house yet.

I
swatted her ass and she tossed her hair and giggled before climbing up into the
cab. I got in and cranked Darla.

“Where
are we going?” she asked.

“You’ll
see.” I wanted it to be a surprise. Too many of our nights ended up with her
picking the location or giving me directions or telling me where things were.
The downside of her knowing this town better than me. I’d been searching for a
spot like this for weeks. Now that I’d found it, I wanted it to be all my own
doing. And I wanted to see the look on her face when I showed it to her. Prove
I could make a damn good plan when I wanted to.

She
stuck her lip out, pretending to pout. Damn, she was adorable when she pouted.
“You’re way too cute for me to feel sorry when you do that,” I told her.

She
broke into a smile and we drove on.

When
I made the left onto the overgrown dirt lane she cut me a curious look. I just
smiled and kept driving. The truck jostled over potholes and I slowed, not
wanting to damage the food I’d stashed behind our seats. The trees on the right
gave way to open space and then the lake came into view, sparkling in the
late-day sun and rippling with bugs too small to see from here. I downshifted
when we hit the incline. Darla chugged along, not complaining a bit.

At
the top, I pulled to the right so she couldn’t see the view around the bend and
cut the engine.

“We’re
here,” I said when Summer didn’t move.

“Where
is here?” she asked, looking around uncertainly.

“Not
private property,” I assured her. She caught my eye and we shared a smile, both
of us remembering the mud fight—and our unexpected audience. I didn’t want any
interruptions so I’d checked the records on this place. It was on the very edge
of her dad’s property and considered public land. We were good to go.

“Come
on. I want to show you something,” I said, getting out.

I
came around and took her hand before leading her up the tiny path I’d found a
couple of weeks ago. Branches overhung the trail and I used my free hand to
hold them away so we could pass. “Watch your step,” I warned when we reached
the briar patch that’d grown across the trail.

“Ford,
this isn’t even a trail. Where are you taking me?” she demanded.

“It’s
worth it. You’ll see.”

I
pushed the last of the branches out of the way as the trail ended, giving way
to the grassy hilltop and the overlook of the valley below. I walked to the
edge and pulled Summer to my side, tucking her into my shoulder and wrapping an
arm around her. I waited a beat, letting her take it all in, wanting her to see
it for herself without me pointing it out.

“What
do you think?” I asked finally.

“It’s
… beautiful,” she began. “And wait—is that …?”

I
followed her gaze. “The site of our first date?” I finished. “Yes.”

“It’s
not muddy anymore,” she said, straining to see the spot where we’d fallen and
first made out.

I
pointed farther out, past the dirt road. “Just over those trees, you can make
out the rooftop of Sadie’s.”

“The
other half of our first date,” she said.

“And
there,” I pointed, swinging my arm all the way right, “is your backyard.”

She
stood on her tiptoes. “I can just make out the greenhouses from here. Wow. I
didn’t realize we were so close to the farm. Oh, and I can see the hill we use
for the bonfire.”

“Another
of our dates,” I added.

“All
of our memories can be seen from here.” She turned to me, her eyes wide in
wonder. “Ford, this spot is … How did you find it?”

“I
wanted a place you didn’t know about. I wanted you to see your world from a
different angle.”

She
slid her arms up my chest and locked her fingers around my neck, rising on her
toes so we were face to face. “I already do,” she whispered. “Every single day.
Thanks to you.”

When
she kissed me, the view had nothing on the wonder of her mouth on mine.

I
ended the kiss before I could get carried away. I could see the desire in her
eyes when she looked up at me and it was all I could do to step away. I
adjusted my jeans and gave her a rueful smile. “I thought most girls expected
dinner first?”

“I’m
not most girls,” she said with a wicked smile.

“No.
You’re definitely not. But tonight’s mine and we’re sticking to the plan.”

Her
jaw dropped open dramatically. “Ford O’Neal. You have a plan?”

“Shut
up.” I planted a kiss on her lips so she’d do just that. She laughed around my
kiss and I shook my head. “I’m going to get some things from the truck. Be
right back.”

“I’ll
be here.”

I
hurried back to the truck and grabbed the bags of food I’d brought with me.
Back on the hillside, I spread the blanket out and set the bags down, pulling
out the containers of fruit and cheese.

“Wow,
this looks great,” Summer said, sitting down in front of me and uncovering a
bowl of grapes. She popped one into her mouth. “Mmm. You did good for someone
who never plans ahead.”

I
raised a brow at that.

“All
right, you did good period.”

“Thank
you.”

I
reached into the bag and pulled out the clear glass bottle I’d stashed. I
wrapped it underneath the hem of my shirt, dusting it off and revealing the
dark red liquid inside.

“What’s
that?” she asked while I opened it and poured.

“Something
special I’d set aside. Just waiting for the right night to come along.”

“And
tonight’s special enough?”

“You’re
special enough.” I met her eyes and held them. Her stare pulled me in, unspoken
words passing between us like a conversation of emotions. There was so much I
wanted to say but couldn’t. I had a feeling she could see it all in my eyes
anyway. “Drink?” I asked, blinking myself back to some semblance of reality.

“Thanks.”
She took the plastic cup with lowered lashes and sipped. I wondered where her
thoughts had gone that made her want to let the moment pass without words.
Summer was usually a fan of words—and defining moments. “Mmm. What is this?”
she asked.

I
winked. “Homemade brew. Family secret.”

“It’s
really good.” She took another sip. “And this view is gorgeous.”

My
heart pounded, blood rushing in my ears. I scooted closer, enjoying the feel of
our bodies pressed lightly together from ankle to thigh, and slung an arm
around her shoulders. “You’re gorgeous,” I whispered.

She
blushed at the compliment, and the slight redness that colored her cheeks made
me want to kiss her until she couldn’t breathe. I loved that blush.

We
sat in silence, both of us sipping our wine. It was a recipe my dad and I had
made up together the summer before I left for college. The secret was letting
it ferment long enough. Patience. I hadn’t had much of it back then, but he’d
taught me good things come to those willing to wait. I thought the lesson
applied pretty well to more than just wine. Summer’s taste was just as rare.
And worth the wait it’d taken to find her.

I
drained my glass as the sun disappeared over the tops of the distant trees.
Pink and orange streaks lit the sky in all directions, layered by thin white
clouds. It was a gorgeous view but I’d seen it already—and I wanted a view of a
different kind.

I
set my cup aside and watched as Summer swallowed the last of her wine. The way
her neck exposed itself as she tipped back was sexy as hell. She lowered her
cup and I took it and tossed it aside. I wrapped my palm around the back of her
neck, sliding my fingers in around her hair, and pulled her lips to mine. She
tasted as sweet as the wine.

I
inhaled, wanting to drink in every inch of her—taste and scent. Orange blossoms
and mint. I’d never met anyone who smelled that way. It was intoxicating
without the alcohol blending in behind it. I wanted more. Of her. Of this. Of
all of it.

I
gently pushed her back so that I lay over her. My elbow braced my weight and
with my hand, I trailed my fingers down the length of her body from shoulder to
thigh and back. I let it brush her breast and she tensed up. A small noise
escaped her mouth between kisses. I parted her lips with mine and slipped my
tongue inside. Her breath was hot on my face, her open mouth warm and inviting.
Asking for more. I slipped my hand underneath her shirt and unclasped her bra
before catching her nipple between my fingers and gently pulling. She whimpered
and pushed her hips against mine. 

My
jeans, already tight, filled to the point of painful. I pushed against her,
feeling my bulge hit the spot between her thighs. I was rewarded with a soft
moan and then her hands reached down to grip my belt loops. She held me there
while she grinded her hips against mine, her tongue massaging at a pace that
made me want to get rid of these clothes and match it with an entirely different
body part.

I
slipped my hand around to her ass and inside the hem of her shorts, working my
way up the inside of her thigh. I pushed her panties aside and stroked her
clit, my fingers light and teasing. She pulled me tighter against her, hips
straining, tongue moving. And the noises she was making were sexy as hell. I
found her already wet and slipped a finger easily inside her, pushing slowly.
She held on tight and moved against my hand, a silent plea for more. I gave it
to her, stroking in and out, my movements excruciatingly slow.

“Summer
… I want you,” I whispered, still stroking her insides.

“Take
me,” she whimpered back.

“Right
here?”

“Right
here,” she pleaded.

Still,
I didn’t remove my hand. I increased the pressure, pushing harder into her with
my fingers, pausing to tease her clit before sliding back inside her folds. She
moved against me, her rhythm attempting to increase the pace, but I kept it
slow. 

When
she began to shake, I knew she was close. Her breathing turned shallow and she
let out a small cry. I kissed a trail up her neck and pulled her earlobe into
my mouth, inhaling the heady scent of her perfume. I exhaled, letting my breath
tickle her ear.

Summer
shuddered, clinging to me with nails that dug into my flesh even through the
fabric of my shirt. “Ford,” she said on a breath.

After
a moment, her entire body went limp and her kiss turned lazy. I slid my fingers
out and traced small circles around the outside of her. I was rock hard and
ready to go but I didn’t want to miss this moment—the way she looked in the low
light with her hair spread around her and that satisfied-yet-hungry grin
playing at the edges of her mouth.