Page 33 of Pillowtalk

Aaron

Aaron twisted the hot water on in his shower, the rusty knob screeching unpleasantly in his ear. There was mud in places that didn’t see the sun, and he was all too eager to scrub it off.

Not that he hadn’t enjoyed himself out there; oh, he had. It wasn’t just the adrenaline from running up and over all those muddy hills; watching Kennedy tackle them like a pro was the sexiest thing he’d ever witnessed.

Scratch that…second sexiest. Last night was hands down the top on that list.

He stepped into the tub, the water running instantly brown as it trickled over the top of his head and slid like a waterfall down his back. His hands ran through the thick, muddy strands of his hair, his nails digging at the stubborn dirt, which felt like glue. She’d been so…freeout there. Uninhibited. It was so hypnotizing that he had nearly biffed it on the quad more than once. His feet slipped in the tub, just thinking about her. The wide smile, the excitement in her eyes, and the adorable pop of her mouth when Austin had covered her in mud…they all sat fresh in his mind. His blood rushed hot through his veins, pulsing down and making him hard as hell.

An expletive tumbled off his tongue and he cranked the heat off and let the ice-cold water run down his body. A shiver ran up his spine, and he turned and tipped his head back. Agony. That’s what it was.Sweetagony, because no matter how cold he turned the water, he could not turn off the vision of her smooth skin spattered with mud, her short-sleeved shirt clinging to every soft curve of her body, her breasts hard from the cold wind that blew across the road as they loaded the truck.

He should have thought to bring a jacket for her, but in very selfish hindsight, he was glad he hadn’t.

“Damn it,” he grunted under the chilling stream. Even though the cold had quieted him physically, it wasn’t nearly enough to turn him off completely, and that was just the memory of her; he was going to see her in the flesh in a few days.

He only prayed that he’d make it the night without kissing her again, using the time away as a good chance to rid himself of any lascivious thoughts.

If given the chance, though, he doubted he’d be able to control himself no matter how many days had passed.

—

The party could be heard the entire way as Aaron and Austin drove around to the boathouse near the B&B. Austin parked next to a slew of trucks and Jeeps, his Porter’s Garage van sticking out like a sore thumb. Charlie bounded out as soon as Austin threw it in park and immediately found Kennedy, the pup obviously as anxious as Aaron was to see her after days of avoiding. Her cute squeal floated over the music, and Aaron’s heart leapt under his light blue button-up. So much for the two-day buffer; it hadn’t been twosecondsand he was already a goner.

“Charlie,” he called out with a sharp whistle. The husky’s ears went back as he resisted the urge to tackle Kennedy to the ground. As adorable as it would be to see her down in the dust and dirt like she had been the last time he saw her, Aaron was enjoying the fresh, clean version of her that he was getting now.

He admitted that, yeah, he’d dressed a bit more “up” than his usual plain black or white T-shirt paired with a flannel and jeans. His buttons were actually put to use tonight, and while he kept the jeans and rolled the sleeves up to the crooks of his elbows, he was probably a bit fresher and cleaner himself.

But Kennedy? She blew him out of the damn water. Her short, dark hair was curled in waves, framing her round cheeks so perfectly he couldn’t wait to tuck one of those strands behind her ear. He knew if Austin wasn’t the one taking her out on the lake tonight, he was sure he’d find any excuse to make that happen.

She was also wearing blue, but hers was royal and dark, gorgeous against her pale skin. It was dipped low in front, hugging her perfect breasts. Her formfitting jeans had Aaron wanting to ignore every ounce of logic he possessed, grab her by the hand, and take her to that empty, quiet boathouse. He’d cup that tight, heart-shaped bottom and hoist her up against the nearest surface.

Austin’s hand slammed down on Aaron’s shoulder, jolting him out of his fantasies with a harsh sting.

“You might want to tuck that tongue back in your mouth before we get over there.”

Aaron’s fist connected with his brother’s ribs, impressed with himself when Austin stumbled a few steps to the side. Foolishly, he hoped that Kennedy had seen and was impressed as well.

“The Sheppards have arrived!” came the booming voice of Aaron’s already drunk friend. Sawyer threw his arms up, his right hand clutching a tall can of Busch. He was talented enough not to spill a single drop even with all the swaying.

“Finally!” said Victoria Westerly, one of the older and wealthier residents of Lyra Valley. Aaron had spent one full summer painting her guesthouse, only to have her tear it down the next year and replace it. She was very sweet, despite her occasional naïveté.

“You guys waiting for us or something?” Austin asked, putting his arm around Kennedy in greeting and immediately locating a drink. Kennedy’s cheeks flushed that beautiful shade of pink under his brother’s weight, and Aaron watched as her eyes swiveled to his. He felt his lip pull into a grin, but he knew it wasn’t genuine. His gut clenched with the reminder that he couldn’t greet her in such a way without feeling intense amounts of arousal, and even more intense amounts of guilt. His fake grin faded quickly, and he ignored the way her brow furrowed.

Victoria’s lips spread open in a full smile as she gestured for the music to cut off. “It’s lake time and this one here”—she waved a manicured hand at Kennedy, who flushed even darker—“begged us not to start without you two.”

A round of laughter sounded through the crowded lakeside, and Kennedy shook her head and denied the claim, but Aaron felt a real smile touch his lips, as well as something deep in his gut. It was most likely because of Austin—he was her date, after all—but just the thought of her pausing the tradition for him had his heart missing beats. Kennedy was rarely outspoken; he would’ve liked to have witnessed it.

The crowd started toward the canoes and small boats that were tied all up and down the lake—spouses and lovers, friends and parents with their kids—Aaron’s gaze automatically fell to Kennedy still tucked under Austin’s arm, his chest as tight as a vise. His date for the night was Charlie, not that it was bad company, just not the company he wished for. But it was better that way. Smarter. Safer.

He took a deep breath, patting his leg for Charlie to follow him out to one of the canoes. Kennedy’s deep brown eyes followed the dog and went up to Aaron, her brows pulling inward yet again. She leaned in and asked Austin something, and Aaron forced himself not to care about what she was saying—if it could possibly be anything to do with him. It didn’t matter; he couldn’t—no, heshouldn’t—do anything about it anyway.

“Aaron!” he heard from behind him, and he turned to a breathless Chelsea running through the long grass in the back of the B&B. “Sweet baby Jesus, slow down! I ain’t got those daddy longlegs.”

Aaron’s lip tilted up in the corner as he stopped in his tracks, and he flicked his gaze briefly to Kennedy, who was watching him, but her eyes flew elsewhere when he caught her looking. He held back a laugh and turned to Chelsea.

“You going out?” he called back to her.

“Dan gave me the night off.” She set her hands on her hips, catching her breath as she caught up with him and Charlie. “And I call your boat right now.”

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