Page 42 of Only Some Stars Fall

“Ready? I think everyone else is already waiting at the boat.” Storm asks Julia as he slings the three cooler straps over his shoulders.

“You bet!” When she looks at Storm, her smile extends up to her eyes. “See you when we get back, Hux?” she asks while looking over her shoulder as she moves toward the door.

All I do is nod, flashing a half-hearted smile. She really did look beautiful that day.

TWENTY

HUX

My fingerslightly dance along Everly’s skin. I trail them up her back, across her shoulders, and then down her arm as she sleeps beside me, still tucked into my side. The sun is fully up, and I know I need to wake her soon. Even though my section of waterfront is pretty secluded, the lake will be getting busy with boaters. I’ve been watching for trollers, but somehow, we’ve lucked out this morning, which I am thankful about. I am soaking up every peaceful second with Everly since we have had too few of them this summer.

Lying here, I wonder to myself why that is. All the push and pull seems so pointless at this moment. Why did I fight this so hard? As quickly as an uncontrollable smile spreads across my face, I remember exactly why.

For the last two years, it has been my rule: you don’t catch feelings for employees, guests, or anyone that ties me to this place or that keeps me here among the memories I desperately want to forget.

It’s why Ashlee and I had the perfect agreement. Sheunderstood the situation—she lived it. There was no danger there, but in contrast, this Everly situation was potentially fatal. Even with my demise knocking at the door, I can feel my rule shattering. I look at Everly, and no matter how much I want to keep the boundary up, it’s of no use. If it’s the death of me, so be it.

Everly stirs, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She squints as she looks up at me, and realization seems to hit her. She springs upward, clutching the blanket to her chest and frantically looking around.

“Relax, no one is out here.” I laugh.

“It’s not funny! I don’t do this kind of thing!” she whisper-shouts.

“If I had to do a shot every time you’ve said, ‘I don’t do this kind of thing’ this summer, I would be permanently hammered,” I mock, unable to stop my laughter entirely.

“First, you don’t drink. Second, you really can be a dick, can’t you?”

“I’ve been told that a time or two, yes, but you don’t seem to mind it,” I say as I stand up, baring myself in front of the whole lake once again. I stretch my arms over my head, completely aware of Everly’s eyes crawling up my naked body. I feel a familiar stiffness between my legs, and if I don’t get my clothes on fast, her fear of putting on a show for the guests might actually come true.

“I’m hungry. Let’s get you inside and away from all the Peeping Toms, and I’ll make us some breakfast.” Grabbing my jeans, I pull them on and help Everly make sure the blanket is still securely wrapped around her.

I scoop up her clothes, and as I walk past her, I grab her hand. It’s a small gesture but one that is completely foreign to me. I can tell that she knows it’s a big step for me. I sense it takes her aback a bit. She quickly recovers, shuffling closely behind me as we walkback to the cabin.

After a hearty breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and eggs, Everly takes a shower. I tidy up my cabin, trying to keep my mind from envisioning her all hot, wet, and naked one room away. Now that I have had all of her, I feel even more wild than I did before. Unfortunately, the list of unfinished projects at the resort is at the front of my mind. I check my phone to see if anything has burned down in my twelve-hour absence. Other than Elle letting me know someone puked all over the parking lot last night, it seems like everything is still afloat. I make a mental note to have Tommy spray down the pavement when he gets in this morning, if he hasn’t already jumped on it.

Everly appears in the bathroom doorway, dressed in the clothes she wore last night. A towel slung over her shoulder as she tries to absorb water while simultaneously running her hands through her freshly washed hair.

In the last two months, I have seen her in all states of emotion, an anxious ball of nerves, laughing until she couldn’t breathe with Elle and Alex, mad as hell… mostly at me, but this morning she seems calm, relaxed, and happy. It’s contagious, and I feel the boulders I carry lighten just a bit.

“So… I don’t want to screw and scoot…” A cocky ass grin spreads on my face as Everly’s jaw falls open. She swats at me with the towel.

“You ass!” She laughs as her cheeks turn pink.

“I need to get to the main house, I’m pretty much behind on everything. I’m probably working late tonight, but I think I can get out late in the afternoon tomorrow. I could take you on a proper date?” I walk up to her, cupping her face in my hands.

She looks up at me with her green eyes. “That sounds perfect.” I kiss her lips long and slow, savoring her taste before this little bubble is partially popped by real-life responsibilities.

With the promise of spending more time with her and secretly hoping she finds herself on one of my barstoolstonight, I leave her standing in my cabin. As I walk out, I think to myself that nothing in a long time has felt this right. I turn the key in my truck and head to work.

“Well,well, well, where have you been?” Elle says as I walk into the back office behind the bar. “I texted you last night after your showdown there with Nick, no response. Rude.” Elle sits behind the desk, counting the cash till from last night. I don’t even bother asking how she knows about what went down last night.

“Firstly, it’s none of your business,” I joke in a dickish tone. Elle and I have always acted more like brother and sister than friends. “Second, it wasn’t a showdown, it was just another rich, spoiled child thinking he’s a man.” I pause for a moment before asking, “I assume he made it home okay?”

“As far as I know, that boat is still tied up to Mr. Croft’s dock. My guess is you’ll be paid a visit by Mr. Riverton at some point today. You know how much of an ass he can be.”

I couldn’t care less about what Nick’s father, Scott Riverton, has to say. In my opinion, I probably saved his son’s damn life. He should be thanking me for the fact that all he has to do is replace the keys. Like many people at the party last night, Nick’s family has been coming here since before he was born. They know the story.

“Good.” I might dislike the guy, but losing a family member is something I would never want anyone to ever have to experience.

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