Page 6 of Your Two Lips
SkyRamp was a team bike race, usually one male, and one female, held to raise awareness of mountain biking, particularly for women, and the proceeds benefited cancer research.
The organizers asked a friend and me to participate this year. We’d both won big races in the past, and now we helped design and build public mountain biking trails in the area. In small circles, we were well-known, and the organizers said it would raise the race’s profile to have us there. I didn’t think so, but they outvoted me.
Several of my friends were participating, like Dan and Carrie. I didn’t have a partner and was dragging my feet. After a couple bad crashes in my racing days, I didn’t want to race again. The second concussion could have caused permanent damage. That was the end of my amateur career. A lingering fear wouldn’t let me push my boundaries and improve. I hadn’t raced since. Though, I still biked as much as possible, safely in my comfort zone.
“ReeAnn doesn’t ride, and I only ride with you assholes now. The organizers said they would match me up, so I guess I’ll let them.” Match.com for mountain bikers. I avoided thinking about it. I was good at avoiding.
“Oh,” Dan said, a little too excited. “Maybe she’ll be smokin’ and tough and fall madly in love with your sorry ass.” He waggled his eyebrows. Dan was in love and wanted someone else to be, too.
Lucas sank the last of the balls on the table. “Don’t waste your time, Dan. Finn is still in his no-woman, no-problems place.”
Lucas didn’t know the reasons behind my dropping out of the hook-up scene, and I sure as hell wasn’t telling him. He was happy doing his thing, and I wouldn’t stand in his way, except with the beautiful one. Something about the idea of Lucas sleeping with her made me want to dick punch him.
“I’m in a no-distractions-needed place. It’ll take all my focus to build the mountain bike resort this summer and keep up with Dad’s expectations on the farm. He hasn’t signed off on the resort plans yet. I need to stay on top of my goals, show him I can manage it all so he’ll finally sign those papers.”
“You need to stand up to Dad about the farm,” Lucas said, his face serious. “You have a degree in agriculture. You argue about everything from crop rotation to raises for the crew. You know your shit. Tell Dad to back off. And,” —great, Luc was on a role— “you should get back out there. You’re no longer a flashy mountain bike champ who can pull anytime he wants. Your prime is slipping away.”
“You’re two years older than me, jackass.”
“True, but look at me. My prime is here to stay.” He flashed an overconfident grin and sank the last ball. “Pay up, Finnegan. I love winning.”
I reached into my pocket for the twenty dollars and slapped it in his outstretched hand.
“Gentlemen, let’s drink. I’ll buy.” Lucas motioned toward the end of the bar. “I think I’ll introduce myself to our lovely visitor. See if she will tell me her vacation fantasy.” I bristled and flipped him off.
I shrugged on my hoodie but left it unzipped over my worn blue Bakker Farms T-shirt as our friend ReeAnn walked by.
“How’d the Tulip Festival crowd treat you this year?” she asked.
The annual Tulip Festival brought tens of thousands of visitors to the area each April and was the official kickoff to tourist season. For a month, people strolled the large swaths of daffodils and tulips at our farm and others. They took pictures, ate kettle corn, and bought bulbs for their home gardens. It was a busy time, and most of the town was still recovering.
“Can’t complain.” Lucas grinned and pulled ReeAnn in for a side hug.
“The work is slowing to a normal pace,” I said. “So, I can finally get back on my bike this weekend.”
ReeAnn gave me a side glance. “Be careful.”
“My mountain biking is good for your business,” I said. A massage at the spa had helped to soothe an old ache or a new bruise in the past. I didn’t really need the lavender-scented oil and all the quiet fuss, but I didn’t hate it.
“Well, boy … just saying take it easy. Center and balance are more powerful than strength.” She had me there.
We all headed toward the end of the bar, and I caught Jake’s glances at Ree. “How long are you going to keep poor Jake out in the cold?” I nodded at my friend, now shaking a drink over his shoulder behind the bar.
“Poor Jake? Which poor Jake are you talkin’ about?” ReeAnn smirked.
“What does the man have to do to get a date with you?”
“Stop giving me the same lines he gives to every other woman in here.”
“Ree, he’s a bartender. Flirting is part of the job. I haven’t seen him take anyone home.” Jake had quietly been my partner in the no-woman plan. Me because I needed to make better choices with my heart. Him because his heart belonged to ReeAnn.
I turned sideways to wedge between the tight tables and crowd as we neared the beautiful one. Closer, I could see the creamy taut skin of her neck and her full pink lips. She had high cheekbones and a straight nose. No smoke eye … or whatever my little sister, Tess, was going on about. Those eyes needed nothing more. I stared at the striking emerald green under thick, dark lashes and realized she was looking back at me. Those lush, wet lips parted on an inhale, drawing my gaze to her chest, and I could just make out the silhouette of two nipples pressing against the lace of her top. She wasn’t wearing a bra. Fuck, that was hot.
My resolve to keep my focus on my goals slipped. No, I had sworn off women until I got my head together. Even those with perfect tits and long supple necks I could suck and rub my scruff against to feel her shiver. Shit.
4
EMILY
