He Belongs With Me (20 page)

I didn't argue. Instead, I left her office and went searching for Old Man Sinclair. Fortunately, I happened to like the kooky old man who loved golf more than anything. He was Leah Longerburger's grandfather and had been a member here for many years. Most importantly, he wasn't an asshole like most of the other club members.

I found him outside massaging his knee, his wispy white hair standing on end. “Hello, Mr. Sinclair.”

“Oh my, pumpkin pie, your hair is purple.”

I laughed. “It is.”

“It's very pretty.”

That was the exact reaction I would have expected from him. “Thanks. Is there anything in particular you'd like to work on today? Your short game?” I knew he had vision problems and shot pretty blindly for the hole. It's a wonder he still played such a good game.

“Honey, I'm turning eighty-three this weekend and I'm only getting worse and worse at this game. Lessons won't do me much good, but what I'd really like is some company. Would you mind putting up with an old man?”

“I would be more than happy to do that.”

Playing with Sinclair was pretty wonderful. He was easygoing and constantly made me laugh. Typically, I played alone. Every other Sunday during the school year, I drove an hour away—so I wouldn't risking the possibility of running into Maggie—and I'd play alone at a podunk backwoods golf course in the middle of nowhere. I went to all that trouble because I didn't want the world to know I still loved golf. But Sinclair noticed immediately that I was still in practice.

“You're making me look bad, sweetie,” he said as I sunk my second birdie in a row. “But I'm glad you're finally back to playing. I hope I can watch you on TV someday like I always watch your Daddy.”

See, now that was why I didn't let people know I still played. “I'm not back, Mr. Sinclair. I'm just having fun with you today.”

He winked at me. “I understand, sugar. Anyway, our hour is up so we should head back. I think Mrs. Ritter signed up that rascal son of hers for a lesson after mine.”

For the rest of the day, none of my other appointments were as fun as my first, but my day wasn't as miserable as I might have anticipated. Actually, people were surprisingly nice. They took me seriously, soaking up every moment of my lessons as if Reed Ryder himself were their instructor. I even began to not dread the fact that I would have to do it all over again every day for the next two weeks. Still, when I walked into my house at six o’clock later that day, I was utterly exhausted, slightly sunburned, and thoroughly famished since I’d skipped breakfast and lunch.

“Hey guys, I'm home.”

No answer. I walked into the kitchen and dumped my purse onto the counter. I looked out the sliding glass doors and noticed Dad hovering over the grill, while Maggie set the patio table for dinner out on the back deck.

Out of nowhere, two strong arms wrapped around my waist and pulled my body against a very solid chest. I knew instantly that those were Leo's arms around me. His smell and his touch were becoming too familiar not to know.
When did he get back to Blue Creek?
It didn't really matter. I was just happy he was here. I leaned back, snuggling to get closer to him. Obviously not caring that I was sweaty from head to toe, he planted a trail of kisses along my shoulder and across my neck. I couldn't help it when a little moan escaped my lips.

“Hi, killer. You're like fucking nirvana for sore eyes.” His hands slipped up and down my waist. “I didn't know I could miss you so much after only a few hours, and I love that I can touch you like this.” His touch grew bolder and he moved his hands over my chest, gently squeezing and caressing above my shirt. “Tell me I'm a pervert and I have to stop. Tell me and I will.”

I didn't want him to stop—his touch was doing all kinds of funny things to me. I pressed into him more and felt the substantial hardness of his erection against my ass, letting me know just how happy he was to see me again. “Hmm,” I murmured, my voice throaty.

“Dammit. Tell me now, Clara.”

Pinning my lips tightly together, I told him nothing. Instead, I tilted my head to the side so that he had better access to my neck. I learned last night that I loved being kissed there and Leo sure knew how to do it right.

“Okay then. I gave you fair warning. Remember that.”

His hands continued their exploration. My breathing turned heavy, which only seemed to motivate him further. When one of his hands moved inside my shirt, the warmth of his fingers grazing my nipple caused me to shiver all over. His expert touch tweaked, pinched, and traced in a feather-light way.
Oh my!
No one had ever touched me like this before. My body trembled and I steadied myself by placing both of my hands on the counter. My eyes remain glued on Dad and Maggie outside. They were talking and laughing, but all they had to do was glance in this direction and they'd see Leo all over me.

Leo must have realized this because he moved us a couple of feet to the left so we would be out of view. His other hand joined in the action and he pulled my tank top down, completely exposing my breasts to the kitchen. I was panting so hard I couldn't think straight, and my nipples were as hard as diamonds under his touch. He'd clearly done this before.

“You have the most perfect tits. I've been fantasizing about touching them since we were twelve years old.” He turned me around to face him and then took a step back so that he could get a better view of my naked chest. I couldn't breathe and my heart banged around like a ping pong ball, but I wasn't embarrassed because Leo's blue eyes took me in like I was the most perfect thing he'd ever seen.

“You're beautiful,” he whispered, kissing my cheek. Then he pulled my tank top back up so that it once again covered my chest. “Too beautiful.” His eyes weren't on me anymore and his cheeks were totally flushed. I couldn’t believe I'd made Leo blush. And I hadn't even said a single coherent word to him since I’d walked in the door. He moved over to the other side of the counter, breathing heavy, gripping the edges of the counter, and trying to regain some composure. I had him all kinds of worked up.
Hot damn, he was sexy!
His eyes were dark and stormy, with a depth that stole my breath away. All I wanted was to get lost in them and never be found.

“Leo. You're—”

I was about to tell him how incredible he was and maybe even how badly I wanted to jump his bones right that moment, but Dad and Maggie walked into the kitchen. Two seconds earlier and they would have found me with my shirt down. Somehow I found that hilarious and I couldn't wipe the dumbass smile off my face. Thank the Lord for Leo's sixth sense and for stopping things when he did, because I probably wouldn't have stopped even if the Pope himself walked into my kitchen.

“There you are,” Dad said to me. “Honey, I'm sure you're tired. Dinner’s almost ready, but why don't you go shower first? Oh, and there is aloe under my sink. You're a little sunburned.”

“Okay.” I nodded, unable to look back in Leo's direction. If I did, I'd probably give it away to the world that we were together. We were
together
, right? I guess we didn't have an official title or anything—yet—but in my mind he was mine. But was I ready for Dad and Maggie to know? Actually, at this point, I pretty much wanted to shout it from the roof.

“Why are you smiling like that?” Maggie asked, ripping me from my thoughts.

“I'm having a good day,” I said truthfully, then turned and raced upstairs. A very cold shower was in order.

CHAPTER 17

MAGGIE

I'd been having a good day myself. While eating my weight in ice cream, I watched three of my favorite movies under a shared blanket with a very handsome man. What more could a girl want? During my time with Leo, we barely touched—only accidentally brushing feet on three separate occasions while under said blanket—but we laughed and carried on like we were kids again. I felt whole and right when I was with him, but I wasn't sure if that was more about comfort or love. Because there was no denying that I'd shared a pretty big moment with Robby earlier. Maybe I was vulnerable though and Robby had been in the right place at the right time. Or maybe a little piece of me never stopped loving Robby. I just didn't know.

What I needed was a chance to kiss Leo. I'd been thinking about it all day because I needed to know where my heart was at. A kiss would tell me…right?

“Kids, grab some drinks and meet me out back.” Dad juggled a ceramic platter in one hand and his special butter-lemon sauce in his other hand. I helped him open the sliding glass door that led to the back deck, but I lingered in the kitchen with Leo. We were alone, and although I'd been alone with him all day, suddenly my heart went wild. I was going to kiss him. Right now.

Oh
Lordy!

“Want a water?” Leo opened the fridge, oblivious to the change in me.

“Sure.” Moving across the kitchen, I took the water he handed me. We were close enough that I could smell the light scent of his cologne, and I inched closer so that I could kiss him. He was tall—not as tall as Robby, but tall enough that I couldn't easily catch his lips against mine. I'd have to jump or grab him or...

Leo held two water bottles in one hand and began to step away from the fridge. I'd been too busy over-analyzing and now the opportunity to make my move had passed. I followed him outside, wondering what the heck I was even thinking.

Dad took his lobster tails off the grill and plated them. He sat down in his usual spot at the head of the table, and I sat beside him where I always did. Leo had a usual spot too—right beside me. If Clara wasn't at dinner, he'd sit in her spot, but since she was here tonight, I expected Leo to sit next to me. I expected wrong. Leo sat on the opposite side of the table—in the spot no one ever sat in—right next to Clara's usual spot.

What the heck?
Leo’s seat selection sent a resounding message. Not just to me but to Dad too. Leo and Clara were together. How foolish was I?

Clara, who might have just set a world record for the fastest shower ever, came rushing outside with her hair hanging wet around her shoulders, wearing her typical yoga gear. She took the seat beside Leo like it wasn't weird that he'd chosen to sit beside her instead of me and started loading food onto her plate. “I'm so hungry I could eat this table. I didn't have breakfast or lunch. And Mary Ann is such a ‘you-know-what’ that she wouldn't even let me borrow a dollar to hit up the vending machine. I guess I should start carrying cash around like you always say, Dad.”

“You should have called me,” Leo told her softly. “I would have brought you something.”

“I didn't know you were back in Blue Creek until...” Clara paused, an uncharacteristic blush covering her face. “Until a few minutes ago.”

“Okay then.” Leo grabbed Clara's hand in his, locking their fingers, and then reached across the table for mine. I hesitantly gave it to him. Then Leo glanced in Dad's direction, staring at him impatiently. “Say the prayer, Reed. Please. So she can eat.”

Dad’s mouth was hanging open, and it appeared he’d been rendered speechless. After a few moments of sitting frozen in place, he swallowed hard and then completed the circle before saying the blessing.

We all ate in silence for a few minutes after that—except Dad, who wasn't eating a bite.

“So,” Clara started, “Old Man Sinclair turns eighty-three this weekend. You should throw a party for him, Dad. I mean, he's been a member forever and you're always looking for excuses to throw parties. What do you think?”

Dad nodded slowly and then seemed to recover slightly. “That sounds wonderful. I have my tournament in Miami this weekend, but I can set everything up with Darlene, the event planner. Those things practically run themselves anyway. What a great idea, honey. Would you like to host it?”

“Um, okay. I guess I could do that.”

“You don't have to do anything other than show up,” Dad said. “That's all I do when I host.”

Oh. My God! Did we just enter into an alternative universe? The twilight zone? Peewee’s freaking playhouse?
Well, whatever place this was, I couldn't sit and quietly watch one minute longer. “I had to work for you Saturday morning, Clara. You called out and the restaurant was short-staffed and I worked for you. You're welcome. It would have been nice to run away to New York with Leo for the weekend, but some of us are mature enough to handle our responsibilities.” Leo glared fiercely from across the table as I ranted, telling me with his eyes to shut up, but that didn't unnerve me. Somebody needed to put Clara in her place, and if Dad wasn't going to do it, then I would. “And you could have killed Leo! Not to mention, the extra work you created for the landscaping staff, thanks to your joyriding. Do you even think?”

“Maggie,” Dad said, stopping me. “We could sit here and go over every little thing Clara did wrong this weekend or we could have a nice family dinner. It's not often that we all get to sit down together like this.”

So, I
had
entered another universe. I tried to relax and eat my dinner, but I couldn't manage it. The worst part was Leo. He kept stealing glances at Clara and finding little sweet ways to touch her. Then Clara would catch Leo staring at her and this Cheshire cat smile—one that went along with her purple hair—would light up her face.

I realized then that it wasn’t Clara’s immaturity from this past weekend that was bugging me; it was how different Leo was behaving around her. Sure he was just eating and barely speaking, but he was relaxed. Actually, he’d been relaxed pretty much all day. And the Leo I knew didn’t ever relax—unless he was high or drunk, which he obviously wasn’t right now.
Could it be possible that Leo and Clara were good together?

I immediately stood to my feet. “I'm sorry, guys, I'm feeling sick,” I announced. “I ate way too much ice cream earlier with Leo. This dinner looks delicious, Dad, but I really need to go lie down.” With those parting words, I left the back deck and hurried inside.

I needed to catch my breath and time to process that I might have been wrong about everything. I’d just made it under the covers of my bed when Leo suddenly appeared in my room.