On the Rocks (A Turtle Island Novel) (17 page)

“You make it sound so simple.” She sounded as if she was seriously contemplating the idea.

“It could be simple. And I don’t think it would ruin our friendship. I really believe that. We’re both too smart. Too aware of reality and what we want out of life. You want forever.”

“And what do you want?”

“
Not
forever.” It was the saddest thing he’d ever said.

“I’m really sorry she hurt you so badly.”

He nodded. “Me, too.”

They walked a few feet before he cut a glance down at her. “So are you happy now? Feeling better about the vulnerability thing? You got me to talk about Lisa. To tell you all my secrets.”

Not
all
his secrets. And she watched him as if aware of that fact.

“I am happy.” She tugged on his hand, pulling him closer, and slipped her arm through his. “Thank you for telling me.”

It started raining then, just a little, and they stopped walking and tilted their heads to the sky. Silky wetness slid over their faces. It felt to Carter like waking up.

“I didn’t know it was supposed to rain this early,” he said. Though the forecast called for it later in the day, there were no clouds in the sky yet, just sun and rain. And Carter loved that Ginger didn’t seem to mind getting wet. She stood there, her cheeks turned up, with water dripping down over her.

She was beautiful.

“I saw a woman on the ferry the morning I arrived,” he told her. “It was drizzling, and she came out with a raincoat on, but the hood wasn’t up. She seemed completely unconcerned with the weather. It made me think of you.”

Her soft laughter stroked inside of him. “Was that the morning it was so foggy?”

“So bad you couldn’t even see the island until we were practically upon it.”

Her lips curved more. The pink in them captured his attention, and he knew there was more than one thing about him that had changed over the last two weeks.

“That
was
me,” she said. “At least, I was on that ferry. And I didn’t have my hood up.” She held out her free hand, palm open as if to capture the rain. “Some things never change.”

“And some things do.” He tugged her. “Kiss me, Red. I have to know.”

“Carter.”

“You have to wonder a little . . . right?” He gulped with unexpected nerves. “I mean . . . tell me I wasn’t the only one feeling something in the kitchen last night.”

“You took off your shirt and I combusted,” she confessed.

“See?” He could barely pull in a breath. “We could be good together.
Blow off some steam.” He tried a smile, but it failed. He wanted her. Right now. Underneath him. “Kiss me, Red. Don’t make me beg.”

“You’re already begging.”

“And I plan to keep begging until I get what I want.”

“Fine.”

The word surprised him, and he latched his gaze on to hers. Did she mean . . .

“Lay one on me.” Her voice was solid. “Show me what you’ve got.”

Additional nerves hit. So fast he almost changed his mind. But he tugged at her hand once more, and she willingly came closer. Then he cupped her cheek in his palm and brought her mouth up to his.

The first touch made everything inside him clench tight.

Her lips were warm. And damp from the rain. And fuller than he’d realized.

He tilted his head and slid his thumb to the spot just below her bottom lip. She groaned. Then he pressed in harder.

His heart beat so hard it almost vibrated his rib cage, and he would swear that he could feel hers doing the same. And then he parted her lips and touched his tongue to hers, and suddenly nothing about him could be contained.

Ginger’s touch lit him on fire, and fear screamed at him to pull back. But he didn’t. He captured her face in both his palms, holding her to him, touching her, caressing her. Tasting her. He couldn’t get enough. And she was right there with him. Her tongue swiped at his. Her fingers tunneled through his hair. And her lips fought to keep up.

Finally, and with grave reservations, he separated them so they could breathe.

His fingers were still tangled in her hair, and he reveled in the silkiness against his skin.

He wanted more.

“Wow,” she whispered.

They stood, faces together, and their bodies trembling.

“You thought that was wow, too, right?” she asked. She sounded as scared as he felt.

Red lights and screaming sirens flashed in his head. A concrete wall slammed at his emotions. All implying the same single word.

Stop!

But another part of him said something else.

“I absolutely thought that was wow.” His voice came out hoarse. “Very wow.” He traced the pad of his thumb over her cheekbone. Her skin was soft. And the rain made her intoxicating to touch. “This is bad, Red. I’m going to want more.”

“No.” She shook her head. “No more. It was a test. A single kiss. I have a date Thursday night. I want a happily ever after . . .” Her words trailed off before she finished with “It’s going to be a good date. He could be the one.”

He wouldn’t be the one.

Carter kissed her again.

They moaned at the same time, and again, she was a full participant. The earth moved under their feet.

When they separated, Carter pulled their hands off each other and put a foot of space between them. He gasped for air. “It’s yet to be seen if this date is ‘the one,
’
” he said. His voice came out gravelly. “But keep your clothes on for it, will you? He doesn’t need to see that.”

She stared at him. Then she blinked, nodded, and put another foot of space between them.

“I hope your mother is right, Carter.” She said the words softly, giving him the most tender smile he’d ever received. “I hope coming home heals you.”

She turned and walked away from him then, and he watched until she’d gotten into her car and driven out of sight. Then he touched his lips. What had he done?

Had that explosion been only because it had been so long for both of them?

The urge to write struck again. He should have an hour or two before anyone else showed up at the house to work, and though he bordered on feeling rude for taking up residence in Ginger’s upstairs room, he didn’t let that stop him. The words had flowed that morning, and that was what mattered.

He retrieved his laptop from his truck and took the stairs two at a time. Settling in the fold-out chair he’d brought over earlier, he stared through the glass panes of the deck doors and watched the rain now coming down in sheets. It was a glorious day.

And that kiss had rocked his fucking world.

C
HAPTER
T
HIRTEEN

T
he slow, steady hum of rain pelting down on the roof kept Ginger in a relaxed state, but not enough to allow sleep to continue. It was time to get up, whether there would be a decent sunrise to view or not.

Of course, she wasn’t likely to meet up with Carter for a rainy sunrise.

Which was
fine
. She wasn’t sure she was ready to face him again.

She threw the covers back and climbed from her bed. It had been raining since yesterday morning, which had suited her perfectly. She’d been in a rainy-day kind of mood. Because the only thing that had been on her mind the whole day was that kiss. And Carter’s suggestion that they have sex.

She’d felt his touch throughout her entire body, and she wasn’t ashamed to admit that she wanted more. Her freaking toes had tingled. But try as she might, she’d never been a casual-sex type of girl. She had to at least
believe
it could go somewhere before going to bed with a man. Yet with Carter, she wanted to be different. She wanted to explore that. To enjoy it. Only . . . how?

What she needed was advice. And she knew just the person to give it.

After brushing her teeth, she grabbed a bottle of water from the minifridge she kept in her room, scooped up her phone, and settled onto the cushion of the window seat.

Call me when you get up. I’m considering casual sex.

She hit “Send,” and laughed when less than fifteen seconds later her phone rang. Her friends were the best.

Roni’s face flashed across her screen. Roni had always been an early riser, so Ginger had hoped she’d be up. And though her friend was now happily married with a kid on the way, she hadn’t been shy in the past about having the occasional good time.

Ginger pushed the button to answer. “So how do I make sure it stays casual?” she greeted.

“And good morning to you, too.” Roni chuckled. “Who are we talking about, here? Do I know him?”

Ginger didn’t answer.

“Oh my god, it’s Carter, isn’t it?” Roni squealed. “You’re going to have sex with Carter! Your boyhood crush. The hottie currently back in town and just next door.” Then she sucked in a sharp breath. “Or have you already had sex with him?”

“I have not. And I may not.” Ginger wet her lips. “But if I wanted to . . .”

“Does Andie know? Oh . . . do I have a secret? We had a feeling it might lead to this.”

“Roni!” Ginger whispered the word as if someone could overhear their conversation. She put a finger to the edge of her curtains and inched it away from the frame. There was a light on in Carter’s room. “I’m serious. We kissed. He suggested an affair. And I don’t know what to do.”

“You kissed?” Roni’s excitement was suddenly contained. “How was it?”

“I just need to know—”

“How was it?” Roni demanded.

“Does it matter?”

“Yes. First off, no casual sex if the kiss doesn’t blow your socks off. It’s just not worth it. But second . . . it was
Carter
. The boy you once would have sold your soul to get a kiss from. How was it?”

“On a scale of one to ten . . .” She gulped. “Fifty.”

“Day-ummm.”

“I know,” Ginger said. “It was
so
good. But Roni, I don’t do this. I never have.”

“But you’ve had sex before.”

“Of course. But only if—”

“I know. Only if you really had your hopes up about the relationship. Which
means
, with the lame-o dates that you so often find, you’re still probably running dry, right? Handling matters yourself?”

She shook her head at Roni’s wording. “Two years and counting.”

“Oh, honey. It sounds like Carter is exactly what you need.”

“Then tell me what to do.”

“You got it. First of all, forget the nerves. Toss them out the window. We’re just talking sex. Hopefully mind-blowing sex, but still, it’s just sex.”

“With my friend.”

“Right. But that’s okay. I had sex with plenty of friends in my day. And we’re all still friends today.”

This was working. Ginger nodded. It could be done. She wouldn’t ruin her life if she decided to go to bed with Carter. She took a drink of her water.

“All you really need to remember is to not overthink it.” Roni said.

“No overthinking. Got it. What else?” Ginger chugged another drink.

“Just have a good time, sweetie. Don’t play games. Tell him what you like, ask him what he likes. And if it becomes hard to deal with, then call stop. Oh, and ground rules. Talk about it beforehand, set up a few ground rules. Then go for it.”

“Okay.” Ginger bit her lip. “I can do that.” Her heart pounded hard, as if she were at the starting line of the act that very moment.

“And the most important thing . . .”

“What’s that?” She peeked out her window again, and saw Carter peeking out his. She lifted her fingers in greeting.

“Make sure he gets you off.”

The bottle slipped from her hand, followed by the phone, and she jerked up off the cushion. She swiped at the cell to keep it from landing in the water, and it skidded across the floor, not stopping until it met the wall.

“Ginger?”

She heard Roni yell through the earpiece.

“Hang on,” she yelled back.

Leave it to Roni to catch her so completely off guard.

She grabbed the emptying bottle, then tossed a towel over the spilled water and hurried after the phone. Her face blazed as she thought about Carter getting her off. Which
was
the whole point of casual sex. But somehow, seeing Carter through the window as Roni had said that made it all the more real.

She
so
wanted to do this.

But she also
didn’t
want to.

“Are you still there?” she asked when she finally got the phone back to her ear. She needn’t have asked, because she could hear Roni laughing.

“Oh, sweetheart,” Roni said, finally getting control of herself. “You’re going to be that man’s fantasy, do you know that? If that one sentence caused that much commotion from you, I can’t imagine how you’ll light up when he touches you.”

“Don’t I know it.” She stood in the middle of her room now, and looked at herself in her mirror. Her cheeks were pink, and her eyes shone as if already in the throes of passion. “It’s a fallback plan, anyway. I have a date tomorrow night. I’m hopeful it’ll go well, then Carter—and this crazy idea—will be off the table.”

“Is he as hot as Carter?”

“How do you know how hot Carter is, anyway? You keep saying that. But you haven’t even seen him since you were a teenager.”

“Andie sent me the picture.”

Of course she did. Her friends had probably been talking about her for days.

“My date isn’t bad looking,” Ginger answered. Nor was he in the same league as Carter. “And I really think he’s interested in long-term. We talked about futures and our lives down the road when we met. It was refreshing to have such an honest conversation with a guy.”

And she had to be certain not to overplay it. She didn’t want to try so hard with this one.

“Then go on your date. Enjoy yourself, and see where it can go. But Ginger . . .”

“What?”

“Don’t close the door to Carter yet, will you? You put so much pressure on these dates, maybe having a good time with him would ease that some.”

“That’s what he said.”

More laughter came through the phone. “I always did like that guy. He’s smart.”

“And you’re a smart aleck. How are you, anyway? Pregnancy going okay?”

“It’s great. I’m getting fat.”

Ginger crossed to the window and used the towel to wipe up the water. “I doubt it. You’re only five months.”

“And barely five feet tall. And
now
there’s a baby shoved in there. Trust me, I’m fat.”

“I’ll bet you’re cute. But then, you’re always cute. I can’t wait to see you this weekend. Did Andie tell you we’re staying out at my house?”

“She told me you have no plumbing,” Roni answered wryly. “If you have any clue about the size of this thing pressing on my bladder, then you’ll know that won’t work.”

“I have plumbing now. Just nothing hooked up yet. But I’m meeting with my contractor today, and I promise, there will be a running toilet in the house before the weekend.” She’d already let Gene know that had to be a priority.

Decisions hadn’t been made on tile for the bathroom floors and master shower yet, but they
would
be made on toilets and the guest bath and sink today. Having no beds would be the bigger issue, but she had a couple of blow-up mattresses headed her way, and she’d take a few lamps and some of her mother’s beach chairs when she went over today. And maybe her minifridge. They would need snacks.

“Then I’m looking forward to it,” Roni told her.

They said their good-byes, and Ginger stood and faced her closed curtain. Was Carter still over there? The rain continued to come down, harder now, so there would be no sunrise walk. But she wouldn’t mind getting another peek at him.

She opened the curtains. He was there. Smiling at her.

Her phone rang.

“Good morning, Ginger Root.”

That freaking flutter went wild at the sound of his sleep-laden voice. “That is such a stupid name,” she told him. “But good morning to you, too.” If they’d been kids, they would have opened their windows and talked through the rain. Instead, she shoved the wet cushion to the floor and curled back onto the seat. She liked this better. “Guess we’re skipping the sunrise?”

“Doubt we’d see much.”

“What are you doing over there?” Her attempt to keep the conversation steered away from the subject of them
doing it
had him glancing down before answering.

“I’m on my laptop,” he said. “Working on a few things. What’s in store for you today?”

“Picking out toilets.”

He chuckled, and she caught herself inching closer to the glass. This was the first time they’d talked since he’d kissed her yesterday morning, and it wasn’t as uncomfortable as she’d feared.

“What about you?” she asked. “How’s the remodel coming?”

“Everything is on target. Need to do a little shopping, pick out a new kitchen table and a few other necessities. But we should be done by middle of next week.”

“Just in time for your parents’ party.” She and her mom had been invited to the anniversary party being held a week from Saturday. “You’re heading home after that?”

“Soon after.”

They fell silent, but continued to look at each other across the space. She expected him to ask if she’d given any more thought to his suggestion, but he didn’t. He just watched.

“I should go.” She broke the silence. “I’m taking the morning off to work with Gene, so I should probably shower and get ready.”

“And I should probably”—he glanced down again, but didn’t finish his sentence.

“Have a good day,” she added.

She stood, ready to hang up, but he stopped her. “I wanted to ask you something.”

“What’s that?”

He was standing now, same as she, and as if he were right there in the room with her, she would swear she could feel the heat from his body wrap around hers. He touched one finger to his window. “Why balloons?”

She stared, not understanding the question at first, then she saw his smile. And blushed as badly as if he
were
standing right there. The tattoo on her hip was a bundle of balloons.

Instead of answering, she shook her head and let the curtains drop closed.

“I’ll talk to you later, Carter.”

Soft laughter was his only reply.