Tender Absolution

  “Idiot,” she muttered as she climbed into the hot interior of her car. She jammed the keys into the ignition and the motor turned over.

  “Hey, wait!” Ben strode out of the store, the screen door slamming behind him.

  “For what?” She eyed him through her open window and wondered why she didn’t ram the little car into gear and roar out of the lot in a cloud of dust and righteous indignation.

  “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

  “Well, you did.” She just wanted to get away from him. Enough was enough. She couldn’t chase him forever and let herself look like an idiot.

  “I’m sorry.” He stopped by her car and leaned down so that he could stare into her eyes. “I’m glad you came by.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Carlie,” he said and his voice was like a caress on the soft-blowing breeze. “Look, can we start over?”

  She swallowed hard. She didn’t want to see the kind side to him, not when she’d made a fool of herself. “Maybe we should just finish. It would be easier.”

  “But not as much fun,” he said and the streaks of silver in his eyes seemed more defined. “I’ve been meaning to call you—”

  “But,” she prompted, ready for a string of excuses.

  “But I’m working two jobs and well…I didn’t know if it was such a good idea.” He didn’t have to mention the passion that had flared between them whenever they were alone, but there it was, still thick in the air, hovering between them. He leaned both arms on the edge of the window and kicked out a hip so that he could stare at her. His fingers grazed her arm and her pulse jumped in anticipation. “I really am glad you stopped by.”

  She didn’t want to hear any platitudes. Not now. “I’m on my way to the lake. I should really go.”

  Frowning, he checked his watch. “I don’t get off until seven. How long are you staying at the lake?”

  “Until six-forty-five.”

  He cocked an interested dark eyebrow. “Not another fifteen minutes?”

  “I don’t think it’s such a good idea,” she said, repeating his words and mocking him. With a sigh and a lift of her shoulders, she threw her little car into gear. “I’ve got to be home for dinner.”

  “Is that right?” He didn’t believe her. The cocksure grin told her he knew she was lying, but he didn’t call her on it. At least not yet. Straightening, he slapped the open window with his bare palm. “Well, I guess I’ll have to catch you another time.” With that he turned on his heel and dashed up the two steps to the porch, leaving Carlie to seethe in her car and wonder why she couldn’t just forget him. He was trouble. No two ways about it. She should listen to Rachelle’s advice and forget him.

  She ripped out of the parking lot in a spray of gravel and imagined Ben laughing at her. So what was she doing chasing after him like a lovesick puppy? He was just playing with her and she certainly didn’t need the aggravation. So he’d kissed her. Big deal. Lots of boys had kissed her and she hadn’t fantasized about it, made it seem as if the sun and the moon and stars were involved in a simple touching of lips. But she hadn’t been willing to let any of the other boys strip her of her blouse or loosen the straps of her swimsuit. No one else had put his lips to her breasts and—“Forget it!” she told herself as she stepped on the gas and pushed the speed limit of the winding road around the lake. At the public boat landing and park, she nosed her compact car into a sliver of a parking space. “Forget him.”

  She grabbed her towel and beach bag, locked the car and started down the trail through the trees to the swimming hole. She’d cool off, talk with some friends for a while, swim, then go home before seven o’clock! She had to forget him. Anything else was just begging for emotional suicide.

  * * *

  “SHE’S A PRETTY thing, ain’t she?” Mrs. Sedgewick said to the world in general as Ben strode back into the store. He didn’t comment but saw the old lady swallow a smile at his reaction. Why was everything so complicated when it came to dealing with Carlie? Yes, she was a pretty girl. Yes, he was interested in her. Yes, he’d like to date her. And yes, he couldn’t pry her from his mind, try as he might. But all his instincts told him to turn the other way and run anytime he came in contact with her.

  Kevin had warned him about her and yet, try as he would, Ben couldn’t seem to get the girl out of his blood. Kissing her had been a mistake, a kick-you-in-the-gut kind of mistake that messed with his mind.

  He had enough trouble without Carlie. His father had never been the same since his divorce, and his sister, Nadine, seemed about ready to bolt to the altar with Sam Warne, her boyfriend of the past few years. Kevin, well, he was already screwed up. Ever since he’d lost his basketball scholarship, he hadn’t been the same.

  Ben needed to keep his wits about him. He was the only Powell left with a lick of sense.

  “Why don’t you take the rest of the day off?” Tina suggested. “Not much business this afternoon.”

  “You sure?” Ben was surprised.

  “Hell, yes!” Eli said as he straightened a few ten-pound sacks of dog food. “It’s slow today.”

  Ben didn’t need any more encouragement. Between his hours working in the woods during the week and his weekend job at the Bait and Fish, he didn’t have much time for himself. Not to mention the matter of Carlie Surrett. He should avoid her like the plague, but as he waved to Tina, walked outside and noticed the sun lingering over the horizon, he knew he’d follow Carlie to the lake. “Just like the stupid lemmings,” he thought as he ground the gears of his old truck and headed to the public easement where most of the kids hung out.

  He saw her car in the parking lot and smiled inwardly. Pocketing his keys, he almost whistled. He had the rest of the day off and didn’t have to be back at the tackle shop until noon tomorrow. He considered the ragged pair of cutoffs he kept in a bag on the floor of the cab and decided they’d have to suffice for a swimming suit. Well, Miss Surrett, he thought as he climbed out of the hot interior of his old truck, you’re in for one helluva surprise.

  * * *

  LIKE A MIRROR, the lake reflected the forest and surrounding mountains. Speedboats pulling water-skiers, dinghies drifting with fishermen and motorboats trolling through the smooth waters caused the only ripples to appear on the lake’s glassy surface.

  Carlie ignored a group of kids huddled around a cooler and a radio and walked to the end of the dock. She kicked off her sandals, sat on the edge and dragged one toe through the cold water. What was she doing getting herself tied in emotional knots over Ben Powell? As soon as she had enough money saved, she was leaving Gold Creek and she didn’t need any complications—romantic or otherwise—holding her down. Closing her eyes, she pressed her palms to the sun-baked boards of the pier and lolled her head back.

  Tranquillity had just settled over her when she felt footsteps reverberating on the tired boards of the dock. She was about to turn around when a pair of hands clamped possessively over her shoulders, thumbs to her back, fingertips resting on the slope of her breasts.

  “I didn’t think you’d come this early,” she said, and a deep-throated chuckle was her response. Blinking open her eyes, she stared upward, where the sun silhouetted the handsome face of a man…but not Ben’s. The smell of cigarette smoke and stale beer floated on the breeze. She froze as she recognized Kevin.

  “Expecting someone?” he asked with a grin.

  She scooted away from him. “What’re you doing here?”

  “I was with some friends, saw you and thought I’d say hello.” He rubbed his chin. “We need to talk.”

  She tried not to be wary. He was, after all, Ben’s brother, as well as a man she’d recently dated. She should give him the benefit of the doubt. Squinting up at him, she said, “What do you want to talk about?”

  “Us.”

  Her throat closed. “
There’s nothing more to discuss.”

  “I miss you, Carlie,” he said, his expression lifeless.

  “I thought you were dating someone else.”

  “It didn’t work out.” He shoved a hand through his brown hair and scowled down at the water.

  This was getting complicated and she felt a little guilty. “Look, Kevin, I’m seeing someone—”

  “Ben. I know.” His expression hardened and the look in his eyes was as cold as the depths of the lake. “Hell, don’t I know?”

  “I don’t understand what you want from me, Kevin,” she said, wrapping her towel around her shoulders as she stood and faced him. He was tall and intimidating, but he didn’t scare her. Kevin wasn’t a bad person, just confused.

  “I don’t know, either. I know it didn’t work for us and I suppose I’m as much to blame as anyone, but I’m not sure I can deal with you being Ben’s girl. I loved you, Carlie. More than anyone else ever could.”

  Her heart twisted a little. “You don’t, Kevin, and I’m…I’m not anyone’s girl.”

  He reached for her, but she stepped away. “Please, don’t—”

  His lips flattened suddenly. “No one’s girl, eh? Oh, right. You’re your own woman, going places, off to see the world.” When she didn’t answer, he cast her a disdainful look filled with pain and anger. “Who’re you kidding, Carlie? You don’t have any more chance of getting out of this hellhole of a town than the rest of us. You’re trapped, baby, just like everyone else.”

  Trembling a little at the fierceness in his tone, she stepped backward and nearly fell off the dock. She had to scramble to maintain her balance.

  “Kevin!” Ben’s voice thundered from the parking lot and Carlie wanted to die.

  Kevin’s expression turned ugly as he watched his younger brother run to the dock. “Big mistake, Carlie,” he said, turning back to her and stripping the towel from her fingers. His gaze raked down her body. “If you really want to get out, you’d better not tie yourself down. Especially not to Ben. He’ll break your damned heart.” With that piece of advice he dropped the towel and strode down the planks of the dock and met his brother who was running toward the pier.

  “She’s all yours,” Kevin said with a dismissive motion of his head.

  “I’m not anyone’s!” she insisted again, though her face burned with shame.

  “Carlie—”

  Ben’s voice followed her as she turned and dived into the clear, cold water of the lake. Damn the Powell boys. Both of them. Who did they think they were, snarling over her like two tigers coveting a prized piece of meat? Why couldn’t she just forget them both? Kevin was bad news and everyone told her that getting involved with Ben would be courting disaster. The writing was already on the wall.

  The water caressed her skin and she swam under the surface, determined to put as much distance between herself and anyone named Powell. Who needed them, she thought, and her heart tugged a little as her lungs began to burn. She kicked upward, through the cool depths and, as her head broke the surface, gasped for air. Treading water she looked back at the dock and saw Ben kicking off his shoes.

  She felt a little shiver of anticipation as he looked her way and stripped off his shirt. Her throat tightened as he dived neatly into the water and started swimming her way. She had two choices: swim toward him or toward the opposite shore. Gauging the distance, and the rate he was plowing through the water, she knew she didn’t have a prayer of reaching the distant bank. Still, she could give him a good run for his money.

  Again she dived under the surface and swam toward the middle of the lake, but at an angle, toward the Fitzpatrick place. Within a minute her lungs began to ache, but she kept going and only surfaced when she was starved for air and her lungs were on fire.

  Her head emerged and she saw him, still coming, swimming unerringly in her direction. With a kick, she surged away from him, but within a matter of minutes, he was next to her, his hands sliding against her wet skin, his fingers surrounding her arms.

  “Wh-what are you doing?” she asked between gasps.

  “This.” His lips found hers and he tasted of salt and clear water. She had to tread water to stay afloat.

  Kicking away from him, she said, “I don’t appreciate your getting your big brother’s approval to—”

  He pulled her roughly against him. “Kevin has nothing to do with us.” He kissed her again, and wound his arms around her torso. His body was hot and wet against hers and her heart beat anxiously to a new and wild drum.

  “We’ll drown out here.”

  He lifted his head and smiled, a flash of white so devilish that her heart turned over. “I’ll keep you safe, Carlie,” he vowed. “Come on.” He pulled gently on her hand before letting go and swimming back to the dock. With only a second’s hesitation, she followed him, swimming in his wake, feeling the ripples splash her face and knowing that she was beginning to fall in love with him.

  Not now! her mind screamed. She had plans for her life and those plans didn’t include being tied to a hometown boy. But he was different and changed her way of thinking. He wanted to see the world—he’d said as much. Maybe they could see it together.

  By the time she reached the dock she was exhausted. He helped her onto the weathered planks and they sat together, side by side, not touching, breathing hard and listening to the sound of crickets and frogs over the constant lapping of the lake.

  “Listen, Ben,” she said, when she could finally speak again, “I don’t like you talking about me to anyone. Especially Kevin.”

  “I didn’t.”

  “He seems to think we were going together or something.” She didn’t add that he said he had loved her.

  “Are we?”

  The question hung between them, unanswered and she dragged her toes through the water. “You tell me,” she finally said.

  He smiled then and chased away all the doubts in her heart as he kissed her. But he never answered her question.

  * * *

  “THOSE POWELL BOYS are trouble,” Weldon Surrett said as he cleaned his hunting rifle and offered his daughter some unrequested advice. They were seated on the back deck, he drinking a beer, she sipping a tart lemonade. The sun had set, a few stars winked in the sky and the lights of Gold Creek cast a glow into the bank of heavy clouds that were rolling in from the west. “I think you’d best avoid both the boys.”

  “Who says they’re trouble?”

  “Ever’body. Now, the old man, George, he’s okay. Worked every day of his life for the sawmill, but Kevin’s always complaining and showing up late for work. Got the reputation of a troublemaker. I’ll just bet his brother’s the same.” He paused to light a cigarette and let it dangle from his lips.

  “You don’t work at the mill and besides, just because two people are related doesn’t meant they think the same. Look at you and Uncle Sid,” she said, feeling a need to defend Ben. They’d started dating just this past week and tonight was the third night they were scheduled to go out to a new action movie at the twin cinemas in Coleville. Obviously her father thought she and Ben were becoming too close.

  “But half the people in this town get their paychecks from Monroe Sawmill and our trucks take logs over to the mill all day long. The drivers see and hear things and word filters back. Kevin’s a pain in the backside. Always has been. Got himself an attitude that nearly cost him his job a couple of times. The only reason he’s still there is Monroe seems to like George. I was worried when you first dated him and I was relieved that it ended so quickly.”

  “There was nothing there, Dad. We only went out a couple of times.”

  He drew hard on his cigarette and let smoke drift from his nose. “But now you’re with the other kid. Six of one, half a dozen of the other, if you ask me.” He took a long swallow from his glass and called over his shoulder.
“Thelma, how about another beer?”

  “How about you gettin’ it yourself and helping with these dishes?”

  “I’ll get it.” Carlie was glad for an excuse to avoid another lecture. She walked through the sliding door into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. “Leave the dishes, Mom. I’ll do ’em.”

  Her mother smiled. “You vacuum tomorrow. I’ll take care of the dishes.”

  “It’s a deal.” Carlie popped the cap of a can of beer and walked back outside.

  “Thanks,” her father said as he stubbed out his cigarette. He poured the brew into his glass, took a sip and set his drink on the table. “Now, about the Powell boy—”

  “Dad, please.”

  “It’s not a good idea to date brothers—” He picked up his rifle again and ran his fingers along the barrel.

  “I already told you, Ben and Kevin are different.”

  Her father opened the Remington, snapped it shut and hoisted it to his shoulder, where he squinted through the sight. With a satisfied grunt, he set the rifle on the small table. “Just be careful, honey. Boys are territorial and dating two brothers is—”

  “Asking for trouble, I know. Believe me, I’ve heard the lecture. About a million times,” Carlie said as thunderclouds rumbled in the distance.

  “Good. Then maybe you learned something. Looks like it might rain.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “You know, I saw Thomas Fitzpatrick today and he asked about you.”

  Carlie squirmed a little. “He’s still mad ’cause I stood up for Rachelle and Jackson.”

  “He didn’t seem angry,” Weldon said thoughtfully as he gazed over the railing. “He just asked what you planned to do after the summer’s over.”

  She tried to ignore the little chill that scurried down her spine. “I think he might offer you a job,” Weldon said hopefully. “You could work for him and go to the community college. Give up all those crazy notions of yours about New York City.”

  “He wouldn’t give me a job.”