evenly. Trenton tapped Jonah’s shoulder and jerked his head toward the bed again. He skimmed it with a flashlight. Dani’s eyes widened at the vision of black mussels upon black mussels. There were possibly twenty dozen, and they were blanketed by fish who were trying to eat the decoy fish.
Dani caught a flash of something and swam to grab it.
Her hand pushed through the swarm of fish. She felt the cool slide of mussels against her hand, but her fingers dug into the river’s bottom until she felt what she thought was a pearl. Grabbing it, she swam back to Jonah and lifted up the grey pearl.
Both men nodded.
Trenton gave her a thumbs up as Jonah handed over the oxygen again. Once she took a couple breaths, he took it back, then placed his hands on both sides of her face. He leaned in and touched his lips to hers. He kissed her hard.
Dani softened, her arms went around his shoulders. They fit together, and Jonah continued to kiss her. She was content to let him, her lips moving against his. She could’ve kissed him forever. The heat enflamed again, as it had before, but Jonah pulled back. His hand found hers, and he tugged her to the surface. Their heads came up, inside an air pocket in the cave. There was a large slab of dry rock in the corner. A bunch of bags were stored in the corner.
Jonah noticed where she was looking. “We keep stuff here. Blankets, dry clothes, whatever we need if we don’t feel like swimming all the way back to the opening. Brought ‘em in with bags to keep everything dry.”
Dani grinned at him, water streaming down her face. “That pearl must mean something.”
Jonah’s hand slipped to her hip, and he pressed her closer. She felt him fully and heard his response, as his mouth bent just beside her ear, “These pearls will bring a lot to Craigstown and Falls River. That’s what this means.”
“Hmm mmm?”
“And what about right now?”
Jonah dipped and tugged her under the water. Delight coursed through her, buzzing her blood. She clasped tighter to him. And before she knew what was going on, he kicked off with a burst of speed. He was swimming back, leaving Trenton behind, and then they broke the surface again. They were back at the entrance. He trapped her against the edge, his arms braced on both sides of her. Leaning forward, he nipped at the side of her mouth, then trailing kisses along her chin to her ear. One of his hands curled around her hip, and he pressed against her. “Remember when you called me ‘God’ before?”
She didn’t, but she was going with this. She wanted to know where he was going to take her. “Hmm mmm?” She tipped her head and Jonah’s searching lips found her neck, sending new shivers of lust ricocheting throughout her body.
“I’m going to make you call me that again.”
And once they got back to her cabin, he did just that.
Jonah spent the night that night, but Dani remained awake. Once she saw the clock said it was three in the morning, she slipped from the bed. Wrapping a blanket around herself, she went to the porch. A bonfire was still burning at the Smith’s home across the lake and after she propped open the door, laughter greeted her. A faint smile graced her features. It felt good to hear that sound. Sinking back in her chair, she closed her eyes. She was content to sit there and listen to their family’s happiness.
It felt less lonely somehow.
“Hey.” Jonah yawned and padded to the lounger beside her. He reached for the bottom end of her blanket and tugged it over his lap. “Did you have a nightmare?”
“No.” Dani moved in her seat to turn his way. She rested her head against the back of her seat and watched him in the moonlight. It filtered over him, accentuating his chiseled cheekbones and soft bedroom eyes. “I have come to the conclusion that my life is a mess.”
Jonah grinned. “How’s that?”
“I’m sleeping with you. My ex-fiancé is in town. My childhood boyfriend is jealous, and he’s engaged to my sister.”
Jonah snorted. “That’s not a mess. That just sounds like a small-town soap fest. It’s something Aiden would love to hear. You’d make her day if she got ahold of your drama. She’d sit for hours and help you fix everything, and in the end, you and I would be married in my sister’s fantasy.”
“I’ve never done the friendship thing.”
“What do you mean?”
“Isn’t that what someone’s supposed to share with their friends? All their problems?”
“I guess.” Jonah shrugged. “I talk to Trenton sometimes about issues, but they’re usually about work. Hawk’s not exactly the ‘emotional-sharing’ type. He likes sex. He thinks that’s his entire reason for being on this Earth.”
“He sounds stellar.”
“Hawk has good qualities. If I ever need anything, he’ll drop everything to help.”
“Even a threesome?”
Jonah barked a laugh. “Aiden called me tonight. She wanted me to remind you that they have their Friday Night Poker Showdown this week. I’m supposed to drive you. I think Aiden wants you to get drunk.”
“That might be a possibility.”
“Oh, and to warn you, Jake was invited. That means Julia will be there. I guess it’ll be pretty big because some of her new friends were invited, too. Aiden doesn’t even know who all is coming, but she’s planning for thirty.”
“How many play poker?”
“Eight tables are set up. Everyone watches until the winning table faces-off against each other. It takes all night, so plan on sleeping it off the next day. Most people just go to drink, laugh, and lose some money.” Jonah ran a hand over his face, yawning. “It’s pretty fun. Aiden and Kate wore these ridiculous hats last year. They pretended they were the next generation of Red Hats. They wore red and purple all night. Even their poker tables had to have a red or purple tablecloth.”
Dani could imagine it.
Jonah tugged at the end of the blanket. “Not to change the subject, but to change the subject.” He leaned closer, his eyes darkening. His voice dropped low. “Are you naked under there?”
Her heart spiked, and she felt a coy smile tug at her lips. “Maybe.”
Jonah stood and moved to her. Sliding his hands underneath the blanket, he made an approving sound as he felt silky skin underneath his fingertips. He lifted her legs to wrap around him, and he stood between them. Her body grew warm. Her blood started to buzz, and she felt a tingle spreading right where his hands were moving. They went under her thighs, and he pulled her tight against him.
He bent, kissing the corner of her mouth.
Dani was beginning to ache for him, and she couldn’t help but ask out loud, “How do we fit?” She wasn’t talking about their bodies. She knew exactly how they fit, like perfection.
“We just do.” Jonah pressed another kiss, hard, to her mouth.
She slid her hands down his back, delighted in the shiver he couldn’t suppress. “Is that it? We just do this without rules?”
“No.” Jonah bent and met her lips again. He murmured against them, “When something happens and we need to clarify rules, we do it then. Until then, I’m all for just having fun.” He hoisted her up in his arms, her legs wrapped more firmly around his waist. He asked, “How about you?”
“I’m thinking I like how we fit.”
Jonah walked them inside and to the bedroom. He laid her down, pulled the sheet free, and leaned just above her with one knee braced on the bed. His other leg was still on the floor. He held his weight, resting on a hand next to her shoulder so he was half over her, half holding her captive. Her heart was picking up speed. She wasn’t so sure about the ‘captive’ part. Biting down on her lip, she fought against pulling him on top of her. Her eyes darted to his.
“I like how we fit, too.” He traced her lips with his thumb, then cupped the side of her cheek. He lowered himself down at an aching pace until his lips softly found hers.
Dani slid her hand down his chest, savoring the hard contours of him. He was hard in all the right spots. She felt his strength, especially how he was still holding
himself above her. Smoothing her hands down to his waist, then around and up, she felt his back muscles rippling. They were shivering from her touch, and she wrapped one leg around his thigh. The ache was there and growing deeper each moment he held himself away from her. She started to pull him down with her leg.
Now.
This.
She wanted him on top of her. She wanted to feel his weight. She wanted to feel every inch of him.
It wasn’t long before his kiss deepened, and she was writhing, gasping, and begging until he slid inside. She woke later, and felt his searching lips and fingers on her once again.
Jonah was gone when she woke again.
It was nine in the morning, and she’d been a no-show two nights ago. It was time to find Mae. She had an apology to issue. The bar was almost empty when she entered, but the restaurant side was bustling. Mae was knelt down behind a stack of boxes on the bar counter.
“Hey, ho.”
Mae popped out. “Did you just call me a whore? And after you not showing up the other night? I thought you were coming to help out.”
Dani grimaced. “Sorry about that. Some stuff happened.” She indicated Barney and a few of Mae’s regulars. “And I was making a lame joke. You kinda have six dwarves who sit in your bar, and you take care of the seventh back at your cabin.” She pointed to herself. “Me. You take care of all of us.”
Mae frowned. “You’re not a dwarf.” She nodded to the others. “Neither are they, but I’ll take the Snow White reference. It’s a compliment compared to what I used to be called.” She eyed her. “Where’d this good mood come from?”
“I have surrendered to the chaos in my life.”
She made the decision last night. Her life was a mess. She was going to embrace it, and she ended up embracing Jonah right after. That was a sign, right?
Mae barked out a laugh. “That just means you have a life.” She slapped a hand to her hip and sashayed a two-step. “Folk like me are supposed to have ‘messes’ for lives, but I don’t. I got no life except my favorite niece, this bar, and that restaurant. Sometimes I think this business got a better life of its own than mine.” She narrowed her eyes, studying her niece a bit longer. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you have a glow. You’re glowing.” The ends of her mouth tipped down. “Why?”
Subject change. Dani reached for one of the boxes. “Can I help with anything here? What are you doing anyway?”
“No.” Mae slapped away Dani’s hand. She pulled some of the towels out from the first box. “I’m not letting you turn yourself into an unpaid volunteer who works here full-time. If you work, you get paid. My rules.”
“Then pay me or consider this in exchange for the cabin’s rent.”
Mae cursed. “That cabin is yours. It’s been yours for a long while. You’re just never around to be told that. You’re not working for rent. I pay well for my staff.”
“Fine. Pay me. Put me to work. I’ve got nothing to do right now.”
Mae was putting the towels under the counter, but stopped. She leaned against the counter and cocked her face to the side. Her arm rested on top of the box. “You know.” She gave Dani a knowing look. “I came by the cabin the other night. Real late that night. Wanted to check on you, since you didn’t show.”
Well.
Fuck.
Her aunt knew. And she knew that her aunt knew, so now Mae knew that she knew that her aunt knew. Still. Dani rolled her shoulders back. She was going to do a Mae. She was going to try and bullshit her way out of this one. “Yeah?” Her tone was casual. “I was up. You could’ve come in for a drink.”
Mae snorted. “Stop lying.” She grabbed hold of more towels from inside the box. “I know what you were doing last night. Don’t think I didn’t notice when you changed the subject five seconds ago either.”
Dani held her breath. It was out. “And?”
“And what?” Mae shook her head. “And nothing. About time you got underneath that man. He’s like a stallion, just asking to be ridden. Besides, have you forgotten who I am? Sex is healthy. I know that more than others.” Mae paused, and her face softened. “Just watch out, though. I might not know what you went through, but I know you went through something. If your heart’s vulnerable, guard it wisely.”
And Dani was melting on the inside. “Aunt Mae.” She placed her hand on the bar.
Mae covered it with hers, giving it a light squeeze. “You know I love you. I trust you, just couldn’t take seeing you hurt even more.”
“I’m the runner, remember?” It was meant as a joke.
Mae barked out another laugh. “True. Of the two of you, you’re the runner. I said my piece. I’m done. Consider the Aunt’s Obligation fulfilled. As long as you’re being smart, have all the sex you want.” Her voice picked up at the end, carrying through the bar.
Dani cursed silently, catching movement from the corner of her eye. The other dwarves looked over. “Thanks, Aunt Mae.”
Mae shrugged, picking up the boxes from the counter. “What do you expect? You’re in the town whore’s bar?” She winked, then nodded toward the restaurant side. “Your sister’s over there, along with her hoity-toity friends. Save yourself. Every O’Hara for themselves.” She laughed, dipping into the back.
Dani stayed back.
Her aunt was wrong. This wasn’t the ‘town whore’s bar.’ This was her aunt’s bar, and the rumors might’ve been horrendous and widespread, but they were wrong. Mae probably hadn’t shared her bed with a man in years. And she really probably hadn’t done it if the guy also wasn’t in her heart.
Dani felt a dip in humility. She was proud to come from the same family as Mae.
Dani was about to follow her when someone coughed behind her
Jake had on a half-scowl, and her eyes tracked to the right—she gulped. Boone wore a full-scowl.
Shit.
They knew each other.
Jake pointed next to him. “Dani, this is Mitch Quandry. He’s—”
Fuck’s sakes. She was about to be introduced to her ex-fiancé.
“You can call me Mitch.”
That was all Boone offered. No handshake.
She muttered under her breath, “Oh, boy.” Then nodded. “Hi. I’m—” This felt wrong. Neither knew who the other was, or she didn’t think they did. She was pretending right now, and when it would come out. The truth always came out eventually.
Jake cut her off. “This is Julia’s sister.” He nodded to Boone. “This is Jenny’s boyfriend. Jenny is—”
Boyfriend? Dani gulped again.
Boone cut Jake off a second time. “Jenny’s a friend of mine.”
“Oh.” Jake frowned at him, scratching behind his ear. Then he cleared his throat. “Okay.”
“Boyfriend.” Dani couldn’t stop herself. She shouldn’t care. She soo shouldn’t care. The caring was burning in her chest.
Boone’s smile was tight. “It’s nice to meet you. Julia seems lovely.”
“Yeah, uh—” Jake coughed a second time. “They’re not real tight, but they’re sisters. They care about each.”
Dani hissed, “He gets the picture.” She clenched her teeth.
Jake shut up.
The air was tense. Jake was frowning still, and still itching behind his ear. Boone was staring right at her, like he wanted to drill holes into her skull. She focused on the counter. It needed another washcloth over it, but unable to stop herself, she flicked another glance up. She looked right smack dab back at Boone, and he adjusted. He clipped his head to the side, as if he’d never been staring.
“Where’d Mae go?” Jake looked around the grill. “I wanted to introduce him to her.”
No! That was Dani’s first thought, but she couldn’t say that. She saw a rag under the counter, and reached for it without thinking. Her hand tightened around it. “Really?”
Mae was hers. Why was Jake introducing Boone to her? Boone, who suddenly had a girlfriend? Whose girlfriend was friends with Julia? Mae was hers, not Jul
ia’s.
Jake’s head dipped down under her stare, still holding her gaze. “What’s with you?”
“She’s a thief.” Julia came around the corner, along with another female. She moved to link her elbow with Jake’s. “That’s what’s wrong with her.”