Starlee's Heart (The Wayward Sons 1)

“Monday.”

“I’ll get Katie to work the desk and I’ll go with you to June Lake.”

“Really?” I ask, pleased that she wants to be involved.

“Of course. Dexter is a fine young man that’s come a long way. I don’t want anything to happen to him either.”

I throw my arms around my grandmother, relieved to finally give something back to the person that put it all on the line for me when I’d first arrived.

The big group is rowdier this time and there are complaints from the surrounding guests. I spend my day running interference, trying to keep everyone happy. Thankfully, on their last night, our requests for them to quiet down seem to have worked and they’re just hanging around the firepit. When Dexter and I get back from a walk down to the lake, everything is relatively calm.

“When do they leave?” Dexter asks as we sit on the bench in front of the market. His fingers thread through mine.

“Ugh, tomorrow.” I squeeze his hand. “I think they’re stressing Leelee out.”

He laughs. “I think they’re stressing you out, too.”

“They’re just messy and drink too much and loud.” I sigh. “You wouldn’t believe the number of calls we’re getting.”

“I can hear them in my bedroom. I’m not surprised.” He watches the visitors, eyes narrowed. “There always seems to be that one group, though, you know. Last year it was a bunch of bikers.”

“They were bad?”

“They would get up every morning at five to drive out. I thought their engines would cause a rockslide. Woke the whole damn town.” He gives me a rueful grin. “Tourists: can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em.”

“I guess it’s nice when the season’s over, huh? Just a few more weeks.”

It’s a bit of a loaded statement. In a few weeks, he could be dealing with a stricter probation and I’ll be headed back to North Carolina. That topic in particular is one everyone has been avoiding. Including me.

“What’s going on with that?” I ask, pointing down the road to where I see Jake jogging up the inclining hill to the town. Two figures follow. “Is that Charlie and George?”

“George’s going to try out for football this year, so Jake said he’d train him.”

“And Charlie?”

He shrugs. “Guess he thought he’d get in shape too.”

“What about you?”

“Running’s for jerks,” he says, giving me a kiss on the temple. “I can think of a million other ways to burn off excess energy.”

The implication behind his words make me burn head to toe and I’m still blushing when the boys make it up the hill. Jake spots us and runs over. He stops short after giving me a closer look.

“Did I interrupt something?”

“No!” I blurt.

“Yes. Go away,” Dexter says at the same time.

“Stop,” I say, but he’s wearing a playful grin and it warms my heart. I feel the anger loosening on him daily. I look back at Jake. “So, you’re training those two?”

“I’m trying.” He shakes his head. “For someone with as much energy as George, his stamina sucks.”

“I heard that,” George yells from a few yards away. He makes it to the bench and plops down. Sweat runs down his face and pools in the middle of his shirt. His cheeks are bright red. “I have stamina for important things. Running is just stupid.”

“You’re stupid,” Jake replies. He focuses down the road and claps for Charlie as he gets closer. “Bring it in, man! You’ve got this.”

I hop to my feet, dragging Dexter with me, and join in. “Go Charlie!”