Off the Grid

He pulled back. “Do you think this will compromise your story? I don’t want to get in the way of you living your dreams.”

After taking a moment to think it over, she shook her head. The fact that he’d thought about how it would affect her in the long run made her want him more. “No, it’s about the lifestyle, not you.”

“Do you want to continue this?”

“Yes.” There was no point in being coy when she finally found everything she’d been looking for in a man. He was strong, confident, skilled, and humorous. Every day she saw more of the man he was and had yet to balk.

“Then we will.” He stroked a finger down the side of her face. “This was the last thing I expected to happen.”

“I know. Me either.” She couldn’t stop the wide smile from stretching her lips upward.

“Okay, I really need to shower now.” They laughed. “I set the laptop out for you. You can surf the web, or watch one of the movies I have in the drawer that pulls out from under the table.”

“I can entertain myself. I actually think I might check in with the folks so they know I’m doing okay.”

“Sounds like a plan. I don’t want them to come down here guns blazing.”

“They are not that bad,” she said.

“Uh huh.” He placed a sweet kiss on her temples and moved away.

She rolled her eyes and took her soiled clothes over to the laundry basket before returning to the computer.

Crossed leg with the machine on her lap, she opened her email and laughed. Cece sent her an email a day.

Hey, Cece, as you can see I’m still alive and well. Pluses, I’m going to come back from this trip buff as hell. Minuses, going for days on end without a shower isn’t exactly my cup of tea. We’re getting along great, and I’m learning a lot. I’ve been surprised to realize how much I retained from Grandma Rose, which has made this trip that much more special. I’ll try to do my best to check back in next week. Don’t worry so much.

Love you,

Lilac.

She opened her email and wrote a few sentences, assuring her family she was fine before she sent them the message in a mass email.

As she hit send a chime with Alexa’s email popped up. Her stomach sank. Part of her wanted to ignore it, but the other part needed to know what the woman had to say. She opened the letter. Her blood pressure sky rocketed toward the moon.

Sloppy seconds, backstabbing, and poor man’s replacement jumped off the screen like a screaming person. How dare she accuse me of manipulating anyone? I’ll leave that shit to her. The very thought of being under Peter made her dry heave. With his lecherous smile, roaming hands, and spray bottle tan, he was too fake to take seriously. Her flippant comment that she would remain at the top of the food chain while Lilac remained at the bottom where she deserved to be hit her like a sucker punch. This woman needed to be taken down a few pegs and have several seats, and she was the bitch who’d make sure that happened. I’m going to write the fuck out of this story.

She paused, staring at the words. She could respond, but that would lower her down to Alexa’s level. It’d be worse to make her sweat it out. Let’s show her how much of a non-factor she is. Closing out her email, she took a deep breath. She would not let this wretched waste of space ruin what had been an incredible experience so far. The romantic turn the trip took was a plus. It had nothing to do with her being a warm, willing body. Did it? He’d been out here alone for a long time. Had she been blinded by her own needs?

She glanced over at the shower area. He seemed like such a genuine person. But Alexa had history with him, current and previous. Maybe he was a case of too good to be true. The ardor she’d experienced earlier cooled. Her shoulders slumped, and she leaned back into the couch cushions. She needed to keep her eyes open and her heart guarded. She’d been through enough over the past few weeks. One more thing might be the tipping point. The shower stopped and she scrambled to get a movie going and look relaxed.

***

Thorn

It felt good to be clean. He got oblivious to things when he was out in the forest, but now he had a woman he wanted to impress. He admitted it to himself. He wanted Lilac, and not for a quick roll in the hay. Her easy acceptance of his lifestyle and genuine passion to get more intimately acquainted with it, opened him up in a way he hadn’t been able to with any other woman since he’d returned home. His life had revolved around work, producing a self-sufficient home

and life, and the occasional sexual release with Alexa. This was a chance for more than that. After drying off with a towel, he slipped on a fresh pair of cargo khaki’s and a white T-shirt. He moved out of the shower, and gathered his things.

Lilac sat on the couch, cross legged watching one of his favorite comedies. Her large curls framed her face, making her look even younger than her thirty-two years. He paused to admire her for a moment.

“You ready to do laundry?” he asked.

She sat up. “Yep.”

“After this we can relax while everything dries.” He tossed his clothing into the basket and lifted it. “Can you get the washing powder under the sink?”

“I’m on it.”