Built Over Time (Middleton Hotels 4)

Chapter 1

Bryce

I pulled up to the fishing hole behind my parents’ home. They were busy “taking a nap” together, so I decided to head out back and catch some fish. I cast my line into the water, then took up a seat on the grass. It was the end of summer and our usual trip to Reese was almost over. I peered over the edge of the right bank as a car pulled up alongside the water. It wasn’t private property, but it was so secluded that no one ever came this way. They weren’t in viewing distance of the house. I watched as an older man exited the car, then opened the door for a young girl. She was younger than me, but something about her caused me to stare longer than I should have. The young girl was probably only sixteen, and I was already eighteen and on my way to college. She had long blonde hair that had a bit of curl to the ends. She was smiling at the man she was with, and I felt like a perverted stalker. I’d never kissed a girl, and I wanted to go over there and kiss her. It was wrong, but she was stunning. I wanted to meet her, but I didn’t have a clue how to approach her. I shook as I considered her brushing me off. With my line in the water, I sat back and watched her.

She was perfect. They were sitting there feeding the ducks on the pond. Her eyes turned to mine several times over the course of the hour they were there. Every time she did, her smile would fade. It didn’t look like she was sad, rather like she was taking me in, probably evaluating my intent. I gave her a wink, causing her to turn her gaze back to the water. Damn it, I should go introduce myself.

“Bryce,” I heard my father’s voice.

“What’s up?”

“Come on, we’re going to dinner,” he shouted from the back door of the house. Tons of electronics and he has to do the fatherly thing and publicly embarrass me.

“Coming,” I growled.

He didn’t hear me, so he called me again. “I’m coming,” I shouted, feeling the heat on my face from embarrassment and not the sun. I gathered my things and walked away from the nameless beauty.

A year later…

She was here again. This time she was alone, just sitting on the edge of the bank, tossing bread at the ducks. Her face was absent of smiles, and that was unacceptable to me. I had to introduce myself. A year had been wasted without her. Every thought I had was about her. I wondered if she was seventeen, or even better eighteen. Then I could steal her away. Get us a place outside my school campus and make love to her like I dreamed of.

I walked around the bend silently, never losing sight of her. My footsteps in the grass caught her attention. She gasped, quickly standing up and nearly losing her balance and falling into the water.

“I’m sorry, princess. Didn’t mean to scare you,” I said, grabbing her hand in mine.

Chapter 2

Harper

He was here. The same guy from last year. The one I had simultaneously hoped was and wasn’t here. Today wasn’t the day for meeting him, but he made that choice for me. I shouldn’t even be talking to him. He was clearly much older than me and I wasn’t even dating age. My emotions were a mess today and would be for a long time.

“You didn’t scare me. It’s slick in this spot.”

“I’m Bryce, what’s your name?” I hadn’t forgotten his name and never would. I spent the last year dreaming of the smile from across the pond. Every time a classmate looked at me with a boyish, flirty smile I was revolted because the only one I wanted was from Bryce.

“It’s Harper. Do you come here every year at the same time?”

“I could ask you the same thing. We come here every year to the place where my parents met. It's kind of sweet to me, but don't tell anyone I said that." I smiled. Could he be anymore handsome and charming? I wasn’t supposed to feel so happy, but I was. Something in me hoped he’d be here again.

“I won’t,” I replied. As cute as it was, I didn’t have a soul to tell or one I wanted to anyway.

“You promise?” he asked, looking down at me with those lovely blues, seriousness in his gaze.

“Yes, Bryce,” I promised, then swiped my blonde strands out of my face as a gust of warm air blew past us. He grinned, making me return it effortlessly. I was too young and his charm was too dangerous. I had to get out of here before I made a fool of myself.

“I’ve got to go,” I blurted out, feeling more and more awkward.

“Um, why the hurry? Where’s the man who was with you before?”

“He died yesterday,” I sobbed, and that’s when he noticed my tear stained face.

“I’m sorry. And I came over and ruined a special moment.” His voice was laced with regret, making me feel awful that I said anything. He seemed so sweet; he remembered me and Grandpa Joe. He wasn’t really my grandpa, but the man had been there every year when we came to visit my real grandparents, who didn’t seem to care about me at all.

“No, it’s fine. I was just about to leave anyway,” I replied with a smile, hoping to take away the frown on his face, but it didn’t work.

“You just got here.”

“Yes, but I was only going to be here for a minute. My dad’s waiting in the car for me,” I added.

“I know this is the wrong time for this, but I want to see you again,” he replied, looking at me like this was too important to ignore. I shook my head because as much as I’d like to, my first crush wasn’t going to work out.

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nbsp; I pressed my hand to his strong arm and looked into his beautiful blue eyes. “Bryce, as wonderful as that would be because you look like a dream come true, I’m too young to be dating anyone. I’m only fifteen.”