I watched him, a smile on my face.
He eventually lost the battle and fell asleep in the chair.
I stared at my son, his face slightly turned toward me. With dark hair just like mine, the same eyes, same everything, he was another version of me…a better one. Tucker and I spent a lot of time together growing up, but I never considered us to be friends. Derek was the only friend I really had…until Cleo came along.
Derek and I were at the dining table having breakfast when we heard the car pull up to the front of the house.
“Is Cleo here?” He turned in his chair then landed on his feet.
“We’ll see.” I left my coffee mug behind, and together, we headed out the front door.
The driver opened the back and grabbed her bag.
Cleo stood there in jeans and a shirt, a similar outfit to the one she wore last time she was here. And just like last time, those tight jeans made her ass look like a peach. She took the bag from the driver. “Thanks for the lift.”
I walked up to the driver and gave him a tip for his trouble. “Thanks, man.”
He smiled at my gratitude before he got into the car and drove off.
“Cleo!” Derek ran to her, his head hitting her stomach when he crashed into her.
She stumbled back slightly, but when she laughed, her smile was wide and her eyes were bright, like she didn’t mind the stampede at all. “Hey, Derek.” She kneeled just the way I did, wrapping her arms around him for a closer hug, her chin moving to his shoulder. After a squeeze, she released him. “I’m so happy to see you.”
“Me too. We’re going on a hike after breakfast. There’s this anthill I want to show you.”
“Wow, sounds interesting.” She rose to her feet and picked up her bag again.
“I got it.” I took the bag from her and hooked the strap over my shoulder. I had been about to say something when I got to her, but now the words left me. Her blue eyes were even brighter up close, the joy burning in her gaze like two blue suns. I wasn’t quiet because I was rigid or uncomfortable. It was for another reason entirely.
“Thanks.” She smiled at me, used to my silent stares.
I finally got my act together. “Thanks for coming up.”
“My pleasure. Spending the weekend at a lake house cabin sounds like a vacation.”
I moved into her and wrapped my arm around her waist, giving her a one-armed hug, pulling her into me with my palm flat against her back.
She hugged me back, her arms hooking around my waist for a quick squeeze.
I cleared my throat and turned to the front door, knowing that Derek was right there. “You want breakfast?”
“I ate on the drive.”
I took her into the house then carried her bag up the stairs. There was a guest room with a queen-sized bed and its own bathroom, so I set her bag on the bed. “Is this alright?”
“Are you kidding? It’s beautiful.” She stepped inside and looked at the pictures on the walls, the log-hewn furniture, the deep green rug with ducks on it. “I could stay forever.”
“I could too.” If I could, I’d ditch the smog of the city and settle into the wilderness. Sometimes I reconsidered the commute, but that idea was always quickly trashed. “I’ll let you get dressed.” I turned to the door.
“Deacon?”
I stopped at the entryway and turned back to her.
“How long of a hike are we talking?”
“Maybe ten miles.”
Both of her eyes widened.
“You can do it,” I said with a smile. “You do that every day in five-inch heels.”
I wore running shorts and a black t-shirt, the heavy backpack hanging over my shoulders, filled with a first aid kit, food, and water. Even if we didn’t go too far, I feared Derek might get hurt, and I didn’t want to be stuck in the wilderness without the essentials to care for him. “Don’t go too far, Derek.”
He veered off the path, looking into the grass. “I know the anthill is around here somewhere…”
Cleo was in little shorts and a tank top, showing more skin than she ever had before. She had nice legs, sculpted from her ankles to her thighs, and a few hours in the sun gave them a sexy glow. Her top was tight, hugging the deep curve of her lower back and showing off her perky tits as the swells peeked out from the top. Her hair was slicked back into a ponytail, pulled through the back of her ball cap.
She kept up with us as well as I expected her to.
“It’s beautiful up here.” She matched my pace without having to increase her breathing.
“It is.”
“You’re going to have a lot of good years at this place.” Her arms swung by her sides as she moved, the tops of her shoulders glistening with a little sweat, but despite her exertion, she was as pretty as ever.