Perfect Bastard (Mason Creek)

Not ten minutes later she texted saying she could meet me. I took Dad’s truck as the road out there wasn’t exactly paved. There were ruts, but that was about it.

I parked and waited until my snow bunny showed up.

“You look warm,” I said when she got out of her car.

“Yeah, but I could be warmer.”

“Tempting.” I glanced at her Jeep and then at my dad’s truck. It had been ages.

“Don’t even think about it,” she warned. “I’m not having sex with you in your dad’s truck.”

“Why not? We reenacted my ‘first time in a girl’s room’ experience.”

She waved a finger at me. “In my room, not that girl’s. And I don’t want to imagine what a black light would reveal.”

I chuckled. “Nothing from me. I wasn’t living at home when I bought my dad this truck. So technically, the reenactment is in a new space,” I said, stalking her.

“Nate,” she said, but she didn’t back away. “I’ve got work.”

“I’ve got a power saw. I can cut through the tree in no time. And I really want to see if I could pull off hooking up in the truck. I dare you.”

Her eyes narrowed. “And what am I getting out of this?”

“My face buried in your pussy if I can pull it off.”

And so I did. I felt like a goddamn teenager as we twisted and turned, trying to find the right spot. But damn if I hadn’t had so much fun in my life. Even after, when we hiked up a trail and she spotted the perfect tree. I did my best impression of a lumberjack cutting down the tree as she cheered me on. She even helped me carry it back down. She wasn’t one of those girls who worried about her nails and how her makeup looked. And she was all the sexier for it.

After I got the tree tied down, I didn’t want her to go. I wanted to bring her home and have her watch while I decorated. Then I wanted to build a fire and make love to her in front of it. I should have thought about that before Sunshine moved in.

“Bye, handsome,” Avery said while I was lost in thought. She lifted on her toes and planted a quick kiss on my lips.

I caught her around her waist and said, “Not so fast. If I’m not going to see you for a few days, I want to remember this kiss.” I bent down and poured everything I was feeling into that kiss and hoped she felt it too.

She licked her lips when I set her on her feet. But she danced way from me getting a hold of that stubborn mouth of hers. I couldn’t get enough.

“Soon,” she said before driving away.

I stood at the back of my car, wondering if it was too late to fight the fall that was most certainly coming. Aiden would laugh at me. He’d warned that when I met the one, there would be no stopping it. Though I couldn’t rightly say I loved her, I could admit it would be very hard to let her go at this point.

Back at home, it was Sunshine, not Avery, who pitched in to help me decorate. She wouldn’t let me do it on my own. Though I was grateful, I wished Avery were here.

Since I’d told Sunshine she couldn’t bring strangers in the house, it wouldn’t be fair for me to considering my reasons had been not to confuse my dad.

The next day, I made the trip to pick up my dad. Sunshine said she’d handle the delivery of food and have everything ready for our arrival. I liked her. She was easy like me. We got along and I had high hopes Dad would like her too.

I sat in the car a second before going into the main building and called my brother. “Mitch. Are you on your way?”

“About that. I’m not going to make it.”

“Why not? I’m here getting Dad now. Things would go a lot easier if you were here too.”

“I can’t. I’m sorry. I can’t.”

He hung up. I didn’t know what was going on with him, but it was too late now. Everything was in place, and I had to see it through.

After another second, I forced myself out of the car. Five minutes later, I was in front of Dad’s door and knocked.

“Come in, come in,” Dad said, sounding grumpy. I opened the door and when I stepped in. He waved me off. “Oh, it’s you.”

“Dad,” I said, trying to regain his attention.

“You can go.” He wouldn’t look at me.

“I’m here to take you home.”

He cocked his head. “Say that again?”

“You can come home.”

“About damn time.” He got to his feet and headed for the door.

“Wait. Don’t we need to get your things?”

His cool stare landed on me. “I don’t want to be reminded of this place. Let’s go.”