Dirty Summer 6 Page 2

  Four

  Blair

  “I just need to run. I just need space,” she whispered as she ran farther from the marina.

  Blair didn’t know where she was going when her feet hit the pavement. The end of the island was at least a mile’s distance, but the trees and low-lying shrubs whizzed past in a blur. How did I end up at Shell Point? Blair walked to a shabby picnic table and climbed on top, letting her feet dangle toward the bench.

  From her vantage point, she could see the shrimp boats, the ones Justyn had told her about so many times, and she could see the strong strobe of Cape Lookout. Like a huge spotlight, every time it circled and flashed, it reminded her of the first time she and Justyn kissed on the beach, just underneath its beam.

  The air felt sticky—August nights on the island were like that—but a whispering breeze floated over Blair’s shoulders. She exhaled. This had to be the stupidest thing she had ever done.

  Justyn suggested they go to the Dock House for drinks and listen to his favorite band, but no, that wasn’t enough. She had to carve out even more alone time. It didn’t take much to convince him to take her to the cove. A few batted eyelashes and he was a goner. If she had gone along with his plan, she wouldn’t be sitting at the end of the island alone. Her heart wouldn’t be on fire, and her stomach wouldn’t be in her throat.

  Somehow, I’m going to have to create some distance for my emotions, she thought. Things had spiraled out of control. The more she was around Justyn, the more she wanted to see him, hear his laugh, and look into those eyes.

  At the beginning of the summer, everything seemed so simple. Blair trusted her determination to keep her on track, but somehow those steadfast goals had dwindled until there were no more barriers protecting her heart.

  “I’m just going to have to rebuild them.” The words slipped through her lips. She didn’t know what was scarier—the fact that she couldn’t trust herself around Justyn, or the fact that deep down she was ok with it.

  All she could think about was that, in two weeks, all of this would be over. The night cruises, Justyn’s kisses, the clambakes at Shirley Lane—everything would be a memory and she would be in Dallas. The only thing she knew to do was run.

  It had been a year since her heart had been broken, and as far as Blair was concerned, she wasn’t going to go through the experience again. Her ex, Damon, had blindsided her with their breakup. Her entire life was wrapped up in the lacrosse captain’s world. She didn’t intend to shut out relationships, but from that moment on, she thought of guys as only a way to have fun. Dates, late nights, a roll in the hay, but nothing more. It didn’t matter to her that girls thought she was a slut or that guys thought she was icy. Icy was better than heartbroken. Damon had crushed the happiness right out of her soul.

  Blair peered at the lighthouse. “That’s not happening again.”

  Five

  Blair

  The sight of the white truck parked in the driveway sent a wave of panic through Blair as she walked up the Buttonses’ driveway. After the way she ran from the date, she was certain she wouldn’t have to face Justyn until tomorrow. He had a temper as easily ignited as hers.

  “I was getting ready to send out an island search party.” Justyn stepped off the front porch. “You’ve been gone an hour, girl.”

  He looked worried and a little nervous. Blair bit her bottom lip. There was no way to explain what she had done. Running off into the night after a perfectly awesome date bordered on crazy. She knew it was less than stable behavior. If anything, Blair always prided herself on being able to forge through awkward situations and keep her composure no matter what. Her mother had taught her that much. Tonight was an epic fail.

  “I’m fine.” She leaned down to rub the back of her calf. Running in sandals had caused a knot in the back of her leg.

  “Did you hurt yourself?” He had crossed the driveway and examined the back of Blair’s leg.

  “No, it’s just a cramp. I didn’t really have on the right footwear for a night run.” Blair tried to laugh. Humor might not cover up this colossal embarrassment, but it was what she had left.

  “All right, then. I’ve got this.”

  Before Blair could protest, Justyn scooped her in his arms as if she were light as a feather and walked to the front porch. He rested her on the swing with one of the outdoor cushions behind her back. It didn’t take long for him to swing her legs into his lap and begin massaging the tense muscles.

  “So are you going to tell me why you ran away like that?” Justyn’s thumbs stroked the length of her leg from her knee to behind her heel.

  Blair tucked her hair behind her ear. The resolution to rebuild emotional barriers was already being put to the test by Justyn’s concern. He couldn’t possibly be any sweeter than he was right now. Most guys would have been pissed, but he looked like he wanted to wrap her in a big hug.

  His hand rested on her thigh. “Blair, what is going on? Do you want me to leave you alone?”

  The pit in her stomach rose higher in her throat. Justyn leaving was the last thing she wanted, but the nearness of him clouded her judgment. That much she knew.

  “Thanks for being so worried about me. I didn’t even know how long I was gone.” She retrieved her legs from his hold, and placed them on the worn floorboards of the porch. “It’s been kind of a long day. Maybe I should get some sleep.”

  Justyn released a sigh between them. “That’s how you want this to go?” He stood next to the swing.

  “I’m just tired, that’s all.” Blair looked up at his confused gaze.

  She wanted to tell him that she had been shaken by everything that happened between them, but telling him would mean opening up to him. Opening up would mean sharing. Sharing would lead to more feelings, and she had tripped too far down that slippery slope already. This was supposed to be about hot summer sex—not feelings.

  He pulled the keys from his pocket and moved from the swing. As soon as his back was turned, Blair felt the overwhelming sensation of how far out of reach he was.

  “Justyn, wait.” Her mind was racing, and her heart was swimming in unchartered waters.

  He pivoted. “Yeah?”

  “I said I’m tired, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want you to stay.” Blair stepped off the swing. “Will you stay?”

  Justyn shoved the keys into his pocket. “Yes. I want to stay.” He brushed her blond tresses from her shoulders so that her hair cascaded down her back.

  Blair’s eyes closed from the contact. How could he do something so simple and small that made her whole body feel pulled into his space?

  He looped his fingers through her hair. “But only on one condition.”

  Her eyes fluttered open. “What’s that?” If he thought they were going to have some big talk, she would have to shut it down. Talking was not on the menu.

  “No talking.” A mischievous grin spread across his face.

  Blair laughed. “I can do that. Deal.”

  “And it starts right now.” His mouth pressed against hers, willing her to part her lips for him. Blair wrapped her arms around his neck as the kiss in the summer night turned into something primal.

  The thing about words is that they can’t say everything. Blair knew then that she and Justyn were communicating on a whole other level. Two weeks, she thought. I can do this, and be with him for two more weeks. She bit at his bottom lip, and then sighed when he crashed his lips harder against hers. Kissing him was her favorite part of the summer.

  Six

  Justyn

  Justyn didn’t know why she ran away at the marina and he didn’t know what brought her back home. What he did know was that he loved kissing her, loved how she felt in his hands, and he wasn’t going to let this night go to waste.

  During the hour Blair was gone, he had debated chasing after her, calling her, or just giving up. Eventually, he decided he would wait at the Buttons homestead, and if she didn’t turn up in sixty minutes, he would canvas the island for h
er. He wasn’t worried about her safety—the island was as safe as any place could be—but he was worried about what had caused the sudden change in her demeanor. Yeah, she was hot tempered, but she wasn’t crazy. None of that mattered right now.

  His hands gathered the edges of her tank top and tugged them over her head. She lifted her arms. Her eyes met his as the fabric slid against her stomach, over her breasts, and along her arms. He dropped the shirt on the porch. His tongue hungrily sought hers, needing to taste the sweetness of her mouth. The tighter he pulled her against him, the more he wanted her. Maybe it was because she wasn’t staying, and he was desperate to memorize everything about her. If he kissed her enough, he could burn the memories into his brain.

  He smiled as Blair deposited his shirt next to hers. The porch was dark, but he had never intended for things to go this far outside. A kiss had turned into heat that neither one of them could turn away from. Justyn knew he would be lying if he didn’t admit that undressing Blair in the August night was the biggest turn on. If he had learned anything this summer, it was that Blair brought out his more adventurous side. He growled in her ear as he felt her hand slide inside his shorts. Going inside the house at this point didn’t make any sense, he argued. The bedroom was one flight of stairs away, and that was too damn far. He wanted her now.

  While Blair wiggled out of her shorts, Justyn surveyed their surroundings. There wasn’t much light on the porch, but he eyed the pillows on the swing. Hell yeah. He grabbed Blair around the waist, lifted her, and positioned her until she was fastened around his hips. Without taking his mouth off hers, he carefully stepped back until he felt the edge of the swing hit the back of his leg. Her kisses had become more feverish, and he was doing everything he could to steady the building need he had for her.

  With one hand, he unbuttoned his shorts and let them fall to the floorboards. Did she know what she was doing to him? He felt his whole body ache to possess her, to show her exactly what he could do for her. His fingers reached between her legs, sliding the lace on her panties to the side. She whimpered at the contact and bit her lip.

  “Justyn, we’re going to fall.” He felt her grip tighten around his neck.

  “Shhh, no talking.” He glanced down at the swing. It was plenty wide, almost like a swinging daybed. “I’ve got you,” he said as he steadied himself on the cushion where only minutes ago he and Blair had been at an emotional impasse.

  He didn’t want to think about that; he just wanted to feel her, feel what she was doing to him.

  He couldn’t take it anymore. The want he had for her took over.

  He gripped her lower back and watched in awe as she arched away from him, thrusting her breasts forward and sliding down on top of him. The swing floated along the porch. Tomorrow didn’t matter. Justyn knew he would never forget how this moment felt. He held Blair as the swing carried them back and forth, slowly slicing through the hot August night.

  Seven

  Blair

  “Hurry up, Blair,” Maggie called up the stairs. “Reid will be here in ten minutes. You know how punctual these island guys are.”

  “Where are we going again, and why exactly am I tagging along?” Blair stood on the upstairs landing in a green strapless dress with a white towel wrapped around her head. “I don’t want to crash your love fest.”

  “Please.” Maggie rolled her eyes. “Reid thought it would be fun to take us to the Dock House by land tonight. It’s too rough to take the boat out. He said the Fin Notes are playing again. Or was it some other band? I can’t remember. But it will be fun.”

  “Reid, Reid, Reid.” Blair batted her eyelashes and giggled. “Seems like someone can’t think of anything else since all that hot boat sex.”

  “Go dry your hair. Now.” Maggie surveyed herself in the downstairs mirror. “What is Justyn up to tonight anyway? Reid said he was busy.”

  “Apparently, he’s working.” The blonde turned toward the bathroom. “I might as well go out and have a little fun, but I promise not to interrupt you lovebirds.”

  The doorbell rang promptly at nine. Blair was heading downstairs as Maggie rushed across the room to let her sexy sailor in.

  “Hi.” She opened the door for Reid.

  The two hadn’t seen each other since Maggie had left for Charlotte, and Blair knew how much her roomie wanted to see him.

  Reid leaned down and kissed Maggie’s forehead. “Hi.” He smiled and moved to her lips. “Welcome back.”

  Blair walked across the living room toward the back door.

  “Carry on with the reunion. Don’t mind me,” she teased. “Try to wrap it up before we miss all of the drink specials.”

  Reid laughed. “I guess she’s right. We don’t want to miss the show either.”

  “Who did you say was playing? Was it the Fin Notes or some other band?” Maggie asked.

  “Not sure,” Reid answered, ushering both girls out the door. “But I hear they’re really good. Come on. We need to get a decent spot up front.”

  Blair followed the lovebirds to Reid’s green Jeep, ready for the night to begin. Reid blasted a familiar beach song as the winding island roads led them to Beaufort.

  Eight

  Blair

  Blair scanned the deck full of people crowding in front of the Dock House stage. Sporting an assortment of T-shirts, flip-flops, and flowery sundresses, the crowd included sunburned tourists and seasoned locals.

  “I’ve never seen so many people here. This band must be really good,” Maggie commented. Her friend seemed a little distracted with one eye on the back door, waiting for Reid to appear from the bar with their drinks.

  “Yeah, too bad Justyn had to work tonight.” Blair pouted. “Apparently he’s missing the night to be out around here. Now, who am I going to dance with?”

  “Girls! Maggie!” Reid wove his way through the crowd, holding three drinks against his chest. He smiled when he spotted them.

  “Hey, let me help you out there,” Maggie said, taking a drink from Reid’s hand and passing one to Blair before keeping the second for herself.

  Reid stepped to the right, revealing a curvy, strawberry-blonde holding hands with a tall, dark-haired guy who looked vaguely familiar.

  “I’d like to introduce you to some people. This is my cousin, Josh.” Reid motioned toward the guy who was holding a Bud Light in his other hand. “And his fiancée, Missy.”

  Maggie smiled and stuck out her free hand. “Nice to meet y’all. I’m Maggie, and this is Blair.

  Blair sipped her fruity concoction and peered over the plastic cup, registering the resemblance between Josh and Reid. “Congratulations. When’s the wedding?” She couldn’t help but peek at the bride’s left hand for the engagement ring.

  “Actually, it’s in a few days. I still have so much to do, but Josh tore me away from the stacks of favors and place cards for a night out,” the bride-to-be gushed. “Sometimes he’s really hard to resist.” She looked up at her fiancé with utter devotion in her eyes.

  Those damn Strait cousins, Blair thought. She could attest to a resistance breakdown when it came to certain members of this island family. Missy was clearly under the same spell she had fallen under.

  “You seem really calm for someone who’s about to walk down the aisle in a few days.” Blair noticed how Josh kept his arm around Missy’s waist.

  “Really? I seem calm? Because, on the inside, I’m freaking out. I have so much to get ready.” Missy’s words picked up steam.

  “Let me know if I can help you out,” Blair offered. “I’m great with decorating, and Maggie and I organized tons of events and parties at Carolina. Right, G?”

  Blair turned to her friend and realized she was lost in her own world, tucked in the crook of Reid’s arm, looking up adoringly at him. Blair shook her head. That look had entanglements written all over it.

  “I’ll give you my number before we leave tonight. I have nothing but free time during the day and I’d love to help. Just text me in the next
couple days when you need me,” Blair said to Missy before stepping closer to where Reid, Josh, and Maggie were grouped together. She caught the end of the boys’ conversation about tonight’s mystery band.

  “Yeah, I hear he’s been working on some new material,” Josh said. “It should be a good set. All the usual groupies have already lined up along the front.”

  “Oh yeah. Those girls are always here when he plays.” Reid laughed as he surveyed the group of fans.

  Sure enough, a collection of carefully coiffed college girls decked out in short shorts and skimpy dresses crowded in front of the stage. Who was the band’s lead singer? Blair wondered. He must either be way hot or have a way with words. Speaking of hot, she couldn’t help but be a bit miffed that Justyn had chosen to work tonight instead of spend it with her. If Reid could take the night off to go out with Maggie, surely he could break for a few hours. She took out her phone, planning to shoot him a quick text to see if he was missing her.

  “What are you doing, Blair?” Reid appeared in front of her. “If you drop that phone, you’ll never find it in this crowd. Come on. Let’s go find a spot closer to the stage.”

  She shrugged her shoulders and stashed her phone inside her pocket. Maybe it was best to have Justyn miss her a little longer. She had plans for him when she got back to the island. If she could just make it through this concert.

  She trailed behind the two couples snaking their way closer to the main action. There were no drums or other musical equipment on the stage—only a couple amps and a microphone in the center—and crisscross lights were strung over the platform.

  A hush seemed to settle over the crowd, but it was disturbed when one of the groupies up front began to squeal. “Here he comes!”