Page 7 of Meet Me in the Valley (Oakwood Valley #2)

Chapter Four

LOGAN

There’s a rugged beauty to Texas hill country, wild and untamed in its own right.

But then there are the California valleys—endless, lush waves of green cradled by towering mountains—too vast, too breathtaking to be captured in a picture frame or trapped on a gas-station postcard.

No, these valleys were meant to be breathed into—and in return, they breathe life right back without reservation.

It’s the way my adrenaline spikes in time with the number on my speedometer, pushing the needle forward as I relish the nippy wind whipping against my clothes.

It’s the way I feel truly at home carving around these bends.

I’m only giving them what they deserve. Me, on the back of my first bike I put together at fifteen, wheels kissing the pavement at full speed while cloaked under a neon moon. Tonight, the valleys welcome me home, and I’m grateful that I’ve never taken their wonder for granted.

I bob and weave at every turn, muscle memory steering me straight to Mr. Torren’s property. Although he’s no longer with us, I’ll forever be grateful to this little piece of sanctuary he shared with me all these years.

When the concrete road shifts to dirt, steel gate already opened, my mouth automatically curves into a smile to be back here.

My bike slows, and I plant both feet in the dirt at the top of the hill behind Tia’s dad’s SUV.

Cutting off the engine, I take off my helmet and shake out my matted hair.

I blow a too-long piece of hair hanging over my eye out of the way–clearly, I’m overdue for a haircut.

Still straddled over the seat, I look down to see Tia swinging her legs over the end of the dock, leaning back on her palms as her face tilts toward the sky. Nostalgia and memories come sweeping through me all at once, reminding me of that first night we both came here seeking escape.

I set the kickstand in place with my heel and make the trek down the hill to carry through with this silly bet.

We may have outgrown the games, but that spark in Tia’s eyes when she faces a challenge never fades.

She thrives on it—and deep down, so do I.

It’s one of the ties that’s kept our friendship alive, no matter how much time passes.

“Hey, loser,” I call out. “You’ve got too many clothes on.”

Tia whips her head around at the sound of my teasing voice. Man, if I had a penny for every eye roll I get from this woman …

“You’re late.”

Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I tap the screen.

10:02. I chuckle at her attempt to scold me for my lack of punctuality.

I swear, punctuality makes Tia’s metaphorical dick hard.

On time for her means showing up thirty minutes early.

It also means every flight we take together, our asses are at the gate three hours before boarding.

“Two minutes is hardly late. I took the long way here, anyway. I had to stretch her legs.”

“Come again?” Tia gives me an incredulous look, and at first I’m confused why she’s looking at me like I have two heads. Then I catch on, and I contemplate if I should goad her or let her off easy.

Ah. I guess I’ll let her off easy since she’s about to strip naked and freeze her ass off in a cold lake.

I point to my bike at the top of the hill, and Tia’s gaze follows. “My bike. It’s been a while since I’ve ridden her, so I took the long way here.”

Relief fills her features. Did she seriously think I was hooking up with someone between the engagement party and now?

Actually, it’s not that far off. But I digress.

Clearing my throat, I stuff my hands into the front pocket of my jeans. “Where the hell is everybody?”

“Dunno. Maybe they bailed. Everyone was pretty drunk. Maybe they’ve all passed out.”

Well, shit. Now I feel bad. The party ended a few hours ago.

It definitely gave me enough time to sober up.

The whole point of this drunken bet was for the girls to jump in together.

Feels pointless now if Tia were to jump in all alone.

Tia goes to stand. I won’t stop her if she walks up the hill to go back home.

It’s cold out with a slight wind chill. I especially felt it speeding down the road to get here.

Not the most ideal weather for a night swim.

But what I don’t expect is Tia’s next move.

She strips.

I avert my eyes on instinct because I’ve actually never seen my best friend naked before, and now I’m questioning why I even placed this stupid bet in the first place.

Sure, I’ve seen her wear the skimpiest bikinis that were basically tiny pieces of fabric that covered barely anything—but naked? Never.

Hands on my hips and with my back to her, I puff a cold breath into the air with my head tilting toward the sky. “T, what are you doing?”

“What do you think I’m doing? I’m going skinny dipping.”

An exasperated chuckle leaves me. “Alone? Don’t you want to wait and see if the others get here first?”

“Not really. I want to get this over with.” The lack of emotion in her tone tells me that’s her pride talking. I grin, knowing I’ve dug under her skin. I’m not one to relish in her defeat, but I do a little. I can’t help it.

The sound of her toeing off her shoes and shedding her clothes has me clenching my jaw tight. I see them piling in my periphery.

Her sweater. Her leggings. Her nude lace bra and matching panties.

Jesus Christ.

The last thing I hear is a deep exhale before the sound of splashing water has me turning around. My mouth gapes open as I stare at the ripple of water, waiting for Tia to come up for air.

She jumped. She actually jumped. But of course she did.

When her head surfaces, she gasps for air and lets out a playful shriek. “Holy shit, it’s so cold!”

“Colder than Barton Springs?”

“It feels about the same.” Tia shivers, her teeth clatter against each other as her head bobs over the surface of the murky lake.

Her arms circle the water, a way to keep herself warm and to keep afloat. I look on with disbelief, and a bit of adoration at her effort to stay in the frigid water. But when her eyes dance with mischief, sinking her teeth into her bottom lip, I know I’m about to get an earful of taunting.

“Bet you’re too much of a pussy to get in here.”

There it is.

I accepted her challenge before it even leaves her lips. We lock eyes, and I grab a fistful of my hoodie from the back, pulling it over my head along with my shirt. Sharp, cold air hits my bare chest, contracting the muscles in my stomach at the drop in temperature.

Tia leisurely swims around to keep her body warm, but her impish gaze doesn’t leave mine. I shake my head with a laugh, unbuttoning the fly on my jeans and pulling down the zipper until I’m in nothing but my black briefs.

“You’re enjoying this way too much.” Shaking my head at her taunting nature. A minx if there ever was one.

“Oh, don’t I know it, Harper.” Her laugh vibrates through the stillness of the night, wrapping us in the easiness that always seems to find us. Just like it did the very first night here at Torren’s spot.

My thumbs slip under the band of my briefs, and when Tia refuses to look away, I pull them down without a second thought. With only the light of the moon, I’m mostly covered under the night sky, but I’m just as shocked as Tia when I look down between my legs.

I’m hard.

Tia’s lips form a soft O, her eyes going wide as she stares at my length.

I catch the way her throat works as she swallows, and the sight alone makes me twitch down there.

Impure thoughts slam into me like a freight train, filthy and unstoppable.

Confused and strangely aroused, I dive into the lake, the cold slamming into me harder than any guilty conscience could.

By the time I resurface, I’m raking in gulps of air to reset my lungs. It’s not my first time taking a swim in this lake, but it’s definitely the first time since being this cold. Disoriented, I blink the thick drops of water that clump my eyelashes together, treading in a circle to find Tia.

I find her smiling, then splashing me with a whip of water like she’s five years old. “Real mature,” I sputter, swimming toward her and shaking out my hair in her face. I’m careful not to swim too close—being naked and all.

Thankfully, she puts a little distance between us, but her eyes are still bright with mirth.

The cold is long forgotten. We move through the water in an easy, comfortable silence, our bodies fully adjusted to the chill.

The lake feels almost warm now, loosening the tightness in my muscles as we wade deeper.

I drift toward a shallower spot where my toes find purchase as they sink into the soft, mossy lakebed.

“What’s going on with Isabel?” Tia questions me with a sort of sharpness in her tone. She sees the confusion on my face, but continues to stare at me with a pointed gaze.

“How do you know if something is going on with Isabel?” I retort, slicking my wet hair back and out of my face.

I catch her eyes lingering—first on my arms, then on my mouth, her lips parting just enough to notice.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she’s checking me out.

Same as she did back on the dock when I peeled off my clothes.

And I don’t know what to do with how that makes me feel.

“I know things. I just want you to be careful. She’s not another one of your casual playthings.” I laugh with disbelief, searching her eyes for sarcasm. Waiting for the punchline. When it doesn’t come, I rear back at her seriousness, my smile falling from my face.

“Since when do you care about my playthings?”

“I don’t know, since Isabel is our friend and not just some random girl you picked up off the street?

I ignored the receptionists even though I didn’t fully agree with you involving girls from work—but Isabel is a friend.

I don’t want you fucking up the dynamics of the friend group by hooking up with her. ” Tia’s tone is stern and clipped.