Page 14 of Waiting for You (Balsam Cliffs #3)

Apple picking didn’t go quite as I’d hoped for. Evelyn found every reason or excuse to be with anyone but me. She even conned Mom and Pops into her game of avoidance. But now we’re carving pumpkins, and the only spot left is next to me. So she has no choice unless she leaves.

“Eve, there’s a spot over here and I got you the best one.” I pat the perfectly rounded orange pumpkin next to me.

An expected eyeroll and a huff later she finally comes over to work next to me. “Thanks,” she scoffs.

“I know how much you like the pumpkins to have the perfect orange hue with no blemishes.” Spinning it on the table to prove that I have found the perfect pumpkin.

“I can’t even be mad because it is the perfect one to carve.”

Beaming at her I hand over the carving tools and photos to follow.

“What one did you choose?” She peeks over my arm at my own pumpkin.

“I’m freehanding it.”

She snorts, “Oh yeah? You do that a lot lately?”

A few more chuckles come from the group down the table.

She won’t win this round. “Maybe. You volunteering to help with the job?”

“Not a fucking chance.” At this point we have the full group’s attention.

I lean over close to her ear until my lips brush against her ear lobe. “I think there might be a small chance, Peach.” Goosebumps pebble down her arms. “See. I knew I still affected you.”

I turn slightly brushing my hardening cock against her hip to show her she has the same effect. She gulps loudly as I back away. Round one went to her this morning, but round two is definitely mine.

Evelyn chose a typical Halloween carving. A smiling toothy face carved into her pumpkin. But she’s struggling to get the knife through the top so she can scoop out the insides.

“Do you need some help?” I ask.

“I’m fine.” She huffs, blowing a piece of hair out of her eyes.

Watching her use all of her weight to get the knife in makes me chuckle, but she catches me.

“You think you won’t have a problem? Here!” She steps away from the table, dropping her knife.

Picking it up I slide it easily through the top, cutting around in a circle and pulling it off with the stem before slicing off the stringy bottom and placing it on the table.

“There you go.”

Her eyes narrow at me. “What? No gloating?”

“Nope.”

I pick up the small carving tool I was using.

She marches up next to me, standing inches from me. “Why the fuck not? You always give me shit. Why be nice now?”

“I told you, Peach. I’m tired of pretending to hate you. You needed help. I provided help. Now, you can keep going and I’m here if you need more.” I reach out pushing that stray piece of hair off her face, grazing her cheek with my fingertip.

The breath she sucks in makes my hope soar.

“Oh,” comes out of her lips as a breathy gasp.

We separate once more, working on our pumpkins in silence. I catch her on more than one occasion looking over at me.

“Look! I made a pumpkin for Wy’s date later.” Coop lifts up a pumpkin and places it over his head, only a circle near his mouth is carved out. “Don’t worry dude, I made it to size for your dick.”

The group busts out laughing and Wyatt smacks Coop on his pumpkin head. “That’s fucking rude asshole. It definitely needs a bigger hole.”

Coop pulls the pumpkin off his head and they’re all still laughing at Wyatt trying to defend the size of his cock. He looks like he’s about to whip it out to show us all. Looking over at Evelyn I see that her cheeks are flushed.

“Are you remembering that one Halloween night in the barn? The first night you found out how perfect my cock was for your mouth?” I whisper to her.

The way the flush spreads down her chest, matching her cranberry colored tee, I know I’m right. That was the best fucking night of my life.

“Just finish your pumpkin. And keep your memories to yourself.” Her eyes narrow on me once again.

“Yes ma’am.” I smirk at her. “I’ll just be over here thinking about it. To myself.”

That blush deepens in color. And now I know she’s going to be thinking about it too.

I was able to stall long enough that everyone had left by the time my pumpkin was ready to be displayed. I snuck it on a shelf right next to Evelyn’s before heading home to get ready for tonight.

The festival will turn our Main Street into one huge dance hall with multiple live bands setting up, food trucks and Rome will have a beer garden. The street is lined with our lit jack-o’-lanterns creating a warm glow across the streets. The town even shuts off the street lights.

I’m just about to leave when I get a text.

Emma: Evelyn needs a ride. Wyatt is working tonight and I could leave but I’m the fucking sister of the year. So don’t fuck up. Again. eye roll emoji

Me: Does she know that I’m the one picking her up?

Emma: No. But again, don’t fuck it up. I’m giving you an early Christmas gift.

Me: It’s not even Halloween.

Emma: Okay, clearly you’re ungrateful so I’ll just go get her myself.

Me: No, no. I’m not. I’m leaving now.

This will not go well when Eve sees who her ride is. But at least I can blame Ems if she’s mad.

Before Ems can change her mind I slip my boots on and run out to the truck. Thankfully, Wyatt is on shift tonight, so I can speed through town and not worry about getting a ticket.

Pulling up in front of the tiny cabin, I take a minute to get myself in control. I don’t want to seem like I’m too excited, or like Emma is doing me a favor. No, she wouldn’t accept that. I’ll have to play it cool like I was the only option for her to get a ride.

Hopping out, I smooth my hoodie down my chest, and shake out my legs making it look like I’m settling my jeans with my boots instead of trying to shake out nervous jitters.

“What in the actual fuck are you doing here?” Eve is on the deck with her arms crossed. She’s wearing the tightest jeans known to man and a sweater that hugs every fucking curve of her gorgeous body.

“Ems said you needed a ride. So, here I am.”

“She told you I needed a ride?”

“Well. I was kind of the only option. Gunnar and Willow are one of the live bands. Wyatt is working, Violet has a food truck, and Rome is setting up the beer garden.” I shrug still standing in the yard instead of being invited in.

“What about Cooper?” Her shoulders sag realizing I’m right.

“Taking photos for his new blog.”

A deep sigh escapes her lips. “Fine. Come in. I still need to finish getting ready.”

I walk into the space, not missing her watching me every step of the way, that I spent months working on, appreciating it in a whole new way. “I love what you’ve done. It looks real cozy.”

“Thanks,” she calls from the bathroom. I walk back to where her voice sounded from. Desperate to see her in her own space.

She’s leaning over the vanity, swiping some glittery gold shit across her face.

She doesn’t even need makeup to be beautiful.

She’s just naturally there. I take the moment she’s distracted to appreciate that ass I missed so much.

I can’t even count the amount of times I’ve jacked off to images of Evelyn just like this.

“So. How did Neil take the break up?” I lean on the door frame, crossing my ankles.

She looks back at me, taking me in, or should I say drinking me in.

Because that girl is thirsty. A small laugh from her and she’s turned back around swiping mascara on.

“I mean I assume he’s heartbroken to lose you. ”

Spinning around on her heel she faces me, her glossy lips within inches of mine.

“Nope. You sure as shit don’t get to do that.

You fucking know how it feels to lose me, so use your imagination.

” She steps over my crossed feet, walking past me to leave, but not without a brush of her hand across my cock.

I stop her by grabbing at her wrist and pulling her back to me.

She falters at the sudden movement and I catch her in my arms. “That’s the thing, Peach.

I do know how it feels to lose you. And I’ll never be that fucking dumb again.

” I lean forward, pushing her body into the door frame and encasing her body with mine.

She sucks in a breath the moment my lips are close enough to connect with hers. But I won’t, not yet. Her hips push into me, her belly making contact with the hard-on I’ve had since she came out yelling at me. Her small hand cups my cock for a brief moment before she comes to her senses.

“That’s the thing, Hunt. I know how it feels when you leave.” She pushes back on my chest and I hit the opposite side of the frame with a thud. “And that memory serves as a really fucking painful reminder to not do that again.”

I watch helplessly from the bathroom as she puts on her knee-high boots and black leather jacket. Fuck. Just when I thought she couldn’t get hotter.

She holds her door open, waiting for me. “Are you coming or what?”

“Yup.” I swallow at the regret in my throat, jogging to meet her outside.

Holding the door open for her, she doesn’t so much as glance in my direction as she climbs into the truck.

The ride over to Main Street is quiet, and awkward at best. I should have kept my mouth shut about Neil.

“Listen, I want to enjoy the night. Can we just call a truce?”

Staring out the window I can see her twitching fingers. Her tell tale sign that she wants to reach out and isn’t allowing herself. Only I don’t see tonight ending the same way as they used to when we were sneaking around.

“I called a truce. You’re the one still angry. I’m showing you that I’m here to stay and love you, remember?”

Swinging open the door, she jumps out, completely ignoring me. I smile inwardly, knowing that she wouldn’t act this way if she didn’t give a shit.

I jog to catch up to her. We’re walking down the main road with most of the pumpkins, and ours are just ahead.

“Well, well, well. Look who we have here.” Violet leans out the window of the trailer for the bakery, Sweet Violets. “I bet Emma twenty bucks you’d kill him before you got here.” She chuckles.