Page 16

Weekend Fun

B y lunchtime, we all sat around the kitchen table finishing the chili, all of my worries about the bridesmaids I didn’t know melted away as we laughed and talked like old friends.

Dave pushed his chair back. “Wolkowski, this is good grub, man. The host with the most.”

Gabe nodded. “Thanks. Speaking of that, I have a few things planned.” He pointed to me. “Fern, would you like to fill everyone in?”

Pam clapped her hands as her eyes darted around the table. “Lay it on us.”

I felt my smile was too wide. “Well, first off, ice fishing.”

Liv and Pam exchanged looks as Katie popped a brow. “Ice fishing?”

Pam wrinkled her nose. “Uh, no thank you?”

I could see this would be trickier than I’d anticipated.

“Ladies, it’s actually ‘gishing’,” I used air quotes which normally isn’t my thing, but it felt right.

“It’s like glamping but fishing instead.

Like, glam-fishing.” I think I just invented a new word.

You’re welcome. “Yeah, I was in Europe a few months back, and it’s all the rage.

” Clearly lying to my new friends was happening.

Liv gasped. “Really?”

I nodded. “Yes, it probably hasn’t made it to Minnesota yet.” I gave her a wink. “But let me assure you, it’s on trend.” My eyes found Gabe as a thankful grin slid across those lips, and I wanted to feel more than I cared to admit.

“I love to be on trend.” Pam grinned.

Katie nodded. “Gishing. Sooo European.”

And that, my friends, is how it’s done.

Thirty minutes later, the whole gang was walking on the ice toward the fishing shack when, out of nowhere, three llama shot around the corner nearly plowing down Dave as he let out a girlie scream while everybody else took off running and yelling. I cackled so hard I may have peed a little.

I looked to my left to see Gabe doubled over laughing again before pointing at me. “There’s fuckery afoot!”

Once we collected everybody, Katie ended up hauling ass into the forest so we had to put together a search and rescue team, but she was quickly located, and we were finally together in the ice shack.

It was all smiles as Gabe filled plastic glasses with wine.

He brushed past me and secretly skimmed my bottom with his hand, reminding me of the magic in those paws.

“Fern, you got a bite!”

I looked down at my line, and sure as shit, it was being yanked. I reeled it in with much resistance.

“You got it, Fern?” Andrew came up beside me. “He’s a beast.”

“Yes.” I reeled with all my might.

Dave stepped up on the other side of me. “Go, girl!”

Ed pointed. “I see him! He might break the line.”

I could faintly see the fish through the hole in the ice and handed my pole to Dave. “Keep it going!” I dropped to my stomach, shoved my gloved hand into the frigid water, and grabbed the line and pulled. “I’m not losing this Mother Hubbard!”

In a split second, Gabe was on his stomach beside me, helping me pull. I glanced over, with his face inches from mine, and adored the way his hair fell over his brow as he watched the fish just below us. A second later, he held up the fighting fish.

“Way to go!” Pam clapped her hands. “You’re both the winners!”

Gabe got up, extended his hand, and pulled me to my feet. “Nice job, Fern.”

As he looked down at me, I saw how much trouble I was in with a man like Gabe. I knew perfect wouldn’t come around twice.

Remembering the group of people around me, I quickly snatched my hand from his, turned and ran into my brother’s chest. My eyes slowly went up, to see a smiling Dave. Whew.

“Nice one! Is this a keeper or catch and release, Sis?”

I sighed. “Release. He’s too beautiful to keep.”

Pam jumped up as a screechy laugh escaped. “But we need a photo of Fern and this gross fish.”

I stood holding the line and smiled when Dave pushed Gabe toward me. “You were on Team Fern. Get in there.” Yes, he was definitely on Team Fern , no doubt. Bed, dresser, and stairs.

I saw Gabe gulp as he put his arm around my shoulder, and Pam snapped her photo. “Aw, that’s so cute!”

Gabe took the hook out. “Any last words, Fern?”

I yanked off my soaking wet glove and ran my finger down the fish. “Goodbye, little fella.”

Gabe dropped it through the hole as I waved.

Katie groaned and held her fishing pole out toward me. “Can we not use a worm? They’re just yucky. How about a Cheeto or Funyon instead?”

I took the pole and weaved a worm on her hook. “I’ll make sure this bad bitch isn’t going anywhere.”

Katie wrinkled her nose. “Fern, how did you ever learn this disgusting trait? So not girly.”

Dave’s laughter bounced around the room. “Fern is no girl.”

“Hey!” I grabbed a worm from the bait bucket and hurled it at him. “Take that back!”

He threw his arm in the air. “Forgive me. I meant Fern isn’t the girly-girl type. She’s perfect, despises drama, and can give any dude a run for their money in most areas. I think Wolkowski’s face can attest to that.” He held up his hand and high-fived me.

“That’s not fair.” Gabe whipped around as some wine bounced out of the bottle in his hand. “I told you, I accidently scared her. She didn’t beat me up.”

Dave slapped Gabe on the back. “Whatever helps you sleep at night, bro.”

Visions swept through my mind of last night and the complete lack of sleeping. My stomach did a summersault at the memory of Gabe’s breath on my stomach, thighs, and being all wrapped up with him.

That’s when the hook I was putting Katie’s worm on, and not paying attention to, suddenly went into my thumb. “Damn it!” Clearly, the visions of a naked Gabe doing naughty things to me disconnected my fishing brain. “Anyone have paper towels?”

Dave pushed Gabe aside and nearly through the wall and grabbed my hand. I tried to pull out of his grip. “No, Dave! I’m bleeding!”

The blood was starting to run down my finger, and at that moment my hulk of a brother dropped like a fly, hitting the ice with a thud. Liv knelt down by his side. “What’s happening?”

“He can’t do blood, but he’ll wake up in a few seconds.” I pushed her gently aside and checked his pupils.

Ed knelt down next to Liv. “What are you talking about? He’s a hockey player and sees all sorts of blood and never passes out.”

All eyes shot to me for the answer. “It’s not all blood. You see, ever since we were kids, if he sees my blood, he goes down like a bag of bricks.”

Pam put her hand over her heart. “Aw, it’s a brother-sister thing. That’s so sweet.”

Dave opened his eyes and let out a yelp as he looked at all of the faces leaning over him. “What the fuck happened?”

Gabe quickly grabbed a paper towel and handed it to me.

“It’s okay, I’m bleeding, and you saw it.”

Andrew held out his hand, and Dave hopped up. “I remember. Am I ever going to outgrow this shit?”

“OMG Dave, I didn’t know you were a softie.” Katie handed him a bottle of water from the table. “You have a special bond with Fern, and it’s so sweet.”

“I’m a little pathetic when it comes to my sister. Sorry y’all had to witness me being a puss.”

I looked at Gabe to see his wheels turning.

I could not let Dave take Gabe or the weekend pass from me.

When I told Gabe I might be addicted to him earlier, it was true, and my skin crawled at the thought of what I’d do if I couldn’t get my fix.

I had to get him away from my brother so no bro-code loyalty would take root. “Gabe, do you have any Bandaids?”

“Yes, let’s go to the house, and I’ll get them.”

I looked around and was thrilled that everyone seemed to think this was a good and normal response. I would finally get to be alone with Gabe, and if bleeding made that possible, I was prepared to hook myself as frequently as necessary.

We sprung out of the fishing shack and nearly sprinted to the door and inside the cabin. We stepped out of our shoes before he threw me over his shoulder and took the stairs two steps at a time. “Okay, I think eight minutes is an appropriate amount of time to fix an injury. Right?”

I slapped his ass below me. “Yes, eight seems good. and I’m a nurse so I would know.”

He ran through his bedroom and into his bathroom before plopping my feet on the floor. He took off the blood-soaked paper towel and pulled me to the sink. “I’ll fix you up.” He ran my finger under warm water and dried it with a towel.

“It stings.” I muttered, trying not to sound wimpy.

My breath caught as he put my finger in his mouth and sucked while his green eyes bore into mine. My chest fluttered as the warmth of his tongue seemed to make all hook injury pain vanish and light something inside that I didn’t think could be resolved in eight minutes. Or could it?

I used my foot to kick the door closed, and he pushed in the little lock button. I took my finger back, pulled a washcloth from the hook on the wall, and shoved it on my finger before throwing myself into him.

His mouth ravished mine, and I couldn’t even believe how we connected. I pulled his perfect backside closer and felt as sexy as I ever had when he pressed against me. I realized what I was doing to him.

He spun me around, and my hands rested on the vanity while I looked at his hot reflection in the mirror before me.

One hand held onto my waist as the other traveled lower.

He found me, and I tried to turn toward him, but his body held me firmly against the counter as I saw my fingers turning white while I pressed down on the marble in front of me.

While he continued to touch, I wondered how he knew my body so well in such a short amount of time. I dropped my head forward as twinges zipped through me when his breath hit my ear. “No, you look at me.”

My breathing hastened as I kept my eyes on his reflection in the mirror. I attempted to turn and face him but failed again.

“I want to see your eyes, and I want you to see mine.” He hissed the words in my ear. “The one who can make you crazy. Just like you make me.”