My favorite posts were of her hunting, 4-wheeling, and snowmobiling. She's a real outdoorsy kind of girl. Most importantly, she just turned twenty-one.
She's officially as perfect as they come.
Her breath's warm against my face, tempting and teasing. "What are you doing here?"
I squeeze her, tilting my hips back so I don't reveal just how tempting she feels. "Just decided to get away for a few days."
"Where's my hug?" Levi teases.
Harlow backs away with a giggle to sling her arms around his neck. It's nothing like the enthusiastic greeting she gave me, but then again, she didn't add him as a virtual friend. I've commented on her posts enough that we've kept in touch without making myself appear too desperate. At least I hope.
My eyes just about burst from my head when I glance at the other blonde, finding a more sexed-up version of Harlow. I've seen pictures of her twin and know they're identical in appearances, but different in every other way. Harper always curls her hair and uses a lot of makeup, preferring to wear little dresses and skirts. More often than not, Harlow's in jeans with the exception of special occasions, and doesn't seem to put anything on her face except mascara.
Even in the hot tub, Harlow's sister wears heavy eye makeup that makes them appear bigger than her twin's. And her swimming suit reveals twice as much skin.
"You must be Harper," I say, offering her my hand.
She takes it, giggling. "Oh my god! You're the Naked Farmer!"
"Guilty." A chuckle sticks in my throat when I catch Harlow's big eyes on me. Dancing around my tractor to the country tune seemed humorous at the time. It's the kind of stupid shit Levi and I like to do to break things up when harvest gets to be long. Even though my junk wasn't visible, it's the first time I regret allowing Levi to upload it. "There may have been alcohol involved in the making of that video."
Levi shakes Harper's hand next. "I'm his cousin, Levi. Don't let him bs you. This guy would be naked twenty-four seven if laws allowed. I just happened to be there to record him in his element." Harper giggles, throwing me a flirtatious grin. Under any other circumstances, I'd be acting on it. But I'm way more interested in earning her sister's trust.
I take a seat on the bench across from them, grateful when the hot water and bubbles hide my waning reaction to Harlow's hug. "What are you ladies doing here?"
"Celebrating our birthday a little late," Harlow answers, sinking back into the spot by her sister. "Our parents went to Turks and Caicos for the holidays. Originally we were supposed to go with them, but I took on a class that starts on the fifth, and Harper couldn't get that much time off from her new job."
"So here we are, celebrating Christmas all alone," Harper says with a dramatic sigh. "At least until you guys showed up."
I twist around to unzip our cooler, pulling a beer out. "Congrats on finally being legal. Want one?"
Harper reaches behind her to show me a cup with LEGAL AF written on the side. "Thanks, but I'm a vodka girl."
Harlow extends her hand. "I'll take one."
Once Levi and I have beers in hand, we toast to their birthday. The old couple and the random other guy get out, leaving us alone with the twins.
"Guess they weren't in the mood to party." Levi smirks in Harper's direction, stoking the instant attraction brewing between them. Makes me a little jealous that I don't have that with Harlow, although she threw me a lot of cute grins the first time we met.
Harper's pupils seem to dilate as she holds Levi's stare. "How long are you guys here?"
"Until New Year's. You?"
"We leave on Monday."
Levi moves in closer to continue with a conversation too quiet to be heard over the jets. I slide in next to Harlow, the temptation to flirt intensifying once I'm within reach of her magnificent body.
"So … where are we meeting next Christmas?"
She giggles with her lips curled around the rim of her beer. "It is starting to feel like we have a standing appointment."
"You graduate next year, right?"
"I'll get my bachelor's degree in the fall. Hopefully can find a job in my field right away so within a few years I can complete the FBI application process."
Mid-mouthful of beer, I choke out, "FBI?"
"Eventually I want to become a behavioral analysts, but you need several years of investigative experience before applying." Her eyebrows shoot upward. "You have a problem with a woman serving in the FBI, Mr. Kendall?"
I would if that woman was my girlfriend.
Twisting her lips and tapping her fingers on the aluminum can, she waits for my response. Whatever I say could either make or break any chance of dating her in the future.
"No," I finally say. "It's just … that shit seems dangerous for anyone."
"It is. But I'd go through a lot of training in the academy. I'm working on getting a black belt before then. Plus, you know, they give you a gun."
It's admirable of her to want to go after such a complicated career, but I can't stand the idea of her being in the line of danger.
I lift a lone eyebrow. "So … what do you two have going on the next few days?"
Her lips split with a big smile as she motions to the tub and lifts her beer. "You're lookin' at it."
"If your plan is to sit here and get shit-faced, allow us to offer something a little more exciting." I meet her smile with an excited surge in my gut. Maybe I don't hate Christmas as much as I thought.
The next morning, we head out on snowmobiles as soon as the girls have grabbed warmer gear from the resort's store. Turns out Harper isn't a fan of the outdoors unless she's offered a ride behind a guy she likes, and basically needed to buy everything. Both of the sisters are cute inside the extra helmets we rented, matching braids sticking out in back. Thankfully they're wearing different coats so I'm able to keep track of them when we're not riding. At this point I'm even more into Harlow than before, and hopeful something will happen between us on this trip.
Three bars in, Harlow becomes tipsy and clings to me a little more on the ride back, encouraging me to drive faster. It's total hell on my control to have her body pressed against mine, even though there are so many layers between us that I can't actually feel any of her curves, just her warmth.
I stuck to my one beer per stop rule, which was easy enough when hanging with Harlow. She has the kind of outgoing personality that everyone's drawn to, earning us a crowd of new friends everywhere we go. The fact that her and Harper are both hot blondes probably didn't hurt either.
And I swear Harlow was actually flirting with me at the last bar. She'd giggle a little harder at my jokes, and touch my arm the way women typically do when they're into me.
We return to the resort just before dark, showering and changing for dinner. Not sure how I'm supposed to pretend Harlow isn't drop-dead gorgeous when she shows up outside my door wearing tight jeans and a chunky gray sweater, hair in messy curls.
She barges into my room, snorting. The scent of something feminine and flowery thickens in the air, making my need for self-control ten times worse. "My sister isn't ready yet. Could be another hour." She stops in the center of the room and turns with her arms out. "Where's Levi?"
"We got separate rooms. That ass snores like a chainsaw when he's been drinking."
With a wicked little grin, chin dipped down, she starts sauntering toward me. "You mean the two of us are all alone?" She stops a foot away, resting the palms of her hands on my chest. "Has anyone ever told you that you're crazy handsome?" Her eyes drink me in as she becomes breathy. "It's so hot when a guy like you can rock longer hair and a two-day shadow."
God help me. Although the sudden flattery is unexpected, it's the kind of moment I've fantasized about a time or two in the past year. I'm steely hard the moment she reaches out to stroke my jaw.
Gulping, I pull her arm down. "Harlow, you're so fucking gorgeous I can hardly stand it. But you've had a lot to drink today."
"So what?" She giggles. "Haven't you heard? Alcohol gives you courage … and I've been workin' up enough of it to kiss you since you walked up to us yesterday." Her smile fades as she leans in, pressing her breasts into me. The promise of a hot night shines bright in her dark gaze. "Plenty of people hook up while drinking."
Growling under my breath, I shake my head. "I don't want to ‘hook up' with you."
Hurt reflects in her eyes. "You don't?"
"No. I'd much rather take you out on a legit date. When you aren't shit-faced."
"You would?" Pretty little smile popping over her lips, her eyebrows quirk in surprise. For the life of me, I can't understand why she'd be shocked a guy wants to take her out.
"Yeah, I most definitely would. Maybe before you leave, you can do the one beer per bar thing with me when we ride, and I'll take you somewhere nice when we get back."