“If you talk to her…”
“I won’t,” Ansley said, seemingly certain. “Like I told you, Brock and Rory took her on a retreat.” She lowered her chin and then her voice. “If anyone talks to Brock, it will likely be Tristan. They’re as thick as thieves.”
Mitch glanced at Tristan, who then squared his shoulders and set his jaw. Mitch could see where Brock and Tristan were good buddies. They had compatible personalities and probably possessed a mutual respect for one another.
Mitch took a deep breath. He was barking up the wrong tree there. He’d just have to bide his time. With Jordie Anne gone and nothing left for him in Virginia, he could wait for them.
“Tristan, if you talk to Brock—”
“I’ll tell him you were here.”
“I’m sure you will,” Mitch grumbled. Finally, he added, “You tell him I’m not going anywhere. I won’t stop until I have fifteen minutes alone with Trixie.”
“I’ll pass it along,” Tristan promised.
“Take care, Ansley.” Mitch started his truck. “Let your sister know she isn’t crazy. I came here when I was released and I’ve been watching and waiting.” He gripped the steering wheel and carefully considered his parting words. “Maybe I just didn’t know what to say and well, I didn’t want to be an uninvited guest in her home.”
“Mitch, if you’re waiting for an invitation, that day may never come. You hurt her when you walked away. I don’t know what the two of you shared, but it must’ve been pretty special at one time.”
“It was.”
“I don’t doubt that,” Ansley said. “But I’m unclear on your reasons for walking away from a woman who loved you so. I doubt Trixie understands, and if she can’t figure out your motives, she may not be able to forgive you. If I were you, I’d prepare myself for that possibility.”
“Rejection from your sister won’t happen, if that’s what you’re suggesting.”
Ansley gave him a weak smile. “My sister’s happiness is important. If you’re part of what makes her complete, then I hope she’ll find her way back to you. But if you threaten to destroy what makes her the happiest, I pray Brock and Rory stop you in your tracks.”
Chapter Five
Trixie bounced out of their SUV and stopped short of taking another step. “Wow.”
“Looks pretty much the same,” Brock said.
“Yes it does.” She took a deep breath and inhaled the fresh country air and the undeniable smell of South Holston Lake, which in her mind, was the distinct odor of a clean lake, regardless of how much Rory, Brock, and even Mitch had once provided proof to the contrary.
“This place never changes,” Rory said, locking his arm around her waist and kissing her cheek. “I spent every summer here from second grade forward and I always felt the same upon arrival.”
“How?” she asked.
“At home and at peace.”
Located on over a hundred acres, the main part of the camp was situated on an island. Completely surrounded by South Holston Lake, the property looked exactly as they’d left it.
From where Trixie stood, she could see the dock where they’d housed the sailboats. Across the lagoon, the archery range and several racks of tarp-covered canoes were barely visible through the trees.
“Simply amazing,” she whispered.
Brock grinned. “So you won’t mind spending a few days here?”
“Are you kidding me?”
She rushed into his arms and locked her legs around his waist. Framing his face with splayed fingers, she kissed him with fervor. Those old feelings of eroticism came rushing back as she recalled her carefree summer and the recklessness of youth.
“Hey now,” Rory grumbled. “Let’s get unpacked before we start a reenactment.”
Breaking their kiss, Brock peered around her body, but held fast to her bottom, securing her against his rigid cock. “Bertie and Claude aren’t here. No one is around. Gone are the days of trying to behave for the sake of preserving our reputations. We aren’t expecting campers. Overzealous parents won’t arrive with their munchkins the day after tomorrow.”
Rory took a deep breath and exhaled. “Those were the days. Ya know?”
Trixie flattened her palms against Brock’s shoulders and fluttered her legs. A masculine growl fell from his lips. “You’re in trouble.”
“Give me a taste,” she suggested, pushing her pussy against his hard length. “Just a little sample.”
“You mean you don’t want to skip down Memory Lane first?” Brock asked, hooking his arm around her torso and securing her body firmly against his.