Wet(14)

When they reached the table, Trent was mumbling something about Adam under his breath. Katy grabbed a stick. “Adam’s a good guy, Trent.”

“He’s a pain in my ass,” Trent responded, but Katy heard the love and respect in his words. Those two were best friends, firefighters, part of a brotherhood, and she loved that Adam worried about Trent. That’s how it was in her small town. You grew up together and had each other’s back. Katy missed that.

Trent racked the balls and said, “You break.”

The rest of the night flew by and Katy couldn’t believe how much she was enjoying herself. Trent stayed close to her, his body practically leaning over hers as she took her shots, and for awhile it felt like old times. As they played, the tension between them slipped away and they laughed, joked and teased one another. Before she knew it, she spotted people staring and most likely whispering about them.

“Looks like we’re drawing a bit of attention,” she said.

Trent glanced up and his jaw clenched. “Want to get out of here?”

“Yeah, it’s getting late and I have an early morning anyway.”

“Come on. I’ll walk you home.”

At the thought of going home, and remembering those strange noises, she frowned. Trent, as if knowing exactly what she was thinking, said, “Don’t worry. Brody was going to swing by your place and check it out. He said the kids around town have been playing a lot of pranks lately and it’s probably nothing to worry about.”

“Thanks.” Before she realized what she was doing, her hand found his. Their eyes met and she watched his throat work as he swallowed. Keeping their locked hands hidden between their bodies, they walked to the door, but when Trent pushed it open and a camera was thrust into their faces, he stumbled backward.

“What the hell?”

Overhead lights flicked on and blinded them. Katy blinked and shaded her eyes. “What’s going on?” she asked.

A microphone was shoved into her face. “So, Kathleen. Is this Trent Parker? The boy from your past? The reason you returned to your childhood home of Whispering Cove?”

“What are you doing here?” Katy demanded.

“A story on you, of course.”

“Of course?” Trent asked, his tone accusatory as he stared at Katy. “What does she mean by of course? Did you arrange this?”

“No,” Katy hurried out, but she saw the seed of doubt before he quickly blinked it away. “I had nothing to do with this.”

“Come on.” Trent grabbed her hand and hustled her back into the pub, closing the door on the commotion outside. Once inside he called Brody, who’d left the pub shortly after they’d arrived. Katy listened in. A moment later he hung up and informed her that Brody was sending Deputy Peter Veinotte to get things under control but that it might take awhile.

“I guess we’ll have to wait it out, since they’re blocking the only street leading to my cottage.”

When she yawned, the two beers making her tired, Trent said, “I have an idea.” He grabbed her hand, made his way to the back of the pub and spoke to Hauk Michaelsen, his old buddy and owner of the establishment.

Hauk ushered them through the kitchen and upstairs to his apartment. Without turning on any lights, he herded them outside and pointed to the long set of wooden stairs leading off his back deck. He tossed Trent a blanket. “Use this to disguise yourselves,” he advised in a rich, European dialect, even though he’d grown up in Whispering Cove.

Once outside, they rushed down the back street and Katy followed, not sure where he was guiding her until they reached the foot of Dresden bluff.

He rolled his shoulder. “If we’re going to wait it out, I’d rather do it here than in an overcrowded pub.”

They climbed the bluff, and when they reached the top, Katy slapped her hand to her chest and drew in air. Waves lapped against the rocks and light glistened on the rolling waves. As old memories came rushing back, Trent stepped up behind her and pressed his chest to her back.

“Is it as beautiful as you remember?” he asked, his voice soft, warm, filled with desire.

His heat reached out to her and she clamped her thighs together as sensations bombarded her body. “More so,” she answered honestly.

He positioned his mouth close to her ear and his fingers curled around hers. “I miss coming here with you, Katy.”

Her heart twisted and tears threatened. Oh God, she missed it too, so much so that it hurt deep in her core. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you brought me here on purpose.”

Trent let loose a long sigh and replied soberly, “Maybe on some level I did.”