Cast the Cards (16 page)

“Sure, we’ve been out here for a few hours. Time to go in and get
some lunch.”  He continued walking until they were on the shore. After fixing her
bottoms he set her down, and she gathered their towels, handing him one and
wrapping the other around her waist. They slipped on their flip flops, linked
hands, and walked back to the cabin.

“I never imagined I’d get to do this with you, even before.” Once
the truth started she was unable to stop.
Confession is good for the soul,
right?

“Why not?” 

“I’m not sure. I guess because we’d been best friends for so long,
and you didn’t show any interest in me.”

“Because I didn’t want to upset you or sour your relationship, How
long did you know?”

“Since the summer we spent here before sophomore year.”

He whistled. “I got you beat—twelfth grade.”

She gasped. “No way!”

“Yes way. I’ve spent a good chunk of my life masturbating with
your image in my head.”

Her cheeks grew hot, but she loved it.

“I guess we have a lot to live up to.”

“You holding my hands and looking at me with those come hither
eyes fulfills my fantasies.” He lifted their joined hands and kissed them.

“You’re going to spoil me for all men.”

“As long as that statement doesn’t include Carey, we’re good.”

She laughed.
When was the last time I was this happy?
 

“What should we do today?”

A knowing smirk lined his lips.

“Other than that.”

“I thought we’d take a trip on the lake, have a picnic?”

“Like we used to?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Let’s go get Carey out of bed and pack a lunch.” Excited, she
grabbed his hand and hastened the rest of the way to the cabin. Their shoes
slapped on the front porch, and she opened the front door feeling like a small
child promised ice cream.

“Carey.” She called out in a sing-song voice.

“Oooh that’s the voice of a woman who wants something.” They
followed the voice to the couch where he laid watching television. Clark
untangled their fingers and she sat on the edge of the couch beside Carey.

“Just a little something—canoeing and a picnic on the lake?” 

He tilted his head and looked up. “That actually sounds like a lot
of fun. Not that I’d tell you no.”

She grinned.

Carey looked over her shoulder. “I think we already spoiled her,
Clark.”

“I think that’s a good thing. She’s quite the catch you know.”
Clark’s teasing tone warmed her. Nothing could be wrong in the world when she
was secluded here with her men.

“I’m sitting right here.”

“We know, that’s why this is so fun.” Carey winked. She punched
his arm playfully and he laughed.

“I’ll go get started on lunch,” Clark offered. He spun on his heel
and headed to the kitchen, and Carey sat up and grabbed a fistful of hair.
Pulling her to him, he devoured her mouth, claiming her with teeth and tongue.
She melted into a pile of woman, pressing her chest into his. Her hand wandered
down to massage his cock. He moaned and moved against her hand. Sitting up, she
unbuttoned his gray cargo shorts.

“Commando?”

“Easy access.”

“Hmm , I like it.”  Leaning over, she circled the head of his cock
with her tongue. Their eyes locked and she laved him with her tongue,
swallowing him as he grew to his full length. Gripping him firmly, she lowered
her head and took all of him inside her mouth. 

“Shit, yeah.” His eyes darkened with lust, and she reached out to
cup his balls.

Rolling them in in her hands, she bobbed her head up and down. His
masculine grunts filled her with pride.
I’m doing that to him.
His hands
twined in her hair and he thrust upward, fucking her mouth. Opening her throat,
she took him deep.

“Just like that, Vannah.”

She hummed and he gasped, pumping faster. His cock twitched and he
let loose, filling her mouth with a wave of salty cream. When he’d given her all
he had, she opened her mouth to show him the prize and swallowed it down,
licking her lips.

“God, you are so fucking hot.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere. I’m going to hop in the shower,
change and go help Clark.”

“I’m tempted to join you, but then we’d never get on the water.
Come here.”

 She leaned in and he took her mouth, re-discovering every inch
with his tongue before he pulled away.

“I like the way I taste on your lips.”

Damn.
“Likewise.”

“Later I’ll refresh your memory.”

“I like the sounds of that.”

She placed a gentle kiss on his lips and moved from the couch
before they began round two.

***

He walked into the kitchen to find Clark had set out the old
picnic basket and begun to make sandwiches.

“How was the lake?”

“Everything I’ve been dreaming off since I was seventeen.”

“That good, huh?” Carey chuckled.

“Better. God, she’s amazing.”

“We always knew that.” Carey patted his back. “Can I help you with
anything?”

“Sure. Want to pack some sides while I finish up with the
sandwiches?”

“I’m on it.”

Before they picked up Vannah the previous night, they’d hit up an
all-night grocery store and gotten the basics.

“Remember all the summers we spent here with our parents?” Clark
asked.

“Yeah, I doubt they envisioned this for our future.” Carey laughed.
“Then again, Mom’s always wanted us with Vannah.”

“It’s true.”

Working in tandem, they relived memories until Savannah came out
dressed for comfort in a pair of worn jeans and a navy blue, scooped-neck tank
top and tennis shoes.

“You guys didn’t have to do all the work.”

“We don’t mind. It’s supposed to be your weekend of pampering,
remember? This is us.” Carey gestured between him and his brother with his
fingers. “Sweeping you off your feet and making you forget about everything
else.”

“I must say, mission accomplished.”

“We’re ready to go when you are,” Clark said.

“What about your swim—” He glanced over to see his brother had
changed his clothes. “Never mind… starting to envy that trick.”

Clark winked. “Had to get something cool with this gig.” He picked
the picnic basket up and held it out to her. “You carry this and we’ll get the
canoe.”

“Deal.”

She sashayed over and Carey bit his lip.
Her ass is hypnotic.
She hooked the basket onto her arm.

“Come on, the canoe’s in the back.”

They walked outside and he took in the beauty of the forest. Even
in mid-summer it was lush and green. It’d be another month or so before the
leaves begin to dim and turn in preparation of fall.  One thing he loved about
living in the Midwest was the changing of seasons.

The blue tarp covered the canoe set up on a rack. He pulled it
away and revealed the green boat.

“Here she is.”

“Still water-worthy?”

“Yeah, Dad and I took her out not too long ago on a father-son
fishing trip. Come over here and grab the other end. We’ll lift together.”

They removed it from the rack, lifted it above their heads and
turned it over, and turned to face Vannah.

“We’ll follow you.”

Fifteen minutes later they were paddling out onto the river. The green
trees kissed the river’s edge, forming a living border. A fish jumped from the
water.

“I forgot how beautiful it was here.” Vannah sighed and let her
fingers skim over the water.

“Me too,” Carey whispered, never taking his eyes off her face. She
looked up and smiled.

“What?”

“Nothing, just love seeing you happy. The fishing spot should be
just up a ways to the left.”

“I remember,” Clark said.

They steered the canoe accordingly and brought it to a stop in the
inlet where they’d caught a plethora of fish.

“Ready to eat?” Vannah asked.

“Yes, I’m starving.”

“I think I’ll pass.” Clark said, his eyes full of mirth.

“Oh my God, I am so sorry.” Vannah covered her mouth.

“It’s okay, you guys enjoy it.”

Vannah opened the basket, took out the bottles of water and handed
Carey a sandwich.

“You’re corporal, but you don’t have to eat?” Her words were
hesitant as she turned to the side to see them both.

“Basically. I don’t feel the need to do things like eat, sleep, or
use the restroom.”

“You don’t sleep?” Carey asked.

“No, I choose to, but I could do without it.”

“Wow,” Vannah whispered.

“Yeah, it’d come in handy if you’re working on something really
important, but otherwise it makes life drag.”“Yeah, I’ll bet.”  Carey took the
ham and cheese sandwich out of the plastic and took a big bite. Chewing
thoughtfully, he allowed himself to simply relax. The sun shone down, warming
his skin and the boat rocked in the water. It was bizarre yet perfect. The
three of them were exactly where they needed to be, no matter how improbable.
It had been a long time since he’d been so sure of anything.

Chapter
Eleven

 “West!” 
She paused outside the door to her office.

“Yes,
sir.”

“In
my office.”

She
walked inside and shut the door. “You wanted to see me, sir?”

“Take
a seat.”

She
sank into the seat across from him.

“I
want to be kept abreast of what’s going on at all times. This might technically
be an F.B.I. case with a federal officer. But you’re in my back yard.” His
steely gaze commanded respect.

“I
understand, Ssr.”

“They
want to send your partner down. What are your feelings on that?”

She
pursed her lips. “I’m fine with Officer Carr. But we both know they can go over
my head whenever they get good and ready.”

“How
much longer do you think we have until that happens?”

“Off
the record, Ssr?” She angled her body.

“Of
course.”

She
sighed. “After they hear about this new package, Dale will be flooded.”

“You
don’t sound happy about that, West.”  His eyebrows rose.

“I
think it could spook the murderers, and my top priority is taking them in to custody
before this whole thing escalates any further.”

“You
think it will?”

“Possibly.
It’s hard to profile without more information.”

“Hmm,
funny thing about the mail. It’s unpredictable these days. It’s a shame this
package was delivered a few days later then it was supposed to be.”

Savannah
smiled.
He’s buying me time.
“Yes, sir, it’s awful, the state of the
postal service being what it is.”

“I’m
glad we understand each other. You can head out now.”

She
stood, grateful for the bend possible in the smaller station. The steps to her
office felt like miles, and as she opened the door her hand shook. Carey looked
up from his desk and nodded toward the package that set in the center of his
desk.

“This
one’s smaller than the last.” Her gaze drank in the manila envelope as she set
her bag on the chair across from him. 

“There
was no indication of anything hazardous.”

“That’d
be too impersonal. They want to watch me take my last breath.”

“The
calmness with which you say that disturbs me.”

She
peered up at him and smiled. “Would you feel better if I told you I was crying
on the inside?”

“No,
smart ass.”

“Let’s
go to the lab. Suit up and examine it.”

“Thank
God. It’s been killing me staring at the thing.”

“I
bet.” She opened her bag, dug out a pair of blue gloves, and pulled them on.
Gingerly she lifted the package. The postal markings were from a small town in
Texas, which told them nothing. They were clever. She’d give them that.

Ten
minutes later, in blue suits and gloves, she stood side by side with Carey at
an evidence table. Slicing open the top of the envelope with a scalpel, she
used a pair of tongs, and pulled out a large swath of tissue held together by a
brilliant red ribbon. As she undid the bow, she willed her hand to remain
steady. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up.

She
peeled back the layers of paper. Her heart lurched. A piece of blonde hair was
revealed in the second layer. Six-inches long, the curl exuded feminine
energy.  Logged and placed in a plastic bag it was set to the side.