The four weeks at camp was comparable to military boot camp, or I suspected as much given what Dad had explained about his time in boot camp. Regardless, a regimen-like camp for a whole year would get me in tip-top shape to play ball. Maybe then I would have several options when it came to a full ride to a Division I school.
We stopped outside the farm store.
“I better get inside,” Coach said.
Mr. Thompson poked his head out. “We’re about to start.” Then he looked at me as if he knew my question. “Quinn is down in the barn or maybe feeding the pigs.”
“Sir,” I said to Mr. Thompson. “I didn’t drink that night.” I’d been wanting to get that off my chest.
Mr. Thompson cracked a smile. “I know, son.”
It was weird to see him smile. I wasn’t complaining, though. “Thank you.”
“Let me know what you decide,” Coach Dean said before he moseyed inside.
My head spun as I headed down to the barn.Do I go? Or not?
Go.You know you want to.
But what if Quinn decides she doesn’t want to wait for me? Or what if some boy snags her attention this year?
I was near the barn when her sweet and flowery voice slithered into my ears. Basketball and decisions could wait.
“Beast, get back in your pen,” Quinn ordered the pig.
I laughed as I watched her wrangle the fat animal into the pig pen across the way.
She spun on her heel. “You’re home.” Then she ran like she was in the fifty-yard dash and launched herself at me.
I caught her, steadying us so we wouldn’t fall.
She peppered kisses on my cheeks, forehead, nose, then mouth. She lingered for a long minute on my lips. “I’ve missed you.”
Well now, maybe I should go away more often.
She slid down my body, the friction causing my jeans to tighten. “When did you get back? How come you didn’t call me?”
I seated my hand on her lower back, making darn sure she didn’t move an inch, not because of my boner, but because I missed the heck out of her. I missed the feel of her against me. I missed her bright smile, her big amber eyes, and her butterscotch hair. But most of all, I missed kissing her.
I crashed my mouth to hers and took, tasted, and devoured. She melted into me like butter on warm toast. When her tongue clashed with mine, I forgot where I was, and frankly, I didn’t care that I was standing in the middle of her farm for anyone to see.
Her dad could pry me off her, or try, but I wasn’t letting her go, not in this minute, hour, or lifetime.
My breathing was all over the place. My hands were in her hair, on her butt, her body, and her arms before cupping her face. “I’ve missed you terribly.”
She whimpered before pulling me over to the side of the pig pen where no one could see, not even her mom if she was watching from the house.
She shoved me against the building, giggling. “Let’s resume where we left off on the night of my party.”
Holy shit!
“Um… Your brothers?” Liam hadn’t left for college yet, and I doubted Carter had either.
“They’re at the gun club.”
My muscles loosened.
She fumbled with my belt.
