Chapter 11

MIKE

It's a good thing I had her number now because if I thought I would be satisfied after a second date, I was wrong. Not only was Tammy just as interesting and sexy as she had been that first night, but all our conversation had convinced me that she was honest and intelligent, too. Her laugh when I made a mockery of the line dance had been friendly, not insulting. Her innate shyness still made her seem like a mystery, even after we had shared the intimacy of my bed.

I told her some choice stories from my history, about my parents and my job. Working at the lumberyard was the only thing I had ever done. Unlike Tammy, who had bounced from job to job, I had stayed put. She had an abundance of places looking for receptionists, while I was pretty much guaranteed a job unless I burned the place to the ground. The only thing I wasn't going to tell her about was prison. She didn't need to know that yet. Of course, if I was going to propose to the girl, I would have to come clean. But we were far from that now, and I didn't want to risk turning her off.

While Tammy had two ex-boyfriends, both of them somewhat serious, I had a string of weeklong relationships and one-night stands. I had never been in love. I had never even thought I was in love. The fact that I couldn't get this girl out of my mind was new to me. I was thinking three steps ahead, imagining our next date before I even texted her good night. I cautioned myself to be careful. Success in the dating world had taught me that no woman wants a man to seem too interested. Better let them come to you.

I threw all the gameplay out the window as soon as I woke up. I just had to check in with her. I sent a sunshine emoji for "good morning." A moment later, I was rewarded with a smiley face. Who knew what that really meant? It was too early in the relationship for eggplants or heart-shaped eyes, but at least I knew she was thinking about me.

At work I found I was actually able to concentrate. That was a nice development. I thought about Tammy, but it wasn't the desperate am I ever going to see her again? crap that I had suffered through before. At the end of the day, I decided to call her. If she held out because I was too interested, then I would know she wasn't the one. I climbed up to my apartment and paced the floor as I called, hoping to catch her alone.

"Hello?" she asked.

"Hi, Tammy. It's Mike."

"Hi, Mike." Her voice warmed, but I had another takeaway from her reaction. She hadn't put my name into her contacts yet. I wasn't sure what that meant.

I got right to the point. "Would you like to go fishing tonight?"

"Sure," she said without hesitation. "I've never been fishing."

"I can show you," I said, my head spinning with relief. "You get off at six, right?"

"Right."

"I'll pick you up then," I said.

"Awesome."

I hung up and got changed. I would have just enough time to pack the truck and grab some takeout and a few sodas before picking Tammy up. We could score a spot on the lake and stay until the sun went down. Fishing was usually productive this time of year. I had caught some big specimens around this time last year.

I splashed on a bit of cologne, shaved off my five-o'clock shadow, and thundered down the stairs. In the garage, I found the fishing poles. There were three—one for me, one for my dad, and one for my mom. I grabbed two and threw them in the back of the truck. I scooped up the tackle box and checked to see if we had any live bait. The kitchen door opened just minutes before my escape, and I sighed.

"What are you doing?" Mom asked.

"Going fishing," I answered.

"Who's the extra pole for?"

I held my breath for a moment, weighing my options. It was possible my mom would be excited for me. She was like any other mom in that respect, wanting to see her children happily settled down. I had only brought one of my girlfriends home= to meet her, and that had only been because we had plans for later that day, and it had been cheaper to have lunch with my parents than to go out to eat. My mom had not been impressed, and that relationship hadn't lasted through the week. Before I went to prison, she had asked about my love life almost every day. With a jolt, I realized that it had been a long time since she made any noises about grandchildren.

"I have a date," I said.

"With who?" She folded her arms across her chest. I couldn't tell yet if she was happy or angry.

"It's no one you know. She's new in town."

"Where did you meet her?" Mom wanted to know.

I frowned. I didn't want to tell her about the meat market at the Lucky Lady. "She works at the hair salon on Main Street."

Mom seemed to consider that, and I almost thought she was going to drop the subject. "You have to tell her."

I wasn't sure if I had understood her. "What?"

"You have to be up-front with this girl about your past," Mom clarified.

"I will," I said, dismissing her request.

I would tell Tammy as soon as we passed the point of no return. When I was sure she was as hooked on me as I was on her. I promised myself I would tell her maybe after we were married or after the first child.

I remembered my previous desire to be more appreciative of my parents and kissed my mom on the top of the head. "I really like this girl."

She sighed. "Be careful."

I nodded, leaving her alone in the driveway. It was too much trouble to guess what Mom meant when she said those cryptic things. Clearly, she had been worried that I would lie to Tammy. Did "be careful" mean that I was supposed to act like a gentleman? Did it mean that she was worried I would get my heart broken? I had no intention of being careful. Instead, I planned to follow my heart wherever it went. This would be our second date in as many nights. At the pace we were going, we would be married in a month, and I didn't mind.

I pulled up outside the Wood Rose Salon to find Tammy waiting for me. Lindsey waved at us from inside the storefront, and I leaned forward to wave back at her.

"How was work?" I asked.

Tammy settled herself in the seat, drawing her seat belt across her lap. "Fine. How was yours?"

"Fine," I said. "Are you getting to know the regulars?"

"Yes," she laughed. "Ms. Mary—she insists on being called ‘Ms. Mary'—has to have her hair curled every Saturday, and Patrick Something is a lawyer. He comes in for a trim every Friday night."

"We've got regulars at the lumberyard too," I said, pulling out onto Main Street. We drove the entire length of town before turning left toward the lake. "Mr. Bucks from the hardware store always has some project going. Mr. and Mrs. Lemon are both retired, and they're always building a new shed or redoing their front porch steps or something."

"So how often do you go fishing?" She changed the subject.

"Once a week during the summer." I drove down past the usual fishing spots to another more hidden one.

"Did you always know how to fish?"

"My dad taught me," I said, swinging the wheel to guide the truck off road. "My mom will come sometimes, but it's not her favorite thing."

"Why not?" Tammy asked.

"You have to be patient," I said, parking.

I leaned forward as if I would kiss her, inhaling the scents of the hair salon: shampoo and hairspray. She watched me with interest, her eyes settling on my lips. Then I pulled away, teasing her.

"Patience," she laughed. "I see." She swatted me on the arm.

I chuckled and went in for a real kiss. Her lips were warm and playful. I stopped before I lost myself. I hadn't asked her here to make out in the car but to teach her fishing. We had to go before we lost the daylight. I hopped out of the cab and went around to the back. Grabbing the tackle box and a blanket, I walked toward the lake.

"Is there anything I can bring?" she asked.

"There's a bag of takeout you could grab," I said.

"What about the fishing rods?"

"I'll get them in a sec." I spread the blanket down at the edge of the water, depositing the tackle box at one end. Tammy slid in behind me, the white paper bag in her hands. "Just put it down," I said. She dropped it obediently, and we both went back to fetch the fishing poles. "This one is my mom's." I handed the smaller one to Tammy.

She examined it, rotating her wrist like someone who had seen fishing on television. I put my hand on the rod, stabilizing it. I smiled when she pouted. I grabbed my own rod and led the way back to our blanket.

"Let's switch." I offered her my pole.

She handed hers over, gravitating toward the lake with my rod in hand. I watched as she waved the pole toward the water, practicing without knowing how. Smiling, I checked her line, winding it out until it looked right. I opened the tackle box and found the bait.

"Don't look," I admonished.

"Why?" She turned back.

"I'm going to thread the worm," I said.

"Shouldn't you teach me how to do that?" She argued.

I paused in wonder. No girl I had ever taken fishing had been the slightest bit interested in live bait. They had been grossed out, and some had given up on the sport altogether. "Are you sure?" I asked.

"Teach a man to fish and all that," she said, drifting closer.

"I would hope you're not a man," I replied.

She pinched my arm lightly. "You know I'm not."

I laughed. "I do indeed." I selected a worm and reached for the hook. Demonstrating, I looped the creature over the barb and secured it quickly. She flinched, and I could tell she was trying to be tough. "You don't have to be into this part of it," I said gently.

"I'm not," she answered.

"I'm perfectly happy to bait the hook."

"Good." She flashed a relieved smile.

I handed the pole back to her. "Trade," I said again.

She handed me my own rod, and I checked the line, made sure the hook was attached, and slipped another worm on. When I was done, I sealed up the can of worms and put it back in the tackle box. I led her gently to the water's edge and demonstrated how to cast the line. It took her a couple of tries, and each time she laughed at her own misfortune.

"It's just like you on the dance floor," she said, winding up again.

"Yeah, but luckily I didn't have a pointy thing on a stick when I was trying to dance," I responded.

She cast out again, and this time, she got it. The bait settled far enough from the shore that she had a good chance of success. I set my rod down in the dirt, in a hole that someone else had left, and came around behind her to check the ground for a second hole. I found one not too far away, and together, we pulled up on the rod to make it fit. Once that was done, both of our poles stood on their own, lines lazily drifting in the current.

Tammy and I sat down on the blanket to wait. "What did you get?" She reached for the takeout bag.

"Tacos," I said. I didn't want to mention that I had been too shy to return to the diner after falling so hard for her. I told Polly that I didn't want to date anyone and immediately began seeing Tammy. Not that I had been unkind or dishonest, but I felt like the truth might hurt Polly's feelings. So I had opted for tacos instead of cheeseburgers, and I hoped Tammy would approve.

She dug into the bag with delight. "There was a taco stand across the street from my apartment building in Austin," she said.

I nodded, pleased with my choice. We munched on tacos and watched the fishing poles. My pole rattled, and I leapt to my feet, leaving half of my dinner balled up in the tin foil. Tammy followed me, excited as I grabbed the rod and began to reel my catch in. At the same time, Tammy's pole began to bounce, and I shouted for her to pick it up. Her face came alive with joy as she focused on her task.

"Easy, easy," I cautioned.

She took my advice, frowning in concentration as she pulled on her line. My attention was torn. I wanted to watch her reel in her first catch, but my own fish demanded focus. I rocked my head back and forth as if I were watching a tennis match. A six-inch trout broke the surface of the water, dangling on my line. Tammy reeled hers back, fighting against a much bigger catch. I pulled my fish in, holding out a hand to steady its movements. With deft hands, I unhooked the barb from my fish's mouth and tossed it back.

"What are you doing?" Tammy gasped, obviously watching my progress just as I had been watching hers.

I set my rod down on the blanket and went to help her. Standing behind her, I wrapped my arms around her arms to help draw the mystery catch in. The rod jumped in predictable ways, jerking in her hands as the fish struggled for dominance. I helped Tammy work with it, reeling in when the fish rested, letting out when it struggled. Together, we battled the rod and worked the line in until it lifted the beast from the water.

"Oh my gosh!" Tammy squealed, jumping in my arms. The fish was large, at least a foot long. She dropped the rod, letting me handle it, and twisted to look up at me. "Can we keep it?"

"What are you going to do with it?"

"Eat it, duh." she said.

"I'd have to bring a cooler, I wasn't planning on keeping any of them." I said apologetically.

She pouted, twisting around in my arms to take up the line again. My cock responded to the movement, to the friction between us. I stifled a groan. She doubled down on the torture by wiggling her hips as she reached for the fish. I had to detach my arms from around her body or risk tangling the fishing line in a mad rush to get her naked.

Forcing myself to concentrate, I twisted the hook from the fish's mouth and threw it back. We each cast again, setting the rods back in their divots, and sat down to finish our dinner.

"You said your dad taught you?" she asked, eyeing me over the sour cream and lettuce.

"Yeah, he used to take me down to this spot."

"This exact spot?"

"Well, not this spot," I backpedaled. "This spot is a little more private."

"I noticed," she purred.

"What did you do with your dad, if you didn't go fishing?" I asked, finishing my meal.

"We used to go to baseball games," she said.

"Did you play?"

"I played in junior high. Softball," she clarified. "Did you play any sports?"

I shook my head. "My father tried to get me involved in football, but I wasn't any good. I tried out for the junior high team, but I didn't make it. Thankfully, he gave up after that."

She reached for her soda. "It sounds like you have a turbulent relationship with your parents."

I nodded. "I told my mom about you."

"What did she say?"

"She said ‘be careful.'" I narrowed my eyes as if relaying a terrible message.

Tammy giggled. "Be careful about what?"

I shrugged. "She didn't say, and I didn't ask."

"I suppose she thinks we're going to have sex."

I let that statement be. If I was lucky, the night would end up that way, but I didn't want to jinx it.

"My parents died in a car crash two years ago," she said.

"I'm sorry. That must have been so horrible." I reached across the blanket to take her hand.

"Thanks," she sniffed. "Even if your mom is annoying, try to cherish every moment you have with her."

I nodded. "I do. I've been making a better effort. Were you with your ex at the time?"

She cast her eyes toward the sky that was rapidly growing dark. "Yes."

"Was he any help?"

"He was not, unfortunately," she said.

"He's the guy who cheated on you?" I asked.

She nodded. "Actually, I was the person he was cheating with. He had another girlfriend the whole time, and I didn't know. I don't know which side feels more awful."

"Wow."

"Yeah." She rubbed her nose.

"I know that's not something you get over. Your parents, I mean." I scooted closer, putting an arm around her.

"It's not, but it gets easier with time." She leaned back against my chest. "Look, you can see the stars."

I looked up, though what I really wanted to focus on was her face. The moon was out, and I could see almost as clearly as day. There were a few stars strong enough to break through with their light, but it was nothing like what you could see on a moonless night. Then, the stars would have gone on forever. Sometimes you could even see the entire galaxy, spinning away from the Earth with gossamer fingers.

"You can't really see the stars in Austin," Tammy continued, mesmerized.

I looked back down at her, much more alluring than the moon. "We should come back when there isn't a full moon."

She met my eyes and smiled. "But I think it's lovely."

"Without a doubt."

I kissed her, and she opened her mouth to me, her tongue soft. I licked deep, tasting the sour cream and the salt of the beef she had just eaten. Threading one hand beneath her neck, I lifted her head up so that I could plunge even deeper. She followed my lead, arching up to allow me access.

Suddenly, the twang of a taut line caught my ear, and I cursed. Leaping up, I grabbed her fishing rod and wound it in without a care for the integrity of the pole. A thrashing fish broke through the surface of the water, and I yanked it from the hook, tossing it back into the lake. I dropped the rod to the ground and, as a precaution, removed my own rod from its stand and reeled it in. When I had finished, I turned, expecting to find Tammy laughing, still seated on the blanket.

Instead, she was standing naked, her clothes scattered on the ground at her feet. I felt my heart skip a beat and my breath catch in my throat. She looked like a goddess who had floated down to Earth in the magic of the moonlight. The forest, shimmering in the pale glow, seemed to fade into the background.

Her hair fell just past her shoulders, expertly cut by her new best friend. Her shoulders were two perfectly rounded globes, her skin so creamy I longed to drink it in. Her breasts saluted me with taut nipples, plump and delectable in the middle of her chest. A slender waist blossomed into hips that my hands knew only too well. In the center of it all, her perfectly shaved flower promised the heat that my manhood craved. It took me a minute to digest the entire vision, before my legs would obey my command.

I surged forward, sweeping her up into my arms. The feel of her naked skin was just as advertised, smooth and erotic. I ran my hand down the length of her spine, from the back of her neck to the curve of her ass. Her arms floated up to circle my shoulders, drawing me in with the power of a siren. I found her mouth with mine, hungry for her taste. She indulged me, lapping at my tongue, biting my bottom lip.

I struggled with my own shirt, desperate to discard the barrier between us. I could feel her smiling as she moved to help. Together, our fingers undid what had suddenly become millions of tiny buttons. We pulled the fabric away, and finally I could feel all of her. I crushed her to my chest, feeling her breasts flatten against me.

The kiss began again. She swooned in my embrace, giving me permission to consume her. I held her firmly, one arm under her head, one arm wrapped around her back. With her weight in my arms, I lowered us gently to the ground. She had to shift around on the blanket to get comfortable. I hung back, one arm planted beside her shoulder, watching her hips rock.

Finally, she looked up and nodded. I moved in, sliding a gentle finger down the length of her jaw. I kissed her once more, this one soft and fleeting. With one hand, I traced a road map from her neck, between her breasts, to her navel. Starting at the beginning, I trailed kisses along the path. Her chest tasted like watermelon, a curious flavor that only added to her allure.

I paused on my journey to lick one breast, delighting in the perfect curve of flesh. I followed the circle until I came to its peak. Already erect, her nipple filled my mouth, swelling in the confines until it demanded release. I let it fall, cleaning it off with a rough tongue before moving on to its twin.

Beneath me, Tammy gasped, wiggling her chest. "Mike," she moaned, grabbing fists full of my hair.

I lavished attention on the second nipple, rolling it between my teeth and my tongue until she cried out in ecstasy. I began my journey again, moving away from her breasts and down the path my fingers had drawn. I stopped at her belly button, circling it with my tongue. Her legs fell open around me, her femininity so close I could almost taste it.

I dipped one finger gently between folds of skin, thrilling at the moisture that had already collected there. I circled around until I found her clit, pressing it to her core. She gasped, arching her back and thrusting her chest in the air. I let my finger drift around her opening, lighting up all the pleasure nodes. She was panting by the time I slipped my finger inside her, and I felt an instant response from her internal muscles. She clenched around me, and I had to force myself to remain calm.

I dragged my finger in and out, mimicking the movements that I most wanted to perform. At the same time, I thumbed her clit, bringing her to the brink of climax and thrusting her over. She screamed my name, loud enough for the entire town to hear. I slid my hand free, leaving her open. Pulling my jeans off with the speed of necessity, I threw them away. I reached down to stroke myself, calming the beast.

Tammy lay spread out before me, her legs wide, her sex wet. Her hair fanned out over the blanket, her breasts beautiful orbs in the moonlight. Instead of plunging into her, I pulled her into my arms and flipped her over. I caught a wicked smile as she played along, positioning herself on hands and knees. Now I was treated to a glorious vision of her backside, perfectly curved and awaiting my touch.

I moved closer, taking hold of her hips, spreading her legs so I could kneel between them. With one hand, I guided myself in. The other hand lay at the base of her spine, keeping her steady. I sunk deeper, inch by inch, submerging myself in a little piece of heaven. She was so tight and warm, her canal constricting with the aftershocks of her climax. I planted myself fully, moving both hands to her hips.

Using fistfuls of her flesh for leverage, I ground deeper, reaching for her soul. I dragged myself out and thrust back in, feeling the satisfying smack of her thighs against mine. She gasped, her breasts swinging free above the blanket. I experimented with another rocking motion, in and out, deeper still. She called my name, leaving no question in either of our minds that she did love me.

An urgency gripped me suddenly, and I began to move faster, slamming into her without regard for decorum. I drew my rod out, glistening in the silver light of the moon, and rammed it back home. Again and again, until our bodies accepted the rhythm and moved with the current. She pressed her butt against me, asking for it. I delivered, fucking her sweet cunt as hard as I could. When I felt the tension rising and knew that I had seconds left, I bent over her, closing one palm around her breast.

She was so eager, so beautiful. Her perfect figure took me over the edge. With my cock inside her and her breast in my hand, I shot my load, burying myself as far down in her tunnel as I could go. In answer, she screamed. Her body shuddered, a ripple effect streaming down her spine to land between her legs.

I felt the familiar tug of her inner muscles squeezing my shaft and knew that she had experienced pleasure again. We were breathing heavily, both gasping for the night air. She moaned, parting her legs slightly and leaning back against me. As I began to lose my hard-on, she relished the last few moments of our connection, unwilling to let me go.

I released her breast and set my hand back on her spine. With reluctance, I slid free, and we were suddenly two people again. She rolled over onto her seat, a satisfied smile on her lips. She rose to her knees, still not a match for my height. Coming close, she pressed her chest to my chest and tilted her head up, demanding a kiss.

I obeyed, feeling her mouth even more soft and inviting than before. We sealed the kiss after a long moment, each one of us hot and spent. In a daze, we began collecting our clothing and stepping back into long-lost pants. I was reluctant to see her cover herself, hiding the raw woman that I knew she was.

When we had finally dressed, she made a move to check on the fishing poles. I grabbed her back, pulling her down on the blanket and wrapping my arms around her.

"Just five more minutes," I whispered.

She didn't argue, and just snuggled down into the embrace. We stayed that way until I was in danger of falling asleep and had to admit the night was over. We packed up all our belongings and pulled away from our little spot at the lake. The spot that would never be the same again. It was special, and it was ours now.