Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

W aking up in Dean's arms was, well, pretty amazing. Almost as amazing as he'd made her feel the night before when he'd slowly explored every inch of her body and made her vibrate.

How long had it been since someone had made her feel so…much? Too long.

She had always been an early riser but Dean wasn't, so she tried to roll out of bed without waking him. She'd almost made it when he reached for her, wrapping his hands around her waist and pulling her tight against him.

"Trying to sneak out? I thought that was my MO," he said in a sleepy voice.

She smiled and enjoyed the feeling of him, hard against her backside.

"I didn't think you'd be awake this early." She rubbed herself against him. "Guess I was wrong."

In a quick move, she was pinned under him, laughing. When he slid into her, her laughter died away, replaced with a low groan of pleasure.

"Morning," he said against her ear as he started to move inside her.

"Dean," she sighed and held on as her body woke up completely.

Half an hour later, they stood together in her shower under the warm spray.

"Do you have time for breakfast?" he asked her as she started rinsing her hair.

"Probably not. I'm going to be late as it is." She sighed. "How about lunch?"

He nodded. "I'm working the dinner shift so I'll come early and meet you." He shut off the water when she opened the shower door.

She wrapped a towel around herself, wishing she had enough time to lick the water droplets from his body. She had to shake her head to clear the image from her head.

As she dressed, she thought about how much she enjoyed spending time with him. Even now, he sat on the counter while she did her hair and makeup and chatted easily. Plus, last night had been perfect—dinner, laughter, and knock-your-socks-off sex that felt so natural. So…right. She glanced at the clock. She had just enough time to grab a quick breakfast at River Camps before her first client.

After kissing Dean goodbye in her driveway, she made her way to work. The morning sun was just starting to cast a golden glow over the landscape.

She loved watching the world come alive. Early morning was her favorite time of day. Everything was just waking up, a new blank slate, a canvas that didn't have a drop of paint on it.

The anticipation of seeing Dean again for lunch brought a smile to her face as she pulled into the camp's parking lot.

The morning consisted of her usual daily events and her normal client list. She watched and then joined in for a game of water volleyball at the pool during one of her breaks. While she was working, however, she frequently glanced over at the clock. She couldn't help being impatient for lunchtime.

"What's got you so eager?" Kara asked her between clients as they checked the schedules.

"Nothing," she lied quickly.

Kara tilted her head and gave her a look. "Spill," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

Andrea rolled her eyes. "Dean and I are having lunch together." She couldn't stop the smile.

"Finally. It's about damn time he made a move." Kara smiled slowly. "He's been dancing around you for years. It's about time the two of you got serious about it."

The way Kara said it made Andrea think of how Kara had fallen for Carter the year before. Their wedding had been amazing and, even now, her friend glowed whenever she saw or talked about Carter.

"No." She frowned. It wasn't the same thing. This was just an affair. Like the many she'd had over the years. Right? She kept telling herself that she should go slow because it was Dean. The truth was, she wanted it to matter more. Whatever she did now, she wasn't going to tell her friend and coworker that, so she shrugged and said, "We're just having fun."

"Right." Kara chuckled. "Carter and I were just having fun too."

"For years," Andrea added as she poked Kara's side playfully.

"You and Dean have known each other for years." Kara smiled. "I never thought I'd fall for a friend."

"A sex friend," Andrea joked again.

In truth, she was hoping the conversation would move away from her and Dean. She wasn't ready to think about how deep her feelings for him went. Not yet.

Sure, she'd had a major crush on him for what seemed like her entire life. But school-girl crushes and love were not even on the same playing field. She'd had a lot of crushes over the years. Most of the guys were either married now or had become people she no longer found attractive. Dean was the exception.

While she worked for the rest of the morning, her mind kept comparing Dean with all the other people she'd seen over the years. When the time finally came for lunch, she made her way to the employee dining room, where she found Dean waiting for her, a broad smile on his face.

"Hey there," he greeted, handing her a brown paper sack. "How about a picnic? We can head out and enjoy the perfect weather."

"Absolutely," Andrea replied, her excitement evident.

They walked out to the grounds and headed towards a large oak tree that sat not far from the docks. The shade provided a perfect spot to sit and enjoy their lunch. Andrea spread a blanket on the grass, and they settled down with their sack lunches.

"This is nice," she said, looking around at the serene setting. "I love breaks like this."

Dean nodded, taking a bite of his sandwich. "Me too. I could get used to this. Before, I'd quickly gobble my lunch down between events or just sit with coworkers inside."

She sighed and rolled her shoulders. "Sometimes you just need the quiet of nature."

He nodded in agreement and they ate in companionable silence for a while, enjoying the peacefulness of the camp and each other's company. After finishing their lunches, they packed up and walked to the horse barn to enjoy the horses for a few moments.

While they strolled along the pathway under the shade of the trees, he filled her in on Sophia's progress. Her mind turned towards her last conversation with her mother.

Why were her mother and sister so adamant about her getting a different job or starting her own massage parlor? Every time she talked to her mother or sister, they pushed her. It was particularly strange since they had benefited from her connections when planning the charity event the other night. And her sister had hinted about holding her next charity event there as well.

Clearly it wasn't the camp itself that they had issues with. So what did they want to get her away from? Why were they so hell-bent on her moving on? It wasn't as if they cared about her day-to-day life. They only called her when they wanted something.

One thing was clear—Andrea loved her work. She made enough money to maintain her home and pay her property taxes and to pay her car payment and other bills. She was also putting a huge chunk of her monthly income into a retirement fund that was getting great returns.

When she thought about it, she pretty much had everything she'd ever wanted. Except… She glanced over at Dean, who was looking around with an appreciative smile.

"What's on your mind?" Dean asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

Andrea sighed, trying to put her thoughts about her family problems to the back of her mind. Instead, she heard herself reply honestly.

"I was just thinking about…family stuff. My mom and sister are still pushing me to get a different job."

Dean frowned. "Do you want to change jobs?"

"No," Andrea said firmly. "I love working here. It's just hard dealing with their expectations sometimes."

Dean nodded. "I get that. Family can be complicated. But you have to do what makes you happy."

They reached the horse paddock and Andrea leaned against the wooden fence, watching the horses graze in the field. "You're right. I need to remember that."

Dean smiled, reaching out to take her hand. "You're strong, Andrea. Don't let anyone make you doubt yourself. Besides, your sister is a total bitch."

She laughed and squeezed his hand. She had such an appreciation for his friendship throughout the years. In all that time, Amy had been unable to change his perception of her, no matter how hard she flirted with him. "You always know how to make me feel better. Just tear down my sister," she said with a chuckle.

"It's not hard to do after hearing some of the things that come out of her mouth." He wrapped an arm around her.

They stood there for a while, watching the horses and talking about their plans for the rest of the day. The sun was warm on their faces, and the sound of the horses' gentle movements was soothing.

Eventually, they made their way back to the pool house, walking hand in hand. Andrea felt lighter, more hopeful about the future, surer of herself. She was right where she belonged. Right where she wanted to be. Spending time with Dean had a way of grounding her, reminding her of what truly mattered.

As they reached the entrance, Dean turned to her with a grin. "Will I see you tomorrow for lunch?"

Andrea wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. "I'd like that."

With a final squeeze of his hand, she headed back to her duties, her heart full, her mind settled, and her spirit lifted. That was until she walked in and saw her sister lying on her table.

"I thought to work here, you had to be on time?" Amy said, glancing up at her.

"I am on time. You are early." Andrea washed her hands and finished setting up her room. Thankfully, it appeared as if Kara had prepped her room for Amy.

"You know, I could probably complain and get you fired," Amy added as she shifted back down.

"Go ahead and try," Andrea said dryly as she started therapy on her sister's back. She knew every inch of Amy's tightness and how to relieve it, which areas her sister hated being touched too hard or too soft.

"Why bother?" Amy sighed as Andrea worked out a knot. "You and the owners are too tight." She sighed again and then groaned. "They'd probably give you a raise."

Andrea remained quiet. Amy liked to talk during her massages. No doubt the conversation would change over to something great going on in her life. Something she was trying to make Andrea jealous of. Only, Andrea was never jealous of anything Amy did.

"I ran into Tiffany and Heather this morning during brunch," Amy started, her tone casual but with an underlying edge. "They were both raving about the charity event. They said it was the highlight of the season. They think I need to host one a month."

Andrea nodded, focusing on a particularly stubborn knot in Amy's shoulder. "I'm glad it went well."

"Oh, it did," Amy said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "Brad and I raised so much money. He was amazing, handling everything. Everyone was so impressed with him."

Andrea bit back a retort about Brad's behavior at the event. The man had been so obviously flirting with both staff members and guests at the party and had not given his wife any attention. Instead, she kept her tone neutral. "That's good to hear."

"You know, it's such a shame you don't have anyone like Brad in your life," Amy continued. "Someone to support you, take care of you. I don't know how you manage being all alone."

"I manage just fine," Andrea replied, her voice steady. She moved to another knot, pressing down with just enough pressure to make Amy wince slightly. "I'm happy with my life."

"Really? No plans to settle down? Start a family?" Amy's tone was almost mocking.

Andrea took a deep breath, feeling a surge of conflicting emotions. She thought about her relationship with Dean, how it had grown unexpectedly fast. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once. Part of her feared falling in love, scared that it would mean losing herself or getting hurt. She had always believed she wasn't meant to settle down with one person, that her independence was her greatest strength. But now, she couldn't deny the growing feelings she had for Dean. She didn't want things to go too far too fast, yet she also couldn't ignore how he made her feel—valued, cherished, and understood in a way no one else ever had.

"I have my own plans. They might not look like yours, but they're mine." She moved to start work on her sister's legs.

"Well, I guess not everyone can have it all." Amy sighed dramatically, casting a condescending glance back at Andrea. The words were dripping with smug satisfaction, a deliberate dig at Andrea's choices and lifestyle.

Andrea bit back a retort, choosing instead to channel her frustration into her work. She knew that responding to Amy's barbs would only give her sister more ammunition. Instead, she focused on her technique, using the rhythm of the massage to calm her own mind. The familiar motions helped ground her, reminding her of her skills and the satisfaction she found in helping others, even when the other was her sister.

Amy's body was tight, knotted with stress and tension, likely from her own endless pursuit of perfection and approval. As Andrea's hands worked over her sister's muscles, she found herself feeling a twinge of pity. Amy's life, for all its surface-level glamour, seemed exhausting. The constant need to outdo everyone, to be seen, to be envied. Andrea wouldn't trade places with her for anything.

She moved to Amy's feet, knowing this was the part her sister hated the most. Amy could barely tolerate anyone other than her overpriced manicurist touching them. Andrea's touch was light but efficient, her fingers moving with practiced ease as she worked through the motions. She could feel her sister's muscles tensing even more in resistance, a silent protest against the unwanted touch.

"Can't you hurry up?" Amy snapped, her voice breaking the silence.

Andrea took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I'm almost done," she replied evenly, continuing her work with calm precision. She deliberately slowed her movements, adding a touch of firmness, just to make a point. Amy huffed but didn't say anything more.

When she finished, she wiped her hands on a towel and stepped back, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. The session was over, and she could finally breathe again. Well, just as soon as her sister left, at any rate.

"All done," she said, her tone neutral.

Amy sat up. "About time," she muttered, swinging her legs over the side of the table. "I don't know how you do this all day. It seems so…boring."

Andrea just smiled, not rising to the bait. She had her own sense of satisfaction, one that didn't rely on material things or other people's approval. Amy slowly rolled her shoulders. "I suppose that will do. I have a meeting with some important people in a few hours, so I need to look and feel my best."

"Good luck with your meeting," Andrea said, already mentally moving on from the encounter.

"Thanks. Just another day in my fabulous life." Amy smirked while Andrea left the room so her sister could shower off the oils and change back into her expensive clothes.

She was content with her life, her choices, and most of all, the person she was becoming. No number of snide comments could take that away from her. Dean's support and the way he made her feel valued were a stark contrast to the negativity she always felt from her family.

When Amy left a few minutes later, Andrea felt both relief and frustration and a weight lifted off her shoulders.

As she cleaned up her room and prepped it for her next client, she focused on the good things in her life—the time she spent with Dean, the supportive people, her love for her work, and the potential for a future that was entirely her own.

That's what mattered most to her. Had always mattered most. Would always. Friendships over family.