The Sweetest Scent Part 18

The ranger's blue eyes narrowed, and Miles stopped. "I'm an officer of the law. And you? You're two seconds away from being hauled out of here in cuffs."

Blinking hard, as though he couldn't believe what was happening, Miles grumbled under his breath and then stormed out. The door slammed shut with a loud bang after him.

Bro let out a breath but then straightened his back, ready to face the consequences. "I'm sorry, sir. I shouldn't have taken that tone with him. I saw he was angling for a fight." He felt Lacey's warmth press at his back, and he leaned a bit into the touch.

The ranger shook his head. "No, it's all right. You had the right to defend yourself." He looked at Lacey behind Bro. "Dad told me Miles had been up to no good yesterday, so I made sure to keep an eye on him. Good thing he doesn't know rangers don't carry cuffs." He winked at them in a conspiratorial manner.

"Dad...?" Lacey asked, bewildered.

The ranger grinned. "Yes. Irwin Hudson. I'm TJ, his other son. I work here."

Lacey stepped forward, despite having only a loose towel around her hips, and shook the man's hand. "I'm Lacey. Your father was very kind to me."

TJ shook her hand with a smile. "Nice to meet you. Dad spoke about you a lot last night. You made quite an impression on him."

Lacey ducked her head and blushed like a forest fire.

Bro hastened to speak to spare her discomfort. "I'm Bro, Lacey's boyfriend. Thanks for all your help. It could've gotten ugly. We didn't come here to make a scene or cause trouble. This is our first visit here."

TJ nodded. "I've told the other rangers to keep an eye on Miles. He comes here every year, and he's being a p.r.i.c.k more often than not." He looked at both of them, curious. "Listen, this may not be what you want to hear but, uh... Dad wondered if you would like to join us for lunch tomorrow."

Lacey exchanged glances with Bro, and he saw her bubbling excitement. "We'd love to. Thanks for the invite."

"Good." TJ gave them a comradely chin lift, as if they had known each other years instead of a few minutes, and headed for the door. "I'll see you two tomorrow, then. In the meantime I'll keep my eye on Miles." Then he was out the door.

Bro hugged Lacey, who shivered in his arms. "I'm sorry, baby. I shouldn't have egged that moron on."

"If he bothers us again-" Lacey started, worried.

"Then we'll get the rangers to intervene. It'll be all right." He petted her still-wet hair, and stroked down her long, slender back. "Come on. Get dressed. I won't have you getting sick this close to start of college, got that?" He let her go and slapped her b.u.t.t through the terry cloth.

"Ow!" Lacey protested, rubbing her behind with exaggerated annoyance. Bro laughed, and she finished getting dressed.

Once dry and dressed, they returned to their car. TJ was in the parking lot, talking on the radio of a patrol vehicle, a white SUV with a green stripe and the words "U.S. Park Ranger" on the sides. He nodded kindly as Lacey and Bro got into their car and drove off. Apparently Miles had taken a hike, and that was good news as far as Bro was concerned.

They returned to their tent. Bro made them a quick meal of previously grilled chicken and mashed potatoes, reheated in the frying pan, while Lacey took out her violin and started to play a flickering piece of music that sounded like water dripping and then wind whistling, sorrowful and yet hopeful.

"What is that piece?" he asked, curious and enchanted by her talent, as usual.

Lacey smiled. "'Silk Road' by Kitaro. Typically played on a synthesizer, but I love the melody so. I know I can't do it justice with just one violin, though."

"I think it sounds wonderful."

"You would say that 'cause you're biased."

"Nope. Actually the opposite is true. I already know I can get into your pants so I can afford to tell you the truth."

Bro winked at his lover, who blushed deeply, obviously pleased with the compliments. They smiled at each other for a while, without a care in the world and caring about one another so much, and the soft sounds of Lacey's violin carried off with the winds.

The notes drifted off, and Lacey set her instrument aside, and they sat down by the fire to eat.

"Oh, this is quite good," Lacey commented, nudging her boyfriend with her shoulder.

"Thanks-I think," Bro grumbled, knowing full well his talents did not lie in cuisine.

"Don't be so grumpy. I meant it. This is more than edible."

"I didn't make it, just reheated it."

"If you were Jordan, we'd be eating something burnt to a crisp."

That did lift Bro's mood, and he perked up, smiling. "You're right. At least I'm better than one man on the planet when it comes to cooking."

Lacey laughed, and the sound made Bro ridiculously happy.

After dinner they spent the rest of the day with Lacey playing the violin softly, not to bother any nearby campers, and Bro listening, lying on his back on the quilt, staring at the sky and d.a.m.n near bursting with love and joy.

As the evening waned, they retired to the safety of their tent and nestled side by side in their sleeping bag, making out leisurely. The lovemaking lasted for the better part of an hour until the tide swept them away, and the wave of pleasure crested, leaving them in a heap of tired limbs and heaving chests. With weary hands, Bro cleaned them up with a wet napkin, and then they promptly fell asleep.

Chapter 16.

"MR. HUDSON? Good morning, sir," Lacey greeted the old man by a huge white RV. Good morning, sir," Lacey greeted the old man by a huge white RV.

Irwin's smile widened with recognition, and immediately he walked up to her and Bro, extending his hand. "Good to see you both. Glad you could make it. Please, come and sit with us."

There was a tarp attached to the roof of the RV, and the canopy spread out to cover the patio-style folding chairs and table by the side of the vehicle. An older woman with ash blonde hair with silver streaks was sitting on one of the chairs, knitting away.

Irwin gestured toward her with obvious pride and love. "This is Bethany, the old ball and chain." He winked as she glared at him and then smiled too.

"And that old coot you've already met," she said. Her voice was high-pitched, and Lacey found herself wondering what her singing voice sounded like. "h.e.l.lo. I'm Bethany, but you can call me Beth." She put the knitting aside, rose up, and extended her hand. "You must be Lacey." Lacey shook her hand, nodding. "Irwin was quite taken with you yesterday. It's great to see young people unafraid to be who they are."

"Aww, Mom, you're sounding like a teachers' infomercial again."

The owner of the whine was the teenage boy Lacey had seen yesterday at the showers, Edwin. That meeting had been over before she knew it, but now she got the chance to study him more carefully. He had dark hair like Bro, but unlike Bro, Edwin's hair curled more and was a lighter shade. His eyes were a deep sea green, and his muscular body, encased in raggedy jeans and a worn gray hoodie, suggested he was into sports. He had a five o'clock shadow, which gave him a rugged look, older than his teenage years, adding to the natural, s.e.xy look.

Beth pursed her lips as she shot a fierce glare at her son. "Ignore the lack of manners my son Edwin is sporting. He's the runt, you see, and thinks he can get away with anything."

"And that's usually right, too," Edwin laughed and nodded his greetings to both Bro and Lacey. "Oh, and it's Eddy, by the way. Not Edwin."

It wasn't Lacey's imagination that his gaze lingered on Bro a bit longer than normal and those appreciative eyes checked Bro's body out with a hint of a smile. It sparked Lacey's jealous streak, but she held her tongue. At least it seemed Bro was none the wiser.

Beth shook Bro's hand as well, and another round of introductions went by.

"Is that a violin?" Beth asked, all excited, pointing at the fibergla.s.s violin case Lacey had felt reluctant to leave in the car.

"Yes. I play the violin. I'm starting my freshman year at the Peabody Conservatory."

"Oh, that's amazing," Beth declared, her eyes sparkling. "Will you play for us?"

Lacey hesitated, but after an encouraging smile from Bro, she nodded. "All right." She placed the case on the table, opened it, and pulled the violin out. "Any requests?"

"Something fast," Eddy opted, leaning back in his chair to listen.

Lacey acquiesced and started the tight-paced melody of "Shadows" by Lindsey Stirling, an original song by the talented young violinist. Lacey didn't have any electro house instruments to add to the score, but she managed well. It was one of her favorite modern violin pieces, and she let herself fly as the notes soared higher and faster with every nuance, until the music took flight along with the movements of her slender frame as she swayed in place, her hips in constant motion. Closing her eyes, she lost herself in the rhythm, adding to the beat with her foot tapping against the ground. Her bow hand flew and her fingers danced on the strings, seducing her audience and enticing more and more out of her delicate instrument.

When she finished it was eerily quiet, and she opened her eyes, wary of her welcome.

Everyone had sat down around the table, and they were staring at Lacey, eyes wide with wonder and mouths gaping open. Even Bro looked dazzled, smiling.

"My G.o.d, that was beautiful," Beth said, sighing deep, and her eyes were moist.

Lacey blushed in the face of such a reaction and bowed slightly. "Thank you kindly."

Eddy was in pretty much the same condition as his mother. "Wow... I've never heard anything like that with a violin. f.u.c.king amazing."

"Eddy," Beth reproached mildly, her eyes still on Lacey, who felt like squirming but resisted the urge.

"There's an electro beat to the actual song, but I left my drums in my other jacket."

Laughing, Eddy said, "Cool."

"You are a very talented young woman," Irwin said with admiration and respect, smiling. "Peabody's lucky to have you." His gaze focused on Bro. "Is that where you're going too, son?"

"No, sir." Bro shook his head, rueful. "Not a musical bone in my body, unfortunately. I'm going to Howard U in DC."

"Really? That's where I I'm going." Eddy's enthusiasm increased the unease in Lacey. The guy was handsome, totally hot, and Bro had never been with a guy who wasn't Lacey, but maybe now.... She didn't even want to think about the many temptations college was going to offer a guy like Bro, who was everyone's best friend. "Wow, this is so cool. We can hang out."

"Sure." Bro grinned widely, genuinely, and Lacey felt her stomach plummet down to her feet. How could either of them resist all those enticements their new separate lives would throw their way? Eddy might not have seemed like Bro's type, but Bro hadn't played the field-yet.

Suddenly Lacey wanted to leave, to crawl into her sleeping bag, draw the covers over her head, and bury herself into a dark, warm place where her boyfriend was still hers.

Irwin was a sharp man, though. "Well, I know we may be asking a lot of you, Lacey, but would you do an old man a favor, and play something else? I'm sure we would all love to hear more."

With a tiny nod, Lacey lifted her violin back under her chin, the resin warm and a little bit sticky on her skin, and started the song. A slower, haunting melody spread from her violin into the crisp mountain air, the nearly shrill notes rising higher, taking them all on a journey. Soon the intensity grew to a crescendo, and then the melody suddenly dropped back to slow, delicate, and small, with only a few faint sounds here and there.

When she ended, Irwin was exalted, his voice hoa.r.s.e as he asked, "What was that piece?"

"Yeah, it sounded kind of familiar," Eddy remarked, frowning in contemplation.

Lacey smiled. "It was 'Misty Mountains' from the first Hobbit movie."

Eddy clapped his forehead. "That's right! d.a.m.n, I must've heard that song like a million times, since that's about how many times I've seen the movie, so... I'm so stupid for not realizing sooner! But hey, that was f.u.c.king brilliant."

"And appropriate too," Irwin cut in, grinning. They were in a national park, after all.

Lacey giggled. "Thank you."

"Come on, let's eat," Irwin said and returned to his grill, from which gray plumes of smoke and delicious aromas of beef rose and scattered into the winds. He picked up a big plate and gathered steaks, ribs, and sausages on it. Beth had gone into the RV, and brought out potato salad and green fruit salad.

Bro made room next to his chair for Lacey, who put her violin away and sat down, keeping the instrument in her lap, as close as always. His hand clutched hers under the table, and it no longer mattered what kind of googly eyes Eddy may have directed at Bro. Relieved and still very much in love, she squeezed back.

As she took a few bites of every dish, Lacey asked Irwin, "What do you do, sir?"

"For a living? Nothing, not anymore. I'm retired. I was a member of the National Park Service, in the mountain and wilderness search and rescue back in the day."

"Ah, I see. That's where your son TJ gets the drive."

"Yes, TJ's into the family legacy all the way." The pride in his voice and expression were evident. "And, please, call me Irwin."

"Irwin. Thank you for telling your son to look out for us."

Irwin's face grew serious. "TJ told me Miles hara.s.sed you two again in the showers. I swear that c.o.c.ky b.a.s.t.a.r.d gets more aggressive with every year that pa.s.ses."

"Irwin, language," Beth scolded, but gently patted his hand on the table.

"What are you going to study at Howard U?" Bro asked Eddy to change the subject. "You gonna be a ranger like your brother and father?"

"Nah. Computer sciences, and maybe communications too, plus I run track. You?"

"Football. And... other stuff, yet to be determined." Bro's cheeks turned ruddy with the admission, but Lacey held his hand tighter, silently conveying her feelings toward him. Bro had yet to determine what besides Lacey and football he wanted out of life, and figuring out a major to study was still in the wind.

Eddy nodded with complete understanding. "I hear ya. I'm taking computer cla.s.ses 'cause I know the b.u.g.g.e.rs, and it allows me to run track. Other than that, I've got no clue about what I want to do the rest of my life."

Bro grunted back in total agreement. "It'll come to me, right? I'll figure it out in time. Hopefully before they boot me off the team."

Eddy stared at him with amused disbelief. "You can't be on the team since you're not in school yet."

Bro shared a conspiratorial wink. "No, I'm not. But I will be."

"Oooh, self-confidence." Eddy's tone indicated he was much impressed with Bro.

"b.a.l.l.s of steel." Bro said it matter-of-factly, with a serious expression and grave tone. And then he and Eddy burst out laughing, virtually in unison, already buddies.

Lacey plastered a smile on her face, though she felt like an outsider all of a sudden.

There's no doubt about it. Eddy wants Bro for himself. And them being so far away at Howard, how could I stop either of them making a move on one another? Lacey swallowed hard but tried to keep up a brave face. Insecurities had never run amok in her head, not like this. She had never had cause to doubt Bro's fidelity. Lacey swallowed hard but tried to keep up a brave face. Insecurities had never run amok in her head, not like this. She had never had cause to doubt Bro's fidelity.

But then again, all three of them were eighteen, on their way to college, and whatever came with that was bound to be exciting and enticing. Besides, Eddy surely was hot as h.e.l.l and s.e.xy as sin. And most importantly, he would be there while Lacey was in Baltimore, over an hour away. What kind of compet.i.tion could she be for a determined, seductive pursuer, if that was the way Eddy wanted to go?

Irwin seemed to sense the change in the mood because he said, "Don't you boys make too-hasty plans. Eddy's there to study and get a profession, not to hang around parties and sleep the days away. If I hear otherwise...." His stern expression was half-serious, half-playful, but Eddy nodded.

"Yeah, yeah, Dad. I'll be hitting the books morning, noon, and night, nonstop until I get a heart attack or nervous breakdown from all the stress, and end up back home living with you guys as a no-good b.u.m."