The Sweetest Scent Part 19

He and Bro chortled together, and Lacey realized then that apart from Bradley, Bro didn't have a lot of close friends. In fact, he knew a lot of guys, but they were teammates or chums, not bosom buddies, so to speak. Perhaps Bro was simply longing for male companionship, a bonding of like minds, and Eddy fit the bill.

G.o.d knew Lacey had entirely different dispositions and pursuits. She was far from the kind of masculine ideal a man was supposed to be, while Bro personified the all-American jock from head to toes.

Did Bro want a career in football? Lacey wondered. He'd said so a couple of times, but college could change a person's plans. So far, though, Bro seemed into the sport. But did he want to make it into a living? Because if he did, he would be in for a rough ride if he was openly gay. Especially if he was in a relationship with a feminine boy like Lacey. But if Bro were with someone like Eddy, a muscular sports G.o.d, they could snuff out a lot of misconceptions about h.o.m.os.e.xuality. Sure, some people would still ask who was the man and who the woman because they were ignorant idiots, but others would see it as more natural in the sporting world than a player with a girlish boyfriend.

And that was the first time since she and Bro had gotten back together that Lacey began to feel maybe the two of them would go on to lead completely different and separate lives. And maybe that was for the best for both of them.

Lacey's chest constricted in pain at the mere idea of a future without the man she loved with all her being. Unshed tears brimmed in her eyes, and she lowered her gaze, fighting back the waterworks. The ache inside was born of doubt and fear, and those things were difficult to quell once they got a hold of you.

"Are you okay, Lacey?" Irwin asked, concerned, his voice low enough to be m.u.f.fled by the rapid-fire talk between Bro and Eddy.

"Yes, I'm fine." She dug into her meal, faking high spirits. "Mmm, this is good."

Irwin was unconvinced of her apparent cheerful mood, and his grim gaze took in Eddy, then Bro, and finally landed on Lacey. "Eddy's a flirt. He wouldn't try to steal your-"

"No, no, of course not. I'm not worried. I had, um, music stuff on my mind." Lacey hoped she had been rea.s.suring enough. She was his guest and did not want to go about accusing his son of being too friendly with her boyfriend.

Irwin and Beth seemed to be communicating without words, with eyes only, and then Beth said, out of the blue, "Okay, who's ready for some apple pie? Eddy, would you be a dear and fetch it for us?"

Startled by the sudden address, Eddy blinked a few times and then seemed to get his head in gear. "Yeah, sure, Mom. Coming right up." He got up and disappeared into the shadows of the RV.

"I hope you've all saved room for pie," Beth said with levity, chuckling as she picked up the dirty plates and replaced them with new ones-all paper.

"Who wouldn't want pie?" Bro said with incredulity, a mock shocked expression on his face, and Lacey had to smile. "Honestly."

"How silly of me." Beth went along with the joke, adding a self-deprecating comment and shaking her head. Irwin laughed heartily.

Eddy returned with a dish of apple pie. There was no steam, so it must have been made earlier and simply reheated. Lacey wouldn't have minded eating it cold. "I brought vanilla sauce too, Mom," Eddy said with a grin as he set the tray down, took the transparent plastic top off, and put a slice of apple pie on everyone's plate. He placed a tiny carton of vanilla sauce in the middle of the table and then sat down with the others.

"Dig in, everybody," Beth said happily.

"Is there any left for me?" came a voice from down the path, and TJ came into view.

"Always, honey," Beth replied sweetly as TJ joined them at the table and greeted their guests with quick nods before devouring his piece of the pie and sipping a cup of coffee. "Easy there, or have you turned into a hungry, hungry hippo?"

"More like a bear," Eddy needled and growled loudly.

TJ ignored his mother and brother and turned to Bro and Lacey. "I got a report from another park ranger. Miles has gone into the woods. We have no idea where he's gone. If he tries to camp out, we'll find him."

Bro frowned. "You're doing a whole Dr. Kimble manhunt 'cause that d.i.c.khead-um, guy-couldn't keep his bigoted mouth shut?"

TJ shook his head and swallowed down his pie before speaking. "Nah. Since we've been keeping an eye on him, we saw him vandalize a vehicle at another car park nearby. He went off into the woods before he could be apprehended. That guy's bad news all right."

Lacey was worried, and she bit her lower lip, anxious. "Is he dangerous?"

With an increase of pressure, Bro kept a fierce hold of Lacey's hand. "I won't let him hurt you, babe. Not in a million years."

"Should we get a room at a motel, or something?" Lacey knew she sounded like a frightened child or, dare she say it, a girl. The trouble was she had history with physical abuse, and violence made her shudder deep down inside, even after all this time of being safe with Bro and his family. Their Their family. "Bro...." Her voice trailed off. family. "Bro...." Her voice trailed off.

With that one word, Bro obviously knew how she felt, even though he usually wasn't the type to back down. "If it'll make you feel better, we can check into a lodge nearby."

Why was violence, from family or strangers, always going to ruin her life? No way, not this time, she decided. "No, it's all right. This is our vacation. No one's going to make me tuck in my tail and run. Not anymore."

Irwin frowned. "I take it there's a story behind there." When neither Lacey nor Bro had an explanation to offer, he simply nodded. "TJ will take care of you, no matter what you decide."

Lacey was grateful. There were still good and decent people around, though it was hard to remember sometimes. "Thank you kindly."

"No need to thank us," Beth said with a smile. "You've given us the gift of music, and I for one couldn't have imagined a better way to spend the day."

WHEN Lacey and Bro returned to their car and drove back to their tent, the evening was well under way. They had spent the whole afternoon with the Hudson family, sans TJ, who had to return to work, and it had been a great day making new friends. Lacey and Bro returned to their car and drove back to their tent, the evening was well under way. They had spent the whole afternoon with the Hudson family, sans TJ, who had to return to work, and it had been a great day making new friends.

The moment the tent flaps opened and Lacey was able to climb inside her sleeping bag, she fell into a stupor of exhaustion. Thankfully, Bro remained to guard her, or so she thought when she felt the covers being drawn up to cover her back as she lay on her stomach.

She dreamt of feverish images of romps through the woods with a naked Bro giving her chase, a maddeningly smug laughter echoing through the lush, tropical vegetation.

When she awoke an hour or so later, she was confused, and not in the least because she couldn't recall if the gigantic G.o.d of muscle-bound delight called Bro had caught her in the dream and rammed his gargantuan d.i.c.k inside her.

In any case, she was a sweaty, trembling heap as she sat up and stared around with bleary eyes, searching for her guy-who was nowhere in sight.

"Bro...?" Lacey called out, but no one answered. Though slightly concerned, she was sure she was overreacting. He must have gone to take a shower or something. Lacey was certain he would be back soon.

Groggy and stiff all over, she groaned as she got out of the tent and straightened up, pressing her hands on her lower back to help with the task. The stars had risen, and she checked on her cell phone, tucked into her pocket, and saw the time was 8:33 p.m. There was a light mist hanging above the ground and woven into the foliage.

"Hey."

She turned around, expecting Bro, but came face to face with Miles, the bigoted jerk.

Stunned into silence, Lacey backed up a step instinctively. "W-what do you want?"

Miles grinned, and his gaze wandered over her body. "What's the matter, little girl? The company of a real man scares you?"

Lacey felt her belly tighten into a heavy knot, but her rage also stirred inside her, the spark kindling into a flame. "Funny. I don't see any real men when I look at you."

Miles's smile vanished, and a vicious snarl replaced it. "Watch that f.u.c.king mouth of yours, little she-boy."

"Make me." Lacey wasn't as tall or heavy as Miles, but she was fast and strong in a way that violent man could never understand. To get up, dress up like a girl, and leave the house every day to face ridicule, hate, and even the threat of violence was a feat few of these so-called real men could do. Oh yes, Lacey was as powerful within as they came.

Closing the gap between them in a flurry of movement, Miles made to grab at her arms. Lacey's foot came up swiftly and she kicked him in the knee. He fell down on the other knee, shouting vehemently.

"You f.u.c.king b.i.t.c.h!"

What Lacey kept to herself was the martial arts training she'd received from Jordan. With that in mind, she could hold her own for a time in order to facilitate running away.

And that was what she did, dashing around him toward the paved road-where their SUV was shining in its conspicuous absence. Where's Bro? I need you Where's Bro? I need you.

Then she remembered her violin was still in the tent. She couldn't afford to leave it to be destroyed. Her whole future depended on it.

Stilling, she turned around.

Her eyes widened in shock. Miles was stumbling toward her as fast as he could with a b.u.m knee, cursing like a pirate of old, and he had some kind of blade in hand. And he was so d.a.m.n close already.

Bro, where are you?

Chapter 17.

"LACE, get down!"

Lacey recognized Bro's voice and hit the ground before the words had rang out. The hairs on her nape stood out when she heard an electric rattling sound, then a sharp grunt, and then a heavy thud when Miles's body landed not three feet away from her.

But then strong, familiar arms picked her up, came around her swiftly, and Lacey was safe again.

"Oh G.o.d, Lace. You okay, babe? Talk to me." Bro's alarmed litany came out in a tight string of fast-paced words.

Lacey hugged her boyfriend hard and buried her face in his neck. "If you'd let me get a word in edgewise, I'd tell you I'm fine. I'm all right now." Her body still tingled and hummed with the excitement and adrenaline of the moment, but her heartbeat began to calm the instant Bro was wrapped around her. His effect on her was instinctive and encompa.s.sing.

"Oh, Jesus f.u.c.king Christ, Lace," he whispered in her ear, a quiet desperation making his tone tremor. "I about died when I saw you kick him, and him coming after you like some kind of monster from those s.h.i.tty horror movies."

"I wouldn't know. I don't watch those. Too scary. My life's plenty scary as it is." She managed a soft chuckle. "I'm in the mood for a romantic comedy this upcoming weekend."

"Sure, Lace. Anything you want. Anything." He held her tight, swaying them both in place. Time became irrelevant as he enveloped her with his muscular jock's frame.

Until a courteous cough caught their attention, and they reluctantly drew apart.

It was TJ, and his handsome face was grim. "Lacey, how are you?"

"Shaken and stirred. But no worse for wear." The appearance of nonchalance was more important to her now than ever, for she got enough c.r.a.p about being too girly.

A ghost of a smile graced TJ's lips for a second. "Did he hurt you?"

"No. He didn't get that far."

"Why the h.e.l.l did you stop running?" Bro asked, anger in his voice.

"In the rush I forgot the violin in the tent. If Miles had smashed it, I'd have to kiss my future good-bye. I can't afford a new violin."

Bro looked up into the sky, as if praying for patience or guidance. "Oh. My. G.o.d."

"That's enough about my reprehensible actions," Lacey commented, her own body flaming with anger. "Where were you all this time?"

Bro looked embarra.s.sed then, and he sucked in his lips the way he only did when he was both ashamed and furious. "I went to get some stuff from the car after you'd fallen asleep, and I found.... Well, let's just say Jordan's car is gonna need work."

Lacey felt the blood draining from her face. "What?"

It was TJ's turn to speak. "Bro drove up to show me. Miles keyed your car. Now it says f.a.ggot, c.o.c.ksucker, and queer on the sides and the hood of the car." He looked about as angry and embarra.s.sed as Bro had a moment ago.

Lacey's shoulders slumped when she sighed. "Jordan's gonna kill me."

"No, I do think he's gonna kill me me," Bro countered, thumbing at his own chest. "f.u.c.k. I promised nothing would happen to his precious pimped-out ride."

"Jordan loves you like a brother. I'm the one who isn't part of the-"

"Don't you f.u.c.king dare finish that sentence!" Bro's eyes shot lightning at Lacey with a kind of righteous indignation that made Lacey feel loved, appreciated, and safe. And it wasn't like it was true, anyway. Bro's family was Lacey's family now. There was no refuting it. The words may have come from a place of shame, guilt, and fear, but with these good people around, she didn't need to be alone.

"Sorry, honey." She bowed her head but peered up at her boyfriend from under her long lashes. "Forgive me?"

"Of course." Bro hugged her again, and all was well.

Only, it wasn't. "Is Miles dead?" she asked, both concerned and... not concerned.

TJ shook his head, glancing over his shoulder, where two other rangers had picked up Miles's body and carried him toward a park ranger's truck, grunting with the man's weight. "Nah. We just tasered him. He'll be out for the count. We'll take him to an emergency room for a checkup-in handcuffs. He's got multiple charges on him now. Your car, unfortunately, wasn't the only he vandalized."

"Great. What a grade-A a.s.shole," Bro muttered under his breath.

TJ dug in his pocket and extended Bro a card and an official form. "Fill this out and send it back to me. It's so you can get reimbursed by your insurance company for fixing the damage Miles did. And... so you know where to direct the call if this Jordan fellow wants to talk to someone about what happened to his car." TJ gave a weak smile to Lacey. "I'm just glad we got here before he did anything... worse." He tipped his imaginary hat to both of them. "It was nice meeting you both. Have a safe trip home."

Then TJ Hudson walked off with his comrades, and Bro and Lacey were left alone.

At the exact same moment they looked at each other.

"Motel?"

"G.o.d, yes!"

THE next day pa.s.sed by without incident. next day pa.s.sed by without incident.

Bro and Lacey checked into the Big Meadows Lodge, and as compensation for their ordeal they got one of the separate rustic cabins on the grounds. The room, of light-toned wood, was warm and inviting-though it had two single beds instead of a queen or a king. But it didn't matter. They simply made their home on one of the singles for the night. It was a close squeeze, but it was by far the best thing as far as Lacey was concerned.

Sure, there was no air conditioning or TV in the cabin, but since they spent only one night in there it was inconsequential. They hiked along nearby trails, met a couple of TJ's ranger friends, and had a full meal in the fireplace-warmed dining room at the lodge. And having their own private bathroom was a definite plus, though they didn't fully get to enjoy it on such a short stay.

Their stay at the cabin for one night and two half days crowned their vacation, last one of the summer before college. Two half days filled with early autumn nature culminated in a single night filled with pleasurable, slow lovemaking. It was as if Bro was determined to relish and worship every inch of Lacey's body, from lips to toes, and he spent an almost indecent amount of time sucking and licking his nipples, neck, and even fingers.

"Love these tiny fingers," he said once, taking them into his mouth and licking around them in the same lazy circles he did Lacey's c.o.c.k. "They're so una.s.suming, yet so powerful. They make such beautiful music."

"You play me me like an instrument for sure," she teased him gently, and her reward was a thorough kiss on her lips. Then a series of devout smooches landed on her as he went down, and finally a delicious open-mouthed kiss enveloped her c.o.c.k whole, and Lacey was a heap of jelly. like an instrument for sure," she teased him gently, and her reward was a thorough kiss on her lips. Then a series of devout smooches landed on her as he went down, and finally a delicious open-mouthed kiss enveloped her c.o.c.k whole, and Lacey was a heap of jelly.