Lakeshore Candy: The McAdams Sisters (By The Lake Book 4) Read online

  “Abby!” Sydney flushed as she always did, her light skin flaming red at the talk of anything inappropriately fun.

  Abby laughed. “It’s true. You two aren’t second-to-second updaters like Peyton and Kate so that man’s going to be hot for you.”

  Sydney shook her head and Abby saw a little glimmer of lust in there.

  She squealed, “You’ve already had office sex with Jake!” Abby turned to her sister. “Reserved little Sydney had office sex with Jake,” she told them as though they hadn’t heard.

  “I am not discussing this,” Sydney said.

  Abby laughed and could hear her other sisters chuckle too.

  “Just to be clear,” Peyton started, always having to have her say.

  Abby pointed at her. “You don’t get to be clear, tricking me into being early for work!”

  Peyton, pregnant with twins and wearing low heels, still managed to keep up with their pace and still looked gorgeous with all the extra weight she was putting on every day she neared her due date in October. Her skin glowed like she was wearing shimmering powder and every dress she wore, like today’s rounded neckline, cross-over, body fitting, just below the knee pink with white spotted dress, accented her amazing curves.

  “Just to clear that up I figured you would be on time for a change if I gave you an earlier time, not actually show up at the earlier time.” Peyton laughed. “I wished I had been there.”

  Abby couldn’t help glancing up at Kate remembering the discussion and she was glad Peyton hadn’t been around for it. Kate sent her a questioning look asking whether she’d talked to Riley or not.

  Well, sister it just got a whole lot more complicated than a skinny dip. Abby had never wanted to keep her kiss-and-tell secret all to herself more than she did at that very moment.

  Abby looked away, feigning concentration on Peyton as she continued. “Colt and I are not lacking in the sexual can’t-wait-to-jump-your-bones department, just because we text all day.”

  “No, that’s because your pregnant,” Abby jabbed.

  Peyton slapped her arm.

  “Hey!”

  “Don’t be knocking the pregnant woman. I’ve had sex in his office at home more times than I can count. I would bet I have more sex than you have right now Abby.”

  That wouldn’t be very hard.

  Why did you just glance back up at Kate who is watching you like a hawk? Talk about feeding that fire.

  “My man’s appetite for me is stronger than ever,” Peyton clarified.

  “This is the worst conversation ever,” Avery added, picking up his pace and getting out of hearing range. “Carry on!” he yelled waving at them.

  “So Sydney, you go get him,” Peyton encouraged.

  Just then a honking horn caught their attention and they all glanced back to see Colt’s truck parking at the edge of the parking lot, where they’d just walked. The place was packed, they didn’t get anywhere near front row. Colt jumped out and jogged the distance between them catching a waiting kiss from Peyton.

  “Hey babe,” he said.

  “Hey. I was just telling the girls about the many times we’ve christened your desk at home.”

  He shook his head. “You have to stop doing that,” he teased.

  She pouted at him. “What? Christening your desk?”

  “No. Telling everyone that we’re doing so.”

  Everyone laughed, including Peyton.

  “Did you four scare away your brother?” Colt asked, his arm settling around Peyton and nodding at Avery, who was pulling open the door. He entered without waiting for them.

  Colt didn’t want for an answer. “Poor guy just gets home and is slammed with all this...” He shook his head. “...tapping this and tapping that talk.”

  Colt held the door open and Sydney swayed away from them with a wave in her floral summer dress, her long blonde hair trailing down her back on her Jake search.

  “There’s Mrs. Calvert and Riley,” Kate said, with a wave in their direction.

  The mention of his name sent flashes of the sweet way he’d looked at her before their kiss.

  Mrs. Calvert saw them immediately and waved them over to join them.

  “Should we go?” Kate asked. “Do you mind Avery?”

  Why was Kate asking Avery? Abby was the one she should be asking and she would have said a big fat no. Would she? The way her eyes found him and excitement increased as he turned around, his eyes finding hers first without wavering, her mouth would have betrayed her better judgement with a big fat yes!

  Her opinion to a question she wasn’t asked anyway wouldn’t have mattered because Avery was already making his way over to their table.

  “I guess not,” Peyton said, leading the way with Colt at her side, his protective hand on the small of her back.

  “We are going to join our friends,” Kate told the server. As Abby stepped away, her older sister caught her arm until she was finished talking details with the server and Abby cringed, waiting for what was to follow.

  Kate looped her arm around Abby’s and walked very slow, keeping her at her side.

  “Don’t you have a husband coming?”

  Kate tsked her. “Did you talk to Riley?”

  That depended on what talking included, but she knew what her sister was referring to.

  “You know, I think I was just over tired yesterday morning and not quite awake. Riley and I are just friends.”

  “So you did talk to him?”

  “No, Kate. I don’t have to talk to him. There’s nothing to talk about. We are friends. Friends.” She spelled the word out to get the point across the Kate.

  Then why are you getting butterflies in your stomach...like back in school at the sight of the cute boy across the hall, kind of butterflies? Why were the butterflies intensified so much she was thankful for Kate to lean on.

  “Why do you always do that? Share a little then get scared of actually opening up to me?” Kate squeezed her arm. “I’m not leaving you again, Abby. I promise. Sometimes love is hard. You have to talk to Riley. Trust me, I know.”

  Love? Love! What was her sister talking about!

  Before they arrived at the table Kate gave her arm a final squeeze. “I am right here whenever you need me,” she whispered.

  Why was it so hard to talk to Kate now? Because when Kate left six years ago, it had felt like Abby’s second mom abandoned her and she was afraid to open up...and there was the whole pathetic factor.

  Riley, Avery and Colt were pushing tables together to accommodate the larger group and moving chairs.

  Riley’s lean legs weren’t hiding behind his regular dark denim tonight instead he wore fancy black dress pants and a dress shirt. Handsome.

  Recalling his slobbery dog comment, a smile crept onto her painted lips, until he looked at her and the actual feelings of the kiss slammed into her stomach leaving her wanting more. More of his kisses, more of his touch, more of him.

  Was that love? Why couldn’t she tell? If she couldn’t tell didn’t that mean it wasn’t? And why was she so worried about what love felt like anyway? Because of Kate. She could skin her sister.

  “Avery! You get over here.” Mrs. Calvert offered her arms to Avery, who slid in and hugged the older woman. Mrs. Calvert pulled back and ran her eyes up and down Avery. “You look thin. Too thin.” Abby had noticed he’d lost some weight too. “Too much working and not enough eating.”

  “But it feels like playing,” Avery said, planting a kiss on the older woman’s cheek. “Not working at all. It’s like I’ve been on vacation.”

  “You stop by the bakery and I will fill you up.” Mrs. Calvert glanced at Abby. “If you’re staying with this one the only thing you will be eating is processed garbage.”

  Abby forced a smile and hoped Mrs. Calvert wouldn’t mention the run in at the bakery this morning. That would send Kate into another motherly episode. “I had a very healthy breakfast this morning,” Abby said. “Eggs and bacon,” she added, at the disbelie
f of everyone around her.

  “Who made you eggs, Abby?” Kate asked, acting innocent, but Abby saw the meaning behind the comment.

  Riley didn’t say anything. Mrs. Calvert didn’t say anything. Abby certainly wasn’t about to say anything.

  Thank the stars! What was wrong with Kate?

  “Do you think I don’t know how to cook eggs?” she asked Kate, in a teasing tone that made everyone laugh. Okay, so she wasn’t much of a cook.

  “I would be surprised if you even have bacon and eggs at your house,” Kate continued.

  Oh, no you didn’t just send Riley a glance digging for answers I won’t give you.

  “That’s because all you ever look for when you come to my house is wine.”

  “Ouch!” Peyton said, sitting on the chair Colt had pulled out for her.

  The last empty seat left was beside Riley. That excited her and scared her all at the same time, sending crazy wild fire sparks to roar through her body, but not hot enough she didn’t notice the heat as their arms grazed as she took her seat.

  “Hey,” she said, in a lower tone just for him. She had purposely avoided him all day. She wondered if he was planning on searching her out like he had the night before. She wondered if she wanted him to...she already knew the answer. Yes.

  “Did you get a recipe done today?” His low encouraging voice relaxed those wild butterflies and she lightly swatted his leg under the table.

  “You’re starting to sound like my sisters,” she hissed lowly so they wouldn’t hear.

  A low rumble came from his chest, the chest her cheek had rested upon on the couch. What would it feel like to rest all her skin against his bare chest?

  “Avery, you remember Riley?” Mrs. Calvert asked.

  Avery offered his hand over the table. “Yes Ma’me. How’s it going man?”

  Did Avery send Riley an eye warning? Abby’s eyes shot to Peyton, who was seated next to Avery. Peyton winked mischievously at her.

  Peyton, you big mouth!

  Riley took Avery’s hand solid with confidence and didn’t waver at the obvious threat. “Good. You?”

  “Good.” Except he’s warning you to keep your hands off me like a father figure.

  “Avery has been on tour with his band,” Mrs. Calvert bragged to Riley. “He’s an independent band. Indie I think you call it for short, so he’s not signed with a record label yet.”

  “Unfortunately not yet Mrs. Calvert, but I feel big things in the future,” Avery promised with little flirty wink.

  The waitress arrived and everyone ordered their drinks and alcohol around the table since their father wasn’t present.

  “How did the tour go?” Riley asked, and Abby had to settle her bouncing feet when he’d inquired about her family.

  “Great. With social media nowadays it makes it easier to break into the music industry. We decided to blanket the country playing in small venues to get our music out there in hopes a label will recognize our talent and sign us. It was a lot of hours, driving, setting up, playing and moving to the next venue. But I think in the end it will pay off.”

  He was awfully enthusiastic now, Abby thought taking a sip of the wine the waitress set before her. She made a face at the familiar flowery wine she’d only ever tried once before. “This is not what I ordered.”

  Sydney and Jake joined them at the table.

  “It’s on the house,” Jake said, pulling Sydney’s chair out for her. Jake was a tall, thick build muscle-mania man, who was quiet and observant, but smart as a whip and you didn’t mess with him unless you wanted a fist in the face. Her bother-in-law had stood up for Abby on many occasions.

  “Jake accidentally ordered three cases too many a couple weeks ago, so we are over stocked,” Sydney explained.

  “Why do we have to suffer because you were in lala Sydneyland and messed up the order?”

  “I said it was on the house,” Jake said, and although some might take his solid tone, and serious face with uncertainty, Abby knew him too well. He wasn’t being as harsh as it sounded.

  Abby shook her head at him. “I wasn’t planning on paying anyway.” She was planning on paying, but teasing him was so much more fun.

  “You behave Abigail McAdams.” Mrs. Calvert sent her a teasing warning stare then went back into Avery’s career. “If only you had a connection into the music industry. The right person to seal the deal.”

  “That would be amazing. They’re called, artist and repertoire representatives, also known as A&R’s.”

  Mrs. Calvert clapped her hands. “Yes, that’s what you need.”

  Abby chuckled under her breath at Mrs. Calvert’s enthusiasm.

  “How long are you back for?” Kate asked.

  That look crossed her brother’s face again but he quickly masked it. What happened? Abby’s curiosity was full blown.

  “Not sure yet. I think we’re taking the summer off.”

  “Didn’t you book any summer events?” Riley asked, and Abby had to double take a look at him because she’d thought her desires to kiss him were making her hear the wrong voice. He continued without noticing her. “Everyone goes to summer events.”

  “We’re taking the summer off,” Riley stated firmly. “Drew wanted to vacation with his dad and since he’s footing the tour bill there was no arguing.”

  There it was. Avery wanted to keep going but Drew wouldn’t...couldn’t was more like it. Couldn’t. A grown adult having to obey his Daddy.

  Abby almost laughed.

  Chapter Fourteen

  MRS. C HAD left the Cliff House two hours earlier, after supper, insisting he stay even against his objections.

  “Live your life Riley. Stop hiding behind me,” she’d whispered, with a kiss on his cheek and a quick departure.

  She was referring to Abby again and the conclusion she’d drawn that there was new life in his eyes where there hadn’t been three years ago.

  Was there? He already knew the answer, especially after the kiss he’d shared with Abby.

  There was still life in him and it was dying to break down the guilt walls he’d built. He’d only let himself acknowledge such a huge revelation in his life because Mrs. C forgave him and directly told him to do so. Everything in him wanted to jump on the band stage and do exactly what she told him, live his life and no longer hide behind her. But could he? He’d been hiding for so many years he didn’t even know what living was anymore. All he knew was when he was around Abby he felt alive again. Truthfully, he was terrified to even take the first step. But first he had to figure out what the first step was.

  He glanced down as Abby roared her overloud laughter that took over that table. Her long neck was exposed as her head fell backwards revealing a trail straight line down her throat into her plunging neckline. Her laughter matched her personality: wild.

  That was the deterrents kicking him in the heel, presently. Did Abby want more? Abby’s wild and carefree ways held a commitment phobia and, up until this very moment, Riley had possessed the same one. Would Riley be enough to make Abby want to be in a relationship? She was enough to make him want to be in a relationship...he never expected those words to pass through his mind.

  Then he found himself wondering what a relationship between two people consisted of. It was all so new to him that he only understood its definition as he listened to Abby’s sisters share their blooming love relationships with Avery.

  It also hadn’t gone unnoticed the way Mrs. C continually shot jabs at him to offer Avery a record deal. What did the older lady expect him to do, just let the cat out of the bag and shock the crap out of the family gathered around it? No, he wouldn’t do that. He was definitely going to expose himself, but not right away and definitely to Abby first.

  As each couple described their love for each other, Riley saw that same glimmer in their eyes that Abby sent him, the same protective love the guys shared for their women and the way they stared at them like they were the most precious thing in the world. That was exactly h
ow Riley felt about Abby.

  Abby was a cannonball through all their stories. She made the table laugh, groan, and shout at her and she loved it. She’d wink those gorgeous cat-eye lined eyes at him enjoying every moment of her teasing and taunting. This woman was a spark plug. She definitely sparked something in him and the skin-tight black mini dress she was wearing started a whole new round of sparks.

  Abby leaned back in her chair and the edge of her dress hiked way up her thigh. Thighs he’d seen when she wore her short shorts, but this dress did a whole lot of yearning deep down in him.

  “I brought another round.” Avery slammed the tray of shots on the table loudly, while his body hit the edge of the table and half the shots spilled out snapping Riley’s eyes back up. He hoped no one noticed his continual fallen eyes.

  It went unnoticed to Avery, who started handing the shots out. “They let me have a tray,” his drunken self announced proudly. “They like me behind that counter. I’m veering toward the black-haired beauty,” he slurred every word. He’d had enough to drink. The rest of the McAdams weren’t drunk, they were buzzed at best, but nothing like Avery, except stone cold frowning Peyton.

  Avery passed a shot in her direction and she didn’t look way too pleased. “Avery, I’m pregnant with babies. No drinking.”

  Avery pouted a lip at her. “Sucks to be you.”

  Colt took the shot. “I got this for you babe.” He downed it.

  “Thanks,” Peyton said dryly, shaking her head.

  “Anything for you babe.” Colt kissed the side of her head.

  Avery handed a shot to Riley. “No thanks.”

  “Come on man,” Avery pressed like a stupid college frat kid trying to pressure the newbies into drinking.

  “No. I’m good.”

  Abby took the shot, but surprisingly she set it down and leveled an annoyed look at her brother. “Avery you almost ready to go? You look ready to go.”

  “Home with you?” He looked appalled. “I want to go home with her.” He pointed at the bar.

  “Please don’t let him try to go home with one of my employees,” Jake said, leaning over in Sydney’s blonde wavy hair.