Page 106 of The Perfect Distraction

Chapter Twenty-Seven

On Saturday, July Fourth, they woke up early and went for a long bike ride before treating themselves to breakfast at the pastry shop. While they were eating at an outside table, she saw a few people she knew, including Mary from the café, the local librarian, and the clerk from the bookstore.

She almost felt like a local, smiling and waving at the people she recognized. When she’d first come there, she’d expected to be spending most of her time alone, but with each passing day, she was becoming more a part of the community. The thought made her smile, and Colton mistakenly attributed it to the pastries.

“Best donuts anywhere, right?”

She nodded. “But that’s not why I’m smiling.”

He glanced around, and then he leaned forward conspiratorially and said, “Is it because of what we did this morning?”

Giggling, she said, “That was pretty fantastic, but no.”

He sat back with a frown, pretending to be disappointed.

“I was just thinking how nice it is to be recognized. When I first came here, I was kind of a recluse, but now I’ve gotten to know quite a few people.”

“That’s the good and bad about living in a small town. There’s really no place to hide.”

But Beth wasn’t interested in hiding anymore. She felt a renewed sense of energy and peace. It was hard to believe that less than a year ago, she’d thought her life was ending, but now she felt like it was just beginning. Meeting Joey and Colton had started out as the perfect distraction, but now they meant so much more. She had a renewed hope for the future—a future that included the three of them.

After breakfast, they pedaled back to his house and took a shower together. Colton insisted that she stand under the warm spray and allow him to wash her. Instead of using a washcloth, he poured a generous amount of body wash into his hands, lathered them up, and proceeded to thoroughly wash every inch of her. After he spent an inordinate amount of time soaping up her breasts from behind, she peered over her shoulder at him and smirked.

“I think they’re clean now.”

“Are you sure? I think I missed a spot.”

Turning to face him, she slid up against his chest and kissed him, knowing full well where it might lead. But before they got carried away, she plucked the body wash off the shelf and said, “My turn.”

He leaned against the shower wall and watched her soap him up, starting at his neck and shoulders and trailing downward until she was kneeling at his feet.

“Toes too?” he teased, holding up a foot.

“Yes. We’re leaving no stone unturned.” While she was washing between his toes, he began to chuckle. “Wait a minute. Are you ticklish?”

“No.”

Moving to his other foot, she repeated the process and saw his teeth clench as he struggled not to laugh. When he finally succumbed, she slid back up his body and kissed him soundly on the mouth.

“You lied to me,” she teased.

“That didn’t count. It was a matter of self-preservation.”

Laughing, she shut off the water while he reached back to snag two towels off the towel bar.

“The parade starts in an hour. We should hurry up and get ready; otherwise, we won’t find a good spot,” he said as they stepped out onto the bathroom rug to dry off.

“Doesn’t the parade run right in front of your house?”

“No. The best place to see it is at Main and Bay Street.”

“I’ll start drying my hair if you’ll bring me my clothes.”

Whipping off his towel, he said, “Clothes? What are those?”

“Do you want us to be on time?” she asked, arching an eyebrow at him.

“I’m going. I’m going.”