Snapshot (5 page)

Her long lashes waved as they locked eyes. His thumbs caressed her shoulders through her light sweatshirt. She felt so delicate and real and smelled like paradise. Her lips parted. Adam hesitated no longer. He dipped his head, felt her soft intake of breath and then her beautiful lips met his. She tasted like citrusy booze. With her sweet kisses he discovered an amazing new world.
 

He kissed her slow and soft, and then, like magic, the tip of her tongue brushed his and his body went on high alert as the kiss deepened. He slipped one hand behind her neck, the other around her waist and pulled her snug to him. Marti didn’t seem to mind as she trailed her fingers over his back. Her other arm was pressed against his chest.
 

Adam didn’t know if the alcohol made Marti so willing, or something else. Either way, he didn’t care. She nestled in his arms all warm and soft. He fought to control himself. He wanted to mold her body to his and let his hands linger over every inch of her. Instead, he lost himself in her kisses, the softness of her hair and how the touch of her body tortured his senses. After too short a time, their mouths parted. Marti’s eyes reflected dark and glassy in the low light. She sighed and a shy smile greeted him. He gave her another kiss, this one quick, like a period at the end of sentence.
 

They heard rustling in the woods and discovered the others emerging from their hiding spots.

“Damn, I would have liked to stay hidden out here a lot longer,” Adam breathed in her ear.

Marti watched the others and looked disappointed. “Me too.”

“It’s only the first night. Lots more nights ahead of us,” he offered, tilting his head at an angle to catch her eye. Her smile brightened.

He leaned down and kissed her again, not quite ready to give up his new discovery. He held her face and caressed her cheek with his thumb. Marti curved into him for a last kiss before they joined the others.
 

 
“I think we’re clear. Whoever it was took some trail further into the woods. I don’t think they were looking for us.” Kyle said.

“Oh my god! I’ve never been so scared in my life! I just about wet my pants,” Haley said, swaying on her feet, and they all laughed.

“I guess we better get back,” Kayla said.

Adam snuck a peek at Marti and found her watching him too.

“Make sure we grab all the bottles and cups. We don’t want to leave any sign we were here.” Justin flipped open the cooler and started tossing things in.

They packed up and headed back to the cabins. Clouds drifted in front of the moon, darkening their way. Brooke led with a single flashlight beam. Kyle and Ryan carried the cooler. The rest followed.

Marti stumbled on a root sticking out of the ground. “I can barely see. I’m going to break my neck out here.”
 

Adam caught her arm and held her upright as they fumbled their way along. “I’ve got you. I won’t let you get hurt.”

“Is that so?” she slurred in a sassy tone that made him smile.

Adam leaned close to her ear. “Promise.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and tucked her in close.

Back at the cabins, Haley hightailed it inside. Brooke and Justin flirted while the others went inside.
 

Adam and Marti stopped at a large oak tree anchored between the two cabins. Small solar lights illuminated the walkway.

“That was fun tonight.” She leaned against the tree.
 

“Sure was. I can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow.” Adam wanted to kiss her again, but not in front of the others.
 

“So I guess I’ll see you at breakfast,” she said.

“Sounds good.” He smiled, looking forward to more time alone with her.

“Goodnight, AJ.” Marti pushed away from the tree and brushed her hand against his before she disappeared into her cabin.
 

Adam took a quick look around at his new surroundings, his home for the next couple weeks, and broke into a quick air guitar riff.
Oh yeah!

Chapter 3

The clang of the wake-up bell woke Marti way too early the next morning. She squirmed further under the soft covers.

“This is supposed to be vacation. Why must we be awake so flippin’ early?” Kayla groaned from across the room.

 
“My mouth feels like something grew in it overnight,” Haley complained from bed.

Marti gazed out the window at the placid lake. She smiled, remembering the sexy kisses from AJ. She touched her lips and bit back her grin. She couldn’t wait to see him again.

 
“Anyone have a headache? I’ve got Ibuprofen.” Brooke, already showered and dressed in cute shorts and a snug fitting t-shirt, stood in front of the mirror and carefully applied mascara to her almond-shaped eyes.

“Why are you up already?” Kayla’s words were muffled by the pillow over her head.

“This,” Brooke waved her hand in front of her face and body, “doesn’t happen all by itself.”
 

“Where’s my toothbrush? My mouth is disgusting.” Haley crawled out of bed and scratched her behind as she headed to the sink.

“I told you to drink two glasses of water before you went to bed last night. It works every time.” Brooke inserted the wand back in her mascara and twisted it shut.

Marti stretched and took mental inventory. Her mouth felt dry, but she didn’t have a headache despite drinking two of AJ’s concoctions.
Ah, AJ
. She snuggled under the covers and grinned, remembering the touch of his arms around her, so unexpected and exhilarating. Maybe Grandma was right, and he was a good one. Marti felt tipsy when they got back, but she followed Brooke’s advice and drank water and took ibuprofen before bed.

A low eerie noise sounded.
 

“What’s that?” Marti sat up in bed.

“That’s a loon,” Kayla mumbled, the pillow still muffling her words.

“No way! I’ve always wanted to see one.” Marti tossed off the covers and went to the window. “There it is!”
 

“Where? I want to see!” Haley joined her, toothbrush in mouth.

Marti scanned the surface of the water, but this time found nothing. “It’s gone. Did it fly away?”

“No. They go underwater to fish. It’ll pop up somewhere else in a minute,” Kayla said.

 
Marti and Haley peered out the window and waited.

“That was so fun last night. And those guys! We struck gold on cabin location. They’re all cute, but Justin… hello!” Brooke still slaved away at the mirror. Marti didn’t understand her need to try so hard. She had the perfect package even without all the added bells and whistles of makeup and styled hair.
 

“And how about the guy that Marti was talking to, AJ. He’s pretty easy on the eyes,” Kayla said.

“Gee, I didn’t really notice,” Marti said. Oh, she’d definitely noticed and couldn’t wait to talk to him again.

Kayla’s pillow flew through the air and hit her square in the head. “Marti, don’t make me come over there and hurt you. If you don’t want AJ, I’ll be glad to take him off your hands,” Kayla said.

“I guess he’s okay.” Marti tossed it back. Kayla finally looked ready to roll out of bed.

Haley finished brushing her teeth. “What’s up with all that stuff about your dad? Did you say he’s a musician?”

Alcohol had loosened Marti’s big mouth last night. She usually didn’t mention her dad, but now that the story was out, she knew they’d have questions about that dark part of her life.
 

“Making me drive him around is only one of many stupid things he’s done, and yes, he’s a musician.” She grabbed a washcloth and ran it under warm water.
 

“What’s his name? Anyone we would’ve heard of?” Haley asked.

“Steven Hunter.” She wiped the residual makeup from her face.

“Seriously?” Brooke perched on the edge of the vanity. “
The
Steven Hunter from the band Graphite Angels?”

“That’s the one.” Marti hung the washcloth on the towel bar and grabbed her toothbrush. People always had different reactions when they learned her dad’s identity. Some were star struck and some didn’t know or care who he was. Others were impressed and thought knowing Marti brought them closer to a celebrity. Except her dad wasn’t really a celebrity anymore. Unless he went on Celebrity Rehab. That would be appropriate.

“He is so hot!” Brooke’s face lit up.

Marti raised her eyebrows at her. Little did Brooke know that her skinny-as-a-rail, dad had aged beyond his years from all his hard living.

“Brooke! That’s gross! You’re talking about her dad,” Haley said.

“Sorry, my bad.” But Brooke didn’t look apologetic. Marti brushed her teeth.

“That’s wild. Whenever a Graphite Angel song comes on the air, my mom always cranks up the radio. They are really awesome! From a classic rock point of view,” Kayla added for Marti’s benefit.

“Well the group is nothing like they were. At least not the last time I saw them, and that was a long time ago.” She wiped her mouth with a towel.

“So what’s he like? I mean, it must be cool to have a famous dad. It’s like crazy, right?” Brooke asked. “Did you go to movie premieres and stuff like that?”

Marti moved to her dresser and pulled out a pair of shorts. “It’s crazy alright,” she said with lack of enthusiasm. “Let’s see. One year for my birthday there was this huge party with all my Dad’s friends and their kids. They brought in a big castle-shaped bouncy tent, a cotton candy machine, and a fountain that spouted fruit punch.” Marti remembered it like it was yesterday. She’d been so excited.

“That’s so cool,” Brooke said, her face all dreamy.

“It was. Until my dad and his buddies got wasted, and my dad peed in the punch fountain.” She pulled on her shorts then grabbed her hairbrush.

“Oh.” Brooke’s smile faded.
 

“Later, he threw up in the bouncy tent and passed out. Trust me, having a rock star for a dad sucks. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.” Marti tore the brush through her tangled hair and glanced out the window. Her grade school friends had been horrified by his behavior. She’d run from the party sobbing. The next day, when she stood up to her dad
 
and told him what a terrible thing he did, she was ridiculed for crying like a baby at the party. That was the day Marti realized she could never trust him, and since then she learned to hide her emotions. “I haven’t seen him since I was ten years old, and that’s fine by me.”

“Geez, I’m sorry. I had no idea,” Kayla said.

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t.” Marti tossed the hairbrush on her bed. “That was a million years ago. And my Grandma is the most amazing person on the planet. As bad as my parents are, my Grandma is that many times as great! She’s the one who found this camp for me. She is always doing awesome things.”

“I’m glad she did, because now you’re here, and we’re going to have a blast!” Haley said, and Marti smiled in return.

“Hey, there’s the loon again!” Kayla pointed out the window.

Sure enough, halfway across the lake, Marti spied the pointy black head and long low body floating serenely in the water. “I’m taking a picture of that!” She rushed to her cabinet, grabbed her camera and flew out the door.

Marti stepped into the cool morning air, glad to end the discussion about her dad. Thoughts of him always dredged up painful memories of sadness and betrayal. When people found out about him, they became obsessed with talking about his greatness, as if he’d discovered a cure for cancer. No, he was the cancer.

She crossed the sidewalk and moved past a couple large trees for a better view of the lake. Located up on a hill, Their cabin offered a panoramic view.

Her sandals crunched on dry pine needles as she edged closer to the water, hoping to spy the elusive loon. She searched the lake as a
click click
sound interrupted the quiet morning.
 

To her surprise, AJ sat further down the hill. A warm flush ran through her as she remembered their hot kisses. He peered intensely through the camera lens and adjusted his focus. A few more clicks and he lowered his camera to check out what he’d taken. Appearing satisfied, he looked up and smiled at Marti as if he’d been waiting for her all morning instead of running into her accidentally.

Marti cursed herself for not getting completely ready. She crossed her arms to hide her braless chest and hoped her lack of make up didn’t cause him to lose interest in her. She joined him and crouched down in the pine needles. He smelled fresh from his morning shower. Along with the dewy scent of the morning woods, she couldn’t imagine anything better.

“Morning.” The sunlight sparkled off his eyes. “You see the loon?”

“Yes, but only for a second.” She licked her lips. Did he remember their kiss? Or had he been too drunk to care?

“Quick, check it out before it goes back under. It’s straight out.” AJ leaned his head close and pointed to where, sure enough, the large bird floated.

“That is so cool,” Marti whispered, glad she’d taken time to brush her teeth. The loon let out a low eerie call. She grinned at AJ and raised her camera, focused and snapped a shot right as it dove under.