N. Walters - Erin's Fancy

Abel sauntered into the kitchen and laid the empty pie plate on the table, his eyes never leaving Erin. Before the moment could get awkward, his attention was drawn away from her as he was enveloped in a bear hug from Jackson. Slapping each other on the back, in a way that would have felled lesser men, Abel felt as if he had finally come home.

Jackson released him before stepping back and sizing him up. “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Big-Time Author come to supper.”

Abel just grinned at him, knowing full well that Jackson had read every book that he’d written. “You know me. I’ll never turn down a free meal. Especially not one that smells as good as this.”

“Cooked it myself,” Jackson joked.

Abel motioned to the beer bottle on the table. “Yeah, I can tell how hard you were working.”

Nathan pushed past his brother and slapped Abel on the back on his way to the refrigerator. Pulling out two more bottles, he opened them and took a mouthful of beer before handing Abel the other bottle. “If we had to depend on our cooking to survive we’d starve to death. It’s a good thing that Erin takes pity on us and feeds us occasionally.”

His eyes went back to Erin, but she ignored them all as she continued to prepare supper. Both her brothers seemed more than content to sit back and let their sister do all the work. Plunking his bottle of beer on the table, he walked over to the counter, and laid the empty pie plate that he’d brought with him on the counter. “What can I do to help?”

Erin’s mouth dropped and her face was filled with astonishment. You could hear a pin drop in the kitchen. Jackson and Nathan were staring at him like he was some alien life form that had wandered into their midst. Shaking his head in disgust, he picked up the bowl filled with the whipped potatoes and another filled with carrots and carried them to the table.

“But you’re a guest…” Erin sputtered.

“Yeah,” Jackson seconded. “Erin can do that.”

For the first time in his life, Abel wanted to take his friend out back and beat him senseless. Instead, he settled for putting both hands on his hips and glaring at him. “I know she can do it. She just shouldn’t have to do it all by herself.”

His gaze was locked with Jackson’s and he sure as hell wasn’t backing down. For a moment, anger gleamed in his friend’s blue eyes, but then it seemed as if his sense of humor got the better of him, and he began to chuckle. The tension that had filled the room moments before dissipated as Jackson moseyed up to the counter and picked up the large platter that held the steaming chicken.

Carefully placing it on the table, he picked up a carving knife and fork and began to slice the bird. “What?” he said as everyone continued to watch him. “This is men’s work. I can do this.”

Abel just shook his head. His friend was somewhat of a male chauvinist. It surprised him that he’d never noticed that before. He supposed that’s what came of staying away for so long. You didn’t really know people anymore. Oh, he knew the important things. He’d still trust Jackson with his life, but he no longer trusted him to be fair to his sister.

Erin was peeking at him out of the corner of her eye as she carried the last of the steaming bowls over to the table. She glanced at everything one last time, as if to assure herself that all was right with the meal, and then she finally pulled out her own chair to sit down. Abel moved quickly and managed to get there in time to hold her chair for her. That garnered him a look of surprise and a shy look of pleasure.

“Showing off your big-city manners,” Nathan teased.

“No,” he replied. “Just helping to seat a pretty lady.” Winking at her, he grabbed the closest bowl and began to heap food on the plate in front of him. “This all looks fantastic, Erin.”

“Thank you.” Her voice was low and soft, and the smile she gave him was filled with pride.

“That’s a good man. Butter her up and you’ll get more free food while you’re here.” Jackson’s voice broke the tentative link between him and Erin. But before he could berate his friend, he was already onto another topic. “Speaking of which. How long are you home for this time?”

Erin had sucked in her breath the moment Jackson asked the question, telling him that she was interested in his answer. Acting as nonchalant as possible, he tasted some of the potatoes and savored their flavor before he answered. “Indefinitely. But for the rest of the summer for sure. Possibly longer. It’s time I went through the boxes of stuff belonging to Mom and Dad. I’ve put it off for far too long.” He smiled to himself when she released her pent-up breath on a deep sigh.

He had seated himself right next to Erin when he’d sat down for supper, and after he’d enjoyed his first few mouthfuls of food, he decided it was time to have some fun. The conversation flowed around the table as Nathan related something funny that had happened when he’d been out on patrol today. Erin had finally relaxed and was smiling while she listened to her brother. Abel casually allowed his left hand to slide under the table next to him.

Her whole body stiffened in shock when his large hand cupped her knee. Taking his time, he trailed his fingers up the inside of her thigh, stopping just before he reached the top. Color slowly seeped up Erin’s face until her cheeks were a nice rosy hue. Abel continued to eat his supper as he trailed his fingers up and down her legs in a slow and easy fashion.

“You okay, Erin?” Jackson was looking at his sister with a quizzical look. “I didn’t notice earlier, but you seem really red. Did you get too much sun today?”

Erin had to clear her throat twice before she could speak. “No, I’m fine. Just a little flushed from working over a hot stove.”

Jackson nodded, satisfied with her explanation. “Erin’s made herself a nice little business selling berries with your family’s land.”

“Really?” Abel turned slightly to face her, noting that her breathing was a little more rapid. Giving her a break, he moved his hand lower and settled it just above her knee. “Tell me about it?”

Erin took a deep breath and let it out slowly before responding. “I worked with the wild blueberry bushes that were already there and planted some more. It’s a totally organic operation.” She shrugged as if it were no big deal. “I pick so much and sell it to local stores and restaurants, and I also have a u-pick operation when the berries are in season. I put in a new road where our property line meets and built a small shed for equipment and such.” She ate a mouthful of potatoes and chased it down with some milk before continuing. “I’m really busy from the end of July until mid-September, but it works out well for me.”

Nathan snorted. “It works out better than well. Erin employs about a dozen kids from the high school during harvest time, either part-time or full-time.”

Jackson nodded. “Yeah, she does. We use the rest of the fields to plant some hay and alfalfa. It works out well for us.”

“It works out better for me,” Abel added. “I want to thank you for taking care of the house. It certainly wasn’t part of the agreement. To tell you the truth it just never crossed my mind.” Both men were looking at him with blank looks in their eyes, strengthening his belief that it was all Erin’s doing.

“I told you it was no big deal.” She glanced at her brothers and back at her plate. “I’m over that way all the time and it only takes a few minutes to open a window or run a dustcloth over things.”

Abel responded by sliding his hand up the inside of her thigh again, and this time he didn’t stop until he reached the top. He could feel her feminine heat seeping from her crotch even through the layer of denim, and he felt his dick begin to stir in response. He licked his lips, imagining just how good she would taste. The urge to haul down her jeans, spread her legs wide, and lick every inch of her sweet pussy was almost overwhelming. It didn’t matter that her brothers were sitting right next to him and would probably kill him if they could read his mind.