The Secrets of Lake Road

Until now, he reminded himself, walking so close to her, their hips bumped. So what had changed? Or maybe it was wishful thinking on his part. He owed it to himself to find out and Billy, be damned, because it was too late. She had stolen Kevin’s heart a long time ago.

Kevin followed her lead and, as he suspected, or rather hoped, she wound her way around the bend on the opposite side of the lake to the private beaches far from the crowd. She slipped behind Hawkes’ cabin, Billy’s cabin, sly and surefooted, and crept through the woods. He followed, pausing briefly when he noticed the painted rock with the initials J+B. He felt the first pinch of guilt, but not enough for him to stop and turn around. He had to be alone with her and if not now then maybe never. He had to know what she was thinking, feeling.

Neither one spoke. They stepped onto the private beach in front of the only cabin that wasn’t rented for the summer. Jo turned to face him. He opened his mouth to say something, but what? He didn’t know. Jesus, he thought. She was Billy’s girl. What was he doing?

“Jo,” he said.

She touched his lips with her finger. “Don’t say anything,” she said.

He longed to put his arms around her and kiss her. God, the things he wanted to do to her. It took all his strength to keep his hands at his sides. She was his best friend’s girl.

She leaned in close. She smelled like suntan lotion and bubble gum. He closed his eyes when she whispered, her breath hot in his ear, “Do you want me?”

He swallowed hard. “Please, Jo,” he begged. “Don’t tease me.” He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to stop himself, that is, if she ever let him start.

“Answer the question.”

“Don’t.” His voice trembled. “Don’t do this to me.”

“Just answer the question. Do you want me?”

“Yes,” he croaked.

She tossed her head back and laughed. “Oh, Kevin.” She stepped back, pulled her T-shirt off, and slipped out of her shorts, revealing the red bikini she often wore that summer. He would dream about her in that bikini, waking up drenched in sweat, his erection bursting in his shorts.

She stood still, allowing him to soak up every inch of her, the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. She reached around her back and untied her top, letting it fall to the ground. She slowly edged the bottoms down her hips until they dropped at her feet. She moved to within an inch of him. Her body was so close, so close. He couldn’t stop from trembling.

“Jo,” he groaned.

*

The sound of a car door slamming jolted Kevin from the memory, bringing him back to the dock, the hot sun, and the fishing boats on the lake. The sheriff had gotten out of his patrol car, and he was looking out at the water. Heil emerged from the Pavilion, hand outstretched to greet him. The two exchanged words and made their way toward the dock.

The sheriff tipped his hat as he approached. Kevin gave a terse nod.

“Stick around,” the sheriff said to him as he walked by. “Something came up, and I may have a few questions for you.”





CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Caroline hopped on her bicycle and sped down the dirt hill. She paused briefly to check for traffic before crossing onto Lake Road and making her way toward the Pavilion. The doors were wide open for business, but the place was deserted by summer standards. Johnny and his gang weren’t sitting on the steps like they normally did. She wondered for a moment where they might be. She continued on through the parking lot and stopped at the dock, spewing pebbles when the back tire of the bike kicked out from under her, almost throwing her off.

In a glance she knew she was too late. Stimpy and his men were already on the lake along with the underwater recovery team, although they didn’t appear to be working together. Several other fishing boats crowded the area around the floating pier as though they were waiting for orders. Ducks milled around the dock, honking at all the commotion.

The hot sun scorched her shoulders and back as she surveyed the scene. She felt a tightening in her chest, thinking about her dream, somehow feeling as though she had let Sara down. She had overslept, having been awake much of the night. It was well past noon. She vowed not to make the same mistake tomorrow if given the chance, although exactly what her plan was to help Sara still lingered somewhere in the back of her mind, not fully formed as of yet.

She pedaled back to the Pavilion and dropped her bike beside the stairs. Inside was dark and cool and quieter than usual. A family of three sat at a booth near the snack stand. The jukebox finished playing a record. Two men racked balls for a game of pool. A scraping noise came from the side wall near one of the pinball machines. She looked behind it and found Adam.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I’m looking for something.” He shrugged.