A Taste of Spring novel Chapter 39

Spring's smile was hesitant but she inched out of the booth. Dez backed away enough for her to stand but offered his hand in assistance.

"What?" Summer walked up. "You guys trying to dip without me?"

Spring looked at Summer and made some sort of gesture with her hand and shook her head. Usually, Dez found insight and had fun watching the sometimes subtle, often obvious, secret exchanges between friends and family with interest. Usually... But with his mind occupied with Fallon, he didn't bother to dissect what transpired between Spring and Summer.

"You don't have to see us home Dezmond. We arrived on our own and we can get home just fine." Spring moved into him to give him a hug.

Dez squeezed her tight enough to convey his disappointment, then let her go. And he was disappointed. He hoped that he could convince Spring to go home with him. He hated to admit it, but the need to feel her, to hear her alluring whimpers, and know that he was the one pleasing her was damn near overwhelming. Two months of not having her in his bed were torture.

"Yeah," Summer said in agreement but her brows rose in question, "we're big girls. We can see ourselves home."

Dez nodded and chuckled out a halfhearted laugh but didn't move to leave. He didn't want to leave them but... A soft hand caressed his cheek then left a heated trail as it moved behind his ear to rest on the back of his neck. His hands found her waist. She only had to give the slightest nudge for him to move forward and he willingly did so. When Dez touched and tasted Spring's mouth, he actually sighed as he relaxed into the kiss.

That wasn't nearly enough, he complained internally when she pulled away too soon. He wanted so much more.

"I'll see you when I get back from California, alright?"

Of course. "Of course," Dez said as he gave her hips a reaffirming squeeze.

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SPRING

"He doesn't like me." Spring flopped down on the foot of Summer's bed. She sighed, with all the dramatics she could muster, a skill that she never fully mastered from the few years of living with her shiftless thieving parents.

Thank goodness, Spring thought. She was happy she didn't pick up too many traits from her parents.

But still...even if she wasn't skilled at playing up her innocence like she was taught-or playing up her sexuality like Summer-to get what she wanted, she had her own attributes. Spring waited a few seconds for Summer to respond but when her sister didn't, Spring looked over at her.

Summer sat at the top of her bed with her arms loosely wrapped around her legs and her eyes fixed on the television. The flat screen sat on a shelving unit in the old apartment but was affixed to the wall in this one, thanks to the guy who lived across the hall. He didn't speak much but that was because of his live-in girlfriend who wasn't at all happy about him "helping out two single twats"

...her exact words.

"Have you been keeping up with the news?" Summer didn't look at her but continued to speak without even waiting for her answer. "This guy, they're saying he's a multi-state serial killer. They have already linked him to over a half dozen murders, and they suspect there are more."

That peaked Spring's interest. She shifted to get a view of the television. "You mean the guy who killed Clara Warner? They really think he is a serial killer...here?"

Summer turned to Spring. "Not think, sweetie, confirmed."

They both focused on the television. Neither spoke while the local news reporter continued the Special Report segment on the one they dubbed the Blue Candy Killer. Twenty some odd minutes later the report ended, but Summer's attention was still glued to the television. Whatever it was, either the fact that the killer was now in their city, or that she actually found something interesting about the macabre case, Summer remained reflectively silent.

"Summer?" The concern in Spring's tone was obvious.

"Yeah," Summer answered.

Summer kept her attention on the television but Spring was sure she wasn't really watching it. "Summer," Spring said again. When her sister looked up, Spring said, "What's wrong?"

Summer shook her head. "It's just...nothing." Her usual upbeat tone returned. "What's wrong with you?"

"Fallon," Spring sighed. "He doesn't like me."

"So."

Spring pushed off the bed. "Well, if you don't care..." She exited the room without looking back.

"Wait," Summer called as she followed. "I care. I just find the mention of the jerk irritating. Fallon is an ass."

"He's Dezmond's best friend, Summer." Spring walked into the kitchen. She pulled open the refrigerator door and lifted out her homemade sweet tea. After rinsing two glasses, she poured some for herself and Summer.

Summer reached for one of the glasses and added ice. "Dezmond wants to wake up to you, not his butt turd of a friend." She shrugged as she took a sip of her tea. "I wouldn't worry about it."

"You don't worry about anything," Spring mumbled. "I have to go pack." She grabbed the purse she took with her to Muri's and made for her bedroom as she thought about how her night with Dez ended.