Shadows Of Summer Ch 02

Chapter Two: Shed Secrets

The days following that humid afternoon in the kitchen stretched into a fragile reprieve for Mara. Work kept her tethered to her desk, her laptop humming with spreadsheets as she balanced accounts for the local hardware store and a bakery downtown. Lily's chatter filled the evenings--school gossip, swim practice updates--while Mara nodded along, her mind drifting to the taste of strawberries and the press of Theo's lips. She was grateful for the distraction, for the excuse to stay busy. Avoiding him felt like survival.

Theo, too, had been scarce. Football practice ran late most afternoons, and Lily mentioned he'd joined the school's volunteer cleanup crew, hauling trash bags along the beach until dusk. Mara caught glimpses of him once or twice--his tall, lanky frame jogging past with teammates, dark curls bouncing--but she ducked inside, busying herself with laundry or weeding the wildflower garden. The distance dulled the ache, or so she told herself.

By Friday, the air had cooled, a crisp edge hinting at fall. Mara, 38 and restless, stood in her faded sundress, auburn hair loose and tangled from the wind. Her fair, freckled skin glowed faintly from a morning walk, fine lines crinkling her hazel eyes as she squinted at the overcast sky. Her slender and petite frame, softened by gentle curves honed by yoga and years of motherhood, shifted as she hauled a bag of mulch to the shed behind the house. The physical labor was a welcome release, grounding her runaway thoughts.

She didn't hear the gate creak until it was too late. Theo stepped into the yard, his 6'1" frame filling the space, football gear slung over one shoulder. At 18, he was all lean muscle and sun-kissed skin, his green eyes catching the dim light like sea glass. His dark curls clung damply to his forehead--practice must've just ended--and his t-shirt stuck to his chest, outlining the strength football had carved into him. Raised by his grandmother two streets over, a small-town kid with strong hands from summer jobs, he stood there, watching her with that same quiet intensity she couldn't shake.

"Mrs. C," he said, his voice low, a thread of something dangerous woven into it. "Lily said you might need help with the shed."

Mara froze, the mulch bag slipping slightly in her grip. She'd mentioned it to Lily in passing--damn it. "I've got it," she said quickly, turning to hoist the bag onto a shelf. But her foot caught on a rake, and she stumbled, the bag tipping.

He was there in an instant, catching it with one hand, his other steadying her elbow. His touch seared through the thin fabric of her dress, and she sucked in a breath, their bodies inches apart. "Careful," he murmured, his eyes locked on hers, green and burning, a flicker of fascination crossing his face as he took in her delicate, petite form. The shed's dimness closed around them, the air thick with the scent of earth and his sweat.

"I said I've got it," she repeated, but her voice wavered, her resolve crumbling under his gaze. He set the bag down, slow and deliberate, his hand lingering on her arm before sliding to her wrist. Her pulse raced beneath his fingers, betraying her.

"You've been avoiding me," he said, stepping closer, his broad shoulders blocking the doorway. "Why?"

She swallowed, hazel eyes darting to his lips, then away. "You know why, Theo. This... it's not right." But her body disagreed, leaning toward him, the space between them shrinking.

"Right doesn't matter," he said, his voice a husky whisper. "Not when I can't stop wanting you." His hand moved to her waist, pulling her against him, and she didn't resist. Her hands found his chest, intending to push, but they flattened there, feeling the heat of him through his shirt.

He kissed her then, harder than before, a hunger unleashed after days apart. She gasped into his mouth, tasting salt and need, her fingers curling into his damp curls as he pressed her back against the shed wall. The wood was cool against her spine, a stark contrast to the fire of his hands roaming her hips, slipping beneath her dress to trace the gentle curve of her thigh. Her legs parted instinctively, a soft moan escaping as he deepened the kiss, his body pinning hers in a rhythm that stole her breath.

Her mind spun--Lily could come home, the neighbors could see--but the risk only sharpened the heat pooling low in her belly. His lips trailed to her neck, teeth grazing her freckled skin, and she arched into him, nails digging into his shoulders. "Theo," she breathed, half plea, half surrender, as his hand slid higher, igniting her.

A dog barked down the street, jolting them back to reality. He pulled away, chest heaving, his eyes dark with unspent desire. She leaned against the wall, dress askew, auburn hair wild, her fair skin flushed from neck to chest. "We can't keep doing this," she whispered, though her body screamed otherwise.

"Then tell me to stop," he said, voice rough, stepping back but not breaking eye contact. "Mean it this time."

She couldn't. The shed door hung open, the world beyond waiting to judge, but all she saw was him--18, bold, and hers in a way she couldn't undo.