He laughed, then his mouth turned voracious on hers.
Matching him beat for crazed beat, Eve gave herself up to the need erupting in her and to the love flowing hot through her veins.
* * *
The Party in the Park fundraiser, held on Saturday, was promoted as a free family-focused fun affair. Eve had encouraged Anson to have an event that really represented him.
While they both agreed that the high-end cocktail party had been a necessary evil, the two of them had enough personal money to foot the bill for something community-oriented.
They’d rounded up people from different community organizations to participate in the fundraiser by providing information on local community college programs, mental health services, senior and child care organizations and food bank services.
Lighthouse was represented. Not only were employees giving out gratitude jars and coupons for an introductory yoga class, Anson had paid a dozen massage therapists to give shoulder massages that afternoon.
Food trucks were out in force, offering free samples of everything from Mexican hamburgers and pineapple upside-down pancakes to cups of creamy white mac and cheese. To everyone’s delight, several ice cream trucks were there, keeping everyone cool.
Anson, who’d been mingling all afternoon, stood beside Eve, who’d taken a break from her volunteer duties in the Lighthouse booth.
“I should get back.” Eve brushed a kiss over his cheek. “Those gratitude jars have been a big hit. I’m glad you ordered as many as you did.”
“Thanks to your suggestion.” He ran a hand down her hair. When she was close, it was hard for him to keep from touching her.
“Always happy to help.” Eve shot a smile at June and Cameron, who stood on Anson’s other side. “I’ll see you guys later.”
Anson watched until she disappeared from sight, then turned to his friends. “I suppose I should do some more mingling.”
“A candidate’s work is never done,” Cameron said in a joking tone. Like Anson, he’d gone for casual in chino shorts and a polo.
“I’m learning a lot.” Anson’s expression turned serious. “There are so many in this community who are hurting or who have needs they don’t feel are being met.”
“Before you head off,” June began, “I wonder if I could ask you a few questions.” When he opened his mouth to respond, she rushed to add, “I know that this isn’t the best time, but I also know you’ve been super busy and—”
“Cameron told me you have some questions concerning a party at Sly’s house ten years ago.” Anson met her gaze with a steady one of his own. “I’ll be happy to share what I remember, but it was a long time ago.”
“Do you want to sit?” June offered, looking around for a table. “We could—”
“Why don’t you just ask? If we sit, we’ll be interrupted.” Anson chuckled. “Heck, we’ll probably be interrupted anyway.”
“If we are, that’s okay,” June told him. “We’ll find another time. I’ll do my best to make this quick.”
June started at the beginning, telling him what her sister had been like and about her going to the party with a friend, then leaving alone.
“Do they know why she pulled over on that stretch of road?” Anson asked.
“Her car had a flat tire.” June raked a hand through her hair. “The police think she was probably trying to flag down someone to help when she was hit.”
Seeing the pain in her eyes, Anson wished he could help her. He searched for how to tell her that he didn’t recall much of that particular night without going into detail.
That summer had been a stressful time in his life. His parents had been monitoring his curfew like prison guards, his girlfriend of the past six months had turned distant, and the anxiety that he’d kept under control with sports during the school year had flared.
Anson wasn’t proud of how he’d fought to keep his parents in the dark about his struggles. It hadn’t been until college, when his life had been falling apart, that he’d learned his father suffered from anxiety, too.
They’d been understanding and supportive and had put him in touch with a counselor, who’d given him some good coping strategies for his anxiety. That time in his life had fostered his belief in the value of mental health promotion and services.
He blinked and realized that June had stopped talking and was gazing expectantly at him. Glancing down, he realized she’d shoved her camera at him. A picture of a young girl with curly blond hair and a shy smile stared up at him.
After studying the picture, he shook his head. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember her.”
Disappointment stole across June’s face as she took back the phone and slid it into the tiny bag hanging by a chain over her shoulder.