When shed discovered it, shed been mildly worried, but shed already begun to put down roots. She had no plans to run off simply because some old lover was in the same area.
And then Tuesday happened upon a storefront on Oak that shed decided to run a business from and share half of Natalies house. Hood River had been a new start for both women.
All this time Ive lived here, and I never bumped into him or caught sight of him. I guess I had just hoped our paths wouldnt cross.
Tuesday made a dismissive sound. Well, they have, and hes clearly looking for a taste. Im gonna guess hell eventually give up if you keep ignoring him. But what Im saying is, why not see what hes got to offer?
Natalie wasnt ready to admit out loud that maybe she was curious.
Hand me the potatoes, and lets change the subject please.
Tuesday rolled her eyes but passed the bowl. You did a pretty good job with these, by the way.
Natalies cooking was an utter disaster, but over the years since she and Tuesday had roomed together in college, Natalie had developed a few not-awful dishes. Mainly easy stuff like sandwiches and soup, but shed been working on mashed potatoes for a year or so, and shed gotten to the point where nothing caught fire, and they actually tasted good.
Now I can make canned soup, ham sandwiches and mashed potatoes. Maybe thats what Paddy is after. Hes been waiting for a woman to make him mashed potatoes his whole life.
They both cracked up.
At least between the two of you, you have enough money to get takeout every night. Or maybe he can cook. That would be a bonus to the good looks and success stuff.
Hes probably spoiled. He lives up there on the ranch with his family. Maybe his mother cooks for him or something.
Maybe. But somehow I doubt it. But you wont know unless you let him in.
I dont need to know to mock him, duh. Just let me have my fun imagining him eating overcooked Hot Pockets or clinging to his moms apron strings.
* * *
SO HERES THE THING, Paddy said as he sidled up to Natalie the next morning at the coffee shop. I dig that you dont have to be at work until nine.
Why? She handed some money to Bobbi, who took in the daily Paddy show with apparent glee. So you dont have to get up so early to come down here and pester me?
He laughed at that. Ill have you know Ive been up since six-thirty when I helped my oldest brother deal with a fence problem. Have you ever dug a post hole? It totally sucks. Ezra is sort of insane because he seems to actually like it.
Natalie moved to grab some honey for her latte, but he kept talking. Its good because I can get my work done and come down here in time for you to actually have breakfast with me sometime.
See you tomorrow, Bobbi. Natalie waved and started for the door, which Paddy now held open for her.
I dont like getting up early. Also, I dont eat breakfast very often.
He took up beside her, and she didnt stop him. You have a muffin in that bag.
Thats not breakfast. Bacon and eggs with toast and maybe hash browns, thats breakfast.
Youre serious about breakfast.
Not really. If I was, thats what Id be eating. Mainly I have doughnuts or muffins or a toaster-pastry thing.
He wrinkled his nose. Really? Those are like cardboard. Also, you dont look like you eat doughnuts all the time.
Im serious about doughnuts. But my favorite kind I have to go to Portland for. Which is why I dont eat them all the time. And my housemate is sporty. She drags me to hike and bike and windsurf. Its gross, but it enables me to keep my doughnut habit.
You cut your hair. It was long before.
Youre good at the non sequiturs.
He snorted. Im not sure when youre going to run off, so Im trying to get in as much chitchat as I can before that happens.
She stopped, turning toward him. Why are you so persistent? Im not even that nice to you! It was hard for her not to be friendly to him. She liked him, for heavens sake.
You dont want me for my status.
She shook her head, trying to understand. Status?
The celebrity thing.
She rolled her eyes. You didnt have any status when I met you.
He grinned. Nope. Just a shitty van that broke down a lot and some instruments my brothers and I played.
She paused for long moments and then started walking again. I cut my hair years ago. Tuesday, thats my housemate, she went through a phase when she wanted to be a hairdresser. It lasted half a quarter. But she cut my hair, and I liked it short. Plus, I look great in hats, and short hair works that way.
Did that hurt? You sharing that little fact with me? He winked, and it was cute, and she ruthlessly tried not to show how amused she was but probably failed.
So you two have been roommates since college?
No. We shared an apartment in college, and then she got married and I went to grad school. But three years ago, she came to visit and wanted to set up a business here, so I offered her a place to live for a while. She never moved out. Which is good because I cant cook, and she does and thinks its fun.
Like hiking?
Natalie curled her lip. Yes. Ugh.
No husband?
I would not be allowing you to walk me to my job if I had a husband, Patrick Hurley.
Paddys laugh made her tingle a little. It was a bawdy laugh. You said that like you were going to paddle me or slap my hand with a ruler. You should know thatll only encourage me.
She pressed her lips together and then gave up, laughing.
He kept pace, but she noted his smile from the corner of her eye. I meant your friend.
Duh. Of course he did. Shes a widow.
Oh, damn. That sucks. Im sorry.
Yeah. They approached the library, and she handed him her coffee. Hold that, please. She rustled through her bag until she found her keys. Thanks. She took the coffee back and tucked the pastry bag into her purse.
* * *
PADDY REALLY DIDNT want that moment between them to end, but hed enjoyed a victory nonetheless, so hed take that small step forward and get more next time. Wow, I feel like weve turned a corner here, Natalie. He bowed. Thank you for letting me walk you to work.
She appeared to be looking for something to say, and he didnt want her to say something about him not doing it again.
Will you let me take you to dinner?
She sighed, but it was a sigh of longing, so he pushed ahead.
I mean, I was aiming for breakfast since its the least datelike of the mealsunless you slept over, of courseand if that happens, Ill make you bacon, eggs, hash browns and toast. Maybe even biscuits. But since were not at that stage yet, and you dont eat breakfast, dinner is a good alternative.
Not lunch?
Was she teasing him? That was a good sign. Ill take what I can get. But usually during the days when Im here in Hood River, Im working. Either on music or on the ranch. Summer is a crazy busy time and my brother does so much when were on tour, I like helping him out.
Natalie sighed long and then shook her head as she looked him over. Why you gotta be so human, Patrick Hurley?
Natalie sighed long and then shook her head as she looked him over. Why you gotta be so human, Patrick Hurley?
Is that good or bad? I dont know with you.
She shrugged. I dont know for sure yet, either. You can pick me up from here tomorrow night. Im off at six.
With that, she unlocked the door and went inside. Have a good day, Paddy. She waved one last time, locked the door once more and disappeared into the building, leaving him standing there with a dumb smile on his face.
CHAPTER FOUR
I HAVE NO IDEA why I said yes. I should call him and cancel. Natalie paced in front of her closet, still only half-dressed.
Tuesday just rolled her eyes. You dont even have his number.
I have his mothers. Shes got a library card. I looked her up in the system. I can call her, and Im sure she can pass the message on.
Sure, thats not creepy at all.
Gah!
Tuesday snorted. Hush up. Wear that blue dress with the white piping at the neckline. You can wear it all day at work, and itll still be nice when youre off. It says I care enough to not look like I slept in a Dumpster, but Im still casual enough to walk away from your ass if you start anything and look fabulous doing it.
Natalie halted and then laughed. You should do red carpet shows on the entertainment networks. I like that better than Im wearing blah from her spring collection because cerise is the it color or whatever.
Its why even after you marry Patrick Hurley and spit out his spawn, well always watch the awards show red carpet together.
Marriage? No, thanks. Im not even convinced I should go to dinner with him. Anyway, hes not after marriage. He just wants to fuck me.
Well, look at you! Tuesday waved a hand in Natalies direction. Youre all blonde and adorable, and you have great tits. Boys like those. Of course he wants to fuck you. Also, he has.
Natalie struggled sometimes with the balance between owning what she liked and feeling guilty about it, anyway. Breasts had a lot of power. She did have some nice ones, and Paddy seemed to be impressed. Knowing that filled her with a sort of taboo power. What that said other than she liked that he liked it, she wasnt sure.
She pulled the dress from her closet and looked at it.
See what I mean? Tuesday indicated the dress with a tip of her chin. Listen and obey always. I know things. Now, I have to get ready to open the shop. Wear those flats, but take some heels in your bag. Dont argue with me about this. Heels are perfect with that dress and, like tits, everyone likes cute heels.
Tuesday kissed her cheek and left the room.
She did wear the blue dress, of course. With flats and the blue high-heeled sandals tucked in her bag to change into. On her way out the door, Tuesday tossed her a little drawstring bag. I made those a few days ago. Theyll be supercute with the outfit.
Her housemate, in addition to running a custom framing shop, made jewelry she sold in her store. The earrings Natalie spilled into her palm were dangly bits of blue. All together they made a dragonfly, one of Tuesdays favorite subjects.
Natalie took off the earrings she had on and replaced them with the dragonflies. Thanks.
Text me if you need me to save you. Otherwise, you can debrief me tomorrow morning. If you sleep over at his place, text so I wont worry.
Im not sleeping over at his place. No matter how sexy he was. No matter how much knowledge she had about how good he was in bed. Sleeping with Paddy on the first datedespite their historywould be stupid.
Thats the saddest thing Ive heard today, Nat.
* * *
WHERE ARE YOU off to tonight?
Paddy tossed the ball one last time, and Ezras dumb but sweet-as-hell dog ran off after it, getting distracted by a butterfly.
He looked up at his mother, who stood on Ezras porch with Damiens wife, Mary, and tried to pitch his voice low to avoid notice. Ive got a date.
Is that a euphemism? his mother called out. So much for trying to keep it quiet.
Mary laughed, and Paddy shook his head. Youre jaded, Mom.
I raised you four! Im an eternal optimist. You dont date, you go off and have your little flings and return home in a week or so.
Well, Ill have you know Im taking a librarian to dinner.
Is that a euphemism? Mary asked with a smirk.
She works here in town, as it happens. Im making her dinner on the boat.
Do you need help?
One of the best things about having Mary as a sister-in-law was that she was an amazing cook. The author of three cookbooks, she was their own personal tour chef, too.
Im grilling some salmon from the fishing trip I took with Vaughan a few weeks back. I was going to have corn on the cob to go with.
Mary cocked her head. Youre going to serve your date corn on the cob? Is this a first date?
By the scandalized look on his sister-in-laws face, he figured it was probably not a good thing to do.
In a manner of speaking. I knew her before. Years ago. Before we hit it big.
His mother crossed her arms over her chest. Oh, and she suddenly wants to go out with you? Sharon Hurley was not one for any foolery that had to do with anyone taking advantage of her children.
He laughed. Well, Ezra thinks this is pretty hilarious and all, but no. I ran into her in town last month, and she pretended not to remember me at first. Ive been hounding her pretty much three or four days a week since then to get her to go out with me. Shes utterly disinterested in me as a celebrity. In fact, it freaks her out, I think. Thats why Im doing dinner on the boat instead of taking her to a restaurant.
Mary perked up. Oh, well, then. Wait. Natalie? Supercute little blonde? Shes one of those who wears cigarette pants and flats and looks like an ad for a vintage clothing catalog?
He kept looking back and forth between his mother and sister-in-law, confused by Marys questions and hoping to get some sort of clue from the context.
His mothers brows rose, and then she nodded, patting Marys arm.
That shared look could very well equal trouble for Paddy, so he wanted to nip it right in the bud before it could turn into a reality. What is going on between you two? It looks like theres a caper brewing. No capers. For Gods sake. It took me a month of following this woman around like a lost puppy just to get her to let me walk her to work. If you two rush in like Lucy and Ethel, youre going to ruin all my progress. Also, what are cigarette pants?
Mary waved that away. Never mind, its her. There arent any other blondes working at the library. Dont make her eat corn on the cob. Not on the first date. Even if you knew her from before. Mary came down the steps. Come with me to the house. Im sure I have some sides for you. She tucked her arm through his.
Are you taking pity on me? He liked to tease her. Shed come from an equally insane family and fit in theirs just fine. She was the sister hed never had, and she kept his brother Damien in line and from burning things down. Plus, there was that really good cook thing, and she wasnt a chore to look at, either.