Did you sleep with him?
Natalie snorted. Youre so shy.
Whatever. Did you?
Natalie shook her head. Nope. We did get naked, but it was to swim. And it was dark so I saw somewell, okay a lotwhen he just stripped off and jumped in. A smile came unbidden, and because it was Tuesday, Natalie gave in. Everything is how I left it last. We kissed a lot. He felt me up. But we got out, and I dried off and got dressed and so did he, and he brought me home.
Ugh. Lame. You said his cock was still nice and sturdy, so whats the story?
Natalie laughed. Sturdy?
Like a farm work truck, Id imagine.
This made Natalie laugh so hard they had to stop so she could get her breath. Youre so broken and wrong, Tuesday. Thank goodness for you. We didnt because I wasnt ready.
Ready? Youve already fucked him. Whats the holdup? Its not like youre a virgin.
You should get laid yourself, since youre so invested in what Im doing. Jeez.
Mine are better, Tuesday said in an undertone as they left the jewelry stall theyd stopped at.
Duh. This particular craft market had a wait list, and Tuesday was on it. Hopefully soon shed be able to get a stall at some point.
Tuesday waved a hand. Anyway, you like sex. Hes gorgeous. Why arent you ready?
I needed a little time and he gave it to me. That said a lot. We talked. We flirted. We kissed. Its all good. The pace works. If he was only after me to fuck me, he wont come around again. Just as he had been concerned about people after him for his celebrity, she needed him to want more than sex from her.
Ah. I get it. I guess thats fair. If he passes your test and calls to ask you out again, will you go?
Natalie couldnt afford to lie to herself, and Tuesday would know it, anyway, and call her out. So she went with blunt. Yeah, definitely. I like him. Hes funny and obviously talented. Plus he cooks.
Always a plus.
Hes nosy, though. I ended up telling him more than I had intended to. Back in the day, we just had a lot of sex and drank. This talking thing is new.
They laughed at that.
So youre... This is you dating him. For real?
Yeah. Maybe. I dont know. So far its one date. But I just needed to do it like a real person. I wouldnt have banged some random dude on the first date, either. That doesnt erase all the other things I pause over. Hes still... Natalie whipped her hands all over the place. A tornado? A storm? Hes messy, and he comes with a lot of stuff I dont want or need.
Whether you need it or not is a whole different conversation, Nats. Anyway, he didnt ask you to marry him or go out on the road with him. Right now hes farmer Paddy, and youre the librarian. Come to think of it, that sounds like a really hot book Id totally read. So live a little. Its not that serious.
Natalie blew out a breath. She wanted him, at least for the next little while, so it was really in her best interest to let Tuesday talk her into it. Tuesday rarely steered her wrong.
Tuesday linked her arm with Natalies. Weve spent enough money, and now Im starving. I need a lot of pancakes and pork products.
Yes, please. Lets go put this in the car, and well get brunch.
* * *
PADDY WAS UP EARLY, needing the physical activity to ease the burn. Even masturbating in the shower hadnt made it better, so hed been out with Ezra in the orchards since the sun had risen.
The work, being outside and the cool morning air that would be gone in just a few hours, all combined to make a far more relaxed Paddy, along with Ezra, making their way up the front steps of their parents place for breakfast.
The sound hit him immediately. A smile broke over his face as he remembered his nieces were with Vaughan that week.
Kensey and Maddie looked up from where they poured pancakes with their grandmother and squealed at the sight of two of their uncles coming in.
Thats how I wish I was greeted every time I came into a room. Paddy knelt and held his arms open to get kisses and hugs from the girls. You guys are getting way too big. Stop that now.
Vaughan grinned at his daughters. Second and third grade already.
It was a little bittersweet because they didnt live there with their dad. Instead, their mother had primary custody and lived in nearby Gresham. But Paddy had to hand it to Kelly. Shed had more than one opportunity to leave the area for school and her job, but shed turned it all down so their daughters could see their dad on a regular basis.
Theyd married too young and divorced too quickly. Vaughan and Kellys marriage had been a casualty of their lifestyle as well as their age and inexperience at being in a relationship.
Paddy looked over at his brother. Vaughan had never truly let go of Kelly. Thered been plenty of women so it wasnt as though it hindered him in the sex department. But thered been no one hed been interested in for longer than a week or two, and he only rarely went out.
Kelly and Vaughan had gotten together for the same reason they split; they had an intense connection and chemistry. But at twenty-three and twenty-five, neither Kelly nor Vaughan had known how to manage it, and it had exploded.
Paddy stepped to the side as the girls moved to Ezra, grilling him about the animals he kept. Yes, of course well go horseback riding after breakfast. You can come over and see the goats, too. Violet herds them.
The girls thought that was hilarious. A pig herding goats? And yet, thats exactly what Ezras crazy, bossy pig, who thought she was a dog, did.
Coffee just finished. His mother motioned to the coffeemaker with a spatula. Mary and Damien are on the way up, too, so you boys need to put the extra leaf in the table.
They all moved to obey their mother, and ten minutes later the dining room was filled with the happy noise of a family eating a big breakfast.
Howd your date go? His mother never forgot anything, which made her awesome and frightening at the same time.
Good. Marys food went over well and only made my salmon look better. We drank champagne, went swimming. He attempted what he hoped was a nonchalant shoulder thing. It had been a pretty nice date. And he rarely had nights like it. Just regular, fun get-to-know-you dates.
You gonna ask her out again? Ezra asked, dropping pancakes on Kenseys plate.
Yes. He hadnt even needed to pause to think it over. Hed sent her wildflowers the next day. Shed called him to thank him but got his voice mail. Hed returned the call and got hers.
He would totally ask her out again and hopefully this time, hed end the date the next morning. The kisses theyd shared had been a taste of heat. Their chemistry was still there in a big way. But they were both different.
Natalie especially. The carefree girl hed dallied with for those two weeks had never shared anything personal, and he had to admit, hed never asked. Shed said a lot but not much had been intimate.
The way she talks about her job? So much passion. Its more than a place she goes to pay her bills. This is her calling. It was awesome.
Is this your girlfriend, Uncle Paddy? Maddie asked.
Id like her to be. Shes a librarian here in town.
Kenseys eyes widened. For real? Can we go check books out from her, then? I love the libary.
Id like her to be. Shes a librarian here in town.
Kenseys eyes widened. For real? Can we go check books out from her, then? I love the libary.
Library, darlin. Vaughan kissed her head. And sure, I think checking books out is a great idea.
His mother went back for another pass at information-gathering. So how does she talk about her work, then?
She talked about the library like it was a haven. How she wanted to be part of a safe place for kids and others in the community. Said the library was more than just checking out books.
His mother smiled and Paddy knew it spelled trouble.
I like that. Girls got a good heart. So you knew her when you two were young and silly, and now youve grown.
Yes. The good thing was that because the girls were there, his mother wouldnt bring up safe sex or anything else embarrassing and cringeworthy. But that didnt mean she wouldnt find him later to do it.
Is she pretty? Maddie snuck a piece of bacon off her dads plate, and he pretended to be scandalized.
Shes really pretty.
She likes books, and shes pretty, too. Is she smart?
He nodded. She has a masters degree. You know what that is?
Maddie shook her head.
You go to grade school and then high school. She went to college after that. Thats four years. And then she went to school for more years after that to get a special degree in being a librarian.
Thats lots of school! Smart and pretty. My momma says pretty fades but smarts last forever.
Thats what she says when Maddie doesnt want to finish her homework, Kensey added.
Well, your mom is right. Vaughan laughed, winking at his brother.
* * *
WHEN SHE WALKED into Common Grounds Monday morning, he sat there at his regular table.
There you are. Morning, Natalie. I took the liberty of ordering for you. He pointed at a very large mug and a plate with two spice doughnuts.
Youre the devil.
He laughed. How so?
She sat and looked at the pretty design Bobbi had made on the top of her cappuccino and then back to the masculine glory of his face. Doughnuts? Two of them, even.
Its Monday. If an extra doughnut is what it takes to get through unscathed and without violence to another human, I say eat two.
Because he had what was probably 2 or 3 percent body fat, it was clearly easy to say. Which did not stop her from eating that first doughnut in what felt like three bites. Maybe it was four.
She hoped so.
He just grinned at her.
What?
I like watching you. Did you have a good weekend?
Went to a craft fair with Tuesday. Bought stuff for my house. Ate too much. We planted stuff in our front yard, and yesterday she made me go on a hike. I just pray for winter when I dont have to hike up hills for a few months.
Aw, come on now. You wouldnt do it if you really didnt like it.
She nearly choked on the second doughnut. I hate to break it to you, but I do it because my best friend likes it. I dont like being really sweaty. She sipped her cappuccino. Well, outside of a few examples. Some kinds of sweat are worth the exertion.
He leaned closer. Please tell me youre talking about sex.
She blinked, keeping her expression serious. No, Im talking about raking leaves. Of course Im talking about sex.
He wiped his brow theatrically. Im going to change the subject, or Ill be useless for hours. Bobbi says you never drink iced stuff. Now that September is here, thats one thing, but in full summer, too?
Are you a coffee spy, Paddy? She raised a brow.
If I am, can I capture you and do whatever I have to to get you to cooperate?
The words fell over her, heated, dirty innuendo. Maybe. They watched each other as they sipped their coffee.
Tuesday says my dislike of iced coffee means Im broken and tragically weird. Ill eat coffee ice cream, because Im not that tragic. But Ill happily guzzle hot coffee all year around. Im a traditionalist that way.
Did you know you have a dimple? He reached out to brush a fingertip over the space to the right of her mouth. Of course she wasnt smiling then; she was probably looking like a deer caught in the headlights because he set her aflame.
She ducked her head. Did you have a good weekend?
My nieces were visiting, so we rode horses and went on picnics, and I endured three DVDs worth of animation. So yes, I had a good weekend. You should go out with me again.
Her head spun at that quick change of topic. I should?
Oh, yeah. Do you like movies?
Yes, again, not that tragic.
Our manager is dating a producer so we just got a bunch of stuff thats just released. I have a home theater. Why dont you come to my house? Well have dinner and watch movies.
I cant tonight. Monday night is my book club.
Book club? What are you reading?
We have themes. This month is graphic novels, so weve been doing all the Walking Dead issues.
Really? Amazing. Is this open to new members?
She laughed. Nearly choking on her drink. Wed never get anything done if you joined my book club.
What? Why do you say that? I like to read!
Natalie waved a hand at him. Youre far too charming, flirty and sexy. Im the most steadfast member of the group, and I cant even concentrate around you. The rest of them would dissolve into goo. No book club for you, Patrick.
He laughed. Id say you were mean, but you did compliment me and say I messed with your concentration, so Ill let it pass. How about Wednesday?
Okay. She looked at her watch. I need to get moving.
He stood with her. Ill walk you.
She could have refused but she didnt want to.
All right.
He walked on the outside, her barrier from the street. His gentlemanly ways surprised her at times.
I admit its way nicer now that you dont reject me over and over. Would I be pushing my luck if I tried to hold your hand right now?
Yes. Im on my way to work. I like to keep my work and my private life separate.
Hmm. Were going to need to talk about all this.
Hmm. She mimicked him. Its going to have to wait until Wednesday.
Fine. He chitchatted about silly stuff until they got to the library.
I take it a kiss would not be okay according to your rules?
Youre learning. Oh, I need directions to your house for Wednesday night.
He took her phone and put the information in. Ill see you Wednesday, then. I cant be at the café tomorrow morning. Were doing an interview, so Ill be busy doing that for a while.
She didnt want to be disappointed, but there it was, anyway. So reckless of her to go getting attached to him like that, but her brain didnt seem to care. The other parts of her had lost that battle weeks before. Okay. Ill see you Wednesday, then. Have a good interview.
She turned with a wave and headed into work.
CHAPTER SEVEN