Love on the Outskirts of Town

by Zoe York

  “Sure you did. Now make me an apple pie, kiddo.”

  “I’m older than you.”

  “Not in spirit. Roll. And tell me where you’re going.”

  “To see a woman.”

  She groaned. “Matt, seriously? That couldn’t wait until later? I thought it was a work thing. Something interesting.”

  “Hey!”

  That got him a snort. “Your dating life isn’t interesting in the least. It’s predictable and dirty and not really something I want to spend any time thinking about.”

  “Whoa.” His tone was sharper than he meant, and Dani heard it.

  She held up her hand. “Sorry. That was too much.”

  “Little bit.” He dragged in a deep breath. “This woman is different.”

  “Yeah?” She searched his face, then her expression softened into a smile. “Good. It’s about time you meet someone who’s good for you.”

  “There was nothing wrong with anyone else I dated.”

  “Dating is a generous term for what you usually do.”

  Now it was his turn to groan. “Fair point, but this woman…” He thought of Natasha. Of Emily, and cooking classes, and last week at the bar. Of what he wanted to do today. “This really is different. I’m taking things slow. This will be the fourth time I’ve seen her, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

  Dani nodded. “That’s great, Matt. Truly.”

  “She’s a single mom.”

  His sister-in-law didn’t blink. “Cool.”

  It was an opening to a bigger, messier conversation, but now that he was standing here, he realized it wasn’t his opening to take. Not yet.

  He focused on finishing the pie crust, then slid it over to her. “Tell my brother for me, okay?”

  She frowned. “You sure you don’t want to go out back?”

  “Nah,” he found himself saying. “I’ve gotta get going.”

  He headed back to his place and got ready, then texted Natasha instructions on where to meet him.

  When she arrived at the rural community centre ten minutes outside town, he was sitting on the tailgate of his truck. He hopped down as she parked her Jeep, eager to see her and give her a hug. Her texts the night before had spurred him to find just the right place to escape from her worry for a bit. He’d reached out to a couple of Army guys who lived in the area and asked for their best tips for a private, hidden date spot anywhere near Port Elgin.

  This was a total win. The weather had been good to him, too. It was a gorgeous afternoon, sunny and bright. They could spend hours exploring the wild apple orchard behind the centre, and they’d probably have it all to themselves.

  Like him, Natasha was dressed for the outdoors. Jeans that hugged her thighs, hiking boots on her feet, and a warm looking flannel shirt wrapped around her curves.

  But the best part was the smile she gave him as they met beside her car. Like he was all she could see, all she wanted to see, and everything she needed right in this moment.

  God damn, but that was a good feeling. “Hi,” he said, grinning back at her. “I found us a place to explore.”

  “Amazing.”

  “We’re all alone,” he added.

  “Even better.” She laughed and stepped closer, reaching for him. The hug they shared was warm and long, getting tighter as they fit their bodies together. And if he hadn’t felt her little exhale at the end, a little hint of frustration, he might have tried to kiss her, too.

  But they had the whole afternoon for that.

  Natasha hadn’t realized how much she’d needed that hug until Matt wrapped his arms around her and squeezed tight. It had been quite the day so far, and she’d had to keep so many feelings in close check in front of David and Sable.

  Matt turned them toward his truck, where he grabbed a Thermos and a blanket from the bed before closing the tailgate. He gestured around the back of the building. “Apple theme. I brought hot cider, and there’s a secret orchard here, apparently. A bit of a walk back.”

  A blanket.

  An apple orchard.

  Cider in a single Thermos.

  Matt Foster was slick. And the way he grinned at her made her feel way too good inside.

  “Does that sound good?”

  She found herself close to giggling. Yes, yes it sounded amazing. She gave him a warm-cheeked smile. “Sure.”

  They fell into step together, walking side-by-side, hands almost brushing. On the other side of the community centre stood an overgrown garden, and on the other side of that, the twisted branches of fruit trees called to them.

  The orchard had a well-worn path through it, although the trees got wilder the further back they went. All were heavy with small fruit.

  Matt reached up and snagged one and held it out. “Want to try?”

  Tasha took it, well aware of the little sizzle of energy that jolted up her arm as their fingers touched. “I think it’s probably too tart. Wild apples usually are.”

  He reached for the apple. “I’ll eat it.”

  She jerked her hand back. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t eat it.”

  He stepped closer, a teasing smile lighting up his eyes. “Take a bite, then.”

  “I will.” She brought the apple to her lips, then paused. “Although it might be better to save this to make crabapple jelly.”

  Laughing, Matt leaned in. “That particular one?”

  “Yes,” Natasha whispered, playing along. “So I can’t eat it. Unfortunately. I was really looking forward to trying it.”

  “I can pick you another.” His eyes sparkled in the sun. Dark brown with warm hazel flecks.

  “I can pick my own,” she murmured. Twisting, she pulled an apple from the trees and passed it to him. Another glancing touch, another jolt of awareness. “Here,” she said. “Try it. It’s tasty.”

  He put it to his mouth, then stopped. “You didn’t try yours.”

  She grinned and started walking again. “Didn’t I? Hmm.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him take a big bite, his cheeks puckering as the sourness hit his tongue. Laughter shook her body as he tried not to react further.

  “Tasty indeed,” he finally said, bumping his arm against hers.

  She turned her hand around and laced their fingers together. Another baby step, like inviting him to spend the afternoon with her.

  “So you know how to make crabapple jelly?”

  “Sure.” She knew how to find and follow and adjust recipes, anyway.

  “What other secret talents do you have?”

  She laughed. “Making jam isn’t really a secret talent.”

  “It impresses the heck out of me.”

  “Hopefully you aren’t the only one.” It slipped out, but the idea of an inn or a bed and breakfast had been occupying so much of her spare thoughts recently, she wasn’t surprised.

  She felt him look at her curiously. “Yeah?”

  “It’s a thing I’m thinking about doing. I don’t know.”

  “A cooking thing? You said you might like to teach those cooking classes.”

  “Did I say it like that?” She thought back over their conversations. So much had happened since they met. “Yeah, I guess that’s part of it. But it seems out of reach right now.”

  “One thing at a time?”

  “Yeah.” She kicked at a fallen apple. “I need to figure out where Emily and I are going to go, what’s actually do-able, before letting my dreams run wild.”

  “Smart to be practical, but dreams are hard to contain.” He squeezed her hand.

  She squeezed back. “True story.”

  “Can I ask what they would be if you let them run wild? Is that a good thing to talk about?”

  “It’s a great thing to talk about.” She breathed in deeply and stopped in the middle of the orchard. “That one day I’d have an inn of my own, something boutiquey in the country. Maybe partner with a local spa to offer services, and have amazing food, but also hands-on stuff, like the rotating cooking
classes. I was really stunned when the community cooking classes schedule came out, because it was so closely aligned with what I’d imagined.” She lifted one shoulder and gave him a small, rueful smile. “Good to experience it as a customer, I guess.”

  “But it’s not what you really want.”

  She turned and looked at him. “No.”

  “An inn, eh?”

  “Yeah.”

  “That sounds really cool.”

  She took a deep breath. “I hope so. I’ve been playing around with ways to tiptoe in that direction, get back into hospitality and tourism.” She shrugged. “But again, I don’t want to get stuck on the outside looking in.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with wanting more.”

  She worried the inside of her cheek, suddenly nervous that she’d shared too much, showed him too much. “Shall we keep going?”

  It wasn’t the most subtle of conversation changes, but she wanted to know what he had planned for the blanket and the Thermos of cider.

  They kept walking until they reached a clearing. Matt pointed to a soft, grassy spot. “We can sit over there.” He stretched out the blanket, then held out the Thermos.

  She took a sip of the hot, sweet cider. “God, I think it’s been years since I’ve had cider. It’s so good.”

  “Yeah?”

  She groaned, and his eyes sparkled as he watched her.

  “I like the sounds you make. Who knew cider was such a good move?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t believe for a second that you haven’t done this cozy-cuddle-in-an-orchard routine before. You’re an irrepressible flirt.”

  “Nah. We’re just talking about dreams and crabapple jelly and drinking some cider. We could start an orchard-visiting club.” He reached his hand out. “Join me on this blanket and let’s discuss the founding terms.”

  She laughed despite herself and slid her fingers over his. Warmth sizzled between them as she dropped to her knees, then sideways. “An orchard-visiting club?”

  “You’re right, that’s too seasonally specific. We can broaden the scope. Maybe in the winter we could meet at a pub.”

  “That sounds suspiciously like a date.” A perfect, no-pressure kind of date.

  “Mmm. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence.” He grinned at her. “Although since you put cuddling on the table…”

  She mock-gasped. “Did I do that?”

  “I think you did.”

  “Huh. Interesting.” She took another sip of cider, then handed it to him.

  He drank a bit before leaning in to brush his lips against the tip of her nose. “How was your Thanksgiving?”

  “Complicated.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  She didn’t know. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

  He just smiled and handed her the Thermos again.

  She sipped the cider and watched him watching her. When he smiled, she held it out to him. “Want more?”

  The double meaning bounced in the air between them.

  He smiled and reached for the Thermos. “Always.”

  Wasn’t that the rub right there?

  After he took a big drink, he put the lid back on the cider and set it aside. “I know we need—I need—to be careful here. This isn’t a casual hook-up.” He gave her a meaningful look. They both knew what that was. That was their wheelhouse. Easy, fun, hot sex without any strings, and right now, she wanted that. With Matt. Under Matt. On top of Matt.

  From the way he was looking at her, he wanted it too. The blanket practically promised something dirty.

  And for the first time since her daughter was born, she found herself longing for the carefree lifestyle she’d given up. Just a little. Just for an afternoon.

  A roll in the grass with a hot young paramedic.

  “A part of me wishes that it were,” she admitted, wanting to give him that honesty if she couldn’t give him her body just yet.

  “Yeah?”

  “It would be easier.”

  “Only easier if it’s possible. And since it’s not…”

  She smiled. “Right.”

  “So we’re going to do this the old-fashioned way, and I’m going to come courting as often as it takes until you’re ready to let me sneak into the parlour.”

  She laughed. “Courting. Is that even a thing?”

  “It’s the only option in front of us.” His eyes glittered as he stretched out and propped his head on his hand.

  “Returning to be friendly strangers would be another option,” she whispered. It hurt to even say it.

  He shrugged. “That might get awkward when we bump into each other and you blush.”

  “That won't happen.”

  “It already has, and from across the street. When we actually collide in a grocery store or at a garden centre, and my hands fall on your hips to keep you steady…”

  Now she was thinking about his hands on her hips, and it was hard to not squirm. It was hard not to stretch out on the blanket and tug him on top of her.

  As if he could read her thoughts, his gaze burned into hers. “No one will believe we’re strangers.”

  Maybe she didn’t have a choice in the matter. The universe clearly kept putting him in her path.

  “Zero drama. That's my middle name,” he said as he looked her in the eye. “I promise.”

  Instead of responding, she looked up at the sky. It was a gorgeous day. Cool breeze, warm sun. A few more weeks and it would be too cold to lie outside on a blanket.

  “I know,” she said, her voice sounding funny to her own ear. “You’ve been great.”

  “There’s something here.” He quietly tapped his chest, then reached for her, his fingertips grazing her shirt above her breasts. “Between us. I didn’t see it coming, but now that I’ve found you, I don’t want to shy away from whatever this is.”

  Now that I’ve found you.

  It was hard to ignore the intensity in those words. And yet he was accepting her rules, making it clear he was willing to wait until she was there, too. It was everything she could possibly want.

  “Full disclosure—I’m terrified by all the options here.” She took a deep breath, trying to unscramble her thoughts and tame her rioting heart. “I don’t want something casual. But dating for real? That would mean the whole meet-your-family thing at some point, which would include…”

  “Jake, who you’ve already met.” He gave her a faint smile, and his eyes stayed warm. “But honestly, I don’t care. We can talk more about that if you want, but it’s just…nothing to me. Is it a big deal to you?”

  She sighed and pushed herself into the blanket, stretching her legs out as long as she could make them. “It isn’t a big deal. Obviously, we both have histories with people. I’ve kissed a lot of frogs in my life, etcetera. But the last time I saw Jake, and then the last time I spoke to him…both of those were not me at my finest hour.” She screwed up her face. “Honestly, I’m embarrassed by how I acted then. But I refuse to be shamed at the same time. It’s a fine balance to walk.”

  “Hey, I get that.” He crawled his fingers across the blanket between them, tapping them against the fabric like a tiny, invading army. “Nobody will shame you. I personally guarantee it.”

  “Because you’ll threaten to kick their asses if they do?”

  He hesitated before giving her a charming grin. “Yes.”

  “Just like that, you’re on my side?”

  “Are there sides to this? I don’t see it like that.” He brought his fingers up to hover over her lips before she could protest again. He didn’t cut her off, just stilled her words for a beat.

  She smiled against his touch. “Maybe you would if you knew more about how messy it was.”

  He curled his hands, brushing his knuckles over her cheek. “Maybe you should tell me, then, so I can show you how much I really don’t care about the details.”

  Her head swam as he slid closer, as his mouth found hers in an almost kiss.

  “I want to kn
ow more about you,” he said gruffly against her lips. “I want to know everything. Your dreams. Your fears. How to make crabapple jelly.”

  “Can I start with the jelly?”

  He smiled and kissed the corner of her mouth.

  She groaned and twisted her head so their lips brushed.

  “I like that,” he whispered.

  “Me too.” She closed her eyes and rolled onto her back. His hands stayed on her skin, and she sank into their warmth. “There was a time when I was foolish and stupid, and thought your brother might be the right guy for me. Stable, kind, reliable.”

  To her surprise, Matt laughed. Gently, very gently, but he was still laughing.

  She pulled her head back and looked at him. “What?”

  He smiled at her. “That’s funny, because I swear, I have always known that about my brother, but I always thought it made him a buzzkill. I never in a million years thought it would be a reason to be jealous of him.”

  “Jealous?”

  His smile didn’t waver, telling her he wasn’t really bothered by it. “I’m just not that kind of guy. Or I never have been in the past.”

  She shook her head. “Oh, I’m not looking for any kind of white picket fence anymore, trust me. But after everything that happened, I wasn’t looking for any kind of guy. Then you walked into my life and declared you wanted to be my friend.”

  “Sorry for messing up that plan.” His gaze grew serious. “Am I the first guy you’ve dated since Emily?”

  “Yeah. Not that we’re dating.”

  He didn’t miss a beat. “Right. The first guy you’ve joined an orchard club with.”

  “The very first.”

  “And if we did keep meeting like this, for discussions of crabapple jelly and dreams, would you want it to be secret?”

  God. That was the question, wasn’t it?

  Matt propped himself up on his arm and gazed down at her. “Can I be honest?”

  Could she handle it? “Sure.”

  “I don’t want to keep you a secret. If we’re friends, if we’re more than friends…whatever we end up as, I want to tell my brother at some point. I honestly thought about telling Jake about you this morning.” Her eyes went wide, and he winced. “I went to their house to apologize for skipping Thanksgiving, and I ended up just talking to Dani instead.”